Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Family presence during resuscitation: a survey of Canadian critical care nurses' practices and perceptions.

BACKGROUND The practice of allowing family members to be present at the bedside during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a controversial one and represents a paradigm shift among health care providers. To date, no research has examined this issue from the perspective of Canadian critical care nurses. OBJECTIVES This research was undertaken to identify the practices and preferences of Canadian critical care nurses regarding family presence during resuscitation (FPDR), the extent to which formal FPDR policies exist in hospitals, and the level of awareness among members of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses (CACCN) regarding CACCN's position statement on FPDR. A secondary objective was to compare responses from Canadian critical care nurses to the responses of American critical care and ER nurses in a 2003 survey. METHODS An 18-item online survey was sent to 944 members of CACCN. RESULTS The response rate was 47.7% (n = 450). The majority of respondents (92%) supported the option of FPDR in critical care; slightly more than their U.S. counterparts (76%). Within the last year, although fewer Canadian nurses (18.5%) compared with American nurses (31%) had been asked by family members to be brought to the bedside during CPR, the majority of both Canadian nurses (65%) and American nurses (57%) reported they had either taken a family member to the bedside, or would do so if the opportunity arose. Only 8% of Canadian respondents reported that written guidelines/policies for FPDR were available in their hospital (5% for U.S. survey respondents). Half (49.8%) of the respondents were aware that CACCN had a position statement on FPDR. CONCLUSION Although guidelines or policies for FPDR are not available in most hospitals where respondents worked, the majority of critical care nurses support FPDR and either had taken or would be willing to take family members to the bedside during CPR. The willingness of nurses in critical care to support FPDR suggests the need for more formal policies in hospitals and the development of algorithms to facilitate this process.
The Development of READY-A (Ready for Adolescents): An Adolescent Premarital Education Inventory

THE DEVELOPMENT OF READY-A (READY INVENTORY FOR ADOLESCENTS): AN ASSESSMENT OF ADOLESCENT RELATIONSHIP COMPETENCE Lorinda A. Gutierrez Marriage and Family Therapy Program School of Family Life Master of Science Learning about romantic relationships can be one of the central features of adolescence. However, there are not many useful and scholarly tools for adolescents to evaluate themselves and their relationship competence. Such tools can be helpful in the premarital education process. READY is a premarital assessment questionnaire instrument that is used for such purposes but it was designed for use with adults ages 18 and over. In this study READY for Adolescents (READY-A) was developed as a revision and extension of READY with age-appropriate questions to be used with adolescents. A review of literature on adolescent romantic relationships and factors that affect the adolescent’s individual competence in these relationships was completed for this study. Based on the ecosystemic developmental theory and developmental theory of interpersonal competence, characteristics found important to adolescent romantic relationships were grouped into two categories: individual characteristics of the adolescent and contextual factors of the adolescent’s life. Individual characteristics included the sub-factors of relationship cognitions, emotional awareness, rejection sensitivity, personality traits, and sexual conservativism. Contextual factors were deal with the adolescent’s family of origin and same sex/best friendships. An item pool previously created for a similar questionnaire (RELATE for Adolescents, Young, 2002) was reviewed, edited, and expanded to be made suitable for the purposes of READY-A. The items were reviewed by a panel of experts (all professors with extensive background in premarital research and members of the RELATE Board) in order to assess face validity and content validity and to omit items deemed inappropriate, repetitive or unnecessary. This process resulted in the creation of a 141-item questionnaire, READY-A. Additional research will need to further validate READY-A, test for reliability, and further refine the questionnaire through pilot testing with a group of adolescents. READY-A may be helpful to adolescents who are learning about what it takes to develop romantic relationship competence. The main purpose of READY-A is for educational settings; however, it could also be of use to family life educators, premarital counselors or clergy working with adolescents.
Women's Careers in Academic Social Science: Progress, Pitfalls, and Plateaus

Many studies have shown that women are under-represented in tenured ranks in the sciences. Here, we evaluate whether gender differences in the likelihood of obtaining a tenure track job, promotion to tenure, and promotion to full professor exist in the social sciences controlling for background and productivity characteristics. Using the 1981-2008 Survey of Doctorate Recipients, we find first that women with children are less likely than similar men to enter track jobs but not single childless women, suggesting that women’s entry into tenure-track academia is dominated by choice rather than by any discrimination at hiring. We find that ceteris paribus gender differences in tenure award existed in the cohort of 1980s PhDs but disappeared for the cohort of 1999 PhDs. The exception is the field of economics, where at least the probit analysis suggests a gender difference of approximately 20% that has not disappeared and is even larger for those single and childless. Finally, we find that there does seem to be gender differences in promotion to full in social science as a whole and in economics, sociology and anthropology/linguistics.
Can Sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT Replace WBC Imaging in the Diabetic Foot?

White blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy is considered the nuclear medicine imaging gold standard for diagnosing osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Recent papers have suggested that the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT produces similar diagnostic accuracy, but clear interpretation criteria have not yet been established. Our aim was to evaluate the role of sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with a high suspicion of osteomyelitis to define objective interpretation criteria to be compared with WBC scintigraphy. Methods: Thirteen patients whom clinicians considered positive for osteomyelitis (7 with ulcers, 6 with exposed bone) were enrolled. The patients underwent 99mTc-exametazime WBC scintigraphy with acquisition times of 30 min, 3 h, and 20 h and sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT with acquisition times of 10 min, 1 h, and 2 h. A biopsy or tissue culture was performed for final diagnosis. Several interpretation criteria (qualitative and quantitative) were tested. Results: At final biopsy, 7 patients had osteomyelitis, 2 had soft-tissue infection without osteomyelitis, and 4 had no infection. The best interpretation criterion for osteomyelitis with WBC scintigraphy was a target-to-background (T/B) ratio greater than 2.0 at 20 h and increasing with time. A T/B ratio greater than 2.0 at 20 h but stable or decreasing with time was suggestive of soft-tissue infection. A T/B ratio of no more than 2.0 at 20 h excluded an infection. Thus, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for osteomyelitis were 86%, 100%, 100%, 86%, and 92%, respectively. For 18F-FDG PET/CT, the best interpretation criterion for osteomyelitis was a maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) greater than 2.0 at 1 and 2 h and increasing with time. A SUVmax greater than 2.0 after 1 and 2 h but stable or decreasing with time was suggestive of a soft-tissue infection. An SUVmax less than 2.0 excluded an infection. 18F-FDG PET at 10 min was not useful. Using these criteria, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for osteomyelitis were 43%, 67%, 60%, 50%, and 54%, respectively. Combining visual assessment of PET at 1 h and CT was best for differentiating between osteomyelitis and soft-tissue infection, with a diagnostic accuracy of 62%. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT, even with sequential imaging, has a low diagnostic accuracy for osteomyelitis and cannot replace WBC scintigraphy in patients with diabetic foot.
Repression of adenovirus E1A enhancer activity by a novel zinc finger‐containing DNA‐binding protein related to the GLI‐Kruppel protein.

We have previously shown that expression of the E1A oncogene is negatively regulated in rodent fibroblast cells by a nuclear factor (phi AP3) that binds to the E1A promoter region just upstream of the canonical enhancer element. To understand how phi AP3 can regulate E1A gene transcription by inactivation of the enhancer function, we have used an oligonucleotide probe containing a binding site for this protein to clone the mouse phi AP3 gene. DNA sequence analysis of the 2.3 kb cDNA revealed the presence of six well‐conserved zinc finger DNA‐binding motifs, which were highly related to those found in the GLI‐Kruppel family of human zinc finger proteins. Analysis of the tissue distribution of the phi AP3 mRNA suggested that its expression was ubiquitous but at variable levels, most likely as a result of post‐transcriptional regulation of mRNA stability. The phi AP3 factor is a nuclear phosphoprotein; the extent of its phosphorylation is regulated during the cell cycle. Preferential binding of the hyperphosphorylated form of this protein to DNA was observed. Co‐expression of the phi AP3 cDNA and a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the E1A promoter/enhancer in several human cell lines resulted in repression of E1A enhancer activity. In contrast, when the phi AP3 binding site upstream of the enhancer was mutated, no inhibition of enhancer function was observed. Based on these observations we conclude that we have cloned the cellular phi AP3 gene, and that the DNA‐binding activity of this protein is regulated during the cell cycle.
Caries prevalence in Danish pre-school children delivered vaginally and by caesarean section

Abstract Objective. The mode of delivery may significantly influence the diversity and composition of the oral microflora and facilitate early acquisition of mutans streptococci. The aim was to compare caries prevalence and experience in 3-year-old children delivered vaginally and by caesarean section (C-section). Materials and methods. The study had an observational cohort protocol based on extracted information from governmental databases and nationwide registers concerning birth, social and educational levels and dental status. Children born at the Copenhagen University Hospital in 2005 were eligible and the final study group with complete information consisted of 594 children, 443 delivered vaginally and 151 by C-section. Results. The total caries prevalence was 8% and no significant difference was displayed between the groups. When only the children with caries (dmfs > 0) were compared, those delivered by C-section had a higher mean value in comparison with those delivered vaginally (dmfs 6.8 vs 3.2), but the difference was not statistically significant. There was a significant relationship between caries prevalence and low family income in the total study group (OR = 5.8, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Within the limitations of this observational cohort study, caries prevalence in 3-year-old children was not related to the mode of delivery. However, the tendency of more severe caries in the C-section group justifies further studies, preferably with a prospective design.
Effect of a Simple Information Booklet on Pain Persistence after an Acute Episode of Low Back Pain: A Non-Randomized Trial in a Primary Care Setting

Objective Mass-media campaigns have been known to modify the outcome of low back pain (LBP). We assessed the impact on outcome of standardized written information on LBP given to patients with acute LBP. Methods Design: A 3-month pragmatic, multicenter controlled trial with geographic stratification. Setting: Primary care practice in France. Participants: 2752 patients with acute LBP. Intervention: An advice book on LBP (the “back book”). Main outcome measures: The main outcome measure was persistence of LBP three months after baseline evaluation. Results 2337 (85%) patients were assessed at follow-up and 12.4% of participants reported persistent LBP. The absolute risk reduction of reporting persistent back pain in the intervention group was 3.6% lower than in the control group (10.5% vs. 14.1%; 95% confidence interval [−6.3% ; −1.0%]; p value adjusted for cluster effect = 0.01). Patients in the intervention group were more satisfied than those in the control group with the information they received about physical activities, when to consult their physician, and how to prevent a new episode of LBP. However, the number of patients who had taken sick leave was similar, as was the mean sick-leave duration, in both arms, and, among patients with persistent pain at follow-up, the intervention and control groups did not differ in disability or fear-avoidance beliefs. Conclusions The level of improvement of an information booklet is modest, but the cost and complexity of the intervention is minimal. Therefore, the implications and generalizability of this intervention are substantial. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00343057
The Influence of Parceling on the Implied Factor Structure of Multidimensional Item Response Data

Brooke E. Magnus: The Influence of Parceling on the Implied Factor Structure of Multidimensional Item Response Data (Under the direction of David M. Thissen, PhD) Parceling is a method researchers often use to circumvent issues that arise in handling item-level data; however, the degree to which the true factor structure is preserved after parceling remains ambiguous in the literature. The goal of this thesis was to examine the effects of parceling on the implied factor structure of multidimensional data using both simulation and analytic techniques: does the estimated factor change after parceling? This question was addressed across three studies. Item covariance matrices were computed from bifactor models comprising continuous or dichotomous item responses. The item covariance matrices were then parceled and a one-factor confirmatory factor analysis was fit to the parcel covariance matrices. Additionally, a simulation was carried out in which factor scores from the CFA were compared with the latent variable values from the generating model. Results of both studies suggest that parceling does change the estimated factor. Furthermore, fit statistics overwhelmingly indicate good fit despite a misspecified model. Finally, to illustrate how parceling is used in practice, an application using empirical data is shown. Practical implications are discussed.
Pulmonary , gastrointestinal and urogenital pharmacology N-acetylcysteine improves redox status , mitochondrial dysfunction , mucin-depleted crypts and epithelial hyperplasia in dextran sulfate sodium-induced oxidative colitis in mice

The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a pharmacological antioxidant was investigated in a murine model of chronic colitis. Male NMRI mice were given 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 5 days followed by 10 days of water, three times. Compared to control mice given water, DSStreated mice displayed severe imbalanced redox status with decreased glutathione and catalase, but increased malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase levels, at days 35th (active colitis) and 45th (recovery period). It also resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction, mucosal ulcers, mucin-depleted crypts and epithelial cell apoptosis. Crypt abscesses and glandular hyperplasia occurred selectively in distal colon. NAC (150 mg/kg) given in drinking water for 45 days along with 3 DSS cycles improved the hallmarks of DSS-colitis. Interestingly, the moderate impact of NAC on lipids and proteins oxidation correlated with myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide levels.NAC as a mucoregulator and a thiol restoring agent is protective on oxidative crypt alterations, mucin depletion, epithelial cell hyperplasia and apoptosis. Taken together, our results highlight the role of NAC as a scavenger of phagocytes-derived reactive oxygen species in mice DDS-colitis, suggesting that a long term NAC diet might be beneficial in inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer. & 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Compositionality and compatibility of parameterization and parameter passing in specification languages

In this paper we continue previous work by Sannella, Sokolowski and Tarlecki on parameterization in specification languages. Within the loose approach, we define specification and model level semantics for two kinds of parameterizations (parameterized specifications and specifications of parameterized data types) and describe, in a compositional manner, parameter passing at both levels. Moreover, the specification and the model level semantics of parameter passing are shown to be compatible. We also show that the results obtained do not only apply to the loose approach but can also be directly applicable to the initial framework, and in general to any other kind of monomorphic framework (i.e., a framework where all specifications are monomorphic). In particular, the results obtained generalize and extend previous results for the initial approach. Finally, to obtain our results, new categorical constructions of multiple pushouts, amalgamations and extensions, which generalize standard notions of pushouts, amalgamations and extensions, had to be introduced.
The effect of elevated temperature on gene transcription and aflatoxin biosynthesis

The molecular regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis is complex and influenced by several environmental conditions; one of these is temperature. Aflatoxins are produced optimally at 28–30 C, and production decreases as temperatures approach 37 C, the optimum temperature for fungal growth. To better characterize the influence of temperature on aflatoxin biosynthesis, we monitored the accumulation of aflatoxin and the expression of more than 5000 genes in Aspergillus flavus at 28 C and 37 C. A total of 144 genes were expressed differentially (P < 0.001) between the two temperatures. Among the 103 genes more highly expressed at 28 C, approximately 25% were involved in secondary metabolism and about 30% were classified as hypothetical. Genes encoding a catalase and superoxide dismutase were among those more highly expressed at 37 C. As anticipated we also found that all the aflatoxin biosynthetic genes were much more highly expressed at 28 C relative to 37 C. To our surprise expression of the pathway regulatory genes aflR and aflS, as well as aflR antisense, did not differ between the two temperatures. These data indicate that the failure of A. flavus to produce aflatoxin at 37 C is not due to lack of transcription of aflR or aflS. One explanation is that AFLR is nonfunctional at high temperatures. Regardless, the factor(s) sensing the elevated temperatures must be acute. When aflatoxin-producing cultures are transferred to 37 C they immediately stop producing aflatoxin.
Decisional Guidance for Computerised Personal Decision Aid (ComPDA)

Recently, the existence of many computerized decision aids which support personal decision making have drawn massive attention to study how these aids really help the decision makers.Helping decision maker makes a particular decision has always been the major aim of decision aids.However, designing an effective decision aid is more than meet the eyes.Guidance portion of the interface design in decision aid cannot be taken lightly as it can influence the outcomes.This study acknowledges the needs to make sure the design of personal decision aids adhere to systematic investigation to achieve the sole goal of a ComPDA.In this paper eight ComPDAs were identified and comparedto extract the decisional guidance components for ComPDA. Accordingly, comparative analysis of the tools is further explained and illustrated.
Vascular endothelial growth factor, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 expression in colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma.

AIM To analyze vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 expression and to evaluate their relation to clinicopathologic parameters and pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma. METHODS Sections of adenoma, intramucosal carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 85 malignant and 37 benign colorectal neoplasms for the expression of VEGF, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 considering clinicopathological variables. RESULTS VEGF was detected in comparable percentages of all neoplasm types while c-erbB-2 expression was detectable more frequently in adenoma than adenocarcinoma cases (65% vs 43%). Except for the correlation of c-erbB-3 expression with Dukes' staging, there was no correlation between the studied markers and grade of differentiation, Dukes' stage and localization of colorectal adenocarcinoma. c-erbB-3 expression was seen more frequently in tubular adenomas, while c-erbB-2 expression was higher in tubulovillous and villous types. These differences were not statistically significant. The presence of distant metastasis and angiolymphatic invasion were identified as independent predictors of survival. A positive correlation was found between VEGF expression and lymphatic vessel invasion and regional lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION These results suggest that VEGF, c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 expression does not have prognostic value in colorectal cancer. VEGF expression may be implicated in the lymph node metastasis.
Live streaming performance of the Zattoo network

A number of commercial peer-to-peer systems for live streaming, such as PPLive, Joost, LiveStation, SOPCast, TVants, etc. have been introduced in recent years. The behavior of these popular systems has been extensively studied in several measurement papers. Due to the proprietary nature of these commercial systems, however, these studies have to rely on a "black-box" approach, where packet traces are collected from a single or a limited number of measurement points, to infer various properties of traffic on the control and data planes. Although such studies are useful to compare different systems from end-user's perspective, it is difficult to intuitively understand the observed properties without fully reverse-engineering the underlying systems. Our paper presents a large-scale measurement study of Zattoo, one of the largest production live streaming providers in Europe, using data collected by the provider. To highlight, we found that even when the Zattoo system was heavily loaded with as high as 20,000 concurrent users on a single overlay, the median channel join delay remained less than 2 to 5 seconds, and that, for a majority of users, the streamed signal lags over-the-air broadcast signal by no more than 3 seconds. To motivate the measurement study, we also present a description of the Zattoo network architecture.