Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The divergence between community case management of malaria and renewed calls for primary healthcare

Thirty years after Alma-Ata, there has been an upsurge of interest in community health workers (CHWs) in low- and middle-income countries. This echoes several strategic policies recently endorsed by the World Health Organization and its global call to re-establish the primary healthcare (PHC) policy. However, we are witnessing a reframing of this approach rather than its renewal. In particular, the way CHWs are conceptualized has changed considerably. Far from serving as promoters of social change and community empowerment, today we expect them to act as front-line clinicians. This medicalization of CHWs results from a systemic erosion of health promotion’s influence over the last 20 years. Community case management of malaria perfectly illustrates this shift towards a pragmatic, medically centered, use of CHWs. Taking this example, we will discuss the pitfalls of this task-shifting strategy put forward by international health actors, and make suggestions to reattribute a mission of health promotion to CHWs, as intended by the Alma-Ata’s PHC policy.
Comparison of MIC with MBEC Assay for in Vitro Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing in Biofilm Forming Clinical Bacterial Isolates

Context: MIC results can be misleading for treatment of biofilm associated. The Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) measures the determination to be made for a biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics. Aims: Assessment of biofilm production and comparison of the MIC and MBEC assays evaluate differences in the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of different clinical bacterial isolates from patients implanted with medical devices. Settings and Design: Random sampling with experimental study at tertiary care institute. Methods and Material: The study was carried out during January 2014 to March 2014 on 50 positive bacteriological cultures of medical devices which were inserted in hospitalized patients. Biofilm forming strains were identified by tissue culture plate method & tube method. Biofilm-producing and non-biofilm forming reference strains were used as controls. Assay has been developed for the use with flat bottom, 96-well microtiter plates. Sterile autoclaved PCR tubes were used as pegs which provided surface for the biofilm formation. Amikacin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, cefoperazone/ sulbactam, gentamycin were tested for MIC and MBEC assay. Statistical Analysis Used: Results will be discussed in the form of percentages. Results: Colonization by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was prevalent bacterial isolates in medical devices. MBEC was higher for all the antibiotics as compared to MIC except amikacin MBEC for Pseudomonas was the same as MIC. Conclusions: Device associated bacterial biofilms are the major source of infections in patients of critical care setup. MIC misleads physician for organism’s drug susceptibility testing, which results in therapeutic failure. MBEC can guide regarding choice and proper dosing of antibiotics to be given. That’s why major studies for similar testing should be done with clinical evaluation.
Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis: efficacy and safety of a protocol of treatment. Treatment of Isolated Calf Thrombosis (TICT) Study.

AIM The optimal treatment of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (ID-DVT) is still controversial. A complete anticoagulation as soon as the diagnosis is made is recommended by some authors. Alternatively, other authors suggest to perform serial ultrasonography assessments to detect the possible extension of DVT towards proximal veins. Only in this case the treatment should be initiated. Furthermore, the optimal duration of treatment is far from established. The Treatment of Isolated Calf Thrombosis (TICT) study was set up to assess the efficacy and safety of a particular treatment regimen of ID-DVT based on low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). METHODS The drug treatment consisted of a twice-daily subcutaneous administration of a full dose of weight-adjusted LMWH for one week, followed by a half dose of LMWH administered once-daily for another three weeks. At the end of the four-week period of treatment, a colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography (CCDU) assessment was scheduled and after three months a follow-up visit was performed. If a patient was unable to attend the visit, he was contacted by a phone-call to assess if any adverse events occurred. The study enrolled 192 outpatients with ID-DVT confirmed by CCDU. Twenty-one out of 192 patients (10.9%) were excluded for violation of protocol. Thus 171 (39.9% men, mean age of 60.45 years ) were eligible and were included in the study. Sixty-one patients (36.6%) presented an unprovoked ID-DVT. RESULTS Events during the period of treatment (4 weeks). Ten out of 171 patients (5.8%) had complications: five patients showed an extension proximal to the knee (2.9%) all with an unprovoked ID-DVT; two showed an extension of thrombus within the distal veins. Three patients (1.7%) suffered from minor bleeding; there was no major bleeding. Further events during three months of observation occurred. Five patients had thrombus recurrences: four patients showed a proximal DVT (3 with a previous unprovoked ID-DVT, 1 with a previous ID-DVT secondary to a traumatic leg fracture, with persistent difficulty of deambulation); one, with a previous secondary thrombosis, showed a ID-DVT. CONCLUSIONS In our study only 2.9% of patients with ID-DVT showed a progression of thrombosis to proximal deep veins; the majority of thrombus progression, during the treatment period, was observed in patients with unprovoked ID-DVT. Our results support the usefulness of a prolonged treatment in unprovoked ID-DVT.
No todo lo que se dice Montessori lo es: decodificación de elementos esenciales en un mundo globalizado / Are we being Montessorians? Decoding essentials in a globalizad world

Algunas practicas montessorianas parecen pasar por alto y ser contradictorias con el sentido original de sus escritos. El presente articulo se pregunta sobre principios esenciales de la educacion montessoriana, tomando como perspectiva sus propios escritos, a la luz del paradigma de la Complejidad. Los resultados de la indagacion se organizan desde una perspectiva sistemica: (1) descubrimientos sobre la ninez en los contextos propiciados; (2) la relevancia de la educacion como diseno cultural; (3) una formacion de educadores y educadoras que enfatiza tanto la complejidad como una disposicion a la comprension empatica de la ninez, la auto-observacion y una perspectiva evolutiva planetaria y de la especie. Se vinculan los conceptos con las corrientes de pensamiento historico-cultural y desde el paradigma de la complejidad. Como resultados, destacan como actuales los ideales de solidaridad y comunidad de aprendices, el papel de la observacion y el respeto por los ciclos de actividad o flujo propuestos por Montessori, asi como su conviccion de que la evolucion de la humanidad, aun incompleta, ha de ser conducida, transdisciplinariamente, en la linea de una evolucion cultural consciente, particularmente urgente ante el mundo de las tecnologias de informacion y comunicacion (TICs) hoy. The present article involves an inquiry into essential conditions for a Montessori education, in three realms: (1) evolutionary characteristics of childhood-in-context; (2) a “scientifically” prepared existential environment, to act interactively towards the learning-education-development of potentialities; (3) a system for the transformation of educators, with emphasis on a disposition towards the empathic apprehension of childhood, a complexity approach, self-observation and a planetary and species evolutionary perspective. In order to relate her concepts with mainstream educational theory, links are made to cultural-historical concepts and a Complexity perspective. As results, ideals of solidarity, a nurturing perspective, the role of observation and of respect for activity cycles and concentration are stressed as particularly pertinent in the world of TICs today, as well as her belief that the evolution of humanity is yet incomplete and it is our due to collaborate with it—a position that she shares with current evolutionists
Poaching Risks in Community‐Based Natural Resource Management

Poaching can disrupt wildlife‐management efforts in community‐based natural resource management systems. Monitoring, estimating, and acquiring data on poaching is difficult. We used local‐stakeholder knowledge and poaching records to rank and map the risk of poaching incidents in 2 areas where natural resources are managed by community members in Caprivi, Namibia. We mapped local stakeholder perceptions of the risk of poaching, risk of wildlife damage to livelihoods, and wildlife distribution and compared these maps with spatially explicit records of poaching events. Recorded poaching events and stakeholder perceptions of where poaching occurred were not spatially correlated. However, the locations of documented poaching events were spatially correlated with areas that stakeholders perceived wildlife as a threat to their livelihoods. This result suggests poaching occurred in response to wildlife damage occurred. Local stakeholders thought that wildlife populations were at high risk of being poached and that poaching occurred where there was abundant wildlife. These findings suggest stakeholders were concerned about wildlife resources in their community and indicate a need for integrated and continued monitoring of poaching activities and further interventions at the wildlife‐agricultural interface. Involving stakeholders in the assessment of poaching risks promotes their participation in local conservation efforts, a central tenet of community‐based management. We considered stakeholders poaching informants, rather than suspects, and our technique was spatially explicit. Different strategies to reduce poaching are likely needed in different areas. For example, interventions that reduce human‐wildlife conflict may be required in residential areas, and increased and targeted patrolling may be required in more remote areas. Stakeholder‐generated maps of human‐wildlife interactions may be a valuable enforcement and intervention support tool.
Genome reversion process of endopolyploidy confers chromosome instability on the descendent diploid cells

Endotetraploidy with 4‐chromatid chromosomes divides by a bipolar, 2‐step meiotic‐like division back to diploidy (subcells), which is chiefly achieved by co‐segregation of whole genomes uncoupled from spindle participation. This study shows diploid subcell inheritance of endopolyploid‐division traits: perpendicular division relative to the cytoskeleton axis, dysfunctional centromere/kinetochore regions and whole genomic separations from co‐segregation. The assimilation of these traits into the innate mitotic machinery of the subcells resulted in diploid mitotic divisions that tolerated mild disturbances in cycling progression and in chromosomal distributions. The data were interpreted as demonstrating a blending together of endopolyploid and mitotic division traits with result of an endo‐modified mitosis in subcell propagation. Additionally, chromosomal stickiness caused breakage in anaphase/telophase. The observations are discussed in regard to a potential for slowly developing aneuploidy with increasing genomic complexity, which is widely accepted to be the basic route in tumorigenesis.
Development of an HTS-Compatible Assay for Discovery of Melanoma-Related Microphthalmia Transcription Factor Disruptors Using AlphaScreen Technology

Microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) is a master transcription factor expressed in melanocytes, essential for melanocyte survival, differentiation, and pigment formation, and is a key oncogenic factor in melanoma initiation, migration, and treatment resistance. Although identified as an important therapeutic target for melanoma, clinical inhibitors directly targeting the MITF protein are not available. Based on the functional state of MITF, we have designed an MITF dimerization-based AlphaScreen (MIDAS) assay that sensitively and specifically mirrors the dimerization of MITF in vitro. This assay is further exploited for identification of the MITF dimer disruptor for high-throughput screening. A pilot screen against a library of 1280 pharmacologically active compounds indicates that the MIDAS assay performance exhibits exceptional results with a Z′ factor of 0.81 and a signal-to-background (S/B) ratio of 3.92 while identifying initial hit compounds that yield an ability to disrupt MITF-DNA interaction. The results presented demonstrate that the MIDAS assay is ready to screen large chemical libraries in order to discover novel modulators of MITF for potential melanoma treatment.
EMIA: Emotion Model for Intelligent Agent

Abstract Emotions play a significant role in human cognitive processes such as attention, motivation, learning, memory, and decision making. Many researchers have worked in the field of incorporating emotions in a cognitive agent. However, each model has its own merits and demerits. Moreover, most studies on emotion focus on steady-state emotions than emotion switching. Thus, in this article, a domain-independent computational model of emotions for intelligent agent is proposed that have modules for emotion elicitation, emotion regulation, and emotion transition. The model is built on some well-known psychological theories such as appraisal theories of emotions, emotion regulation theory, and multistore human memory model. The design of the model is using the concept of fuzzy logic to handle uncertain and subjective information. The main focus is on primary emotions as suggested by Ekman; however, simultaneous elicitation of multiple emotions (called secondary emotion) is also supported by the model.
Increased Axonal Mitochondrial Mobility Does Not Slow Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-like Disease in Mutant SOD1 Mice*

Reduced axonal mitochondrial transport has been observed in major neurodegenerative diseases, including fALS patients and SOD1G93A mice. However, it is unclear whether this defect plays a critical role in axonal degeneration or simply reflects sequelae of general transport alteration. Using genetic mouse models combined with time-lapse imaging of live neurons, we previously discovered that axon-targeted syntaphilin (SNPH) acts as a docking receptor specific for axonal mitochondria. Deletion of the snph gene in mice results in a substantially higher proportion of axonal mitochondria in the mobile state without any effect on the transport of other axonal organelles. Here we address whether increased (rescued) axonal mitochondrial mobility changes the disease course by crossing fALS-linked transgenic SOD1G93A and snph−/− knock-out mice. We found that a 2-fold increase in axonal mitochondrial mobility in SOD1G93A/snph−/− mice did not affect the onset of ALS-like symptoms. Both SOD1G93A and SOD1G93A/snph−/− mice exhibit similar weight loss, deterioration in motor function and motor neuron loss, significant gliosis, and a lifespan of 152–154 days. Thus, for the first time, our study provides genetic and pathological evidence that the impairment of mitochondrial transport seen in SOD1G93A mice plays a minimal role in the rapid-onset of fALS-linked pathology.
On the stiffness design of intrinsic compliant manipulators

The incorporation of intrinsic compliance in robotic actuation systems has attracted the attention during recent years due to the considerable benefits which is not possible to achieve with conventional “stiff” actuation systems. However, despite the numerous compliant robots developed, a systematic method for tuning the passive elasticity of the individual joints is still missing. This tuning is typically performed using experimental trial and error processes and very little information on the criteria and methodologies used is available. This work studies the effects of passive compliance on the key parameters of the robotic systems including natural frequency, damping ratio, Cartesian stiffness and energy storage capacity. Criteria are then defined based on the desired performance of the system; and a method for the selection of the passive stiffness of compliant actuated arms is introduced. The proposed method is evaluated on a four degrees of freedom (DOF) compliant arm and the compliance of its joints is tuned. The sensitiveness of the main dynamic and static parameters of the robot with respect to the stiffness of joints is illustrated to show the effect of the compliance of each individual joint.
Measuring the passage of brain time

Many brain areas are under both circadian and homeostatic control The brain's central circadian (near-24-hour) clock exerts a very powerful influence on sleep and wakefulness (1, 2), interacting with our increasing drive to sleep as time awake increases (3, 4). On page 687 of this issue, Muto et al. (5) demonstrate that the interaction of the circadian clock with this so-called homeostatic sleep drive—which had been inferred from studies of human performance, sleep propensity, and risk of error or accident (3, 4, 6)—is rooted in measurable changes in cortical and subcortical responsiveness. Moreover, the nature of the interaction varies among cortical and subcortical brain regions.
Matching networks for maximum efficiency in two and three coil wireless power transfer systems

This work carries out a thorough study of the advantages of using general load matching networks in two and three coil systems. The presented theoretical analysis helps to understand the impact and application of each of the following approaches: adjusting the impedance seen from the load, using additional resonant coils or using both techniques together. A proof of concept system was optimized using a matching network and simulated, showing that the efficiency is improved compared to the case of commonly used resonating structures.
The Use of Priority Information in Performance Feedback

To provide the most value to an organization, individuals must focus efforts on those outputs that have maximum value to the organization. However, the realities of the workplace are that information about performance and how individuals can add value to an organization is complex; that is, determining which activities to focus on is a fairly complex task because such information is nonlinear, whereby the importance of a certain activity may change depending on the level of performance at any given time. This article empirically examines whether providing complex, nonlinear feedback that reflects the complexities of the real world will result in a change in work outputs that reflect these nonlinearities. This article assesses whether employees can and do use complex feedback that reflects the complexity of the real world in the intended ways. In addition, this article examines whether individuals use feedback that includes priority information beyond feedback that reports on simple relative importance. Data were analyzed from 9 work units for time periods averaging a little over a year. Results indicate that, as predicted, when individuals have access to both complex, nonlinear priority information and simple, linear relative importance information, individuals can and do use the complex data in the intended way.
Stimulus velocity effect in a complex interceptive task in right- and left-handers

Abstract This study investigated stimulus velocity effect on manual asymmetry during planning and execution of a complex coincidence-anticipation task. Left- and right-handers were required to press six buttons sequentially in conjunction with visual stimulus provided by a coincidence-anticipation device. Results showed that (1) stimulus velocity affected timing response and timing accuracy only for right-handers, who responded faster but less accurately in the fast stimulus velocity, (2) manual asymmetries for both handedness groups revealed a left-hand advantage for initiating the movement, and a preferred-hand advantage for movement time. The preferred-hand advantage in timing accuracy was only observed in the fast stimulus velocity. These findings are discussed in the framework of the hemispheric functional lateralisation.
Expatriation and Careers: Perspectives of Expatriates and Spouses.

The relationship between foreign assignment and career development has been stated to be unclear, and further research has been called for with regard to career challenges and career management programmes of expatriates. Furthermore, today an extensive proportion of marriages are dual‐career partnerships with both partners employed, and thus a need to take this into account has been stressed in expatriate literature. The present study covers these issues based on the experiences of about 300 Finnish expatriates. Career arrangements after repatriation was a very prominent concern among expatriates. On the other hand, the results also indicate that career‐related support practices were not very common in this sample, but there was clear inconsistency between perceived necessity and actual use of these programmes. Dual‐career couples’ career considerations played a central role as in the case of expatriates. However, dual‐career support was not commonly available although it was again seen as necessary.
Oral iloprost in Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis: a multicentre, placebo-controlled, dose-comparison study.

OBJECTIVE To identify the optimal dose of oral iloprost on the basis of efficacy and tolerability in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis. DESIGN Multicentre, randomized, parallel-group comparison of two different doses of oral iloprost and placebo. SETTING European university hospitals. PATIENTS A total of 103 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis. INTERVENTION Patients received one of three treatments for 6 weeks: placebo, oral iloprost 50 microg or oral iloprost 100 microg. Each treatment was taken twice daily, giving total daily doses of iloprost of 100 and 200 microg. MEASUREMENTS The frequency, total daily duration and severity of Raynaud's attacks were recorded in a specially designed patient diary; physician's global assessment and adverse events were recorded at visits to the clinic. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat population. RESULTS A total of 103 patients were recruited, 89 completed the assessments throughout the treatment period and 82 completed an additional 6 weeks of follow-up after treatment. Thirty-five patients received placebo, 33 received iloprost 50 microg and 35 received iloprost 100 microg. The mean percentage reductions in the frequency, total daily duration and severity of Raynaud's attacks were numerically greater in the iloprost groups at the end of treatment and at the end of follow-up. At the end of treatment (6 weeks), there were significant treatment differences in the total daily duration of attacks (P = 0.03), but not in the severity (P = 0.07) or the frequency of attacks (P = 0.37). At the end of follow-up (12 weeks), there were significant treatment differences in the total daily duration of attacks (P = 0.001) and in the severity of attacks (P = 0.007), but not in the frequency of attacks (P = 0.07). Percentages of patients improved at the end of treatment as assessed by the physician were 44% placebo, 57% iloprost 50 microg and 64% iloprost 100 microg (not significant). Side-effects were reported by 80% of patients on placebo, 85% on oral iloprost 50 microg and 97% on oral iloprost 100 microg. Premature discontinuations of treatment in each group were 9, 30 and 51%, respectively, with 6, 27 and 51% being due to adverse events. CONCLUSION The results on the daily duration of Raynaud's attacks suggest that both 50 and 100 microg oral iloprost twice daily may be effective in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis. The 50 microg iloprost dose was better tolerated in this patient group.