Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting who will benefit from an Expert Patients Programme self-management course.

BACKGROUND In England, the Expert Patients Programme, a lay-led chronic disease self-management course, was developed to improve self-care support and skills. The course is designed for anyone with a self-defined long-term condition, and attracts a heterogeneous group of patients. A randomised controlled trial has demonstrated effectiveness in improving subjective health. However, it is not known whether particular patient characteristics predict the impact of the course. AIM To determine whether baseline characteristics predict clinical outcomes from attendance at a chronic disease self-management course; and to assess whether identification of such characteristics assists in targeting the course to individuals most likely to benefit. DESIGN OF STUDY A post-hoc subgroup analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial to explore predictors of three trial outcomes: self-efficacy, energy, and health-related quality of life. SETTING Participants with self-defined long-term conditions (n = 629) were recruited from community settings in all 28 strategic health authorities in England. METHOD Multiple regression was used to examine interactions between baseline variables and trial outcomes. RESULTS The predictors demonstrating significant interactions were: age and general health, and baseline values for self-efficacy, energy levels, and health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION Participants with lower self-efficacy and health-related quality of life at baseline demonstrated more positive health outcomes. The Expert Patients Programme may have a protective effect on health-related quality of life for patients with poor health and low confidence. Younger people benefited substantially more than older people. Results suggest that positive outcomes associated with the course will be demonstrated with a wide variety of patients, although it may be worthwhile encouraging attendance of younger patients, those lacking confidence, and those coping poorly with their condition.
The Heterogeneity of Treatment Needs for Justice-Involved Girls

Current efforts to identify the treatment needs of juveniles typically examine girls as a homogeneous group and recommendations for gender-responsive services tend to generalize needs to all girls. Research on within-girl heterogeneity suggests that this approach is shortsighted as treatment needs vary among justice-involved girls; however, little is known about how treatment needs cluster in this population. Consequently, we used latent class analysis to identify treatment needs within a sample of 1,731 female adolescents charged in juvenile court in Washington State. The analysis identified four classes of need representing High Family Conflict and Trauma (20%), Complex Treatment Needs With Antisocial Peers (30%), Low Adverse Experiences With Substance Abuse Needs (38%), and Mental Health Needs With Strong Social Assets (10%). The findings are consistent with other community-based analyses of female treatment needs and distinct from male-oriented treatment recommendations. Implications for policies regarding appropriate services and service capacity for justice-involved girls are discussed.
Oxidative stress research: a framework to relate basic science to clinical practice -

Oxidative stress research has been going on for a long time, but a review of recent free radicals research literature presents little or no framework for translation into clinical practice. Instead, there seems to be a paradigm shift whereby the current trend in oxidative stress research has moved from the yet-to-be translated basic concepts to new hypotheses and theories that can hardly be separated from the basics. This commentary focuses on the issue of ‘translating basic science to clinical practice’; with a view to draw attention to untranslated basic concepts, some new theories that are inseparable from the basic concepts, the gap between negative vs positive research outcomes, and the gap between diagnostic pathology vs research in assessment of oxidative stress. Attempt is made to explain how oxidative stress research can be adopted in clinical practice and pathology, in particular. Importantly, this article identifies that the confounding effects of various default metabolites with anti- or pro-oxidant properties require to be acknowledged; and also hypothesize a framework to relate any new theory to the basics as well as to clinical practice.
Is Tourism Development a Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy in the Long Run? Evidence from GCC Countries

The main objective of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between tourism development and economic growth in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in a multivariate model, using panel data for the period 1995–2012. The study adopts a panel Granger causality analysis approach to assess the contribution of tourism to economic growth in GCC countries as a whole, and in each individual country. In the case of GCC countries as a whole, the results show a one-way Granger causality, from economic growth to tourism growth. Furthermore, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates follow the path of economy-driven tourism growth, as hypothesized. The reverse hypothesis (i.e., tourism-led growth hypothesis) holds true for Bahrain, while there is no causal relationship between tourism and economic growth in the case of Oman.
Political sophistication in Central and Eastern Europe

This article investigates how parties can influence the level of political sophistication their supporters have. Although the importance of parties in providing their supporters with political information was first suggested in early studies of voting behaviour, this level of analysis has been omitted from individual studies of political sophistication. Focusing on the political environment of post-communist societies, where parties played a key role in helping citizens understand politics, I theorize both a direct and an indirect path through which parties can contribute to the level of sophistication of their supporters. Using cross-national data from the Eurequal 2007 project on 13 post-communist countries, I show three characteristics related to parties' motivation to mobilize the electorate against the status quo that have an impact on individual level political sophistication. Results from a multi-level model suggest that supporting a non-incumbent, smaller or right-wing party is related, either directly or in interaction with individual characteristics, to higher levels of political sophistication. These findings shed light on how looking at political parties can help us better understand the differences in the levels of political sophistication among citizens.
Using Mixed-Model Item Response Theory to Analyze Organizational Survey Responses: An Illustration Using the Job Descriptive Index

In this article, the authors illustrate the use of mixed-model item response theory (MM-IRT) and explain its usefulness for analyzing organizational surveys. The authors begin by giving an overview of MM-IRT, focusing on both technical aspects and previous organizational applications. Guidance is provided on how researchers can use MM-IRT to check scoring assumptions, identify the influence of systematic responding that is unrelated to item content (i.e., response sets), and evaluate individual and group difference variables as predictors of class membership. After summarizing the current body of research using MM-IRT to address problems relevant to organizational researchers, the authors present an illustration of the use of MM-IRT with the Job Descriptive Index (JDI), focusing on the use of the ‘‘? ’’ response option. Three classes emerged, one most likely to respond in the positive direction, one most likely to respond in the negative direction, and another most likely to use the ‘‘? ’’ response. Trust in management, job tenure, age, race, and sex were considered as correlates of class membership. Results are discussed in terms of the applicability of MM-IRT and future research endeavors.
Towards Real-Time Traffic Sign Detection and Classification

Traffic sign recognition plays an important role in driver assistant systems and intelligent autonomous vehicles. Its real-time performance is highly desirable in addition to its recognition performance. This paper aims to deal with real-time traffic sign recognition, i.e., localizing what type of traffic sign appears in which area of an input image at a fast processing time. To achieve this goal, we first propose an extremely fast detection module, which is 20 times faster than the existing best detection module. Our detection module is based on traffic sign proposal extraction and classification built upon a color probability model and a color HOG. Then, we harvest from a convolutional neural network to further classify the detected signs into their subclasses within each superclass. Experimental results on both German and Chinese roads show that both our detection and classification methods achieve comparable performance with the state-of-the-art methods, with significantly improved computational efficiency.
Prevalence of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Middle-Aged, Male Marathon Runners Detected by Cardiac CT

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in middle-aged, male marathon runners using coronary dual source CT angiography (DSCTA). Materials and Methods: 50 male marathon runners older than 45 years (mean age: 52.7, standard deviation: 5.9 years, range: 45 to 67 years) received DSCTA including calcium scoring (CS) in addition to standard pre-participation screening. Based on standard risk factors, the risk for coronary events was calculated using the PROCAM score. Coronary status was defined using the following system: 1. absence of CAD (CS zero, no coronary plaques) 2. mild coronary atherosclerosis (CS > 0, coronary plaques with luminal narrowing < 50 %), 3. moderate coronary atherosclerosis (CS > 0, luminal narrowing > 50 %), 4. significant CAD (CS > 0, luminal narrowing > 75 %). Results: The mean PROCAM score was 1.85 % (standard deviation = 1.56, range 0.39 to 8.47 %). 26/50 marathon runners had no atherosclerosis. 1 of the remaining 24 participants had significant CAD, 3 had moderate coronary atherosclerosis and 20 had mild coronary atherosclerosis. Treadmill exercise testing was unremarkable in terms of myocardial ischemia in all participants. Age, systolic blood pressure, personal minimum time, family history of cardiovascular disease and PROCAM score were factors associated with an increased risk for coronary atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Coronary atherosclerosis can be detected in almost 50 % of male marathon runners aged older than 45 years. In 24 % of the participants plaques were located in the proximal coronary system. However, only a minority of these persons have obstructive CAD. As expected, treadmill exercise testing failed to detect these persons that possibly have a higher risk for coronary events. Key points: • Coronary atherosclerosis can be detected in ~50 % of male marathon runners > 45 years • Only a minority of these persons have obstructive CAD • Treadmill exercise testing failed to detect these persons • Cardiac CT might help to identify athletes with elevated risk for coronary events, especially in persons with a family history of coronary artery disease Citation Format: • Tsiflikas I, Thomas C, Fallmann C et al. Prevalence of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Middle-Aged, Male Marathon Runners Detected by Cardiac CT. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2015; 187: 561 – 568
Learning styles: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study in higher education

Background. In his dissertation, Jan Vermunt (1992) proposed four different learning styles: a meaning directed, a reproduction directed, an application directed and an undirected style. Aims. In a cross-sectional and longitudinal design the development of these learning styles during students' stay at the university is studied, as well as the relation of these styles with academic success. A systematic relation between year of study and learning style is expected, namely that the application and meaning directed learning style scores would be higher in the later years and the undirected and reproduction learning style scores would be the highest in the early years. Results. In the cross-sectional study it was not found that the application and meaning directed learning style scores were higher in the later years, nor that the undirected and reproduction learning style scores were the highest in the early years. In the longitudinal study the means of the meaning directed and application directed learning style scores indeed increased over the years, while the means of the reproduction and undirected learning style scores decreased. For the score on the meaning directed learning style, this change was significant, though a marginal effect size was found. Conclusion. It might not be concluded there is a systematic relation between year of study and learning style. No evidence is found for the implicit hierarchy that the meaning directed and application directed learning are better than the reproduction learning style. The undirected learning style, however, correlates negatively with academic success.
Monoamine oxidase A is highly expressed in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes oxidative deamination of neurotransmitters and dietary amines and produces H2O2. It facilitates the progression of gliomas and prostate cancer, but its expression and functional relevance have not been studied in lymphoma. Here, we evaluated MAOA in 427 cases of Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and in a spectrum of reactive lymphoid tissues by immunohistochemistry on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded specimens. MAOA was expressed by Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells in the majority of classical Hodgkin lymphomas (cHLs) (181/241; 75%), with 34.8% showing strong expression. Weak MAOA was also noted in a minority of primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphomas (8/47; 17%) and in a mediastinal gray‐zone lymphoma. In contrast, no MAOA was found in non‐neoplastic lymphoid tissues, nodular lymphocyte‐predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL; 0/8) or any other non‐Hodgkin lymphomas studied (0/123). MAOA was more common in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐negative compared to EBV‐positive cHL (p < 0.0001) and was especially prevalent in the EBV‐negative nodular sclerosing subtype. Similar to primary human lymphoma specimens, most cHL‐derived cell lines displayed MAOA activity, whereas non‐Hodgkin‐lymphoma‐derived cell lines did not. The MAOA inhibitor clorgyline reduced the growth of L1236 cells and U‐HO1 cells, and shRNA knockdown of MAOA reduced the growth of L1236 cells. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of MAOA increased the growth of MAOA‐negative HDLM2 cells. Combined treatment with clorgyline and ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) was more effective in reducing cell growth than either regimen alone. In summary, MAOA is highly expressed in cHL and may reflect the distinct biology of this lymphoma. Further studies on the potential utility of MAOA as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target are warranted. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
London's Career Motivation Theory: An Update on Measurement and Research

The concept of career motivation initially presented by London (1983) integrates individual differences into three domains: career resilience, career insight, and career identity. This serves as an organizing framework in which to understand and enhance the effects of situational conditions on career decisions and behavior. This article summarizes London's career motivation theory, describes assessment center and paper-and-pencil measures of the career motivation domains, presents a study showing the convergent validity of three measures, and reviews research findings. Suggestions are made for future research and practice.
An Unusual Patient with Hypercalciuria, Recurrent Nephrolithiasis, Hypomagnesemia and G227R Mutation of Paracellin-1

A 19-year-old female patient with hypercalciuria and recurrent nephrolithiasis/urinary tract infection unresponsive to thiazide type diuretics is presented. The patient first experienced nephrolithiasis at the age of 4 years. Afterwards, recurrent passages of stones and urinary tract infection occurred. On diagnostic evaluation at the age of 19 years, she also had hypocitraturia and hypomagnesemia. Her serum calcium concentrations were near the lower limit of normal (8.5–8.8 mg/dl; normal range: 8.5–10.5), her serum magnesium concentrations were 1.15–1.24 mg/dl (normal range: 1.4–2.5) and urinary calcium excretion was 900 mg/24 h. PTH concentrations were increased (110–156 pg/ml; normal range: 10–65). We tried to treat the patient with hydrochlorothiazide at a dose of 50 mg/day. During treatment with thiazide diuretics, PTH concentration remained high and the patient had recurrent urinary tract infections and passages of stones. Serum magnesium concentration did not normalize even under the parenteral magnesium infusion. Her mother had a history of nephrolithiasis 20 years ago. Severe hypomagnesemia in association with hypercalciuria/urinary stones is reported as a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by impaired reabsorption of magnesium and calcium in the thick assending limp of Henle’s loop. Recent studies showed that mutations in the CLDN16 gene encoding paracellin-1 cause the disorder. In exon 4, a homozygous nucleotide exchange (G679C) was identified for the patient. This results in a point mutation at position Glycine227, which is replaced by an Arginine residue (G227R). The mother was heterozygous for this mutation. G227 is located in the fourth transmembrane domain and is highly conserved in the claudin gene family. This case indicates the pathogenetic role of paracellin-1 mutation in familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis and further underlines the risk of stone formation in heterozygous mutation carriers.
A comparison of health outcomes for combat amputee and limb salvage patients injured in Iraq and Afghanistan wars

BACKGROUND Treatment of military combatants who sustain leg-threatening injuries remains one of the leading challenges for military providers. The present study provides systematic health outcome data to inform decisions on the definitive surgical treatment, namely amputation versus limb salvage, for the most serious leg injuries. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of health records for patients who sustained serious lower-extremity injuries in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, 2001 to 2008. Patients had (1) amputation during the first 90 days after injury (early amputees, n = 587), (2) amputation more than 90 days after injury (late amputees, n = 84), or (3) leg-threatening injuries without amputation (limb salvage [LS], n = 117). Injury data and health outcomes were followed up to 24 months. RESULTS After adjusting for group differences, early amputees and LS patients had similar rates for most physical complications. Early amputees had significantly reduced rates of psychological diagnoses (posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse) and received more outpatient care, particularly psychological, compared with LS patients. Late amputees had significantly higher rates of many mental and physical health diagnoses, including prolonged infections and pain issues, compared with early amputees or LS patients. CONCLUSION Early amputation was associated with reduced rates of adverse health outcomes relative to late amputation or LS in the short term. Most evident was that late amputees had the poorest physical and psychological outcomes. These findings can inform health care providers of the differing clinical consequences of early amputation and LS. These results indicate the need for separate health care pathways for early and late amputees and LS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic and prognostic study, level III.
ORGANIZATIONAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

In this chapter, we extend existing models of individual and collective emotional intelligence to the organizational level and provide an empirical study on the performance impact of organizational emotional intelligence. We propose that organizational emotional intelligence is composed of the average level of individual emotional intelligence of organization members and the collectively shared emotionally intelligent norms, values, and behaviors that shape their interaction. Across 156 organizations, we demonstrate sufficient within-organization consistency and between-organization difference to consider emotional intelligence a collective organizational characteristic. In addition, we show that the level of organizational emotional intelligence is positively associated with operational performance, financial performance, and innovation performance, and negatively associated with involuntary absence. Thus, organizational emotional intelligence can be considered a valuable asset for organizations.
Efficient parallel beamforming for 3D ultrasound imaging

One of the most demanding tasks in state-of-the-art medical ultrasound systems is the localization of possible scatterers in the body based on received echoes. Digital beamforming involves the summation of all received echoes in each image point according to their time of flight, i.e., their delay. This requires the knowledge of the delays for all combinations of ultrasound transmitters, image points and receivers. Recent three-dimensional (3D) systems comprise thousands of transducer elements and millions of image points. Compared to traditional 2D systems, the total number of delays is several orders of magnitude larger. In this paper, we present a new beamforming algorithm that exploitsthe inherent locality in the image formation and efficiently approximates the delays. Compared to latest proposed architectures, this results in 20 percent less arithmetic operations, and a reduction of the input/output (I/O) bandwidth and the total memory size by factors of 30 and 50, respectively.
Descriptive analysis of parent–child interactions in young children with or at risk for developmental delay

Children with developmental delay (DD) are at risk for behavior problems, but little is known about natural contingencies of reinforcement that these children experience. The present study used descriptive analysis (antecedent–behavior–consequence observations) to study parent–child interactions of fourty-seven, 2–3 year-old children with or at risk for DD. Child adaptive and inappropriate behavior as well as their antecedents and consequences were observed across four conditions (free play, parentdirected play, mealtimes, parental distraction). When parents were engaged in another task (distraction), child appropriate behavior occurred less frequently than in the other conditions, and child inappropriate behavior occurred 63% of the time. A lack of parental attention and no activity were the most frequent antecedents for inappropriate behavior. Potential positive reinforcers appeared as consequences of inappropriate child behavior 77% of the time. These findings have implications for the development and prevention of serious behavior disorders. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MAKING IT BY FAKING IT

This study examines upward mobility among working-class law students. It posits that the experiences of these students can be understood from a perspective of stigma. A triangulated methodology consisting of interviews, participant observation, and questionnaires is used to examine the adjustment of these law students to an elite law school environment, where they experience a class stigma which creates identity problems. Like other individuals who experience stigma, these students learn to hide their class background in order to manage their identity. However, in their efforts to conceal their background they experience identity ambivalence. The accommodation strategies that students use to over come this ambivalence are explored.