Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep, daytime symptoms, and cognitive performance in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE To assess sleep, daytime symptoms, and cognitive performance in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS Ten female patients with FM (mean age 32 yrs) and a matched, noncomplaintive comparison group (n = 9; mean age 30 yrs) spent 2 nights in the sleep laboratory. After the 2nd night, subjects completed a computerized 20 min battery of self-assessment and performance tests at hourly intervals from 07:00 to 20:00 h. RESULTS Patients with FM spent more time in stage 1 sleep; however, there were no group differences on any other sleep measures. They reported greater sleepiness, more fatigue, more pain, more negative mood, and lower accuracy on performance tasks across a 14 h day. The FM group was slower in speed, but not impaired in accuracy, on performance of complex tasks, i.e., grammatical reasoning, serial addition/subtraction, and a simulated multi-task office procedure. CONCLUSION Patients with FM have diurnal impairment in speed of performance on complex cognitive tasks, which accompany light stage 1 electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep and their experience of diffuse pain and nonrestorative sleep symptoms of sleepiness, fatigue, and negative mood.
Exploring the discursive limits of "suicide" in the classroom: a Foucauldian-inspired discourse analysis of a school-based youth suicide prevention program.

Supervisory Committee Dr. Jennifer White, School of Child and Youth Care Supervisor Dr. Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, School of Child and Youth Care Departmental Member Research into the phenomenon of youth suicide is typically guided by quantitative methodologies focused on young people who have attempted or died by suicide. Questions related to epidemiology, etiology, and the development of actuarial measures of risk are often the drivers of these particular kinds of research. Similarly, research into school-based youth suicide prevention curricula is predominantly focused on quantitative measures of the degree to which young people acquire knowledge or change attitudes about suicide, after exposure to a delivered program. Grounded in post-structural ideas, the purpose of this thesis is to expand upon these mainstream inquiries into youth suicide prevention education through close exploration and analysis of how “suicide” is discursively produced within the context of a classroom delivered curriculum. This study will pay particular attention to the discursive productions of suicide in the curriculum, as well as how these productions result in the constitution of particular objects, concepts, and subjectivities. Transcripts of “naturally occurring classroom talk” will serve as the site of analysis. Troubling contemporary “truth regimes” about suicide and its prevention through close analysis of the discursive frames by which they are produced offers up the potential of re-imagining new possibilities for thinking about and delivering youth suicide prevention education.
Predictions of type 2 diabetes and complocations in Greenland in 2014

Objectives. The objective of this study was to predict the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the associated burden to the health care system in Greenland posed by diabetic complications by 2014. The predictions were based on changes in demographic variables and obesity. Study design. Projection model based on two cross-sectional population surveys from 1993 and 1999. Methods. The development in BMI was described and projected to 2014 under two assumptions: 1) distribution of BMI is constant from 1999, and 2) the trend in BMI found in the surveys will continue until 2014. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was predicted under these assumptions and based on the observed association between BMI and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of complications was estimated using the 2nd assumption, as was the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and stroke in the non-diabetic population in 2014. Results. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was not predicted to increase by 2014 under the 1st assumption. It was predicted to increase from 11% to 23% for women, but not for men under the 2nd assumption. Approximately half of the cases of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors predicted by 2014 were attributable to diabetes. Conclusions. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was predicted to increase in Greenland, and the number of complications was predicted to double from 1999 to 2014. Both prophylactic and treatment initiatives are needed to deal with the extra burden posed by type 2 diabetes to the Greenlandic health care system in 2014.
Speech invaders & yak-man: retrogames for speech therapy

Speech therapy is used for the treatment of speech disorders and commonly involves a patient attending clinical sessions with a speech pathologist, as well as performing prescribed practice exercises at home [Ruggero et al. 2012]. Clinical sessions are very effective -- the speech pathologist can carefully guide and monitor the patient's speech exercises -- but they are also costly and timeconsuming. However, the more inexpensive and convenient home practice component is often not as effective, as it is hard to maintain sufficient motivation to perform the rigid repetitive exercises.
Long-Term Outcome of Surgical Treatment in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

With the development of the Harrington rod (Harrington, 1962) a long-segment rod and hook instrumentation was available for the first time, which became the worldwide standard procedure for many years in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. According to a retrospective meta-analysis, Harrington rods were used in more than 85% of such cases between 1958 and 1993 (Haher et al., 1995). With this instrumentation, frontal correction was achieved primarily by the distraction and elongation of the concave side, and by the compression of the convex side of the curve. The disadvantage of this method was the flattening of the spinal profile (Humke et al., 1995), with less improvement of the rib hump deformity (Aaro & Dahlborn, 1982; Weatherley et al., 1987). Moreover, there have been reports of high revision rates with the complete removal of the instrumentation due to chronic complaints of the lumbar spine (Padua et al., 2001). The instrumentation has also required postoperatively external stabilisation for about 6 to 12 months with a plaster cast or an orthesis in order to avoid the loss of initial curve correction (Danielsson et al., 2001; Dickson & Harrington, 1973; Harrington, 1962; Mariconda et al., 2005).
Maintenance and stability of introduced genotypes in groundwater aquifer material

Three indigenous groundwater bacterial strains and Pseudomonas putida harboring plasmids TOL (pWWO) and RK2 were introduced into experimentally contaminated groundwater aquifer microcosms. Maintenance of the introduced genotypes was measured over time by colony hybridization with gene probes of various specificity. On the basis of the results of colony hybridization quantitation of the introduced organisms and genes, all introduced genotypes were stably maintained at approximately 10(5) positive hybrid colonies g-1 of aquifer microcosm material throughout an 8-week incubation period. Concomitant removal of the environmental contaminants, viz., toluene, chlorobenzene, and styrene, in both natural (uninoculated) and inoculated aquifer microcosms was also demonstrated. The results indicate that introduced catabolic plasmids, as well as indigenous organisms, can be stably maintained in groundwater aquifer material without specific selective pressure for the introduced genotypes. These results have positive implications for in situ treatment and biodegradation in contaminated aerobic groundwater aquifers.
Effect of water flow and chemical environment on microbiota growth and composition in the human colon

Significance The human gut is populated by a dense microbial population, strongly impacting health and disease. Metagenomic sequencing has led to crucial insights into microbiota changes in response to various perturbations, but a mechanistic understanding of these changes is largely missing. As the composition of the gut microbiota is a consequence of bacterial growth, we propose an approach that focuses on bacterial growth in the human large intestine and the physiological factors influencing it. Using a combination of experimental analysis and quantitative simulations, we explain the observed variation in microbiota composition among healthy humans and the dominant role of nutrient inflow and stool consistency. Our quantitative modeling framework is a step toward a predictive understanding of microbiota dynamics in the human host. The human gut harbors a dynamic microbial community whose composition bears great importance for the health of the host. Here, we investigate how colonic physiology impacts bacterial growth, which ultimately dictates microbiota composition. Combining measurements of bacterial physiology with analysis of published data on human physiology into a quantitative, comprehensive modeling framework, we show how water flow in the colon, in concert with other physiological factors, determine the abundances of the major bacterial phyla. Mechanistically, our model shows that local pH values in the lumen, which differentially affect the growth of different bacteria, drive changes in microbiota composition. It identifies key factors influencing the delicate regulation of colonic pH, including epithelial water absorption, nutrient inflow, and luminal buffering capacity, and generates testable predictions on their effects. Our findings show that a predictive and mechanistic understanding of microbial ecology in the gut is possible. Such predictive understanding is needed for the rational design of intervention strategies to actively control the microbiota.
Pension Reform, Economic Growth and Financial Development - An Empirical Study

Pension reform is one of the biggest challenges facing national governments. How to reform the old pay-as-you-go (PAYG) systems is still under hot debate; one of the most influential funded pension schemes is designed by the World Bank. In the second chapter of this paper, we first review the arguments for and against the PAYG and then critically discuss the World Bank model by drawing on related literature. The third chapter of this paper presents our empirical results. Regarding the link between economic growth and pension reform towards World Bank model, our panel estimation suggests a negative relationship in the short run and positive relationship in the long run, although the results for OECD countries are not very statistically robust.The second empirical work is focused on pension fund assets and economic growth. A positive link between these two variables is found by our standard economic growth specifications; in addition, there is evidence that pensions are a good predictor of economic growth. This result is then consolidated by our Panel Granger causality test. The last empirical work deals with the relationship between pension assets and financial development. On balance, our Panel correction model and Panel Granger causality test suggest that pension funds growth leads financial development, although some sub-group estimations are not strong. In addition, there is evidence that traditional banking industry is declining relative to other financial institutions, but not,even increasing relative to the economy.
Collaborative Development and Results of a Nigerian Trauma Registry.

BACKGROUND More than 90% of injury-related deaths and disabilities occur in low- and middle-income countries. The development of the Nigerian Trauma Registry (NTR) and the first descriptive data analysis of the patient characteristics, mechanisms of injury, injury severity, and treatments are reported. METHODS Existing data collection tools were modified to capture a minimum data set of variables reflective of the trauma experience in Nigeria. Data are collected using the secure, Web-based application, REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture). RESULTS Two hospitals entered 564 patients into the registry. Motor vehicle accidents were the most frequently reported trauma (69.2%). Of the 51 fall injuries, 82% were from buildings. There were 229 mass casualties, including bus accidents (41.5%), bombings or blasts (28.8%), multiple vehicle accidents (23.6%), fires (3.1%), and civil conflicts or riots (3.1%). External soft tissue was the most commonly reported injury region followed by extremities, head and neck, face, abdomen, and thorax/spine. Only 18.1% of patients arrived by ambulance. There were 19 recorded in-hospital deaths and 79.0% of these were due to motor vehicle accidents. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest report of injury surveillance in this country. These data are essential to inform policy makers about the increasing trauma burden and provide a strong advocacy tool, prevention opportunities, provisions for unmet capacity needs, and better allocation of limited health care resources. The NTR has demonstrated that development and implementation of an electronic trauma registry is feasible in low- and middle-income countries. The NTR evolved through international collaborations that included a partnership with an American epidemiologist and 2 Nigerian hospitals that contributed their individual and institutional capabilities. Local champions are required to drive the initiation and implementation of registries.
Democrats, Republicans, and the Politics of Women's Place

"Democrats, Republicans, and the Politics of Women's Place is impressive in its scope, powerful in its argument, and compelling in its analysis. Using data sources ranging from public opinion surveys to elite interviews to party platforms to presidential speeches, Sanbonmatsu provides a provocative account of how and why the parties' electoral strategies have varied across gender issues. Scholars will be reading and citing this book for years to come. "-Susan J. Carroll, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University"Kira Sanbonmatsu's study contributes to our knowledge of the complexity of the response of the Democratic and Republican parties to the gender issues that emerged on the political scene as a result of the women's movement. She expertly shows how the perspectives of both party activists and the general public need to be taken into account across a range of gender issues for an understanding of the impact of women as a political force in contemporary politics. "-Barbara Burrell, Northern Illinois University and author of A Woman's Place Is in the House: Campaigning for Congress in the Feminist Era"Democrats, Republicans, and the Politics of Women's Place is an unusual double-treat-an original study of party politics and a review of how issues created by women's changing roles in society have never quite made it to the top of the political agenda. Readers who care about the obstacles faced by social issues in the political marketplace should not miss this book. They will be richly rewarded. "-Doris A. Graber, University of Illinois at Chicago, Political Science Quarterly"[Sanbonmatsu] has done important work in raising the question of the separation between abortion and other gender issues, and has moved us some distance in the direction of understanding this phonomenon. [T]his book makes an important contribution to our understanding of the place of gender in American electoral and party politics in the last three decades. "-Gretchen Ritter, University of Texas, Austin, Perspectives on Politics
Developing a Pedagogy of Teacher Education: Understanding Teaching & Learning about Teaching

1. Developing a Pedagogy of Teacher Education: What Does that Really Mean? Section 1: Teaching About Teaching 2.Being a Teacher Educator: A Focus on Pedagogy 3. Teaching: A Problematic Enterprise 4. Making the Tacit Explicit 5.A Shared Language: Conceptualising Knowledge for a Pedagogy of Teacher Education 6. Principles of Practice Section 2: Learning about Teaching 7. Being a Student of Teaching 8. From Student to Teacher: The Place of Effective Reflective Practice 9. Student Teacher as Researcher: Recognizing and Valuing the Development of Professional Knowledge 10. Learning Through Experience: Students of Teaching Researching their Own Practice 11. Teacher Education as a Beginning Not an End 12. Enacting a Pedagogy of Teacher Education
Transparency, E-Government, and Accountability

Greater use of information and communications technology and e-government can increase governmental transparency. This, in turn, may invite citizen participation, foster e-governance, and facilitate e-democracy. However, beyond a certain point, more government openness may be dysfunctional if it reduces operational capacity. This article claims that in the real world, where the proverbial question is "Why can't government be like business? ," many public managers are challenged by the need to perform a balancing act between the pursuit of greater openness and private-sector efficiency. The article concludes that there is a need to develop theories, models, and trainings to assist managers in addressing this balancing challenge.
Long-Term Prognosis After Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring Among Low-Intermediate Risk Women and Men

Background—Cardiovascular screening of women using traditional risk factors has been challenging, with results often classifying a majority of women as lower risk than men. The aim of this report was to determine the long-term prognosis of asymptomatic women and men classified at low-intermediate risk undergoing screening with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. Methods and Results—A total of 2363 asymptomatic women and men with traditional risk factors aggregating into a low-intermediate Framingham risk score (6%–9.9%; 10-year predicted risk) underwent CAC scanning. Individuals were followed up for a median of 14.6 years. We estimated all-cause mortality using Cox proportional hazards models; hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The area under the curve from a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was calculated. There were 1072 women who were older (55.6 years) when compared with the 1291 men (46.7 years; P<0.0001), resulting in a greater prevalence and extent of CAC; 18.8% of women and 15.1% of men had a CAC score ≥100 (P=0.029). This older group of women had a 1.44-fold higher 15-year adjusted mortality hazard when compared with men (P=0.022). For women, the 15-year mortality ranged from 5.0% for those with a CAC score of 0 to 23.5% for those with a CAC score ≥400 (P<0.001). For men, the 15-year mortality ranged from 3.5% for those with a CAC score of 0 to 18.0% for those with a CAC score ≥400 (P<0.001). Women with CAC scores >10 had a higher mortality risk when compared with men. Conclusions—Our findings extend previous work that CAC effectively identifies high-risk women with a low-intermediate risk factor burden. These data require validation in external cohorts but lend credence to the use of CAC in women to improve risk detection algorithms that are currently based on traditional risk factors.
Vascular Health in Patients in Remission of Cushing's Syndrome Is Comparable With That in BMI-Matched Controls.

CONTEXT In active Cushing's syndrome (CS), patients suffer from endothelial dysfunction and premature atherosclerosis. However, it is uncertain to what extent vascular health recovers after long-term remission. This is highly relevant because this topic relates to future development of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate whether micro- and macrovascular health is impaired after long-term remission of CS in patients with no or adequately treated comorbidities. DESIGN AND SETTING This was a cross-sectional case-control study in two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sixty-three patients (remission of CS for ≥ 4 y) and 63 healthy, well-matched controls were compared. In group A (58 patients and 58 controls), serum biomarkers associated with endothelial dysfunction, intima media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and pulse wave analysis were studied. In group B (14 patients and 14 controls), endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation was studied in conduit arteries (flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery) and forearm skeletal muscle resistance arteries (vasodilator response to intraarterial acetylcholine, sodium-nitroprusside, and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine using venous occlusion plethysmography). RESULTS There were no significant differences between the outcome measures of vascular health of patients and controls in groups A and B. CONCLUSION The vascular health of patients in long-term remission of CS seems to be comparable with that of healthy gender-, age-, and body mass index-matched controls, provided that the patients have no, or adequately controlled, comorbidities. Therefore, the effects of hypercortisolism per se on the vasculature may be reversible. This accentuates the need for the stringent treatment of metabolic comorbidities in these patients.
Is neighbourhood social cohesion associated with subjective well-being for older Chinese people? The neighbourhood social cohesion study

Objectives To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Hong Kong version of Neighbourhood Cohesion Instrument (HK-NCI) and examine whether neighbourhood social cohesion as measured using HK-NCI would be associated with evaluative, hedonic and eudaemonic well-being. Design A validation analysis followed by a cross-sectional analysis of a community-based survey. Setting Communities in two districts (Sha Tin and Tai Po) in Hong Kong. Participants 301 community-dwelling Chinese men and women aged 60 years and older normally residing in Sha Tin or Tai Po for not less than six consecutive months at the time of participation in the study were interviewed. Measurements Neighbourhood social cohesion was measured using the 15-item HK-NCI. The Social Cohesion Scale (SCS) and the Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) were administered for assessing the validity of the HK-NCI. Evaluative (life satisfaction), hedonic (feelings of happiness) and eudaemonic well-being (sense of purpose and meaning in life) were examined. Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health behaviours, medical history, and neighbourhood characteristics were used as covariates. Results For homogeneity, internal consistency of HK-NCI (α=0.813) was good. For stability (test–retest reliability), the averages of mean scores of the 15 items suggested an acceptable repeatability with an intra-class correlation coefficient=0.701(95% CI 0.497 to 0.832). HK-NCI was correlated with SCS (r=0.515–0.635, p<0.001) and BSCS (r=0.500–0.612, p<0.001). Neighbourhood social cohesion was positively and independently associated with life satisfaction, feelings of happiness and sense of purpose and meaning in life (all p values <0.05). Stratified analyses indicated that neighbourhood social cohesion was more strongly associated with all dimensions of subjective well-being in ‘young-old’ subgroup, and with sense of purpose and meaning in life for women. Conclusion The HK-NCI has adequate levels of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. In addition, higher levels of neighbourhood social cohesion were associated with better subjective well-being among older Chinese people.