Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding relationships between diabetes mellitus and health-related quality of life in a rural community.

INTRODUCTION There is a lack of information on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Aboriginal diabetic people. OBJECTIVE To investigate HRQOL among aboriginal diabetics living in an isolated, rural Canadian community. METHODS DESIGN Mixed methods: (1) A mailed health-related survey; and (2) a population based retrospective chart review. STUDY POPULATION People aged 17 years and older living in the Bella Coola Valley, British Columbia, Canada, and having a chart at the Bella Coola Medical Clinic as of September 2001 were asked to complete a detailed HRQOL survey during the period August to December 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographics (age, sex, ethnicity). Health-related quality of life was measured using the MOS 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the US Centers for Disease Control healthy day's items. RESULTS Relatively greater percentages of diabetic people (n = 72 [57%]) completed the survey than did non-diabetics (n = 675 [37%]). Mean scores for Aboriginal people were lower/poorer than mean scores for non-Aboriginal people in all the quality of life questions. Mean scores for diabetic people were lower than mean scores for non-diabetics in all the quality of life questions. Aboriginal diabetics reported the worst scores on almost all of our quality of life questions. CONCLUSION Rural diabetics experience significant impairment in their health-related quality of life. Among rural diabetics, Aboriginals report the worst HRQOL scores. Compared with other people, Aboriginals fare worse in HRQOL, which may explain the difference.
Detecting Botnets with Tight Command and Control

Systems are attempting to detect botnets by examining traffic content for IRC commands or by setting up honeynets. Our approach for detecting botnets is to examine flow characteristics such as bandwidth, duration, and packet timing looking for evidence of botnet command and control activity. We have constructed an architecture that first eliminates traffic that is unlikely to be a part of a botnet, classifies the remaining traffic into a group that is likely to be part of a botnet, then correlates the likely traffic to find common communications patterns that would suggest the activity of a botnet. Our results show that botnet evidence can be extracted from a traffic trace containing almost 9 million flows
Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action: Accurate Prediction of Behavioral Intentions for Enrolling in Distance Education Courses

This study tested how well Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action predicted respiratory care practitioners' participation intentions for completing a baccalaureate degree through distance education. The significant predictor variables, attitude and subjective social norm, yielded R2 = . 46 which was validated through a within-study replication. The predictor variables, subjective personal norm and perceived behavioral control, did not achieve significance. Tests of the model's explanatory role showed moderate to high correlations between attitude and beliefs (r = .50) and subjective social norm and beliefs (r = .70). This study further supports the use of the theory of reasoned action for predicting participation intentions within continuing professional education (CPE). It also demonstrated that significant predictor variables might vary according to the specific population and context under study. This paper concludes with recommendations for research needed to refine the use of the theory of reasoned action within CPE.
Precipitation changes in a GCM resulting from the indirect effects of anthropogenic aerosols

An atmospheric GCM coupled to a mixed‐layer ocean model is used to study changes in rainfall due to the indirect effects of anthropogenic aerosols. The model includes treatments of both the first and second indirect effects. The most striking feature of the equilibrium rainfall response to the indirect effects of anthropogenic aerosols is a southward shift of the equatorial rainfall. We hypothesize that this is caused by a hemispheric asymmetry in the cooling of the sea surface. This is supported by another pair of experiments, in which the model is run with prescribed present‐day SSTs. In one experiment the standard model is used, and in the other the SSTs in the Northern Hemisphere are increased by 1 K in the calculation of the surface fluxes, to mimic the effect of a return to pre‐industrial conditions. Compared to the run with increased NH SST, the standard run shows a southward shift of equatorial rainfall, similar to that obtained as a response to anthropogenic aerosols.
Implementation of the Bologna Objectives in a Sample of European Private Higher Education Institutions: Outcomes of a Survey

This paper presents the main results of a recent survey of private higher education institutions from twelve selected European countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia) [in the framework of the UNESCO‐CEPES project on “Private Higher Education in Europe and Quality Assurance and Accreditation from the Perspectives of the Bologna process Objectives”, designed and implemented in collaboration with “Leon Koźminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management (LKAEM) and the World Bank]. After a brief review of the current incidence of private education in the selected European countries, the authors give a description of the survey. Then the main findings are structured according to the nine goals of the Bologna Process and their corresponding level of implementation in private higher education institutions, and also to provide comparisons with public higher education institutions. The paper concludes with a discussion of the results and w.
Feature selection algorithm for evoked EEG signal due to RGB colors

In this paper, a single trial classification is introduced for the Electroencephalography (EEG) signals evoked by RGB colors. The effectiveness of a single trial classification is an important step towards online classification of EEG signals. Signals are analyzed by Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) technique, and the last decomposition is used in the feature extraction stage. We investigate different feature extraction methods in order to find out the best method which can be used with colors dataset. These methods are: Event-Related Spectral Perturbations (ERSP), Target mean, AutoRegressive and EMD residual. In addition, we propose a new feature selection algorithm, which focuses on selecting the best features by studying the behavior of EEG components that appear due to the introduced color. We introduced a comparison between the classification results of using all extracted features, the results of using the selected features by the proposed algorithm and the results of using the selected features by recursive feature elimination algorithm, which is used by similar study. The proposed algorithm is proved with all the investigated feature extraction methods as the classification accuracies are increased. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used in the classification process. We found that the execution time of using color's stimulus is only 0.23s, which is much less than the time which was required by any other stimulus such as imagery and spelling word presented in the previous researches. The best feature extraction method that gives the highest classification accuracy and can be used with real time BCI systems are Target Mean and EMD residual, as their accuracies are high and the computation time is very low.
Basal cell carcinoma: a paradigm for targeted therapies

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent cancer with increasing incidence over the last decades. Standard of care is surgical excision, upon which complete tumour clearance is achieved in most cases. However, a small subgroup of patients will have remnants of disease post-excision and require further treatment options. Over 90% of all BCCs carry a mutation in PTCH 1 or SMO, two conducting proteins of the Hedgehog pathway (Hh). Therefore, inhibition of the Hh pathway is a promising option for systemic first-line therapy. Vismodegib was the first developed of these small molecules, which was approved by the FDA in January 2012. Areas covered: The authors review current treatment modalities for BCC and discuss current developments in pharmacological therapy. The current literature including meta-analyses, the Cochrane database and registered as well as completed randomized controlled trials. Expert opinion: Hh inhibitors are a new promising treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic BCC. Phase I and II clinical trials with the Hh inhibitor, vismodegib, showed a significant reduction in tumour size and appearance of new tumours with relatively good tolerability. Nevertheless, further investigation on new molecules and the effectiveness of an intermittent dosing regimen is necessary.
Immigration-Related Diversity and Trust in German Cities: The Role of Intergroup Contact

This article investigates the relationship between neighbourhood diversity, various forms of intergroup contact and trust in a sample of native Germans clustered in 50 neighbourhoods in several German cities. The authors argue that the consideration and direct measurement of intergroup contact is essential for fully comprehending the consequences of rising ethno-cultural diversity in Western democracies. Our results show that neighbourhood immigration-related diversity in itself does not exert the same negative effects on generalized and outgroup trust as found in the North American context. Instead, intergroup contact moderates the effects of neighbourhood diversity. The results add to our understanding of the different socio-political consequences of immigration-related diversity and immigrant contact in social networks.
Nigerian Clinical Level Medical Students’ Knowledge of Dental Specialty

Background: The roles of physicians in oral healthcare delivery are very important due to the unequal distribution of the low oral health manpower as well as the lack of awareness of patients concerning the treatment of oral health problems by dentists in Nigeria. Aim: To assess the Nigerian clinical level medical students’ knowledge of dental problems and conditions in relation to the dental specialty that treat them. Subjects and Methods: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of clinical level medical students of University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, was conducted between May and June, 2010. The knowledge of the students was graded as good (16-20), fair (8-15), and poor (<8). Results: Out of the 350 questionnaires distributed, 279 were filled and returned giving an overall response rate of 79.7% (279/350). Of these, 47.0% (131/279), 50.2% (140/279), and 2.8% (8/279) of respondents showed poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. The trend showed a statistically significant increase in the mean level of knowledge of dental specialty with an ascent in the clinical level (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The level of knowledge of dental specialty in this survey was suboptimal and varied with different specialties which may have adverse implication in future patient care. The variation in the level of knowledge with different clinical level suggested gain in knowledge about dental specialty mainly through nonformal means among medical students.
Gender and Instrument Associations, Stereotypes, and Stratification

This literature review examines and synthesizes 30 years of research into the relationship between gender and musical instruments. Specifically, the review focuses on how this relationship affects instrument selection by grade school students entering a school music program. Topics include the gender typing of musical instruments, instrument preferences of young (preband or preorchestra) students, beliefs about which gender should play which instrument, gender influences during the instrument selection process, the status of gender stratification within instrumental ensembles, and perceptions of musicians in relation to their gender and instrument. Also discussed are theories as to why gender associations and stereotypes occur within instrumental music, including social role theory, and ways in which researchers have attempted to counteract gender as a factor in the instrument selection process. The review concludes with implications drawn from the body of research and direction for future studies.
Autologous cord blood transplantation for metastatic neuroblastoma

Auto‐SCT is a common approach for metastatic neuroblastoma with the intention to rescue hematopoiesis after megadose chemotherapy. PBSC or BM is the usual stem cell source for auto‐SCT. Auto‐CBT for neuroblastoma has very rarely been performed. Currently, case reports are available for two patients only. We performed 13 auto‐SCTs for high‐risk neuroblastoma from 2007 to 2013, including four cases of metastatic neuroblastoma aged 11–64 months treated with auto‐CBT. All four patients had partial or CR to upfront treatments before auto‐CBT. Nucleated cell dose and CD34+ cell dose infused were 2.8–8.7 × 107/kg and 0.36–3.9 × 105/kg, respectively. Post‐thawed viability was 57–76%. Neutrophil engraftment (>0.5 × 109/L) occurred at 15–33 days, while platelet engraftment occurred at 31–43 days (>20 × 109/L) and 33–65 days (>50 × 109/L) post‐transplant, respectively. There was no severe acute or chronic complication. Three patients survived for 1.9–7.7 yr without evidence of recurrence. One patient relapsed at 16 months post‐transplant and died of progressive disease. Cord blood may be a feasible alternative stem cell source for auto‐SCT in patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma, and outcomes may be improved compared to autologous PBSC or BM transplants.
A Case of Angiosarcoma Arising in Trunk of the Right Pulmonary Artery Clinically Simulating Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Angiosarcoma arising in the pulmonary artery is extremely rare. We herein report a case of angiosarcoma arising in the pulmonary artery trunk of 71 year-old woman. This case was clinically diagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism but angiosarcoma of the pulmonary artery should be considered as the differential diagnosis of unusual clinical manifestations of pulmonary thromboembolism because of the extremely poor prognosis of the lesion.
A new specimen of Biseridens qilianicus indicates its phylogenetic position as the most basal anomodont

A new well-preserved basal therapsid skull from the Xidagou Formation, Middle Permian of China, is identified as Biseridens qilianicus. The following synapomorphies distinguish Biseridens as an anomodont and not an eotitanosuchian as previously described: short snout; dorsally elevated zygomatic arch and septomaxilla lacking elongated posterodorsal process between nasal and maxilla. The presence of a differentiated tooth row; denticles on vomer, palatine and pterygoid; contact between tabular and opisthotic; lateral process of transverse flange of pterygoid free of posterior ramus and absence of mandibular foramen exclude it from other anomodonts. Our cladistic analysis indicates Biseridens to be the most basal anomodont, highlights separate Laurasian and Gondwanan basal anomodont clades and suggests that dicynodonts had their origins in the Gondwanan clade. The co-occurrence of the most basal anomodont (Biseridens) together with the most basal therapsid (Raranimus), basal anteosaurid dinocephalians, bolosaurids and dissorophids suggests that the earliest therapsid faunas are from China.
Privatization and family farms in Central and Eastern Europe

Dans les anciens pays communistes les privatisations devaient permettre l'implantation d'exploitations familiales et le developpement de leurs moyens de production. Le transfert d'anciennes terres collectivisees et fermes d'Etat fait apparaitre de grandes disparites. L'A. examine ce fait puis il decrit les changements intervenus au sein des structures sociales, comme produit de la privatisation. Les exploitations familiales tendent a devenir performantes. Certaines cooperatives et fermes d'Etat pourront continuer d'exister sur la base de nouveaux statuts mais pour autant, il est a prevoir que la moitie de la production restera assuree par des cultivateurs a mi-temps
Is Pluralism a Viable Model of Diversity? The Benefits and Limits of Subgroup Respect

In this paper, we focus on a key psychological principle underlying pluralism, subgroup respect, defined as feelings that one's subgroup is recognized, accepted, and valued by members of a common group (e.g. Americans' respect for various ethnic subgroups). Analyzing survey data collected from a large and diverse sample of respondents in two US cities (Oakland, California, and Los Angeles; N = 1,229), we found that subgroup respect was linked to more positive evaluations of America and its ethnic groups, but only among African Americans and Latinos. Among Whites, personal respect (i.e. how Americans feel about the individual) was a better predictor of the assessed attitudes (affect toward Americans, distrust of the justice system, and ingroup favoritism) than subgroup respect. Advocates of pluralism suggest that acknowledgment and regard for valued subgroup identities will have a unifying effect on the social system. The data here, while generally consistent with this perspective, suggests, however, that the unifying influence of subgroup respect is limited to members of ethnic minority groups.
Encounters with racism and the international student experience

This article makes a contribution to the existing and extensive literature on the international student experience by reporting on the incidence of racism and religious incidents experienced by international students at a university in the south of England. Out of a survey of 153 international postgraduate students, 49 had experienced some form of abuse. In most cases, this took the form of verbal abuse, though racism manifested physically for nine students. Strong emotional reactions were reported, including sadness, disappointment, homesickness and anger. There was a consequent reluctance to return to the UK as a tourist, or to offer positive word-of-mouth recommendations to future students. This article offers a portrait of the reception offered to international students against a backdrop of increased racism in the UK. A link is thus made between the micro experience and macro forces. Implications for student satisfaction and future international student recruitment are drawn.
The formation of fear in gay space: the ‘straights' story

It is well-known that lesbians and gay men have long been produced and examined as objects of fear. However, this article analyses lesbians and gay men as subjects of fear. This paper offers an exploration of the formation and uses of fear in the context of lesbian and gay experiences of danger and safety associated with violence. In so doing it explores the politics and geography of fear that inform lesbian and gay perceptions of danger and safety. The evidence provided is based upon an analysis of an established and a non-established arena of lesbian and gay performance and visibility/invisibility.
Making Global Society: Friendship Networks among Transnational Professionals in the Building Design Industry

Little is currently known about the nature and wider implications of transnationalism among professionals, despite the fact that companies are increasingly establishing overseas business links, seeking foreign contracts and obliging professional employees to work overseas for long periods of time. Focusing on the research generated by a small study of mainly architects and engineers who had worked abroad at some time in the building design industry in this article I explore their transnational experiences and the factors that enabled them to construct viable friendship networks extending over time and into global life. These experiences are briefly contrasted with the social processes constructed by migrants and others operating in transnational social space. Though professionals appear to lack the clear sense of collective unity, the pre-existing identity and/or the same sense of membership and organization as other types of transnational communities may exhibit, these networks nevertheless demonstrated a high degree of sociality and affectivity and a capacity to generate further transnational relationships. They also revealed a strongly postnational orientation arising from the conjunction of a unique combination of shared factors especially age, emotional deprivation, location and the nature of overseas work.
Coaches' Attitudes towards Youth Sport Participants with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

While research has begun to explore athletes with physical disabilities, there is a marked void in the research literature surrounding athletes with ‘invisible’ disabilities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Individuals with ADHD may exhibit restlessness, inattentiveness and excessive motor movement. Within the sport arena, these children may have difficulty following directions, remembering strategies, and staying on task. Coaches will likely respond with some type of corrective behavior, but these behaviors will be guided by their attitudes towards these athletes. Therefore the purpose of this study was to begin exploration into coaches' attitudes towards athletes with ADHD. Results found that coaches with previous experience working with athletes with ADHD reported more positive attitudes and these coaches were most likely to have known a child had ADHD due to parental communication. These findings underscore the need for improved coaching education to meet the needs of all children able to participate in youth sports.
Short- and Long-Term Performance Feedback and Absorptive Capacity

Research on organizational learning from performance feedback has produced findings on how organizational change is influenced by performance relative to aspiration levels, but has focused on short-term goal variables. In this article, we examine how short- and long-term goals are related to short- and long-term actions, respectively. We do so by predicting changes in absorptive capacity from performance relative to aspiration levels, and by testing whether long-term goals mainly affect potential absorptive capacity, which has long-term effects, while short-term goals mainly affect the realized absorptive capacity, which has short-term effects. Using data from surveys of 252 decision makers representing 129 Israeli early-stage high-tech organizations, our analysis yields supportive empirical findings. The findings imply that performance relative to aspiration levels has effects on long-term strategic actions as well as short-term ones, and thus argue against strict myopia.
Can consumers' scepticism be mitigated by claim objectivity and claim extremity?

By focusing on the construct called consumer scepticism towards advertisements, this study identified four dimensions of scepticism towards advertising claims: scepticism about the believability (disbelief), credibility (mistrust), desirability (undesirable) and informational value (misinform) of advertising claims. Using an experimental design setting, this study found that the type of claim and claim extremity solicit differential responses from consumers on different dimensions of the scepticism construct. The differential responses are more pronounced for a product than a service advertisement. Implications arising from the findings are discussed and suggestions for future research advanced.