Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study of self-efficacy and attitudes on self-care health behaviors among Greek Naval Academy cadets. An application of the Theory of Planned

Many health conditions are caused by risk behaviors, such as problem drinking, substance use, and smoking. Health-compromising behaviors can be eliminated by self-regulatory efforts, and health-enhancing behaviors can be adopted instead, such as physical activity, weight control, and preventive nutrition. Literature review indicated the negative correlation between smoking and exercise, suggesting that smoking status has been positively associated with weight-loss intention, but negatively correlated with use of exercise. Additionally, smoking is negatively associated with readiness for participation in vigorous exercise. Research supports the fact that healthy diet can prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases and orthopaedic disorders. Facts indicate that if interventions foster exercise habits, this could facilitate transfer effects from one health behavior to the other. The aim of the study was to investigate the involvement of self-efficacy and attitudes on self-care health behaviors such as eating, smoking and exercise habits. The sample consisted of 185 cadets of the Greek Naval Academy (165 men, 20 women). They completed the Greek versions of the “Theory of Planned Behavior” and “Health Behavior” questionnaires. Results indicated that youngest cadets reported healthier habits than the older ones. More specifically, they were more positive oriented on eating healthier, and exercising, and more negatively oriented towards smoking. Overall, results shine for the first time some light on crucial and important aspects of prediction of intentions among healthy and unhealthy behaviors of military personnel.
Induction therapy with cetuximab plus docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (ETPF) in patients with resectable nonmetastatic stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. A GERCOR phase II ECHO-07 study

Induction TPF regimen is a standard treatment option for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx. The efficacy and safety of adding cetuximab to induction TPF (ETPF) therapy was evaluated. Patients with nonmetastatic resectable stage III/IV SCC of the oropharynx were treated with weekly cetuximab followed the same day by docetaxel and cisplatin and by a continuous infusion of 5‐fluorouracil on days 1‐5 (every 3 weeks, 3 cycles). The primary endpoint was clinical and radiological complete response (crCR) of primary tumor at 3 months. Secondary endpoints were crCR rates, overall response, pathological CR, progression‐free survival, overall survival, and safety. Forty‐two patients were enrolled, and 41 received ETPF. The all nine planned cetuximab doses and the full three doses of planned chemotherapy were completed in 31 (76%) and 36 (88%) patients, respectively. Twelve (29%) patients required dose reduction. The crCR of primary tumor at the completion of therapy was observed in nine (22%) patients. ETPF was associated with a tumor objective response rate (ORR) of 58%. The most frequent grade 3–4 toxicities were as follows: nonfebrile neutropenia (39%), febrile neutropenia (19%), diarrhea (10%), and stomatitis (12%). Eighteen (44%) patients experienced acne‐like skin reactions of any grade. One toxic death occurred secondary to chemotherapy‐induced colitis with colonic perforation. This phase II study reports an interesting response rate for ETPF in patients with moderately advanced SCC of the oropharynx. The schedule of ETPF evaluated in this study cannot be recommended at this dosage.
On tractability of path integration

Many applications require approximate values of path integrals. A typical approach is to approximate the path integral by a high dimensional integral and apply a Monte Carlo (randomized) algorithm. However, Monte Carlo algorithm requires roughly e−2 integrand evaluations to provide an e approximation. Moreover, the error bound of e is guaranteed only in a stochastic sense. Do we really need to use randomized algorithms for path integrals? Perhaps, we can find a deterministic algorithm that is more effective even in the worst case setting. To answer this question, we study the worst case complexity of path integration, which, roughly speaking, is defined as the minimal number of the integrand evaluations needed to compute an approximation with error at most e. We consider path integration with respect to a Gaussian measure, and for various classes of integrands. Tractability of path integration means that the complexity depends polynomially on 1/e. We show that for the class of r times Frechet differentiab.
Designing adverse event prevention programs using quality management methods: the case of falls in hospital.

OBJECTIVE From a public health perspective, the effectiveness of any prevention program depends on integrated medical and managerial strategies. In this way, quality management methods drawn from organization and business management can help design prevention programs. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential value of these methods in the specific context of preventing falls in hospital. SETTING Medical and Rehabilitation Care Unit of Saint-Maurice National Hospital (France). DESIGN In phase 1, two surveys assessed the context in which falls occurred. The first survey (1995) quantified adverse events during a 1-year period (n = 564) and the second (1996-1997) documented the reasons for falls (n = 53). In phase 2, a set of recommendations to prevent falls was elaborated and implemented throughout the hospital. RESULTS The fall frequency in this unit was 18.3% in 1995. Analysis showed organizational causes in 35 (66%) of the 53 documented falls; 24 of them were associated with individual factors. Even though the two categories of causes are interdependent, their distinction enables specific recommendations. The proposed organizational management changes recommended do not aim to achieve an illusory objective of 'zero falls', but are designed to reduce the number of avoidable falls and to limit the negative consequences of unavoidable falls. CONCLUSION Quality improvement methods shed new light on how to prevent falls. An unexploited potential for prevention lies in organization and management of care for hospitalized patients.
A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF SOURCE SPARSITY FOR VARIOUS TRANSFORMS ON BLIND AUDIO SOURCE SEPARATION PERFORMANCE

In this paper, the problem of blind separation of underdetermined noisy mixtures of audio sources is considered. The sources are assumed to be sparsely represented in a transform domain. The sparsity of their analysis coefficients is modelled by the Student t distribution. This prior allows for robust Bayesian estimation of the sources, the mixing matrix, the additive noise variance as well as hyperparameters of the Student t priors, using a Gibbs sampler (a standard Monte Carlo Markov Chain simulation method). The performances resulting from the use of various transforms, orthonormal as well as overcomplete, are compared. More precisely, we present extensive separation results of 2× 3 mixtures of various sets of sources (speech, musical and percussion sources) using various orthonormal transforms Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT), Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT), and overcomplete transforms Short-Time Discrete Cosine Transform (STDCT) and union of MDCT and DWT. In general, the MDCT is found to be a good transform to use on the various types of audio signals. However, the DWT is the best transform to use on the percussion signals as they contain more transients than tonals. The provided results show that the separation performance is indeed correlated to the sparsity of the analysis coefficients of the sources in the transform domain. Our results also show that the use of overcomplete transforms does not lead to significant improvement in performance, because they fail to improve the sparsity measure.
N ov 2 00 0 Hartogs-Bochner type theorem in projective space

We prove the following conjecture: Let M be a connected C hypersurface of Pn(C) (n ≥ 2) which divides Pn(C) into two connected open sets Ω1 and Ω2. Then continuous CR functions defined on M extend holomorphically to one of these sets. We also prove the following extension theorem for CR maps: Let M be a connected C hypersurface of P2(C) which divides P2(C) in two connected open sets Ω1 and Ω2. Suppose moreover that there exists a non constant C CR function g defined on M . Then C CR maps having values in a disk-convex kähler manifold X extend meromorphically to one of these sets.
The executive functions in a sample of Italian adults with ADHD: attention, response inhibition and planning/organization

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show an impaired functioning in multiple cognitive domains: executive functioning (EF), attention, response inhibition, planning and organization, reward and timing. However, the neuropsychological profile of these patients is unclear. Investigations of neuropsychological functioning in a sample of Italian adults with ADHD are currently lacking. The present study aimed at examining neuropsychological performance on tasks measuring executive functioning, attention response inhibition, planning and organization, comparing adults with ADHD (N= 23, mean age 19,7; SD= 3,27) and healthy adults (N= 23, mean age 19,7; SD= 3,27) matched for age and gender. Results showed that adults with ADHD present impaired EF, response inhibition and disorganization/planning. By contrast, they didn’t exhibit attention deficits. This study supports the persistence of cognitive impairments in subjects with ADHD also in adulthood.
Orderimbalance, Liquidity and Market Returns

Traditionally, volume has provided the link between trading activity and returns. We focus on a hitherto unexplored but intuitive measure of trading activity: the aggregate daily order imbalance on the New York Stock Exchange. Signed order imbalances increase (decrease) following market declines (rises), which reveals that investors are contrarians on aggregate. Order imbalances in either direction, either excess buy or sell orders, reduce liquidity. Market-wide returns are strongly affected by contemporaneous and lagged order imbalances. Market-wide returns reverse themselves after high negative imbalance, large negative return days; the magnitude of this reversal is partially predictable from the level of the imbalance and return. Even after controlling for aggregate market volume and liquidity, market returns are affected by order imbalance.
Neuroplasticity-based cognitive training in schizophrenia: an interim report on the effects 6 months later.

BACKGROUND New cognitive treatments for schizophrenia are needed that drive persistent gains in cognition and functioning. Using an innovative neuroplasticity-based cognitive training approach, we report our interim findings on the effects on cognition and functional outcome at 6 months after treatment. METHODS Thirty-two clinically stable schizophrenia subjects were randomly assigned to either targeted cognitive training (TCT, N = 22) or a computer games (CGs) control condition (N = 10). Twelve TCT subjects completed 50 hours of auditory based training; 10 TCT subjects completed an additional 50 hours of training targeting visual and cognitive control processes. Subjects were assessed on neurocognition and functional outcome after training and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Both TCT subject groups showed significant durable gains at 6 months on measures of verbal learning/memory and cognitive control. Only TCT subjects who completed 100 hours of training showed durable gains on processing speed and global cognition, with nonsignificant improvement in functional outcome. Improved cognition was significantly associated with improved functional outcome at 6 months for TCT subjects. CONCLUSIONS A total of 50 hours of neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive training appears sufficient to drive improvements in verbal learning/memory and cognitive control that endure 6 months beyond the intervention, but a higher "dose" and more "broad-spectrum" training may be necessary to drive enduring gains in processing speed and global cognition. Training-induced cognitive improvement is related to enhanced functioning at 6 months. These data suggest that (1) higher and "broader" doses of cognitive training may confer the most benefits for schizophrenia patients; (2) the posttraining period opens a critical window for aggressive adjunctive psychosocial rehabilitation.
Welfare rights services for people disabled with arthritis integrated in primary care and hospital settings: set-up costs and monetary benefits.

OBJECTIVE To quantify the set-up costs and monetary benefits of a welfare rights service integrated within an NHS service provider, that selects eligible patients using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and offers welfare rights advice to assist in application for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. METHOD (1) DESIGN: a cost evaluation of a social intervention, screening with the HAQ and welfare rights advice in primary care and hospital settings. (2) SETTING: Eight general practices and four hospital rheumatology out-patient departments were selected from four localities in the southwest of England. (3) PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and sixty-eight eligible patients with arthritis accepted an interview with a welfare rights officer (WRO) from a sample of 1989 service users identified from GPs' records and hospital out-patient lists. Two hundred and forty two service users expressed an interest in take up of the social intervention. (4) Service users with a HAQ score >/=1.5 were contacted by telephone and offered an appointment with an experienced WRO to help them complete a welfare benefit application form. A 'micro-costing' study was undertaken with assessment of monetary benefits received. RESULTS The indicative set-up costs of similar welfare rights services are pound 8125 in a GP setting and pound 9307 per annum in a hospital setting at 2002 prices. Total annual unclaimed Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance granted to successful claimants was pound 184,382 in the GP setting (n = 84 from 137) and pound 169,309 in the hospital setting (n = 79 from 131). CONCLUSIONS Welfare rights advice received during a visit to a GP practice or a hospital out-patient department can substantially reduce the level of unclaimed benefit in arthritic populations including the elderly; with mobility and care difficulties. A welfare rights service integrated within a GP practice or hospital that screens people with arthritis using HAQ scores and encourages those with scores >/=1.5 to see a WRO for help with welfare benefit confers monetary benefits for service users that substantially outweigh set-up costs.
Role of Endogenous Adrenomedullin in the Regulation of Vascular Tone and Ischemic Renal Injury: Studies on Transgenic/Knockout Mice of Adrenomedullin Gene

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent depressor peptide whose vascular action is suggested to involve nitric oxide (NO) release. To explore the role of endogenous AM in vascular and renal function, we examined the effects of acetylcholine (ACh), AM, and AM receptor antagonists AM(22-52) and CGRP(8-37) on the renal perfusion pressure (RPP) of kidneys isolated from AM transgenic (TG)/heterozygote knockout (KO) mice and wild-type littermates (WT). Furthermore, we evaluated the renal function and histology 24 hours after bilateral renal artery clamp for 45 minutes in TG, KO, and WT mice. Baseline RPP was significantly lower in TG than in KO and WT mice (KO 93.4±4.6, WT 85.8±4.2, TG 72.4±2.4 mm Hg [mean±SE], P <0.01). ACh and AM caused a dose-related reduction in RPP, but the degree of vasodilatation was smaller in TG than that in KO and WT (%&Dgr;RPP 10−7 mol/L ACh: KO −48.1±3.9%, WT −57.5±5.6%, TG −22.8±4.8%, P <0.01), whereas NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) caused greater vasoconstriction in TG (%&Dgr;RPP 10−4 mol/L: KO 33.1±3.3%, WT 55.5±7.2%, TG 152.6±21.2%, P <0.01). Both AM antagonists increased RPP in TG to a greater extent compared with KO and WT mice (%&Dgr;RPP 10−6 mol/L CGRP(8-37): KO 12.8±2.6%, WT 19.4±3.6%, TG 41.8±8.7%, P <0.01). In mice with ischemic kidneys, serum levels of urea nitrogen and renal damage scores showed smaller values in TG and greater values in KO mice (urea nitrogen: KO 104±5>WT 98±15>TG 38±7 mg/dL, P <0.05 each). Renal NO synthase activity was also greater in TG mice. However, the differences in serum urea nitrogen and renal damage scores among the 3 groups of mice were not observed in mice pretreated with L-NAME. In conclusion, AM antagonists increased renal vascular tone in WT as well as in TG, suggesting that endogenous AM plays a role in the physiological regulation of the vascular tone. AM is likely to protect renal tissues from ischemia/reperfusion injury through its NO releasing activity.
Effect of Inhaled Medication and Inhalation Technique on Dental Caries in Asthmatic Patients

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the type of inhaled medication, length of use, dosing, the inhaler use technique and the severity and duration of disease on the dental caries of asthmatic patients. Objectives In the present study, the frequency of dental caries in the asthmatic patients and control group was examined. In addition the possible association of dental caries with disease duration, disease severity, asthma symptoms, chest wheeze, PFT values, and dose of medication and inhalation use technique was evaluated. Materials and Methods 40 asthmatic patients of both sex (20-30 years old) and 40 age and sex matched controls were studied. In asthmatic patients, the type, dose, duration of medications, the technique of inhaler use and severity and duration of the disease were recorded. The dental health status including DT, MT, FT and DMFT (decay, missing, filling teeth) were examined. In addition, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed for both groups. Results All PFT variables in asthmatic patients were significantly lower than those of control group except for FVC (P < 0.001 for all cases). All indices of dental caries in asthmatic group were higher than those of controls which was statistically significant for MT and DMFT (P < 0.005 for both cases). Only FT and DMFT in patients with 11-15 years asthma duration were significantly more than those of 6-10 years (P < 0.05 for both cases). There was no significant correlation between indices of dental caries and disease duration, PFT values; doses of medication or the technique of inhaler use; although the technique of inhaler use was relatively acceptable in all asthmatic patients. Conclusions These results showed that dental caries among asthmatic patients was more common than control group which can be due to using inhaler drugs or the technique of inhaler use.
Evaluating the flipped classroom: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Despite recent interest in flipped classrooms, rigorous research evaluating their effectiveness is sparse. In this study, the authors implement a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a flipped classroom technique relative to a traditional lecture in an introductory undergraduate econometrics course. Random assignment enables the analysis to eliminate other potential explanations of performance differences between the flipped and traditional classrooms, while assignment of experimental condition by section and lesson enables improved statistical precision. The authors find that the flipped classroom increases scores on medium-term, high-stakes assessments by 0.16 standard deviation, with similar long-term effects for high-performing students. Estimated impacts are robust to alternative specifications accounting for possible spillover effects arising from the experimental design.
Vesicle size and transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction when quantal acetylcholine content is increased or decreased

We investigated whether the synaptic vesicles at the neuromuscular junction change size when their acetylcholine (ACh) content is altered. The size of the miniature endplate potential (MEPP) increased 3‐ or 4‐fold in preparations pre‐treated in a hypertonic solution in which the anion was gluconate. We measured the dimensions of synaptic vesicles in such preparations and in controls. The size of the vesicles and size distribution were indistinguishable. Quanta contained about half of the usual amount of ACh in preparations stimulated in the presence of hemicholinium‐3, an inhibitor of choline uptake, or in NH4+, which diminishes the proton gradient for ACh uptake into the vesicles. Neither treatment changed the size of the synaptic vesicles. ACh content and vesicle size were both decreased in preparations stimulated in (‐)‐vesamicol, an inhibitor of ACh uptake in vesicles. Since the other inhibitors decreased ACh content by a similar amount without altering vesicle size, (‐)‐vesamicol may decrease vesicle size by acting on another target. We also found that a hypertonic solution in which the anion was aspartate increased quantal size similar to gluconate. Both anions have high hydration energy and a large volume. When these treatments increased quantal size the mean 20‐80 % rise time of MEPPs recorded with an extracellular electrode was 170 μs. In the controls it was 97 μs. Perhaps some of the added ACh is bound within the vesicles, which slows the rise. Our major conclusion is that ACh content can change notably without any change in the size of the synaptic vesicles.
Improving the Performance of the PNLMS Algorithm Using $l_1$  Norm Regularization

The proportionate normalized least mean square (PNLMS) algorithm and its variants are by far the most popular adaptive filters that are used to identify sparse systems. The convergence speed of the PNLMS algorithm, though very high initially, however, slows down at a later stage, even becoming worse than sparsity agnostic adaptive filters like the NLMS. In this paper, we address this problem by introducing a carefully constructed l1 norm (of the coefficients) penalty in the PNLMS cost function which favors sparsity. This results in certain zero attracting terms in the PNLMS weight update equation which help in the shrinkage of the coefficients, especially the inactive taps, thereby arresting the slowing down of convergence and also producing lesser steady state excess mean square error (EMSE). A rigorous convergence analysis of the proposed algorithm is presented that expresses the steady state mean square deviation of both the active and the inactive taps in terms of a zero attracting coefficient of the algorithm. The analysis reveals that further reduction of the EMSE is possible by deploying a variable step size (VSS) simultaneously with a variable zero attracting coefficient in the weight update process. Simulation results confirm superior performance of the proposed VSS zero attracting PNLMS algorithm over existing algorithms, especially in terms of having both higher convergence speed and lesser steady state EMSE simultaneously.