Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life skills programmes for chronic mental illnesses.

BACKGROUND Most people with schizophrenia have a cyclical pattern of illness characterised by remission and relapses. The illness can reduce the ability of self-care and functioning and can lead to the illness becoming chronic and disabling. Rehabilitation is one of the important parts of treatments. Life skills programmes, emphasising the needs associated with independent functioning, are often a part of the rehabilitation process. These programmes, therefore, have been developed to enhance independent living and the quality of life for people with schizophrenia living in the community. OBJECTIVES To review the effectiveness of life skills programmes with standard care or other comparable therapies for people with chronic mental health problems. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (May 2007) which is based on regular searches of BIOSIS, CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Hand searches and scrutiny of references supplemented this process. We inspected references of all identified studies for further trials. SELECTION CRITERIA We included all relevant randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials for life skills programmes versus other comparable therapies or standard care involving people with serious mental illnesses. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We extracted data independently. For dichotomous data we calculated relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) on an intention-to-treat basis, based on a random effects model. We calculated numbers needed to treat/harm (NNT/NNH) where appropriate. For continuous data, we calculated weighted mean differences (WMD) again based on a random effects model. MAIN RESULTS We included four randomised controlled trials with a total of 318 participants. These evaluated life skills programmes versus standard care, or support group. We found no significant difference in life skills performance between people given life skills training and standard care (Patterson 2003, n=32, WMD -1.10 CI -7.8 to 5.6). Life skills training did not improve or worsen study retention (n=60, 2 RCTs, RR 1.16 CI 0.4 to 3.4). We found no significant difference in PANSS positive, negative or total scores between life skills intervention and standard care. Depression scores (HAM-D) did not reveal any significant difference between groups (Patterson 2003, n=32, WMD -0.70 CI -4.1 to 2.7). We found quality of life scores to be equivocal between participants given life skills training (Patterson 2003, n=32, WMD -0.02 CI -0.1 to 0.03) and standard care. Life skills compared with support groups also did not reveal any significant differences in PANSS scores, quality of life, or social performance skills (Patterson 2006, n=158, WMD -0.90 CI -3.4 to 1.6). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Currently there is no good evidence to suggest life skills programmes are effective for people with chronic mental illnesses. More robust data are needed from studies that are adequately powered to determine whether life skills training is beneficial for people with chronic mental health problems.
Thermal and mechanical properties of aluminum powder‐filled high‐density polyethylene composites

Thermal conductivity and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity of aluminum powder-filled high-density polyethylene composites are investigated experimentally in the range of filler content 0–33% by volume for thermal conductivity and 0–50% by volume for mechanical properties. Experimental results from thermal conductivity measurements show a region of low particle content, 0–12% by volume, where the particles are distributed homogeneously in the polymer matrix and are not interacting with each other; in this region most of the thermal conductivity models for two-phase systems are applicable. At higher particle content, the filler tends to form ag-glomerates and conductive chains resulting in a rapid increase in thermal conductivity. The model developed by Agari and Uno estimates the thermal conductivity in this region. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing aluminum particles content, which is attributed to the introduction of discontinuities in the structure. Modulus of elasticity increased up to around 12% volume content of aluminum particles. Einstein's equation, which assumes perfect adhesion between the filler particles and the matrix, explains the experimental results in this region quite well. For particle content higher than 30%, a decrease in the modulus of elasticity is observed which may be attributed to the formation of cavities around filler particles during stretching in tensile tests. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stability of retained austenite in TRIP-assisted steels

Abstract A theory is developed for the quantitative representation of the strain induced transformation of retained austenite in low alloy, TRIP-assisted steels of the type developed for the automobile industry. It is possible, therefore, to calculate the fraction of austenite as a function of the plastic strain, chemical composition, deformation temperature and the starting amount of austenite. The effect of composition and temperature is expressed through the free energy available for transformation. Good agreement has been obtained with published experimental data. The model can be used to investigate the stability of the austenite during plastic deformation.
Psychoaffective differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men in response to a sexual experience.

INTRODUCTION Although anxiety and depression have long been implicated as factors in the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunction, other emotional states, more typical and within the range of normality, have received little attention. Aim. To investigate key differences in self-reported affective responses between sexually functional and dysfunctional males in the context of a sexual episode with their partner. METHODS Participants were men seeking treatment at a urology clinic for either a sexual problem (N=79) or another urological disorder (N=16). Individuals rated their affective state across 28 descriptors in response to a partnered sexual experience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The 28-item Psychoaffective Response Form consisted of items assessing positive and negative affect. Principle components analysis was used to identify major underlying positive and negative factors. RESULTS Significant differences were found on nearly all 28 measures of affective response as well as five major underlying factors constructed from those measures. Dysfunctional men more strongly endorsed negative affects and functional men more strongly endorsed positive affects, even though all suffered from a significant urological health issue. No differences existed in sexual desire or the value ascribed to sexual intimacy, suggesting that negative feelings were specifically associated with inadequate sexual performance and not general health concerns. CONCLUSION These findings reiterate the importance of addressing patients' emotional issues as part of any overall treatment strategy.
DIETARY COMPOSITSION AND DENTAL DISEASE IN ADOLESCENT DIABETICS

In a group of adolescent diabetics there was a probable lower frequency of caries but a higher frequency of supragingival calculus than in the control group. The diabetics consumed relatively more protein and less refined carbohydrates, taken less frequently than nondia‐betics. The 24‐hour recalls showed good reproducibility but an unsatisfactory correspond‐ance to a 7‐day record among diabetics.
Multiobjective route selection for car navigation system using genetic algorithm

Route planning is an important problem for a car navigation system. Given a set of origin-destination pair, there could be many possible routes for a driver. Search for shortest route from one point to another on a weighted graph is a well known problem and has several solutions like Dijkstra algorithm, Bellman-Ford algorithm etc. But in case of car navigation systems the shortest path may not be the best one from the point of view of driver's satisfaction. So, for a practical car navigation system in dynamical environment, we need to specify multiple and separate good (near optimal) choices according to multiple criteria which make the search space too large to find out the solution in real time by deterministic algorithms. Genetic algorithms (GA) are now widely used to solve search problems with applications in practical routing and optimization problems. GA includes a variety of quasi optimal solutions, which can be obtained in a given time. In this work we propose a GA based algorithm to find out simultaneously several alternate routes depending on different criterion according to driver's choice such as shortest path by distance, path which contains minimum number of turns, path passing through mountains or by the side of a river etc. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated by simulation experiment using real road map compared to other existing GA based algorithms. It has been found that the proposed algorithm is quite efficient in finding alternate non overlapping routes with different characteristics.
Design of Concrete Flexural Members Strengthened in Shear with FRP

The present study describes a simple design model for the calculation of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) contribution to the shear capacity of strengthened RC elements according to the design formats of the Eurocode, American Concrete Institute, and Japan Concrete Institute. The key element in the model is the calculation of an effective FRP strain, which is calculated when the element reaches its shear capacity due to concrete diagonal tension. Diagonal tension failure may be combined with FRP debonding or tensile fracture, and the latter also may occur at a stage beyond the ultimate shear capacity. An upper limit (maximum) to the FRP effective strain also is defined and aimed at controlling crack opening. The effective strain, obtained through calibration with >75 experimental data, is shown to decrease with the FRP axial rigidity divided by the concrete shear strength. It also is demonstrated that the contribution of FRP to shear capacity is typically controlled by either the maximum effective strai.
Genetic diversity among Trichophyton mentagrophytes isolates using random amplified polymorphic DNA method

Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a common cosmopolitan dermatophyte species composed of two varieties: T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (anthropophilic form) and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (zoophilic form). We used a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method to study the genetic diversity of 46 clinical isolates of the T. mentagrophytes complex collected from 38 patients with different geographical origins (Europe, Africa, South America). The T. mentagrophytes were isolated either from a unique lesion for 31 patients, including two patients living together, or from at least two sites for seven patients. Only one primer of 15 primers tested showed DNA polymorphism in the isolates, producing 23 distinct patterns belonging to three clusters. There was no specific cluster grouping isolates from the same geographical origin. The same pattern is shared by all the four T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and 13 of 42 T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale. An identity of strains responsible for several lesions in seven individuals suggests an homogeneous T. mentagrophytes population in the case of multiple lesions. In contrast, the dissimilarity of two strains recovered from two patients living together argues against person‐to‐person transmission in that case. This study indicates that RAPD can be successfully applied to show genetic diversity among T. mentagrophytes isolates.
Personal Age and Assessment of Work Stress in Polish Nurses

Workers' perception of age and work stress was examined within the context of aging and work. Nurses from selected hospitals in a large Polish town completed the Survey of Health Care Professionals to assess their personal age and on-the-job and off-the-job stressors. The assessment of work performance, effort, and abilities associated with work demands and tiredness after the workday was compared between groups of subjects differing in the magnitude and direction of discrepancies between felt age and chronological age. The results showed that, compared to others, nurses feeling older than their chronological age assessed themselves as putting forth the highest effort to meet their work demands, reported more tiredness after the workday, and reported the lowest work abilities.
Viability of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts: Assessment by the Dye Permeability Assay

The paper by Jenkins et al. ([6][1]) provides interesting data on Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst permeability and survival. The vital dye assay ([4][2]) relies upon oocyst permeability and exhibits limitations, especially in assessment of disinfectant efficacy ([3][3]). However, it is rewarding to
Very low pacemaker rate following ACURATE neo transcatheter heart valve implantation.

AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate whether minimising trauma to the aortic annulus and left ventricular outflow tract reduces the occurrence of new conduction disorders and the need for permanent pacemakers. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 175 patients (58% female, mean age 83±6 years) underwent transfemoral TAVI with the Boston Scientific ACURATE neo at three centres in Europe. Prosthesis size selection was based on perimeter-derived annular diameter. Predilatation was performed in all with a balloon 1.9±0.9 mm smaller than the perimeter-derived annular diameter. Post-dilatation was performed in 46 (26.3%) with a balloon 1.2±0.9 mm smaller than the perimeter-derived annular diameter. Eighteen patients (10.3%) developed a new left bundle branch block, 13 (7%) a new first-degree AV block, and four (2.3%) received a new permanent pacemaker. Paravalvular regurgitation was none/trace in 66 (37.7%), mild in 101 (57.7%) and moderate in eight (4.6%). At 30 days, the rate of any stroke was 1.7% (3/175), and one patient (0.6%) had died. CONCLUSIONS With careful selection of the balloon and the ACURATE neo prosthesis size, very low rates of new conduction disorders and permanent pacemaker implantation may be achieved without increasing the amount of paravalvular regurgitation.
An Automated Method for the Determination of Intestinal Disaccharidase and Glucoamylase Activities

Determination of disaccharidase and glucoamylase activities is important for the diagnosis of intestinal diseases. We adapted a widely accepted manual method to an automated system that uses the same reagents reaction volumes, incubation times, and biopsy size as the manual method. A dye was added to the homogenates as the internal quality control to monitor the pipetting precision of the automated system. When the automated system was tested using human intestinal homogenates, the activities of all the routinely tested disaccharidases, including lactase, maltase, sucrase, and palatinase, as well as the activity of glucoamylase, showed perfect agreement with the manual method and were highly reproducible. The automated analyzer can perform the same routine assays of disaccharidases and glucoamylase with high consistency and accuracy and reduce testing costs by performing a larger sample size with the same number of staff. Additional developments, such as barcoding and built-in plate reading, would result in a completely automated system.
Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Is Ventilation Necessary?

BackgroundPrompt initiation of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves survival. Basic life support with mouth-to-mouth ventilation and chest compressions is intimidating, difficult to remember, and difficult to perform. Chest compressions alone can be easily taught, easily remembered, easily performed, adequately taught by dispatcher-delivered telephone instruction, and more readily accepted by the public. The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the need for ventilation during CPR in a clinically relevant swine model of prehospital witnessed cardiac arrest. Methods and ResultsThirty seconds after ventricular fibrillation, swine were randomly assigned to 12 minutes of chest compressions plus mechanical ventilation (group A), chest compressions only (group B), or no CPR (group C). Standard advanced cardiac life support was then provided. Animals successfuly resuscitated were supported for 2 hours in an intensive care setting, and then observed for 24 hours. All 16 swine in groups A and B were successfully resuscitated and neurologically normal at 24 hours, whereas only 2 of 8 group C animals survived for 24 hours (P<.001, Fisher's exact test). One of the 2 group C survivors was comatose and unresponsive ConclusionsIn this swine model of witnessed prehospital cardiac arrest, the survival and neurological outcome data establish that prompt initiation of chest compressions alone appears to be as effective as chest compressions plus ventilation and that both techniques of bystander CPR markedly improve outcome compared with no bystander CPR.
Fluid handling and fabric handle profiles of hydroentangled greige cotton and spunbond polypropylene nonwoven topsheets

Wettable nonwoven topsheets are traditionally spunbond polypropylene nonwoven fabrics. The fluid handling performance of hydroentangled greige cotton nonwovens was studied to determine their suitability for topsheet applications based upon analysis of fluid rewet, strikethrough, and acquisition properties; and the relative contributions of nonwoven cotton’s cellulosic and wax components to hydrophobic and hydrophilic fluid transport properties are addressed. It was observed that mechanically cleaned greige cotton nonwovens exhibit certain fluid handling properties that are similar to polypropylene spunbond-meltblown topsheets, partly as a result of the residual wax content. Subsequently, the surface polarity, swelling, and moisture uptake of 100% greige cotton and 50:50 blends of greige cotton and polypropylene hydroentangled nonwovens were studied in comparison with the performance of a commercially available 100% polypropylene spunbond-meltblown topsheets. The surface polarity, swelling, and wettability values obtained from electrokinetic and water contact angle analysis were found to be in agreement with the hydrophobic polypropylene topsheets. Additionally, comfort assessment was undertaken based upon fabric handle profiles using the Leeds University Fabric Handle Evaluation System, which is an objective evaluation based on the quantification of fabric buckling deformations. Of the fabrics studied in this work, 50:50 greige cotton/polypropylene hydroentangled fabrics were the softest as determined by the Leeds University Fabric Handle Evaluation System and exhibited fluid handling properties consistent with the requirements of commercial topsheets.
The cost and distribution of firefighter injuries in a large Canadian Fire Department.

BACKGROUND There is limited data available regarding the cost of firefighter injuries. This information is necessary to develop targeted injury prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE To categorize the cost of injuries filed in 2012 by firefighters from a from a large department by job duty, injury type, body part affected, and the general motion pattern employed at the time of injury. METHODS Data were taken from reports filed by CFD personnel and claims filed with the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. RESULTS Of the 244 injuries reported, 65% were categorized as sprains and strains, the most frequent of which affected the back (32%). The total cost of all claims was $555,955; 77% were sprain/strain-related. Knee and back injuries were most costly ($157,383 and $100,459). Categorized by job duty, most sprains/strains (31%) were sustained while attending to fire station responsibilities, although physical training was associated with the highest costs (34%). Fireground operations were attributed to 18% of sprains/strains and 16% of costs. Lifting injuries were more frequent (23%) and costly (20%) than all injuries. CONCLUSIONS The most common and costly injuries occurred while attending to fire station-related responsibilities and during physical training.
Exact and asymptotic n-tuple laws at first and last passage

Understanding the space time features of how a Levy process crosses a constant barrier for the first time, and indeed the last time, is a problem which is central to many models in applied probability such as queueing theory, financial and actuarial mathematics, optimal stopping problems, the theory of branching processes, to name but a few. In Doney and Kyprianou [Ann. Appl. Probab. 16 (2006) 91-106] a new quintuple law was established for a general Levy process at first passage below a fixed level. In this article we use the quintuple law to establish a family of related joint laws, which we call n-tuple laws, for Levy processes, Levy processes conditioned to stay positive and positive self-similar Markov processes at both first and last passage over a fixed level. Here the integer n typically ranges from three to seven. Moreover, we look at asymptotic overshoot and undershoot distributions and relate them to overshoot and undershoot distributions of positive self-similar Markov processes issued from the origin. Although the relation between the n-tuple laws for Levy processes and positive self-similar Markov processes are straightforward thanks to the Lamperti transformation, by interplaying the role of a (conditioned) stable processes as both a (conditioned) Levy processes and a positive self-similar Markov processes, we obtain a suite of completely explicit first and last passage identities for so-called Lamperti-stable Levy processes. This leads further to the introduction of a more general family of Levy processes which we call hypergeometric Levy processes, for which similar explicit identities may be considered.
Recursive least-squares adaptive channel estimation for spatial modulation systems

In this paper, a recursive least-squares (RLS) adaptive channel estimation scheme is applied for spatial modulation (SM) system over a block fading multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel. The performance of spatial modulation with channel estimation is compared to vertical Bell Labs layered space-time (V-BLAST) and maximum ratio combining (MRC) transmission schemes for different pilot rates and a fixed 3-b/s/Hz spectral efficiency. Computer simulations carried out demonstrate the superiority of SM over V-BLAST and MRC schemes. In addition, the results in this study show that SM is more robust against channel estimation errors than the other MIMO schemes.
BadR (BB0693) controls growth phase‐dependent induction of rpoS and bosR in Borrelia burgdorferi via recognizing TAAAATAT motifs

In Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the alternative sigma factor RpoS plays a central role during Bb's adaptation to ticks and mammals. Previous studies have demonstrated that RpoS is not expressed during the early stages of spirochetal growth or when Bb resides in ticks during the intermolt phase, but the molecular details of these events remain unknown. In the current study, biomagnetic bead separation of rpoS promoter‐binding proteins, coupled with genetic inactivation, was employed to identify BadR (BB0693) as a negative regulator that controls growth phase‐dependent induction of rpoS and bosR in Bb. When badR was inactivated, the expression of rpoS and bosR was induced only during the early stages of bacterial growth, but not during the stationary growth phase. Recombinant BadR bound to the promoter DNA of rpoS and the regulatory region upstream of bosR via AT‐rich TAAAATAT motifs. Mutations in this motif markedly inhibited or abolished rBadR binding. These results suggest that BadR directly influences the expression of both rpoS and bosR in Bb. This newly recognized role for BadR to fine‐tune the activation of the RpoN–RpoS pathway at strategic times in Bb's life cycle potentially represents another layer of gene control over σ54‐dependent gene regulation.