Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Ability of the 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) to Predict Aspiration Risk in Persons With Dysphagia

Background: Dysphagia is common and costly. The ability of patient symptoms to predict objective swallowing dysfunction is uncertain. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) to screen for aspiration risk in patients with dysphagia. Methods: Data from individuals with dysphagia undergoing a videofluoroscopic swallow study between January 2012 and July 2013 were abstracted from a clinical database. Data included the EAT-10, Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), total pharyngeal transit (TPT) time, and underlying diagnoses. Bivariate linear correlation analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. Results: The mean age of the entire cohort (N = 360) was 64.40 (± 14.75) years. Forty-six percent were female. The mean EAT-10 was 16.08 (± 10.25) for nonaspirators and 23.16 (± 10.88) for aspirators (P < .0001). There was a linear correlation between the total EAT-10 score and the PAS (r = 0.273, P < .001). Sensitivity and specificity of an EAT-10 > 15 in predicting aspiration were 71% and 53%, respectively. Conclusion: Subjective dysphagia symptoms as documented with the EAT-10 can predict aspiration risk. A linear correlation exists between the EAT-10 and aspiration events (PAS) and aspiration risk (TPT time). Persons with an EAT-10 > 15 are 2.2 times more likely to aspirate (95% confidence interval, 1.3907-3.6245). The sensitivity of an EAT-10 > 15 is 71%.
Nonlinear transfer function-based local approach for color image enhancement

The main objective of image enhancement is to improve some characteristic of an image to make it visually better one. This paper proposes a method for enhancing the color images based on nonlinear transfer function and pixel neighborhood by preserving details. In the proposed method, the image enhancement is applied only on the V (luminance value) component of the HSV color image and H and S component are kept unchanged to prevent the degradation of color balance between HSV components. The V channel is enhanced in two steps. First the V component image is divided into smaller overlapping blocks and for each pixel inside the block the luminance enhancement is carried out using nonlinear transfer function. In the second step, each pixel is further enhanced for the adjustment of the image contrast depending upon the center pixel value and its neighborhood pixel values. Finally, original H and S component image and enhanced V component image are converted back to RGB image. The subjective and objective performance evaluation shows that the proposed enhancement method yields better results without changing image original color in comparison with the conventional methods.
Dietary Protein Supplementation Increases Peak Bone Mass Acquisition in Energy-Restricted Growing Rats

Peak bone mass is a major determinant of osteoporosis pathogenesis during aging. Respective influences of energy and protein supplies on skeletal growth remains unclear. We investigated the effect of a 5-mo dietary restriction on bone status in young rats randomized into six groups (n = 10 per group). Control animals were fed a diet containing a normal (13%) (C-NP) or a high-protein content (26%) (C-HP). The other groups received a 40% protein energy-restricted diet (PER-NP and PER-HP) or a 40% energy-restricted diet (ER-NP and ER-HP). High-protein intake did not modulate bone acquisition, although a metabolic acidosis was induced and calcium retention impaired. PER and ER diets were associated with a decrease in femoral bone mineral density. The compensation for protein intake in energy-restricted conditions induced a bone sparing effect. Plasma osteocalcin (OC) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) assays revealed a decreased OC/DPD ratio in restricted rats compared with C animals, which was far more reduced in PER than in ER groups. Circulating IGF-1 levels were lowered by dietary restrictions. In conclusion, both energy and protein deficiencies may contribute to impairment in peak bone mass acquisition, which may affect skeleton strength and potentially render individuals more susceptible to osteoporosis.
Corporate governance and corporate social disclosures: a meta-analytical review

Purpose This study aims to investigate the association between corporate governance and corporate social disclosures (CSD). Design/methodology/approach Data analysis has been conducted on 29 prior studies published between 2004 and 2016 for the purpose of integrating the findings across studies. The study uses the meta-analysis instrument developed by Hunter et al. (1982). Findings The investigation finds a significant positive association between board size, the frequency of board meetings and auditors’ credibility with CSD. Both the managerial and concentrated ownership have a significant but negative association with CSD. In contrast, board independence, board gender diversity, the composition of non-executive directors, government ownership, foreign ownership and institutional ownership are insignificantly and positively associated with CSD. CEO duality is also insignificant with CSD but indicates a negative association. The study further investigates that the association between board gender diversity and CSD affected by the differences of the country of study. Originality/value This paper adds significance to the extant academic literature as well as assists the appropriate policy maker in assessing the determinants of CSD from the viewpoints of corporate governance. It further aims to reconcile the findings of the previous studies around the world, and also for the developed and developing countries separately.
Assessing service quality in Ghana’s public hospitals: evidence from Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of service quality (SQ) and patients’ satisfaction and behavioural intentions (BI). A sample of 614 respondents was generated. Convenient sampling was employed to select patients of 20 public hospitals in Ghana. Structural equation modelling using smart partial least squares was used to test the nature of relationships of the constructs of the study. The study found a significant positive relationship between SQ and patient satisfaction. Also, the study found a significant positive relationship between customer satisfaction and BI and that patient satisfaction mediates the relationship between SQ and BI. The study provides a useful guide to strategy and policy formulation in the healthcare sector by exploring the potential viability of the SERVQUAL model as a relevant tool for initiating continuous service improvement in Ghana’s public healthcare sector. The results also have practical application to managers of public healthcare institutions and governments in the formulation of public policy for the health sector.
Psychosocial work environment and depression: epidemiologic assessment of the demand-control model.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the relation between occupational variables and 3 forms of depression (major depressive episode, depressive syndrome, and dysphoria). It was hypothesized that individuals working in occupations with high psychologic strain (high psychologic demands and low decision authority) would have a higher prevalence of depression relative to those working in occupations with the other 3 possible conditions. METHODS The analysis was based on data for 905 respondents who were employed full-time in the year before the follow-up interview for the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program in Baltimore, Md, between 1993 and 1996. Psychosocial work environment, sociodemographic variables, and psychopathology were assessed in a household interview that included the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Subscales for the demand-control model for psychosocial work environment were modified slightly after factor analysis. RESULTS High job strain was associated with greater prevalence of all 3 forms of depression, especially major depressive episode. The results were stronger for women; for men, being unmarried was the strongest prevalence correlate. CONCLUSIONS Major depressive episode, depressive syndrome, and dysphoria are strongly associated with the psychosocial dimensions of the demand-control model.
Impact of Climate Change on Pigeon Pea

Climate change and global warming poses threat to the living beings. The developing countries like India, are facing the problem of producing sufficient food for the ever increasing population. Apart from cereals, pulses are the main constituent of the Indian food platter. The present study was undertaken to find out the impact of change in climatic variables, viz. temperature and rainfall on yield of Pigeon Pea by using district-level panel data for Gujarat from 1980–2011. An increase in temperature was found to have a negative impact on the yield of crop whereas rainfall had a favourable impact.
Physical and Performance Characteristics of Successful High School Football Players

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the performance and physiologic characteristics of a "suc cessful" American high school football team, and to compare the present values with values reported for other groups of high school, college, and professional players. For descriptive purposes, players were divided into two groups: backs (N = 8) and linemen (N = 10). Maximal aerobic power (VO2max) was determined from a maximal treadmill test, and body composition was evaluated by hydrostatic weighing. Maximal strength values were evaluated by one-repetition maximum bench press and squat test; the sit-and-reach test was used to measure flexibility. Speed and power were evaluated by a vertical jump and a 36.6-meter sprint. Results indicate that compared with other groups of col lege and professional players, as the level of compe tition increases so do height, weight, and fat-free weight of the players. Similar maximum oxygen consumption values were found for the present group when com pared with other groups of these players. From the strength and power standpoint, football players at all levels are becoming stronger. Incorporation of strength training programs has greatly improved strength and performance profiles of football players at all levels of competition.
The frequency of buccopalpebral reflex in Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study aimed to define the frequency of a primitive reflex, the buccopalpebral reflex (BPR), and its association with the clinical situation in patients with Parkinson disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between May 2010 and May 2011, 222 patients, 115 with Parkinson disease and 107 patients without any sign of neurodegenerative disease, were included in the study. All included patients were examined for BPR and snout reflex and were also evaluated with the Mini Mental State Examination. All patients with Parkinson disease were classified with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Hoehn and Yahr Score to determine their clinical severity. RESULTS Sixteen patients with Parkinson disease (13.9%) had a BPR (+) and 4 patients in the control group (3.7%) (P < 0.001). The UPDRS score, UPDRS daily life activities score, and UPDRS motor system score were all higher in the group with BPR (+). All patients with a BPR also had a positive snout reflex. CONCLUSION BPR is more frequent in patients with Parkinson disease than in patients without a neurodegenerative disease.
Ambiguity Aversion Decreases the Impact of Partial Insurance: Evidence from African Farmers

Indemnifying smallholder farmers against crop loss is thought to play an important role in encouraging the adoption of new technologies and facilitating productivity growth, but to be infeasible due to information problems. Consequently there is interest in developing alternative, partial, insurance products. Examples include rainfall insurance and the limited liability inherent in credit contracts. I argue that although these products may reduce information asymmetry, ambiguity averse farmers struggle to assess whether the contracts reduce risk. This problem is most pronounced when the production technology is ambiguous, as is likely the case for new technologies. I formalize this argument and test the theory using data from two RCTs, conducted in Malawi and Kenya. Comparative statics from the theory are consistent with both sets of data, and I argue that income losses from ambiguity aversion may be substantial.
Downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Molecules by Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus K3 and K5 Proteins

ABSTRACT The T-cell-mediated immune response plays a central role in the defense against intracellular pathogens. To avoid this immune response, viruses have evolved elaborate mechanisms that target and modulate many different aspects of the host's immune system. A target common to many of these viruses is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes K3 and K5 zinc finger membrane proteins which remove MHC class I molecules from the cell surface. K3 and K5 exhibit 40% amino acid identity to each other and localize primarily near the plasma membrane. While K3 and K5 dramatically downregulated class I molecules, they displayed different specificities in downregulation of HLA allotypes. K5 significantly downregulated HLA-A and -B and downregulated HLA-C only weakly, but not HLA-E, whereas K3 downregulated all four HLA allotypes. This selective downregulation of HLA allotypes by K5 was partly due to differences in amino acid sequences in their transmembrane regions. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that while K3 and K5 did not affect expression and intracellular transport of class I molecules, their expression induced rapid endocytosis of the molecules. These results demonstrate that KSHV has evolved a novel immune evasion mechanism by harboring similar but distinct genes, K3 and K5, which target MHC class I molecules in different ways.
Sex-based Differences in End-of-Life Decision Making in Flanders, Belgium

Background:Sex-related differences in end-of-life decisions (EOLD) are underresearched and unexplored. Objectives:To investigate whether there are (1) differences in demographic and/or clinical characteristics between male and female decedents; (2) differences between men and women in the prevalence of EOLD with a possible or certain life-shortening effect; (3) differences in EOL decision making between men and women. Methods:In 2007, we performed a postmortem survey in Flanders, Belgium among physicians certifying a large representative sample (n=6927) of death certificates. Response rate was 58.4%. Results:Of patients with nonsudden death, women more often die in a care home than men (31.4% vs. 18.2%) who more often die at home (24.1% vs. 17.9%). Men tend to die more often from cancer than women (45.4% vs. 32.1%). Decisions to withhold or withdraw potentially life-prolonging treatment are more often made in women (28.0% vs. 22.8%, P=0.003); euthanasia and pain and symptoms treatment [alleviation of pain and symptoms (APS)] occur more often in men (3.6% vs. 2.1% euthanasia, P=0.023; 41.8% vs. 36.9% APS, P=0.012). These differences disappear after controlling for confounders. Bivariate associations were found between sex and EOL decision making. Some of them remained after controlling for confounders. Conclusions:It is not the patient’s sex in itself that determines the likelihood of an EOLD, but the different clinical profiles of men and women at the end of life. Although sex is not a determining factor in the prevalence of EOLD, it influences the decision-making process, indicating that there may be a difference in the way that male and female patients participate in EOL decision making.
The acquisition of gender: what Spanish children tell us

ABSTRACT Data from an experiment on gender acquisition with 160 Spanish children from four to eleven years of age are presented in this paper. In Spanish there are three possible clues (semantic, morphophonological and syntactic), that speakers can use to determine the gender of a noun and the agreement of other variable elements accompanying it. Items where only one of the clues was present, items where there was a combined effect of two of them in agreement (both were feminine or masculine), and items where clues were in conflict (one masculine and the other feminine) were introduced in the experiment. This experimental manipulation made it possible to test the relative strength of the different types of competing clues. In particular, the aim of the present study was to determine the relative importance of intralinguistic and extralinguistic clues, as evidenced by the ability of Spanish children to recognize the gender of a noun upon hearing it in a particular frame, and consequently, to establish the agreement of other variable elements accompanying it. A procedure similar to that used by Karmiloff-Smith (1979). was employed. The results (which are compared with those obtained in other languages) give support to the theoretical view that children pay far more attention to syntactic and morphophonological (intralinguistic) information than to semantic (extralinguistic) information.
Resting ultrasonic tissue characterization and dobutamine stress echocardiography for prediction of functional recovery in chronic left ventricular ischemic dysfunction.

This study was designed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the percentage of resting systolic wall thickening (WT), dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), resting cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (IBS-CV), and low-dose dobutamine stress IBS-CV (DSE-IB) for the prediction of regional function recovery (RFR) in patients with chronic left ventricular (LV) ischemic dysfunction. The study also evaluated whether or not global LV function affected the diagnostic accuracy. All studies were conducted before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and RFR was assessed after PTCA (mean interval, 10 months) in 30 patients with chronic LV ischemic dysfunction. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the LV ejection fraction (LVEF): group A, LVEF<40%, n=14; group B, LVEF> or =40%, n=16. Of a total of 480 segments, 37 initially demonstrating akinetic wall motion before PTCA were analyzed. The wall motion of 24 of the 37 segments improved on visual analysis after PTCA. In the prediction of RFR, resting WT, DSE, resting IBS-CV and DSE-IB had sensitivities of 79%, 79%, 92% and 62%, and specificities of 54%, 84%, 83% and 69%, respectively. In particular, the resting IBS-CV in group A, as well as DSE, was an excellent predictor of RFR (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 86%; vs sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 78%; respectively). Therefore, both resting IBS-CV and DSE are useful predictors for RFR in patients with chronic LV ischemic dysfunction.
Demands and Rewards Associated With Working in Pediatric Oncology: A Qualitative Study of Canadian Health Care Providers

Objective: Despite recent advances in the outcome of children with cancer, the demands on medical professionals caring for these patients can be intense. Our qualitative study explored the work-related demands and rewards experienced by Canadian pediatric oncology staff. Study Design: Interviews were conducted with 33 staff members (10 oncologists, 3 subspecialty residents, 9 nurses, 5 social workers, and 6 child life specialists) from 4 hospitals. Participants were asked to describe work-related rewards and demands. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify all sources of demands and rewards. Results: Pediatric oncology staff described work-related rewards and demands related to the following areas: (1) working with children; (2) working with families; (3) working within a multidisciplinary health care team; (4) working in a pediatric oncology unit; and (5) working within a hospital or academic health center. Overall, health care providers described their job as fulfilling and meaningful. For most health care providers, many work-related issues were described as both rewarding and demanding. Conclusions: Our study identifies important demands and rewards associated with working in pediatric oncology. Future research could explore the relationship between work-related stress and job satisfaction and how these factors either cause or prevent burnout syndrome.
Engaging the Diverse Classroom by Incorporating Foreign Language Elements into Instruction

The numbers of international students who speak English as a second language are on the rise in U.S. universities and institutes of higher education. These students represent a population for whom active learning and engagement in classroom discussion is particularly beneficial. Yet international students are less likely to access or participate in such learning communities, keeping silent and disengaged from classroom discussion due to anxiety about speaking English, a lack of confidence in their English-speaking ability, and a lack of motivation to speak in English. These deterrents can be especially damaging in a humanities class which emphasizes oral participation in the learning community. This study attempts to address this issue and test whether by incorporating the native language of non-native English speakers into a class conducted in English increases international and host student engagement. The study measured student responses to the inclusion of some Russian language instruction in a literature course which was conducted solely in English. In particular, the study measured participation rates, both in class and online, of native Russian-speaking and native English-speaking students, and found that when lecture included some emphasis on Russian words or the Russian language, native Russian-speaking students were more likely to participate in course discussion and native English-speaking students were more likely to participate, too, resulting in a stronger learning community and the likelihood of increased learning for the class as a whole. This would suggest that the incorporation of the native language of international students into humanities lectures positively impacts student engagement.
Nonprofit Accountability: The Viewpoint of the Primary Stakeholders

By means of a questionnaire survey, this paper aims at analyzing the primary stakeholder viewpoint regarding nonprofit organization accountability. In detail, it investigates the member's perspective regarding social accountability in a cooperative bank (CB) in Italy. Our findings suggest that respondents had a high level of satisfaction with social reporting: a large portion of the sample indicated that they found social reporting to be useful, credible, transparent, and complete. Moreover, members of the CB under investigation consider social accountability as a way to improve relationships, strengthen trust among members, and demonstrate transparency in its activities within the community.
The profitability of value and momentum strategies on the Nordic stock market

In this paper, we examine the profitability of value and momentum strategies on the Nordic stock market for the period January 1989 to June 2016. We find evidence of both a value and momentum premium, reflected by positive average returns of 0,66 and 0,71 percent for the two strategies respectively. After correcting for different risk factors, we find positive alphas for both value and momentum. The existence of positive alphas indicate that the premiums cannot be explained entirely as a risk premium. However, we find a statistically significant alpha for momentum only. In addition, we examine different combinations of value and momentum to find a combination of the two strategies more successful than each one in isolation. We find no unambiguous evidence that a combination is superior to both strategies in isolation. Lastly, we find evidence suggesting that a weighted combination of value and momentum serves as a good hedge against momentum crashes.