Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Risk Communication Formats on Risk Perception Depending on Numeracy

Objective. To examine the influence of numeracy on interpreting various risk communication formats. Design. A random sample of women (N = 266) completed a questionnaire assessing numeracy and risk perception of prenatal test results and results of colon cancer screening tests. The authors examined the relationships between risk level (high v. low) and format of risk presentation (ratio, pictogram, or Paling Perspective Scale) and whether these relationships differed based on the numeracy skills of the participant. Results. The authors identified a significant (P<0.001) 3-way interaction between format, risk level, and numeracy: high-numerate participants in the low-risk group perceived the test results as less risky compared with participants in the high-risk group (P < 0.001) with the Paling Perspective Scale but not with the other formats. For low-numerate participants, they did not observe differences between low- and high-risk scenarios for any of the 3 formats. The results were similar for the Down syndrome and colon cancer scenarios. Overall, the pictogram resulted in significantly lower risk ratings compared with the Paling Perspective Scale and the ratio with numerator 1 (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Different communication formats may produce different risk perceptions, but the effect is qualified by patients' numeracy skills.
Emerging role of dual antiplatelet therapy in the prevention of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Platelets, the chief effectors of vascular homeostasis, have been identified as important players in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic liver disease in preclinical models of hepatitis B viral infection. Platelets are thought to promote the accumulation of virus-specific T-cells into the liver parenchyma. Importantly, the inhibition of platelet activation by clinically relevant doses of aspirin and clopidogrel was able to reduce immune-mediated necroinflammatory liver disease, extracellular matrix deposition, and hepatocellular carcinoma development; the same treatment was able to improve overall survival. These results strongly support the design of clinical trials aiming to define the potential of antiplatelet therapy in the prevention of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.
Analysis and Treatment of Complications after Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose To analyze the causes and types of complications after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and determine proper prevention and treatment methods. Materials and Methods A total of 1,576 UKAs were performed for osteoarthritis of the knee from January 2002 to December 2014 at one institution. We analyzed complications after UKA retrospectively and investigated proper methods of treatment. Results A total of 89 complications (5.6%) occurred after UKA. Regarding the type of complications after UKA, there were 42 cases of dislocation of the mobile bearing, 23 cases of loosening of the prosthesis, 6 cases of periprosthetic fracture, 3 cases of polyethylene wear, 3 cases of progression of arthritis in the contralateral compartment, 2 cases of medial collateral ligament injury, 2 cases of impingement, 5 cases of infection, 1 case of arthrofibrosis, and 2 cases of failure due to unexplained pain. The most common complication after UKA was mobile bearing dislocation in the mobile-bearing knees and loosening of the prosthesis in the fixed-bearing knees, but polyethylene wear and progression of arthritis were relatively rare. The complications were treated with conversion to total knee arthroplasty in 58 cases and simple bearing change in 21 cases. Conclusions The most common complication after UKA was dislocation of the mobile bearing. When a complication occurs after UKA, appropriate treatment should be performed after accurate analysis of the cause of complication.
Sketching the Identity Negotiations of Male Athletes and their Coaches: A Case Study of a CIS Men’s Basketball Team

More than simply passive members of a hard masculine cult, male athletes and their coaches take up complex and contradictory identities within the larger athletic structures in which they operate. In this study, I explore the relations of power shaping identity and subjectivity for male athletes and their coaches. Interviews were conducted with eight key informants, six student-athletes and two coaches, of a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s basketball team and focused on sketching their experiences, perceptions, and performances of masculinities in the sport arena. The detailed stories shared by the two coaches led me to focus two analysis chapters on their narratives. My third analysis chapter broadens to include the narratives told by the larger group of participants. Drawing on the work of Foucault and feminist post-structuralist analysis, I problematize the ethical subjectivities of coaches and players and consider the implications of these findings for both critical sport researchers and anti-violence activists.
Patterns and knowledge of nonmedical use of stimulants among college students.

OBJECTIVE To determine patterns and knowledge of nonmedical use of stimulants among a sample of college students. DESIGN Completion of an anonymous survey consisting of 23 questions designed to explore college student use of medications intended to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. SETTING A private liberal arts college in New England. PARTICIPANTS Three hundred forty-seven undergraduate students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Nonmedical use of stimulants. RESULTS Thirty-one students (9.2%) reported nonmedical stimulant use. Two hundred forty students (71.4%) had peers who used nonprescribed stimulants, 149 (44.3%) knew of peers who made stimulant medication-seeking visits to a physician although they did not believe that they had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 178 (53.0%) knew of people who sold stimulants to students. Nonprescription users were significantly more knowledgeable about the effects of stimulants than nonusers, and nonusers whose peers used nonprescribed stimulants were more knowledgeable about the effects of stimulants than nonusers whose peers did not use nonprescribed stimulants. After controlling for age, race, and sex, the variables that predicted nonmedical use of stimulants were beliefs that stimulants help individuals study better, stay awake, and lose weight. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of college students in this sample were using nonprescribed stimulants. Among nonusers, those whose peers use nonprescribed stimulants were much more knowledgeable about the effects of stimulant use than those whose peers do not use stimulants. This knowledge may confer an increased risk of future nonmedical stimulant use if students become tempted to seek the beneficial effects experienced by their peers.
BOOK REVIEW SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION

The problem of identification, i.e., of finding a good mathematical model from data, is an important issue in many branches of science; problems of this kind have been treated in detail in areas as widely spread as control engineering, signal processing, econometrics, and statistics. The central area in system identification (still) is identification of linear (dynamic) systems from discrete time series data; this is also the focus of the book at hand. The book has been written by system and control engineers, a fact that is reflected in the examples chosen and partly in the selection of the topics. Nevertheless, mainly due to its general and broad approach, the book is of interest to a much wider audience, including econometricians and time series analysts. The book mainly deals with the identification of linear systems from discrete time series in a (essentially stationary) stochastic framework. It focuses on stable systems, parametric model classes, and time domain. The three main "modules" of system identification, namely structure theory (e.g., identifiability and parametrization), estimation for given dynamic specifications, and model structure determination and model validation are treated in detail. The MIMO (multi-input, multi-output) case is discussed, but more emphasis is given to the SISO (single-input, single-output) case. Chapters 1-4 are introductory in nature. After a short general introduction (Ch. 1), some basic concepts are introduced in Chapter 2, and some typical problems and features (the effect of the noise structure on the consistency of least squares, persistence of excitation of the inputs and nonidentifiability due to feedback) are discussed with simple examples. In Chapter 3, a short review of some nonparametric methods is given: Identification from step and impulse inputs, from sinusoidal inputs as well as simple correlation analysis in case of white noise inputs and spectral analysis are discussed. Chapter 4 gives a review of OLS and GLS estimation in the linear regression model (with nonstochastic regressors). In experimental situations, the input signal is often at the experimentators disposal. Chapter 5 deals with different input signals (deterministic, pseudo-
On the Convergence of the Harmonic Bz Algorithm in Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) is a new medical imaging technique that aims to provide electrical conductivity images with sufficiently high spatial resolution and accuracy. A new MREIT image reconstruction method called the harmonic $B_z$ algorithm was proposed in 2002, and it is based on the measurement of $B_z$ that is a single component of an induced magnetic flux density $\mathbf{B}=(B_x,B_y,B_z)$ subject to an injection current. Since then, MREIT imaging techniques have made significant progress, and recent published numerical simulations and phantom experiments show that we can produce high-quality conductivity images when the conductivity contrast is not very high. Though numerical simulations can explain why we could successfully distinguish different tissues with small conductivity differences, a rigorous mathematical analysis is required to better understand the underlying physical and mathematical principle. The purpose of this paper is to provide such a mathematica.
Social influence, addictions and the Internet: the potential of Web 2.0 technologies in enhancing treatment for alcohol/other drug use problems

The past decade has seen the proliferation of e-health applications across disease categories. With the emergence of the next generation of Internet-based applications, Web 2.0, there are increasing opportunities for integrating these technologies into treatment approaches for alcohol/other drug use problems, in a way that engages and empowers like never before. No evidence currently exists to demonstrate the benefits of Web 2.0 applications, such as social networking and social media, on alcohol/other drug use problems. However, social learning and influence theories point to the possible mechanisms of action and effectiveness. More research is urgently required to examine the potential of Web 2.0 applications on alcohol/other drug use problems.
Australian Financial Market Volatility: An Exploration of Cross-country and Cross-market Linkages

This paper examines the behaviour of daily asset price movements in Australian bond, share and foreign exchange markets over the period 1987 to 1996, and addresses four questions concerning volatility and international market linkages. First, is there evidence of a trend increase in volatility in Australian financial markets? Second, have Australia’s financial markets become more responsive to developments in counterpart foreign markets, and if so, what are the predominant foreign influences? Third, have international influences been more or less important than domestic cross-market influences? Fourth, is there evidence of directionality and other asymmetries in Australian financial market volatility? The paper finds no compelling evidence to suggest the presence of a trend increase in volatility over the period. Evidence does exist, however, of quite significant cross-country ‘contagion’ or ‘spillover’ effects on Australia’s bond and equity markets. For both of these markets, the predominant foreign market influence appears to be the US. Australian bond and share market volatility is found to be higher in bear markets than in bull markets, and higher following a market fall than a market rise. Evidence supporting the presence of asymmetries in the correlation of volatilities across markets is also documented.
Ethnicity-specific obesity cut-points in the development of Type 2 diabetes – a prospective study including three ethnic groups in the United Kingdom

Conventional definitions of obesity, e.g. body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 or waist circumference cut‐points of 102 cm (men) and 88 cm (women), may underestimate metabolic risk in non‐Europeans. We prospectively identified equivalent ethnicity‐specific obesity cut‐points for the estimation of diabetes risk in British South Asians, African‐Caribbeans and Europeans.
Silybin Is Metabolized by Cytochrome P450 2C8 in Vitro

Silybin (a flavonolignan, the main component of silymarin, an extract from the seeds of Silybum marianum) has been used to date mostly as a hepatoprotectant. However, it also has other interesting activities, e.g., anticancer and hypocholesterolemic effects. It is also known that silybin can inhibit the activities of the cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. In this study, a weak interaction of silybin with human microsomal CYP2E1, 2A6, 2B6, 2C19, and 2D6 (IC50 ≥ 250 μM) was found; a moderate inhibition was observed for CYP1A2 and 2C8. The most prominent inhibition effect was found with CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 (IC50 ≤ 50 μM). Using mass spectometry detection, production of O-demethylated (the main metabolite) as well as hydroxylated derivatives of silybin formed by P450 enzymes was detected. The effect of different P450 inhibitors on the formation of O-demethylated product was also studied. In particular, a relatively specific inhibitor of CYP2C8 (quercetin) markedly inhibited the formation of this metabolite. With the help of recombinant enzymes (bactosomes), it was confirmed that the CYP2C8 enzyme is responsible for the reaction leading to O-demethylated silybin.
Course Completion Rates among Distance Learners: Identifying Possible Methods to Improve Retention

Many colleges continue to report high attrition rates among distance education students. This study included a survey of students at Coastline Community College to determine why they dropped or failed their distance-learning courses and to identify methods that might improve their success and retention. Questionnaires were sent to a group of randomly selected students who responded to five general topics. Support service options in the survey focused on supplemental tutoring and pre-course orientation sessions. Results were cross tabulated by student performance (i.e., success, drop, failure). Fifty-nine percent of the respondents said they would use free tutoring, either onsite or online. Forty-six percent felt they would benefit by orientations. Online tutoring services and a distance learning student success course were developed and offered at Coastline with mixed results.
KESESUAIAN KONTEKS DAN ILUSTRASI PADA BUKU BERGAMBAR UNTUK MENDIDIK KARAKTER ANAK USIA DINI

AbstrakBuku dapat menjadi media pendidikan karakter pada anak usia dini karena efektif dan efisien. Di sinilah pendidikan karakter dapat diajarkan secara halus dan mudah diterima oleh anak usia dini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan dan menjelaskan kesesuaian konteks dan ilustrasi buku pendidikan karakter untuk anak usia dini berdasarkan teori desain; dan pendapat ahli tentang buku pendidikan karakter yang sesuai dengan konteks anak usia dini. Metode penelitian adalah metode kualitatif-studi kasus. Observasi dan wawancara digunakan untuk pengambilan data dan validasi menggunakan teknik triangulasi teori. Analisis menggunakan teknik analisis isi. Hasil penelitian menjelaskan bahwa (1) kesesuaian konteks dan ilustrasi buku pendidikan karakter untuk anak usia dini yang ditemukan meliputi konteks linguistik, konteks emotif, konteks situasional, ilustrasi tokoh yang memberi contoh kebaikan, warna yang cerah; dan (2) jenis buku cerita “Zayn Belajar Disiplin, buku “Aktivitas Pendikar, dan buku aktivitas-komparasi “Aku Anak Baik di Sekolah” merupakan buku pendidikan karakter yang sesuai dengan konteks anak usia dini sehingga layak digunakan sebagai media untuk mengajarkan karakter bagi anak usia dini. Kata Kunci: konteks-ilustrasi, buku bergambar, pendidikan, karakter AbstractBooks can be a medium of character education in early childhood because it is effective and efficient. This is where character education can be taught smoothly and easily accepted by young children. The aims of this research were describe and explain the suitability of contexts and illustrations of character education books for early childhood based on design theory; And expert opinion on character education books that fit the context of early childhood. The research method is qualitative method-case study. Observations and interviews are used for data retrieval and validation using triangulation theory techniques. Data analysis using content analysis techniques. The results of the study explain that (1) the suitability of contexts and illustrations of character education books for early childhood were found to include linguistic context, emotive context, situational context, illustration of figures that give examples of goodness, bright colors; and (2) the type of storybook "Zayn Belajar Disiplin, the book"Aktivitas Pendikar”, and the comparative activity book "Aku Anak Baik di Sekolah" are character education book appropriate to the context of early childhood so it is worthy to be used as a medium to teach character to early childhood.Keywords: Context-illustration, picture book, education, character
Flexibility and Biases in Cognitive Control and Categorization

Author(s): Xu, Jing | Advisor(s): Ivry, Richard B; Griffiths, Thomas L | Abstract: How do we maintain balance in our daily life, yet at the same time, adapt to changes in theenvironment? In the research presented here, I attempt to address this question in two ways. First,I examine the flexibility and biases associated with processes of inhibitory control. Second, Iexplore biases in categorization. Both lines of research are grounded in a probabilistic view ofthe world. In the first line of research, I examine two aspects of inhibitory control. In one study, I ask ifpeople can selectively inhibit their on-going actions. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) to probe corticomotor excitability, I examine if inhibition can be selectively directed to aspecific muscle, or if these inhibitory commands also modulate other muscles. In a secondexperiment of this study, I trained participants to selectively stop. I develop a Sampling-Biasmodel to analyze these data and find that costs associated with selective stopping are likely dueto a statistical sampling bias. In the second study on inhibitory control, I examine the effects ofintrinsic fluctuations in motor excitability on the dynamics of inhibitory control signals. UsingTMS applied prior to the start of a trial as a measure of excitability, I observed an interaction ofintrinsic and extrinsic effects, with the evidence suggesting that the dynamics of the controlsignal outweigh the effects of intrinsic fluctuations. In the second line of research, I use a novel experimental paradigm and computational model,iterated-learning, to explore how biases influence categorization. In one study, I test theprediction that iterated-learning converges to commonly shared biases, applying this to Bartlett'sclassical serial-reproduction paradigm. In a second experiment, I use this paradigm to simulatethe cultural evolution of color categorization, seeking to understand if an iterated-learningprocess, coupled with common perceptual and learning biases, will converge to the linguisticuniversals found in the World Color Survey. Both lines of research underscore a common theme: Understanding human cognition requiresconsideration of our mental biases.
Accelerometry: A Feasible Method to Quantify Physical Activity in Ambulatory and Nonambulatory Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Objective. To determine the feasibility of physical activity monitoring in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods. A convenience sample of ambulatory and non-ambulatory adolescents (N = 23; 17 males, 6 females; mean age 13.5 y, SD 2.6 y; Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) distribution: n = 9 Level I, n = 5 Level II, n = 5 Level III, n = 4 Level IV) was recruited. Physical activity (PA) was objectively assessed using the ActiGraph GT1M activity monitor. Discomfort or adverse effects of wearing the accelerometers were recorded by participants. Levels of physical activity were determined as total PA, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), and vigorous PA (VPA) using cut-points recently validated for CP. Results. Most participants showed little reluctance. Mean daily MVPA for all participants was 30.7 minutes (SD 30.3), which corresponded to 2.7 (SD 2.4) minutes of MVPA per hour or 4.5% (SD 3.9) of the total monitoring time. Total PA and MVPA were greatest in ambulatory youth (GMFCS levels I and II) compared with youth who use a walking aid or wheelchair (GMFCS levels III and IV) (P < 0.05). Conclusion(s). The results support the use of the accelerometer as a feasible and useful measure of activity in ambulatory and nonambulatory adolescents with CP.
Resolving the Submillimeter Background: The 850 Micron Galaxy Counts

Recent deep blank-field submillimeter surveys have revealed a population of luminous high-redshift galaxies that emit most of their energy in the submillimeter. The results suggest that much of the star formation at high redshift may be hidden to optical observations. In this Letter we present wide-area 850 μm Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array data on the Hawaii Survey Fields SSA13, SSA17, and SSA22. Combining these new data with our previous deep-field data, we establish the 850 μm galaxy counts from 2 to 10 mJy with a greater than 3 σ detection limit. The area coverage is 104 arcmin2 to 8 mJy and 7.7 arcmin2 to 2.3 mJy. The differential 850 μm counts are well described by the function n(S)=N0/(a+S3.2), where S is the flux in mJy, N0 = 3.0 × 104 deg-2 mJy-1, and a=0.4-1.0 is chosen to match the 850 μm extragalactic background light. Between 20% and 30% of the 850 μm background resides in sources brighter than 2 mJy. Using an empirical fit to our data above 2 mJy constrained by the extragalactic background light at lower fluxes, we argue that the bulk of the 850 μm extragalactic background light resides in sources with fluxes near 1 mJy. The submillimeter sources are plausible progenitors of the present-day spheroidal population.