Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a process-based cognitive training intervention for patients with stress-related exhaustion

Abstract Stress-related exhaustion has been linked to a pattern of selective cognitive impairments, mainly affecting executive functioning, attention and episodic memory. Little is known about potential treatments of these cognitive deficits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a process-based cognitive training intervention, designed to target the specific cognitive impairments associated with stress-related exhaustion. To this end, patients diagnosed with exhaustion disorder (ED) were randomized to either a multimodal stress rehabilitation program with the addition of a process-based cognitive training intervention (training group, n = 27) or a treatment-as-usual control condition, consisting of multimodal stress rehabilitation with no additional training (control group, n = 32). Treatment effects were evaluated through an extensive cognitive test battery, assessing both near and far transfer effects, as well as self-report forms regarding subjective cognitive complaints and burnout levels. Results showed pronounced training-related improvements on the criterion updating task (p < 0.001). Further, evidence was found of selective near transfer effects to updating (p = 0.01) and episodic memory (p = 0.04). Also, the trained group reported less subjective memory complaints (p = 0.02) and levels of burnout decreased for both groups, but more so for the trained group (p = 0.04), following the intervention. These findings suggest that process-based cognitive training may be a viable method to address the cognitive impairments associated with ED.
The Impact of Rewards on Knowledge Sharing

Knowledge is a valuable resource that can lead to improved organizational performance and competitive advantage. Knowledge resides in individuals and knowledge sharing is a process that creates organizational knowledge resources by disseminating the knowledge of individuals. However, knowledge sharing is dependent on the willingness of individuals in the organization to share. Many organizations have created reward structures to encourage employees to contribute to knowledge repositories or share their knowledge through online forums. Many reward schemes depend on monetary rewards such as payments or promotions. However, prior research demonstrates that these tangible rewards may not always encourage sharing with some reporting negative effects for tangible rewards. The literature on incentives and motivation identifies other types of rewards verbal rewards, reputation and reciprocity. This study investigates the impact of different types of rewards on attitude towards knowledge sharing through a survey of knowledge workers. The results confirm the importance of verbal rewards and extrinsic rewards based on social capital. However, monetary rewards did not have a significant effect. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for practice and future research.
Hospital patients' reports of medical errors and undesirable events in their health care.

OBJECTIVE To investigate hospital patients' reports of undesirable events in their health care. DESIGN Cross-sectional mixed methods design. PARTICIPANTS A total of 80 medical and surgical patients (mean age 58, 56 male). INTERVENTION Patients were interviewed post-discharge using a survey to assess patient reports of errors or problems in their care. Patients' medical records and notes were also reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency of health care process problems, medical complications and interpersonal problems, and patient willingness to report an undesirable event in their care. RESULTS In total, 258 undesirable events were reported (rate of 3.2 per person), including 136 interpersonal problems, 90 medical complications and 32 health care process problems. Patients identified a number of events that were reported in the medical records (30 out of 36). In addition, patients reported events that were not recorded in the medical records. Patients were more willing (P < 0.05) to report undesirable events to a researcher (as in the present case) than to a local or national reporting system. CONCLUSION Patients appear able to report undesirable events that occur in their health care management over and above those that are recorded in their medical records. However, patients appear more willing to report these incidents for the purpose of a study rather than to an established incident reporting system. Interventions aimed at educating and encouraging patients about incident reporting systems need to be developed in order to enhance this important contribution patients could make to improving patient safety.
Endoscopic palliation of inoperable cancer of the oesophagus or cardia by argon electrocoagulation.

BACKGROUND Cancer of the oesophagus and the cardia tends to present late. Palliation of dysphagia is the prospect of most of the patients. This paper reports the use of argon electrocoagulation in 83 patients with inoperable cancer strictures in the oesophagus and cardia. METHODS The argon electrocoagulation was done by a fibre conducting electricity and argon air to the site of coagulation. After treatment the patients were allowed to take fluids and normal food the same evening or the next morning. After recanalization the patients were treated regularly every 3-4 weeks. RESULTS Recanalization enabling passage for normal food was achieved with 1 treatment in 48 patients (58%), whereas 22 (26%) needed more than 1 treatment. In 13 patients (16%) the ability to eat normal food was not achieved. In these patients dysphagia improved at least one grade. Perforation was seen in seven patients (8%) and in 1% of treatments. Perforations were successfully treated conservatively in six of the seven patients. Sixty-three patients (76%) died during the investigation period, on average 146 days (range, 43-397 days) after diagnosis. CONCLUSION Argon electrocoagulation offers an easy, cheap, and safe alternative to treatment with laser photocoagulation and expandable metal stents.
Lateral Cervical Radiographs and Adenoid Size: Do They Correlate?

Clinicians have questioned the value of lateral soft tissue neck x-ray (LSTN) in assessing adenoid size. Elaborate cephalometric assays have been devised to measure degree of nasopharyngeal obstruction secondary to adenoid hypertrophy. This study prospectively studied 73 children, aged 11 months to 13 years, with clinical evidence of adenoid hypertrophy to assess how well a LSTN correlates with direct intraoperative observation of adenoid size and nasopharyngeal obstruction. We found a relatively weak correlation (Pearson coefficient r = 0.34) between x-ray and operative observations. We conclude that LSTN is an appropriate examination in the preoperative assessment of children being considered for adenoidectomy. However, this test must be interpreted by recognizing the inherent limitations of evaluating a dynamic structure, such as the nasopharynx, through a non-dynamic modality.
The impact of diabetes on health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents

The purpose of this review is to emphasize the importance of quality of life as a treatment outcome in the treatment of diabetes during childhood and adolescence. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), sometimes referred to as functional health in this review, indicates the extent to which a disease or medical condition impacts upon the daily physical, emotional, and contextual well-being of an individual. This review documents what is known about HRQOL or functional health in pediatric diabetes. Strategies that allow measures of HRQOL to be incorporated into routine clinical care are discussed.
Geographic Occurrence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting White-tailed Deer in North Carolina

A state-wide survey to determine the occurrence and comparative numbers of ticks infecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was conducted in North Carolina (USA). One thousand six hundred twenty nine deer were examined in 60 of 100 counties; with the exception of one county in the piedmont region, all tick-infested deer occurred in the coastal plain. Ixodes scapularis (46%) and Amblyomma americanum (53%) were the most prevalent species encountered and accounted for more than 98% of the 4,286 ticks collected. Some specimens of Dermacentor albipictus and Amblyomma maculatum also were collected.
Consideraciones sobre la educación en ingeniería geotécnica

La ingenieria en general, y la geotecnia quizas mas, es una disciplina no bien difundida en cuanto a su rol frente a la sociedad a la que sirve. Esta situacion es bastante curiosa siendo como es, una especialidad vinculada a la seguridad y al ambiente. En este trabajo se desarrollan y resenan algunas ideas que tienen que ver con los objetivos y metodos de ensenanza y su futuro. Se trata de generar un debate sobre los conceptos de "ensenanza-aprendizaje" o, "ensenanza-entrenamiento", siempre desde la optica de la situacion de nuestra Nacion.
Experimental results of a wafer positioning system using machine vision after system calibration

This article proposed calibration results of a real-time wafer positioning system using machine vision. We developed a novel wafer positioning system which comprises two line-shaped beams spreading toward a scattering surface on the way of wafer transfer. A CCD (charge coupled device) camera mounted above the scattering surface takes images, and these images are processed and analyzed to compute the actual position of the wafer center on the blade during the transfer process. A calibration process and linear fitting of the wafer center are proposed to compensate the system errors induced from manufacturing and assembly. Experimental results illustrate that the precision and accuracy of this wafer positioning system have been both improved after calibrating the system errors.
Morphometric Study Of Pterion In Dry Skull Of Gujarat Region

The pterion is a commonly used landmark on neurocranium; classified in four types: sphenoparietal, frontotemporal, stellate and epipteric. In this study we have found out morphology and location of pterion of skull of Gujarat region and comparison of their morphology with other populations. 42 skulls of unknown gender were examined on both sides from Department of Anatomy, Medical College Bhavnagar. Measurements of the location of the pterion were made by using stainless steel callipers. Sphenoparietal was the most common form comprising 91.7%. Measurements between from center of pterion to posterior end of frontozygomatic suture, vertical distance to upper margin of zygomatic arch, horizontal distance to lateral margin of optic canal and horizontal distance to outer end of the sphenoid ridge on the lesser wing of the sphenoid were taken. Anatomical variations of the pterion, which are of interest to anthropologists, forensic pathologists and surgeons, deserve further investigation in other populations from different areas.
Injection site lipoatrophy: a rare complication of recombinant human insulin.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 : Lipoatrophy over the left para-umbilical region. A 59-year-old male with type 2 diabetes of 19 years duration had been treated with premixed recombinant human insulin (30% regular and 70% NPH) for the last 18 months. He was injecting himself predominantly over the left side of the abdomen. He developed subcutaneous lipoatrophy around the injection site about 14 months after the induction of insulin therapy (Fig.1 and Fig.2). Skin biopsy of the involved site documented adipocyte atrophy along with features of chronic inflammation. Lipodystrophy (lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy) was the most frequently reported local complication of insulin therapy in the past with the use of animal insulins. the immunological reaction to the insulin product seems to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of lipoatrophy. This immune complex-mediated inflammatory lesion, however, has become a rare event since the advent of highly purified human recombinant insulins. There are very few documentations of such association in world literature. Insulin-induced lipoatrophy not only produces a cosmetic problem, it is relevant from the therapeutic aspect as well, because of the variability of drug absorption it causes from the site of injection. Lipoatrophy although rare can still occur even with the use of technologically advanced newer insulin preparations like insulin lispro,1 biphasic insulin aspart,2 insulin glargine and insulin detemir.3 the estimated prevalence of this complication is about 3.6%. this complication of insulin therapy may be limited by regularly inspecting the injection sites and changing the type of insulin and injection site eventually relieves the fat atrophy.
Contribution of the alcohol dehydrogenase‐1B genotype and oral microorganisms to high salivary acetaldehyde concentrations in Japanese alcoholic men

The less‐active homozygous alcohol dehydrogenase‐1B (ADH1B*1/*1) and inactive heterozygous aldehyde dehydrogenase‐2 (ALDH2*1/*2) increase the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer (UADTC) in Japanese alcoholics. We evaluated associations between ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes and the blood and salivary ethanol/acetaldehyde levels of 80 Japanese alcoholic men in the morning when they first visited our hospital after drinking the day before. Higher levels of ethanol persisted in the blood for longer periods in ADH1B*1/*1 carriers (n = 25) than in ADH1B*2 allele carriers after adjustment for the amount and time of the preceding alcohol consumption and body weight [median (25th–75th %): 20.5 mM (15.5–52.4) vs. below detection level (
Pulmonary function and physical performance outcomes with preoperative physical therapy in upper abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: Investigation of the effects of preoperative physical therapy on pulmonary function and physical performance before and after upper abdominal surgery. Design: Non-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting: Tertiary public hospital and private university, São Paulo state, Brazil. Subjects: Thirty-two patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to receive physical therapy, with respiratory and global exercises, 2–3 weeks before surgery (treatment group; n = 16) or await operation without engaging in practicing (control group; n = 16). After surgery, a physical therapy protocol was administered to all subjects until the seventh postoperative day. Main measures: Pulmonary function outcome variables were inspiratory and expiratory strength, respiratory muscle endurance and spirometry, and physical performance outcome variables were the functional independence measure and 6-minute walk test distance. Any postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded. Results: There were no between-group differences at randomization. In the preoperative period, patients in the intervention group had higher inspiratory strength and respiratory muscle endurance than controls (88 cmH2O versus 64 cmH2O and 28 cmH2O versus 23 cmH2O, respectively; P <0 0.05). On the seventh postoperative day, in addition to inspiratory force and respiratory muscle endurance, the intervention group showed better results than controls in the functional independence measure score (118 versus 95) and 6-minute walk test distance (368.5 m versus 223 m), all P <0 0.05. Postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 11 patients in the control group and five in the intervention group (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Preoperative physical therapy improved pulmonary function and physical performance in the pre- and postoperative periods among patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery.
Ovariectomy and estrogen-induced alterations in myocardial contractility in female rabbits: role of the L-type calcium channel.

The effects of ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on myocardial contractility were examined in female rabbits. Ovariectomy failed to alter left ventricular mass, papillary muscle cross-sectional area or isometric force. Estrogen replacement after ovariectomy (0.15 microg/kg/day i.m. 17beta-estradiol acetate for 7 days) increased left ventricular mass and papillary muscle mass, and reduced isometric force compared to control and ovariectomy groups. Ovariectomy did not alter increased isometric force with isoproterenol, but decreased the ED50 for Bay K8644 (compared to control and estrogen groups). Estrogen replacement increased the ED50 for isoproterenol- and Bay K8644-induced isometric force compared to control and ovariectomy groups. Ovariectomy increased and estrogen replacement decreased isometric force associated with increased Ca++o. Acute exposure to 17beta-estradiol or diethylstilbesterol (10(-7) M, 10(-6) M) failed to alter isometric force in control papillary muscles. Estrogen replacement reduced the number, but not the dissociation constant for 3H-nitrendipine binding in plasma membrane preparations (compared to ovariectomy and control groups). Peak L-type calcium currents in isolated ventricular myocytes from the three treatment groups were not significantly different. The data are consistent with an ovariectomy-induced increase and estrogen-induced decrease in L-type calcium channel density in rabbit myocardium. Estrogen-induced alterations in L-type calcium channel expression and contractility are subsequently modified by estrogen-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
The genomic rate of transposable element movement in Drosophila melanogaster.

A large fraction of eukaryotic DNA is composed of transposable elements (TEs) (Berg and Howe 1989) that can cause mutations when they transpose to novel sites (Mackay et al. 1992). The relative contribution of TE-induced mutations to the total genomic mutation rate depends on the rate of transposition and excision per genome per generation averaged over all TE families. Experiments in which transpositions and excisions have been observed directly in independent replicates of inbred lines of Drosophila melunogaster yield estimates of the total transposition rate per haploid genome per generation of 0.5 (Eggleston et al. 1988) 0.3 (Harada et al. 1990), and 0.6 (Nuzhdin and Mackay 1994); and for the total excision rate of 0.04 (Eggleston et al. 1988), 0.003 (Harada et al. 1990) and 0.006 (Nuzhdin and Mackay 1994). These estimates have very high standard errors because very few transpositions and excisions were detected (Eggleston et al. 1988) or because only a small sample of element families was examined (Harada et al. 1990; Nuzhdin and Mackay 1994). Our previous estimate of the total rate of transposition and excision of D. melunogaster TEs was based on cytological insertion sites of 5 retrotransposon TE families (Dot, copia, roo, 297, and w2dg3) in 3 I replicate lines derived from an initially highly inbred strain (Harwith) that had accumulated mutations for approximately 170 generations (Nuzhdin and Mackay 1994). To obtain a more precise estimate based on a larger proportion of TE families, we have determined insertion sites of 12 additional TEs (1731, mdgl, 412, gypsy, hobo, FB4, 2156, 2158, 2161, 2217, 2244, and I) in a sample of 10 Harwich mutation accumulation lines that had undergone approximately 10 further generations of mutation accumulation since the first study. The average number of generations of mutation accumulation for these 10 lines was 175. TE insertion sites were determined by in
Effects of Arsenic Trioxide on the Cerulein-Induced AR42J Cells and Its Gene Regulation

Objectives: To study the molecular mechanism of arsenic trioxide-induced cell death on cerulein-stimulated AR42J cells. Methods: AR42J cells were incubated for 24 hours, and cerulein (10 nmol/L) and different concentrations of arsenic trioxide were added for another 24 hours. The cells were collected and analyzed for apoptosis and oncosis by using rhodamine 123 and propidium iodide staining, and the changes in the genes that related to cell death were detected by a gene chip. Results: After cerulein stimulation, apoptosis was significantly increased in the AR42J cells. The addition of arsenic trioxide increased the number of apoptotic cells, and the apoptotic index reached its peak in the 1-&mgr;mol/L group. Regarding oncosis, low concentrations of arsenic trioxide (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 &mgr;mol/L) reduced the development of oncosis, and in the 2-&mgr;mol/L group, it was most significant, whereas high concentration of arsenic trioxide (8 &mgr;mol/L) promoted the development of oncosis. A total of 96 genes related to apoptosis were detected, and 36 genes were differentially expressed. Conclusions: Appropriate concentrations of arsenic trioxide can induce apoptosis in AR42J cells that were induced by cerulein and lead to changes in the expressions of certain genes.
Structural Optimization of a Multi-Physics Problem Considering Thermal and Magnetic Effects

Most researches regarding structural design of electromagnetic systems have been focused on a single physical phenomenon such as magnetic, electric or thermal effect. However, analysis and design of the multi-physics phenomenon is coming to the fore related with the actuator system targeting on the small size and high performance. Two or more physics phenomena are taken into account in a multi-physics system and the multi-physics analysis is performed using the governing equation in the formulation of a partial differential equation. Accordingly, in actuator design, it is generally hard to predict an optimal shape accurately considering both the magnetic and the thermal effect simultaneously. The objective of this research is set to establish a simultaneous/parallel design process for a multi-physics problem combining magnetic and thermal effects by employing the adoptive weighting factor while the previous work mostly suggests a sequential design process. The proposed method has been applied to yoke shape design of a C-core type magnetic actuator for minimizing the heat transfer effect as well as maximizing the actuating force. The topology optimization scheme based on the density approach is employed to obtain the optimal shape.
DIFFERENT BIVENTRICULAR REMODELLING OF MYOSIN AND COLLAGEN IN PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

1. To clarify the metabolism of contractile and non‐contractile proteins of the ventricles during the development of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and accompanying congestive heart failure (CHF) in response to a pressure overload, monocrotaline was injected subcutaneously into Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats. Myosin isoenzymes (MIE) were analysed by pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis under non‐dissociating conditions. Acid‐soluble collagens were analysed by an improved, non‐interrupted sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). Tissue collagen content was also measured after the estimation of hydroxyproline concentration in tissues.
Dielectric Barrier Discharge Uniformity Enhancement by Air Flow

The possibility of dielectric barrier discharge contraction prevention by means of air flow has been experimentally investigated. A plasma generator with coaxial configuration was used in the experiments. The discharge medium was atmospheric pressure air under natural humidity (about 50%). A rectangle voltage pulse of 16 kV amplitude and 60 us duration was applied to the discharge electrodes with a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz. The air flow rate through the discharge gap was varied from 0 to 32 L · min-1. The discharge uniformity was evaluated on the basis on the discharge afterglow brightness distribution in the cross section of the gap. It was found that the discharge afterglow uniformity grows with increase in the flow rate. The explanation for this phenomenon is presented.