Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does CME Work? An Analysis of the Effect of Educational Activities on Physician Performance or Health Care Outcomes

Objective: To answer the question, “does CME work? ” by reviewing the effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME) and other related educational methods on objectively-determined physician performance and/or health care outcomes. These interventions include educational materials, formal, planned CME activities or programs, outreach visits such as academic detailing, opinion leaders, patient-mediated strategies, audit and feedback, reminders, or a combination of these strategies. Methods: MEDLINE, ERIC, NTIS, the Research and Development Resource Base in CME and other relevant data sources including review articles were searched for relevant terms, from 1975 to 1994. Of those articles retrieved, randomized controlled trials of educational strategies or interventions which objectively assessed physician performance and/or health care outcomes were selected for review. Data were extracted from each article about the specialty of the physician targeted, the clinical subject of the intervention, the setting and the nature of the educational method, and the presence or degree of needs assessment or barriers to change. Results: More than two-thirds of the studies (70%) displayed a change in physician performance, while almost half (48%) of interventions produced a change in health care outcomes. Community-based strategies such as academic detailing (and to a lesser extent, opinion leaders), practice-based methods such as reminders and patient-mediated strategies, and multiple interventions appeared to be most effective activities. Mixed results and weaker outcomes were demonstrated by audit and educational materials, while formal CME conferences without enabling or practice-reinforcing strategies, had relatively little impact. Conclusion: Strategies which enable and/or reinforce appear to “work” in changing physician performance or health care outcomes, a finding which has significant impact on the delivery of CME, and the need for further research into physician learning and change.
Estimating the Performance of Multi-Level Inventory Systems

B. Deuermeyer and L. B. Schwarz have developed a very simple approximation of a complex multi-echelon system. Here we propose several refinements of their technique, leading to models nearly as simple and considerably more robust. Our analysis suggests guidelines for the design of large-scale logistics systems, differing markedly from those of earlier studies.
Hormone responses to low-dose GnRH treatment in post-partum beef cows.

Acyclic beef cows received 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 micrograms GnRH/2 h for 48 h as 24 X 2 h repeated i.v. injections or by continuous i.v. infusion. Preovulatory-type LH surges were detected in 9/18 injected and 8/15 infused cows and occurred 30.6 +/- 5.1 h and 3.3 +/- 0.7 h after the start of treatment respectively. Cows receiving the lowest infusion dose did not exhibit gonadotrophin surges. The LH response to individual injections increased with dose but the proportion of injected cows showing preovulatory-type surges at each dose level did not change. A total of 20 cows (10 injected and 10 infused) showed evidence of luteal activity within 7 days of the end of GnRH treatment, although this was transitory in most animals. Cows which exhibited preovulatory-type LH surges in response to treatment had significantly higher plasma oestradiol-17 beta concentrations and lower FSH concentrations before treatment than those which did not. The results suggest that the LH response to GnRH treatment is dependent on follicular status in the immediate pretreatment period.
Dynamic Session Key based Pairwise Key Management Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks

Security is one of the major challenges in the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). WSNs are more vulnerable to adversarial activities. All cryptographic security services indirectly depend on key management. Symmetric key management is the best key establishment process for WSNs due to the resource constraints of the sensors. In this paper, we proposed dynamic session key establishment scheme based on randomly generated nonce value and sensor node identity, in which each sensor node is equipped with session key on expire basis. The proposed scheme is compare with five popular existing key management systems. Our scheme is simulated in OMNET++ with MixiM and presented experimental results. The analytical study and experimental results show the superiority of the proposed scheme over the existing schemes in terms of energy, storage, resilience and communication overhead.
A Language Visualisation System

A novel language visualization system is presented here that is capable of understanding some concrete nouns, visualizable adjectives and spatial prepositions in full natural language sentences to generate 3D scenes. The system has a rule based question answering component and it can answer spatial inference questions about the scene created by these sentences. This work is the first step of our greater vision of building a sophisticated text-to-scene and scene-to-text conversion engine.
Role of Intracellular Signaling Events in ADP-induced Platelet Aggregation

Summary Human platelets express two distinct G protein-coupled ADP receptors, one coupled to phospholipase C through Gq, P2Y1, and the other to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase through Gi, P2TAC. We have recently shown that concomitant intracellular signaling from both the P2TAC and P2Y1 receptors is essential for ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Previous studies have tested whether ADP causes a decrease in the basal cAMP level and this reduction promotes platelet aggregation, but did not study the effect of decreased cAMP levels when the Gq pathway is selectively activated. Since we are now aware that platelet aggregation requires activation of two receptors, we investigated whether the function of P2TAC receptor activation, leading to inhibition of platelet adenylyl cyclase, could be replaced by direct inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, when Gq pathway is also activated, a possibility that has not been addressed to date. In the present study, we supplemented the P2Y1 mediated Gq signaling pathway with inhibition of the platelet adenylyl cyclase by using SQ22536 or dideoxyadenosine, or by selective activation of the α2A adrenoceptors with epinephrine. Although SQ22536, dideoxyadenosine, and epinephrine reduced the cAMP levels, only epinephrine could mimic the P2TAC receptor mediated signaling events, suggesting that reduction in basal cAMP levels does not directly contribute to ADP-induced platelet activation. Adenosine-5’-phosphate-3’-phosphosulfate, a P2Y1 receptor antagonist, completely blocked ADP-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate formation suggesting that P2TAC-mediated activation of Gi (or other G proteins) does not activate phospholipase C. These results suggest that a signaling event downstream from Gi, independent of the inhibition of platelet adenylyl cyclase, contributes to αIIbβ3 activation.
A comparison of older workers’ and retired older people’s social capital and sense of mastery

Aim: To assess if older people with higher levels of social capital experience higher levels of sense of mastery than those with lower levels of social capital and to assess whether this association is stronger for retired older people than for older workers. Methods: The data originates from a general population mental health survey conducted among 2610 older people (50 years of age or older) in Finland in 2011. The response rate was 57.1%. The association between sense of mastery, measured by Pearlin’s Sense of Mastery Scale, and social capital, measured by social networks, organisational activities, trust, and sense of belonging, were tested by logistic regression analyses. Results: The results showed that older workers experienced greater sense of mastery than retired older people. Trust and neighbourhood belonging were positively associated with sense of mastery. Conclusions: Inequalities in mental wellbeing between older people included in or excluded from the workforce are a public health challenge. Our findings imply that social capital needs to be prioritised as a means for enhancing mental health. More attention should be paid to promote mental wellbeing in retired older people.
SPECTRAL MATCHING OF CLASSICAL CYTOCHEMISTRY TO AUTOMATED CYTOLOGY

Aspects of the history of automated cytology and a brief comparison of present and anticipated future levels of performance of flow-through and pattern recognition technologies for white blood cell recognition and counting are briefly presented. The relationship of the spectral properties of cytochemical preparations to machine performance are discussed. Some advantages of matching the spectral properties to hardware and software capabilities are illustrated. Some kinds of difficulties in achieving such a match are reviewed and examples of present levels of achievement are illustrated.
Internet Security Glossary, Version 2

This Glossary provides definitions, abbreviations, and explanations of terminology for information system security. The 334 pages of entries offer recommendations to improve the comprehensibility of written material that is generated in the Internet Standards Process (RFC 2026). The recommendations follow the principles that such writing should (a) use the same term or definition whenever the same concept is mentioned; (b) use terms in their plainest, dictionary sense; (c) use terms that are already well-established in open publications; and (d) avoid terms that either favor a particular vendor or favor a particular technology or mechanism over other, competing techniques that already exist or could be developed. This memo provides information for the Internet community.
An empirical study of the relationship between corporate bonds and corporate governance

the traditional theory of advantages of bond financing argues that the behavior of corporate bond financing will stimulate the enthusiasm of the operators, constraint operators’ inappropriate management behavior and reduce agency costs which can result in effects of corporate governance. This article will focus on the performance of Chinese listed companies to set corporate governance variables to study its impact on debt financing options and the size of the bond financing of the company. The empirical results examined mutual relationship between variables of issuing bonds and corporate governance. Keywords-corporate governance; bond financing; policy advice
Reference Values for Peroneal Nerve Motor Conduction to the Tibialis Anterior and for Peroneal vs. Tibial Latencies

Buschbacher RM: Reference values for peroneal nerve motor conduction to the tibialis anterior and for peroneal vs. tibial latencies. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2003;82:296–301. Objective To generate a large normative database for the peroneal study to the tibialis anterior and to analyze differences between the peroneal latency to the extensor digitorum brevis and the tibial latency to the abductor hallucis. Design A total of 244 asymptomatic subjects without risk factors for neuropathy were tested for latency, amplitude, area, duration, and nerve conduction velocity to the tibialis anterior. For the peroneal/tibial analysis, 221 subjects were included. Temperature control was used, and demographic characteristics were recorded. Results Latency to the tibialis anterior increased and nerve conduction velocity decreased with increasing height. Amplitudes, area, and nerve conduction velocity were lower in older persons. The upper limits of normal (97th percentile) were 4.9 msec (latency) and 15.0 msec (duration). The lower limits of normal (3rd percentile) were 1.7 mV (amplitude), 6.8 &mgr;V/sec (area), and 43 m/sec (nerve conduction velocity). The upper limits of normal side-to-side difference was 1.2 msec (latency), 6.3 msec (duration), 50% (amplitude), 47% (area), and 20% (nerve conduction velocity). The upper limits of normal drop from below– to above–fibular-head stimulation was 36% (amplitude) and 43% (area). For the peroneal/tibial comparison, the upper limits of normal latency increase of peroneal over tibial was 1.8 msec and tibial over peroneal was 1.5 msec. Conclusion A large normative database was collected. Upper and lower limits of normal were calculated, and side-to-side differences were analyzed. For the peroneal/tibial comparison, an upper limits of normal difference was described.
Montelukast treatment attenuates the increase in myofibroblasts following low-dose allergen challenge.

RATIONALE Airway remodeling is believed to be important in the pathophysiology of asthma, and myofibroblasts are increased in the airways of asthmatic individuals 24 h after allergen challenge. Leukotriene receptor antagonists exert antiinflammatory activity in asthma, but it is unknown whether they influence indices of airway remodeling. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of montelukast on airway myofibroblasts following low-dose allergen challenge (LDAC). METHODS Stable subjects with mild asthma were included in a two-center, randomized, parallel-group study. A 2-week run-in period was followed by LDAC and endobronchial biopsy. Subjects were then randomized to receive either montelukast, 10 mg/d, or placebo (n = 10 in each group) for 8 weeks in a double-blind manner; at the end of the treatment period, subjects underwent a second LDAC and endobronchial biopsy. The effect of treatment on myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells was examined using electron microscopy techniques. RESULTS Treatment with montelukast showed no significant difference by comparison with placebo but did show a significant within-group treatment-related decrease in airway wall myofibroblasts not seen in the placebo group. In addition, the montelukast-treated group also showed a significant within-group reduction in lymphomononuclear cells and increased neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that montelukast has an inhibitory effect on airway structural cells that play a key role in airway remodeling in allergic airway inflammation, and that montelukast may be a useful therapy to attenuate airway remodeling in asthma.
Borreliacidal OspC Antibodies Specific for a Highly Conserved Epitope Are Immunodominant in Human Lyme Disease and Do Not Occur in Mice or Hamsters

ABSTRACT Humans produce highly specific borreliacidal antibodies against outer surface protein C (OspC) shortly after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. We previously demonstrated the epitope recognized by immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG OspC borreliacidal antibodies was located within the 50 amino acids nearest the carboxy (C) terminus. In this study, we show the immunodominant epitope is located in the highly conserved region within the seven C-terminal amino acids. Six early Lyme disease sera that contained borreliacidal activity and IgM and/or IgG OspC antibodies were chosen randomly and adsorbed with truncated OspC containing the 16 or 7 amino acids nearest the C terminus. Adsorptions with each truncated protein abrogated the borreliacidal activity completely. In addition, only small concentrations of OspC antibodies remained detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Moreover, borreliacidal OspC antibodies were not induced in laboratory mice or hamsters despite heavy infections with B. burgdorferi spirochetes. These findings confirm that borreliacidal antibodies comprise the majority of the IgM and IgG OspC antibody response in human Lyme disease and that the epitope is located in the highly conserved C terminus. In addition, rodent animal models appear to be inappropriate subjects for assessing the effectiveness of the epitope for serodiagnosis or as a human Lyme disease vaccine.
Topology control in wireless mobile ad hoc networks with directional antennas

Topology control (TC) for ad hoc networks aims to reduce radio interference and energy consumption. Most of proposed algorithms assume the usage of isotropic antennas and thus only adjust the transmission power of each node. In this paper, we propose three kinds of topology control algorithms for wireless mobile ad hoc networks with directional antennas, which transmit in specific antenna pattern (direction(s)) to create the desired topology. Those algorithms are applied to topology control process between high-speed aircraft and low-speed ships in the Airborne-sea ad hoc networks (ASNETs). We investigate the conflict rate, energy consumption and gateway transfer of every algorithm. Analysis and simulation show that those algorithms have their own strong points and weaknesses. In the end, future possibilities to ameliorate topology control algorithms are discussed.
Genetically Modified Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular Cells for Bone Tissue Engineering

INTRODUCTION: Tissue engineering and ex vivo gene therapy can be used synergically as a tool to regenerate bone that overcomes the problems of currently available bone replacements. Recently, in our lab a new source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been found in the umbilical cord; Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) provide an alternative to bone marrow derived MSCs. Due to their high proportion of colony forming unit-fibroblast, low doubling time (1), no telomerase activity and immunoprivileged phenotype (in vitro) (2), they are an excellent source for cell based tissue engineering strategies. Thus, our goal is to engineer an osteogenic/osteoinductive cell population, by genetically modifying HUCPVCs to express four bone formation related genes: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) acts as a mitogenic and chemoattractant for endothelial cells during angiogenesis and vasculogenesis; bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP 2) most widely used growth factor to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation, acts in autocrine and paracrine manner by interacting with cell-surface receptors and triggering an intracellular signaling cascade; runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) essential for osteoblast differentiation and, endochondral and intramembranous bone formation and turnover; and Osterix (OSX/SP7) transcription factor required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, commits osteochondroprogenitor cells to the osteoblast lineage.
A repressor sequence in the juxtamembrane domain of Flt‐1 (VEGFR‐1) constitutively inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor‐dependent phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase activation and endothelial cell migration

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has two highly homologous tyrosine kinase receptors: Flt‐1 (VEGFR‐1) and KDR (VEGFR‐2). KDR is strongly phosphorylated on tyrosines and can transmit mitogenic and motogenic signals following VEGF binding, while Flt‐1 is markedly less effective in mediating such functions. To dissect the regions that account for the differences between the two receptors, we generated a series of chimeric Flt‐1–KDR molecules. We found that the juxtamembrane region of Flt‐1 prevents key signaling functions. When the juxtamembrane region of Flt‐1 is replaced by that of KDR, Flt‐1 becomes competent to mediate endothelial cell migration and phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase activation in response to VEGF. Further mutational analysis shows that a short divergent sequence is responsible for such repressor function. However, mutant Flt‐1 receptors lacking this sequence do not transmit effective proliferative signals, suggesting that this receptor function is regulated separately. These results define a novel functional domain that serves to repress Flt‐1 activity in endothelial cells.
Psychological Reactions of Victims of Violent Crime

Violent crime is on the increase. The 1992 British Crime Survey (Mayhew et al, 1993) revealed that 4.9% of men and 1.9% of women experienced violent crime (excluding domestic and sexual assaults) in 1991. This represented a 24% increase on the 1981 figures. The true incidence is likely to be much higher. Hough & Mayhew (1985) found that only 23% of woundings, 11% of robberies and 26% of sexual offences were recorded in police crime statistics. Research in accident and emergency departments (A&Es) has confirmed the magnitude of the 'dark figure' of unrecorded violent crime (Shepherd et al, 1987). The Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey (Heizer et al, 1987) found that 2.8% of a random sample of 2493 US adults were physically assaulted during the 18-month study period. Breslau et al (1991) studied 1007 young American adults of both sexes: 8.3% reported having been physically assaulted, and 1.6% having been raped. Some individuals are at increased risk of becoming victims of violence through their work. These include the police, bank employees and health professionals, particularly family practitioners, A&E doctors and nurses, and ambulance staff. O'Sullivan & Meagher (1995) surveyed 178 psychiatrists and found that 39% had been assaulted at work and 12% had been physically injured as a result. The psychological reactions of victims of violent crime have much in common with those experienced by victims of other traumatic events, including major disasters. Although research on other traumatic stressors should stimulate the development of hypotheses that can be tested in studies of victims of violent crime, Green (1982) has cautioned against overgeneralisation between different traumas in the field of traumatic stress.
Project of a solar module emulator using a zener diode to analyze the behavior of MPPT algorithms

The single diode model can be used to modelling a photovoltaic (PV) cell. However, the use of the single diode model to implement a PV emulator can not be practical in case the application requires a high voltage output This happens in consequence of the low threshold voltage of the silicon diode, which means the circuit should be composed by several single diode circuit. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the use of a zener diode to obtain a PV emulator with a high voltage output using fewer devices.
Finite-time synchronization of Genesio systems

Finite-time synchronization of Genesio systems is investigated in the master-slave synchronization schemes, where parameter uncertainty of the systems is dealt with. Some sufficient criteria for the desired finite-time synchronization are proven by means of the finite time stability theory and parameters identification techniques. The effectiveness of the new criteria is illustrated in numerical examples.