Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interventions to Improve Motivation and Retention of Community Health Workers Delivering Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM): Stakeholder Perceptions and Priorities

Despite resurgence in the use of community health workers (CHWs) in the delivery of community case management of childhood illnesses, a paucity of evidence for effective strategies to address key constraints of worker motivation and retention endures. This work reports the results of semi-structured interviews with 15 international stakeholders, selected because of their experiences in CHW program implementation, to elicit their views on strategies that could increase CHW motivation and retention. Data were collected to identify potential interventions that could be tested through a randomized control trial. Suggested interventions were organized into thematic areas; cross-cutting approaches, recruitment, training, supervision, incentives, community involvement and ownership, information and data management, and mHealth. The priority interventions of stakeholders correspond to key areas of the work motivation and CHW literature. Combined, they potentially provide useful insight for programmers engaging in further enquiry into the most locally relevant, acceptable, and evidence-based interventions.
Self-assessment processes within care management: Learning from pilot projects

• Summary: Self-assessment is one of a range of new practices within adult social care, aimed at increasing the choices available to service users in relation to both the assessment process and the way services are delivered. By analysing the results of both project documentation and interviews with managers of pilot projects set up to test out this approach, this article examines issues relating to the introduction of a new initiative within a social care setting and considers whether the introduction of self-assessment poses particular challenges for care management. • Findings: The interviews revealed a mix of general as well as setting and process specific findings. The latter included the importance of the appropriate targeting of self-assessment and the need to reach a clear consensus within the service as to what self-assessment means and how it should be incorporated into an individualized model of practice. Other findings reflected issues highlighted in the literature on the management of change. • Applications: Together the results provide useful lessons for those interested in both the specific area of study and, more generally, the implementation of new initiatives in social care.
Design, Configuration, Implementation, and Performance of a Simple 32 Core Raspberry Pi Cluster

In this report, I describe the design and implementation of an inexpensive, eight node, 32 core, cluster of raspberry pi single board computers, as well as the performance of this cluster on two computational tasks, one that requires significant data transfer relative to computational time requirements, and one that does not. We have two use-cases for the cluster: (a) as an educational tool for classroom usage, such as covering parallel algorithms in an algorithms course; and (b) as a test system for use during the development of parallel metaheuristics, essentially serving as a personal desktop parallel computing cluster. Our preliminary results show that the slow 100 Mbps networking of the raspberry pi significantly limits such clusters to parallel computational tasks that are either long running relative to data communications requirements, or that which requires very little internode communications. Additionally, although the raspberry pi 3 has a quad-core processor, parallel speedup degrades during attempts to utilize all four cores of all cluster nodes for a parallel computation, likely due to resource contention with operating system level processes. However, distributing a task across three cores of each cluster node does enable linear (or near linear) speedup.
Replicated convolutional codes: A design framework for repair-efficient distributed storage codes

Erasure-coded distributed storage systems can offer reliable storage services in a cost-effective manner. However, when disk failures occur in such systems, it is desirable to recreate the lost data with the help of surviving nodes to preserve the data redundancy. A key requirement during the recover process is to minimize the repair locality and computational complexity. We propose a simple framework for constructing storage codes that yield small repair locality and low repair complexity. The basic idea behind this framework is to take multiple instances of convolutional (tail-biting) codes, and then carefully arrange the coded symbols on storage nodes. The resultant codes enjoy the desirable repair-by-transfer property, and perform efficient repair by simple XOR operations. Moreover, we also evaluate the proposed codes atop an HDFS cluster testbed and compare the empirical performance with state-of-the-art repair-efficient storage codes.
The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Comorbid Depression: Possible Linkage with Steroid Hormones, Cytokines, and Nutrition

Increasing evidence demonstrates a connection between growth factor function (including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF), glucocorticoid levels (one of the steroid hormones), and the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. Because both BDNF and glucocorticoids regulate synaptic function in the central nervous system, their functional interaction is of major concern. Interestingly, alterations in levels of estrogen, another steroid hormone, may play a role in depressive-like behavior in postpartum females with fluctuations of BDNF-related molecules in the brain. BDNF and cytokines, which are protein regulators of inflammation, stimulate multiple intracellular signaling cascades involved in neuropsychiatric illness. Pro-inflammatory cytokines may increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms, such as the increased risk observed in patients with cancer and/or autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss the possible relationship between inflammation and depression, in addition to the cross-talk among cytokines, BDNF, and steroids. Further, since nutritional status has been shown to affect critical pathways involved in depression through both BDNF function and the monoamine system, we also review current evidence surrounding diet and supplementation (e.g., flavonoids) on BDNF-mediated brain functions.
Large scale simulation and surfacing of water and ice effects in Dragons 2

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” introduces new creatures of truly massive scale, e.g. the Bewilderbeest shown above which measures approximately 600 ft from head to tail. This imposed unique challenges for the FX department when these creatures interacts with environments like water or when they use their special ability to breath ice. While we could leverage somewhat on existing tools developed in previous productions, e.g. [Budsberg et al. 2013; Museth 2013a], it was soon clear that additional steps had to be taken to address the unprecedented scale of both the fluid simulations and the subsequent surfacing of the resulting animated particles.
Inhibition of growth of mouse leukemic cell lines in vitro and in vivo by a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an interleukin 3 receptor-associated protein.

Myeloid cell lines that have achieved leukemic transformation may also have acquired the ability to produce hematopoietic growth factors. In certain instances, neutralizing antibodies directed against the growth factor have inhibited growth, supporting an autocrine mechanism in their transformation. The effect of anti-receptor antibodies on their growth and transformed phenotype has not been reported. We have developed a monoclonal antibody, 4G8, directed against a protein that is associated with the IL-3 receptor complex; 4G8 inhibits IL-3 binding and signal transduction in nonleukemic IL-3-dependent cell lines. In this study, we examined the effect of 4G8 on the growth in vitro and in vivo of leukemic cell lines, including WEHI-3B, which spontaneously produces IL-3, and NFS-60, an IL-3-dependent cell line. Our results demonstrate that the 4G8 antigen can be detected in both WEHI-3B and NFS-60 cells by flow cytometry and Western blotting; 4G8 inhibits the autonomous growth of WEHI-3B and the IL-3-dependent growth of both WEHI-3B and NFS-60. In addition, s.c. administration of 4G8 prolonged the survival of syngeneic mice given s.c. injections of WEHI-3B. These results support the conclusion that an autocrine mechanism involving IL-3 and its receptor plays a critical role in the growth and transformed phenotype of WEHI-3B and raises the possibility that anti-IL-3 receptor antibodies may be useful in the treatment of some leukemias.
Hierarchic shape description via singularity and multiscaling

We introduce a new concept of ridges, ravines and related structures (skeletons) associated with surfaces in three-dimensional space that generalizes the medial axis transformation approach. The concept is based on singularity theory and involves both local and global geometric properties of the surface; it is invariant with respect to translations and rotations of the surface. It leads to a method of hierarchic description of surfaces that yields new approaches to shape coding, rendering and design. The extraction of the features is based on differential geometry of surfaces with consequent segregation via multiscale analysis. Terrain feature recognition, dental shape reconstruction and medical imagery are a partial list of applications. <<ETX>>
Significance Tests, Belief Calculi, and Burden of Proof in Legal and Scientific Discourse

We review the definition of the Full Bayesian Significance Test (FBST), and summarize its main statistical and epistemological characteristics. We review also the Abstract Belief Calculus (ABC) of Darwiche and Ginsberg, and use it to analyze the FBST’s value of evidence. This analysis helps us understand the FBST properties and interpretation. The definition of value of evidence against a sharp hypothesis, in the FBST setup, was motivated by applications of Bayesian statistical reasoning to legal matters where the sharp hypotheses were defendants statements, to be judged according to the Onus Probandi juridical principle.
Variation on Composition and Bioactivity of Essential Oils of Four Common Curcuma Herbs

Chemical compositions, antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of essential oils extracted from four common Curcuma species (Curcuma longa, Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma wenyujin, and Curcuma kwangsiensis) rhizomes in P. R. China are comparatively studied. In total, 47, 49, 35, and 30 compounds are identified in C. longa, C. phaeocaulis, C. wenyujin, and C. kwangsiensis essential oils by GC/MS, and their richest compounds are ar‐turmerone (21.67%), elemenone (19.41%), curdione (40.23%) and (36.47%), respectively. Moreover, C. kwangsiensis essential oils display the strongest DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical‐scavenging activity (IC50, 3.47 μg/ml), much higher than ascorbic acid (6.50 μg/ml). C. phaeocaulis oils show the best antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (MIC, 235.54 μg/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (391.31 μg/ml) and Staphylococcus aureus (378.36 μg/ml), while C. wenyujin and C. kwangsiensis oils show optimum activities against Candida albicans (208.61 μg/ml) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (193.27 μg/ml), respectively. C. phaeocaulis (IC50, 4.63 μg/ml) and C. longa essential oils (73.05 μg/ml) have the best cytotoxicity against LNCaP and HepG2, respectively. C. kwangsiensis oils also exhibit the strongest anti‐inflammatory activities by remarkably down‐regulating expression of COX‐2 and TNF‐α. Therefore, due to their different chemical compositions and bioactivities, traditional Chinese Curcuma herbs should be differentially served as natural additives for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic.
The role of warmth in the improvement of intergroup attitudes

This dissertation presents two research programs that investigated whether warmth can improve intergroup attitudes. The first research program included three studies that tested whether spontaneous racial attitudes are more positive toward children than adults. These studies were based on the assumption that children are perceived as being higher in trait warmth, which may improve attitudes by decreasing perceived threat and distance to the out-group. In contrast, the results showed that participants consistently preferred their racial in-group over the racial out-group, and there was no evidence that this spontaneous racial bias was reduced for very young child targets; spontaneous racial bias is strong even when warm groups are considered. The second research program comprised four studies that focused on explicitly measured intergroup attitudes. These studies examined whether individual differences in the need for affect (NFA) and (for completeness) the need for cognition (NFC) predict improved attitudes toward groups varying on stereotypical warmth and competence. These studies were based on the notion that people higher in NFA evaluate warmth more positively because they enjoy the emotionally stimulating aspect of warmth. The findings indicated that people higher in NFA evaluated stereotypically warm and incompetent groups more positively than stereotypically cold and competent groups, whereas people higher in NFC evaluated stereotypically cold and competent groups more positively than stereotypically warm and incompetent groups. Moreover, as expected, this set of studies also provided direct evidence that evaluations of warmth mediated these associations. Together, the two programs of research suggest that warmth may be one important mechanism for improving intergroup attitudes on an explicit measure, whereas more research is needed to examine when warmth can improve attitudes on an implicit measure.
Multicenter case-control study of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer in Europe.

BACKGROUND An association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and lung cancer risk has been suggested. To evaluate this possible association better, researchers need more precise estimates of risk, the relative contribution of different sources of ETS, and the effect of ETS exposure on different histologic types of lung cancer. To address these issues, we have conducted a case-control study of lung cancer and exposure to ETS in 12 centers from seven European countries. METHODS A total of 650 patients with lung cancer and 1542 control subjects up to 74 years of age were interviewed about exposure to ETS. Neither case subjects nor control subjects had smoked more than 400 cigarettes in their lifetime. RESULTS ETS exposure during childhood was not associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (odds ratio [OR] for ever exposure = 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-0.96). The OR for ever exposure to spousal ETS was 1.16 (95% CI = 0.93-1.44). No clear dose-response relationship could be demonstrated for cumulative spousal ETS exposure. The OR for ever exposure to workplace ETS was 1.17 (95% CI = 0.94-1.45), with possible evidence of increasing risk for increasing duration of exposure. No increase in risk was detected in subjects whose exposure to spousal or workplace ETS ended more than 15 years earlier. Ever exposure to ETS from other sources was not associated with lung cancer risk. Risks from combined exposure to spousal and workplace ETS were higher for squamous cell carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma than for adenocarcinoma, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate no association between childhood exposure to ETS and lung cancer risk. We did find weak evidence of a dose-response relationship between risk of lung cancer and exposure to spousal and workplace ETS. There was no detectable risk after cessation of exposure.
The NS-1 polypeptide of minute virus of mice is covalently attached to the 5' termini of duplex replicative-form DNA and progeny single strands

When A9 cells are infected with minute virus of mice, a small proportion of the virally coded NS-1 polypeptide becomes covalently attached to newly synthesized viral DNA. Antisera directed against NS-1 will specifically precipitate two forms of monomer duplex replicative-form DNA, multimeric duplex intermediates and progeny single strands, and restriction analysis of the duplex forms in these precipitates reveals that NS-1 is exclusively associated with extended-form conformers of the genomic termini. Pulse-labeled viral DNA, harvested at various times in a highly synchronized infection, can be almost quantitatively precipitated with any one of a series of antisera directed against different protein domains distributed throughout the NS-1 molecule but not with antibodies directed against other viral proteins. In each case the interaction with NS-1 can be shown to involve both termini of duplex DNA and single-strand forms, suggesting that in each case a full-length (83-kilodalton) copy of NS-1 is present. Precipitation of the replicating viral DNA with an antibody directed against a synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide containing the sequence at the extreme carboxy terminus of NS-1 can be quantitatively and specifically inhibited with the immunizing peptide in its unconjugated form, showing that the antibodies responsible for precipitating viral DNA are directed against the NS-1 sequence itself and not against a trace contaminant. Exonuclease digestion studies show that the association effectively blocks the 5' ends of the DNA molecules. Very little (less than 0.1%) of the newly synthesized [35S]methionine-labeled NS-1 made in highly synchronized cells during a 15-min pulse early in infection (6.25 to 6.5 h into the S phase) becomes associated with viral DNA immediately. However, pulse-chase experiments show that later in infection (10 to 13 h into the S phase), when viral DNA replication is reaching its peak, a few percent of the molecules in these preexisting pools of NS-1 do become covalently attached to the newly replicated DNA. Isolated viral DNA-protein complexes labeled with [35S]methionine in this way can be obtained by fractionation of the immunoprecipitated complexes on Sepharose CL4B in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Digestion of the purified complexes with nuclease releases an 83-kilodalton molecule which exactly comigrates with authentic NS-1 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.
Beyond Thresholds: The Everyday Lived Experience of the House by Older People

To support decision making regarding modifications to the current housing stock, this article explores older people's everyday lived experience of the house in the Netherlands. Twelve in-depth interviews were carried out, using diaries and a topic list. The study found physical, personal and social dimensions of experience that turn a house into a meaningful place in which to live. Although the study focused on the experience of the house as a home, all participants spoke about the importance of the neighbourhood. We therefore suggest that a personalised approach should be adopted in any modification of the current housing stock.
Immunoaffinity reactors for prion protein qualitative analysis

The cellular prion protein (PrPc) represents the substrate for generation of conformational aberrant PrP isoforms which occur in human and animal prion diseases. The published two‐dimensional maps of human PrPc show a vast microheterogeneity of this glycoprotein. The main goal of this project was to develop a highly specific immunoaffinity reactor for qualitative analysis of PrP cellular isoforms isolated from brain homogenate, cerebrospinal fluid and other tissues. New techniques for affinity proteomics, carriers and immobilization chemistry were applied. The choice of matrix (chemical and magnetic properties, particle size and distribution, porosity) was the key factor that influenced the quality of the reactor and the nature of final applications. Mouse anti‐prion IgGs directed to N‐terminal and C‐terminal epitopes (residues 23–40 and 147–165) were grafted in different manners to magnetic micro‐ and nanoparticles particularly developed for µ‐CHIP application. High operational and storage stability of affinity reactors with minimized nonspecific absorption were achieved. The quality of the immunoreactors was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting and by two‐dimensional electrophoresis.
Subclinical ischaemic episodes during the steady state of sickle cell anaemia.

AIMS: To determine the clinical, haematological, biochemical and rheological changes that occur in the asymptomatic steady state of sickle cell anaemia. METHODS: Patient self-assessment visual analogue scores (for wellbeing and tiredness), the blood concentration of acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, orosomucoid, and fibrinogen), and blood rheology (percentage of dense cells and the number of sickled cells that occluded pores 5 microns in diameter) were studied longitudinally on 10 occasions in each of 20 outpatients with sickle cell anaemia. RESULTS: Patients in the steady state showed fluctuation in visual analogue scores, in concentration of acute phase proteins, and in rheological parameters consistent with minor episodes of tissue injury. Significantly more variation in acute phase proteins occurred in the steady state of 14 of the 20 patients who developed one or more vaso-occlusive crises during the 16 month study period. Rheological fluctuation in the steady state simulated rheological change during crisis, namely a transient rise and then fall in the number of dense and poorly filterable cells. CONCLUSIONS: The term "steady state" is a misnomer, being characterised by biochemical and rheological fluctuation consistent with minor episodes of microvascular occlusion that are insufficient to cause the overt tissue infarction of painful crisis.
Secondary Stroke Prevention

Stroke is the most common life-threatening neurological disorder. Based on limited acute therapies, clinicians have opted to focus on preventive strategies to limit its recurrence. Targets for prevention include modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, obesity, alcohol use, and physical inactivity among others. The American Stroke Association and American Heart Association guideline for the secondary prevention of stroke published in 2006 provides comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of ischemic stroke among survivors of stroke or transient ischemic attack. This guideline helps healthcare providers who have arrived at a potential explanation of the cause of stroke in an individual patient to select therapies that reduce the risk of recurrent events and other vascular events. The purpose of this review is to highlight the recently published American Stroke Association/American Heart Association guidelines for the secondary prevention of stroke.