Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nurses, sleep disturbances, desynchronization of circadian rhythms, and performance: a dangerous liaison? A narrative mini-review.

OBJECTIVE Nursing is a high-stress occupation, and recent research of circadian rhythm desynchronization has focused on its consequences for nurses' health. Moreover, shiftwork, sleep disturbances, nightmares, and health issues are closely related to individual circadian preferences ('chronotype'). The aim of this narrative mini-review was to check the available literature to collect findings on the interrelationships among these aspects, as well as to determine the possible consequences for performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS We explored the PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar electronic databases using the search terms 'Nursing', 'Stress', 'Sleep disturbances', 'Nightmares', 'Circadian rhythm', 'Desynchronization', 'Chronotype', 'Performance', and 'Sex/Gender'. Due to the wide heterogeneity of studies, with most including only some of these terms, we proceeded to single data extractions after analyzing the studies case by case and decided to conduct a narrative mini-review. RESULTS Shift work, due to the regular alterations of the daily light profile, disrupts the normal circadian sleep-wake cycle and is associated with impaired health among rotational shift workers, with nurses on the frontline. Circadian desynchronization may be associated with adverse effects on nurses' health and may be a risk factor for stress, metabolic disorders, and sleep disturbances, including nightmares, and stress operates in a bidirectional fashion. Chronotype plays a crucial role as well, since the asynchrony between one's chronotype and social working hours (social jetlag) may generate problems, since the time-of-day and optimal performance are strongly connected. CONCLUSIONS Circadian rhythms, chronotype, sleep, health, and working performance are strongly connected. The assessment of chronotype could represent a tool to identify health care personnel at higher risk of circadian disruption, allowing for mitigation of work-related stress and sleep disturbances, and reducing the risk of making working errors.
A Study of Steady State for Distance Headway

Generally speaking, traffic headway comprises distance headway and time headway, which varies according to velocity and acceleration. Distance headway is a part of the traffic following model as an expression of the stimulus-response factor. A more responsive driver accelerates and decelerates more frequently in response to the vehicle in front, thereby reducing the capacity of the traffic lane. This study attempts to calculate the distance headway in both the Macro Traffic Model and the Micro Traffic Model, and thus determine a steady state for the distance headway. The research results show that the Macro Traffic Model reaches Steady State at 20-23 seconds and the Micro Traffic Model reaches Steady State at 19-23 seconds. This research can be applied to traffic planning, calculation of crossroad traffic saturation rates, or in traffic simulation applications.
Robust decentralized direction-of-arrival estimation in the presence of outlier contaminated noise

A novel scheme for direction-of-arrival estimation is presented. In particular, the authors develop a procedure that provides estimates that are robust against outliers and distributional uncertainties. It also employs decentralized processing such that each subarray provides a set of robust estimates of the directions-of-arrival accompanied by some confidence measures of the estimates. At the fusion center, a robust combination technique is used to combine estimates from each subarray site. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the robust properties achievable with the scheme relative to a similar nonrobust approach. <<ETX>>
Determinants of tuberculosis treatment interruption among patients in Vihiga County, Kenya

Background Despite robust Tuberculosis (TB) program with effective chemotherapy and high coverage, treatment interruption remains a serious problem. Interrupting TB treatment means that patients remain infectious for longer time and are at risk of developing drug resistance and death. This study was conducted to identify and describe predictors of TB treatment interruption. Methods A cohort of 291 notified TB patients from 20 selected health facilities in Vihiga County were enrolled in to the study and followed up until the end of treatment. Patient characteristics that potentially predict treatment interruption were recorded during treatment initiation using structured questionnaires. Patients who interrupted treatment were traced and reasons for stoppage of treatment recorded. Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate probabilities of treatment interruption by patient characteristics and determine time intervals. The Log rank test for the equality of survival distributions analyzed significance of survival differences among categorical variables. For multivariable analysis, Cox proportional hazard model, was fitted to identify predictors of TB treatment interruption through calculation of hazard ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). For variable analysis, statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Reasons for treatment interruption were categorized according to most recurrent behavioral or experiential characteristics. Results Participants’ median age was 40 years (IQR = 32–53) and 72% were male. Of the 291 patients, 11% (n = 32) interrupted treatment. Incidences of treatment interruption significantly occurred during intensive phase of treatment. Independent predictors of treatment interruption included alcohol consumption (HR = 9.2, 95% CI; 2.6–32.5, p < 0.001), being female (HR = 5.01, 95% CI; 1.68–15.0, p = 0.004), having primary or lower education level (HR = 3.09, 95% CI; 1.13–8.49, p < 0.029) and having a treatment supporter (HR = 0.33, 95% CI; 0.14–0.76, p = 0.009). Reasons for interrupting treatment were categorized as: alcoholism, feeling better after treatment initiation, associated TB stigma, long distance to health facility, lack of food, perception of not having TB and pill burden. Conclusion TB treatment interruption was high and largely associated with patients’ socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics. These multidimensional factors suggest the need for interventions that not only target individual patients but also environment in which they live and receive healthcare services.
Electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscles during eccentric squat exercises: implications for exercise selection in patellar tendinopathy

ABSTRACT This study investigated the quadriceps muscle activity during eccentric squat exercises (ESE) with different decline angles and arcs of motion regarding the proper exercise selection for patellar tendinopathy management. Electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscles was measured during ESE on 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° decline in 20 recreationally active participants. The eccentric phase was divided into 0–30°, 30–60°, 60–90°, 0–60°, 30–90°, and 0–90° of knee flexion simultaneously via motion-analysis system. The analyses showed that there was a significant decline angle × arc interaction effect on electromyographic activity of all muscles during knee flexion movement. The main effect was found for the arc of motion of knee flexion, and the main effect for the decline angle also was present for each muscle, except for VMO. This study demonstrated that most selective quadriceps eccentric activation occurred during ESE performed on 20° decline throughout 60–90° of knee flexion.
Taste sensing and sugar detection mechanisms in Drosophila larval primary taste center

Despite the small number of gustatory sense neurons, Drosophila larvae are able to sense a wide range of chemicals. Although evidence for taste multimodality has been provided in single neurons, an overview of gustatory responses at the periphery is missing and hereby we explore whole-organ calcium imaging of the external taste center. We find that neurons can be activated by different combinations of taste modalities, including opposite hedonic valence and identify distinct temporal dynamics of response. Although sweet sensing has not been fully characterized so far in the external larval gustatory organ, we recorded responses elicited by sugar. Previous findings established that larval sugar sensing relies on the Gr43a pharyngeal receptor, but the question remains if external neurons contribute to this taste. Here, we postulate that external and internal gustation use distinct and complementary mechanisms in sugar sensing and we identify external sucrose sensing neurons.
Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy expands stromal populations that predict poor prognosis in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important modulator of response and resistance to endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor alpha (ER) positive breast cancer. Endocrine therapy is highly effective at reducing tumor burden and preventing recurrence in most estrogen receptor alpha (ER) positive breast cancers. Existing drugs work either directly by targeting tumor‐cell ER or indirectly by inhibiting estrogen production in stromal cells with aromatase inhibitors (AI). However, many stromal cells also express ER and the direct impact of endocrine therapies on ER + stromal cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated how neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) directly effects stromal cells by measuring changes in stomal components of the TME that favor tumor progression. We previously defined two major subsets of tumor‐associated stromal cells (TASCs): CD146 positive/CDCP1 negative (TASCCD146), CD146 negative/CDCP1 positive (TASCCDCP1), and generated a differentially expressed genes list associated with each type. Here, we applied the TASC gene list for classification and an algorithm that estimates immune cell abundance (TIMEx) to METABRIC transcriptomic data for ER + breast cancer patients coupled with multiplex imaging and analysis of paired tissue samples pre‐ and post‐ NET with the AI exemestane. TASCCDCP1 composition predicted for decreased patient survival in the METABRIC cohort. Exemestane treatment significantly increased expression of TASCCDCP1 and decreased expression of TASCCD146. The posttreatment shift toward TASCCDCP1 composition correlated with increased macrophage infiltration and increased CD8+ T‐cell, B cell, and general stromal components. The effectiveness of NET is currently based solely on the reduction of ER+ breast cancer cells. Here, we show NET displays clear TME effects that promote the expansion of the less favorable TASCCDCP1 population which are correlated with TME remodeling and reshaping immune infiltration supportive of tumor progression. Our findings highlight the need to further understand the role of endocrine therapy on TME remodeling, tumor progression, and patient outcomes.
Messaging and access strategies for improving emergency contraceptive knowledge and uptake among Italians

Abstract Objectives Over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) purchase was legalised in Italy in 2015. Knowledge and access gaps, however, remain. The goal of this study was to explore women’s and men’s EC informational and access needs. Methods As part of a larger reproductive study, researchers conducted 42 in-depth interviews (May–June 2019) with English-speaking women and men aged 18–50 years (mean ± standard deviation, 29.1 ± 7.9 years) living in or near Florence, Italy, and using the Italian health care system. Researchers completed qualitative data analysis to identify emergent themes related to EC knowledge, attitudes and access. HyperRESEARCH aided data organisation and analysis. Researchers used a comparative method to contextualise data and identify emergent themes. Results Findings demonstrated that peer communication and experiences served as influential factors in others’ EC use. This propagated misinformation, reducing participants’ confidence in EC efficacy and safety. Women described the relevance of relationship type in whether to engage men in EC discussion, while men desired an active supportive role. Finally, participants described various messaging and access channels to increase EC knowledge and access. Conclusion Findings offer practical recommendations to guide social marketing and behaviour change interventions to increase EC access among women and men in Italy. The utility of pharmacists to individuals wishing to access EC is explored.
Results for a simple compact narrow-wall directional coupler

Results are presented for a compact narrow-wall directional coupler which is suited for use in low-profile beamforming networks. This geometry, based on the Riblet short-slot coupler, makes use of continuous coupling between adjacent waveguides through a common full-height slot in the narrow wall. From the point-of-view of design and manufacturing this coupler geometry is attractive since it does not require capacitive loading. This comes at the expense of bandwidth: measured results show that over a 6.5% bandwidth /spl plusmn/0.125-dB power equality, 30 dB isolation and 1.07 VSWR is achieved for a coupler of length 1.25 /spl lambda//sub g/. Although this is less than the 15% achieved for capacitively-loaded couplers it is sufficient for many applications and the simplicity of the geometry makes it an attractive option in narrowband designs.
Development of a performance measurement framework for SMEs

Quality gurus all recognise the importance of measurement to track progress and ensure quality improvement according to an accepted plan. They emphasise the use of local measures for evaluating performance because of the ease with which a standard can be established. To measure quality, all areas of an organisation and its environment must be addressed. A performance measurement system (PMS) must contribute to and be integrated with other management objectives. In addition, the benefits of using such a system should outweigh its cost. By integrating quality with dimensions of company performance related with core, support and management processes, and considering the constraints associated with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a framework to foster their performance was developed. The aim was to provide a strategy for implementing various quality measurement tools as part of a continuous improvement programme. The resultant framework is also a means of complying with the associated principles of ISO 9001. Overall, it is argued that the maturity of an SME affects the success of PMSs and quality management systems (QMSs). Finally, this work attempts to bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing SMEs with a framework to help them improve, and thus become more competitive and sustainable.
Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

The “presentation slide” is the building block of all academic presentations, whether they are journal clubs, thesis committee meetings, short conference talks, or hour-long seminars. A slide is a single page projected on a screen, usually built on the premise of a title, body, and figures or tables and includes both what is shown and what is spoken about that slide. Multiple slides are strung together to tell the larger story of the presentation. While there have been excellent 10 simple rules on giving entire presentations [1,2], there was an absence in the fine details of how to design a slide for optimal effect—such as the design elements that allow slides to convey meaningful information, to keep the audience engaged and informed, and to deliver the information intended and in the time frame allowed. As all research presentations seek to teach, effective slide design borrows from the same principles as effective teaching, including the consideration of cognitive processing your audience is relying on to organize, process, and retain information. This is written for anyone who needs to prepare slides from any length scale and for most purposes of conveying research to broad audiences. The rules are broken into 3 primary areas. Rules 1 to 5 are about optimizing the scope of each slide. Rules 6 to 8 are about principles around designing elements of the slide. Rules 9 to 10 are about preparing for your presentation, with the slides as the central focus of that preparation.
MOMCO: method of moment components for passive model order reduction of RLCG interconnects

We introduce a new concept called moment components and a new method based on it to obtain passive reduced-order models of interconnect networks. In this method, the impedance matrix moments of the interconnect network are partitioned into their inductive, capacitive and mixed inductive/capacitive moment components. The method of moment components is described in a formal manner using analysis and synthesis equalities. Two significant contributions of the method of moment components are: 1) new decomposition of moments into parts which reflect passivity in all moments of passive networks; and 2) the analysis equalities impart a regular pattern in terms of the moment components, thus simplifying the moment generation for our method. None of these features is observable in conventional complete moment terms. Two new methods for obtaining passive reduced-order models based on the method of moment components are introduced. The passive reduced-order models are obtained by matching their impedance moment components to those of the original interconnect network through the synthesis equalities. Due to nonnegative definiteness of the moment components, the match in the moment components preserves the passivity of the original interconnect in the reduced-order model. The method of moment components does not have the instability problem of general moment matching techniques. The reduced-order model is specifically targeted for fast timing simulators so that interconnect effects can be simulated efficiently.
Polydextrose with and without Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 drives the prevalence of Akkermansia and improves liver health in a multi-compartmental obesogenic mice study

The past two decades of research have raised gut microbiota composition as a contributing factor to the development of obesity, and higher abundance of certain bacterial species has been linked to the lean phenotype, such as Akkermansia muciniphila. The ability of pre- and probiotics to affect metabolic health could be via microbial community alterations and subsequently changes in metabolite profiles, modulating for example host energy balance via complex signaling pathways. The aim of this mice study was to determine how administration of a prebiotic fiber, polydextrose (PDX) and a probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 (B420), during high fat diet (HFD; 60 kcal% fat) affects microbiota composition in the gastrointestinal tract and adipose tissue, and metabolite levels in gut and liver. In this study C57Bl/6J mice (N = 200) were split in five treatments and daily gavaged: 1) Normal control (NC); 2) HFD; 3) HFD + PDX; 4) HFD + B420 or 5) HFD + PDX + B420 (HFD+S). At six weeks of treatment intraperitoneal glucose-tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed, and feces were collected at weeks 0, 3, 6 and 9. At end of the intervention, ileum and colon mucosa, adipose tissue and liver samples were collected. The microbiota composition in fecal, ileum, colon and adipose tissue was analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing, fecal and liver metabolomics were performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that HFD+PDX intervention reduced body weight gain and hepatic fat compared to HFD. Sequencing the mice adipose tissue (MAT) identified Akkermansia and its prevalence was increased in HFD+S group. Furthermore, by the inclusion of PDX, fecal, lleum and colon levels of Akkermansia were increased and liver health was improved as the detoxification capacity and levels of methyl-donors were increased. These new results demonstrate how PDX and B420 can affect the interactions between gut, liver and adipose tissue.
The Effect of Four Different Muscle Stretches on the Flexibility of Hamstring Muscles in University Boys of 18 to 28 Years Old of Mahabad Payame Noor University

Flexibility or stretchiness of soft tissues like muscle, tendon, fascia, joint capsule around the joint is necessary to complete joint movement range during performance activities. To increase flexibility, muscles should be stretched. This study was done to identify the most effective stretch method for returning hamstring flexibility during last possible time in male students of Mahabad Payame Nour University. Sixty 18-28 year old female students were sampled for clinical test. The samples were randomly assigned into four 15-people groups: static stretch, stretch using Hold Relax (HR), Past Isometric Relaxation (PIR), stretch using Reciprocal Inhibition (RI). The stretch lasted for six weeks, 5 days a week and two minutes a day. The movement range of active extension, knee, pasio and flexion of leg was measured by set-square, the distance between hand fingers and toes in sitting state by tape measure, waist column movement in pelvic-waist rhythm by Shuber test and waist Lordez angle by flexible ruler before stretching and in weekly intervals. Then one-side variance analysis and variance analysis were used with repetitive data. Results indicated that the movement range of knee active extension in static stretch group was increased from 155/5°±6/6° to 168/5°±5/5°, as well as HR group from 158.5°±4.9° to 172.5°±5.4°, in PIR group from 156.7°±6. to 169.7°±5.7°, in RI group from 157.1°±6.4° to 168.1°±6.7° (p<0.0001). The average range of knee pasio extension in static group was increased from 158.1°±6.8° to 171.8°±4.3°, in HR group from 160.6°±5.5° to 174.7°±5.2°, in PIR from 158.3°±6.4° to 172°±5.6° around in RI group from 159.4°±6.5° to 172.5°±5.8° (p<0.0001). The study indicated that none of these techniques has superiority over other techniques for improving hamstring flexibility.
Does a Head-Mounted Display Worsen Inattentional Blindness?

Head mounted displays (HMDs) can present visual information to operators at times when this would otherwise be difficult or impossible using standard visual displays. HMDs have been shown to benefit anesthetists in simulated medical environments. Operators, however, may have trouble extracting information from the HMD in dynamic environments. Operators may also fail to consciously perceive visual events that are important, meaningful, or bizarre if attending to other aspects of the visual scene. We investigated how attention manipulations (Focused, Divided, Just Watch) interact with display type (HMD, Standard Display) and found that participants were less likely to detect unexpected events using the HMD. We also found that unexpected event detection decreased from the Just Watch to Divided to Focused attention conditions. We suggest further testing be taken to ensure that HMDs to not result in failures to detect unexpected events in anesthesia monitoring.
Individual load impedance specification for a stable DC distributed power system

This paper continues the effort to define load impedance specification for a stable DC distributed power system. To improve the existing load impedance specification, an alternative forbidden region for Z/sub 0//Z/sub i/ is proposed, based on which individual impedance specification for each load is defined. Theoretical verification, accompanied with simulation results, shows that the proposed impedance specification is a sufficient condition for small signal system stability. Finally, conservativeness in load impedance specification is discussed.
An oversampling-based analog multitone signal generator

This brief presents the design of an analog oscillator capable of generating multitone signals by encoding the information in an oversampled delta-sigma modulated one-bit stream. With the exception of low-pass filter, the proposed design is completely digital allowing accurate control of the amplitude, frequency, and phase of all sinusoids making up the multitone signal. Simulations and FPGA experiments performed to date have verified the performance of the proposed design.