Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do preoperative statins reduce atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting?

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have demonstrated that statins have pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory effects and atrial fibrillation (AF) preventive effects. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of preoperative statin therapy in preventing AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS 221 patients underwent CABG in our hospital from 2004 to 2007. 14 patients with preoperative AF and 4 patients with concomitant valve surgery were excluded from this study. Patients were divided into two groups to examine the influence of statins: those with preoperative statin therapy (Statin group, n = 77) and those without it (Non-statin group, n = 126). In addition, patients were divided into two groups to determine the independent predictors for postoperative AF: those with postoperative AF (AF group, n = 54) and those without it (Non-AF group, n = 149). Patient data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS The overall incidence of postoperative AF was 26%. Postoperative AF was significantly lower in the Statin group compared with the Non-statin group (16% versus 33%, p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that independent predictors of AF development after CABG were preoperative statin therapy (odds ratio [OR] 0.327, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.107 to 0.998, p = 0.05) and age (OR 1.058, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.116, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION Our study indicated that preoperative statin therapy seems to reduce AF development after CABG.
Fenretinide Treatment Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity in Association With Major Alterations in Retinoid Homeostatic Gene Expression in Adipose, Liver, and Hypothalamus

The synthetic retinoid, Fenretinide (FEN), inhibits obesity and insulin resistance in mice and is in early clinical trials for treatment of insulin resistance in obese humans. We aimed to determine whether alterations in retinoic acid (RA)-responsive genes contribute to the beneficial effects of FEN. We examined the effect of FEN on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and alterations in gene expression in C57Bl/6 and retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH) 1 knockout (KO) mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. FEN completely inhibited adipocyte differentiation by blocking CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) α/peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) γ−mediated induction of downstream genes and upregulating RA-responsive genes like cellular retinol-binding protein-1. In mice fed an HF diet, RA-responsive genes were markedly increased in adipose, liver, and hypothalamus, with short-term and long-term FEN treatment. In adipose, FEN inhibited the downregulation of PPARγ and improved insulin sensitivity and the levels of adiponectin, resistin, and serum RBP (RBP4). FEN inhibited hyperleptinemia in vivo and leptin expression in adipocytes. Surprisingly, hypothalamic neuropeptide Y expression was completely suppressed, suggesting a central effect of FEN to normalize hyperglycemia. Moreover, FEN induced RA-responsive genes in RALDH1 KO mice, demonstrating that FEN can augment RA signaling when RA synthesis is impaired. We show that FEN-mediated beneficial effects are through alterations in retinoid homeostasis genes, and these are strong candidates as therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
The impact of extraversion and pre-training self-efficacy on levels of training outcomes

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of extraversion and pre-training self-efficacy as individual characteristics on varying levels of training outcomes. Data were collected from 109 male employees entering a training programme on efficient communication in organizations. The research was conducted in two stages: before training and immediately after training. The results showed that extraversion was positively related to pre-training self-efficacy, which was positively related to affective reactions, utility reactions and post-training self-efficacy. Affective reactions were also found to have a stronger relationship than utility reactions with declarative knowledge. An hypothesized model and three alternative models were tested. The results revealed stronger support for the hypothesized model.
Rapid bedside coagulometry prior to urgent neurosurgical procedures in anticoagulated patients

Abstract Introduction. With the increased use of oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists, emergency physicians encounter a growing number of patients requiring a rapid reversal of anticoagulant effects in order to perform urgent surgical procedures. Initiation of these procedures can be delayed because the coagulation status has to be assessed through examination of blood samples in central laboratories (CL). This delay may lead to negative effects, especially in potentially life-threatening conditions such as intracranial haemorrhage. Point-of-care (POC) devices for assessment of international normalized ratio (POC INR) have improved the management of anticoagulation therapy in the outpatient setting. The use of these devices may also have beneficial effects in the treatment of anticoagulated patients requiring urgent neurosurgical procedures. The primary aim of this study was to analyse the potential of POC-guided assessment of INR to reduce time to potentially life-saving neurosurgery in this setting. Feasibility and accuracy as well as the gain of time through the use of this device were analysed. Materials and methods. The POC coagulometer CoaguChek XS® was used in 17 patients with a history of anticoagulant use and a condition requiring urgent anticoagulant reversal prior to neurosurgical procedures (burr-hole trepanation: n = 8, craniotomy: n = 7, laminectomy: n = 2). Results. No technical difficulties occurred and rapid assessment of INR was achieved in all cases within 2 min. POC INR values correlated well with CL INR assessment with a mean INR deviation of 0.036 ± 0.12. The mean gain of time through the use of the POC INR device compared with CL assessment of INR was 47 ± 6 min (range: 37–61 min). Conclusion. Our initial experiences with a POC INR device in anticoagulated patients undergoing urgent neurosurgical procedures demonstrate that its use may contribute to an improved management of these patients.
Road Map for the Controlled Synthesis of CdSe Nanowires, Nanobelts, and Nanosaws—A Step Towards Nanomanufacturing

One‐dimensional (1D) nanostructures of CdSe have been found to exhibit morphologies of nanowires, nanobelts, and nanosaws, but their synthesis is by trial and error. To meet the needs of large‐scale, controlled, and designed synthesis of nanostructures, it is imperative to systematically find experimental conditions under which the desired nanostructures are synthesized reproducibly, in large quantity, and with controlled morphology. This article reports the first systematic study on the growth of 1D CdSe nanostructures by a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) process by varying a wide range of experimental conditions. Over 150 experiments have been conducted to investigate the morphology dependence of three different types of nanostructures: nanowires, nanobelts, and nanosaws, over various substrate temperatures and pressures. The results of this work yield a road map for the controlled growth of 1D CdSe nanostructures. This research serves as a guidance and “menu” for scaling up of the synthesis of CdSe nanostructures. This is a key step towards the controlled synthesis of nanostructures to meet the needs of many industrial applications of nanomanufacturing.
Primitive turbulence: kinetics, Prandtl's mixing length, and von Karman's constant

The paper presents a theory of shear-generated turbulence at asymptotically high Reynolds numbers. It is based on an ensemble of dipole vortex tubes taken as quasi-particles and realized in form of rings, hairpins or filament couples of potentially finite length. In a not necesserily planar cross sectional area through a vortex tangle, taken locally orthogonal through each individual tube, the dipoles are moving with the classical dipole velocity. The vortex radius is directly related with Prandtl's classical mixing length. The quasi-particles perform dipol chaos which reminds of molecular chaos in real gases. Collisions between quasi-particles lead either to particle annihilation (turbulent dissipation) or to particle scattering (turbulent diffusion). These ideas suffice to develop a closed theory of shear-generated turbulence without empirical parameters, with analogies to birth and death processes of macromolecules. It coincides almost perfectly with the well-known K-Omega turbulence closure applied in many branches of science and technology. In the case of free homogeneous decay the TKE is shown to follow 1/t. For an adiabatic condition at a solid wall the theory predicts a logarithmic mean-flow boundary layer with von Karman's constant as 1/SQRT(2 pi)=0.399.
Spinal Accessory Nerve Function following Neck Dissection

Spinal accessory nerve (SAN) function was evaluated by electromyography (EMG) and muscle testing in 36 patients who underwent neck dissection with SAN preservation. The results emphasized that SAN function was relatively good after conservative neck surgery. Muscle testing findings showed better function than did EMC findings. After surgery the trapezius muscle functioned more efficiently than the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle probably because of the more traumatic surgical handling of both the SCM muscle and its SAN branch. In order to obtain the functional advantages of SAN preservation, the authors suggest that the conservative procedure in radical neck dissection be used whenever warranted by oncologic diagnosis.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF DIGENETIC TREMATODE INFECTIONS IN A MUDSNAIL (HYDROBIA VENTROSA) POPULATION INHABITING SALT MARSH PONDS IN ICELAND

This study analyzed the influence of several abiotic and biotic variables on the distribution of digenetic trematode infections in a mudsnail, Hydrobia ventrosa, population inhabiting 12 ponds on the Melabakkar salt marsh in Iceland, the northwestern limits of the geographical distribution. Nine trematode species were found to infect the snail population, which included Microphallus pirum, Microphallus breviatus, Microphallus claviformis, Maritrema subdolum (Microphallidae), Cercaria Notocotylidae sp. 11 Deblock, 1980, C. Notocotylidae sp. 12 Deblock, 1980, C. Notocotylidae sp. 13 Deblock, 1980 (Notocotylidae), Cryptocotyle concavum (Heterophyidae), and Psilostomum brevicolle (Psilostomatidae). Correlations between biotic variables (snail density in the ponds and vegetation cover), abiotic variables (distance of each pond from the sea, pond elevation above chart datum, size, average depth, salinity, and some characters of the littoral zone and sediments), and trematode infections were analyzed. These variables indirectly affected the trematode infections because some determined how attractive the ponds were for the final hosts, which were various species of marine and shore birds. We propose that their habitat use and defecating habits are the main determinants of the trematode distribution in the area.
Work and Family: How Does the (Gender) Balance Change as Children Grow?

This article investigates how work-family balance and the gender division of labour differ according to whether children are in early childhood, middle childhood or the early teen years. It uses measures of both behaviour and attitudes, drawing on two nationally representative Australian data sets, the Bureau of Statistics Time Use Survey and the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia. Women have more responsibility for care than men, but with older children there is greater gender equity in the division of labour, a less pressing domestic burden and less maternal time stress. This occurs because women recalibrate their commitments to work and home, not because domestic labour is redistributed between mothers and fathers. Further, it does not hold if women replace unpaid with paid labour; mothers who work full time have high total workloads and high stress levels regardless of the age of children. Fathers are more satisfied with their work-family balance the more they participate in childcare and the more they feel supported by their workplace to access family-friendly work policies.
Positive and Negative Peer Interaction in 3- and 4-Year-Olds in Relation to Regulation and Dysregulation

ABSTRACT Using a sample from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care (N = 435; 219 girls), the authors derived several measures of regulation and dysregulation that predicted, both concurrently and longitudinally, children's positive and negative peer interactions in multiple contexts. Observers rated peer interactions in child care and during dyadic play with a friend, and mothers rated peer behavior. The authors based the derived measures on resistance to temptation (36 months) and delay of gratification (54 months) tasks, as well as observations in child care of children's compliance and defiance with adults at both ages and maternal reports. Preschoolers who had better impulse control and who were more compliant and less defiant with adults engaged more often in friendly, positive, peer play and were less negative in their peer play across contexts. Associations between regulation and dysregulation and peer interaction were broader and more consistent at 54 months than at 36 months. Longitudinally, regulation at 36 months was only modestly associated with more positive and less negative peer play at 54 months. The authors discuss findings in the context of developing self-regulation and its importance for early peer relationships.
Using Ignatian Pedagogy in a Mediation Course

In this article, I describe how I designed a mediation course applying the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP). I share examples of some of the assignments and activities as well as narratives of students evidencing how by combining the five tenets of IPP—context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation—students achieve professional, spiritual, and personal growth.
A Neighborhood-Centered Approach to Developmental Contexts: An Application to Three Risk Behaviors in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Raymond R. Swisher, Advisor Bridging macrosociological life course, place stratification, and social disorganization theories, this study advances a “neighborhood-centered” approach to study one of the developmental contexts of adolescent and young adult behavior. This approach extends neighborhood effects research and addresses limitations of existing life course and neighborhoods scholarship by explicitly highlighting the social structural forces—as embodied in the patterning of a finite set of neighborhood types—that anchor trajectories of risk behaviors in adolescence. Using four waves of nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), latent class analysis, and growth curve modeling, I first identify distinct neighborhood types patterned by the intersection of three key components of structural inequality: race/ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and geography. Second, I examine how trajectories of delinquency, sexual activity, and marijuana use during adolescence and into young adulthood differ across neighborhood types, and the extent to which neighborhoods shape these behaviors directly and indirectly (through theorized individual, family, and peer mediators). Results from the latent class analysis both demonstrate the complex ways in which indicators of stratification intersect to shape specific neighborhood contexts, and provide the foundation for a multidimensional classification of these contexts. Results from a series of threelevel growth curve models illustrate significant variation in trajectories across neighborhood types—variation heretofore unobserved in neighborhoods research, and largely unexplained by individual, family, and peer mediators. A neighborhood-centered approach reorients scholarly thinking about neighborhoods as developmental contexts, devoting explicit attention to the stratifying forces bringing about distinct neighborhood types that anchor and shape trajectories of risk behavior in adolescence and young adulthood.
Factors predicting patients' perception of privacy and satisfaction for emergency care

Study Objective To identify emergency department (ED) predictors of patients' perception of privacy and whether patients' perception of privacy was significantly associated with patient satisfaction, in an urban, university-based hospital ED. Methods Patients' perceptions of privacy and satisfaction at one urban, university-based hospital ED were assessed. Structured questionnaires were performed, and measures for patients' perception of privacy and satisfaction as well as demographic data were included for data collection for each patient. Ordinal logistic regression model building was conducted for patients' perception of privacy. Results 364 patients were approached and 313 (86%) on-site questionnaires were completed. 75% of patients agreed and strongly agreed that privacy was very important for their emergency care. Factors that were highly correlated with patients' perception of privacy included personal information overheard by others (OR 0.6273), overhearing others' personal information (OR 0.5521), unintentionally heard inappropriate conversations from healthcare providers (OR 0.5992), being seen by irrelevant persons (OR 0.6337), space provided for privacy when being physically examined (OR 1.6091) and providers' respect for patients' privacy (OR 4.3455). Patient characteristics that significantly predicted lower ratings of perception of privacy included older age, the treatment area in a hallway and longer length of stay. Patient satisfaction was strongly predicted by the perception of privacy (OR 8.4545). Conclusion These data identify specific factors that are determinants of patients' perception of privacy. It was found that patients' perception of privacy strongly predicts satisfaction. ED improvement efforts should focus on improving ED environmental design and continuing education of healthcare providers to protect patient privacy during their stay in the ED.
Radiation Effects in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film-Transistors

The fabrication, characterization, and radiation response of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin-film field effect transistors (SWCNT-TFTs) has been performed. SWCNT-TFTs were fabricated on SiO2-Si substrates from 98% pure semiconducting SWCNTs separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. Optical and Raman characterization, in concert with measured drain current Ion/Ioff ratios, up to 104, confirmed the high enrichment of semiconducting-SWCNTs. Total ionizing dose (TID) effects, up to 10 MRads, were measured in situ for a SWCNT-TFT under static vacuum. The results revealed a lateral translation of the SWCNT-TFT transfer characteristics to negative gate bias resulting from hole trapping within the SiO2 and SiO2-SWCNT interface. Additional TID exposure conducted in air on the same device had the opposite effect, shifting the transfer characteristics to higher gate voltage, and increasing the channel conductance. No significant change was observed in the device mobility or the SWCNT Raman spectra following a TID exposure of 10 Mrad(Si), indicating extrinsic factors dominate the transfer characteristics in the SWCNT-TFT devices during irradiation. The extrinsic effects of charge trapping and the role that gas adsorption plays in the radiation response are discussed.
Developments in the Management of Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas, a rare and extremely low prevalence tumor, has no uniform treatment recommendation because there have been few randomized prospective trials to guide management. Recently, there have been surgical, medical, biologic, and genetic advances toward improved treatment. A multidisciplinary approach at specialized treatment centers should be sought because the skill set necessary to implement these advances can be provided and outcomes improved. Centralized care will be crucial to improving survival and functional outcome because it will allow for patients to be effectively entered into prospective randomized trials and create regional and national tissue banks to generate meaningful data.
A conceptual model of technology features and technostress in telemedicine communication

Purpose – This paper aims to provide systemic understanding with regard to the adoption of computer mediated communication (CMC) technology and its impact on technostress levels.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the theoretical lens rooted in the psychology literature and emerging problems observed through engagement with organizations in their field research, the authors propose a conceptual model that articulates technology characteristics in telemedicine communication. The model defines both the antecedents and outcomes of technostress, emphasizing investigation of the underlying mechanisms of the overall process in regard to fit between users and adopted technologies.Findings – In order to understand the impact of technostress on telemedicine users, it is necessary to investigate the “black box” of how technology influences stressors. According to the theoretical lens of person‐environment (P‐E) theory, stress occurs when there is a misfit between individuals’ characteristics and environmental se.
Diet-induced obesity promotes altered remodeling and exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy following pressure overload

Heart failure (HF) is the end stage of cardiovascular disease, in which hypertrophic remodeling no longer meets cardiac output demand. Established animal models of HF have provided insights into disease pathogenesis. However, these models are developed on dissimilar metabolic backgrounds from humans – patients with HF are frequently overweight or obese, whereas animal models of HF are typically lean. Thus, we aimed to develop and investigate model for cardiac hypertrophy and failure that also recapitulates the cardiometabolic state of HF in humans. We subjected mice with established diet‐induced obesity (DIO) to cardiac pressure overload provoked by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Briefly, we fed WT male mice a normal chow or high‐fat diet for 10 weeks prior to sham/TAC procedures and until surgical follow‐up. We then analyzed cardiac hypertrophy, mechanical function, and electrophysiology at 5–6 weeks after surgery. In DIO mice with TAC, hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction were exacerbated relative to chow TAC animals, which showed minimal remodeling with our moderate constriction intensity. Normalized heart weight was 55.8% greater and fractional shortening was 30.9% less in DIO TAC compared with chow TAC hearts. However, electrophysiologic properties were surprisingly similar between DIO sham and TAC animals. To examine molecular pathways activated by DIO and TAC, we screened prohypertrophic signaling cascades, and the exacerbated remodeling was associated with early activation of the c‐Jun‐N‐terminal kinase (JNK1/2) signaling pathway. Thus, DIO aggravates the progression of hypertrophy and HF caused by pressure overload, which is associated with JNK1/2 signaling, and cardiometabolic state can significantly modify HF pathogenesis.