Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adolescents’ perceptions of participation in group education using the Guided Self-Determination-Young method: a qualitative study

Objective Guided Self-Determination (GSD) is a person-centered communication and reflection method. Education in groups may have a greater impact than the content of the education, and constructive communication between parents and adolescents has been shown to be of importance. The purpose of this study was to describe adolescents’ perceptions of participation in group education with the Guided Self-Determination-Young (GSD-Y) method, together with parents, in connection with the introduction of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Research design and methods In the present qualitative interview study, 13 adolescents with type 1 diabetes were included after completing a GSD-Y group education program in connection with the introduction of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion at three hospitals located in central Sweden. The adolescents were interviewed individually, and qualitative content analysis was applied to the interview transcripts. Results Two categories that emerged from the analysis were the importance of context and growing in power through the group process. An overarching theme that emerged from the interviews was the importance of expert and referent power in growing awareness of the importance of self-management as well as mitigating the loneliness of diabetes. Conclusions GSD-Y has, in various ways, mitigated experiences of loneliness and contributed to conscious reflection about self-management in the group (referent power) together with the group leader (expert power). Overall, this highlights the benefits of group education, and the GSD method emphasizes the person-centered approach. Trial registration number ISRCTN22444034; Results.
Generation of novel monoclonal antibodies for the enrichment and characterization of human corneal endothelial cells (hCENC) necessary for the treatment of corneal endothelial blindness

Corneal transplantation is the primary treatment option to restore vision for patients with corneal endothelial blindness. Although the success rate of treatment is high, limited availability of transplant grade corneas is a major obstacle. Tissue-engineered corneal endothelial grafts constructed using cultivated human corneal endothelial cells (hCENC) isolated from cadaveric corneas may serve as a potential graft source. Currently, tools for the characterization of cultured hCENC and enrichment of hCENC from potential contaminating cells such as stromal fibroblasts are lacking. In this study, we describe the generation and characterization of novel cell surface monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for hCENC. These mAbs could be used for enrichment and characterization of hCENC. Out of a total of 389 hybridomas, TAG-1A3 and TAG-2A12 were found to be specific to the corneal endothelial monolayer by immunostaining of frozen tissue sections. Both mAbs were able to clearly identify hCENC with good ‘cobblestone-like’ morphology from multiple donors. The antigen targets for TAG-1A3 and TAG-2A12 were found to be CD166/ALCAM and Peroxiredoxin-6 (Prdx-6), respectively, both of which have not been previously described as markers of hCENC. Additionally, unlike other Prdx-6 mAbs, TAG-2A12 was found to specifically bind cell surface Prdx-6, which was only expressed on hCENC and not on other cell types screened such as human corneal stromal fibroblasts (hCSF) and human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). From our studies, we conclude that TAG-1A3 and TAG-2A12 are promising tools to quantitatively assess hCENC quality. It is also noteworthy that the binding specificity of TAG-2A12 could be used for the enrichment of hCENC from cell mixtures of hCSF and hPSC.
Clique roots of K4-free chordal graphs

The clique polynomial C ( G , x ) of a finite, simple and undirected graph G = ( V , E ) is defined as the ordinary generating function of the number of complete subgraphs of G . A real root of C ( G , x ) is called a clique root of the graph G . Hajiabolhasan and Mehrabadi showed that every simple graph G has at least a clique root in the interval [ − 1, 0) . Moreover, they showed that the class of triangle-free graphs has only clique roots. In this paper, we extend their result by showing that the class of K 4 -free chordal graphs has also only clique roots. In particular, we show that this class has always a clique root − 1 . We conclude our paper with some interesting open questions and conjectures.
Identifying opaque behavioural changes

Developers modify their systems by changing source code, updating test suites, and altering their system's execution context. When they make these modifications, they have an understanding of the behavioural changes they expect to happen when the system is executed; when the system does not conform to their expectations, developers try to ensure their modification did not introduce some unexpected or undesirable behavioural change. We present an approach that integrates with existing continuous integration systems to help developers identify situations whereby their changes may have introduced unexpected behavioural consequences. In this research demonstration, we show how our approach can help developers identify and investigate unanticipated behavioural changes.
Antioxidant action of SMe1EC2, the low-basicity derivative of the pyridoindole stobadine, in cell free chemical models and at cellular level

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant action of SMe1EC2, the structural analogue of the hexahydropyridoindole antioxidant stobadine. The antiradical activity of SMe1EC2 was found to be higher when compared to stobadine, as determined both in cell-free model systems of AAPH-induced oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 and 2´,7´-dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate, and in the cellular system of stimulated macrophages RAW264.7. Analysis of proliferation of HUVEC and HUVEC-ST cells revealed absence of cytotoxic effect of SMe1EC2 at concentrations below 100 μM. The antioxidant activity of SMe1EC2, superior to the parent drug stobadine, is accounted for by both the higher intrinsic free radical scavenging action and by the better bioavailability of the low-basicity SMe1EC2 relative to the high-basicity stobadine.
Facilitated detection of social cues conveyed by familiar faces

Recognition of the identity of familiar faces in conditions with poor visibility or over large changes in head angle, lighting and partial occlusion is far more accurate than recognition of unfamiliar faces in similar conditions. Here we used a visual search paradigm to test if one class of social cues transmitted by faces—direction of another's attention as conveyed by gaze direction and head orientation—is perceived more rapidly in personally familiar faces than in unfamiliar faces. We found a strong effect of familiarity on the detection of these social cues, suggesting that the times to process these signals in familiar faces are markedly faster than the corresponding processing times for unfamiliar faces. In the light of these new data, hypotheses on the organization of the visual system for processing faces are formulated and discussed.
Fast X-Ray Fluorescence Microtomography of Hydrated Biological Samples

Metals and metalloids play a key role in plant and other biological systems as some of them are essential to living organisms and all can be toxic at high concentrations. It is therefore important to understand how they are accumulated, complexed and transported within plants. In situ imaging of metal distribution at physiological relevant concentrations in highly hydrated biological systems is technically challenging. In the case of roots, this is mainly due to the possibility of artifacts arising during sample preparation such as cross sectioning. Synchrotron x-ray fluorescence microtomography has been used to obtain virtual cross sections of elemental distributions. However, traditionally this technique requires long data acquisition times. This has prohibited its application to highly hydrated biological samples which suffer both radiation damage and dehydration during extended analysis. However, recent advances in fast detectors coupled with powerful data acquisition approaches and suitable sample preparation methods can circumvent this problem. We demonstrate the heightened potential of this technique by imaging the distribution of nickel and zinc in hydrated plant roots. Although 3D tomography was still impeded by radiation damage, we successfully collected 2D tomograms of hydrated plant roots exposed to environmentally relevant metal concentrations for short periods of time. To our knowledge, this is the first published example of the possibilities offered by a new generation of fast fluorescence detectors to investigate metal and metalloid distribution in radiation-sensitive, biological samples.
Dutch Nurses' Attitudes Towards Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

This article presents the attitudes of nurses towards three issues concerning their role in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1509 nurses who were employed in hospitals, home care organizations and nursing homes. The study was conducted in the Netherlands between January 2001 and August 2004. The results show that less than half (45%) of nurses would be willing to serve on committees reviewing cases of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. More than half of the nurses (58.2%) found it too far-reaching to oblige physicians to consult a nurse in the decision-making process. The majority of the nurses stated that preparing euthanatics (62.9%) and inserting an infusion needle to administer the euthanatics (54.1%) should not be accepted as nursing tasks. The findings are discussed in the context of common practices and policies in the Netherlands, and a recommendation is made not to include these three issues in new regulations on the role of nurses in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
A Consensus Guideline to Support Resident-as-Teacher Programs and Enhance the Culture of Teaching and Learning.

Background Methods for assessing residents as teachers are limited, and it can be difficult to discern optimal curricula for training residents as educators. A guideline may be a tool to assess resident-as-teacher programs and to help enhance a culture of teaching and learning. Objective We developed a consensus guideline to assess academic medical centers' resident-as-teacher programs and teaching environments. Methods Faculty representing 8 specialties from 5 teaching hospitals created a guideline for resident-as-teacher programs through an iterative expert consensus development process. To assess local resident-as-teacher practices, the guideline was administered as an online survey to program directors from 47 residency programs at 5 hospitals. The survey included 26 items addressing curricula, educational climate, financial support, assessment, professional development, and promotion. Results Forty-nine percent of residency programs surveyed completed the questionnaire, representing 65% of specialties (17 of 26). Respondents reported that residents were required to participate in a teaching orientation in 78% of programs (18 of 23) and were evaluated on teaching in 91% (21 of 23). There were special educational programs and teaching awards in 91% of programs (21 of 23), respectively. All programs included evaluations of faculty teaching, which were linked to faculty annual reviews in 52% of programs (12 of 23), but to faculty promotion or salary in only 22% of programs (5 of 23). Conclusions We developed a resident-as-teacher consensus guideline that could provide a road map for program directors and institutions to think broadly about how they educate residents and fellows as teachers.
A generalized counterfactual approach to decomposing differences between populations

One central aim of the population sciences is to understand why one population has different levels of health and well-being compared to another. Various demographic and regression decompositions have been used to decompose population-differences in a wide range of outcomes. We provide a way of implementing an alternative decomposition method that, under certain assumptions, adds a causal interpretation to the decomposition by building upon counterfactual-driven methods. Our approach has the advantage of flexibility to accommodate different types of outcome variables and any summary population measure. By using Monte Carlo methods, our approach does not rely on closed-form approximate solutions and can be applied to any parametric model without having to derive any decomposition equations. We demonstrate our approach through two motivating examples using data from the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Our first example decomposes socioeconomic status differences in three different summary measures of fertility and our second addresses the classic demographic question of the contribution of smoking to sex differences in life expectancy. Together, our two examples outline how to implement a very generalized decomposition procedure that is theoretically grounded in counterfactual theory but still easy to apply to a wide range of situations. We provide example R-code and an R-function [package in development].
A phase I dose-escalation study of docetaxel with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in patients with solid tumours.

BACKGROUND Docetaxel is a widely active cytotoxic agent. The principal dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of the 3-weekly regimen are neutropenia and febrile neutropenia. Use of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may allow higher doses of docetaxel to be administered with potentially greater anticancer efficacy. The objectives of this study were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity profile of docetaxel given with G-CSF support. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients had solid tumours and were aged 18-75 years with a WHO performance status of up to 2. Strict criteria for liver function were followed. Patients may have received one previous regimen of chemotherapy in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy. Cohorts of three to six patients received docetaxel over 60-90 min every 3 weeks, commencing at 110 mg/m(2) and escalating at 10 mg/m(2) increments. Patients also received G-CSF 5 micro g/kg/day until neutrophil recovery. A 3-day corticosteroid prophylaxis was given. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients with median age 55 years (range 29-75) were included. Fourteen (48%) had previously received chemotherapy. At the 170 mg/m(2) dose level (the MTD), two of three patients had DLTs and 160 mg/m(2) was determined to be the recommended dose. The principal DLTs were skin and neurosensory toxicity. Asthenia was frequent, especially at dose levels >/=140 mg/m(2). Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in only 10 patients (35%) and was not dose related, with febrile neutropenia in three patients (10%). CONCLUSIONS Docetaxel may be escalated considerably above standard doses when administered with G-CSF support. The recommended dose for phase II studies is 160 mg/m(2). With escalated-dose docetaxel, DLTs were non-haematological and qualitatively similar to the toxicity profile at standard doses.
Enrichment of antibacterial compound from the stem bark of Stereospermum fimbriatum using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

ABSTRACT Supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) extraction was carried out on Stereospermum fimbriatum’s stem bark in order to obtain an enriched extract containing the targeted active compound. The recovery of its active compound, C1, was compared with the most active Soxhlet’s extract of dichloromethane. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay was done to examine the antibacterial activity of extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The optimum condition for an enriched extract of sc-CO2 to have a maximum recovery of C1 at MIC value of 400 µg/mL was suggested to be operated at 40°C and pressure at 30 MPa, with addition of 6% co-solvent.
Modeling human vehicle driving which integrate models of fatigue

A fatigue driving model was established to investigate the relationship of driver fatigue with driving action and driving dynamics parameters. The target of this model is providing a theoretical basis for early warning study of fatigue driving. The model includes parameters of perception, decision-making and driving operations. From a step test with steady-state in the correction link these parameters can be determined and then the Driver/vehicle closed-loop system simulation model can be set up. The sigmoid function was used as the discriminant function of fatigue by taking account the characteristics of the human body fatigue. Derived evaluation index system of the closed-loop system was also provided in the model. Driving fatigue process of a driver in double-lane and vertical cross lane was simulated by using the proposed model. The simulated results qualitatively coincide with the reported experimental observations, verifying the feasibility of the method.
Seizures and renal failure: is there a link?

A 70-year-old woman was referred to the emergency room of our hospital because of asthenia and polypnea. On physical examination, the patient was a slender woman who appeared to be afebrile and clinically hypovolaemic. Her vital signs were normal; there was no pedal oedema, blood pressure was 130/90mmHg, and body weight 56 kg. The levels of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were 6 and 180mg/dl, respectively, while sodium and potassium levels were 138 and 6.9mmol/l, respectively. The levels of serum glucose and albumin were 110 and 3.6mg/dl, respectively. Blood bicarbonate level was 13.5mmol/l, pH 7.29 and PaCO2 30mmHg. Haemoglobin value was 10 g/dl. An ultrasonographic examination of the abdominal area revealed kidneys markedly reduced in size without signs of urinary obstruction, and urine dipstick and microscopic examination were unremarkable. A diagnosis of chronic renal failure probably due to nephrosclerosis coupled with metabolic acidosis partially compensated by respiratory alkalosis and hyperkalaemia in a well-nourished old patient was made. Intravenous therapy was started, composed of hydration treatment (isotonic saline and 5% dextrose with correction of the metabolic acidosis by 5% bicarbonate according to the formula: [(desiredHCO3 observedHCO3) 30%bodyweight]. A few hours later, the old woman complained of aching upper limbs and suffered a bout of seizures.
Exploring demographic and motivational factors associated with hypertext reading by English as a foreign language (EFL) students

This study investigates nontraditional students’ of English as a foreign language self-reports of the hypertext learning experience. It determines whether factors such as gender, age, proficiency level, and hypertext learning experience influence predicting hypertext reading achievement. The subjects of this study were 23 nontraditional English majors (9 males and 14 females). Their learning efficiency was rated as low to intermediate. The primary investigation found that students generally perceived that they should have control in operating the designed hypertext system because most did not find it difficult. In addition, students could accomplish the reading tasks more quickly and easily without much mental effort. Females, older adults, and low-proficiency learners expressed more positive feedback and willingness to use the hypertext system in future compared with the other groups, although no significant differences were observed among those variables on hypertext learning experience. Hypertext comprehension performance was significantly influenced only by the factor of proficiency level. Its impact was negative and moderate. Therefore, it is suggested that the use of hypertext system demonstrated the tendency to particularly improve low-proficiency learners’ reading comprehension. Limitations and recommendations for future research are presented and discussed in light of the results of the study.
Effective Detection of Active Worms with Varying Scan Rate

Active worms have been posing a major security threat to today's Internet. It is widely believed that active worms continue their evolutions. In this paper, we model a new form of active worms called varying scan rate worm (the VSR worm in short). The VSR worm deliberately varies its scan rate and is able to avoid being effectively detected by existing worm detection schemes. The emerging "Atak" worm belongs to this category of worms. To countermeasure the VSR worm, we design a new worm detection scheme called attack target distribution entropy based dynamic detection scheme (DEC detection in short). DEC detection utilizes the attack target distribution and its statistical entropy in conjunction with dynamic decision rules to distinguish worm scan traffic from non-worm scan traffic. We conduct extensive performance evaluations on the DEC detection scheme, using real-world traces as background scan traffic. Our data clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the DEC detection scheme in detecting VSR worms as well as traditional worms
Altered tibial nerve biomechanics in patients with diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) has adverse impacts on peripheral nerve connective tissue structure, and there is preliminary evidence that nerve biomechanics may be altered. Methods: Ultrasound imaging was utilized to quantify the magnitude and timing of tibial nerve excursion during ankle dorsiflexion in patients with DM and matched healthy controls. Results: Tibial nerve longitudinal excursion at the ankle and knee was reduced, and timing was delayed at the ankle in the DM group. Severity of neuropathy was correlated with larger reductions in longitudinal excursion. Nerve cross‐sectional area was increased at the ankle in the DM group. Conclusions: Larger tibial nerve size within the tarsal tunnel in patients with DM may restrict longitudinal excursion, which was most evident with more severe neuropathy. It is hypothesized that these alterations may be related to painful symptoms during functional activities that utilize similar physiological motions through various biomechanical and physiological mechanisms. Muscle Nerve 50:216–223, 2014
Beta-cyanoalanine synthase: purification and characterization.

Beta-cyano-L-alanine synthase [L-cysteine hydrogen-sulfide-lyase (adding HCN), EC 4.4. 1.9] was purified about 4000-fold from blue lupine seedlings. The enzyme was homoegeneous on gel electrophoresis and free of contamination by other pyridoxal-P-dependent lyases. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 52,000 and contains 1 mole of pyridoxal-P per mole of protein; its isoelectric point is situated at pH 4.7. Its absorption spectrum has two maxima, at 280 and 410 nm. L-Cysteine is the natural primary (amino acid) substrate; beta-chloro- and beta-thiocyano can serve (with considerably lower affinity) instead of cyanide as cosubstrates for cyanoalanine synthase. The synthase is refractory to DL-cycloserine and D-penicillamine, potent inhibitors of many pyridoxal-P-dependent enzymes. Cyanoalanine synthase catalyzes slow isotopic alpha-H exchange in cysteine and in end-product amino acids; the rates of alpha-H exchange in nonreacted (excess) cysteine are markedly increased in the presence of an adequate cosubstrate; no exchange is observed of H atoms in beta-position.