Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Value judgment of new medical treatments: Societal and patient perspectives to inform priority setting in The Netherlands

Background In many countries, medical interventions are reimbursed on the basis of recommendations made by advisory boards and committees that apply multiple criteria in their assessment procedures. Given the diversity of these criteria, it is difficult to find common ground to determine what information is required for setting priorities. Objective To investigate whether society and patients share the same interests and views concerning healthcare priorities. Methods We applied a framework of discrete choice models in which respondents were presented with judgmental tasks to elicit their preferences. They were asked to choose between two hypothetical scenarios of patients receiving a new treatment. The scenarios graphically presented treatment outcomes and patient characteristics. Responses were collected through an online survey administered among respondents from the general population (N = 1,253) and patients (N = 1,389) and were analyzed using conditional logit and mixed logit models. Results The respondents’ preferences regarding new medical treatments revealed that they attached the most relative importance to additional survival years, age at treatment, initial health condition, and the cause of disease. Minor differences in the relative importance assigned to three criteria: age at treatment, initial health, and cause of disease were found between the general population and patient samples. Health scenarios in which patients had higher initial health-related quality of life (i.e., a lower burden of disease) were favored over those in which patients’ initial health-related quality of life was lower. Conclusions Overall, respondents within the general population expressed preferences that were similar to those of the patients. Therefore, priority-setting studies that are based on the perspectives of the general population may be useful for informing decisions on reimbursement and other types of priority-setting processes in health care. Incorporating the preferences of the general population may simultaneously increase public acceptance of these decisions.
A COMPARATIVE ABINITIO DFT STUDY OF ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF BaTiO3 AND K

The thermal decomposition kinetics of formation of bone shaped BaTiO3 from barium titanyl oxalate (BTO) and the effect of doping of potassium titanyl oxalate (1 10 mol%) with BTO upon the reaction pathway and the mechanism were studied at four different heating rates: 2, 5, 7 and 10 K min 1 under linear non-isothermal heating program using DSC technique in an inert atmosphere (N2). Kinetic deconvolution procedure was applied to perform the overall kinetics of the formation of doped and undoped BaTiO3. The prepared samples and their decomposed products were identified and characterized by means of FT-IR, FT-Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM and SAED pattern. Activation energy needed for each resolved stage of the thermal decomposition was calculated by the KAS method in the temperature range 303–873 K. XRD pattern at different stages of thermal decomposition indicates that cubic BaTiO3 is transformed into tetragonal phase. The introduction of K ion into the lattice of BTO enhances the thermal stability of BTO and shows a high energy reaction pathway revealing the complex mechanism. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Intellectual Capital and Financial Performance of Indian Software Industry: A Panel Data Analysis

Intellectual Capital is an important for running a business successfully. Intellectual Capital is the key for creating and sustaining competitive edge over other businesses. Today the companies need to invest in Intellectual Capital to stand for the gain. Thus, this paper seeks to analyze the relationship between intellectual capital and corporate financial performance of Indian software companies for a period of eleven years from 2001 to 2011. Annual reports, especially the profit and loss accounts and balance sheets of the selected companies for the relevant years have been used to obtain the data. The sample of 51 software companies has been selected from Business Standard (BS) 1000 on the basis of net sales. The Value Added Intellectual CoefficientTM (VAIC) method developed by Public, 1999 is applied for measuring the value based performance of the companies. Data have been analyzed by using Panel Regression. The intellectual capital (human capital and structural capital) and physical capital of the selected companies have been analyzed and their impact on corporate performance has been measured. Results indicate that profitability and intellectual capital are positively associated. However, Physical capital has been found to be the most significant factor affecting the performance of the firms.
Testing a Structural Model of Constraints Negotiation in Spectator Sports: The Moderating Effect of Satisfaction with Marketing Strategies

This study extends the leisure constraints literature and empirically tests the constraints–effects– mitigation model within the context of spectator sports. The moderating effects of satisfaction with marketing strategies on the constraints–negotiation relationship and the motivation–negotiation relationship were also examined. Data (n = 997) were collected from spectators attending Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) games during the regular seasons in 2014 and 2015. Results showed that 1) negotiation works to independently influence participation; 2) the relationship between motivation and participation is partially mediated by negotiation strategies; 3) the relationship between motivation and negotiation is moderated by satisfaction with marketing strategies; and 4) constraints have no significant influence on participation and negotiation. The results advance our understanding of the factors influencing consumers' leisure participation and the decision-making mechanism. This could help professional sport teams develop more effective and targeted marketing strategies. The findings may also help enrich sport spectators' consumption of leisure experiences.
Glimpses of Climate Literacy : Climate Literacy as Assessed Partially by a Limited Set of Items from Four Recent National Assessments of Environmental Literacy

To date, there has not yet been a national assessment of, or a systematic review of evidence from different studies pertaining to, climate literacy among K-14 aged learners. This was one of a number of needs explored at a Workshop on Climate Change Education sponsored by the National Academies in late August 2011. In an attempt to begin to address this need for evidence, Dr. Marcinkowski was invited to prepare a presentation and paper for that Workshop. In turn, he invited colleagues who had been involved in recent national assessments of environmental literacy to work with him. In historical order, these national assessments were conducted in Korea (Grades 3, 7, & 11), Israel (Grades 6 & 12), the U.S. (Grades 6 & 8) and Turkey (Grade 5). Each of these assessments included measures of environmental knowledge, dispositions, skills, and behavior. Using material presented in Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science (U.S. GCRP/CCSP, 2009), the authors identified a total of 109 items from their measures that were related to climate literacy. Results for these items, and for the measures from which they were drawn, were charted and analyzed. Analyses focused on three questions: (1) what the results for these items and measures had to say about climate literacy in each nation; (2) what the results for these items and measures had to say about climate literacy in different grade levels; and (3) what these results had to say about item-specific features of climate literacy across nations and grade levels. Results pertinent to each question are presented and discussed in successive sections. In the closing discussion, the authors: review the purpose, delimitation, and limitations apparent in this paper; summarize findings pertinent to each of these questions; and pose a series of research recommendations pertinent to the need for evidence regarding the status of climate literacy in the K-14 sector.
Handbook of Medical Informatics

Data Processing. - Database Management. - Telecommunication, Networking, and Integration. - Coding and Classification. - The Patient Record. - Biosignal Analysis. - Medical Imaging. - Image Processing and Analysis. - Primary Care. - Clinical Departmental Systems. - Clinical Support Systems. - Nursing Information Systems. - Methods for Decision Support. - Clinical Decision-Support Systems. - Strategies for Medical Knowledge Acquisition. - Predictive Tools for Clinical Decision Support. - Health Care Modeling. - Hospital Information Systems: Clinical Use and Technical Choices. - Health Information Resources Logical Operations. - Biostatistical Methods. - Biosignal Processing Methods. - Advances in Image Processing. - Pattern Recognition. - Modeling for Decision Support. - Structuring the CPR. - Evaluation of Information Systems. - Human-Computer Interaction in Health Care. - Costs and Benefits of Information Systems. - Security in Medical Information Systems. - Standards in Health Care. - Project Management. - Education and Training. - International Developments.
The role of the ketogenic diet in exercise performance

Muscle glycogen storage and degradation are nearly universally accepted as crucial metabolic processes for ensuring adequate intramuscular energy levels during prolonged, high-intensity activity. However, a growing body of data illustrates that alternative substrates, such as ketone bodies, may be equally as effective in transducing energy during exercise. Ketosis, wherein ketones serve as the primary oxidative fuel, can be achieved nutritionally through a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD). Though the KD is unequivocally successful in facilitating weight-loss with minimal sacrifice to lean mass, current research indicates a complex role for the KD in both anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance. This review discusses: 1) the mechanisms behind KD adaptation, and the effect of KD adaptation on 2) glycogen metabolism, 3) aerobic exercise performance and 4) anaerobic exercise performance.
Mechanisms of disease: A textbook of comparative general pathology

-- This classic text, the only text devoted to general veterinary pathology, focuses on new advances in our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which mammals become sick. -- The third edition has been reformatted to provide both students and practitioners a more open, accessible design.Pathology is a fundamental part of the veterinary curriculum, and all students take at least one semester in general pathology and one in special, or systemic, pathology. Slauson-Cooper has been the book of choice in general veterinary pathology since 1982. It introduces students to disease concepts inherent in clinical medicine through the study of pathogenetic mechanisms and stresses the importance of critical thinking. Pathology is a changing science. Various microbes and toxins still often cause disease, but the continuing fascination is with how disease occurs. -- Expanded discussion of apoptosis, a process of cell death that is now recognized to be involved in many physiologic and pathologic processes. This process is related to the more conventional view of tissue injury and necrosis. -- Updated chapter on inflammation, including discussions on mediators of the immune and inflammatory responses, adhesion molecules involved in the cellular component of the inflammatory response, signaling events in inflammation, and the role of growth factors in tissue repair and wound healing. -- Immunopathology completely rewritten to focus the role of immunologic processes in pathologic processes. -- New information on the role of genetics in cancer development and emphasis on genetics in the cause of disease. -- More than 35 new, clear line drawings illustrating difficult cellularconcepts, several new case studies and a fresh, new four-color cover. -- Good balance between the detail required for sophisticated explanations of disease mechanisms and "information overload. "-- Large, clearly reproduced slides accompanied by line drawings that clarify difficult cellular concepts. -- Clear style of writing makes complex concepts understandable and conveys the enthusiasm the authors feel for contemporary pathology.
OARRR_A_225168 219..227

Rheumatology Unit, AOU University Clinic and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy Purpose: To explore the potential role of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and their progenitors (EPCs) as biomarkers of disease activity and damage accrual in patients with Behçet’s syndrome (BS), by using a standardised and reliable flow cytometry protocol. Patients and methods: CECs and EPCs were assessed in 32 BS patients and 11 gender/age/ smoking habits matched healthy controls (HC). They were identified by flow cytometry as alive/ nucleated/CD45-negative/CD34-bright/CD146-positive and alive/nucleated/CD45-negative/ CD34-bright/CD309-positive events, respectively. In BS patients, demographic and clinical features, including disease activity (assessed by Behçet’s disease current disease activity form, BDCAF) and irreversible damage accrual (by the vasculitis damage index, VDI) were recorded. Uniand multivariate analysis were performed to compare the CECs and EPCs concentrations in BS vs HC and to identify potential associations with demographic or clinical features. Results: The CECs concentration was significantly higher in the BS patients than HCs [median (IQR) 15.0 (7.5–23.0) vs 6.0 (2.0–13.0) CECs/mL, p=0.024]. In BS patients, no significant associations were found between CECs and demographic features, present and past clinical manifestations, BDCAF score and ongoing treatment. A significant association was observed between CECs and organ damage, as assessed by the VDI (rho 0.356, p=0.045). Higher levels of CECs were especially associated with vascular damage [median (IQR) 23.0 (14.0–47.0) vs 13.0 (6.0–19.0) CECs/mL, p=0.011], including arterial aneurysm and stenosis, complicated venous thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident. The concentration of EPCs did not significantly differ between the BS and HC [median 26.5 (13.0–46.0) vs 19.0 (4.0–42.0) EPCs/mL, p=0.316] and no significant associations were observed between their levels and any clinical characteristic. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the CECs concentration is significantly higher in BS than healthy subjects, and it mainly correlates with vascular damage. A longitudinal extension of the present study on a wider cohort would be useful to validate the potential role of CECs as a marker or, hopefully, predictor of vascular damage in BS.
Long-Term Outcome of Catheter Ablation of Electrical Storm due to Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia in a Large Cohort of Patients with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background: Recurrent therapies due to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can adversely affect their long-term survival. We intended to evaluate the long-term effect of the catheter ablation of electrical storm due to monomorphic VT in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods and Results: Between December 2006 and 2011, 40 consecutive patients (24 men, mean age 57.9 ± 13.6 years) with DCM and repeated monomorphic VT who had ICD underwent 70 radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures, including 23 epicardial (33%), at our center. After a median of 1.5 ablations, acute complete success was achieved in 22 patients (63%). During a mean follow-up of 820 days (range 238– 2120 days) 29 patients (72.5%) were free from VT recurrence. Compared to those without acute complete success (n = 18), in those with acute complete success (n = 22), 20 (90.9%) and 9 (50%) were free from any VT recurrence and ICD therapy, respectively (Fisher’s p = 0.005). During follow-up 2 (9.1%) and 4 (22.2%) patients died in the above mentioned groups, respectively (p = 0.267). Conclusion: Catheter ablation in DCM patients with electrical storm due to monomorphic VT prevents VT recurrence in 72.5% of the patients; however, many patients need more than one ablation procedure. Successful catheter ablation may play a protective role and was associated with a trend toward reduced mortality during the follow up period. More aggressive ablation strategies to ablate all inducible VTs improves long-term freedom from VT and probably survival in these patients.
Seroprevalence of delta hepatitis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and its clinical impact in Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran.

Background and Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections are major health problems in Iran. Preliminary reports indicate that HDV infection, a satellite virus of HBV, exists in this area. However, its prevalence in patients with different types of liver diseases has not been studied in detail. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of HDV among individuals who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in a southwestern province of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study a total of 1,725 consecutive patients with HBV liver diseases attending the Ahvaz JundiShapur University Hospitals (AJSUH) and Hepatitis Clinics from 2002 to 2008 were included. We performed tests for HBV and HDV serum markers, using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Patients were split into two groups according to their HDV antibody (anti-HDV) status (HDV positive or negative). The collected data were coded, and the statistical analyses were conducted. Results: The mean age of the patients was 37 ± 13/8 years. There were 1,157 males and 568 females. Of the 1,725 patients with HBV liver disease, 150 were found to be reactive for anti-delta antibodies, yielding an overall HDV seroprevalence of 11.5%. Anti-HDV was found in 3.59% of patients with inactive chronic hepatitis, 45.5% of patients with chronic active hepatitis, and 43.2% of cirrhotic and hepatocellular carcinoma patients (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of individuals testing positive for antibodies to HDV were observed among males (72%) than among females (28%). The patients without HDV infection were younger than anti-HDV-positive/HBsAg-positive patients (P < 0.01). Conclusions: HDV infection was common in patients with HBV in our community. All HBV patients should be screened for HDV infection. The results indicate that HDV co-infection was related to the severity of the liver disease. More studies
Patient experiences: a systematic review of quality improvement interventions in a hospital setting Patient Related Outcome Measures

Purpose: In the era of value-based healthcare, one strives for the most optimal outcomes and experiences from the perspective of the patient. So, patient experiences have become a key quality indicator for healthcare. While these are supposed to drive quality improvement (QI), their use and effectiveness for this purpose has been questioned. The aim of this systematic review was to provide insight into QI interventions used in a hospital setting and their effects on improving patient experiences, and possible barriers and promoters for QI work. Methods: Prisma guidelines were used to design this review. International academic literature was searched in Embase, Medline OvidSP, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, PubMed Publisher, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. In total, 3,289 studies were retrieved and independently screened by the ﬁ rst two authors for eligibility and methodological quality. Data was extracted on the study purpose, setting, design, targeted patient experience domains, QI strategies, results of QI, barriers, and promotors for QI. Results: Twenty-one pre – post intervention studies were included for review. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using a Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) Tool. QI strategies used were staff education, patient education, audit and feedback, clinician reminders, organizational change, and policy change. Twenty studies reported improvement in patient experience, 14 studies of the 21 included studies reported statistical signi ﬁ cance. Most studies (n=17) reported data-related barriers (eg, questionnaire quality), professional, and/or organizational barriers (eg, skepticism among staff), and 14 studies mentioned speci ﬁ c promoters (eg, engaging staff and patients) for QI. Conclusions: Several patient experience domains are targeted for QI using diverse strategies and methodological approaches. Most studies reported at least one improvement and also barriers and promoters that may in ﬂ uence QI work. Future research should address these barriers and promoters in order to enhance methodological quality and improve patient experiences.
Alcohol and drug use in students attending a student healthcentre.

Abstract: Alcohol and drug use amongst 3rd level students in Ireland is a concern and has been reported previously in the CLAN Survey 1. The aim of our study was to determine the alcohol and drug use and any alcohol associated adverse consequences amongst students attending the health centre of University College Cork (UCC). â? ¢ 178 (98.3%) of the 181 students who replied reported having ever drunk alcohol. â? ¢ 157 (91.3%)students drank spirits in the past year v 148 (86.5%) who drank beer/cider v 135 (78.5%) who drank wine. â? ¢ 81 (44.8%) students reported binge drinking at least once weekly. â? ¢ 48 (26.5%) students used cannabis in the past year v 12 (6.9%) who used cocaine and 7 (4%) who used ecstasy. All students who drink reported at least one adverse consequence. 114 (63%) of students report adverse consequences of other peoples drinking. The changing drinking behaviour of female students is of particular concern.
Translating emotional insights from hospitality employees’ comments Using sentiment analysis to understand job satisfaction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use the data analysis method of sentiment analysis to improve the understanding of a large data set of employee comments from an annual employee job satisfaction survey of a US hospitality organization. Design/methodology/approach – Sentiment analysis is used to examine the employee comments by identifying meaningful patterns, frequently used words and emotions. The statistical computing language, R, uses the sentiment analysis process to scan each employee survey comment, compare the words with the predefined word dictionary and classify the employee comments into the appropriate emotion category. Findings – Employee responses written in English and in Spanish are compared with significant differences identified between the two groups, triggering further investigation of the Spanish comments. Sentiment analysis was then conducted on the Spanish comments comparing two groups, front-of-house vs back-of-house employees and employees with male supervisors vs female supervisors. Results from the analysis of employee comments written in Spanish point to higher scores for job sadness and anger. The negative comments referred to desires for improved healthcare, requests for increased wages and frustration with difficult supervisor relationships. The findings from this study add to the growing body of literature that has begun to focus on the unique work experiences of Latino employees in the USA. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine a large unstructured English and Spanish text database from a hospitality organization’s employee job satisfaction surveys using sentiment analysis. Applying this big data analytics process to advance new insights into the human capital aspects of hospitality management is intriguing to many researchers. The results of this study demonstrate an issue that needs to be further investigated particularly considering the hospitality industry’s employee demographics.