Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling subjective well-being in individuals with chronic pain and a physical disability: the role of pain control and pain catastrophizing

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the associations between subjective well-being and pain intensity, pain interference, and depression in individuals with physical disabilities. We hypothesized that (1) pain control and (2) pain catastrophizing mediate the effects of subjective well-being on pain intensity, pain interference, and depression. Methods: Analyses of cross-sectional data from 96 individuals diagnosed with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular disease, or post-polio syndrome, with average pain intensity of ≥4 (0–10) on at least half the days in the past month. Two models tested study hypotheses using structural equation. Results: Both models showed acceptable model fit. Pain catastrophizing significantly mediated the effect of subjective well-being on pain intensity and pain interference, but not on depression. Pain control did not significantly mediate the effect of subjective well-being on pain intensity, pain interference, or depression. Path coefficients showed significant direct effects of subjective well-being on pain control (β = 0.39), pain catastrophizing (β = −0.61), pain interference (β = −0.48; −0.42), and depression (β = −0.75; −0.78). Conclusions: This study supports the potential of enhancing subjective well-being and lowering pain catastrophizing for reducing pain intensity, pain interference, and depressive symptoms in individuals with chronic pain and a physical disability. The findings indicate that true experiments to test for causal associations are warranted. Implications for rehabilitation The majority of individuals with physical disabilities report having persistent moderate-to-severe pain that may negatively limit daily activities and quality of life. The present cross-sectional study indicates that individuals who reported greater subjective well-being showed significantly lower pain intensity via the mediating effect of lower pain catastrophizing. Since sample size and respective power are low, these findings should be taken as first indications of potential underlying mechanisms between subjective well-being and pain outcomes that need further confirmation in longitudinal research. However, the findings suggest that treatments which enhance subjective well-being (increasing positive affect and life satisfaction, and decreasing negative affect, e.g., via positive psychology exercises) and reducing pain catastrophizing (via e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy) may have the highest potential for benefiting individuals with disability-associated chronic pain.
Effect of erythropoietin on cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiac diseases account for almost 50% of deaths in long-term dialysis patients. Left ventricular dysfunction is present in approximately 80% of these patients and is highly predictive of future ischemic heart disease, cardiac failure, and death. Anemia has been identified as one of several risk factors responsible for cardiac complications. Cardiovascular consequences of renal anemia begin relatively early in the course of renal failure and progress with the decline of renal function and also during dialysis therapy. In chronic renal failure patients with severe anemia (hemoglobin levels <10 g/dL), increased cardiac output, high left ventricular mass, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, and cardiac symptoms improve after partial correction of anemia (hemoglobin levels >11 g/dL according to the European Best Practice Guidelines). It is disappointing that normalization of hemoglobin levels has only minor effects with respect to regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular dilation. There is no benefit of hemoglobin normalization on all-cause mortality of dialysis patients or on survival of end-stage renal disease patients with congestive heart failure or ischemic heart disease. Therefore, prevention of renal anemia may be more efficient than its treatment. Hypertension is one of the major side effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy. Multiple factors are involved in rHuEPO-induced hypertension. High blood pressure can usually be controlled readily in the majority of the patients.
Synaptic degeneration is the primary neuropathological feature in prion disease: a preliminary study.

The range of neuropathology found in cases of prion disease is considerable. The pathology present in dendrites and axons is associated with a marked loss of spines and synaptic contacts. It is probable that this loss underlies the functional and neurological deficits in the disease. Immunocytochemical re-examination of 2 cases of inherited disease with a 144 bp prion gene insertion with no characteristic pathology (i.e. spongiform change, astrocytosis and gliosis), together with 3 typical cases of prion disease (CJD), with antibodies to synaptophysin and synaptic protein demonstrated the presence of synaptic "plaque-like" lesions throughout the temporal cortex and cerebellum. In addition, examining the tissue by image analysis demonstrated a greater than 30% reduction in the relative synaptic index in all the prior disease cases when compared with controls. Synaptic disorganization and/or loss is a fundamental and constant feature of prion disease, irrespective of the presence or absence of spongiform change, neuronal loss and severe gliosis. Assessment of the extent and location of synaptic deficits might produce a more accurate documentation of the degree of neuronal disorganisation occurring during the course of prion disease.
The Compensation for Hysteresis of Silicon Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor

The aim of this paper is to examine compensating for the hysteresis error of silicon pressure sensor in order to improve the sensor accuracy. The object of investigation is large-range diffused silicon piezoresistive pressure sensors in the industrial field, based on MEMS technology. Due to the complex hysteresis characteristic of the sensor and difficulties in compensation, there are currently no published precedents in relevant studies. The author has analyzed the causation and impacting factors of the hysteresis characteristic and demonstrated, through experiment, that the silicon pressure sensor does satisfy the necessary and sufficient conditions of the general Preisach model. Through utilizing the Preisach model of the sensor and compensating for the hysteresis error using the compensation algorithm on inverse general Preisach model, the experiment has demonstrated that the hysteresis error decreases significantly after compensation, hence enhancing the precision of the sensors.
The structure and synthesis of the fungal cell wall

The fungal cell wall is a dynamic structure that protects the cell from changes in osmotic pressure and other environmental stresses, while allowing the fungal cell to interact with its environment. The structure and biosynthesis of a fungal cell wall is unique to the fungi, and is therefore an excellent target for the development of anti‐fungal drugs. The structure of the fungal cell wall and the drugs that target its biosynthesis are reviewed. Based on studies in a number of fungi, the cell wall has been shown to be primarily composed of chitin, glucans, mannans and glycoproteins. The biosynthesis of the various components of the fungal cell wall and the importance of the components in the formation of a functional cell wall, as revealed through mutational analyses, are discussed. There is strong evidence that the chitin, glucans and glycoproteins are covalently cross‐linked together and that the cross‐linking is a dynamic process that occurs extracellularly. BioEssays 28: 799–808, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of self-heating and hot carrier degradation of poly-Si thin-film transistors using charge pumping technique

Self-heating (SH) and hot carrier (HC) degradation of n-type poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs) is evaluated by using charge pumping (CP) technique. By extracting trap state energy distribution, it is demonstrated that SH degradation is mainly attributed to the generation of deep states. For HC stressed TFTs, an anomalous ICP decrease with the stress time is observed in a low Vg stress condition controlled by hole trapping; while in a mid Vg condition, CP signal clearly indicates the trap states generation controlled by electron trapping.
Ethical Work Climate in Ugandan Procuring and Disposing Entities: Implications for Leadership

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the ethical work climate of Ugandan Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs). Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive research design was employed and data were collected from 89 PDEs out of 174 PDEs. Findings: Findings reveal that Uganda’s PDE’s ethical work climate is multidimensional, composed of caring, rules, efficiency , service and independence climate. These have both policy and managerial implications which we discuss. Research limitations: The study is limited by factors like the study being cross – sectional in nature and considered Central Government Entities and left out the Local Government Entities, which are also public. Future studies should consider being longitudinal in nature as well as extending to the Local Government Entities. Practical implications: Practical implication is that leadership in PDEs is the need to take a leading role in providing work climate that promote independence of procurement officers so as to improve on their ethical attitude. Originality: The paper contributes to literature on ethical work climate in public procurement. Key wards : Ethical work climate, caring, rules, efficiency , service , independence climate Uganda, Procuring and Disposing Entities . 1.0 Background
How PAs improve access to care for the underserved

Objective: Increasing health care costs and inaccessibility to care create barriers to physicians' services. The physician assistant (PA) profession developed in part to help care for underserved populations. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that poorer patients in outpatient clinics are more likely to see PAs than physicians. Methods: A retrospective analysis of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data (1997‐2003) on outpatient physicians and their office staff was carried out. Weighted logistic regression analysis was used. Results: After adjusting for covariates such as patient age, gender, race, year of visit, and region, patients covered by Medicare insurance had lower odds of visiting PAs compared to patients possessing private insurance (odds ratio [OR]: 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29‐0.81). Further, patients who paid out‐of‐pocket had higher odds of visiting PAs compared to patients with private insurance, after adjusting for potential confounders (OR: 1.37; CI: 1.18‐1.77). Patients in rural areas were more likely to visit PAs than were patients in urban areas (OR: 2.02; CI: 1.31‐3.14). Conclusion: Considerable use is made of PAs in all settings, and they tend to be utilized in otherwise underserved, rural populations who do not have health insurance.
Structural basis for solute transport, nucleotide regulation, and immunological recognition of Neisseria meningitidis PorB

PorB is the second most prevalent outer membrane protein in Neisseria meningitidis. PorB is required for neisserial pathogenesis and can elicit a Toll-like receptor mediated host immune response. Here, the x-ray crystal structure of PorB has been determined to 2.3 Å resolution. Structural analysis and cocrystallization studies identify three putative solute translocation pathways through the channel pore: One pathway transports anions nonselectively, one transports cations nonselectively, and one facilitates the specific uptake of sugars. During infection, PorB likely binds host mitochondrial ATP, and cocrystallization with the ATP analog AMP–PNP suggests that binding of nucleotides regulates these translocation pathways both by partial occlusion of the pore and by restricting the motion of a putative voltage gating loop. PorB is located on the surface of N. meningitidis and can be recognized by receptors of the host innate immune system. Features of PorB suggest that Toll-like receptor mediated recognition outer membrane proteins may be initiated with a nonspecific electrostatic attraction.
Critical issues concerning splenectomy for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood

Guidelines for management of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in childhood are still based on expert opinions and therefore remain controversial. Splenectomy is an established option for chronic ITP in adults, but splenectomy in childhood is complex, due to higher probability for spontaneous recovery of ITP as compared to adults, psychological barrier of parents to accept a permanent organ loss, lack of reliable preoperative response prediction, and risk for overwhelming sepsis in young children. Parents are confronted with fear of intracranial bleeding, burden of responsibility in daily life, frequent visits to doctors, and need for restrictions of physical activities. Decision is further complicated by emerging conservative options offering durable remissions. This article reviews existing recommendations for splenectomy in pediatric chronic ITP and delineates critical and unsolved issues. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006;47:734–736. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fiscal multipliers : different instruments, different phases of the business cycle, different policies

In this thesis I explore the effects of fiscal policy, on the main macroeconomic variables, particularly in the form of fiscal multipliers, mostly from an empirical but also from a theoretical perspective. The second chapter explores several issues concerning the workings of fiscal policy: the first is whether it is possible to identify proper spending shocks, overcoming potential problems caused by anticipation of policy from the private sector; it turns out it is. The second issue is what are the effects of different spending variables on the economy, and it turns out that civilian spending has beneficial effects, while military investment leads to output contraction. The second issue, taken up in chapter three, is to decipher the effects of both government spending and taxes in the different phases of the business cycle. It turns out that useful public spending has positive effects on economic activity, particularly in periods of low growth, and that spending is more powerful to stabilize the economy than taxes. Proper policy action appears to be necessary to make sense of the results. However, the current methods to identify fiscal shocks have several shortcomings, and a method to achieve better identification is proposed in chapter four. The econometric results verify that spending shocks have positive effects on the economic activity, while tax shocks negative, and that the spending multiplier appears to be bigger in absolute value than the tax multiplier, casting doubt on the relevance of several economic theories as well as policy prescriptions. The size of both multipliers depends on policy. In addition, no deterioration over time of the power of spending to stabilize the economy is visible. Finally, in chapter 5 a simulation of a baseline DSGE model gives some guidelines on how policy may affect economic outcomes.
Human cardiovascular and metabolic response to acute, severe isovolemic anemia.

CONTEXT Although concern over the risks of red blood cell transfusion has resulted in several practice guidelines for transfusion, lack of data regarding the physiological effects of anemia in humans has caused uncertainty regarding the blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration requiring treatment. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that acute isovolemic reduction of blood Hb concentration to 50 g/L in healthy resting humans would produce inadequate cardiovascular compensation and result in tissue hypoxia secondary to inadequate oxygen transport. DESIGN Before and after interventional study. SETTING Academic tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS Conscious healthy patients (n =11) prior to anesthesia and surgery and volunteers not undergoing surgery (n=21). INTERVENTIONS Aliquots of blood (450-900 mL) were removed to reduce blood Hb concentration from 131 (2) g/L to 50 (1) g/L [mean (SE)]. Isovolemia was maintained with 5% human albumin and/or autologous plasma. Cardiovascular parameters, arterial and mixed venous oxygen content, oxyhemoglobin saturation, and arterial blood lactate were measured before and after removal of each aliquot of blood. Electrocardiogram and, in a subset, Holter monitor were monitored continuously. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES "Critical" oxygen delivery (TO2) as assessed by oxygen consumption (VO2), plasma lactate concentration, and ST changes on electrocardiogram. RESULTS Acute, isovolemic reduction of Hb concentration decreased systemic vascular resistance and TO2 and increased heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac index (each P<.001). We did not find evidence of inadequate oxygenation: VO2 increased slightly from a mean (SD) of 3.07 (0.44) mL of oxygen per kilogram per minute (mL O2 x kg(-1) x min[-1]) to 3.42 (0.54) mL O2 x kg(-1) x min(-1) (P<.001) and plasma lactate concentration did not change (0.81 [0.11] mmol/L to 0.62 [0.19] mmol/L; P=.09). Two subjects developed significant ST changes on Holter monitor: one apparently related to body position or activity, the other to an increase in heart rate (at an Hb concentration of 46-53 g/L); both occurred in young women and resolved without sequelae. CONCLUSIONS Acute isovolemic reduction of blood Hb concentration to 50 g/L in conscious healthy resting humans does not produce evidence of inadequate systemic TO2, as assessed by lack of change of VO2 and plasma lactate concentration. Analysis of Holter readings suggests that at this Hb concentration in this resting healthy population, myocardial ischemia would occur infrequently.
A STUDY OF THE PHOTODYNAMIC EFFICIENCIES OF SOME EYE LENS CONSTITUENTS

We have studied the photochemical quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (using the RNO bleaching method) and superoxide production (using the EPR‐spin trapping method and the SOD‐inhibitable ferricytochrome c reduction spectral assay) of kynurenine (Ky), N‐formylkynurenine (NFK), 3‐hydroxykynurenine (3HK), kynurenic acid (KUA), and the flavins, riboflavin (RF) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Such a study of the photodynamic efficiencies is important since these compounds appear endogenously in the eye. The singlet oxygen quantum yields of the flavins and KUA are high, while Ky and 3HK generate no detectable amounts of singlet oxygen. The superoxide quantum yields of the sensitizers are low compared to their singlet oxygen, and Ky and 3HK produce no detectable amounts of superoxide. The production of the superoxide radical is enhanced in the presence of electron donor molecules such as EDTA and NADH. These results suggest that the production of oxyradicals in the lens may be modulated by the presence of endogenous electron donor molecules such as the coenzymes NADH and NADPH, which are present in significant amounts in some lenses. They also suggest that Ky and 3HK, which are known to be present in aged lenses, might play a protective rather than a deleterious role in the eye.
DUI-arrest characteristics among white and Mexican-American DUI offenders mandated for treatment.

OBJECTIVE To report cross-ethnic differences among white and Mexican-American DUI offenders on the characteristics of an arrest (index) that brought subjects to treatment. METHOD Subjects are 250 (223 male) whites and 249 (187 male) Mexican Americans consecutively admitted to five DUI offender programs in a Northern California county. Interviews averaged 1 hour in length and were conducted in the programs by trained interviewers. The response rate was 71% for whites and 84% for Mexican Americans. RESULTS At the time of the arrest, Mexican Americans were driving cars older than those driven by whites. A higher proportion of Mexican Americans than whites reported having consumed 10 or more drinks before the arrest. The most frequent locale for drinking before the arrest was "home or friends' home" for Mexican Americans and a "bar/tavern/club" for whites. CONCLUSIONS Cross-ethnic differences related to the circumstance of the arrest (car year) do not fully explain the higher rates of DUI arrest among Mexican Americans, compared with whites. Differences in drinking locale before arrest suggest that server intervention efforts may not be as effective in preventing DUI for Mexican Americans as they are for whites. Prevention interventions with Mexican Americans should center on the family, as a means to minimize drinking at home and decrease the large number of drinks consumed on a particular occasion by Mexican Americans.
Stabilization of Chaotic Systems Using Linear sampled-Data Controller

This paper proposes a linear sampled-data controller for the stabilization of chaotic system. The system stabilization and performance issues will be investigated. Stability conditions will be derived based on the Lyapunov approach. The findings of the maximum sampling period and the feedback gain of controller, and the optimization of system performance will be formulated as a generalized eigenvalue minimization problem. Based on the analysis result, a stable linear sampled-data controller can be realized systematically to stabilize a chaotic system. An example of stabilizing a Lorenz system will be given to illustrate the design procedure and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Interferon-gamma-inducible alpha-chemokine CXCL10 involvement in Graves' ophthalmopathy: modulation by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists.

CONTEXT CXC alpha-chemokine CXCL10/inducing protein-10 play an important role in the initial phases of autoimmune thyroid disorders. Human thyrocytes in primary culture produce large amounts of CXCL10 when stimulated by interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) and TNFalpha. OBJECTIVE Serum CXCL10 levels (sCXCL10) were measured in patients with active or inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). The effects of IFNgamma and TNFalpha stimulation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) activation on CXCL10 secretion in primary cultures of thyrocytes, orbital fibroblasts, and preadipocytes were tested. PATIENTS Sixty consecutive patients with Graves' disease, 60 age- and sex-matched patients with GO, and 60 controls were studied. RESULTS sCXCL10 was higher (P < 0.0001) in Graves' disease (120 +/- 83 pg/ml; n = 60) and GO (122 +/- 71; n = 60) patients than in age- and sex-matched euthyroid controls (72 +/- 32; n = 60). Among GO patients, sCXCL10 levels were significantly higher in those (n = 14) with active disease (171 +/- 197) than in those with inactive disease (114 +/- 45 pg/ml; P < 0.003). In primary cultures of thyrocytes, retrobulbar fibroblasts and retrobulbar preadipocytes from GO patients, CXCL10 production was absent under basal conditions; dose-dependent secretion of CXCL10 was not induced by TNFalpha alone, whereas stimulation with IFNgamma or TNFalpha plus IFNgamma induced CXCL10 release. Treatment of all cell types with the PPARgamma agonist, rosiglitazone, dose-dependently (0.1-10 microm) suppressed IFNgamma- plus TNFalpha-induced CXCL10 release. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that in GO, thyrocytes and retrobulbar cell types participate in the self-perpetuation of inflammation by releasing chemokines under the influence of cytokines. PPARgamma activation plays an inhibitory role in this process.