Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pain Scale: When the Training Influences Its Use

The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge that nurses in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of a public birth center had about the use of the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and to test how their scoring for NIPS changed before and after training. Thirty nurses applied the NIPS scale to newborns that were procedures considered painful. During the first and second evaluations, nurses diagnosed 30% infants as having pain and 70% infants as having an absence of pain. In the third and fourth evaluations, after the NIPS parameters had been explained, we observed an increase in the number of infants diagnosed with the presence of pain (65%). The results indicate the importance of formal training for the systemic evaluation of pain in newborns.
What Is “Authoritarian” About Authoritarian Capitalism? The Dual Erosion of the Private–Public Divide in State-Dominated Business Systems

The “return of the state” as an economic actor has left scholars at a lack of theoretical tools to capture the characteristics of state-dominated business systems. This is reflected in the fact that any type of state intervention in the economy is too easily qualified as a sign of “authoritarian capitalism,” which has led scholars to lump together countries as diverse as China, Singapore, and Norway under that heading. Rather than considering any type of state intervention in the economy as authoritarian, we propose a more sophisticated conceptualization, which distinguishes two boundaries between the public and the private domains and conceives of the “return of the state” as the erosion of one or both of them. This conceptualization allows us to clearly distinguish a shift from an ideal-typical market-based “regulatory capitalism” to “state capitalism” or “authoritarian capitalism,” respectively. We use interview data with business leaders in an extreme case of the return of the state to identify the nature of the mechanisms by which an authoritarian government erodes these private-public divides. We argue that a focus on these constitutive mechanisms of the erosion of private-public divides allows us to define “authoritarian capitalism” in a way that makes it a useful tool to understand contexts beyond the Chinese case in which it first emerged.
Interaction of α-thymidine Inhibitors and Natural Substrates with Thymidylate Kinase from Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria is one of the most devastating parasite-borne infectious diseases and Plasmodium falciparum is associated with the deadliest form of malaria. Due to theemerging drug resistance against current treatments in these parasites, there is continuous need in developing novel anti-malarial drugs. Thymidylate kinase from Plasmodium falciparum (PfTMK) is an attractive druggabletarget for the development of anti-malarial agents due to its vital role in the Plasmodium life cycle and potential in drug specificity. Several groups have developed and reportedPfTMK inhibitors, however, none have entered clinical trials. The field has been limited by the lack of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to aid further structuralmodifications of existing inhibitors; furthermore, there has not been a study that comprehensively characterize PfTMK-substrate interaction in order to elaborate on theunique substrate specificity of PfTMK of being capable of phosphorylating both dTMP and dGMP. In our study, we aim to address these concerns in the current field. We designed and synthesized small molecules derived from a reported PfTMK inhibitor, and thoroughly characterized the synthesized compounds in terms of enzyme inhibition and binding property; we also probed for binding site of the synthesized derivatives to provide an understanding on the SAR. We acquired methyl side-chain (ILV) assignments forPfTMK. The PfTMK-substrate interaction was comprehensively characterized in terms of steady-state kinetics, binding property, thermodynamics and dynamics. These studies provide significant insights on the unique substrate specificity of PfTMK; and more importantly, revealed a unique half-site binding mechanism with dGMP, in which we showed that the binding of the first dGMP molecule results in intermonomer communication and possible conformation change that prohibits the binding of second dGMP in the other subunit of the PfTMK dimer. These observations have significant implication on the future PfTMK inhibitor design; guanosine-based small moleculescould be more optimal than their thymidine-based counterparts in terms of PfTMK inhibition and binding specificity.
Mhealth for remote monitoring and management of Parkinson’s disease: determinants of compliance and validation of a tremor evaluation method

Background: mhealth, predominantly wearable technology and mobile apps, have been considered in Parkinson’s Disease to provide valuable ecological data between face to face visits and improve monitoring of motor symptoms remotely. Objective: In this study we explore the feasibility of using a technology based mhealth platform comprising a smartphone in combination with a smartwatch and a pair of smart insoles, described in the present study as the PD_manager system, to collect clinically meaningful data. We also explore outcomes and disease related factors which are important determinants to establish feasibility. Finally, we further validate a tremor evaluation method with data collected while patients perform their daily activities. Methods: PD_manager trial was an open label parallel group randomized study. The mheath platform consists of a wristband, a pair of sensor insoles, a smartphone (with dedicated mobile Android apps and a knowledge platform) serving as the cloud backend. The compliance was assessed with statistical analysis and the factors affecting it using appropriate regression analysis. The correlation of the scores of our previous algorithm for tremor evaluation and the respective UPDRS estimations by clinicians were explored. Results: There were 65 of the 75 study participants (87%) who completed the protocol. They used the PD_manager system for a median 11.57 days (Std. dev. 3.15). The regression analysis suggests that the main factor associated with high usage was caregivers’ burden. Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living and patients’ self-rated health status also influence the system’s usage. Our algorithm provided clinically meaningful data for the detection and evaluation of tremor. Conclusions: We found that PD patients, regardless of their demographics and disease characteristics, used the system for 11-14 days. The study further supports that mhealth can be an effective tool for the ecologically valid, passive, unobtrusive monitoring and evaluation of symptoms. Future studies will be required to demonstrate that an mhealth platform can improve disease management and care.
Milk lipid composition and structure; The relevance for infant brain development

The neurocognitive development of infants can be positively associated with breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Differences in dietary lipid quality between human milk and infant milk formula may contribute to this effect. In this review, we describe some of the known differences between human milk and infant milk formula in lipid quality, including fatty acid composition, complex lipids in the milk fat globule membrane as well as the physical properties of lipids and lipid globules. We describe some of the underlying mechanism by which these aspects of lipid quality are thought to modulate infant brain development such as differences in the supply and/or the bioavailability of lipids, lipid bound components and peripheral organ derived neurodevelopmental signals to the infant brain after ingestion and on longer term.
Ultrasound elastography in clinical diagnostics and in scientific research on muscles

Ultrasound elastography is a revolutionary medical imaging technique, enabling a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of tissue stiffness. This paper presents, based on published evidence, a wide range of possibilities for this method in clinical trials and scientific research. The use of dynamic elastography avoids the undesired influence of force applied to the tissue by the elastograph probe on the information content of the obtained image. In clinical practice, elastography is used to identify and examine the pathological condition of soft tissues (including cancer lesions and tendonitis) and to diagnose neuromuscular diseases. It is also used in scientific investigations as a non-invasive method to study the structure of skeletal muscle, including muscle thickness, fiber length and pennation angle using standard ultrasonography mode; it is also possible to obtain information about physical properties such as stiffness. Ultrasound elastography could also be a useful tool for physiotherapists monitoring the rehabilitation process. Based on the results of these studies, advances in elastographic imaging technology, and progress in biomedical diagnostic methods, elastography is expected to become a common method used in clinical diagnostics and scientific research.
Acute toxicity of concomitant boost radiation therapy by volumetric-modulated arc therapy in head and neck cancers

Abstract Introduction Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is an advanced form of intensity-modulated radiation therapy that reduces treatment time without compromising plan quality. This study assessed acute toxicities in patients having carcinomas of oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx treated with concomitant boost radiation therapy by VMAT. Materials and methods In this study, 30 patients of stages II–IVA disease were treated with concomitant boost radiation therapy using VMAT and those with stages III and IV also received concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 weekly thrice for two cycles. The total dose was 68·4 Gy/40 fractions/5.5 weeks (1·8 Gy/fraction/day to the large field for 28 fractions +1·5 Gy/fraction/day to boost field for the last 12 days of treatment). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria was used to grade acute effects. Results All patients completed scheduled treatment with median duration of 44 days. No grade 4 skin and mucosal toxicities were observed; grade 3 skin and mucosal toxicities seen in six (20%) and eight (26·67%) patients, respectively; grade 3 dysphagia and laryngeal toxicity in eight (26·67%) and three (10%) patients, respectively; two patients had grade 4 laryngeal toxicity. No grade 3 or grade 4 haematological toxicities were seen. Conclusion VMAT-based concomitant boost radiation therapy allows for dose escalation with good patient tolerance by limiting acute toxicities.
The development of accurate and high quality radiotherapy treatment delivery.

Accurate radiotherapy delivery is required for curing cancer. Historical radiotherapy accuracy studies at Leeds (1983-1991) are discussed in context of when radiographers were not involved in practice design. The seminal research was unique in being led by a radiographer practitioner, and in prospectively studying the accuracy of different techniques within one department. The viability of alignment of treatment beams with marks painted on a patient's skin varied daily, and, using film I showed that the alignment of treatment on anatomy varied. I then led 6 sequential studies with collaborating oncologists. Unique outcomes were in identifying the origins of treatment inaccuracies, implementing and evidencing changes in multi-disciplinary practice, thus improving accuracy and reproducibility generally and achieving accuracy for the pelvis to within current norms. Innovations included: discontinuation of painted skin marks and developing whole-body patient positioning using lasers, tattoos, and standardised supports; unification of set-up conditions through planning and treatment; planning normal tissue margins round target tissue to allow for inaccuracies (1985); improved manual shielding methods, changed equipment usage, its quality assurance and design; influenced the development of portal imaging and image analysis. Consequences and current implications. The research, still cited internationally, contributed to clinical management of lymphoma, and critically underpins contemporary practice. It led to my becoming the first radiographer invited into multi-disciplinary collaborative work, to advise in the first multi-centre clinical trials to consider treatment delivery accuracy, contribute to books written from within other disciplines and inform guidelines for good practice so helping to improve practices, with recent publications. I thus led my profession into research activity. Later work included development of a national staffing formula for radiotherapy Centres, and contributing to the evidence-base for improved National radiotherapy resourcing. I recently researched and developed a textbook (second edition) on quality in treatment delivery.
Türkiye’de Pediatrik Yoğun Bakım Ünitesi’nde Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM2) ve Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) Skorlarının Uygunluğunun Değerlendirilmesi

Amac: Cocuk yogun bakim unitelerinde (CYBU) son derece teknolojik kurulumlara ihtiyac bulunmaktadir. Gelismis teknolojiye ek olarak bu birimlerdeki hizmeti standart hale getirmek uzere mortalite skorlama sistemlerine ihtiyac olmaktadir. Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) ve Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) skorlamalari en iyi mortalite tahmin skorlaridir. Calismanin amaci, ileri merkezlerde gelistirilmis olan skorlamalarin etkinliklerini kiyaslayarak aralarindan unitemiz icin en uygun olanini secmek ve bu skorlama sistemini yogun bakim unitemize yerlestirmektir.Gerec ve Yontemler: Bir yil icinde CYBU’e yapilan 389 yatis calismaya dahil edildi. PIM2, PRISM skorlamalari prospektif olarak hesaplandi. Bu skorlamalarin ayirt ettirici ozellikleri istatistiksel olarak ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) egrisi altinda kalan alan hesaplanarak degerlendirildi. Skorlamalarin unitemize uygunlugu Hosmer ve Lemeshow tarafindan gelistirilen Goodness-of-fit testi ile degerlendirildi. Her uc skorlama icin de p degeri 0.05 alindi. Standardize edilmis mortalite orani (SMR) hesaplandi.Bulgular: PIM2, PRISM-12 ve 24 icin sirayla 0.84, 0.86 ve 0.89 bulundu. ROC egrisi altinda kalan alanin 0.80’nin uzerinde olmasi nedeniyle her uc skorlama sisteminin de iyi ayirt ettirici ozellikte oldugu goruldu. Her uc skorlama icin SMR 1’in altinda bulundu.Sonuc: Bu sonuclar merkezimizde gozlenen mortalitenin beklenen mortaliteden daha dusuk oldugunu gosterdi. Sonuc olarak bu skorlamalarin unitemiz icin mortaliteyi ongormede ayirt ettirici oldugu ancak kalibrasyonlarinin yeterli olmadigi goruldu.
Available treatment options for dystonia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Dystonia is a neurologic movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both. The etiology of dystonia is diverse and it includes genetic and other causes. Since the advent of botulinum toxin and deep brain stimulation, the treatment of dystonia has markedly improved and is still evolving. Areas covered: This review gives a historical overview of the treatment options for dystonia. In the absence of pathogenesis-targeted, disease-modifying therapies, the treatment of dystonia remains symptomatic. Botulinum toxin is the first line treatment for some forms of focal and segmental dystonias. Oral medications, including anticholinergics, baclofen, benzodiazepines and antidopaminergic drugs are used primarily in patients with generalized dystonia. Levodopa is an effective treatment for patients with dopa-responsive-dystonia. The use of deep brain stimulation, intrathecal and intraventricular baclofen, as well as ablative surgeries are options for patients with disabling dystonia refractory to other, less invasive, therapies. Expert opinion: The selected treatment modality should be tailored to the patient`s needs and guided by potential side effects. Refractory cases should be referred to tertiary center for evaluation with a multidisciplinary team and potential surgical treatment.
Evaluating Temperature Influence on Low-Cost Piezoelectric Transducer Response for 3D Printing Process Monitoring

The 3D printing process deals with the production of three-dimensional objects with defined geometries. However, this manufacturing process has a crucial point established at the beginning of the object manufacturing, where anomalies can occur and compromise the entire object produced. The piezoelectric diaphragm has been studied as an alternative to the conventional acoustic emission (AE) sensor concerning the monitoring of structures and processes. It has in its assembling a ceramic element with piezoelectric properties, which makes its response sensitive to temperature variations. The Pencil Lead Break (PLB) method is widely used due to its efficiency in the characterization of AE sensors. The present work aims to study the influence of temperature on the piezoelectric diaphragm response for the monitoring of the 3D printing process. PLB tests were performed on the glass surface of a 3D printer at three different temperatures, and the raw signal was collected at 5 MHz sample rate. The signal was investigated in the time and frequency domain. The results demonstrate that the frequency response of the sensor is directly influenced by the temperature variations. In addition, the signal amplitude variations occur differently along the entire spectrum, and frequency bands with small and large amplitude variations can be selected for a comparison study. Furthermore, two frequency bands were carefully selected, and the mean error was obtained regarding the reference temperatures of 25 and 45 °C. It can be inferred that the piezoelectric transducer has low sensitivity to temperature variation if a proper frequency band is selected, where an acceptable error of 16.9% was obtained.
Improving the chemical potential of nitrogen to tune the electron density and mobility of ZnSnN2

To meet device applications, it is essential to fabricate nondegenerate ZnSnN2 with higher mobility. Herein, the chemical potential of nitrogen was improved under Zn-rich sputtering conditions and nondegenerate ZnSnN2 with mobility higher than 20 cm2 V−1 s−1 was successfully fabricated. The properties of the samples were characterized. The obtained ZnSnN2 is wurstite. Band conduction is observed in the range 300–100 K and nearest neighbour hopping is observed in the range 100–70 K. The forbidden band gap is about 1.43 eV and Sn substituting Zn is the major donor, whose ionization energy is 34.6 meV. Improving the chemical potential of nitrogen under Zn-rich conditions effectively changes the off-stoichiometry of ZnSnN2 and unintentionally increases oxygen doping, which finally leads to a decrease in electron density and an increase in mobility.
Pure Ocular Myasthenia gravis

Abstract Pure ocular myasthenia was always described as a separate entity in historical publications. More than 50% of patients develop generalized symptoms in the course of the disease. Therefore pure ocular symptoms can be the beginning of generalized myasthenia, nevertheless there is a small group of patients who suffer lifelong purely ocular symptoms. The basis, therefore, seems to be special immunological, biochemical and pathophysiological mechanisms leading to specific local changes of the neuromuscular junction. The diagnostic procedure is hampered as antibodies against acethylcholine receptors and MuSK can be demonstrated in less than 50% of these patients. Therapy of pure ocular myasthenia does not differ fundamentally from other subgroups of myasthenia gravis and is implemented with cholinesterase inhibitors, steroids and common immunosuppressants. Thymomectomy is not recommended in general, but randomized controlled studies are lacking.
Public Investment Choices by Local and Central Governments

This paper examines the impacts of devolving authority for public resource allocation to local governments in a setting of limited electoral control. Such a setting differs from that assumed by seminal formal models of devolution, but describes many developing countries. This study presents a formal model of this setting and tests it using unique data from a natural experiment in rural Ethiopia whereby half of the country's regions were decentralized but not the other half. Employing a spatial regression discontinuity design, this article shows that decentralization strongly improved delivery of agricultural public services, which are of high priority to the central government. In contrast, it did not impact drinking water services, on which the central government places lower priority but citizens place high priority.
Tracking Analysis of Gaussian Kernel Signed Error Algorithm for Time-Variant Nonlinear Systems

This brief establishes a novel kernel-based model with a random walk variation of the optimum weight coefficients to characterize the time-variant nonlinear system. Then, the steady-state tracking performance of the kernel signed error algorithm (KSEA) with Gaussian kernel is analyzed for the proposed time-variant nonlinear system in the presence of non-Gaussian impulsive noise. The theoretical findings enable us to determine the optimal step-size that minimizes the steady-state excess mean-square error under this non-stationary environment. Simulation results illustrate the usefulness and accuracy of the derived analytical models for characterizing the steady-state tracking behavior of Gaussian KSEA.
Should a Liberal State Ban the Burqa?

This thesis concerns the problem of whether a liberal state should – for liberal reasons – ban the wearing of the burqa in public. The core of the problem is that liberalism appears to pull in two opposed directions on this question. On the one hand, liberals strongly support religious tolerance and the burqa is seen by many, including most of those who wear it, as a religious commitment; and even if it is not a religious commitment it may still be a personal choice, and liberals strongly support enabling personal choice. On the other hand, liberals are committed to supporting equal rights and freedoms for both sexes, and the gender asymmetry of the burqa (women wear it, men don’t) combined with the fact that habitually covering one’s face in public is liable to cause disadvantages in personal, social and professional life, look like good reasons for opposing it; moreover liberals value personal autonomy, which may be compromised if the burqa is worn in response to cultural pressure. The issue thus exposes a tension within liberalism. A central element of my approach is the disentangling of a number of connected but separate strands of the problem. Thus I consider: different conceptions of liberalism and how they affect the response to the question; whether paternalism on grounds of welfare can be justified within liberalism and if so whether it would justify intervention in the specific case of the burqa; the value of personal autonomy within liberalism and whether a concern to safeguard or promote it could justify a burqa ban; the problem of adaptive preference and whether a socially influenced choice counts as a genuine preference; the role of multiculturalism in liberalism and to what extent it could justify exemptions; gender issues and feminism; the problem of coerced wearing of the burqa; and the problem of how likely it would be that a ban, even if justified in principle, would prove efficacious in achieving its end. The conclusion to the thesis is that banning the burqa in a liberal state is unlikely to be justified. It could not be justified in terms of the welfare or autonomy of the individual who voluntarily wears it. It could only be justified on the grounds of harm to others. It might, for example, theoretically be justified if coerced wearing of the burqa were widespread. This would be regrettable, however, as it would override the free choice of those who wore it voluntarily. Empirical evidence that such coercion was occurring would be necessary; and such a ban could only be justified if there were no other, equally efficacious and better targeted means of preventing coercion.