Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution, incidence, prevalence and default of patients with diabetes mellitus accessing public healthcare in the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND The global increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is most marked in African countries. The District Health Information System (DHIS) is the primary data collection system of the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN), South Africa. Data are routinely collected at all public healthcare facilities in the province and are aggregated per facility. OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution, incidence and prevalence of diabetes in the public healthcare sector of KZN. METHODS Data collected by the DHIS for all patients with diabetes in KZN from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 inclusive were analysed. Additional open-source databases were accessed to enable further exploration of the data collected. RESULTS The study showed that the majority (38.7%) of patients with diabetes on the public sector register were from the district of eThekwini. Positive correlations were found between the prevalence of diabetes, the mortality rate and the number of defaulters (patients with diabetes who did not return for regular treatment). CONCLUSIONS Provincial estimates of the prevalence of diabetes in this study were higher than the known national prevalence. This may be due to the large proportion of Indians in KZN, who have a genetic predisposition to diabetes mellitus. However, allowance must be made for possible inaccurate data collection at source with miscounting of individuals. This study supports the global trend of an association between diabetes and urbanisation and highlights the need for regular diabetes screening and education, particularly in the public healthcare domain.
Early clinical clues to meningococcaemia

Meningococcal septicaemia has high mortality, especially when the diagnosis is delayed or missed. Early recognition is not always straightforward, as classic clinical features may be absent or overlooked at initial presentation. Septicaemia without focal infection accounts for 15%–20% of cases of meningococcal disease and is the most worrisome manifestation in terms of diagnosis and outcome; in contrast, meningococcal meningitis is usually straightforward to diagnose, with a relatively good prognosis. Useful early clinical clues to meningococcaemia include: – a haemorrhagic (petechial or purpuric) rash; – blanching macular or maculopapular rash that appears in first 24 hours of illness; – true rigors; – severe pain in extremities, neck or back; vomiting, especially in association with headache or abdominal pain; rapid evolution of the illness; – concern of parents, relatives or friends; – patient age (highest incidence at age 3–12 months, followed by 1–4 and then 15–19 years); and – contact with a patient with meningococcal disease. In addition to specific clues, clinicians should look at the whole pattern of the illness. Timely clinical review is essential if there is doubt about the diagnosis. In any acutely febrile patient, it is prudent to ask “Why is this patient seeking help now? ”, then “Could this patient have meningococcaemia? ”.
Using Assessment Centers in Selecting Entry-Level Police Officers: Extravagance or Justified Expense?

Effectively screening-out candidates who have potential to become “liability-prone” officers is crucial to any police agency. The critical nature of appropriate selection is readily apparent when we consider the serious ramifications that the inappropriate actions of even a single officer can have for the agency itself as well as for the community as a whole. The present paper contends that assessment centers are a viable option for selection of entry-level police officers. The literature on the use of assessment centers is reviewed, and arguments are made regarding the potential utility of employing this technique with police applicants. Recommendations are offered for implementation of an assessment center program for selection of entry-level police officers.
Wide bandwidth adaptive digital predistortion of power amplifiers using reduced order memory correction

Adaptive digital predistortion (DPD) with memory correction is made challenging when the observation bandwidth used to measure the output signal is narrower than the discernable intermodulation (IMD) products generated by the input signal and power amplifier nonlinearity. This is likely to occur when the input signal has a wide bandwidth and the PA has severe nonlinearities, as in the case of a Doherty PA. Wide bandwidth signals tend to stimulate the memory effects within the PA requiring memory correction to be included in the DPD. However, if in the pursuit of additional memory correction the number of basis waveforms used is over-specified relative to the measurable output signal bandwidth, the estimation of the memory coefficients will be ill-conditioned. This paper proposes a method based on eigenvalue decompositions to reduce the order of the memory coefficient estimation. It also shows how measurements from multiple narrow bandwidth observations can be combined to increase the available rank of the estimation and improve the overall cancellation performance. Experimental results obtained using a RF test bench comprising a Doherty PA and a 20 MHz input signal demonstrate the relationship between the available order of the estimation, the number of observation bandwidths used, and the performance of the wide bandwidth IMD cancellation.
Common trends and spectral response: a case study on the US

This paper sets out to consider whether changes in economic fundamentals in the United States can impact on international real estate markets. To this end a two-step approach is pursued. In the first step cointegration techniques are used to determine whether common trends exist in international property markets. Once common trends are identified amongst securitized property markets, a potential common driver is isolated by substituting US Gross Domestic Product for US property. The paper then uses a spectral response technique to examine the impulse response between shocks in the US economy and reactions in foreign real estate markets. The results support a linkage between the economic growth of an important member of the international economic community and international real estate performance.
Benchmarking the Efficiency of Public Expenditure in the Russian Federation

This paper benchmarks the efficiency of public expenditure in the social sectors in the Russian Federation relative to other countries and among the country's regions. It finds that there is substantial room for efficiency gains, particularly in health care and social protection, although less so in education. An econometric analysis of efficiency differences between the regions suggests that they are positively related to per capita income and the quality of governance and democratic control, while they are negatively related to the share of federal transfers in the respective region's government revenue and the level of spending relative to gross regional product.
Technology-Assisted Balance and Gait Training Reduces Falls in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

Objective. To examine the effects of technology-assisted balance and gait training on reducing falls in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods. Eligible subjects were randomly allocated to an experimental group given technology-assisted balance and gait training (BAL, n = 26) and an active control group undertaking strengthening exercises (CON, n = 25). The training in each group lasted for 3 months. The number of fallers and fall rate were used as primary outcomes, and single-leg-stance-time, latency of postural response to perturbation, self-selected gait velocity, and stride length as secondary outcomes. Fall incidence was recorded over 15 months after the baseline assessment (Pre). Other tests were performed at Pre, after 3-month intervention (Post3m), at 3 months (Post6m), and 12 months (Post15m) after treatment completion. Results. Forty-five subjects who completed the 3-month training were included in the data analysis. There were fewer fallers in the BAL than in the CON group at Post3m, Post6m, and Post15m (P < .05). In addition, the BAL group had lower fall rate than the CON group at Post3m and Post6m (incidence rate ratio: 0.111-0.188, P < .05), and marginally so at Post15m (incidence rate ratio: 0.407, P = .057). Compared with the CON subjects, the BAL subjects demonstrated greater reduction in the postural response latency and increase in the stride length against baseline at each assessment interval (P < .05), and marginally more increases of single-leg-stance-time at Post3m (P = .064), Post6m (P = .041) and Post15m (P = .087). Conclusions. Our positive findings provide evidence for the clinical use of technology-assisted balance and gait training in reducing falls in people with PD.
Multiple stakeholders and middle managers: the role of the hotel financial controller

This article explores the key characteristics of the specific stakeholders for one type of middle manager, the hotel financial controller. Eleven semi-structured interviews among financial personnel showed that although some owners require on-going profits and have high expectations of middle managers, others may take a more long-term view and be less demanding. Head offices provide systems and services for the unit, but a lack of efficiency and strategic planning affects the ability of managers to do their job. The middle manager must take a proactive intrapreneurial approach in communicating and implementing corporate strategic decisions within the unit and in managing the multiple stakeholders, but in return requires more guidance, resources and support from senior management.
Maternal Race, Procedures, and Infant Birth Weight in Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between race and cesarean delivery, episiotomy, and low birth weight infants in pregnancies with type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus and to identify factors that might explain racial differences. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional study of 1999–2004 Maryland hospital discharge data. Hospitalizations for delivery of pregnancies with type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus were identified and matched to infants. The independent variable was maternal race. Dependent variables were cesarean delivery, episiotomy, and low infant birth weight. Stepwise logistic regression models were developed to estimate the independent effect of race on use of each procedure and infant birth weight, after adjusting for sociodemographic, hospital, and clinical factors. RESULTS: We examined 6,310 deliveries for pregnancies with type 2 (15%) and gestational (85%) diabetes. Before adjustment, black race was associated with a higher odds of cesarean delivery (odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–1.58) and low birth weight infants (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.57–2.40) compared with white race. Adjustment for racial differences in preeclampsia and fetal heart rate abnormalities accounted for a modest degree of the racial variation in outcomes. With full adjustment, black race was still associated with a higher odds of cesarean delivery (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.20–1.60) and low birth weight (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.41–2.34) and a lower odds of episiotomy (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.36–0.57). CONCLUSION: In pregnancies with diabetes, adjustment for sociodemographic, hospital, and clinical factors only partially explains racial differences in procedure use and infant low birth weight. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2
Local recurrence of deep-seated, high-grade, soft tissue sarcoma: 459 patients from the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Register

This study was based on 459 adult patients with deep, high-grade, soft tissue sarcoma of extremities or trunk wall reported to the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Register (1986-1993). All patients had their definitive surgery for primary tumor at a sarcoma center. The median follow-up was 7.5 (3-12) years. 204 patients are still alive. 68 patients had amputations and 391 underwent limb-sparing surgery. Among 183 patients with intralesional or marginal margins after limb-sparing surgery, 65% had postoperative radiotherapy and 9% of the 198 patients with wide margins. The local recurrence rate after limb-sparing surgery was 26%. The rate with an intralesional or marginal margin was 39% without postoperative radiotherapy versus 24% when radiotherapy was given. It was 25% after a wide margin, and no recurrences were noted among the 10 patients with a compartmental surgical margin. Among patients with a wide margin, a subset fulfilling criteria for a myectomy was defined. The local recurrence rate was 26% among these 62 and there was no advantage of myectomy over other wide margins. More radical surgical margins would improve the local recurrence rate, but this can hardly be achieved in center-operated patients without increasing the amputation rate. Instead, increased use of radiotherapy in all patients with inadequate margins, and to a larger extent in those with wide margins will improve local control.
Effects of NaCl and pH on 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion with oleanolic acid

This present work focused on the effects of NaCl and pH on 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) inclusion with oleanolic acid by phase solubility analysis. The results indicated that the solubility of oleanolic acid could be increased by NaCl, so could the acidic pH and alkaline pH. Moreover, small effects of NaCl and pH on the solubility of oleanolic acid were observed at the low concentration of HPCD while large effects were observed at the high concentration of HPCD. It was suggest that hydrophobic interaction was the dominant driving forces for oleanolic acid encapsulated by HPCD in aqueous media.
I Would Have Felt Better If Only … Or, How to Enhance Customer Satisfaction Following Service Problems

Abstract This paper presents a discussion of the use of Fairness Theory in better understanding consumer responses to service failures. By adopting an exploratory approach through the use of focus groups, preliminary evidence emerged to illustrate the ways in which customers view service failures. In particular, the results showed that consumers could often think of a range of ways that the service failure might have been managed. Importantly, consumers' emotional responses (such as the degree of anger felt) varied depending upon how easy it would have been to resolve the service failure in a way other than what was experienced.
An Analysis of the Health and Retirement Status of the Elderly

in this paper we specify and estimate a structural limited dependent variable model with which we study both the health and retirement status of the elderly. Standard linear estimators, which assume that these variable sare continuous, are not appropriate and categorical estimation techniques are preferred. Our model differs from previous work in that we have longitudinal data and random effects that are correlated over time for different individuals. The problem is made more complicated because there is sample truncation, which could potentially bias coefficient estimates, since approximately twenty percent of the individuals in our sample die. We outline the full information maximum likelihood estimator for such a model and implement it in our empirical analysis. With our structural estimates we analyze, among other things, the degree to which endogeneously determined health status affects the probability of retirement and how changes in social security benefits and eligibility for transfer payments modify both healthiness and the demand for leisure.
Growth, ammonium metabolism, and photosynthetic properties of Ulva australis (Chlorophyta) under decreasing pH and ammonium enrichment

The responses of macroalgae to ocean acidification could be altered by availability of macronutrients, such as ammonium (NH4+). This study determined how the opportunistic macroalga, Ulva australis responded to simultaneous changes in decreasing pH and NH4+ enrichment. This was investigated in a week-long growth experiment across a range of predicted future pHs with ambient and enriched NH4+ treatments followed by measurements of relative growth rates (RGR), NH4+ uptake rates and pools, total chlorophyll, and tissue carbon and nitrogen content. Rapid light curves (RLCs) were used to measure the maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm). Photosynthetic capacity was derived from the RLCs and included the efficiency of light harvesting (α), slope of photoinhibition (β), and the light saturation point (Ek). The results showed that NH4+ enrichment did not modify the effects of pH on RGRs, NH4+ uptake rates and pools, total chlorophyll, rETRmax, α, β, Fv/Fm, tissue C and N, and the C:N ratio. However, Ek was differentially affected by pH under different NH4+ treatments. Ek increased with decreasing pH in the ambient NH4+ treatment, but not in the enriched NH4+ treatment. NH4+ enrichment increased RGRs, NH4+ pools, total chlorophyll, rETRmax, α, β, Fv/Fm, and tissue N, and decreased NH4+ uptake rates and the C:N ratio. Decreased pH increased total chlorophyll content, rETRmax, Fv/Fm, and tissue N content, and decreased the C:N ratio. Therefore, the results indicate that U. australis growth is increased with NH4+ enrichment and not with decreasing pH. While decreasing pH influenced the carbon and nitrogen metabolisms of U. australis, it did not result in changes in growth.
GENDER EQUALITY POLICY OR GENDER MAINSTREAMING?

The aim of this article is to analyse some of the core conceptual and implementation issues underpinning the process of introducing gender mainstreaming strategy in Hungary. It examines the approach of Hungarian policy makers to gender mainstreaming and evaluates the political framing of some crucial aspects of gender equality. Our argument in this article is twofold. First, we observe that the concept of gender mainstreaming as a cross-sectoral and comprehensive policy tool for achieving gender equality has only been sporadically present and this has mostly been located at the rhetorical level. Hungary has no comprehensive gender equality strategy and no distinctive gender equality policy instruments currently in place. Rather, the promotion of equal opportunity on all grounds has become a powerful policy approach in the last two to three years, often neglecting the specific requirements of gender equality. Secondly, we argue that the influence of the European Union (EU) accession process has had two stages, as far as gender equality policy is concerned in Hungary. The first stage, has referred primarily to the de jure harmonization of Hungarian legislation with relevant EU directives, but has brought very little harmonization at the policy level, and brought limited de facto realization of the rights imposed by the directives. The second stage, identified from mid-2003, is coterminous with Hungary joining the different EU level policy processes. This second stage signaled a shift from legislative harmonization to a more focused policy approach. This stage may be characterized as a direct process of EU-isation on Hungarian policy concepts and tools, such as gender mainstreaming. However, it is too early to judge the practical implications of this development.
Learning from Prices and the Dispersion in Beliefs

The article develops a dynamic model that nests the rational expectations (RE) and differences of opinion (DO) approaches to study how investors use prices to update their valuations. When investors condition on prices (RE), investor disagreement is related positively to expected returns, return volatility, and market beta, but negatively to return autocorrelation. When investors do not use prices (DO), these relations are reversed. Tests of these predictions on the cross-section of stocks using analyst forecast dispersion and volume as proxies for disagreement provide empirical evidence that is consistent with investors using prices on average. The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. , Oxford University Press.
An integrative framework of technology acceptance model and personalisation in mobile commerce

Personalisation has emerged as a key strategy to unlocking the customer's loyalty in mobile service businesses. The objective of the article is to examine customer satisfaction and delight derived from using personalised applications and services in the context of mobile commerce. Results from the survey indicate the amount of generalised messages that customers receive has no effect on either customer satisfaction or customer delight. Further, the preference of multimedia messages and the perceived usefulness of personalised message could increase customer satisfaction, but not customer delight. However, only text messages could make customers satisfied and at the same time could increase customer delight. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.
Policies, Interventions and Institutional Change in Pastoral Resource Management in Borana, Southern Ethiopia

The Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia are characterised by extensive livestock production under a communal land-use system that has evolved in response to variable rainfall and uncertain production conditions. However, the last two decades have witnessed an increasing privatisation of rangelands for crop production and private grazing. The results of a quantitative assessment are used to develop a framework for assessing the drivers of change and their long-term implications. It is concluded that certain national policies have resulted in conflicts of authority between traditional and formal systems, creating an avenue for spontaneous enclosures, associated conflicts and decreasing human welfare.
Cultural Receptivity: Predicting Consumption in the International Beverage Market

The purpose of this study was to further explore the potential of the Hofstede paradigm as a predictor, and to uncover some meaningful interaction effects. Hofstedeâ€™s Cultural Dimensions as predictors, rather than correlates, of consumer behavior at the national level are presented and discussed as an example. Potential for methodological application cuts across many fields. National cultures and volume consumed were studied in these empirical analyses of the international beverage market. The purpose was to discern patterns of variability in nationsâ€™ receptivity to products offered by The Coca-Cola Company, as predicted by Hofstedeâ€™s six Cultural Dimensions, urbanization, and income using regression analyses. Results indicated that, including Hofstedeâ€™s recently published dimension of Indulgence Versus Restraint (IVR), cultural dimensions alone predicted up to 63% of the variability in volume consumed. Predictive models containing Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI), Individualism (IDV), and variable interactions were worthy challengers to models including urbanization, a known correlate with product distribution and advertising. This research should be of particular interest to any multi-national company, marketing researchers or practitioners, psychologists, sociologists, and behavioralists interested in the cultural context of acceptance. Results for BRIC countries, Mexico, Indonesia, and other nations were discussed.