Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Walking velocity and modified rivermead mobility index as discriminatory measures for functional ambulation classification of chronic stroke patients

Background: The cut-off values of walking velocity and classification of functional mobility both have a role in clinical settings for assessing the walking function of stroke patients and setting rehabilitation goals and treatment plans. Objective: The present study investigated whether the cut-off values of the modified Rivermead Mobility Index (mRMI) and walking velocity accurately differentiated the walking ability of stroke patients according to the modified Functional Ambulation Category (mFAC). Methods: Eighty two chronic stroke patients were included in the study. The comfortable/maximum walking velocities and mRMI were used to measure the mobility outcomes of these patients. To compare the walking velocities and mRMI scores for each mFAC point, one-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc test using Scheffe’s method were performed. The patients were categorized according to gait ability into either mFAC=VII or mFAC ≤ VI group. The cut-off values for mRMI and walking velocities were calculated using a receiver-operating characteristic curve. The odds ratios of logistic regression analysis (Wald Forward) were analyzed to examine whether the cut-off values of walking velocity and mRMI can be utilized to differentiate functional walking levels. Results: Except for mFACs III and IV, maximum walking velocity differed between mFAC IV and mFAC V (p<0.01), between mFAC V and mFAC VI (p<0.001), and between mFAC VI and mFAC VII (p<0.05). The cut-off value of mRMI is >26.5 and the area under the curve is 0.87, respectively; the cut-off value for comfortable walking velocity is >0.77 m/s and the area under the curve is 0.92, respectively; also, the cut-off value for maximum walking velocity is >0.92 m/s and the area under the curve is 0.97, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis, the maximum walking velocity (>0.92 m/s, OR=22.027) and mRMI (>26.5 scores, OR=10.283) are able to distinguish mFAC=VII from mFAC ≤ VI. Conclusion: The cut-off values of maximum walking velocity and mRMI are recommended as useful outcome measures for assessing ambulation levels in chronic stroke patients during rehabilitation.
Dual Mobility Acetabular Cup Versus Hemiarthroplasty in Treatment of Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures in Elderly Patients: Comparative Study and Results at Minimum 3-Year Follow-up

Background: Hip fractures are serious injuries associated with relatively high mortality rates and disabilities, commonly seen in elderly persons. There is an ongoing debate regarding the advantages of various hip arthroplasty devices. This study aimed to analyze the long-term advantages of 2 different surgical procedures and assess if the dislocation rate, Harris Hip Score (HHS), and functional independence measure (FIM) are more favorable in dual mobility (DM) than those in hemiarthroplasty (HA). Hypothesis: Dual mobility procedures provide better postoperative outcomes than HA in terms of HHS, FIM, and dislocation rate. Materials and Methods: The survey was a prospective, comparative interventional single-blinded study performed at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, a tertiary health-care institution. A total of 94 patients underwent DM or conventional bipolar HA for repair of displaced femoral neck fractures within 2 weeks of injury. Primary outcomes were postoperative dislocation rate, FIM, and HHS. Secondary outcomes included duration of surgery, estimated intraoperative blood loss, time to first postoperative full weight-bearing, time to walking ability with and without crutches, mortality rate, and postoperative infection rate. Results: There were no significant differences for most parameters between the groups. We found a significant difference in the dislocation rate between the 2 groups, wherein there were no dislocations in the DM group and 3 dislocations in the HHS group (0% vs 6.4%). In terms of postoperative HHS at 12 months and 3 years, DM provided better outcomes (<0.034 and <0.014, respectively). Discussion: Dual mobility compares favorably to HA in terms of dislocation rate and HHS, while no difference was found for FIM. In order to have a more complete overview, we recommend more intense long-term studies including several heterogeneous parameters to compare the clinical outcomes between DM and HA. Level of evidence (with study design): Level II.
Systematics of ‘lithistid’ tetractinellid demosponges from the Tropical Western Atlantic – implications for phylodiversity and bathymetric distribution

Background: Among all present demosponges, lithistids represent a polyphyletic group with exceptionally well preserved fossils dating back to the Cambrian. Knowledge of their recent diversity, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean (TWA) where they are common in deep waters, is scarce making any comparison between present and past major ‘lithistid’ faunas difficult. In addition, the lack of sufficient molecular and morphological data hamper any predictions on phylogenetic relationships or phylodiversity from this region. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI, Fort Pierce, Florida) holds the largest collection of TWA lithistid sponges worldwide, however, the majority remain to be taxonomically identified and revised. Methods/Principal Findings: In this study we provide sequences of 249 lithistid demosponges using two independent molecular markers (28S rDNA (C1-D2) and cox1 mtDNA). In addition, a morphological documentation of 70 lithistid specimens is provided in the database of the Sponge Barcoding Project (SBP). This integrated dataset represents the largest and most comprehensive of the TWA lithistids to date. The phylogenetic diversity of ‘lithistid’ demosponges in the Bahamas and Jamaica are high in comparison to other TWA regions; Theonellidae and Corallistidae dominate the fauna, while Neopeltidae and Macandrewiidae are rare. A new tetractinellid suborder, one new genus and several new species are recognized and the Pacific ‘lithistid’ genera, Herengeria and Awhiowhio, are reported from the TWA for the first time. The higher-taxa relationships of desma-bearing tetractinellids are discussed and topics for revision suggested. Conclusion: This first integrative approach of TWA ‘lithistid’ demosponges contributes to a better understanding of their phylogenetic affinities, diversity and bathymetric distribution patterns within the TWA. As in the Pacific, the TWA ‘lithistid’ demosponges dominate deep-water habitats. Deeper taxonomic investigations will undoubtedly contribute to a better comparison between present major ‘lithistid’ faunas and their fossil record in the Mesozoic.
Reference wind speed anomaly over the Dutch part of the North Sea

This work presents the reference wind speed at heights between 60 and 150 meter over the Dutch part of the North Sea, as determined by using the Gumbel-Bergström method in combination with wind statistics from the Offshore Wind Atlas of the Dutch part of the North Sea. Reference wind speed is the extreme 10 minute average wind speed at turbine hub height with a recurrence period of 50 years.
Antecedents of Health-Promoting Leadership and Workload as Moderator

This study builds on the theory of planned behavior and investigates antecedents of health-promoting leadership behaviors (HPL behaviors): positive health-promoting leadership attitude (HPL attitude) as well as perceived health-promoting leadership norms (perceived HPL norms), and lack of perceived health-promoting leadership behavioral control (perceived HPL behavioral control). Furthermore, based on the conservation of resources theory, these antecedents are conceptualized as personal and job resources with managers’ perceived workload being examined as a moderating boundary condition, suggesting that workload as a job demand facilitates resource loss. A survey was administered to 315 managers. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression analysis and moderation analysis. Results revealed that HPL attitude and perceived HPL norms were positively related to HPL behaviors, whereas a lack of perceived HPL behavioral control was negatively related to HPL behaviors. Furthermore, high workload weakened the relationship between perceived HPL norms and HPL behaviors. Workload did not moderate the relationships between the antecedents HPL attitude and lack of perceived HPL behavioral control, and HPL behaviors. Organizations should offer interventions to foster positive HPL attitude, give managers opportunities for HPL behavioral control, and promote perceived HPL norms. They should acknowledge that high workload may inhibit perceived HPL norms. Intervention approaches with regard to personnel and organizational development for practitioners are discussed. This study contributes to the literature by testing direct antecedents of HPL behaviors. Moreover, this study is the first to test workload as a boundary condition.
Student Loan Default Prevention and Management Practices at Mississippi Community & Junior Colleges

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iii DEDICATION . iv LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . x CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION . 1 Background . 1 Theoretical Foundation . 5 Statement of Problem . 6 Purpose Statement . 7 Justification . 7 Definitions of Terms . 10 Delimitations . 15 Assumptions . 15 CHAPTER II – LITERATURE REVIEW . 16 Background . 16 Student Loan Defaults. 21 Community Colleges and Cohort Default Rates . 24 Institutional Characteristics and Cohort Default Rates . 27 vi Default Prevention and Management Plan . 29 Private Educational Loans . 39 Conclusion . 40 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY . 41 Overview . 41 Research Questions . 42 Research Design and Procedures . 42 Purposeful Sampling . 43 Researcher Positionality Statement. 45 Pilot Study . 46 Informed Consent and Confidentiality. 46 Data Collection . 46 Sample Size . 47 Data Analysis . 48 Validity of Data. 48 CHAPTER IV – RESULTS . 49 Population Sample . 50 Findings from the Interviews . 51 Cohort Default Rates. 52 Entrance Counseling . 52 vii Default Prevention and Management Efforts . 54 Cohort Default Rate Challenges . 56 Financial Literacy Resources . 57 At-Risk Student Borrowers . 59 Cohort Default Rate Analysis . 60 Possible Exit from the Loan Program . 62 Private Loan Borrowers . 63 Exit Counseling . 63 Summary . 66 CHAPTER V – DISCUSSION . 67 Discussion . 67 Summary of the Findings . 67 Common Themes . 69 Limitations . 72 Recommendations for Future Research . 73 Concluding Thoughts . 73 APPENDIX A – INTERVIEW PROTOCOL . 75 APPENDIX B – IRB APPROVAL LETTER . 77 APPENDIX C -CIRE APPROVAL LETTER . 78 APPENDIX D -RECRUITMENT EMAIL . 83 viii APPENDIX E -INFORMED CONSENT FORM . 84 APPENDIX F –COHORT DEFAULT RATES, MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY & JUNIOR COLLEGES . 86 REFERENCES . 87
Belief Propagation algorithm for Automatic Chord Estimation

This work aims at bridging the gap between two completely distinct research fields: digital communications and Music Information Retrieval. While works in the MIR community have long used algorithms borrowed from speech signal processing, text recognition or image processing, to our knowledge very scarce work based on digital communications algorithms has been produced. This paper specifically targets the use of the Belief Propagation algorithm for the task of Automatic Chord Estimation. This algorithm is of widespread use in iterative decoders for error correcting codes and we show that it offers improved performances in ACE by genuinely incorporating the ability to take constraints between distant parts of the song into account. It certainly represents a promising alternative to traditional MIR graphical models approaches, in particular Hidden Markov Models.
Students’ Community Service: Self-Selection and the Effects of Participation

Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of university-based community service programs on students’ personal, social, ethical, and academic domains. These effects depend on both, the characteristics of students enrolled and the characteristics of the programs, for instance whether they are voluntary or mandatory. Our study investigates whether effects of voluntary service programs are indeed caused by the service experience or by prior self-selection. Using data from a pre–post quasi-experimental design conducted at a public university in Europe and taking students’ socioeconomic background into account, our findings on self-efficacy, generalized trust, empathic concern, and attributions for poverty show that there are no participation effects. Instead, students who join in community service differ significantly from nonparticipants with regard to almost all investigated domains a priori, indicating strong self-selection. Our results underline the importance of structured group reflection, most notably with regard to attitude-related topics.
Affect dysregulation and adolescent psychopathology in the family context

The authors explored the utility of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) in assessing adolescents' emotion regulation. Adolescents (11-17 years; N = 870) completed the DERS and measures of externalizing and internalizing problems. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested a similar factor structure in the adolescent sample of the authors as demonstrated previously among adults. Furthermore, results indicated no gender bias in ratings of DERS factors on three scales (as evidenced by strong factorial gender invariance) and limited gender bias on the other three scales (as evidenced by metric invariance). Female adolescents scored higher on four of six DERS factors than male adolescents. DERS factors were meaningfully related to adolescents' externalizing and internalizing problems. Results suggest that scores on the DERS show promising internal consistency and validity in a community sample of adolescents. © The Author(s) 2010.
The Effect of Firm-Level Political Uncertainty on Bank Loan Contracting

We investigate whether and how firm-level political uncertainty affects firms’ bank loan contracting. We find that firms facing higher firm-level political uncertainty are charged higher bank loan costs. This impact is amplified for firms with higher degrees of information asymmetry and firms with more financial constraints. Moreover, we find a positive relationship between the tightness of a loan’s non-pricing terms and the degree of firm-level political uncertainty. Specifically, firms facing higher firm-level political uncertainty are required to accept more contract covenants, general covenants, and financial covenants. Banks also charge higher annual fees for loan borrowers with higher firm-level political uncertainty. Our results are robust to various model specifications.
An Efficacy Study of a Digital Core Curriculum for Grade 5 Mathematics

The Math Curriculum Impact Study was a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of a digital core curriculum for Grade 5 mathematics. Reasoning Mind’s Grade 5 Common Core Curriculum was a comprehensive, adaptive, blended learning approach that schools in the treatment group implemented for an entire school year. Schools in the control group implemented their business-as-usual mathematics curriculum. The study was completed in 46 schools throughout West Virginia, resulting in achievement data from 1,919 students. It also included exploratory investigations of teacher practice and student engagement. The main experimental finding was a null result; achievement was similar in both experimental groups. The exploratory investigations help clarify interpretation of this result. As educational leaders throughout the United States adopt digital mathematics curricula and adaptive, blended approaches, our findings provide a relevant caution. However, our findings are not generalizable to all digital offerings, and there is a continuing need for refined theory, study of implementation, and rigorous experimentation to advise schools.
Strength evaluation of marine clay stabilized by cementitious binder

Abstract Evaluation of the strength of cement-treated clay with a broad range of mix ratios and curing periods was conducted using unconfined compression tests (UCTs). The influence of cement content, total water content, and curing period on the unconfined compressive strength of cemented clay are investigated. It is found that, at constant total water content, higher cement content results in higher unconfined compressive strength, while the total water content has an opposite effect. A power function can be used to correlate the unconfined compressive strength with the cement content or the total water content. For a fixed mix ratio, the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized clay increases with the curing period, the effect of which can be characterized by a semi-log formula. Also, a strength-prediction model that considers both mix ratios and curing periods for cement-admixed marine clay is developed and validated; the model can capture the effect of clay type by considering the plastic index of untreated soils. It is also proved that the proposed framework for strength development is also applicable for other cement types.
How well does the local climate zone scheme discern the thermal environment of Toulouse (France)? An analysis using numerical simulation data

To build healthy, resilient, and climate‐responsive cities, planners need ways to understand the local complexities of urban thermal climates. To assist in meeting this need, this study employs the simple classification of “local climate zones” (LCZs) to conduct a spatiotemporal thermal climatic analysis of the Toulouse Metropolitan Region (France) under warm and dry summer conditions. Simulations are performed using the mesoscale atmospheric model Méso‐NH. These simulations provide a city‐wide spatial coverage of 2‐m air temperature (T2M), mean radiant temperature (MRT), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Model parameters describing the urban morphology are initialized based on administrative databases and independent of LCZ maps, which allows for an evaluation of whether the distributions of the modelled thermal climatic parameters will differ between LCZs. The results show that different LCZs possess significantly different distributions of T2M and MRT, confirming the suitability of the LCZ scheme for discerning the thermal environment of Toulouse. Compact urban settings (LCZ 1/2/3) show the highest T2M throughout the day and a nocturnal temperature difference of up to 2.8 K compared to rural settings. The MRT of LCZ 1/2/3 in the late afternoon (1700–2000 LST (UTC + 2)) can be as much as 6.3 K lower than it is for LCZs with open settings due to shading by dense urban structures. Additional analysis reveals that the intra‐LCZ variabilities of T2M and MRT may be explained by the distance to the city centre. Finally, the thermal stress in different LCZs is assessed with the modelled UTCI. Among the built LCZs, the probability of strong heat stress is the highest for open high/mid‐rise (LCZ 4/5) and lowest for sparsely built (LCZ 9) and open low‐rise (LCZ 6) settings. For land cover type LCZs, dense trees (LCZ A) are the most favourable for daytime outdoor human thermal comfort.
Petrogenesis of ODP Hole 735B (Leg 176) Oceanic Plagiogranite: Partial Melting of Gabbros or Advanced Extent of Fractional Crystallization?

Oceanic plagiogranite was first defined by Coleman in 1975 as an assemblage of felsic rocks in the ocean crust and is the sole rock type in ophiolites for age dating. However, the petrogenesis of these felsic rocks remains controversial. Some consider them as partial melting products of gabbros, while others interpret them as representing highly evolved residual melt of ocean ridge magmatism. To resolve this debate, we focus our study on felsic veins from Ocean Drilling Program Hole 735B (Leg 176) in the Southwest Indian Ridge. We carried out detailed petrography, mineral compositional analysis, bulk‐rock trace element, and Sr‐Nd‐Pb‐Hf isotope analysis and petrological modeling. These data and observations lead to the conclusion that these felsic vein lithologies (i.e., oceanic plagiogranite) are solidified residual melts after advanced extents of fractional crystallization of ocean ridge basaltic magmas, rather than partial melting products of gabbros. At the late stage of mid‐ocean ridge basaltic magma evolution, Fe‐Ti oxides appear on the liquidus to crystallize, resulting in the residual melts rapidly enriched in SiO2. Such silicic melts are buoyant and can transport through “cracking” within the lithologies of the gabbroic sections of the ocean crust in the form of felsic dykes, veins, and veinlets. The volumetrically small (~0.5%) but widespread plagiogranite veins and veinlets throughout the gabbroic sections provide evidence that multiple small melt batch intrusion and differentiation are primary mechanism and mode of ocean crust accretion at slow‐spreading ridges.
Spatial variability in a plant–pollinator community across a continuous habitat: high heterogeneity in the face of apparent uniformity

Large‐scale spatial variability in plant–pollinator communities (e.g. along geographic gradients, across different landscapes) is relatively well understood. However, we know much less about how these communities vary at small scales within a uniform landscape. Plants are sessile and highly sensitive to microhabitat conditions, whereas pollinators are highly mobile and, for the most part, display generalist feeding habits. Therefore, we expect plants to show greater spatial variability than pollinators. We analysed the spatial heterogeneity of a community of flowering plants and their pollinators in 40 plots across a 40‐km² area within an uninterrupted Mediterranean scrubland. We recorded 3577 pollinator visits to 49 plant species. The pollinator community (170 species) was strongly dominated by honey bees (71.8% of the visits recorded). Flower and pollinator communities showed similar beta‐diversity, indicating that spatial variability was similar in the two groups. We used path analysis to establish the direct and indirect effects of flower community distribution and honey bee visitation rate (a measure of the use of floral resources by this species) on the spatial distribution of the pollinator community. Wild pollinator abundance was positively related to flower abundance. Wild pollinator visitation rate was negatively related to flower abundance, suggesting that floral resources were not limiting. Pollinator and flower richness were positively related. Pollinator species composition was weakly related to flower species composition, reflecting the generalist nature of flower–pollinator interactions and the opportunistic nature of pollinator flower choices. Honey bee visitation rate did not affect the distribution of the wild pollinator community. Overall, we show that, in spite of the apparent physiognomic uniformity, both flowers and pollinators display high levels of heterogeneity, resulting in a mosaic of idiosyncratic local communities. Our results provide a measure of the background of intrinsic heterogeneity within a uniform habitat, with potential consequences on low‐scale ecosystem function and microevolutionary patterns.