Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of occupational stress on psychological well-being in the fire service

The research aimed to examine the impact of occupational stress on psychological well-being in the Fire Service. In particular, the research examined the impact of occupational stress (Uplifts and Hassles) and individual differences (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Mastery and Coping) on work and context free well-being and Work Performance as part of a model based on the work of Cooper (1986) and Williams and Cooper (1998). The research involved three stages, two of which were quantitative and the third qualitative. In stage one, cross sectional data was collected using a questionnaire from five samples (N=867). In stage two, data was collected at a second time point from two of these samples (i. e. longitudinal data, N=123). In stage three, semi structured interviews were conducted with six fire personnel taken from one of the longitudinal samples, and thematic analysis was conducted. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted via hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Path analyses were also conducted on both cross sectional and the longitudinal data. The quantitative results, in terms of work well-being and Work Performance suggested there was good well-being. However, the context free well-being measure indicated poor General mental health. Furthermore, stress and individual differences had important influences on work and context free well-being, as well as on Work Performance. Neuroticism and Mastery seemed to be particularly important for these Fire Service samples. This latter with respect to General mental health finding was supported by the qualitative research which suggested that Fire Service personnel were experiencing stress. The qualitative research also suggested possible interventions the Fire Service could put into practice to support its employees such as Coaching and mentoring' and `Support from colleagues' .
Prospective multicentre cohort study of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in acute ischaemic stroke patients

Acute ischaemic stroke patients sometimes receive heparin for treatment and/or prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications. This study was designed to elucidate the incidence and clinical features of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in acute stroke patients treated with heparin. We conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study of 267 patients who were admitted to three stroke centres within 7 d after stroke onset. We examined clinical data until discharge and collected blood samples on days 1 and 14 of hospitalization to test anti‐platelet factor 4/heparin antibodies (anti‐PF4/H Abs) using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); platelet‐activating antibodies were identified by serotonin‐release assay (SRA). Patients with a 4Ts score ≥4 points, positive‐ELISA, and positive‐SRA were diagnosed as definite HIT. Heparin was administered to 172 patients (64·4%: heparin group). Anti‐PF4/H Abs were detected by ELISA in 22 cases (12·8%) in the heparin group. Seven patients had 4Ts ≥ 4 points. Among them, three patients (1·7% overall) were also positive by both ELISA and SRA. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was high (range, 16–23) and in‐hospital mortality was very high (66·7%) in definite HIT patients. In this study, the incidence of definite HIT in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with heparin was 1·7% (95% confidence interval: 0·4–5·0). The clinical severity and outcome of definite HIT were unfavourable.
The Effect of Oestradiol and Progesterone on Hypoglycaemic Stress‐Induced Suppression of Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Release and on Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone mRNA Expression in the Rat

Corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) is implicated in the suppression of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion by a variety of stressful stimuli; 17β‐oestradiol (E2) has been shown to modulate this inhibitory response. The present study in ovariectomized (OVX) rats was designed to investigate the effect of E2 and progesterone (P4) on hypoglycaemic stress‐induced changes in pulsatile LH secretion and on the associated changes in both central and peripheral components of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. E2 enhanced the hypoglycaemic stress‐induced suppression of LH pulses; P4 in addition to E2 further potentiated the inhibitory response. The rise in plasma corticosterone following insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia (IIH) was highest in the E2 + P4 group. Nevertheless, when such levels were achieved by administration of corticosterone, the occurrence of LH pulses was completely unaffected, irrespective of ovarian steroid milieu. E2 and E2 + P4 up‐regulated basal CRH mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) as measured by in situ hybridization; this signal was also increased in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) following E2. IIH resulted in a rise in CRH mRNA in the PVN, but not in the MPN; this rise may reflect a more significant role for the PVN in the present context. Changes in neuropeptide mRNA expression may signal changes in neuronal activity; nevertheless, the profound differences in LH pulse suppression in OVX, E2 and E2 + P4 rats following IIH were not reflected in the concurrent changes in CRH mRNA in the PVN. The results suggest that while corticosterone has no acute effect on LH pulses in the rat, the up‐regulation by ovarian steroids of basal CRH mRNA in the PVN and/or MPN may contribute to the central regulation of these pulses in response to stress.
Determining proper grasp configurations for handovers through observation of object movement patterns and inter-object interactions during usage

We present a method for enabling robots to determine appropriate grasp configurations for handovers - i.e., where to grasp, and how to orient an object when handing it over. In our method, a robot first builds a knowledge base by observing demonstrations of how certain objects are used and their proper handover grasp configurations. Objects in the knowledge base are then organized based on their movements and inter-object interaction features. The key point in this process is that similarity in affordances should be recognized. When subsequently asked to handover an object, the robot then computes an appropriate grasp configuration based on the object's recognized affordances. Experimental results show that our method was able to differentiate and group together objects according to their affordances. Furthermore, when given a new object, our method was able to generalize data in the knowledge base and determine an appropriate grasp configuration.
Promoting adherence to nebulized therapy in cystic fibrosis: poster development and a qualitative exploration of adherence

Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) health care professionals recognize the need to motivate people with CF to adhere to nebulizer treatments, yet little is known about how best to achieve this. We aimed to produce motivational posters to support nebulizer adherence by using social marketing involving people with CF in the development of those posters. Methods The Sheffield CF multidisciplinary team produced preliminary ideas that were elaborated upon with semi-structured interviews among people with CF to explore barriers and facilitators to the use of nebulized therapy. Initial themes and poster designs were refined using an online focus group to finalize the poster designs. Results People with CF preferred aspirational posters describing what could be achieved through adherence in contrast to posters that highlighted the adverse consequences of nonadherence. A total of 14 posters were produced through this process. Conclusion People with CF can be engaged to develop promotional material to support adherence, providing a unique perspective differing from that of the CF multidisciplinary team. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these posters to support nebulizer adherence.
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Changes in Cardiac Hemodynamics and Loading Conditions after Transthoracic Minimally Invasive Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

Purpose To evaluate transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of atrial septal defects by performing transthoracic echocardiography to measure changes in cardiac hemodynamics and loading conditions. Methods Between January 2012 and December 2012, we performed transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of atrial septal defects in 95 patients with secundum atrial septal defects (ASD), and performed transthoracic echocardiography to measure blood flow velocities at the tricuspid valve orifice and at the pulmonary valve orifice, sizes of the left and right atria and ventricles, right ventricular fractional area change, right ventricular Tei index, three-dimensional right ventricular ejection fraction, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and left ventricular ejection fractions before the procedure and 1 week, 3 months, and 1 year post-procedure. Results Varying degrees of improvement were observed post-procedure at later time points. The maximum blood flow velocity at the pulmonary valve orifice, mean flow velocity, velocity-time integral, and A peak and E peak blood flow velocity at the tricuspid valve orifice decreased significantly post-procedure (P<0.05). In 3 months and 1 year’s follow-up, the inner diameter of the middle portion of the pulmonary artery, and diameters of the right atrium and right ventricle decreased significantly post-procedure (P<0.05). The diameters of the left atrium and left ventricle increased after the procedure (P<0.05). One week after the procedure, the right ventricular fractional area change, three-dimensional right ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular Tei index and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion had significantly reduced compared with the preoperative data (P<0.05). While these four parameters were still decreased at the 3 months and at 1 year’s follow-up, but the differences were not statistically significant compared with the 1 week’s postoperative data (P>0.05). One week post-procedure, left ventricular ejection fraction had not changed significantly, but at 3 months and at 1 year post-procedure, left ejection fraction had increased significantly compared with the preoperative data (P<0.05). Conclusion Echocardiographic evaluation has demonstrated that cardiac hemodynamics and loading conditions improved significantly after transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of atrial septal defects.
Biochemical composition and bioactivity screening of various extracts from Dunaliella salina, a green microalga

The current study examines the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of different extracts of the microalga Dunaliella salina Teodoresco (Dunaliellaceae), their fatty acid composition and the antimicrobial activity of the oil. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated by obtaining extracts of D. salina in n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, and methanol. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity, the extracts, and fatty acids from D. salina were assessed by the disc diffusion and microdilution techniques against pathogenic microorganisms including fish and clinical/food-borne. The MBC or MFC values of the extracts and fatty acids ranged from 0.63 to 10.00 mg/ml. The antioxidant activity was studied by phosphomolybdenum and DPPH assays and ß-carotene/linoleic acid tests. In addition, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated and the fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography. Palmitic, alpha-linolenic, and oleic acids were discovered to be the major components of the fatty acids. These findings have demonstrated that the extracts and oil from D. salina could be used as natural antimicrobials and antioxidants in the food/feed and pharmaceutical industry and as a biodiesel because of its high unsaturated fatty acid content.
Lattice factorization and design of perfect reconstruction filter banks with any length yielding linear phase

This paper introduces the lattice factorizations and designs of a large class of critically sampled linear phase perfect reconstruction filter banks. We deal with FIR filter banks with real-valued coefficients in which all filters have the same arbitrary length and symmetry center. Refined existence conditions on the length are given first. Lattice structures are developed for both even and odd channel filter banks. Compared to most existing design methods, the proposed approach can offer better trade off between performance and filter length. Finally, several design and application examples are presented to validate our approach.
Diets with Different Forage/Concentrate Ratios for the Mediterranean Italian Buffalo : In vivo and In vitro Digestibility

In vivo and in vitro digestibility of 6 diets with a forage to concentrate ratio (F/C) ranging from 100 to 50:50 (diet 1: all hay, diet 2: 90:10, diet 3: 80:20, diet 4: 70:30, diet 5: 60:40, diet 6: 50:50) were investigated using 6 buffaloes in a 6x6 Latin square design. For the in vivo trial, the individual faeces of buffaloes were collected 3 times per day for 7 days. Individual pooled faeces and samples of each diet were analysed for chemical composition and insoluble acid ash (AIA) contents in order to estimate the coefficient of apparent digestibility (ADC). On the last day of the in vivo trial a sample of faeces was collected from each animal and used as inoculum for the in vitro test, using the gas production technique (IVGPT). The in vivo organic matter digestibility (ADC) rose as the percentage of concentrate increased up to the 70:30 (F/C) diet (67.01, 73.03, 78.06 and 79.05, respectively for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4); the other two diets (60:40 and 50:50 F/C) unexpectedly did not follow this trend (75.11 and 79.06, respectively for diet 5 and 6). However, these data agree with the results of the in vitro trial. The ADC was positively correlated with the dOM (p<0.001), but not with the gas production at different times; cumulative gas production recorded at the end of incubation (OMCV) showed an irregular trend and was not closely correlated to degraded OM. Estimation of in vivo digestibility from in vitro fermentation data was acceptable, despite leaving room for improvement.
Correlation between clinical diagnosis and arthroscopic findings of the shoulder

Objective: To assess the accuracy of clinical examination by non-specialist orthopaedic surgeons of patients presenting to a diagnostic and treatment centre (DTC) for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of notes of 130 consecutive shoulder arthroscopies performed at a DTC over a 10 month period. Preoperative clinical diagnosis was compared with operative arthroscopic findings. Additional information from preoperative imaging was compared with clinical examination and arthroscopic findings. Preoperative clinical examinations and consent were undertaken by clinical fellows, (SpR level) and non-upper limb consultant orthopaedic surgeons. Consultants specialising in upper limb surgery performed the operations. Results: Six main groups were identified on the basis of clinical examination: impingement 76 cases (58%), instability 22 cases (17%), frozen shoulder 11 cases (8%), rotator cuff tear four cases (3%), non-specific pain eight cases (6%), and normal clinical examination nine cases (7%). Impingement and instability diagnosed clinically strongly correlated with the arthroscopic findings. Clinical diagnosis of frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tears had a weaker correlation with the arthroscopic findings. Of the nine cases of normal clinical examination, abnormality was found at arthroscopy in all cases. Conclusion: There have been very few studies comparing clinical examination of the shoulder with arthroscopic findings. This study emphasises the importance of good clinical examination skills in diagnosing common shoulder abnormalities. The addition of imaging, particularly ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging further increases the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis. Shoulder examination should be taught with as much emphasis at both undergraduate and postgraduate level as other orthopaedic clinical examinations.
Solvable model of multichannel localization.

On suggere un modele de conducteur desordonne avec un nombre fixe N de canaux conducteurs. Un mouvement longitudinal des electrons est accompagne par des sauts transversaux aleatoires. Ce schema est caracterise par la meme probabilite tunnel d'un canal quelconque a un autre, et on postule le caractere metallique dans la direction transversale
Genetic Structure in the Coral, Montastraea cavernosa: Assessing Genetic Differentiation among and within Mesophotic Reefs

Mesophotic coral reefs (30–150 m) have recently received increased attention as a potential source of larvae (e.g., the refugia hypothesis) to repopulate a select subset of the shallow water (<30 m) coral fauna. To test the refugia hypothesis we used highly polymorphic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers as a means to assess small-scale genetic heterogeneity between geographic locations and across depth clines in the Caribbean coral, Montastraea cavernosa. Zooxanthellae-free DNA extracts of coral samples (N = 105) were analyzed from four depths, shallow (3–10 m), medium (15–25 m), deep (30–50 m) and very deep (60–90 m) from Little Cayman Island (LCI), Lee Stocking Island (LSI), Bahamas and San Salvador (SS), Bahamas which range in distance from 170 to 1,600 km apart. Using AMOVA analysis there were significant differences in ΦST values in pair wise comparisons between LCI and LSI. Among depths at LCI, there was significant genetic differentiation between shallow and medium versus deep and very deep depths in contrast there were no significant differences in ΦST values among depths at LSI. The assignment program AFLPOP, however, correctly assigned 95.7% of the LCI and LSI samples to the depths from which they were collected, differentiating among populations as little as 10 to 20 m in depth from one another. Discriminant function analysis of the data showed significant differentiation among samples when categorized by collection site as well as collection depth. FST outlier analyses identified 2 loci under positive selection and 3 under balancing selection at LCI. At LSI 2 loci were identified, both showing balancing selection. This data shows that adult populations of M. cavernosa separated by depths of tens of meters exhibits significant genetic structure, indicative of low population connectivity among and within sites and are not supplying successful recruits to adjacent coral reefs less than 30 m in depth.
A Mathematical Model of Forgetting and Amnesia

We describe a mathematical model of learning and memory and apply it to the dynamics of forgetting and amnesia. The model is based on the hypothesis that the neural systems involved in memory at different time scales share two fundamental properties: (1) representations in a store decline in strength (2) while trying to induce new representations in higher-level more permanent stores. This paper addresses several types of experimental and clinical phenomena: (i) the temporal gradient of retrograde amnesia (Ribot’s Law), (ii) forgetting curves with and without anterograde amnesia, and (iii) learning and forgetting curves with impaired cortical plasticity. Results are in the form of closed-form expressions that are applied to studies with mice, rats, and monkeys. In order to analyze human data in a quantitative manner, we also derive a relative measure of retrograde amnesia that removes the effects of non-equal item difficulty for different time periods commonly found with clinical retrograde amnesia tests. Using these analytical tools, we review studies of temporal gradients in the memory of patients with Korsakoff’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Dementia, Huntington’s Disease, and other disorders.
Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules Using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: An Institutional Experience in a Rural Setting

Background. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) remains the first-line diagnostic in management of thyroid nodules and reduces unnecessary surgeries. However, it is still challenging since cytological results are not always straightforward. This study aimed to examine the results of thyroid FNA using the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) to establish the level of accuracy of FNA procedures in a rural practice setting. Method. A retrospective chart review was conducted on existing thyroid FNA performed in a referral endocrine center between December 2011 and November 2015. Results. A total of 159 patients (18–88 years old) and 236 nodule aspirations were performed and submitted for evaluation. 79% were benign, 3% atypia/follicular lesion of unknown significance (AUS/FLUS), 5% follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN), 4% suspicious for malignancy (one case was indeed an atypical parathyroid neoplasm by surgical pathology), 2% malignant, and 7% nondiagnostic. Two cases also had advanced molecular analysis on FNA specimens before thyroidectomy. Conclusion. The diagnostic yield of FNA cytology from our practice in a rural setting suggests that accuracy and specificity are comparable to results from larger centers.
Optimized simultaneous conflict-free task assignment and path planning for multi-AGV systems

In this paper we address the problem of assigning a set of tasks to a set of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), in a conflict-free manner. Specifically, we consider a system of multiple AGVs, moving along a predefined roadmap, and utilized for transportation of goods in automated warehouses. Sequential application of task assignment and path planning often gives rise to pathological situations, such as deadlocks, in which AGVs block each other, thus preventing tasks completion. In this paper we propose a method for assigning tasks while taking into account the subsequent path planning, encoding possible conflicts into a conflict graph, that is subsequently utilized for defining constraints of an optimization problem. Simulations are performed on maps of real industrial environments, to compare the proposed method with traditional task assignment.