Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TWISTed survival: identifying surrogate endpoints for mortality using QTWIST and conditional disease free survival

Traditionally, the standard endpoint in most cancer clinical trials has been overall survival. For many forms of cancer, including colon cancer, the time from diagnosis to the time when this endpoint is reached can take many years. Hence, researchers and patients must wait a considerable amount of time to see if a treatment is effective. We propose an alternative surrogate endpoint which would occur in less time but still be as effective at determining treatment differences. The discovery of such an endpoint would be of Public Health importance to both patients and researchers as it would allow treatments to be tested in a shorter time and subsequently allow patients to have quicker access to a beneficial treatment. Our approach is to use the methodology of QTWIST and conditional survival estimates, conditioning on disease free survival, to produce a potential surrogate endpoint for overall survival. To do this, we examine whether a surrogate endpoint could be theoretically produced for colon cancer. We analyzed NSABP trials C-03 through C-07 to determine the effect of conditional survival and the choice of conditioning sets in colon cancer. In doing this analysis, we examine the impact of determining the probability of surviving an additional y years given that a patient has already been alive and disease free for x years. QTWIST, quality-adjusted time without symptoms, methodology is then reviewed focusing on the underlying methodology of using weights, called utility coefficients, and how they could be applied to a partitioning of disease free survival states. Methodology combining conditional survival and the statistical methodology of QTWIST were then performed on six different sets of potential weighting coefficients. Finally, the success of the methodology was evaluated by comparing the Kaplan-Meier treatment difference p-values to the treatment difference p-values for each of the six utility coefficient approaches tested in our methodology. It is our hope that this methodology will produce a viable predictor for overall survival and one that is more predictive than using standard disease free survival estimates.
Standardized Ambulation Assessments Following Spinal Cord Injury

During a time of intense interest in neural recovery, there is strong emphasis on quantification of clinical outcomes. To promote responsible outcome measurement, a review of commonly used ambulation assessments was conducted, with an emphasis on application to the population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Each ambulation/walking assessment tool addressed includes a description of the examination, review of statistical support, and information on the utility of the assessment. Ambulation assessment measures are categorized by the variable being measured and considered for use either independently or in combination. In summary, no one assessment quantifies all parameters of ambulation, and comprehensive measurement is completed by using a combination of ambulation/walking assessments to document improvement in walking function after an SCI.
Fisiopatología y avances en el tratamiento del Angioedema Hereditario

Hereditary angioedema is an autosomic dominant disease, caracterized by recurrent angioedema and caused by a defective enzime known as C1 inhibitor. The main mediator involved in the development of angioedema is bradikynin. There are three types of the disease, the first one related to a decrease in the production of the enzime, the second one caracterized by an altered function of the enzime and the third one due to an altered factor XII gene. The recurrent angioedema may be localized in the periphery, in the gastrointestinal system or laryngeal, the last one being life threatening. For its treatment there are a lot of drugs available, such as attenuated androgens, fresh frozen plasma, tranexamic acid or the enzime substitution by a C1 inhibitor concentrate purified from plasma, nanofiltered or recombinant. Recently, treatment has been directed toward the avoidance of baradykinin production or its action through its B2 receptor.
Mast cell distribution, epidermal thickness and hair follicle density in normal canine skin: possible explanations for the predilection sites of atopic dermatitis?

Mast cell counts, epidermal thickness and hair follicle density were quantified in toluidine blue stained sections of normal skin from 20 different body regions in 10 dogs and compared to the predilection sites of canine atopic dermatitis. Mast cell distribution varied significantly from site to site (P < 0.0001) and counts in the superficial dermis were significantly higher than the deeper dermis (P < 0.05). Mast cell counts were highest in the medial and lateral pinna (mean 10.4–11.3 per high power field, HPF) and in the ventral interdigital skin of the hind and fore feet (mean 9.2–9.5 per HPF). Counts in these regions were at least 150% higher than all the other sites (means ranging between 2.9 and 6.0 per HPF). Variations in mast cell counts, epidermal thickness or hair follicle density did not adequately explain the predilection sites of canine atopic dermatitis. However, the results provide some evidence that cutaneous mast cell distribution may be involved in the frequent occurrence of ear and foot pruritus in this disease.
Awarding bonus points as a motivator for increased engagement in course activities in a theoretical system development course

This research to practice full paper focuses on gamification in a theoretical university course. Gamification has been applied in many different educational contexts as a means to motivate students to engage with course material. One commonly used gamification element is bonus points. This study aimed to investigate the use of bonus points as a motivator for increased engagement in course activities in a theoretical system development course in higher education. A mixed method approach, based on statistical analysis of course achievement, survey data and student group interviews has been applied to address this aim. According to the results, we found that awarding bonus points in the course seminars had positive effects on students’ learning motivation and engagement, as well as students’ achievements on the final course examination. This study contributes to the current literature of gamification in education by studying the implementation of bonus points in a theoretical course in higher education – two areas where there is currently a lack of studies. Furthermore, practical insights in how to implement a bonus points system in higher education have been highlighted.
Language in the USA: African American English

Editors' introduction This chapter explores the nature of African American English, the single-most studied American English variety over the past three decades, and one that has also been at the center of public controversies involving education. Lisa Green begins by commenting on the profusion of labels this variety has attracted over the years, including “Negro Dialect,” “Black Communications,” and “African American Language” in addition to the “African American English” designation (AAE) she favors. While these terms vary to some extent according to changing social climates and ideologies, the point she emphasizes is that AAE is a linguistic system, with well-defined rules. After a brief overview of alternative views about the origins of AAE (including the Substratist, Creolist, Anglicist, Founder principle, and Settler principle views), the chapter focuses on its present-day characteristics. While its vocabulary does include current slang (e.g., off the chain ‘good, exciting, outstanding’), familiar mainly to preadolescents and young adults, it also includes general vocabulary known by AAE speakers of all age groups (e.g., saditty ‘conceited, uppity’), and verbal markers like invariant be for a habitual or recurrent activity. Using a single complex sentence, Didn't nobody ask me do I be late for class (‘Nobody asked me if I am usually late for class’), the chapter illustrates characteristic AAE syntactic features like negative inversion, multiple negation, and the formation of embedded yes/no questions. Under “Sound patterns,” this chapter discusses the restrictions on the occurrences of consonant clusters like - ld and - st (as in wild west ) and the alternative realizations of English “th” as /t/, /d/, /f/, or /v/ in AAE. In each case, the processes are not haphazard but systematic and rule-governed.
Panoramic Video Streaming Based on Splitting

As the development of virtual reality technology growing rapidly, the demand of delivering 360-degree panoramic video stream becomes an important task. High quality panoramic video is often achieved by using high resolution and high framerates and due to these features, delivering high quality panoramic video has considerable data flow, consuming large data bandwidth and computing power. To address this problem, we introduce a novel streaming method, reducing streaming data flow by splitting panoramic video into blocks and selectively deliver the blocks users see in the panoramic video stream, exploiting the fact that the viewer has a limited field of view. Results show that our method effectively reduces the bandwidth when delivering panoramic video without compromising the quality of the panoramic video at the same time.
A national survey of the hospital services for the management of adult deliberate self-harm

AIMS AND METHOD Services were compared for the management of deliberate self-harm with existing national guidance. A postal survey was sent to all clinical directors of adult psychiatry at all NHS trusts assessing adult patients admitted to general hospital following deliberate self-harm in England. RESULTS Responses were received from 129 (65%) trusts. Thirty per cent of trusts do not use secondary psychiatric services for psycho-social assessment following deliberate self-harm; 52% have designated self-harm liaison staff and 69% of general hospitals have a ward to which most cases of deliberate self-harm are admitted. However, only 18% have staff with psychiatric experience. In 82% of trusts training is provided for junior psychiatrists at induction but in only 56% are observed-assessments undertaken. Forty-two per cent of the trusts have a deliberate self-harm services planning group. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Standards for deliberate self-harm services fall substantially below existing national guidelines, particularly in the areas of planning and training.
Can intimacy justify home education?

Many parents cite intimacy as one of their reasons for deciding to educate at home. It seems intuitively obvious that home education is conducive to intimacy because of the increased time families spend together. Yet what is not clear is whether intimacy can provide justification for one’s decision to home educate. To see whether this is so, we introduce the concept of ‘attentive parenting’, which encompasses a set of family characteristics, and we examine whether and under what conditions attentive parents risk loss of intimacy by sending their children to school; or, alternatively, whether they can avoid this risk by educating children at home. What we will determine is whether families who exhibit the specified characteristics are prima facie justified in educating their children at home under the conditions of interest. We argue that, for attentive parents, home education not only promotes greater intimacy, but also provides insurance against the loss of intimacy that may occur under certain conditions when children attend schools.
Physical fitness, nutritional habits and daily locomotive action of 12-year-old children with different body mass index

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in physical fitness, daily nutritional habits and locomotive behaviour among pupils with varying body mass index (BMI) in the 5th and 6th grades of primary school. Design. The sample consisted of 480 pupils (229 boys and 251 girls), who participated in specific Eurofit tests and completed questionnaires probing their physical activity and nutritional habits. They were divided according to their BMI into normal, overweight or obese children. Main outcome measures. 18% and 8% of the pupils were categorised as overweight and obese, respectively. Results. From the data analysis (two-way ANOVA), with BMI and gender as independent variables, it was found that the obese and overweight pupils had lower performance in long jump, in 30-m speed and in 20-m shuttle run. They adopted sedentary daily habits, such as many hours of TV watching and unhealthly nutritional habits. Conclusions. The results of this study support the need for intervention at school through physical education and health education lessons, to inform pupils about the health risks associated with limited physical activity and unhealthy nutritional habits. Another goal should be to motivate and create behaviours that are conducive to better lifestyle habits. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 20 (1) 2008: pp. 32-36
Psychiatric Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus - A Hospital Based Study. -

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic medical disease, which can cause a number of psychological, emotional, social and psychosexual problemsand is often associated with several psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders can be a risk factor as well as complication of diabetes leading to interaction between two disorders, so if diabetes is managed in its initial phase, complication may be prevented at an early stage. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity in Diabetic patients. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study for a period of Oneyear in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), one of the major associated hospitals of Government Medical College Srinagar. We selected every alternate diabetic patient by random sampling attending to theOut Patient department (OPD) of Endocrinology department. General description, demographic data and psychiatric history were recorded using the semi structured interview scale. Selected patients were subjected to Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview –Plus (MINI - Plus) for evaluation of symptoms and diagnosis. A control group (n = 200) was selected amongst the non-diabetic patients and the same instruments were applied. Results: Out of total 200 subjects 87 were males (43.5 %), and 113 females (56.5 %). Most of cases belong to 41 -50 year age group (33.5%) followed by age group 51 – 60 years (22.5%) and 71% were married and 11.5% were unmarried. 57 % of diabetic patients had significant psychiatric morbidity. Only 25.5 % of the control group had psychiatric problems (p = 0.0027) highly significant. Depressive disorder (13.5%) was the most common presentation, followed by Adjustment disorder (7.5 %), premenstrual Dysphoric disorder (6.5%), panic disorder (6%) generalized anxiety disorder (5.5), dysthymia (4.5%), and Suicidality (4%) mixed anxiety (1.5%), OCD, agoraphobia (1.5%) and other disorders. Conclusion: The increased frequency of psychiatric morbidity among the diabetic patients raises the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Presumed Consent for Organ Donation

The difference between supply and demand of transplantable organs is a global problem and one of the most discussed measures aiming to solve it is the implementation of a presumed consent (opt-out) policy in cadaveric organ donation. This kind of system is controversial both when it comes to its direct effects on organ donation rates and its ethical base. We aim to present the latest perspectives concerning the ethical implications of the policy, specially regarding consent: its need, the coherence of presuming it and the policy’s capacity to fulfill its requirements. Regarding the issue at hand, a community perspective, the effects of defaults, post-mortem rights and the potential rights to family objection are also approached as well as the differences between theoretical discussion and concrete application of public policy.
Fractured Carpal Scaphoid

is knocked out of Sir George Buchanan's report because a solitary member of the staff at the hospital ships was discovered to have visited his sweetheart in Purfleet. In any case I only adduced the Purfleet experience as "strong confirmation" of the convection theory. I am glad to learn that Dr. C. J. McSweeney is one of those who have not lost faith in the theory. Allow me to add a word of explanation to my original article. When I said that out of nineteen members who took part in the Epidemiological Society's debate seven were against the theory of aerial convection, I was including those (and they were the majority) who only said that they were not yet convinced and desired further confirmation. As Prof. Ralph Picken has shown in his letter, some confirmatory evidence has since been forthcoming, and I suggest that, but for the fact that there has been so little epidemic major smallpox in this country during the past 40 years, much more confirmatory evidence might have been forthcoming. -I am, etc.,
Using the Public Sector Scorecard in public health

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe an application of the Public Sector Scorecard (PSS) to Sheffield's Stop Smoking Service.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the PSS, an integrated service improvement and performance measurement framework for the public and voluntary sectors. The PSS shares the key advantages of the Balanced Scorecard in ensuring that performance measures reflect all aspects of an organisation's performance and have clear links to the organisation's strategy. In addition its structure and methodology, with more emphasis on service user involvement, working across organisational boundaries, process mapping, service improvement, and risk management, provide many additional benefits to organisations in the public and voluntary sectors. The study incorporated service user workshops with over 100 service users and a series of meetings with a reference group containing staff, service users and other key stakeholders.Findings – The paper concludes that the PSS has many benefits bot.
The Effect of Using Standardized Patients in Psychiatric Nursing Practical Training for Nursing College Students

Purpose: This study was done to examine the effects of using standardized patients in psychiatric nursing practical training for nursing college students. Methods: This research design was a quasi-experimental pre-and- post-test control and experimental group methodological comparison study. Forty-four (Exp.=23, Cont.=21) nursing college students in G city participated in the study. The experimental group received psychiatric nursing practical training using standardized patients, and the control group received traditional practice. Data were collected between October 1 and 15. 2011 through self-report structured questionnaires and were analyzed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, x 2 -test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. Results: After the treatment, there were significant differences in the level of motivation of transfer (t=1.71, p=.047), and learning self-efficacy (t=4.70, p<.001) between the experimental and control groups. The mean score per item for learning satisfaction was 4.28. Conclusion: The above findings indicate that psychiatric nursing practical training using standardized patients is a useful method for practical ability. Therefore, enhancement of performance ability related to practice can be done by developing psychiatric nursing practical training programs with various cases and content.
Cigarette smoking among medical students in China and modifiable risk factors for smoking prevention

Purpose – The reduction of tobacco use among medical students is a potentially powerful strategy to reduce tobacco use among future health professionals, who in turn, can have significant impact on tobacco use among patients as well as the general population in China. The goal of this study is to update information on the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Chinese medical students and to assess modifiable factors for smoking reduction.Design/methodology/approach – Presented in the paper are descriptive, associative and path model analyses of survey data collected among 758 medical students in year one through year three from Hainan Medical College, Hainan, China.Findings – Among the total 758 participants, 66.9 percent of males and 26 percent of females smoked and 26.5 percent of males and 1.6 percent of females had smoked in the past 30 days. The median monthly expenditure on cigarettes was 30 Chinese Yuan (approximately US$4.25). The likelihood of smoking increased with male gender, more advanced yea.
Nurse-led Follow-up and Palliative Care of Esophageal Cancer Patients

textabstractApproximately 400,000 patients are annually diagnosed world-wide with esophageal cancer, which makes this malignancy the eight most common cancer (1). The incidence of esophageal cancer has risen remarkably over the past two decades in the Western world, because of a marked increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma (2, 3). In the Netherlands, on average 1100 new patients are diagnosed annually with esophageal cancer. The prognosis of esophageal cancer is poor with a 5-year survival of 10-15% (4, 5). If a patient is able to undergo surgery and the tumor is considered resectable without evidence of distant metastases, a surgical resection is the primary treatment for esophageal cancer. Despite recent advances in the curative treatment of esophageal cancer (6), more than 50% of patients with esophageal cancer have an inoperable disease at presentation. For these patients, only palliative treatment is possible. The goal of such treatment is to relief dysphagia, the case of much distress to these patients. Self-expanding metal stents are commonly used for the palliation of esophageal obstruction because of inoperable cancer. One of the drawbacks of the presently used stents is the high percentage of recurrent dysphagia due to stent migration and tissue in-/overgrowth. New stent designs have been developed that should overcome this unwanted sequel of stent placement. In addition, to overcome the problem of stent migration, large diameter stents have been introduced. The extra pressure on the esophageal wall exerted by large diameter stents, however, may cause more complications. Stents are eff ective for the palliation of esophageal cancer, particularly if the tumor is located in the mid or distal esophagus. Strictures of the proximal esophagus are more diffi cult to palliate. The use of stents in the proximal esophagus is, in particular, hampered by the risk of complications, the risk of compression on the trachea or patients intolerance. Surgery for esophageal cancer is often accompanied by signifi cant morbidity and aff ects patients quality of life.