Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Qualitative Study on Community and Primary Health Care Involvement on Alcohol and Tobacco Actions in Seven European Countries

Alcohol and tobacco use are important determinants of illness and have important country-specific dimensions. It's important to also consider them at community and primary health care (PHC) levels. A collaborative qualitative research (Delphi study and focus groups methodology) was conducted during the process of 10 new countries joining the European Union (EU) and implemented in culturally socio-economically different European countries: four EU (Belgium, Brussels region; Hungary, Pest County; Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia region; Latvia, Riga region; Slovenia, Ljubljana region) and two Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Sofia region; Russia, St. Petersburg region). Countries were chosen from the WHO international project according to the criteria noted in the application for EU INCO-COPERNICUS funding. Focus groups were conducted among lay people and PHC professionals in order to identify factors that influence (facilitate and prevent or minimize) PHC management of alcohol- and tobacco use–related problems. A Delphi study was conducted among four different groups in order to develop tasks for instances to be involved in community health policies. There are some limitations of such a qualitative study; e.g., such studies give ideas that cannot simply be transformed to actions in every country. In order to manage tobacco-and alcohol-related problems a comprehensive community-based approach, that also include PHC teams and policymakers, would be supported in participating countries.
Isolation of Human Fibrinogen and its Derivatives by Affinity Chromatography on Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Lys-Fractogel

Summary With an immobilized synthetic pentapeptide GlyProArgProLys comprising the N-terminal sequence GlyProArg of the α-chain of fibrin, a new affinity method for the quantitative isolation of fibrinogen out of anticoagulated plasma was developed. The method proved to be superior to all known isolation methods in respect to ease of use and yield, since fibrinogen could be isolated in one step out of plasma with a recovery of more than 95% when compared to the immunologically measurable amounts of fibrinogen. Moreover the amounts of contaminating proteins such as fibronectin, factor XIII or plasminogen were negligible and the purity of the isolated fibrinogen was higher than 95% as measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The clottability was 90% and more. Another advantage of this affinity purification method is the possibility to isolate fibrinogen quantitatively out of small plasma samples (<5 ml). Further, abnormal fibrinogen molecules, provided their complementary binding site for GlyProArg is preserved, may also be quantitatively isolated independent of any solubility differences as compared to normal fibrinogen. In addition fibrin(ogcn) fragments originating from plasmic digestion can be separated on the basis of their affinity to GlyProArg. The described affinity gel can be used more than 50 times without any loss of capacity.
MRI findings in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Thirty-four MRI studies of 26 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis are reported. Lesions of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images are the most common finding; they frequently involve the periventricular or subcortical white matter. Lesions tend to start in the cortex-subcortical white matter and progress with periventricular white matter involvement and diffuse cerebral atrophy. Pial and parenchymal contrast enhancement, local mass effect of parenchymal lesions, and involvement of the splenic portion of the corpus callosum are not infrequent. Basal ganglia and brainstem lesions were rare in this series. Although cortical and subcortical lesions have some correlation with clinical findings, the extent and location of the periventricular white matter lesions and cerebral atrophy did not reflect the neurologic status in many patients. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 1278-1283
An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Wet and Dry Coil Conditions on Cyclic Performance in the SEER Procedure

In the Unites States, residential air conditioners (ACs) and heat pumps (HPs) are rated by a test procedure that estimates seasonal efficiency, or SEER. One part of the test procedure -the cyclic test determines the efficiency degradation when the AC system cycles ON and OFF. The cyclic test is presently conducted at dry coil conditions, even though most systems operate the majority of the time at wet coil conditions. In this paper, cyclic test results are presented for two AC systems one constant-speed (CS) and one variable-speed (liS) -at both wet and dry coil conditions. The results indicate that wet and dry cyclic tests are not equivalent, as had been assumed [5]. The wet coil cyclic test results in a 9% smaller SEER than the dry coil cyclic test for the CS 5ystem, and 4% smaller SEER for the vs system. A new method for conducting the cyclic test at wet coil conditions is presented. INTRODUCTION In the late 1970's, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) developed and implemented a rating procedure to determine the efficiency of residential air conditioners (ACs) and heat pumps (HPs) in the cooling mode. This procedure consists of a series of laboratory tests that manufacturers are required to perform to determine the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The purpose of this paper is to examine one particular aspect of the test procedure: the cyclic test. Presently, the cyclic test is performed at dry coil conditions (sensible only, no moisture removal), even though most systems operate at wet coil conditions 1n the majority of applications. The cyclic performance of two AC systems is experimentally examined; one constant-speed (CS) system and one variable-speed (liS) system are tested. Tests are run at both wet and dry coil conditions and the results are compared. overview of SEER Test Procedure The SEER procedure consists of a series of steady-state and cyclic laboratory tests, which are specified in detail in the Federal Register [1], as well as ARI and ASH RAE Standards [2,3]. The required tests for a conventional, CS systems are listed in Table 1 .
Digital rights management in ubiquitous computing

The Internet has revolutionized multimedia content distribution, shifting the way content producers and users approach digital rights. However, ubiquitous computing will alter the digital rights management environment even more, and current techniques are ill equipped to deal with the changes. Distributed trust can help to overcome the challenge of maintaining digital rights for ubiquitous computing, using cellular automata to measure trust levels across a system.
See the Ball, Hit the Ball

Baseball players frequently say that the ball appears bigger when they are hitting well. In describing a mammoth 565-ft home run, Mickey Mantle said, ‘‘I never really could explain it. I just saw the ball as big as a grapefruit’’ (Early, n.d.). George Scott of the Boston Red Sox said, ‘‘When you’re hitting the ball [well], it comes at you looking like a grapefruit. When you’re not, it looks like a blackeyed pea’’ (Baseball Almanac, n.d.). During a slump, Joe ‘‘Ducky’’ Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals said he felt like he was ‘‘swinging at aspirins’’ (Bradley, 2003). Similar comments have been made by such Hall of Famers as Ted Williams (Bicknell, 2000), ‘‘Wee’’ Willie Keeler (Bradley, 2003), George Brett (Langill, n.d.), and more. This phenomenon is not limited to baseball. When playing well, tennis players report that the ball looks huge, golfers say that the cup looks bigger, and basketball players say that the hoop looks enormous. All of these people report perceptions that are modulated by performance efficacy. Our experiment confirms that this phenomenon is a psychological reality.
Treatment of Lisfranc Fracture-Dislocations with Primary Partial Arthrodesis

Background: The optimal method of treatment for Lisfranc fracture-dislocations remains controversial, and the role of primary partial arthrodesis for combined osseous-ligamentous Lisfranc injuries is unclear. This study reviewed the outcomes of Lisfranc injuries treated by primary partial arthrodesis. Methods: Patients who underwent primary partial arthrodesis for a primarily ligamentous or combined osseous and ligamentous Lisfranc fracture-dislocation were reviewed retrospectively and assessed at followup according to radiographic, clinical and standardized patient-based outcomes. Twenty-five patients (12 ligamentous, 13 combined), median age of 46 (range, 20 to 73) years, were followed for an average of 42 (range, 24 to 96) months. Results: The average American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 81 points (scale 0 to 100), with patients in general losing points for mild pain, limitations of recreational activities, and fashionable footwear requirements. There was no statistical difference between ligamentous and combined injuries with regard to the physical or mental component scores on the SF-36. At latest followup, patients reported an average return to 85% of their preinjury activity level (range, 50% to 100%). Twenty-one patients (84%) expressed satisfaction with their outcome and at latest followup, the mean visual analog pain scale (VAS) score was 1.8 out of 10 (range, 0 to 8). Three patients showed radiographic signs of posttraumatic arthritis of adjacent joints. Conclusion: Treatment of both primarily ligamentous and combined osseous and ligamentous lisfranc injuries with primary partial arthrodesis produced good clinical and patient-based outcomes. Level of Evidence: III, Retrospective Comparative Study
The interplay of local and distant control in the cure of cervical cancer

From 1978 to 1986, 183 women with cervical cancer received definitive radiation therapy after extraperitoneal surgical staging. Relapse‐free rates were strong functions of pelvic lymph node metastases and cervical size. the recurrence distribution consisted of 4% isolated local, 13% isolated distant, and 17% combined local and distant failures. With the assumption of independent local and distant failure probabilities, Suit et al.'s method was extended to assess potential improvement in cure attainable with perfect local and distant control, yielding local (LSA) and distant (DSA) survival advantages of 17% and 28%. Various subsets of clinical stage, cervical size, pelvic node metastases, periaortic metastases, and peritoneal metastases had LSA from 12% to 27% and DSA from 12% to 71%. For any prognostic group, LSA never exceeded DSA, showing that effective systemic therapy would have a greater impact on improving survival than would advances in local and regional tumor control. Therapeutic implications and limitations of the extended LSA‐DSA model are discussed. This form of analysis can be used to guide the intensity of local and distant treatment to maximize the cure of the patient with cancer.
Adult mesenchymal stem cells: characterization, differentiation, and application in cell and gene therapy

A considerable amount of retrospective data is available that describes putative mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, there is still very little knowledge available that documents the properties of a MSC in its native environment. Although the precise identity of MSCs remains a challenge, further understanding of their biological properties will be greatly advanced by analyzing the mechanisms that govern their self‐renewal and differentiation potential. This review begins with the current state of knowledge on the biology of MSCs, specifically with respect to their existence in the adult organism and postulation of their biological niche. While MSCs are considered suitable candidates for cell‐based strategies owing to their intrinsic capacity to self‐renew and differentiate, there is currently little information available regarding the molecular mechanisms that govern their stem cell potential. We propose here a model for the regulation of MSC differentiation, and recent findings regarding the regulation of MSC differentiation are discussed. Current research efforts focused on elucidating the mechanisms regulating MSC differentiation should facilitate the design of optimal in vitro culture conditions to enhance their clinical utility cell and gene therapy.
The ‘Myth’ of Asphyxia and Hypoxia-Ischemia as Primary Causes of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

for weeks) whenever an infant has low Apgar scores, is on mechanical ventilation, receiving CPAP, having apnea and bradycardia and showing other signs of vascular instability. However, evidence accumulated from human preterm neonates over the past two decades suggests little if any relationship between asphyxia or primary hypoxicischemic gut injury and NEC. This article as well as others that employ primary intestinal ischemia to study ‘neonatal NEC’ implies that asphyxia and primary hypoxic ischemic injury are basic causes of NEC, which is not the case, and should therefore not be utilized to propagate the myth of a strong relationship between these and NEC. It is of foremost importance to emphasize that NEC is primarily a disease of premature infants. In fact, NEC was almost unheard of prior to the 1970s, when a major emphasis was placed on improving the survival of very preterm infants. Although intestinal diseases similar to NEC appear to occur in term infants, older children and adults, the epidemiology appears to be quite different from that in preterm infants. In full-term infants, NEC usually develops within a few days of birth [4] , thus making perinatal events such as primary asphyxia and hypoxic ischemic injury plausible pathogenic factors in these infants. Furthermore, intestinal necrosis is also seen in infants shortly after complicated cardiac surgery, especially with the use of bypass, which also suggests a role of The paper by Ozen et al. [1] in this issue demonstrates an interesting protective effect of IGF-1 against hypoxiaischemia induced intestinal injury in young mice that is likely to be mediated through inhibition of caspase-3 and subsequent apoptosis. At the same time, it also raises serious questions about the validity of this and other animal models used to evaluate neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). I am raising this concern because of what appears to be a popular misconception among neonatologists that NEC is caused by asphyxia and/or primary hypoxia and ischemia. There is little question that intestinal injury can be caused by hypoxic-ischemic insults, but whether this refl ects the most common form of NEC seen by neonatologists is highly debatable. The diving seal refl ex [2] (refl ex circulatory shunting to selectively perfuse the brain and heart at the expense of other ‘non-vital’ organs) has classically been invoked as the major mechanism responsible for ischemic injury and necrosis to the neonatal bowel [3] . The premature infant is exposed to numerous perinatal stresses, such as hypotension, hypothermia, hypoxia, feeding, anemia and umbilical vessel catheterization, which have been postulated to play a role in pathogenesis of ischemic injury to the neonatal intestine. This has prompted neonatologists to frequently be overcautious in feeding practices (sometimes placing babies ‘nil by mouth’ and on exclusive parenteral nutrition Published online: November 3, 2004
The Right Relationship Is Everything: Linking Personality Preferences to Managerial Behaviors.

Individual differences and personality factors have reemerged as some of the more important research topics in the applied organizational sciences. With the increasing prevalence of executive coaching and the use of personality assessments, more research needs to be done on the impact of personality variables on managerial behaviors in the workplace. The following study provides an applied analysis of personality preferences and behavioral ratings collected for a developmental multirater feedback intervention based on 343 senior managers and others in a research-driven global health services organization. Results revealed modest personality-behavior relationships, many of which were consistent with Myers-Briggs Type Indicator theory and research; differences by observer perspective were also evident. Implications for HRD practice are discussed. © 2000 by Jossey-Bass, A Publishing Unit of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Workplace stress in libraries: a case study

Purpose – This paper seeks to analyse the results of a case study conducted in 2008/2009 investigating workplace stress in a further education college library service.Design/methodology/approach – Results from questionnaires and a series of semi‐structured interviews held with library staff are analysed and discussed in the paper.Findings – Librarians reported that interaction with students can be stressful or enjoyable, depending on context. The need to control noise levels, modify student behaviour and balance the needs of different user groups are cited as stressors. The results also show that the library staff exhibit a degree of humour and self‐awareness in their work and employ a range of methods to cope with stress.Research limitations/implications – Repeating the study more widely amongst a range of differing library services would add credibility to the findings.Practical implications – This study shows that positive stress may motivate librarians to engage actively with students and thus create .
Wound Complications Associated With Brachytherapy for Primary or Salvage Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

Brachytherapy can be employed in the primary or salvage treatment of head and neck cancer. The advantage of brachytherapy is the stereotactic limitation of radiation exposure to noninvolved tissues. Wound complications associated with brachytherapy have been discussed only sporadically in the literature. This retrospective study examines 28 patients, 20 for initial treatment and eight for salvage, with varying site and stage head and neck cancer treated with brachytherapy in addition to external beam radiation therapy and/or surgery. The overall complication rate was 50% (14/28), with infection and minor flap breakdown being the most common problems. Tumor site in the primary treatment group was the only significant factor in wound complications. In the salvage group complications were minor and primarily related to flap coverage of brachytherapy catheters.
Eigen-Coherence and Link Performance of Closed-Loop 4G Wireless in Measured Outdoor MIMO Channels

Employing feedback in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems offers the potential to significantly increase data rates over open-loop schemes. However, the impact the propagation channel has on the behavior and performance of the scheme must be considered and, where appropriate, the signaling designed to suit. In this paper, measured outdoor MIMO propagation data is used to evaluate initially the distributions and statistics of the coherence of the eigenmodes of the channel, for a wide range of mobility scenarios and user devices. Then, the impact on link performance of the differing coherences in time and frequency is evaluated in terms of the feedback delay and spectral spacing of pilots in a practical feedback scheme used in mobile WiMAX. It is found that not only mobility and physical environment, but also the directivity of the antenna array affect the eigen-coherence and also, therefore, the performance of a feedback scheme. Bit-error rate and information capacity are both shown to be sensitive to increased feedback delay and pilot spacing, however, the closed-loop system always outperforms its open-loop counterpart.
Specific Microbial Communities Associate with the Rhizosphere of Welwitschia mirabilis, a Living Fossil

Welwitschia mirabilis is an ancient and rare plant distributed along the western coast of Namibia and Angola. Several aspects of Welwitschia biology and ecology have been investigated, but very little is known about the microbial communities associated with this plant. This study reports on the bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of W. mirabilis and the surrounding bulk soil. Rhizosphere communities were dominated by sequences of Alphaproteobacteria and Euromycetes, while Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and fungi of the class Dothideomycetes jointly dominated bulk soil communities. Although microbial communities within the rhizosphere and soil samples were highly variable, very few “species” (OTUs defined at a 97% identity cut-off) were shared between these two environments. There was a small ‘core’ rhizosphere bacterial community (formed by Nitratireductor, Steroidobacter, Pseudonocardia and three Phylobacteriaceae) that together with Rhizophagus, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, and other putative plant growth-promoting microbes may interact synergistically to promote Welwitschia growth.
Minimal-Access Aortic Valve Replacement with Concomitant Aortic Procedure: A 9-Year Experience

Objective Minimal-access approaches through upper hemisternotomy is an established technique for aortic valve replacement (AVR) and aortic surgery in our institution. We assessed the outcome of undergoing AVR with concomitant aortic surgery through upper hemisternotomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 109 patients from January 2002 to May 2011 who had AVR with concomitant aortic surgery through upper hemisternotomy. Aortic valve replacement with supra-coronary ascending aortic replacement was performed in 65 patients; AVR with ascending and proximal arch replacement, in 8 patients; AVR with aortoplasty, in 11 patients; Bentall procedure, in 8 patients; and AVR with root enlargement, in 13 patients. In-hospital outcomes and 1- and 5-year survival were examined. Results The mean age was 58.5 years (range, 23–89 years); 41.3% of patients had bicuspid aortic valve (n = 45). Of the patients, 82.6% had true aneurysm (n = 90), 2.8% had calcified aorta (n = 3), 8.3% had small annulus (n = 9), and 3.7% had calcified annulus (n = 4). There were 6 (5.5%) reoperations and 15 (13.8%) urgent cases. Mean perfusion time was 152 ± 61 minutes, and cross-clamp time was 108 ± 47 minutes. Nine cases were performed with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (8.3%). Operative mortality was 2.8% (n = 3). There were 4 (3.7%) cases with reoperation for bleeding, 2 (1.8%) myocardial infarctions, and 2 (1.8%) new-onset renal failure. Mean length of stay was 7.1 ± 5.6 days. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 1-year postoperative survival was 96.2% and 5-year survival was 92.4%. Conclusions An upper hemisternotomy approach is safe and feasible for AVR and concomitant aortic surgery with good early and midterm outcomes. This approach is also associated with low morbidity rate and short length of stay.