Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Concern: A Cross National Analysis

Environmental concern among samples of college students in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia (BJQS) was examined. Data for this study were extracted from a Middle Eastern Environmental Attitudes Survey conducted at the University of Bahrain in Bahrain, King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, Mu’tah University in Jordan, and Qatar University in Qatar. Findings indicated high to moderately high levels of concern about the environment among college students in (BJQS). However, concern about the environment varied according to students’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
A High Copy Number of FCGR3B Is Associated with Psoriasis Vulgaris in Han Chinese

Background: Copy number variations of FCGR3B are associated with several immune related diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome. Little is known about the association between FCGR3B copy number variants and psoriasis. Objective: To investigate whether FCGR3B copy number variants are associated with susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in the Chinese Han population. Methods: 343 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 574 healthy individuals were recruited as cases and controls. TaqMan® Copy Number Assays were performed to quantify the copy numbers in the FCGR3B locus. CopyCaller v1.0 software and R (version 2.15.3) were used to do the subsequent statistical analysis. Results: A significant association between psoriasis vulgaris and a high copy number (>2) of FCGR3B was observed (odds ratio = 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.45, p < 0.02). However, the low copy number of FCGR3B was not significantly associated with psoriasis vulgaris. Conclusion: A high copy number of FCGR3B is associated with psoriasis vulgaris in Han Chinese.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and All-Cause Mortality in the Sleep Heart Health Study

Data Application in Practice The study subjects all completed detailed baseline evaluations of their health history, measurements of blood pressure and anthropometric indices, and standard polysomnographic recordings performed in their homes. In the interpretation of the sleep studies, when airfl ow was absent or nearly absent for at least 10 seconds, this was noted as an apnea. For events not meeting criteria for apneas, when there was at least 30% reduction in airfl ow or thoracoabdominal movement for at least 10 seconds, this was noted as a hypopnea. The sleep-disordered breathing severity was based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as follows: normal ( 5 events/hour), mild (5–14.9 events/hour), moderate (15–29.9 events/hour), and severe ( 30 events/hour).
Effects of the Amount of Exercise on Body Weight, Body Composition, and Measures of Central Obesity STRRIDE—A Randomized Controlled Study

Background Obesity is a major health problem due, in part, to physical inactivity. The amount of activity needed to prevent weight gain is unknown. Objective To determine the effects of different amounts and intensities of exercise training. Design Randomized controlled trial (February 1999–July 2002). Setting and Participants Sedentary, overweight men and women (aged 40-65 years) with mild to moderate dyslipidemia were recruited from Durham, NC, and surrounding communities. Interventions Eight-month exercise program with 3 groups: (1) high amount/vigorous intensity (calorically equivalent to approximately 20 miles [32.0 km] of jogging per week at 65%-80% peak oxygen consumption); (2) low amount/vigorous intensity (equivalent to approximately 12 miles [19.2 km] of jogging per week at 65%-80%), and (3) low amount/moderate intensity (equivalent to approximately 12 miles [19.2 km] of walking per week at 40%-55%). Subjects were counseled not to change their diet and were encouraged to maintain body weight. Main Outcome Measures Body weight, body composition (via skinfolds), and waist circumference. Results Of 302 subjects screened, 182 met criteria and were randomized and 120 completed the study. There was a significant ( P Conclusions In nondieting, overweight subjects, the controls gained weight, both low-amount exercise groups lost weight and fat, and the high-amount group lost more of each in a dose-response manner. These findings strongly suggest that, absent changes in diet, a higher amount of activity is necessary for weight maintenance and that the positive caloric imbalance observed in the overweight controls is small and can be reversed by a modest amount of exercise. Most individuals can accomplish this by walking 30 minutes every day.
Radiological preparedness-awareness and attitudes: A cross–sectional survey of emergency medicine residents and physicians at three academic institutions in the United States

Context. Emergency preparedness has been increasingly recognized as important. Research shows many medical personnel feel unprepared to respond to radiation incidents. Knowledge and attitudes of emergency medicine residents and faculty are largely unstudied, regarding their abilities to provide care for radiation disaster victims. It is unknown whether receiving training in radiological emergency preparedness improves knowledge and attitudes. Objectives. (1) Assess the attitudes of emergency medicine residents and faculty toward a radiological disaster; (2) Assess knowledge gaps of emergency medicine residents and faculty regarding radiological emergency preparedness; (3) Assess the attitudes of emergency medicine residents and faculty toward different educational strategies. Methods. An electronic survey was sent to 309 emergency medicine residents and faculty at three U.S. academic institutions. Analyses were performed using SAS 9.0 software. Results. The survey response rate was 36.6%. Only 37% and 28% of respondents had attended radiological preparedness training in the preceding 5 years or any training in radiation detection, respectively. Higher proportions of trained physicians were: (1) more familiar with DTPA and Prussian blue; (2) more comfortable assessing, decontaminating, and managing victims of radiation incidents; and (3) more comfortable using radiation detectors than their untrained counterparts. Many respondents were unable to differentiate between contamination with and exposure to radiological material. Classroom teaching at the workplace and prepackaged educational materials were most frequently rated as the preferred educational method for radiation preparedness training. Discussion and conclusion. Our results suggest a need for additional radiological-nuclear preparedness training for emergency medicine residents and faculty. Training should include radiation detection, decontamination, explaining differences between radiation exposure and contamination, and teaching patient management, including DTPA and Prussian blue.
Prospective associations between appetitive traits and weight gain in infancy.

BACKGROUND Differences in appetitive traits such as food-cue or satiety responsiveness have been hypothesized to contribute to variability in weight gain. However, existing data were largely cross-sectional and could not exclude the possibility that differences in appetitive traits were consequences of differences in weight. OBJECTIVE We tested whether prospective associations between appetitive traits and subsequent weight were stronger than associations between weight and subsequent appetitive traits. DESIGN Data were from Gemini, which is a population-based cohort of 2402 families with twins. Parents completed a Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire to assess 4 appetitive traits for each twin at ages 3 and 15 mo. We obtained infant weights at 3, 9, and 15 mo from records of health professionals. Weight SD scores were calculated by using UK 1990 reference data. A path analysis was used to examine prospective associations in each direction over sequential 6-mo intervals and over the same 12-mo period, with the significance of differences between the 2 paths established with bootstrapping. RESULTS Path analyses included 2213 infants. For each appetitive trait, the path to subsequent weight (standardized coefficients: 0.17-0.33) was significantly larger than the path from weight to subsequent appetite (coefficients: 0.07-0.13). Results were confirmed when both associations were analyzed by using changes from 3 to 15 mo. CONCLUSION Longitudinal analyses showed that associations between appetitive traits and subsequent weight were stronger than between weight and subsequent appetite, which supports the idea that differences in appetitive traits, in conjunction with environmental opportunities to overeat, influence weight gain in early childhood.
An analysis of factors determining malaria incidence in India with particular reference to Uttar Pradesh

This thesis identies, inter alia, the socio-economic factors that affect malaria incidence at both the household and district levels and investigates how these differ across rural and urban settlement-types. In addition, state level data for India are used to examine the effect of aggregate income relative to that of public health expenditure on malaria incidence. The household and district-level analysis focuses on the state of Uttar Pradesh and exploits the National Family Health Survey, which is the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) for India, for two time periods - 1992-93 and 1998-99 - and combines these data with the district-level census data for 1991 and 2001. A key theme of the micro-level analyses is whether household wealth exerts a negative impact on malaria incidence. Wealth is measured using the DHS data by constructing a consumer durable asset-index by Principal Components Analysis and malaria incidence was modelled using a probability model. The household-level analysis reveals that the relationship between socio-economic status and malaria incidence is not always negative. For example, owning a water pump, indicative of a higher socio-economic status, has a positive impact on malaria incidence and being of a lower caste has a negative impact. Variables that support the negative socio-economic status and health relationship include having an electricity connection in the house, having access to a protected public drinking water supply rather than an open source, and living farther away from open water sources. The aggregate (or panel data) analysis was undertaken using data for 15 states in India covering the time period 1978 to 2000. The aggregate analysis reveals that income has a negative impact on malaria incidence but direct expenditure on health is more effective in bringing about a decline in malaria incidence - an increase of a rupee in aggregate income per person reduces malaria incidence by 0.1 percent whereas an equivalent increase in real health expenditure per capita results in 0.4 percent decline in malaria incidence. The research undertaken for this thesis is unique in using the DHS to identify the factors aecting malaria incidence and shows that these data are very useful in exploring the relationship between malaria incidence and a host of socio-economic factors in order to identify areas for effective policy intervention. Such a holistic approach is critical in controlling and, eventually, eradicating malaria rather than relying primarily on more direct treatment strategies based on insecticide-treated bed nets and drug therapy. The areas where public spending could be directed to attack malaria identied by the empirical analysis include education, particularly raising awareness on prophylactic measures through adult literacy centres, controlling the breeding of mosquitoes in open water collection sites such as public taps and around water pumps and improving water flow in agricultural fields to prevent stagnant water collection.
Prevalência e fatores associados ao sobrepeso e à obesidade em adolescentes

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalencia e os fatores associados ao sobrepeso e a obesidade em adolescentes de zona urbana. METODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional, realizado no municipio de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, de 2001 a 2002. Adolescentes entre 15 e 18 anos de idade foram medidos, pesados e responderam a questionario auto-aplicavel. De 90 setores sorteados, foram visitados 86 domicilios em cada setor, totalizando 960 adolescentes. A prevalencia de sobrepeso e obesidade foi definida a partir do indice de massa corporal, mediante a utilizacao dos pontos de corte, ajustados a idade e ao sexo. Realizou-se analise multivariada com regressao de Poisson, considerando um modelo hierarquico das variaveis associadas ao sobrepeso e a obesidade. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de sobrepeso e de obesidade foi 20,9% e 5%, respectivamente. A relacao entre a obesidade e idade e escolaridade do adolescente foi inversa. Verificou-se associacao de sobrepeso e obesidade com o relato de obesidade dos pais (p=0,03) e maturacao sexual do adolescente (p=0,01). Os habitos de fazer dieta e omitir refeicoes foram associados a obesidade, com riscos de 3,98 (IC 95%: 1,83-8,67) e 2,54 (IC 95%: 1,22-5,29), respectivamente. CONCLUSOES: A prevalencia de sobrepeso e obesidade na regiao sao preocupantes a despeito do comportamento dos adolescentes para prevenir a obesidade. E necessaria a implantacao de campanhas mais eficazes, direcionadas a orientar melhor os adolescentes.
Relationship Between Flare and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective. To investigate (1) the relationship between flares and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Hong Kong; and (2) the influence of severity of flare, number of organs involved in flares, and manifestations of flares on HRQOL. Methods. A retrospective study was performed on 303 patients with SLE. Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and underwent clinical and laboratory examination to evaluate disease activity and damage. The total number and manifestations of flares during the preceding year were assessed retrospectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent variables associated with impairment of HRQOL. Results. Patients with flares were younger, had a shorter disease duration, and had higher disease activity at the time of the assessment. A total of 72 episodes of flares were recorded in 61 patients in the preceding year. Patients with flares had significantly lower scores in the areas of role limitation due to physical problems, general health, social function, and role limitation due to emotional problems compared with those without flare. The physical health summary scale was also lower in patients with flares. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of musculoskeletal flare was independently associated with all scales of the SF-36, except bodily pain and mental health. Conclusion. The low level of patients’ HRQOL is mostly associated with the presence of musculoskeletal involvement.
The Role of an Integrated Care Model for Kidney Disease in the Development of Peritoneal Dialysis: A Single-Center Experience in China

Peritoneal dialysis plays a crucial role in the integrated care of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this paper, we retrospectively analyzed the quality indicators of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 712 patients from our center who underwent PD between 2004 and 2011. In 43% of patients, follow-up was undertaken every 3 months at our outpatient department, and 54% patients were followed up by both our hospital and other local hospitals. The patient survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 96.3%, 85.4% and 76.2%, respectively. The technique survival (excludes death/transplantation) at 1, 3 and 5 years was 95.1%, 87.7% and 79.6%, respectively. Fluid overload occurred in 29.2% of patients and was one of the major reasons for discontinuing PD. The peritonitis rate in our center decreased to 0.16 episodes/year in 2011. In addition, since our center is one of the largest integrated-treatment centers for ESRD in China, we have developed a multilevel care program in Zhejiang Province, which resulted in rapid growth of PD in our province in recent years.
PROFIL IBU DAN PERAN BIDAN DALAM PRAKTIK INISIASI MENYUSU DINI DAN ASI EKSKLUSI

Rendahnya cakupan Inisiasi Menyusu Dini dan pemberian ASI eksklusif di wilayah Kabupaten Kendal berdasarkan temuan dalam studi pendahuluan, secara garis besar tidak terlepas dari faktor ibu dan peran bidan penolong persalinan yang merupakan petugas kesehatan yang pertama kali membantu ibu selama proses persalinan yang seharusnya memberikan informasi dan dukungan awal kepada ibu untuk segera melakukan IMD dan melanjutkannya dengan ASI eksklusif. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan secara kuantitatif melalui survei dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Desain ini digunakan untuk mengungkap cakupan inisiasi menyusu dini dan pemberian ASI eksklusif pada bayi yang dilahirkan di bidan praktek swasta di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Limbangan dan Kaliwungu Kabupaten Kendal serta menguji hipotesis variabel karakterstik (profil) ibu dan peran bidan yang diduga berhubungan dengan praktik inisiasi menyusu dini dan pemberian ASI eksklusif. Penelitian kuantitatif melibatkan 200 ibu yang melahirkan dengan pertolongan 20 bidan praktik swasta di Kaliwungu dan Limbangan Kabupaten Kendal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan faktor-faktor ibu yang berhubungan dengan praktik IMD adalah pengetahuan dan sikap ibu terkait IMD dan ASI Eksklusif. Sedangkan yang berhubungan secara signifikan dengan praktik ASI eksklusif adalah tingkat pendidikan, pengetahuan dan sikap ibu. Demikian juga, peran bidan juga secara signifikan berpengaruh terhadap praktik IMD dan praktik ASI eksklusif. In preliminary study, low coverage initiation breastfeeding early and exclusive breastfeed-ing in the Kendal district can not be separated from the role of maternal factors and mid-wife who is firstly helped the mother during the birth process that is supposed to provide information and support to the mother to immediately IMD and exclusive breastfeeding. This study used a quantitative approach through a cross sectional survey. This design is used to describe of early breastfeeding initiation and practice of exclusive breastfeeding in infants who born in private midwives Kaliwungu and Limbangan of district Kendal, and testing hypotheses corelation between variabel of characteristics(mother profiles) and the role of midwife with early breastfeeding initiation and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. This study involving 200 mothers who gave birth in 20 person of midwife private practice in Limbangan and Kaliwungu Kendal. The results showed that maternal factors associated with the practice of IMD is the knowledge and attitudes of mother about IMD and exclusive breastfeeding. Significantly level of education, knowledge and attitude of the mother as-sociating with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Similarly, the role of the midwife also significantly influence the practice of IMD and practice exclusive breastfeeding.
A Reinforcement Learning Design for HIV Clinical Trials

Determining effective treatment strategies for life-threatening illnesses such as HIV is a significant problem in clinical research. Currently, HIV treatment involves using combinations of anti-HIV drugs to inhibit the formation of drug-resistant strains. From a clinician’s perspective, this usually requires careful selection of drugs on the basis of an individual’s immune responses at a particular time. As the number of drugs available for treatment increases, this task becomes difficult. In a clinical trial setting, the task is even more challenging since experience using new drugs is limited. For these reasons, this research examines whether machine learning techniques, and more specifically batch reinforcement learning, can be used for the purposes of determining the appropriate treatment for an HIV-infected patient at a particular time. To do so, we consider using fitted Q-iteration with extremely randomized trees, neural fitted Q-iteration and least squares policy iteration. The use of batch reinforcement learning means that samples of patient data are captured prior to learning to avoid imposing risks on a patient. Because samples are re-used, these methods are data-efficient and particularly suited to situations where large amounts of data are unavailable. We apply each of these learning methods to both numerically generated and real data sets. Results from this research highlight the advantages and disadvantages associated with each learning technique. Real data testing has revealed that these batch reinforcement learning techniques have the ability to suggest treatments that are reasonably consistent with those prescribed by clinicians. The inclusion of additional state variables describing more about an individual’s health could further improve this learning process. Ultimately, the use of such reinforcement learning methods could be coupled with a clinician’s knowledge for enhanced treatment design.
Optimization of Airway Medications in the Infant

Airway medications are frequently used in the care of the sick neonate. The most prominent airway medication, surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome, will be discussed elsewhere in this issue of Neonatology. Other indications for airway medications have included the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, persistent atelectasis, transient tachypnea of the newborn and upper airway edema. Indications such as the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia are currently the focus of a large multicenter international trial. Other indications require further study.
Non-Urgent Visits among Patients Seen at the Emergency Department of King Hussein Medical Center

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of non urgent visits among patients attending the Emergency Department at King Hussein Medical Center, and to describe the common presenting conditions for non urgent visits among the study group. Result: A sample 665 patients were studied; 65.6% were male, and 34.4% were female. The age range of patients was 11-90 years. Non urgent cases constituted 440 patients (66.2%), life threatening were 40 patients (6.0%), and urgent cases were 185 patients (27.8%). Among the study group, the admission frequency to the hospital wards as follows: different hospital wards 183 (27.5%), CCU 20 (3.0%), ICU 22 (3.3%), and discharge frequency (66.2%). Trauma (16.4%), cardiovascular (13.7%), respiratory (12.9%) were the most common conditions among the study group, while endocrine (1.1%) and ophthalmology (2.9%) were the least common. The number of non urgent visits was higher in males than females (66.6% versus 33.4%). Non urgent Emergency Department visits was higher in the younger age group ( 50 years). The commonest presenting condition among non urgent patients was minor trauma (20.2%) and the least was eye allergy (1.6%). The discharge frequency among non urgent visit was 66.2%. Non urgent Emergency Department visits were most frequent during 1 st shift, 2 nd shift and weekends compared with night shift. Conclusion: About two thirds of Emergency Department visits were considered to be non-urgent. Use of the Emergency Department for non urgent conditions may lead to excessive healthcare expenditure, unnecessary testing and treatment. Further analytical studies should be conducted to describe the difference between the study variables.