Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Aspects of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury With Onset During Adolescence: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background/Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurring during adolescence poses additional challenges because of the concurrent age-specific bio-psychosocial development. Full understanding of the psychosocial dimensions of rehabilitation requires exploration of the patient perspective. The objective of this study was to focus on psychosocial factors from the patient perspective in persons who had previously sustained a SCI during early and mid-adolescence (11-15 years of age). Methods: Twenty-four of the 28 persons who had sustained a SCI in Sweden from 1985 to 1996 participated in the study. Semistructured interviews were made an average of 10 years after injury. Narratives were analyzed qualitatively according to content analysis. Results: Parents and peers were found to have formed a crucial network. Parents frequently acted as advocates in interactions with health care providers, as supporters, and as containers of sorrow, frustration, and anger. Peers acted as promoters of activity and identity development. However, health care providers were perceived as not making sufficient use of this network. Conclusions: Rehabilitation professionals might be encouraged to increase their knowledge of adolescence medicine to better meet the specific needs and demands of persons in this age group. It is further suggested that parents and peers be considered important partners in the joint rehabilitation effort.
Changes in pulmonary mechanics during laparoscopic gastroplasty in morbidly obese patients

Background: Obesity is an important respiratory risk factor after abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic surgical techniques seem beneficial in obese patients in terms of respiratory morbidity, with a faster return to normal respiratory function. However, there is little information about intraoperative respiratory mechanics and about patient tolerance to abdominal insufflation in the morbidly obese.
Antioxidant capacity of eugenol derivatives

Toxicity and antioxidant capacity of eugenol derivatives (E2 = 2-Methoxy-4-[1-propenylphenyl]acetate, E3 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxyphenylacetate, E4 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxy-4-nitrophenol, E5 = 5-Allyl-3-nitrobenzene-1,2-diol, E6 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl acetate) were evaluated in order to determine the influence of the sustituents. E2-E6 were synthesized from eugenol (E1). E1 was extracted from cloves oil, and E2-E6 were obtained through acetylation and nitration reactions. Antioxidant capacity evaluated by DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) and ORAC fluorescein demonstrated that E1 and E5 have a higher capacity and the minor toxicity evaluated by red blood cells haemolysis and the Artemia saline test. In accordance with our results, the compound's (E1-E5) use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and or food industries could be suggested.
Heartrate in an Asch-Type Conformity Situation

In an Asch-type conformity experiment conformists and non-conformists showed in some sense different conflict resolution behavior measured by heart rate. As predicted there was a reverse U-shaped trend for conformists and a monotonic trend for non-conformists; although unpredicted, a monotonic component for conformists and a bitonic component for non-conformists was also existent.
Experiences and Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Among Older Chinese Immigrants

ABSTRACT This study examines the experiences and perceptions of domestic violence among older Chinese immigrants, using data from a larger sample of Chinese Americans who reside in a major metropolitan area in the West Coast (Yick, 2000). A subset of respondents 50 years and older who are foreign-born (n = 77) were selected to (1) examine older Chinese immigrants' experiences with physical abuse by a spouse, (2) explore the definitions and perceptions of intimate partner violence among older Chinese, and (3) examine the relationship between acculturation, victimization experiences, and perceptions of domestic violence among this population. Findings indicate that close to 7% of the women and 6% of the men have experienced minor physical violence by their spouses during the past 12 months. Gender and acculturation were associated with perceptions and attitudes towards domestic violence.
Joint DLL and PHY layer design in wireless communications

This thesis investigates the performance of cross-layer design in data communication over wireless channels. This involves a joint use of two well known techniques; namely, the link adaptation technique of adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) at the physical layer (PHY) and the automatic repeat request (ARQ) scheme at the data link layer (DLL). The motivation behind the design arises from the time-varying characteristic of the wireless channel, where fading may lead to signi cant impairment in the content of the received information, thereby a ecting the quality of service (QoS) (e.g. at application layer level). Rayleigh distribution is used for modelling the channel statistics. The overall objective is to design an AMC scheme that maximises the ASE, which is a measure of performance at the physical layer, while a condition on the rate (probability) of receiving erroneous packets is satis ed at the data link layer of the received node; hence the term cross-layer design. This is translated into an optimization problem where the objective function is the ASE, and the constraint function involves the average or instantaneous packet error rate (PER) bounded by a given target, which in turn is set by QoS requirements from higher layers of communication protocol stack. The problem can then be solved by methods such as nonlinear programming. The result is an optimised AMC scheme, where the data rate is adapted according to the estimate of the channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). At rst, a continuous variable rate scheme is derived for a point-to-point link between two nodes. As a side contribution, a tight closed-form approximation for PER is obtained as a function of data rate and imperfect estimate of channel SNR. This serves as a generalised case of a practical discrete-rate adaptation. Secondly, the joint DLL and PHY design is applied to communication between two nodes under cognitive radio (CR) resource restraint, where a cooperative node assists the ARQ operation. The performance is compared to that of a single non-cooperative transmission under the same CR constraint.
An evaluation of the fixed-combination of latanoprost and timolol for use in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Although there is no cure for this chronic disease, medical treatment is aimed at reducing levels of intraocular pressure (IOP) using ocular hypotensive agents. Very often, patients require more than one IOP-reducing drug, resulting in complex medication regimens that may be difficult to maintain and that can lead to non-compliance. A fixed-combination (FC) ophthalmic solution consisting of the prostaglandin, latanoprost (0.005%), and the β-blocker, timolol (0.5%), is now available. The primary mechanism of action of latanoprost is to increase uveoscleral outflow whereas timolol lowers IOP levels by decreasing the formation of aqueous humor in the ciliary epithelium. Due to the unique mechanism of action of latanoprost, once-daily dosing of one drop of FC latanoprost/timolol results in additional IOP reduction compared with either drug administered separately. FC latanoprost/timolol is well-tolerated and has a safety profile similar to that of its individual components. This combination drug provides a safe, effective and convenient alternative for the treatment of patients with elevated IOP levels uncontrolled with monotherapy.
Didactic Competencies among Teaching Staff of Universities in Kenya

The aim of this study was to establish the levels and types of didactic competencies that exist among teaching staff in universities in Kenya, giving recognition to curriculum development, pedagogical attributes and quality assurance competencies. The study was carried out in two phases among two samples of the teaching staff population. The first sample consisted of 229 randomly sampled teaching staff from three public chartered universities in Kenya while the second sample consisted of 46 teaching staff who had been engaged in quality assurance activities of the university education national quality assurance agency in Kenya. The methodology entailed analyzing the curriculum vitae of the first sample for purposes of determining the teaching staff's consideration of didactic competencies as an achievement area in their teaching profession and thereafter analyzing the responses of the second sample to an open-ended questionnaire in order to determine the teaching staff's acquired and needed didactic competencies. The results revealed that a low percentage of teaching staff (37.1%) considered didactic competencies as an achievement area in the teaching profession. On the other hand, didactic competencies in pedagogical attributes were highly regarded as compared to those in curriculum development and quality assurance. There was need for advocacy and sensitization of teaching staff and university management on the importance of the three types of didactic competencies in the enhancement of the quality of teaching and learning at the university. In addition, taking cognizance of the dynamism in education, teaching staff needed to keep abreast with the paradigm shifts through regular training and retraining on the various types of didactic competency areas.
CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALLIZATION IN UNDILUTED URINE OF HEALTHY MALES: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CITRATE COMPOUNDS

We evaluated the crystallization of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in undiluted urine, collected 3 hours after intake of a test meal by healthy males. In two experiments in vitro, either the total citrate concentration was increased (urine A) or the pH was elevated (urine B). In addition, in three clinical trials, the bioequivalence of orally taken potassium citrate (PC) and potassium-sodium citrate (PSC) (n = 9), and the dose-response effects of oral PC (n = 8) and oral calciumsodium citrate (CSC; n = 8) were studied. Elevation of urinary citrate (urine A) decreased CaOx crystallization (nucleation, growth, agglomeration time), and increased the calcium and citrate content of the crystallized mass; elevation of urinary pH (urine B) also suppressed CaOx crystallization, the calculated molar ratio ionized citrate/ionized calcium at pH 7 was about twice the value observed at pH 5.5, and the ratio complexed citrate/complexed calcium was low. PC and PSC inhibited CaOx crystallization to a similar extent. CSC increased crystal growth but left agglomeration time unchanged. The urinary molar ratio (total calcium/total citrate) appeared to be directly related to the CaOx crystal growth rate. We concluded that: (1) changes in urine pH, citrate, and calcium are reflected by CaOx crystallization; (2) free citrate and a calcium citrate complex (stoichiometry ≤ 1:1) inhibit CaOx crystallization; (3) in individuals taking PC, PSC or CSC, the renal stone risk may be characterized using the presented CaOx crystallization test and the urinary calcium/citrate ratio.
Aberrant resting-state connectivity in non-psychotic individuals with auditory hallucinations

Background Although auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a core symptom of schizophrenia, they also occur in non-psychotic individuals, in the absence of other psychotic, affective, cognitive and negative symptoms. AVH have been hypothesized to result from deviant integration of inferior frontal, parahippocampal and superior temporal brain areas. However, a direct link between dysfunctional connectivity and AVH has not yet been established. To determine whether hallucinations are indeed related to aberrant connectivity, AVH should be studied in isolation, for example in non-psychotic individuals with AVH. Method Resting-state connectivity was investigated in 25 non-psychotic subjects with AVH and 25 matched control subjects using seed regression analysis with the (1) left and (2) right inferior frontal, (3) left and (4) right superior temporal and (5) left parahippocampal areas as the seed regions. To correct for cardiorespiratory (CR) pulsatility rhythms in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, heartbeat and respiration were monitored during scanning and the fMRI data were corrected for these rhythms using the image-based method for retrospective correction of physiological motion effects RETROICOR. Results In comparison with the control group, non-psychotic individuals with AVH showed increased connectivity between the left and the right superior temporal regions and also between the left parahippocampal region and the left inferior frontal gyrus. Moreover, this group did not show a negative correlation between the left superior temporal region and the right inferior frontal region, as was observed in the healthy control group. Conclusions Aberrant connectivity of frontal, parahippocampal and superior temporal brain areas can be specifically related to the predisposition to hallucinate in the auditory domain.
Novel functional properties of Ca2+ channel β subunits revealed by their expression in adult rat heart cells

Recombinant adenoviruses were used to overexpress green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐fused auxiliary Ca2+ channel β subunits (β1‐β4) in cultured adult rat heart cells, to explore new dimensions of β subunit functions in vivo. Distinct β‐GFP subunits distributed differentially between the surface sarcolemma, transverse elements, and nucleus in single heart cells. All β‐GFP subunits increased the native cardiac whole‐cell L‐type Ca2+ channel current density, but produced distinctive effects on channel inactivation kinetics. The degree of enhancement of whole‐cell current density was non‐uniform between β subunits, with a rank order of potency β2aαβ4 > β1b > β3. For each β subunit, the increase in L‐type current density was accompanied by a correlative increase in the maximal gating charge (Qmax) moved with depolarization. However, β subunits produced characteristic effects on single L‐type channel gating, resulting in divergent effects on channel open probability (Po). Quantitative analysis and modelling of single‐channel data provided a kinetic signature for each channel type. Spurred on by ambiguities regarding the molecular identity of the actual endogenous cardiac L‐type channel β subunit, we cloned a new rat β2 splice variant, β2b, from heart using 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. By contrast with β2a, expression of β2b in heart cells yielded channels with a microscopic gating signature virtually identical to that of native unmodified channels. Our results provide novel insights into β subunit functions that are unattainable in traditional heterologous expression studies, and also provide new perspectives on the molecular identity of the β subunit component of cardiac L‐type Ca2+ channels. Overall, the work establishes a powerful experimental paradigm to explore novel functions of ion channel subunits in their native environments.
Featuring the thunderstorm activity using lightning data provided by the Romanian Lightning Detection and Location Network

The paper presents some of the results issued from the statistical analysis of the events recorded by the Romanian Lightning Detection and Location Network (RDLN) during three years of activity (2003 to 2005). General features of the lightning activity over the Romanian territory were obtained using GIS software, namely the regional distributions of the keraunic level and the flash density. The assessment of lightning exposure for transmission lines was realized by detecting lightning events inside the exposure zones associated to the overhead lines' path. Several criteria to establish appropriate dimensions for the exposure zones were tried, in order to compensate the inherent uncertainty associated to the impact location. The results of the basic and advanced statistical analyze of the collected lightning data are presented and compared to the overall distributions. We conclude with some general observations on the use of lightning data by power utilities.
A COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF FARMING OF THREE IMPORTANT AQUACULTURE SPECIES IN KENYA

Information on the economic viability of aquaculture is crucial for investors when assessing the feasibility of an aquaculture investment. Unfortunately, such information has been scarce in Kenya. This paper evaluates the viability of commercial culture of three aquaculture species in Kenya under four culture practices. These are: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), mainly produced using monoor polyculture under semi intensive systems; and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced in intensive raceways and tank systems and semi intensive production of catfish juveniles for bait in the Nile perch fisheries of Lake Victoria. Assumptions for this evaluation were based on data from aquaculture research extension information from Kenya. Other information came from the author’s experience in the aquaculture extension service and as a trainer in extension service delivery. The evaluation showed all culture practices to be economically viable although at varying degrees. Culture of baitfish showed the highest viability and profitability of the four evaluated culture practices. This was attributed to its higher turnover rate compared to the others. However, an investor considering baitfish production should consider its diminishing market resulting from declining Nile perch production from Lake Victoria and the limited production zone restricted to the lake region. Monoculture of Oreochromis niloticus showed lower viability compared to the others. However, sensitivity analysis showed that this could be improved by enhancing productivity per unit value of input by using better fish breeds, feed with higher conversion ratios and efficient production management practices. Trout production, despite indicating best values for financial ratios, is limited by diminishing production zones and lack of appropriate feed. The success of aquaculture in Kenya will not only depend on the use of higher yielding species and efficient aquaculture production technologies, but also on the confidence of investors. For this reason, the Department of Fisheries of Kenya (DoF) needs to have appropriate information available to investors in their process of making economic decisions on aquaculture investments.
Differential macrophage expression of IL‐12 and IL‐23 upon innate immune activation defines rat autoimmune susceptibility

Rodents typically demonstrate strain‐specific susceptibilities to induced autoimmune models such as experimental arthritis and encephalomyelitis. A common feature of the local pathology of these diseases is an extensive infiltration of activated macrophages (MΦ). Different functional activation states can be induced in MΦ during innate immune activation, and it is this differential activation that might be important in susceptibility/resistance to induction or perpetuation of autoimmunity. In this study, we present an extensive, comparative analysis of the activation phenotypes of MΦ derived from autoimmune‐susceptible and autoimmune‐resistant rat strains to describe a cellular phenotype that defines the disease phenotype. We included investigation of receptor function, intracellular signaling pathways, cytokines, and other soluble mediators released after activation of cells using a panel of stimuli embracing many activation routes. We report that activation of MΦ from the autoimmune‐susceptible strain was associated with alternative activation indicated by induction of arginase activity, a lower production of classical proinflammatory mediators, and a high production of interleukin (IL)‐23, and MΦ from the autoimmune‐resistant strains were associated with a higher production of proinflammatory mediators, a classical activation phenotype, and preferential induction of IL‐12. These MΦ phenotypes thus reflect disparate, genetic cellular programs that define autoimmune susceptibility.
How much 'better' is good enough? The magnitude of treatment effect in clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES Among the various factors required to calculate sample size for clinical trials, the magnitude of treatment effect anticipated is an important component. The objective of this report is to present some of the complexities involved in selection of treatment effect size in clinical trials. As a framework for discussion, an analysis of published reports related to surfactant therapy was carried out. DESIGN Twenty-one consecutive exogenous surfactant trials for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were analyzed. The "Methods" sections were reviewed for evaluating various components of sample size calculation, including the anticipated treatment effect size. RESULTS Sixteen (76%) of the 21 reports provided a description of sample size calculations, and 12 of these gave some reasons for the choice of the anticipated treatment effect size. Expressed as percent change, the median treatment effect from intervention anticipated by the investigators was 50% (range, 15% to 90%), with a positively skewed distribution. The actual median percent reduction in adverse events from treatment (as compared with baseline) was 36% (range, 75% reduction to 5% excess). When the treatment effect was expressed as difference in adverse event rate, in the 14 (of 16) trials that could be analyzed, the median observed reduction in adverse events (death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome) was 14.5% (range, 52% reduction to 2% excess). All trials except one concluded, however, that the intervention was effective, mostly based on additional subgroup calculations. CONCLUSIONS Researchers often select sample sizes capable of detecting only large treatment effects, thus risking type II error, although sometimes a much smaller effect could be clinically important. While pragmatic considerations must be considered during the design of randomized clinical trials, researchers ought to present a rationale for anticipating a given magnitude of treatment effect in their sample size calculations. It may be possible to consider innovative trial designs that help determine the most appropriate treatment choice with the least possible sample size.