Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mammography use among sociodemographically diverse women: the accuracy of self-report.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine the accuracy of self-report of mammography experience among 392 ethnically diverse women aged 50 to 74. METHODS Subjects were randomized to the telephone or mail condition and surveyed. RESULTS Thirty-one percent of women reported accurately the exact month and year of their most recent mammogram; 54% reported accurately within +/- 3 months, and 83% reported accurately within the year. Greater accuracy was associated with exam recency, White race, and non-Hispanic ethnicity, but not with age, education, or income. Most women could correctly report the reason for, the findings of, and the payor of their mammograms but knew little about how much they or their insurance paid. CONCLUSIONS For population surveillance of mammography in the past year, self-report data are generally valid. However, clinical studies requiring more precise dates must use such data with caution. The telephone method, as compared with mail, appears to be a better option for some variables.
The Contribution of Commitment Value in Internet Commerce: An Empirical Investigation

Exploring what makes Internet customers satisfied is perhaps one of the most important challenges facing customer relationship managers in this decade. It is important because prior studies suggest that happy customers make repeat purchases and develop brand loyalty. However, there is not enough accumulated knowledge to understand specifically the determinants of customer satisfaction in Internet commerce. To more accurately understand the determinants that may enhance a customer’s satisfaction with their Internet shopping experience, this study looks at the Journal of the Association for Information Systems (Volume 4, 2003) 39-64 40 The Contribution of Commitment Value in Internet Commerce by J. Lee, S. Pi, R. C. Kwok, and M. Q. Huynh customer’s commitment value and examines its relationships with the customer’s satisfaction. Commitment value is defined as a total value perception from a buyer and is composed of three components: sociopsychological, economic, and product values. The results from this study show that the sociopsychological value (i.e., shopping enjoyment and convenience in purchasing) and the product value (i.e., product quality) contribute significantly to the attainment of customer satisfaction. The economic value (i.e., reduction of time spent in Internet shopping), however, has no significant positive impact on customer satisfaction. Explanations are presented along with the implications.
The effectiveness of Habitat for Humanity as a neighborhood stabilization program: The case of Charlotte, North Carolina

Abstract Habitat for Humanity has been in operation since 1976 as a popular organization that provides housing to low-income families. In more recent years, the organization has gradually shifted its priorities toward becoming a more holistic neighborhood stabilization program, receiving a large amount of federal funding to help stabilize neighborhoods in the wake of the Great Recession. Very limited research has been done to assess the effectiveness of Habitat construction on neighborhood outcomes. This article provides a quantitative assessment of housing price values in Charlotte, North Carolina in neighborhoods that underwent a greater than average amount of Habitat construction compared to a set of similar neighborhoods with no Habitat activity. Using an adjusted interrupted time series model, we find little evidence that Habitat had a substantive impact on housing values compared to control neighborhoods.
Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) from Kiri reservoir, Adamawa state, Nigeria

The present study describes the length-weight relationship and condition factor of Clarias gariepinus, in Kiri reservoir. A total of 90 specimens were caught by local fishermen using fishing gears such as gill net and drag net from July-December, 2014. Mean monthly standard length of 22.63 ± 2.91 cm, 22.20 ± 1.82 cm, 21.57±2.47, 23.43±2.18, 21.57 ± 2.25 cm and 22.13±1.44cm, and Mean monthly weight of 116.68 ±53.03g, 105.56 ±20.76 g, 78.69±19.85, 124.24±28.25, 106.64±43.17 and 112.51±16.47 were observed from July-December respectively. The ‘b’ values obtained for the C. gariepinus was 3.80 and differed significantly (p<0.05) from 3, which indicates that fish species has allometric growth. C. gariepinus recorded a monthly condition factor range between 0.65 and 1.21 with a mean value of 0.78±0.09 and 1.04±0.12. Examination of the condition factors revealed that most of the C. gariepinus investigated were not in a good condition.
Diabetes, metformin use, and colon cancer: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE A retrospective cohort study, using a population-based reimbursement database, was conducted for investigating the relationship between diabetes and colon cancer and assessing whether metformin had a protective effect. METHODS Overall, 493,704 men and 502,139 women, covered by the National Health Insurance, without colon cancer were followed from 2003 to 2005. Cox regression evaluated the adjusted relative risk (RR), considering confounders and detection examinations. RESULTS Even though diabetes patients had a significantly higher probability of receiving examinations that could lead to the detection of colon cancer, they had a significantly higher risk (24%) of this cancer after adjustment. Metformin users had a significantly lower risk (27%) of colon cancer. While comparing patients with diabetes for <1, 1-3, and ≥ 3 years to nondiabetes individuals, the adjusted RR (95% confidence interval) was 1.308 (1.020-1.679), 1.087 (0.900-1.313), and 1.185 (1.055-1.330) respectively. The higher risk among those with diabetes for <1 year suggested a possible reverse causality or a link with prediabetes. However, diabetes still might play some role in the development of colon cancer in those with diabetes for ≥ 3 years. The duration of metformin use showed an inverse trend, with a significant RR of 0.643 (0.490-0.845) in users for ≥ 3 years, when compared with nonusers. In addition, metformin may reduce colon cancer risk associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a surrogate for smoking). CONCLUSIONS Following adjustment for potential detection bias and other covariates, diabetes remains a significant risk factor for colon cancer. Metformin may protect against colon cancer.
Cellular uptake of cell‐penetrating peptides pVEC and transportan in plants

Internalization of fluorescently labeled CPPs, pVEC, transportan and scrambled pVEC, in a range of plant cells was investigated. Cellular uptake of the peptides was found to be tissue dependent. pVEC and transportan were distinctly internalized in triticale mesophyll protoplasts, onion epidermal cells, leaf bases and root tips of seven‐day old triticale seedlings but showed negligible florescence in coleoptile and leaf tips as observed under a fluorescence microscope. Further, pVEC and transportan uptake studies were focused on mesophyll protoplasts as a system of investigation. In fluorimetric studies transportan showed 2.3 times higher cellular internalization than pVEC in protoplasts, whereas scrambled pVEC failed to show any significant fluorescence. Effect of various factors on cellular internalization of pVEC and transportan in protoplasts was also investigated. The cellular uptake of both the peptides was concentration dependent and nonsaturable. The cellular uptake of pVEC and transportan was enhanced at low temperature (4 °C). The presence of endocytic/macropinocytosis inhibitors did not reduce the cellular uptake of the peptides, suggesting direct cell penetration, receptor‐independent internalization of pVEC and transportan into the plant cells. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Infection complicating percutaneous liver biopsy in liver transplant recipients

There is controversy about the frequency of and risk factors for infectious complications of percutaneous liver biopsy in liver transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and nature of complications associated with liver biopsy after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), with particular emphasis on infection. The medical records of all patients undergoing OLT between January 1990 and August 1994 were reviewed retrospectively to identify complications requiring hospitalization within one week of percutaneous liver biopsy. The nature and severity of complications were recorded and possible risk factors for infectious complications were examined. One hundred ninety‐eight patients underwent 1,136 percutaneous liver biopsies. There were eleven complications (0.96%), including as follows: 7 infections, 3 bleeding episodes, and 1 vasovagal reaction. Infections after percutaneous liver biopsy included fever and bacteremia (n = 6), and fever without bacteremia (n = 1). All infections developed only in patients with underlying biliary tract abnormalities; the frequency of infection was higher (9.8%) in patients with choledochojejunostomy when compared with those with choledochocholedochostomy (1.4%). Bacteremia was more likely caused by skin flora in patients with choledochocholedochostomy (CDC) and by enteric bacteria in patients with choledochojejunostomy (CDJ). All infections were treated successfully with parenteral antibiotics. We conclude that biliary tract abnormalities are the primary risk factors for infection after percutaneous liver biopsy, although the risk is higher in patients with CDJ than with CDC. These data support the use of antibiotic prophylaxis before percutaneous liver biopsy in OLT recipients with biliary tract abnormalities.
Influence of nosocomial infection on mortality rate in an intensive care unit

Objective: To assess the impact of nosocomial infection on the mortality rate in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: The ICU of the University of Granada Hospital in Spain. Patients: All patients (n=279) admitted for ≥48 hrs at the ICU between December 1986 and April 1988. Measurements: Nosocomial infections were diagnosed according to Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC) and Centers for Disease Control criteria. Patient severity on admission (using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Therapeutic Intensity Scoring Systems were also used. Results: Mortality risk was 2.48 times higher in patients with a nosocomial infection than in noninfected patients. Relative risk of mortality in nosocomially infected patients was higher in young and less severely ill patients, in those patients with respiratory diseases, and in those patients with longer ICU stays. Logistic stepwise regression analysis, adjusting for several confounding factors (affected organ system, APACHE II score, and therapeutic intensity), showed that the risk of death in nosocomially infected patients was 2.1 times greater (95% confidence interval = 1.0 to 4.41) than in patients without such infection. Conclusions: Nosocomial infection increases the risk of death. The effect is stronger in younger and less severely ill patients. (Crit Care Med 1994; 22:55‐60)
Generation of a Species-Specific Look-Up Table for Fuel Moisture Content Assessment

This study involved the generation of a species-specific Look-Up Table (LUT) for the retrieval of Fuel Moisture Content (FMC) in natural areas dominated by Quercus ilex (Holm oak). Parameter combinations observed in drying Q. ilex samples were used as inputs into the linked PROSPECT and SAILH Radiative Transfer Models (RTM) to avoid unrealistic simulated spectra in the LUT. Terra/MODIS reflectance data, extracted over five plots dominated by Q. ilex, were used to carry out the LUT inversion. This inversion was based on the search for the minimum relative root mean square error (RMSErho*) between observed and simulated reflectance found in the LUT. Different inversion options were tested in order to search for the optimal spectral sampling necessary for accurately estimating FMC. The minimum number of solutions required for the calculation of the estimated FMC was also investigated. The retrieval performance was evaluated with FMC values measured at the five study plots. The most accurate FMC estimation was obtained when using the normalized difference infrared index (NDII6 ) and selecting the ten best cases as the solution (RMSE=26.28%). Finally, a non-oak-specific LUT (generic LUT) was used in the same way to evaluate whether or not the species-specific LUT retrieved FMC more accurately. The results showed that the species-specific LUT provided more accurate FMC estimations than the generic LUT. Only when the number of solutions was higher than 35 was the accuracy of the two LUT similar. Future work will focus on the possibility of generating a LUT adapted to a wider range of species based on data extracted from field measurements and literature.
Core Decompression of the Femoral Head for Osteonecrosis Using Percutaneous Multiple Small-Diameter Drilling

Osteonecrosis is a disease with a wide ranging etiology and poorly understood pathogenesis seen commonly in young patients. Core decompression has historically been used in patients with small-sized or medium-sized precollapse lesions in an attempt to forestall disease progression. Typically, an 8-10 mm wide cannula trephine is used to do this procedure. The authors report on a new technique using multiple small drillings with a 3-mm Steinman pin to effectuate the core decompression. In this report, there were 32 of 45 hips (71%; 35 patients) with a successful clinical result at a mean followup of 2 years (range, 20-39 months). Twenty four of 30 Stage I hips (80%; 23 patients) had successful outcomes compared with 8 of 15 Stage II hips (57%; 12 patients) with no surgical complications occurring with this technique. This procedure is technically straightforward and led to minimal morbidity with no surgical complications. It may be effective in delaying the need for total hip arthroplasty in young patients with early (precollapse) stages of femoral head osteonecrosis.
SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, SLEEP DISTURBANCE, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH STATUS IN HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

A growing body of evidence demonstrates a significant relationship between spirituality and health. HIV-infected individuals often find new meaning and purpose for their lives while establishing new connections and strengthening old ones. This descriptive, correlational study examined the relationships among spiritual well-being, sleep quality, and health status in 107 HIV-infected men and women. Spiritual well-being was found to be a significant factor related to both sleep quality and mental and physical health status. Every study participant reported sleep disturbance. The findings suggest that spiritual well-being and sleep quality need to be assessed so appropriate interventions can be implemented to improve health outcomes in this population.
Exome sequencing identifies mutations in KIF14 as a novel cause of an autosomal recessive lethal fetal ciliopathy phenotype

Gene discovery using massively parallel sequencing has focused on phenotypes diagnosed postnatally such as well‐characterized syndromes or intellectual disability, but is rarely reported for fetal disorders. We used family‐based whole‐exome sequencing in order to identify causal variants for a recurrent pattern of an undescribed lethal fetal congenital anomaly syndrome. The clinical signs included intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), severe microcephaly, renal cystic dysplasia/agenesis and complex brain and genitourinary malformations. The phenotype was compatible with a ciliopathy, but not diagnostic of any known condition. We hypothesized biallelic disruption of a gene leading to a defect related to the primary cilium. We identified novel autosomal recessive truncating mutations in KIF14 that segregated with the phenotype. Mice with autosomal recessive mutations in the same gene have recently been shown to have a strikingly similar phenotype. Genotype–phenotype correlations indicate that the function of KIF14 in cell division and cytokinesis can be linked to a role in primary cilia, supported by previous cellular and model organism studies of proteins that interact with KIF14. We describe the first human phenotype, a novel lethal ciliary disorder, associated with biallelic inactivating mutations in KIF14. KIF14 may also be considered a candidate gene for allelic viable ciliary and/or microcephaly phenotypes.
Factors determining stock returns in property, real estate and construction companies in Indonesia

The main reason for investors or potential investors to invest in stocks is to derive maximum returns at minimum risk. One of the many factors determining stock returns from a company's shares consists of the company's financial ratios. The better the level of financial performance of the company, greater is the expectation of increase in its stock prices, and larger the benefit (return) from its shares to investors. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of four factors, namely price-to-book value (PBV), the current ratio, debt-to-equity ratio (DER) and total assets turnover (TATO) on the level of stock returns in property, real estate and building construction firms listed in the Indonesian Stock Exchange for the period 2011-2014. The sample used in this study consisted of 18 companies, selected through the purposive sampling method. Regression analysis of panel data is the analytical tool used. The results have shown that TATO, DER and PBV influence the stock returns significantly.
Identification of second arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid motif of ovine vitronectin as the complement C9 binding site and its implication in bacterial infection

Vitronectin (Vn), a multifunctional protein of blood and extracellular matrix, interacts with complement C9. This interaction may modulate innate immunity. Details of Vn–C9 interactions are limited. Vn–C9 interactions were assessed by employing a goat homologous system and observing Vn binding to C9 in three different assays. Using recombinant fragments, C9 binding was mapped to the N‐terminus of Vn. Site directed mutagenesis was performed to alter the second arginine glycine aspartic acid (RGD) sequence (RGD‐2) of Vn. Changing R to G or D to A in RGD‐2 caused significant decrease in Vn binding to C9 whereas changing of R to G in the first RGD motif (RGD‐1) had no effect on Vn binding to C9. These results imply that the RGD‐2 of goat Vn is involved in C9 binding. In a competitive binding assay, the presence of soluble RGD peptide inhibited Vn binding to C9 whereas heparin had no effect. Vn binding to C9 was also evaluated in terms of bacterial pathogenesis. Serum dependent inhibition of Escherichia coli growth was significantly reverted when Vn or its N‐fragment were included in the assay. The C‐fragment, which did not support C9 binding, also partly nullified serum‐dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, probably through other serum component(s).
Towards Understanding Vegetables Consumption Behaviour in Iran: A Full Box-Cox Double-Hurdle Application

Abstract Using Iran’s 2010–2011 household survey data on income and expenditure, this paper estimates the demand for vegetable consumption. Based on the Vuong’s (1989) Likelihood Ratio Test for Model Selection and Non-Nested Hypothesis, a full Box-Cox double-hurdle model adjusted for heteroskedasticity, dependency, and normality was estimated to uncover factors underlying Iranian households’ decisions to purchase and consume vegetables. Results show that all demographic, socioeconomic, and geographical variables significantly explain vegetable consumption behaviour in Iran. A positive relationship exists between educational attainment and the decision to purchase and consume vegetables. As well, households’ size and average age exert a statistically significant positive effect on vegetable consumption.
Analysis and design of amplitude modulation for optical wireless communication with shot noise

This paper addresses the analysis and design of amplitude modulation in optical wireless scattering communication with Poisson channel and shot noise. We show that the detection error probability of the receiver with photoelectric conversion and post-processing circuits cannot be lower than that of the photon-counting receiver. We also provide an upper bound on the error detection probability, based on the Chebyshev's inequality. According to the proposed upper bound, we provide the modulation signal constellation, with equal space between the squared roots of the signal power levels, instead of between the signal power levels. We prove that the upper bound can approach zero as the transmission power approaches infinity. In numerical evaluations, under the same peak power constraint, the proposed signal constellation shows smaller detection error probability and larger capacity compared with the signal constellation with equal space between the signal power levels. Numerical results also show that the modulation with 4 power levels suffice except for high transmission power and small path loss in the optical wireless scattering communication.
Sialendoscopy learning curve: comparing our first and last 100 procedures.

OBJECTIVES Sialendoscopy is a relatively new minimally invasive technique that permits direct salivary tree visualization and is important in obstructive sialadenitis management and treatment. The present study aimed to examine the sialendoscopy learning curve between March 2009 and March 2013. METHODOLOGY We compared the first and last 100 sialendoscopies performed in our department with regard to anaesthesia type, operating time, success rate, technical difficulty, major complications, and clinical improvement. RESULTS General anaesthesia rates were 63% and 38% (P = 0.0004) among the first and last 100 sialendoscopies, respectively. Among the first and last 100 procedures, respectively, average operating times were 39 and 25 minutes (P = 0.00055) for diagnostic sialendoscopies and 68 and 65 minutes (P = 0.35) for interventional sialendoscopies. Successful stone extraction rates were 65% and 90.2% (P = 0.0058) among the first and last 100 procedures, respectively, while the corresponding rates of successful stenosis dilation were 92.5% and 97.1% (P = 0.27). Technical difficulty was encountered in 25% and 17% (P = 0.164) of the first and last 100 sialendoscopies, respectively. Neither group experienced major complications. All patients tolerated the procedures well and had excellent outcomes. CONCLUSION Progressive learning regarding sialendoscopy enabled more frequent operation under local anaesthesia, thus better meeting the requirements of a minimally invasive technique. We were able to decrease the operative time in diagnostic sialendoscopy. These two factors support the inclusion of diagnostic sialendoscopy into the diagnostic panel in obstructive glandular diseases.
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Pediatric Care: Strategies and Future Directions

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are an effective strategy for improving the quality and safety of antimicrobial prescribing for hospitalized patients. Pediatric ASPs are in their early stages of development, and there are unique issues relevant to children. The imperative to ensure that antimicrobials are prescribed judiciously is highlighted by the ongoing epidemic increase in antimicrobial‐resistant infections and the simultaneous decline in the rate of new drug development. In this review we describe the process of ASP development for pediatrics, review existing data regarding the impact of pediatric ASPs, and describe the priorities and challenges for ASP research including study design and appropriate end points.