Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scoring System to Predict Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A UK Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE To validate a preoperative predictive score of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Other risk factors for POPF were sought in an attempt to improve the score. BACKGROUND POPF is the major contributor to morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). A preoperative score [using body mass index (BMI) and pancreatic duct width] to predict POPF was tested upon a multicenter patient cohort to assess its performance. METHODS Patients undergoing PD at 8 UK centers were identified. The association between the score and other pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables with POPF was assessed. RESULTS A total of 630 patients underwent PD with 141 occurrences of POPF (22.4%). BMI, perirenal fat thickness, pancreatic duct width on computed tomography and at operation, bilirubin, pancreatojejunostomy technique, underlying pathology, T stage, N stage, R status, and gland firmness were all significantly associated with POPF. The score predicted POPF (P < 0.001) with a higher predictive score associated with increasing severity of POPF (P < 0.001). Stepwise multivariate analysis of pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables demonstrated that only the score was consistently associated with POPF. A table correlating the risk score to actual risk of POPF was created. CONCLUSIONS The predictive score performed well and could not be improved. This provides opportunities for individualizing patient consent and selection, and treatment and research applications.
A spatially constrained mixture model for image segmentation

Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) constitute a well-known type of probabilistic neural networks. One of their many successful applications is in image segmentation, where spatially constrained mixture models have been trained using the expectation-maximization (EM) framework. In this letter, we elaborate on this method and propose a new methodology for the M-step of the EM algorithm that is based on a novel constrained optimization formulation. Numerical experiments using simulated images illustrate the superior performance of our method in terms of the attained maximum value of the objective function and segmentation accuracy compared to previous implementations of this approach.
Matrix-Dependent Multigrid Homogenization for Diffusion Problems

For problems with strongly varying or discontinuous diffusion coefficients we present a method to compute coarse-scale operators and to approximately determine the effective diffusion tensor on the coarse-scale level. The approach is based on techniques that are used in multigrid, such as matrix-dependent prolongations and the construction of coarse-grid operators by means of the Galerkin approximation. In numerical experiments we compare our multigrid-homogenization method with continuous homogenization, renormalization, and simple averaging approaches.
Perceived social support for opinions: A test of the magnitude and diversity hypotheses

This study tested the hypotheses that the perceived magnitude and diversity of an opinion group are enhanced by membership of that group, and that perceptions of the magnitude and diversity of opinion groups are not confounded with each other. Subjects were asked (i) to indicate their own opinions on each of four issues, and (ii) to estimate the proportion of their peers who would fall into each of three specified opinion groups on each issue, and rate the diversity of membership of each opinion group. The order in which these questions were posed was reversed for half the subjects. Results were consistent with the magnitude hypothesis, but there was little support for the diversity hypothesis. Correlations between magnitude and diversity ratings tended to be positive and reliable. Question sequence exerted no consistently reliable effects. Discrepancies between present and previous findings are discussed.
The developmental characteristics of four- and five-year-old pre-schoolers’ drawing: An analysis of scribbles, placement patterns, emergent writing, and name writing in archived spontaneous drawing samples

The drawings of 17 four- to five-year-old children from two points in time, age four and age five were analyzed. At both ages four and five, the most commonly used scribbles were single vertical lines, single horizontal lines, and single curved lines, whereas the two least used scribbles were spiral and circular lines spread out. The subjects in this sample were most likely to use a centered placement pattern and least likely to use horizontal half, two-sided balance, and extended diagonal half placement patterns. They made significant progress in emergent writing skills from age four to five. At age four, only two children wrote their name on the drawings, while there were fourteen children who did this at age five. In addition to writing their own names, the five year olds often added the names of their family members or friends as well as letter-name elements.
Instructional Dissent in the College Classroom: Using the Instructional Beliefs Model as a Framework

We examined the impact of instructor characteristics and student beliefs on students' decisions to enact instructional dissent using the Instructional Beliefs Model (IBM) as a framework. Students (N=244) completed survey questionnaires assessing their perceptions of instructors' clarity, nonverbal immediacy, and affirming style, as well as their own academic self-efficacy and communicative behaviors following a disagreement or difference of opinion with the instructor. Results indicated that students' academic self-efficacy mediates the relationship between instructor behaviors and two communicative outcomes of instructional dissent. Students who perceived their instructors as clear were more likely to have high self-efficacy for the course and therefore engage in more positive (i.e., rhetorical) forms of dissent as opposed to more negative expressive dissent. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed.
Increasing Academic Self-Efficacy in Statistics With a Live Vicarious Experience Presentation

This study investigated the effect of a vicarious experience on the academic self-efficacy of graduate students enrolled in a statistics and research methods course. Participants (N = 39) completed a self-efficacy scale during the first two meetings of the course. Two weeks later, a portion of these students participated in a randomly assigned intervention to increase statistics self-efficacy. In the experimental condition, a former statistics student came to the class and explained her own math anxieties and outlined the behaviors that led to her personal success in the same course. Comparison students wrote about the characteristics of a successful student in the course without the experience of a peer model presentation. Analysis of pre- and postintervention academic self-efficacy indicated students in the peer model group showed a significant increase compared to the writing group. We discuss the potential of using live vicarious experience presentations to increase self-efficacy in psychology statistics courses.
Barriers to Implementing Curriculum-Based Measurement

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the most problematic barriers to effective implementation of Curriculum-based measures in special education programs as perceived by administrators and teachers. Two studies using the Delphi Probe procedure were conducted. The studies were conducted with 56 special education administrators and 146 special education teachers. Administrators and teachers included in the survey had experience in implementing curriculum-based measurement in their programs, schools, and school districts. Results of the administrator Delphi indicated that the greatest barriers included teacher data utilization, logistical concerns, and the difficulties inherent to introducing change into systems. Results of the teacher Delphi indicated that the greatest problems were logistical and concerns with the face validity of the measures. Implications of the findings are discussed.
The process of inductive inference in groups: The use of positive and negative hypothesis and target testing in sequential rule-discovery tasks.

Two experiments on the process of rule discovery in groups were conducted using a card deck and Wason number triple tasks. The positive effects of incentives on the proportion of correct hypotheses could not be explained by differential testing. The variables hypothesis vs. target testing' and small vs. broad range of rule' did not affect this proportion. There was a preponderance of positive tests, declining during trials. Negative tests occurred more often under the target test and broad rule range conditions. The positivity heuristic diminished in importance during trials, whereas the sufficiency, necessity, and Klayman and Ha heuristics increased. Groups produced fewer false and more correct results than individuals. According to the probabilistic model of opinion change, plausibility and faction size contributed to the group process differentially, depending on the task.
NETWORKED ROBUST PREDICTIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGN WITH PACKET LOSS

Abstract The paper addresses problem of designing a robust output feedback model predictive control for uncertain linear systems over networks with packet-loss. The packet-loss process is arbitrary and bounded by the control horizon of model predictive control. Networked predictive control systems with packet loss are modeled as switched linear systems. This enables us to apply the theory of switched systems to establish the stability condition. The stabilizing controller design is based on sufficient robust stability conditions formulated as a solution of bilinear matrix inequality. Finally, a benchmark numerical example-double integrator is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Reflexivity unpacked: performativity, uncertainty and analytical monocultures

This paper analyses Soros' theory of reflexivity by breaking it down into several component concepts that are individually well analysed in existing literature – including performativity, self-reinforcing feedback loops and uncertainty. By focusing on the cognitive myopia implied by analytical monocultures and on the indeterminacy implied by innovation, it helps establish boundaries of applicability for reflexivity (as opposed to standard economic) models. It argues that Soros largely ignores a key element in the formation of self-reinforcing delusions or market bubbles – the role played in conditions of uncertainty by homogeneous social narratives and shared mental models. This paper also examines how social learning, rhetoric, power, emotional contagion, the discourse of ‘best practice’, ‘and Keynes' beauty contest may lead to such shared narratives and analytical homogeneity in markets. It concludes that market instability results when there is insufficient cognitive diversity or heterogeneity of beliefs among actors to enable them to spot anomalies and novelties.
Predicting the different profiles of organizational identification: A case of shipyard subcontractors

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of different organizational identification profiles. Hypotheses based on the social identity approach and the literature on organizational commitment were formed and tested in a sample gathered from employees of 20 shipyard subcontractors. The results supported the idea that different subgroup characteristics (prestige, contact, and size) may be used to explain four different combinations of subgroup identification (with the subcontractor) and superordinate identification (with the shipyard). However, contrary to our hypotheses, none of the variables concerning relationships between the subgroups (intergroup competition, intergroup contact and perceived discrimination) emerged as significant predictors.
Supply Chain Exploitation, Exploration, and Firm Performance: Effects of Top Management and Information Technology Capabilities

While supply chain (SC) exploitation and exploration have been playing an increasingly important role in supply chain management, there is a dearth of research examining their antecedents and outcomes. In this research, we examine how SC exploitation and exploration impact firm performance. Specifically, drawing upon the boundary spanning theory, we theorize how top management, as boundary spanners, and three types of information technology (IT) capabilities, as boundary objects, enable SC exploitation and exploration. Our research hypotheses are tested using data collected from 157 firms in China. We found that both SC exploitation and exploration have significantly positive effects on firm performance. Also, top management participation directly affects both SC exploitation and exploration. In addition, IT business partnerships and external IT linkages positively affect both SC exploitation and exploration, whereas IT infrastructure is not significantly related to either SC exploitation or exploration. Contributions and implications of this study are discussed.
Mentorship Efforts to Support Part-time Social Work Faculty Members

Social work faculty experience increasing demands to develop and maintain a research portfolio that includes external funding and publications. Given the increase in research expectations, more part-time instructors are needed to teach courses. In addition to the literature review, we briefly describe a pilot part-time faculty mentorship project developed by our school to build a strong, connected, and consistent part-time faculty team. However, we also wanted to examine mentorship programs at other schools/departments of social work; as a result, we conducted an exploratory research study with social work deans and directors nationwide. Findings suggested that while schools of social work are more likely to employ greater numbers of faculty overall, departments tend to have higher teaching expectations for full-time tenure-track faculty. Despite variability among responses, most schools and departments provide some form of support to part-time faculty members; a lack of resources was given as the primary reason for limited mentorship activities.
Students’ acceptance and satisfaction of learning through course websites

Purpose – This paper aims to understand the interrelationships between the various factors that affect the use of course Web sites by university students in a developing country. The factors considered for the purpose of studying these interrelationships include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived Web site credibility and Web site learning acceptance and satisfaction. Furthermore, a comparative study of the potential differences in perceptions between Indian and Omani students with respect to the aforementioned factors is also presented. Design/methodology/approach – A survey instrument was used to collect data from students. Based on an extensive literature review, this paper uses empirical research to analyze student satisfaction in relation to learning through course Websites. Data were analyzed using factor analysis, structural equation modeling and a t-test. Findings – Under the newly proposed construct, Web site credibility was found to be an important predictor of Web site learni.
California Center for Population Research On-line Working Paper Series 1 Daily Variation in Adolescents' Sleep, Activities, and Psychological Well Being Daily Variation in Adolescents' Sleep, Activities, and Psychological Well Being

Va ar ri ia at ti io on n i in n A Ad do ol le es sc ce en nt ts s' ' S Sl le ee ep p, , A Ac ct ti iv vi it ti ie es s, , a an nd d P Ps sy yc ch ho ol lo og gi ic ca al l W We el ll l B Be ei in ng g The daily diary method was employed to examine the daily dynamics of adolescent sleep time, activities, and psychological well being among an ethnically diverse sample of over 750 adolescents approximately 14 to 15 years of age. Studying and stressful demands during the day were modestly but consistently associated with less sleep that evening. Receiving less sleep at night, in turn, was modestly but consistently related to higher levels of anxiety, depressive feelings, and fatigue during the following day. In addition, the daily variability in adolescents' sleep time was notable and just as important for the youths' average levels of daily psychological well being as was the average amount of time spent sleeping each night. A small number of ethnic and gender differences emerged in the dynamics of adolescent sleep, activities, and well being. Discussion focuses on the importance of examining daily variability in adolescents' sleep behaviors in order to better understand the implications of sleep for adolescent well being and development. 3 Daily Variation in Adolescents' Sleep, Activities, and Psychological Well Being As it does in all periods of the lifespan, sleep serves important rest and restorative functions during adolescence. The teenage years, however, increasingly expose children to activities and demands that can limit their ability to obtain sufficient rest at night. Despite the potential significance of sleep for adolescent development, research on children's sleep behaviors during the teenage years remains somewhat limited. Particularly lacking are studies that closely assess the daily links between sleep, activities, and psychological well being among large, normative samples of adolescents. The present study addresses this need by utilizing the daily diary method in order to examine the daily dynamics of sleep across a two-week period among an ethnically diverse sample of 14 and 15 year old adolescents. Given the decreased need for sleep across the entire life span, it initially was assumed that adolescents needed less sleep than younger children. Studies have indicated, however, that adolescents do not have less of …
Assessing the discriminant validity of transformational leader behaviour as measured by the MLQ

Bass's (1985) proposition that transformational leadership can be defined by distinct constructs (charisma, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration) was tested. Using LISREL 8 confirmatory factor analysis, a three-factor first-order model (Model 1) was compared with a single-factor model (Model 2) and a hierarchical model (Model 3). The sample consisted of 1440 subordinates who worked in Australia for an international bank. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X; Avolio, Bass & Jung, 1995) was used to assess transformational leadership. The findings showed that a multidimensional first-order model and a hierarchical model both fitted the data. Based on the evidence presented, it was argued that the MLQ assesses a single higher order construct of transformational leadership and that there is little evidence to support the contention that the MLQ measures distinct transformational leader behaviours.
The Neural Basis of Perceived Unfairness in Economic Exchanges

Human decision making in situations of inequity has long been regarded as a competition between the sense of fairness and self-interest, primarily based on behavioral and neuroimaging studies of inequity that disfavor the actor while favoring others. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments to study refusals and protests using both favoring and disfavoring inequity in three economic exchange games with undercompensating, nearly equal, and overcompensating offers. Refusals of undercompensating offers recruited a heightened activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Accepting of overcompensating offers recruited significantly higher node activity in, and network activity among, the caudate, the cingulate cortex, and the thalamus. Protesting of undercompensating fixed offers activated the network consisting of the right dlPFC and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and midbrain in the substantia nigra. These findings suggest that perceived fairness and social decisions are the results of coordination between evaluated fairness norms, self-interest, and reward.
Voice and speech characteristics and vocal hygiene in novice and professional broadcast journalists

Knowledge of differences in voice and speech characteristics between novice and professional broadcasters is essential for effective education of broadcast journalism students. Because newsreaders rely on optimal voice production, information pertaining to vocal hygiene is also important. The firstaim of this study was to compare the voice and speech characteristics of professional newsreaders, student newsreaders, and control participants. The second aim was to compare the awareness and use of vocal hygiene across these groups. Professional radio newsreaders, broadcast journalism students, and two matched control groups were included in the study. Each participant recorded a news bulletin and completed a questionnaire on vocalhygiene. Data analysis of the recording included objective analysis and perceptual ratings by a panel of three judges. Significant student-professional differences were found. Compared to both the students and the control groups, the professional newsreaders had greater variation in speaking fundamental frequency, a faster rate of speech, fewer pronunciation errors, and higher perceptual ratings on vocal quality, emphasis, continuity, phrasing, and style of newsreading. Female professional newsreaders had a higher speaking fundamental frequency than both their control participants and the student newsreaders. Comparison of vocal hygiene awareness revealed few significant differences between any of the groups.
Sociodemographic characteristics of female habitual benzodiazepine consumers in the catchment area of a health care centre

Sociodeniographic cliaracteristics of female habitual benzodiarepine consuniers in the catclinient area of a health care centre. M. Morales-Suirez-Varela'. 2, ' F. Jatn-Martinez3, A. Llopis-Gonzalez' and B. S. Silla Sobrecases3. ('Unit of Public and Environmental Health, Valencia University, Valencia (Spain). 'Unit Clinical-Epidemiology, Hospital Peset, Valencia (Spain). 3Catarroja Health Center, Valencia Spain).
Product and Convolution Theorems for the Fractional Fourier Transform

The fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is a generalization of the classical Fourier transform (FT). It has recently found applications in several areas, including signal processing and optics. Many properties of this transform are already known, but an extension of the FT¿s convolution theorem is still missing. The purpose of this paper is to introduce extensions of this theorem, dealing with the FRFT of a product and of a convolution of two functions.
Variations in fearfulness and worries of Xhosa children

Xhosa‐speaking South African children in school settings face several academic and emotional challenges. These may be due to family obligation, conformity to authority figures and over expectations from parents, teachers and society. This study examines the differences in the number and types of reported fears and worries in 200 South African children and adolescents, between 14 and 18 years of age. Responses to a questionnaire investigating the inventory of fears and worries revealed significant differences in the number, pattern and level of fears. The participants endorsed school fears at higher levels than their Senegalese, Australian, Nigerian and American counterparts. Girls and children of low‐income homes tend to exhibit higher levels of fears than children of upper‐class homes. When interpreted within the cultural context, results further indicate that the number of fears decreased with age and that cultures that have fear‐producing stimuli, and that favour inhibition and obedience serve to increase levels of fears and worries.