Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fournier's gangrene: diagnostic approach and therapeutic challenge.

OBJECTIVE To identify the prognostic variables and to assess the role of aggressive management in patients with Fournier's gangrene. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING University hospital, Greece. SUBJECTS 11 patients (9 men and 2 women) with Fournier's gangrene admitted between April 1986 and December 2000. INTERVENTIONS Early aggressive debridements. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Postoperative course, hospital stay, outcome, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS The mean age was 65 years (range 17-90) and the mean (SD) duration of hospital stay was 35 (8) days (range 8-62). The aetiology was identified in 8 patients and idiopathic in 3. Predisposing factors (diabetes, n = 4; heart failure, agranulocytosis, and alcohol misuse, n = 1 each) were identified in 6 patients. All patients except one had raised serum glucose concentrations and low serum albumin values. On admission the white cell count was >15 x 10(9)/L in 10, serum sodium <135 mmol/L, mean (SD) serum creatinine 124 (27) micromol/L, and C-reactive protein >150 mg/L was found in all patients. 3/9 male patients required partial excision of the scrotum. Temporary faecal diversion was done for 3 patients. A mean of 3 aggressive repeated debridements (range: 3-6) were required. Nine patients survived and two patients died. CONCLUSION Rapid and accurate diagnosis remains the key to achieving a successful outcome. Abnormal laboratory variables on admission may suggest the diagnosis. Early, repeated, aggressive debridement is essential for a successful outcome.
The Effects of Curvature on Haptic Judgments of Extent in Sighted and Blind People

A series of experiments was carried out to examine the effect of curvature on haptic judgments of extent in sighted and blind individuals. Experiment 1 showed that diameters connecting the endpoints of semicircular lines were underestimated with respect to straight lines, but failed to show an effect of visual experience on length judgments. In experiment 2 we tested arc lengths. The effects of curvature on perceived path length were weaker, but were still present in this experiment. Visual experience had no effect on path length judgments. Another experiment was performed to examine the effect of repeated tracing (1, 5, 9, or unlimited number of traces) on judgments of the lengths of straight lines and diameters of semicircles. Judgments of extent were more accurate when subjects engaged in larger numbers of traces. There was no effect of number of traces on curve-height judgments, suggesting that subjects were not using height estimates to judge diameters of semicircles. In a further experiment we tested the effect of number of traces on curves that varied in height. Restricting subjects to a single trace magnified the effect of path length on judgments of the distance between the endpoints of curves. Additional experiments showed that curvature effects on diameter judgments were not eliminated when stimuli were in the frontal plane or when the curves were explored with the use of two hands. Arm support had no effect on judged length in experiment 7. A final experiment showed a robust horizontal – vertical illusion in haptic perception of convex curves, with overestimation of the heights of the curves compared with their widths. The practical and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.
Intelligence as Related to Nationality

This investigation grew out of a study of retardation in the schools of several cities in northern Michigan in which it was dis covered that the amount of retardation varied among children of different nationalities. Since the pupils of all nationalities had the same teachers and were pursuing the same course of study, it was evident that there must be some underlying cause of the difference in retardation. Accordingly, it was decided to give intelligence tests to a considerable number of each nationality to determine whether or not the differences in retardation might be the result of differences in intelligence. At the present time 913 children whose parents were born in foreign countries have been given intelligence tests.
The Role of Responsible Gambling Strategy in Forming Behavioral Intention

By examining the perception of a responsible gambling strategy, this study developed an extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB) with respect to the behavioral intentions of casino visitors. The results of the EMGB, which uses structural equation modeling, indicate that desire had the strongest relationship with casino visitors’ intention to gamble, followed by positive anticipated emotion, perceived behavioral control, perceptions of a responsible gambling strategy, negative anticipated emotion, and attitude. The perception of a responsible gambling strategy was also a significant predictor of both desire and behavioral intention, as casino visitors had positive perceptions of casinos that implemented responsible gambling strategies. Casino managers should consider a responsible gambling strategy as an important long-term business activity to increase casino visitor’s intention to gamble.
The Altruism Question: Toward A Social-psychological Answer

Contents: The Question Posed by Our Concern for Others: Altruism or Egoism? Part I: The Altruism Question in Western Thought.Egoism and Altruism in Western Philosophy. Egoism and Altruism in Early Psychology. The Altruism Question in Contemporary Psychology. Part II: Toward an Answer: The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis.A Scientific Method for Addressing the Altruism Question. A Three- Path Model of Egoistic and Altruistic Motivation to Help: The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis. Egoistic Alternatives to the Empathy- Altruism Hypothesis. Part III: Testing the Egoistic Alternatives to the Empathy- Altruism Hypothesis.Aversive-Arousal Reduction. Empathy- Specific Punishment. Empathy-Specific Reward. Part IV: Extensions.Other Possible Sources of Altruistic Motivation: The Altruistic Personality. Implications and Limitations of the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis.
Acute Life-Threatening Hemorrhage in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Presenting with Carotid Blowout Syndrome: Follow-Up Results after Initial Hemostasis with Covered-Stent Placement

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CSP in patients with HNC presenting with CBS can provide immediate hemostasis to prevent exsanguination. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of CSP to control acute life-threatening hemorrhage in patients with HNC presenting with CBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age, 59 years) with HNC presenting with acute life-threatening hemorrhage from CBS that was treated with CSP. We studied patient demographics, presentations, procedures, initial and delayed complications, and technical and clinical outcomes on follow-up. RESULTS: All patients achieved immediate hemostasis following CSP. Periprocedural complications consisted of groin hematomas (n = 2), acute limb ischemia requiring thrombectomy, and an asymptomatic temporal lobe hemorrhage. Imaging and clinical follow-up were available for a mean of 17.7 months (range, 1–60 months). Two patients remained asymptomatic with a patent stent and no evidence of rebleeding at 17 and 21 months, respectively. Recurrent hemorrhages requiring retreatment were encountered in 3 patients secondary to stent infections (30%) at mean duration of 8 months. Neurologic morbidity resulted from stent thrombosis and stroke at 8 months in a single patient. Mortality was unrelated to CSP but was a result of palliative hospice care (n = 3) at a mean of 2 months or natural disease progression (n = 1) with documented patency of the stent at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Acute life-threatening hemorrhage from CBS related to advanced HNC can be safely and effectively treated with CSP. However, potential delayed ischemic or infectious complications are common in the exposed or infected neck.
Diversity Training in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, antecedents, and outcomes of diversity training in intercollegiate athletics. Data were collected from senior level administrators and aggregated to the department level for NCAA Division I (n = 239), Division II (n = 205), and Division III (n = 231) athletic departments. Only 53% of the athletic departments offered training. Logistic regression indicated that gender diversity, sexual orientation diversity, divisional affiliation, and the presence of a proactive diversity culture were all predictive of whether the department offered training. Additional analysis indicated that sensitivity to individual needs and understanding different cultures were the topics most covered in the training. Finally, the motivation for training (either compliance- or effectiveness-based) and the degree to which the training was systematically integrated were predictive of transfer of training, with the latter variable holding the strongest association. Implications, l.
Need for Cognition and Message Complexity in Motivating Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Callers to the Cancer Information Service

This field experiment examined the impact of an individual's need for cognition (NFC; the tendency to enjoy thinking deeply about issues), complex versus simple messages, and the interaction of NFC and message type on encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption. Callers to the Cancer Information Service of the National Cancer Institute (N = 517) were asked to participate in the experiment at the end of their call. Individual NFC was assessed, and participants were assigned randomly to receive a telephone message promoting fruit and vegetable consumption that was either complex and multifaceted or simple and straightforward. Similarly constructed brochures were mailed immediately following the call, and additional brochures were mailed 2 and 3 months later. Although NFC did not predict intake, complex messages were more effective than simple messages in motivating fruit and vegetable consumption 1 and 4 months later.
Bivariate Genome-Wide Association Analysis of the Growth and Intake Components of Feed Efficiency

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI), two major components of feed efficiency in cattle, were identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Uni- and multi-SNP models were used to describe feed efficiency in a training data set and the results were confirmed in a validation data set. Results from the univariate and bivariate analyses of ADG and DMI, adjusted by the feedlot beef steer maintenance requirements, were compared. The bivariate uni-SNP analysis identified (P-value <0.0001) 11 SNPs, meanwhile the univariate analyses of ADG and DMI identified 8 and 9 SNPs, respectively. Among the six SNPs confirmed in the validation data set, five SNPs were mapped to KDELC2, PHOX2A, and TMEM40. Findings from the uni-SNP models were used to develop highly accurate predictive multi-SNP models in the training data set. Despite the substantially smaller size of the validation data set, the training multi-SNP models had slightly lower predictive ability when applied to the validation data set. Six Gene Ontology molecular functions related to ion transport activity were enriched (P-value <0.001) among the genes associated with the detected SNPs. The findings from this study demonstrate the complementary value of the uni- and multi-SNP models, and univariate and bivariate GWAS analyses. The identified SNPs can be used for genome-enabled improvement of feed efficiency in feedlot beef cattle, and can aid in the design of empirical studies to further confirm the associations.
Role of goal orientation, ability, need for achievement, and locus of control in the self-efficacy and goal--setting process.

This study integrates ability, goal setting, self-efficacy, and multiple personality traits into a common framework that explains and predicts individual performance. A mediational model was tested using LISREL 8. Ability, learning goal orientation, and locus of control were positively related to self-efficacy, whereas performance goal orientation was negatively related to self-efficacy on an academic task. Self-efficacy and need for achievement were positively related to goal level, which was positively related to performance in combination with ability and self-efficacy. In addition to showing that personality traits can influence the motivational process at various stages, the results highlight the unique contributions of self-efficacy and goal level to the motivational process after the effects of ability and other individual differences have been identified.
SOURCES OF ANTHROPOGENIC 14 C TO THE NORTH SEA

The Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant on the northwest coast of England is the largest source of anthro- pogenic radiocarbon to the UK coastal environment. In a mid-1990s study of 14C distribution around the UK coast, the pattern of dilution with increasing distance from Sellafield appeared to be perturbed by anomalously high 14C activities in marine biota in the coastal environment of northeast England. This present study was undertaken during 1998 and 1999 to determine whether this 14C enhancement was due to Sellafield or the nuclear power plants on the east coast. Seawater, seaweed (Fucus sp.), and mussel (Mytilus edulis) samples that were collected from the vicinity of the Torness and Hartlepool advanced gas- cooled reactor (AGR) nuclear power stations were all enhanced above the contemporary regional background activity derived from natural production and atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. We used previously published dilution factors and transfer times for 99Tc between Sellafield and various points on the UK coast to determine likely Sellafield-derived 14C contributions to the activities at the nuclear power plant sites. The results suggest that the activities observed at Torness, which are only mar- ginally enhanced above the natural background activity, are possibly due to discharges from Sellafield; however, the signifi- cant 14C enhancements at Hartlepool are not Sellafield-derived. Furthermore, since both reactors have the same fundamental design, the low activities at the Torness AGR imply that the activities at Hartlepool are not from the AGR, suggesting that there is an input of 14C to the marine environment in the vicinity of Hartlepool which is probably non-nuclear-power related. However, there is no other authorized site in the area that could account for the observed 14C enrichments; therefore, further research is required to ascertain the source of this 14C.
Education students and their teachers: comparing views on participative assessment practices

Beliefs about the validity and merit of self‐, peer‐ and group‐assessment practices are presented from 213 pre‐service primary teachers and 30 staff who teach them. Both groups were surveyed using comparable items. A subset of seven staff participated in semi‐structured interviews. Staff were far more supportive of peer‐ and self‐assessment practices than their students with both groups indicating modest support for group assignments. While pedagogical factors best represent the staff support for engaging students in assessment of their own and their peers’ work, several staff in interviews revealed that their high level of support for peer‐assessment was closely linked to a time‐saving factor. Peer‐assessment was more often used than self‐assessment while both practices were reported to have increased over the past two to three years. These findings are consistent with the reported increase in participative assessment practices in higher education generally. An important implication of this research is that in order to optimise the use of participative assessment, staff need to better prepare their students by modelling and communicating their reasons for adopting such practices.
Identification and Treatment of Anxiety in Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders: A Review of the Literature

Anxiety affects school achievement, yet it is rarely targeted for intervention in students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). This review of the literature summarizes existing research on (1) the prevalence of anxiety disorders in students with EBD, (2) the academic effects of anxiety disorders, and (3) the school interventions designed to ameliorate them. We offer conclusions regarding the state of educational intervention for these students. The review also highlights the scarcity of studies related to anxiety in students with EBD. Past research has focused primarily on students in general education settings, on prevalence within the general population, and on measuring psychosocial symptoms, rather than on academic achievement. We comment on the relevance of these findings to the field of EBD, and discuss implications for further research.
What About the Grandparents? Children's Postdivorce Residence Arrangements and Contact With Grandparents

Despite the importance of grandparents in their grandchildren's lives, little is known about grandparent-grandchild contact after parental divorce. In this study, the authors investigated differences in grandparent-grandchild contact across 3 postdivorce residence arrangements (mother residence, father residence, and shared residence) using recent survey data from the Netherlands (N = 3,842). The results indicated that contact with maternal grandparents after divorce was highest in mother-residence arrangements, followed by shared residence and then father residence. Contact with paternal grandparents was highest for children in father-residence and shared-residence arrangements, followed by mother residence. Parental conflict had little influence on children's contact with maternal grandparents, but it decreased contact with paternal grandparents. Moreover, the results partly support the assumption that conflict moderates the relationship between residence arrangements and grandparental contact, with differences between residence arrangements being more pronounced in the case of high-conflict divorced families than in low-conflict ones.
An investigation of the cognitive development of Italian‐English bilinguals and Italian monolinguals from Rome

The cognitive development of Italian‐English bilinguals and Italian monolinguals was studied on measures of metalinguistic awareness, creativity, nonverbal abilities, and reading achievement. On the whole, results were found to be consistent with Cummins' Threshold Hypothesis, in that an overall superiority was found only for those children who had attained a high degree of bilingualism.
Gaussian process factorization machines for context-aware recommendations

Context-aware recommendation (CAR) can lead to significant improvements in the relevance of the recommended items by modeling the nuanced ways in which context influences preferences. The dominant approach in context-aware recommendation has been the multidimensional latent factors approach in which users, items, and context variables are represented as latent features in low-dimensional space. An interaction between a user, item, and a context variable is typically modeled as some linear combination of their latent features. However, given the many possible types of interactions between user, items and contextual variables, it may seem unrealistic to restrict the interactions among them to linearity. To address this limitation, we develop a novel and powerful non-linear probabilistic algorithm for context-aware recommendation using Gaussian processes. The method which we call Gaussian Process Factorization Machines (GPFM) is applicable to both the explicit feedback setting (e.g. numerical ratings as in the Netflix dataset) and the implicit feedback setting (i.e. purchases, clicks). We derive stochastic gradient descent optimization to allow scalability of the model. We test GPFM on five different benchmark contextual datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that GPFM outperforms state-of-the-art context-aware recommendation methods.
Clinical profile and etiologies of children with central diabetes insipidus: a single-center experience from Turkey

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical, anthropometric, hormonal, and radiological characteristics of children with central diabetes insipidus (DI). Methods: Case records of 34 children (22 boys and 12 girls) with documented central DI referred to the Pediatric Endocrinology and Adolescent Clinic of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine were reviewed. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4±5.6 years (range, 0.08–16 years). All patients underwent anterior pituitary function assessment and magnetic resonance imaging of pituitary at diagnosis. The median duration of follow-up was 7.9±4.5 years. Results: The etiology of central DI was organic in 22 (64.7%) patients, trauma in 2 (5.9%) patients, and idiopathic in 10 (29.4%) patients. Organic causes consisted of craniopharyngioma in 7 patients, Langerhans cell histiocytosis in 4 patients, germinoma in 4 patients, holoprosencephaly in 3 patients, astrocytoma in 1 patient, cavernous hemangioma in 1 patient, Rathke’s cleft cyst in 1 patient, and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy in 1 patient. Anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies were documented in 18 (53%) patients. Organic central DI group had a greater prevalence of anterior pituitary hormone deficiency when compared with the idiopathic group (66% and 10%, respectively; p=0.007). The final height of patients with organic etiology were significantly lower than the idiopathic group (155 and 178, cm respectively; p=0.021). Conclusions: Etiological diagnosis is possible in a significant proportion (70.6%) of children with central DI. Findings of this study suggest that accompanying anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies and short stature may be considered as indicators of organic etiology.
An Automatic Stock Market Forecasting and Portfolio Selection Mechanism Based on VPRS, ARX and Grey System

In this study, a different approach by the fuzzy C-means and relevant Fuzzy theories to extract the threshold value beta of VPRS applied to continuous information systems is presented. Then the variable precision rough set (VPRS) theory is combined with moving average autoregressive exogenous (ARX) prediction model and grey systems theory to create an automatic stock market forecasting and portfolio selection mechanism. In the proposed approach, financial data are collected automatically every quarter and are input to an ARX prediction model to forecast the future trends of the collected data over the next quarter or half-year period. The forecast data is then reduced using a GM(1,N) model, clustered using a Fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm and then supplied to a VPRS classification module which selects appropriate investment stocks by applying a set of decision-making rules. Finally, a grey relational analysis technique is employed to specify an appropriate weighting of the selected stocks such that the portfoliopsilas rate of return is maximized. It is found that the proposed method yields an average annual rate of return, 29.33%, on the selected stocks from 2004 to 2006 in Taiwan stock market.