Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Current Erosion of Ag/SnO2 Contacts and Evaluation of Indium Effects in Oxide Properties

The pressure to replace silver-cadmium oxide (Ag/CdO), which has been a preferred material for many contact applications, presents a continued need for data to allow for informed design decisions. In this study the comparison of performance between silver-tin oxide- indium oxide (Ag/SnO2/In2O3) compositions and Ag/CdO and other Ag/SnO2 compositions made with other additives is expanded. This study compares high energy interruption, reignition, static gap, contact resistance and medium duty erosion results over compositions with similar oxide levels made by both internal oxidation and powder metallurgy. Changes in performance with variations in indium content are explored. This study extends the prior work done on these contact compositions which compared weld strength, switching life and arc eroded surface contact resistance of contacts.
Comparison of Early CD4 T-Cell Count in HIV-1 Seroconverters in Côte d'Ivoire and France: The ANRS PRIMO-CI and SEROCO Cohorts

Objective:We compared CD4+ decline among untreated HIV-1-infected seroconverters living in Côte d'Ivoire (CI) and in France. Methods:HIV-1-infected adults were enrolled in the ANRS1220 PRIMO-CI (CI, 1997-2006) and ANRSCO2 SEROCO (France, 1988-1995) cohorts. CD4+ count and percentage declines were estimated from enrollment until 24 months of seroconversion by linear random-effect models adjusted for time since seroconversion, age, gender, cell-associated HIV DNA, HIV RNA, and country. Results:Overall 521 seroconverters (CI 148, 62% men; France 373, 77% men) were enrolled after a median of 7.6 months since seroconversion. Median follow-up duration was 12.7 months. Median age was 28 years. Median baseline CD4+ count was 472 and 560 cells per cubic millimeter, respectively. Median baseline HIV RNA was 4.4 and 4.0 log10 copies per milliliter and median HIV DNA was 3.0 and 2.8 log10 copies per 106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively. In adjusted models, CD4+ count and percentage at baseline were lower in CI than in France (P < 0.01), and the difference did not vary during follow-up (P = 0.55). Low HIV RNA and low HIV DNA at baseline were associated with higher CD4+ count at baseline. Conclusions:CD4+ count and percentage were lower in CI than in France. These differences were already observed during early infection and remained similar after adjustment.
Penetrating Autokeratoplasty for Unilateral Corneal Opacification

Objective The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of autokeratoplasty as an alternative to conventional allograft transplantation for the management of corneal blindness in patients with a healthy cornea in the fellow blind eye. Methods A retrospective analysis of all consecutive cases of corneal blindness that were treated with autokeratoplasty was undertaken. We describe nine cases in which the healthy, transparent cornea from a blind eye was transplanted onto the fellow eye with a favorable visual potential but an opaque cornea. The parameters evaluated were uncorrected visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell loss, graft clarity, and complications if any. Results The median age of the patients was 63 years (range 37–83 years). Intraoperative complications encountered included expulsive hemorrhage (n=1), retrieval of a corneal button unsuitable for transplantation onto the donor defect (n=1), and problems concerning sizing of the corneal graft (n=1). Glycerine-preserved cornea was used in two eyes. All the patients achieved BCVA >20/60 by 3 months postoperatively, and 8 of the 9 patients (88.9%) maintained a clear graft till the last follow-up (12 months–78 months). Endothelial cell loss of 31.4%± 6.3%, 33.2%±5.9%, 34.7%±8.2% was noted at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Accelerated endothelial cell loss after three episodes of traumatic wound dehiscence was responsible for nonimmunological graft failure in one case. Conclusions Autokeratoplasty is a viable option in selected cases of corneal blindness as an alternative to conventional allograft transplantation. In the event of adverse events, a backup tissue should be available.
A Study of Two English Nuclear Tones

This paper outlines a framework for the description of English intonation, and then reports on a study of “high falling” and “low rising” nuclear tones, based on measurements on a corpus of 150 utterances produced by three speakers. It is found (i) that under the conditions of the experiment, the various tokens of a given intonation type as produced by a given talker cluster closely around a single pattern; and (ii) that speakers differ one from another in consistent ways, suggesting that adequate normalisation procedures can be found. Synthetic speech approximations to the patterns are discussed.
Audiologic disturbances in long-term mobile phone users.

INTRODUCTION There is general concern regarding the possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phones. This study aimed to assess the effects of chronic exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) mobile phones on auditory functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective, cross-sectional, randomized, case control study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. One hundred twelve subjects who were long-term mobile phone users (more than 1 year) and 50 controls who had never used a mobile phone underwent a battery of audiologic investigations including pure-tone audiometry (both speech and high frequency), tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, auditory brain responses, and middle latency responses. Changes in the various parameters were studied in the mobile phone- and non-mobile phone-using ears of subjects and corresponding ears of the controls to ascertain the effects of electromagnetic exposure. RESULTS There was no significant difference between users and controls for any of the audiologic parameters. However, trends for audiologic abnormalities were seen within the users. High-frequency loss and absent distortion product otoacoustic emissions were observed with an increase in the duration of mobile phone use, excessive use of mobile phones, and age more than 30 years. Additionally, users with some complaints during mobile phone use demonstrated absent distortion product otoacoustic emissions and abnormalities in auditory brainstem response. CONCLUSION Long-term and intensive mobile phone use may cause inner ear damage. A large sample size would be required to reach definitive conclusions.
Survey of Escherichia coli O157 in Captive Frogs

To evaluate the presence of Escherichia coli O157, cloacal swabs were collected from 60 adult frogs kept as pets and analyzed by culture methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for stx1, stx2, and E. coli attaching and effacing (eae) and hly genes. The pathogen was isolated from two samples and both carried stx2 gene. This is believed to be the first report of natural E. coli O157 infection in living frogs.
Effects of L-Dopa and Dopamine D 2 Agonists on Recollection and Familiarity in Idiopathic Nondementing Parkinson ’ s Disease

Idiopathic nondementing Parkinson’s disease (PD) is marked by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. Recent brain imaging work implicates these structures in dopamine modulated networks subserving episodic memory. These findings are of relevance to PD because they suggest that dopamine depletion contributes to the disease-dependent decline in episodic memory, and therefore, this decline should, at least partially, be remediated by dopaminergic medication. Recognition memory (RM), recollection and familiarity during recognition was examined in 17 PD patients, 12 of whom were medicated with a D2 dopamine agonist (pramipexole or ropinirole) and l-dopa, with a further 5 PD control patients on l-dopa but no D2 agonist. Memory was tested “ON” and, following a period of medication withdrawal, “OFF” and compared to a group of 14 matched healthy volunteers (HV). The HVs were also tested twice in the absence of medication. The patients on the agonists PD showed significant impairments in recollection ONand OFF-medication, whereas the l-dopa control patients exhibited a decline in OFF-recollection only. RM and familiarity were spared in both groups ONand OFF-medication. These findings suggest that D2 dopamine agonists (combined with l-dopa) contribute to disease-dependent episodic memory impairment.
Knowledge management and process innovation: the knowledge transformation path in Samsung SDI

Explores the connection between knowledge management (KM) and process innovation (PI). Although these are popular themes in the literature on management innovation, there is not much discussions of these issues. On the one hand, KM has been treated as a managerial fad that is mainly focused on knowledge generation, dissemination, and utilization. Moreover, the advocates of KM seem to be concerned with building knowledge management systems (KMS). On the other hand, PI is regarded as an efficiency‐oriented process redesign and re‐engineering (or BPR), which seems to be nothing to do with KM. However, the case study of Samsung SDI shows that in the real world KM is deeply linked with PI. For illustrating the KM strategy of Samsung SDI, uses the term “PI‐based KM”. Sheds light on two points: the features of process knowledge can be studied in the sense that knowledge associated with process is dubbed “process knowledge”; and socio‐cultural features of KM should be illustrated in terms of knowledge transformation path in the information space.
A Quality Improvement Survey to Assess Pain Management in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Objective: To evaluate the quality of pain management in cardiac ICU patients by using a questionnaire. Methodology: All post cardiac surgery patients between 18 and 75 years old were included in this survey. Chronic pain patients, paediatric patients, emergency surgeries were excluded. A predesigned proforma was prepared according to American Pain Society recommendations and distributed among Cardiac ICU patients after 24 hours of extubation. This proforma was explained to the patients and collected later. The questionnaire was related to pain severity, aggravating and relieving factors, side effects of analgesics, affective experience and satisfaction with pain management. Results: Total 308 patients participated in one year period. 243 (78.9%) were male and 65 (21.1%) were female. Multimodal analgesia was used in most of the patients. Severity of pain was described as mild 70% and moderate 28.6%. Most of the patients complained of sharp pain 100 (37.5%), mainly at the site of incision 129 (41.9%). The main aggravating factor associated with increased pain was deep breathing 118 (39.8%) while pain was minimized by taking pain medications 40.6%. A significant association was found between preoperative counseling about pain options and satisfaction. 96.8% reported satisfaction with pain management. Conclusion: Although overall pain control was reported as adequate and patients were highly satisfied, there were areas which need further improvement. These include strategies to provide preoperative information about postoperative pain management and better training of medical staff to assess and manage pain. Additionally, the concerns and fears of patients about pain treatment need to be addressed.
Medical students’ clinical performance in general practice – Triangulating assessments from patients, teachers and students

Background: Formative assessment of medical students' clinical performance during general practice clerkship is necessary to learn consultation skills. Aims: Our aim was to triangulate feedback using patient questionnaires, written self-assessment and teachers' observation-based assessment, and to describe the content of this feedback. Method: We developed StudentPEP, a 15-item version of EUROPEP, a tool for measuring patients' evaluation of quality in general practice. The teacher and student forms consisted of five StudentPEP-items and open-ended questions asking for approval and improvement needed on four aspects. Quantitative scores were analyzed statistically. Free-text comments were analyzed and categorized into ‘specific and concrete’ versus ‘general and unspecific’. Results: One hundred seventy-three students returned data from 2643 consultations. Mean patients' scores for 15 items were 4.3–4.8 on a five-point Likert scale. Mean teacher scores were 4.4 on five items, while students' mean self-assessments were 3.6–3.8. In an analysis of 380 consultations, students were more specific and concrete in their self-evaluation compared with teachers (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients scored students' performance high compared with students' self-assessments. Teachers' scores were in accordance with patients' scores. Teachers' written evaluations of students were often general. There is a potential for improving teachers' feedback in terms of more specific and concrete comments.
Use of allogeneic scaffold‐free chondrocyte pellet in repair of osteochondral defect in a rabbit model

Cell‐based therapies are currently being used in treating osteochondral defect (OCD), but technical advances are needed to tackle the problems of scaffold and grafting technique. This study aimed to test the potential of allogeneic scaffold‐free bioengineered chondrocyte pellet (BCP) in treating OCD. BCP was fabricated from rabbit costal cartilage and implanted into 3 mm × 3 mm OCD in medial femoral condyle of 20 rabbits. Samples were harvested at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks for histology, histological scoring and histomorphometric analysis. At treated side, cartilage score was significantly better at week 4 (p = 0.027), and cartilage thickness measured in histomorphometric analysis was significantly thicker at week 4 (p = 0.028) and week 16 (p = 0.028) compared to the empty controls. At treated side, bone score remained significantly lower from week 8 onwards (p = 0.024 at week 8, p = 0.02 at week 16) whereas bone area was significantly smaller from week 4 onwards compared to the empty controls (p = 0.028 at week 4, 8, 16). No immunorejection was observed throughout the experiment. The results demonstrated that the BCP enhanced cartilage repair at early stage. Press‐fitting of allogeneic BCP was a simple method for OCD repair without immunorejection. Further optimization of the treatment is required before clinical application. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1343–1350, 2011
Understanding how mothers of adolescent girls obtain information about the human papillomavirus vaccine: Associations between mothers’ health beliefs, information seeking, and vaccination intentions in an ethnically diverse sample

We examined factors associated with information seeking about the human papillomavirus vaccine among mothers of adolescent girls by testing whether information seeking and vaccination intentions for their daughters are associated with perceived vulnerability, severity, and vaccine benefits in an ethnically diverse sample. Mothers (N = 256) of unvaccinated girls living in Dallas, Texas, were surveyed (49% Black, 29% Hispanic, and 18% White). Perceived vulnerability to human papillomavirus was associated with talking with others (odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.09, 2.66) and talking with a doctor about the vaccine (odds ratio = 1.42, 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 1.99), and perceived vaccine benefits were associated with vaccination intentions (odds ratio = 2.96, 95% confidence interval = 1.98, 4.42), but the perceived severity was not associated with any dependent measure. Beliefs about human papillomavirus risk are associated with seeking information from a doctor and interpersonal sources, but ethnic minorities are less likely to talk with others about the vaccine.
Belief and affect: On the mental pre-cursors of health-related cognition and behaviour

This paper will discuss the importance of concepts such as belief and affect to the theory and practice of health psychology, and the potential contribution of the revised conceptualisation of belief proposed in the target article will be considered. In the first half of the paper a number of important differences between the new approach and established empirical approaches to the study of beliefs will be highlighted. The second half of the paper will focus on the important relationship between affect and beliefs, one of the key issues addressed in the target paper. A number of recent theories linking affect and belief will be reviewed, and recent empirical research demonstrating the psychological mechanisms linking affect and belief will be discussed. In light of the considerable achievements of this line of inquiry, it is concluded that the proposed new approach and definition of belief does not as yet offer a preferable alternative to understanding the role of belief in health-related cognition and behaviour.
Feasibility of Paramedic Performed Prehospital Lung Ultrasound in Medical Patients with Respiratory Distress

Abstract Objective: Prehospital ultrasound is not yet widely implemented. Most studies report on convenience samples and trauma patients, often by prehospital physicians or critical care clinicians. We assessed the feasibility of paramedic performed prehospital lung ultrasound in medical patients with respiratory distress. Methods: Paramedics at 2 ambulance stations in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA underwent a 2-hour training session in prehospital lung ultrasound using the SonoSite iViz, a handheld ultrasound device. Emergency medical services (EMS) command center (EMS-CC) physicians were instructed in the interpretation of lung ultrasound images. Paramedics enrolled patients presenting with signs and symptoms of respiratory distress over a 3-month period. The ultrasound exam included anterior and lateral views from both sides of the chest. Images were transmitted wirelessly using a mobile hotspot device and uploaded into an online image archiving system. Images were interpreted remotely by the EMS-CC physicians, and 2 expert sonographers provided an overread. We assessed agreement between EMS-CC physicians and experts, as well as between chart-review derived ED diagnosis and both EMS-CC physician and expert interpretation. We defined four a priori hypotheses that would need to be met for the intervention to be considered “feasible. ” Results: A total of 34 of 78 (43.6%) eligible patients had an ultrasound exam completed. Image transmission was successful in 25 (73.5%) of cases where ultrasound was performed. The primary reason for not enrolling an otherwise eligible patient was equipment failure (25.0%), followed by patient acuity and patient refusal (18.2% each). A total of 20 (58.8%) completed scans were deemed uninterpretable upon expert review. Agreement between EMS physicians and experts was poor. Agreement between EMS-CC physicians and ED diagnosis, as well as between experts and ED diagnosis, was fair. The predetermined thresholds for feasibility were not met. Conclusions: Paramedic performed prehospital lung ultrasound for patients with respiratory distress and remote interpretation by EMS physicians did not meet the predetermined thresholds to be considered “feasible” in a real-world environment with currently available technologies. This study identified important barriers to the implementation of prehospital lung ultrasound, which should be addressed in future studies.
The fetal origins of adult hypertension.

AIM To elucidate the fetal origins of hypertension. METHODS A systematic search was made for records of early growth, comprising measurements taken either at birth and/or during infancy, for groups of men and women now in middle-late life. Over 25,000 men and women born before 1931 were successfully traced. RESULTS Retarded growth in fetal life was strongly related to high blood pressure in adult life. CONCLUSION Hypertension is programmed by an adverse environment in utero. It is linked to impaired development in both early and late gestation.
Identification of amino acid residues involved in the binding of Huperzine A to cholinesterases

Huperzine A, a potential agent for therapy in Alzheimer's disease and for prophylaxis of organophosphate toxicity, has recently been characterized as a reversible inhibitor of cholinesterases. To examine the specificity of this novel compound in more detail, we have examined the interaction of the 2 stereoisomers of Huperzine A with cholinesterases and site‐specific mutants that detail the involvement of specific amino acid residues. Inhibition of fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase by (—)‐Huperzine A was 35‐fold more potent than (+)‐Huperzine A, with K1 values of 6.2 nM and 210 nM, respectively. In addition, (—)‐Huperzine A was 88‐fold more potent in inhibiting Torpedo acetylcholinesterase than (+)‐Huperzine A, with K1 values of 0.25 μM and 22 μM, respectively. Far larger K1 values that did not differ between the 2 stereoisomers were observed with horse and human serum butyrylcholinesterases. Mammalian acetylcholinesterase, Torpedo acetylcholinesterase, and mammalian butyrylcholinesterase can be distinguished by the amino acid Tyr, Phe, or Ala in the 330 position, respectively. Studies with mouse acetylcholinesterase mutants, Tyr 337(330) Phe and Tyr 337(330) Ala yielded a difference in reactivity that closely mimicked the native enzymes. In contrast, mutation of the conserved Glu 199 residue to Gln in Torpedo acetylcholinesterase produced only a 3‐fold increase in K1 value for the binding of Huperzine A. Molecular mechanics energy minimization of the complexes formed between each of the 2 stereoisomers of Huperzine A and fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase, Torpedo acetylcholinesterase, or human butyrylcholinesterase also revealed that (—)‐Huperzine A gave a better fit than (+)‐Huperzine A and implicated Tyr 337(330) in the stereoselectivity of Huperzine A.
Time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography of renal artery stenosis: diagnostic accuracy and interobserver variability.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy and interobserver variability of time-resolved three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography in the detection of renal artery stenosis in comparison with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography as the standard of reference. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty consecutive patients (age range, 25-81 years; mean, 62.9 +/- 11.9 years) with suspected renal artery stenosis underwent intraarterial digital subtraction angiography and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, performed on a 1.5-T system with fast low-angle shot three-dimensional imaging (3.8/1.49 [TR/TE], 25 degrees flip angle, 10-sec acquisition time, and 1.5-mm partition thickness). Three time-resolved phases were obtained in a single breath-hold. Digital subtraction angiography and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography were evaluated by four observers who studied 80 main renal arteries and 19 accessory vessels to evaluate the degree of stenosis. A stenosis reducing the intraarterial diameter by more than 50% was regarded as hemodynamically significant. Interobserver variability was calculated. RESULTS Only one gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography study was not of diagnostic quality, as a result of failure of the power injector. All main branches were of diagnostic quality in 38 (97.4%) of the remaining 39 gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography studies. Seventeen (89.5%) of 19 accessory renal arteries were depicted with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography. The overall sensitivity for significant stenoses was 92.9%. The overall specificity was 83.4%, and the overall accuracy was 85.9%. Interobserver variability of gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography exceeded that of digital subtraction angiography. CONCLUSION Time-resolved three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography is a useful noninvasive method of screening suspected renal artery stenosis because of its easy application, short examination time, and high sensitivity despite of its higher interobserver variability.