Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeling safe and motivated to achieve better health: Experiences with a partnership‐based nursing practice programme for in‐home patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients' experiences with a partnership-based nursing practice programme in the home setting. BACKGROUND Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suffer from psychological and physiological problems, especially when they return home after hospitalisation from exacerbation. Many express a need for information and knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Partnership as practice is a patient-centred framework providing an individualised practice for each patient. This study intends to achieve a nuanced and improved understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients' experiences with a partnership-based nursing practice programme comprising home visits from a respiratory nurse after hospital discharge, alongside interdisciplinary collaboration. DESIGN This study has a qualitative design with interviews. METHODS Six individual semi-structured interviews collected in 2012-2013 constitute the material. Interviews were recorded, transcribed to written text and analysed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS Three key themes were identified: to be seen, talked with and understood; healthcare support at home-continuity, practical support and facilitation; and exchange of knowledge. However, there were two generic themes that permeated the material: feeling safe and comforted, and motivation to achieve better health. CONCLUSIONS Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can experience feeling safe and comforted, and be motivated to make changes in order to achieve better health after participating in a partnership-based nursing practice programme that includes home visits from a respiratory nurse and interdisciplinary cooperation after hospital discharge. To feel safe is of great importance, and how this relates to the patient's ability to cope with illness should be explored in further research. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The results suggest that the partnership-based nursing practice programme that includes home visits and interdisciplinary collaboration can be a good approach to meeting the complexity of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient's health needs.
Placebo response in randomized controlled trials of antidepressants for pediatric major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE The authors examined characteristics and predictors of response to placebo in all available reports of short-term randomized controlled trials of antidepressants for pediatric major depressive disorder. METHOD Response, defined as a score <or=2 on the improvement item of the Clinical Global Impression scale, and potential predictors were extracted from 12 published and unpublished randomized controlled trials of second-generation antidepressants in participants 6-18 years of age with major depression. RESULTS The single best predictor of the proportion of patients taking placebo who responded to treatment was the number of study sites. Baseline severity of illness also emerged as a significant inverse predictor of placebo response, although the strength of this relationship was diminished when number of sites was controlled for. After one large fluoxetine trial was excluded, younger participants showed a higher placebo response rate than older adolescents. Higher placebo response rates in more recent studies were explained by an increasing trend toward large multisite trials and by publication delays and failures to publish some negative trials. CONCLUSIONS The recent shift toward large multisite trials of antidepressant medications for pediatric major depression may be contributing to an increasing incidence of response to placebo. Pharmacotherapy studies of pediatric depression that carefully recruit patients with at least moderately severe depression may be more informative and efficient than many trials conducted to date. Such studies should have sufficient power to determine whether age moderates medication and placebo response.
Sensitivity of gram-negative bacilli to the serum bactericidal activity: a marker of the host-parasite relationship in acute and persisting infections.

(1977). Sensitivity of Gram-Negative Bacilli to the Serum Bactericidal Activity: A Marker of the Host-Parasite Relationship in Acute and Persisting Infections. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases: Vol. 9, No. sup10, pp. 1-40.
On the Complexity of Searching a Set of Vectors

The vector searching problem is, given k-vector A (a k-vector is a vector that has k components, over the integers) and given a set $\bar B$ of n distinct k-vectors, to determine whether or not A is a member of set $\bar B$. Comparisons between components yielding “greater than-equal-less than” results are permitted. If the vectors in $\bar B$ are unordered then $nk$ comparisons are necessary and sufficient. In the casewhen the vectors in B are ordered, it is shown that $\lfloor \log n \rfloor + k$ comparisons are necessary and, for $n \geqq 4k$, $k\lceil\log (n/k) \rceil + 2k - 1$ comparisons are sufficient.
Modulation of Biodistribution, Pharmacokinetics, and Photosensitivity with the Delivery Vehicle of a Bacteriochlorin Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy

Intravenous (i.v.) formulations with various amounts of organic solvents [PEG400, propylene glycol (PG), cremophor EL (CrEL)] were used to deliver a fluorinated sulfonamide bacteriochlorin to mice, rats, and minipigs. Biodistribution studies in mice showed that a low‐content CrEL formulation combines high bioavailability with high tumor‐to‐muscle and tumor‐to‐skin ratios. This formulation was also the most successful in the photodynamic therapy of mice with subcutaneously implanted CT26 murine colon adenocarcinoma tumors. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice and minipigs revealed that with the same low CrEL formulation, the half‐life of the photosensitizer in the central compartment was longer in minipigs. Differences in biodistribution with the various formulations, and in pharmacokinetics between the two animal species with the same formulation, are attributed to the interaction of the formulations with low‐density lipoproteins (LDLs). Skin photosensitivity studies in rats showed that 30 min exposure of the skin to a solar simulator 7 days after i.v. administration of the fluorinated sulfonamide bacteriochlorin at 1 mg kg−1 did not elicit significant skin reactions.
Occurrence of Tn4371-Related Mobile Elements and Sequences in (Chloro)biphenyl-Degrading Bacteria

ABSTRACT Tn4371, a 55-kb transposable element involved in the degradation and biphenyl or 4-chlorobiphenyl identified inRalstonia eutropha A5, displays a modular structure including a phage-like integrase gene (int), aPseudomonas-like (chloro)biphenyl catabolic gene cluster (bph), and RP4- and Ti-plasmid-like transfer genes (trb) (C. Merlin, D. Springael, and A. Toussaint, Plasmid 41:40–54, 1999). Southern blot hybridization was used to examine the presence of different regions of Tn4371 in a collection of (chloro)biphenyl-degrading bacteria originating from different habitats and belonging to different bacterial genera. Tn4371-related sequences were never detected on endogenous plasmids. Although the gene probes containing only bph sequences hybridized to genomic DNA from most strains tested, a limited selection of strains, all β-proteobacteria, displayed hybridization patterns similar to the Tn4371 bph cluster. Homology between Tn4371 and DNA of two of those strains, originating from the same area as strain A5, extended outside the catabolic genes and covered the putative transfer region of Tn4371. On the other hand, none of the (chloro)biphenyl degraders hybridized with the outer left part of Tn4371 containing the int gene. Thebph catabolic determinant of the two strains displaying homology to the Tn4371 transfer genes and a third strain isolated from the A5 area could be mobilized to a R. eutropha recipient, after insertion into an endogenous or introduced IncP1 plasmid. The mobilized DNA of those strains included all Tn4371 homologous sequences previously identified in their genome. Our observations show that the bph genes present on Tn4371 are highly conserved between different (chloro)biphenyl-degrading hosts, isolated globally but belonging mainly to the β-proteobacteria. On the other hand, Tn4371-related mobile elements carrying bphgenes are apparently only found in isolates from the environment that provided the Tn4371-bearing isolate A5.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Panobinostat Induces Clinical Responses with Associated Alterations in Gene Expression Profiles in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Purpose: Histone deacetylase inhibitors can alter gene expression and mediate diverse antitumor activities. Herein, we report the safety and activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat (LBH589) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and identify genes commonly regulated by panobinostat. Experimental Design: Panobinostat was administered orally to patients with CTCL on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week on a 28-day cycle. A dose of 30 mg was considered excessively toxic, and subsequent patients were treated at the expanded maximum tolerated dose of 20 mg. Biopsies from six patients taken 0, 4, 8, and 24 h after administration were subjected to microarray gene expression profiling and real-time quantitative PCR of selected genes. Results: Patients attained a complete response (n = 2), attained a partial response (n = 4), achieved stable disease with ongoing improvement (n = 1), and progressed on treatment (n = 2). Microarray data showed distinct gene expression response profiles over time following panobinostat treatment, with the majority of genes being repressed. Twenty-three genes were commonly regulated by panobinostat in all patients tested. Conclusions: Panobinostat is well tolerated and induces clinical responses in CTCL patients. Microarray analyses of tumor samples indicate that panobinostat induces rapid changes in gene expression, and surprisingly more genes are repressed than are activated. A unique set of genes that can mediate biological responses such as apoptosis, immune regulation, and angiogenesis were commonly regulated in response to panobinostat. These genes are potential molecular biomarkers for panobinostat activity and are strong candidates for the future assessment of their functional role(s) in mediating the antitumor responses of panobinostat.
Libro Rojo de parientes silvestres de cultivos de Bolivia

Con la destacable avidez de generar instrumentos cientificos que gocen de examinada y reconocida credibilidad, y en respuesta a la obligatoriedad de extender la produccion de listas rojas en todos los paises, como elementos basicos de alerta oportuna para salvar especies en peligro de extincion y actualizacion permanentemente del estado de conservacion de las especies alli listadas, mediante registros basicos, las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (UNEP), junto al Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (GEF), liderados por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua a traves del Viceministerio de Medio Ambiente, Biodiversidad y Cambios Climaticos, acertadamente ejecutaron el Proyecto global UNEP/GEF “Conservacion in situ de parientes silvestres de cultivos a traves del manejo de informacion y su aplicacion en campo”, componente Bolivia. De este proyecto emana el “Libro rojo de parientes silvestres de Bolivia”, logrando de este modo un ponderable aporte al nivel de conocimiento y la actualizacion del estado de amenaza o casi amenaza al que estan expuestos los parientes silvestres de los cultivos principales de Bolivia, entre los que se incluyen algunos que actualmente conforman el principal grupo de alimentos que contribuyen a la seguridad alimentaria del pais y que por ende repercuten tambien en los estados socio-economicos de la sociedad boliviana.
Communicating Asset Risk: How Name Recognition and the Format of Historic Volatility Information Affect Risk Perception and Investment Decisions

An experiment examined how the type and presentation format of information about investment options affected investors' expectations about asset risk, returns, and volatility and how these expectations related to asset choice. Respondents were provided with the names of 16 domestic and foreign investment options, with 10‐year historical return information for these options, or with both. Historical returns were presented either as a bar graph of returns per year or as a continuous density distribution. Provision of asset names allowed for the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the home bias in investment choice and other asset familiarity effects. Respondents provided their expectations of future returns, volatility, and expected risk, and indicated the options they would choose to invest in. Expected returns closely resembled historical expected values. Risk and volatility perceptions both varied significantly as a function of the type and format of information, but in different ways. Expected returns and perceived risk, not predicted volatility, predicted portfolio decisions.
Long-term clinical, technical, and esthetic outcomes of all-ceramic vs. titanium abutments on implant supporting single-tooth reconstructions after at least 5 years.

AIM The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate clinical, radiographic, technical, esthetic, and patient-centered outcomes of implants using two different restoration materials after 5-9 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 28 patients (test group: 13 patients with all-ceramic crowns on aluminum oxide-based abutments; control group: 15 patients with metal abutments on porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns). Evaluation of patient satisfaction, clinical (periodontal probing depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, mucosal recession, and width of keratinized mucosa), esthetical (papilla index, clinical crown length), technical (loss of retention, marginal adaptation, chipping of ceramic, anatomical shape, occlusal wear, color match), and radiological parameters were assessed. The statistical analyses included comparison of all-ceramic vs. metal abutments and between the groups using Mann-Whitney U-tests. For esthetic parameters, changes over time were assessed using Friedman test and post hoc Wilcoxon test of all complete cases. RESULTS The survival rate of the restoration was 100% in both groups. Patient's satisfaction revealed 9.7 on the visual analog scale. A low satisfaction correlated with low ratings in color or anatomical shape. The mucosal recession in the test group was less than that in the control group. An increase in distal papilla height in the year 0 to 1, and a decrease from year 1 to 8, was detected. Sites, which received a soft tissue graft, revealed stable papillae over the observation period. Clinical crown length showed higher values in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that all-ceramic restorations reveal a high survival rate of 100% and show no difference to metal after a mean observation period of 7.2 years.
Evidence of Bacterial Biofi lms in Nasal Polyposis

and no biofi lm structures were evident in any of the controls. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the presence of bacterial biofi lms in patients with CRS/NP. This chronic infl ammatory factor might contribute to nasal mucosa damage, increased infl ammatory cells in tissue, and the subsequent hyperplasic process.
A Random Key Distribution Scheme for Securing Wireless Sensor Network

Sensor networks are expected to play an essential role in the upcoming age of pervasive computing. Due to their constraints in computation, memory, and power resources, their susceptibility to physical capture, and use of wireless communications, security is a challenge in these networks. The scale of deployment of wireless sensor networks requires careful decisions and trade-offs among various security measures. In this paper we present a key management scheme based on the basic random key predistribution scheme. Our analysis of this scheme shows that it is resilient to node capture and provide features such as dynamic security, low-complexity, node to node authentication, global and continuous authentication of every node in thee network and multiple level of encryption.
Analysis of synchronisation patterns in active object based on behavioural types. (Analyse de synchronisation dans les objets actifs basée sur les types comportementaux)

1 The active object concept is a powerful computational model for defining distributed and concurrent systems. This model has recently gained prominence, largely thanks to its simplicity and its abstraction level. Thanks to this characteristics, the Active object model help the programmer to implement large scale systems, with an higher degree of parallelism and better performance. The literature presents many models based on active objects and each one is characterised by a different level of transparency for the programmer. In this work we study an Active object model with no explicit future type and with wait-by-necessity synchronisations, a lightweight technique that synchronises invocations when the corresponding values are strictly needed. Implicit future type and wait-by-necessity synchronisations entails the highest level of transparency that an Active object model can provide. Although high concurrency combined with a high level of transparency leads to good performances, they also make the system more prone to problems such as deadlocks.This is the reason that led us to study deadlock analysis in this active objects model. The development of our deadlock analysis is divided in two main works, which are presented in an incremental order of complexity. Each of these works faces a different difficulty of the proposed active object language. In the first work we focus on the implicit synchronisation on the availability of some value (where the producer of the value might be decided at runtime), whereas previous work allowed only explicit synchronisation on the termination of a well-identified request. This way we are able to analyse the data-flow synchronisation inherent to languages that feature wait-by-necessity. In the second work we present a static analysis technique based on effects and behavioural types for deriving synchronisation patterns of stateful active objects and verifying the absence of deadlocks in this context. This is challenging because active objects use futures to refer to results of pending asynchronous invocations and because these futures can be stored in object fields, passed as method parameters, or returned by invocations. Our effect system traces the access to object This work was partly funded by the French Government (National Research Agency, ANR) through the ”Investments for the Future” Program reference ANR-11-LABX-0031-01.
Human factors related to the performance of intrusion detection operators

Intrusion detection systems are common in contemporary enterprises. These systems are sometimes operated by a single individual as a part time activity; they are sometimes operated by cyber security operation centres in which a group of technology experts with the sole task of monitoring, detecting, analysing and responding to threatening events in the computer network. In either case, human factors and ergonomics should be expected to influence the intrusion detection capability. In this paper, Wickens’ model of information processing and human factors concepts and tests are related to the tasks of intrusion detection operators. This model is used to identify both environmental conditions and human capabilities that are relevant for operators’ performance as well as experimental setups that can test hypotheses related to these factors. Based on this analysis, it is proposed that the most important factors are attention, vigilance, automation, multitasking and mental workload and tests and measures such as NASA-TLX and eye-movements, should be useful.
Categorical spatial memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer dementia: Positional versus object-location recall

Abstract Memory for object locations, as part of spatial memory function, has rarely been studied in patients with Alzheimer dementia (AD), while studies in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients are lacking altogether. The present study examined categorical spatial memory function using the Location Learning Test (LLT) in MCI patients (n = 30), AD patients (n = 30), and healthy controls (n = 40). Two scoring methods were compared, aimed at disentangling positional recall (location irrespective of object identity) and object-location binding. The results showed that AD patients performed worse than the MCI patients on the LLT, both on recall of positional information and on recall of the locations of different objects. In addition, both measures could validly discriminate between AD and MCI patients. These findings are in agreement with the notion that visual cued-recall tests may have better diagnostic value than traditional (verbal) free-recall tests in the assessment of patients with suspected MCI or AD. (JINS, 2010, 16, 200–204.)
Cross‐Sectional Evaluation of Bone Metabolism in Men *

There are relatively few data concerning age‐related changes of bone turnover in men. The aim of the study was to evaluate age‐related changes of the levels of serum and urinary biochemical markers of bone metabolism in a large cohort of 934 men aged 19–85 years and to investigate their association with bone mineral density (BMD). Bone formation was evaluated using serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and N‐terminal extension propeptide of type I collagen (PINP). Bone resorption was evaluated by measurement of urinary excretion of β‐isomerized C‐terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (β‐CTX) of free deoxypyridinoline (fDpyr) and total Dpyr (tDPyr) and of the serum level of β‐CTX. Levels of biochemical bone markers were very high in young men and decreased rapidly until the age of 40 years and then more slowly until 60 years of age. After the age of 60 years, markers of bone formation remained stable while resorption markers showed a moderate and variable increase with aging. Serum and urinary β‐CTX levels were elevated only in about 5% of elderly men. The age‐related increase of urinary excretion of tDpyr and of its free and peptide‐bound fractions was related to the presence of elevated levels in a subgroup of about 15% of elderly men. Before 60 years of age, levels of biochemical bone markers were not correlated with BMD, whereas after 60 years of age, they were correlated negatively with BMD. After adjustment for age and body weight, BMD in men with the highest levels of biochemical bone markers (i.e., in the upper quartile) was 1.8–12.5% (i.e., 0.25–0.89 SD) lower than in men with levels of biochemical bone markers in the lowest quartile. In conclusion, bone turnover in men is high in young adults and decreases to reach a nadir at 55–60 years of age. After the age of 60 years, bone resorption markers—but not bone formation markers—increase in some men and are associated with lower BMD, suggesting that this imbalance is responsible for increasing bone loss in elderly men.