Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing the Results of Developmental Screening of 4 to 60-Month-Old Children in Tehran Using Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status and Ages and Stages Questionnaires

Objectives: This research was designed to evaluate the developmental status of children aged 4 to 60 months in Tehran city by twoparent-baseddevelopmentalscreeningquestionnaires,parentsevaluationof developmentalstatus(PEDS)andagesandstages questionnaires (ASQ), and also to determine the consistency coeﬃcient between these two tests. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, PEDS and ASQ were performed on 648 children (350 boys and 298 girls), aged 4 to 60 (mean, 23.5 ± 16.10) months at four health centers in Tehran city. Results: Developmental disorders were observed in 23.1% of children (4.6% delayed and 18.5% suspicious), who were examined by PEDS, and in 26.4% of children, who were examined by ASQ (14.7% delayed and 11.7% suspicious). The estimated values of kappa measureof agreementandPearsonChi-Squarefortheresultsof thetwoscreeningtestswere0.30(P< 0.001)and115.98(P< 0.001), respectively. The results of these tests were similar in 93.3%, 94% and 91% of cases in ﬁne motor, gross motor and language domains of development, respectively. Due to the rather large sample size and similarity of the screening results by both questionnaires in 71.5% of cases, it is possible to conclude that this measure is an acceptable one. Conclusions: This study showed that PEDS and ASQ have acceptable agreement, thus it seems that PEDS can be used for children’s developmental screening especially in child care visits.
Neuron-autonomous susceptibility to induced synuclein aggregation is exacerbated by endogenous Lrrk2 mutations and ameliorated by Lrrk2 genetic knock-out

Abstract Neuronal aggregates containing α-synuclein are a pathological hallmark of several degenerative diseases; including Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease with dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Understanding the process of α-synuclein aggregation, and discovering means of preventing it, may help guide therapeutic strategy and drug design. Recent advances provide tools to induce α-synuclein aggregation in neuronal cultures. Application of exogenous pre-formed fibrillar α-synuclein induces pathological phosphorylation and accumulation of endogenous α-synuclein, typical of that seen in disease. Genomic variability and mutations in α-synuclein and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 proteins are the major genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. Reports demonstrate fibril-induced α-synuclein aggregation is increased in cells from leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 pathogenic mutant (G2019S) overexpressing mice, and variously decreased by leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 inhibitors. Elsewhere in vivo antisense knock-down of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 protein has been shown to protect mice from fibril-induced α-synuclein aggregation, whereas kinase inhibition did not. To help bring clarity to this issue, we took a purely genetic approach in a standardized neuron-enriched culture, lacking glia. We compared fibril treatment of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 germ-line knock-out, and G2019S germ-line knock-in, mouse cortical neuron cultures with those from littermates. We found leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 knock-out neurons are resistant to α-synuclein aggregation, which predominantly forms within axons, and may cause axonal fragmentation. Conversely, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 knock-in neurons are more vulnerable to fibril-induced α-synuclein accumulation. Protection and resistance correlated with basal increases in a lysosome marker in knock-out, and an autophagy marker in knock-in cultures. The data add to a growing number of studies that argue leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 silencing, and potentially kinase inhibition, may be a useful therapeutic strategy against synucleinopathy.
Relationship between Carbon Content and Growth of Teak in Natural Forest and Plantation, Lampang Province, Thailand

The relationship was studied between the carbon content (percentage dry weight of carbon in tree stems) and growth of teak in natural forest and plantation at Mae Ngao National Reserve Forest and at Huai Thak in a 63 year-old plantation in Lampang province, Thailand, respectively. Teak growth patterns were studied using dendrochronological techniques that were then classified into three growth-rate periods (small, medium, large). The carbon contents of teak in each growth-rate period within the natural forest and the plantation were compared using one-way analysis of variance, while differences between the natural forest and plantation within each growth-rate period were compared using an independent two-sample t test. The results indicated that the differences in the carbon contents between growth-rate periods of teak in natural forest were not significant (p = 0.053), with the carbon contents based on dry weight in the small, medium and large growth-rate periods in the natural forest being 49.16%, 49.49% and 49.75%, respectively. Similarly, the differences in the carbon contents among the growth-rate periods of teak in the plantation were not significant (p = 0.583), with the carbon contents based on dry weight in the small, medium and large growth-rate periods of teak in the plantation being 48.83%, 49.19% and 49.29%, respectively. The differences in the carbon contents of teak growing in natural forest and plantation were not significant (p = 0.201). The average carbon contents on a dry weight basis in natural forest and plantation were 49.47% and 49.10%, respectively.
A 28-GHz 16-Gb/s High Efficiency 16-QAM Transmitter in 65-nm CMOS

This work presents the design and implementation of an ultra-broadband quadrature common-mode amplitude modulator (QCAM) to generate high power back-off efficiency 16-QAM signals. The proposed QCAM transmitter consists of I- and Q-path PAM4 modulators, which digitally modulate the power amplifier (PA) output stage to relax the linearity requirement. An interleaved differential transformer-based coupler is proposed for wide-band combination of the baseband and LO signals. The I and Q PAM4 signals are combined using an on-chip Wilkinson power combiner to generate the 16-QAM output signal. The 28-GHz 16-QAM transmitter test chip, implemented in 65-nm CMOS, achieved measurement results of 11.35 dBm average RF output power, 9.2% DC-RF efficiency, 16 Gb/s data rate, and −24 dB EVM.
Roles of Local Governance Institutions and Promotion of Urban Agriculture Practices in Western Kenya

The role of local government institution and especially institutional structures and political culture often shape government performance including livelihood supporting activities such as Urban Agriculture (UA). The changing population pattern orchestrated by the spread of urbanization has resulted into a rise in poverty and food demand, necessitating UA. However, there seem to be limited documentation with regard to how local governance institutions influence and promote UA practices. The purpose of the study was to assess how roles of local governance institutions influence promotion of urban agriculture practices in Western Kenya. The specific objectives were to investigate the influence of economic, social and environmental roles of institutions, and the relationship between county government institutions roles and urban agriculture practice. Cross sectional survey design was adopted on a target population of 440 urban farmers (Eldoret: N=137; Kakamega: N=145; Kisumu: N=158) identified through the assistance of County Agricultural officers in the three towns. A sample size of 205 respondents (Eldoret=63; Kakamega=68; Kisumu=74) was obtained using stratified technique. Questionnaire and Key Informant interviews were used for data collection. Inferential statistics using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used in data analysis. Results showed that the department of agriculture, livestock and fisheries was the most important institution on promotion of urban agriculture in Kisumu (40.0%), Kakamega (42.2%) and Eldoret (64.8%). There was there was a moderate positive correlation (n=205; r =.532; p <.05) between role of county government institutions and UA practices which was statistically significant.
Integrated in silico and 3D in vitro model of macrophage migration in response to physical and chemical factors in the tumor microenvironment

Macrophages are abundant in the tumor microenvironment (TME), serving as accomplices to cancer cells for their invasion. Studies have explored the biochemical mechanisms that drive pro-tumor macrophage functions, however the role of TME interstitial flow (IF) is often disregarded. Therefore, we developed a three-dimensional microfluidic-based model with tumor cells and macrophages to study how IF affects macrophage migration and its potential contribution to cancer invasion. The presence of either tumor cells or IF individually increased macrophage migration directedness and speed. Interestingly, there was no additive effect on macrophage migration directedness and speed under the simultaneous presence of tumor cells and IF. Further, we present an in silico model that couples chemokine-mediated signaling with mechanosensing networks to explain our in vitro observations. The model proposes IL-8, CCL2 and β-integrin as key pathways that commonly regulate various Rho GTPases. In agreement, in vitro macrophage migration remained elevated when exposed to a saturating concentration of recombinant IL-8 or CCL2, or to the co-addition of a sub-optimal concentration of both cytokines. Moreover, antibody blockade against IL-8 and/or CCL2 inhibited migration that could be restored by IF, indicating cytokine-independent mechanisms of migration induction. Importantly, we demonstrate the utility of an integrated in silico and 3D in vitro approach to aid the design of tumor-associated macrophage-based immunotherapeutic strategies.
Re-imagining the city: branding migration-related diversity

ABSTRACT How do superdiverse cities re-imagine themselves in response to migration-related diversity? Based on a double case study on the branding strategies of two superdiverse Dutch cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, this paper shows that although diversity is part of the brand identity in both cities, it is not used prominently in urban planning or brand communications. Migration-related diversity is re-defined strategically (as ‘cosmopolitan’ and ‘international’) for two reasons: (1) to turn it into an asset that enhances the brand, and (2) to align the brand with existing policies and political discourses on migration and accommodate political pressures. City marketers have depoliticized place branding. Marketing logic pushed migration-related diversity to the background, because according to the city marketers diversity does not help a city to stand out. There is limited interaction between spatial planners and city marketers, and marketers use spatial planning selectively in place branding.
Effect of Top Tension on Vortex-Induced Vibration of Deep-Sea Risers

With the increase of water depth, the design and use of the top-tensioned risers (TTR) are facing more and more challenges. This research presents the effect of top tension on dynamic behavior of deep-sea risers by means of numerical simulations and experiments. First, the governing equation of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of TTR based on Euler-Bernoulli theory and Van der Pol wake-oscillator model was established, and the effect of top tension on natural vibration of TTR was discussed. Then, the dynamic response of TTR in shear current was calculated numerically by finite difference method. The displacement, bending stress and vibration frequency of TTR with the variation of top tension were investigated. Finally, a VIV experiment of a 5 m long flexible top-tensioned model was carried out at the towing tank of Tianjin University. The results show that the vibration displacement of TTR increases and the bending stress decreases as the top tension increases. The dominant frequency of VIV of TTR is controlled by the current velocity and is barely influenced by the top tension. With the increase of top tension, the natural frequency of TTR increases, the lower order modes are excited in the same current.
Enhancing ICT for Insurance in Africa

This study assesses how enhancing information and communication technology (ICT) affects life insurance and non-life insurance in a panel of forty-eight African countries with data for the period 2004-2014. The adopted ICT dynamics are: mobile phone penetration, internet penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions. The empirical evidence is based on Generalized Method of Moments. The results show that enhancing mobile phone penetration and fixed broadband subscriptions has a positive net effect on life insurance consumption while enhancing fixed broadband subscriptions also has a positive net impact of on non-life insurance penetration.
Work-Related Fatigue Risk-Determining Factors in Traditional Metal Casting Industry in Klaten

Fatigue is one of risk factors in an occupational accident and could result in injuries or health problems. This research was aimed at analysing the determinant fatigue risk factors in traditional metal casting industry. The study was a quantitative observational analytic research with cross sectional design conducted in Traditional Metal Casting Industry in Klaten. There were 39 respondents selected as samples through a purposive sampling method. Spearman correlation and SPSS program were used for data analysis. The result showed that there were correlation between body mass index and workrelated fatigue (p=0.033, r=-0. 343) and hydration status and work-related fatigue (p=0.003, r=0.473). Body mass index and hydration status affected the work-related fatigue up to 30.5%. There were no correlation between age (p=0.118, r=0.254), years of services (p=0.062, r=0.301), and workload (p=0.357, r=-0.152) to work fatigue.
Obstetrical safety indicators for preventing hospital harms: a scoping review protocol

Introduction: Optimizing the safety of obstetric patient care is a primary concern for many hospitals. Identifying performance indicators that measure aspects of patient care processes related to preventable harms can present opportunities to improve health systems. In this paper, we present our protocol for a scoping review to identify performance indicators for obstetric safety. We aim to identify a comprehensive list of obstetric safety indicators which may help reduce the number of preventable patient harms, to summarize the data and to synthesize the results. Methods and analysis: We will use the methodological framework described by Arksey and O Malley and further expanded by Levac. We will search multiple electronic databases such as Medline, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library as well as websites from professional bodies and other organisations, using an iterative search strategy. We will include indicators that relate to preventable harms in the process of obstetric care. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts of search results to determine eligibility for inclusion. For records where eligibility is not clear, the reviewers will screen the full text version. If reviewers decisions regarding eligibility differ, a third reviewer will review the full text record. Two reviewers will independently extract data from records that meet our inclusion criteria using a standardized data collection form. We will narratively describe quantitative data, such as the frequency with which indicators are identified, and conduct a thematic analysis of the qualitative data. We will compile a comprehensive list of patient safety indicators identified during our scoping review and organise them according to concepts that best suit the data such as the Donabedian model or the Hospital Harm Framework. We will discuss the implications of the indicators for future research, clinical practice and policy making. We will report the conduct of the review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA ScR) Checklist. Ethics and Dissemination: The sources of information included in this scoping review will be available to the public. Therefore, ethical review for this research is not warranted. We will disseminate our research results using multiple modes of delivery such as a peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations and stakeholder communications. Keywords: Obstetrics, patient safety, performance indicators, prevention, hospital harms, scoping review, protocol.
Quality of Life as an Integrative Indicator of Health Status in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Concomitant Diabetes Mellitus Type II

The main indicators of quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C with concomitant diabetes mellitus type II were studied on the basis of SF-36. A sharp decrease in physical and mental health was observed in patients with combined comorbidity in comparison with the group of patients without concomitant diabetes mellitus type II. Improvement of the patients’ quality of life by all parameters was detected under the influence of alpha-lipoic acid and lactulose use in addition to antiviral therapy.
Unsupervised Metric Learning with Synthetic Examples

Distance Metric Learning (DML) involves learning an embedding that brings similar examples closer while moving away dissimilar ones. Existing DML approaches make use of class labels to generate constraints for metric learning. In this paper, we address the less-studied problem of learning a metric in an unsupervised manner. We do not make use of class labels, but use unlabeled data to generate adversarial, synthetic constraints for learning a metric inducing embedding. Being a measure of uncertainty, we minimize the entropy of a conditional probability to learn the metric. Our stochastic formulation scales well to large datasets, and performs competitive to existing metric learning methods.
Parliamentary Questions as an Instrument for Geographic Representation: The Hard Case of Portugal

: This article asks whether and why, in a system lacking electoral incentives to cultivate personal votes, MPs might choose to signal to geographic constituents. It explores this question by analysing the number of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Portuguese parliament on two issues – unemployment and crime – between 2009 and 2015, and asking if MPs are more inclined to table questions on speciﬁc issues when their districts suffer particularly from related problems. The article ﬁnds evidence that constituency-level problem pressure does matter for the signalling activities of MPs, although policy specialization remains the main driver of their issue emphasis. This ﬁnding contributes new knowledge to the ongoing debate on the factors accounting for the representative relationship between MPs and constituents, by drawing attention to the importance of district-level problem pressure as one of the drivers of issue sponsorship in parliament.
Use of Clinical Simulations to Evaluate the Impact of Health Information Systems and Ubiquitous Computing Devices Upon Health Professional Work

Health information systems, and in particular ubiquitous computing devices (UCD), promise to revo-lutionize healthcare. However, before this can be widely achieved UCD need to be adapted to fit the information, workflow and cognitive needs of users of such devices. Indeed systems and devices that are not developed appropriately may inadvertently introduce error in healthcare (“technology-induced error”). This chapter describes an approach to applying clinical simulations to evaluate the impact of health information systems and ubiquitous computing devices on health professional work. The approach allows for an assessment of “ cognitive-socio-technical fit” and the ability to modify and improve systems and devices before they are released into widespread use. The application of realistic clinical simulations is detailed, including the stages of development of such simulations (from the creation of representative clinical environments to subject selection and data collection approaches). In order to ensure the success and widespread adoption of UCD, it is argued that greater emphasis will need to be placed on ensuring such systems and devices have a high degree of fit with user’s cognitive and work processes.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in severe aortic stenosis: impact of surgical and trans-catheter aortic valve replacement on reverse remodelling and fibrosis

Introduction: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the commonest valvular lesion in the developed world and is associated with adverse cardiac remodelling. With its excellent accuracy and reproducibility, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an ideal tool to assess cardiac remodelling and reverse remodelling following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aims of this thesis were: 1) to evaluate gender differences in AS and following aortic valve replacement, 2) to evaluate the incidence of post-procedural myocardial infarction following SAVR and TAVI, 3) to describe the immediate effect of TAVI on reverse remodelling and 4) to assess the impact of TAVI-induced left bundle branch block (LBBB) . Methods: Between January 2009 and April 2015, patients with severe AS undergoing either TAVI or SAVR were prospectively recruited. Patients underwent comprehensive 1.5T CMR evaluation pre-procedure, prior to hospital discharge and 6m post-procedure. Results: 1) Women with severe AS have a lower indexed left ventricular (LV) mass than men (65.3± 18.4 vs. 81.5±21.3g/m2, p<0.001). 6m following valve replacement, LV mass regression is similar between genders (men 21.7±10.1 vs. women 18.4±11.0%, p=0.121). 2) Myocardial infarction (MI) is more frequent following SAVR than TAVI (n=10 (26%) vs. n=3 (5%), p=0.004). 3) Over 10% of LV mass regression occurs prior to hospital discharge following TAVI and is more pronounced in the absence of myocardial fibrosis (p=0.005). 4) TAVI-induced LBBB is associated with a reduced LVEF 6m following TAVI compared with those with a narrow QRS (-2.1±6.9 vs. +4.6±7.8%, p=0.002). Conclusions: TAVI and SAVR are associated with favourable cardiac reverse remodelling which does not differ according to gender and begins prior to hospital discharge. SAVR is associated with a higher incidence of post-procedural MI than TAVI. TAVI-induced LBBB should be avoided where possible due to its unfavourable effects on cardiac reverse remodelling.
Comparisons of PI and ANN controllers for shunt HPF based on STF-PQ Algorithm under distorted grid voltage

This paper proposes a shunt hybrid power filter (HPF) for harmonic currents and reactive power compensation under a distorted voltage and in a polluted environment. For this purpose, the reference current of the shunt HPF is computed based on the instantaneous reactive power (p-q) theory with self-tuning filter (STF). In order to adjust the dc voltage as a reference value, PI and ANN controllers have been utilized. Moreover, the system has been implemented and simulated in a MATLAB-SIMULINK platform, and selected results are presented. Therefore, the results verified the good dynamic performance, transient stability and strong robustness of the ANN controller. Furthermore, the shunt HAPF with ANN controller has been found to be in agreement with the IEEE 519-1992 standard recommendations on harmonic levels.