Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current concepts in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: the Maastricht III Consensus Report

Background: Guidelines on the management of Helicobacter pylori, which cover indications for management and treatment strategies, were produced in 2000. Aims: To update the guidelines at the European Helicobacter Study Group (EHSG) Third Maastricht Consensus Conference, with emphasis on the potential of H pylori eradication for the prevention of gastric cancer. Results: Eradication of H pylori infection is recommended in (a) patients with gastroduodenal diseases such as peptic ulcer disease and low grade gastric, mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma; (b) patients with atrophic gastritis; (c) first degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer; (d) patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia; and (e) patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Recurrent abdominal pain in children is not an indication for a “test and treat” strategy if other causes are excluded. Eradication of H pylori infection (a) does not cause gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or exacerbate GORD, and (b) may prevent peptic ulcer in patients who are naïve users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). H pylori eradication is less effective than proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in preventing ulcer recurrence in long term NSAID users. In primary care a test and treat strategy using a non-invasive test is recommended in adult patients with persistent dyspepsia under the age of 45. The urea breath test, stool antigen tests, and serological kits with a high accuracy are non-invasive tests which should be used for the diagnosis of H pylori infection. Triple therapy using a PPI with clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole given twice daily remains the recommended first choice treatment. Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, if available, is also a first choice treatment option. Rescue treatment should be based on antimicrobial susceptibility. Conclusion: The global burden of gastric cancer is considerable but varies geographically. Eradication of H pylori infection has the potential to reduce the risk of gastric cancer development.
Perception of Personal Control and Academic Achievement in Sri Lanka

Several American studies have reported a correlation between superior academic achievement and internal locus of control. This internality-achievement relationship has been interpreted in light of contemporary changes in American education. In this study, the internality-achievement relationship is examined in the highly traditional educational system of Sri Lanka. Results demonstrated that the American findings generalize to the classroom environment in Sri Lanka. It is suggested that the American results may be unrelated to modern educational changes-that, instead, they are a consequence of an attribution process which may possess cross-cultural generality.
Pobreza y políticas de desarrollo rural en México

La lucha contra la pobreza en lo rural ha dejado de ser prioritaria en algunos paises, fruto de una aparente mejoria de sus condiciones de vida. El estudio de las politicas de desarrollo rural en Mexico resulta de especial interes, por cuanto este pais se situa a la vanguardia en el intento de aumentar la coordinacion de sus politicas, siendo este objeto de evaluacion en este trabajo. A partir de la informacion obtenida con las entrevistas realizadas en dos rondas a expertos en desarrollo rural –metodologia Delphi–­­­, en este trabajo se analiza la desatencion de la pobreza en zonas rurales, aportando los expertos sus valoraciones acerca de la eficacia que en la reduccion de la pobreza rural estan teniendo las politicas implementadas, planteandose el interes de seguir profundizando las reformas iniciadas.
Psychiatric services for women

This paper continues the series of contributions to APT concerning gender and mental health ( [Bartlett & Hassell, 2001][1] ; [Cremona & Etchegoyen, 2001][2] ; [Kennedy, 2001][3] ; [Kohen, 2001][4] ; [Kohen & Arnold, 2001][5] ; [Ramsay et al, 2001][6] ). The need for specific psychiatric services
Career Locus of Control and Career Success Among Chinese Employees

The current research aimed to develop a multidimensional measure of career locus of control (LOC) and examine its predictive validity on objective and subjective career success among Chinese employees. Items of career LOC were generated based on literature review of the significant predictors of career success, as well as the open-ended responses among Chinese employees (N = 30). Principal component analysis (Study 1, N = 204) revealed that career LOC consists of three factors: internal factor, external factor, and chance factor, which was consistent with the framework proposed by Levenson (1974). Results of confirmatory factor analysis among another sample of Chinese employees (Study 2, N = 646) supported this three-factor structure. Predictive validity analysis showed that after controlling for the effects of demographic, organizational and industrial variables, internal career LOC was positively related to both objective and subjective career success; chance factor was negatively related to subjective career success, but not related to objective career success. Theoretical and practical implications of this research were discussed.
The Protestant work ethic and the Prisoner's Dilemma Game

Although previous research has not always found a clear relationship between personality variables and cooperative vs. competitive behaviour on experimental games, this study set out to investigate the relationship between Protestant work ethic (PWE) beliefs and game play. The Prisoner's Dilemma Game (PDG) was presented in one of two formats (conventional matrix or business simulation) and played by pairs of high, low or mixed scorers on the PWE. As predicted, the business simulation elicited more competitive responses than the conventional matrix. Furthermore, high PWE scorers tended to be more competitive than low PWE scorers. Results are discussed in terms of PWE beliefs and behaviours.
16 Fertility Cryopreservation

The cryobiology is the science of low temperature biology. Fertility cryopreservation is a vital branch of reproductive science and involves the preservation of gametes (sperm and oocytes), embryos, and reproductive tissues (ovarian and testicular tissues) for use in assisted reproduction techniques (ART). The cryopreservation of reproductive cells is the process of freezing, storage, and thawing of spermatozoa or oocytes. It involves an initial exposure to cryoprotectants, cooling to subzero temperature, storage, thawing, and finally, dilution and removal of the cryoprotectants, when used, with a return to a physiological environment that will allow subsequent development. Proper management of the osmotic pressure to avoid damage due to intracellular ice formation is crucial for successful freezing and thawing procedure.
Effect of Probiotics on Inducing Remission and Maintaining Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, and Pouchitis: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background:Whether probiotics are beneficial at all stages of treatment in inflammatory bowel disease or superior to placebo remains controversial. Methods:Two reviewers independently selected randomized controlled trials comparing probiotics with controls in inflammatory bowel disease and extracted data related to remission/response rates, relapse rates, and adverse events. Subanalyses were also performed. Results:Twenty-three randomized controlled trials with a total of 1763 participants met the inclusion criteria. From the meta-analysis, probiotics significantly increase the remission rates in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) (P = 0.01, risk ratio [RR] = 1.51). The remission rates were significantly higher in patients with active UC treated with probiotics than placebo (P < 0.0001, RR = 1.80). Unfortunately, subgroup analysis found that only VSL#3 significantly increased the remission rates compared with controls in patients with active UC (P = 0.004, RR = 1.74). Interestingly, VSL#3 (P < 0.00001, RR = 0.18) also significantly reduced the clinical relapse rates for maintaining remission in patients with pouchitis. No significantly different adverse events were detected between probiotics and controls in the treatment of UC (P = 0.94, RR = 0.99) or CD (P = 0.33, RR = 0.87). Conclusions:Administration of probiotics results in additional benefit in inducing remission of patients with UC. VSL#3 are beneficial for maintaining remission in patients with pouchitis. And, probiotics can provide the similar effect as 5-aminosalicylic acid on maintaining remission of UC, although no additional adverse events presented.
Tritiated 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose: A high‐resolution marker for autoradiographic localization of brain metabolism

The technique for autoradiographic localization of 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (2DG) uptake has become a useful method for observing alterations of functional brain activity resulting from experimental manipulation. Autoradiographic resolution is improved using tritiated ([3H]) rather than carbon‐14 ([14C])2DG, due to the lower energy and shorter path of tritium emissions. In addition, lower 2DG uptake by white matter relative to gray matter is exaggerated in the [3H]2DG autoradiographs due to the greater absorption of tritium emissions by lipids. Using [3H]2DG, it is possible to observe differential metabolic labeling in various individual nuclei or portions of nuclei that is unresolvable using [14C]2DG in the awake, normal animal. Heterogeneous patterns of 2DG uptake seen only with [3H]2DG are found in the nucleus accumbens, the anterior portion of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, specific nuclei of the inferior olivary complex, various hypothalamic regions, and a region straddling the border of the medial and lateral habenular nuclei. The lamination of differential 2DG uptake in the hippocampus is better localized using [3H]2DG. Autoradiographic resolution of labeled 2DG is further improved when the brain is perfused prior to frozen sectioning, due perhaps to selective fixation and retention of intracellular labeled 2‐deoxy‐glycogen. A series of [3H]2DG autoradiographs are presented together with views of the Nissl‐stained sections that produced the autoradiographs.
Peer‐mediated learning beyond the curriculum

In higher education, there is an increasing interest in student interaction in the form of peer learning. In the literature, peer learning is mainly presented as a pedagogical tool used to promote curriculum learning. This article is based on observations of peer learning that expand beyond learning of the curriculum. It particularly addresses the phenomenon of students creating niches for peer interaction and learning. There is an additional type of learning in higher education that can be called peer‐mediated learning. In the peer‐mediated niches, students learn to become students, and they are free to agree or disagree with the course content in a way that they cannot express in their assignments and examination papers. The article discusses peer‐mediated learning from the perspective of activity theory and the notion of the zone of proximal development. It finds that the conventional understanding of the zone of proximal development does not explain peer‐mediated learning.
Some cross-linguistic differences in diphthongs

In this paper we will discuss some phonetic differences that are found in the production of diphthongs. The study is of a limited scope and may be considered a pilot study. The kinds of questions that will be addressed have to do with the specification of timing in speech production. Are the vowel elements of diphthongs joined in language-specific ways, or can they be joined by more general principles, such as the assumption of a fairly constant transition duration, so that the transition rate will be faster if the distance between onset - and offset - vowels is greater? This kind of principle was proposed by Kent and Moll (1972) for some types of vowel-to-vowel sequences. Or does the duration of the transition lengthen as the distance of the transition increases, keeping the transition rate fairly constant? If any of these principles are at work, then their effects will show up acoustically in the transition duration, particularly of F2. If the Kent and Moll principle is applicable, it would for example operate as a tendency towards similar F2 transition durations in different languages for the ‘same’ diphthongs.
Comparison of workflow software products

This research addresses problems, related to the assessment of software products, used for the design and exploitation of workflow management systems. The attention is drawn towards the assessment and comparison of such software suits. The lack of direct quantitative evaluations of the products insists to assess and compare the products. The problem solved is the minimization of the subjective influence of the experts in their personal evaluation findings. An idea to overcome this problem is to apply a common evaluation scheme, which is based on objective requirements towards the products.
A New Algorithm for Network Traffic Prediction

Internet traffic analysis, models simulation and prediction play a very important part in the network management and design. This paper shows the new thought in network traffic modelling and prediction, and proposes a new algorithm to modify the model coefficient continuously. By far, most of models have not been considered to possess the adaptive ability. Our goal is to improve the model adaptive ability and make the model parameters update dynamically. We present the modified LSL algorithm, which can modify the parameters with each new input data update and has the property of fast convergence and high accuracy.
Academic Leadership and Departmental Headship in Turbulent Times

Leadership of academic units, in the guise of headship of departments, is crucial for the ongoing well-being of academic life and yet it remains a contested role. This paper argues for the role of heads of department (HODs) as academic leaders, with the managerial side of the role occupying an important but subsidiary place in its overall focus. It is argued that HODs should have a mandate to articulate and implement the vision of the institution, whether research-intensive or operating principally within a teaching and scholarship paradigm. The demands on HODs are articulated by considering the characteristics required of leaders if they are to respond creatively to the many ongoing changes within universities, the dictates of government policy and the drive for external funding. These developments pose substantial challenges to the value systems of HODs, and to the manner in which they focus on relationships and on the diversity of contributions within the academic community.
Mapping It Out: Expository Cartography for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Writers know only too well how long it can take--and how awkward it can be--to describe spatial relationships with words alone. And while a map might not always be worth a thousand words, a good one can help writers communicate an argument or explanation clearly, succinctly, and effectively. In his acclaimed "How to Lie with Maps, " Mark Monmonier showed how maps can distort facts. In "Mapping it Out: Expository Cartography for the Humanities and Social Sciences, " he shows authors and scholars how they can use expository cartography--the visual, two-dimensional organization of information--to heighten the impact of their books and articles. This concise, practical book is an introduction to the fundamental principles of graphic logic and design, from the basics of scale to the complex mapping of movement or change. Monmonier helps writers and researchers decide when maps are most useful and what formats work best in a wide range of subject areas, from literary criticism to sociology. He demonstrates, for example, various techniques for representing changes and patterns; different typefaces and how they can either clarify or confuse information; and the effectiveness of less traditional map forms, such as visibility base maps, frame-rectangle symbols, and complementary scatterplot designs for conveying complex spatial relationships. There is also a wealth of practical information on map compilation, cartobibliographies, copyright and permissions, facsimile reproduction, and the evaluation of source materials. Appendixes discuss the benefits and limitations of electronic graphics and pen-and-ink drafting, and how to work with a cartographic illustrator. Clearly written, andfilled with real-world examples, "Mapping it Out" demystifies mapmaking for anyone writing in the humanities and social sciences. "A useful guide to a subject most people probably take too much for granted. It shows how map makers translate abstract data into eye-catching cartograms, as they are called. It combats cartographic illiteracy. It fights cartophobia. It may even teach you to find your way. "--Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, "The New York Times"
A Transformer Noise-Canceling Ultra-Wideband CMOS Low-Noise Amplifier

SUMMARY Previously reported wideband CMOS low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) have difficulty in achieving both wideband input impedance matching and low noise performance at low power consumption and low supply voltage. We present a transformer noise-canceling wideband CMOS LNA based on a common-gate topology. The transformer, composed of the input and shunt-peaking inductors, partly cancels the noise originating from the common-gate transistor and load resistor. The combination of the transformer with an output series inductor provides wideband input impedance matching. The LNA designed for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is implemented in a 90 nm digital CMOS process. It occupies 0.12 mm2 and achieves |S 11| 9. 3d B across 3.1–10.6 GHz with a power consumption of 2.5 mW from a 1.0 V supply. These results show that the proposed topology is the most suitable for low-power and low-voltage UWB CMOS LNAs.
Cochlear Implant Fixation in Children Using Periosteal Sutures

Objective: To describe a simple technique for implant receiver/stimulator (ICS) fixation that uses a seat for the device and suture fixation through the native cranial periosteum. This technique has been used through minimal-access surgical techniques in children since 2003. Patients: One hundred sixty pediatric cochlear implant recipients. Intervention: Implantation using the described technique for ICS fixation. Main Outcome Measure: Postoperative complications related to ICS fixation. Results: No complications have been observed. Conclusion: This report describes a simple and effective technique to secure the ICS package for pediatric cochlear implant surgery.
Self-assembled monolayer-enhanced hydrogen sensing with ultrathin palladium films

Resistive-type palladium structures for hydrogen sensing remains as a research focus for their simplicity in device construction. We demonstrate that a siloxane self-assembled monolayer placed between a substrate and an evaporated ultrathin Pd film promotes the formation of small Pd nanoclusters and reduces the stiction between the palladium and the substrate. The resulting Pd nanocluster film can detect 2%H2 with a rapid response time of ∼70ms and is sensitive to 25 ppm hydrogen, detectable by a 2% increase in conductance due to the hydrogen-induced palladium lattice expansion.
A COMPACT (M,N) PARALLEL COUNTER CIRCUIT BASED ON SELF TIMED THRESHOLD LOGIC

The main result of this paper is the development of a novel, highly compact implementation of the general (m,n)-parallel counter (ie. population counter) based on Self-Timed Threshold Logic (STTL). The presented method is a modiﬁcation of the Minnick counter. The novel feature of the design is the sharing among all threshold-gates of a single capacitive network for computing the weighted sum of all input bits. Additionally, the differential structure of STTL allows the efﬁcient implementation of the networks of negative weights for layer 1 to layer 2 interconnections. This results in very signiﬁcant reduction in the number of capacitors and interconnect routing cost and hence total area reduction over other recently reported counter designs. A (7,3) counter is designed using this method. The counter consists of 5 threshold gates arranged in two layers, that is, the resulting circuit has a logic depth of two. Simulation res-ults for the (7,3) counter designed in an industrial 0.25 (cid:1) m process indicate less than 880 (cid:1) W power dissipation operating at 300 MHz.
Molecular targeting of platelet-derived growth factor B by imatinib mesylate in a patient with metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

PURPOSE Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is caused by activation of the platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) receptor, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. We investigated the response of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. PATIENTS AND METHODS A patient with unresectable, metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans received imatinib mesylate (400 mg bid). Response to therapy was assessed by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. RESULTS The patient was treated for 4 months with imatinib mesylate. The hypermetabolic uptake of FDG fell to background levels within 2 weeks of treatment, and the tumor volume shrank by over 75% during the 4 months of therapy, allowing for resection of the mass. There was no residual viable tumor in the resected specimen, indicating a complete histologic response to treatment with imatinib mesylate. CONCLUSION Imatinib mesylate is highly active in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The dramatic response seen in this patient demonstrates that inhibition of PDGFB receptor tyrosine kinase activity can significantly impact viability of at least one type of solid tumor.
Equality of Opportunity

This forthcoming chapter in the Handbook of Income Distribution (eds., A. Atkinson and F. Bourguignon) summarizes the literature on equality of opportunity. We begin by reviewing the philosophical debate concerning equality since Rawls (sections 1 and 2), present economic algorithms for computing policies which equalize opportunities, or, more generally, ways of ordering social policies with respect to their efficacy in opportunity equalization (sections 3, 4 and 5), apply the approach to the conceptualization of economic development (section 6), discuss dynamic issues (section 7), give a preamble to a discussion of empirical work (section 8), provide evidence of population views from surveys and experiments concerning conceptions of equality (section 9), and a discuss measurement issues, summarizing the empirical literature on inequality of opportunity to date (section 10). We conclude with mention of some critiques of the equal-opportunity approach, and some predictions (section 11).