Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment to alcohol treatment: a comparison between male and female problem drinkers recruited to treatment in two different ways.

Summary This study looks at similarities and differences between four groups of problem drinkers. The subjects were 143 men and 39 women, inpatients of an alcoholism treatment clinic; and 84 male and 51 female participants in an outpatient treatment research project at The National Institute of Alcohol Research in Oslo, Norway. The latter were recruited by newspaper advertisements. The results showed that the outpatients when entering the study, were in a better socio-economic situation, were better educated and had higher job status than the inpatients. The outpatients had a lower alcohol consumption, a less severe drinking pattern, and had fewer alcohol-related treatment experiences. The differences between subjects seemed to be more pronounced for the women. However, the length of problem drinking and the age of the subjects were the same for inpatients and outpatients. The outpatients did not appear to be early problem drinkers, but may have been recruited from a different segment of the population of problem drinkers, namely with more moderate drinking problems. This finding may have therapeutic and prognostic significance.
Investigating Consumer Preferences in Choosing Vegetarian Restaurants Using Conjoint Analysis

People who eat out in urban are more common than ever before. However, restaurant foods are often high in calories, and lack for enough vegetables. Moreover, they provide too many calories from animal fat and protein resulting in a high risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, a diet high in animal products contributes to global warming. For these reasons, a vegetarian diet can be recommended. The main purposes of this study are the following: (1) Un-derstanding and evaluating the customers’ preferences when selecting vegetarian restaurants. (2) In order to decrease the disease risks and the negative impact on the planet caused by a meat diet, researching ways to encourage consumers to choose vegetarian restaurants. The results of conjoint analysis indicated that when people choose vegetarian restaurants, they prefer ones that provide Chinese style cuisines, organic foods, cuisines that can help to lose weight, interiors with simple decor and ones that promote environmental protection.
Muscular strength , neuromuscular activation and performance in discus throwers

The aim of the study was to investigate muscular strength and neuromuscular activation of the lower extremities during discus throwing. Six experienced, right-handed, discus throwers, performed three maximal attempts from the power position and three maximal attempts with the full rotational style. They also performed a maximum squat and incline bench press test. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from quadriceps and gastrocnemius of the right and the left lower extremities during all efforts. Average EMG signals (aEMG) during discus throwing were normalized relatively to the EMG signals measured during 1RM squat strength test. Discus throwing performance, was significantly correlated with 1RM in incline bench press (r=0.96, p<0.01) as well as with aEMG from right quadriceps, at the delivery phase (r=0.81, p<0.05). Discus throwing performance was significantly, negatively, correlated with the duration of the activation of quadriceps and gastrocnemius of right lower extremity (r=-0.94, p<0.01, and r=-0.88, p<0.05, respectively). These results suggest that discus throwing performance is strongly linked with absolute muscular strength during incline bench press but not with max squat strength. Furthermore, discus throwing performance seems to be strongly linked with an enhanced activation of the right quadriceps, as well as with a short activation of right quadriceps and gastrocnemius, during delivery.
PCR-based detection of mycobacteria in sputum samples using a simple and reliable DNA extraction protocol.

D N A from the agarose gel, thus speeding up the procedure. The products of 25-^iL or 50-^iL PCRs are run on a 2% low melting point agarose gel in Tris-acetate (TA) buffer, the resulting bands excised and either stored at -20°C or used immediately. These agarose slices are placed in microcentrifuge tubes and 2 juL 5% Nonidet® P-40, 3 | i L Sequenase® Version 2.0 buffer (United States Biochemical, Cleveland, OH, USA), 1 ^iL formamide and 1 | i L 10 j i M sequencing primer are added. The tubes are put in a boiling water bath for 5 min and then snap frozen in a -80°C absolute ethanol bath. The tubes are then centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 min at a temperature of 5°C. Twelve microliters of the resulting supernatant are then used in a modified Sequenase chain termination reaction (Figure 1). This procedure produces rapid results with various PCR products and has been invaluable for sequencing very small fragments generated during ancient D N A investigations. Continuous sequences of up to 300 bp are produced regularly using mtDNA primers in the cytochrome b and 12S R N A small subunit regions. Primers for a low copy number human repetitive element have also been used with success.
Stochastic Lagrangian Models for Two-Particle Relative Dispersion in High-Reynolds Number Turbulence

s—A new stochastic model (a diffusion approximation) for the relative dispersion of pair of particles in high-Reynolds-number incompressible turbulence is proposed. An attempt is made to uniquely define the coefficients of SDE governing the relative dispersion process under a closure assumption about the quasi-one dimensional model. An approach for constructing a diffusion approximation of the relative dispersion taking into account the intermittency is proposed.
Early switch from intravenous to oral cephalosporins in the treatment of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Switch therapy is defined as the early transition from intravenous to oral antibiotics during treatment of infection. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcome and length of stay of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia treated with an early switch from intravenous to oral third-generation cephalosporins. METHODS Patients with a new roentgenographic pulmonary infiltrate and at least two symptoms (cough, fever, or leukocytosis) were enrolled in this study and treated with intravenous ceftizoxime sodium (1 g every 12 hours) or ceftriaxone sodium (1 g every 24 hours). Patients were switched to oral cefixime (400 mg every 24 hours) as soon as they met the following criteria: (1) resolution of fever; (2) improvement of cough and respiratory distress; (3) improvement of leukocytosis; and (4) presence of normal gastrointestinal tract absorption. RESULTS Of the 120 patients enrolled, 75 (62%) had clinical data evaluated. Long-term follow-up showed that 74 patients (99%) were cured; one patient required readmission for further intravenous therapy. Mean duration of hospital stay was 4 days. CONCLUSIONS This investigation demonstrated that an early switch to oral cefixime may be reasonable in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia who have already shown a good clinical and laboratory response to therapy with intravenous third-generation cephalosporins. This approach is clinically effective and minimizes hospital stay.
Electrophysiological characterization of laminar synaptic inputs to the olfactory tubercle of the rat studied in vitro: modulation of glutamatergic transmission by cholinergic agents is pathway‐specific

We have exploited the complementary arrangement of afferents in a coronal slice (300–400 µm) of the rat olfactory tubercle (OT) maintained in vitro to investigate transmission in two separate synaptic pathways. We recorded extracellular responses within the OT dense cell layer in slices and stimulated either the outermost layer to activate primary olfactory fibres or deeper to activate secondary input. Superficial stimulation produced a synaptic potential with superimposed population spike. This interpretation was based on blockade by calcium removal from the bathing medium and the use of the glutamate antagonist DNQX (10 µm); the spike was found to be selectively suppressed by tetrodotoxin applied near the cells. The spike, but not the synaptic wave, was depressed by 12 mm Ca2+ and enhanced by 1 mm Ba2+ in the bathing medium. Deep stimulation to activate association and intrinsic fibres elicited a nerve volley followed by a later response, also blocked by Ca2+ removal or 10 µm DNQX. It was unaffected by high Ca2+ or Ba2+, hence resulting from synaptic and not action current flow. Removal of Mg2+ from the bathing medium revealed an NMDA component of synaptic transmission at both loci that was selectively blocked by D‐AP‐5. The deep synaptic response, only, was depressed by carbachol IC50 7 µm or muscarine IC50 13 µm. This depression was also induced by AChE inhibitors eserine or tacrine and was antagonized by 1 µm atropine or 5–10 µm clozapine. These results characterize transmission in the OT and demonstrate a role for muscarinic modulation of deeper synapses in the OT that is influenced by psychotherapeutic drugs.
Predictors of Cerebral Reperfusion Injury After Carotid Stenting: The Role of Transcranial Color-Coded Doppler Ultrasonography

Purpose: To evaluate the possible role of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) in predicting cerebral reperfusion injury (CRI) in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) for internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Methods: TCD was obtained in 210 patients (149 men; mean age 64.2±8.4 years, range 44–83) who underwent CAS for ICA stenosis averaging 86.7%±8.4%. Contralateral ICA occlusion or near occlusion (stenosis >90%) was present in 67 (31.9%) patients. TCD was performed before and 24 hours after CAS with assessment of peak systolic velocities (PSVs) in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (iMCA) and contralateral middle cerebral artery (cMCA). PSV ratios (PSVR) in the iMCA and cMCA were calculated from the PSVs before and after CAS. Results: CRI syndrome occurred in 3 (1.4%) patients (2 intracranial bleedings, 1 subarachnoid hemorrhage). The mean iMCA and cMCA PSVRs were 2.66±0.19 and 4.16±2.77, respectively, in CRI patients, while the PSVRs in CAS patients without neurological sequelae were 1.56±0.46 and 1.21±0.39, respectively (both p<0.001). The combination of iPSVR>2.4 and cPSVR>2.4 occurred in 4 patients with bilateral ICA disease; 3 (75%) of them developed CRI (100% sensitivity and 99% specificity for CRI prediction). The following independent CRI predictors were identified: combined iPSVR>2.4 and cPSVR>2.4 (RR 2.06, CI 1.89 to 2.24; p<0.001), high cMCA PSV after CAS (RR 1.23, CI 1.13 to 1.34; p<0.001), and contralateral ICA occlusion (RR 1.13, CI 1.03 to 1.23; p=0.007). Conclusion: TCD is an important tool in CRI risk evaluation. The combination of iPSVR>2.4 and cPSVR>2.4 is an independent CRI risk factor, along with contralateral ICA occlusion and high cMCA PSVs after CAS.
Autoimmune Fibrotic Adverse Reactions in One-Year Treatment with Cabergoline for Women with Prolactinoma.

AIM Cabergoline is related to an elevated risk of fibrotic adverse reactions including cardiac valvular and pleuropulmonary fibrosis. We investigated pulmonary and cardiac valve fibrosis and immunological markers before and after 3 and 12 months of treatment with cabergoline in women with prolactinoma. MATERIAL-METHODS The study included thirty-two women with newly diagnosed prolactinoma and 28 healthy women. CAB cumulative dose was 7.8±5.5 mg after 3-month therapy, and 31±22 mg after 12-month follow-up. The risk of autoimmune adverse fibrotic reactions related to CAB treatment including cardiac valvulopathy and pulmonary fibrosis were assessed by a transthoracic echocardiography and pulmonary function tests, respectively. Immunological markers including Antistreptolysin O, Rheumatoid factor, Immunglobuline E, Antinuchlear antibody were also evaluated. RESULTS Before the start of CAB therapy, the total prevalence of trace grade of mitral, aortic, pulmonic, and tricuspid valve regurgitations were found as 34%, 3%, 6.3%, and 39 % respectively in women with prolactinoma. After improving of prolactin levels with CAB treatment, no change was found in the prevalence of the all valve regurgitations. There was no deterioration in pulmonary function tests. Rheumatoid factor was found higher in newly diagnosed women with prolactinoma than in healthy women (p=0.01), and this was improved by CAB therapy (p=0.005). CONCLUSION The prospective study indicated that sufficient cabergoline doses for a period of one year treatment of prolactinoma were not found to be related to fibrotic adverse reactions including cardiac valvular and pulmonary fibrosis or increased levels of immunological marker, apart from rheumatoid factor. For the first time Rf was found higher in newly diagnosed women with prolactinoma and was improved after cabergoline therapy.
Work engagement : A daily perspective

The objective of this diary study was to look at the potential positive within-person relationships between positive emotions, work-related hope, and the three dimensions of work engagement on a daily level (i.e. vigor, dedication, and absorption). Following Broaden-and-Build theory and Affective Events Theory, it was expected that the experience of positive emotions would cause hope, which in turn would lead to a state of vigor, dedication, and absorption. The study was conducted among 59 employees of a Dutch university, who filled in a diary questionnaire for five consecutive working days, twice a day. As expected, the experience of positive emotions had an indirect effect on the level of vigor, dedication, and absorption through hope across days. So, it seems that an individual and daily perspective on work engagement is particularly worthwhile and provides valuable insights to enhance employee engagement in practice. Corresponding author: Else Ouweneel, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, Utrecht 3508 TC, The Netherlands. Email: e.ouweneel@uu.nl 429382 HUM65910.1177/0018726711429382Ouweneel et al.Human Relations 2012 at University Library Utrecht on September 3, 2012 hum.sagepub. com Downloaded from 1130 Human Relations 65(9)
Local Polynomial Wavelet Neural Network with a Nonlinear Structured Parameter Optimization Method

This paper presents a Local Polynomial Wavelet Neural Network with a Structured Nonlinear Parameter Optimization Method (LPWNN-SNPOM). The LPWNN-SNPOM is an improvement of the Wavelet Neural Network with a Hybrid Learning Approach (WNN-HLA). These two models have mainly three differences: i) The LPWNN-SNPOM method contains a bias, whose main contribution is to shift the output by mapping all points to the mean of the target points and leaving the hidden neurons and polynomial weight model the differences from that point. The bias may ameliorate the overall performance of the network to a certain degree. ii) The single parameter weights connecting the hidden layer with the output in the WNN-HLA are replaced by polynomial functions of the inputs in the LPWNN-SNPOM, allowing the weights to vary with the changes in the input and share the dynamics with the wavelet compartment. iii) Unlike the WNN-HLA, which uses an online optimization approach, the LPWNN-SNPOM makes usage of an offline optimization approach known as the Structured Nonlinear Parameter Optimization Method (SNPOM). This learning approach divides the parameter search space into linear and nonlinear subspace and centers the search in the nonlinear subspace, but at each iteration in the optimization process, a search in the nonlinear (or linear) subspace is executed on the basis of the estimated values just obtained in the linear (or nonlinear) subspace. The search in the nonlinear subspace uses a method similar to the Levenberg–Marquardt Method (LMM), and the search in the linear subspace uses the Least Square Method (LSM). The performance and effectiveness of the proposed model are illustrated using several examples, whose results show the feasibility of the proposed model and demonstrate that it improved upon the WNN-HLA and performed better than some other well-known models.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of 64Cu-Labeled SarAr-Bombesin Analogs in Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor–Expressing Prostate Cancer

Bombesin is a 14–amino-acid amphibian peptide that binds with high affinity to the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), which is overexpressed on a variety of solid tumors. It has been demonstrated that bombesin analogs can be radiolabeled with a variety of radiometals for potential diagnosis and treatment of GRPR-positive tumors. In this regard, several studies have used different chelators conjugated to the 8 C-terminal amino acids of bombesin(7-14) for radiolabeling with 64Cu. These analogs have demonstrated GRPR-specific small-animal PET of tumors but have various advantages and disadvantages. The objective of this study was to conjugate the previously described (1-N-(4-aminobenzyl)-3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo[6.6. 6]-eicosane-1,8-diamine) (SarAr) chelator to bombesin(7-14), radiolabel the conjugate with 64Cu, and evaluate in vitro and in vivo. Methods: SarAr was synthesized as previously published and conjugated to bombesin(7-14) by solid-phase peptide synthesis using standard Fmoc chemistry. Succinic acid (SA), 8-aminooctanoic acid (Aoc), and Gly-Ser-Gly (GSG) were used as linkers between SarAr and bombesin(7-14) to yield the resulting SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14) and SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14) peptides. The unlabeled peptides were evaluated in a competitive binding assay using PC-3 prostate cancer cells and 125I-Tyr4-bombesin to determine the inhibitory concentration of 50%. The peptides were radiolabeled with 64Cu and evaluated for internalization into PC-3 cells in vitro and for in vivo tumor uptake in mice bearing PC-3 xenografts using biodistribution and small-animal PET/CT studies. Results: The competitive binding assay demonstrated that both SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14) and SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14) bound with high affinity to GRPR with an inhibitory concentration of 50% of 3.5 and 4.5 nM, respectively. Both peptides were radiolabeled with 64Cu at room temperature without further purification and demonstrated similar internalization into PC-3 cells. In vivo, the radiolabeled peptides demonstrated tumor-specific uptake (13.0 and 8.5 percentage injected dose per gram for 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14) and 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14), respectively, at 1 h) and imaging that was comparable to, or better than, that of the previously reported 64Cu-labeled bombesin analogs. The 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14) had more rapid blood clearance and lower tumor and normal-tissue uptake than 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14), resulting in similar tumor-to-blood ratios for each analog (15.1 vs. 11.3 for 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14) and 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14), respectively, at 1 h). Conclusion: These studies demonstrate that 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-bombesin(7-14) and 64Cu-SarAr-SA-Aoc-GSG-bombesin(7-14) bound with high affinity to GRPR-expressing cells and that these peptides can be used for PET of GRPR-expressing prostate cancer.
Effect of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding on the Uterine Consistency and the Amount of Vaginal Blood Loss during Early Postpartum Period

Introduction: In growing countries, women’s death is contributed to a wide array of complications in pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period. These complications existed because of their pregnancy status and some because pregnancy, severed their existing diseases. Among developing countries, postpartum hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. As recommended by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), infants must be in skin to skin contact with their mother immediately after birth, and mothers must be assisted for initiating breastfeeding within the first half hour of initiating birth. There are lesser studies on breastfeeding advantages for mothers compare to those of infants, but satisfactory evidences show that women who breastfeed have improved health in the short term and has lower risk for developing future diseases. Aim of the Study: This study aims to examine the effect of early initiation and frequency of breast-feeding on the uterine consistency and the amount of vaginal blood loss during early post-partum period. Methods: A quasi experimental research design was carried out. Study was conducted in delivery room and postpartum units at King Fahd Hospital of the university in Al-Khobar, and Qatief Central Hospital in Qatief and Maternity and Children Hospital in Dammam. Convenient sample was used over a period of three months. The sample size was (100 women) whom divided into two groups. The researchers assessed the uterine consistency, fundal level and the amount of vaginal blood loss for women in both groups immediately following placenta separation and every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours in relation to breastfeeding. Results: In relation to uterine consistency after placental delivery the experimental and control groups showed no statistically significant differences between them. As regards to the amount of vaginal blood loss in the experimental and control groups, it was observed that the mean of vaginal blood loss among the control group was higher compared with the experimental group, this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Early initiation and frequency of breastfeeding immediately following labor decrease the amount of vaginal blood loss and improve uterine involution.
Collaborative Technologies in Inter-University Instruction

Can we demonstrate and implement scalable, cost-effective distance independent learning? At the University of Michigan during the 1994–1995 academic year, we worked through this problem and offered a course concurrently in Ann Arbor and at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. After looking both at the various forms of interaction which instruction involves (class lecture, team projects, interaction among peers, discussion with faculty) and the types of assignments (individual, group via computer, group via conversation) necessary for successful demonstration of mastery of course objectives, we selected technologies to fit the tasks and exploit a range of collaborative tools in a distance independent mode. Those technologies and applications included ISDN video conferencing, telephone conferencing, CUSeeMe, Timbuktu, PowerPoint, Internet tools, and fax. Many of the materials used in the class were available on the Internet (URL: http://www.sils.umich.edu/http: //www.sils.umich.edu/∼mholland/class/joint/introjoint.htmlsim;mholland/class/joint/introjoint.html) or through local servers at both institutions. Throughout the term, students provided feedback on their level of engagement and satisfaction with newly-introduced technologies; much of this data and evaluative comment are also available at the same URL. This article develops the matrix of technology/task fit, describes the various components of instruction, and presents some evaluation of the course from both the student and the faculty perspectives. It concludes with an overview of ongoing work and a perspective on future directions for distance independent learning. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.