Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning in Practice: Experiences and Perceptions of High-Scoring Physicians

Purpose To increase understanding of informal learning in practice (e.g., consulting with colleagues, reading journals) through exploring the experiences and perceptions of physicians perceived to be performing well. Objectives were to find out how physicians learned in practice and maintained their competence, and how they learned about the communication skills domain specifically. Method Of 142 family physicians participating in a formal multisource feedback (360-degree) formative assessment, 25 receiving high scores were invited to participate in interviews conducted in 2003 at Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. Twelve responded. Interviews were 1.5 hours each, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the research team using accepted qualitative procedures. Results While formal learning appeared important to most, informal learning, especially through patients and colleagues, appeared to be fundamental. The physicians appeared to learn intentionally from practice and work experiences, and reflection appeared integral to learning and monitoring the impact of learning. Two findings were surprising: participants’ conceptions of competence and perceptions that communication skills were innate rather than learned. Conclusions These physicians’ ways of intentional learning from practice concur with current models of informal learning. However, informal learning is largely unrecognized by formal institutions. Additionally, the physicians did not in general share notions of professional competence held by educators and others in authority. These findings suggest the need to make implicit content and learning processes more explicit. Additional research areas include exploring whether physicians across the range of performance levels demonstrate similar processes of reflective learning.
New results from Using a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM) in a General Education Physical Geography Course

Luo et al. (2005) reported that careful design of the questions is very important to accurate assessment of the effectiveness of dynamic simulation and visualization on student learning. We followed the lessons learned in that study and improved some of the poorly designed pre-and post-test questions used for assessing the effectiveness of a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM). We tested the new questions in a large section of the same general education physical geography course in the springs of 2006 and 2007 before and after students used WILSIM to simulate 3 different scenarios of landform evolution. We found that the post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores, whereas previous study showed no statistically significant differences.
Dynamics of Dislocation Densities in a Bounded Channel. Part II: Existence of Weak Solutions to a Singular Hamilton–Jacobi/Parabolic Strongly Coupled System

We study a strongly coupled system consisting of a parabolic equation and a singular Hamilton–Jacobi equation in one space dimension. This system describes the dynamics of dislocation densities in a material submitted to an exterior applied stress. Our system is a natural extension of that studied in [16] where the applied stress was set to be zero. The equations are written on a bounded interval with Dirichlet boundary conditions and require special attention to the boundary. We prove a result of global existence of a solution. The method of the proof consists in considering first a parabolic regularization of the full system, and then passing to the limit. For this regularized system, a result of global existence and uniqueness of a solution has been given in [17]. We show some uniform bounds on this solution which uses in particular an entropy estimate for the densities.
One minute of grief: emotional processing in short-term dynamic psychotherapy for adjustment disorder.

OBJECTIVE Depth of emotional processing has shown to be related to outcome across approaches to psychotherapy. Moreover, a specific emotional sequence has been postulated and tested in several studies on experiential psychotherapy (Pascual-Leone & Greenberg, 2007). This process-outcome study aims at reproducing the sequential model of emotional processing in psychodynamic psychotherapy for adjustment disorder and linking these variables with ultimate therapeutic outcome. METHOD In this study, 32 patients underwent short-term dynamic psychotherapy. On the basis of reliable clinical change statistics, a subgroup (n = 16) presented with good outcome and another subgroup (n = 16) had a poor outcome in the end of treatment. The strongest alliance session of each case was rated using the observer-rated system Classification of Affective Meaning States. Reliability coefficients for the measure were excellent (κ = .82). RESULTS Using 1 min as the fine-grained unit of analysis, results showed that the experience of fundamentally adaptive grief was more common in the in-session process of patients with good outcome, compared with those with poor outcomes (χ2 = 6.56, p = .01, d = 1.23). This variable alone predicted 19% of the change in depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory at the end of treatment. Moreover, sequences of the original model were supported and related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS These results are discussed within the framework of the sequential model of emotional processing and its possible relevance for psychodynamic psychotherapy.
EasyLocal + + : An object-oriented framework for flexible design of local search algorithms

Local search is a paradigm for optimization which has been recently shown to be very effective for a large number of combinatorial problems. Differently from other search paradigms, e.g. branch & bound, no widely-accepted software tool is available up to now for local search. We present EasyLocal++, an object-oriented framework to be used as a flexible tool for the development of local search algorithms. The abstract classes that compose the framework specify and implement the invariant part of the algorithm, and are meant to be specialized by concrete classes that supply the problem-dependent part. The framework provides the full control structures of the algorithms, and the user only writes the problem-specific code. The architecture of EasyLocal++ provides a principled modularization for the solution of combinatorial problems by local search, and helps the user deriving a neat conceptual scheme of the application. It supports also the design of new combinations of techniques and neighborhood structures. EasyLocal++ proved to be flexible enough for the implementation of the algorithms for solving various scheduling problems.
Psychosocial Impact of Training and Work Experience on EFNEP Paraprofessionals

Although considerable data has been gathered documenting impact of local EFNEP programs on enrolled participants, little documentation exists concerning the effect of EFNEP on paraprofessionals conducting these programs. The qualitative study reported here identifies types of psychosocial change in paraprofessionals resulting from EFNEP training and work experience. Identified areas of change include skill development, community status, relationships with family/community, ways of viewing others, increased caring for others, and increased self-esteem. Factors contributing to change include paraprofessionals' indigenous status, personal identification with work, training, support, and work experiences. These findings have implications for the hiring, training, and support of paraprofessionals.
Direct liquid cooling of bare die packages using a microchannel cold plate

A stainless steel direct liquid contact microchannel cold plate is investigated for the thermal management of bare die packages. Experiments are conducted for a prototype microchannel cold plate in contact with a 1.18cm2 uniformly heated thermal test vehicle. The junction-to-fluid thermal resistance is measured to be 0.21°C/W for a water flow rate of 1 L/min thru the cold plate. Dynamic thermal characterization of the microchannel cooling solution has also been conducted and compared against static models to predict temperature response from a dynamic power profile.
A Practical Forward-Secure Public-Key Encryption Scheme

In open network, cryptographic operations are often performed on insecure, unprotected, and easily-stolen devices, therefore the threat of secret key exposure becomes more and more acute. The paradigm of forward security provides a promising approach to deal with the secret key exposure. This new paradigm guarantees that the compromise of current secret keys does not compromise past secret keys and past communications. Therefore, forward-security can minimize the resulting damage caused by the secret key exposure. In this paper, we present a practical forward-secure public-key encryption (FS-PKE) scheme and prove it to be forward-secure against selective-time period and adaptive chosen plaintext attacks in the standard model. The main performance parameters of our proposed scheme are independent on the total number of time periods in the scheme. When compared with the existing FS-PKE scheme, our proposed scheme is much more efficient and practical. We also discuss how our scheme achieves chosen ciphertext security in the standard model and in the random oracle model respectively.
Optimal control of two-commercial aircraft dynamic system during approach

This paper aims to reduce noise levels of two-aircraft landing simultaneously on approach. Constraints related to stability, performance and flight safety are taken into account. The problem of optimal control is described and solved by a Sequential Quadratic Programming numerical method 'SQP' when globalized by the trust region method. By using a merit function, a sequential quadratic programming method associated with global trust regions bypasses the non-convex problem. This method used a nonlinear interior point trust region optimization solver under AMPL. Among several possible solutions, it is shown that there is an optimal trajectory leading to a reduction of noise levels on approach.
How does home management of asthma exacerbations by parents of inner-city children differ from NHLBI guideline recommendations? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

OBJECTIVES 1) To describe the asthma morbidity, primary care practices, and asthma home management of inner-city children with asthma; 2) to determine the responses of parental caretakers to asthma exacerbations in their child; and 3) to compare these responses to the recommendations of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) asthma guidelines for home management of acute exacerbations of asthma. DESIGN AND METHODS A 64-item telephone survey was administered between July 1996 and June 1997 to 220 parental caretakers of 2- to 12-year-old children who had been hospitalized with asthma at an inner-city medical center from January, 1995 to February, 1996. Sociodemographics, primary care practices, asthma morbidity, and asthma home management were assessed. Parents were asked what they would do if their child "began wheezing and breathing faster than usual. " RESULTS Morbidity measures indicated that there were an average of 2.5 +/- 4.5 emergency department visits for asthma in the last 6 months, 1.6 +/- 2.2 hospitalizations for asthma in the last 12 months, and 18.1 +/- 17.9 asthma-related school absences in the previous school year. Most, but not all, of the families had primary care providers and most had phone access to them. Half of the families (51%) reported having been given a written asthma action plan. Only 30% of families with children age 5 years and older had peak flow meters. In contrast, almost all families (97%) had equipment for inhalation of beta-agonists. Only 39% of the 181 children with persistent symptoms were receiving daily antiinflammatory agents as recommended in the guidelines of the NHLBI. In response to the scenario of an acute exacerbation of asthma, no one mentioned that they would refer to a written plan, only 1 caretaker would measure peak flow and 36% would give beta-agonists. Two percent would give oral steroids initially, and 1 additional person would do so if wheezing continued 40 minutes later. Only 4% responded that they would contact their clinician. Reports of actual practice differed from the scenario responses in that more people began beta-agonists and oral steroids in response to an exacerbation in the past 6 months than said they would in response to the scenario. CONCLUSION In this population of previously hospitalized inner-city children with asthma, the NHLBI guidelines for the home management of asthma exacerbations are not being followed. Interventions are needed to affect both clinician and caretaker practices.
Associations of Serum Total Cholesterol, Different Types of Stroke, and Stenosis Distribution of Cerebral Arteries: The Akita Pathology Study

Background and Purpose The relation between serum total cholesterol levels and stroke is controversial. The Akita Pathology Study provides data on the association of serum total cholesterol, different types of stroke, and distribution of stenosis in cerebral arteries. Methods The data are based on 750 autopsied men aged 30 years and older who were admitted to a local hospital in northeast Japan between 1966 and 1984. The overall autopsy rate was 88%. The grade of stenosis in the cerebral arteries was determined blindly by one pathologist using Baker's method for basal cerebral arteries (atherosclerosis scores) and using microscopic examination of a single basal ganglion slide for the intracerebral penetrating arteries (arteriolosclerosis scores). Results The age-adjusted mean value of serum total cholesterol concentration was 164 mg/dL for cerebral hemorrhage, 177 mg/dL for infarction in penetrating artery regions, and 200 mg/dL for infarction in cortical artery regions. Mean serum cholesterol was lower in deaths caused by cerebral hemorrhage than in those caused by myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular disease. Mean atherosclerosis score of basal cerebral arteries was low for cerebral hemorrhage, intermediate for penetrating artery infarction, and high for cortical artery infarction. Stenosis of both basal and penetrating arteries was minimum or absent in cases of cerebral hemorrhage. Only the basal arteries were stenotic in cases of cortical artery infarction, whereas both basal and penetrating arteries were stenosed in cases of penetrating artery infarction. There were positive associations of serum cholesterol with stenosis of basal and penetrating arteries. Among cases of cerebral hemorrhage, serum total cholesterol levels were even lower in men with no significant stenosis in either basal or penetrating arteries than in men with stenosis in either type of artery. Conclusions The association of serum cholesterol with pathogenesis varies among stroke types. Elevated serum cholesterol levels were associated with the presence of cortical artery infarction, while low serum cholesterol levels were associated with cerebral hemorrhage.
Tissue-Engineered Rotator Cuff Tendon Using Porcine Small Intestine Submucosa

To determine its efficacy in stimulating the regeneration of a rotator cuff tendon, an implant of 10-ply porcine small intestinal submucosa was used to replace a completely resected infraspinatus tendon in 21 adult mongrel dogs. The contralateral infraspinatus tendon was elevated and then reattached to the greater tubercle with sutures to mimic conventional repair (sham operation). Mechanical evaluations were performed at 0, 3, and 6 months (five specimens at each time period). Histologic comparisons were made at 3 and 6 months (three specimens). At both times, the gross appearance, histologic continuity, and failure mode of the constructs mimicked those of sham-operated and native infraspinatus tendons, thus suggesting host tissue ingrowth and implant remodeling with solid integration of the regenerated tissue to muscular and bony interfaces. Tissue ingrowth occurred without histologic evidence of foreign body or immune-mediated reactions or adhesions to peripheral tissues. Sham operations simulated tendon mobilization and reimplantation procedures routinely performed to treat chronic rotator cuff tendon injuries. Although the ultimate strength of small intestinal submucosa-regenerated tendons was significantly less than that of native infraspinatus tendons (P<0.001), it was similar to that of reimplanted tendons at 3 (P<0.05) and 6 months (P<0.05).
Dual leucine zipper kinase-dependent PERK activation contributes to neuronal degeneration following insult

The PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) arm of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) is implicated in neurodegenerative disease, although the regulators and consequences of PERK activation following neuronal injury are poorly understood. Here we show that PERK signaling is a component of the mouse MAP kinase neuronal stress response controlled by the Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase (DLK) and contributes to DLK-mediated neurodegeneration. We find that DLK-activating insults ranging from nerve injury to neurotrophin deprivation result in both c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling and the PERK- and ISR-dependent upregulation of the Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4). Disruption of PERK signaling delays neurodegeneration without reducing JNK signaling. Furthermore, DLK is both sufficient for PERK activation and necessary for engaging the ISR subsequent to JNK-mediated retrograde injury signaling. These findings identify DLK as a central regulator of not only JNK but also PERK stress signaling in neurons, with both pathways contributing to neurodegeneration. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.20725. 001
Improvement in Islet Yield from Obese Donors for Human Islet Transplants

Background. The feasibility of human islet transplantations has been firmly established. To increase the number of islet transplants, the suitability of pancreases from organ donors considered inappropriate for pancreas transplantations must be evaluated. Methods. We isolated islets from 114 human cadaver donor pancreases by the automated Ricordi method, followed by purification using continuous-density gradients. We divided the pancreases into two groups by donor body mass index (BMI)—group 1: n=51, BMI of 30 or more; group 2: n=63, BMI of less than 30. We compared the results of human islet isolation, in vitro potency assays, and a nude mouse bioassay. Results. In group 1 (vs. group 2), we found a significantly higher mean pancreas weight (109.5±30.7 vs. 90.6±24.0 g; P=0.0002); higher mean islet equivalents/pancreas, after digestion (442,565±238,741 vs. 289,860±158,995; P<0.0001) and after purification (319,129±164,002 vs. 215,753±126,089; P=0.0002); and a higher islet isolation success rate—defined as isolations yielding more than 300,000 islet equivalents/pancreas, with purities of more than 50% (37.3% [19 of 51 pancreases] vs. 15.9% [10 of 63]; P=0.009). Our in vitro potency assays and bioassay uncovered no differences between the two groups. Notably, all except one of the donor BMIs for the successful isolations in group 2 exceeded 26; the mean donor BMI for the successful isolations (27.3±3.0, n=10) was significantly higher than for the unsuccessful isolations (24.8±3.3, n=53) (P=0.03). Conclusions. Pancreases from both overweight (BMI ≥26 but <30) and obese (BMI ≥30) cadaver donors are suitable for islet isolation and transplantations. Their use could increase the size of the islet donor pool.
Checking app behavior against app descriptions

How do we know a program does what it claims to do? After clustering Android apps by their description topics, we identify outliers in each cluster with respect to their API usage. A "weather" app that sends messages thus becomes an anomaly; likewise, a "messaging" app would typically not be expected to access the current location. Applied on a set of 22,500+ Android applications, our CHABADA prototype identified several anomalies; additionally, it flagged 56% of novel malware as such, without requiring any known malware patterns.
12-Step Involvement and Peer Helping in Day Hospital and Residential Programs

This study compares peer helping and 12-step involvement among participants receiving chemical dependency treatment at day hospital (N = 503) and residential (N = 230) programs, and examines relationships between both variables and outcomes. Findings show that residential (vs. day hospital) participants reported significantly more peer helping and 12-step involvement during treatment, and marginally more 12-step involvement at 6 months. Both peer helping and 12-step involvement predicted higher odds of sobriety across follow-ups; helping showed an indirect effect on sobriety via 12-step involvement. Results contribute to the 12-step facilitation literature; confirm prior results regarding benefits of mutual aid; and highlight methodological issues in helping research. The study's limitations are noted.
Mathematical modeling of acid deposition due to radiation fog

A Lagrangian model has been developed to study acidic deposition due to radiation fog. The model couples submodels describing the development and dissipation of radiation fog, the gas-phase chemistry and transfer, and the aqueous-phase chemistry. The model is applied to a radiation fog episode in Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of California over the period January 4–5, 1985. Model predictions for temperature profile, fog development, liquid water content, gas-phase concentrations of SO_2, HNO_3, and NH_3, pH, aqueous-phase concentrations of SO_4^(2−), NH_4^+, and NO_3^−, and finally deposition rates of the above ions are compared with the observed values. The deposition rates of the major ions are predicted to increase significantly during the fog episode, the most notable being the increase of sulfate deposition. Pathways for sulfate production that are of secondary importance in a cloud environment may become significant in a fog. Expressing the mean droplet settling velocity as a function of liquid water content is found to be quite influential in the model's predictions.
The Evaluation of Psychological Factor and Salivary Cortisol and IgA Levels in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

1. Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Zahedan University Of Medical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan, Iran 2. Department of Oral Medicine, Genetics of Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran 3. Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran 4. Dentist, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Successful medical management of pseudomembranous cystitis in three cats with lower urinary tract obstruction.

CASE REPORT The present case series describes the clinical course and outcome of three cats diagnosed with pseudomembranous cystitis. This is an uncommon presentation of lower urinary tract obstruction but can be easily be identified by ultrasonography, revealing severe bladder wall thickening and thin hyperechoic luminal strips. The condition can be secondary to severe bacterial urinary tract infection. All cats were successfully treated with medical management only, mainly based on antimicrobials and individualised supportive therapy. CONCLUSION Further evaluation of this condition is necessary in order to determine potential underlying aetiologies, pathophysiological mechanisms and the most appropriate standardised treatment.