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Imagination and prayer

Young Mexicans are challenged to do their part in missions during a conference in August, in which OM participated.




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The Best Business Messaging Apps for 2020

If the coronavirus breaks as bad we fear, a lot more people are going to be working from home. These business messaging apps can help teams stay in touch, and stay productive, even if they can't come in to the office.




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Agitation in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder Admitted to Inpatient Pediatric Medical Units

OBJECTIVES:

Our goals for this study were to characterize the frequency of agitation in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) admitted to an inpatient pediatric medical unit and to identify risk factors associated with agitation.

METHODS:

Through a retrospective chart review, we identified every patient between 8 and 19 years of age with a documented ASD diagnosis admitted to a pediatric medical unit over a 5-year period. We performed a detailed review of each admission, with a focus on factors hypothesized to be correlated with risk of agitation.

RESULTS:

One or more episode of agitation occurred during 37 (12.4%) of the 299 admissions and for 31 (18.5%) of the 168 patients who met inclusion criteria. History of agitation (risk ratio 21.9 [95% confidence interval 5.4–88.3] for history of severe agitation; P < .001) and documented sensory sensitivities (risk ratio 2.3 [95% confidence interval 1.3–3.8]; P < .001) were associated with a significantly increased risk of agitation during admission. History of past psychiatric admissions was associated with increased risk before, but not after, controlling for history of agitation and sensory sensitivities. Psychiatric comorbidity, intellectual disability, acute pain on admission, number of preadmission psychotropic medications, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition ASD diagnosis, age, and sex were not significantly associated with increased risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hospitalization can be challenging for patients with ASD. A subset of these patients experience episodes of agitation during admission, posing a safety risk to patients and staff. Characterizing risk factors associated with these behaviors may allow for identification of at-risk patients and guide targeted intervention to prevent negative behavioral outcomes.




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Imagine the smiles on their faces

OM EAST offers a special start to the new school term for hundreds of children in Bosnia-Herzegovina.




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CBS reimagines Equalizer and The Silence of the Lambs

NEW YORK, USA (AP) — Queen Latifah, Rebecca Breeds, and Thomas Middleditch are set to star in three new CBS shows for the 2020-21 season as the network adds a reimagined Equalizer, a show based on The Silence of the Lambs and a comedy about organ donation.




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Drink with Gerard Richardson: The magic of malbec

IF you’re under 40, or as I like to call it these days, "pre-arthritis", you probably won’t remember the dark days of malbec when you had a 50-50 chance of opening something that would be as rough as sandpaper.




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Iain Macwhirter: The contagion of fear is worse than the fear of contagion

Writers have been ransacking the Brainy Quotes website looking for inspiration for their coronavirus think pieces. But there is really only one that matters: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”. Franklin D Roosevelt’s epigram is appropriate because it is as disingenuous as it is paradoxical.




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Leveraging Data to Understand Students: Obstacles and Ideas for Data Practices

Stronger data practices can help leaders better utilize data as a way to deeply understand the students they serve.




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Letters: Foraging for your supper

READING about the Brooks family and their foraging for food (“Family serves a dinner-time treat ... Japanese Knotweed crumble”, The Herald, May 2) provoked very happy memories of another forager-par-excellence; Rosalind Burgess, the Skye weaver, cook, and writer of an excellent book on how to use the things you grow and forage.




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Diagnostic Imaging and Negative Appendectomy Rates in Children: Effects of Age and Gender

Cross-sectional imaging can reduce the negative appendectomy rate (NAR) in children being evaluated for suspected appendicitis; however, the ability of diagnostic imaging to decrease NAR may vary by age and gender.

Cross-sectional imaging leads to a significant reduction in NAR for children younger than 5 years and girls older than 10 years. For boys older than 5 years being evaluated for uncomplicated appendicitis, advanced imaging appears to have limited value. (Read the full article)




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Sexually Explicit Cell Phone Messaging Associated With Sexual Risk Among Adolescents

Sending and receiving sexually explicit picture and text messages via cell phone (ie, "sexting") among adolescents is publicized as a societal and public health concern, yet it is unknown whether sexting is associated with physical sexual activity or sexual risk behavior.

This study is the first to examine sexting among a probability sample of adolescents and found that sexting is associated with sexual activity, sexual risk behavior, and knowing other person(s) who have sent a sext. (Read the full article)




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Prediction of Inflicted Brain Injury in Infants and Children Using Retinal Imaging

Retinal hemorrhages occur in accidental and inflicted traumatic brain injury (ITBI) and some medical encephalopathies. Large numbers and peripherally located retinal hemorrhages are frequently cited as distinguishing features of ITBI in infants, but the predictive value has not been established.

This prospective retinal imaging study found that a diagnosis of ITBI in infants and children can be distinguished from other traumatic and nontraumatic causes by the presence of >25 dot-blot (intraretinal layer) hemorrhages (positive predictive value = 93%). (Read the full article)




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Diagnostic Imaging Studies Performed in Children Over a Nine-Year Period

Medical imaging that uses ionizing radiation provides notable benefits in the clinical setting. Controversy regarding increased cancer risk, particularly in children, dictates that ordering practices and use of such medical imaging be evaluated to reduce unnecessary exposure to imaging-related radiation.

We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of diagnostic imaging procedures in children. The proportion of higher radiation procedures is increasing, especially among children evaluated in the inpatient and emergency department settings and those with gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms, and congenital anomalies. (Read the full article)




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Near-Infrared Imaging in Intravenous Cannulation in Children: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Gaining intravenous access in children can be difficult. Recently, several near-infrared devices have been introduced attempting to support intravenous cannulation by visualizing veins underneath skin. Only one of those devices has been evaluated systemically thus far and results are inconclusive.

Although it was possible to visualize veins with near-infrared in most patients, the VascuLuminator did not improve the success of cannulation. An explanation is that the main problem is probably not localization of the vein but insertion of the cannula. (Read the full article)




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Development at Age 36 Months in Children With Deformational Plagiocephaly

Infants and toddlers with deformational plagiocephaly (DP) score lower on developmental measures than children without DP and lower than expected relative to test norms.

This study is the first to examine developmental outcomes in preschool-aged children with DP relative to demographically similar children without DP using a standardized, clinician administered assessment. (Read the full article)




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Use and Accuracy of Diagnostic Imaging by Hospital Type in Pediatric Appendicitis

Because pediatric appendicitis is challenging to diagnose, computed tomography (CT) is used frequently. Childhood radiation exposure is associated with increased risk of cancer. Ultrasound avoids radiation exposure but is less sensitive for appendicitis than CT.

Controlling for referral bias, evaluation at a community compared with a children’s hospital is associated with higher CT and lower ultrasound use before appendectomy. CT and ultrasound accuracy for appendicitis in children varies with hospital type. (Read the full article)




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Different Guidelines for Imaging After First UTI in Febrile Infants: Yield, Cost, and Radiation

There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal investigative approach after a first febrile urinary tract infection. This is because of uncertainty regarding the long-term clinical significance of vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract infection–related renal scarring.

No ideal diagnostic algorithm exists. We found marked variability in sensitivity and specificity for detection of abnormalities using current protocols. We also highlight the considerable cost differences, both financially and in terms of radiation dose, of different protocols. (Read the full article)




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Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Gross Motor Skills in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) prevalence is 19-99%. OPD based on parent-report is associated with gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy (CP), however this underestimates prevalence. Almost all children with severe CP have dysphagia; little is known about mild CP.

The prevalence of directly assessed OPD in preschool children with CP is 85% (70% in GMFCS I; 100% in GMFCS V). OPD was prevalent even in mild CP. Gross motor functional capacity is strongly related to dysphagia severity and prevalence. (Read the full article)




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The Incidence of Positional Plagiocephaly: A Cohort Study

The incidence of plagiocephaly varies widely and is based on anecdotal evidence of increase in the number of referrals to specialty clinics. Five studies have produced varying results, indicating that the incidence of plagiocephaly ranges from 3.1% to 61.0%.

This is the first study to estimate the incidence of positional plagiocephaly using 4 community-based data collection sites in infants ranging from 7 to 12 weeks of age. The estimated incidence of positional plagiocephaly was found to be 46.6%. (Read the full article)




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Neuroimaging in the Evaluation of Neonatal Encephalopathy

Computed tomography is commonly used for neuroimaging in newborn infants with neonatal encephalopathy despite concerns over potential harm from radiation exposure. Alternative neuroimaging options include MRI and cranial ultrasound.

Using a very large, international, multicenter database, we demonstrate utilization rates and compare diagnostic findings of computed tomography, MRI, and cranial ultrasound in the evaluation of neonatal encephalopathy. (Read the full article)




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Longitudinal Profiles of Adaptive Behavior in Fragile X Syndrome

To date, studies of adaptive behavior in fragile X syndrome have focused on particular age points, either longitudinally or cross-sectionally across a broad age spectrum. Studies have shown variable patterns in adaptive behavior among people with fragile X syndrome.

This study fills a critical gap in knowledge about the profile of adaptive behavior across childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood in fragile X syndrome. This study is the first to incorporate longitudinal data from an age-matched typically developing group. (Read the full article)




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Use of and Regional Variation in Initial CT Imaging for Kidney Stones

Professional organizations recommend ultrasound as the initial diagnostic imaging modality for children with suspected nephrolithiasis. Computed tomography utilization for children with nephrolithiasis treated at freestanding children’s hospitals is common and varies substantially by hospital.

The high prevalence and regional variability of CT as the first imaging study for children with nephrolithiasis who presented to emergency departments, outpatient clinics, and hospitals throughout the United States indicate that current imaging practices deviate substantially from guidelines. (Read the full article)




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Perinatal Complications and Aging Indicators by Midlife

Perinatal complications predict increased risk for morbidity and early mortality. Evidence of perinatal programming of adult mortality raises the question of what mechanisms embed this long-term effect. Telomere length and perceived facial age are 2 indicators of accelerated aging.

Perinatal complications predicted greater signs of accelerated aging "inside," as measured objectively by leukocyte telomere length, an indicator of cellular aging, and "outside," as measured subjectively by perceived age, an indicator of declining integrity of tissues. (Read the full article)




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Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Extremely Preterm Infants

White matter abnormality (WMA) on neuroimaging is considered a crucial link with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. Brain MRI is more sensitive in detecting WMA than cranial ultrasound (CUS), but questions remain about timing and prognostic value of modalities.

Near-term CUS and MRI abnormalities were associated with adverse 18- to 22-month outcomes, independent of early CUS and other factors, underscoring the relative prognostic value of later neuroimaging in this large, extremely preterm cohort surviving to near-term. (Read the full article)




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Maternal Consequences of the Detection of Fragile X Carriers in Newborn Screening

Parents generally adapt well to newborn screening results, but reactions to carrier status for X-linked conditions are unknown.

Results suggest that detection and disclosure of FMR1 newborn carrier status may not result in significant adverse events for mothers. (Read the full article)




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Computed Tomography and Shifts to Alternate Imaging Modalities in Hospitalized Children

Concern of the risk of malignancy from ionizing radiation has prompted many to advocate for judicious use of computed tomography (CT) and as low as necessary radiation doses administered per scan. Recent analysis has shown a decline in CT utilization.

We identified decreases in CT utilization between 2004 and 2012 for the 10 most common diagnostic groups receiving CT. Decreases were typically associated with increases in alternate imaging modalities. We provide a possible reason for the decrease in CT utilization. (Read the full article)




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Effectiveness and Cost of Bidirectional Text Messaging for Adolescent Vaccines and Well Care

Adolescent vaccination rates lag behind other childhood vaccines. Text messaging to improve uptake of adolescent vaccines has been shown to be effective in academic centers but has not been studied in other settings.

This study, done in 5 private and 2 safety-net practices, used a bidirectional text message as a behavioral prompt and showed text messaging was effective at increasing uptake of all adolescent vaccines. Costs were similar to other reminder/recall methods. (Read the full article)




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Variation in Utilization of Computed Tomography Imaging at Tertiary Pediatric Hospitals

Given the efforts to decrease the use of ionizing radiation in pediatric patients, there is significant variability in head computed tomography (CT) scan use in pediatric emergency departments for minor head trauma.

This study characterized variability in CT scan rates for all body regions in emergency department, observation, and inpatient encounters across 30 tertiary pediatric hospitals. Two-fold variation remained after case-mix adjustment, with higher volume hospitals having lower rates of CT scanning. (Read the full article)




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Roy Horn of magical duo Siegfried & Roy dies of COVID-19, aged 75

Source: www.timesofisrael.com - Saturday, May 09, 2020
Vegas fixture's work with exotic animals came to violent end in 2003 when he was attacked on stage, critically hurt, by a 400-pound white tiger


All Related | More on Siegfried




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Fin24.com | IAN MANN REVIEWS | SA experts weigh in on managing organisations during coronavirus

As editor Wilhelm Crous puts it, "We haven't seen this movie before."




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Fin24.com | Solly Moeng | The missing link in managing a pandemic - public trust

Government went to war against Covid-19 with very low supplies in citizen trust and financial reserves, says Solly Moeng.




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Cameroon: Fragile State?

Cameroon’s apparent stability is deceptive: even if it overcomes its near-term challenges, longer-term deterioration could lead to conflict.




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Tchad : La victoire facile d'un Etat fragile contre les institutions internationales

Dans de nombreux pays, le pétrole suscite des débats controversés sur son rôle de moteur de changements économiques, sociaux et géopolitiques. Depuis quelques années, les réflexions sur la question du pétrole ont démontré une corrélation négative entre son exploitation, le développement socioéconomique, la gouvernance et le regain des conflits dans les pays producteurs.




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Oil in Chad: The Fragile State’s Easy Victory over International Institutions

In numerous countries, the exploitation of oil has generated debate about its economic, social and geopolitical consequences.




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Imaginación para salvar República Centroafricana. Cómo actuar con rapidez y eficacia para evitar la somalización del país.

Los conflictos en los países pequeños suelen agravarse debido a la indiferencia internacional. Sin embargo, en el caso de la República Centroafricana (RCA), el problema es ligeramente distinto. Hay una importante presencia internacional en este Estado, pero los actores principales han decidido mantenerse al margen y esperar en vez de intervenir activamente en la crisis.




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Chad: Between Ambition and Fragility

Ahead of Chad’s presidential election on 10 April popular discontent is rising amid a major economic crisis, growing intra-religious tensions and deadly Boko Haram attacks. The regime that portrays itself as spearheading the fight against regional jihadism could see all sorts of violent actors gain influence at home if it pursues exclusionary politics and denies its people a viable social contract.




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The Added Value of Longitudinal Imaging for Preclinical In vivo Efficacy Testing of Therapeutic Compounds against Cerebral Cryptococcosis [Experimental Therapeutics]

Brain infections with Cryptococcus neoformans are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Cryptococcosis typically presents as meningoencephalitis or fungal mass lesions called cryptococcomas. Despite frequent in vitro discoveries of promising novel antifungals, the clinical need for drugs that can more efficiently treat these brain infections remains. A crucial step in drug development is the evaluation of in vivo drug efficacy in animal models. This mainly relies on survival studies or post-mortem analyses in large groups of animals, but these techniques only provide information on specific organs of interest at predefined time points. In this proof-of-concept study, we validated the use of non-invasive preclinical imaging to obtain longitudinal information on the therapeutic efficacy of amphotericin B or fluconazole monotherapy in meningoencephalitis and cryptococcoma mouse models. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) enabled the rapid in vitro and in vivo evaluation of drug efficacy while complementary high-resolution anatomical information obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain allowed a precise assessment of the extent of infection and lesion growth rates. We demonstrated a good correlation between both imaging readouts and the fungal burden in various organs. Moreover, we identified potential pitfalls associated with the interpretation of therapeutic efficacy based solely on post-mortem studies, demonstrating the added value of this non-invasive dual imaging approach compared to standard mortality curves or fungal load endpoints. This novel preclinical imaging platform provides insights in the dynamic aspects of the therapeutic response and facilitates a more efficient and accurate translation of promising antifungal compounds from bench to bedside.




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PAGI-associated CrpP-like fluoroquinolone-modifying enzymes among Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates in Europe [Mechanisms of Resistance]

Many transferable quinolone-resistance mechanisms have been already identified in Gram-negative bacteria. The plasmid-encoded 65 amino-acid long ciprofloxacin-modifying enzyme, namely CrpP, was recently identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We analyzed a collection of 100 clonally-unrelated and multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates among which 46 (46%) were found positive for crpP-like genes, encoding five CrpP variants conferring variable levels of reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. Those crpP-like genes were chromosomally located, as part of PAGI-like pathogenicity genomic islands.




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Fin24.com | Want to improve managing your money? Here are 7 tools

This list looks at seven top South African products disrupting the traditional way of doing finance.




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Fin24.com | SA expats send money home to help aging parents and more

Remittances from overseas are a lifeline for many South Africans, says Richard Ambrose, CEO of Azimo.




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Alistair Grant: We need clear messaging, not lockdown confusion

IT’S a bank holiday weekend and we are now several weeks into a gruelling lockdown.




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'The Vagina Monologues' coming to Penn State Beaver on Feb. 13

Penn State Beaver students will give a special performance of Eve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues" at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Penn State Beaver auditorium. The event is open to the public.




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If We 'Don't See Race,' We Don't See 'Students' Magic'

Kris DeFilippis and Dr. Gholnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad question teachers who say they "don't see race," in this series guest-edited by Shannon R. Waite, Ed.D.




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Magic Mirror on the Wall, Have I Worn This Outfit at All?

The Nessa mirror has a built-in camera that takes a photo of what you're wearing, uploads it to the cloud, and runs an algorithm to determine whether you've worn the outfit before or not.




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Encouraging each other

Leaders from OM Latin America discuss the challenges and opportunities of ministry in the region during their annual meetings in September.




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Sharing, encouraging and volcano climbing

OM Chile's Intensive Training participants travel around the south of Chile for two weeks sharing the gospel, encouraging local churches and doing adventure activities.




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We won’t launch an OTT app: Vikram Mehra, Managing Director, Saregama India

By Devika Singh The country's oldest music label company is singing a different tune. From podcasts to a dedicated film production unit, Saregama is looking beyond music licensing to broaden its appeal. Vikram Mehra talks to Devika Singh about creating and monetising IPs, why the company will not launch a streaming app, and more. Saregama […]




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We are more premium than IKEA: Vasanth Kumar, Managing Director, Lifestyle International

We have co-branded partnerships and also engage in tie-ups with designers. Almost 80% of the business is protected through exclusive tie-ups, says Vasanth Kumar, Managing Director, Lifestyle International




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Why text messaging is yet to be used inventively in India

Cost of one SMS is around 12 paise, whereas a promotional e-mail could cost 2-4 paise. A retail brand organising a high intensity campaign for its seasonal sale could end up spending Rs 15-20 lakh to reach its consumers.




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Ogilvy-Vivo spat puts the spotlight back on plagiarism in advertising

The real challenge with regulations is that of implementation and compliance.