Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Making a Difference in Critical Care Nursing Practice

This hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry reveals the meaning in critical care nurses' lived experiences of making a difference in practice with a view to deepening our understanding of nursing in pursuing nursing excellence. It serves to show how critical care nurses make a difference and what difference they make to critically ill patients in a manner that more fully captures nursing practice as enacted in the critical care setting. The authors subjected transcripts of the conversations with 16 critical care nurse participants to a thematic analysis and reflective process from which the following themes emerged: making the inhumane humane, making the unbearable bearable, making the life threatening life sustaining, and making the unlivable livable. Guided by the lifeworld existentials, these themes became the threads around which an interpretive—descriptive text was written. The authors wove other relevant sources of lived-experience material into the evolving text to assist with the explication of meaning.
An Analysis of the Influence of Flight Parameters in the Generation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Orthomosaicks to Survey Archaeological Areas

This article describes the configuration and technical specifications of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using a red–green–blue (RGB) sensor for the acquisition of images needed for the production of orthomosaics to be used in archaeological applications. Several flight missions were programmed as follows: flight altitudes at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 m above ground level; two forward and side overlap settings (80%–50% and 70%–40%); and the use, or lack thereof, of ground control points. These settings were chosen to analyze their influence on the spatial quality of orthomosaicked images processed by Inpho UASMaster (Trimble, CA, USA). Changes in illumination over the study area, its impact on flight duration, and how it relates to these settings is also considered. The combined effect of these parameters on spatial quality is presented as well, defining a ratio between ground sample distance of UAV images and expected root mean square of a UAV orthomosaick. The results indicate that a balance between all the proposed parameters is useful for optimizing mission planning and image processing, altitude above ground level (AGL) being main parameter because of its influence on root mean square error (RMSE).
The Bristol 'OA500 study': progression and impact of the disease after 8 years.

OBJECTIVE To study the natural history of peripheral joint osteoarthritis (OA) and assess its impact over eight years in a prospective study of 500 patients. METHODS 500 consecutive patients with peripheral joint OA were recruited from a hospital-based rheumatology clinic. All were invited for review 3 and 8 years after entry. Joint sites involved, pain severity, change in index joints, global change in the condition, use of medication, surgery and walking aids were all recorded at each visit, and after eight years disability was assessed by the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and anxiety and depression by the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD). RESULTS At eight-year review, 349 patients were seen: 90% of those remaining alive. Outcome was heterogeneous. Sixty patients (17.2%) reported worsening in all three subjective parameters (pain, index joint and global change) compared with 22 (6.3%) who improved in all three parameters. Using this definition of worsening or improvement, strong baseline predictors of clinical outcome did not emerge. For further description, the group was split according to the index joint sites involved at entry to the study, there being 111 with knee OA alone, 87 with hand and knee OA, 72 with hand disease alone, and 29 with hip disease alone. Forty-four percent of those with lone hand disease at entry had acquired significant knee or hip OA 8 years later. The mean HAQ and HAD scores at 8 years were high, especially in those with knee disease, indicating significant disability as a result of the disease. Those with knee or knee and hand disease had the worst outcome in all parameters recorded. The data showed a general decrease in use of NSAIDs over the eight years, but an increase in utilization of analgesics, surgery (especially for hip disease) and walking aids. CONCLUSIONS Patients with peripheral joint OA of sufficient severity to lead to hospital referral have a heterogeneous, but generally bad outcome over 8 years, the disease resulting in high levels of physical disability, anxiety and depression, with a high level of utilization of healthcare resources, including joint replacement, drugs and walking aids. The results were consistent with previous suggestions that peripheral joint OA in older people is characterized by the slow acquisition of new joint sites. Progression and outcome may depend on a complex set of psychosocial factors, as well as biological ones.
Design and Analysis of Pressure Die Casting Die for Automobile Component

This paper describes one of the ways for the design and analysis of the die of the technology of pressure die casting process. This paper is to maintain the closest tolerances, reduced all machining and can make the process the optimum choice for small volume production as well. Such exact and light parts are one of the premises for the automobile industry, parts with a lightweight design and exact products directly influence the fuel consumption of an automobile and consequently the users are satisfied. These requirements are met using aluminium alloys, high strength steels and fibre reinforced for the structural components. In this work a die was designed based on factors to be considered in the critical dimensions and filling analysis is used to determine the size, location and to ensure a complete and balanced filling of the part while designing for proper runner system. This work uses different software such as Solid Works, 3-Diamesional Flow, Pro-Engineer respectively. The design, analysis, and testing work are carried at Automotive Private Limited, Gurgaon, Haryana.
Ja n 20 08 Evolution of low-mass binaries with blackhole components

We consider evolutionary models for the population of short-period (P orb ∼ < 10 hr) low-mass black-hole binaries (LMBHB) and compare them with observations of soft X-ray transients (SXT). Evolution of LMBHB is determined by nuclear evolution of the donors and/or orbital angular momentum loss due to magnetic braking by the stellar wind of the donors and gravitational wave radiation. We show that the absence of observed stable luminous LMBHB implies that upon RLOF by the low-mass donor angular momentum losses are substantially reduced with respect to the Verbunt & Zwaan " standard " prescription for magnetic braking. Under this assumption masses and effective temperatures of the model secondaries of LMBHB are in a satisfactory agreement with the masses and effective temperatures (as inferred from their spectra) of the observed donors in LMBHB. Theoretical mass-transfer rates in SXTs are consistent with the observed ones if one assumes that accretion discs in these systems are truncated (" leaky "). We find that the population of short-period SXT is formed mainly by systems which had unevolved or slightly evolved (Xc ∼ > 0.35) donors at the Roche-lobe overflow. Longer period (P orb ≃ (0.5 − 1) day) SXT might descend from systems with initial donor mass about 1 M⊙ and Xc ∼ < 0.35. It is unnecessary to invoke donors with almost hydrogen-depleted cores to explain the origin of LMBHB. Our models suggest that a very high efficiency of common-envelopes ejection is necessary to form LMBHB, unless currently commonly accepted empirical estimates of mass-loss rates by winds for pre-WR and WR-stars are significantly over-evaluated.
The Treatment Mechanism of an Interspinous Process Implant for Lumbar Neurogenic Intermittent Claudication

Study Design. The spinal canal and neural foramina dimensions of cadaver lumbar spines were quantified during flexion and extension using magnetic resonance imaging before and after placement of an interspinous process implant. Objective. To quantify the effect of the implant on the dimensions of the spinal canal and neural foramina during flexion and extension. Summary of the Background Data. Lumbar neurogenic intermittent claudication symptoms are typically exacerbated during extension and relieved during flexion. It is understood that the dimensions of the spinal canal and neural foramen increase in flexion and decrease in extension. The authors hypothesized that an interspinous process implant would significantly prevent narrowing of the canal and foramina in extension and have no significant effect in flexion. Methods. Eight L2–L5 specimens were positioned to 15° of flexion and 15° of extension using a positioning frame. Each specimen was magnetic resonance imaged with and without an interspinous implant (X STOP) placed between the L3–L4 spinous processes. Canal and foramina dimensions were compared between the intact and implanted specimens using a repeated measures analysis of variance with a level of significance of 0.05. Results. In extension, the implant significantly increased the canal area by 18% (231–273 mm2), the subarticular diameter by 50% (2.5–3.7 mm), the canal diameter by 10% (17.8–19.5 mm), the foraminal area by 25% (106–133 mm2), and the foraminal width by 41% (3.4–4.8 mm). Conclusions. The results of this study show that the X STOP interspinous process implant prevents narrowing of the spinal canal and foramina in extension.
Comparison of long-term clinical outcome between patients with chronic versus acute type B aortic dissection treated by implantation of a stent graft: a single-center report

Background Stent grafting for treatment of type B aortic dissection has been extensively used. However, the difference in the long-term clinical outcome between patients with chronic versus acute type B aortic dissection remains unknown. This study aimed to analyze the difference in long-term clinical outcome after endovascular repair for patients with chronic (≥2 weeks) versus acute (<2 weeks) type B aortic dissection. Methods Between May 2000 and June 2011, a total of 174 patients with type B aortic dissection (56 chronic, 118 acute) treated by endovascular repair were studied prospectively. Follow-up three-dimensional computed tomography scanning and aortoangiography were scheduled at 3–6 months after the index procedure. Propensity score matching was used to compare the difference in the endpoint between the two groups. Results The procedure-related event rate was 18.6% in the acute group and 5.4% in the chronic group (P = 0.021), but this difference became nonsignificant after propensity score matching. At the end of follow-up (mean 2.49 years), overall and aorta-related mortality was 11.0% and 7.6%, respectively, in the acute group, and was not significantly different from that in the chronic group (3.6% and 3.6%, P = 0.148 and P = 0.506, respectively). Both false and true lumina showed significant remodeling over time, with >93% complete false-lumen thrombosis. Untreated tear and type I endoleak were predictors of clinical events during follow-up. Conclusion Comparable long-term clinical results were achieved in patients with chronic or acute type B aortic dissection after implantation of a stent graft.
GUIDELINES FOR THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF UNRUPTURED INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS: THE FIRST ANNUAL J. LAWRENCE POOL MEMORIAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM—CONTROVERSIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS

THE MANAGEMENT OF unruptured cerebral aneurysms remains one of the most controversial topics in neurosurgery. To this end, we discuss the diagnosis and estimated prevalence of these lesions as well as review the literature regarding the rate of rupture for cerebral aneurysms and risks of operative intervention. Our interpretation of the literature concludes that aneurysms are present in approximately 1% of the adult population, varying between less than 1% in young adults to 4% in the elderly. The yearly risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage for an unruptured intracranial aneurysm is approximately 1% for lesions 7 to 10 mm in diameter. Based on these assumptions, we recommend that 1) with rare exceptions, all symptomatic unruptured aneurysms should be treated; 2) small, incidental aneurysms less than 5 mm in diameter should be managed conservatively in virtually all cases; 3) aneurysms larger than 5 mm in patients younger than 60 years of age should be seriously considered for treatment; 4) large, incidental aneurysms larger than 10 mm should be treated in nearly all patients younger than 70 years of age; and 5) microsurgical clipping rather than endovascular coiling should be the first treatment choice in low-risk cases. Critical to our guidelines is collaboration by a highly experienced cerebrovascular team of microneurosurgeons and endovascular neurosurgeons working at a tertiary medical center with a high case volume and using a decision-making paradigm designed to offer only low-risk treatments. In certain patients for whom both treatment and natural history carry high risks, such as those with giant aneurysms, nonoperative management is typically elected.
Attenuated cold defense responses in orexin neuron-ablated rats

ABSTRACT Recent reports of the use of transgenic mice targeting orexin neurons show that the ablation of orexin neurons in the hypothalamus causes hypothermia during cold exposure. This suggests the importance of orexin neurons for cold-induced autonomic and physiological defense responses, including brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and vasoconstriction in thermoregulatory cutaneous vascular bed. The present study investigated whether the ablation of orexin neurons attenuated cold-elicited BAT thermogenesis and cutaneous vasoconstriction. The study took advantage of our established conscious rat experimental model of direct measurement of BAT and body temperature and tail cutaneous blood flow. The study used transgenic orexin neurons-ablated (ORX-AB) rats and wild type (WT) rats. BAT temperature and tail artery blood flow with pre-implanted probes were measured, as well as behavioral locomotor activity under conscious free-moving condition. Gradually, the ambient temperature was decreased to below 5°C. ORX-AB rats showed an attenuated cold-induced BAT thermogenesis and behavioral activity, and delayed tail vasoconstriction. An ambient temperature that initiated BAT thermogenesis and established full cutaneous vasoconstriction was 14.1 ± 1.9 °C, which was significantly lower than 20.5 ± 1.9 °C, the corresponding value in WT rats (n = 10, P < 0.01). The results from this study suggest that the integrity of orexin-synthesising neurons in thermoregulatory networks is important for full expression of the cold defense responses.
Using the machine learning approach to predict patient survival from high-dimensional survival data

Survival analysis with high-dimensional data deals with the prediction of patient survival based on their gene expression data and clinical data. A crucial task for the accuracy of survival analysis in this context is to select the features highly correlated with the patient's survival time. Since the information about class labels is hidden, existing feature selection methods in machine learning are not applicable. In contrast to classical statistical methods which address this issue with the Cox score, we propose to tackle this problem by discretizing the survival time of patients into a suitable number of subgroups via silhouettes clustering validity. To cope with patients' censoring, we use “k-nearest neighbor” based on clinical parameters. Feature selection is then accomplished using Fast Correlation-Based Filtering approach from machine learning community. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated through comparisons with classical statistical methods on real-world datasets and simulation datasets.
Artifact-Free Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Coronary Vessel Wall Imaging in the Presence of a New, Metallic, Coronary Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stent

Background—Coronary in-stent restenosis cannot be directly assessed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) because of the local signal void of currently used stainless steel stents. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a new, dedicated, coronary MR imaging (MRI) stent for artifact-free, coronary MRA and in-stent lumen and vessel wall visualization. Methods and Results —Fifteen prototype stents were deployed in coronary arteries of 15 healthy swine and investigated with a double-oblique, navigator-gated, free-breathing, T2-prepared, 3D cartesian gradient-echo sequence; a T2-prepared, 3D spiral gradient-echo sequence; and a T2-prepared, 3D steady-state, free-precession coronary MRA sequence. Furthermore, black-blood vessel wall imaging by a dual-inversion-recovery, turbo spin-echo sequence was performed. Artifacts of the stented vessel segment and signal intensities of the coronary vessel lumen inside and outside the stent were assessed. With all investigated sequences, the vessel lumen and wall could be visualized without artifacts, including the stented vessel segment. No signal intensity alterations inside the stent when compared with the vessel lumen outside the stent were found. Conclusions—The new, coronary MRI stent allows for completely artifact-free coronary MRA and vessel wall imaging.
Adverse Selection? A Multi-Dimensional Profile of People Dispensed Opioid Analgesics for Persistent Non-Cancer Pain

Objectives This study investigates utilisation patterns for prescription opioid analgesics in the Australian community and how these are associated with a framework of individual-level factors related to healthcare use. Methods Self-reported demographic and health information from participants in the 45 and Up Study cohort were linked to pharmaceutical claims from 2006–2009. Participants comprised 19,816 people with ≥1 opioid analgesic dispensing in the 12-months after recruitment to the cohort and 79,882 people not dispensed opioid analgesics. All participants were aged ≥45 years, were social security pharmaceutical beneficiaries, with no history of cancer. People dispensed opioid analgesics were classified as having acute (dispensing period <90 days), episodic (≥90 days and <3 ‘authority’ prescriptions for increased quantity supply) or long-term treatment (≥90 days and ≥3 authority prescriptions). Results Of participants dispensed opioid analgesic 52% received acute treatment, 25% episodic treatment and 23% long-term treatment. People dispensed opioid analgesics long-term had an average of 14.9 opioid analgesic prescriptions/year from 2.0 doctors compared with 1.5 prescriptions from 1.1 doctors for people receiving acute treatment. People dispensed opioid analgesics reported more need-related factors such as poorer physical functioning and higher psychological distress. Long-term users were more likely to have access-related factors such as low-income and living outside major cities. After simultaneous adjustment, association with predisposing health factors and access diminished, but indicators of need such as osteoarthritis treatment, paracetamol use, and poor physical function were the strongest predictors for all opioid analgesic users. Conclusions People dispensed opioid analgesics were in poorer health, reported higher levels of distress and poorer functioning than people not receiving opioid analgesics. Varying dispensing profiles were evident among people dispensed opioid analgesics for persistent pain, with those receiving episodic and long-term treatment dispensed the strongest opioid analgesics. The findings highlight the broad range of factors associated with longer term opioid analgesics use.
A Phase II Trial of a Soy Beverage for Subjects Without Clinical Disease With Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen After Radical Radiation for Prostate Cancer

Our objective was to evaluate the tolerability and effect of a daily soy beverage in prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after radiotherapy. Patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after radical radiation for prostate cancer were instructed to consume 500 ml of soy beverage daily for 6 mo. Tolerability of the soy beverage and compliance were assessed. PSA doubling times before and after the consumption of soy were compared. Thirty-four subjects were enrolled; 5 withdrew before 1 mo of soy for reasons unrelated to soy consumption. All remaining 29 subjects were included in the analysis. Mean consumption of the assigned soy beverage was 93%. Mild gastrointestinal upset (38%) not affecting soy consumption was the commonest side effect. PSA showed a declining trend in 4 patients (13.8%), and there was a > 100% prolongation of PSA doubling time in 8 patients (27.6%). However, PSA doubling time also showed a 50% or more shortening in 5 patients (17.2%). In our cohort of North American subjects, 6 mo of a daily soy beverage was well tolerated and was associated with a declining trend or more than 2 times prolongation of PSA doubling time in 41% of subjects. Confirmatory studies are warranted.
The CKM quark-mixing matrix

THE CKM QUARK-MIXING MATRIX* A. Ceccucci, 1 Z. Ligeti, 2 and Y. Sakai 3 European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan April 2006 *This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Science, Office of High Energy Physics, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. DISCLAIMER This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor The Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or The Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof or The Regents of the University of California.
Transverse harmonic oscillations of laminae in viscous fluids: a lattice Boltzmann study

In this paper, we use the lattice Boltzmann method with the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook linear collision operator to study the flow physics induced by a rigid lamina undergoing moderately large harmonic oscillations in a viscous fluid. We propose a refill procedure for the hydrodynamic quantities in the lattice sites that are in the vicinity of the oscillating lamina. The numerically estimated flow field is used to compute the complex hydrodynamic function that describes the added mass and hydrodynamic damping experienced by the lamina. Results of the numerical simulations are validated against theoretical predictions for small amplitude vibrations and experimental and numerical findings for moderately large oscillations.