Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in elderly patients.

PURPOSE Elderly patients with rectal cancer are regarded as being at increased risk during radical resection because of lack of functional reserve and increased number of comorbidities. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery with radical intent between elderly and young rectal cancer patients. METHODS Three-hundred ten patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery with radical intent for rectal cancer at our institution between January 2008 and December 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two age groups (younger than 70 years and older than 70 years) and were evaluated with respect to short- and long-term outcomes. RESULTS Postoperative morbidity was similar in elderly and young groups (p=0.718). Overall survival and disease-free survival were not significantly different between the two groups. Advanced age was not independent predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival by univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that laparoscopic surgery with radical intent can be performed as safely in elderly patients as in young patients, with comparable postoperative results and long-term outcomes.
The Motivational and Academic Consequences of Elementary Mathematics Environments: Do Constructivist Innovations and Reforms Make a Difference?

This study examined the effects of a videodisc-based mathematical problem-solving series known as The Adventures of Jasper Woodbury, as implemented by one school district within a constructivist-inspired reform of its math curricula. The motivational and academic consequences of both the specific innovation and the broader reforms were examined in 19 fifth-grade classrooms in two pairs of closely matched schools. One pair of schools served higher-achieving high-socioeconomic status (SES) students while the other pair served relatively lower-achieving low-SES students. Significantly larger gains on the Mathematical Problem-solving subtest of the ITBS were documented in the 10 classrooms where the Jasper activities were implemented, and in the 10 classrooms that were ranked as relatively more consistent with the broader curricular reform goals. The largest relative gains were found in the five classrooms that both used the Jasper activities and were ranked more consistent with the broader reforms. The positive consequences of both the Jasper activities and the broader reforms were documented in both pairs of schools. The implications of these results are discussed relative to current proposals for curricular reform and research on educational innovations
Enhanced Iron-Tunnel Recognition for Automotive Radars

In this paper, we propose a novel iron-tunnel recognition method to overcome the deterioration of the target or vehicle detection performance due to iron-tunnel clutters. Although a few studies on the reflection and diffraction on road surfaces have been conducted for automotive radar sensors, most of these studies did not consider the situation in which structures with larger reflection, such as an iron tunnel, are densely distributed. The proposed method measures the degree of spectral spreading through the analysis of the spectrum characteristics of the received radar signal under different road conditions. The proposed method can successfully detect iron tunnels. In addition, experimental results show that early detection and missing problem of a forward target vehicle in an iron tunnel under adaptive cruise control (ACC) is improved.
Contextual influences on the pursuit of secondary goals in request messages

When making requests, speakers often pursue not only an influence goal but a secondary goal such as implying that they do not wish to impose. This research asked whether or not the effects of situation features on the importance of secondary goals depend on the kind of request being made. The effects of six features and five interactions on the importance of five secondary goals were observed in four types of requests (borrow, share activity, stop annoyance, request permission). Findings indicate that the effect of situation features on the importance of secondary goals often depends on request type. The implications for cognitive theories of message production, individual differences in adaptive ability, and politeness theory (Brown and Levinson, 1987) are considered.
NDCMC: A Hybrid Data Collection Approach for Large-Scale WSNs Using Mobile Element and Hierarchical Clustering

To collect data from large-scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a challenging issue and there are mainly two approaches to increase the efficiency: 1) by hierarchical routing based on node clustering and 2) by mobile elements (MEs). Since either method has pros and cons, this paper presents a hybrid approach, called node-density-based clustering and mobile collection (NDCMC), to combine the hierarchical routing and ME data collection in WSNs. A number of cluster heads (CHs) gather information from cluster members and then an ME visits these CHs to collect data. First, for a randomly deployed WSN, a new CH selection scheme based on the node density is proposed. The advantage is that the nodes which are surrounded by more deployed nodes are more likely to be CHs. Thus, the efficiency of both intracluster routing and ME data collection is improved. Second, a low-complexity traveling track planning algorithm is designed for an ME to pass by all CHs. The analytical model of NDCMC is also developed and the expectation of the sensor power consumption and network lifetime are derived. In addition, a simple random clustering and mobile collection (RCMC) scheme is introduced by which a number of CHs are selected randomly in a WSN. Although RCMC yields performance degradation, it has much less complexity. Extensive simulations show that the proposed hybrid NDCMC scheme leads to not only remarkable performance improvement but also convenient tradeoff between the network energy saving and the data collection latency.
Connecting theory and practice in mentor preparation: mentoring for the improvement of teaching and learning

This study examines the theory‐and‐practice connection model in mentor preparation in the context of two mentor preparation programmes in Hong Kong. The 30‐ and the 60‐hour mentoring support development (MSD) programmes share a common conceptualization of mentoring—with the improvement of teaching and learning as the core of mentoring—yet they differ in objectives, duration and the mentoring practice settings in which structured practical work occurs. This enquiry addresses how the theory‐and‐practice connection model contributes to the construction of professional knowledge in mentoring and the development of mentoring practices in schools. It was found that the organization of curriculum components, such as coursework (e.g., skills of lesson analysis and conferencing), and structured practical work in mentoring, facilitated the connection of the theory and practice of mentoring. In addition, mentor trainees (practising school teachers) developed competence in mentoring through integrating research‐based knowledge and knowledge that grew out of their own mentoring experience. Finally, suggestions for the design of mentor preparation programmes and workplace conditions that facilitate mentoring in schools are discussed.
Quantum Dot-Doped Glasses and Fibers: Fabrication and Optical Properties

Quantum dot-doped glasses have been the hotspot for their excellent electronic and optical properties. Owing to its tunable and broadband near-infrared (NIR) emission by controlling the size and distribution of QDs, QD-doped glasses and fibers are potentially applied in photoelectric devices. In this review, we mainly introduce the preparation, tunable emission, and multi-wavelength optical amplification of QD-doped glasses. Due to their excellent optical performances, the fabrication of QD-doped glass fibers is also presented, containing the successful fabrication of QD-doped glass fibers with tunable NIR emission. Furthermore, the achievements and existing problems about QD-doped glasses and fibers are also proposed with several prospects. These QD-doped glasses and fibers show promising applications as the gain medium of NIR broadband fiber amplifiers and tunable fiber lasers.
School Effectiveness: The Underlying Dimensions

This article explores two underlying dimensions of school effectiveness: instrumental functions and expressive functions. The study explores Mott's index of perceived organizational effectiveness as a concise measure that captures both of these underlying dimensions. Attention to these underlying dimensions helps to make manageable this multifaceted and complex construct. A model of school effectiveness that accounts for both is presented and tested.
Political Sophistication and the Dimensionality of Elite and Mass Attitudes, 1980−2004

Among the terms central to the literature on political attitudes have been complexity and constraint, with some scholars asserting that increased complexity—political sophistication—constrains political attitudes to a single ideological dimension while others argue that complexity instead leads to a multidimensional attitude structure. We investigate the role of sophistication in structuring issue attitudes using a unique survey of Democratic and Republican party elites in conjunction with the American National Election Studies (ANES). The two surveys allow us to compare directly the structure of elites’ and mass issue attitudes. We hypothesize that elites’ attitudes are unidimensional and mass attitudes are multidimensional. The difference, we argue, is that political sophistication constrains elites’ attitudes to a single ideological dimension, whereas much of the mass public is not fully capable of making the necessary connections between ideology and issue attitudes. The results of comparisons between elite and mass attitude structures from 1980 to 2004 support our hypotheses.
Predicting proximal health responses to reminders of death: The influence of coping style and health optimism

Research derived from terror management theory (TMT) suggests that conscious contemplations of mortality instigate efforts to remove such threatening cognitions from focal attention. Though efforts to manage death concerns in focal attention can positively affect one's health (e.g., engaging in health conscious behavior), such efforts can also negatively affect one's health (e.g., denying vulnerability to disease). The current research explores how individual differences in coping style and health optimism relate to the ways in which people respond to death-related cognitions in focal attention. Study 1 found that adaptive coping was associated with increased health behavioral intentions immediately after death thoughts were made salient (i.e., when death thoughts were still in focal attention) but not after a delay. Study 2 found that immediately after death thoughts were made salient, health optimism was associated with increased disease-detecting behavioral intentions relating to breast cancer. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Cerebellar Agenesis: Clinical, Neuropsychological and MR Findings

Cases of cerebellar agenesis are rare. The degree of motor impairment is a matter of discussion. It has been claimed that normal motor function can be observed. Detailed descriptions of neurological findings, however, are lacking. Neuropsychological testing in cerebellar agenesis is of additional interest based on recent findings of impaired non-motor functions in cerebellar disease. The case of an elderly woman with cerebellar agenesis is presented. 3D-MR imaging was used to confirm the diagnosis. Neurological and neuropsychological examination was performed including video documentation (see the authors’ own website). To assess deficits of motor learning eyeblink conditioning was investigated. Neurological examination revealed mild to moderate signs of cerebellar dysarthria, upper and lower limb ataxia and ataxia of stance and gait. Motor learning was affected as shown by inability to acquire conditioned eyeblink responses. In addition, neuropsychological testing disclosed mild to moderate deficits in IQ, planning behavior, visuospatial abilities, memory and attention. Cerebellar ataxia, although clearly present, was less than one would expect in almost complete absence of the cerebellum. Neuropsychological deficits, on the other hand, appeared to be more marked than one would expect in cerebellar disease. No conclusion, however, could be drawn whether impaired cognitive development and neuropsychological test performance were directly related to lack of cerebellar function, or caused by impaired motor development and performance.
Improving Outcomes for Children With Developmental Disabilities Through Enhanced Communication and Collaboration Between School Psychologists and Physicians

A renewed call for enhanced communication and collaboration between school psychology and medicine is envisioned, in light of a transdisciplinary model, where school psychologists, family physicians, and other health professionals transcend disciplinary boundaries. Recommendations for optimal communication and collaboration are described, as well as challenges inherent in such an endeavor. School psychologist–physician collaboration has the potential to result in significant improvements in outcomes for families and children with developmental disabilities. A case illustration highlights the major points mirrored in the discussion, and conclusions are drawn regarding necessary components for meaningful change to occur.
The Clinical Nature of Personality Disorders: Answering the Neo-Szaszian Critique

Abstract: This article describes five models that could be used to demonstrate that personality disorders are valid clinical kinds: the vulnerability model, the pathoplasticity model, the spectrum model, the decline in functioning model, and the defect model (of which there are three versions). It is argued that the empirically based vulnerability and pathoplasticity models make the best case, given the current evidence, for the clinical relevance of personality disorders. It remains a possibility that a version of the defect model may in due course be developed that provides an acceptable theory of the pathological processes underlying personality disorders and thus more directly validate their clinical status.
Hierarchical neural network model for voluntary movement with application to robotics

In order to control voluntary movements, the central nervous system must solve the following three computational problems at different levels: determination of a desired trajectory in the visual coordinates; transformation of the trajectory from visual coordinates to body coordinates; and generation of motor commands. Based on physiological information and previous models, computational theories are proposed for the first two problems, and a hierarchical neural network model is introduced to deal with motor commands. The application of this approach to robotics is outlined. <<ETX>>
Gain Requirements of Hearing aid Users

The relationship between hearing loss for pure tones averaged over the speech frequencies and the gain employed by experienced hearing aid users has been investigated. A median value of 0.5 was obtained for the ratio between gain and hearing loss. Closer analysis indicated a slightly lower value where the loss was of a purely sensorineural type, and a somewhat higher value where the loss was conductive in nature. An explanation for the relationship is advanced in terms of comfortable listening levels and the diminution of the dynamic range which is less for conductive lesions than for those of a sensorineural nature. Possible applications for this information are suggested in the design of hearing aid attenuators, fitting aids to children, and the use of aids with fixed gain characteristics.Sammenhaeengen mellem horetabets svaerhedsgrad—malt som gennemsnitstabet pa talefrekvenserne—og den af patienten anvendte forstaerkning er undersogt hos traeenede horeapparatbaerere. Man fandt en medianvaerdi pa 0,5 for forh.
Trust in Coworkers and Trust in Organizations

The authors proposed a modified model of organizational trust that incorporates trust in 2 foci: coworkers and organizations. They found a relation between the 2 foci. The authors also found that trust in organizations mediates the relation between trust in coworkers and organizational outcomes of affective commitment and performance. These findings suggest that it would be meaningful to examine the relations between other foci of trust to better understand how different domains interact and how such exchanges eventually lead to desired organizational outcomes.
The peatland/ice age hypothesis revised, adding a possible glacial pulse trigger

Abstract Carbon sequestering in peatlands is believed to be a major climate‐regulating mechanism throughout the late Phanerozoic. Since plant life first evolved on land, peatlands have been significant carbon sinks, which could explain significant parts of the large variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide observed in various records. The result is peat in different degrees of metamorphosis, i.e. lignite, hard coal and graphite. During phases of extensive glaciations such as the 330–240 Ma Pangea Ice Age, atmospheric carbon dioxide was critically low. This pattern repeats itself during the Pleistocene when carbon dioxide oscillates with an amplitude of c. 200–300 ppmv. This paper suggests that the ice age cycles during the Pleistocene are generated by the interglacial growth of peatlands and the subsequent sequestering of carbon into this terrestrial pool. The final initiation of ice age pulses towards the end of inter‐glacials, on the other hand, is attributed to the cyclic influx of cosmic dust to the Earth surface, which in turn regulates cloud formation and the incoming shortwave radiation. These shorter cycles have a frequency of c. 1000‐1250 years and might be connected to sunspot or other low frequency solar variations. In a wider context the ice age cycling could be regarded as an interplay between terrestrial life on the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere and the marine subsurface life in the southeast. If the results presented here are correct, the present global warming might just be the early part of a new warm period such as the Bronze Age and the Roman and Medieval Warm periods. This could be caused by entry into another phase of decreasing influx rates of cosmic dust. The increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide might have contributed to this warming but, most important of all, it might temporarily have saved us from a new ice age pulse.
POSTMODERNITY IN NEW MILLENNIUM CHINA?

Abstract It is not unusual these days to hear from cultural critics that the very soul of metaphysical life in China—in which events and existences are imbued with meaning—has been irretrievably damaged in the current era of accelerated capitalist restoration. There are fears that such life cannot be rekindled amidst what has been described as the “crazy quilt” of consumerism that is rampant in contemporary China. The popularity of traditional Chinese culture and the appreciation of the work of elite artists has plummeted, while there has been an astonishing growth of mass-market popular culture. China scholars in a variety of fields have suggested that what they see happening is symptomatic of an entirely new epoch, and this paper considers the extent to which we might usefully refer to contemporary China as a postmodern society. There is a tendency for some scholars offering postmodern critiques to focus only on the negative aspects of postmodernity, especially the fragmentations, discontinuities, and disjunctures associated with a rapidly changing society. There is, however, a more positive side to the postmodern critique, one that offers some exciting new challenges for human geographers working in contemporary China. It is increasingly evident that many individuals and groups are now beginning to carve out new identities for themselves in the face of the dramatic and unparalleled changes they are encountering. What is implied here is that the very nature of the geographical unevenness and difference generated during the process of modernization can perhaps be shaped into the components of a new cultural and identity politics.
A Nationwide Study of the Influence of Faculty Development Programs on Colleague Relationships

Purpose Academic colleague relationships (CRs) promote career development and professional advancement. Some primary care faculty development programs (FDPs) have begun to examine their influence on enrollees' colleague development. Using a nationwide sampling, the authors examined the effects of FDPs on the formation and benefits of enrollees' academic CRs. Method The authors conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study in two phases, each relying on written questionnaires. In phase one, program details and enrollee rosters were provided by directors at FDPs funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, from 1994 through 1997. In phase two, family medicine physicians enrolled during these years provided feedback on their socialization skills and formation of relationships with career-supportive colleagues (mentors, peers, and academic consultants), as well as academic achievements and products these colleagues aid. Results Of the 52 directors, 37 (71%) provided FDP information and enrollee rosters. Of the 543 enrollees, 351 (65%) reported initiating or strengthening an average of nine CRs due to program participation: three peers, two mentors, one academic consultant, and three additional colleagues perceived available for future career support. Colleague gains were positively associated with academic socialization. Colleagues actively assisted with academic achievements and products, and provided links to networks of regional and national scholars. Conclusion FDPs help enrollees build career-important relationships with peers, mentors, and academic consultants who enhance socialization skills and contribute to academic advancement.
A clinical decision and economic analysis model of cancer pain management.

OBJECTIVE To design a model that educates clinical decision makers and healthcare professionals about the burden of cancer pain in their individual populations, and that assists them in weighing the effectiveness and cost of different cancer pain management strategies. STUDY DESIGN Tailored cost-effectiveness analysis using an evidence-based decision analytic model. METHODS The spreadsheet-based model compares 3 strategies: (1) guideline-based care (GBC), (2) oncology-based care (OBC), and (3) usual care (UC). The model calculates the likelihood of cancer pain in a healthcare population, how effectively that pain is managed, and the average monthly cost of medications plus procedural interventions. Model inputs were derived from published US population demographics, cancer registry data, high-quality studies of cancer pain management, standard reimbursement schedules, and expert opinion. The model permits users to tailor population demographics, strategy effectiveness, and resource costs. RESULTS Of 100 000 patients with typical US demographics, approximately 508 (0.51%) will have cancer and 205 (0.20%) will suffer from cancer pain. After 1 month, the percentage of cancer pain patients with effective pain management and the cost of each strategy were estimated as follows: (1) GBC, 80% and dollar 579; (2) OBC, 55% and dollar 466; and (3) UC, 30% and dollar 315. Compared with OBC, GBC had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of dollar 452 per additional patient relieved of cancer pain. Compared with UC, OBC had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of dollar 601 per additional patient relieved of cancer pain. CONCLUSION Guideline-based cancer pain management leads to improved pain control with modest increases in resource use.