Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Malaria Continues as a Major Public Health Problem

April is a busy month for days of emphasis in Global Health. On April 7, we mark the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO) with World Health Day. On this date the WHO, to be headquartered in Geneva, came into being when the constitution was signed by a majority of members. The details of the first meeting and the aspirations for the work of the WHO are spelled out in the first issue of the WHO Chronicle.1 The 2015 World Health Day will emphasize the importance of food safety, a continuing public health problem.2 In early life, contaminated water and food causes diarrheal disease and a million child deaths each year, the second leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years. Most of these are preventable with clean water supplies, appropriate food hygiene, and adherence to WHO/UNICEF advice on breastfeeding.3 Later in the month, World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25. It is interesting to note that the first WHO meeting on malaria was actually held several months before the WHO was formally established.1 One objective set by the emerging WHO was “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. ” The first meeting of the Expert Committee noted “Malaria remains a great obstacle to the achievement of this objective. Now each year in April, the world remembers the burden placed on humanity by the Plasmodium protozoan parasite that still causes 200 million cases each year.4 Those of us who have worked in malarial areas know only too well its many clinical presentations. Young men with acute psychosis may actually have cerebral malaria and require urgent parental therapy, pregnant women with chronic anemia, and children with lethargy and splenomegaly are but a few of many presentations. Malaria features widely in the history of public health. The features of malaria have been described in literature going back almost 5000 years, first in China and then in ancient Egypt and Greece.4 In ad 300 Chinese physicians described the antipyretic effect of the Qinghao plant (Artemisia annua) and in 1971, Chinese researchers isolated its active component, artemesinin, which has become one of our mainstream drugs. Alphonse Laveran, a French army surgeon stationed in Algeria, first described the parasites in the blood of a patient suffering from malaria. Camillo Golgi, described the different forms of the parasite in blood cells. Both Laveran and Golgi were awarded the Nobel Prize for their contribution to tropical medicine and public health.5 In the Asia-Pacific region, malaria has often controlled human settlement with populations moving to highland regions, as in Papua New Guinea, or drier or cooler locations, as in China. Today it is estimated that 3.3 billion live in areas where they are at risk of acquiring a malaria infection. Malaria kills almost 600 000 each year, mostly children and the majority from Africa. In the Asia-Pacific region, it is still a major problem with 25 million cases and 50 000 deaths per
Access to medical care in the U.S. : who has it, who doesn't

manuscript, this Bayesian method requires reasonably accurate interval level data. Four other comments on style are in order. First, frequently the denominator of a fraction is written on two lines. I found this at first confusing, and then unnerving. Second, Hunter makes a unique contribution to the sir/madam controversy by a use of "s(he)" (p. 211). Third, the book contains no index. Fourth, it is refreshtributions. In many ways, Hunter thoughtfully raises a number of questions and methodological issues associated with the use of Bayesian analysis. Those expecting to find practical applications for those methodological issues, however, will find this a preliminary rather than definitive text.
Analysis of Pharmacy Student Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Web 2.0 Tools for Educational Purposes

Background: The use of Wikis, blogs, and podcasts can engage students in collaborative learning, allow peer feedback, and enhance reflective learning. However, no survey to date has been performed across all professional years of pharmacy students in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of student perceptions. Objectives: To identify the familiarity of pharmacy students with Web 2.0 resources available for medical education, and what barriers exist. Methods: This study surveyed students enrolled in the professional program of a US-accredited pharmacy school to assess their knowledge and current use of available online resources and attitudes toward the use of Web 2.0 technologies for educational purposes. Results: Of the 836 surveys distributed, 293 were collected and analyzed (35.0% response rate). Students reported using the following Web 2.0 technologies in the didactic and experiential settings, respectively: Wikipedia (88%, 70%), YouTube (87%, 41%), Khan Academy (40%, 5%), and medical or scientific blogs (25%, 38%). Although these technologies were more commonly used in the classroom, students agreed or strongly agreed such resources should be used more often in both the didactic (n = 187, 64%) and experiential settings (n = 172, 59%). The barriers associated with the use of Web 2.0 in both the didactic and experiential settings that were ranked highest among students included accuracy and quality of information and lack of familiarity among faculty members and preceptors. Conclusion: Pharmacy students across all professional years actively use Web 2.0 tools for educational purposes and believe that opportunities exist to expand use of such technologies within the didactic and experiential settings.
Serum hepatocyte growth factor concentration in patients with various degrees of chronic renal failure

Summary: Serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) concentrations were measured in healthy volunteers, chronic renal failure patients without renal replacement therapy and haemodialysis patients. Serum HGF concentrations in healthy volunteers, chronic renal failure patients and haemodialysis patients were 0.18 ± 0.04 (s.d.), 0.28 ± 0.06 and 0.46 ± 0.22 ng/mL, respectively. Serum HGF concentration in chronic renal failure patients was significantly higher than that in healthy volunteers. Serum HGF concentration in haemodialysis patients was significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers and chronic renal failure patients. There was no regression of serum HGF concentration on age, sex, history of haemodialysis, prehaemodialysis serum creatinine concentration, and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α concentration. We conclude that chronic renal disease and haemodialysis therapy are contributing factors to an increased serum HGF concentration.
Sacral nerve stimulation in patients with faecal incontinence

Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique with high success rates and few complications for the treatment of faecal incontinence (FI). It is now considered the first-line surgical option for FI in the UK and has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) since 2007. The ultimate aim of all FI treatments is to improve quality of life (QoL). In this article, Noel Thin, Charles Knowles and Marion Allison review the current literature on the effectiveness of SNS in improving QoL and the different measures used to assess this, focusing on outcomes in the medium (12–36 months) and long-term (over 36 months). The congruence and use of QoL measures in the evaluation of success within the present literature is also assessed.
Mobile-based assessment: Towards a motivational framework

Mobile-based Assessment (MBA) is a relatively new delivery mode of assessment. MBA not only offers an alternative to web-based tests and quizzes that can be answered anytime and anywhere but it also introduces a new assessment paradigm offering adaptive, personalized, context-aware and ubiquitous assessment activities embedded in learning flow. However, for an effective use of MBA, instructional designers and educators need to be aware of its underpinning motivational dimensions and concepts. The current study proposes MBAMF, a Mobile-Based Assessment Motivational Framework based on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) of Motivation. The framework aims to connect the basic SDT constructs with features offered by mobile-based assessment. For a preliminary evaluation of the model, a pilot study with 47 medical students in a near-patients clinical training environment was conducted. The study provides empirical evidence that fits into the proposed framework. Mobile-assisted assessment can effectively support the three basic psychological needs of SDT, namely perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness. The current work provides a foundation for further elaboration towards a more comprehensive motivational framework for mobile-based assessment. Implications are discussed.
uAdventure: The eAdventure reboot: Combining the experience of commercial gaming tools and tailored educational tools

Educational games (aka serious games, SG) are powerful educational contents. However, they are costly to develop, and once developed, SGs become dependent on software and hardware combinations that may become obsolete, such as Adobe Flash or Java Applets. Addressing these problems would allow a much greater use of SGs in education. The eAdventure authoring tool, developed by the e-UCM research group, addressed high development costs, and resulted in the creation of multiple SGs in collaboration with different institutions. However, eAdventure's Java Applets have become increasingly difficult to run due to platform obsolescence. To maintain the benefits of the eAdventure platform and user base, we have created new platform called uAdventure: an SG editor built on top of the game engine Unity that allows for the creation of educational adventure games without requiring programming. Since Unity is supported on a majority of platforms (including mobile). By developing SGs with uAdventure, the games become future-proof, as they can be updated and retargeted for new platforms as required. In this sense, uAdventure improves the lifecycle of SGs by reducing both authoring and maintenance costs.
The emperor’s edicts stop at the village gate

Objective: To present an overview of policy implementation, and develop principles for effective policy development and implementation. Method: An overview of literature on policy implementation, and analysis of lessons from some recent experiences in Australian and New Zealand mental health services. Conclusions: Effective development and deployment of policy is much more complex than the commonly held, simplistic compliance model. There are principles that can guide effective policy development and implementation. Future areas of study include the policy implementation systems and change management processes in the health service setting.
Suicide is preventable, sometimes

Objective: The objective was to examine the assumption that suicide is inevitably preventable. Conclusions: Suicide may not always be avoidable. This does not mean that every effort should not be made to prevent it or vigorously treat illnesses that are often contributory. The assumption, however, may give rise to undue optimism, and unjustified blame when suicides do occur.
Shilajit attenuates streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus and decrease in pancreatic islet superoxide dismutase activity in rats

Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Wistar rats by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg, s.c. on 2 consecutive days). Hyperglycaemia and superoxide dismutase activity of pancreatic islet cells was assessed on days 7, 14, 21 and 28, following STZ administration. In two other groups, shilajit (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered concurrently for 28 days. STZ induced significant hyperglycaemia by day 14, which increased progressively on days 21 and 28. STZ also induced a decrease in pancreatic islet cell superoxide dismutase, which was apparent by day 7 and increased progressively, thereafter on days 14, 21 and 28. Shilajit (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) had no discernible per se effect on blood glucose levels in normal rats but attenuated the hyperglycaemic response of STZ from day 14 onwards, though only the effect of the higher dose was statistically significant. Similarly, both the doses of shilajit reduced the STZ‐induced decrease in superoxide dismutase activity from day 14 onwards, the effect of the lower dose being statistically insignificant. The findings confirm earlier observations that STZ‐induced hyperglycaemia may be the consequence of a decrease in pancreatic islet superoxide dismutase activity, leading to accumulation of free radicals and damage of the β‐cells. Shilajit attenuates both these effects of STZ possibly by its action as a free radical scavenger. The findings support the postulate that shilajit can prevent maturity onset diabetes mellitus.
MASF -- A Mobile Services Framework

This paper presents a new concept of a Web services framework for mobile environments where the service providers are abstract to the invoking client thus allowing the environment to be dynamic - service providers may come and go transparent to the client. The purpose of this paper is to define architecture of the framework used for implementing mobile services for handheld devices like smartphones. Communication platform used is XML/SOAP standard for interoperability.
Family histories of school bullying: implications for parent-child psychotherapy

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a parent’s past history of peer victimisation predicted their children’s risk of being bullied at school. Method: In face-to-face interviews, a representative community sample of 1895 mothers and fathers were asked about exposure to traumatic bullying during their schooling. Parents completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to measure possible links with health-related quality of life. The interviews also inquired whether their children were victims of traumatic bullying at school. Results: Parental victimisation was associated with an increased risk for their children being bullied (55% with a positive parental history compared with 25% with no parental history: relative risk=2.17). In a multivariate logistic model controlling for the parents’ age, gender, socioeconomic status and health-related quality of life (physical and emotional components), parental victimisation remained a strong predictor for the children’s victimisation at school (relative risk=2.00). In 9.3% of the sample, both parent and child experienced bullying during their schooling. Conclusions: Parent and child dyads can be exposed sequentially to school bullying. In some instances, they may share familial characteristics that are exploited by bullies. These experiences can be explored in parent-child psychotherapy.
Comments on "A Fast Computer Method for Matrix Transposing" and Application to the Solution of Poisson's Equation

In the above correspondence,1an algorithm has been described that allows the transposing of a 2n× 2nmatrix by reading and writing n times at the most via direct access rows of the matrix and by permuting its data elements. The generalization to arbitrary square matrices has not been described, and the generalization to nonsquare matrices has been reported to be impossible.
Improved outcomes in cadaveric renal allografts with pulsatile preservation

Background: Early immunologic and non‐immunologic injury of renal allografts adversely affects long‐term graft survival. Some degree of preservation injury is inevitable in cadaveric renal transplantation, and, with the reduction in early acute rejection, this non‐immunologic injury has assumed a greater relative importance. Optimal graft preservation will maximize the chances of early graft function and long‐term graft survival, but the best method of preservation – pulsatile perfusion (PP) versus cold storage (CS) – is debated. Methods: Primary cadaveric kidney recipients from January 1990 through December 1995 were evaluated. The effects of implantation warm ischemic time (WIT) (≤20 min, 21–40 min, or >40 min) and total ischemic time (TIT) (< or ≥20 h) on death‐censored graft survival were compared between kidneys preserved by PP versus those preserved by CS. The effect of preservation method on delayed graft function (DGF) was also examined. Results: There were 568 PP kidneys and 268 CS kidneys. Overall death‐censored graft survival was not significantly different between groups, despite worse donor and recipient characteristics in the PP group. CS kidneys with an implantation WIT >40 min had worse graft survival than those with <40 min (p=0.0004). Survival of PP kidneys and those transplanted into 2 DR‐matched recipients was not affected by longer implantation WIT. Longer TIT did not impact survival. DGF was more likely after CS preservation (20.2% versus 8.8%, p=0.001). Conclusions: Preservation with PP improves early graft function and lessens the adverse effect of increased warm ischemia in cadaveric renal transplantation. This method is likely associated with less preservation injury and/or increases the threshold for injury from other sources and is superior to CS.
A case report using the mental state examination scale (MSES): a tool for measuring change in mental state

Objective: There is a need for a simple and brief tool that can be used in routine clinical practice for the quantitative measurement of mental state across all diagnostic groups. The main utilities of such a tool would be to provide a global metric for the mental state examination, and to monitor the progression over time using this metric. Method: We developed the mental state examination scale (MSES), and used it in an acute inpatient setting in routine clinical work to test its initial feasibility. Results: Using a clinical case, the utility of MSES is demonstrated in this paper. When managing the patient described, the MSES assisted the clinician to assess the initial mental state, track the progress of the recovery, and make timely treatment decisions by quantifying the components of the mental state examination. Conclusion: MSES may enhance the quality of clinical practice for clinicians, and potentially serve as an index of universal mental healthcare outcome that can be used in clinical practice, service evaluation, and healthcare economics.
A collaborative approach to improve the assessment of physical health in adult consumers with schizophrenia in Queensland mental health services

Objective: The objective of this study was to apply a quality improvement collaborative to increase the number of physical health assessments conducted with consumers diagnosed with schizophrenia in adult community mental health services across Queensland. Method: Sixteen adult mental health service organisations voluntarily took part in the statewide collaborative initiative to increase the number of physical health assessments completed on persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders managed through the community mental health service. Results: Improvement in the physical health assessment clinical indicator was demonstrated across the state over a 3-year period with an increase in the number of physical health assessments recorded from 12% to 58%. Conclusions: Significant improvements were made over a 3-year period by all mental health services involved in the collaborative, supporting the application of a quality improvement methodology to drive change across mental health services.
Digital Straight Line Segments

It is shown that a digital arc S is the digitization of a straight line segment if and only if it has the "chord property:" the line segment joining any two points of S lies everywhere within distance 1 of S. This result is used to derive several regularity properties of digitizations of straight line segments.
Actualizaci ón en la epidemiología de la preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy characterized by inadequate placentation, resultant ischemia and failure of several maternal organs. Preeclampsia is one of the most serious conditions in pregnancy and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Various risk factors and some protective factors have been reported associated to preeclampsia. Finally, women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy are at higher risk of future diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular complications. In this article an update on the epidemiology of preeclampsia is presented. Keywords: Preeclampsia, prevalence, risk factors, protective factors, complications, maternal mortality, perinatal mortality.
A Classifier Design Technique for Discrete Variable Pattern Recognition Problems

This paper presents a new computerized technique to aid the designers of pattern classifiers when the measurement variables are discrete and the values form a simple nominal scale (no inherent metric). A theory of "prime events" which applies to patterns with measurements of this type is presented. A procedure for applying the theory of "prime events" and an analysis of the "prime event estimates" is given. To manifest additional characteristics of this technique, an example optical character recognition (OCR) application is discussed.
Type 2 Diabetes Phenotype and Progression is Significantly Different if Diagnosed before versus after 65 Years of Age

Background: The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing disproportionately in individuals <65 years of age. It is not known whether disease characteristics in these younger patients are similar to “classic” late-onset type 2 diabetes. Methods: In the epidemiological cohort study entitled “Retrolective Study: Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose and Outcome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes,” a total of 3268 patients from randomly contacted primary care practices were documented during a mean follow-up period of 6.5 years. All newly diagnosed patients of these practices were included. Results: At diagnosis, 64.2% of the patients were aged ≤65 years. Thereof, 57.2% were male, whereas in the age group >65 years only 35.0% were male (p < 0.001). The younger group exhibited more severe metabolic deterioration at diagnosis and in the following years than the older group. Conversely, the older group presented at diagnosis with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was more prominent in the younger group. In both age groups, the use of SMBG was associated with a significantly lower risk (p = 0.003) of a combined end point (severe diabetic complication or all-cause mortality). Conclusions: There are considerable differences in disease characteristics between people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during 45–65 years of age versus diagnosis at a later age. Type 2 diabetes diagnosed before the age of 65 years disproportionately affected men and exhibited a more severe disease course, but was characterized by significantly less cardiovascular risk factors in comparison to type 2 diabetes diagnosed at a later age. The use of SMBG was associated with a better clinical outcome in both age groups.