Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of multistress aging on the dielectric relaxation behaviour of XLPE cable insulation

This contribution reports on experimental investigations dealing with the impact of different combined aging parameters like electrical field strength, conductor temperature, and test duration on the dielectric relaxation behaviour of full-sized model cables with cross-linked polyethylene insulation. The evaluation of time-domain isothermal depolarisation current measurements turns out that characteristic properties of a third order exponential decay function exhibit different trends depending on the nature of the various aging factors.
Evidence on how to practice intersectoral collaboration for health equity: a scoping review

The persistence of health inequities is reflected in repeated calls for intersectoral collaboration on the social determinants of health, specifically through public policy action. Yet, how to do intersectoral collaboration specifically for policy action toward health equity is articulated rather scarcely in the scientific literature. With this scoping review, we intended to generate insight into current peer-reviewed literature to identify gaps about evidence-based approaches to practices of intersectoral collaboration for health equity-oriented policy action. Seven search engines were used: Proquest, Web of Science, CINAHL, Pubmed, Sociological Abstracts, Project Muse and ERIC. Social determinants of health, including public policy and intersectoral collaboration, are related concepts for the health equity agenda and were used as a conceptual framework to map selected literature. Out of 227 articles, our review identified 64 articles describing intersectoral collaboration specifically in relation to public policy. Of those articles with a policy topic, 10 had a focus on broad public policy areas, while 51 publications articulated specific policies relevant to the determinants of health and only three articles examined effective practices of intersectoral collaboration in public policy through phenomenology, literature review and case study research. The majority of policy-focused publications described that collaboration was used as a strategy to address intersectoral public policy issues, but failed to report how the process of collaboration unfolded. Perhaps it is time to re-direct the gaze onto collaborative teams to generate evidence of effective intersectoral collaboration practices in public policy.
Three-dimensional Spine Parameters Can Differentiate Between Progressive and Nonprogressive Patients With AIS at the Initial Visit: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Knowledge concerning morphology of the spine is reported in 2-dimensional (2D) or focuses on modification of parameters with progression of spinal deformation. The objective of this study was to compare 3-dimensional (3D) morphologic parameters of the spine at the first visit between progressive and a nonprogressive group of immature adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: The first group was made up of surgically corrected AIS patients (E) (n=19), whereas the second group was composed of nonprogressive AIS that had reached skeletal maturity (n=18). Computerized measurements were undertaken on reconstructed 3D spines. There were 5 categories of measurement: Cobb angles (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis), 3D wedging (apical vertebra, mean 2 apical disks), rotation (upper and lower junctional vertebra, apical vertebra, and disk), torsion, and slenderness (height/width ratio of T6, L4, and T1-L5). Nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests were also undertaken. Results: There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for age, 3D Cobb angle, lordosis, and kyphosis. Mean 3D wedging of the apical disks, lower junctional vertebral axial rotation, torsion and T6, and whole spine height/width ratio were all significantly affected. Conclusions: This study supports the theory that wedging begins in the disks and then in the vertebral body and identifies 3D morphologic parameters that could be used in the prediction of AIS evolution. The findings in the junctional area illustrate that a torsional deformity seems to occur distally from the apex and creates a progressive scoliosis. Curve progression could be predicted based on 3D morphometric parameters, as early as the initial visit. Level of Evidence: Level III—this is a case-control retrospective study.
Alarm Pheromones and Chemical Communication in Nymphs of the Tropical Bed Bug Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

The recent resurge of bed bug infestations (Cimex spp.; Cimicidae) and their resistance to commonly used pesticides calls for alternative methods of control. Pheromones play an important role in environmentally sustainable methods for the management of many pest insects and may therefore be applicable for the control of bed bugs. The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, is a temporary ectoparasite on humans and causes severe discomfort. Compared to the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, little is known about the chemical signalling and pheromone-based behaviour of the tropical species. Here, we show that the antennal morphology and volatile emission of C. hemipterus closely resembles those of C. lectularius and we test their behavioural responses to conspecific odour emissions. Two major volatiles are emitted by male, female and nymph C. hemipterus under stress, (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal. Notably, nymph emissions show contrasting ratios of these compounds to adults and are further characterized by the addition of 4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal and 4-oxo-(E)-2-octenal. The discovery of this nymph pheromone in C. hemipterus is potentially the cause of a repellent effect observed in the bio-tests, where nymph odours induce a significantly stronger repellent reaction in conspecifics than adult odours. Our results suggest that pheromone-based pest control methods developed for C. lectularius could be applicable to C. hemipterus, with the unique nymph blend showing promising practical properties.
Ambidexterity as a Dynamic Capability: Resolving the Innovator's Dilemma

Abstract How do organizations survive in the face of change? Underlying this question is a rich debate about whether organizations can adapt—and if so how. One perspective, organizational ecology, presents evidence suggesting that most organizations are largely inert and ultimately fail. A second perspective argues that some firms do learn and adapt to shifting environmental contexts. Recently, this latter view has coalesced around two themes. The first, based on research in strategy suggests that dynamic capabilities, the ability of a firm to reconfigure assets and existing capabilities, explains long-term competitive advantage. The second, based on organizational design, argues that ambidexterity, the ability of a firm to simultaneously explore and exploit, enables a firm to adapt over time. In this paper, we review and integrate these comparatively new research streams and identify a set of propositions that suggest how ambidexterity acts as a dynamic capability. We suggest that efficiency and innovation need not be strategic tradeoffs and highlight the substantive role of senior teams in building dynamic capabilities.
Noninvasive MR thermometry using paramagnetic lanthanide complexes of 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclodoecane‐α,α′,α″,α‴‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid (DOTMA4–)

Noninvasive techniques to monitor temperature have numerous useful biomedical applications. However, MR thermometry techniques based on the chemical shift, relaxation rates, and molecular diffusion rate of the water 1H signal suffer from poor thermal resolution. The feasibility of MR thermometry based on the strong temperature dependence of the hyperfine‐shifted 1H signal from the paramagnetic lanthanide complex thulium‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetate (TmDOTA–) was recently demonstrated. The use of paramagnetic lanthanide complexes for MR thermometry can be further enhanced by improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the observed signal. In this study, the use of lanthanide complexes of a methyl‐substituted analog of DOTA4–, 1,4,7,10‐tetramethyl 1,4,7,10‐tetra azacyclodoecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acetate (DOTMA4–) was evaluated. DOTMA4– complexes have 12 magnetically equivalent methyl protons, which provide an intense and sharper resonance compared to the corresponding DOTA– complexes. Experiments with paramagnetic Pr3+, Yb3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Tm3+ complexes of DOTMA4– showed that the Tm3+ complex is most favorable for MR thermometery because of the high temperature dependence of its chemical shift and its relatively narrow linewidth. The chemical shift of the methyl 1H signal from TmDOTMA– was ∼60 times more sensitive to temperature than the water 1H shift and was insensitive to changes in concentration, pH, [Ca2+], or the presence of other ions and macromolecules. The application of TmDOTMA– for measuring temperature in a subcutaneously implanted tumor model was demonstrated. Lastly, the feasibility of obtaining 3D images from the methyl 1H resonance of TmDOTMA– was demonstrated in phantom and live animal experiments. Overall, TmDOTMA– appears to be a promising probe for MR thermometry in vivo. Magn Reson Med 53:294–303, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Verifying epistemic properties of multi-agent systems via bounded model checking

We present a framework for verifying temporal and epistemic properties of multi-agent systems by means of bounded model checking. We use interpreted systems as underlying semantics. We give details of the proposed technique, and show how it can be applied to the "attacking generals problem", a typical example of oordination in multi-agent systems.
Vic: The challenges facing schools in a small, newly diverse, Catalan city

The arrival over the last 15 years of a substantial number of pupils of immigrant origin has presented Catalan schools with significant challenges. The schools in Vic (70 km north of Barcelona) have been at the forefront of attempts to adjust to this new multicultural reality. This article describes the results of three studies carried out by the Educational Research Group of the University of Vic (GREUV) at critical points in this process. The studies focused on the effects of local decisions taken to balance the social composition of schools, the attempts by some schools to adopt an integrated approach that involves other agencies in order to improve pupils’ learning opportunities, and the effectiveness of different strategies for the reception of newly arrived pupils and their families. The article concludes with some elements of analysis and reflection that might contribute to improving the educational opportunities offered by schools with newly diverse pupil populations.
Postreading Questioning and Middle School Students’ Understanding of Literature

The study examined the effectiveness of a “story map,” a questioning technique (Beck & McKeown, 1981) for improving students’ understanding of literature. Though the story map idea was widely adopted as a student-initiated strategy, the original story map—a teacher-generated, postreading questioning framework—was never empirically tested. This study examined the effects of using three postreading questioning conditions with stories from middle school anthologies: the story map, anthology questions, and no questioning. Results indicated a significant difference for comprehension between both questioning conditions and no questioning but no significant difference between the story map and anthology question treatments. However, the story map condition had a more positive effect on students’ enjoyment of the stories and their feeling of success in understanding them than the other conditions.
How do anonymous sperm donors signal credibility through their self-presentations?

Sperm donor profiles in catalogues exhibited in commercial sperm bank websites provide health information about each donor, both explicitly and implicitly. Donors’ anonymity poses a great challenge to signalling credibility. Inspired by both Spence's signalling theory and Walther and Park's warranting theory, the study explores the way sperm donors add credibility to their self-presentations. Profiles of 135 donors from nine sperm banks in Europe and North America were content analysed; 36 of these donors’ baby photos were visually analysed. Donors compensated for the paucity of usable warrants by adding intensified emotional context to the profile and inviting potential recipients to join a fantasy family. The article concludes with some practical recommendations aimed at facilitating the process of donor selection for the benefit of donor insemination users, as well as fertility practitioners, and sperm donors.
Longitudinal trajectories of subjective care stressors: the role of personal, dyadic, and family resources

ABSTRACT Objectives: Stressors are critical to the caregiver stress process, yet little work has examined resources that contribute to longitudinal changes in subjective stressors. The present study examines a variety of factors that contribute to changes in subjective stressors across time. Method: Dementia caregivers (N = 153) completed an in-person interview and eight daily telephone interviews at baseline, and follow up interviews at 6 and 12 months. Growth curve analyses examine how care- and non-care stressors, respite, dyadic relationship quality, family support/conflict and care transitions (e.g. nursing home placement) are associated with changes in role overload and role captivity across 12 months. Results: Caregivers who transitioned out of their role had higher overload and captivity at baseline. Among caregivers who transitioned out of caregiving, higher captivity at baseline was associated with declines in captivity and overload; more non-care stressors at baseline was linked to increased captivity and greater overload across time. Adult day service use and family support were associated with lesser captivity over time; taking more breaks from caregiving was linked to lower overload. Higher dyadic relationship quality was associated with lower captivity and overload. Conclusion: Findings contribute to caregiver intervention efforts by highlighting important resources associated with subjective stressors across time.
Persistence of viral RNA in fish infected with VHSV-IVb at 15°C and then moved to warmer temperatures after the onset of disease.

Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu Lacepède, bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque (coppernose strain), koi carp, Cyprinus carpio L. , and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), were infected by intraperitoneal injection with viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus genotype IVb (VHSV-IVb) at 15 °C. When clinical signs of disease developed, one-third of the fish was moved to 20°C and one-third to 25°C. Mortality in challenged fish at all three temperatures ranged from 25 to 45% in smallmouth bass and from 70 to 90% in bluegill. No koi carp or channel catfish died during the study. Viral copy numbers detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qrt-RTPCR) in fish dying at 20 and 25°C decreased over time. In survivors of the challenge, viral copy numbers were higher in the more susceptible species (smallmouth bass and bluegill) than in the more VHSV-IVb disease-resistant species (koi carp and channel catfish). In fish surviving 28days post-infection, prevalence of infection was 66-100% depending on species and temperature, and VHSV-IVb was detected at 10(3) -10(5) copies μg(-1) host RNA. Our results show that qrt-RTPCR is a useful tool to investigate fish kills even 28days after temperatures are elevated above those known to be permissive for VHSV replication.
The patient who refuses nursing care

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to examine the way in which nurses manage patients who refuse nursing care procedures. Design: This paper reports on a qualitative study which was undertaken to explore the way in which nurses obtain consent prior to nursing care procedures. Focus groups were carried out to obtain background data concerning how consent is obtained. Critical incidents were collected through in depth interviews as a means of focusing on specific incidents in clinical practice. Setting: Two teaching hospitals in England. Participants: Purposive sample of qualified nurses. Results: When a patient refuses nursing care, nurses respond by giving information until the patient finally accedes to the procedure. Nurses will go to great lengths to achieve patients’ agreement to the procedure, but the extent to which the agreement remains voluntary cannot be ascertained by the data collected in this study. If the patient does not eventually agree to a procedure, there is evidence that nurses will administer the care in the absence of consent. Conclusions: Nurses are concerned to obtain the patient’s consent prior to the administration of nursing care but if this cannot be achieved do not regard obtaining consent as an absolute requirement. Consent is preferred, but not considered essential. Nurses have some understanding of the principles of informed consent but do not apply them to everyday clinical nursing practice.
Effects of Crowding on the Social Behavior of Cuttlefish (<i>Sepia officinalis</i>)

Laboratory-cultured cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) have been the subjects of a growing body of behavioral research (1–7); however, the effect of captivity on the behavior of cuttlefish is unknown. Cuttlefish have been cultured in our laboratory to supply researchers and public aquaria more or less continuously since 1983, yet the effect of tank size and animal density on growth, overall health, and reproduction are unknown. There is increasing interest in rearing cuttlefish for human consumption (8–9); information about the ways in which housing conditions affect the behavior of cuttlefish would be useful for basic behavioral research and mariculture. Although much is known about the biology of S. officinalis(10), the only field study of this species focused entirely on body patterns (2). The social behavior of this particular cuttlefish in its natural habitat is unknown. In the only field study of any cuttlefish’s social behavior (11), groups of approximately 5 S. latimanus, a closely related species, were recorded off the coast of Guam. The authors hypothesized that male S. latimanus may aggregate solely during reproductive season to compete for females; at other times, these cuttlefish could be solitary. From these paltry field data, it is difficult to evaluate normal behavior of captive S. officinalis. Cuttlefish show a variety of body patterns for crypsis (blending into the background) and communication, and these behaviors have been described qualitatively in great detail (2). Quantitative data do not exist for the frequencies and contexts of these patterns, however, making it difficult to infer function. It is well documented that crowding can have a major impact on growth and behavior in a wide range of taxa. In aquaculture, the effects of crowding can be serious (12–15); nevertheless, optimum density has often been determined by the capacity of the filtering system used to maintain proper water quality rather than from any but the most extreme behavioral criteria. Behavioral indications of stress could be helpful in monitoring conditions for captive cuttlefish. To better understand the social behavior of cuttlefish and the effect of housing conditions on their behavior, we monitored cuttlefish housed in small groups at the common stocking density of approximately 3 adults per m2 (16–19) or at a 16-fold lower stocking density. Few laboratories are equipped with tanks Effects of Crowding on the Social Behavior of Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
Robustness against serum neutralization of a poliovirus type 1 from a lethal epidemic of poliomyelitis in the Republic of Congo in 2010

Significance In 2010, a large outbreak of poliomyelitis involving 445 laboratory-confirmed cases occurred in the Republic of Congo. The 47% case-fatality rate was unusually high. Outbreak severity was attributed to low immunization coverage but vaccine-mediated immunity against the outbreak virus was never investigated. We isolated the poliovirus type 1 responsible for the outbreak and located its evolutionary origins to Southeast Asia. Fatal cases showed evidence for previous vaccination against polioviruses and the outbreak virus was refractive against neutralization by monoclonal and vaccine-derived antibodies. This pointed to immune escape contributing to the severity of the outbreak. Sustained vaccination regimens in polio-free regions, together with clinical and environmental poliovirus surveillance will be necessary to combat antigenetically variant polioviruses in the poliomyelitis eradication endgame. In 2010, a large outbreak of poliomyelitis with unusual 47% lethality occurred in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo. Vaccine-mediated immunity against the outbreak virus was never investigated. A wild poliovirus 1 (WPV1) isolated from a fatal case (termed PV1-RC2010) showed a previously unknown combination of amino acid exchanges in critical antigenic site 2 (AgS2, VP1 capsid protein positions 221SAAL→221PADL). These exchanges were also detected in an additional 11 WPV1 strains from fatal cases. PV1-RC2010 escaped neutralization by three different mAbs relevant for AgS2. Virus neutralization was tested in sera from fatal cases, who died before supplementary immunization (n = 24), Gabonese recipients of recent oral polio vaccination (n = 12), routinely vaccinated German medical students (n = 34), and German outpatients tested for antipoliovirus immunity (n = 17) on Vero, human rhabdomyosarcoma, and human epidermoid carcinoma 2 cells. Fatal poliomyelitis cases gave laboratory evidence of previous trivalent vaccination. Neutralizing antibody titers against PV1-RC2010 were significantly lower than those against the vaccine strain Sabin-1, two genetically distinct WPV1s isolated in 1965 and 2010 and two genetically distinct vaccine-derived PV strains. Of German vaccinees tested according to World Health Organization protocols, 15–29% were unprotected according to their neutralization titers (<1:8 serum dilution), even though all were protected against Sabin-1. Phylogenetic analysis of the WPV1 outbreak strains suggested a recent introduction of virus progenitors from Asia with formation of separate Angolan and Congolese lineages. Only the latter carried both critical AgS2 mutations. Antigenetically variant PVs may become relevant during the final phase of poliomyelitis eradication in populations with predominantly vaccine-derived immunity. Sustained vaccination coverage and clinical and environmental surveillance will be necessary.