Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Educational needs and altered eating habits following a total laryngectomy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe eating-related experiences and informational needs of people following total laryngectomies. DESIGN Descriptive study. SETTING Internet-based laryngectomy support group in the United States. SAMPLE 34 people with a laryngectomy (68% total laryngectomy, 29% with total plus radical neck dissection, and 3% with partial laryngectomy with radical neck dissection): 29 males, 5 females; mean age of 62 years. METHODS Members of a laryngectomy support group completed a Food Eating Experiences and Diet Questionnaire designed by the investigators. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Effect of laryngectomy on food choice, eating habits, and overall enjoyment of eating: perceptions of teaching received from healthcare professionals regarding potential eating difficulties as a result of laryngectomy. FINDINGS 90% of the participants experienced a change in one or more aspects of eating. The most prominent changes were decreased sense of smell, decreased taste, decreased enjoyment of eating, and an increase in the length of time required to eat meals. Most participants were not satisfied with the information they received from healthcare professionals. Topics requiring emphasis during patient teaching were identified from participants' comments. CONCLUSIONS Total laryngectomy produced significant changes in factors related to eating that can affect nutritional intake and quality of life. Participants reported that most healthcare providers did not adequately prepare them for potential alterations in eating that can occur following a total laryngectomy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Data from this study can be used to raise awareness of incidence and severity of changes in eating that occur after total laryngectomy and to improve patient preparation to cope with these changes.
Evaluation of Three Automated Human Immunoturbidimetric Assays for the Detection of C-Reactive Protein in Dogs

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major, acute-phase protein in dogs; however, there is a need for automated assays to ensure in-time patient monitoring. Three automated immunoturbidimetric assays (Randox, Thermo, and Wako) developed for human beings were evaluated for their ability to detect canine CRP, including method validation, evaluation of diagnostic use, and establishment of exploratory reference intervals. Sera from 36 healthy dogs and 82 diseased dogs were included for method comparison with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Tridelta) serving as the reference method. A nonparametric estimate of the 1-sided 95% reference interval was established (n = 36). Precision study revealed good intraassay coefficients of variation (CVs) of 1–10%, 0–9%, and 2–13% for the Randox, Thermo, and Wako assays, respectively. Interassay CVs were 18%, 24%, and 19% respectively. Because of a low linear range, the Thermo test was considered unsuitable for use with canine specimens. No significant differences were present between the results obtained with the Randox and Wako assays with CRP concentrations less than 15 mg/l; however, median CRP results differed significantly between the Thermo test and the ELISA (P = 0.03). Bland–Altman analysis detected a proportional bias of 0.28, −0.59, and 0.61 mg/l for the Randox, Thermo, and Wako assays, respectively. For all tests, median CRP values were significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with neoplasia. The upper limit of the reference intervals were 8.2 and 9.9 mg/l for the Randox and Wako assays, respectively. In contrast to the Thermo test, the Randox and Wako assays were suitable for detection of abnormally high canine CRP concentrations; however, improvement of assay precision and evaluation of accuracy are warranted before their clinical use with canine specimens.
Recovery of Electrical Characteristics of Au/n-Si Schottky Junction Under  ${}^{60}\hbox{Co}$ Gamma Irradiation

The electrical transport characteristics of a Au/n-Si metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier junction under exposure to 60Co gamma rays have been reported in this paper. The role of energy loss mechanisms in the Schottky junction due to gamma irradiation is studied using the current-voltage (I-V ) and capacitance-voltage (C-V ) measurements. The electrical characteristics were measured at various doses of gamma by incrementally increasing the exposure from 0.85 Mrad (Si) to 340 Mrad (Si) to systematically study the dose effects on electrical transport across the Schottky interface. After irradiation, the ideality factor was found to decrease initially up to a dose of 17 Mrad (Si), and thereafter, it started increasing. At a dose of 340 Mrad (Si), the characteristics of the Schottky interface were found to recover toward the pristine characteristics. The recovery effect is attributed to annealing of interface defects due to the electronic energy loss Se of gamma ray photons.
A Decentralized and Pull-Based Control Loop for On-Demand Delivery in Eto Construction Supply Chains

Engineer-to-Order (ETO) process chain types with a successive installation on-site are common in plant building and the construction industry. Usually, the core processes Engineering, Fabrication and Installation are disconnected, which creates high levels of Work in Progress (WIP) and long lead-times. Furthermore, up to date information about the construction progress, as prerequisite for an on-demand delivery of ETO-components is always difficult to obtain. Usually, to prevent a lack of material on-site, costly intermediate storages are used, which extend the delivery time. Well-known approaches in research, like the Last Planner System (LPS) or the Location Based Management System (LBMS), increase collaboration on-site and improve the reliability of construction schedules, but have a limited impact on synchronizing the supply chain to the construction progress. The approach presented in the paper describes how off-site and on-site production can be coupled, to reach short construction lead-times without wastefully intermediate storages. A first ITprototype, based on “Industry 4.0” principles, was implemented and tested in an Italian medium-sized ETO construction supplier.
A New Approach to Homogenize Daily Radiosonde Humidity Data

Abstract Radiosonde humidity records represent the only in situ observations of tropospheric water vapor content with multidecadal length and quasi-global coverage. However, their use has been hampered by ubiquitous and large discontinuities resulting from changes to instrumentation and observing practices. Here a new approach is developed to homogenize historical records of tropospheric (up to 100 hPa) dewpoint depression (DPD), the archived radiosonde humidity parameter. Two statistical tests are used to detect changepoints, which are most apparent in histograms and occurrence frequencies of the daily DPD: a variant of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test for changes in distributions and the penalized maximal F test (PMFred) for mean shifts in the occurrence frequency for different bins of DPD. These tests capture most of the apparent discontinuities in the daily DPD data, with an average of 8.6 changepoints (∼1 changepoint per 5 yr) in each of the analyzed radiosonde records, which begin as early as the 1.
A Space-Time Mixed Galerkin Marching-on-in-Time Scheme for the Time-Domain Combined Field Integral Equation

The time domain combined field integral equation (TD-CFIE), which is constructed from a weighted sum of the time domain electric and magnetic field integral equations (TD-EFIE and TD-MFIE) for analyzing transient scattering from closed perfect electrically conducting bodies, is free from spurious resonances. The standard marching-on-in-time technique for discretizing the TD-CFIE uses Galerkin and collocation schemes in space and time, respectively. Unfortunately, the standard scheme is theoretically not well understood: stability and convergence have been proven for only one class of space-time Galerkin discretizations. Moreover, existing discretization schemes are nonconforming, i.e., the TD-MFIE contribution is tested with divergence conforming functions instead of curl conforming functions. We therefore introduce a novel space-time mixed Galerkin discretization for the TD-CFIE. A family of temporal basis and testing functions with arbitrary order is introduced. It is explained how the corresponding interactions can be computed efficiently by existing collocation-in-time codes. The spatial mixed discretization is made fully conforming and consistent by leveraging both Rao-Wilton-Glisson and Buffa-Christiansen basis functions and by applying the appropriate bi-orthogonalization procedures. The combination of both techniques is essential when high accuracy over a broad frequency band is required.
The performance of Spanish solid waste collection

In this paper we examine street cleaning and waste collection services in Spanish municipalities with a population exceeding 50 000. The purpose is to identify factors that influence the efficiency of these services. Three input variables (staff, vehicles and containers) and four outputs variables (tonnage, collection points, collection point density and kilometres of surface area washing) are analyzed using an analytical model based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology. These variables, along with non-controllable input variable (Tourist Index), were chosen because they were shown, based on a Tobit regression analysis, to have a statistically significant impact on municipality behaviour. The results obtained show that scale inefficiency was lower than pure technical efficiency, the latter is linked to service management. It was observed that the street-cleaning activity was performed more inefficiently than that of waste collection. Furthermore, it was detected that municipalities can reduce the resources used in rendering this service by 8%. Finally, an estimation using the Mann—Whitney test allows us to conclude that there is no difference between the inefficiencies observed in municipalities managed directly by town councils and those which have been transferred to private companies.
Determination of Optimum Harvesting Time for Periphyton Production on Artificial Substrates

The experiment was conducted in two cement made cisterns for a four-week period. Important physico-chemical water quality parameters and harvesting time in periphyton production were studied. During the study period, four groups of phytoplankton and two groups of zooplankton were observed. Among phytoplankton, Chlorophyceae was the most dominant having 62% Chlorella followed by Bacillariophyceae having 15% Navicula and 12% Cyclotella , Cyanophyceae having 5% Oscillatoria and 2% Anabaena and Euglenophyceae having 2% Euglena and 1% Phacus . The grand averages of periphyton mass production were 0.569 (± 0.242) mg DM/cm2 in C-1. There was highly significant (p<0.05) variation (F = 14.692) between C-1 and C-2 in respect of periphyton production. Cistern-1 was identified as more productive due to its favourable water quality parameters, i.e., water temperature of 24.6 to 28.3 oC, Secchi disc reading of 18 to 33 cm, dissolved oxygen of 4.67 to 9.55 mg/L, pH of 9.12 to 10.18, NO 3 -N of 3.58 to 10.90 mg/L, NH 3 -N of 0.26 to 0.40 mg/L, PO 4 -P of 7.5 to 3.4 mg/L, conductivity 0.412 to 0.719 Ms. Third addition of substrate, that means 18- 19th day was identified as the optimum harvesting time of periphyton production. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/pa.v23i1-2.16565 Progress. Agric. 23(1 & 2): 51 – 62, 2012
Environmental Factors Incriminated in the Development of End Stage Renal Disease in El-Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt

Background and Aims: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has various causes that differ according to patient’s country. In Egypt it is a huge health problem with high prevalence in El-Minia governorate as 308 per million population suffer from it. The aim of the work is to investigate the possible causes of ESRD with an unknown etiology in El-Minia Governorate. Methods: A total number of 216 patients with an unknown etiology of ESRD as well as 220 controls were interviewed using a structured questionnaire including information about environmental factors predicted to cause ESRD such as occupation, pesticide handling, and source of drinking water. Results: Distribution of patients by residence showed that most patients lived in rural areas (76%), compared to 57% in controls (p<0.001). Drinking unsafe water was reported by 72% of patients and 48% of controls (p<0.001). Family history of renal disease was found among 10% of patients and 4% of controls (p<0.001). Exposure to pesticides and using herbs for the treatment were more among patients than controls (52% Vs 14% respectively) and (34% Vs 6% respectively) (p<0.001). Conclusions: ESRD with an unknown etiology may be attributed to environmental factors suhc as drinking unsafe water, exposure to pesticides and using herbs for treatment. Educational programs for common people should be strengthened. Lead pipes water supplies should be changed. Use of any herbs should be prohibited except under the supervision of Ministry of Health.
Laparoscopic Ultrasonography as a Good Alternative to Intraoperative Cholangiography (IOC) during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Results of Prospective Study

Abstract Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), used routinely or selectively, is the standard method for bile duct imaging during cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic ultrasonography ( LUS) has emerged as a possible, safe and quick alternative. This study examined the evolving use and the performance of these two methods as primary technique for routine bile duct imaging, so as to detect common bile duct stones (CBDS) and to prevent common bile duct injury (CBDI). A prospective database permitted to evaluate the results of the two methods in 968 consecutive cholecystectomies. Nine hundered and twenty five were performed by laparoscopy, 18 (1.9%) by laparotomy and 25 (2.6) necessitated a conversion. The systematic use of the IOC was gradually replaced by a systematic use of the LUS. The success to delineate and evaluate the CBD, the detection of a CBDS, any type of bile duct complication, especially of CBDI, were registered. All the CBDS suspected by LUS were controlled by IOC. The patients were followed during 1 and 6 months. Six hundred and eighty five IOC and 269 LUS were performed. The procedure was technically unsuccessful in 35 IOC (5.1%) (mainly due to difficulty in catheterising the cystic duct) and in 2 LUS (1%) (due to steatosis). Concerning the detection of CBDS, 31 were detected by IOC (4.5%) and 16 by LUS (6%). Five IOC were considered as false positive, 1 as false negative (sensitivity and specificity of 96,9 and 99,2%) and 1 LUS as false positive (sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 99,6%). Five CBDI were detected in the complete seria: 2 during the dissection before the IOC, 1 thermic injury, 1 late stenosis, 1 lateral stenosis by the cystic clip detected by LUS. However none of these CBDI could have been prevented by IOC. In our experience, in this prospective study, LUS has been certainly as effective as IOC as a primary imaging technique for bile duct. It permitted to detect CBDS with a high specificity and sensitivity, and CBDS and was not followed by an increase in CBDI.
Expression of MCT1 and MCT4 in a patient with mitochondrial myopathy

Mitochondrial myopathies (MM) are characterized by alterations in oxidative phosphorylation. The resultant increase in glycolytic flux produces a variable lactic acidosis. Intracellular acidification can induce both metabolic and, in the case of skeletal muscle, contractile dysfunction. Skeletal muscle lactate transporters have recently been identified which include both monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and 4 (MCT4). Lactate import into oxidative skeletal muscle appears to be catalyzed by MCT1, whereas its extrusion from glycolytic fibers may be mediated by MCT4. We describe the expression of these isoforms in a patient with MM as compared to controls (n = 5). MCT4 content was 86% (>3 SD) higher in the patient with MM, whereas MCT1 content was less markedly elevated (47%), as compared to controls. These findings support previous work suggesting that the major role of MCT4 is to defend intracellular pH by extruding lactate and H+ to the interstitium. The role of MCT1 in MM is less clear. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 394–398, 2001
Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group 4-1993 A Physiology-Based Gap Model of Forest Dynamics

A computer model of forest growth and ecosystem processes is presented. The model, HYBRID, is derived from a forest gap model, an ecosystem process model, and a photosynthesis model. In HYBRID individual trees fix and respire carbon, and lose water daily; carbon partitioning occurs at the end of each year. HYBRID obviates many of the limitations of both gap models and ecosystem process models. The growth equations of gap models are replaced with functionally realistic equations and processes for carbon fixation and partitioning, resulting in a dynamic model in which competition and physiology play important roles. The model is used to predict ecosystem processes and dynamics in oak forests in Knoxville, Tennessee (USA), and pine forests in Missoula, Montana (USA) between the years 1910 and 1986. The simulated growth of individual trees and the overall ecosystemlevel processes are very similar to observations. A sensitivity analysis performed for these sites showed that predictions of net primary productivity by HYBRID are most sensitive to the ratio of CO2 partial pressure between inside the leaf and the air, relative humidity, ambient CO2 partial pressure, precipitation, air temperature, tree allometry, respiration parameters, site soil water capacity, and a carbon storage parameter.
No Difference? A Study On Learning Process And Outcome Among Online, Hybrid, And Face-To-Face Courses

Many researchers and educators have questioned whether online course management technologies make a significant impact on student learning process and outcomes. Guided by the Seven Principles framework of student learning, our study examined the impacts of three instructional methods including face-to-face (F2F), hybrid (Web-enhanced), and online courses on the learning process and outcomes. Data were collected at a major mid-western university and 1233 valid responses were analyzed in AMOS. We found that there was no significant difference among F2F, hybrid, and online instructional methods in learning outcomes. However, both high expectation of faculty and accommodation for diversity influenced learning outcomes significantly. In addition, faculty contact had a significant impact on outcomes but only in hybrid courses.
Tracking of 3D sound source location by particle filter with TDOA and signal power ratio

A new sound source tracking method in 3 dimensional space using state space modeling approach and particle filter as a state estimation method has been proposed. Not only TDOA (Time Difference Of Arrival) as our previous works including by the authors, but also using power ratio of two sound signals from microphone pair are effectively used in formulation of state space model. Simulational experiments consisting of 1) fundamental tracking with four microphones and 2) human head tracking in car cabin have been conducted with efficient performance in SNR 20dB environment with about 3,000 number of particles.
Summer Versus School-Year Alcohol Use Among Mandated College Students.

OBJECTIVE Longitudinal research examining college students' alcohol use during the summer months, especially in at-risk individuals, is limited. The current study evaluated changes in mandated college students' alcohol use and related consequences over the summer. METHOD Participants (n = 305, 67% male) who had violated campus alcohol policy and were subsequently mandated to treatment completed follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 9 months. For the majority of students, one of these follow-up assessments occurred over the summer. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine changes in alcohol use and related consequences during the school year and summer. RESULTS Participants reported consuming significantly fewer drinks per occasion, reaching lower peak blood alcohol concentrations, and experiencing fewer alcohol-related consequences during the summer months. All outcomes were mediated by summer housing, indicating that summer influenced alcohol use indirectly through participants' tendency to live at home. CONCLUSIONS Despite small but significant decreases in alcohol consumption and related consequences when living with a parent/guardian, mandated college students continue to exhibit risky drinking and consequences during the summer months. Given these findings, summer may be an appropriate time to implement prevention and intervention strategies with mandated and other at-risk populations.
Backward masking and skin conductance responses after conditioning to nonfeared but fear-relevant stimuli in fearful subjects.

The present study examined two issues. Are skin conductance responses conditioned to fear-relevant stimuli, as contrasted with responses conditioned to fear-irrelevant stimuli, elicited after merely an automatic, nonconscious analysis of the stimulus content? Do fearful subjects show better conditioning to nonfeared but fear-relevant stimuli (e.g., conditioning to spiders in snake-fearing subjects) than do nonfearful subjects? Subjects afraid of snakes, but not of spiders, or vice versa (n = 32) and nonfearful subjects (n = 32) were shown either fear-relevant stimuli (snakes or spiders and rats) or fear-irrelevant stimuli (flowers and mushrooms) in a differential conditioning paradigm, where one of the stimuli was followed by an electric shock. During a subsequent extinction phase, the conditioned stimuli were presented under backward masking conditions, preventing their conscious recognition. Consistent with our hypothesis, during the masked extinction of the conditioned stimuli, differential skin conductance responses to conditioning and control stimuli remained only for subjects conditioned to fear-relevant stimuli. Both fearful and nonfearful control subjects had significantly larger differential electrodermal responses to fear-relevant than to fear-irrelevant stimuli. However, contrary to our hypothesis, fearful subjects did not show enhanced conditionability to their nonfeared but fear-relevant stimuli as compared with nonfearful control subjects.
Titration of tidal volume and induced hypercapnia in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Mechanical ventilation may promote overdistension-induced pulmonary lesions in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The static pressure-volume (P-V) curve of the respiratory system can be used to determine the lung volume and corresponding static airway pressure at which lung compliance begins to diminish (the upper inflection point, or UIP). This fall in compliance may indicate overdistension of lung units. We prospectively studied 42 patients receiving mechanical ventilation with an FIO2 of 0.5 or more for at least 24 h. According to the Lung Injury Score (LIS), 25 patients were classified as having ARDS (LIS > 2.5), while 17 patients constituted a non-ARDS control group. The P-V curve was obtained every 2 d. Mechanical ventilation initially used standard settings (volume-control mode, a positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] adjusted to the lower inflection point on the P-V curve, and a tidal volume [VT] of 10 ml/kg). The end-inspiratory plateau pressure (Pplat) was compared to the UIP, and VT was lowered when the Pplat was above the UIP. In the range of lung volume studied on the P-V curves (up to 1600 ml), a UIP could be shown in only one control patient (at 23 cm H2O). By contrast, a UIP was present on the P-V curve obtained from all patients with ARDS, corresponding to a mean airway pressure of 26 +/- 6 cm H2O, a lung volume of 850 +/- 200 ml above functional residual capacity and 610 +/- 235 ml above PEEP. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)