Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a new pressure ulcer preventive dressing containing ceramide 2 with low frictional outer layer.

AIM This paper is a report of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a newly developed dressing for preventing persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development and improving the water-holding capacity without increasing the skin pH in bedridden older patients. BACKGROUND Shear forces and skin dryness play important roles in persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development. To eliminate these risks, we developed a dressing to reduce shear forces and improve the water-holding capacity. However, the effects of this dressing in clinical settings remain unknown. METHOD An experimental bilateral comparison study was conducted at a hospital in Japan in 2004 with 37 bedridden older patients at risk of pressure ulcer development. The dressing was randomly applied to the right or left greater trochanter for 3 weeks. No dressing was applied to the opposite side as a control. The skin was monitored weekly during the 3-week application for persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development. Skin hydration and pH were also assessed during the intervention and for 1 week after dressing removal. FINDINGS The incidence of persistent erythema was significantly lower in the intervention area than the control area [P = 0.007, RR 0.18 (95% CI: 0.05-0.73) and NNT 4.11 (2.50-11.63) ]. No pressure ulcers occurred in either the intervention or control area. Skin hydration increased significantly during dressing application and remained high after removal (P < 0.001) relative to the control area. Skin pH decreased significantly during the application (P < 0.001) but returned to control levels after removal (P = 0.38). CONCLUSION This safe and effective dressing can be used for patients with highly prominent bones and dry skin to prevent pressure ulcers.
Imbalance calibration of a digital beam forming array and the effect of mutual coupling on its steering

In this paper, a concept of an antenna with digital beam steering is presented. The design of each antenna element is first discussed and then the mutual effect between antenna elements is investigated. A new imbalance calibration formula was proposed to compensate RF impairments. The antenna prototype was fabricated and measured confirming the advantage of the proposed concept.
Opaque Intraocular Lens for Intractable Diplopia—UK Survey

Abstract Aims: To assess the practice of the use of an opaque intraocular lens (IOL) for intractable diplopia in the UK. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 892 consultant ophthalmologists in practice requesting information on the treatment of intractable diplopia with an opaque IOL. Respondents were asked whether they would consider using an opaque IOL for intractable diplopia. Information was gathered on the numbers of lenses implanted, the type of lens used, and whether the lens was implanted inside or outside the capsular bag. In addition, we asked for the causes of intractable diplopia, the success in eliminating diplopia, the use of postoperative pilocarpine, and whether postoperative surveillance was part of the follow-up protocol. Results: Of the 481 completed questionnaires received, 72% would consider implanting an opaque IOL. A total of 48 surgeons had implanted 1 or more lenses. There were 97 patients who were implanted with an opaque IOL over the past 15 years. Strabismus, nerve palsies, and previous retinal detachment surgery with diplopia were the main indications. Pseudophakic lenses were used by 38 surgeons in the capsular bag, 6 used iris-supported phakic lenses, and 2 used phakic lenses in the anterior chamber angle. The use of postoperative pilocarpine was reported by 9 surgeons, and 6 surgeons used regular ultrasound fundal surveillance. Patients were reported to be completely asymptomatic at discharge by 31 surgeons, with 15 surgeons reporting patients who were still symptomatic postoperatively. Only 1 intraoperative complication was reported. Conclusions: An opaque IOL is a safe method for treating intractable diplopia. This survey confirms that its practice is widely accepted in the UK.
Deposited in DRO : 28 October 2015 Version of attached le : Accepted Version Peer-review status of attached

We consider here a model of temporal networks, the links of which are available only at certain moments in time, chosen randomly from a subset of the positive integers. We define the notion of the Temporal Diameter of such networks. We also define fast and slow such temporal networks with respect to the expected value of their temporal diameter. We then provide a partial characterisation of fast random temporal networks. We also define the critical availability as a measure of periodic random availability of the links of a network, required to make the network fast. We finally give a lower bound as well as an upper bound on the (critical) availability.
Identification of a μ-δ opioid receptor heteromer-biased agonist with antinociceptive activity

G protein-coupled receptors play a pivotal role in many physiological signaling pathways. Mounting evidence suggests that G protein-coupled receptors, including opioid receptors, form dimers, and dimerization is necessary for receptor maturation, signaling, and trafficking. However, the physiological role of dimerization in vivo has not been well-explored because of the lack of tools to study these dimers in endogenous systems. To address this problem, we previously generated antibodies to μ-δ opioid receptor (μOR-δOR) dimers and used them to study the pharmacology and signaling by this heteromer. We also showed that the heteromer exhibits restricted distribution in the brain and that its abundance is increased in response to chronic morphine administration. Thus, the μOR-δOR heteromer represents a potentially unique target for the development of therapeutics to treat pain. Here, we report the identification of compounds targeting μOR-δOR heteromers through high-throughput screening of a small-molecule library. These compounds exhibit activity in μOR-δOR cells but not μOR or δOR cells alone. Among them, CYM51010 was found to be a μOR-δOR–biased ligand, because its activity is blocked by the μOR-δOR heteromer antibody. Notably, systemic administration of CYM51010 induced antinociceptive activity similar to morphine, and chronic administration of CYM51010 resulted in lesser antinociceptive tolerance compared with morphine. Taken together, these results suggest that CYM51010, a μOR-δOR–biased ligand, could serve as a scaffold for the development of a unique type (heteromer-biased) of drug that is more potent and without the severe side effects associated with conventional clinical opioids.
A person-oriented approach to hand hygiene behaviour: Emotional empathy fosters hand hygiene practice

Objectives: Adopting a social-psychological approach, this research examines whether emotional empathy, an affective reaction regarding another’s well-being, fosters hand hygiene as this affects other’s health-related well-being extensively. Design: Three studies tested this notion: (a) a cross-sectional study involving a sample of health care workers at a German hospital, (b) an experiment testing the causal effect of empathy on hand hygiene behaviour and (c) an 11-week prospective study testing whether an empathy induction affected disinfectant usage frequency in two different wards of a hospital. Main outcome measures: Self-reported hand hygiene behaviour based on day reconstruction method was measured in Study 1, actual hand sanitation behaviour was observed in Study 2 and disinfectant usage frequency in two different hospital wards was assessed in Study 3. Results: Study 1 reveals an association of empathy with hand hygiene cross-sectionally, Study 2 documents the causal effect of empathy on increased hand sanitation. Study 3 shows an empathy induction increases hand sanitiser usage in the hospital. Conclusions: Increasing emotional empathy promotes hand hygiene behaviour, also in hospitals. Besides providing new impulses for the design of effective interventions, these findings bear theoretical significance as they document the explanatory power of empathy regarding a distal explanandum (hand hygiene).
Effects of pre-competitional rapid weight loss on nutrition, vitamin status and oxidative stress in elite boxers

Abstract Dietary intake, vitamin status and oxidative stress were evaluated in 17 elite male boxers. Ten of them frequently reduced body weight rapidly before competitions (Weight Loss Group) and 7 did not practice rapid weight loss (Control Group). Food record checklists, blood samples for determination of vitamin status and plasma glutathione levels were obtained during a week of weight maintenance, a pre-competition week and a post-competition week. The average dietary intakes in both groups were 33 ± 8 kcal·kg−1, 3.7 ± 1.1 g·kg−1 carbohydrates, 1.5 ± 0.4 g·kg−1 protein, 1.2 ± 0.4 g·kg−1 fat and 2.2 ± 1.0 L water per day (excluding pre-competition week in Weight Loss Group). Energy (18 ± 7 kcal·kg−1), carbohydrate (2.2 ± 0.8 g·kg−1), protein (0.8 ± 0.4 g·kg−1), fat (0.6 ± 0.3 g·kg−1) and water (1.6 ± 0.6 L) consumption (P-values <0.001) and intakes of most vitamins (P-values < 0.05) were significantly reduced during the pre-competition week in the Weight Loss Group. In both groups, the intakes of vitamins A, E and folate were below recommended values throughout the three periods; however, blood vitamin and plasma glutathione levels did not change significantly. Our findings indicate a low-caloric and low-carbohydrate diet in elite boxers, regardless of participating in rapid weight loss or not. Apparently, the pre-competitional malnutitrition in the Weight Loss Group did not induce alterations in the vitamin and glutathione status.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE MODEL BASED ON BALANCED SCORECARD

Nowadays organizations turn to any standard procedure to gain a competitive advantage. If sustainable, competitive advantage can bring about benefit to the organization. The aim of the present study was to introduce competitive advantage as well as to assess the impacts of the balanced scorecard as a means to measure the performance of organizations. The population under study included employees of organizations affiliated to the Social Security Department in North Khorasan Province, of whom a total number of 120 employees were selected as the participants in the research sample. Two researcher-made questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale were used to measure the competitive advantage and the balanced scorecard. Besides, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the instruments that was equal to 0.74 and 0.79 for competitive advantage and the balanced scorecard, respectively. The data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling and the results indicated the significant and positive impact of the implementation of the balanced scorecard on the sustainable competitive advantage.
Measurement and modeling of SMC materials under vector magnetizations

In rotating electrical machine, the local flux density loci could be very complex, e.g. alternating, circularly or elliptically rotating in a plane tilted from any coordinate axis, or even an irregular loop in a three-dimensional space. Different magnetization patterns have very different effects on the machine performance such as core losses, which should be properly taken into account in the design and application of electrical machines. This paper presents the measurement and modeling of the magnetic properties of soft magnetic composite (SMC) materials under various vector magnetizations, and the approach to predicting core losses in electrical machines with SMC cores
Academic ethical awareness among undergraduate nursing students

Background: Academic ethical awareness is an important aspect especially for nursing students who will provide ethical nursing care to patients in future or try to tread the path of learning toward professional acknowledgement in nursing scholarship. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore academic ethical awareness and its related characteristics among undergraduate nursing students. Methods: This study commenced the survey with cross-sectional, descriptive questions and enrolled convenient samples of 581 undergraduate nursing students from three universities in South Korea. It was investigated with structured questionnaires including general characteristics and academic ethical awareness related. Ethical considerations: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at National University. Findings: Academic ethical awareness was the highest regarding behaviors violating the respect or confidentiality of patients and cheating on exams, while it was the lowest for inappropriate behaviors in class. From the result of general characteristics difference, male students showed higher score than female students in relative; first-year students showed higher score than other year students; the higher score was rated from students who were highly satisfied with their major than the other not satisfied with their major; and students with low academic stress showed higher ethical awareness score than persons with higher stress. Conclusion: Personal behaviors were rated with low ethical awareness in relative, but items related to public rules and actual effects on patients or others were rated with higher score. Nursing satisfaction and academic stress are main factors on ethical awareness. To improve overall ethical awareness level of nursing students, it is required to provide more education about the importance of personal behaviors in class and need to improve the understanding of how it will be connected with future situation and effect.
Mothers' evolving relationships with doctors and nurses during the chronic childhood illness trajectory.

AIMS In this paper the evolution of mothers' relationships with doctors and nurses during the chronic childhood illness trajectory is explored and discussed and the implications for child health care are considered. The discussion reports one aspect of a qualitative study that sought to determine whether time of diagnosis influenced mothers' coping across the illness trajectory. BACKGROUND The quality of relationships between mothers, who are usually the primary carers, and nursing and medical staff is central to the experience of coping with chronic childhood illness. Mothers need to develop expertise in a wide range of technical skills and knowledge of complex health care issues, while also coming to terms with the uncertainty of a condition with an unpredictable trajectory. Attempts to understand the significance of relationships between those living with chronic illness and staff have highlighted a number of factors that may influence the degree to which they are viewed as satisfactory. The way staff communicate with families has been identified as one of the mediating processes through which the quality of such is determined. DESIGN Mothers of 15 children diagnosed presymptomatically and 14 children diagnosed postsymptomatically with the chronic illness Vesicoureteric Reflux (VUR) were interviewed to assess and compare coping strategies across the trajectory. Mothers' written consent was obtained and interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed using the 'Framework Technique'. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION The need to develop and sustain trusting relationships with staff was reported as a continual source of stress for mothers. The formation of satisfactory alliances, based on mutual respect and good communication early in the trajectory, in particular during the prediagnostic phase, was found to be instrumental in coping and competence development during the later chronic phase of the trajectory. Further research is needed to map prospectively the evolution of relationships between mothers and staff across the trajectory.
Radiation dose at coronary CT angiography: second-generation dual-source CT versus single-source 64-MDCT and first-generation dual-source CT.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the radiation doses of different coronary CTA (CTA) protocols: second-generation dual-source 128-MDCT, first-generation dual-source 64-MDCT, and single-source 64-MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thermoluminescent dosimetry was used to determine scanner-specific dose coefficients for standard coronary CTA of an anthropomorphic phantom. These coefficients were used to estimate the effective doses (EDs) of retrospectively gated, prospectively triggered, and prospectively triggered high pitch coronary CTA performed at 100 and 120 kV. The coronary CTA protocols used in imaging of 43 patients undergoing dual-source 128-MDCT were analyzed for ED, image quality, and signal-to-noise ratio. RESULTS Regardless of coronary CTA protocol and CT system, imaging at 100 kV lowered the ED 40-50%. In retrospectively gated 120-kV coronary CTA, the ED ranged from 5.7 to 10.7 mSv and was approximately 50% lower with single-source 64-MDCT than with either DSCT protocol. In prospectively triggered 120-kV coronary CTA, the ED ranged from 3.8 to 4.0 mSv. The lowest ED of all protocols (1.3 mSv) was observed in prospectively triggered high-pitch 100-kV coronary CTA performed with dual-source 128-MDCT. Patient measurements showed similar dose reductions for prospective triggering and low voltage settings without an influence on signal-to-noise ratio or image quality. CONCLUSION A combination of prospective triggering with low voltage settings is an effective measure for reducing the ED of coronary CTA to values of 2-4 mSv independent of scanner system. Further dose reduction to nearly 1 mSv can be achieved with high-pitch prospectively triggered coronary CTA.
Enacting change through borrowed legitimacy: an institutional perspective

Purpose – This paper aims to offer borrowed legitimacy through coalitions as an explanation for how an organization might successfully deviate from social norms to enact change, yet still gain sufficient cognitive and sociopolitical legitimacy for survival. This paper explains that borrowing legitimacy through a coalition allows an illegitimate organization to impose an alternative future despite institutional pressures for its convergence to social norms, rules and expectations. Design/methodology/approach – To explore the ability of an organization that lacks legitimacy to borrow legitimacy through a coalition, the authors use a case study and content analysis of interviews, news articles and other publicly available secondary data to examine an environmentalist organization, Sea Shepherds, who openly seek legitimacy and resources, and are engaged in enacting change while using a unique or alternative form. Findings – The case study here shows how a coalition with another organization that already has l.
Infection in Total Knee Replacement: A Retrospective Review of 6489 Total Knee Replacements

Six thousand four hundred eighty-nine knee replacements were done in 6120 patients at the authors’ institution between 1993 and 1999. Operations were done in a theater with vertical laminar flow and with the surgical team using body exhaust suits. Of these knee replacements, 116 knees became infected and 113 were available for followup. One hundred of the infections occurred in patients undergoing primary knee replacement, whereas the remaining infections occurred in patients undergoing revision knee replacement. Ninety-seven of these knees (86%) had deep periprosthetic infections and the remaining 16 knees had superficial wound infections. One third of the deep infections occurred within the first 3 months after surgery and the remaining ⅔ occurred after 3 months. The overall early deep infection rate for patients undergoing a primary knee replacement was 0.39%, whereas the rate for patients undergoing a revision knee replacement was 0.97%. A cohort of noninfected knee replacements from patients matched for gender, age, and month of surgery was used as a control group. Those comorbidities that were statistically significant in increasing the risk of infection were prior open surgical procedures, immunosuppressive therapy, poor nutrition, hypokalemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and a history of smoking. Patients undergoing revision procedures had a statistically higher risk of infection than did patients undergoing primary surgeries. If the surgery took longer than 2.5 hours, the risk of infection was increased significantly. There was no change in the infection rate when the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was decreased from 48 to 24 hours after surgery. The predominant infectious organisms were gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus Group B). Twenty percent of the knees that were infected clinically had no organisms that could be identified. In each case, the patient had been treated empirically at another institution with antibiotics before a culture of the joint was obtained.
Lead‐Time Reduction Utilizing Lean Tools Applied to Healthcare: The Inpatient Pharmacy at a Local Hospital

&NA; The healthcare arena, much like the manufacturing industry, benefits from many aspects of the Toyota lean principles. Lean thinking contributes to reducing or eliminating nonvalue‐added time, money, and energy in healthcare. In this paper, we apply selected principles of lean management aiming at reducing the wasted time associated with drug dispensing at an inpatient pharmacy at a local hospital. Thorough investigation of the drug dispensing process revealed unnecessary complexities that contribute to delays in delivering medications to patients. We utilize DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and 5S (Sort, Set‐in‐order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) principles to identify and reduce wastes that contribute to increasing the lead‐time in healthcare operations at the pharmacy understudy. The results obtained from the study revealed potential savings of >45% in the drug dispensing cycle time.
Low-cost automatic contrast enhancement for digital x rays

Digital x-ray imaging of the chest has been introduced in an attempt to alleviate some of the limitations of conventional radiography. The digital techniques permit software processing of stored data to compensate for factors such as exposure variation, rib and bone interposition, and density of overlying tissue. However, the digital approach introduces its own set of limitations, principally involving spatial and intensity resolution, and dynamic range. For presently-available displays, an intensity range of 256 levels (8 bits) is the maximum practical dynamic range; however using present contrast enhancement methods this is inadequate for many diagnostic purposes. This paper investigates the comparative performance and the efficient implementation, using low-cost personal computers and digital signal processors, of existing and a new method of adaptive histogram equalization that facilitate the display of 12 bit or 16 bit digital x-rays on 8-bit displays. Results showing the quality of the various methods and the associated computational cost are included.
Review of the missing mechanical element: Memdamper

In this paper, the analogy between electrical and mechanical quantities is reviewed. Based on this analogy, there is a missing link between displacement and momentum. This missing link corresponds to the link between the charge and flux which represents the memristor. This link is still missing between the mechanical quantities. In this work, we shed the light on this missing mechanical element. We introduce the mathematical relation which links displacement and momentum. Two main types of missing relations are discussed.