Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Drives Whom? A Cultural Perspective on Human Agency

Abstract This paper examines agency as a mechanism that can predict cultural differences in human motivation. In elaborating on the theory of self-construal (Markus & Kitayama, 1991) and drawing on past research on culture, we propose that people from cultures stressing independence are more personally agentic, whereas people from cultures stressing interdependence are more collectively agentic—which results in culturally contrasting differences in cognition and human motivation. Specifically, it is hypothesized that personal agents perceive agency to emanate from the self and, in turn, exhibit greater intrinsic motivation toward actions perceived as self-initiated, whereas collective agents perceive agency to lie within the collective and, in turn, exhibit greater intrinsic motivation toward behaviors perceived to originate from a collective. Such a framework elucidates current empirical research in the area of culture, cognition, and motivation as well as enables predictions about the contexts that can .
Use of no-suicide contracts by psychiatrists in Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE The no-suicide contract is widely recommended as an important intervention in the care of suicidal patients; however, there are no data demonstrating its effectiveness or its acceptance in the professional community. This study examines the use of no-suicide contracts by psychiatrists in Minnesota. METHOD A postcard questionnaire was mailed to 514 psychiatrists in Minnesota inquiring about their practices and experiences with no-suicide contracts. RESULTS There were 267 responses, yielding a response rate of 52%. No-suicide contracts were used by 152 (57%) of the respondents. Within this group, 62 (41%) of the psychiatrists had patients who committed suicide or made serious attempts after entering into a no-suicide contract. CONCLUSIONS Among the respondents to the questionnaire, slightly more than half used no-suicide contracts, indicating that such contracts are not universally accepted as standard practice among these psychiatrists. More data are needed to determine the effectiveness of no-suicide contracts in preventing suicide.
Evaluation of a Self-limiting Concept in Dentinal Caries Removal

The mechanical removal of dentinal caries traditionally involves the use of tactile sensation and/or caries-indicating dyes. This study tested the hypothesis that self-limiting polymer burs are as effective as conventional carbide burs in creating substrates for dentin bonding. Carious dentin from extracted human molars was removed with carbide or polymer burs, with dental explorer hardness as the end-point for caries removal. Dentin substrates were bonded with etch-and-rinse or self-etch adhesives and prepared for microtensile bond testing and transmission electron microscopy. For each bur type, there was no difference in bond strength between adhesives. However, the polymer bur surface exhibited significantly lower bond strengths than the carbide bur, and both were lower than flat, non-carious dentin controls. TEM revealed areas of incompletely removed, denatured caries-infected dentin in the polymer bur specimens. These first-generation polymer burs might best be utilized for deep caries removal where pulpal exposure is a concern.
Treatment of depression for patients with multiple sclerosis in neurology clinics

The objective of this study was to examine the adequacy of antidepressant pharmacotherapy in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated by neurologists. Methods MS patients under the care of neurologists were recruited from a large health maintenance organization. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was diagnosed using a structured telephone interview. Antidepressant treatment data were obtained from the HMO pharmacy database. Results Study participants included 260 patients with MS treated by 35 neurologists. A total of 67 (25.8%) patients met the criteria for MDD. Among the patients with MDD, 65.6% received no antidepressant medication, 4.7% received subthreshold doses from their neurologists, 26.6% received doses at threshold, and 3.1% received doses exceeding threshold. Discussion Depression was undertreated by the neurologists treating this sample of patients with comorbid MS and MDD. Potential solutions are discussed.
[Contrast study of full-endoscopic interlaminar approach for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the minimally invasive efficacy and surgical outcome of full-endoscopic discectomy via interlaminar approach for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS From August 2008 to February 2009, 56 patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Full endoscopic discectomy (FED) group included 16 males and 12 females, the age was 20 - 51 years with a mean (36 ± 8) years, and the course of disease was 18 - 120 d with a mean (68 ± 26) days. There was L(5)-S(1) LDH in 22 and L(4-5) LDH in 6. Headlamp-assisted mini-open discectomy (HAMOD) group, there were 17 males and 11 females. The age was 17-53 years with an average age of (35 ± 9) years, the course of disease was 19 - 110 d with an average (66 ± 24) days, and the herniated disc located at L(5)-S(1) in 15 cases, and L(4-5) in 13 cases. Perioperative parameters (operation time, bleeding volume and length of hospital stay), complications and VAS of leg and back pain (preoperatively, 3 months postoperatively and final follow-up) were statistically analyzed. RESULTS All patients were followed up in both groups, and the average follow-up time of full endoscopic was 1.8 years, and headlamp assisted mini-open was 1.7 years. The average operation time in full endoscopic group was (71 ± 30) min and the headlamp group was (60 ± 12) min, which there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05). There was no measurable bleeding in full endoscopic group, and the headlamp group was (59 ± 10) ml. The average hospital days in full endoscopic group was (5.7 ± 1.4) days, and the headlamp group was (12.3 ± 3.0) days, there was statistically significant difference in both groups (P < 0.01). The complication rate in full endoscopic group was 7.1%, and in headlamp group was 10.7%, without statistical difference (P > 0.05). There was no recurrent case in either group. With regard to VAS of back pain and leg pain, statistically significant difference was found in each group between preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, but not between 3 months postoperatively and at final follow-up. With regard to the final follow-up VAS, there was no statistical difference in leg pain between full endoscopic and headlamp group (P > 0.05). However, there was statistical significance in VAS back pain between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Compared to the headlamp assisted mini-open technique, the full-endoscopic interlaminar approach for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation can achieve similar clinical outcomes with advantage of less iatrogenic trauma and sooner rehabilitation.
A theoretical study of the influence of diffusion and chemical reaction velocity on the rate of exchange of carbon monoxide and oxygen between the red blood corpuscle and the surrounding fluid

Numerical methods have been applied to the problem of the diffusion of CO and O2 through the red blood corpuscle membrane, accompanied by diffusion and chemical reaction of these substances in the layer of concentrated haemoglobin solution inside the corpuscle. The methods are applied to recent data on (i) the rates of CO uptake by corpuscle suspensions and haemoglobin solutions, prepared from the blood of rams and pregnant ewes, (ii) the rates of O2egress from ram corpuscle suspensions and haemoglobin solutions. In the case of the ram blood the slower overall rates of exchange in the corpuscle suspensions, as compared with the haemoglobin solution, can be accounted for by the limiting effect of diffusion inside the corpuscle, without the necessity of attributing any limiting effect to the corpuscle membrane. In the pregnant ewe blood, on the other hand, the corpuscle membrane appears to have a definite limiting effect on the passage of CO and preliminary values of its permeability to this substance are given. It is also shown how the special methods, of computation developed in this paper can be generalized and thus made applicable to other processes in which diffusion and chemical reaction velocity are jointly involved.
THE EFFECT OF ACCLIMATIZATION TIME ON HEART RATE

Hiking and climbing in high mountains are becoming very popular during the last decade. High mountain climbing is mainly in the domain of skilled alpinis ts. On the other hand hiking is often organized by trekking agencies which took unskilled clients to v ery high mountains. The aim of the presents study i s to emphasis the importance of the process of acclimati zation to high altitude. Two students of Faculty of sport in Ljubljana participated in the study: one w ith long end the second one with short acclimatizat ion time. The effects were monitored with heart rate me asurement in rest and during the step test. Measurements were conduct before and after the accl imatization, at two locations: high altitude simulation chamber in Ljubljana and real altitude i n Elbrus, Kavkaz, both at 2100 m. The results showe d that heart rate decreased with longer acclimatizati on time. Heart rate at person A was lower for eight een beats per minute in rest and for sixteen beats per minute during the step test. Heart rate at person B was almost unchanged after the acclimatization time. If the process of acclimatization is not proper and l ong enough it can cause altitude sickness and even enda nger life. To avoid that, people should be aware of the changes in their body and should be careful about h w t ey feel. If we could add an objective paramete r, like heart rate it would be even better.
Social Awareness and Leader Influence: A Proposed Model and Training Intervention

Abstract : A leader's ability to influence others is likely related to the leader's level of social awareness (knowing how one is perceived by others in that environment). Based on perceptions of the social environment, a leader must also alter his/her behaviors as needed to more effectively relate to others, a process that has been termed "interpersonal adaptability. " Interpersonal adaptability is central to the role of the leader, who must use influence and persuasion to successfully accomplish the mission through the work of subordinates. The objectives of this research are to develop a model of social influence, to propose training, and to pilot-test the concepts. To meet these objectives, the authors first provide an overview of the relationship between social awareness and influence. Second, they describe a model of social awareness and influence. Third, they describe how these concepts link to the leader competencies defined in FM 6-22. Fourth, they discuss the implications of this research for training leaders to enhance their social awareness and influence skills, and present the concepts that were developed for training these skills. Finally, they describe how these concepts were pilot-tested, and present the results and conclusions from the pilot test.
Breastfeeding Continuation Among Late Preterm Infants: Barriers, Facilitators, and Any Association With NICU Admission?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Late preterm birth (at 34-36 6/7 weeks' gestation) is a risk factor for early breastfeeding cessation. The objective of this study was to determine barriers to and facilitators of breastfeeding continuation among late preterm infants (LPI) and to compare the barriers faced by LPI admitted to the well nursery versus the NICU. METHODS The SAS Complex Survey was used to perform multivariable logistic regression analysis by using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Data from 3 states (Illinois, Maine, and Vermont) for the years 2004 to 2008 were used. RESULTS A total of 2530 mothers of LPI were surveyed. Odds of breastfeeding initiation were similar among LPI admitted to the NICU versus the well nursery (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24 [95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.73]; P = .209). Odds of breastfeeding for ≥ 10 weeks were no different between LPI admitted to the NICU versus those admitted to the well-nursery (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02 [95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.43]; P = .904). Factors associated with increased odds of breastfeeding for ≥ 10 weeks among LPI were higher maternal education, mother being married, and normal maternal BMI. Regardless of NICU admission, the top reasons cited by mothers of LPI for early breastfeeding discontinuation were perceived inadequate milk supply and nursing difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Among LPIs, NICU admission was not associated with early breastfeeding cessation. Mothers of LPIs with lower odds of sustaining breastfeeding for at least 10 weeks were single mothers, those with a high school education only, and those who were obese. Breastfeeding support should be enhanced for LPIs and should address perceived maternal milk supply concerns and nursing difficulties.
Characterization of Virus- and Endotoxin-induced Interferons Obtained from the Serum and Urine of Rabbits

Interferons induced in the rabbit by Newcastle disease virus or by endotoxin have been further characterized as to their physicochemical stability and molecular size by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Endotoxin-induced interferon obtained from serum was more labile than virus-induced interferon. Both endotoxin and virus induced interferons obtained from serum contained two peaks: a minor high molecular weight (>100,000) peak and a major lower molecular weight peak. The molecular weight of the major peak induced by endotoxin was 54,000, and that induced by Newcastle disease virus was 46,000. The gel filtration pattern of interferon recovered from the urine of animals inoculated with virus reflected faithfully the pattern found in serum except that there was proportionately less of the high molecular weight peak. However, the urine interferon from endotoxin-inoculated animals contained only one broad peak with a molecular weight of 35,000. This was not the peak fraction present in the serum of such animals. It is postulated that this may represent the basic unit of endotoxin-induced interferon, and that the serum components are either polymers or conjugates of this basic unit.
Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in various facial dermatoses.

BACKGROUND Chemical peeling is a skin-wounding procedure that may have some potentially undesirable side-effects. AIMS The present study is directed towards safety concerns associated with superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in various facial dermatoses. METHODS The study was a non-comparative and a prospective one. Two hundred and sixty-eight patients of either sex, aged between 10 to 60 years, undergoing superficial chemical peeling for various facial dermatoses (melasma, acne vulgaris, freckles, post-inflammatory scars/pigmentation, actinic keratoses, plane facial warts, etc.) were included in the study. Eight weekly peeling sessions were carried out in each patient. Tolerance to the procedure and any undesirable effects noted during these sessions were recorded. RESULTS Almost all the patients tolerated the procedure well. Mild discomfort, burning, irritation and erythema were quite common but the incidence of major side-effects was very low and these too, were easily manageable. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side-effects between facial dermatoses (melasma, acne and other pigmentary disorders). CONCLUSION Chemical peeling with salicylic acid is a well tolerated and safe treatment modality in many superficial facial dermatoses.
Inhibition of cell-free oxidative bactericidal activity by erythrocytes and hemoglobin

Sickle cell anemia and other chronic hemolytic anemias are associated with an increased frequency of bacterial infections. There is evidence to suggest that in hemolytic states massive erythrocyte (RBC) ingestion by macrophages interferes with their antibacterial function, thereby predisposing infection. Stimulated by this possibility, we recently demonstrated that erythrophagocytosis by macrophages markedly inhibited intracellular killing of bacteria, and that zymosan-stimulated superoxide generation and chemiluminescence were also suppressed by RBC ingestion. We examined the effects of RBC components on generation of chemiluminescence, superoxide, and bactericidal activity by cell-free oxidative systems. Generation of chemiluminescence by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase was depressed in the presence of human RBC lysate or column-fractionated hemoglobin but not crystallized human hemoglobin (methemoglobin) (peak cpms of 15,522 [P = 0.00024], 28,360 [P = 0.0088], and 50,041 [P = 0.37], respectively, compared with 59,898 for positive controls). Similarly, hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase production of superoxide was inhibited in the presence of column-fractionated human hemoglobin (43.8 versus 17.4 nmol per tube, P = 0.000001). A cell-free bactericidal system, acetaldehyde and xanthine oxidase with or without myeloperoxidase and Cl-, was markedly inhibited by column-purified hemoglobin. For example, after 2 h of incubation, surviving numbers of Staphylococcus aureus were: control (buffer only), 2.5 X 10(6)/ml; bactericidal system, none; bactericidal system plus hemoglobin, 2.2 X 10(6)/ml (P less than or equal to 0.03, bactericidal system versus other systems). Our studies have documented that interactions between RBC (hemoglobin) and reactive products of oxygen metabolism inhibit oxidative bactericidal mechanisms in cell-free systems as well as in macrophages. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Age-related expansion and reduction in aeration of the sphenoid sinus: volume assessment by helical CT scanning.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Aeration of the sphenoid sinus expands with the development of the sphenoid bone, but scant detailed volumetric data regarding this process, as it evolves from childhood to old age, exist. Using helical CT scanning, we assessed age-related volumetric changes of the sphenoid sinus. METHODS We used CT data obtained from 214 patients (age range, 1 to 80 years; 111 male and 103 female subjects) with middle or inner ear disease to assess the extent of sphenoid aeration. We also determined volumes of the sphenoid sinuses on 1.0- or 1.5-mm reformatted images by integrating the sinus air (< or = -900 HU) area. RESULTS Sphenoid sinus aeration began as a doublet in the anterior boundary of the sphenoid bone by the age of 5 years, with patients more than 6 years old exhibiting varying degrees of aeration. The aeration on both sides continued to expand until the third decade of life. The maximum average volume was 8.2 +/- 0.5 cm3. Thereafter, the volume decreased gradually, with the average volume in the seventh decade of life being 71% of the maximum level. The aeration of the peripheral portions of the sphenoid bone, such as the pterygoid process, anterior clinoid process, and dorsum sella, occurred predominantly after closure of the spheno-occipital suture, and showed a tendency to recede during aging. CONCLUSION Volumetric assessment of the sphenoid sinus by helical CT scanning revealed age-related expansion and reduction in aeration.
Photoluminescence up-conversion induced by intersubband absorption in asymmetric coupled quantum wells.

We report a new mechanism or photoluminescence up-conversion in undoped GaAs-AlGaAs asymmetric coupled quantum wells. Under band-to-band excitation, resonant excitationor the E 1 →E 2 intersubband transition is shown to result in a finite nonthermal occupation or the E 2 subband, giving rise to an E 2 →HH 1 photoluminescence. The induced luminescence closely follows the polarization selection rules and the spectral dependence or the intersubband absorption. We show that this up-conversion scheme can be used to estimate the intersubband scattering time, which is round to be 2.5±0.7 ps
Genetic Influences on the Retention of Inorganic Mercury

Mercury is eliminated as glutathione (GSH) conjugates. GSH production is mediated by glutamyl-cysteine ligase (GCL), and conjugation by glutathione S-transferases (GST). This study tested if polymorphisms in GCL and GST genes modify mercury retention in humans exposed to elemental mercury vapor. Total mercury concentrations in whole blood, plasma and urine, and genotypes for GCLC, GCLM, GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 were determined in 309 gold miners, gold buyers and controls. The presence of the GCLM-588T allele was associated with increased blood, plasma and urine mercury levels. These results indicate that genotypes with decreased GSH availability for mercury conjugation affect the metabolism of inorganic mercury.
Female Unemployment and Attempted Suicide

Unemployment became more common among females attempting suicide in Oxford between 1976 and 1985, although the rise was less than expected from the increased general-population female unemployment rate. Rates of attempted suicide among unemployed women between 1979 and 1982 were 7.5–10.9 times higher than those of employed women, and were particularly high in women unemployed for more than a year. Many more unemployed than employed women attempting suicide had a history of psychiatric difficulties, were suffering from alcoholism, and made repeat attempts. Two possible explanations are: firstly, the secondary consequences of unemployment increase the risk of suicidal behaviour; and, secondly, women already predisposed to psychiatric difficulties and hence attempted suicide are more likely to become unemployed.
Quasi — 3D approach for BGA package thermal modeling

The quasi-3D BGA package thermal model is proposed. The general 3D heat transfer problem is correctly transformed to the set of 2D equations for temperature distribution in different layers of BGA package construction. It is shown that quasi-3D model provides the reasonable accuracy for standard and thermally enhanced BGAs. The software tool OVERHEAT-BGA is developed to obtain an numerical solution with considerably (6-10 times) reduced CPU time in comparison with universal 3D simulators. The good agreement between designed and measured temperatures for standard and XP BGA packages is achieved.
Positive emotions elicited by clowns and nurses: An experimental study in a hospital setting

The present research is first to investigate the unique effect of a humorous clown intervention on patients’ emotional state in comparison with a different kind of intervention in a hospital setting using a controlled experimental method. Forty-four adult patients of a physical rehabilitation center were randomly assigned to either participate or observe 2 interventions: a hospital clown and a nurse intervention. Compared with baseline and the nurse intervention, the clown intervention elicited a higher level of amusement in patients. Both interventions elicited arousal, and neither intervention led to a change in negative emotions. No difference was found between the emotional states of participants and observers of the interventions at any level. A combination of general funniness of clown performances and felt transcendence during the hospital clown intervention best predicted the total amount of positive affect experienced during the intervention, which supports and extends results from previous studies. The results clearly support the benefit of hospital clown interventions for the elicitation of a positive emotional state in patients. Clowns working in hospitals should be encouraged to continue their work with patients in need of care.