Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Victims of Violence: Aspects of the “Victim-to-Patient” Process in Women*

This paper is an overview of aspects of the victim-to-patient process which reflects the interrelationship between mental health and mental disorder, particularly of women who suffer the sexual assault, sexual abuse, or wife assault. Knowledge of the psychological processes and symptoms aids diagnosis, modifies treatment and the process of recovery following acts of violence.
Addictive aspects in heavy cigarette smoking.

1. Fifteen heavy smokers were observed in a state of sudden abstinence, and contrasted with a comparable group of 11 subjects allowed to smoke ad libitum. Cardiac slowing, presumably vagotonic, and a lowering of diastolic blood pressure was found in the experimental group. Other less clear-cut complaints of distress, such as "emptiness," and slow passage of time, seemed related to the state of abstinence. The cardiovascular findings were replicated in a group switched under controlled, singleblind conditions from high nicotine to low nicotine cigarettes. 2. Heavy cigarette smokers thus appear to be true addicts, showing not only social habituation but mild physiologic withdrawal effects. 3. It would appear that the opposite of vagotonic action, namely chronic sympathetic stimulation, is one result of heavy smoking. 4. With appropriate motivation very heavy smoking can be given up, though just as readily resumed. Concerns about the dangers of smoking, latent but readily mobilized in our population, are eff.
Thrombosis in Children

Aims: The general objective was to further elucidate thromboembolic disease in children and thereby help improve the care of these patients. More specific aims were as follows: to determine what children are affected by thrombosis; to discern any gender or age differences related to thrombosis; to identify prothrombotic risk factors; to ascertain whether autoantibodies against coagulation proteins constitute a risk factor for childhood thrombosis; to study girls receiving estrogen treatment with regard to induced hemostatic changes and efficacy of the therapy; to investigate long-term effects on the hemostatic system in children subjected to heart surgery. Material and methods: Children with thrombosis (Papers I and II) and children at risk of thrombosis (Papers III and IV) were investigated. In the initial study, 128 children referred for a first thrombotic event were retrospectively evaluated. In a subsequent endeavor, 57 children with thrombosis were prospectively included and evaluated for thrombotic risk factors, and patients and controls were investigated for autoantibodies. Considering children at risk, 63 girls treated with high doses of ethinyl estradiol were studied. Furthermore, 28 children with congenital heart defects were evaluated before and after Fontan surgery, and the results of follow-up global coagulation tests in patients and controls were analyzed. Results and conclusions: The present studies showed a bimodal age distribution in pediatric thrombosis patients in Sweden, with peaks in frequency rates during the neonatal period and in adolescence. The girls:boys ratio was 2:1. Of the children with thrombosis, 84% had acquired risk factors and they showed a significantly increased prevalence of inherited thrombophilia. Also, autoantibodies against prothrombin were significantly more often detected than in controls, suggesting immunological pathogenesis. Pediatric thrombosis often seem to be elicited by a combination of risk factors. Girls receiving high-dose estrogen treatment exhibited both pro- and anticoagulation abnormalities; the estrogen therapy was most effective when started at a younger bone age, and the risk of thrombosis was <5% and considered a safe treatment in our cohort. Post-Fontan patients had a lower incidence of procoagulant abnormalities at long-term follow-up compared to before surgery, although a subset of the subjects showed evidence of elevated thrombin generation, identified by increases in APC-PCI, as compared to controls. The results indicate that prophylaxis to prevent thrombosis in these children should be individualized. (Less)
Pragmatic trials: how to adjust for the ‘Hawthorne effect’?

Hashimoto et al 1 have conducted an interesting study to offer a practical and pragmatic insight into steroid-dependent asthma therapeutics in real-world practice. They proposed a strategy based on internet monitoring of objective (spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide) and subjective (asthma control and asthma-related quality of life questionnaires) measurements to adjust the dose of oral corticosteroids in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. However, how ‘pragmatic’ is …
Effect of Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide Penetration into Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

ABSTRACT The penetration of hydrogen peroxide into biofilms formed by wild-type and catalase-deficient Pseudomonas aeruginosastrains was measured using microelectrodes. A flowing stream of hydrogen peroxide (50 mM, 1 h) was unable to penetrate or kill wild-type biofilms but did penetrate and partially kill biofilms formed by an isogenic strain in which the katA gene was knocked out. Catalase protects aggregated bacteria by preventing full penetration of hydrogen peroxide into the biofilm.
Psycho-physical and neurophysiological effects of qigong on depressed elders with chronic illness

This randomized controlled trial examined the psychological, physical, and neurophysiological effects of a qigong exercise program on depressed elders with chronic medical illness. The experimental group (n = 21, 80 ± 7 years) was given a 12-week qigong exercise program, while the comparison group (n = 17, 81 ± 8 years) participated in a newspaper reading program with the same duration and frequency. Measurement of depression symptoms, psychosocial functioning, muscle strengths, salivary cortisol, and serum serotonin was conducted. At 12 weeks, the qigong group had significant reduction in depressive symptoms (F = 11.68; p < 0.025). Improvement in self-efficacy (F = 4.30; p < 0.050), self-concept of physical well-being (F = 6.82; p < 0.025), and right-hand grip strength (F = 5.25; p = 0.034) was also found when compared with the comparison group. A change in salivary cortisol level was found marginally insignificant between groups (F = 3.16; p = 0.087). However, a decreasing trend of cortisol level was observed. The results provided preliminary evidence for the hypotheses that the antidepressive effect of qigong exercise could be explained by improvement in psychosocial functioning and possibly down-regulation of hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.
Swiss outcomes in biliary atresia: are there lessons to be learned?

Perhaps the greatest challenge in pediatric hepatology is to understand the etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms underlying biliary atresia (BA), a unique dynamic, inflammatory fibroobliteration of the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts that occurs exclusively in the first few months of life. Virtually no other childhood liver disorder produces equivalent morbidity and mortality without liver transplantation, yet advances in treatment of BA have been hampered by limited knowledge of its pathogenesis. It has long been known that performance of the Kasai portoenterostomy at a younger age confers a better chance for successful post-operative bile drainage, normalization of serum bilirubin and the possibility for long-term survival. But why? We also now know that there is a fourfold-variance in the incidence of BA across the world, but without a good explanation. Several discoveries in recent years have begun to shed light on these and other issues in this enigmatic ailment.
Reentry flows in chemical non-equilibrium in three-dimensions

This work presents a numerical tool implemented to simulate inviscid and viscous flows employing the reactive gas formulation of thermal equilibrium and chemical non-equilibrium in three-dimensions. The Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, employing a finite volume formulation, on the context of structured and unstructured spatial discretizations, are solved. These variants allow an effective comparison between the two types of spatial discretization aiming verify their potentialities: solution quality, convergence speed, computational cost, etc. The aerospace problem involving the hypersonic flow around a blunt body, in three-dimensions, is simulated. The reactive simulations will involve an air chemical model of five species: N, N2, NO, O and O2. Seventeen chemical reactions, involving dissociation and recombination, will be simulated by the proposed model. The Arrhenius formula will be employed to determine the reaction rates and the law of mass action will be used to determine the source terms of each gas species equation.
SIMULATION APPROACH OF CUTTING TOOL MOVEMENT USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE METHOD

In recent years, the productivity of machine tools has been significantly improved by using computer-based CAD/CAM systems for Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Various types of CAM software in the market that provide tool path programming and can be applied for different types of the machining process such as drilling, milling, and turning. However, sometimes the default tool path generated in the CAD/CAM system is not the optimal tool path which produces longer distance and increase the machining time. In this paper, we present cutting tools movement by Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) method in generation of shortest tool path. For observation of the performance of both methods, comparisons with conventional method have been carried out. The shortest path of drilling tool path adapts Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) in determining the distance during machining. The simulation result shows that ACO and GA based tool path optimization is useful to find a lower distance of tool path generation for holes drilling process.
The response regulator ResD modulates virulence gene expression in response to carbohydrates in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a versatile bacterial pathogen that is able to accommodate to diverse environmental and host conditions. Presently, we have identified a L. monocytogenes two‐component response regulator, ResD that is required for the repression of virulence gene expression known to occur in the presence of easily fermentable carbohydrates not found inside host organisms. Structurally and functionally, ResD resembles the respiration regulator ResD in Bacillus subtilis as deletion of the L. monocytogenes resD reduces respiration and expression of cydA, encoding a subunit of cytochrome bd. The resD mutation also reduces expression of mptA encoding the EIIABman component of a mannose/glucose‐specific PTS system, indicating that ResD controls sugar uptake. This notion was supported by the poor growth of resD mutant cells that was alleviated by excess of selected carbohydrates. Despite the growth deficient phenotype of the mutant in vitro the mutation did not affect intracellular multiplication in epithelial or macrophage cell lines. When examining virulence gene expression we observed traditional induction by charcoal in both mutant and wild‐type cells whereas the repression observed in wild‐type cells by fermentable carbohydrates did not occur in resD mutant cells. Thus, ResD is a central regulator of L. monocytogenes when present in the external environment.
Passivity analysis of linear physical systems with internal energy sources modelled by bond graphs

Integrated dynamic systems such as mechatronic or control systems generally contain passive elements and internal energy sources that are appropriately modulated to perform the desired dynamic actions. The overall passivity of such systems is a useful property that relates to the stability and the safety of the system, in the sense that the maximum net amount of energy that the system can impart to the environment is limited by its initial state. In this paper, conditions under which a physical system containing internal modulated sources is globally passive are investigated using bond graph modelling techniques. For the class of systems under consideration, bond graph models include power bonds and active (signals) bonds modulating embedded energy sources, so that the continuity of power (or energy conservation) in the junction structure is not satisfied. For the purpose of the analysis, a so-called bond graph pseudo-junction structure is proposed as an alternative representation for linear time-invariant (LTI) bond graph models with internal modulated sources. The pseudo-junction structure highlights the existence of a multiport coupled resistive field involving the modulation gains of the internal sources and the parameters of dissipative elements, therefore implicitly realizing the balance of internal energy generation and dissipation. Moreover, it can be regarded as consisting of an inner structure which satisfies the continuity of power, and an outer structure in which a power scaling is performed in relation with the dissipative field. The associated multiport coupled resistive field constitutive equations can then be used to determine the passivity property of the overall system. The paper focuses on systems interconnected in cascade (with no loading effect) or in closed-loop configurations which are common in control systems.
Adaptive transmission scheme for wireless cooperative communications

An adaptive transmission scheme for cooperative communications is proposed in this paper. Communication protocols with amplify-and-forward relays based on the distributed-Alamouti space-time code (achieving spatial diversity gain) and cooperative spatial multiplexing (C-SM) (pertaining spatial multiplexing gain) are considered. Specifically, under a fix transmission rate, we use adaptively the cooperative diversity (C-DIV) and C-SM according to channel conditions. With this strategy, either C-DIV with higher order modulation or C-SM with lower order modulation can be properly selected to enhance the error rate performance. The proposed adaptive protocol is shown to provide superior performance compared to C-DIV and C-SM.
Mechanical Behavior of Soft Marine Silts under Nearshore Structures

Taiwan is restricted by the geographic condition at near shore area and request of national economy development. The site of the coastal structure has been become very difficultly to evaluate and to obtain the suitable land space to build. From the viewpoint of coastal geotechnical engineering practice, the soft ground of seabed has without enough bearing capacity or induced excessive settlement, and inclined to the structures damage etc. Therefore how to deep understand the mechanical behavior of soft marine silts will be one of the important investigations of the nearshore geotechnical engineering topic. In this study, the related literatures and basic environment data were collected and analyzed to understand the properties of site regional state. From the microstructure analysis, the chemical composition construct of soft marine silts belong to the granite weathering and deposition. And the fabric network is described in terms of inter-aggregate and intra-aggregate porosity and will be obtained lower shear strength. On the other hand, jointed with the analysis of laboratory experiment and comparing with related research results and experience equations, the correctness of the test result is verified. And then, the test result feedback into the development of numerical simulation to make numerical analysis and to assure rationality and quality. Based on linear-elasticity, Modified Cam-Clay and consolidation theory, the model of settlement and stability was established. Finally, the mode results could be provided to estimate settlement and have deep finding out the real damage reason and mechanism of the “Matsu Harbor of Fu-ao region extend construction for breakwater”. It will conduct disaster prevention, stability under nearshore structure, and could be useful for the reference of the following repair engineering and estimate the settlement stability.
The effect of hypertonic saline dextran solutions on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in anaesthetised piglets

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is a regulatory mechanism by which blood is diverted from poorly ventilated to better ventilated areas of the lung. The aim of the present study was to assess the extent to which hypertonic saline dextran and dextran solutions modify the magnitude of HPV during isovolumic haemodilution in intact acutely instrumented piglets. Eighteen large white piglets were anesthetised and assigned to two groups. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and cardiac output (Q), systemic arterial pressure and left arterial pressure (LAP) were measured. A decrease in Q was obtained by reducing venous return. This enabled measurement of transpulmonary pressures (mean PAP minus LAP) at four levels of Q in hyperoxia (inspiratory oxygen fraction (Fi,O2)=0.4), then in hypoxia (Fi,O2=0.1) in the two groups before blood soustraction (10 mL·kg−1) and after loading with sodium chloride (NaCl) 7.5% and dextran 6% or with dextran 6% alone. Dextran alone led to a decrease in mean PAP–LAP/Q values, and NaCl with dextran was associated with a significant shift of mean PAP–LAP/Q plots to higher pressures in hypoxia. Hypertonic saline dextran solution, as replacement fluid in isovolaemic haemodilution increased the magnitude of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, whereas dextran solution reduced it.
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults

CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE is the most important cause of nosocomial diarrhea in adults. Illness may range from mild watery diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. An antecedent disruption of the normal colonic flora followed by exposure to a toxigenic strain of C. difficile are necessary first steps in the pathogenesis of disease. Diagnosis is based primarily on the detection of C. difficile toxin A or toxin B. First-line treatment is with oral metronidazole therapy. Treatment with oral vancomycin therapy should be reserved for patients who have contraindications or intolerance to metronidazole or who fail to respond to first-line therapy.
REMOVAL OF HELMINTH PARASITIC EGGS FROM WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS AT SHIMOGA

Helminth ova removal rates from waste stabilization pond effluents under tropical conditions of Shimoga using both laboratory and field modal ponds was undertaken. The helminthes were removed to the tune of 100% from laboratory model batch system ponds within 15 days of detention time and it was only 65% in case of laboratory model continuos flow system ponds. The observation in field model ponds revealed an average 90% removal with 10 days retention time. A 100% removal can not be expected both in continuous flow system laboratory model and field pond systems as these receive daily fresh load of helminth eggs through influent sewage. The helminth ova are usally removed from waste stabilization ponds systems through sedimentation process. It is because the helminth eggs attached to the suspended solids and when these solids settle to the bottom, the eggs are also removed from pelagic water. In the present study eggs of 4 helminth species viz. Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana and Enterobius vermicularis were encountered. Their rate of ova removal in batch system ponds was 99%, 97.4%, 94.9% and 98.8% for respective species. Presence of these ova in the sewage water indicates the prevalence of infection in city population.
Determinants of CRP level in statin-treated patients.

OBJECTIVE All factors of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are reported to be associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. As CRP levels have been found to decrease as a result of statin treatment, the present study was intended to explore the relationship between CRP and the MetS in statin treated patients. METHODS In this study, the relationship between the components of the MetS and CRP level were analysed and factors determining CRP were identified in patients with longstanding intensive lipid lowering therapy with known cardiovascular disease. RESULTS In this population CRP levels are still associated with the MetS, with waist circumference, fasting glucose level and smoking being the most important determinants of CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS CRP levels are still associated with the MetS in patients treated with intensive lipid lowering therapy.
A cross‐cultural comparison of ‘excellent’ systems analysts

Abstract. As business becomes established with a more international focus, there is a growing globalization of the information systems (IS) function. The need for compatible standards and procedures within these international networks means that the systems analyst will play a key role in this globalization process. It is, therefore, considered timely that there is a developing body of research into the effects of cultural differences on the design and development of IS. This article reports research into the way in which ‘excellent’ systems analysts are perceived in Canada and Singapore. The research method adopted the RepGrid technique from Kelly's Theory of Personal Constructs, which served as the vehicle to facilitate the elicitation of participant comments. Seventeen interviews were conducted in Singapore compared with 53 in Canada. The results suggest that, in terms of the overall approach and priorities that systems analysts place on their work, there is evidence of a commonality, which unites the profession in these two countries. This may be evidence of convergence, which occurs as the result of common education, training and socialization of new entrants into the international occupational community of systems analysts. However, there is also strong evidence of divergence between these two countries based on the different emphasis on the way in which systems analysts will play their roles in each country. As a reflection of the culture of each society, the Singaporean systems analysts are more likely to rely on expertise to influence clients, whereas the Canadian systems analysts rely more on encouraging the client to participate in the design effort.
VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects > 14 million individuals worldwide. Although 90% of patients with AMD have the dry form, neovascular AMD accounts for the vast majority of patients who develop legal blindness. Until recently, few treatment options existed for treatment of neovascular AMD. The advent of anti-VEGF therapy has significantly improved the safe and effective treatment of neovascular AMD. In addition to two anti-VEGF drugs currently in widespread use, ranibizumab and bevacizumab, a number of medications that interrupt angiogenesis are currently under investigation. One promising new drug is aflibercept (VEGF Trap-Eye), a fusion protein that blocks all isoforms of VEGF-A and placental growth factors-1 and -2. Objective: To review the current literature and clinical trial data regarding VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of neovascular AMD. Methods: Literature review. Results/conclusion: VEGF Trap-Eye is a novel anti-VEGF therapy, with Phase I and II trial data indicating safety, tolerability and efficacy for the treatment of neovascular AMD. Two Phase III clinical trials (VIEW-1 and VIEW-2) comparing VEGF Trap-Eye to ranibizumab are currently continuing and will provide vital insight into the clinical applicability of this drug.