Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Staying connected with youth transitioning out of foster care: “Thank you for not giving up on me”

Summary Numerous research studies have addressed the experiences and outcomes of youth transitioning out of foster care; however, far fewer have addressed how to overcome the challenge of locating and retaining research participants from this population. This article contributes to the field by highlighting effective approaches to staying connected with (i.e., recruiting, relocating, and retaining) youth participants in longitudinal research studies. Two hundred ninety-four youth in the Southeastern United States participated in a longitudinal research study about their experiences as they transitioned out of foster care. Two years later, 80% of eligible participants from the baseline population (n = 223) chose to participate in the second wave of data collection. Findings Case examples are presented to illustrate the practical applications of youth-centered and person-centered approaches to participant recruitment, relocation, and retention and how engaging with youth on a case by case basis can minimize attrition rates and maintain participant interest in the study. Application We affirm the importance of encouraging youth involvement in all phases of the research process, highlight the methodological approaches used to recruit, relocate, and retain participants, and discuss the value of establishing and maintaining meaningful connections with youth participants involved in longitudinal research.
End-of-Life Hospital Costs in Cancer Patients: Do Advance Directives or Routes of Hospital Admission Make a Difference?

Objective: End-of-life cancer care is costly. The current study explored whether advance directives or route of hospital admission reduced cancer patients’ terminal hospitalization costs. Methods: This single-institution study focused on solid tumor patients who died on an inpatient oncology service in 2008 and 2009. Patients’ total costs were compared based on advance directives and route of hospitalization. Results: Among 120 patients, all except 4 had an incurable malignancy. Forty-six (38%) had an advance directive. Sixteen (13%) were admitted after an oncology clinic visit and 6 (5%) from hospice; others were admitted via other routes, most commonly from the emergency department. The median total cost for hospitalization (range) per patient was USD 12,962 (1,244–138,877). Patients with advance directives had no statistically significant difference in cost (p = 0.30), even after adjusting for age and time in the hospital. Those admitted after an oncology clinic or from hospice also had no difference in cost compared to those admitted via another route. Use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intensive care unit monitoring and intubation were similar between all compared groups. Conclusion: Advance directives and route of admission do not appear to impact the cost of terminal hospitalization for cancer patients.
The Cross-Sectional Determinants of Returns: Evidence from Emerging Markets' Stocks

This article looks at the cross section of stock returns for the particular case of emerging markets. For each of the 21 emerging markets, I investigate the role of a set of a priori specified factors in the cross section of returns and subsequently assess whether the important factors are common. I use data on emerging markets' individual stocks from the Emerging Markets Data Base (IFC). My results indicate that the most important pricing factors are common to the emerging markets in my sample and that these factors are similar to those identified for mature markets. Among the top six factors are technical factors and price level attributes. The pay-offs to these factors are not correlated, suggesting that even if investors across markets elect similar factors to price assets, premia are local.
Neuroimaging of functional and structural alterations in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the commonest neurological disorder and has profound effects on patients, who suffer from epileptic seizures and also from cognitive impairment. The exact mechanisms of cognitive impairment remain unclear. Aim of this study was to analyse in more detail the functional and structural alterations in two different patient groups, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). We recruited and investigated 26 healthy controls, 30 patients with JME and 67 patients with FLE. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including structural imaging, five functional MRI paradigms and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as well as neuropsychological assessment. In patients with JME we could show motor cortex hyperactivity and an increased functional connectivity between the pre-frontal cognitive cortex and the motor system. This correlated with increased structural connectivity, measured by DTI and also with disease severity: patients with more active epilepsy showed a stronger hyperconnectivity. In FLE, we could show extensive reorganization of cognitive functions, and we could show, that functional MRI can be used as a new diagnostic method, to identify dysfunctional areas, indicative of the seizure onset zone. This is particularly important in patients with nonlesional FLE, where epilepsy surgery may be advisable but is challenged by the absence of a visible surgical target. The study has provided new insights into pathophysiological mechanisms in JME, specifically explaining the characteristic effect of motor seizures triggered by cognitive effort. It has contributed strong evidence that the observed imaging alterations are the cause and not a consequence of JME, by documenting marked structural changes in seizure free patients. For patients with FLE the study showed highly individual effects of chronic epilepsy on cognitive processing in the frontal lobe. These alterations are clinically relevant for both, avoiding complications from surgery, but also to identify pathological alterations not visible in conventional MRI.
Mitigating Effect of Polymer Coating on Deformation From Non-Ideal Explosions

Non-ideal explosions such as those caused by fuel-air explosions or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are capable of producing extensive damage on neighboring structures. Using detonations of gaseous reactants in closed pipes as a model, we are examining methods to mitigate the amount of plastic deformation (damage) resulting from non-ideal explosions. The highest pressures and the largest deformations are observed to occur at the closed end of the pipe where a reflected shock wave is created to bring the flow to rest. In previous studies, we have quantified the deformations near the closed end of a mild steel tube with no mitigating methods present. In the present study, we examine the effect of introducing a polyurea coating to the exterior of stainless steel pipes. Polymer coatings applied to underwater structures and ship hulls have been shown [1,3,5] to reduce the amount of deformation resulting from blast loadings in some cases. We will compare strain data resulting from detonations propagating in six tubes. Two of the six tubes have no coating to establish a baseline measurement while the other four have coatings of different thickness to examine the effect of polyurea.
Development of a Pharmacoeconomic Model to Demonstrate the Effect of Clinical Pharmacist Involvement in Diabetes Management

BACKGROUND: A data collection tool was developed and nationally deployed to clinical pharmacists (CPs) working in advanced practice provider roles within the Department of Veterans Affairs to document interventions and associated clinical outcomes. Intervention and short-term clinical outcome data derived from the tool were used to populate a validated clinical outcomes modeling program to predict long-term clinical and economic effects. OBJECTIVE: To predict the long-term effect of CP-provided pharmacotherapy management on outcomes and costs for patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Baseline patient demographics and biomarkers were extracted for type 2 diabetic patients having > 1 encounter with a CP using the tool between January 5, 2013, and November 20, 2014. Treatment biomarker values were extracted 12 months after the patient’s initial visit with the CP. The number of visits with the CP was extracted from the electronic medical record, and duration of visit time was quantified by Current Procedural Terminology codes. Simulation modeling was performed on 3 patient cohorts—those with a baseline hemoglobin A1c of 8% to < 9%, 9% to < 10%, and ≥ 10%—to estimate long-term cost and clinical outcomes using modeling based on pivotal trial data (the Archimedes Model). A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the extent to which our results were dependent on assumptions related to program effectiveness and costs. RESULTS: A total of 7,310 patients were included in the analysis. Analysis of costs and events on 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year time horizons demonstrated significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), myocardial infarctions (MIs), episodes of acute heart failure, foot ulcers, and foot amputations in comparison with a control group receiving usual guideline-directed medical care. In the cohort with a baseline A1c of ≥ 10%, the absolute risk reduction was 1.82% for MACE, 1.73% for MI, 2.43% for acute heart failure, 5.38% for foot ulcers, and 2.03% for foot amputations. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for cost per quality-adjusted life-year during the 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year time horizons were cost-effective for the cohorts of patients with a baseline A1c of 9% to < 10% and ≥ 10%. CONCLUSIONS: CPs acting as advanced practice providers reduced A1c from baseline for veterans with type 2 diabetes compared with modeled usual care. Archimedes modeling of the A1c reductions projects a decreased incidence of diabetes complications and overall health care spending when compared with modeled usual care.
Cell Differentiation of Pluripotent Tissue Sheets Immobilized on Supported Membranes Displaying Cadherin-11

Investigating cohesive tissue sheets in controlled cultures still poses a challenge since the complex intercellular interactions are difficult to mimic in in vitro models. We used supported lipid membranes functionalized by the adhesive part of the extracellular domain of the cell adhesion molecule cadherin-11 for the immobilization of pluripotent tissue sheets, the animal cap isolated from Xenopus laevis blastula stage embryos. Cadherin-11 was bound via histidine tag to lipid membranes with chelator head groups. In the first step, quantitative functionalization of the membranes with cadherin-11 was confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance and high energy specular X-ray reflectivity. In the next step, animal cap tissue sheets induced to neural crest cell fate were cultured on the membranes functionalized with cadherin-11. The adhesion of cells within the cohesive tissue was significantly dependent on changes in lateral densities of cadherin-11. The formation of filopodia and lamellipodia in the cohesive tissue verified the viability and sustainability of the culture over several hours. The expression of the transcription factor slug in externally induced tissue demonstrated the applicability of lipid membranes displaying adhesive molecules for controlled differentiation of cohesive pluripotent tissue sheets.
Combination Effects of Docetaxel and Doxorubicin in Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer Cells

Combination effects of docetaxel (DOC) and doxorubicin (DOX) were investigated in prostate cancer cells (PC3 and DU145). Combination indices (CIs) were determined using the unified theory in various concentrations and mixing ratios (synergy: CI < 0.9, additivity: 0.9 < CI < 1.1, and antagonism: CI > 1.1). DOC showed a biphasic cytotoxicity pattern with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at the picomolar range for PC3 (0.598 nM) and DU145 (0.469 nM), following 72 h drug exposure. The IC50s of DOX were 908 nM and 343 nM for PC3 and DU145, respectively. Strong synergy was seen when PC3 was treated with DOC at concentrations lower than its IC50 values (0.125~0.5 nM) plus DOX (2~8 times IC50). Equipotent drug combination treatments (7 × 7) revealed that the DOC/DOX combination leads to high synergy and effective cell death only in a narrow concentration range in DU145. This study provides a convenient method to predict multiple drug combination effects by the estimated CI values as well as cell viability data. The proposed DOC/DOX mixing ratios can be used to design combination drug cocktails or delivery systems to improve chemotherapy for cancer patients.
Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnancies Complicated with Pregestational and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the maternal and the perinatal outcomes of women with Pre- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (PGDM) with the outcomes of those with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Methods: In a retrospective cohort study the maternal and the neonatal outcomes of women with PGDM, were compared to the outcomes of women with GDM. Data were collected for the period of 12 months, from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2012, from the labour ward registry. Data compared were; age, parity, mode of delivery, premature delivery, previous history of miscarriage, birth weight, macrosomia, rate of APGAR scores less than 7 at 5 minutes and stillbirth rate. Student t test was used to compare continuous variables and Chi squared was used to compare categorical variables. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate adjusted Odds Ratio (OR). Results: Of the 3413 deliveries during the study period, 3157 fulfilled the inclusion criteria; of those there were a total of 685 deliveries for diabetic women. 569 (83.1%) had GDM and 116 (16.9%) had PGDM. Of those with PGDM, 66 (57%) had T1DM and 50 (43%) had T2DM. Compared to the GDM group, women with PGDM were more likely to be delivered by caesarean section (CS), adjusted OR 2.6, 95% CI (1.66-4.09). The neonates of mothers with PGDM were significantly heavier compared to those of GDM group, p<0.001; and the frequency of macrosomia was more, adjusted OR 3.67, 95% CI (1.75-7.71). Mothers with PGDM have increased risk of preterm delivery less than 37gestations weeks, adjusted OR 2.63, 95% CI (1.49- 4.70). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the rate of APGAR scores less than 7 in 5 minutes or the rate of stillbirth. Conclusion: PGDM is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes compared to GDM.
Air‐stream temperature correlation in forested and urban headwater streams in the Southern Appalachians

Air temperature can be an effective predictor of stream temperature. However, little work has been done in studying urban impacts on air‐stream relationships in groundwater‐fed headwater streams in mountainous watersheds. We applied wavelet coherence analysis to two 13‐month continuous (1 hr interval) stream and air temperature datasets collected at Boone Creek, an urban stream, and Winkler Creek, a forest stream, in northwestern North Carolina. The main advantage of a wavelet coherence analysis approach is the ability to analyse non‐stationary dynamics for the temporal covariance between air and stream temperature over time and at multiple temporal scales (e.g. hours, days, weeks and months). The coherence is both time and scale‐dependent. Our research indicated that air temperature generally co‐varied with stream temperature at time scales greater than 0.5 day. The correlation was poor during the winter at the scales of 1 to 64 days and summer at the scales of 1.5 to 4 days, respectively. The empirical models that relate air temperature to stream temperature failed at these scales and during these periods. Finally, urbanization altered the air‐stream temperature correlation at intermediate time scales ranging from 2 to 12 days. The correlation at the urban creek increased at the 12‐day scale, whereas it decreased at scales of 2 to 7 days as compared with the forested stream, which is probably due to heated surface runoff during summer thunderstorms or leaking stormwater or wastewater collection systems. Our results provide insights into air‐stream temperature relationships over both time and scale domains. Identifying controls over time and scales are needed to predict water temperature to understand the future impacts that interacting climate and land use changes will have on aquatic ecosystem in river networks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PENGARUH KEPEMIMPINAN TRANSFORMASIONAL DAN ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN

This study aimed at analyzing the effect of transformational and OCB leadership on employee performance with organizational commitment mediation. This research was conducted at PT. BPR Jaya Kerti. Sampling of this study made use census method with 46 employees. The data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Data analysis techniques applied in this research was the analysis of the path. The results of the study showed that; 1) transformational leadership had positive and significant effect on organizational commitment, 2) the transformational leadership showed positive and significant effect on employee performance, 3) the OCB indicated positive and significant effect on organizational commitment, 4) the OCB had positive and significant effect on employee performance, 5) organizational commitment and significant showed positive effect on employee performance.
Disambiguating Noun and Verb Senses Using Automatically Acquired Selectional Preferences

Our system for the Senseval-2 all words task uses automatically acquired selectional preferences to sense tag subject and object head nouns, along with the associated verbal predicates. The selectional preferences comprise probability distributions over WordNet nouns, and these distributions are conditioned on WordNet verb classes. The conditional distributions are used directly to disambiguate the head nouns. We use prior distributions and Bayes rule to compute the highest probability verb class, given a noun class. We also use anaphora resolution and the 'one sense per discourse' heuristic to cover nouns and verbs not occurring in these relationships in the target text. The selectional preferences are acquired without recourse to sense tagged data so our system is unsupervised.
Effects of Abacus Learning on 3rd-graders' Performance in Paper-and-Pencil Tests of Calculation

This study was aimed at investigating effects of after-school abacus learning on papar-and-pencil calculation. Two speeded tests of basic calculation, «power tests» of multi-digit addition, subtraction, open sentence problems and word problems involving addition and subtraction, ans comprehension of the «trade» principle between columns were given to 110 3rd-graders, 53 of whom were learning abacus outside the school
Self-reported bedtimes, television-viewing habits and parental restrictions among Finnish schoolchildren (aged 10–11 years, and 2 years later aged 12–13 years): Perspectives for health

Using self-reported data from children at age 10–11 years in 2008 and at age 12–13 years in 2010 (n = 113), this study examines bedtime habits, parental permissiveness about television viewing and the most-viewed television programmes. Later bedtimes (both during the week and at the weekend) were reported in 2010 and were related to reported parental permission to watch television freely. Parental attitudes towards television viewing were reported as having become more permissive over time. The Finnish soap opera Salatut elämät and the American animated sitcom The Simpsons were the most popular programmes. The findings are discussed in relation to health.
Distributed Intrusion Detection System in a Multi-Layer Network Architecture of Smart Grids

The advent of the smart grid promises to usher in an era that will bring intelligence, efficiency, and optimality to the power grid. Most of these changes will occur as an Internet-like communications network is superimposed on top of the current power grid using wireless mesh network technologies with the 802.15. 4, 802.11, and WiMAX standards. Each of these will expose the power grid to cybersecurity threats. In order to address this issue, this work proposes a distributed intrusion detection system for smart grids (SGDIDS) by developing and deploying an intelligent module, the analyzing module (AM), in multiple layers of the smart grid. Multiple AMs will be embedded at each level of the smart grid-the home area networks (HANs), neighborhood area networks (NANs), and wide area networks (WANs)-where they will use the support vector machine (SVM) and artificial immune system (AIS) to detect and classify malicious data and possible cyberattacks. AMs at each level are trained using data that is relevant to their level and will also be able to communicate in order to improve detection. Simulation results demonstrate that this is a promising methodology for supporting the optimal communication routing and improving system security through the identification of malicious network traffic.
Role of collagen-binding heat shock protein 47 and transforming growth factor-beta1 in conjunctival scarring in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

PURPOSE Submucosal fibrosis due to excessive accumulation of collagens is an important histologic feature in the pathogenesis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP). Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen-binding protein, plays an important role in the biosynthesis of procollagens. In the present study, we examined the role of HSP47 in conjunctival scarring in patients with OCP. METHODS Biopsy specimens of the conjunctiva of 15 patients with OCP and 5 normal subjects were studied for the expression of HSP47, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, type I collagen, and type III collagen. The role of TGF-beta1 on the induction of HSP47 and type I collagen by conjunctival fibroblasts was studied by immunostaining, Western blot analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Compared with the control, increased accumulations of type I and type III collagens were detected by immunohistochemistry in fibrotic conjunctiva of patients with OCP. Weak and sparse expression of HSP47 was detected in the epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts in control conjunctival tissues. In contrast to the control, the expression of HSP47 was markedly increased in the stromal fibroblasts in conjunctival tissues obtained from patients with OCP, as detected by immunohistochemistry. By quantitative real-time PCR, compared with control conjunctival tissues, a 3.4-fold increase in the expression of HSP47 was noted in the conjunctival tissues obtained from patients with OCP. Similar to conjunctival tissues, fibroblasts isolated from conjunctiva of patients with OCP exhibited 4.8-fold increase in the expression of HSP47, compared with control fibroblasts. When conjunctival fibroblasts were treated with various concentration of TGF-beta1, upregulation in the expression of HSP47 and type I collagen was detected. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated increased expression of HSP47 and TGF-beta1 by conjunctival fibroblasts in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with OCP. TGF-beta1 induced the expression of HSP47 and type I collagen by conjunctival fibroblasts. Increased levels of TGF-beta1 and HSP47 may regulate increased synthesis, assembly, and production of collagens and thereby could significantly contribute to the process of conjunctival scarring in patients with OCP.