LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Body mass index in a US national sample of Asian Americans: effects of nativity, years since immigration and socioeconomic status

OBJECTIVE: To examine body mass index (BMI) and the proportion overweight and obese among adults age 18–59 in the six largest Asian American ethnic groups (Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese), and investigate whether BMI varies by nativity (foreign- vs native-born), years in US, or socioeconomic status.DESIGN: Cross-sectional interview data were pooled from the 1992–1995 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).SUBJECTS: 254,153 persons aged 18–59 included in the 1992–1995 NHIS. Sample sizes range from 816 to 1940 for each of six Asian American ethnic groups.MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported height and weight used to calculate BMI and classify individuals as overweight (BMI≥25 kg/m2) or obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2), age, sex, years in the US, household income and household size.RESULTS: For men, the percentage overweight ranges from 17% of Vietnamese to 42% of Japanese, while the total male population is 57% overweight. For women, the percentage overweight ranges from 9% of Vietnamese and Chinese to 25% of Asian Indians, while the total female population is 38% overweight. The percentage of Asian Americans classified as obese is very low. Adjusted for age and ethnicity, the odds ratio for obese is 3.5 for women and 4.0 for men for US - vs foreign-born. Among the foreign-born, more years in the US is associated with higher risk of being overweight or obese. The association between household income for women is similar for US-born Asian Americans and Whites and Blacks, but is much weaker for foreign-born Asian Americans.CONCLUSIONS: While these data find low proportions of Asian Americans overweight at present, they also imply the proportion will increase with more US-born Asian Americans and longer duration in the US.
Social Cognitive Theory in Cultural Context

© International Association for Applied Psychology, 2002. Published by Blackwell Publishers, 108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JF, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA. mBlackwell Science Ltd Oxford, UK APPS pplied Psychology: an International Review 0269-994X © Int rnational Association for Applied Psychology, 2002 2002 51 1 riginal Arti le SocioCognitiv The ry in Cultural Cont xt Ba dura Social Cognitive Theory in Cultural Context
Ridge preservation with or without an osteoinductive allograft: a clinical, radiographic, micro-computed tomography, and histologic study evaluating dimensional changes and new bone formation of the alveolar ridge.

BACKGROUND
The aim of this randomized, controlled clinical trial is to determine whether ridge preservation using an osteoinductive allograft (test) would prevent ridge resorption and promote bone maturation compared to extraction alone (control).


METHODS
Seventeen patients (20 total sites), in need of a non-molar extraction and delayed implant placement were randomly selected to receive either ridge preservation or extraction alone. A cone-beam computed tomography was completed with a radiographic stent in place before extraction and 10 to 12 weeks postoperatively for dimensional and buccal plate analyses. Bone cores were taken for micro-computed tomography (microCT) and histologic analyses.


RESULTS
Resorption of the alveolar ridge occurred at all sites with no statistically significant differences found between test and control sites. A significant correlation was found between the initial buccal plate thickness and the loss of vertical ridge height. microCT and histologic analyses found a mean new bone volume of 44.9% with microCT and 37.4% with histology in test sites and 39% and 35.5%, respectively, in control sites. The residual graft volume was 2.4% with microCT and 4.5% with histology.


CONCLUSIONS
Test and control sites lost similar amounts of alveolar ridge, with the loss of buccolingual width occurring predominantly at the expense of the buccal bone. A thicker buccal plate was associated with less ridge loss in the vertical dimension. The percentage of new bone was not statistically significant between either the test or control sites, using either microCT or histologic analyses.
An Analysis of Introductory Programming Courses at UK Universities

Abstract Context: In the context of exploring the art, science and engineering of programming, the question of which programming languages should be taught first has been fiercely debated since computer science teaching started in universities. Failure to grasp programming readily almost certainly implies failure to progress in computer science. Inquiry:What first programming languages are being taught? There have been regular national-scale surveys in Australia and New Zealand, with the only US survey reporting on a small subset of universities. This the first such national survey of universities in the UK. Approach: We report the results of the first survey of introductory programming courses (N = 80) taught at UK universities as part of their first year computer science (or related) degree programmes, conducted in the first half of 2016. We report on student numbers, programming paradigm, programming languages and environment/tools used, as well as the underpinning rationale for these choices. Knowledge: The results in this first UK survey indicate a dominance of Java at a time when universities are still generally teaching students who are new to programming (and computer science), despite the fact that Python is perceived, by the same respondents, to be both easier to teach as well as to learn. Grounding: We compare the results of this survey with a related survey conducted since 2010 (as well as earlier surveys from 2001 and 2003) in Australia and New Zealand. Importance: This survey provides a starting point for valuable pedagogic baseline data for the analysis of the art, science and engineering of programming, in the context of substantial computer science curriculum reform in UK schools, as well as increasing scrutiny of teaching excellence and graduate employability for UK universities.
Prenatal drug exposure and maternal and infant feeding behaviour.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate feeding difficulties and maternal behaviour during a feeding session with 1 month old infants prenatally exposed to cocaine and/or opiates.


METHODS
The study is part of the maternal lifestyle study, which recruited 11 811 subjects at four urban hospitals, then followed 1388 from 1 to 36 months of age. Exposure to cocaine and opiates was determined by maternal interview and meconium assay. At the 1 month clinic visit, biological mothers were videotaped while bottle feeding their infants. This sample included 364 exposed to cocaine, 45 exposed to opiates, 31 exposed to both drugs, and 588 matched comparison infants. Mothers were mostly black, high school educated, and on public assistance. Videotapes were coded without knowledge of exposure status for frequency, duration and quality of infant sucking, arousal, feeding problems, and maternal feeding activity and interaction.


RESULTS
No cocaine effects were found on infant feeding measures, but cocaine-using mothers were less flexible (6.29 v 6.50), less engaged (5.77 v 6.22), and had shorter feeding sessions (638 v 683 seconds). Opiate exposed infants showed prolonged sucking bursts (29 v 20 seconds), fewer pauses (1.6 v 2.2 per minute), more feeding problems (0.55 v 0.38), and increased arousal (2.59 v 2.39). Their mothers showed increased activity (30 v 22), independent of their infants' feeding problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous concerns about feeding behaviour in cocaine exposed infants may reflect the quality of the feeding interaction rather than infant feeding problems related to prenatal exposure. However, opiate exposed infants and their mothers both contributed to increased arousal and heightened feeding behaviour.
Effects of the Cooperative Class Experiment Teaching Method on Secondary School Students' Chemistry Achievement in Kenya's Nakuru District

Successful teaching and learning of chemistry depends partly on correct use of a teaching method whose activities target most learning senses. Though chemistry enhances students’ learning of biology, physics and agriculture on which Kenyan industries and prosperity depend, most secondary school students in Kenya perform poorly on the subject. This study sought to examine how the co-operative class experiment (CCE) teaching methods affect students’ achievement. Using a nonequivalent control group design with 521 randomly selected students, the study found that CCE method facilitated students’ chemistry learning more than regular methods. Gender did not affect achievement. Neither did school type significantly affect girls’ achievement when CCE method was used but it significantly affected boys’ achievement with boys in boys’ schools attaining higher scores. Since CCE method benefited students irrespective of school type, education authorities should encourage chemistry teachers to use it and teacher educators to make it part of the teachertraining curriculum.
Use of depth and colour eigenfaces for face recognition

In the present paper a face recognition technique is developed based on depth and colour information. The main objective of the paper is to evaluate three different approaches (colour, depth, combination of colour and depth) for face recognition and quantify the contribution of depth. The proposed face recognition technique is based on the implementation of the principal component analysis algorithm and the extraction of depth and colour eigenfaces. Experimental results show significant gains attained with the addition of depth information. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The role of interventional radiology for pediatric blunt renal trauma

BACKGROUND
This study aimed to appraise the role of interventional radiology in children with blunt renal trauma.


METHODS
The clinical data, injury severity score, days of hospital stay, outcomes and complications of pediatric renal trauma were recorded and evaluated. The two groups: the transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) group and the non-TAE group were compared for clinical features and laboratory data.


RESULTS
Eighteen pediatric patients (12 boys, 6 girls with average age 12.4 ± 4.7 years) with blunt renal injury were included in the study. Six patients underwent angiography because of contrast medium extravasations in the kidney found on computed tomography of which four subsequently underwent a TAE. The clinical features and laboratory data of patients in the TAE and non-TAE groups were not significantly different. All patients were managed successfully by conservative treatment without complications except one in the non-TAE group who required nephrectomy due to renal arterial hypertension directly related to trauma. Both groups had relatively good results and all patients had normal renal function at follow-up.


CONCLUSION
TAE is an alternative therapeutic modality for blunt renal injury in children who have contrast medium extravasations in the kidney on angiography.
Using Attitude Based Segmentation to Better Understand Viewers ’ Usability Issues with Digital and Interactive TV

This paper describes the development of a consumer segmentation study based on category-specific attitudes towards digital and interactive TV, and attitudes to technology and general media consumption. The research was conducted for the Easy TV initiative – a joint initiative of the Independent Television Commission (ITC), Consumers’ Association and Design Council – whose aim is to promote easier to use digital television equipment. An earlier research survey (ITC-UsE, 2001) quantified the public's perceptions of the ease of use of digital and interactive TV. Perceived ease of use ratings for digital and interactive TV were much lower than for analogue TV; in fact, ratings were similar to those obtained for a personal computer. Subsequent research has focused on usability aspects relating to the user, the product and their interaction. In order to identify the ease of use issues affecting users with the biggest usability problems, a new large-scale attitudinal survey (n = 1333) was first conducted to identify distinct types of potential dTV user. Seven types ('clusters') of (existing and potential) dTV consumer were empirically derived from factor and cluster analyses of the survey data. The clusters generated were strongly differentiated in terms of dTV adoption, though the clustering itself was based solely on participants' attitudes. The clusters were then categorized into one of three groups according to their ratings of their perceived: (a) ease of use of dTV, (b) self-efficacy with technology, and (c) need and motivation for adopting dTV. These were labelled: (1) It's too complicated for me, (2) I can deal with it if there's content I want, and (3) It's too slow and clunky for me. These groupings have subsequently been applied to a series of dTV user trials, a detailed description of which is beyond the scope of the current paper.
Assessment of DNA degradation and the genotyping success of highly degraded samples

DNA becomes progressively more fragmented as biological tissue degrades resulting in decreasing ability to gain a complete DNA profile. Successful identification of samples exhibiting very high levels of DNA degradation may be complicated by presenting in minute quantities. The industry standard method for human DNA identification utilising short tandem repeats (STR) may produce partial or no DNA profile with such samples. We report a comparative study of genotyping using STRs, mini-STRs and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with template at different levels of degradation in varying amounts. Two methods of assessing quantity and quality of a DNA sample prior to genotyping were investigated. The QIAxcel capillary gel electrophoresis system provided a rapid, cost effective screening method for assessing sample quality. A real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was able to simultaneously quantify total human DNA, male DNA, DNA degradation and PCR inhibition. The extent of DNA degradation could be assessed with reasonable accuracy to 62.5 pg and genomic targets could be quantified to a lower limit of 15.6 pg. The qPCR assay was able to detect male DNA to a lower limit of 20 pg in a 1:1,000 background of female DNA. By considering the amount of DNA and the degradation ratio of a sample, a general prediction of genotyping success using AmpFlSTR® Profiler Plus®, MiniFiler™ kits and SNP analysis can be made. The results indicate mini-STRs and SNP markers are usually more successful in typing degraded samples and in cases of extreme DNA degradation (≤200 bp) and template amounts below 250 pg, mini-STR and SNP analysis yielded significantly more complete profiles and lower match probabilities than corresponding STR profiles.
Towards an automation of the mutation analysis dedicated to model transformation

A benefit of model-driven engineering relies on the automatic generation of artefacts from high-level models through intermediary levels using model transformations. In such a process, the input must be well designed, and the model transformations should be trustworthy. Because of the specificities of models and transformations, classical software test techniques have to be adapted. Among these techniques, mutation analysis has been ported, and a set of mutation operators has been defined. However, it currently requires considerable manual work and suffers from the test data set improvement activity. This activity is a difficult and time-consuming job and reduces the benefits of the mutation analysis. This paper addresses the test data set improvement activity. Model transformation traceability in conjunction with a model of mutation operators and a dedicated algorithm allow to automatically or semi-automatically produce improved test models. The approach is validated and illustrated in two case studies written in Kermeta. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Data Envelopment Analysis: a Management Science Tool for Scientific Marketing Research New Books in Review

Marketing has a tradition in conducting scientific research with cutting-edge techniques developed in management science, such as data envelopment analysis (DEA) (Charnes et al. 1985). Two decades ago, Kamakura, Ratchford, and Agrawal (1988) applied DEA to examine market efficiency and consumer welfare loss. In this review of three new books, my purpose is (1) to provide a background of DEA for marketing scholars and executives and (2) to motivate them with exciting DEA advances for marketing theory and practice. All three books provide brief descriptions of DEA’s history, origin, and basic models. For beginners, Ramanathan’s work, An Introduction to Data Envelopment Analysis, is a good source, offering basic concepts of DEA’s efficiency and programming formulations in a straightforward manner (with some illustrations) in the first three chapters. A unique feature of this book is that it dedicates a chapter to discussing as many as 11 DEA computer software programs and explaining some noncommercial DEA packages that are available free on the Internet for academic purposes. As Ramanathan states (p. 111), “[I]n this computer era, it is important that any management science technique has adequate software support so that potential users are encouraged to use it. Software harnesses the computing power of [personal computers] for use in practical decision-making situations. It can also expedite the implementation of a method.” EDITOR: Naveen Donthu
Anxiety mediates the association between cannabis use and attenuated positive psychotic symptoms

Cannabis use has been associated with a continuum of psychotic experiences. However, it is unclear whether mood and anxiety symptoms account for increases in attenuated positive psychotic symptoms (APPS) among cannabis users. We predicted that depression and anxiety symptoms would mediate the relation between cannabis use and APPS, and between cannabis use and endorsement of eight or more distressing APPS (D-APPS), a potentially more clinically meaningful group. Young adults (n=674) completed the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ); Drug Use Frequency measure; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Trait Form, Anxiety Subscale; and Social Phobia Scale. Results indicated that symptoms of trait anxiety, but not symptoms of depression or social anxiety, mediated the relationship between cannabis use and APPS, as well as the relationship between cannabis use and D-APPS. Results indicate that symptoms of trait anxiety may play a role in the relation between cannabis use and APPS. Findings underscore the importance of considering clinical characteristics co-occurring with psychotic symptoms, such as affective symptoms, when examining the association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms.
The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire -- re-validation and development of a 15-item version with a large US sample.

BACKGROUND
Sexual dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) but reliable and valid measurement in this population is needed.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to re-validate the Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 in a large US sample.


METHODS
A total of 6300 MS patients from the NARCOMS registry completed the MSISQ-19. Unforced principal component analysis utilizing oblique rotation with Kaiser Normalization validated its construct validity.


RESULTS
The scree plot supported a three-component solution, with 63% of total variance explained. The components mirrored the original validation study measuring primary, secondary, and tertiary sexual dysfunction. PCA suggested the scale could be shortened to 15 items, which were found to apply equally well to males and females (with one primary item specific for each sex). The components were moderately intercorrelated (Pearson rs ranged from 0.5 to 0.67). The secondary subscale correlated most highly with self-reported disability (r (6081) = 0.44, p < 0.001), whereas the tertiary subscale correlated most highly with psychological distress (r (5992) = -.37, p < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha for the total scale (0.92) and the subscales (primary, 0.87; secondary, 0.82; tertiary, 0.91) demonstrated good reliability.


CONCLUSION
The revised 15-item MSISQ is a reliable and valid measure of sexual dysfunction in men and women with MS.
Is a specialist breathlessness service more effective and cost-effective for patients with advanced cancer and their carers than standard care? Findings of a mixed-method randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Breathlessness is common in advanced cancer. The Breathlessness Intervention Service (BIS) is a multi-disciplinary complex intervention theoretically underpinned by a palliative care approach, utilising evidence-based non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions to support patients with advanced disease. We sought to establish whether BIS was more effective, and cost-effective, for patients with advanced cancer and their carers than standard care.


METHODS
A single-centre Phase III fast-track single-blind mixed-method randomised controlled trial (RCT) of BIS versus standard care was conducted. Participants were randomised to one of two groups (randomly permuted blocks). A total of 67 patients referred to BIS were randomised (intervention arm n = 35; control arm n = 32 received BIS after a two-week wait); 54 completed to the key outcome measurement. The primary outcome measure was a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale for patient distress due to breathlessness at two-weeks. Secondary outcomes were evaluated using the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Client Services Receipt Inventory, EQ-5D and topic-guided interviews.


RESULTS
BIS reduced patient distress due to breathlessness (primary outcome: -1.29; 95% CI -2.57 to -0.005; P = 0.049) significantly more than the control group; 94% of respondents reported a positive impact (51/53). BIS reduced fear and worry, and increased confidence in managing breathlessness. Patients and carers consistently identified specific and repeatable aspects of the BIS model and interventions that helped. How interventions were delivered was important. BIS legitimised breathlessness and increased knowledge whilst making patients and carers feel 'not alone'. BIS had a 66% likelihood of better outcomes in terms of reduced distress due to breathlessness at lower health/social care costs than standard care (81% with informal care costs included).


CONCLUSIONS
BIS appears to be more effective and cost-effective in advanced cancer than standard care.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
RCT registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00678405 (May 2008) and Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN04119516 (December 2008).