LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Does sodium nitroprusside decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation after myocardial revascularization?: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) often occurs after coronary artery bypass grafting and can result in increased morbidity and mortality. In the present pilot study, our aim was to investigate whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a nitric oxide donor, can reduce the frequency of post-coronary artery bypass grafting AF.


METHODS AND RESULTS
To investigate the effectiveness of SNP in the prophylaxis of AF, we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on 100 consecutive patients in whom we performed elective and initial CABG operations. A control group of 50 patients were treated with placebo (dextrose 5% in water), whereas the SNP group (n=50 patients) was treated with SNP (0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) during the rewarming period. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured before surgery and 5 days postoperatively. All patients were monitored postoperatively with telemetry. Baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment groups. AF occurred in 12% of the SNP group and 27% of the control group. The occurrence of AF was significantly lower in the SNP group (P=0.005). The duration of AF in the SNP group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (5.33+/-1.86 and 7.55+/-1.94 hours, respectively; P=0.023). C-reactive protein levels were higher postoperatively in the control group than in the SNP group (P<0.05). Postoperative AF significantly prolonged postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of postoperative AF in the SNP group was reduced significantly. Further studies are needed to better delineate the anti-AF profile of SNP.
PERCEIVED FACTORS INFLUENCING PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS JOB SATISFACTION IN BUSIA DISTRICT, KENYA

Job satisfaction is essential to continuing growth of education system around the world. Teachers are a crucial element of educational opportunity structures. In Kenya, the recent efforts by the government to introduce Free Primary Education and Subsidized Secondary Education programmes which led to an influx in enrolments, has raised concerns about student-teacher ratio in schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing public secondary school teachers’ job satisfaction in Busia district, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to establish perceived factors that influenced teachers to join the teaching profession and establish the strategies used by school management to motivate teachers. The study was based on the Herzberg’s theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling was used to select head teachers while simple random sampling was used to pick teachers from the sampled schools. A sample of 129 respondents was selected from a target population of 335 teachers and education officers. A pilot study was carried out to establish the reliability and validity of data collection instruments. A likert scale questionnaire and in depth interview guide were used to collect data from respondents. Data analysis was facilitated by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The findings of the study were that teachers may be more satisfied in schools with good working environment if their terms and conditions are improved. The study recommended that; in-service courses for teachers to get equipped with current knowledge; and that the Government of Kenya should allocate more funds to the Ministry of Education for it to be able to employ more teachers to cater for the deficit and improve the methods of promotion in the teaching service so that many teachers grow faster.
Assessment of whether in-hospital mortality for lobectomy is a useful standard for the quality of lung cancer surgery: retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES
To calculate in-hospital mortality after lobectomy for primary lung cancer in the United Kingdom; to explore the validity of using such data to assess the quality of UK thoracic surgeons; and to investigate the relation between in-hospital mortality and the number of procedures performed by surgeons.


DESIGN
Retrospective study.


SETTING
36 departments dealing with thoracic surgery in UK hospitals.


PARTICIPANTS
4028 patients who had undergone lobectomy for primary lung cancer by one of 102 surgeons.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
In-hospital mortality in relation to individual surgeons, among all patients, and among each of five groups of patients defined by the number of operations performed by the surgeon.


RESULTS
103 patients (2.6%, 95% confidence interval 2.1% to 3.1%) died after surgery during the same hospital admission. No significant difference was found for in-hospital mortality between the five groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of procedures performed by a thoracic surgeon is not related to in-hospital mortality. Reporting data on in-hospital mortality after lobectomy for primary lung cancer is a poor tool for measuring a surgeon's performance.
Intracardiac echocardiography-guided, anatomically based radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial fibrillation originating from pulmonary veins.

OBJECTIVES
In patients with a pulmonary vein (PV) source for atrial fibrillation (AF), we sought the use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to evaluate PV anatomy, guide radiofrequency (RF) ablation and monitor for acute stenosis during ablation.


BACKGROUND
A focal source for AF may be found in the proximal component of the PVs and can be effectively treated by ablative techniques. However, the procedure may be challenging due to the complex anatomy of the left atrium and PVs, uncertain catheter positioning within the PVs and difficulties in mapping atrial extrasystoles, which may be rare or repeatedly induce AF and require cardioversion.


METHODS
Sixty-four patients were referred for RF ablation of a focal source of AF, and 56 were identified as having AF triggers in > or =1 PV. Using ICE guidance, RF lesions were applied around the circumference of the vein near the os until there was electrical isolation.


RESULTS
Lesions were placed in 82 veins (36 right superior PV, 33 left superior PV, 9 left inferior PV, 4 right inferior PV); 24 +/- 12 lesions per vein were necessary to create electrical isolation with a fluoroscopic time of 11 +/- 4 min and a mean of 22% reduction in luminal area. After a follow-up of 13 +/- 7 months, 66% of patients remained free of AF, and another 13% responded better to medications.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe an anatomic approach to PV electrical isolation in which ICE is used to define the anatomy, guide RF ablation and monitor for acute PV changes.
Patterns of consent: evidence from a general household survey

We analyse consent patterns and consent bias in the context of a large general household survey, the ‘Improving survey measurement of income and employment’ (ISMIE) survey, also addressing issues that arise when there are multiple consent questions. Using a multivariate probit regression model for four binary outcomes with two incidental truncations, we show that there are biases in consent to data linkage with benefit and tax credit administrative records held by the Department for Work and Pensions, and with wage and employment data held by employers, and also in respondents’ willingness and ability to supply their National Insurance Number. The biases differ according to the question considered, however. We also show that modelling consent questions independently rather than jointly may lead to misleading inferences about consent bias. A positive correlation between unobservable individual factors affecting consent to DWP record linkage and consent to employer record linkage is suggestive of a latent individual consent propensity.
Association of short-term bleeding and cramping patterns with long-acting reversible contraceptive method satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the short-term (3- and 6-month), self-reported bleeding and cramping patterns with intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the contraceptive implant, and the association of these symptoms with method satisfaction.


STUDY DESIGN
We analyzed 3- and 6-month survey data from IUD and implant users in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study. Participants who received a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system [LNG-IUS], copper IUD, or the etonogestrel implant) and completed their 3- and 6-month surveys were included. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to examine the association of bleeding and cramping patterns with short-term satisfaction.


RESULTS
Our analytic sample included 5011 Contraceptive CHOICE Project participants: 3001 LNG-IUS users, 826 copper IUD users, and 1184 implant users. At 3 months, >65% of LNG-IUS and implant users reported no change or decreased cramping, while 63% of copper IUD users reported increased menstrual cramping. Lighter bleeding was reported by 67% of LNG-IUS users, 58% of implant users, and 8% of copper IUD users. Satisfaction of all LARC methods was high (≥90%). LARC users with increased menstrual cramping (relative risk adjusted [RRadj], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.85), heavier bleeding (RRadj, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.92), and increased bleeding frequency (RRadj, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.67-0.80) were less likely to report being very satisfied at 6 months.


CONCLUSION
Regardless of the LARC method, satisfaction at 3 and 6 months is very high. Changes in self-reported bleeding and cramping are associated with short-term LARC satisfaction.
CERVICAL SPINE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PERPETUATING RATHER THAN PREDISPOSING FACTORS FOR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS IN WOMEN

AIM
The purpose of this study was to assess in a sample of female community cases the relationship between the increase of percentage of cervical signs and symptoms and the severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and vice-versa.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
One hundred women (aged 18-26 years) clinically diagnosed with TMD signs and symptoms and cervical spine disorders were randomly selected from a sample of college students.


RESULTS
43% of the volunteers demonstrated the same severity for TMD and cervical spine disorders (CSD). The increase in TMD signs and symptoms was accompanied by increase in CSD severity, except for pain during palpation of posterior temporal muscle, more frequently observed in the severe CSD group. However, increase in pain during cervical extension, sounds during cervical lateral flexion, and tenderness to palpation of upper fibers of trapezius and suboccipital muscles were observed in association with the progression of TMD severity.


CONCLUSION
The increase in cervical symptomatology seems to accompany TMD severity; nonetheless, the inverse was not verified. Such results suggest that cervical spine signs and symptoms could be better recognized as perpetuating rather than predisposing factors for TMD.
Financial Performance of Malaysian Founder Islamic Banks Versus Conventional Banks

This paper analyses and measures the performance of two Islamic Banks (Bank Islam and Bank Muamalat) as they deemed to be the pioneer and spearhead of the Islamic banking system in Malaysia. Both banks are then benchmarked against the conventional banks’ performance over 5 years (2004-2008).When comparing Islamic banks profitability and liquidity against conventional banks, we found that Islamic banks are less profitable but have better liquidity than conventional banks. The higher profitability of conventional banks is due to the higher net financing and better asset quality that they have. In term of credit risk, we found that the conventional banks encountered high credit risk since their LDR much higher than Islamic banks. Future studies should expand this line of study to examine the best strategy that Islamic Banks can implement in order to attract more non-Muslims borrowers to apply financing from Islamic Banks even though Islamic Banks charging higher profit mark-up.
The Computable Dimension of I-Trees of Infinite Height

We study computable trees with distinguished initial subtree (briefly, I-trees). It is proved that all I-trees of infinite height are computably categorical, and moreover, they all have effectively infinite computable dimension.
Modelling Volatilities and Conditional Correlations in Futures Markets with a Multivariate T Distribution

This paper considers a multivariate t version of the Gaussian dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) model proposed by Engle (2002), and suggests the use of devolatized returns computed as returns standardized by realized volatilities rather than by GARCH type volatility estimates. The t-DCC estimation procedure is applied to a portfolio of daily returns on currency futures, government bonds and equity index futures. The results strongly reject the normal-DCC model in favour of a t-DCC specication. The t-DCC model also passes a number of VaR diagnostic tests over an evaluation sample. The estimation results suggest a general trend towards a lower level of return volatility, accompanied by a rising trend in conditional cross correlations in most markets; possibly reecting the advent of euro in 1999 and increased interdependence of nancial markets. JEL Classications: C51, C52, G11
Virtual reality and mixed reality for virtual learning environments

This paper explores educational uses of virtual learning environment (VLE) concerned with issues of learning, training and entertainment. We analyze the state-of-art research of VLE based on virtual reality and augmented reality. Some examples for the purpose of education and simulation are described. These applications show that VLE can be means of enhancing, motivating and stimulating learners’ understanding of certain events, especially those for which the traditional notion of instructional learning have proven inappropriate or difficult. Furthermore, the users can learn in a quick and happy mode by playing in the virtual environments. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On the importance of matching strategic behavior and target market selection to business strategy in high-tech markets

Business strategy is fundamentally concerned with the actions required to create superior customer value in the firm’s target markets with the ultimate goal of achieving superior performance. Marketing theory suggests that two critical marketing activities required to achieve this end are: (1) the adoption of appropriate strategic behaviors (i.e., customer-oriented, competitor-oriented, technologyoriented) and (2) targeting of the appropriate market segments (i.e., innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards). This study builds on prior research which demonstrates that the strategic behavior—firm performance relationship is contingent on the firm’s strategy by examining this relationship in high tech markets and by considering the incremental contribution of appropriate target market selection. Responses from 160 senior marketing managers in hightech firms reveal strong support for our framework. Thus, this study provides useful guidance to executives and managers in high-tech firms regarding the steps that they should take to increase their probability of success.
Measuring Psychological Consequences of Screening: Adaptation of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire into Dutch

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of a Dutch adaptation of an originally Australian instrument measuring the psychological impact of breast cancer screening. Methods: The three subscales (emotional, physical, social) of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire (PCQ) underwent formal linguistic and cultural translation. A total of 524 women under intensive surveillance because of increased breast cancer risk were asked to complete the questionnaire at 2 months prior to screening, at the day of the screening visit preceding the screening, and 1–4 weeks after screening. Acceptability, score distribution, internal consistency, scale structure, responsiveness to change and construct validity were analysed. Results: Response rates were high (98–94%) and there were very few missing answers and non-unique answers. All scales had Cronbach’s αs > 0.70. The physical and social subscale showed ceiling effects. The item-own scale correlations were only slightly higher than the corresponding item-other scale correlations. Factor analysis showed that the assumed three separate subscales were replicated in our study. Pre- and post-screening effect sizes for the emotional scale were larger than for the other two scales. All PCQ scales correlated with the scales of two other psychological measures (p ≤ 0.01). The emotional scale and the total PCQ score were able to differentiate between subgroups varying in affective risk perception (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: The Dutch PCQ is useful in measuring psychological impact among women under intensive surveillance because of high breast cancer risk.
Segmenting consumers using smart meter data

Existing electricity market segmentation analysis techniques only make use of limited consumption statistics (usually averages and variances). In this paper we use power demand distributions (PDDs) obtained from fine-grain smart meter data to perform market segmentation based on distributional clustering. We apply this approach to mining 8 months of readings from about 1000 US Google employees.
Deep Defects Seen on Visual Fields Spatially Correspond Well to Loss of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Seen on Circumpapillary OCT Scans

Purpose
To examine the structure-function relationship in glaucoma between deep defects on visual fields (VF) and deep losses in the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) circle scans.


Methods
Thirty two glaucomatous eyes with deep VF defects, as defined by at least one test location worse than ≤ -15 dB on the 10-2 and/or 24-2 VF pattern deviation (PD) plots, were included from 87 eyes with "early" glaucoma (i.e., 24-2 mean deviation better than -6 dB). Using the location of the deep VF points and a schematic model, the location of local damage on an OCT circle scan was predicted. The thinnest location of cpRNFL (i.e., deepest loss) was also determined.


Results
In 19 of 32 eyes, a region of complete or near complete cpRNFL loss was observed. All 19 of these had deep VF defects on the 24-2 and/or 10-2. All of the 32 eyes with deep VF defects had abnormal cpRNFL regions (red, 1%) and all but 2 had a region of cpRNFL thickness <21 μm. The midpoint of the VF defect and the location of deepest cpRNFL had a 95% limit of agreement within approximately two-thirds of a clock-hour (or 30°) sector (between -22.1° to 25.2°). Individual fovea-to-disc angle (FtoDa) adjustment improved agreement in one eye with an extreme FtoDa.


Conclusions
Although studies relating local structural (OCT) and functional (VF) measures typically show poor to moderate correlations, there is good qualitative agreement between the location of deep cpRNFL loss and deep defects on VFs.
Consumer perceptions on web advertisements and motivation factors to purchase in the online shopping

The principal objective of this study was to investigate the mediating and moderating effects of product involvement and trust toward websites in relation to the effects of the attributes of web advertisements on customers’ purchase intentions. We collected data consisting of a total of 264 responses from individuals with previous experience with purchasing products from online shopping mall sites, and utilized the PLS (partial least squares) method to analyze the collected data. Our findings demonstrated that consumers with greater product involvement tended to shop in shopping malls, where they could obtain more information on products, and that consumers with low product involvement tended to be more willing to consider entertainment. Additionally, consumers with higher levels of trust toward websites tended to be influenced by perceived entertainment and thus stay longer at shopping sites; conversely, consumers with low levels of trust toward websites tended to be more willing to consider perceived informativeness as minimizing environmental uncertainty. On the basis of our results, online shopping malls must stress the intrinsic attributes of products to attract highly-involved consumers and must present a benevolent corporate image for consumers concerned with better service. Our results also demonstrated that, for less-involved consumers who wish to search for products to present, it may be appropriate to mix entertainment components with product information, and also to implement creative web interface designs for more effective browsing. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Muslims’ emotions toward Americans predict support for Hezbollah and Al Qaeda for threat-specific reasons

Using a random sample of 243 Muslims in Lebanon and Syria, we examined whether support for Hezbollah or for Al Qaeda is predicted by functionallyrelevant emotional responses to specific threats perceived to be posed by Americans. In line with the sociofunctional approach, perceived resource domination threat from Americans elicited anger, and perceived value contamination threat elicited disgust/contempt toward Americans. Importantly, these intergroup emotions in turn differentially predicted support for Hezbollah and Al Qaeda through desires for the organizations to accomplish different goals to address the threat perceptions. Specifically, anger toward Americans predicted support for Hezbollah through desires for the organization to restore threatened symbolic resources by bringing pride and respect to Arabs. In contrast, disgust/contempt toward Americans predicted support for Al Qaeda through desires for the organization to protect threatened ingroup values by de-contaminating Islam from Western cultural influence. Theoretical explanations and implications for addressing and mitigating hostilities between the groups are discussed.
Verifying client-side input validation functions using string analysis

Client-side computation in web applications is becoming increasingly common due to the popularity of powerful client-side programming languages such as JavaScript. Client-side computation is commonly used to improve an applicationâ s responsiveness by validating user inputs before they are sent to the server. In this paper, we present an analysis technique for checking if a client-side input validation function conforms to a given policy. In our approach, input validation policies are expressed using two regular expressions, one specifying the maximum policy (the upper bound for the set of inputs that should be allowed) and the other specifying the minimum policy (the lower bound for the set of inputs that should be allowed). Using our analysis we can identify two types of errors 1) the input validation function accepts an input that is not permitted by the maximum policy, or 2) the input validation function rejects an input that is permitted by the minimum policy. We implemented our analysis using dynamic slicing to automatically extract the input validation functions from web applications and using automata-based string analysis to analyze the extracted functions. Our experiments demonstrate that our approach is effective in finding errors in input validation functions that we collected from real-world applications and from tutorials and books for teaching JavaScript.