Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Information Systems and Health Care XIV: Continuing Use of Medical Information Systems by Medical Professionals: Empirical Evaluation of a Work System Model

Physicians face an increasing variety of options for using information systems in the course of delivering and managing medical care. Although the technical capabilities of medical information systems are expanding rapidly, such systems cannot be expected to be truly effective unless they mesh with the broader work system that includes the physician’s work place and work routines. This research focuses on physicians’ intent for continued use of an online medical evaluation system as an indicator of the mesh between an information technology and medical work environments, and it draws contextual elements from technology acceptance and compatibility models to help explain the intent for continued use. Ninety-seven physicians throughout the U.S. participated in an extensive survey that provided a basis for analysis, and results showed general support for the acceptance model used in the study. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study center on the importance of understanding continued use of medical information systems with the help of work practice compatibility and acceptance models as they apply to the demanding environment of medical practice.
Analysis and improvement on an efficient biometric-based remote user authentication scheme using smart cards

The author first reviews the recently proposed Li-Hwang's biometric-based remote user authentication scheme using smart cards; then shows that the Li-Hwang's scheme has some design flaws in their scheme. In order to withstand those flaws in their scheme, an improvement of their scheme is further proposed. The author also shows that the improved scheme provides strong authentication with the use of verifying biometric, password as well as random nonces generated by the user and the server as compared to that for the Li-Hwang's scheme and other related schemes.
Selective control of membrane ruffling and actin plaque assembly by the Rho GTPases Rac 1 and CDC 42 in Fc ε RI-activated rat basophilic leukemia ( RBL-2 H 3 ) cells

Engagement of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) in mast cells elicits a series of intracellular signalling events including cytoskeletal reorganization and granule exocytosis. To analyze the coupling of receptor activation to specific cytoskeletal responses, we expressed dominant negative mutant forms of the Rho GTPases CDC42 and Rac1 in rat RBL-2H3 tumor mast cells. We show here that dominant inhibition of CDC42 function decreases cell adhesion, interferes with FcεRI-induced actin plaque assembly and reduced the recruitment of vinculin at the cell-substratum interface, while the inhibitory Rac1 mutant abolishes FcεRI-mediated membrane ruffling. The expression of trans-dominant inhibitory forms of either CDC42 or Rac1 significantly inhibited antigen-induced degranulation. Altogether, our results demonstrate that CDC42 and Rac1 control distinct pathways downstream of FcεRI engagement leading either to the induction of actin plaques, or to the production of membrane ruffles. These two pathways are critically involved during the degranulation response induced by FcεRI aggregation.
Novel Nickel-Alloy Silicides for Source/Drain Contact Resistance Reduction in N-Channel Multiple-Gate Transistors with Sub-35nm Gate Length

In this work, we examined the Schottky-barrier height modulation of NiSi by the incorporation of aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), erbium (Er), and ytterbium (Yb) in NiSi to form different NiSi-alloys. Among the NiSi-alloy candidates investigated, it was found that the NiAl-alloy silicide provides the most effective Schottky-barrier height lowering (~250 meV) on n-Si(001) substrates. Integration of NiAl-alloy silicides as the source and drain (S/D) silicide material for multiple-gate transistors (MuGFETs) was explored, and shown to deliver a drive current IDsat enhancement of 34% compared to MuGFETs employing NiSi S/D. We further showed that the novel NiAl-alloy silicidation process is compatible with lattice-mismatched silicon-carbon (SiC) S/D stressors. NiAl-alloy silicide is therefore a promising S/D silicide material for reducing the high parasitic series resistance in narrow fin MuGFETs for enhanced device performance
Individual and Combined Effects of Fumonisin B1, Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on the Hepatic and Renal Membrane Lipid Integrity of Rats

(1) Background and (2) Methods: A 14-day in vivo, multitoxic (pure mycotoxins) rat experiment was conducted with zearalenone (ZEA; 15 μg/animal/day), deoxynivalenol (DON; 30 μg/animal/day) and fumonisin B1 (FB1; 150 μg/animal/day), as individual mycotoxins, binary (FD, FZ and DZ) and ternary combinations (FDZ), via gavage in 1 mL water boluses. (3) Results: Body weight was unaffected, while liver (ZEA↑ vs. DON) and kidney weight (ZEA↑ vs. FDZ) increased. Hepatocellular membrane lipid fatty acids (FAs) referred to ceramide synthesis disturbance (C20:0, C22:0), and decreased unsaturation (C22:5 n3 and unsat. index), mainly induced by DON and to a lesser extent by ZEA. The DON-FB1 interaction was additive on C20:0 in liver lipids. In renal phospholipids, ZEA had the strongest effect on the FA profile, affecting the saturated (C18:0) and many n6 FAs; ZEA was in an antagonistic relationship with FB1 (C18:0) or DON (C18:2 n6, C20:1 n9). Hepatic oxidative stress was the most expressed in FD (reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase), while the nephrotoxic effect was further supported by lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) in the DON treatment. (4) Conclusions: In vivo study results refer to multiple mycotoxin interactions on membrane FAs, antioxidants and lipid peroxidation compounds, needing further testing.
SEX LINKAGE, SEX‐SPECIFIC SELECTION, AND THE ROLE OF RECOMBINATION IN THE EVOLUTION OF SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC GENE EXPRESSION

Sex‐biased genes—genes that are differentially expressed within males and females—are nonrandomly distributed across animal genomes, with sex chromosomes and autosomes often carrying markedly different concentrations of male‐ and female‐biased genes. These linkage patterns are often gene‐ and lineage‐dependent, differing between functional genetic categories and between species. Although sex‐specific selection is often hypothesized to shape the evolution of sex‐linked and autosomal gene content, population genetics theory has yet to account for many of the gene‐ and lineage‐specific idiosyncrasies emerging from the empirical literature. With the goal of improving the connection between evolutionary theory and a rapidly growing body of genome‐wide empirical studies, we extend previous population genetics theory of sex‐specific selection by developing and analyzing a biologically informed model that incorporates sex linkage, pleiotropy, recombination, and epistasis, factors that are likely to vary between genes and between species. Our results demonstrate that sex‐specific selection and sex‐specific recombination rates can generate, and are compatible with, the gene‐ and species‐specific linkage patterns reported in the genomics literature. The theory suggests that sexual selection may strongly influence the architectures of animal genomes, as well as the chromosomal distribution of fixed substitutions underlying sexually dimorphic traits.
Methodological and ethical quality checklist assessment in issues of Annals of Family Medicine Clinical Trials (2010-2013)

Introduction: At present, the quality of the publication of Control Trials (CTs) in medicaljournals improved due to the inclusion of the CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) standards and the Declaration of Helsinki. The aim is to analyse methodological and ethical quality of published CTs in Annals of Family Medicine journal. Material and methods: We use a 133-item checklist divided into 11 sections based on CONSORT and the Declaration of Helsinki. The Confidence Interval of 95% (95% CI) of Clopper-Pearson for κ average is calculated. Results: We found 35 CTs in a literature review (2010-2013) on March 25, 2014 according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis). CT was mentioned in all heading/subheadings; CT controlled parallels in 80%; cluster type 45.7%. The most observed method was masked, active-controlled, decentralized randomization. The most frequently found category was an open CT assessing a medical intervention, with a positive significant result surveyed. The most common Informed Consent (IC) was in writing, not clearly voluntary, without prior knowledge and doubtful. It was not withdrawn in 45.7% of cases. A grant/scholarship was found to be the most frequent incentive for researchers. In 28 CTs there was no conflict of interest. The κ average was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.90-0.96). Conclusions: CT published “standard” characteristic are indicated. Following the CONSORT standards publication, it has increased the overall quality of the CTs published. But there are some areas for improvement in the methodological and ethical quality of the CTs published from 2010 to 2013 in Annals of Family Medicine.
Evaluation of immunity to Aujeszky's disease virus.

Summary: The authors studied the immune response of vaccinated and unvaccinated pigs to challenge infection with Aujeszky's disease virus. One group re­ ceived a live vaccine by the nasal route, a second group was inoculated intra­ muscularly with inactivated vaccine, and a third group served as unvaccinated controls. General and local immune responses were measured by indirect ELISA, serum neutralisation, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assay, and complement-dependent antibody lysis. Weight gain was chosen as the quantitative criterion for the clinical consequences of experimental infection. A discussion of the results considers the limitations of in vitro tests as reflections of the degree of immune protection occurring in vivo. In general, nasal vaccination conferred a better immunity to experimental infection than parenteral vaccination.
p-Coumaric acid ameliorates ethanol–induced kidney injury by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production and NF–κB signaling in rats

Objective: To examine the effects of p-coumaric acid on ethanol-induced kidney injury in Swiss Wistar rats. Methods: Ethanol (25% v/v) was used to induce nephrotoxicity in rats. p-Coumaric acid was orally administered at 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight. The levels of oxidative parameters were determined; pro-inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed by Western blotting and apoptotic protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Ethanol treated rats showed decreased levels of antioxidants and aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL1P, TNF-α), NF-κB activation and imbalance of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase 3). Meanwhile, jp-coumaric acid restored antioxidant levels and decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines, NF-κB, and pro- apoptotic proteins and increased Bcl-2 expression. Conclusions: jp-Coumaric acid ameliorates ethanol-induced kidney injury by restoring antioxidant production and suppressing cellular apoptosis and inhibiting NF-κB expression. jp-Coumaric acid should be further investigated as a promising candidate for ethanol-induced kidney toxicity.
Path-integral treatment of the Hulthén potential.

An exact path-integral treatment of the s states for the Hulth\'en potential is presented. A procedure of the nontrivial change of variable accompanied by the local time rescaling is given in detail. The dimensional extension trick is applied to convert the radial path integral into a path integral in the SU(2) manifold. The exact energy spectrum and the normalized s-state eigenfunctions are obtained from the poles of the Green function and their residues, respectively. The Yukawa and the Coulomb limits are also discussed.
A direct algorithm for pole assignment of time invariant linear systems using output feedback

A direct algorithm is suggested for the computation of the linear output feedback for multi-input (m), multi-output (p) systems such that max{m,p} of the eigenvalues of the resultant closed-loop matrix have specified values. The extra freedom can be used in different ways, for example to decrease the Frobenious norm of the feedback matrix. All the transformations used are unitary, for numerical reliability, and the technique is based on ideas from the QR algorithm for solving the eigenproblem. The numerical stability of the algorithm is proven by doing the backwards rounding error analysis of it.
Complications of intravenous feeding catheters

Complications of intravenous nutrition are uncommon but may prove problematic in patients requiring long‐term nutritional support. This article reviews the complications associated with intravenous catheters with particular emphasis on problems associated with insertion, catheterrelated sepsis, venous thrombosis, catheter occlusion, endocarditis and intracardiac thrombus formation.
Area and Energy Efficient Viterbi Accelerator for Embedded Processor Datapaths

Viterbi algorithm is widely used in communication systems to efficiently decode the convolutional codes. This algorithm is used in many applications including cellular and satellite communication systems. Moreover, Serializer-deserializers (SERDESs) having critical latency constraint also use viterbi algorithm for hardware implementation. We present the integration of a mixed hardware/software viterbi accelerator unit with an embedded processor datapath to enhance the processor performance in terms of execution time and energy efficiency. Later we investigate the performance of viterbi accelerated embedded processor datapath in terms of execution time and energy efficiency. Our evaluation shows that the viterbi accelerated Microblaze soft-core embedded processor datapath is three times more cycle and energy efficient than a datapath lacking a viterbi accelerator unit. This acceleration is achieved at the cost of some area overhead.
Artificial Neural Networks in the Estimation of Measures of Temperature and Humidity inside a Neonatal Incubator

This paper seeks to estimate through Artificial Neural Networks the future behavior of temperature and humidity inside an incubator. This goal is motivated by the observation that the model-based predictive control is an interesting alternative for the generation of control signals of a neonatal incubator since: (i) it seeks to optimize a performance criterion that considers the future behavior of this controller, and (ii) restrictions may be imposed on future control signals. These two features can make more safe and comfortable the microclimate inside the device for the newborn: variables such as temperature and humidity can be better kept within the limits of technical standards such as the NBR IEC 601-2-19 and its amendment No. 1, NBR IEC 60601-2-19-2000. However, one predictive model of the process to be controlled must first be obtained. The obtained neural model has accuracy in predicting the incubator behavior one time step forward compatible with the technical standard, and it is ready to be applied in a predictive control structure.
Identifying different antecedents for closed vs open knowledge transfer

Facilitating employees’ knowledge transfer to colleagues is a critical, yet challenging task. This study suggests that an individual’s social networks and motivational factors facilitate knowledge transfer based on the social capital theory and the theory of collective action. More importantly, this study also proposes that the facilitating effects of social networks and motivational factors differ depending on the different modes of knowledge transfer, namely, the closed (one-to-one) and the open (one-to-many) modes. By analysing 325 survey responses of eight research and development groups from five firms with structural equation modelling, we found that network centrality and organizational reward were influential only on open knowledge transfer while expected reciprocity was influential only on closed knowledge transfer. On the other hand, average strength of ties and intrinsic motivational factors such as group identification and self-efficacy seemed to affect both types of knowledge transfer. Additionally, the facilitating effects of social networks were found to be partially mediated by motivational factors.
Maritime Freight Container Management System Using RFID

Efficiency in cargo exchange in a maritime container terminal is very important due to its associated cost. Among the different available technologies for optimising the terminal operation, RFID identification is one of the most promising ones. In this article, a freight container management system is presented, composed of a software platform supporting the typical use cases, as well as a wireless RFID network deployed throughout the terminal. This system allows for container traceability, efficient reservation and vehicle management, automatic loading plan calculation, and fault tolerance. Analysis, design and implementation stages are discussed, including the selection of the most suitable hardware and an execution example of one of the use cases.
Work Stress, Hardiness, and Burnout Among Hospital Staff Nurses

The question of whether personality hardiness moderates the impact of job stressors on burnout was studied in 107 registered staff nurses from an urban, community hospital who responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Consistent with previous research, burnout was significantly associated with higher levels of perceived job stress and lower levels of personality hardiness. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses further indicated that work stressors (particularly stress due to workload) and hardiness were significant additive rather than interactive predictors of burnout. That is, hardiness had beneficial main effects in reducing burnout, but did not appear to prevent high levels of job stress from leading to high levels of burnout.
Likelihood and Bayesian Methods for Accurate Identification of Measurement Biases in Pseudo Steady-State Processes

Two new approaches are presented for improved identification of measurement biases in linear pseudo steady-state processes. Both are designed to detect a change in the mean of a measured variable leading to an inference regarding the presence of a biased measurement. The first method is based on a likelihood ratio test for the presence of a mean shift. The second is based on a Bayesian decision rule (relying on prior distributions for unknown parameters) for the detection of a mean shift. The performance of these two methods is compared with that of a method given by Devanathan et al. (2000). For the process studied, both techniques were found to have higher identification power than the method of Devanathan et al. and appears to have excellent but sightly lower type I error performance than the Devanathan et al. method.
Osteosynthese am proximalen Humerus mittels winkelstabiler Platte oder Doppelplatte: eine vergleichende biomechanische Untersuchung / Angle-fixed plate fixation or double-plate osteosynthesis in fractures of the proximal humerus: a biomechanical study

Zusammenfassung Für die Osteosynthese einer proximalen Humerusfraktur wird insbesondere bei osteoporotischen Knochenverhältnissen eine hohe Stabilität der Osteosynthese gefordert, um sekundäre Repositionsverluste zu vermeiden. In einer experimentellen Untersuchung wurden die biomechanischen Eigenschaften der winkelstabilen Philos-Platte und der Doppelplattenosteosynthese mit zwei Drittelrohrplatten miteinander verglichen. Frakturmodell war eine instabile Dreifragmentfraktur (AO Typ B2). Acht Probenpaare wurden unter Axiallast und in Torsion über 200 Zyklen belastet. Gemessen wurde, in welchem Ausmaß die ursprüngliche Probensteifigkeit nach der Osteotomie durch die Osteosynthese wiederhergestellt werden konnte. Weiterhin wurde das Setzverhalten der Proben ermittelt. Unter Axiallast zeigte sich sowohl bezüglich Steifigkeit und Setzverhalten eine signifikante Überlegenheit der Philos-Proben. Zwei Doppelplatten-Osteosynthesen versagten unter der Dauerbelastung. Unter Torsion zeigte sich dagegen kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den beiden Osteosynthesen. Unter biomechanischen Gesichtspunkten weist die winkelstabile Philos-Platte im Vergleich zur Doppelplattenosteosynthese Vorteile hinsichtlich einer höheren Stabilität auf, so dass sie insbesondere bei hochgradig instabilen Frakturen des proximalen Humerus gegenüber der Doppelplatte zu bevorzugen ist. Abstract Internal fixation of fractures of the proximal humerus needs a high stability of fixation to avoid secondary loss of fixation. This is especially important in osteoporotic bone. In an experimental study, the biomechanical properties of the angle-fixed Philos plate (internal fixator) and a double-plate osteosynthesis using two one-third tubular plates were assessed. The fracture model was an unstable three-part fracture (AO type B2). Eight pairs of human cadaveric humeri were submitted to axial load and torque. In the first part of the study, it was assessed to which degree the original stiffness of the humeri could be restored after the osteotomy by the osteosynthesis procedure. Subsequently, subsidence during 200 cycles of axial loading and torque was analysed. During axial loading, the Philos plate was significantly stiffer and showed less irreversible deformation. Two double-plate fixations, but none of the Philos plate osteosynthesis, failed. During torsion, there were no significant differences between the two implants. From the biomechanical point of view, the angle-fixed Philos plate represents the implant of choice for the surgical fixation of highly unstable three-part fractures of the proximal humerus, as the internal fixator system is characterised by superior biomechanical properties.
Aliasing in signature analysis testing with multiple input shift registers

An investigation of the properties of multiple input shift registers for signature analysis is presented. The assumption of independent errors at the register inputs has been used to model the register behavior as a Markov process whose equations have been solved to obtain the exact dependence of aliasing probabilities as a function of test length, input error probabilities, and feedback structure. Some unique featured of maximum-length registers are proven. Accurate simplified expressions of aliasing probability are derived for use as tools in the evaluation of the coverage. >