Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variable Use of Opioid Pharmacotherapy for Chronic Noncancer Pain in Europe: Causes and Consequences

ABSTRACT. According to the 2005 Pain in Europe Survey, the use of opioids to treat patients with chronic noncancer pain varies considerably among different countries in Europe. Undertreatment of chronic pain is common. This review examines the possible causes and consequences of limiting opioid availability to these patients. The causes of inadequate opioid use include medical, ethical, and cultural factors that influence prescribing decisions; legislative and health care system controls that serve to restrict the use of opioids for long-term treatment of non–cancer-related pain conditions; and poor treatment acceptance by patients. The validity of these restrictions is discussed in relation to the need to protect patients and society from harm due to adverse events, and the potential for misuse and abuse with prescribed opioids. This is balanced against the therapeutic goal of providing the best available pain-relieving treatment and to avoid the consequences of unnecessary suffering in patients with chronic noncancer pain.
Unpacking internalized racism: teachers of color striving for racially just classrooms

Within racial inequitable educational conditions, students of color in US schools are susceptible to internalizing racism. If these students go on to be teachers, the consequences can be particularly detrimental if internalized racism influences their teaching. Framed in Critical Race Theory, this article investigates the process pre-service teachers of color took in unpacking their internalized racism as they strive for racially just classrooms. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with black (four) Latina (four) and Asian American (four) women enrolled in a social justice-oriented urban teacher education program in California. Data revealed that participants in this study: (1) had experienced racism and internalized racism in their K-12 education; (2) had done self-work prior to enrolling in their teacher education program to begin the process of unpacking internalized racism; and (3) felt that critical dialogues about internalized racism within teacher preparation was essential to develop pedagogy that challenges racial inequality. This study adds to the field by taking a cross-racial approach to understanding the struggles of teachers of color with internalized racism in their own lives. It additionally outlines an important process many teachers of color go through to develop racially just classrooms.
Actitudes del consumidor después de elegir un producto equivocado

Al suponer que ha existido confusion con la eleccion de un medicamento de venta libre, este estudio analiza de que manera la emocion de frustracion que expresa un consumidor da lugar a intenciones conductuales particulares. La actitud de un consumidor ante la confusion es la dinamica entre sus emociones y las conductas que este anticipa (i.e., cambio del producto, busqueda de informacion e intencion de consumo). Esta dinamica es analizada en una situacion experimental simulando una decision erronea. Los resultados demuestran que a) la emocion ante la confusion explica la intencion de cambio y que b) la intencion de cambio a su vez esta asociada con un menor interes en consumir un producto equivocado y con una mayor intencion de obtener informacion. Palabras clave: confusion del consumidor, medicamentos de venta libre, frustracion, intencion de cambio, intencion de busqueda de informacion, intencion de consumo.
A comparative study on perceptual evaluations of sports shoe exterior colors in Taiwan

We investigated consumer psychology, perception, and aesthetics in relation to sports shoe colors in Taiwan. Semantic differential rating (three emotional adjective pairs) and preference rating questionnaires were distributed among 512 university students to investigate whether their responses to various sports shoe colors differed. The results show that black is one of the most popular colors for sports shoes. The participants preferred designs that incorporated white as the secondary color and disliked those that featured green as the main and secondary colors. In addition, designs incorporating black or red as the main color with a bright color as the secondary color were considered modern. Black and white designs were perceived to be more suited to formal occasions. Furthermore, when the area of the main color exceeded that of the secondary color, the participants perceived a strong sense of simplicity, unless the colors were blue and green. The participants preferred two-color over one-color designs, and three-color designs had a higher correlation with participant preferences. Women required more time than men to evaluate a sample. The men typically examined the samples from a frontal angle, whereas the women focused on the sides of the sample. The scoring scale was polarized (e.g., highest score for modern was −10 and 10 for retro), rendering the values of the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis comparatively low, resulting in weak correlations between variables. However, the relative differences of these values retained referential value regarding objective quantification. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 178–193, 2015
Impediments to Information and Knowledge Sharing Within Policing

Information sharing is the lifeblood of policing, yet information/knowledge sharing within and across organizations remains problematic. This article elaborated on previous research on organizational information culture and its impact on information use outcomes in policing by examining perceived impediments to information sharing of 134 officers in three Canadian police organizations. Inductive qualitative analysis of an open-ended question revealed seven mutually exclusive impediment themes: processes/technology, individual unwillingness, organizational unwillingness, workload/overload, location/structure, leadership, and risk management. When viewed from the knowledge management infrastructure perspective, organizational structure was the single most common impediment identified, followed closely by organizational culture. Each organization had unique constellations of information sharing impediments. Recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.
Reframing the Glass Ceiling as a Socially Constructed Process: Implications for Understanding and Change.

Traditional definitions of the glass ceiling perpetuate gender‐biased organizational practices and quick‐fix solutions. By creating an illusion of opportunity for women, they prevent critical assessment of contemporary organizational practices and of gendered communication. This article engages in feminist research as praxis first by discussing how current organizational practices fail to alter power imbalances. To create awareness of unjust organizing processes, these ways we ordinarily “do gender” are juxtaposed against contrastive contexts: alternative settings (organizational forms), processes (community‐as‐dialectic), and organization members (women). These alternatives enable us to visualize how language creates and sustains gender divisions that emerge in glass ceiling processes and effects. The second stage in research as praxis calls for action. I discuss implications for research and for change that challenge the gendered motif of organizational life.
A New Turbo Multi-User Receiver With Recursive SIC-MMSE Detection

In joint iterative (turbo) multi-user detection and decoding, or turbo multi-user receiver, suboptimal inner detection schemes are often used due to the prohibitively high complexity of the optimal soft multi-user detection (MUD). A popular suboptimal scheme is the so-called soft interference cancellation plus minimum mean-square error (SIC-MMSE) detection that uses the a priori information from the outer decoder(s) to perform soft interference cancellation before the linear MMSE detection. In addition to the outer decoder outputs, channel observation also provides useful information for the interferences. Motivated by this observation, a new soft-output multi-user detection scheme was proposed that uses both the decoder and the detector outputs of the previous iteration as the a priori information. A nonlinear MMSE estimator is developed that takes these two "a priori" information sources to produce soft interference estimates before interference cancellation and linear MMSE detection. In one iteration, the proposed scheme has comparable complexity as that of the SIC-MMSE scheme. Extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart analysis and simulation results show that the proposed scheme leads to a convergence point with higher output mutual information but with significantly less iterations. As a result, considerable performance improvement is achieved with lower complexity when compared to conventional SIC-MMSE-based turbo multi-user receiver.
Juvenile female sex offenders: Offender and offence characteristics

Almost all research on juvenile sex offending pertains to adolescent males. This study comprises all female juveniles convicted for sexual offences in the Netherlands between 1993 and 2008 (N = 66). From analysis of their court files and their criminal records, these female offenders are described in terms of demographics, family background, (psychiatric) disorders, victim characteristics and co-offending patterns. Heterogeneity in offending patterns and offending motives are studied, by using a reconstruction of the sexual offences. Almost 60 percent of the juvenile female sex offenders committed the abuse with someone else. Summarizing the offender motives as they emerged from offender and victim statements, five offender subtypes are identified. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for research and treatment.
Lightweight Relief Shearing for Enhanced Terrain Perception on Interactive Maps

We explore interactive relief shearing, a set of non-intrusive, direct manipulation interactions that expose depth and shape information in terrain maps using ephemeral animations. Reading and interpreting topography and relief on terrain maps is an important aspect of map use, but extracting depth information from 2D maps is notoriously difficult. Modern mapping software attempts to alleviate this limitation by presenting digital terrain using 3D views. However, 3D views introduce occlusion, complicate distance estimations, and typically require more complex interactions. In contrast, our approach reveals depth information via shearing animations on 2D maps, and can be paired with existing interactions such as pan and zoom. We examine explicit, integrated, and hybrid interactions for triggering relief shearing and present a version that uses device tilt to control depth effects. Our evaluation shows that these interactive techniques improve depth perception when compared to standard 2D and perspective views.
Expression of a constitutively active nitrate reductase variant in tobacco reduces tobacco‐specific nitrosamine accumulation in cured leaves and cigarette smoke

Summary Burley tobaccos (Nicotiana tabacum) display a nitrogen‐use‐deficiency phenotype that is associated with the accumulation of high levels of nitrate within the leaf, a trait correlated with production of a class of compounds referred to as tobacco‐specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Two TSNA species, 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone (NNK) and N‐nitrosonornicotine (NNN), have been shown to be strong carcinogens in numerous animal studies. We investigated the potential of molecular genetic strategies to lower nitrate levels in burley tobaccos by overexpressing genes encoding key enzymes of the nitrogen‐assimilation pathway. Of the various constructs tested, only the expression of a constitutively active nitrate reductase (NR) dramatically decreased free nitrate levels in the leaves. Field‐grown tobacco plants expressing this NR variant exhibited greatly reduced levels of TSNAs in both cured leaves and mainstream smoke of cigarettes made from these materials. Decreasing leaf nitrate levels via expression of a constitutively active NR enzyme represents an exceptionally promising means for reducing the production of NNN and NNK, two of the most well‐documented animal carcinogens found in tobacco products.
Effects of extracellular calcium concentration and dihydropyridines on contraction in mammalian skeletal muscle.

1. Twitches, tetanic contractions and potassium contractures were recorded isometrically from small bundles of rat soleus muscle fibres. 2. Solutions with reduced calcium concentrations (low‐calcium solutions), whether buffered with EGTA (85 and 3 microM‐Ca2+) or not (15 microM‐Ca2+), caused an initial potentiation of contraction followed by depression. 3. The decay of potassium contractures (200 mM‐potassium) was more rapid than normal in low‐calcium solutions. 4. Recovery from the inactivation produced by a 200 mM‐potassium contracture was slowed in low‐calcium solutions but full recovery was seen within 10‐15 min after return to a solution containing 2.5 mM‐Ca2+. 5. Nifedipine (50 microM) in solutions containing 2.5 mM‐Ca2+ potentiated contraction whereas, in low‐calcium solutions, contraction was depressed and the depression was more pronounced the lower the Ca2+ concentration. 6. As with low‐calcium solutions, potassium contractures decayed more rapidly in solutions containing nifedipine. Nifedipine slowed still further the rate of recovery from inactivation in low‐calcium solutions. 7. (‐) Bay K 8644 (50 microM) depressed contraction, increased the rate of decay of potassium contractures and slowed recovery from inactivation, like nifedipine. The racemate of Bay K 8644 was less effective. 8. In explanation of these and other observations, it is proposed that there is a dihydropyridine‐binding molecule in the walls of the transverse tubular system that normally exists predominantly in a 'precursor' form at the resting membrane potential and is converted by membrane depolarization to an 'activator' form essential for excitation‐contraction coupling. Conversion of the precursor to activator involves both conformational change and dissociation of calcium. Prolonged depolarization converts activator to an inactivated form by inducing further conformational change and dissociation of calcium. Recovery from inactivation requires reverse conformational changes and rebinding of calcium. The dihydropyridines affect contraction by reducing the affinity of the molecule for calcium.
Segmentation and surface characterization of arbitrary 3D meshes for object reconstruction and recognition

Polygonal models are the most common representation of structured 3D data in computer graphics, pattern recognition and machine vision. The method presented here automatically identifies and labels all compact surface regions of a polygonal mesh, visible or not, and extracts valuable invariant features regarding their geometric attributes. A method that is independent of the mesh topology is also presented for the surface bumpiness estimation and the identification of coarse surface regions.
Neural pathway constraints in the motor innervation of the chick hindlimb following dorsoventral rotations of distal limb segments

Several studies have demonstrated that motor axons can discriminate between dorsally and ventrally derived muscles. In this paper we present evidence that (1) the pathway axons take in the limb constrain their access to either dorsally or ventrally derived muscles, and therefore (2) the axon's ability to discriminate between dorsal and ventral is expressed already at the level of pathway selection into the limb. Surgically manipulated hindlimbs were produced consisting of a normal host thigh connected to a dorsoventrally rotated calf or to rotated and duplicated donor limb segments. The limb rotations were done distal to the level at which axons select a dorsally or ventrally destined pathway through the limb, such that at the level of the rotation, axons in each nerve were confronted with the opposite-from- normal set of muscles. In this situation, the relative influence of pathway availability versus dorsal/ventral muscle recognition could be assessed. The innervation of rotated limb segments was, in all cases, opposite from normal. Motoneurons which normally innervate dorsal muscles innervated ventrally derived muscles that had been rotated into a dorsal position. Likewise, normally ventrally destined axons served dorsal muscles in the rotated segments. Thus, motor axons did not alter their distal path to reach their normal set of muscles. While these results do not rule out intrinsic dorsal/ventral differences between muscles, they do demonstrate that muscle surface recognition is not necessary to account for dorsal/ventral discrimination in the innervation of normal, supernumerary, or duplicated limbs, nor is it sufficient to account for the innervation of rotated limb segments. These results also indicate that pathway guidance cues are an important influence on innervation patterns.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide acts via multiple signal pathways to regulate hippocampal NMDA receptors and synaptic transmission

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28‐amino acid peptide, which belongs to a superfamily of structurally related peptide hormones including pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP). Although several studies have identified the involvement of PACAP in learning and memory, little work has been done to investigate such a role for VIP. At least three receptors for VIP have been identified including the PACAP receptor (PAC1‐R) and the two VIP receptors (VPAC receptors). VIP can activate the PAC1‐R only if it is used at relatively high concentrations (e.g., 100 nM); however, at lower concentrations (e.g., 1 nM) it is selective for the VPAC receptors. Our lab has showed that PAC1‐R activation signals through PKC/CAKβ/Src pathway to regulate NMDA receptors; however, there is little known about the potential regulation of NMDA receptors by VPAC receptors. Our studies demonstrated that application of 1 nM VIP enhanced NMDA currents by stimulating the VPAC receptors as the effect was blocked by VPAC receptor antagonist [Ac‐Tyr1, D‐Phe2]GRF (1–29). This enhancement of NMDA currents was blocked by both Rp‐cAMPS and PKI14–22 (they are highly specific PKA inhibitors), but not by the specific PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I. In addition, the VIP‐induced enhancement of NMDA currents was accentuated by inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4, which inhibits the degradation of cAMP. This regulation of NMDA receptors also required the scaffolding protein AKAP. In contrast, the potentiation induced by high concentration of VIP (e.g., 100 nM) was mediated by PAC1‐R as well as by Src kinase. Overall, these results show that VIP can regulate NMDA receptors through different receptors and signaling pathways. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic Phase Unwrapping for Time-of-Flight Cameras

Time-of-Flight (ToF) cameras gain depth information by emitting amplitude-modulated near-infrared light and measuring the phase shift between the emitted and the reflected signal. The phase shift is proportional to the object’s distance modulo the wavelength of the modulation frequency. This results in a distance ambiguity. Distances larger than the wavelength are wrapped into the sensor’s non-ambiguity range and cause spurious di stance measurements. We apply Phase Unwrapping to reconstruct these wrapped measurements. Our approach is based on a probabilistic graphical model using loopy belief propagation to detect and infer the position of wrapped measurements. In experiments, we show that wrapped measurements are identified and corrected allo wing to reconstruct the structure of the scene.
The roles of employers in the regional settlement of recently arrived migrants and refugees

This article identifies and analyses different roles played by employers of recently arrived migrants and refugees in regional locations. Based on a study of regional settlement in Victoria, Australia, it highlights the scope for employer influences on regional settlement through attracting migrants and refugees to regional locations; the informal provision of settlement support; the role of cultural ambassadors and hosts; the role of determinants of current and future residency; and the role of perpetrators of discrimination and exploitation. The often combined exercise of these complex and partly contradictory roles of employers is examined in the context of the regulation of regional settlement and the provision of government-funded settlement assistance. The analysis shows that these structural factors enable the position of employers as current or future sponsors of migrant workers and as principal providers of settlement support in regional and rural locations, which needs to be considered in future analyses of regional settlement.
University‐district partnerships and the recruitment of tomorrow's teachers: A grassroots effort for preparing quality educators through a teaching academy

Abstract A critical problem facing educators today is the inability of our teacher education system to produce substantial numbers of teachers from racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. However, there is little research on partnerships that link the roles of institutions of higher education with those of school districts whose goal is to grow their own members of the teaching profession. A Professional Development School (PDS) partnership sought to integrate the goals of both groups by providing high school students with an understanding of teachers and teachers' work. High school participants in an urban Teaching Professions Academy (TPA) engaged in course work, teaching experiences, and visits to institutions of higher education. The success of TPA was in the ability of multiple stakeholders to provide different forms of support and insights into the program.
Age structure and crime: symmetry versus asymmetry and the projection of crime rates through the 1990s

This paper asks whether decreases in the proportion of the U.S. population in high crime-prone ages in recent years have produced decreases in crime rates which correspond approximately, but in an inverse direction, to the increases observed when the baby boomers reached the high crime-prone ages in the 1960s and 1970s. We examine age distributions of arrests for murder and motor vehicle theft and then specify and estimate structural-equation models of the time trajectories in annual rates of these crimes for the post-World War II period. With these models, we test the hypothesis that the relationship of crime to age composition is symmetric and infer that it cannot be rejected. We also find that simple models that contain effects of trends in the age structure, business cycles, trends in criminal opportunity, and the rate of imprisonment can account for most of the variance in annual rates of homicide and motor vehicle theft from 1946 through 1984. We discuss some implications of our findings for forecasting U.S. crime rates for the remainder of this century and for theories of the macrodynamics of crime causation. (abstract Adapted from Source: American Sociological Review, 1987. Copyright © 1987 by the American Sociological Association) Age Factors Crime Causes Crime Rates Statistical Data 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Adult Violence Adult Offender Adult Crime Violence Causes Violence Rates 03-00
Vector order statistics operators as color edge detectors

Color edge detection is approached in this paper using vector order statistics. Based on the R-ordering method, a class of color edge detectors is defined. These detectors function as vector operators as opposed to component-wise operators. Specific edge detectors can be obtained as special cases of this class. Various such detectors are defined and analyzed. Experimental results show the noise robustness of the vector order statistics operators. A quantitative evaluation and comparison to other color edge detectors favors our approach. Edge detection results obtained from real color images demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in real applications.