Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating healthcare hotel travelers’ overall image formation: Impact of cognition, affect, and conation

Since there has been little empirical research on the phenomenon of healthcare hotels, this study examined them in order to provide a clear understanding of these facilities and international medical/healthcare tourists’ overall perspectives on them. A model was developed and tested that integrated conation into an existing theoretical framework related to image. A field survey was conducted to collect data. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate measurement quality, and a structural equation modeling was utilized to test research hypotheses and achieve study objectives. A series of modeling comparisons using a structural analysis were conducted. The test results verified the completeness of the proposed model and demonstrated the superiority of the proposed research framework, which comprises conative image factors as the most proximal determinants of overall image, over alternative models. In addition, the results of the structural analysis suggested that cognitive image involving perceived quality and value has a positive impact on affective image; affective image forms conative images involving visit intention and commitment, and conative image exerts a positive impact on overall image. Moreover, an examination of the indirect impact of study variables suggested that affective image and conative image components are necessary mediators in the model. Theoretical implications and the advertising and marketing implications for practitioners are discussed.
Instruments and Methods for Acoustic and Visual Survey of Manganese Crusts

This paper describes acoustic and visual instruments developed to perform high-resolution surveys of the volumetric distribution of manganese crusts from an underwater vehicle. The instruments consist of an acoustic device, developed to perform in situ measurements of manganese crust thickness at depths of up to 3000 m, and a vision-based mapping system that generates 3-D color reconstructions of the seafloor. Methods to process the information obtained by these sensors to automatically identify areas of exposed crust using the 3-D reconstructions, and subsequently determine the thickness of the crusts based on the acoustic measurements, are described. Sea trials were performed at #5 Takuyo seamount with the systems mounted onboard the remotely operated vehicle Hyper-Dolphin during the NT10-11 cruise of the R/V Natsushima. The results are that the first time in situ measurements of manganese crust thickness have been performed, and it is demonstrated that, for the types of substrate dominant in the surveyed area, continuous acoustic measurement of manganese crust thickness is possible. The work described in this paper indicates that the proposed instruments and data processing algorithms can form useful tools to enable more efficient survey of manganese crusts.
Nucleosome Disruption by Human SWI/SNF Is Maintained in the Absence of Continued ATP Hydrolysis*

We have examined the requirement for ATP in human (h) SWI/SNF-mediated alteration of nucleosome structure and facilitation of transcription factor binding to nucleosomal DNA. hSWI/SNF-mediated nucleosome alteration requires hydrolysis of ATP or dATP. The alteration is stable upon removal of ATP from the reaction or upon inhibition of activity by excess ATPγS, indicating that continued ATP hydrolysis is not required to maintain the altered nucleosome structure. This stable alteration is sufficient to facilitate binding of a transcriptional activator protein; concurrent ATP hydrolysis was not required to facilitate binding. These data suggest sequential steps that can occur in the process by which transcription factors gain access to nucleosomal DNA.
[Blood flow in vessels supplying the eye in persons with degenerative myopia. Part II. Blood flow in the central retinal artery].

PURPOSE To analyse the blood flow parameters in the central retinal artery (CRA) of myopic patients depending on the severity of the degenerative changes in ocular fundi. METHODS 70 myopic subjects, aged 18 to 79 years, with the axial ocular length ranging between 22.61 and 33.36 mm (27.9 +/- 5.37) were examined. According to the extent and severity of degenerative lesion progression, patients were divided into 4 groups: I--no degenerative changes on the fundus (n = 32; K--23, M--9), II--myopic crescent (n = 20; K--14, M--6), III-- retinal thinning accompanying the myopic crescent (n = 8; K--6, M--2), IV--extensive chorioretinal atrophy in the fundus (n = 10; K--7, M--3). Blood flow parameters in the central retinal artery were determined using Doppler Color ultrasonography (Aplio SSA, Toshiba), with the 12 MHz probe. The following, standard parameters were analysed: maximum (Vmax), minimum (Vmin) and mean (Vm) velocity at systole, resistive index (RI) and pulsation index (PI). The differences were analysed statistically using the variance analysis and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, with the p < 0.05 assumed as statistically significant. RESULTS The severity of degenerative retinal changes correlated with the blood flow in CRA. At lowered Vmax, Vmin, Vm acompanying the elevated RI and Pi the lesions progressed rapidly and were considerably more advanced and extensive. CONCLUSIONS The extent and severity of degenerative processes within the myopic retina are directly proportional to blood flow deterioration in the central retinal artery. This association can explain the development and progression of myopic retinopathy.
Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg cells express functional c‐kit receptors and interact with primary fibroblasts from Hodgkin's disease‐involved lymph nodes through soluble and membrane‐bound stem cell factor

Summary. Classic Hodgkin's disease (cHD) is a lymphoid neoplasia characterized by few malignant Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (H‐RS) cells, embedded in an abundant background of non‐tumour cells. We have previously demonstrated the expression in primary H‐RS cells of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) c‐kit; here we describe its functional role in the cross‐talk between H‐RS cells themselves with neighbouring cell populations. In particular, we analysed the expression of c‐kit and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) in a panel of HD‐derived cell lines and fibroblasts from HD‐involved lymph nodes (HDF). While c‐kit was expressed by HD‐derived cell lines, usually in the absence of SCF, this latter molecule, in its soluble and/or membrane‐bound (mb) form, was in turn expressed at a high level by primary HDF. In vitro adhesion between HD‐derived cell lines and HDF was mainly mediated by c–kit/SCF interactions, and this phenomenon was significantly inhibited by an excess of soluble SCF or by neutralizing anti‐c‐kit monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, both soluble and mb‐SCF increased growth and colony survival of HD‐derived cell lines; these effects were significantly enhanced upon co‐stimulation of H‐RS cells with interleukin 9. Finally, soluble SCF was able to partially rescue H‐RS cells from apoptosis induced by serum starvation. Taken together, our data indicated the expression of functional c‐kit receptor by H‐RS cells and suggests a role of SCF in the pathobiology of cHD.
CD163 and IgG Codefend against Cytotoxic Hemoglobin via Autocrine and Paracrine Mechanisms

Lysis of RBCs during numerous clinical settings such as severe hemolytic anemia, infection, tissue injury, or blood transfusion releases the endogenous damage-associated molecular pattern, hemoglobin (Hb), into the plasma. The redox-reactive Hb generates cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, disrupting the redox balance and impairing the immune-responsive blood cells. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the immune system defends against the cytotoxic Hb. We identified a shortcut “capture and quench” mechanism of detoxification of Hb by the monocyte scavenger receptor CD163, independent of the well-known dominant antioxidant, haptoglobin. Our findings support a highly efficient two-pass mechanism of detoxification and clearance of Hb: 1) a direct suppression of Hb-pseudoperoxidase activity by CD163, involving an autocrine loop of CD163 shedding, sequestration of Hb, recycling, and homeostasis of CD163 in human monocytes and 2) paracrine transactivation of endothelial cells by the shedded soluble CD163 (sCD163), which further detoxifies and clears residual Hb. We showed that sCD163 and IgG interact with free Hb in the plasma and subsequently the sCD163-Hb-IgG complex is endocytosed into monocytes via FcγR. The endocytosed sCD163 is recycled to restore the homeostasis of CD163 on the monocyte membrane in an autocrine cycle, whereas the internalized Hb is catabolized. Using ex vivo coculture experiments, we demonstrated that the monocyte-derived sCD163 and IgG shuttle residual plasma Hb into the proximal endothelial cells. These findings suggest that CD163 and IgG collaborate to engage monocytes and endothelial cells in a two-pass detoxification mechanism to mount a systemic defense against Hb-induced oxidative stress.
Optimization of PID control for DC motor based on artificial bee colony algorithm

Proportional-Integral-Derivative(PID) control is widely used in DC motor system, because of its simple structure, high reliability and so on. However, the parameters of PID controller is commonly tuned by manual method and it also has large overshoot phenomenon for nonlinear and time-varying systems. So it is difficult to get ideal control effect. In order to overcome the defect of PID whose parameters are difficult to determine, artificial bee colony(ABC) algorithm has been proposed and applied to optimize the parameters of PID controller for DC motor in this paper. The simulation has been done and the results show that ABC algorithm can be efficiently employed to solve the proposed optimization problem.
On the phase transitions in deformable solids

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. On the phase transitions in deformable solids Victor Eremeyev, Franz Fischer
Right Ventricular/Arterial Coupling in the Patient With Left Ventricular Assistance

BackgroundImprovements are known to occur in right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction after the use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD); less is known, however, about the mechanism of this improvement. The concept of ventricular/arterial coupling was applied to investigate whether systolic pump function or afterload reduction was the major contributing factor leading to the improvement in RV ejection fraction. Methods and ResultsEight consecutive patients who underwent Novacor LVAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation were studied intraoperatively with transesophageal echocardiogram and a catheter-tip manometer to examine the RV end-systolic pressure-area relation (ESPAR) before and after LVAD implantation. Fractional area change (FAC) obtained by echocardiogram was used as an approximation of ejection fraction. End-systolic elastance (Ees), area axis intercept of ESPAR (Ao), maximal area (Amax), and pulmonary effective arterial elastance (Ea) were obtained. RV FAC improved from 0.20±0.09 to 0.29±0.13 (p<0.05). There was a decrease in Ea from 12.06±5.79 to 4.92±2.51 mm Hg/cm2 (p<0.01), which indicated a reduction in RV afterload. AO increased from −0.14±7.81 to 6.83±9.42 cm2 (p<0.05), which implied impaired systolic pump function. There was no difference in Ees and Amax ConclusionsThe concept of ventricular/arterial coupling predicts that an increase of AO (reduced RV systolic mechanics) decreases FAC, whereas a reduction in Ea improves FAC. The improvement in RV FAC (improved RV pump performance) may result from the effect of reduced Ea (afterload reduction) overwhelming the effect of increased Ao− Afterload reduction is the most likely mechanism by which RV ejection fraction improves after LVAD implantation.
Exacerbation with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor of prior acute lung injury during neutropenia recovery in rats

ObjectiveNeutropenia recovery may be associated with an increased risk of respiratory function deterioration. A history of pneumonia complicating neutropenia has been identified as the leading cause of adult respiratory distress syndrome during neutropenia recovery in patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy, suggesting that neutropenia recovery may worsen prior lung injury. DesignControlled animal study. SettingResearch laboratory of an academic institution. SubjectsMale Sprague-Dawley rats. InterventionsWe studied the effect of recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia on endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide)- or hydrochloric acid-induced acute lung injury in rats. We also studied the effects of adding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Measurements and Main ResultsCompared with noncyclophosphamide-treated rats, rats undergoing neutropenia recovery had a higher wet/dry lung weight ratio after hydrochloric acid-induced but not lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor significantly increased both alveolar cell recruitment (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid counts) and pulmonary edema (wet/dry lung ratio) in both acute lung injury models during neutropenia recovery. Furthermore, in an experiment in hydrochloric acid-instilled rats, exacerbation by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor of hydrochloric acid-induced acute lung injury was inhibited by lidocaine, which prevents adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells. Tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin-1&bgr; concentrations in supernatants of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated alveolar macrophages from rats undergoing neutropenia recovery with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment were significantly increased compared with rats undergoing neutropenia recovery without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. ConclusionNeutropenia recovery can worsen acute lung injury, and this effect is exacerbated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
Detecting Rare and Weak Spikes in Large Covariance Matrices

Given $p$-dimensional Gaussian vectors $X_i \stackrel{iid}{\sim} N(0, \Sigma)$, $1 \leq i \leq n$, where $p \geq n$, we are interested in testing a null hypothesis where $\Sigma = I_p$ against an alternative hypothesis where all eigenvalues of $\Sigma$ are $1$, except for $r$ of them are larger than $1$ (i.e., spiked eigenvalues). We consider a Rare/Weak setting where the spikes are sparse (i.e., $1 \ll r \ll p$) and individually weak (i.e., each spiked eigenvalue is only slightly larger than $1$), and discover a phase transition: the two-dimensional phase space that calibrates the spike sparsity and strengths partitions into the Region of Impossibility and the Region of Possibility. In Region of Impossibility, all tests are (asymptotically) powerless in separating the alternative from the null. In Region of Possibility, there are tests that have (asymptotically) full power. We consider a CuSum test, a trace-based test, an eigenvalue-based Higher Criticism test, and a Tracy-Widom test (Johnstone 2001), and show that the first two tests have asymptotically full power in Region of Possibility. To use our results from a different angle, we derive new bounds for (a) empirical eigenvalues, and (b) cumulative sums of the empirical eigenvalues, both under the alternative hypothesis. Part (a) is related to those in Baik, Ben-Arous and Peche (2005), but both the settings and results are different. The study requires careful analysis of the $L^1$-distance of our testing problem and delicate Radom Matrix Theory. Our technical devises include (a) a Gaussian proxy model, (b) Le Cam's comparison of experiments, and (c) large deviation bounds on empirical eigenvalues.
Fifty years of longitudinal continuity in general practice: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND Continuity of care has been defined as relational continuity between patient and doctor and longitudinal continuity describing the duration of the relationship. Measurement of longitudinal continuity alone is associated with outcomes including patient satisfaction, medical costs, hospital admissions and mortality. METHODS In one UK general practice, records were searched for patients with continuous registration for 50 or more years. Characteristics of these patients were analysed for age, gender, social deprivation, partner registration and length of registration. Trends in numbers and proportions of this group over the previous 14 years were determined. A comparison group of patients, aged 50 or more, and registered in the same practice within the last 2-4 years, was identified. RESULTS Patients registered for 50 years or more with a median registration of 56.2 years numbered 190 out of a population of 8420 (2.3%). These patients increased in number by 35.3% (1.7-2.3%) over 14 consecutive years. There were no differences between groups for GP consultation rate, number of repeat medications and hospital use, despite the significantly higher prevalence of multi-morbidity, depression and diabetes in patients with high continuity. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of 50-year continuity in general practice. Numbers of such patients and proportions are increasing. Longitudinal continuity is easily measured in general practice and associated with important clinical outcomes.
Re‐expression of functional P‐selectin molecules on the endothelial cell surface by repeated stimulation with thrombin

P‐selectin (GMP‐140, PADGEM, CD62P) is a cell adhesion receptor which is believed to play an important role in inflammatory diseases by supporting leucocyte rolling. P‐selectin is located on the granule membrane of Weibel‐Palade bodies in resting endothelial cells and is expressed on the cell surface during cellular activation with various stimulators such as thrombin. Thereafter, P‐selectin is internalized and sorted to the Golgi region and Weibel‐Palade bodies again. However, whether P‐selectin is re‐expressed upon subsequent cellular stimulation has, to date, been unclear. To address this question, we measured the cellular content and surface expression of P‐selectin, using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal laser cytometry. Surface expression of P‐selectin reached a maximum < 2 min after thrombin stimulation and declined to basal levels after 180 min. Rechallenge with thrombin induced rapid surface re‐expression of P‐selectin, which was independent of de novo protein synthesis, since cycloheximide did not inhibit re‐expression. Moreover, re‐expressed P‐selectin supported the adherence of HL60 promyelocytic cells. These results clearly demonstrated that functional P‐selectin molecule was recycled after repeated stimulation with thrombin, raising the possibility that P‐selectin is involved in chronic inflammation.
Modelling the resource implications and budget impact of managing cow milk allergy in Australia

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the resource implications and budget impact of current clinical practice for managing cow milk allergy (CMA) in Australia, from the perspective of the publicly funded healthcare system. Methods: A decision model was constructed using published clinical outcomes and clinician-derived resource utilisation estimates. The model was used to estimate the expected 6-monthly levels of healthcare resource use and corresponding costs attributable to managing 6150 new CMA sufferers following referral to a specialist. Results: The expected 6-monthly costs of managing 6150 newly-diagnosed infants with CMA following referral to a specialist was an estimated (Australian dollars, AU$) AU$6.5 million at 2006/07 prices. Clinical nutrition preparations were found to be the primary cost driver accounting for 62% of the total 6-monthly cost and clinician visits were the secondary cost driver accounting for up to a further 28% of the total 6-monthly cost. Sensitivity analysis showed there would be fewer visits to hospital-based paediatric gastroenterologists and paediatric immunologists/allergists if all newly-diagnosed patients were prescribed an amino acid formula (AAF) following referral to a specialist, instead of being managed according to current practice. Conclusion: CMA imposes a substantial burden on the publicly funded healthcare system in Australia. However, using an AAF as the initial treatment for CMA can potentially release limited hospital resources for alternative use within the paediatric healthcare system.
Central venous catheter associated thrombosis of major veins: thrombolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.

OBJECTIVE--Major thromboses can occur in the venous system in association with central venous catheters. This usually necessitates removal of the catheter. METHODS--The effectiveness of low dose recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in combination with heparin was assessed in patients with central venous catheter associated thrombosis. RESULTS--In five patients, all suffering from cancer, a 5-7 day continuous infusion resulted in complete lysis of the thrombus without complications in three. In the other two patients moderately severe haemorrhage was observed with only partial lysis, of the thrombus. CONCLUSIONS--The infusion of heparin and rt-PA is potentially effective in thrombosis related to use of central venous catheters, but the risk of haemorrhage is not inconsiderable.
INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF MACULAR HOLE RETINAL DETACHMENT IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of vitrectomy with inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap to complete removal of the ILM for the treatment of macular hole (MH) retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes. Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy with inverted ILM flap technique (16 eyes; inverted group) or with the complete removal of the ILM (16 eyes; removed group) was performed in patients with high myopia with MH retinal detachment. The rate of retinal reattachment and MH closure, the best-corrected visual acuities, and the integrity of the foveal microstructures in the optical coherence tomographic images were compared. Results: Thirteen eyes (81%) in the inverted group and 15 eyes (93%) in the removed group had retinal reattachment after the initial surgery (P = 0.30). The MH was closed significantly more often in the inverted group (75%) than in the removed group (25%; P = 0.006). The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better in the inverted group (P = 0.04). The number of eyes with outer nuclear layer, external limiting membrane, and ellipsoid zone lines at the closed MH was not significantly different in the two groups. Conclusion: The inverted ILM flap technique with the presence of bridging tissue over the MH is effective in closing the MH and improving the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity in eyes with MH retinal detachment by bridging tissue over the MH.