Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The value of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for refining stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation with a CHADS2 score 0–1: A nationwide cohort study

Summary North American and European guidelines on atrial fibrillation (AF) are conflicting regarding the classification of patients at low/intermediate risk of stroke. We aimed to investigate if the CHA2DS2-VASc score improved risk stratification of AF patients with a CHADS2 score of 0–1. Using individual-level-linkage of nationwide Danish registries 1997–2008, we identified patients discharged with AF having a CHADS2 score of 0–1 and not treated with vitamin K antagonist or heparin. In patients with a CHADS2 score of 0, 1, and 0–1, rates of stroke/ thromboembolism were determined according to CHA2DS2-VASc score, and the risk associated with increasing CHA2DS2-VASc score was estimated in Cox regression models adjusted for year of inclusion and anti-platelet therapy. The value of adding the extra CHA2DS2-VASc risk factors to the CHADS2 score was evaluated by c-statistics, Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI) and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI). We included 47,576 patients with a CHADS2 score of 0–1, from these 7,536 (15.8%) were CHA2DS2-VASc score=0, 10,062 (21.2%) were CHA2DS2-VASc score=1, 14,310 (30.1%) were CHA2DS2-VASc score=2, 14,188 (29.8%) were CHA2DS2-VASc score=3, and 1,480 (3.1%) were CHA2DS2-VASc score=4. Of the cohort with a CHADS2 score of 0–1, the stroke/thromboembolism rate per 100 person-years increased with increasing CHA2DS2-VASc score (95% confidence interval): 0.84 (0.65–1.08), 1.79 (1.53–2.09), 3.67 (3.34–4.03), 5.75 (5.33–6.21), and 8.18 (6.68–10.02) at one year follow-up with CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Patients with a CHADS2 score=0 were not all ‘low risk’, with one-year event rates ranging from 0.84 (CHA2DS2-VASc score=0) to 3.2 (CHA2DS2-VASc score=3). Results from Cox regression analyses, NRI, and IDI confirmed the improved predictive ability of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in the AF patients who have a CHADS2 score of 0–1. In conclusion, the CHA2DS2-VASc provides critical information on risk of stroke in AF patients with a CHADS2 score of 0–1 that can aid a decision of using anti-coagulation. Even in patients categorised as ‘low risk’ using a CHADS2 score=0, the CHA2DS2-VASc score significantly improved the predictive value of the CHADS2 score alone and a CHA2DS2-VASc score=0 could clearly identify ‘truly low risk’ subjects. Use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score would significantly improve classification of AF patients at low and intermediate risk of stroke, compared to the commonly used CHADS2 score. Note: The editorial process for this article was fully handled by Prof. Christian Weber, Editor-in-Chief.
Motivational Profile and Academic Achievement Among Students Enrolled in Different Schooling Tracks

From the contextual perspective, researchers argue that the relevance and weight of motivational variables of students' functioning vary depending on different dimensions related to individual, cultural or situational characteristics. The first objective of this study examined this contention by comparing self-perceptions of competence, learning goals and judgments of usefulness of school subjects as motivational determinants of high school students' commitment and achievement according to their assignment to their learning abilities. The second objective was to compare how these variables related to academic commitment and achievement according to the type of student and two school subjects. Two-hundred-and-twenty-six high school students from a same school participated sixty-one were learning disabled students, 60 were high achievers and 105 were average students. Findings suggest that the relevance of the motivational variables did not vary much across either the type of student or the school subjects. They also support Bandura's view about the primary role of self-perceptions of competence in students' academic commitment and achievement.
Urban geography: the urban dimension of economic, political and social restructuring

In recent years reviews of urban geographic research have repeatedly deplored the lack of concern with the ’spatial dimension’, and with the total character of places in Anglo-American and Dutch urban geography (Jan van Weesep, 1987; Whitehand, 1986a; 1986b). They have claimed that urban geographers have shifted from the study of spatial entities to the analysis of urban issues, and the economic and political processes producing certain spatial configurations, without explicit treatment of the spatial dimension. It cannot be denied that in the last decade urban geographic research in the Anglo-American realm has increasingly employed social, economic and political theories in order to improve understanding of the forces influencing the spatial patterns and processes at the inter and intraurban scale. This has been seen by some geographers as an excessive concern
Transmission Line Modelling By Rational Transfer Functions

The paper is based on analytical expressions of line impedance and admittance in terms of the complex variable s = a + iw. Therefore, transfer functions of lines with homogeneous earth return, such as terminal admittances or two-port parameters, also become functions of s. Their poles have been obtained by the secant method and then the residues have been calculated. The resultant rational transfer functions approximate very closely the transcendental ones along the w-axis and sample transients calculated are in good agreement with those obtained using the inverse Fourier transform.
Is youth spiritual development a universal developmental process? An international exploration

This article describes a new conceptual approach to youth spiritual development, positing it as a universal aspect of positive youth development, and presents initial empirical evidence for the cross-cultural validity of this theory. Based on an international survey with 6725 youth in eight countries, it provides a global portrait of the spiritual lives of 12–25 year olds. The development and psychometric properties of core spiritual development and religious/spiritual engagement across nations and religious traditions are described. Finally, a person-centered analytic technique is used to explore profiles of the unique ways spiritual development manifests itself in the lives of young people. Results suggest that spiritual development is an active process among the majority of youth across diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, with most having spiritual development unfold without particularly strong engagement in explicitly religious or spiritual practices.
Pioglitazone and risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

CONTEXT Pioglitazone is widely used for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but evidence is mixed regarding the influence of medications of this class on cardiovascular outcomes. OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on ischemic cardiovascular events. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION A database containing individual patient-level time-to-event data collected during pioglitazone clinical trials was transferred from the drug's manufacturer for independent analysis. Trials were included if they were randomized, double-blinded, and controlled with placebo or active comparator. DATA EXTRACTION The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary outcome measures included the incidence of serious heart failure. A fixed-effects approach was used to combine the estimates across the duration strata and statistical heterogeneity across all the trials was tested with the I2 statistic. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 19 trials enrolling 16 390 patients were analyzed. Study drug treatment duration ranged from 4 months to 3.5 years. Death, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 375 of 8554 patients (4.4%) receiving pioglitazone and 450 of 7836 patients (5.7%) receiving control therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.94; P = .005). Progressive separation of time-to-event curves became apparent after approximately 1 year of therapy. Individual components of the primary end point were all reduced by a similar magnitude with pioglitazone treatment, with HRs ranging from 0.80 to 0.92. Serious heart failure was reported in 200 (2.3%) of the pioglitazone-treated patients and 139 (1.8%) of the control patients (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.14-1.76; P = .002). The magnitude and direction of the favorable effect of pioglitazone on ischemic events and unfavorable effect on heart failure was homogeneous across trials of different durations, for different comparators, and for patients with or without established vascular disease. There was no evidence of heterogeneity across the trials for either end point (I2 = 0%; P = .87 for the composite end point and I2 = 0%; P = .97 for heart failure). CONCLUSIONS Pioglitazone is associated with a significantly lower risk of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke among a diverse population of patients with diabetes. Serious heart failure is increased by pioglitazone, although without an associated increase in mortality.
Oxidative Stress and its Role in Female Infertility and Assisted Reproduction: Clinical Implications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in physiological functions and act as mediators in various signaling processes. Elevated or sustained generation of free radicals and non radical species derived from free radicals can lead to an imbalance in the intracellular redox homeostasis. Normally, any excess levels of reactive radical and nonradical species generated are intercepted by antioxidants. An excess of the free radicals however, can precipitate pathologies in the female reproductive tract. Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in various pathological conditions such as abortions, preeclampsia, hydatidiform mole, fetal teratogenecity, preterm labor and intrauterine growth retardation, all of which lead to an immense burden of maternal and fetal, morbidity and mortality. In addition evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role in the proinflammatory changes seen with polycystic ovarian disease and also in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and tubal factor infertility. Our review captures the role of OS in assisted reproduction specifically in in vitro fertilization (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro maturation of oocytes (IVM). We also examine the role antioxidants play in modifying the fertility outcomes with assisted reproductive techniques. Finally in vivo and in vitro strategies to modulate the influence of ROS and establish an optimal redox state are also discussed.
Finite-Time lag synchronization of delayed neural networks via periodically intermittent control

The problem of finite-time lag synchronization of delayed neural networks via periodically intermittent control is studied. In two sections, based on the same finite-time stability theory and using the same sliding mode control, by designing a periodically intermittent feedback controller and adjusting periodically intermittent control strengths with the updated laws, we achieve the finite-time lag synchronization between two time delayed networks. In addition, we ensure that the trajectory of the error system converges to a chosen sliding surface within finite time and keeps it on forever. Finally, two examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of the analytical results obtained here. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2015
The influence of corporate culture and organisational commitment on performance

This paper examines the influence of corporate culture and organisational commitment on financial performance in Malaysian companies. Based on the work of Deshpande and Farley on corporate cultural types and Allen and Meyer on organisational commitment, a structured questionnaire was developed and self‐administered to managers in Malaysian companies. A total of 202 managers in public listed companies participated in the study. The results show that there is a significant correlation between corporate culture and organisational commitment. Both corporate culture type and organisational commitment have an influence on the financial performance of these companies. The implications of the study are also discussed.
Determination of Trace Metals Abnormalities in Patients with Vivax Malaria

Background In the present study, blood serum level of metals were determined in malarial patients and compared with those in the normal subjects without complication using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Methods For the determination of these metals twelve intravenous blood samples each from referred malarial patients and a group of normal subjects were collected and immediately centrifuged to obtain the supernatant liquid, serum of both the groups for analysis. Results The blood serum levels of copper in malarial patients determined to be 2.6917 ppm, which is higher as compared to that found 2.045 in normal subjects. Whereas the blood serum levels of iron, magnesium, and zinc found 2.0708 ppm, 12.2467 ppm and 4.9017 ppm respectively in malarial patients, who are lower than those, are determined in the blood serum of normal subjects. Blood serum levels of iron, magnesium, and zinc in normal subjects found 3.950 ppm, 19.4892 ppm, and 5.242 ppm respectively. Conclusion In this study the metal content of copper, iron, magnesium and zinc in vary in malarial patients as compared those in the normal subjects. It may suggest that the decreased levels of iron, magnesium, and zinc can be maintained by giving as supplement of these metals in therapy.
Do State Campaign Finance Reforms Reduce Public Corruption

The Supreme Court has long held that campaign finance regulations are permissible for the purpose of preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption. Yet the implied hypothesis that campaign finance reforms are effective tools for combating public corruption has gone essentially untested. We conduct the first systematic evaluation of the effects of campaign finance laws on actual corruption rates in the states. We examine the effects of state reforms on both convictions and filings in public corruption cases over the last 25 years; overall, we find no strong or convincing evidence that state campaign finance reforms reduce public corruption. Earlier research that employs similar methods also finds little support for the contention that state campaign finance regulations increase public trust and confidence in government. Together, these results call into question the legal rationale for campaign finance regulations.
What Health and Aged Care Culture Change Models Mean for Residents and Their Families: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY A range of commercialized programs are increasingly being adopted which involve broad culture change within care organizations to implement person-centered care. These claim a range of benefits for clients; however, the published evidence for client and family outcomes from culture change is inconclusive and the evidence for these specific models is difficult to identify. The purpose of this review was to identify and evaluate the peer-reviewed evidence regarding consumer outcomes for these subscription-based models. DESIGN AND METHODS The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute procedure. The review considered peer-reviewed literature that reported on studies conducted with health and aged care services, their staff, and consumers, addressed subscription-based person-centered culture change models, and were published in English up to and including 2015. The review identified 19 articles of sufficient quality that reported evidence relating to consumer outcomes and experience. RESULTS Resident outcomes and family and resident satisfaction and experiences were mixed. Findings suggest potential benefits for some outcomes, particularly related to quality of life and psychiatric symptoms, staff engagement, and functional ability. Although residents and families identified some improvements in residents' lives, both also identified problematic aspects of the change related to staff adjustment and staff time. IMPLICATIONS Outcomes for these models are at best comparable with traditional care with limited suggestions that they result in poorer outcomes and sufficient potential for benefits to warrant further investigation. Although these models may have the potential to benefit residents, the implementation of person-centered principles may affect the outcomes.
Improving implicit and explicit intergroup attitudes using imagined contact: An experimental intervention with elementary school children

The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of imagined intergroup contact (Crisp & Turner, 2009) on elementary school children’s explicit and implicit intergroup attitudes. Italian 5th-graders participated in a 3-week intervention involving imagining meeting an unknown immigrant peer in various situations. Approximately 1 week after the last session, they completed measures of self-disclosure and behavioral intentions toward immigrants. Furthermore, they were administered a measure of implicit prejudice. Results showed that those taking part in the intervention, compared to participants in a control condition, revealed more positive behavioral intentions and implicit attitudes toward immigrants. Moreover, self-disclosure mediated the effect of imagined contact on outgroup behavioral intentions. Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed.
Perceptual Learning during Filial Imprinting: Evidence from Transfer of Training Studies

Chicks were first imprinted by exposing them to a moving training stimulus, B or C, that was projected onto a screen at one end of an experimental cabinet. Subsequently, subjects selectively approached the stimulus to which they had been exposed. On the following day, the chicks were placed into a chilled experimental cabinet (15°C) and received trials on which two stimuli (A and B) were projected onto screens located at opposite ends of the cabinet. If the subject approached Stimulus A, a stream of warm air was delivered; if it approached B, the trial terminated, and no heat was presented. For subjects that had been imprinted with Stimulus B, those in Group B, Stimulus A was novel, and Stimulus B was familiar. For chicks that had been imprinted with Stimulus C, Group C, both A and B were novel. In two experiments, Group B acquired the discrimination more rapidly than did Group C. This observation, made using a novel training procedure, was taken to support the suggestion that imprinting results in a form of perceptual learning in which the familiar imprinting object has become more discriminable from other novel objects.
The link between hunting goals and strategy and harvest outcome

Abstract This article explores relationships among hunting goals, hunting strategies, and harvest success and attempts to assess if and how the relationships between harvest and nonharvest goals and harvest outcomes change in the presence of selected intervening hunting strategy variables. Log‐linear analysis examines the relationship among harvest outcome, hunting goals, and hunting strategies. Hunting strategies were found helpful in explaining the patterns of harvest outcome, suggesting that how a person hunts may be as important as why they hunt. Hunting strategy is seen as a viable concept for use in future investigations.
Practical Application of Linear Growth Measurements in Clinical Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Background/Aims: Childhood stunting is a prevalent problem in low- and middle-income countries and is associated with long-term adverse neurodevelopment and health outcomes. In this review, we define indicators of growth, discuss key challenges in their analysis and application, and offer suggestions for indicator selection in clinical research contexts. Methods: Critical review of the literature. Results: Linear growth is commonly expressed as length-for-age or height-for-age z-score (HAZ) in comparison to normative growth standards. Conditional HAZ corrects for regression to the mean where growth changes relate to previous status. In longitudinal studies, growth can be expressed as ΔHAZ at 2 time points. Multilevel modeling is preferable when more measurements per individual child are available over time. Height velocity z-score reference standards are available for children under the age of 2 years. Adjusting for covariates or confounders (e.g., birth weight, gestational age, sex, parental height, maternal education, socioeconomic status) is recommended in growth analyses. Conclusion: The most suitable indicator(s) for linear growth can be selected based on the number of available measurements per child and the child’s age. By following a step-by-step algorithm, growth analyses can be precisely and accurately performed to allow for improved comparability within and between studies.
A Study of Entanglement in a Categorical Framework of Natural Language

In both quantum mechanics and corpus linguistics based on vector spaces, the notion of entanglement provides a means for the various subsystems to communicate with each other. In this paper we examine a number of implementations of the categorical framework of Coecke et al. [4] for natural language, from an entanglement perspective. Specifically, our goal is to better understand in what way the level of entanglement of the relational tensors (or t he lack of it) affects the compositional structures in practical situations. Our findings reveal tha t a number of proposals for verb construction lead to almost separable tensors, a fact that considerably s implifies the interactions between the words. We examine the ramifications of this fact, and we show t hat the use of Frobenius algebras mitigates the potential problems to a great extent. Finally, we briefly examine a machine learning method that creates verb tensors exhibiting a sufficient lev el of entanglement.
Deconstructing the Greek-Cypriot new national curriculum: to what extent are disabled children considered in the ‘humane and democratic school’ of Cyprus?

The present paper contextualizes the recent process of development of the New National Curriculum (NNC) for use in Greek-Cypriot public schools. Using content analysis, it pays particular attention to the degree to which the language, performance expectations, and suggested materials described in the NNC take account of disabled children. Notwithstanding the human rights and anti-discrimination rhetoric that surrounds the process of creating an inclusive NNC, the findings presented herein suggest that the curriculum falls short of addressing the rights of disabled children in inclusive education. On the basis of this finding, the paper discusses the dangers inherent in implementing the proposed NNC in its current form.
Living on the Edge: A Complexity-Informed Exploration of the Human–Water Relationship

Humanity and water represent an intersection of two natural cycles: the human economy and the earth's hydrological system. Although water is vital for human survival and growth, the point where human endeavor intersects is the most variable and uncertain in the hydrological system. Significant spatial and temporal variation of evaporation and rainfall has led to a number of responses aimed at increasing certainty of access to water. However, many of the world's civilizations can attest that the very act of reducing water uncertainty by technical means (capture, storage, and irrigation) has ultimately led to greater uncertainty and civilization failure. This article explores the concept of living with water as a complex entity, inseparably connected with all three levels of existential complexity—individual, social, and ecological—rather than as a commodity, which has led to our current uncertain status.