Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of collagenase to hydrogel dressings in wound debridement.

UNLABELLED ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ ﻿Comparisons of collagenase to other methods of debridement, including wet to dry dressings, have been reported in the literature; however, studies comparing collagenase to hydrogel have not been reported. OBJECTIVE Time to complete necrotic tissue debridement with collagenase compared to hydrogel in institutionalized adults with pressure ulcers. METHODS Randomization occurred after obtaining informed consent to avoid selection bias. Subjects received daily dressing changes with either hydrogel or collagenase followed by a standard semi-occlusive dressing to evaluate time to debridement up to Day 42. Investigators, who were blinded to randomization, evaluated weekly wound photographs for necrotic tissue debridement and wound healing parameters using a digital planimetry software package. Nonviable tissue was not cross-hatched in either group. RESULTS Twenty-seven nursing home residents were enrolled over a period of 1 year. According to a Student's t test, there were no significant differences between groups for age, gender, age of wound, or percentage of nonviable tissue at the time of enrollment (P = .03). Using a Pearson Chi square analysis, the collagenase group was found to have statistical (P = .003) significance in achieving full debridement by Day 42. CONCLUSION This study showed statistical significance in favor of collagenase when used to debride nonviable tissue in pressure ulcers. Despite recommendations to cross-hatch eschar, statistical significance was still achieved when wounds were not cross-hatched, indicating clinical utility in settings without clinician availability for the cross-hatching procedure.
Role of bedside microdialysis in the diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT Ischemia due to vasospasm is a feared complication in patients following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Cerebral online microdialysis monitoring may detect the metabolic changes in the extracellular fluid associated with ischemia. The aims of the present study were to correlate clinical course, microdialysis-recorded data, transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography findings, and angiographic findings in patients with SAH. METHODS In 60 patients a microdialysis catheter was inserted into the brain parenchyma that is most likely to be affected by vasospasm directly after aneurysm clipping. Hourly analyses of glucose, pyruvate, lactate, and glutamate levels were performed using a bedside device. Blood-flow velocities were obtained using serial TCD measurements. Cerebral angiography was routinely performed on Day 7 after aneurysm clipping or earlier in cases of clinical deterioration (30 patients). In all patients the results of microdialysis monitoring, TCD ultrasonography, and angiography were correlated. The mean duration of monitoring was 7.3+/-2.5 days. In patients with acute ischemic neurological deficits (18 patients) immediate microdialysis-recorded alterations were observed if the probe was placed close to the malperfused region. In 13 of 15 patients with symptomatic vasospasm (delayed ischemic neurological deficit [DIND]), the microdialysis-recorded values revealed secondary deterioration. In terms of confirming DIND, microdialysis had the highest specificity (0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-1) compared with TCD ultrasonography (0.63, 95% CI 0.46-0.8) and angiography (0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.7). For microdialysis, the positive likelihood ratio was 7.8, whereas this was significantly lower for TCD ultrasonography (1.7) and angiography (2.1). CONCLUSIONS Although angiography also demonstrates vessel narrowing in asymptomatic patients, online microdialysis reveals characteristic metabolic changes that occur during vasospasm. Thus, online microdialysis may be used to confirm the diagnosis of vasospasm.
Investigating Student Behavior in Adopting Online Formative Assessment Feedback

In this paper we describe one critical research program within a complex, ongoing multi-year project (2010 to 2014 inclusive) with the overall goal to improve the learning outcomes for first year undergraduate commerce/business students within an Information Systems (IS) subject with very large enrolment. The single research program described in this paper is the analysis of student attitudes and decision making in relation to the availability of formative assessment feedback via Web-based real time conferencing and document exchange software (Adobe Connect). The formative assessment feedback between teaching staff and students is in respect of an authentic problem-based, team-completed assignment. The analysis of student attitudes and decision making is investigated via both qualitative (firstly) and quantitative (secondly) application of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with a two statistically-significant and separate trial samples of the enrolled students. The initial qualitative TPB investigation revealed that perceived self-efficacy, improved time-management, and lecturer-student relationship building were the major factors in shaping an overall favorable student attitude to online feedback, whilst some students expressed valid concerns with perceived control limitations identified within the online feedback protocols. The subsequent quantitative TPB investigation then confirmed that attitude towards usage, subjective norms surrounding usage, and perceived behavioral control of usage were all significant in shaping student intention to use the online feedback protocol, with these three variables explaining 63 percent of the variance in the behavioral intention to use the online feedback protocol. The identification in this research of perceived behavioral control as a significant determinant in student usage of a specific technology component within a virtual learning environment (VLE) suggests that VLEs could now be viewed not as a single, atomic entity, but as a spectrum of technology offerings ranging from the mature and simple (e.g., email, Web downloads) to the cutting-edge and challenging (e.g., Web conferencing and real-time document exchange). That is, that all VLEs should not be considered the same. The results of this research suggest that tertiary students have the technological sophistication to assess a VLE in this more selective manner. Keywords—Formative assessment feedback, virtual learning environment, theory of planned behavior, perceived behavioral control.
Electrophysiology and Pharmacology of the Corticothalamic Input to Lateral Thalamic Nuclei: an Intracellular Study in the Cat

Though most experimental evidence indicates that the corticothalamic (CT) pathway would exert a direct excitatory action on thalamic relay neurons, the electrophysiological features of this excitation have never been clearly described. A methodological problem in previous electrophysiological studies was that direct corticofugal effects on relay cells could not be separated from those mediated by collateral activation of reticular thalamic neurons. In the present study, the reticular complex was lesioned by kainic acid and the CT response of relay neurons of the ventral lateral nucleus was recorded intracellularly in cats under pentobarbital or urethane anaesthesia.
The role of trade policies, multinationals, shipping modes and product differentiation in global value chains for bananas: the case of Cameroon.

The first part of the paper discusses changes which occurred in the world market for bananas in recent years. These changes include successive modifications of the EU import regime for bananas (the EU is the single largest importer of bananas, with 1/4 of the world market), innovations in sea shipment modes, increased concentration of the retail sector and the expansion of the demand in developed countries for environment-friendly and Fair Trade bananas. The implications of these changes for the distribution of the value among the actors at the different links of the global chain for bananas are discussed in details. The second part of the paper focuses on banana exports from Cameroon, a value chain representative of ‘traditional’ chains where large multinationals maintain a central role. First this chain is analyzed in detail, then a simple model representing its main characteristics is developed and expected effects of changes in key factors such as production and transportation technologies and fiscal and trade policies, derived.
Does scheduling matter? When unscheduled decision making results in more effective meetings

Purpose – Managers spend a great deal of time in meetings making decisions critical to organisational success, yet the design aspects of meetings remain largely understudied. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the potential impact of one critical design aspect of meetings – namely, whether a decision to be taken (or the meeting in general) was scheduled or not – on the use of distributed information, information elaboration, conflict, speed of decision making, and, ultimately, decision-making effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The research presented in this paper combines a literature review with empirical data obtained from questionnaires and direct observation of decision making meetings on organisational issues in a hospital. One meeting was scheduled, the other two were unscheduled. A second questionnaire was administered 12 months after the respective decision making meetings to explore and evaluate the efficiency of the decisions made and their implementation. Findings – This pap.
Colorectal Cancer Complicating Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Similarities and Differences Between Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Based on Three Decades of Experience

Introduction:The aim of this study was to evaluate patient- and tumor-related characteristics for patients undergoing surgery for cancer complicating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to assess differences between patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods:Data on all IBD patients with colon and rectal cancer (CRC) undergoing surgery between 1980 and 2007 were evaluated from prospectively maintained CRC and IBD databases. Clinical presentation, tumor stage, presence of associated dysplasia, and short- and long-term outcomes after surgery were investigated. Outcomes for IBD patients were compared with a matched group of patients with sporadic cancer. Results:A total of 240 IBD patients (64 CD and 176 UC) with CRC were identified. At the time of CRC diagnosis, 68% UC and 26% CD patients had pancolitis. About 92% of the patients who underwent preoperative colonoscopy were noted to have suspicious lesions. Although 92.5% of the patients had a preoperative histopathologic diagnosis of cancer or dysplasia, incidental diagnosis of cancer in the resection specimen was made in 3%. Examination of the resection specimen revealed synchronous dysplasia in 48% of the patients and synchronous cancer in 12% patients. Tumor location was rectum in 36%, right colon in 28%, sigmoid colon in 17%, transverse colon 10%, and left colon in 9% of patients. CD patients were diagnosed at a more advanced cancer stage than UC. Local recurrence and overall 5-year survival rates were comparable (5.6% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.78 and 77% vs. 72%, P = 0.5, respectively) for patients with IBD and sporadic cancer. Conclusions:Most IBD cancer can be diagnosed or suspected on the basis of endoscopic findings, biopsy of areas of active colitis, and an incidental finding of malignancy after colorectal resection for other indications is rare. CD patients present with a more advanced cancer stage. Optimal endoscopic surveillance may identify most patients with IBD cancer.
Cell encapsulation and cryostorage in PVA–gelatin cryogels: incorporation of carboxylated ε‐poly‐L‐lysine as cryoprotectant

It is desirable to produce cryopreservable cell‐laden tissue‐engineering scaffolds whose final properties can be adjusted during the thawing process immediately prior to use. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based solutions provide platforms in which cryoprotected cell suspensions can be turned into a ready‐to‐use, cell‐laden scaffold by a process of cryogelation. In this study, such a PVA system, with DMSO as the cryoprotectant, was successfully developed. Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC)‐encapsulated cryogels were investigated under conditions of cyclic strain and in co‐culture with vascular endothelial cells to mimic the environment these cells experience in vivo in a vascular tissue‐engineering setting. In view of the cytotoxicity DMSO imposes with respect to the production procedure, carboxylated poly‐L‐lysine (COOH–PLL) was substituted as a non‐cytotoxic cryoprotectant to allow longer, slower thawing periods to generate more stable cryogels. Encapsulated vSMC with DMSO as a cryoprotectant responded to 10% cyclic strain with increased alignment and proliferation. Cells were stored frozen for 1 month without loss of viability compared to immediate thawing. SMC‐encapsulated cryogels also successfully supported functional endothelial cell co‐culture. Substitution of COOH–PLL in place of DMSO resulted in a significant increase in cell viability in encapsulated cryogels for a range of thawing periods. We conclude that incorporation of COOH–PLL during cryogelation preserved cell functionality while retaining fundamental cryogel physical properties, thereby making it a promising platform for tissue‐engineering scaffolds, particularly for vascular tissue engineering, or cell preservation within microgels. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oscillatory failure case detection for aircraft using an adaptive sliding mode differentiator scheme

This paper proposes a nonlinear scheme for estimating an Oscillatory Failure Case (OFC) using a nonlinear model of the hydraulic actuator which requires an estimate of rod speed. The estimation of the rod speed is provided by a supertwist differentiator. The supertwist gains are allowed to adapt to maintain sliding during high frequency and high amplitude OFCs. Ideally low gains in the differentiator are required because of the noisy environment associated with the physical system. A Lyapunov based analysis for the novel adaptive supertwist scheme is also presented. Simulations on both liquid and solid OFCs have been carried out on the full nonlinear aircraft model with highly detailed models of the actuators which include sensor and process noise. Good estimation of both actuator rod speed and the OFC is obtained.
What Drives the Enhanced Momentum Profits of Growth Firms? Mispricing or Risk

We examine rational and behavioral explanations for the relatively larger momentum profits of growth firms. Our results provide support for the rational explanation for firms with low idiosyncratic volatility, and are consistent with the notion that growth options cause a wider spread in the risk and returns between winners and losers. However, the evidence is more aligned with the behavioral explanation for firms with high idiosyncratic volatility, which is consistent with the notion that investors are more prone to behavioral biases in the presence of idiosyncratic volatility, and the resulting mispricings are less likely to be immediately arbitraged away.
Diversity of O Antigens within the Genus Cronobacter: from Disorder to Order

ABSTRACT Cronobacter species are Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens that can cause serious infections in neonates. The lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) that form part of the outer membrane of such bacteria are possibly related to the virulence of particular bacterial strains. However, currently there is no clear overview of O-antigen diversity within the various Cronobacter strains and links with virulence. In this study, we tested a total of 82 strains, covering each of the Cronobacter species. The nucleotide variability of the O-antigen gene cluster was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. As a result, the 82 strains were distributed into 11 previously published serotypes and 6 new serotypes, each defined by its characteristic restriction profile. These new serotypes were confirmed using genomic analysis of strains available in public databases: GenBank and PubMLST Cronobacter. Laboratory strains were then tested using the current serotype-specific PCR probes. The results show that the current PCR probes did not always correspond to genomic O-antigen gene cluster variation. In addition, we analyzed the LPS phenotype of the reference strains of all distinguishable serotypes. The identified serotypes were compared with data from the literature and the MLST database (www.pubmlst.org/cronobacter/). Based on the findings, we systematically classified a total of 24 serotypes for the Cronobacter genus. Moreover, we evaluated the clinical history of these strains and show that Cronobacter sakazakii O2, O1, and O4, C. turicensis O1, and C. malonaticus O2 serotypes are particularly predominant in clinical cases.
Ultrastructural Localization of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor in μ-Opioid Receptor Patches of the Rat Caudate Putamen Nucleus

Cannabinoids and opioids are widely consumed drugs of abuse that produce motor depression, in part via respective activation of the cannabinoid subtype 1 receptor (CB1R) and the μ-opioid receptor (μOR), in the striatal circuitry originating in the caudate putamen nucleus (CPN). Thus, the CB1R and μOR may show similar targeting in the CPN. To test this hypothesis, we examined the electron microscopic immunocytochemical labeling of CB1R and μOR in CPN patches of rat brain. Of the CB1R-labeled profiles, 34% (588) were dendrites, presumably arising from spiny as well as aspiny-type somata, which also contained CB1R immunoreactivity. In dendrites, CB1R often was localized to nonsynaptic and synaptic plasma membranes, particularly near asymmetric excitatory-type junctions. Almost one-half of the CB1R-labeled dendrites contained μOR immunoreactivity, whereas only 20% of all μOR-labeled dendrites expressed CB1R. Axons and axon terminals as well as abundant glial processes also showed plasmalemmal CB1R and were mainly without μOR immunoreactivity. Many CB1R-labeled axon terminals were small and without recognizable synaptic junctions, but a few also formed asymmetric, or more rarely symmetric, synapses. The CB1R-labeled glial processes were often perivascular or perisynaptic, surrounding asymmetric excitatory-type axospinous synapses. Our results show that in CPN patches CB1R and μOR are targeted strategically to some of the same postsynaptic neurons, which may account for certain similarities in motor function. Furthermore, they also provide evidence that CB1R may play a major role in the modulation of presynaptic transmitter release and glial functions that are unaffected in large part by opioids active at μOR in CPN.
Binaural mechanisms of spatial tuning in the cat's superior colliculus distinguished using monaural occlusion.

This study explores the mechanisms of auditory spatial tuning in the superior colliculus of the anesthetized cat by correlating spatial tuning within specific regions of space with particular types of binaural interaction. The auditory spatial tuning of units was measured using a movable, broad-band stimulus presented in a free sound field. The contribution of each ear to the response of a unit was identified by acutely plugging one or the other ear. Every unit became largely or entirely unresponsive when a foam-rubber earplug was placed in the ear contralateral to the recording site. Thus, every unit exhibited an excitatory or facilitatory influence from the contralateral ear. A plug placed in the ipsilateral ear had different effects on different units. For half of the units (16/32), an ipsilateral earplug produced increases in the sizes of the units' receptive fields and increases in the magnitudes of their responses to stimuli presented from most locations. Thus, these units exhibited inhibition from the ipsilateral ear. Another class of units (9/32) exhibited ipsilateral facilitation, in that an ipsilateral earplug caused decreases in the sizes of the units' receptive fields and prominent decreases in their response magnitudes. For the remaining units (7/32), an ipsilateral earplug resulted in decreases in the sizes of the units' receptive fields, but produced both decreases in the responses of units to stimuli presented in their best areas and increases in the responses to stimuli presented away from the best areas. Thus these units exhibited mixed facilitatory and inhibitory ipsilateral influences. The influence of an ipsilateral earplug on a unit's response tended to correlate with its spatial tuning. The region of space within which a sound source was most effective in activating a unit was its "best area". The best areas of units exhibiting ipsilateral inhibition were located furthest peripherally, those of units showing ipsilateral facilitation were located furthest frontally, and the best areas of units showing mixed ipsilateral influences were located in an intermediate area. The frequency tuning of units measured using a free-field tone source also tended to correlate with the locations of their best areas. Half of the units tested (27/54) responded to tones of the sound pressure levels (SPLs) that were used (up to 50 dB SPL). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The impact of participation in a Virginia community college orientation program course on student engagement, satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention

THE IMPACT OF PARTICIPATION IN A VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ORIENTATION PROGRAM COURSE ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, SATISFACTION, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND RETENTION Wendy L. Tighe Old Dominion University, 2008 Director: Dr. Dennis Gregory Participation in an orientation program course and several student engagement and satisfaction factors have been identified as positively related to desirable student outcomes. This study explored student engagement, satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention for students based on their enrollment in an orientation course at Tidewater Community College (TCC) in Virginia. This study used a cross-sectional, static group comparison secondary data analysis approach to explore four research questions. The Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) data used for this study came from the TCC spring 2005 Community College Student Report (CCSR) this study determined whether or not participation in an orientation course at TCC significantly impacted student engagement, satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention, and supported or challenged previous empirical evidence on the subject, especially the four-year university and college research abundantly available. The data was factor analyzed and explored using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings yielded significant results in terms of student engagement, satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention at the community college level. Orientation participants interacted more with faculty and used academic support