Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The intention to exercise and the execution of exercise among persons with multiple sclerosis – a qualitative metasynthesis

Abstract Purpose: This review was designed as a qualitative metasynthesis aiming to identify factors influencing the intention to exercise and the execution of exercise among persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Method: Based on principles laid out by Sandelowski and Barroso, this qualitative metasynthesis started with a systematic literature search for studies of PwMS’s experiences relating to exercise in the following databases: CINAHL, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Source, PubMed, Web of Science and Psychology & Behavioral Science. The metasynthesis procedure also included critical appraisal using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist, and integrating synthesis of the articles’ findings. Results: The metasynthesis included nine articles. Factors identified as influencing intention to exercise and the execution of exercise included social support, professional support and outcome expectations. Strong relationships between these three themes were detected for the intention to exercise, the execution of exercise or both among PwMS. Conclusions: The present metasynthesis offers a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing the intention to exercise and the execution of exercise among PwMS. Our findings reveal that health professionals influence the part of the process where PwMS enter the exercise setting, as well as the PwMS’s intention to exercise. Implications for Rehabilitation Social support, professional support and outcome expectations are potential facilitators and barriers for the intention to exercise and the execution of exercise among PwMS. Health professionals specializing in MS rehabilitation can influence the intention and the execution of physical exercise among PwMS when there exists a personal and supportive patient–professional relationship. Outcome expectations may impact the motivational and volitional phases of physical exercise.
In vitro additive interaction between ketoconazole and antimony against intramacrophage Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis amastigotes

Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by protozoa of Leishmania genus. The currently available treatments for this disease are expensive, present high toxicity and are associated to difficulties of healing and parasite resistance. Therefore, the development of strategies for leishmaniasis treatment is indispensable and includes reposition of existing drugs, as well as drug combination therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the nature of ketoconazole and antimony association on the cytotoxic effect against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis amastigotes. The calculated mean sum of fractional 50% inhibitory concentration (x¯ΣFIC50) was 2.54 and 1.43 for free and intracellular amastigotes, respectively, values that suggest an additive interaction between ketoconazole and antimony concerning to Leishmania toxicity only in the intramacrophage parasite form. Despite the clinical efficacy of ketoconazole-antimony combination has been shown in the literature, our study is the first to describe the nature of ketoconazole-antimony interaction against L. (L.) amazonensis amastigotes. Moreover, our results point out the need for future in vivo studies to confirm the nature of ketoconazole-antimony interaction and also to determine possible effective dosage regimens related to ketoconazole administration in association with the optimal lower dose of antimony.
Immunoglobulin E-induced passive sensitization of human airways: an immunohistochemical study.

In vivo, IgE production is related to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and, in vitro, passive sensitization of human airways with asthmatic serum containing a high concentration of IgE enhances the contractile response to a variety of agonists. However, cell types implicated in this IgE sensitization are not fully determined. The aim of this study was to determine IgE-bearing cells during passive sensitization with special reference to mast cells. Peripheral bronchi were dissected out from 10 lung specimens obtained at thoracotomy and processed into glycolmethacrylate resin. Sections, each 2 microm thick, were passively sensitized by incubation for 2 h at 37 degrees C in either buffer supplemented with monoclonal IgE or asthmatic serum with a high concentration of IgE (> or = 1,000 IU/ml). Immunohistochemistry was performed using monoclonal antibodies directed against the epsilon chain, and markers of the various IgE-bearing cells (e.g., AA1, antichymase). The number of IgE-bearing cells was significantly higher in passively sensitized specimens as compared with nonsensitized specimens (6.63 +/- 1.71 versus 4.29 +/- 1.35/mm2; p = 0.013, n = 10). Mast cells represented 65% of IgE-bearing cells, 41.6 and 23.4% for TC and T subtypes, respectively. These results indicate that mast cell is the main cell type involved in IgE-induced passive sensitization. The involvement of mast cell-derived tryptase in the mechanisms of IgE-related hyperresponsiveness should be further examined.
Combining gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer: a phase II trial.

PURPOSE Biliary cancer has a poor prognosis, and chemotherapy has had little impact. The objectives of this trial were to determine the response rate, time to disease progression, survival, and safety profile of the combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine (GemCap) in patients with advanced biliary cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients had pathologically proven, locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma arising from the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts or gallbladder with no prior chemotherapy. Patients were treated on a 3-week cycle consisting of capecitabine at 650 mg/m(2) orally twice a day for 14 days and gemcitabine at a fixed dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8. RESULTS Forty-five patients were enrolled between July 2001 and January 2004. Fifty-three percent of patients had cholangiocarcinoma, 47% had gallbladder cancer, and 89% had metastatic disease. The overall objective response rate was 31%, with an additional 42% of patients with stable disease, for a disease control rate of 73%. The median overall survival time was 14 months (95% CI, 7.3 months to not available), and the median progression-free survival time was 7 months (95% CI, 4.6 to 11.8 months). This chemotherapy combination was generally well tolerated. Transient neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, and hand-foot syndrome were commonly observed but were easily managed without discontinuing further treatment. CONCLUSION The significant antitumor activity combined with a mild toxicity profile seen in this study argue that GemCap chemotherapy may benefit patients with advanced biliary cancer. This regimen warrants further evaluation in a randomized study with survival and quality of life end points.
Perceptually‐Driven Radiosity

We present a new approach to radiosity simulation that uses perceptually‐based measures to control the generation of view‐independent radiosity solutions. This enables computational effort to be moved away from areas that are deemed to have a visually insignificant effect on the solution's appearance, into those that are more noticeable. We achieve this with an a‐priori estimate of the real‐world adaptation luminance, and use a tone‐reproduction operator to transform luminance values to display colours during the solution process. The distance between two colours in a perceptually‐uniform colour space is then used as a numerical measure of their perceived difference. We describe an oracle that stops patch refinement once the difference between successive levels of elements becomes perceptually unnoticeable. We also show how the perceived importance of any potential shadow falling across a receiving element can be determined. This is then used to control the number of rays that are cast during visibility computations, giving reductions of almost 93% in the total number of rays required for a solution without any significant loss in image quality. Finally, we discuss how perceptual knowledge can be used to optimise the element mesh for faster interactive display and to save memory during computation.
Strain-specific variation in the protein and lipopolysaccharide composition of the group B meningococcal outer membrane

Variation in the protein and lipopolysaccharide composition of the meningococcal outer membrane may be due to either serotype differences or to changes in cultural conditions. There are 12 antigenically distinct serotypes of group B meningococci, and these are associated with distinct major outer membrane protein patterns on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. In most strains the predominant outer membrane protein carries the serotype-specific determinant. Certain strains, when grown under similar conditions in different media showed an altered membrane composition. The type 2 strain, M986, grown in modified Frantz medium-A, had a reduced amount of the major 41,000-dalton protein while a 28,000-dalton protein predominated. The altered protein composition may be related to changes in cell metabolism as reflected by the pH of the medium after growth. Growth of the organism in Frantz medium-B caused a negligible drop in pH and the 41,000-dalton protein remained predominant. There was also variation associated with changes in the growth rate. Increasing the aeration caused a concomitant increase in growth rate and cell yield. We observed two quantitative changes in outer membrane proteins in four of seven strains examined: (i) where only a single major protein changed (three strains), and (ii) where an increase in one protein component was associated with a decrease in another protein (one strain). When the strains were grown in tryptic soy broth (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) with either high or low aeration, the total protein in the outer membrane remained constant. In contrast, with high aeration there was a significant increase in lipopolysaccharide. These studies suggest that the cell surface proteins may be altered by the organism to meet a variety of environmental conditions.
The surface science of quasicrystals

The surfaces of quasicrystals have been extensively studied since about 1990. In this paper we review work on the structure and morphology of clean surfaces, and their electronic and phonon structure. We also describe progress in adsorption and epitaxy studies. The paper is illustrated throughout with examples from the literature. We offer some reflections on the wider impact of this body of work and anticipate areas for future development.
"The Shame of It All": Stigma and the Political Disenfranchisement of Formerly Convicted and Incarcerated Persons

The usual justifications for criminal sanctions seem ill-suited to support post-conviction penalties like the political disenfranchisement of ex-offenders. 1 If the punishment is supposed to fit the crime, then where a defendant has not been guilty of election fraud or a violation of the public trust, denial of the right to vote seems unwarranted. Since most violators of the criminal law are hardly aware before the fact that a criminal conviction may result in the loss of voting rights, the deterrence value of such a penalty is diminished by its relative obscurity. Moreover, retribution, another justification for punishing violators of criminal laws, requires that the offender be given the opportunity to repay her/his debt to society; blanket prohibitions on political participation violate that sentiment.
Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems ( MCIS ) Summer 9-4-2014 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND MULTITASKING BEHAVIORS : A MIXED-METHOD STUDY

This paper investigates how individual perceptions and attitudes about an organization influence multitasking behaviors in the workplace. While we know that individuals’ behaviors are influenced by the characteristics of their organizations (e.g., ICTs, physical layout), we still do not know much about how the way individuals interpret their organization influences their multitasking behaviors. We first hypothesize that individual perceptions of organizational preferences for multitasking (i.e. organizational polychronicity) have impacts on actually enacted multitasking behaviors. We also hypothesize that the attachment to the organization (i.e. organizational identification) moderates the above relationship. We conducted a mixed method study in two knowledge intensive organizations and collected data through a survey, diaries, and semi-structured interviews. Our findings support the first hypothesis but not the moderating role of organizational identification. However, this latter seems to be directly related on how much a person is willing to work on different activities, but not on how much she interrupts others or accepts being interrupted. Further, our study suggests that not only the organizational context should be investigated in the study of multitasking behaviors, but also the larger work context, including the individuals’ professional communities.
Effects of chemotherapy on ultrastructure of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Seven oesophageal squamous carcinomas, treated with pre‐operative chemotherapy (mitomycin‐C, ifosfamide and cisplatin‐MIC), with a course finishing 21 days prior to resection, were examined by electronmicroscopy. In one treated case detailed light microscopy failed to reveal any tumour. Five of the remaining six tumours showed cytotoxic damage in that apoptosis and unusual necrotic changes were observed in almost all the neoplastic cells. These features were not seen in untreated cases. In four additional cases, who received one pulse of MIC followed by biopsy or resection within 3–6 days, apoptotic changes were very pronounced and extensive and most neoplastic cells presented unusual degeneration with characteristic derangement of the cytoskeleton, destruction of organelles and accumulation of glycogen. The ultrastructural appearance of 18 untreated resected oesophageal squamous carcinomas was studied for comparison with the treated tumours. The study has demonstrated ultrastructural changes resulting from chemotherapy. Results suggest that the regimen is more effective against squamous carcinomas than against adenocarcinomas of the oesophagus, as judged by comparison with the results of a previous study.
A Role for the Asian Peritoneal Dialysis Community in Renal Replacement Therapy Worldwide

Prevalence and incidence of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Asia are both increasing, but the increase is not homogenous. In some countries and regions, PD is not used as one of the standard therapeutic modalities, because of either insufficient medico-economic infrastructure or a lack of clinical experience and knowledge—or sometime both. In the present article, we would like to introduce a little “Asian heat” with regard to PD utilization and academic and scientific contributions to the PD community in the world.
Efficient Solar-Induced Photoelectrochemical Response Using Coupling Semiconductor TiO2-ZnO Nanorod Film

Efficient solar driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) response by enhancing charge separation has attracted great interest in the hydrogen generation application. The formation of one-dimensional ZnO nanorod structure without bundling is essential for high efficiency in PEC response. In this present research work, ZnO nanorod with an average 500 nm in length and average diameter of about 75 nm was successfully formed via electrodeposition method in 0.05 mM ZnCl2 and 0.1 M KCl electrolyte at 1 V for 60 min under 70 °C condition. Continuous efforts have been exerted to further improve the solar driven PEC response by incorporating an optimum content of TiO2 into ZnO nanorod using dip-coating technique. It was found that 0.25 at % of TiO2 loaded on ZnO nanorod film demonstrated a maximum photocurrent density of 19.78 mA/cm2 (with V vs. Ag/AgCl) under UV illumination and 14.75 mA/cm2 (with V vs. Ag/AgCl) under solar illumination with photoconversion efficiency ~2.9% (UV illumination) and ~4.3% (solar illumination). This performance was approximately 3–4 times higher than ZnO film itself. An enhancement of photocurrent density and photoconversion efficiency occurred due to the sufficient Ti element within TiO2-ZnO nanorod film, which acted as an effective mediator to trap the photo-induced electrons and minimize the recombination of charge carriers. Besides, phenomenon of charge-separation effect at type-II band alignment of Zn and Ti could further enhance the charge carrier transportation during illumination.
Evaluation of context effects in sentence recognition.

It was investigated whether the model for context effects, developed earlier by Bronkhorst et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 93, 499-509 (1993)], can be applied to results of sentence tests, used for the evaluation of speech recognition. Data for two German sentence tests, that differed with respect to their semantic content, were analyzed. They had been obtained from normal-hearing listeners using adaptive paradigms in which the signal-to-noise ratio was varied. It appeared that the model can accurately reproduce the complete pattern of scores as a function of signal-to-noise ratio: both sentence recognition scores and proportions of incomplete responses. In addition, it is shown that the model can provide a better account of the relationship between average word recognition probability (p(e)) and sentence recognition probability (p(w)) than the relationship p(w) =p(e)j, which has been used in previous studies. Analysis of the relationship between j and the model parameters shows that j is, nevertheless, a very useful parameter, especially when it is combined with the parameter j', which can be derived using the equivalent relationship p(w,0) = (1 - p(e))(j'), where p(w,0) is the probability of recognizing none of the words in the sentence. These parameters not only provide complementary information on context effects present in the speech material, but they also can be used to estimate the model parameters. Because the model can be applied to both speech and printed text, an experiment was conducted in which part of the sentences was presented orthographically with 1-3 missing words. The results revealed a large difference between the values of the model parameters for the two presentation modes. This is probably due to the fact that, with speech, subjects can reduce the number of alternatives for a certain word using partial information that they have perceived (i.e., not only using the sentence context). A method for mapping model parameters from one mode to the other is suggested, but the validity of this approach has to be confirmed with additional data.
The Case for Participatory Evaluation

Participatory evaluation is presented as an extension of the stakeholder-based model with a focus on enhancing evaluation utilization through primary users’ increased depth and range of participation in the applied research process. The approach is briefly described and then justified from theoretical and empirical bases. The literature on organizational learning provides theoretical support for participatory evaluation stemming primarily from the view that knowledge is socially constructed and cognitive systems and memories are developed and shared by organization members. Twenty-six recent empirical studies were found to support an organizational learning justification of the model. Studies were classified into one of six emergent categories: conceptions of use; effects of participation on the use of research; effects of participation on the use of disseminated knowledge; effects of research training; school-university partnerships; and internal evaluation. Requirements of organizations and evaluators and an agenda for research are discussed.
Current issues for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is a significant problem in infants worldwide especially in developing countries. It is caused by the combination of limited iron stores at birth timing of umbilical cord clamping timing and type of complementary food introduction and frequency of childhood infections. In addition the condition is associated with delays in mental and physical development. Traditionally iron deficiency is prevented by increasing the use of iron rich foods targeted fortification of foods for children and the use of iron supplments. However none of these interventions has proven to be successful in the developing world. In this regard the UN International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has suggested alternative strategies. One recommendation is that if drops are used they should be used once daily to improve compliance. In the future microencapsulated iron sprinkles may be a useful strategy for treating and preventing iron deficiency in infants because they are simple to use lack side effects and are as effective as drops.
Cluster Mechanisms in a Self-organizing Distributed Semantic Store

Distributed semantic stores can employ self-organization principles to improve their scalability. We present an implementation that uses ant colony optimization for clustering similar semantic information facilitating scalable retrieval. For the clustering mechanisms we use similarity measures that do not rely on access to a complete ontology. We describe a syntactical and a fingerprint-based similarity measure and discuss them regarding to expressiveness and computational effort. The results of an evaluation show that, with increasing volume of data and number of processes, the fingerprint-based measure performs much better than the syntactical one. We conclude with a discussion how to combine the advantages of the two measures and propose some technical enhancements improving the efficiency of the system.
Por qué los jóvenes se accidentan tanto

Un 50 por ciento es la tasa de siniestralidad laboral que han alcanzado los jovenes entre 16 y 25 anos. Lo normal es que estos nuevos trabajadores lleguen sin experiencia y por este motivo no siempre saben valorar en su justa medida los riesgos con los que se enfrentan. Sin embargo, si estos jovenes llegan a sus puestos conociendo la problematica de la seguridad y la salud laboral, y ademas una vez incorporados cuentan con el asesoramiento e informacion adecuada estas cifras pueden cambiar.