Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contemporary Practice Patterns of Flexible Ureteroscopy for Treating Renal Stones: Results of a Worldwide Survey.

INTRODUCTION Flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) is increasingly used in the treatment of renal stones. However, wide variations exist in technique, use, and indications. To better inform our knowledge about the contemporary state of fURS for treating renal stones, we conducted a survey of endourologists worldwide. METHODS An anonymous online questionnaire assessing fURS treatment of renal stones, consisting of 36 items, was sent to members of the Endourology Society in October 2014. Responses were collected through the SurveyMonkey system over a 3-month period. RESULTS Questionnaires were answered by 414 surgeons from 44 countries (response rate 20.7%). U.S. surgeons accounted for 34.4% of all respondents. fURS was routinely performed in 80.0% of institutions, with 40.0% of surgeons performing >100 cases/year. Respondents considered fURS to be first-line therapy for patients with renal stones <2 cm and lower pole calculi. A substantial minority (11.3%) preferred fURS as a primary treatment modality for renal stones >2 cm. Basket displacement for lower pole stones was routinely performed by 55.8%. Ureteral access sheaths (UAS) were preferred for every case by 58.3%. Respondents frequently utilized high-power lasers and dusting techniques. Criteria for determining stone-free rate were defined as zero fragments or residual fragment (RF) <1, <2, <3, and <4 mm by 30.9%, 8.9%, 31.5%, 15.8%, and 11.2% of respondents, respectively. CONCLUSION The overwhelming majority of endourologists surveyed consider fURS as a first-line treatment modality for renal stones, especially those <2 cm. Use of UAS, high-power holmium lasers, and dusting technique has become popular among practitioners. When defining stone free after fURS, the majority of endourologists used a zero fragment or RF <2 mm definition.
The effect of depressed mood on the interpretation of ambiguity, with and without negative mood induction

Is there an effect of depressed mood on the interpretation of ambiguity? Are depressed individuals biased to interpret ambiguous information in a negative manner? We used a cross-modal semantic priming task to look for evidence of a negative interpretative bias. Participants listened to ambiguous prime sentences (e.g., Joan was stunned by her final exam mark) and made lexical decisions to target words presented immediately after the sentence offset or after a delay of 1000 ms or 2000 ms. For the semantically related targets, the target was negatively related (distress), positively related (success), or neutrally related (grades) to the ambiguous prime. The experiment was conducted with and without a negative mood induction. The expectation was that depressed participants would be more likely to consider the negative interpretations of the ambiguous primes and would therefore experience larger priming effects for negatively related targets. Although there were large priming effects for all semantically related targets, there was no evidence of a negative interpretative bias.
gkw 297 SL 2 : an interactive webtool for modeling of missing segments in proteins

SuperLooper2 (SL2) (http://proteinformatics.charite. de/sl2) is the updated version of our previous webserver SuperLooper, a fragment based tool for the prediction and interactive placement of loop structures into globular and helical membrane proteins. In comparison to our previous version, SL2 benefits from both a considerably enlarged database of fragments derived from high-resolution 3D protein structures of globular and helical membrane proteins, and the integration of a new protein viewer. The database, now with double the content, significantly improved the coverage of fragment conformations and prediction quality. The employment of the NGL viewer for visualization of the protein under investigation and interactive selection of appropriate loops makes SL2 independent of third-party plug-ins and additional in-
Attributes of colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States.

OBJECTIVES To compare the attributes of US colleges and schools of pharmacy and describe the extent of change to the pharmacy education enterprise associated with the addition of new schools. METHODS Attributes analyzed included whether the college or school of pharmacy was old or new, public or private, secular or faith-based, and on or not on an academic health center (AHC) campus; had 3- or 4- year programs; and had PhD students enrolled. PharmD student enrollment-to-faculty ratios and junior-to-senior faculty ratios also were examined. RESULTS Of the new colleges/schools, 76% were private and 79% were not located on a campus with an AHC; 6% had PhD enrollment compared with 80% of old colleges/schools. Faculty ratios were related to several college/school attributes, including the presence or absence of PhD students and whether the college/school was public or private. CONCLUSIONS Attributes of new colleges and schools of pharmacy have changed the overall profile of all colleges and schools of pharmacy. For example, smaller percentages of all colleges and schools of pharmacy are public and have PhD enrollees.
Emission State Hierarchy Governed Coherence and Intensity Noise Properties of Quantum Dot Superluminescent Diodes

There is an inherent link between the coherence properties in the first and second order, depending on the quantum optical characteristics of the light emitting source. Whereas the coherence in the first order reflects the spectral distribution of radiation, the coherence in the second order describes the intensity fluctuations of photonic beams quantified by the relative intensity noise. In this paper, we demonstrate how the particularly interesting and highly complex spectral emission state hierarchy of a quasi-zero-dimensional inhomogeneously broadened quantum dot superluminescent diode governs both the coherence and intensity noise properties. We confirm that indeed a generalized Hodara formula reflecting the pure thermal emission character of the investigated quantum dot superluminescent diode quantitatively explains the experimentally observed complex intensity noise behavior just by the observed complex spectral behavior.
Analysing recurrent hospitalizations in heart failure: a review of statistical methodology, with application to CHARM‐Preserved

Heart failure is characterized by recurrent hospitalizations, but often only the first event is considered in clinical trial reports. In chronic diseases, such as heart failure, analysing all events gives a more complete picture of treatment benefit. We describe methods of analysing repeat hospitalizations, and illustrate their value in one major trial.
An on-chip dynamic supply current monitor for testing of digital circuits

The paper deals with the dynamic supply current testing (IDDT) of SRAM cells and arrays. An IDDT current sensor and sensing method are presented and explained. The effects of leakage current and static current consumption on the monitoring technique and efficiency are also discussed. The efficiency of the proposed test in unveiling weak open defects is demonstrated through simulations carried out on a 64-bit SRAM array designed in a 90 nm CMOS technology.
The mode of action of a mercurial diuretic in man.

Govaerts (1) and Bartram (2) established that the diuretic action of organic mercury compounds is renal rather than extrarenal. The use of clearance techniques has further shown that the glomerular filtration rate does not increase in man during a mercurial diuresis (3, 4). The increased rate of water excretion must, therefore, be due to diminished tubular reabsorption. Attempts to carry the analysis still further have led to divergent views. Duggan and Pitts (5) conclude that the site of action is in the distal segment of the tubule, whereas Mudge, Foulks, and Gilman (6) and Weston, Grossman, and Leiter (7) believe it is in the proximal segment. In this paper we present data which we consider to support the former view.
Subharmonic All-Optical Clock Recovery of up to 320 Gb/s Signal Using a Quantum Dash Fabry–Pérot Mode-Locked Laser

In this study, we provide an experimental assessment of a quantum dash Fabry-Pérot mode-locked laser for all-optical clock recovery using data streams at 40, 80, 160, and 320 Gb/s. The data streams at 80, 160, and 320 Gb/s are phase coherent signals featuring no spectral component at 40 GHz. The 40 GHz recovered optical clock signal is characterized in terms of phase noise, timing jitter, dynamic power range, and wavelength dependence for the different data rates. Our experiments demonstrate a recovered optical clock signal from a 320 Gb/s data stream with a timing jitter of 94 fs and wavelength detuned by 23 nm. In addition, the performance of the optical time division multiplexing receiver at 80 and 160 Gb/s data signals employing the recovered clock as a demultiplexing control signal and as a clock for the bit-error-rate tester (BERT) is evaluated by bit error rate measurements on the demultiplexed data signals.
Variability in the assessment of fracture-healing in orthopaedic trauma studies.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of consensus among orthopaedic surgeons in the assessment of fracture-healing. We conducted a systematic review of recent clinical studies of long-bone fracture care that were published in three major orthopaedic journals to identify current definitions of fracture-healing. METHODS MEDLINE and the computerized databases for The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Volume), The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British Volume), and the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma were searched from January 1996 through December 2006 with use of title, abstract, keyword, and medical subject headings. Therapeutic clinical studies of long-bone fractures of the appendicular skeleton in adults in which fracture-healing was assessed were selected. Two reviewers independently identified articles and extracted data. Any disagreement was resolved by consensus. We qualitatively and quantitatively summarized the definition of fracture union and the reliability of the assessment of radiographic fracture-healing. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-three studies proved to be eligible. Union was defined on the basis of a combination of clinical and radiographic criteria in 62% of the studies, on the basis of radiographic criteria only in 37%, and on the basis of clinical criteria only in 1%. Twelve different criteria were used to define fracture union clinically, and the most common criterion was the absence of pain or tenderness at the fracture site during weight-bearing. In studies involving the use of plain radiographs, eleven different criteria were used to define fracture union, and the most common criterion was bridging of the fracture site. A quantitative measure of the reliability of the radiographic assessment of fracture union was reported in two studies. CONCLUSIONS We found a lack of consensus with regard to the definition of fracture-healing in the current orthopaedic literature. Without valid and reliable clinical or radiographic measures of union, the interpretation of fracture care studies remains difficult.
Young Adults' Perceived Purposes of Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Cohabitation

ABSTRACT The authors investigated associations between young adults' perceived purposes of emerging adulthood and their attitudes toward and participation in cohabitation. In a sample of 775 never married individuals, ages 18–29 (69% female, 69% white) from the United States, young people's perceptions of this period of life were associated with their acceptance of cohabitation, their reasoning for accepting cohabitation, and the likelihood of cohabiting. Results showed that the perception that emerging adulthood is a time to prepare for future family roles was negatively associated with acceptance of cohabitation whereas the perception that emerging adulthood is a time to take risks was positively associated with acceptance of cohabitation. The perception that emerging adulthood is a time to prepare for future family roles was associated with an increased likelihood of having cohabited while the perception that emerging adulthood is a time of possibilities was associated with a decreased likelihood of having cohabited. Implications for future research are discussed.
Absence of HIV-associated nephropathy in Ethiopians.

BACKGROUND Population-based epidemiological surveys in several countries have shown approximately 10- to 15-fold increased susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) for populations of recent African ancestry. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether a similar or different pattern of susceptibility was evident among Ethiopians followed up in an HIV clinic in Israel. METHODS One hundred seventy-six consecutive patients (126 Ethiopians, 50 non-Ethiopian Israelis) followed up at the HIV clinic of Rambam Medical Center in northern Israel were examined for the presence of proteinuria and/or decreased glomerular filtration rate. HIV viral load, CD4 count, and treatment modality also were determined. RESULTS Overall, 73% of patients were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, and there was no difference between Ethiopians and non-Ethiopian Israelis in this regard. Mean CD4 count in Ethiopians was 288 +/- 140/microL, significantly less than the corresponding CD4 count of 398 +/- 190/microL for non-Ethiopian Israelis. Mean viral loads were greater in Ethiopians compared with non-Ethiopian Israelis. None of 176 HIV-infected patients fulfilled clinical criteria for HIVAN as delineated in this study. CONCLUSION HIV-infected individuals of Ethiopian descent have a level of susceptibility to HIVAN similar to that of non-Ethiopian Israelis, which is strikingly less than that reported for other populations for recent African ancestry. This does not appear to be attributable to differences in HIV infection control or viral subtype and most likely represents population-based differences in host genetic factors. This finding emphasizes the importance of avoiding generalizations with respect to phylogeographic ancestry in disease-susceptibility studies.
When Patients Tell Their Own Stories: A Meta-Narrative Study of Web-Based Personalized Texts of 214 Melanoma Patients’ Journeys in Four Countries

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive, recalcitrant disease. Its impact on people can be compounded by the physical and psychosocial consequences of medical management. Providing melanoma patients with patient-centered care that is effective, safe, and supportive throughout their journey requires knowledge of patients’ progressive experiences and evolving perspectives. With ethical approval, we undertook a meta-narrative study of 214 experiential accounts of melanoma collected from the personal story sections of melanoma and cancer support websites. Using a narrative approach, we qualitatively examined the care experiences represented in these accounts and identified needs for supportive care in a framework reflective of the personal patient journey. We differentiate these across three key periods: lead-up to diagnosis; diagnosis, treatment, and recovery; and posttreatment and recurrence, and provide a visual representation of the patient journey. This article contributes to the growing body of work that utilizes Internet content as sources of qualitative, experiential health care data.
A survey of user experience practice: A point of meet between academic and industry

This paper reports a questionnaire survey which is conducted at the iUser Conference in 2011. The iUser 2011 conference is expected to be the platform to discover the usability and user experience design practitioners from both academic and industry settings in Malaysia. A survey is adopted from the literature that attempted to assess the practice of user-centered design among Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) practitioners. The results reveal a contrary findings to the characteristics of attendees of HCI-focused conference in other countries. While the practice of user experience has gained more attention, usability issues is still at its infancy. The attendees were new to the terminologies and still learning on the fundamental of usability and user experience. The results show that the conference participants were unable to represent the HCI practitioners in the local settings. Consequently, in order to study the practice of user experience, researchers need to locate the right HCI practitioners who qualified to be classified as the community of practice who shared the same values towards embedding the user experience techniques in the existing technology development process.
The illness experiences of women with fibroids: An exploratory qualitative study

Previous research suggests that women attending gynaecology clinics experience high rates of psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity. Although the reasons for this are poorly understood, certain conditions appear to cause women particularly high levels of anxiety and depression. This paper reports a qualitative study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), to examine the illness experiences of women with the common gynaecological condition of fibroids. The study employs semi-structured interviews, guided by Leventhal's self-regulation model, to explore 18 women's understanding and experiences of having fibroids. Qualitative analysis revealed eight themes drawn into two higher-order themes - 'Managing uncertainty' and 'Struggling between defeat and optimism'. These higher-order themes illustrate the multiplicity of experiences and meanings used by women attempting to understand their condition, treatment options and future health outcomes. The differences in women's illness representations may account for differences in their relative distress levels. The findings indicate the importance of considering an individual's illness representations in order to facilitate the provision of appropriate medical and psychological care to women with fibroids.
Influence of f-MLP, ACTH(1–24) and CRH on in vitro Chemotaxis of Monocytes from Centenarians

Objective: The lifelong exposure to a variety of stressors activates a plethora of defense mechanisms, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which releases neuropeptides affecting the immune responses. Here, we report data on the capability of monocytes from young subjects and centenarians to migrate towards chemotactic stimuli (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, f-MLP; adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH, and corticotrophin-releasing hormone, CRH). Plasma levels of ACTH, CRH and cortisol were measured as an index of ongoing stress response. Methods: Monocyte chemotaxis towards f-MLP (10–8M), ACTH(1–24) (10–14 and 10–8M) and CRH (10–14 and 10–8M) was evaluated in vitro in young subjects (n = 8, age range 25–35 years) and centenarians (n = 9, age >100 years) and expressed as chemotactic index. In 9 young subjects and 6 centenarians, plasma levels of cortisol, ACTH and CRH were measured. Results: Monocyte chemotaxis towards f-MLP, ACTH(1–24) and CRH (10–8M) was well preserved in centenarians, except when the lowest concentration of CRH was used. CRH, ACTH and cortisol plasma levels were significantly higher in centenarians than in young subjects. Conclusions: The capability of monocytes from centenarians to respond to chemotactic neuropeptides is well preserved. The decreased responsiveness to the lowest concentration of CRH might be due to downregulation of CRH receptors or to defects in the intracellular signal transduction pathway. The high plasma levels of cortisol, CRH and ACTH in centenarians indicate an activation of the entire stress axis, likely counteracting the systemic inflammatory process occurring with age. This activation fits with the hypothesis that lifelong low-intensity stressors activate ancient, hormetic defense mechanisms, favoring healthy aging and longevity.
Hex expression suggests a role in the development and function of organs derived from foregut endoderm

Hex is a divergent homeobox gene expressed as early as E4.5 in the mouse and in a pattern that suggests a role in anterior‐posterior patterning. Later in embryogenesis, Hex is expressed in the developing thyroid, lung, and liver. We now show Hex expression during thymus, gallbladder, and pancreas development and in the adult thyroid, lung, and liver. At E10.0, Hex is expressed in the 3rd pharyngeal pouch, from which the thymus originates, the endodermal cells of liver that are invading the septum transversum, the thyroid, the dorsal pancreatic bud, and gallbladder primoridum. At E13.5, expression is maintained at high levels in the thyroid, liver, epithelial cells lining the pancreatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts and is present in both the epithelial and mesenchymal cells of the lung. Expression in the thymus at this age is less than in the other organs. In the E16.5 embryo, expression persists in the thyroid, pancreatic, and bile duct epithelium, lung, and liver, with thymic expression dropping to barely detectable levels. By E18.5, expression in the thyroid and bile ducts remains high, whereas lung expression is markedly decreased. At this age, expression in the pancreas and thymus is no longer present. Finally, we show the cell types in the adult thyroid, lung, and liver that express Hex in the mature animal. Our results provide more detail on the potential role of Hex in the development of several organs derived from foregut endoderm and in the maintenance of function of several of these organs in the mature animal. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors Affecting Quality of Work Life: An Analysis on Employees of Private Limited Companies in Bangladesh

Quality of work life is a critical concept with having lots of importance in employeeâ€™s life. Quality of work life indicates a proper balance both in work and personal life which also ensure organizational productivity and employeeâ€™s job satisfaction. This research study attempted to find out the factors that have an impact and significance influence on quality of work life of employees in private limited companies of Bangladesh. To begin with the factors are identified through literature review and current context of Bangladesh. Seven factors were found and a quantitative research was done. After developing a questionnaire, survey was conducted among 100 employees. The outcome of the research is that six out of seven factors (work load, family life, transportation, compensation policy and benefits, working environment, working condition and career growth) have significant influence on quality of work life. The study concluded that an appropriate organization culture, compensation policy, career growth and relative facilities can leads to a satisfied employee mindset which ensure the overall organization productivity.