Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity and Reliability of the Dutch Version of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12NL) in Patients With Disorders of the Hip.

STUDY DESIGN Clinical measurement. OBJECTIVES To translate and culturally adapt the international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) into Dutch and to determine its validity and reliability. BACKGROUND The iHOT-12 for measuring health-related quality of life and physical functioning in younger, active patients with hip pathology is available in English and Swedish. The tool is scored on a 0-to-100-point scale, with higher scores reflecting better function. A Dutch version of the questionnaire, with demonstrated high validity and reliability, is needed for both clinical and research purposes. METHODS The iHOT-12 was translated and culturally adapted from English into Dutch (iHOT-12NL). Subsequently, the iHOT-12NL, RAND 36-Item Health Survey, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), and Tegner activity scale were completed by 117 patients with hip pathologies. Structural validity was analyzed using exploratory principal-component factor analysis. To determine construct validity, 12 hypotheses were predefined regarding relationships between the iHOT-12NL and subscales of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and Tegner activity scale. To determine test-retest reliability, 61 patients completed the iHOT-12NL on a second occasion within a 2-week period. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Cronbach alpha, standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated to assess reliability. Bland-Altman analysis was conducted to assess bias between test and retest. RESULTS Factor analysis revealed that the iHOT-12NL has 1 component. Construct validity was good, as 83% of the hypotheses were confirmed. Internal consistency was good, with a Cronbach alpha of . 96. The ICC was 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.88, 0.96), demonstrating good test-retest reliability. The SEM was 7.3 points. Individual- and group-level MDC values were 20.2 and 2.6 points, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed an absence of bias. CONCLUSION The iHOT-12NL is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring physical functioning and health-related quality of life in younger, physically active patients with hip pathology.
Estimation of Preanalytical Uncertainty in Clinical Chemistry

Preanalytical uncertainty is attributable to variations in blood sample collection and sample handling before analysis. The aim of this study was to establish a modelling framework for estimating preanalytical uncertainty. There is a need for standardization on which uncertainty sources that should be included, and how the preanalytical uncertainty should be estimated. In Paper I, an uncertainty budget was established based on differences in paired data between a standard method for handling blood samples and alternative methods used in current practice, considering the distribution of alternative methods. In Paper II and III, linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the between-venipuncture SD, the preanalytical SD (excluding the betweenvenipuncture SD), and the measurement repeatability when the phlebotomy and the sample handling were performed optimally, and any difference in preanalytical SD and fixed effects, between transporting blood samples in a pneumatic tube system vs manual delivery, using different needles or tubes, and mixing methods. When the combined biases from the uncertainty budget in Paper I and the significant biases between different treatments in Paper II and III were compared with defined quality specifications for analytical bias, glucose was the only analyte falling outside the quality specifications. Prolonged clotting and storage time were the greatest contributors to the bias for glucose, and the significant mean difference between SST vs RST tubes shows that choice of tube is important. The preanalytical SDs (excluding the between-venipuncture SD) for LD and potassium for optimally treated samples, were significantly higher than the measurement repeatability SDs, but for glucose, the between-venipuncture SD was the dominant source of variation. For most analytes, the preanalytical SDs were about the same in both studies II and III, indicating that the preanalytical variations are little influenced by different preanalytical handling. We have developed two models that can be used to estimate preanalytical uncertainty in clinical chemistry laboratories. Estimation of preanalytical uncertainty may improve diagnostic quality and patient treatment.
Success Strategies for Businesses that Perform Poorly

Failing industries, poor business performance, and lagging productivity are among the problems confronting today's management. Remedies such as revitalization, rejuvenation, and innovation are beginning to replace the conventional wisdom of paring down operations and disposing of assets. However, few studies have dealt comprehensively with what strategies are effective. The author shows that strategies' effectiveness depends on the firm's objective—growth or profitability—and that it is contingent upon the competitive characteristics of the industry and the strategic posture of the business.
Partnerships and public procurement: building social capital through supply relations

As one means of dealing with an increasingly interdependent or shared power ‘noone in charge’ world (Bryson and Crosby 1992) and adapting the public sector to the demands of the global economy, successive administrations in the UK have aimed to develop a more strategic approach to public procurement by emphasizing inter–departmental co–ordination and establishing long–term partnership relations with suppliers. This has proved to be a difficult task, however, as the operating framework and culture of the public sector have hindered the development of interorganizational relationships and trust. By focusing on the co–operative processes and interaction within central government departments and between departments and the private sector, this paper aims to analyse and identify the obstacles to, and opportunities for, implementing long–term supply relations and facilitating departmental co–ordination. While the paper argues that partnership relations can build social capital, it also shows that these resources can have both positive and negative effects for public procurement. To conclude, lessons for developing collaborative arrangements in public procurement are identified.
Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management

Co-management approaches in forestry have frequently failed to fulfil their promise and have generated unexpected conflicts. This is partly because they intersect with a plurality of interests and concerns, in settings that are more socially, institutionally and ecologically differentiated and dynamic than is often assumed. This article engages with current debates around pluralism in community forestry, and illustrates how they can be informed by a better understanding of institutional dynamics. It begins by characterising the dynamic forest landscapes in which community forestry processes are enacted. It goes on to sketch out some analytical tools that can help illuminate these processes, and which expose the links between interests in forests, resource access and control, and institutions. In this context, the third part of the article illustrates how institutional dynamics can work out in practice when villagers, governmental, non-governmental and donor agencies interact in the practice of community forestry. The need to take account of multiple institutions and power relations, to manage pluralism rather than necessarily attempting to achieve consensus, and to appreciate social and ecological uncertainties, suggests that forest management should seek to influence processes rather than to define states, and be adaptive rather than pre-planned.
Neural mechanisms underlying the reward‐related enhancement of motivation when remembering episodic memories with high difficulty

The motivation to receive rewards enhances episodic memories, and the motivation is modulated by task difficulty. In episodic retrieval, however, functional neuroimaging evidence regarding the motivation that mediates interactions between reward and task difficulty is scarce. The present fMRI study investigated this issue. During encoding performed without fMRI, participants encoded Japanese words using either deep or shallow strategies, which led to variation in difficulty level during subsequent retrieval. During retrieval with fMRI, participants recognized the target words in either high or low monetary reward conditions. In the behavioral results, a reward‐related enhancement of memory was found only when the memory retrieval was difficult, and the rewarding effect on subjective motivation was greater in the retrieval of memories with high difficulty than those with low difficulty. The fMRI data showed that reward‐related increases in the activation of the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA), medial temporal lobe (MTL), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) were greater during the retrieval of memories with high difficulty than those with low difficulty. Furthermore, reward‐related enhancement of functional connectivity between the SN/VTA and MTL and between the SN/VTA and dmPFC during the retrieval of memories with high difficulty was significantly correlated with reward‐related increases of retrieval accuracy and subjective motivation. The reward‐related enhancement of episodic retrieval and retrieval‐related motivation could be most effective when the level of retrieval difficulty is optimized. Such reward‐related enhancement of memory and motivation could be modulated by a network including the reward‐related SN/VTA, motivation‐related dmPFC, and memory‐related MTL. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3428–3443, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of haemolysis on some clinical chemistry parameters in the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The effect of haemolysis on the levels of commonly analysed plasma constituents was investigated in the common marmoset. Results were divided into a) low levels of extra haemolysis (<2 g/l plasma haemoglobin) and b) high levels of extra haemolysis (>2 g/l plasma haemoglobin). Mean changes in plasma constituent levels were examined and the correlation with increased haemolysis measured. Large changes in malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were found at low levels of haemolysis. With higher levels of haemolysis there were statistically significant changes in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase. The significance of these findings is considered in relation to the interpretation of changes of plasma constituents as indicators of tissue/organ damage.
Redistribution in a Decentralized Economy: Growth and Inflation in China under Reform

Despite expanding at an annual rate of nearly 9 percent, China's economy has exhibited a marked cyclical pattern: Periods of rapid growth, accompanied by accelerating inflation, are followed by contractions during which both growth and inflation fall. A widening gap also emerged between the output contribution of the state sector and its share of investment and employment. In this paper, we offer a consistent explanation for this behavior that reflects several key institutional features of China's economic reform: (i) economic decentralization, (ii) the government's commitment to the state sector, and (iii) the credit plan and credit control.
Possible Indicators of Research Quality for Colleges and Universities

The move toward more public accountability of institutions of higher education has focused primarily on undergraduate education. Yet, many institutions view research as an important component of their mission. Much of the literature on assessing research quality has relied on quantitative measures such as level of outside funding and number of publications generated. Focus groups consisting of research faculty were conducted at a landgrant university. Faculty were asked to evaluate current indicators of research quality as well as to suggest additional measures. While faculty recognized the need for the traditional measures, they cautioned against over-reliance on these indicators. Additional indicators focusing on graduate education as well as external peer reviews were recommended. Developing indicators that provide evidence of long-term impact on social and scientific advancement was suggested. The public desire for accountability of programs at institutions of higher education has contributed greatly to the assessment movement in higher education. Regional accrediting associations (e.g., Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern and Western) expect colleges and universities to demonstrate their institutional effectiveness through an ongoing program of self-examination.
Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders Due to HIV-1 Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-l) infection is the most common preventable and treatable cause of neurocognitive impairment in individuals under age 50 years. Although the incidence of HIV-associated dementia has decreased over the past few years due to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the prevalence of less severe HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment continues to increase. HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment is a significant burden to persons living with HIV infection, caregivers, and the health care system. Neurocognitive changes associated with HIV are typically subcortical, consisting of the triad of cognitive, behavior, and motor dysfunction. HIV-associated dementia and HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment are clinical diagnostic syndromes with neuropsychological performance testing, neuroimaging, and cerebral spinal fluid studies providing additional information. With the advent of more effective cART, the incidence of fatal opportunistic complications has dramatically diminished. Accordingly, the present review focuses on primary HIV-induced disease of the central nervous system, rather than its opportunistic complications.
Economic Integration in ECOWAS and Prospects for Convergence in Real per Capita Income

Economic cooperation at the sub-regional and regional level has been an important challenge of the economic development policies of developing countries including member states in ECOWAS. The neoclassical growth model predicts that there will be both a reduction of income per capita over time and long-term convergence in income inequality levels. This paper investigates the prospects for systematic and robust tendency for convergence of real per capita income within ECOWAS member states for the period 1969-2010 using a battery of econometric tests. The results do not reveal the presence of any absolute or conditional β- convergence in income per capita nor any diminution of income disparity in the sub-region corresponding to σ-convergence. The teething problems of harmonization of fiscal, monetary and trade policies to derive the benefits of economic integration given their low per capita income, huge external debt burden, political instability, and weak infrastructure base have been daunting. The paper recommends more proactive economic policy coordination. Greater degree of political commitment and organizational coherence within government is required as well as greater level of national consensus in support of the policies being pursued for economic integration in ECOWAS is required. Consensus must be developed not only among policy makers but also among all key stakeholders in government, the private sector and civil society.
Parents’ Experience of Their Child's First Psychiatric Breakdown: “Welcome to Hell”

Clinicians and researchers have emphasized the importance of helping the primary caregivers of persons going through the first outbreak of psychiatric illness in order to mitigate the negative consequences of the illness on the patient and the caregivers. The aim of the current qualitative, retrospective study is to examine the experiences, challenges, and difficulties faced by Israeli parents during the outbreak of psychiatric illness in their children. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents who participated in a psycho-educational group in a family mental health center. Several themes regarding parents’ experience of the first outbreak of their children's psychiatric illness emerge from the content analysis of the interviews—the perception of sudden onset of the illness, feelings of being mired in distress, intense pain stemming from guilt and helplessness with concomitant anger, and isolation. The themes are then discussed in light of the concept of ambiguous loss and the existential approach. The findings indicate psycho-social services in the Israeli mental health system provide only a partial response to the needs of parents during this critical period.
Perfect weddings abroad

Approximately 16% of UK couples are currently married abroad. However, academic or practitioner focused research that explores the complex nature of a couple’s buying preferences or the development of innovative marketing strategies by businesses operating within the weddings abroad niche sector, is almost non-existent. This exploratory paper examines the role and relevance of marketing within the weddings abroad sector. The complex nature of customer needs in this high emotional and involvement experience, are identified and explored. A case study of Perfect Weddings Abroad Ltd highlights distinctive features and characteristics. Social networking and the use of home-workers, with a focus on reassurance and handholding are important tools used to develop relationships with customers. These tools and techniques help increase the tangibility of a weddings abroad package. Clusters of complementary services that are synergistic and provide sources of competitive advantage are identified and an agenda for future research is developed.
Effects of Renal Denervation Documented in the Austrian National Multicentre Renal Denervation Registry

Renal denervation (RDN) is a new procedure for treatment-resistant hypertensive patients. In order to monitor all procedures undergone in Austria, the Austrian Society of Hypertension established the investigator-initiated Austrian Transcatheter Renal Denervation (TREND) Registry. From April 2011 to September 2014, 407 procedures in 14 Austrian centres were recorded. At baseline, office and mean 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) were 171/94 and 151/89 mmHg, respectively, and patients were taking a median of 4 antihypertensive medications. Mean 24-h ABP changes after 2–6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months were -11/-6, -8/-4, -8/-5 and -10/-6 mmHg (p<0.05 at all measurements), respectively. The periprocedural complication rate was 2.5%. Incidence of long-term complications during follow-up (median 1 year) was 0.5%. Office BP and ABP responses showed only a weak correlation (Pearson coefficient 0.303). Based on the data from the TREND registry, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in addition to office BP should be used for patient selection as well as for monitoring response to RDN. Furthermore, criteria for optimal patient selection are suggested.
Investigation on lightning arc damage of wind turbine blade based on large current experiment and molecular reaction dynamics

At present, PVC and balsa wood are usually adopted in the sandwich structure of the wind turbine blade. However, comparative research on the damage characteristics of the two materials under lightning arc was seldom reported. In this paper, firstly large current impact experiment was carried out on PVC and balsa wood to simulate the thermal effect of lightning arc, the results showed that with the increase of the current amplitude, there was an apparent reduction in the residual strength of PVC and balsa wood, and the residual strength of PVC fell faster. Secondly, the molecular reaction dynamics was used in this paper to analyze the chemical reaction process of PVC and balsa wood quantitatively, the degradation mechanism was revealed in three aspects: degree of polymerization, gas generation characteristics and water motion. This study plays an important guiding role for wind turbine blade material selection in different environments.
Surgery Cancelation on the Day of Surgery in Same-Day Admission in a Finnish Hospital

Background and Aims: Surgery cancelations cause inappropriate use of hospital resources and additional financial and psychological stress to patients. Cancelation rates have been described to be even more than 10% of scheduled cases. Preoperative anesthesia evaluation clinics have been initialized to decrease cancelation rates. At Hyvinkää hospital, 95% of elective surgical patients are admitted on the morning of operation, and only 25% of these patients visit preoperative anesthesia evaluation clinic prior to surgery. Cancelation rate in Finnish hospitals has not been described. Material and Methods: We studied retrospectively 12,205 scheduled elective same-day admission surgical cases at Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Hyvinkää hospital for a period of 2 years. Obstetric cases, emergency cases, and a few inpatient cases were excluded. A case was considered as canceled if surgery was canceled after the finalization of operation room schedule for the next day. Cancelation rates among different specialties and reasons for cancelation were analyzed. Results: A total of 12,205 surgeries were scheduled during the study period, and 551 (4.5%) of these were canceled. The highest cancelation rate was in hand surgery, with 8.2% of scheduled cases, followed by orthopedic surgery with 5.4%, and pediatric surgery with 5.1% cancelation rate. Endocrinology had no cancelations, and breast, urology, and vein surgery also had less than 2% of canceled cases. Patient-related issues caused 72.4% of cancelations, and operation no longer being necessary caused 26% of all cancelations. Conclusions: Day of surgery cancelation rate was low in same-day admission, although it varied between specialties. Specialties having explicit surgery indications had fewer cancelations than specialties having surgery indications based on more subjective diagnostic. Process improvements need to be considered continuously to further decrease cancelation rate.
Learning Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Control for Autonomous Target Following

While deep reinforcement learning (RL) methods have achieved unprecedented successes in a range of challenging problems, their applicability has been mainly limited to simulation or game domains due to the high sample complexity of the trial-and-error learning process. However, real-world robotic applications often need a data-efficient learning process with safety-critical constraints. In this paper, we consider the challenging problem of learning unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control for tracking a moving target. To acquire a strategy that combines perception and control, we represent the policy by a convolutional neural network. We develop a hierarchical approach that combines a model-free policy gradient method with a conventional feedback proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to enable stable learning without catastrophic failure. The neural network is trained by a combination of supervised learning from raw images and reinforcement learning from games of self-play. We show that the proposed approach can learn a target following policy in a simulator efficiently and the learned behavior can be successfully transferred to the DJI quadrotor platform for real-world UAV control.