Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How does AA?s 12 Steps and Membership of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous Work for Addressing Drinking Problems?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the world? s largest and most recognisable recovery ? program? , and central to its philosophy is the 12 Step Program. AA is a global organisation of 2.2 million members worldwide (AAWS, 2001), with a reported 3,600 weekly meetings in the United Kingdom (AAWS, 2011). AA has made many claims in their literature about the program? s effectiveness (AAWS, 2001: 84). Alcoholism is associated with a number of very serious health and social problems, including involvement in crime (Finney 2004; Fitzpatrick, 2010; Alcohol Reduction Strategy 2003). As fiscal pressure mounts, groups such as AA will be of interest to policy makers. Through an analysis of interviews with twenty long-term abstinent members of Alcoholics Anonymous, the thesis seeks to explain the effects of participation in AA? s therapeutic practices.Evidence from the literature on AA, revealed three concepts key to understanding participation in AA: Motivation to Engage (MtE), Structured Social Engagement (SSE), and Personal Agency (PA). A hypothetical model of AA-mediated behavioural change, constituted by these elements, was constructed and the findings supported this putative model. Further analysis revealed the coping strategies members of AA employed that ensured engagement with AA during stressful life events that threatened abstinence. The model was adapted to incorporate the temporal effects of long-term engagement with AA. Elements of Maruna? s (2001: 73) Condemnation Script resonated in the narratives of AA members. Contra Maruna? s analysis, AA members accepted ? condemnation script? , but these were not negative, limiting beliefs. AA? s therapeutic practices structure, a coherent sense of self, one that supports cessation from negative patterns of drinking. The data exposed the sustained usage of AA? s discourse in the narrative accounts given. This finding extends Borkman? s (1976) Experiential Knowledge thesis, a language of ? truth? based on personal experience. The ? linguistic echoes? embedded in each narrative, suggests that a person uses AA? s discourse to ? scaffold? their recovery. This thesis provides an explanation of AA? s therapeutic practices of how adherence to AA? s principles, cognitively restructures the individual towards mastering self-control. AA? s philosophy and the following empirical evidence asserts abstinence as pre-requisite for recovery from alcohol dependence.
The Astroglial ASCT2 Amino Acid Transporter as a Mediator of Glutamine Efflux

Glutamine release from astrocytes is an essential part of the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the brain. Uptake of glutamine into cultured rat astrocytes occurs by at least four different routes. In agreement with earlier studies, a significant contribution of amino acid transport systems ASC, A, L, and N was detected. It has not been determined whether these systems are also involved in glutamine efflux or whether specific efflux transporters exist. We show here that ASCT2, a variant of transport system ASC, is strongly expressed in rat astroglia-rich primary cultures but not in neuron-rich primary cultures. The amino acid sequence of rat astroglial ASCT2 is 83% identical to that of mouse ASCT2. In Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing rat ASCT2, we observed high-affinity uptake of [U-14C]glutamine (Km = 70 microM) that was Na(+)-dependent, concentrative, and unaffected by membrane depolarization. When oocytes were preloaded with [U-14C]glutamine, no glutamine efflux was detected in the absence of extracellular amino acids. Neither lowering intracellular pH nor raising the temperature elicited efflux. However, addition of 0.1 mM unlabeled alanine, serine, cysteine, threonine, glutamine, or leucine to the extracellular solution resulted in a rapid release of glutamine from the ASCT2-expressing oocytes. Amino acids that are not recognized as substrates by ASCT2 were ineffective in this role. Extracellular glutamate stimulated glutamine release weakly at pH 7.5 but was more effective on lowering pH to 5.5, consistent with the pH dependence of ASCT2 affinity for glutamate. Our findings suggest a significant role of ASCT2 in glutamine efflux from astrocytes by obligatory exchange with extracellular amino acids. However, the relative contribution of this pathway to glutamine release from cells in vivo or in vitro remains to be determined.
EPIDEMIC PASTEURELLOSIS IN A BIGHORN SHEEP POPULATION COINCIDING WITH THE APPEARANCE OF A DOMESTIC SHEEP

A pneumonia epidemic reduced bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) survival and recruitment during 1997–2000 in a population comprised of three interconnected wintering herds (Kenosha Mountains, Sugarloaf Mountain, Twin Eagles) that inhabited the Kenosha and Tarryall Mountain ranges in central Colorado, USA. The onset of this epidemic coincided temporally and spatially with the appearance of a single domestic sheep (Ovis aires) on the Sugarloaf Mountain herd's winter range in December 1997. Although only bighorns in the Sugarloaf Mountain herd were affected in 1997–98, cases also occurred during 1998–99 in the other two wintering herds, likely after the epidemic spread via established seasonal movements of male bighorns. In all, we located 86 bighorn carcasses during 1997–2000. Three species of Pasteurella were isolated in various combinations from affected lung tissues from 20 bighorn carcasses where tissues were available and suitable for diagnostic evaluation; with one exception, β-hemolytic mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica (primarily reported as biogroup 1G or 1αG) was isolated from lung tissues of cases evaluated during winter 1997–98. The epidemic dramatically lowered adult bighorn monthly survival in all three herds; a model that included an acute epidemic effect, differing between sexes and with vaccination status, that diminished linearly over the next 12 mo best represented field data. In addition to the direct mortality associated with epidemics in these three herds, lamb recruitment in years following the pneumonia epidemic also was depressed as compared to years prior to the epidemic. Based on observations presented here, pasteurellosis epidemics in free-ranging bighorn sheep can arise through incursion of domestic sheep onto native ranges, and thus minimizing contact between domestic and bighorn sheep appears to be a logical principle for bighorn sheep conservation.
Interplay between hot carrier and bias stress components in single-layer double-gated graphene field-effect transistors

We examine the interplay between the degradations associated with the bias-temperature instability (BTI) and hot carrier degradation (HCD) in single-layer double-gated graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs). Depending on the polarity of the applied BTI stress, the HCD component acting in conjuction can either accelerate or compensate the degradation. The related phenomena are studied in detail at different temperatures. Our results show that the variations of the charged trap density and carrier mobility induced by both contributions are correlated. Moreover, the electron/hole mobility behaviour agrees with the previously reported attractive/repulsive scattering asymmetry.
Giant Splenic Artery Aneurysm: Case Report

Splenic artery aneurysm is the third most common location of intra-abdominal aneurysms. Giant splenic artery aneurysm is rarely seen and is at a high risk of rupture. Location and size of the splenic artery aneurysm determine the likelihood of rupture. A case of giant splenic artery aneurysm in a 35-year-old woman is reported. She presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. She had splenomegaly and extrahepatic hepatic portal hypertension. Angiography confirmed a giant splenic artery aneurysm measuring 8 × 10 centimeters, located in middle and distal two-thirds of the splenic artery. Surgical treatment in the form of in toto excision of aneurysm with splenectomy and devascularization was performed.
Analysis of Immunoglobulin VH and TCR Cβ Polymorphisms in a Large Family with Thyroid Autoimmune Disorder

In order to investigate the association of TCR Cβ and immunoglobulin (Ig) VH polymorphisms with thyroid autoimmune diseases (TAD), we analyzed restriction-endonuclease-generated polymorphisms using T-cell receptor (TCR) Cβ and VH gene-family-specific probes. We tested genomic DNAs of patients isolated from a large family affected with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as well as the genomic DNA of unrelated Tunisian controls. Hybridization of BglII-digested DNA with a TCR Cβ probe revealed two alleles of 9.2 and 10 kb. These Cβ polymorphisms have already been found in the Caucasian population. However, there was no abnormal distribution of this polymorphism in patients with TAD, compared to related healthy individuals and to unrelated Tunisian controls. Besides, there was a low VH polymorphism in members of the family affected with TAD. Analysis of the Ig gene families revealed no restriction site polymorphism pattern specific for TAD.
Does Parathyroid Hormone Affect Erythropoietin Therapy in Dialysis Patients?

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) during treatment of anemia in dialysis patients with hyperparathyroidism. Subjects and Methods: A total of 118 patients with stage 5 renal failure on dialysis therapy were selected for this study. Anemia was treated with rHuEPO. Laboratory data for each patient included intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase. Patients with iPTH >32 pmol/l were considered hyperparathyroid. Erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) was expressed as the ratio of weekly rHuEPO dose/Hct level. Results: Of the 118 patients, 83 (70.3%) were on hemodialysis (HD) and 35 (29.7%) were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Sixty-three patients (64.3%) with iPTH >32 pmol/l had Hb <11 g/dl, while 34 (54.8%) with iPTH <32 had Hb >11 g/dl (p = 04). Thirty-three (56%) patients with iPTH >32 pmol/l had hemocrit <33%, while 38 (61.3%) with iPTH <32 had hemocrit <33% (p = 0.4). The median value of weekly rHuEPO dose in HD patients (12,000 units) was significantly higher in comparison with CAPD patients (6,000 units; p < 0.0001). ERI was significantly higher in HD than CAPD patients with iPTH <16 pmol/l (p = 0002) as well as with patients with 16–32 pmol/l (p = 0.012). Conclusions: CAPD patients showed a reduced requirement for rHuEPO and better control of anemia compared with HD patients. ERI was also lower in CAPD than in HD patients. Hyperparathyroidism is a parameter predictive of rHuEPO hyporesponsiveness in dialysis patients.
Ecological prevalence, genetic diversity, and epidemiological aspects of Salmonella isolated from tomato agricultural regions of the Virginia Eastern Shore

Virginia is the third largest producer of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Tomatoes grown along the eastern shore of Virginia are implicated almost yearly in Salmonella illnesses. Traceback implicates contamination occurring in the pre-harvest environment. To get a better understanding of the ecological niches of Salmonella in the tomato agricultural environment, a 2-year study was undertaken at a regional agricultural research farm in Virginia. Environmental samples, including tomato (fruit, blossoms, and leaves), irrigation water, surface water and sediment, were collected over the growing season. These samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella using modified FDA-BAM methods. Molecular assays were used to screen the samples. Over 1500 samples were tested. Seventy-five samples tested positive for Salmonella yielding over 230 isolates. The most commonly isolated serovars were S. Newport and S. Javiana with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis yielding 39 different patterns. Genetic diversity was further underscored among many other serotypes, which showed multiple PFGE subtypes. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of several S. Newport isolates collected in 2010 compared to clinical isolates associated with tomato consumption showed very few single nucleotide differences between environmental isolates and clinical isolates suggesting a source link to Salmonella contaminated tomatoes. Nearly all isolates collected during two growing seasons of surveillance were obtained from surface water and sediment sources pointing to these sites as long-term reservoirs for persistent and endemic contamination of this environment.
Scheduling and Binding Algorithms for High-Level Synthesis

New algorithms for high-level synthesis are presented. The first performs scheduling under hardware resource constraints and improves on commonly used list scheduling techniques by making use of a global priority function. A new design-space exploration technique, which combines this algorithm with an existing one based on time constraints, is also presented. A second algorithm is used for register and bus allocation to satisfy two criteria: the minimization of interconnect costs as well as the final register (bus) cost. A clique partitioning approach is used where the clique graph is pruned using interconnect affinities between register (bus) pairs. Examples from current literature were chosen to illustrate the algorithms and to compare them with four existing systems.
Adaptive responses and disruptive effects: how major wildfire influences kinship‐based social interactions in a forest marsupial

Environmental disturbance is predicted to play a key role in the evolution of animal social behaviour. This is because disturbance affects key factors underlying social systems, such as demography, resource availability and genetic structure. However, because natural disturbances are unpredictable there is little information on their effects on social behaviour in wild populations. Here, we investigated how a major wildfire affected cooperation (sharing of hollow trees) by a hollow‐dependent marsupial. We based two alternative social predictions on the impacts of fire on population density, genetic structure and resources. We predicted an adaptive social response from previous work showing that kin selection in den‐sharing develops as competition for den resources increases. Thus, kin selection should occur in burnt areas because the fire caused loss of the majority of hollow‐bearing trees, but no detectable mortality. Alternatively, fire may have a disruptive social effect, whereby postfire home range‐shifts ‘neutralize’ fine‐scale genetic structure, thereby removing opportunities for kin selection between neighbours. Both predictions occurred: the disruptive social effect in burnt habitat and the adaptive social response in adjacent unburnt habitat. The latter followed a massive demographic influx to unburnt ‘refuge’ habitat that increased competition for dens, leading to a density‐related kin selection response. Our results show remarkable short‐term plasticity of animal social behaviour and demonstrate how the social effects of disturbance extend into undisturbed habitat owing to landscape‐scale demographic shifts. We predicted long‐term changes in kinship‐based cooperative behaviour resulting from the genetic and resource impacts of forecast changes to fire regimes in these forests.
Self-calibration and biconvex compressive sensing

The design of high-precision sensing devises becomes ever more difficult and expensive. At the same time, the need for precise calibration of these devices (ranging from tiny sensors to space telescopes) manifests itself as a major roadblock in many scientific and technological endeavors. To achieve optimal performance of advanced high-performance sensors one must carefully calibrate them, which is often difficult or even impossible to do in practice. In this work we bring together three seemingly unrelated concepts, namely self-calibration, compressive sensing, and biconvex optimization. The idea behind self-calibration is to equip a hardware device with a smart algorithm that can compensate automatically for the lack of calibration. We show how several self-calibration problems can be treated efficiently within the framework of biconvex compressive sensing via a new method called SparseLift. More specifically, we consider a linear system of equations y = D A x , ? > where both x ? > and the diagonal matrix D ? > (which models the calibration error) are unknown. By ‘lifting’ this biconvex inverse problem we arrive at a convex optimization problem. By exploiting sparsity in the signal model, we derive explicit theoretical guarantees under which both x ? > and D ? > can be recovered exactly, robustly, and numerically efficiently via linear programming. Applications in array calibration and wireless communications are discussed and numerical simulations are presented, confirming and complementing our theoretical analysis.
The role of friendships among Latino male adolescent immigrants who are unauthorized

THE ROLE OF FRIENDSHIPS AMONG LATINO MALE ADOLESCENT IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE UNAUTHORIZED Marcel Hernani Tassara, M.S. Marquette University, 2014 It is estimated that the United States is home to three-quarters of a million immigrant Latina/o youth who do not have proper authorization to be in the country (Passell, 2011). Given their unauthorized status these youth face a bevy of constraining factors, both proximal and distal. Furthermore, migration is typically characterized by a loss of social networks and cultural practices in exchange for disorienting social and cultural changes in a new land (Hernandez & McGoldrick, 1999). The importance of friendships during adolescence, has been well documented across cultures (Hartup, 1996). While a few studies have demonstrated the positive role friendships play in educational attainment for unauthorized Latina/o youth (e.g.Gonzales, 2010; Perreira, Harris, & Lee, 2007), there exists little understanding of the role of friendships among unauthorized Latino adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of friendships in the lives of this growing and vulnerable population: Latino male adolescent immigrants who are unauthorized. The study employed grounded theory research methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1992) to examine friendships from the perspective of such youth. Twelve adolescents participated in individual interviews during which they were invited to discuss their conceptualizations of, and experiences with friendships, preand postmigration. Results revealed that friends: (a) are important because they provide advice and help youth navigate the new environment, (b) help youth feel part of a group, (c) influence them in both positive and negative ways, and (c) are not completely trusted ang family is seen as the primary source of emotional support. Additionally, participants indicated that support and trust are critical to friendships, and that friendships are tested during difficult times. Also, their parents gave them advice to not fully trust friends, and when queried they stated that they would provide similar advice to recently arrived immigrants. Limitations and implications of the present study as well as future directions are also discussed.
Selection of Patients may Limit the Generalizability of Results from Cancer Trials

Despite the development of apparently effective curative strategies according to results from clinical trials, survival rates for major cancer types have improved only slowly during recent years. Patient selection is discussed as an important reason for this observation. From 1989 to 1995 the Norwegian Radium Hospital entered 85 patients in an international multicentre trial assessing cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in T2-T4a bladder cancer. Forty-three eligible patients, among whom there were 36 non-consenting patients, and 106 ineligible patients received comparable local treatment outside the trial. The 3-year overall survival rates for the above three groups were 62%, 58%, and 31%, respectively (p<0.001). Differences in overall as well as cancer-specific survival could be demonstrated, even after adjustment for prognostic factors. There was a significant difference in overall survival (p=0.01) between the 85 trial patients and the 36 eligible patients who refused trial inclusion. Results and treatment recommendations from a trial can be transferred to daily practice only if eligibility criteria and selection of patients are taken into account. By registering patients undergoing comparable treatment outside a trial, the overall applicability of the treatment in question can be assessed.
Prediction of slope instabilities due to deep-seated gravitational creep

Abstract. Deep-seated gravitational creep in rock slopes, rock-flow or sackung is a special category of mass-movement, in which long-lasting small-scale movements prevail. The prime causes of these mass movements in the Alpine area seem to have been glacial retreat at ~15000 a B.P. Many sackung stabilize and some undergo the transition to rapid sliding. This paper concentrates on four mass-movements in crystalline complexes of the Austrian Alps which have been investigated for aspects of deep-seated gravitational creep and prediction of the transition to rapid sliding. The present-day extent of the creeping or sliding of the rock mass has been modelled by a process of progressive, stress induced damage. Subcritical crack growth has been assumed to control this process and also the velocity of the mass movement. A sliding surface and decreasing Coulomb stress at this surface as a function of slip is a precondition for instability. The development of the four examples has been modelled successfully by a rotational slider block model and the conception of subcritical crack growth and progressive smoothing of the sliding surface. The interrelations between velocity, pore water pressure, seismic activity and the state of the sliding surface have been derived. Finally we discuss how the hypothesis inherent in the models presented could be validated and used for prediction.
Understanding the Challenges of Adjuvant Treatment Measurement and Reporting in Breast Cancer: Cancer Treatment Measuring and Reporting

Background:Healthcare accrediting organizations and insurers increasingly require reporting of clinical data, and cancer treatment is one area of enhanced scrutiny. Objectives:To compare rates of received versus reported adjuvant breast cancer treatments, and to assess barriers to measuring and reporting treatments to the tumor registry (TR) of a high-volume medical center with both hospital-based and community-based oncologists. Research Design:We calculated rates of received treatments using data collected using chart abstraction (N=115) and compared these with rates of reported treatments from the TR (N=535). We conducted 31 indepth interviews with clinical and administrative informants. Asking about perceptions of the TR, current reporting methods, and reporting barriers. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using deductive and inductive methods. Results:Rates of reported versus received treatments were radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery 22% versus 84% (P < 0.0001); chemotherapy for stage 2 or 3: 17% versus 79% (P < 0.0001); hormonal therapy for stage 2 or 3: 1% versus 91% (P < 0.0001). Comparing community-based versus hospital-based oncologists’ rates reported to the TR, we found the following differences: radiation therapy post-breast conserving surgery 12% versus 32% (< 0.0001); chemotherapy 8% versus 29% (< 0.0001); and hormonal therapy 0% versus 3% (0.09). We found 4 key barriers to measuring and reporting poor understanding about the TR, limited information technology capabilities, poor communication, and mistrust. Conclusions:Efforts to improve cancer care quality by improved treatment reporting must overcome key barriers, especially those involving information exchange and mistrust. Communications between the TR and oncology practices must improve to facilitate better treatment measurement and reporting.