Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship of Perceived Motivational Climate to Intrinsic Motivation and Beliefs about Success in Basketball

Drawing from contemporary goal perspective theories of achievement motivation, this investigation had as its primary purpose to determine the relationship of perceived motivational climate to intrinsic motivation and attributional beliefs in a sport setting. This study also examined the degree to which the dependent variables of interest are a function of situational goal structure, dispositional goal orientations, or both. Subjects, 105 male basketball players from nine varsity high school teams, were requested to complete the four instruments. Results indicated that the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire was comprised of two valid and reliable subscales, the Mastery and Performance Climate scales. Perceptions of a mastery-oriented climate positively related to reported enjoyment and the belief that effort leads to achievement. Perceptions of a performance-oriented climate were associated with the view that superior ability causes success. In general, indices of intrinsic motivation an.
Platelets of patients affected with essential thrombocythemia are abnormal in plasma membrane and adenine nucleotide content

Abstract: The adenine nucleotides present in distinct cellular compartments of platelets of 27 patients affected with essential thrombocythemia have been measured. In order to quantify granule‐bound nucleotides and adenylic cytoplasmic pool, platelets have been stimulated with thrombin or treated with increasing digitonin concentrations, respectively. Among patients, we have identified two groups: 12 patients (Group 1) had normal platelet level of ATP and ADP both in dense granules as well as in cytoplasmic pool. The other patients (Group 2) had granule ATP and ADP significantly lower and ATP/ADP ratio significantly higher than controls. In these patients an increase in hypoxantine level, derived from metabolic ATP degradation occurring during stimulation, was observed. In addition, in the latter patients an increased resistance of plasma membrane to digitonin was shown, suggesting that membrane fluidity should be reduced owing to a modified cholesterol/phospholipid ratio.
BLOOD FLOW IMAGING: AN ANGLE‐INDEPENDENT ULTRASOUND MODALITY FOR INTRAOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FLOW DYNAMICS IN NEUROVASCULAR SURGERY

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical applicability of navigated blood flow imaging (BFI) in neurovascular applications. BFI is a new 2-dimensional ultrasound modality that offers angle-independent visualization of flow. When integrated with 3-dimensional (3D) navigation technology, BFI can be considered as a first step toward the ideal tool for surgical needs: a real-time, high-resolution, 3D visualization that properly portrays both vessel geometry and flow direction. METHODS A 3D model of the vascular tree was extracted from preoperative magnetic resonance angiographic data and used as a reference for intraoperative any-plane guided ultrasound acquisitions. A high-end ultrasound scanner was interconnected, and synchronized recordings of BFI and 3D navigation scenes were acquired. The potential of BFI as an intraoperative tool for flow visualization was evaluated in 3 cerebral aneurysms and 3 arteriovenous malformations. RESULTS The neurovascular flow direction was properly visualized in all cases using BFI. Navigation technology allowed for identification of the vessels of interest, despite the presence of brain shift. The surgeon found BFI to be very intuitive compared with conventional color Doppler methods. BFI allowed for quality control of sufficient flow in all distal arteries during aneurysm surgery and made it easier to discern between feeding arteries and draining veins during surgery for arteriovenous malformations. CONCLUSION BFI seems to be a promising modality for neurovascular flow visualization that may provide the neurosurgeon with a valuable tool for safer surgical interventions. However, further work is needed to establish the clinical usefulness of the proposed imaging setup.
Increased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery wall, normal blood pressure profile and normal left ventricular mass in subjects with primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing evidence that primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) contributes to greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, its exact role in the development of cardiovascular changes and its clinical significance are still controversial. Given the multiple influence of PHPT on the cardiovascular system, this study aimed to assess the effects of PHPT on blood pressure profile, and on features of the heart and arterial vessels in normotensive symptomless patients. DESIGN Twenty patients (8 males and 12 females) with a median age of 51.5 years (range 44 to 65 years) were evaluated and the results were compared with those of 20 controls matched for age, gender and body mass index. Patients' parathyroid hormone levels ranged from 172 to 454 pg/ml and Ca levels ranged from 11.4 to 13.5 mg/dl. Fasting levels of glucose, insulin, total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were within the normal range in all subjects recruited. METHODS Twenty-four-hour blood pressure profile, left ventricle (LV) dimension and carotid artery anatomy were investigated, the latter two by ultrasonography. RESULTS No difference was found between the patients and controls in blood pressure profile, when the following parameters were considered: supine systolic/diastolic pressure, average 24-h systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, day-time mean arterial pressure and fall in nocturnal blood pressure (-17% and -18% respectively). Heart rate and all parameters of LV mass were similar in patients and controls. The only alteration found in patients was in significantly greater carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) (P<0.001). Atherosclerotic plaques were more frequent in patients than in controls, with a difference reaching a trend (40% vs 10%, chi(2)=4.8; P=0.091). Considering that the carotid IMT is considered to be a marker of systemic atherosclerosis, our finding suggests early atherosclerotic changes in PHPT. No correlation was found between the severity and cardiovascular manifestation of PHPT. CONCLUSIONS Vascular changes may occur due to a combination of structural and functional impairments in PHPT patients, likely as a result of altered calcium metabolism and impaired equilibrium of other factors regulating vascular function. Both extent and duration of PHPT can play a relative role in the development of cardiovascular complications. Considering that PHPT is now recognized as a quite common and often symptomless endocrine disorder, the evidence of cardiovascular manifestation in normotensive patients, found by this morphological study, suggests a possible implication for the management of such patients. In this light, screening for abnormalities in cardiovascular system function should be recommended in all PHPT subjects.
Nonhalogenated solvent-based solvent evaporation process useful in preparation of PLGA microspheres

The objective of this study was to develop an isopropyl formate-based evaporation process useful in producing poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolide microspheres. Surprisingly, the evaporating tendency of isopropyl formate was comparable to that of methylene chloride and far better than that of ethyl acetate. After optimization of the isopropyl formate-based process, progesterone was encapsulated into microspheres. Under our conditions, its encapsulation efficiency ranged from 75.1% to 92.6%. Even though all microspheres took spherical geometry, their external and internal morphologies were greatly influenced by progesterone payloads. A GC analysis demonstrated that residual isopropyl formate in various microspheres was 1.8% to 4.0%. Interestingly, progesterone underwent polymorphic transition during the microencapsulation process – the β form was present in microspheres with lower progesterone payloads, whereas the α form predominated over the β one at higher progesterone loads. In terms of human safety and environmental toxicity, isopropyl formate might have an edge over halogenated organic solvents for solvent evaporation.
Electric Field Assisted Switching in Magnetic Random Access Memory

Electric field (EF)-assisted magnetization reversal is investigated in both top-pinned and bottom-pinned CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). EF modulation in coercivity (Hc) shows an increasing dependence with the thickness of the free layer (tFL) at small tFL values. This abnormal variation was attributed to possible Ta diffusion through the free layer to the interface with MgO barrier. It is found that the bidirectional switching is not achievable using unipolar EF only in our MTJ devices, which is due to small spin-transfer torque (STT) effect and switching uncertainty due to unipolar feature of EF-induced Hc modulation. A bipolar external magnetic field should be applied to realize EF-controlled magnetic random access memory (MRAM). For quasistatic magnetization reversal, the required field can be as low as 10 Oe when Hc is effectively modulated to nearly zero. Switching field as a function of switching time shows that the magnetization switching is dominated by thermal activation. Simulation results show that switching time is mainly determined by the damping constant and the EF efficiency. Different from STT-MRAM, a large damping constant is desired to achieve fast switching. Using a sweeping field method, we show that MTJs with a thermal stability factor as high as 58 can be reliably switched using an EF-modulated anisotropy scheme with a bipolar magnetic field as low as 10 Oe.
Vitamin K and cancer

Abstract Subclinical vitamin K deficits refer to carboxylation defects of different types of vitamin K-dependent hepatic and extrahepatic so-called Gla proteins without prolongation of the prothrombin time. This condition has been reported in different clinical situations due to insufficient supply or malabsorption of vitamin K as well as drug interactions. This review discusses the effects of different vitamin K subspecies on tumour growth and the possible anti-tumour effects of increased vitamin K intake. Blocking carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins with warfarin anticoagulation – what are the risks/benefits for carcinogenesis? Previous studies on both heparin and low molecular weight heparin blocking of the vitamin K-dependent factors X and II have shown tumour suppressive effects. Vitamin K has anti-inflammatory effects that could also impact carcinogenesis, but little data exists on this subject.
IMPROVEMENTTHE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL INSPECTIONS , SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT by

The effects of school inspections on school improvement have been investigated only to a limited degree. The investigation reported on in this article is meant to expand our knowledge base regarding the impact of school inspections on school improvement. The theoretical framework for this research is partly based on the policy theory behind the Dutch Educational School Supervision Act (the latter includes assumptions about how school inspections lead to school improvement). Interviews and a survey with school inspectors gave insight into how school inspectors implement the Supervision Act and how they assess schools, and stimulate schools to improve. The results of ten case studies showed that all schools started to improve after a school visit. The innovation capacity of the school and the school environment do not seem to contribute to school improvement after school inspections. No effects were found on school-improvement processes of the number of insufficient scores that schools received from inspectors, the extent of feedback and suggestions for improvement, and the number of agreements. The provision of feedback about weaknesses, the assessment of these weak points as unsatisfactory, and the agreements between an inspector and the school regarding improvement activities do appear to make a difference in promoting school improvement.
The concentration of lactoferrin in tears during post‐operative ocular inflammation

Abstract Tear concentration of lactoferrin (LF) was measured by an ELISA technique and followed in 25 patients undergoing cataract surgery. The pre‐operative concentration of LF in tears was 773 ± 60 μg/ml (± SE) (range: 407–1514 μg/ml). On the first day following surgery, there was a significant decrease in tear LF concentration to 377 ± 45 μ/ml followed by a gradual return to the initial value during a post‐operative observation period of twelve days. There was an inverse linear relationship between the LF concentration and the tear secretion rate measured by a modified Schirmer I test (1 min) suggesting a constant LF secretion rate by the tear glands. The contribution of LF from neutrophils to the tear fluid seems to be of minor importance. Since LF has known antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory effects, our results may contribute to a further understanding of the microbial vulnerability or resistance of the eye following surgical procedures.
From Microporous to Mesoporous Molecular Sieve Materials and Their Use in Catalysis.

It is possible to say that zeolites are the most widely used catalysts in industry. They are crystalline microporous materials which have become extremely successful as catalysts for oil refining, petrochemistry, and organic synthesis in the production of fine and speciality chemicals, particularly when dealing with molecules having kinetic diameters below 10 A. The reason for their success in catalysis is related to the following specific features of these materials:1 (1) They have very high surface area and adsorption capacity. (2) The adsorption properties of the zeolites can be controlled, and they can be varied from hydrophobic to hydrophilic type materials. (3) Active sites, such as acid sites for instance, can be generated in the framework and their strength and concentration can be tailored for a particular application. (4) The sizes of their channels and cavities are in the range typical for many molecules of interest (5-12 A), and the strong electric fields2 existing in those micropores together with an electronic confinement of the guest molecules3 are responsible for a preactivation of the reactants. (5) Their intricate channel structure allows the zeolites to present different types of shape selectivity, i.e., product, reactant, and transition state, which can be used to direct a given catalytic reaction toward the desired product avoiding undesired side reactions. (6) All of these properties of zeolites, which are of paramount importance in catalysis and make them attractive choices for the types of processes listed above, are ultimately dependent on the thermal and hydrothermal stability of these materials. In the case of zeolites, they can be activated to produce very stable materials not just resistant to heat and steam but also to chemical attacks. Avelino Corma Canos was born in Moncofar, Spain, in 1951. He studied chemistry at the Universidad de Valencia (1967−1973) and received his Ph.D. at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1976. He became director of the Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica (UPV-CSIC) at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia in 1990. His current research field is zeolites as catalysts, covering aspects of synthesis, characterization and reactivity in acid−base and redox catalysis. A. Corma has written about 250 articles on these subjects in international journals, three books, and a number of reviews and book chapters. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Zeolites, Catalysis Review Science and Engineering, Catalysis Letters, Applied Catalysis, Journal of Molecular Catalysis, Research Trends, CaTTech, and Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications. A. Corma is coauthor of 20 patents, five of them being for commercial applications. He has been awarded with the Dupont Award on new materials (1995), and the Spanish National Award “Leonardo Torres Quevedo” on Technology Research (1996). 2373 Chem. Rev. 1997, 97, 2373−2419
Design considerations for supporting TCP with per-flow queueing

In this paper, we investigate the extent to which fair queueing (and its variants), in conjunction with appropriately tailored buffer management schemes, can be used to achieve the following goals for TCP traffic: (1) alleviate the inherent unfairness of TCP towards connections with long round-trip times, (2) provide isolation when connections using different TCP versions share a bottleneck link (3) provide protection from TCP-unfriendly traffic sources (which might include TCP ACKs since they are not loss-responsive) and misbehaving users, (4) alleviate the effects of ACK compression in the presence of two-way traffic, (5) prevent users experiencing ACK loss (which causes their traffic to be bursty) from significantly affecting other connections, (6) provide low latency to interactive connections which share a bottleneck with "greedy" connections without reducing overall link utilization. The paper proposes new buffer management schemes to be used in conjunction with fair queueing, so as to achieve the above goals for TCP, and compares the performance of the proposed schemes to the performance obtained using random early detection (RED) for packet dropping.
The impact of atherosclerotic arterial remodeling on percentage of luminal stenosis varies widely within the arterial system. A postmortem study.

Luminal stenosis can be based on large atherosclerotic plaques in compensatory enlarged segments or on relatively little plaques in shrunken segments. In the present study, the contribution of plaque formation and remodeling to luminal narrowing was compared among six types of arteries prone to symptomatic atherosclerosis. Cross-sections (n = 5195) were obtained at regular intervals from 329 arteries. For each artery, the cross-section that contained the least amount of plaque was considered to be the reference. For each cross-section, the percentage of lumen area decrease was expressed as a percentage of the lumen area at the reference site (luminal stenosis). Similarly, the area encompassed by the internal elastic lamina (IEL area) was expressed as a percentage of the IEL area at the reference site (relative IEL area). All cross-sections were categorized in three groups: relative IEL area > 105% (enlargement), 95% to 105% (no remodeling), and < 95% (shrinkage). The prevalence of enlargement (50% to 75%) was significantly higher compared with shrinkage (8% to 25%). Shrinkage was observed most frequently in the femoral arteries (25%) and infrequently in the renal arteries (8%). For all types of arteries, the relative IEL area correlated negatively with luminal stenosis (P < .001). Regression analysis of relative IEL area on luminal stenosis, however, showed significant differences in the first-order regression coefficients among artery types. On average, plaque increase was more compensated for by enlargement in the coronary, common carotid, and renal arteries compared with the arteries obtained from the lower extremities. Anatomic regional differences were observed in the impact of arterial wall remodeling on percent luminal stenosis in de novo atherosclerotic lesions.
Inpatient hospitalization of oncology patients: are we missing an opportunity for end-of-life care?

INTRODUCTION Despite advances in the care of patients with cancer over the last 10 years, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. Many patients receive aggressive, in-hospital end-of-life care at high cost. There are few data on outcomes after unplanned hospitalization of patients with metastatic cancer. METHODS In 2000 and 2010, data were collected on admissions, interventions, and survival for patients admitted to an academic inpatient medical oncology service. RESULTS The 2000 survey included 191 admissions of 151 unique patients. The 2010 survey assessed 149 admissions of 119 patients. Lung, GI, and breast cancers were the most common cancer diagnoses. In the 2010 assessment, pain was the most common chief complaint, accounting for 28%. Although symptoms were the dominant reason for admission in 2010, procedures and imaging were common in both surveys. The median survival of patients after discharge was 4.7 months in 2000 and 3.4 months in 2010. Despite poor survival in this patient population, hospice was recommended in only 23% and 24% of patients in 2000 and 2010, respectively. Seventy percent of patients were discharged home without additional services. CONCLUSION On the basis of our data, an unscheduled hospitalization for a patient with advanced cancer strongly predicts a median survival of fewer than 6 months. We believe that hospital admission represents an opportunity to commence and/or consolidate appropriate palliative care services and end-of-life care.
Barriers to cervical cancer screening attendance in England: a population-based survey

Objectives To explore barriers to cervical screening attendance in a population-based sample, and to compare barriers endorsed by women who were up-to-date with screening versus those who were overdue. We also tested the hypothesis that women who were overdue for screening would be more generally disillusioned with public services, as indexed by reported voting behaviour in elections. Setting A population-based survey of women in England. Methods Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 580 women aged 26–64 years, and recruited using stratified random probability sampling as part of an omnibus survey. Questions assessed self-reported cervical screening attendance, barriers to screening, voting behaviour and demographic characteristics. Results Eighty-five per cent of women were up-to-date with screening and 15% were overdue, including 2.6% who had never had a smear test. The most commonly endorsed barriers were embarrassment (29%), intending to go but not getting round to it (21%), fear of pain (14%) and worry about what the test might find (12%). Only four barriers showed significant independent associations with screening status: difficulty making an appointment, not getting round to going, not being sexually active and not trusting the test. We found support for our hypothesis that women who do not attend for screening are less likely to vote in elections, even when controlling for barrier endorsement and demographic factors. Conclusions Practical barriers were more predictive of screening uptake than emotional factors such as embarrassment. This has clear implications for service provision and future interventions to increase uptake. The association between voting behaviour and screening uptake lends support to the hypothesis that falling screening coverage may be indicative of a broader phenomenon of disillusionment, and further research in this area is warranted.
OBSERVATIONS OF VAGINAL CALCULI IN DOLPHINS

Vaginal calculi have been described from the common (Delphinus delphis), Pacific white-sided (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) and spotted (Stenella attenuata) dolphins. We describe additional calculi found in six sexually mature D. delphis from southern California. Three calculi were large (ca. 7×5 cm), exhibited concentric layer crystallization, and were unique from previously published descriptions. One calculus described previously and one in our sample appeared to be a fetal skeleton and skull respectively. Using CAT scans of a first trimester northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) and of a near term Delphinus delphis, we discuss the potential origin and development of vaginal calculi through analysis of ossification in embryonic delphinids. We hypothesize that the calculi represented spontaneous incomplete abortion with retention of part or all of the fetus in the distal reproductive tract. The form of the calculus relates to the degree of skeletal development at the time of fetal death. Calculi from a pregnant dolphin provided one measure of residence time.