Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race Differences in Longitudinal Associations Between Adolescent Personal and Peer Marijuana Use and Adulthood Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk

To assess whether adolescent marijuana exposure represents a modifiable predictor of risk of sexually transmitted infections as adults, we used nationally representative, longitudinal data from Waves I (1994–1995, adolescence) and III (2001–2002, adulthood) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 10,738) to examine racial and gender differences in associations between adolescent marijuana use, current use, and peer use and adulthood multiple partnerships, self-reported sexually transmitted infections, and biologically confirmed sexually transmitted infections. The risk of sexually transmitted infections as adults was predicted by adolescent marijuana use in all groups except Black women and by peer marijuana use among Black men. Adolescents who use or have friends who use marijuana constitute priority populations for sexually transmitted infection prevention.
Women's life quality after physical therapy treatment for stress urinary incontinence

PURPOSE: to compare women's quality of life (QoL) before and after physical therapy treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: an uncontrolled clinical trial of 26 women, who had mainly complaints of SUI. Post-menopausal women with overactive bladder, cystocele >grade II and previous surgical/conservative treatments were excluded from the study. The physiotherapy treatment relied on 12 individual pelvic floor exercises assisted by electromyographyc-biofeedback sessions. A total of 200 contractions were carried out, divided in phasic (quick) and tonic (slow). The tool used to evaluate QoL was the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), before and after the treatment. RESULTS: there was a decrease in the urinary symptoms, particularly in urinary frequency, nocturia, urgency and urinary incontinence. Regarding the QoL, there was a significant improvement in the following domain scores: general health perception (49.0±24.0 versus 26.9±15.7; p=0.0015), incontinence impact (78.2±28.2 versus 32.1±30.5; p=0.001), activity limitation (75.0±28.2 versus 13.5±22.6; p<0.001), physical limitation (72.4±29.4 versus 15.4±24.5; p<0.001), social limitations (38.3±28.6 versus 6.4±14.5; p<0.001), emotions (59.0±33.8 versus 14.1±24.7; p=0.0001, sleep/energy (34.0±23.8 versus 6.4±16.4; p=0.001) and severity measures (66.9±19.6 versus 22.3±24.2; p<0.001), except for personal relationships (60.5±33.9 versus 41.7±16.7; p=0.0679). CONCLUSIONS: there was an improvement in several aspects of women's QoL treated by physiotherapy, when evaluated with a specific tool, the KHQ.
Microwave Electromagnetic Radiation and Autism

Child numbers with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and population exposure to microwave irradiation have risen in parallel. It has been suggested that fetal/neonatal microwave exposure might predispose to later ASD development. The hypothesis has been evaluated through consideration of three aspects. First, plausibility was addressed through review of potential mechanisms: the presence of magnetite in human brain, with pulse modulation of microwave signals in a frequency band critical for synaptic plasticity, suggests that microwave radiation could interfere with brain development and function. Second, typical levels of domestic microwave exposure were compared against recorded effects of gestational exposure of experimental animals. The highest recurrent exposures are from mobile/cordless phone handsets and domestic base-stations (up to 20 microW/cm 2 ) whereas continuous gestational exposure of rodents at 100 microW/cm 2 was not reported to produce adverse behavioral changes. Third, the timing of the first rise in ASD was compared against that of the spread of domestic microwave devices. In the USA and other western countries, ASD diagnoses began to rise sharply in the early 1980s. Microwave ovens first reached western households in the early 1980s, becoming commonplace by the mid-1980s; uptake plateaued from 1990 while ASD rates have continued to rise. Mobile and cordless telephones were rare until 1995, a decade later than the rise in ASD. The data overall do not yet provide support for the hypothesis, but the ongoing rise in microwave communications may warrant official surveillance of exposure levels.
Constructions of competence within dietetics: Trust, professionalism and communications with individual clients

Aim: Issues of trust are important factors that affect communication in professional–client relationships. This paper aims to explore trust in communication from the viewpoint of both clients (the truster) and dietitians. Methods: The qualitative research techniques were based on grounded theory. Purposive samples of 46 dietitians and 34 of their adult outpatients were drawn from health services (hospitals, community services and private clinics) in one state of Australia. Clients from eight centres were aged from 21 to 80+ years. Audio-recorded in-depth interviews and focus groups were used to gather data. Transcribed narratives were open-coded and examined for deviant cases. Themes identified in dietitian and client data sets describing clients' trust were compared. Results: The themes identified confirmed a typology of trust (from the perspective of the truster) present in the health care literature. Clients' trust was derived from institutional context or reputation. Interpersonal trust perceived in verbal and non-verbal communications with a dietitian were in evidence. Dietitians' value attributes of integrity and respect were identified as traits that help build trust and demonstrate dietitians' professionalism. The findings were built into a concept model of trust. Conclusions: Behaviours shown that convey a sense of acceptance, understanding and individual management may lead to positive communication, and hence help build a client's trust in a professional. The link between trust, performance and dietetics clients' outcomes should be investigated further.
The Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire—Italian Version: Analysis of psychometric properties

ABSTRACT The Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire is a quick and reliable scale assessing the expected consequences of short-term nicotine abstinence. The present study sought to translate the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire to Italian and assess its psychometric properties. A sample of 366 daily smokers (59.3% female; mean (±standard deviation) age = 34.0 ± 11.2 years; mean (±standard deviation) cigarettes smoked per day = 13.2 ± 7.5; mean (±standard deviation) years of smoking = 11.3 ± 9.2 years) completed the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire and a series of rating scales measuring nicotine dependence, alcohol use, anxiety, and depressive symptoms at baseline and after 3 months (retest). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The authors evaluated the factor structure, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity. Factor analysis identified a 3-factor solution and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a 3-factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency and good test–retest reliability. There also was evidence of convergent validity and discriminant validity. The Italian version of the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire showed good psychometric properties although the factor structure differs slightly from the English-language version of the scale (i.e., 3 versus 4 factor model).
Painful mechanical stimulation evokes activation ofdistinct functional areas in the brain: comparison of normal subjects and two patients with neuropathic pain

We employed functional magneto-resonance imaging to compare the pattern of brain activation evoked by painful and non-painful mechanical stimulation in normal volunteers and patients with neuropathic pain. Stimulation was performed using von Frey filaments. In normal volunteers, painful stimulation caused significant activation in the inferior parietal lobule (area 40), primary motor area (area 4), cingulate gyrus (area 24/31), middle temporal Gyrus (area 21/37), thalamus, and cerebellum. In the non-pain condition, SI, parietal lobule and frontal lobe were activated. In the patients, stimulation in the area of allodynia, in the non-pain condition elicited painful feelings and caused a wider area of activity when compared to the area of activity when the palm of unaffected side was stimulated. The activation was promoted in the frontal and occipital lobes, cingulate gyrus, and cerebellum. These findings suggest that neuropathic pain patients exhibit differences in the pain perception that may reflect chronical activation of the appropriate functional brain areas.
Perceived Self-Efficacy and Financial Incentives: Factors Affecting Health Behaviors and Weight Loss in a Workplace Weight Loss Intervention

Objective: To evaluate if self-efficacy (SE) and financial incentives (FI) mediate the effect of health behavior on weight loss in a group of overweight and obese nursing-home employees participating in a 16-week weight-loss intervention with 12-week follow-up. Methods: Ninety nine overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] > 25) employees from four nursing-homes participated, with a mean age of 46.98 years and BMI of 35.33. Nursing-homes were randomized to receiving an incentive-based intervention (n = 51) and no incentive (n = 48). Participants’ health behaviors and eating and exercise self-efficacy (Ex-SE) were assessed at week 1, 16, and 28 using a self-reported questionnaire. Mediation and moderated mediation analysis assessed relationships among these variables. Results: Eating self-efficacy (Eat-SE) and Ex-SE were significant mediators between health behaviors and weight loss (P < 0.05). Incentives significantly moderated the effects of self-efficacy (P = 0.00) on weight loss. Conclusions: Self-efficacy and FI may affect weight loss and play a role in weight-loss interventions.
Assessing Knowledge on Clubfoot Among Parents Having Children with Clubfoot Deformity

Background: The burden of childhood disability as a public health problem in developing countries remains relatively unrecognized. One out of 750 children born in the world suffer from club foot among them 80% are in low and middle income countries. Most of these babies have limited access to receive effective treatment for their clubfoot due to lack o knowledge, awareness and some barriers. We actually dont know the level of knowledge of parents who have child with clubfoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of parents who have children with clubfoot during clubfoot treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 102 parents who have children with clubfoot deformity during its treatment in a selected clinic. The samples were selected purposively from the clinics where clubfoot treatment was given and face to face interview was done by using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the respondents were 24.7 (±6.0) years where 87.3% (n=89) respondents ware female and 59.8 %(n=61) respondents educational status ware up to primary level. About 44.1% respondents started treatment of their child within 6 months of birth and 33% within 6 to 12 months where 57% (n=58) respondents are referred by health care professional to this clinics. About 93.1% of parents (n=95) said that they knew nothing about clubfoot deformity before their child was diagnosed where 97% are aware after diagnosis of their child. About 93.1% respondents knew the best time for treatment initiation where 59.8% respondents know the correct follow up time of clubfoot management. In case of knowledge of parents roles in the treatment of clubfoot about 91.2%, parents have knowledge weekly visit for treatment and 86.3% know the plaster care where 52.9% (n=54) parents have lack of knowledge about how to use the brace Conclusion: There is need to improve the communication skills of clinicians/health care providers offering treatment to children with clubfoot at the Clinics. Need to share information with the parents about the condition. Finally, there is need to emphasize of educating parents about plaster care and how to use brace. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v14i1. 22882 Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.14 (1); Jan 2015; Page 42-46
Health Risks of American Long-Distance Truckers: Results From a Multisite Assessment

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the general and sexual health of long-haul truck drivers in the United States. Methods: Drivers were recruited from company sites and truck stops in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi. A sample of 266 drivers was assessed for lifestyle activities; body mass index and blood pressure were measured, and biologic samples were taken for cholesterol, diabetes, and sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV testing. Results: The drivers in this study had higher levels of cholesterol and higher rates of smoking, obesity, and diabetes than the U.S average. STI/HIV infection rates were lower than the U.S. average. Conclusion: Long-haul truck driving is a stressful occupation with few opportunities for healthy living. Stress reduction, wellness programs, and better food and exercise options at truck stops should be adopted for the benefit of truckers and the safety of the driving public.
Does Work as a Nurse Increase the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes?

Objective: We conducted a population-based study to assess whether work as a nurse during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational-age. Methods: The study population was selected from The Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study of 2568 newborns (response 94%) and included 128 (5.0%) newborns of nurses and 559 newborns of office workers (21.8%) as a reference group. Results: The risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval = 0.32–3.22) and preterm delivery (0.81; 0.32–2.05) did not differ between newborns of nurses and office workers, but the risk of small-for-gestational-age was substantially higher among newborns of nurses (1.99; 1.10–3.59). This corresponds to a population attributable fraction of 2.5%. Conclusions: The results indicate that working as a nurse during pregnancy could reduce fetal growth.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chair Interventions on Back and Hip Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators: The Los Angeles Garment Study

Objective: Determine whether an adjustable chair with a curved or a flat seat pan improved monthly back and hip pain scores in sewing machine operators. Methods: This 4-month intervention study randomized 293 sewing machine operators with back and hip pain. The participants in the control group received a placebo intervention, and participants in the intervention groups received the placebo intervention and one of the two intervention chairs. Results: Compared with the control group, mean pain improvement for the flat chair intervention was 0.43 points (95% CI = 0.34, 0.51) per month, and mean pain improvement for the curved chair intervention was 0.25 points (95% CI = 0.16, 0.34) per month. Conclusions: A height-adjustable task chair with a swivel function can reduce back and hip pain in sewing machine operators. The findings may be relevant to workers who perform visual- and hand-intensive manufacturing jobs.
Customers’ Intention and Adoption of Telebanking in Jordan

ABSTRACT This study investigates the factors influencing customers’ intention and adoption of telebanking in Jordan. The proposed model integrated perceived risk with the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The results show that behavioral intention is significantly influenced by performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, price value, and perceived risk. Implications for practitioners, research limitations, and future directions are also discussed further in this article.
Citizens’ Adoption Behavior of Mobile Government (mGov): A Cross-Cultural Study

ABSTRACT This study aims to address the paradigms of consumers’ adoption behavior for mobile government, posits the factors which pursue citizens’ intention to adopt mobile government services, and reveals the impact of cultural dimensions in perceiving driving factors of mobile government adoption. The mobile government adoption model was developed and tested among users of three different countries, namely Bangladesh, Canada, and Germany. The finding suggests the rationale that cross-cultural differences impact consumers’ perception of mobile government adoption behavior.
Association Between Behavioral Intention and Actual Change for Physical Activity, Smoking, and Body Weight Among an Employed Population

Objective: To examine the association of behavioral intention with subsequent behavioral change in a worksite setting for three health behaviors, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and losing weight. Methods: Two-year health risk appraisal data came from one multistate company. Behavioral intention was captured in the 2004 health risk appraisal, and behavioral change was measured by comparing health behaviors in 2004 and 2005. Multivariate logistic regression was used to study the intention-behavior relationship. Results: A positive association with intention for change was found in increasing physical activity level (P = 0.0002) and quitting smoking (P = 0.018). Nevertheless, a negative relationship was observed in reducing weight (P = 0.003). Conclusions: A positive intention-behavior change relationship was found in two of the three behaviors. Individuals may benefit from differential wellness programming based on their intention for change and health risks.
Resource Complementarity and IT Economies of Scale: Mechanisms and Empirical Evidence

ABSTRACT In this study, we explore economies of scale for IT infrastructure and application services. An in-depth appreciation of economies of scale is imperative for an adequate understanding of the impact of IT investments. Our findings indicate that even low IT spending organizations can make a difference by devoting at least 60% of their total IT budget on IT infrastructure in order to foster economies of scale and extract strategic benefits.
Women and Health Research: Ethical and Legal Issues of Including Women in Clinical Studies

ABSTRACT Women and Health Research: Ethical and Legal Issues of Including Women in Clinical Studies, vol 2: Workshop and Commissioned Papers, edited by Anna C. Mastroianni, Ruth Faden, and Daniel Federman (Committee on the Ethical and Legal Issues Relating to the Inclusion of Women in Clinical Studies, Institute of Medicine), 247 pp, paper $29, ISBN 0-309-05040-5, Washington, DC, National Academy Press, 1994.Twenty years ago, in the wake of the thalidomide and diethylstilbestrol (DES) disasters, it became unthinkable to include women of childbearing age in clinical research. Today, with the women's health movement protesting a lack of attention to women's medical problems, it has become unthinkable not to include them.Responding to this dramatic reversal, the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Institute of Medicine in September 1992 convened a 16-member Committee on the Ethical and Legal Issues Relating to the Inclusion of Women in Clinical Studies. Women and Health Research, volume
Effects of Grain Dust on Lungs Prior to and Following Dust Remediation

Objective:To determine longitudinal estimates of pulmonary function decline in Canadian grain elevator workers before and after dust control by analyzing data collected from five regions of Canada over 15 years. Methods:Declines in forced expired volume in one second and forced vital capacity before and after dust control were estimated by using a generalized estimating equations approach. Results:For grain workers who were in the grain industry for 20 or more years both before and after dust control: the mean annual loss of forced expired volume in one second was greatest among current smoking grain workers followed by ex-smokers and nonsmokers, respectively. Similar results were obtained for forced vital capacity. Conclusions:Grain dust control was effective in reducing decline in the lung function measurements among grain workers in all smoking and exposure categories.
Achieving IT-Business Strategic Alignment via Enterprise-Wide Implementation of Balanced Scorecards

ABSTRACT IT-business alignment remains one of the top issues of IS managers. This article presents a case study in which four key elements of IT-business alignment — integrated planning, effective communication, active relationship management, and institutionalized culture of alignment — were enhanced by the enterprise-wide implementation of an established strategic management tool, the balanced scorecard.
Integrating Cultural Variables into Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment with Racial/Ethnic Minorities

A set of variables, identified as “cultural variables,” is introduced as important descriptors of the life experiences of people from the major ethnic/racial minority groups in the United States. It is stated that most contemporary models for prevention and treatment of substance abuse are “culturally blind” to the effects of these cultural variables on the risk of substance abuse among racial/ethnic minority people. Accordingly, a viable strategy for culturally relevant research and program design is to integrate these cultural variables into extant models to create culturally rich models for research as well as for the development of prevention and treatment programs. The use of “model programs” is discussed in regard to the competing aims of maintaining program fidelity while also making cultural adaptations to these model programs to make them more culturally relevant. Strategies and recommendations are presented for integrating cultural variables into prevention and treatment programs that purport to serve racial/ethnic minority people.
A Simple Instrument to Measure IT-Business Alignment Maturity

Abstract The challenge of aligning Information Technology (IT) to business has often been cited as a key issue by IT executives. This paper presents a simple, flexible, and easy-to-use instrument that measures the alignment maturity between business and IT and identifies major gaps. The proposed instrument is based on Luftman's “Strategy Alignment Maturity Model” (SAMM); it directly encodes all attributes of SAMM alignment areas using a unidimensional framework. The instrument supports multiple levels of analysis with minimum assumptions about data using non-parametric statistical tools. In addition, the instrument provides an aggregation procedure to summarize the alignment maturity level for high-level executives. The instrument can also be customized to incorporate the contextual parameters of a company. In addition to the development of the instrument, this paper also shows how this instrument was applied to assess the alignment maturity level between IT and business in a rapidly growing company that had recently been publicly listed. The instrument was successful in identifying six major gaps for the company across the various alignment areas. These gaps were benchmarking, business metrics, strategic business planning, inter / intra organizational learning, architectural integration, and the impact of IT on business processes.