Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient Preferences for Direct Hearing Aid Provision by a Private Dispenser. A Discrete Choice Experiment

Objectives: Our objective was to elicit patient preferences for transferring elements of hearing aid provision from the medical sector [Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists and audiological centers] to private hearing aid dispensers, and to understand the trade-offs between different elements of hearing aid provision. Design: A discrete choice experiment was administered from 150 hearing-impaired persons in the Netherlands. Mean age was 71 (range 18-95) and 57% were male. Results: Participants preferred the initial assessment at the dispenser, higher accuracy in identifying persons in need of medical care, shorter duration of the total hearing aid provision, and a follow-up at the ENT specialist. They required compensation of at least &U20AC;17 per 2 mo extra duration, &U20AC;54 for an initial assessment at the ENT specialist, &U20AC;119 per 10% decrease in accuracy, and &U20AC;227 to forgo the follow-up at the ENT specialist. Preferences were influenced by sex, age, educational level, and experience with hearing aid provision. Conclusions: Hearing-impaired persons are receptive to transferring elements of hearing aid provision from the medical sector to private dispensers. Although safety and efficiency issues should also be considered, from the present study we can conclude that in the organization of hearing aid provision hearing-impaired persons prefer an initial assessment at a private dispenser when the dispenser is at least 95% as accurate as the ENT specialist, and prefer a follow-up visit at the ENT specialist.
SUSTAINABILITY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INEQUALITY IN INCOMES DISTRIBUTION

The problem of inequality in incomes distribution is a present one, much discussed. Economic growth is considered an essential force to reduce the level of poverty by increasing the labor demand and finally the wages within the economy. But the extent to which poverty is reduced as a result of economic growth depends mostly on the initial inequalities in income and on how the distribution of income changes with economic growth. A lot of researches are focused on studying the evolution of inequality in incomes distribution and others have attempted to explore the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. There are also studies which try to identify the main factors which have impact on inequality in incomes distribution. The objective of this study is to put in discussion another possible factor that affects the variability on inequality of incomes distribution -economic growth variability. As background research, until now, we did not find any studies which are investigating this possible relation between inequality of incomes distribution and economic growth variability. To provide some empirical evidences for a positive impact of social output volatility on inequality of incomesâ€(tm) distribution we are involving a small sample of 27 developing countries for an observation time span between 1995 and 2006. The values of the Gini coefficient reported in World Income Inequality Database are used as dependent variable. As a first step in testing our research hypothesis, we are involving a static panel data model with pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) estimators. The F statistics tests the null hypothesis of same specific effects for all countries. If we accept the null hypothesis, we could use the OLS estimator. The Hausman test can decide which model is better: random effects (RE) versus fixed effects (FE). The FE model was selected because it avoids the inconsistency due to correlation between the explanatory variables and the country-specific effects. For a robustness assessment, we also apply the so-called GMM-System estimation. According to our results, an increase in the volatility of the social output (a decrease in the sustainability of the growth processes) leads to a greater inequality in incomes distribution. Such outcome appears to be robust to the changes in estimation methodology
The next breakthrough in LAM clinical trials may be their design: challenges in design and execution of future LAM clinical trials

The past decade has resulted in stunning progress in the pathogenesis and therapy of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), culminating in the pivotal ‘MILES’ trial, the first-ever randomized, placebo-controlled trial in LAM, demonstrating the efficacy of sirolimus in 2011. Here, we review clinical progress since 2011, focusing on new therapeutic and observational trials. These trials include the second randomized, placebo-controlled trial, a 2-year study of doxycycline effectiveness in LAM. Other clinical studies have addressed lower-dose sirolimus and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. An improved understanding of LAM pathogenesis is essential to future therapeutic breakthroughs. Critical questions that remain to be addressed include the role of estrogen and lymphangiogenesis in LAM pathogenesis and therapy, mechanisms of cystic lung destruction, the role of autophagy and pro-survival pathways in LAM cell survival. Ultimately, achieving future ‘breakthroughs’ in LAM will require continued rigorous basic and preclinical investigation, innovative clinical trial design and robust biomarkers.
Cell swelling‐induced ATP release is tightly dependent on intracellular calcium elevations

Mechanical stresses release ATP from a variety of cells by a poorly defined mechanism(s). Using custom‐designed flow‐through chambers, we investigated the kinetics of cell swelling‐induced ATP secretion, cell volume and intracellular calcium changes in epithelial A549 and 16HBE14o− cells, and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Fifty per cent hypotonic shock triggered transient ATP release from cell confluent monolayers, which consistently peaked at around 1 min 45 s for A549 and NIH/3T3, and at 3 min for 16HBE14o− cells, then declined to baseline within the next 15 min. Whereas the release time course had a similar pattern for the three cell types, the peak rates differed significantly (294 ± 67, 70 ± 22 and 17 ± 2.8 pmol min−1 (106 cells)−1, for A549, 16HBE14o− and NIH/3T3, respectively). The concomitant volume changes of substrate‐attached cells were analysed by a 3‐dimensional cell shape reconstruction method based on images acquired from two perpendicular directions. The three cell types swelled at a similar rate, reaching maximal expansion in 1 min 45 s, but differed in the duration of the volume plateau and regulatory volume decrease (RVD). These experiments revealed that ATP release does not correlate with either cell volume expansion and the expected activation of stretch‐sensitive channels, or with the activation of volume‐sensitive, 5‐nitro‐2‐(3‐phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid‐inhibitable anion channels during RVD. By contrast, ATP release was tightly synchronized, in all three cell types, with cytosolic calcium elevations. Furthermore, loading A549 cells with the calcium chelator BAPTA significantly diminished ATP release (71% inhibition of the peak rate), while the calcium ionophore ionomycin triggered ATP release in the absence of cell swelling. Lowering the temperature to 10°C almost completely abolished A549 cell swelling‐induced ATP release (95% inhibition of the peak rate). These results strongly suggest that calcium‐dependent exocytosis plays a major role in mechanosensitive ATP release.
Parenting and Parental Anxiety and Depression as Predictors of Treatment Outcome for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Has the Role of Fathers Been Underestimated?

A substantial percentage of children with anxiety disorders do not respond adequately to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Examination of parental factors related to treatment outcome could contribute to a further understanding of treatment outcome responses. This study investigated the predictive value of paternal and maternal emotional warmth, rejection, overprotection, anxiety, and depression for CBT outcome in clinic-referred anxious children (ages 8–12). Levels of maternal emotional warmth, paternal rejection and anxiety, and depressive symptoms predicted treatment success and failure. A higher level of maternal emotional warmth was associated with a less favorable treatment outcome. Higher levels of paternal rejection, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were consistently associated with a less favorable treatment outcome.
HOW ISLAMIC VALUE IMPLIED BUSINESS ACTIVITY ON MOSLEM WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

This study aims to understand the implementation of Islamic values by Moslem women entrepreneurs in Surakarta that carried out in their business activities. Understanding Islamic value in their business activities showed from management, employee and financial aspects. Perception of Islamic values underlie the behavior of Moslem women entrepreneurs especially in their business activities. This study used qualitative method and phenomenology design to understand the behavior Moslem women entrepreneurs. Phenomenological approach appropriate to explore that embedded behind the human mind. This study found that Moslem women entrepreneurs have tried to apply Islamic values in the three aspects of business activities. There is a behavioral transformation caused by experience, understanding of Islamic Value, internal and external environment, belief in value. Transformation visible on intentions, motivations, and goals which is manifested in behavior. The process of this transformation there is time difference between one another which known as hidaya
The concept of resilience: a bibliometric analysis of the emergency and disaster management literature

ABSTRACT Resilience has become an important concept in the fields of emergency and disaster management. Despite the increased use of resilience in the academic and public policy arenas, the intellectual topography of this subject as it relates to emergency and disaster management contexts remains under-investigated. This article provides a snapshot of the intellectual structure of resilience studies. Using bibliometric data collected from 20 emergency and disaster management journals, this article argues that the interdisciplinary nature of resilience research comes from its historical roots. The findings also demonstrate that resilience research in the emergency and disaster management fields is organised into three primary clusters: environmental and ecological issues, emergency and disaster management, and public policy and administration. The article concludes with implications for policymakers, as well as recommendations for future research.
Voluntary Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosure and the Cost of Capital

We examine the association between a firm's cost of capital and its voluntary and mandatory disclosures. We include two types of mandatory disclosure: those that are a function of periodic reports that are realizations of ex&#8208;ante reporting systems and those that arise due to specific corporate events. To capture a firm's voluntary and event&#8208;driven mandatory disclosures, we use information the firm provides via 8K filings. To capture periodic mandatory disclosures, we use earnings quality measures derived from the literature. Consistent with endogenous relations predicted by theory, we find that voluntary disclosure and both types of mandatory disclosure are correlated, although only event&#8208;driven mandatory disclosures are significant in models that explain voluntary disclosure. We also find that the cost of capital is generally influenced by each of these disclosure types. We also find that controlling for periodic mandatory disclosure does not affect the relationship between voluntary disclosure and the cost of capital, while controlling for event&#8208;driven mandatory disclosure sometimes affects the relationship depending on the measures used. Our study suggests that a firm's disclosure environment includes the three types of disclosure examined, although the inclusion of mandatory disclosures does not affect the measured association between voluntary disclosure and the cost of capital.
Charter Schools in Chicago: No Model for Education Reform

Charter schools have become the cornerstone of school reform in Chicago and in many other large cities. Enrollments in Chicago charters increased by more than ten times between 2000 and 2014 and, with strong support from the current mayor and his administration, the system continues to grow. Indeed, although state law limits charter schools in Chicago to 75 schools, proponents have used a loophole that allows multiple campuses for some charters to bypass the limit and there are now more than 140 individual charter campuses in Chicago. This study uses comprehensive data for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years to show that, after controlling for the mix of students and challenges faced by individual schools, Chicago’s charter schools underperform their traditional counterparts in most measurable ways. Reading and math pass rates, reading and math growth rates, graduation rates, and average ACT scores (in one of the two years) are lower in charters all else equal, than in traditional neighborhood schools. The results for the two years also imply that the gap between charters and traditionals widened in the second year for most of the measures. The findings are strengthened by the fact that self-selection by parents and students into the charter system biases the results in favor of charter schools. Education Policy Analysis Archives Vol. 24 No. 111 2
Comparison of Bayesian Spatial Ecological Regression Models for Investigating the Incidence of Breast Cancer in Iran, 2005- 2008.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most prevalent kind of cancer among women in Iran. Regarding the importance of cancer prevention and considerable variation of breast cancer incidence in different parts of the country, it is necessary to recognize regions with high incidence of breast cancer and evaluate the role of potential risk factors by use of advanced statistical models. The present study focussed on incidence of breast cancer in Iran at the province level and also explored the impact of some prominent covariates using Bayesian models. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Iran from 2005 to 2008 were included in the study. Smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, obesity and the Human Development Index (HDI), measured at the province level, were considered as potential modulating factors. Gamma-Poisson, log normal and BYM models were used to estimate the relative risk of breast cancer in this ecological investigation with and without adjustment for the covariates. RESULTS The unadjusted BYM model had the best fit among applied models. Without adjustment, Isfahan, Yazd, and Tehran had the highest incidences and Sistan- Baluchestan and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari had the lowest. With the adjusted model, Khorasan-Razavi, Lorestan and Hamedan had the highest and Ardebil and Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad the lowest incidences. A significantly direct association was found between breast cancer incidence and HDI. CONCLUSIONS BYM model has better fit, because it contains parameters that allow including effects from neighbors. Since HDI is a significant variable, it is also recommended that HDI should be considered in future investigations. This study showed that Yazd, Isfahan and Tehran provinces feature the highest crude incidences of breast cancer.
Prognostic Factors as a Function of Disease-free Interval After Definitive (Chemo)radiation for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Conditional Survival Analysis

Purpose: We analyzed overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS) after definitive (chemo)radiation for stage III non–small cell lung cancer with 2 statistical methods: Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis, with diagnosis as index date, and conditional survival (CS) analysis, with a variety of disease-free index dates, and determined whether prognostic factors varied based on the reference date. Materials and Methods: All 651 patients analyzed received definitive (chemo)radiotherapy for stage III non–small cell lung cancer in November 1998 to December 2010 at a single institution; all had Karnofsky performance status scores ≥60 and received ≥60 Gy. OS and DFS were first calculated with the KM method, and then CS was used to calculate 2 outcomes: OS conditioned on DFS time (OS|DFS) and DFS conditioned on DFS time (DFS|DFS). Factors predicting OS and DFS conditioned on 1-, 2-, and 3-year DFS were sought in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: KM analysis produced 1-, 2-, and 3-year DFS rates of 48%, 30%, and 26%; OS rates were 64%, 41%, and 29%. By CS analysis, both OS|DFS and DFS|DFS showed an increase in 5-year OS after 6 months, and CS after 30 months approached 100%. On multivariate analyses, age and concurrent chemoradiation predicted OS|DFS; age, smoking history, tumor histology, disease stage, and radiation dose predicted DFS|DFS. Conclusions: CS analysis showed that the probability of long-term survival increases sharply after 6 months with no evidence of disease; factors predicting survival differed based on the method and endpoint used.
Survival of hepatocellular carcinoma in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND Blacks and Hispanics in the United States (US) have the lowest survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly associated to the presence of advanced disease at diagnosis when intervention is least beneficial. This study compared the survival distribution and relative survival of HCC in Puerto Rico (PR) during 1988-1992 and 1998-2002. METHODS All HCC cases in the PR Central Cancer Registry database for 1988-1992 (n = 306) and 1998-2002 (n = 333) were identified. Patient characteristics and clinical variables were compared between study periods. Survival by age at diagnosis, sex, tumor stage and treatment was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival curves were compared using the Wilcoxon test. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to assess the effect of period of diagnosis on survival, after adjusting for confounders. One- and three-year survival rates were also calculated. RESULTS Patients diagnosed during 1998-2002 (median: 3.08 months, 95% CI: 2.30-4.16) had a longer observed survival than those diagnosed from 1988-1992 (median: 1.80 months, 95% CI: 1.44-2.52). A significant interaction was observed between the variables age and period of diagnosis, where only among persons aged > or = 60 years the risk of HCC death was lower (sex-adjusted HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.59-0.88) in patients diagnosed during 1998-2002 as compared to those diagnosed during 1988-1992. The overall one- and three-year relative survival during 1998-2002 was approximately 6% (22.4% vs. 16.6%) and 2% higher (9.0% vs. 6.7%) respectively, as compared to 1988-1992. CONCLUSION We observed a temporal improvement in the survival of HCC in PR during the last decade. However, this survival is inferior to the one observed in the US population. Further studies are needed to identify factors that explain these disparities.
Effect of resistance exercise and carbohydrate ingestion on oxidative stress

Some research studies have produced data indicating that resistance exercise induces oxidative stress, despite minimal increases in VO2. These studies have primarily relied on oxidative stress markers with low sensitivity and debatable reliability. However, F2-isoprostanes as measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry are considered to be a reliable and precise indicator of oxidative stress. Carbohydrate ingestion during exercise is associated with reduced levels of stress hormones, which may influence oxidative stress and plasma antioxidant potential. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of carbohydrate ingestion during resistance training on F2-isoprostanes and plasma antioxidant potential. Thirty strength-trained subjects were randomized to carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (PLA) groups that lifted weights for 2 h. Subjects received 10 ml kg− 1 h− 1 CHO (6%) or PLA beverages during the exercise. Blood and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy samples were collected before and after exercise and analyzed for cortisol as a marker of general stress, F2-isoprostanes as a measure of oxidative stress, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of antioxidant potential, and for muscle glycogen, respectively. Decreases in muscle glycogen content did not differ between CHO and PLA. Cortisol and FRAP increased significantly in CHO and PLA (P = 0.008 and 0.044, respectively), but the pattern of change was not different between groups. F2-isoprostanes were unaffected by exercise. These results indicate that exhaustive resistance exercise and carbohydrate ingestion have no effect on oxidative stress or plasma antioxidant potential in trained subjects.
Midthoracic catheter tip placement for intrathecal baclofen administration in children with quadriparetic spasticity.

OBJECTIVE In an effort to increase the effect of intrathecal baclofen on upper-extremity spasticity, the tip of the intrathecal catheter was placed at the T6-T7 level rather than at the traditional T11-T12 level in children with spastic quadriparesis. METHODS Twelve children with spastic quadriparesis from varying causes had significant reductions in spasticity after a test dose of intrathecal baclofen and subsequently underwent placement of a programmable pump and intrathecal catheter tip placed at the T6-T7 level with fluoroscopic guidance. With the use of Ashworth scores for four muscle groups in both the upper and lower extremities, degrees of spasticity were determined by a physiatrist preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Mean changes in upper- and lower-extremity Ashworth scores and baclofen dosages for the entire cohort were compared with published results in which the catheter tip had been placed at the T11-T12 level. RESULTS Spasticity was significantly reduced in all muscle groups (P < 0.001). The lower-extremity reduction in spasticity of 1.6 points at 3 and 12 months was greater than published reductions of 1.1 points at 3 and 12 months. The upper-extremity reduction in spasticity was noticeably greater at 3 and 12 months (1.7 and 2.0 points, respectively) than published results at 3 and 12 months (0.4 and 0.6 points, respectively). At 3, 6, and 12 months, our mean baclofen dosage remained below the dosages administered at the T11-T12 level. There were no complications related either to the positioning of the catheter higher in the spinal canal or to the administration of baclofen at the T6-T7 level. CONCLUSION Compared with published results, placement of the tip of the intrathecal catheter at the T6-T7 level was associated with greater relief of upper-extremity spasticity without loss of effect on the lower extremities. The mean dosages of baclofen in our study group were lower compared with mean dosages administered at the T11-T12 level. There was no morbidity related to the more rostral location of the catheter.