Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between self-stigma and self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Objective Growing qualitative evidence reveals that many patients with chronic illnesses struggle to rebuild a positive self-image after diagnosis while attempting to find a balance between their current physical status and their ongoing social duties. One factor destabilizing patients’ identities is self-stigma, which seems to affect their behavioral goals through decreased self-efficacy. We hypothesized that self-stigma would be an independent factor, distinct from self-efficacy, for developing self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods We used a consecutive sample of 209 outpatients with type 2 diabetes treated by endocrinologists at two university hospitals, one general hospital and one clinic. We performed multiple linear regression analyses to test the relationship between the patients’ activation levels for self-care behaviors (dependent variable) and self-stigma, self-efficacy, and depression symptoms (independent variables), adjusting for covariates involving sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results In a multiple linear regression model adjusted for prior covariates, there was significant association between self-stigma and activation levels for self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes (adjusted R2=0.26, F (12,196)=7.20, p<0.001). The standardized partial regression coefficient of self-stigma was −0.23 (p=0.001), whereas that of self-efficacy was 0.19 (p=0.007). Conclusions Self-stigma is a negative independent factor, separate from self-efficacy, affecting the self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes. Self-stigma also has, at least, a similar impact on self-care behaviors to that of self-efficacy. To optimize treatment outcomes, patients’ self-stigma should be minimized, whereas their self-efficacy should be enhanced.
COEVOLUTION AS AN EVOLUTIONARY GAME

Coevolution is modeled as a continuous game where the fitness‐maximizing strategy of an individual is assumed to be a function of the strategy of other individuals who are also under selection to maximize fitness. An evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) is sought such that no rare alternative strategies can invade the community. The approach can be used to model coevolution because the ESS may be composed of a coalition of more than one strategy. This work, by modeling frequency‐dependent selection, extends the approach of Roughgarden (1976) which only considered density‐dependent selection. In particular, we show that the coevolutionary model of Rummel and Roughgarden (1985) does contain frequency‐dependent selection, and thus, their application of Roughgarden's criterion for evolutionary stability to a model for which it is not applicable leads to the erroneous conclusion that the ecological and evolutionary processes are in conflict.
Social support at work and work changes among cancer survivors in Norway

Aims: To investigate how cancer survivors (CSs) experience the cancer-related support they get at the workplace, the proportion of CSs who change work due to cancer and the sociodemographic and work-related factors associated with CSs’ work changes. Methods: CSs of the 10 most common invasive types of cancer for men and women in Norway completed a mailed questionnaire 15—39 months after primary treatment. All CSs who were working when diagnosed were included in the analyses (n = 1115). Leaving the workforce and making other important changes in paid work were regarded as work changes. Results: When diagnosed with cancer, 84% of the CSs experienced their supervisor as caring vs. 90% for colleagues. At the time of the survey, 84% were still working; 24% had made changes in work due to the cancer. Work changes due to cancer were most common among CSs who reported low supervisor support related to the cancer (odds ratio (OR) 0.78) and high physical (OR 2.48) and psychological job demands (OR 1.39) at the time of diagnosis. Work changes were more common among self-employed CSs than among employees (OR 2.03). CSs with high education (OR 0.59) and medium income (OR 0.66) made fewer work changes than other CSs, but these differences were not significant when controlled for the work factors. Conclusions: Close follow-up by supervisors should be a key element in workplace health promotion programmes for CSs. Further, the programmes should target both physical and psychosocial work factors.
The Effect of Narrow-Band Transmission on Recognition of Paralinguistic Information From Human Vocalizations

Practically, no knowledge exists on the effects of speech coding and recognition for narrow-band transmission of speech signals within certain frequency ranges especially in relation to the recognition of paralinguistic cues in speech. We thus investigated the impact of narrow-band standard speech coders on the machine-based classification of affective vocalizations and clinical vocal recordings. In addition, we analyzed the effect of speech low-pass filtering by a set of different cut-off frequencies, either chosen as static values in the 0.5-5-kHz range or given dynamically by different upper limits from the first five speech formants (F1-F5). Speech coding and recognition were tested, first, according to short-term speaker states by using affective vocalizations as given by the Geneva Multimodal Emotion Portrayals. Second, in relation to long-term speaker traits, we tested vocal recording from clinical populations involving speech impairments as found in the Child Pathological Speech Database. We employ a large acoustic feature space derived from the Interspeech Computational Paralinguistics Challenge. Besides analysis of the sheer corruption outcome, we analyzed the potential of matched and multicondition training as opposed to miss-matched condition. In the results, first, multicondition and matched-condition training significantly increase performances as opposed to mismatched condition. Second, downgrades in classification accuracy occur, however, only at comparably severe levels of low-pass filtering. The downgrades especially appear for multi-categorical rather than for binary decisions. These can be dealt with reasonably by the alluded strategies.
A Consequence-based Algebraic Calculus for SHOQ

In this paper, we present a novel consequence-based algo-rithm to perform subsumption reasoning in SHOQ , which support nomi-nals and Qualiﬁed Cardinality Restrictions (QCRs). Our algorithm maps numerical restrictions imposed by QCRs or nominals to inequalities and determines the feasibility of inequality systems by means of Integer Linear Programming
The structural effect of cooperatives on price volatility in the European dairy sector

ABSTRACT Theoretical models and empirical evidence suggest that high market shares of cooperatives can force investor-oriented firms to pay higher producer prices within a region. In the same vein, cooperatives may force investor-oriented firms to reduce price volatility. We use panel data from 27 European Union member states over the period 2001–2015 to investigate how the market share of cooperatives in a country affects milk price volatility. Our key finding is that a higher market share of cooperatives reduces price volatility at the national level. Volatility is influenced by a number of other variables, such as fluctuation in raw milk production, oil price volatility spillover and the number of dairy processors. Policymakers should consider that the promotion of cooperatives might positively affect price stability in the dairy sector.
Automated Evaluation of Upper-Limb Motor Function Impairment Using Fugl-Meyer Assessment

The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) is the most popular instrument for evaluating upper extremity motor function in stroke patients. However, it is a labor-intensive and time-consuming method. This paper proposes a novel automated FMA system to overcome these limitations of the FMA. For automation, we used Kinect v2 and force sensing resistor sensors owing to their convenient installation as compared with body-worn sensors. Based on the linguistic guideline of the FMA, a rule-based binary logic classification algorithm was developed to assign FMA scores using the extracted features obtained from the sensors. The algorithm is appropriate for clinical use, because it is not based on machine learning, which requires additional learning processes with a large amount of clinical data. The proposed system was able to automate 79% of the FMA tests because of optimized sensor selection and the classification algorithm. In clinical trials conducted with nine stroke patients, the proposed system exhibited high scoring accuracy (92%) and time efficiency (85% reduction in clinicians’ required time).
Visual processing impairment and risk of motor vehicle crash among older adults.

CONTEXT Motor vehicle crash risk in older drivers has been associated with visual acuity loss, but only weakly so, suggesting other factors contribute. The useful field of view is a measure that reflects decline in visual sensory function, slowed visual processing speed, and impaired visual attention skills. OBJECTIVE To identify whether measures of visual processing ability, including the useful field of view test, are associated with crash involvement by older drivers. DESIGN Prospective cohort study with 3 years of follow-up, 1990-1993. SETTING Ophthalmology clinic assessment of community-based sample. PATIENTS A total of 294 drivers aged 55 to 87 years at enrollment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Motor vehicle crash occurrence. RESULTS Older drivers with a 40% or greater impairment in the useful field of view were 2.2 times (95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.1) more likely to incur a crash during 3 years of follow-up, after adjusting for age, sex, race, chronic medical conditions, mental status, and days driven per week. This association was primarily mediated by difficulty in dividing attention under brief target durations. CONCLUSION Reduction in the useful field of view increases crash risk in older drivers. Given the relatively high prevalence of visual processing impairment among the elderly, visual dysfunction and eye disease deserve further examination as causes of motor vehicle crashes and injury.
On a novel combination method for pedestrian multi-attitude solution with the wearable MEMS-IMU

Pedestrian's attitude solution plays an important role in a lot ofapplication areas. For the problem ofthe pedestrian's wearable attitude solution, two kinds of wearable methods, chest-wom and waist-worn, are proposed with a novel combination method including Zero momentary attitude detection + Geomagnetic correction + Third-order Taylor expansion quaternion update algorithm (ZGT) to resolve the pedestrian's attitude. In addition, a walking experiment is designed on the multi-attitude such as snake-like, pitching, wobbling, spinning and moving backward. MEMS-IMU and laptop are used for the test data output, collecting, recording and processing the data. After compared with the other methods, the IMU placed on the waist and with new combination ZGT is selected as the best solution for this research. This concise method can achieve easily the 14000 continuous data processed in 5.01s and the total attitude angle deviation of the mean magnitude up to 10−3° compared with the result of international advanced production sbg MEMS-IMU as an approximate true value standard by itself own complicated and precise algorithm. In other words, it also suggested that feasibility and effectiveness of this method. Applied to the outdoor personnel positioning area, from calculating the difference between start and end point by moving an integral loop path on the track figure we can see: horizontal error accuracy, foot-mounted IMU with this method, can reach 0.8% in a total 230m travel. ZGT also performs well on heading correction with waist-wom IMU reducing the 9.1° yaw deviation in another experiment. To the further applications, optimization and derivation, it can be considered as a new combined solution in the other fields when use the free inertial navigation which has accumulated error solely.
Chemerin Contributes to Inflammation by Promoting Macrophage Adhesion to VCAM-1 and Fibronectin through Clustering of VLA-4 and VLA-5

Chemerin is a potent macrophage chemoattractant protein. We used murine peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) in adhesion, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy assays to test the hypothesis that chemerin can also contribute to inflammation by promoting macrophage adhesion. Chemerin stimulated the adhesion of PECs to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin and to the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 within a minute, with an EC50 of 322 and 196 pM, respectively. Experiments using pertussis toxin and PECs from ChemR23−/− mice demonstrated that chemerin stimulated the adhesion of macrophages via the Gi protein-coupled receptor ChemR23. Blocking Abs against integrin subunits revealed that 89% of chemerin-stimulated adhesion to fibronectin was dependent on increased avidity of the integrin VLA-5 (α5β1) and that 88% of adhesion to VCAM-1 was dependent on increased avidity of VLA-4 (α4β1). Although chemerin was unable to induce an increase in integrin affinity as judged by the binding of soluble ligand, experiments using confocal microscopy revealed an increase in valency resulting from integrin clustering as the mechanism responsible for chemerin-stimulated macrophage adhesion. PI3K, Akt, and p38 were identified as key signaling mediators in chemerin-stimulated adhesion. The finding that chemerin can rapidly stimulate macrophage adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins and adhesion molecules, taken together with its ability to promote chemotaxis, suggests a novel role for chemerin in the recruitment and retention of macrophages at sites of inflammation.
Free-Breathing Radial 3D Fat-Suppressed T1-Weighted Gradient Echo Sequence: A Viable Alternative for Contrast-Enhanced Liver Imaging in Patients Unable to Suspend Respiration

Objective:To compare free-breathing radially sampled 3D fat suppressed T1-weighted gradient-echo acquisitions (radial volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination [VIBE]) with breath-hold (BH) and free-breathing conventional (rectilinearly sampled k-space) VIBE acquisitions for postcontrast imaging of the liver. Materials and Methods:Eighteen consecutive patients referred for clinically indicated liver magnetic resonance imaging were imaged at 3 T. Three minutes after a single dose of gadolinium contrast injection, free-breathing radial VIBE, BH VIBE, and free-breathing VIBE with 4 averages were acquired in random order with matching sequence parameters. Radial VIBE was acquired with the “stack-of-stars” scheme, which uses conventional sampling in the slice direction and radial sampling in-plane. All image data sets were evaluated independently by 3 radiologists blinded to patient and sequence information. Each reader scored the following parameters: overall image quality, respiratory motion artifact, pulsation artifact, liver edge sharpness, and hepatic vessel clarity using a 5-point scale, with the highest score indicating the most optimum examination. Mixed model analysis of variance was used to compare sequences in terms of each measure of image quality. Results:When scores were averaged over readers, there was no statistically significant difference between radial VIBE and BH VIBE regarding overall image quality (P = 0.1015), respiratory motion artifact (P = 1.0), and liver edge sharpness (P = 0.2955). Radial VIBE demonstrated significantly lower pulsation artifact (P < 0.0001), but had lower hepatic vessel clarity (P = 0.0176), when compared with BH VIBE. Radial VIBE had significantly higher image quality scores for all parameters when compared with free-breathing VIBE (P < 0.0001). Acquisition time for BH VIBE was 14 seconds and that of free-breathing radial VIBE and conventional VIBE with multiple averages was 56 seconds each. Conclusion:Radial VIBE can be performed during free breathing for contrast-enhanced imaging of the liver with comparable image quality to BH VIBE. However, further work is necessary to shorten the acquisition time to perform dynamic imaging.
Dosing Nomograms for Attaining Optimum Concentrations of Meropenem by Continuous Infusion in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Gram-Negative Infections: a Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics-Based Approach

ABSTRACT The worrisome increase in Gram-negative bacteria with borderline susceptibility to carbapenems and of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae has significantly undermined their efficacy. Continuous infusion may be the best way to maximize the time-dependent activity of meropenem. The aim of this study was to create dosing nomograms in relation to different creatinine clearance (CLCr) estimates for use in daily clinical practice to target the steady-state concentrations (Csss) of meropenem during continuous infusion at 8 to 16 mg/liter (after the administration of an initial loading dose of 1 to 2 g over 30 min). The correlation between meropenem clearance (CLm) and CLCr was retrospectively assessed in a cohort of critically ill patients (group 1, n = 67) to create a formula for dosage calculation to target Css. The performance of this formula was validated in a similar cohort (group 2, n = 56) by comparison of the observed and the predicted Csss. A significant relationship between CLm and CLCr was observed in group 1 (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). The application of the formula to meropenem dosing in group 2, infusion rate (g/24 h) = [0.078 × CLCr (ml/min) + 2.85] × target Css × (24/1,000), led to a significant correlation between the observed and the predicted Csss (r = 0.92, P < 0.001). Dosing nomograms based on CLCr were created to target the meropenem Css at 8, 12, and 16 mg/liter in critically ill patients. These nomograms could be helpful in improving the treatment of severe Gram-negative infections with meropenem, especially in the presence of borderline susceptible pathogens or even of carbapenemase producers and/or of pathophysiological conditions which may enhance meropenem clearance.
Global Technological Transformations

What determines the transition of society from one level of development to another? One of the most fundamental causes is global technological transformations. Among all major technological breakthroughs in history the most important are the three production revolutions: 1) the Agrarian Revolution; 2) the Industrial Revolution and 3) the Scientifi c-Information Revolution which will transform into the Cybernetic one. The article introduces the Theory of Production Revolutions. This is a new explanatory paradigm which is of value when analyzing causes and trends of global shifts in historical process. The article describes the course of technological transformations in history and demonstrates a possible application of the theory to explain the present and forthcoming technological changes. The authors argue that the third production revolution that started in the 1950s and which they call the Cybernetic one, in the coming decades, that is in the 2030s and 2040s, will get a new impetus and enter its fi nal stage – the epoch of (self)controllable systems. There are given certain forecasts concerning the development in such spheres as medicine, biotechnologies and nanotechnologies in the coming decades (the 2010s – 2060s).
Transcultural nursing: how do nurses respond to cultural needs?

The aim of the study was to explore how nurses responded to the cultural needs of their clients. From the transcultural point of view, healthcare providers must deliver a service that Is culturally sensitive and appropriate. However, for a variety of reasons, there Is growing concem that the cultural healthcare needs of minority ethnic groups are not met adequately. This study was done to outline nurses' activity In transcultural care. Empirical data were obtained from a sample of registered nurses (n = 126) who were invited to complete questionnaires pertaining to cultural care. As a result of data analysis, the quantitative findings are presented as tables and the qualitative data as categories and themes. The findings suggest that most respondents felt that patients' cultural needs should be given consideration. Cultural aspects of care seem to be a feature of the overall nursing picture within a multicultural context of health care. Many participants claimed that they responded to the cultural needs of patients. Some felt that patients' cultural needs are adequately met; such needs are perceived as religious practices, diets, communication, dying, prayer and culture. Furthermore, a slgnlflcant number of respondents suggested that they would like further education In meeting the cultural needs of their patients. This study offers some InSights Into transcultural healthcare practice and, In accordance with the findings, Identlfles strategies for Improving these practices for nursing and nurse education.
Proteomic and Functional Analyses Reveal the Role of Chromatin Reader SFMBT1 in Regulating Epigenetic Silencing and the Myogenic Gene Program*

Background: SFMBT1 is a poorly characterized chromatin reader. Results: SFMBT1 is associated with multiple transcriptional corepressor complexes and required for MyoD-mediated transcriptional silencing. Conclusion: Novel mechanisms of SFMBT1-mediated transcription repression and its regulation of myogenesis are identified. Significance: Our findings contribute to the understanding of how histone modification language is interpreted to regulate gene expression and biological processes. SFMBT1 belongs to the malignant brain tumor domain-containing chromatin reader family that recognizes repressive histone marks and represses transcription. The biological functions and molecular basis underlying SFMBT1-mediated transcriptional repression are poorly elucidated. Here, our proteomic analysis revealed that SFMBT1 is associated with multiple transcriptional corepressor complexes, including CtBP/LSD1/HDAC complexes, polycomb repressive complexes, and malignant brain tumor family proteins, that collectively contribute to SFMBT1 repressor activity. During myogenesis, Sfmbt1 represses myogenic differentiation of cultured and primary myoblasts. Mechanistically, Sfmbt1 interacts with MyoD and mediates epigenetic silencing of MyoD target genes via recruitment of its associated corepressors and subsequent induction of epigenetic modifications and chromatin compaction. Therefore, our study identified novel mechanisms accounting for SFMBT1-mediated transcription repression and revealed an essential role of Sfmbt1 in regulating MyoD-mediated transcriptional silencing that is required for the maintenance of undifferentiated states of myogenic progenitor cells.