Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of acute relaxation on indices of anxiety during pregnancy

Objectives. Antenatal maternal anxiety has adverse effects on the fetus and the child. In this study we determined whether a short period of directed or of passive relaxation reduced maternal self-rated anxiety, heart rate, plasma catecholamines, cortisol and uterine artery resistance index, in pregnant women. Methods. Fifty-eight women (28 – 32 wks gestation) were assigned randomly to a session of directed active or passive (sitting quietly) relaxation. Spielberger self-rating anxiety questionnaires were completed, and a venous blood sample taken, before and after a Doppler scan. Results. Both active and passive relaxation significantly reduced State Anxiety and maternal heart rate, but the effect was significantly greater with the active relaxation. In contrast, the passive relaxation significantly reduced noradrenaline levels whereas active did not. Adrenaline levels were not changed significantly with either type of relaxation. Both methods significantly reduced cortisol, with a trend for the passive to have a greater effect. The active relaxation had no effect on uterine artery blood flow, whereas there was a statistically significant, but clinically negligible, increase in mean resistance index after passive relaxation. Conclusion. Both methods reduced maternal State Anxiety and heart rate, the active method more so. However there was a striking lack of correlation with the other biological indices studied. In order to reduce specific biological effects of anxiety during pregnancy, different methods may be needed from those which are most effective at reducing subjective anxiety.
Measuring 'magnetism' in Australian nursing environments

Objective: The aim of this research project was to use the NWI R:A tool to measure the organisational features that impact on 'magnetism' in Australian health facilities. Design: The cross sectional survey questionnaire incorporated the Nursing Work Index Revised: Australian (NWI R:A) developed by Joyce and Crookes (2007). Subjects: Participants were registered nursing staff (n=262) including ward nurses and managers within a group of four Australian hospitals. Main outcome measures: To measure the organisational features that impact on 'magnetism' in Australian health facilities using the NWI R:A tool specifically developed for the Australian context. Results: The results have identified a number of consistent patterns in nursing staff views in relation to the magnet features present in their current practice environment. The findings have affirmed results reported by Joyce and Crookes (2007) that respondents in the Australian surveys consider positively, the quality of care and the level of support from management in their workplace. The calibre of leadership and support was also considered favourably as were the relationships between health professionals. Conversely the respondents indicated their workplace provided insufficient nurse participation in decision making and inadequate staffing and resources for practice. Conclusions: The establishment of a tool for the reliable measurement of magnetism in Australian facilities allows for the transferability of the magnet concept to Australia. A better understanding of nursing staff perceptions on the presence of magnet features in their workplace can be used to inform the development of magnetism in Australian health facilities. This research develops the concept of 'magnetism' to health organisations in Australia extending on existing research. By using the magnet framework to underpin the planning and development of organisational governance administrators and managers will be well positioned to improve staff retention.
A Survey of Emergency Physicians' Fear of Malpractice and Its Association With the Decision to Order Computed Tomography Scans for Children With Minor Head Trauma

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether fear of malpractice is associated with emergency physicians' decision to order head computed tomography (CT) in 3 age-specific scenarios of pediatric minor head trauma. We hypothesized that physicians with higher fear of malpractice scores will be more likely to order head CT scans. Methods: Board-eligible/board-certified members of the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians were sent a 2-part survey consisting of case scenarios and demographic questions. Effect of fear of malpractice on the decision to order a CT scan was evaluated using a cumulative logit model. Results: Two hundred forty-six members (36.5%) completed the surveys. In scenario 1 (infant), being a male and working in a university setting were associated with reduced odds of ordering a CT scan (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.88; and OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.96, respectively). In scenario 2 (toddler), working for 15 years or more, at multiple hospitals, and for a private group were associated with reduced odds of ordering a CT scan (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.26-0.79; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16-0.80; and OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.94, respectively). No demographic variables were significantly associated with ordering a CT scan in scenario 3 (teen). Overall, the fear of malpractice was not significantly associated with ordering a CT scan (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.73-2.26; and OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.97-3.0). Only in scenario 2 was high fear significantly associated with increased odds of ordering a CT scan (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.08-4.05). Conclusions: Members of Michigan College of Emergency Physicians with a higher fear of malpractice score tended to order more head CT scans in pediatric minor head trauma. However, this trend was shown to be statistically significant only in 1 case and not overall.
Preservation of gastrointestinal bacteria and their microenvironmental associations in rats by freezing

The use of frozen rat gastrointestinal tissue samples for both the recovery of viable bacteria and for observation of microbial communities associated with the tissue was investigated. A decrease of 1 log in lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and anaerobes was observed when the numbers of bacteria recoverable from frozen tissue (stored 7 to 9 days) were compared to those recoverable from fresh nonfrozen tissue (zero time control). However, freezing did not appear to decrease the numbers of recoverable coliforms. Tissues, cleaved with razor blades after being frozen and stored for 7 to 9 days, showed bacterial communities situated on the mucosa and in the lumen of gastrointestinal specimens. This freezing technique preserved structures not previously observed in the gastrointestinal tract. This indicates that freezing is a good method to use to study such fragile microenvironments.
Salmonella Prevalence Among Reptiles in a Zoo Education Setting

Clinically healthy reptiles may shed Salmonella and therefore act as a potential zoonotic threat. Most people in Northern European countries are rarely exposed to reptiles, but many zoos have education departments where children have direct contact with this group of animals. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and serotype distribution of Salmonella among reptiles in the Education Department (n = 55) at Copenhagen Zoo and compare it to the Zoo’s main reptile collection (n = 145) to evaluate the zoonotic risk. Salmonella was isolated from cloacal swabs by selective enrichment, and a single isolate from each positive sample was further identified by biochemical tests and serotyped. The overall prevalence was 35% (69/200) with significant difference between the Education Department (64%, 35/55) and the main reptile collection (23%, 34/145). A total of 28 serotypes were detected. Ten serotypes were isolated from more than one specimen and four from more than one species. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Eastbourne was the predominant serotype (32%, 22/69) and was also the serotype isolated from most reptile species (n = 7). Transmission of serotypes from one department to another was very limited indicated by the serotype distribution. Despite the relative high prevalence observed among the reptiles in the Zoo’s Education Department compared to the reptiles in the Zoo’s main reptile collection, no Salmonella cases have been linked to the Zoo, and Salmonella ser. Eastbourne is very rarely isolated from humans in Denmark. Simple hygienic procedures such as hand washing which is consistently carried out following handling of reptiles at the Education Department may reduce the risk and therefore contribute to this low prevalence.
A Method to Improve the Dynamic Performance of Moving Average Filter-Based PLL

Phase-locked loop (PLL) technique is widely used for synchronization applications. A variety of moving average filter (MAF)-based PLLs have been presented in recently published literatures. MAF-based PLL can completely eliminate the effect of unbalanced voltage, characteristic harmonics, and dc offset. Unfortunately, the open-loop bandwidth is drastically reduced after incorporating MAF into the PLL structure. The problem is analyzed in detail in this paper, and it is proved to be caused by the large MAF window width which is determined by the lowest order harmonic. Then, an improved method named differential MAF-PLL (DMAF-PLL) is proposed. This method can rapidly eliminate the lowest order harmonic to narrow the MAF window width. DMAF-PLL is realized by incorporating a special proportional component into the MAF-based PLL. The special proportional component can online change its value according to the frequency of input signal, and it will not introduce phase lag, so as not to deteriorate the stability of PLL. DMAF-PLL increases the open-loop bandwidth and greatly improves the dynamic performance of MAF-based PLL, and it is easy to be implemented with low computational burden. DMAF-PLL can be used in both three-phase and single-phase voltage systems. Simulation and experimental results are included to validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.
Systematic review of the diagnosis and management of malignant extradural spine cord compression: The Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guidelines Initiative's Neuro-Oncology Disease Site Group.

Purpose This systematic review describes the diagnosis and management of adult patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of extradural malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC). Methods MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to January 2004 using the following terms: spinal cord compression, nerve compression syndromes, spinal cord neoplasms, clinical trial, meta-analysis, and systematic review. Results Symptoms for MSCC include sensory changes, autonomic dysfunction, and back pain; however, back pain was not predictive of MSCC. The sensitivity and specificity for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) range from 0.44 to 0.93 and 0.90 to 0.98, respectively, in the diagnosis of MSCC. The sensitivity and specificity for myelography range from 0.71 to 0.97 and 0.88 to 1.00, respectively. A randomized study detected higher ambulation rates in patients with MSCC who received high-dose dexamethasone before radiotherapy (RT) compared with patients who did not receive corticosteroids.
13 C-Tracer and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analyses Reveal Metabolic Flux Distribution in the Oleaginous Microalga Chlorella protothecoides 1 [ C ] [ W ] [ OA ]

The green alga Chlorella protothecoides has received considerable attention because it accumulates neutral triacylglycerols, commonly regarded as an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production. In order to gain a better understanding of its metabolism, tracer experiments with [U-C]/[1-C]glucose were performed with heterotrophic growth of C. protothecoides for identifying the metabolic network topology and estimating intracellular fluxes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis tracked the labeling patterns of protein-bound amino acids, revealing a metabolic network consisting of the glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle with inactive glyoxylate shunt. Evidence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and malic enzyme activity was also obtained. It was demonstrated that the relative activity of the pentose phosphate pathway to glycolysis under nitrogen-limited environment increased, reflecting excess NADPH requirements for lipid biosynthesis. Although the growth rate and cellular oil content were significantly altered in response to nitrogen limitation, global flux distribution of C. protothecoides remained stable, exhibiting the rigidity of central carbon metabolism. In conclusion, quantitative knowledge on the metabolic flux distribution of oleaginous alga obtained in this study may be of value in designing strategies for metabolic engineering of desirable bioproducts.
Continuous Confinement Fluidics: Getting Lots of Molecules into Small Spaces with High Fidelity

Confining DNA molecules with high throughput and structural integrity is an important challenge in nanochannel-based genomic mapping technology. Here we demonstrate dynamic confinement and linearization of DNA polymers within an embedded nanogroove array with 95% channel occupation. In standard nanofluidic technology, the free energy of confinement experienced by the DNA molecules increases strongly with decreasing device dimensions, leading to a suppression of molecule concentration in nanoconfined spaces. We overcome this limitation by combining “convex lens-induced confinement” (CLiC) geometry with in situ electrophoresis, simultaneously establishing gentle and continuously adjustable nanoconfinement and precise electrokinetic control. Together, these capabilities enable trapping and visualization of extended DNA molecules with high yield over an extended range of conditions. We demonstrate 10-fold increased DNA concentration in a confined region from 10 to 500 nm. Moreover, we develop and validate a p.
Alternative Therapies for Septic Shock: Beyond Early Goal-Directed Therapy

Severe sepsis and septic shock are major concerns within our health care system, accounting for 2.26 cases per 100 hospital discharges (Angus et al., 2001). The incidence of sepsis has increased by 9% each year (Martin et al., 2003), and mortality ranges from 17.9% to 70% depending on severity of disease and factors such as age, sex, ethnic origin, and comorbidities (Angus et al., 2001; Martin et al., 2003; Alberti et al., 2002). The annual economic burden of severe sepsis in the United States is $17 billion (Angus et al., 2001). Early goal-directed therapy is a stepwise approach to treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock and includes fluid resuscitation, optimizing hemodynamic parameters, early and appropriate antibiotic administration, and source identification and control (Figure 1). The appropriate use of EGDT has shown to significantly reduce mortality, demonstrating an absolute risk reduction in mortality of 16% compared to physician-driven treatment (Rivers et al., 2001). Beyond these recommendations, there are several adjunctive therapies which
Perception on information and communication technology perspectives in logistics: A study of transportation and warehouses sectors in Singapore

– Logistics companies have benefited from the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in their business processes. Although ICT is being promoted in the Singapore logistics industry, details on status and perception towards ICT are not well‐known. Therefore, in order to understand ICT penetration, a study is necessary. , – In this paper, the current status of ICT use in warehouse and transportation service providers obtained through a sample survey is reported. A framework is adopted to assess the perception of logistics companies towards ICT. , – The results show that most of the logistics companies use ICT but their level and type depend mainly on the size of the company and the availability of technology. Logistics companies in Singapore provide services to more than one industry type and, in most cases, one logistics company provides multiple logistics functions. These companies consider efficiency, cost savings, reduced data entry error and increased customer service level as opportunities from ICT. The analysis of perception indicates that the use of ICT in Singapore is perceived positively with the increase in size of a company but is indifferent regarding the type of industry covered and the type of service offered by the logistics companies. , – This is a comprehensive study to understand the status of ICT in logistics in Singapore. An understanding of motivators and barriers on ICT can help the decision makers in devising better policies and programs, if required, to increase ICT penetration. The result also gives an indication as to the level of business fulfillment that can be provided by the logistics industry in Singapore.
[Rapid identification and preliminary study of fragmentation regularity of saponins components of ginseng].

OBJECTIVE To study a method for rapidly identifying the saponions components in Ginseng and explore the fragmentation regularity. METHODS Used ACQUITY UPLC/Q-TOF micro system gradient elute wirh 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate-acetonitrile mobile phase under the ESI negative mode; Data were analyzed by Masslynx 4.1 software. RESULTS 30 kinds of saponins in Ginseng were analyzed and identified by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS, and the fragmentation regularity of ginseng saponins components were explored. CONCLUSION A analysis method is established for rapid identification of saponin components.
Long PCR-ribotyping of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

PCR-ribotyping, a new typing method based on long PCR, has been developed for nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Ribosomal operons of NTHi were amplified by long PCR and were found to be highly polymorphic for internal HaeIII sites. The technique was applied to 49 isolates previously subjected to conventional ribotyping, and the two methods showed a high level of concordance for serial isolates from individual subjects. PCR-ribotyping provides a powerful new typing tool for strain characterization in epidemiological investigations of NTHi.
New Precoding and Equalization Techniques for Multicarrier Systems. (Nouvelles Techniques de Précodage et d'Égalisation pour les Systèmes Multiporteuses)

In this thesis, new precoding and equalization techniques for multicarrier systems were proposed and analyzed.First, the error performance of precoded filterbank multicarrier (FBMC) systems was analyzed. It was found out that this performance is highly sensitive to complete subchannel equalization. When there is residual intersymbol interference (ISI) stemming from imperfect subchannel equalization there is a loss of diversity; this loss can be prevented with the adoption of a number of subchannels large enough so that each subchannel suffers flat fading or with the utilization of a subchannel equalizer with sufficient length to compensate the subchannel frequency response.After that, an approximation for the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) distribution of SC-FDE systems using linear MMSE equalization was proposed. This approximation uses the lognormal distribution with the smallest Kullback-Leibler distance to the true distribution, and was shown to be precise in the error performance sense; it serves as a system abstraction. With this abstraction, a precise method to obtain the analytical coded error performance of these systems was proposed.Finally, widely linear Tomlinson-Harashima precoders and equalizers (linear and decision-feedback) for SC-FDE systems were proposed. These precoders and equalizers have better error performance when compared to their strictly linear versions if signals coming from an improper constellation are transmitted. Their error performance when decision-feedback equalizers are used is less sensitive to the length of the feedback filter. When widely linear precoders are used, this error performance becomes less sensitive to channel estimation errors.
Auditory stroop effects in children with hearing impairment.

The accurate perception of speech involves the processing of multidimensional information. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the semantic dimension on the processing of the auditory dimension of speech by children with hearing impairment. The processing interactions characterizing the semantic and auditory dimensions were assessed with a pediatric auditory Stroop task. The subjects, 20 children with hearing impairment and 60 children with normal hearing, were instructed to attend selectively to the voice-gender of speech targets while ignoring the semantic content. The type of target was manipulated to represent conflicting, neutral, and congruent relations between dimensions (e.g., the male voice saying "Mommy," "ice cream," or "Daddy" respectively). The normal-hearing listeners could not ignore the irrelevant semantic content. Instead, reaction times were slower to the conflict targets (Stroop interference) and faster to the congruent targets (Stroop congruency). The subjects with hearing impairment showed prominent Stroop congruency, but minimal Stroop interference. Reduced Stroop interference was not associated with chronological age, a speed-accuracy tradeoff, a non-neutral baseline, or relatively poorer discriminability of the word input. The present results suggest that the voice-gender and semantic dimensions of speech were not processed independently by these children, either those with or those without hearing loss. However, the to-be-ignored semantic dimension exerted a less consistent influence on the processing of the voice-gender dimension in the presence of childhood hearing loss. The overall pattern of results suggests that speech processing by children with hearing impairment is carried out in a less stimulus-bound manner.