Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of interactive thematic maps on tourist perceptions: a network analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test if and how interactive thematic maps can encourage the formation of tourists' perceptual maps of attractions in a destination.Design/methodology/approach – Data were derived from 365 online trip planners generated by users of the Amish Country web site from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008. Given the nature of the data set, network analysis techniques were used to analyze the data.Findings – Network analysis findings demonstrate that the things to do (TTD) included in the interactive Heritage Trail map were more frequently bundled together in the saved trip plans than TTDs included in other sections of the web site. Further analysis suggests that some additional non‐Heritage TTDs could be included in the Heritage Trail map due to their perceptual proximity.Practical implications – The findings provide evidence that interactive maps on web sites can play an important role in tourists' planning behavior, which has significant implications for online tourism market.
Behavior, Knowledge, Attitude, and Other Characteristics of Men Who Had Sex With Female Commercial Sex Workers in Kenya

We examined sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, behavior, and attitude of men who had sex with commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Kenya. About 15% of the men had sex with CSWs. Men who had two or more partners, were away from home five or more times in the past year, and used condoms consistently with their last three partners were likely to have had sex with CSWs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70, p = .000; OR = 1.43, p = .044; OR = 2.50, p = .000, respectively). Men with better knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods were likely to have had sex with CSWs (OR = 1.62, p = .004). As expected, having had sex with CSWs was associated with higher risk of sexually transmitted infection (OR = 3.62, p = .000). This unexpected association between knowledge and behavior could be bidirectional or reverse causality. Nonetheless, knowledge in prevention has not been translated to practice and change in behavior. These processes require continuous efforts, including assertive campaigns on sexual practices and behaviors.
Inclusion of porcine spray-dried plasma in broiler diets

SUMMARY Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of titrated levels of spray-dried plasma (SDP) in broilers diets submitted to various types of health challenge. In experiment 1, dietary plasma levels (%) during the periods of 1 to 7, 8 to 21, and 22 to 42 d were T1 (0/0/0), T2 (1.5/0/0), T3 (1.5/0.5/0), T4 (3.0/0/0), and T5 (3.0/0.5/0), respectively. In experiment 2, dietary plasma levels were T1 (0/0/0), T2 (1.5/0/0), T3 (1.5/0.5/0), and T4 (1.5/0.5/0.25) fed during the periods of 1 to 8, 9 to 21, and 22 to 42 d, respectively. In both experiments, flock uniformity and livability were not affected by SDP. In experiment 1, SDP addition resulted in lower feed intake (FI) and improved FCR from d 1 to 21. Lower FI was also observed during wk 2 for broilers fed SDP from d 1 to 7, even if SDP was or was not provided during this time period. Performance variables were not different by treatments from d 22 to 42, neither was carcass yield at 42 d. In experiment 2, there was higher weight gain from d 8 to 21 and 1 to 42 in birds fed SDP relative to those not fed plasma. Broilers submitted to T2 had higher FI during the total experimental period as compared with T1. Dietary inclusion of SDP may change the performance of broilers reared under challenge conditions, with a positive effect particularly in the first stages of life.
Association of Antisocial Personality Disorder with Psychiatric Morbidity among Patients with Substance Use Disorder

Objectives The aims were to determine among patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) whether patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) manifest less, the same, or more of the following: (1) psychiatric symptoms, (2) family history of psychiatric disorder, (3) psychiatric disorders and morbidity, and (4) psychiatric treatment, as compared to patients without ASPD. Design & Definition Scheduled interview using DSM-III-R criteria for ASPD, with blinded interviewers making the ASPD classification vs. other assessments. Settings Alcohol-drug treatment programs located in two university medical centers. Subjects Six hundred and six voluntary patients aged 18 and older meeting diagnostic criteria for SUD. Results SUD patients with ASPD reported more family history of non-SUD psychiatric diagnoses and endorsed more hostility symptoms. Demographic characteristics, psychiatric disorder, and past psychiatric treatment did not differ in association with ASPD.
Optimal reserve requirements and units schedule in contingency Constrained Unit Commitment

This paper presents Security Constraint Unit Commitment (SCUC) backup plan considering single contingency. The proposed method leads solution to obtain optimal units and reserve schedule. In equivalent linear expression of the problem, shedding costs are used to avoid divergence and resolve congestion problem. Obtained load shedding in contingency case are utilized to achieve an optimal reserve requirements. Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) is employed to minimize the total energy dispatch cost in 24 hours of a day. Numerical results show the proposed joint auction model can clear energy and reserve market while system violation and unit outage are considered.
Carbon Dioxide Retention

SIR,-In recent correspondence on the subject of mental illness, there is one aspect that has not been mentioned. I refer to the question of medical secrecy. While undergoing treatment last year in a well-known hospital, in common with other patients I became increasingly uneasy at seeing the psychiatrists' files lying about. Finding one in my room, with the patient's name clearly marked upon it, I had no alternative but to hand it over to the nurse on duty. Later I saw a ward-maid eagerly trying to read it. In innumerable ways it became clear that the sisters and nurses were familiar with much of what we had revealed in the complete certainty that secrecy was inviolate. An even more frightening practice was the weekly " confidential" lecture given to the nurses by registrars, on selected named patients, where case histories were given in detail, not omitting sexual and other aberrations. In view of the widespread anxiety caused by the lower standard of nurses recruited for this type of work, the result was a foregone conclusion. In course of time there was in my unwilling possession enough hair-raising information about patients, known and unknown, to bring joy to the heart of a professional blackmailer. In this atmosphere it was hardly surprising that some felt unable to continue with a treatment on which they had embarked with high hopes. -I am, etc., EX-PATIENT.
Performance comparison of tubular linear induction motors with different primary winding connections

This paper presents an experimental characterization and comparison of the performances achieved by a tubular linear induction motor (TLIM) prototype with different typologies of primary winding connections. In particular, three configurations are described: full-pitch star, 5/6 shortened pitch star and 5/6 shortened pitch double star. For this purpose, an experimental test bench at the SDESLAB laboratory (University of Palermo) has been set-up and the results obtained from the tests have allowed to identify which type of winding configuration can be chosen in dependence of the type of application intended for the motor. In addition, this experimental study is suitable for TLIM winding designs if compared with classic analytical approach. As a matter of fact, more accurate results are obtained, avoiding the use of coefficients of approximations.
Prediction of survival for preterm births

Editor—The article by Draper et al deserves further comment.1 The objective of the study was to produce current data on survival of preterm infants, yet theirs was a retrospective study for 1994-7. Since it is now 1999 we believe that their data, albeit useful, are recent rather than current. Antenatal administration of steroids to the mothers was not mentioned as one of the additional factors affecting infants' survival. As a neonatologist and two mothers of extremely premature babies we do not find the tables described in the paper easy to understand. Draper et al may be interested in our paper published last month, which describes a table giving outcome for parents of babies at less than 28 weeks of gestation.2 This table contains information on survival rates, and also short term complications and treatment of the most recent cohort of such babies. This table could be unit based, updated annually, and be made available to the parents and each member of the perinatal team to promote consistency in the information given to the parents. We also suggest that parents be informed of 11 points, four of which are: Outcome for the baby depends on many factors, not all obvious and including infection and maternal and fetal health. A reasonably easy to remember guide is that the survival rate is about 40% for all babies born at 24 weeks' gestation, 50% for those born at 25 weeks, 60% for those born at 26 weeks, 70% for those born at 27 weeks, and 80% for those born at 28 weeks.3 Every baby is an individual, and the parents need to realise that their baby may be different from the average. The table is designed to share with parents risk factors that need to be understood within the unique context of the child and family. Babies born at 25 weeks and less are at high risk of death, a long, tortuous journey through life, and disability. Some babies born at 24 and 25 weeks do, however, seem to be developing normally. The views of doctors, nurses, and parents with respect to such information must be sought out. We have just completed a study of 71 perinatologists, 35 neonatal nurses, and 48 parents of extremely premature babies, seeking their views of our outcome table. We found that parents were the most positive and accepting of the table, followed by nurses in second position, and finally by doctors.
Induced Effects of Backgrounds and Foregrounds in Three-Dimensional Configurations: The Role of T-Junctions

In three-dimensional configurations, and two-dimensional pictures of such configurations, simultaneous contrast induction from proximate backgrounds affects perceived brightness, color, and internal contrast to a greater extent than induction from coplanar or occluding surrounds or from more distant backgrounds. In the projected image the presence of occluding flanks or retinally adjacent distant backgrounds is indicated by T-junctions. However, the presence of T-junctions inhibits induced contrast irrespective of the three-dimensional percept. The configurations in this paper refute the notions that perceived coplanarity or perceptual belonging necessarily enhance induced contrast.
Land Cover Characterization and Classification of Arctic Tundra Environments by Means of Polarized Synthetic Aperture X- and C-Band Radar (PolSAR) and Landsat 8 Multispectral Imagery - Richards Island, Canada

In this work the potential of polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data of dual-polarized TerraSAR-X (HH/VV) and quad-polarized Radarsat-2 was examined in combination with multispectral Landsat 8 data for unsupervised and supervised classification of tundra land cover types of Richards Island, Canada. The classification accuracies as well as the backscatter and reflectance characteristics were analyzed using reference data collected during three field work campaigns and include in situ data and high resolution airborne photography. The optical data offered an acceptable initial accuracy for the land cover classification. The overall accuracy was increased by the combination of PolSAR and optical data and was up to 71% for unsupervised (Landsat 8 and TerraSAR-X) and up to 87% for supervised classification (Landsat 8 and Radarsat-2) for five tundra land cover types. The decomposition features of the dual and quad-polarized data showed a high sensitivity for the non-vegetated substrate (dominant surface scattering) and wetland vegetation (dominant double bounce and volume scattering). These classes had high potential to be automatically detected with unsupervised classification techniques.
Sustained pressure—controlled inflation or intermittent mandatory ventilation in preterm infants in the delivery room? A randomized, controlled trial on initial respiratory support via nasopharyngeal tube

Aim: To prove the hypothesis that sustained pressure‐controlled inflation compared to intermittent mandatory ventilation for lung recruitment via nasopharyngeal tube after delivery is more effective in reducing the rate of endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in very preterm infants. Methods: The study was designed as a randomized, controlled trial. The setting was the delivery room and neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Germany. Subjects were 61 infants (25.0–28.9 wk of gestation) with signs of respiratory distress immediately after birth. The infants were randomized in the delivery room to two different respiratory interventions: either to sustained pressure‐controlled inflation (15 s) or to intermittent mandatory ventilation (rate 60 min−1). This respiratory support was given by a nasopharyngeal tube. The inflation pressure or peak inspiratory pressure was increased stepwise (20–25‐30 cm H2O) according to the response of heart rate and oxygenation. Results: The main outcome measure was treatment failure, i.e., endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation according to given intubation criteria. Treatment failure occurred in 61 % (95% CI, sustained pressure‐controlled inflation: 42–78) and 70% (95% CI, intermittent mandatory ventilation: 51–85) (p= 0.59). The rates of mortality (3/61), severe intraventricular haemorrhage (5/61) and chronic lung disease (10/58) were not different between groups.
N‐Acetylcysteine infusion does not affect glucose disposal during prolonged moderate‐intensity exercise in humans

There is evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling is required for normal increases in glucose uptake during contraction of isolated mouse skeletal muscle, and that AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is involved. The aim of this study was to determine whether ROS signalling is involved in the regulation of glucose disposal and AMPK activation during moderate‐intensity exercise in humans. Nine healthy males completed 80 min of cycle ergometry at 62 ± 1% of peak oxygen consumption (. A 6,6‐2H‐glucose tracer was infused at rest and during exercise, and in a double‐blind randomised cross‐over design, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) or saline (CON) was co‐infused. NAC was infused at 125 mg kg−1 h−1 for 15 min and then at 25 mg kg−1 h−1 for 20 min before and throughout exercise. NAC infusion elevated plasma NAC and cysteine, and muscle NAC and cysteine concentrations during exercise. Although neither NAC infusion nor exercise significantly affected muscle reduced or oxidised glutathione (GSH or GSSG) concentration (P > 0.05), S‐glutathionylation (an indicator of oxidative stress) of a protein band of ∼270 kDa was increased ∼3‐fold with contraction and this increase was prevented by NAC infusion. Despite this, exercised‐induced increases in tracer determined glucose disposal, plasma lactate, plasma non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and decreases in plasma insulin were not affected by NAC infusion. In addition, skeletal muscle AMPKα and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase‐β (ACCβ) phosphorylation increased during exercise by ∼3‐ and ∼6‐fold (P < 0.05), respectively, and this was not affected by NAC infusion. Unlike findings in mouse muscle ex vivo, NAC does not attenuate skeletal muscle glucose disposal or AMPK activation during moderate‐intensity exercise in humans.
A Proposed Novel Description Language in Digital System Modeling

The increasing complexity of data-processing systems forced the design methodologies to move to a higher abstraction level (Shin, Gerstlauer, Dömer & Gajski, 2008) than the traditional register-transfer level (RTL). In the 2000s the so-called electronic system level (ESL) paradigm was evolved including the system level description languages, such as SystemC, SystemVerilog and the high-level synthesis (HLS) tools, such as SystemCrafter and Catapult-C, which are able to transform an algorithmic model into a gate level description (Casseau & Le Gal, 2012; Kim & Liu, 1995). However, at the design process of the instruction set processors the HLS method cannot be used efficiently because the main structure of the microprocessors does not fits well with the data-processing model of the digital signal processing systems, which HLS is optimized for. Presently, the architecture description languages (ADLs) are the high-level tools of instruction set processor design. These languages can describe the functionality of the system on the behavioral level but, as opposed to the languages used in the HLS method, they can describe the structure of the system as well in the same model. Even in case of ADLs designers usually have to deal with significant restrictions in terms of microarchitecture and they are not able to model application-specific functional units with dedicated functionality. In this article we present a novel approach of register-transfer level hardware modeling based on a new hardware description language called Algorithmic Microarchitecture Description Language (AMDL), which combines the advantages of HLS-based and ADL-based design approaches. It provides an algorithmic-style design entry and in the same time it makes possible to manage the exact register-transfer level structure of the designed system. The article is organized as follows. Section 2 gives a brief overview of concept of high-level synthesis and architecture description languages and presents the HDL representations of the register-transfer level models, which play a considerable role in the hardware synthesis methodologies. Section 3 gives a detailed presentation of a novel hardware modeling language including its scope and objective, language constructs, model structure and design examples. Finally, Section 4 presents a case study consisting of two applicationspecific instruction set processors, which were designed with the proposed design method.
An exploratory investigation of consumers' pre-purchase external information search for prescription and non-prescription drugs

CONSUMERS' PRE-PURCHASE EXTERNAL INFORMATION SEARCH FOR PRESCRIPTION AND NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS by WONSUK KIM (Under the Direction of Karen Whitehill King) ABSTRACT This dissertation was undertaken to address three research objectives: (1) investigating bivariate relationships between search determinants and the amount of information search for prescription and non-prescription drugs, (2) constructing models of external search for prescription and non-prescription drugs, and (3) comparing the differences between consumers' external information search for prescription and non-prescription drugs. A mail survey of 600 randomly selected adults age 45 years and older was implemented to address the research objectives, and 205 useable questionnaires were returned. This research found: • Higher levels of purchase involvement increased the amount of information search using mass media and professional sources for prescription drugs.
Mechanisms of Induction of Germination of Bacillus subtilis Spores by High Pressure

ABSTRACT Spores of Bacillus subtilis lacking all germinant receptors germinate >500-fold slower than wild-type spores in nutrients and were not induced to germinate by a pressure of 100 MPa. However, a pressure of 550 MPa induced germination of spores lacking all germinant receptors as well as of receptorless spores lacking either of the two lytic enzymes essential for cortex hydrolysis during germination. Complete germination of spores either lacking both cortex-lytic enzymes or with a cortex not attacked by these enzymes was not induced by a pressure of 550 MPa, but treatment of these mutant spores with this pressure caused the release of dipicolinic acid. These data suggest the following conclusions: (i) a pressure of 100 MPa induces spore germination by activating the germinant receptors; and (ii) a pressure of 550 MPa opens channels for release of dipicolinic acid from the spore core, which leads to the later steps in spore germination.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for quadriceps muscle strengthening after bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a case series.

STUDY DESIGN A case series. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this case series was to assess the effect of high-intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on quadriceps strength and voluntary activation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). BACKGROUND Following TKA, patients exhibit long-term weakness of the quadriceps and diminished functional capacity compared to age-matched healthy controls. The pain and swelling that results from surgery may contribute to quadriceps weakness. The use of high-intensity NMES has previously been shown to be effective in quickly restoring quadriceps strength in patients with weakness after surgery. METHODS AND MEASURES All patients were treated for 6 weeks, 2 to 3 visits per week, in outpatient rehabilitation. Five patients (NMES group) participated in a voluntary exercise program for both knees and NMES for the weaker knee. Three patients (exercise group) participated in a voluntary exercise program for both knees without NMES. For each treatment session, 10 isometric electrically elicited muscle contractions were administered at maximally tolerated doses to the initially weaker leg of the NMES group. Quadriceps strength and muscle activation were repeatedly assessed up to 6 months after surgery using burst superimposition techniques. RESULTS At 6 months, the weak NMES-treated legs of 4 of 5 patients in the NMES group had surpassed the strength of the contralateral leg. In contrast, none of the weak legs in the exercise group were stronger than the contralateral leg at 6 months. Changes in quadriceps muscle activation mirrored the changes exhibited in strength. CONCLUSION When NMES was added to a voluntary exercise program, deficits in quadriceps muscle strength and activation resolved quickly after TKA.
Effect of gramicidin on percutaneous permeation of a model drug

1bstractThis study investigated the enhancement effect of gramicidin, a cationic ionophore, on percutaneous absorption of a model drug, benzoic acid (BA), through rat abdominal skin. The mechanisms by which gramicidin increased skin permeability to BA were also investigated. Degree of hydration measured by the Karl Fisher method, the concentration gradient measured by cryostat analysis, and lipid concentration measured by the. Fiske-Subbarow method were evaluated and compared. The results showed that BA permeation profiles through rat abdominal skin followed dose- and volume-dependent patterns. The pretreatment of gramicidin increased the permeation rate of BA through rat abdominal skin compared with the untreated control (18.89 vs. 10.86 μ g/cm2 hour). Change in skin permeation rate of BA after gramicidin pretreatment was closely correlated with the remaining skin water content. There were no significant differences in the amounts of phospholipid phosphorous between gramicidin pretreated and untreated skin. The enhancing effect of gramicidin on percutaneous absorption of a model drug is mainly a tributed to increasing the diffusivity in the hydration domain of the skin and rearranging the lipid bilayer in the stratum corneum.