LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Living arrangements of older adults in the developing world: an analysis of demographic and health survey household surveys.

OBJECTIVES
This study examines living arrangements of older adults across 43 developing countries and compares patterns by gender, world regions, and macro-level indicators of socioeconomic development.


METHODS
Data are from Demographic and Health Surveys. The country is the unit of analysis. Indicators include household size, headship, relationship to head, and coresidence with spouse, children, and others. Unweighted regional averages and ordinary least-squares regressions determine whether variations exist.


RESULTS
Average household sizes are large, but a substantially greater proportion of older adults live alone than do individuals in other age groups. Females are more likely than males to live alone and are less likely to live with a spouse or head of a household. Heading a household and living in a large household and with young children is more prevalent in Africa than elsewhere. Coresidence with adult children is most common in Asia and least in Africa. Coresidence is more frequent with sons than with daughters in both Asia and Africa, but not in Latin America. As a country's level of schooling rises, most living arrangement indicators change with families becoming more nuclear. Urbanization and gross national product have no significant effects.


DISCUSSION
Although living arrangements differ across world regions and genders, within-region variations exist and are explained in part by associations between countrywide levels of education and household structure. These associations may be caused by a variety of intermediating factors, such as migration of children and preferences for privacy.
Effectiveness of Cinacalcet in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Not Receiving Dialysis

BACKGROUND
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Cinacalcet could be a therapeutic option although its use is controversial in patients not receiving dialysis. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of cinacalcet in patients with CKD and SHPT without renal replacement treatment (RRT) and without renal transplantation (RT).


METHODS
A retrospective observational study was conducted. Patients were included if they had collected cinacalcet, under off-label use, during 2010 and 2011. Patients selected were followed from the beginning of cinacalcet therapy for one year of treatment.


RESULTS
A total of 37 patients were included with CKD stage 3 (38%), 4 (51%) and 5 (11%). Baseline mean PTH value was 400.86 ± 168.60 mg/dl. At 12 months, a 67% of patients achieved at least a 30% reduction in their PTH value (p<0.001; CI 49.7-83.6), and the overall mean reduction of PTH values was 38% (p< 0.001; IC -49.1, -27.5). A 28% of the patients achieved KDOQI PTH goals (p = 0.003, CI 12%-50%). At 12 months, mean serum calcium values decreased by 6% and mean serum phosphorus values increased by 13%. A 19% of patients experienced hypocalcemia episodes while an increase of 24% in hyperphosphatemia episodes was observed. A 25% of patients finished cinacalcet before a year of treatment. Main withdrawal reasons were: gastrointestinal and other discomfort (8%), hypocalcaemia (8%), non-compliance (3%), interactions (3%) and excess of efficacy (3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cinacalcet was effective in patients with CKD and SHPT not receiving dialysis. Electrolytic imbalances could be managed with administration of vitamin D and analogues or phosphate binders.
Modifications to Precalciner Kiln Combustion Systems to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Electrostatic Precipitator Trips

The use of precalcining cement kilns has created a unique problem in both the cement kiln process and in environmental control. The operation of precalciner cement kilns yields a specific pattern of carbon monoxide (CO) generation because of the fuel-combustion process. As a result of this CO generation, automatic explosion protection systems de-energize the electrostatic precipitators (ESP's) used to control particulate matter emissions from the kilns.
9 Measuring Trait Emotional Intelligence

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the construct of emotional intelligence (EI), focusing on the conceptual distinction between trait EI (or emotional self-efficacy) and ability EI (or cognitive-emotional ability). The former encompasses emotion-related behavioral dispositions and self-perceived abilities measured via self-report, whereas the latter concerns actual emotion-related cognitive abilities and must be measured via maximum-performance tests. Salient measures of both types of EI are succinctly reviewed. It is argued that in terms of measurement most success has been achieved in relation to trait EI rather than ability EI. The overarching message of the chapter is that progress in the field is contingent on recognizing the fundamental differences between the two EI constructs.
The formation of cobalt and nickel complexes on clay surfaces

Abstract Treatment of hectorite exchanged with cobalt or nickel with various ligands is investigated. Basic ligands such as 2,2′-bipyridyl,1,2-diaminoethane (ethylenediamine, en) and ammonia readily afford complexes of nickel(II) and cobalt(III). In the case of ammonia, evidence is obtained for the isolation of an oxidation intermediate on the clay. More quantitative studies including some typical groundwater ligands such as pentanoic and butanoic acids reveal that the weak acid ligands are effective in displacing significant quantities of exchanged cobalt and nickel to solution; by contrast, some basic ligands can “stabilize” the more labile ion pair sorbed fractions of the metal on the clay surface. Although [Ni(en) 3 ] 2+ is much more strongly sorbed than Na + or Ca 2+ , copper(II) ions release large quantities of nickel(II) to solution when aqueous [Cu(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ contacts [Ni(en) 3 ] 2+ —hectorite. Tracer studies using 60 Co show that similar behaviour pertains at microscopic concentration levels to that observed with macroscopic concentrations.
EFFECT OF TOPICAL PHENYTOIN CREAM ON LINEAR INCISIONAL WOUND HEALING IN ALBINO RATS

In this study, the effect of phenytoin cream on linear incisional wound healing was investigated. Thirty male Wistar rats were subjected to a linear 3cm incision made over the skin of the back. The animals were randomly divided into 3 experimental, control, cold cream and treatment groups. Control group did not receive any drug or cold cream. Cold cream group received topical cold cream once a day from the beginning of experiments until the day that wounds were closed. Treatment group were treated topically by 1% phenytoin cream at the same time. For computation of the percentage of wound healing, the area of the wound were measured at the beginning of experiments and the next 2,4,6,8,10,12,14 and 16 days. The percentage of the healing wounds were calculated by Walker formula after measurement of the wound area. Results showed that there weren’t statistically significant differences between treatment and cold cream animals (P>0.05) in most of the days. It is concluded that phenytoin has possibly no significant effect on the rate of wound closing in acute wound model of incision in rat. Therefore further study is required for detection of the role of phenytoin on wound healing and the related parameters in various kinds of experimental wound models.
Employees' awareness of their impact on corporate reputation

a r t i c l e i n f o Corporate reputation is critical for cultivating stakeholder relationships and, specifically, for regaining public trust. Corporate reputation results from the firm's interactions with stakeholders, emphasizing the important role employees play in reputation management. However, employees are not necessarily aware of, or prepared for, this extra-role assignment, indicating a gap in research and a managerial challenge. The purpose of the present article is to identify how employees' awareness of their impact on their employers' reputation is influenced by pride, job satisfaction, affective commitment, and perceived corporate reputation. An online survey of employees working for firms ranked in Fortune's America's Most Admired Companies Index provides empirical evidence. The findings underline the prominent effect pride in membership has regarding employees' awareness of their impact on corporate reputation. Study findings further deliver insights into opportunities and risks for managers who wish to use internal reputation building strategies to enhance corporate reputation. Studies conducted by the World Economic Forum steadily report a decline in public trust in large companies, paired with perceptions of a deficit in values in the global economy (World Economic Forum, 2010). In counteracting this development, building and safeguarding a favorable corporate reputation is an important managerial goal The relationship between a firm's reputation and its employees is two-sided. On the one hand, employees actively shape other stakeholders' perceptions of the firm (George, 1990; Harris and de Chernatony, 2001). Especially in services industries, employees contribute to the formation of corporate reputation through the quality of their interactions with customers (Davies et al., 2003; Helm, 2007). On the other hand, employees are themselves affected by public perceptions of their employer. Affiliation with a reputable firm improves employees' self-esteem, thereby constituting both, an appeal to join for potential employees and a vested interest for current employees to safeguard their employer's good name. The present paper aims at further exploring the prominent role employees play in shaping corporate reputation. Specifically, the paper addresses how employees' awareness of their impact on their employer's reputation is affected by employees' pride in membership, their level of job satisfaction, their affective commitment, and perceptions of their employer's reputation. In discussing these influences on employees' reputation building awareness, the article lays the groundwork for future research on possible incentives for employees to engage in reputation building and the specific actions used to enhance corporate reputation. 2. Literature review Different research …
Prioritization of patients on waiting lists for hip and knee replacement: validation of a priority criteria tool.

OBJECTIVES
This study tested the reliability and validity of the Western Canada Waiting List Project priority criteria score (PCS) for prioritizing patients waiting for hip and knee arthroplasty.


METHODS
Sixteen orthopedic surgeons assessed 233 consecutive patients at consultation for hip or knee arthroplasty. Measures included the PCS, a visual analogue scale of urgency (VAS urgency), and maximum acceptable waiting time (MAWT). Patients completed a VAS urgency, an MAWT, the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the EQ-5D. Using correlational analysis, convergent and discriminant validity was assessed between similar constructs in the priority criteria and WOMAC. Median MAWTs were determined for five levels of urgency based on PCS percentiles. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha.


RESULTS
The sample of 233 patients (62 percent female) ranged in age from 18 to 89 years (mean, 66.3 years). A total of 45 percent were booked for hip and 55 percent for knee arthroplasty. Correlations were strong between the PCS and surgeon VAS urgency (r = .79) and weaker between patient and surgeon measures of VAS urgency (r = .24) and MAWT (r = .44). Correlation coefficients between similar constructs in the priority criteria and WOMAC ranged from 0.24 to 0.32 and were higher than those measuring dissimilar constructs. For decreasing levels of urgency, the median MAWT ranged from 10 to 12 weeks for surgeons and 4 to 12 weeks for patients. Cronbach's alpha was 0.79.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the validity of the PCS as a measure of surgeon-rated urgency. Patients might be ranked differently with different prioritization measures.
Artificial Intelligence: A New Synthesis

Bargaining with reading habit is no need. Reading is not kind of something sold that you can take or not. It is a thing that will change your life to life better. It is the thing that will give you many things around the world and this universe, in the real world and here after. As what will be given by this artificial intelligence a new synthesis, how can you bargain with the thing that has many benefits for you?
An advanced p-channel LDMOS FET with HTRB tolerability of high-voltage pulse transmitter ICs for ultrasound applications

Novel +/-100-V p-channel LDMOS FET technology were developed for a pulse transmitter IC for an ultrasound application. With a design of steep-profile in drift region for a higher RESURF effect, area efficiency of the output performance can be improved by 20 % of Ron, sp. By an optimization of gate poly-Si structure for reducing electric field and higher tolerability against electron trapping in LOCOS, stable performance against high-temperature reverse bias (HTRB) can be obtained. BVoff/Ron, sp of 260 V/3079 ohm·mm2 of p-channel LDMOS and well matched ID-VDS curve traces between n-channel and p-channel LDMOS FETs enabled the suitable bipolar pulse mirror symmetry with less than -40 dBc of second harmonic distortion in the IC with long-term stability.
Mobility in online communities: a case study of mobile BBS in use in China

Despite the extensive effort in creating mobile community services, little has been done to understand what increased mobility implies. In this paper, we focus on a Bulletin Board System (BBS) based online community of a Chinese university, and report a study of the use of its mobile client. We end by drawing implications and conclusions for extending online communities to the mobile environment.
Thinking critically about critical thinking: ability, disposition or both?

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to determine the extent to which clinician-educators agree on definitions of critical thinking and to determine whether their descriptions of critical thinking in clinical practice are consistent with these definitions.


METHODS
Ninety-seven medical educators at five medical schools were surveyed. Respondents were asked to define critical thinking, to describe a clinical scenario in which critical thinking would be important, and to state the actions of a clinician in that situation who was thinking critically and those of another who was not. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to identify patterns and themes.


RESULTS
The definitions mostly described critical thinking as a process or an ability; a minority of respondents described it as a personal disposition. In the scenarios, however, the majority of the actions manifesting an absence of critical thinking resulted from heuristic thinking and a lack of cognitive effort, consistent with a dispositional approach, rather than a lack of ability to analyse or synthesise.


CONCLUSIONS
If we are to foster critical thinking among medical students, we must reconcile the way it is defined with the manner in which clinician-educators describe critical thinking--and its absence--in action. Such a reconciliation would include consideration of clinicians' sensitivity to complexity and their inclination to exert cognitive effort, in addition to their ability to master material and process information.
A Hybrid Reinforcement Learning Approach to Autonomic Resource Allocation

Reinforcement Learning (RL) provides a promising new approach to systems performance management that differs radically from standard queuing-theoretic approaches making use of explicit system performance models. In principle, RL can automatically learn high-quality management policies without an explicit performance model or traffic model and with little or no built-in system specific knowledge. In our original work [1], [2], [3] we showed the feasibility of using online RL to learn resource valuation estimates (in lookup table form) which can be used to make high-quality server allocation decisions in a multi-application prototype Data Center scenario. The present work shows how to combine the strengths of both RL and queuing models in a hybrid approach in which RL trains offline on data collected while a queuing model policy controls the system. By training offline we avoid suffering potentially poor performance in live online training. We also now use RL to train nonlinear function approximators (e.g. multi-layer perceptrons) instead of lookup tables; this enables scaling to substantially larger state spaces. Our results now show that in both open-loop and closed-loop traffic, hybrid RL training can achieve significant performance improvements over a variety of initial model-based policies. We also find that, as expected, RL can deal effectively with both transients and switching delays, which lie outside the scope of traditional steady-state queuing theory.
Survey over VANET Routing Protocols for Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

VANET (Vehicular Ad-hoc Network) is an emerging new technology with some unique characteristics that makes it different from other ad hoc network. Due to rapid topology changing and frequent disconnection it is also difficult to design an efficient routing protocol for routing data among vehicles, called V2V or vehicle to vehicle communication and vehicle to road side infrastructure, called V2I. Because of road accident daily occurrence VANET is one of the influencing areas for the improvement of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) which can increase road safety and provide traffic information etc. The existing routing protocols for VANET are not efficient to meet every traffic scenarios. Suitable routing protocols are required to establish communication between vehicles in future for road safety. In this paper, we focus on the merits and demerits of routing protocols which will help to develop new routing protocols or improvement of existing routing protocol in near future.
Teaching English Speaking and English Speaking Tests in the Thai Context: A Reflection from Thai Perspective.

To successfully assess how language learners enhance their performance and achieve language learning goals, the four macro skills of listening, speaking reading and writing are usually the most frequently assessed and focused areas. However, speaking, as a productive skill, seems intuitively the most important of all the four language skills because it can distinctly show the correctness and language errors that a language learner makes. Since English speaking tests, in general, aim to evaluate how the learners express their improvement and success in pronunciation and communication, several aspects, especially speaking test formats and pronunciation need to be considered. To enhance Thai learners’ English performance and the quality of the speaking tests, this paper has three principal objectives. First, this paper presents English language teaching, as well as teaching English speaking in the Thai context. Then, it highlights the significance of the test format as it is the main tool and indicator for scoring performance and analytic rating methods. Lastly, the paper addresses major problems found in the speaking tests to elucidate certain facts about learners’ speaking ability and English instruction in the Thai context. Some pedagogical implications of the study are discussed for learning and teaching speaking to second or foreign language learners.
Tree partition based parallel frequent pattern mining on shared memory systems

In this paper, we present a tree-partition algorithm for parallel mining of frequent patterns. Our work is based on FP-Growth algorithm, which is constituted of tree-building stage and mining stage. The main idea is to build only one FP-Tree in the memory, partition it into several independent parts and distribute them to different threads. A heuristic algorithm is devised to balance the workload. Our algorithm can not only alleviate the impact of locks during the tree-building stage, but also avoid the overhead that do great harm to the mining stage. We present the experiments on different kinds of datasets and compare the results with other parallel approaches. The results suggest that our approach has great advantage in efficiency, especially on certain kinds of datasets. As the number of processors increases, our parallel algorithm shows good scalability.
Under-diagnosis of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Nairobi, Kenya.

SETTING
Nairobi City Council Chest Clinic, Nairobi, Kenya.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if under-reading of sputum smears is a contributing factor in the disproportionate increase in smear-negative tuberculosis in Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODOLOGY
Between October 1997 and November 1998, patients fulfilling the local programme definition of smear-negative presumed pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled in the study. Two further sputum specimens were collected for examination in a research laboratory by fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
Of 163 adult subjects enrolled, 55% were seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). One hundred subjects had had two pre-study sputum smears assessed before recruitment and produced two further sputum specimens for re-examination in the research laboratory; of these 19 (19%) were sputum smear-positive on re-examination and a further seven (7%) became smear-positive on second re-examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Of those patients with smear-negative presumed pulmonary tuberculosis by the local programme definition, 26% were smear-positive when reexamined carefully with two repeat sputum smears. This suggests that the high rates of smear-negative tuberculosis being seen may in part be due to under-reading. This is probably as a result of the overwhelming burden of tuberculosis leading to over rapid and inaccurate sputum examination. Retraining of existing technicians and training of more technicians is likely to reduce underreading and increase the yield of smear-positive tuberculosis. This finding also stresses the need for regular quality assurance.
No improvement in cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese subjects after supplementation with vitamin D3 for 1 year.

BACKGROUND AND AIM
Cross-sectional studies indicate vitamin D to be of importance for glucose tolerance, blood pressure and serum lipids, but whether supplementation with vitamin D would improve cardio-vascular risk factors is not known.


DESIGN AND SETTING
The study was a 1 year, double blind placebo-controlled intervention trial performed at the University Hospital of North Norway from November 2005 to October 2007. Subjects. A total of 438 overweight or obese subjects, 21-70 years old, were included and 330 completed the study.


INTERVENTIONS
The subjects were randomized to vitamin D (cholecalciferol, vitamin D(3)) 40 000 IU per week (DD group), vitamin D 20 000 IU per week (DP group), or placebo (PP group). All subjects were given 500 mg calcium daily.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Fasting serum lipids and blood pressure were measured and an oral glucose tolerance test performed at start and end of the study.


RESULTS
At baseline the mean serum 25(OH)D levels were 58 nmol L(-1) (all subjects) and increased to 140 and 101 nmol L(-1) in the DD and DP groups, respectively. No significant differences were found between the three groups regarding change in measures of glucose metabolism or serum lipids. In the DP group, there was a slight but significant increase in systolic blood pressure compared with the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not support a positive effect of vitamin D on glucose tolerance, blood pressure or serum lipids. Further studies in subjects with low serum 25(OH)D levels combined with impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension or dyslipidaemia are needed.