Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Message Framing on Exercise Adherence and Health Beliefs Among Patients in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

This experiment examined the effects of framed health education messages on exercise adherence among patients entering a cardiac rehabilitation program, as well as the mediating effects of health-related cognitions. Patients read gain-framed, loss-framed, or no messages about the importance of exercise with regard to heart disease and completed measures of health beliefs using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Over the following 3-month period, patients in the gain-framed message condition exercised more than did those in the no message condition. Significant between-group differences were observed on the HBM constructs of perceived susceptibility to heart disease and barriers to exercise, but these health beliefs did not mediate the effects of the educational messages. The results suggest value in using gain-framed educational materials in the cardiac population.
The Personal Foundations of Political Tolerance towards Immigrants

In this paper, we expand previous research on the psychological foundations of attitudes towards immigrants by evaluating the role of the Big Five personality traits with regard to the formation of political tolerance. Following the literature, we elaborate tolerance as a sequential concept of rejection and acceptance to uncover differentiating effects of personality on both immigrant-specific prejudices as well as on the assignment of the right to vote as a pivotal political privilege to this group. Using a representative sample of the Swiss population, with its distinctive history related to the immigration issue, our two-step Heckman selection models reveal that extroverts and people who score low in agreeableness exhibit negative attitudes towards immigrants. At the same time, only openness to experience is significantly connected to the likeliness of granting immigrants the right to vote.
Finite-time estimation for linear TDS via two coupled Luenberger observers

This paper presents a new method to design observers for linear time-delay systems with unknown inputs both in the state and the output. In contrast to many observers, which normally estimate the system state in an asymptotic fashion, the proposed observer estimates the exact system state in a predetermined finite time. The finite-time observation is achieved by updating the observer state based on actual and past data of the observer. Simulation results are also presented to illustrate the convergence behavior of the finite-time observer.
Incidence of inhibitors in patients with severe and moderate hemophilia a treated with factor VIII concentrates

Recent data published on the prevalence of inhibitors to factor VIII in hemophiliacs on treatment show great variations, with prevalence rates ranging from 3.6 to 14.2%. We have studied the cumulative risk of inhibitor development in a cohort of 62 patients with hemophilia A. All patients were born after 1960, were natives of the Vienna area, had a factor VIII activity of less than 5%, and were treated at least once. Using the method of Cutler and Ederer, the cumulative risk of inhibitor development was found to be 24% at the age of 25 years. Most inhibitors developed between the ages of 3 and 7 years. The current prevalence of F VIII inhibitors in the group of patients studied is 17.5%. It is concluded that prevalence data underestimate the true risk of inhibitor development.
Surrogate models for aerodynamic performance prediction

Automatic optimisers can play a vital role in the design and development of engineering systems and processes. However, a lack of available data to guide the search can result in the global optimum solution never being found. Surrogate models can be used to address this lack of data and allow more of the design space to be explored, as well as provide an overall computational saving. In this thesis I have developed two novel long-term prediction methods that investigate the use of ensembles of surrogates to perform predictions of aerodynamic data. The models are built using intermediate computational fluid dynamic convergence data. The first method relies on a gradient based learning algorithm to optimise the base learners and the second utilises a hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. Different selection schemes are investigated to improve the prediction performance and the accuracy of the ensembles are compared to the converged data, as well as to the delta change between flow conditions. Three challenging real world aerodynamic data sets have been used to test the developed algorithms and insights into aerodynamic performance has been gained through analysis of the computational fluid dynamic convergence histories. The trends of the design space can be maintained, as well as achieving suitable overall prediction accuracy. Selecting a subset improves ensemble performance, but no selection method is superior to any others. The hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm approach is also tested on two standard time series prediction tasks and the results presented are competitive with others reported in the literature. In addition, a novel technique that improves a parameter based surrogates learning through the transfer of additional information is also investigated to address the lack of data. Transfer learning has an initial impact on the learning rate of the surrogate, but negative transfer is observed with increasing numbers of epochs. Using the data available for the low dimensional problems, it is shown that the convergence prediction results are comparable to those from the parameter based surrogate. Therefore, the convergence prediction method could be used as a surrogate and form part of an aerodynamic optimisation task. However, there are a number of open questions that need to be addressed, including what is the best use of the surrogate during the search?
Comparative Molecular and Microbiologic Diagnosis of Bacterial Endocarditis

Sequencing of 16S rDNA, and of sodAint and rpoBint in some cases, was applied to DNA from heart valves of 46 patients (36 with definite and 10 with possible endocarditis). Sequence-based identifications were compared with those obtained with conventional methods. Among the 36 definite cases, 30 had positive blood cultures and 6 had negative cultures. Among the 30 positive cases, sequencing of 16S rDNA permitted identification of species (18), genus (8), or neither (4); sodAint and rpoBint sequencing was necessary for species identification in 8 cases. Species identifications were identical in only 61.5%, when conventional techniques and DNA sequencing were used. In five of the six blood culture–negative endocarditis cases, sequencing identified Bartonella quintana (3), B. henselae (1), and Streptococcus gallolyticus (1). Our results demonstrate a clear benefit of molecular identification, particularly in cases of blood culture–negative endocarditis and of possible endocarditis, to confirm or invalidate the diagnosis. Moreover, in 19.4% of the definite cases, the improvement in species identification by sequencing led to improved patient management.
Authenticity and the construct's dimensions in public relations and communication research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define the construct authenticity and its dimensions and to propose an index to measure levels of authenticity in organisational messages and actions, as well as perceived authenticity from the stakeholders' perspective.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a comprehensive literature review.Findings – The construct authenticity and its dimensions are defined from a multidisciplinary perspective, including literature from advertising, communication studies, marketing, and public relations.Research limitations/implications – Items for an authenticity index are proposed. Such a scale could be used to measure the effectiveness of public relations efforts and techniques and, therefore, the perceived authenticity of organisations, including its actions, operations, product, services, and spokespeople in the mind of stakeholders.Practical implications – The consistency between authentic claims, offerings, and promises and the management philosophy and.
Confirmation of the role of N‐acetyltransferase 2 in teratogen‐induced cleft palate using transgenics and knockouts

Previous work on Dilantin‐ and hydrocortisone‐induced cleft palate and cleft lip with or without cleft palate using congenics for the N‐acetyltransferase loci (Nat1 and Nat2 are closely linked) and recombinant inbred lines implicated the Nat1,2 region in susceptibility to teratogen‐induced orofacial clefting. Since Nat1 does not differ between the two strains, Nat2 appeared to be responsible. We have now tested this conclusion using transgenics and knockouts. Transgenics for human NAT1 (equivalent to mouse Nat2) and knockouts for Nat2 were tested for susceptibility to Dilantin, hydrocortisone, and 6‐aminonicotinamide‐induced orofacial clefting. We found that Nat2 greatly influences teratogen‐induced orofacial clefting on the A/J background but not on the C57BL/6J background. The magnitude and direction of the effects depended on which teratogen was used. The Nat2 knockout did not make C57BL/6J susceptible or A/J (already with very low activity) more susceptible but significantly decreased sporadic clefting in the A/J strain. We conclude that only the A/J strain, with several loci affecting orofacial clefting, is influenced by Nat2. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1071–1076, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using Photovoice to listen to adults with intellectual disabilities on being part of the community

Imagine if you were offered a glance through the lens of a very unique photographer: a member of your community who has an intellectual or developmental disability (ID/DD). A community-based participatory research method, Photovoice, was used to enable seven individuals with ID/DD the opportunity to document their lives through the use of photography and discuss their interests, hopes and dreams. Specifically, this methodology provided them with opportunities to share their concerns about their community access and communicate with the larger community using photographs and the collective ideas of the group. Common themes were revealed among the participants, including their hidden talents, community membership and sense of belonging, consumerism and making choices, desired independence, limited connections to the community and a desire to be treated as adults. Two themes – community membership and desire for independence – are expounded upon, as they appeared to be the most relevant to improving one's quality of life and greater self-determination.
When Self-Consciousness Breaks: Alien Voices and Inserted Thoughts

In this book, G. Lynn Stephens and George Graham examine verbal hallucinations and thought insertion as examples of what they call "alienated self-consciousness. " In such cases, a subject is directly or introspectively aware of an episode in her mental life but experiences it as alien, as somehow attributable to another person. Stephens and Graham explore two sorts of questions about verbal hallucinations and thought insertion. The first is their phenomenology -- what the experience is like for the subject. The second concerns the implications of alien episodes for our general understanding of self-consciousness. Psychopathologists look at alien episodes for what they reveal about the underlying pathology of mental illness. As philosophers, the authors ask what they reveal about the underlying psychological structure and processes of human self-consciousness. The authors suggest that alien episodes are caused by a disturbed sense of agency, a condition in which the subject no longer has the sense of being the agent who thinks or carries out the thought. Distinguishing the sense of subjectivity from that of agency, they make the case that the sense of agency is a key element in self-consciousness.
Laterality Does Not Affect the Depth Perception, but Interpupillary Distance

In this study, which investigates the relationship between the levels of stereopsis with eye and hand dominance or interpupillary distance, 120 healthy young volunteers were investigated. Eye dominance was determined by modified Miles technique following a complete eye examination. Handedness was assessed with the Edinburgh handedness inventory. Interpupillary distance was measured with millimetric ruler. Stereoacuity was measured in both contour (Titmus test) and random dot (TNO test) stereograms. The stereopsis scores were evaluated in terms of hand or eye dominance. The correlation between stereopsis score and interpupillary distance was assessed. Main outcome measures were stereopsis scores according to hand and eye dominance. As a result, right- and left-handed individuals showed no differences in terms of stereopsis. No differences were found in stereopsis scores between right- and left-eye dominant people. There was a correlation between interpupillary distance and the depth of stereopsis (r = −0.248, P < 0.05). Contrary to the expectation, the left and right dominant individuals did not differ in levels of stereopsis. Interpupillary distance has a positive effect on stereopsis.
The Prognostic Significance of Src and p-Src Expression in Patients with Osteosarcoma

Background The expression of Src and phospho-Src (p-Src) is closely related to tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of these molecules in osteosarcoma and their relationship with each other, to provide a theoretical basis to understand the prognosis of osteosarcoma. Material/Methods We selected surgically resected osteosarcoma specimens from 116 patients of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and Hubei Cancer Hospital, Hubei, China, between January 2000 and January 2010 with detailed follow-up data. Twenty osteochondroma specimens from the corresponding period were used as controls. Expression of Src and p-Src was detected in osteosarcoma and osteochondroma by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the relationship of the 2 proteins and osteosarcoma patient prognosis. Results The expression of Src and p-Src in osteosarcoma was significantly higher than the expression level in osteochondroma (P<0.05). The expression levels of the 2 proteins, clinical stage, and tumor metastasis were significantly associated with survival time (P<0.05), but there was no correlation between age or sex and survival time. The expression of Src and p-Src in osteosarcoma was positively correlated. Conclusions Src and p-Src can be used as an auxiliary indicator to determine a malignant phenotype of bone tumors, and the combined detection of Src and p-Src may indicate the prognosis of osteosarcoma.
Measuring Fairness in Citizen Participation: A Case Study of Moose Management

We conducted a case study of the citizen participation processes used by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) when deciding whether to reintroduce moose to New York. We studied how citizens perceived the fairness and quality of the process and identified the criteria on which they based their perceptions. Our work was grounded in research on the social psychology of procedural fairness. Research was conducted in three phases: a document analysis, a series of interviews, and a mail survey of citizens who commented on the issue. Citizens' perceptions of the fairness of the process were related to four criteria: DEC's receptivity to citizen input; the influence citizens had over the decision; the quality of DEC's knowledge and reasoning; and the degree to which relationships improved during the process. Perceptions of the fairness of the process were related to satisfaction with the process, perceptions of fairness ofthe decision, and satisfaction with DEC.
Ethnic Resources Utilization of Korean Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Chicago Minority Area

A high proportion of Korean immigrants are currently engaged in self-employed small business in the United States. In light of their business proliferation, this study has empirically investigated Korean immigrant entrepreneurs’ ethnic resources utilization. Findings indicate that the Korean entrepreneurs rely heavily on their ethnic resources for both business preparation and operation. While such ethnic resources utilization facilitates the immigrants’ business entry and gives them competitive advantage, the same mechanism poses serious problems; intra-ethnic business competition and precarious position as a middle-man minority. Implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions are made for future research.
Coexisting polymorphisms of P2Y12 and CYP2C19 genes as a risk factor for persistent platelet activation with clopidogrel.

BACKGROUND Coexisting polymorphisms of the genes affecting clopiogrel resistance may influence platelet activation. METHODS AND RESULTS In 105 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, platelet function was measured and registered as closure time in the test with collagen and adenosine diphosphate (CADP-CT). Patients were followed for 12 months for death or recurrent myocardial infarction (MI). Genotyping revealed 7 carriers of both the C allele of P2Y12 and A allele of CYP2C19 (group 1), 14 carriers of the T allele of P2Y12 and A allele of CYP2C19 (group 2), 17 carriers of the C allele of P2Y12 and G allele of CYP2C19 (group 3) and 67 carriers of the T allele of P2Y12 and G allele of CYP2C19 (controls). The median CADP-CT value was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 or 3 (p<0.01) or controls (p<0.002), but did not differ between group 2 or 3 and controls. There were 2 cardiovascular deaths and 4 MI during follow-up, and the median CADP-CT value was lower in these patients (p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS Coexisting, rather then single, polymorphisms of different genes may be related to persistent platelet activation while on clopidogrel, which raises concern about harm in patients with ACS.
Beneficial Role of Human Endogenous Retroviruses: Facts and Hypotheses

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have recently been suggested as mediators of normal biological processes such as cellular differentiation and regulation of gene expression. Moreover, a direct role for HERVs in pathogenesis and the development of disease is now better appreciated. Elucidation of the mechanisms regulating HERV biology should provide information about fundamental cellular activities and the pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disease. The importance of understanding the roles of HERVs is underscored by the recently obtained insight that activation of endogenous retroviruses poses potential risks following xenotransplantation and in gene therapy using retroviral vectors. Furthermore, HERV‐encoded superantigens have recently been implicated as causes of autoimmune disease. This review discusses the established and possible biological roles of HERVs, and proposes hypotheses concerning their involvement as mediators of fundamental cellular responses. We propose that the evolutionary persistence of endogenous retroviruses in the genomes of eukaryotic cells reflects their indispensability in important normal functions in specialized cellular environments. HERVs can also be potentially hazardous through their involvement in the development of disease. In addition, the creation of new retroviruses can occur through recombination, between different HERVs and between HERVs and exogenous retroviruses.
Effectiveness of applying progressive muscle relaxation technique on quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To identify the effects of applying Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on Quality of Life of patients with multiple Sclerosis. BACKGROUND In view of the growing caring options in Multiple Sclerosis, improvement of quality of life has become increasingly relevant as a caring intervention. Complementary therapies are widely used by multiple sclerosis patients and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is a form of complementary therapies. DESIGN Quasi-experimental study. METHOD Multiple Sclerosis patients (n = 66) were selected with no probability sampling then assigned to experimental and control groups (33 patients in each group). Means of data collection included: Individual Information Questionnaire, SF-8 Health Survey, Self-reported checklist. PMRT performed for 63 sessions by experimental group during two months but no intervention was done for control group. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. RESULTS Student t-test showed that there was no significant difference between two groups in mean scores of health-related quality of life before the study but this test showed a significant difference between two groups, one and two months after intervention (p < 0.05). anova test with repeated measurements showed that there is a significant difference in mean score of whole and dimensions of health-related quality of life between two groups in three times (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Although this study provides modest support for the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients, further research is required to determine better methods to promote quality of life of patients suffer multiple sclerosis and other chronic disease. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is practically feasible and is associated with increase of life quality of multiple sclerosis patients; so that health professionals need to update their knowledge about complementary therapies.
Effects of Maternal Cervical Incompetence on Morbidity and Mortality of Preterm Neonates with Birth weight Less than 2000g

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of maternal cervical incompetence (with or without McDonald cerclage) on mortality and morbidity of preterm infant with birth weight <2000g. Methods: 581 neonates were eligible for this study, 79 with cervical incompetence and 502 without it (control). Incidences of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), severe asphyxia, small for gestational age (SGA), early-onset sepsis (EOS), and mortality were compared between the two groups. Findings: Mean gestational age was earlier in cervical incompetence group than in control (30.2±2.1 vs 30.7±1.9, P<0.05). Except lower frequency of SGA, there were no significant differences in the incidences of RDS, BPD, ROP, PVL, IVH, NEC, EOS, severe asphyxia and mortality between the two groups. Infants with no cerclage had a higher prevalence of RDS (21/66 vs 9/13, P<0.05) compared to cerclage group due to lower mean gestational age (30.68±2.1 vs 28.6±1.4, P<0.01) and birth weight (1519.5±274.6 vs 1205.8±204.4, P<0.001), and clinical neonatal outcomes of the elective cerclage were similar to emergency cerclage in cervical incompetence groups. Conclusion: Maternal cervical incompetence was not associated with postnatal adverse neonatal outcomes. Lower mean gestational age was a major risk associated with higher prevalence of RDS in preterm neonates with no McDonald cerclage, and emergency cerclage did not predict poor clinical neonatal outcomes.