Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drainage vs no drainage in secondary peritonitis with sepsis following complicated appendicitis in adults in the modern era of antibiotics.

AIM To compare the profile of postoperative outcome in secondary peritonitis with sepsis due to complicated appendicitis in two cohorts (drainage vs no-drainage) after appendicectomy in adults in the modern era of effective antibiotics. METHODS A retrospective review of all adult patients who were operated for secondary peritonitis with sepsis due to complicated appendicitis was carried out. Total of 209 patients were identified from May 2005 to April 2009 with operative findings of gangrenous or perforated appendix. The patients were divided into two cohorts, those where prophylactic drainage was established (n = 88) and those where no drain was used (n = 121). Abdominal drain was removed once the drainage ceased or decreased (< 10-20 mL/d in closed system of drainage or when once daily dressing was minimally soaked in open system). Broad spectrum antibiotics to cover the gut flora were started in both cohorts at diagnosis and were stopped once septic features resolved. Peritoneal fluid for aerobic culture and sensitivity were routinely obtained intra operatively; however antibiotic regimens were not changed unless patient failed to respond to the antibiotics based on the institutional protocol. The co-morbidities and their influence on primary end points were noted. Immunocompromised patients, appendicitis complicated by inflammatory bowel disorder and tumors were excluded from the study. RESULTS Disease stratification and other demographic features were comparable in both cohorts. There was zero mortality in drainage group while as one patient (0.82%) died in the non-drainage group. The median duration (in days) of hospital stay (6.5 vs 4); antibiotic use (5 vs 3.5); regular parental analgesic use (5 vs 3.5) and paralytic ileus (2.5 vs 2) was more common in the drainage group. Incidence of major wound infection in patients 14 (15.9%) vs 22 (18.18%) and residual intra-abdominal sepsis (inter loop collection/abscess) -7 (8%) vs 13 (10.74%) requiring secondary intervention was not significantly different in drainage and non-drainage cohorts respectively. One patient in the drainage cohort had faecal fistula (1.1%). CONCLUSION The complicated appendicitis in the modern era of antibiotics does not necessitate the use of prophylactic drain placement which at times may even prove counterproductive.
Learning interactions in group work in science

In an attempt to explore the effectiveness of small‐group learning in science, the verbal interactions among pupils engaged in problem‐solving tasks were studied. Analysis of the transcripts of the discourse revealed substantial variations in the ‘interactiveness’ of groups (consisting of either three or four pupils). Interactions were predominantly task‐related, but their content rarely rose about the level of ‘factual information’ interchange. Information exchange at higher cognitive levels ('explainer level’ and ‘insight level') was largely absent, suggesting that problem solving does not readily take place as a ‘group activity’. The study of interaction patterns within groups led to the conclusion that most verbal information is exchanged in ‘dialogue’ form, involving only two pupils at a time.
Risk-resilient heuristics and genetic algorithms for security-assured grid job scheduling

In scheduling a large number of user jobs for parallel execution on an open-resource grid system, the jobs are subject to system failures or delays caused by infected hardware, software vulnerability, and distrusted security policy. This paper models the risk and insecure conditions in grid job scheduling. Three risk-resilient strategies, preemptive, replication, and delay-tolerant, are developed to provide security assurance. We propose six risk-resilient scheduling algorithms to assure secure grid job execution under different risky conditions. We report the simulated grid performances of these new grid job scheduling algorithms under the NAS and PSA workloads. The relative performance is measured by the total job makespan, grid resource utilization, job failure rate, slowdown ratio, replication overhead, etc. In addition to extending from known scheduling heuristics, we developed a new space-time genetic algorithm (STGA) based on faster searching and protected chromosome formation. Our simulation results suggest that, in a wide-area grid environment, it is more resilient for the global job scheduler to tolerate some job delays instead of resorting to preemption or replication or taking a risk on unreliable resources allocated. We find that delay-tolerant min-min and STGA job scheduling have 13-23 percent higher performance than using risky or preemptive or replicated algorithms. The resource overheads for replicated job scheduling are kept at a low 15 percent. The delayed job execution is optimized with a delay factor, which is 20 percent of the total makespan. A Kiviat graph is proposed for demonstrating the quality of grid computing services. These risk-resilient job scheduling schemes can upgrade grid performance significantly at only a moderate increase in extra resources or scheduling delays in a risky grid computing environment
The role of postgraduate education in management development

This article considers the role of postgraduate education in the process of management development. The article argues that most management education has to date concentrated on providing managers with a knowledge and understanding of specific organisational issues as defined by academics and that there are few attempts to provide managers with the skills to solve organisational problems as defined by managers. It is suggested that there is a need to rethink the structure and content of management education and that there are opportunities within specialist postgraduate programmes to experiment with new approaches and techniques. The article describes two Masters programmes in Ireland in which attempts are being made to move from a pedagogical to an andragogical approach in teaching and learning. The results to date indicate that there are positive results to be gained from this approach for both managers and lecturers.
Third Spaces: Turkish Immigrants and Their Children at the Intersection of Identity, Schooling, and Culture

This qualitative case study utilized hybridity theory, particularly the notion of third spaces, to investigate the ways Turkish immigrants (18 parents and 15 children) negotiate culture, identity, and schooling in the midwestern United States. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and artifacts, and analyzed using traditional qualitative analysis tools. The findings demonstrated that Turkish immigrants’ identity negotiation in third spaces included five elements: (1) drawing from multiple discourses, (2) navigating geo-cultural spaces, (3) becoming agents of negotiation, (4) mediating conflicts, and (5) regenerating traditions. These findings have several implications. Educators should understand the importance of out-of-school experiences that highlight the agency of immigrant children and their families so they can better support the children’s academic and social growth. Further, educators and policymakers should rethink the notion of “immigration” and the traditional role of schools in this process as these may not reflect the complexity of contemporary immigrant identities.
Something Worth Fighting for: Higher Education for Women on Welfare

The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)r estricted access to postsecondary education for women on welfare. This article discusses the consequences of this aspect of PRWORAand the effect of higher education on women on welfare. The Parents as Scholars (PaS)Pr ogram of Maine—an innovative state program that allows women on welfare to attend college—is described, and data on the experiences of 222 Pas participants are presented. The participants reported increased selfesteem, enhanced opportunities, enriched lives, better relationships with their children, and excitement about their futures.
Olfactory Oscillations: the What, How and What For

Olfactory system oscillations play out with beautiful temporal and behavioral regularity on the oscilloscope and seem to scream 'meaning'. Always there is the fear that, although attractive, these symbols of dynamic regularity might be just seductive epiphenomena. There are now many studies that have isolated some of the neural mechanisms involved in these oscillations, and recent work argues that they are functional and even necessary at the physiological and cognitive levels. However , much remains to be done for a full understanding of their functions. Introduction The various types of oscillations seen in the olfactory bulb (OB; see Glossary) local field potential (LFP) differ in frequency and in the circuits and behavioral circumstances that produce them. The best studied are gamma oscillations, which occupy the higher end of the olfactory LFP frequency range ($70 Hz in rats and mice), are evoked by sensory stimulation and are initiated at the end of the inhalation cycle, riding the crest of the respiratory (theta) wave [1]. The power of odor-evoked gamma oscillations is associated with successful discrimination of closely related odorants [2–4]. Both odor-evoked gamma and beta ($20 Hz in rats) oscillations have been associated with odor learning [2,5], and there is some evidence that the oscillation type and circuit could depend on the cognitive task [2,6]. There are many questions remaining to be answered about olfactory theta ($1–12 Hz), beta ($15–30 Hz) and gamma ($40–100 Hz) frequency bands. Oscillations in these frequency bands have been associated with sensory processing in other systems and with network properties in the hippocampus. However , frequencies can be deceiving, with even odor-evoked gamma oscillation frequencies varying widely across species [1]. Translating what has been learned about olfactory oscillations to other cortical systems, we argue that oscillations must be defined by multiple factors to make similarity arguments across systems and species.
The balanced mind: the variability of task-unrelated thoughts predicts error monitoring

Self-generated thoughts unrelated to ongoing activities, also known as “mind-wandering,” make up a substantial portion of our daily lives. Reports of such task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) predict both poor performance on demanding cognitive tasks and blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activity in the default mode network (DMN). However, recent findings suggest that TUTs and the DMN can also facilitate metacognitive abilities and related behaviors. To further understand these relationships, we examined the influence of subjective intensity, ruminative quality, and variability of mind-wandering on response inhibition and monitoring, using the Error Awareness Task (EAT). We expected to replicate links between TUT and reduced inhibition, and explored whether variance in TUT would predict improved error monitoring, reflecting a capacity to balance between internal and external cognition. By analyzing BOLD responses to subjective probes and the EAT, we dissociated contributions of the DMN, executive, and salience networks to task performance. While both response inhibition and online TUT ratings modulated BOLD activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the DMN, the former recruited a more dorsal area implying functional segregation. We further found that individual differences in mean TUTs strongly predicted EAT stop accuracy, while TUT variability specifically predicted levels of error awareness. Interestingly, we also observed co-activation of salience and default mode regions during error awareness, supporting a link between monitoring and TUTs. Altogether our results suggest that although TUT is detrimental to task performance, fluctuations in attention between self-generated and external task-related thought is a characteristic of individuals with greater metacognitive monitoring capacity. Achieving a balance between internally and externally oriented thought may thus aid individuals in optimizing their task performance.
Numerical simulations of non-spherical bubble collapse 261

A high-order accurate shockand interface-capturing scheme is used to simulate the collapse of a gas bubble in water. In order to better understand the damage caused by collapsing bubbles, the dynamics of the shock-induced and Rayleigh collapse of a bubble near a planar rigid surface and in a free field are analysed. Collapse times, bubble displacements, interfacial velocities and surface pressures are quantified as a function of the pressure ratio driving the collapse and of the initial bubble stand-off distance from the wall; these quantities are compared to the available theory and experiments and show good agreement with the data for both the bubble dynamics and the propagation of the shock emitted upon the collapse. Non-spherical collapse involves the formation of a re-entrant jet directed towards the wall or in the direction of propagation of the incoming shock. In shock-induced collapse, very high jet velocities can be achieved, and the finite time for shock propagation through the bubble may be non-negligible compared to the collapse time for the pressure ratios of interest. Several types of shock waves are generated during the collapse, including precursor and water-hammer shocks that arise from the re-entrant jet formation and its impact upon the distal side of the bubble, respectively. The water-hammer shock can generate very high pressures on the wall, far exceeding those from the incident shock. The potential damage to the neighbouring surface is quantified by measuring the wall pressure. The range of stand-off distances and the surface area for which amplification of the incident shock due to bubble collapse occurs is determined.
The Use of Analogies and Incubation in Obtaining Insights in Creative Problem Solving

The invention comprises a lead-through for electric cables and the like which is fire-proof, gas-proof, and liquid-proof at a predetermined temperature. The cables extend through an opening in a ceiling, floor and/or wall. Guide strips encircle at least one conductor or cable; and filling members, when required, are placed between the sides of the opening and guide strips. The filling members and the strips comprise a material having a relatively high coefficient of cubic expansion. A support member for the strips is arranged to abut a support edge formed in a frame structure. The support member affords a reinforcement against high pressure acting on the lead-through.
Activation of a muscarinic receptor selectively inhibits a rapidly inactivated Ca2+ current in rat sympathetic neurons.

Sympathetic neurons dissociated from the superior cervical ganglion of 2-day-old rats were studied by whole-cell patch clamp and by fura-2 measurements of the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i. Step depolarizations in the presence of tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium triggered two Ca2+ currents that differed in the voltage dependence of activation and kinetics of inactivation. These currents resemble the L and N currents previously described in chicken sensory neurons [Nowycky, M. C. , Fox, A. P. & Tsien, R. W. (1985) Nature (London) 316, 440-442]. Treatment with acetylcholine resulted in the rapid (within seconds), selective, and reversible inhibition of the rapidly inactivated, N-type current, whereas the long-lasting L-type current remained unaffected. The high sensitivity to blocker drugs (atropine, pirenzepine) indicated that this effect of acetylcholine was due to a muscarinic M1 receptor. Intracellular perfusion with nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analogs or pretreatment of the neurons with pertussis toxin had profound effects on the Ca2+ current modulation. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate caused the disappearance of the N-type current (an effect akin to that of acetylcholine, but irreversible), whereas guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate and pertussis toxin pretreatment prevented the acetylcholine-induced inhibition. In contrast, cAMP, applied intracellularly together with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, as well as activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C, were without effect. Acetylcholine caused shortening of action potentials in neurons treated with tetraethylammonium to partially block K+ channels. Moreover, when applied to neurons loaded with the fluorescent indicator fura-2, acetylcholine failed to appreciably modify [Ca2+]i at rest but caused a partial blunting of the initial [Ca2+]i peak induced by depolarization with high K+. This effect was blocked by muscarinic antagonists and pertussis toxin and was unaffected by protein kinase activators. Thus, muscarinic modulation of the N-type Ca2+ channels appears to be mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein and independent of both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C.
A strong familiality of ankylosing spondylitis through several generations

Objective To elucidate the familiality of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Iceland. Methods The Icelandic genealogy database and population-wide data on all living Icelanders diagnosed as having AS (n=280), who previously had taken part in an epidemiological study on the prevalence of AS in Iceland, were included in the study. Identification of all interpatient relationships in the genealogy database allowed calculation of estimates of the RR for AS in the first-degree relatives (FDRs) to fourth-degree relatives of patients. For each AS proband, 1000 sets of matched Icelandic subjects in the genealogy database were used as controls. Results FDRs, second-degree and third-degree relatives had RRs of 75.5, 20.2 and 3.5, respectively (all p values <0.0001), indicating a significantly increased risk for relatives of the patients with AS to develop AS, suggesting a strong heritable factor, while the fourth-degree relatives had a RR of 1.04 (p=0.476) for having AS. Conclusions Patients with AS in Iceland are significantly more related to each other than to randomly sampled control subjects. This is in agreement with previous reports on the familiality of AS, but the present study has more power and extends over larger familiar cohorts than previously reported.
Ctf4 coordinates the progression of helicase and DNA polymerase α

Ctf4 is a protein conserved in eukaryotes and a constituent of the replisome progression complex. It also plays a role in the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion. In our current study, we demonstrate that the replication checkpoint is activated in the absence of Ctf4, and that the interaction between the MCM helicase‐go ichi ni san (GINS) complex and DNA polymerase α (Pol α)‐primase is destabilized specifically in a ctf4Δ mutant. An in vitro interaction between GINS and DNA Pol α was also found to be mediated by Ctf4. The same interaction was not affected in the absence of the replication checkpoint mediators Tof1 or Mrc1. In ctf4Δ cells, DNA pol α became significantly unstable and was barely detectable at the replication forks in HU. In contrast, the quantities of helicase and DNA pol ɛ bound to replication forks were almost unchanged but their localizations were widely and abnormally dispersed in the mutant cells compared with wild type. These results lead us to propose that Ctf4 is a key connector between DNA helicase and Pol α and is required for the coordinated progression of the replisome.
Edge Intelligence-Driven Meteorological Knowledge Graph for Real-Time Decision-Making

Meteorological decision-making is a crucial element in the meteorological disaster warning and prevention field. With the increasing frequency of meteorological disasters and the rapid development of edge intelligence, there is an urgent need to establish a meteorological early-warning platform that reduces human resource investment, decreases operating costs, and provides targeted information and response suggestions. Therefore, we propose the development of real-time decision-making based on edge intelligence-driven meteorological knowledge graph (EMKG), and aim to achieve meteorological emergency decision-making by combining the knowledge graph with edge intelligence. First, we collect data through edge devices and perform preprocessing and preliminary analysis on these devices to reduce the time and bandwidth requirements for data transmission to the cloud. Based on the above data, meteorological entity recognition and relation extraction were completed using techniques such as BERT, BiLSTM, CRF, and data augmentation. Then we trained a text generation model and deployed it on edge devices to achieve real-time meteorological decision-making. The experimental results show that EMKG effectively integrates edge intelligence and knowledge graph, and further improves the real-time and accuracy of meteorological decision-making.
Applying a Research-Based Model to Teacher Skill Training

The purpose of this study was to imple ment and assess the effectiveness of a research-based model for training in teaching skills. We identified a complex teaching skill with a demonstrated positive relationship with student learning. A training method based on the research on concept learning was then applied to the development of that skill under training conditions that had been shown to influence applicational trans fer to the school classroom. We then assessed the effect of the training method for a group of preservice secondary teaching trainees on concept acquisition and use of the skill in peer teach ing and in the school classroom. The findings are discussed, and emergent research questions are identified.
Long-Term Therapeutic Outcomes of Photodynamic Therapy-Based or Photocoagulation-Based Treatments on Retinal Capillary Hemangioma.

BACKGROUND Retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH) is a rare and refractory eye tumor. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of two laser-based therapies for RCH, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and focal photocoagulation-based treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study. Eight RCH patients (10 eyes) receiving laser treatment and followed up from November 2011 to December 2016 in our hospital were selected and their medical records reviewed. Clinical results and correlations between various clinicodemographic factors and vision outcome were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 39 RCH tumor bodies were found and treated. Eleven sessions of PDT and 25 sessions of photocoagulation were administered. Other treatments included five intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor or triamcinolone acetonide and one vitreoretinal surgery. After the follow-up period of 54.3 ± 29.8 months, 35 tumor bodies were stable or regressed, and 4 were recurrent. Vision was improved in four eyes, stable in one, and reduced in five relative to baseline. Photocoagulation was more likely to induce tumor bleeding than PDT (4 eyes vs. 1) and to increase subretinal fluid (3 eyes vs. 1). In correlation analysis, subretinal fluid accumulation was predictive of poor vision outcome (r = 0.69, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Photodynamic- and photocoagulation-based therapies are both reasonably effective against most RCH tumor bodies, but PDT carries lower risks of bleeding and subretinal fluid refraction. Formation of subretinal fluid may predict poor vision outcome in RCH.