Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decrease in skin-closing tension intraoperatively with suture tension adjustment reel, balloon expansion, and undermining.

BACKGROUND The biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the skin enable it to be significantly stretched within a relatively short period of time. This property, called mechanical creep, is exploited in various surgical maneuvers for intraoperative closure of large surgical defects. The recently introduced Miami Suture Tension Adjustment Reel (S.T.A.R.) device permits both the precise sutured attachment of a linear cycled load to approximate the edges of widened surgical defects, and the easy measurement of wound edge tension across the defects. OBJECTIVE It was our purpose to compare the relative effects of linear load cycling with the S.T. A.R. device, spherical load cycling with balloon expander, and surgical undermining on the closing tension of surgical defects. METHOD Surgical wounds were created on the flanks of six pigs and these defects were closed by various methods of repair. The combination of undermining and the S.T. A.R. device ws also evaluated. RESULTS The average total decreases in skin closing tension were: undermining, 17.8 +/- 0.5%; balloon, 28.5 +/- 1.6%; S.T. A.R. device, 36.6 +/- 4.8%. CONCLUSION Our data showed that all three techniques were effective in lowering the tension required to approximate surgically created defects, with the S.T. A.R. device proving to be most effective. Undermining and the S.T. A.R. device also worked synergistically to decrease skin-closing tension.
Introduction External and Internal Representations in Multimedia Learning

New technologies in general, and multimedia in particular, play an increasingly important role in education. The term " multimedia " refers to the combination of multiple technical resources for the purpose of presenting information represented in multiple formats via multiple sensory modalities. Accordingly, multimedia resources can be considered at three different levels: the technical level refers to the technical devices (i.e. computers, networks, displays, etc.) that are the carriers of signs; the semiotic level refers to the representational format (i.e. texts, pictures, and sounds) of those signs; the sensory level refers to the sensory modality of sign reception (i.e. visual or auditory modality). A number of misconceptions arise amongst educators because of a failure to distinguish these different levels. One misconception is found with those who treat multimedia primarily in terms of the information technology involved (and therefore primarily as a matter for computer scientists and engineers) and are generally unaware that they address only one of its levels. In fact, the other two levels are equally important and a proper understanding of them requires expertise in cognitive science, psychology, and educational science (rather than information technology). Another misconception also related to a failure to recognise the different levels of multimedia is that the technical medium itself is presumed to have an impact on learning. In fact, previous research on so-called " media-effects " has clearly established that it is misguided and overly simplistic to compare different technical media with regard to their effects on learning without taking account of semiotic and sensory aspects. Rather than searching for technical media-effects, research on learning and instruction should focus on the semiotic and sensory levels of multimedia. The emphasis should be on the effects of different forms of external representation such as texts and graphics (either static or animated) on comprehension and learning. Unfortunately , there are also misconceptions with regard to multimedia's semiotic and sensory levels. A widespread misconception of this type is the assumption that rich multimedia learning environments result in extensive cognitive processing and thus create elaborated knowledge structures. This view has meant that the possibilities of the latest information technologies are sometimes exploited to the limit in order to provide learners with multiple forms of representation that address a variety of different sensory modalities. The resulting learning materials include a diverse range of 0959-4752/03/$-see front matter  2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. components including animation, videoclips …
Habitus of ethnic Bajo Bungin.

This research was aimed to understand and analyze the habitus of seaweed farmers of Bajo ethnic Bungin. The study was conducted for one year. Type of research is qualitative and paradigm used in the study is constructivism paradigm with methods / strategies ethnographic case study. Bungin Permai Village, Konawe South, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. People in this village are farmers seaweed majority Bajo tribe whose life is highly dependent on marine resources and village located in the middle (floating village) sea. In cultural studies, ethnographic is used to examine human behavior related to the development of society in a particular social and cultural setting. Ethnographic research methods are Considered Able to explore in depth information with vast resources. With the technique of "participant observatory", Becomes a unique ethnographic research method because It requires the direct participation of Researchers in a particular society or social community. The results showed that, the process of formation of habitus on Bungin Bajo ethnic habitus is that it was born from natural conditions. Bungin Bajo ethnic community life is the sea, thus habitus is sea. While habitus structured born because the technology used structured from the external environment, in this case the initial introduction of the NGO seaweed. Because it is the habitus for seaweed farmers Bungin ethnic Bajo, then it becomes a structured disposition. He has been the awareness and attitude of the "embedded" within themselves. In turn the habit "serves as the framework that gave birth to and gives shape to the perception, presentation and their actions". Because it has fostered the other acts relating to the business at sea will be framed by, or adapted to the habits of their ethnicity.
Endogenous and stimulated GH secretion, urinary GH excretion, and plasma IGF‐I and IGF‐II levels in prepubertal children with short stature after intrauterine growth retardation *

OBJECTIVE The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the failure of catch up‐growth in children with short stature after Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) remain obscure. Since GH secretion disturbances might play a role in the growth retardation of these children we have Investigated various aspects of the GH/IGF axis.
Divide and...conquer? On the limits of algorithmic approaches to syntactic semantic structure

In computer science, divide and conquer (D&C) is an algorithm design paradigm based on multi-branched recursion. A D&C algorithm works by recursively and monotonically breaking down a problem into sub problems of the same (or a related) type, until these become simple enough to be solved directly. The solutions to the sub problems are then combined to give a solution to the original problem. The present work identifies D&C algorithms assumed within contemporary syntactic theory, and discusses the limits of their applicability in the realms of the syntax semantics and syntax morphophonology interfaces. We will propose that D&C algorithms, while valid for some processes, fall short on flexibility given a mixed approach to the structure of linguistic phrase markers. Arguments in favour of a computationally mixed approach to linguistic structure will be presented as an alternative that offers advantages to uniform D&C approaches.
Disentangling Accountability and Competence in Elections: Evidence from U.S. Term Limits

We exploit variation in U.S. gubernatorial term limits across states and time to empirically estimate two separate effects of elections on government performance. Holding tenure in office constant, differences in performance by reelection-eligible and term-limited incumbents identify an accountability effect: reelection-eligible governors have greater incentives to exert costly effort on behalf of voters. Holding term-limit status constant, differences in performance by incumbents in different terms identify a competence effect: later-term incumbents are more likely to be competent both because they have survived reelection and because they have experience in office. We show that economic growth is higher and taxes, spending, and borrowing costs are lower under reelection-eligible incumbents than under term-limited incumbents (accountability), and under reelected incumbents than under first-term incumbents (competence), all else equal. In addition to improving our understanding of the role of elections in.
Stress and stress management in clinical psychology: Findings from a systematic review

Background: Occupational stress is a major problem for individuals and organizations. Stress can cause burnout, ill-health, high workforce turnover, absenteeism, lowered morale and reduced efficiency and performance. Aims: To identify factors that contribute to stress, burnout and job satisfaction for qualified UK clinical psychologists; to identify the various coping strategies that are employed; to identify stress management interventions that have been used by members of the clinical psychology profession in the UK. Method: Systematic review, focusing on stressors, moderators and stress outcomes and on stress management interventions. Results: Seven studies were included in the review. Just one reported an evaluation of a stress management intervention. Reported sources of stress for clinical psychologists included client characteristics, excessive workloads, professional self-doubt and poor management. Coping strategies included talking with colleagues, and other “active” approaches to personal stress management. Up to 40% of UK clinical psychologists participating in studies were found to be experiencing “caseness” levels of distress. Conclusions: Mental health work is stress-provoking. However, organizational and professional factors may militate against psychologists seeking and receiving support at work. Declaration of interest: This study was undertaken with the support of the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care.
Psychosocial concerns and individual anxieties for fathers with testicular cancer

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the major areas of psychosocial concerns, individual anxieties and coping responses for fathers with testicular cancer. While numerous studies have been carried out with mothers with cancer, research from the perspective of fathers with cancer is sparse. This study attempts to identify and explore their specific concerns and priorities. The study was approved by the Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) Committee for Clinical Research (CCR) and the Local Research Ethics Committee (LREC). Men were recruited from the RMH Testicular Clinic. All of the men had two or three school age children and were from a range of ethnic backgrounds, professions and education levels. The Biographical Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM) of interviewing was used and the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method was employed to analyze the data. Psychodynamic concepts were utilized as the theoretical framework to develop interpretations for each participant. Theories of masculinity were also incorporated. A set of themes emerged which was supported by the current literature. The psychosocial concerns included: lack of adequate medical information, concerns for children and wife and work concerns. The individual anxieties included: concerns around self concepts and masculinity, physical changes and self-image, challenges to faith and finding meaning, fear of recurrence, fear of death and annihilation. The participants employed specific coping responses including: intellectualization, minimizing, maintaining stoic facade and idealization which helped them to cope with the impact of their disease AND allowed them to maintain their sense of masculinity. This phenomenon was labeled “The Masculine Way of Handling Illness”. Additionally, the men split their cancer into the “good one to get”. The findings suggest that men need more reliable information, preferably on a reputable UK site, about talking to their children, the physical effects of treatment and the options of having a prosthesis.
Differential Effects of the SR Proteins 9G8, SC35, ASF/SF2, and SRp40 on the Utilization of the A1 to A5 Splicing Sites of HIV-1 RNA*

Splicing is a crucial step for human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) multiplication; eight acceptor sites are used in competition to produce the vif, vpu, vpr, nef, env, tat, and rev mRNAs. The effects of SR proteins have only been investigated on a limited number of HIV-1 splicing sites by using small HIV-1 RNA pieces. To understand how SR proteins influence the use of HIV-1 splicing sites, we tested the effects of overproduction of individual SR proteins in HeLa cells on the splicing pattern of an HIV-1 RNA that contained all the splicing sites. The steady state levels of the HIV-1 mRNAs produced were quantified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. For interpretation of the data, transcripts containing one or several of the HIV-1 acceptor sites were spliced in vitro in the presence or the absence of one of the tested SR proteins. Both in vivo and in vitro, acceptor sites A2 and A3 were found to be strongly and specifically regulated by SR proteins. ASF/SF2 strongly activates site A2 and to a lesser extent site A1. As a result, upon ASF/SF2 overexpression, the vpr mRNA steady state level is specifically increased. SC35 and SRp40, but not 9G8, strongly activate site A3, and their overexpression ex vivo induces a dramatic accumulation of the tat mRNA, to the detriment of most of the other viral mRNAs. Here we showed by Western blot analysis that the Nef protein synthesis is strongly decreased by overexpression of SC35, SRp40, and ASF/SF2. Finally, activation by ASF/SF2 and 9G8 was found to be independent of the RS domain. This is the first investigation of the effects of variations of individual SR protein concentrations that is performed ex vivo on an RNA containing a complex set of splicing sites.
A New Formula for Optimized Weight Estimation in Extreme Fetal Macrosomia (≥ 4500 g)

Abstract Purpose: To develop and to evaluate a specific sonographic weight formula for fetuses with extreme macrosomia (≥ 4500 g). Materials and Methods: A statistical estimation technique known as “gradient boosting with component-wise P-splines” was applied to a group of 174 fetuses with a birth weight (BW) ≥ 4500 g. Each fetus underwent an ultrasound examination with complete biometric parameters within 7 days of delivery. The exclusion criteria were multiple pregnancy, intrauterine death, and major structural or chromosomal anomalies. A new formula was derived using the obtained data and was then compared to currently available equations for estimating weight in the macrosomic fetus. Results: The new formula is: log10 (EFW) = 3.6687781710 – 0.0003 230 278 × (BPD – 100.4080) – 0.0000843433 × (BPD – 100.4080)^2 + 0.0007281 281 × (OFD – 120.6322) + 0.0000664323 × (OFD – 120.6322)^2 + 0.000000001794019 × exp(ATD – 120.1552) + 0.0005946974 × (APAD – 121.2069) – 0.0000210137 × (APAD – 121.2069)^2 – 0.000003318 × (APAD – 121.2069)^3, where EFW is the estimated fetal weight, BPD is the biparietal diameter, OFD is the occipitofrontal diameter, ATD is the abdominal transverse diameter, and APAD is the abdominal anteroposterior diameter. The new formula proved to be superior to other established equations, showing the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAE 2.506), the smallest variance regarding the signed percentage error (SPE) (SD 3.376), and the best distribution of absolute percentage errors within prespecified error bounds. Conclusion: This new formula significantly improves weight estimation in fetuses with extreme macrosomia.
Targeting Human Central Nervous System Protein Kinases: An Isoform Selective p38αMAPK Inhibitor That Attenuates Disease Progression in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Models

The first kinase inhibitor drug approval in 2001 initiated a remarkable decade of tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs for oncology indications, but a void exists for serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitor drugs and central nervous system indications. Stress kinases are of special interest in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders due to their involvement in synaptic dysfunction and complex disease susceptibility. Clinical and preclinical evidence implicates the stress related kinase p38αMAPK as a potential neurotherapeutic target, but isoform selective p38αMAPK inhibitor candidates are lacking and the mixed kinase inhibitor drugs that are promising in peripheral tissue disease indications have limitations for neurologic indications. Therefore, pursuit of the neurotherapeutic hypothesis requires kinase isoform selective inhibitors with appropriate neuropharmacology features. Synaptic dysfunction disorders offer a potential for enhanced pharmacological efficacy due to stress-induced activation of p38αMAPK in both neurons and glia, the interacting cellular components of the synaptic pathophysiological axis, to be modulated. We report a novel isoform selective p38αMAPK inhibitor, MW01-18-150SRM (=MW150), that is efficacious in suppression of hippocampal-dependent associative and spatial memory deficits in two distinct synaptic dysfunction mouse models. A synthetic scheme for biocompatible product and positive outcomes from pharmacological screens are presented. The high-resolution crystallographic structure of the p38αMAPK/MW150 complex documents active site binding, reveals a potential low energy conformation of the bound inhibitor, and suggests a structural explanation for MW150’s exquisite target selectivity. As far as we are aware, MW150 is without precedent as an isoform selective p38MAPK inhibitor or as a kinase inhibitor capable of modulating in vivo stress related behavior.
The Credential Society

Suppose that, throughout history, as human productivity increases above subsistence, it becomes increasingly profitable for the most bold, ruthless, and adroit people to seize it from those who are producing. Suppose that as these few can seize more tribute, it also becomes more efficient for them to include proportionately more people into their privileged circle of tribute gatherers. However, suppose that if these elites do not expand their own numbers and efficiency of tribute gathering to the very limits of what is possible, they will expose themselves to takeover by other bold, ruthless, and adroit people waiting for the chance to do so. (So, with a little help from Machiavelli, Darwin, and some others, we have the beginnings of a "law of expanding elites" that is linked to expanding productivity.) To continue the supposition: in times of rapid increases in productivity, and therefore rapid increases in the need for more tribute gatherers, controlled recruitment and gatekeeping to admit those filling the extra job openings would be needed. To avoid resentment and unrest, this recruitment system should neither depend on chance nor rely only upon inefficient personal patronage by the already privileged. Instead, this gatekeeping system might best have the appearance of a fair, open, universal, and impersonal competition among the nonprivileged, whereby the many losers in the race can be encouraged to blame only themselves for their continuing unprivileged plight, and even to keep a privilege-friendly hope alive that they-or their children-might still some day be winners. (We will call this sentiment "legitimacy.") This competition for privilege should be an independent enterprise at arm's length from ruling elites, and should not put the already privileged to any real tests, and provide bypass alternatives for their children. Still, for appearances, it should test at least some qualities or values flatteringly attributed to the
Venture capital and underpricing: capacity constraints and early sales

I present a model of the venture capital (VC) and public markets in which VCs suffer from capacity constraints, due to the shortage of skilled VC managers. Consequently, VC firms can only handle a limited number of new projects at once, having to divest from ongoing projects in order to take advantage of new opportunities. This framework is able to match key features presented by the VC and initial public offer (IPO) empirical literatures: (1) VC-backed firms are younger, smaller, and less profitable at the IPO than their non-VC backed counterparts; (2) VC-backed IPOs are more underpriced than non-VC backed ones, (3) there is a positive relationship between underpricing and VC fundraising; (4) small and young VC firms usually take portfolio firms public earlier than their large and mature counterparts; (5) in hot IPO markets, VCs are more likely to take public both very young and small firms as well as mature and large firms, compared to cold markets. Differently, non-VC backed firms are usually smaller and younger in hot markets than in cold ones.
Statins are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer disease regardless of lipophilicity. The Rotterdam Study

Background: Cross-sectional reports suggest that statin users are less likely to have Alzheimer disease (AD). Prospective studies have provided inconsistent evidence. Moreover, it is unclear whether the association differs for lipohilic statins, those that could more easily pass the blood–brain barrier and hydrophilic statins. Objectives: To prospectively evaluate whether use of statins is associated with the risk of AD, and to determine whether associations differ for lipophilic and hydrophilic statins. Method: 6992 participants of the prospective, population-based Rotterdam Study were followed, from baseline (1990–1993) until January 2005 for incident AD. Data on all filled prescriptions came from pharmacy records. For each date on which each event occurred, cholesterol-lowering drug use for the person who experienced the event and all remaining persons in the cohort was categorised as “any” or “never” use. A distinction was made between statin, lipophilic and hydrophilic statins, and non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs. Data were analysed with the Cox regression analysis, adjusting for sex, age and potential confounders. Results: During follow-up (mean 9 years), 582 persons developed AD. Compared with never use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, statin use was associated with a decreased risk of AD (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.90), but non-statin cholesterol-lowering drug use was not (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.45 to 2.44). HRs were equal for lipophilic (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.89) and hydrophilic statins (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.11). Conclusion: In the general population, the use of statins, but not of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs, was associated with a lower risk of AD compared with never use of cholesterol-lowering drugs. The protective effect was independent of the lipophilicity of statins.