Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An update on the pathophysiology, treatment and genetics of Marfan syndrome

ABSTRACT Introduction: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissue with manifestations in skeletal, cardiovascular and ocular systems. Areas covered: This paper reviews the effect of FBN1 mutation on phenotype, novel surgical techniques and losartan treatment in MFS. Expert opinion: Early diagnosis by the revised Ghent criteria and timely prophylactic (valve-sparing) aortic root replacement are important factors to improve life expectancy. Endovascular aortic stenting should not be done in MFS patients. β-blockers remain the drug of choice in preventing aortic dilation and dissection. Although controversial results are reported, losartan is a safe additive or alternative to β-blockers, especially in patients with side effects or intolerance to β-blocker therapy. The different outcomes in losartan trials may be due to the large amount of different FBN1 mutations, influencing the drug response; patients with an haploinsufficiency mutation seemed to respond better to losartan treatment than patients with a dominant negative mutation. In addition, patients with a haploinsufficiency mutation are at increased risk for aortic dissection and cardiovascular mortality. The final ongoing trials and collaborative meta-analysis are awaited for the definitive role of losartan in patients with MFS. Tremendous progress in the understanding of MFS has been reached.
Organizational policies, organizational social support, and work-family conflict: The mediating role of motivation orientation

The current study examines the relationship between organizational support and work-family conflict/family-work conflict. Work-family conflict literature suggests that there is a negative relationship between organizational support and work-family/family-work conflict. Within this study, organizational support is defined as manager support, coworker support and the use of family friendly programs. The literature fails, however, to examine any mediating variables within this relationship. This study proposed a theory of motivation orientation as a potential mediating variable. Specifically, this study proposed an increase in organizational support would increase the amount of intrinsic motivation, via Cognitive Evaluation Theory and as a result a decrease in work-family/family-work conflict. After examining results of a survey (n = 234) via structural equation modeling, a partially mediated model resulted. Intrinsic motivation did increase as a result of increased organizational support and overall work-family/family-work conflict was reduced. Extrinsic motivation was not significantly decreased as a result of organizational support as was predicted in the model. An increase in extrinsic motivation did, however, result in
An Exploration of Shifting Adolescent Use, Access and Risk Perception of Marijuana in the Caribbean Island of Barbados in 2006 and 2013

Abstract In the face of more liberal attitudes globally towards marijuana, its use by adolescents is considered harmful. Some Caribbean countries, including the island of Barbados, are deliberating changes to their drug policies on marijuana from complete prohibition towards more liberal approaches. There is a need for the analysis of existing use, access and risk perception of marijuana among Barbados’ adolescent population given their vulnerability. This article employs data from two nationally representative secondary school surveys conducted in 2006 (n = 2239) and 2013 (n = 1339). A two-proportion z test was performed on the data to determine whether changes were significant at the 95% confidence level. While there has been an increase in prevalence and incidence rates, these were not significantly different in the two surveys. Significant changes were observed with the location of marijuana consumption and sources from which it was accessed. Finally, there was a significant decline in the perception that using marijuana regularly was harmful. Only the decline in frequent use being perceived as harmful was statistically significant. The results point to possible gaps in drug education and a greater need for the protection of the young.
Excess Mortality In Asia Associated With Cigarette Smoking

Abstract Cigarette smoking has reached epidemic proportions in many Asian countries, and epidemiologists predict massive increases in the number of smoking-related deaths in future decades. This information is of great interest to insurers who would like to sell coverage in these markets with smoker/nonsmoker-distinct pricing. This review examines excess mortality due to cigarette smoking in Asia as determined by a second-quarter 1998 Internet search of the world’s English-language medical literature for references published during the preceding five years. Studies to date which observed fairly low relative risks of mortality in smokers compared with nonsmokers in Asia despite a high prevalence of smoking can be explained by the fact that health outcome data represent early experience. Given similar associations between smoking and mortality in Asian and Western studies, it is likely that mortality patterns of smokers in Asia eventually will mirror those seen in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
The cultural web, higher education and work-based learning

This article explores the key challenges experienced by employers, employees and academics during work-based learning (WBL) programmes. Higher education institutes (HEIs) and external employer organizations are increasingly recognizing the benefits of engaging in WBL partnerships. These collaborations offer significant benefits to employers, employees and HEIs. The challenges associated with WBL place demands on the design of curriculum, pedagogy and accreditation. One of the major challenges facing the HEI and employer organization relates to organizational culture. The purpose of this article is to present an organizational culture web that recognizes the requirements of all stakeholders participating in a WBL partnership. An ethnographic methodology combining a number of different data-gathering methods was adopted. Johnson’s cultural web is used as a framework to present a series of recommendations for HEIs to review when considering WBL partnerships. The understanding of best practice in the design of WBL programmes is enriched.
Where do profits and jobs come from? Employment and distribution in the US economy

ABSTRACT ‘Meso’ level analysis of 16 producing sectors sheds light on broad forces shaping employment and profits. In a growth decomposition from 1990 through 2016, employment responds positively to output increases and negatively to rising productivity. The macro profit share responds positively to sectoral productivity and demand increases, and negatively to higher real wages. Jobs shifted toward sectors with high employment but slow productivity and real wage growth, contributing to an overall decrease in the wage share. Observed profit growth was robust in manufacturing, trade, finance and insurance, and information. The latter two (and wholesale trade) benefitted from favorable demand shifts. However, they generate less than a quarter of the total profits. Growth of remaining profits has been due to demand shifts and productivity growth which exceeded real wage increases. Market power matters in all sectors. The strongest effects may operate against employment and real wages in labor markets.
The importance of participation in psychiatric hospital : experiences of treatment planning and socio-economic predictors of admission

s screened: n = 754 Records excluded: n = 653 Full-text articles assessed for eligibility: n = 101 Full-text articles excluded: Off topic n = 30 Non-qualitative methodology n = 20 Non-patient sample n = 30 Studies included: n = 21 Records excluded: n = 902
Releasing Internalized Stigma for Empowerment: Development of Theory-Driven Interventions for Sexual and Gender Minorities

Abstract Internalized stigma has a direct and detrimental effect on the mental health of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs), yet few interventions have been specifically designed to reduce such internalized stigma. This article describes numerous social psychology concepts and theories integrated into a brief, online intervention that has demonstrated success in reducing internalized stigma among SGM subpopulations. Using this intervention as an example, we illustrate how concepts from social psychology can expand the development of such interventions and strategies. We demonstrate how social psychological theories, particularly those related to attitude formation and change, may inform development of this and other interventions.
Overseas Placements: Addressing Our Challenges?

A project considering overseas practice placements for occupational therapy students was completed by the author on behalf of the education team at the College of Occupational Therapists. The project reviewed the available published literature (both anecdotal and research based) and investigated current practice. This opinion piece raises some key issues arising from the project work. In doing so, it questions whether overseas practice placements can help the occupational therapy profession to embrace the challenges faced from broadening cultural diversity and globalisation, in the contexts of both the higher education and health/social care agendas in the United Kingdom.
Understanding the Role of Human Values in the Spread of Misinformation

Social media platforms are often implicated in the spread of misinformation for encouraging the behaviour of rapid-sharing without adequate mechanisms for verifying information. To counter this phenomena, much related research in computer science has been focusing on developing tools to detect misinformation, to rank fact-check-worthy claims, and to understand their spread patterns, while psychosocial approaches have been focused on understanding information literacy, ideology and partisanship. In this paper, we demonstrate through a survey of nearly 100 people that the Human Values could have a significant influence on the way people perceive and share information. We argue that integrating a valuesoriented perspective into computational approaches for handling misinformation could encourage misinformation prevention, and assist in predicting and ranking misinformation.
Evaluating an engaged scholarship approach to improve health promotion within the education system

Engaged scholarship offers a collaborative approach to bridge the gap between theory and practice by integrating research and practical knowledge. This study used a case–study approach to evaluate the facilitative and obstructive factors influencing engaged scholarship to support health promotion practice within the education system. Individuals who worked closely with the engaged scholar for at least 3 months agreed to participate in an individual interview (n = 6). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Themes emerged related to conditions (relationships and trust; organizational capacity) and actions (shared ownership and engagement; communication and role clarity) that influenced the implementation of engaged scholarship. The results of this study build on existing literature, especially by providing in-depth examples of conditions and actions that can strengthen partnerships between researchers and public policy stakeholders.
PLAY THE BALL WITH YOUR COGNITIVERESOURCES , STICK THE LANDING WITHOUTANXIETY.A Study on Cognition and Emotions in Youth Volley Ball Players and Artistic Gymnasts

This study aims to address two shortcomings in sport psychology research: the scarcity of cognitive and developmental psychology studies in sports (Furley & Wood, 2016), and the lack of an integrated approach, i.e. comprising both cognition and emotion, to study sports performance. The aim of this research is to examine the role of general cognitive abilities, attentional style and emotions in predicting performance in different sports, namely volleyball and artistic gymnastics. We tested 218 youth participants (104 artistic gymnasts and 114 volleyball players, aged between 11 and 17 years) with different measures of working memory capacity and executive functions (i.e. updating, shifting and inhibition). They completed two self-report measures, a Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style and a questionnaire on the emotions experienced before a competition. For each participant, we collected the age and years of experience. The scores collected in 2017 competitions were the artistic gymnasts’ performance measures. For each volleyball player, we computed an individual performance index, by asking two independent judges to rate their video-recorded performances in 2017-18 competitions. Then we derived, from our measures, ten predictors, namely a working memory-updating factor, an inhibition-shifting factor, four attentional style indicators and four groups of emotional states derived from the crossing of two dimensions, specifically the arousal (high activation or low activation) and the hedonic tone (pleasant or unpleasant). The regression analyses pointed to a clear dissociation. On the one hand, the working memory-updating factor was the only predictor (together with the experience) of the volleyball players’ performance, with a moderation effect of emotional arousal on this relationship. On the other hand, experience and higharousal unpleasant emotions (the latter with a negative coefficient) were the only predictors of artistic gymnasts’ performance. This evidence underlines how performance in open-skills sports (volleyball), where athletes need to process a significant amount of information, mainly depends on working memory, while in closed-skills sports (artistic gymnastics), where gestures are highly automatized, it is affected by emotion regulation. Further differences between the sports sample are also described in the dissertation.
Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome- XY Female (Male Pseudohermaphroditism)

Disorders of androgen receptor function represent the most common definable cause of the undervirilized male. These patients characteristically have a 46, XY karyotype and testes and present with a spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities that vary from complete external feminization (syndrome of complete androgen insensitivity), to ambiguous genitalia (partial androgen insensitivity), to the phenotypically infertile male. The clinical presentations may vary according to the severity of the disorder but the pathophysiology is similar.
Improving inclusion of students with disabilities in Malaysian higher education

Abstract Malaysia aims to increase the participation of students with disabilities in Higher Education. This study examines the experiences of students with disabilities in selected Malaysian universities. Interviews with 14 students and 5 administrators indicated that universities need to play more active roles to eliminate barriers to access and participation. Participants’ accounts showed that the central role of universities lies in providing services, access, organising logistics, creating awareness, ensuring disabled-friendly facilities and developing specific policies to address issues concerning disabilities. Suggestions included increasing funding allocations, having Offices of Disability, and incorporating Universal Design (UD) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to increase participation.
Assessing the symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder among college/university students: An international validation study of a self-report

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of a self-report scale for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms according to the DSM–5 and ICD–11 among 3270 college/university students (2095 [64.1%] females; age mean 21.6 [3.1] years) from different countries worldwide. Croatian, English, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Turkish, and Vietnamese versions of the scale were tested. The study showed that symptoms of IGD could be measured as a single underlying factor among college/university students. A nine item symptom scale following DSM–5, and a short four-item scale representing the main ICD–11 symptoms, had sound internal consistency and construct validity. Three symptom-items were found non-invariant across the language samples (i.e., preoccupation with on-line gaming, loss of interests in previous hobbies and entertainment, and the use of gaming to relieve negative moods). This study provides initial evidence for assessing IGD symptoms among college/university students and will hopefully foster further research into gaming addiction in this population worldwide especially with taking into account language/cultural differences. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 179002]
Islamic work ethics, organizational commitment and job satisfaction of Islamic banks in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship of the Islamic work ethics, organizational commitment and job satisfaction of Muslim employees in the four Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach The study has adopted a quantitative method with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. A stratified random sample of the executive management was taken, proportionate to the size of each organization. Out of a total of 250 distributed questionnaires, 220 respondents have responded. Frequencies and percentages were used to identify the characteristics of the respondents, while the preliminary data analysis of reliability and validity tests were used, along with the linear regression and the factor analysis of variance to answer the research question. Findings It found that the Islamic work ethics have a positive and significant relationship with organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Originality/value The sharia compliance requirement of Islamic banks is aligned with the Islamic work ethics’ principles and values, which thus could create in-depth organizational commitment among employees.
A Study on Academic Adaptation of International Students in China

This qualitative study investigated academic challenges, supports and the role of readiness in academic adaptation of international students. 20 international students were recruited for data collection employing semi-structured interviews. The results showed that three types including academic challenges, socio-cultural challenges and language incompetency were affecting the academic adaptation process. In addition, three types of supports including university support, peer support and psychological motivation which helped international students cope with the challenges while readiness played a significant role in balancing challenges and supports. Pre-departure preparedness and on-campus orientation instilled readiness among international students. The study suggested that sending countries should make effective mechanism to prepare the students before their departure. It can include host country’s language, its education system, degree requirement, culture, climate and food etc. The study proposed theoretical model of academic adaptation of international students for future quantitative research.
Youth Suicidal Behaviour: An Evaluation of Risk Factors in Edo State, Nigeria

Suicide is one of the most serious social and public health problems in the world as it is currently the third leading cause of death for youths between the ages of 15 and 30 years. Youth suicidal behaviour has continuous to be a significant national problem in need of urgent attention by Nigeria government. Common risk factors of suicide behaviour among Nigerian youths were examined in this study. A descriptive method was adopted and data was collected via a survey of 500 respondents in five tertiary educational institutions in Edo State. Data analysis was performed using percentages, means, t-test, and correlation and regression analysis. Findings indicated that depression and mental illness, Anxiety and stress, sexual violence, substance use, unemployment and poverty, and interpersonal conflict were the major risk factors predicting suicide behaviours among youths in Edo State. Thus, the study recommends among others that greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging healthy peer relationships among youths. This is because social cohesiveness and tolerance have been shown to improve the mental wellbeing of young people.
Traveling Abroad: Motivations and Factors

This study examines motivations, factors and influences for individuals either traveling alone, with others they know, or with a group travel company. The method used was a self-administered survey that had a total of 17 questions. There were 141 individuals who completed the survey. Once the data was gathered a chi-squared test was used to understand if there is a difference in factors to be included in a tour, in motivations desired for individuals traveling and in influences that affected individual’s decisions in traveling. Once the test statistic was performed and analyzed, the study was able to conclude if there was a difference in factors, motivations, and influences and their ranking.
Tibial Tuberosity Crown for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in three dogs

Three adult large-breed dogs were evaluated because of pelvic limb lameness. Cranial cruciate ligament deficiency was confirmed by positive cranial tibial thrust and pain on palpation of the affected stifle joint. Radiography and MRI revealed findings consistent with cranial cruciate ligament pathology; no evidence of meniscal injury was detected. Each dog underwent patellar tendon advancement for stabilisation of the cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle joint by use of Tibial Tuberosity Crown – a recently developed titanium implant, consisting of a self-tapping anchor screw and a crown, which is inserted beneath the patellar tendon in order to maintain it in an advanced position. All dogs regained normal function of the affected pelvic limb. This pilot study describes a novel procedure of patellar tendon advancement for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. Tibial Tuberosity Crown closely emulates the mechanics of the well-established tibial tuberosity advancement without need of an osteotomy.
The Use of Home Therapy Programmes for Improving Recovery of the Upper Limb following Stroke

The effectiveness of home therapy programmes for facilitating recovery of stroke patients' reaching movements was tested. Twenty-two patients were visited regularly at home for approximately 9 weeks following their discharge from a rehabilitation unit. Twelve patients were assessed and provided with a programme of exercises, while 10 were visited for assessment only. The home therapy group's performance on a peg transfer test improved significantly more than that of the control group. Compliance rates with the programmes were high. These results lead to suggestions for further evaluation of home therapy.