Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self‐concept mediates the relation between achievement and emotions in mathematics

BACKGROUND Mathematics achievement is related to positive and negative emotions. Pekrun's control-value theory of achievement emotions suggests that students' self-concept (i.e., self-appraisal of ability) may be an important mediator of the relation between mathematics achievement and emotions. AIMS The aims were (1) to investigate the mediating role of mathematical self-concept in the relation between mathematics achievement and the achievement emotions of enjoyment and anxiety in a comprehensive model, and (2) to test possible differences in this mediating role between low-, average-, and high-achieving students. SAMPLE Participants were ninth-grade students (n = 1,014) from eight secondary schools in the Netherlands. METHODS Through an online survey including mathematical problems, students were asked to indicate their levels of mathematics enjoyment, anxiety, and self-concept. Structural equation modelling was used to test the mediating role of self-concept in the relation between mathematics achievement and emotions. Multigroup analyses were performed to compare these relations across the three achievement groups. RESULTS Results confirmed full mediation of the relation between mathematics achievement and emotions by mathematical self-concept. Furthermore, we found higher self-concepts, more enjoyment and less math anxiety in high-achieving students compared to their average and low-achieving peers. No differences across these achievement groups were found in the relations in the mediational model. CONCLUSIONS Mathematical self-concept plays a pivotal role in students' appraisal of mathematics. Mathematics achievement is only one factor explaining students' self-concept. Likely also classroom instruction and teachers' feedback strategies help to shape students' self-concept.
Advanced Color Images Enhancement Using Wavelet and K-means Clustering

In this paper, we are proposing a new method of enhancing contrast of color images based on human visual system. In this method we convert the RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) values of each pixel of any segment of the original image to HSV (Hue, Saturation, and Value) values. Then we segment the V component of the original image into the dark and bright parts using k-means image segmentation technique. Next we apply (again to each segment: dark and bright) the wavelet transform to the luminance value V component of the color image to get the approximate component which is converted by applying grey-level contrast enhancement technique based on human visual system. Then, inverse Wavelet transform is performed on the converted coefficients so that the enhanced V values are obtained. The Saturation components are enhanced by histogram equalization. The H components are not changed, because changes in the H components could degrade the color balance between the HSV components. The enhanced S and V together with H are converted back to RGB values. Our new method has effectively achieved a successful enhancement of any color images considering their darkness or their low contrast by taking any image as a whole and then dividing it into its dark and bright segments
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use in Type 1 Diabetes: Longitudinal Analysis Demonstrates Meaningful Improvements in HbA1c and Reductions in Health Care Utilization

Background: Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) improves glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). However, the benefits of rtCGM in T1D patients treated with multiple daily insulin injection (MDI) therapy has not been well studied. We explored the effects of rtCGM versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) on clinical outcomes within a large T1D population treated with either CSII or MDI therapy. Methods: This retrospective, longitudinal analysis utilized datasets from T1D patients enrolled in a commercial health plan to assess changes in HbA1c in 187 naïve to rtCGM users and 6260 SMBG users. Propensity score modeling was used to assess inpatient admissions, emergency room (ER) visits in 1130 patients (565 rtCGM, 565 SMBG). Differences in HbA1c reduction (rtCGM+MDI vs rtCGM+CSII) were evaluated. Results: Larger, clinically meaningful HbA1c reductions were seen among rtCGM versus SMBG users: –0.5% (P = .004) versus −0.2% (P < .0001); 0.3% diff in diff, P = . 03. All-cause inpatient admissions were lower for rtCGM users: –42%, P = . 013. Emergency room visits coded for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were four times higher for SMBG patients than rtCGM patients: 17 versus 4, P = . 0318. HbA1c reductions were most notable with rtCGM+MDI versus rtCGM+CSII treatment: –0.6% (P = .01) versus −0.3% (P = .16). Conclusions: Use of rtCGM in T1D patients facilitates greater HbA1c improvements and reduced health care system utilization compared with traditional SMBG use regardless of insulin administration method. Treatment with rtCGM in conjunction with MDI confers similar or greater glycemic benefits without the additional costs associated with CSII therapy.
A Frequency-Selective I/Q Imbalance Analysis Technique

Digital approaches concerning the I/Q imbalance problem in zero-intermediate frequency (zero IF) mixing scheme have one of two main objectives: the first one is knowing the parameters of a widely-linear system (WLS) that models this problem with the purpose of devising a compensation scheme (calibration). The second one is estimating the system gain and phase imbalance values before and after calibrating the system to determine the quality of the manufacturing and calibrating processes (testing). State-of-the-art techniques for both objectives should involve three main aspects to be optimized: computational complexity, reliability and performance. In addition, a framework to use a single technique for both calibration and testing has not been proposed yet. This paper presents a low-complexity and statistically-efficient WLS parameters estimation technique based on the auto-correlation property of Golay complementary sequences (GCS). The proposed technique allows for disregarding the power amplifier (PA) nonlinearities affecting the model, making it reliable. In addition, a framework to extract the phase and gain imbalances in the I/Q branches from the WLS estimations is presented. The low complexity operations of the proposed estimator allow for a cheap hardware implementation. The performance of this technique is illustrated under extreme test cases.
National survey on implementation of peer specialists in the VA: implications for training and facilitation.

OBJECTIVES Peer support is fundamental to the promotion of recovery as indicated in the President's New Freedom Commission Report. Five years into the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) initiative to hire Peer Specialists (PSs)-individuals with serious mental illnesses assigned to clinical teams to support others with serious mental illnesses-this study explored challenges, facilitators, and progress of PS implementation from a stakeholder group involved in their management. METHODS Ninety-two VA Local Recovery Coordinators (LRCs) from across the nationwide VA mental health system were surveyed about their perceptions about PS hiring, status of implementation, impact, barriers and facilitators to successful employment of PSs, and willingness to support implementation. RESULTS The data suggest that PS implementation is going well overall, but challenges remain such as hiring delays, lack of understanding about the PS role, and lack of funding. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Implementation challenges can undermine the employment of PSs. The VA and other organizations using PSs could improve implementation by monitoring the challenges and proactively facilitating the process on an ongoing basis.
Outcomes of Closed Versus Open Defects After Local Excision of Rectal Neoplasms: A Multi-institutional Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND: The management of the rectal wall defect after local excision of rectal neoplasms remains controversial, and the existing data are equivocal. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of open versus closed defects on postoperative outcomes after local excision of rectal neoplasms. DESIGN: Data from 3 institutions were analyzed. Propensity score matching was performed in one-to-one fashion to create a balanced cohort comparing open and closed defects. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at high-volume specialist referral hospitals. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing local excision via transanal endoscopic surgery from 2004 to 2016 were included. Patients were assigned to open- and closed-defect groups, and further stratified by full- or partial-thickness excision. INTERVENTION: Closure of the rectal wall defect was performed at the surgeon’s discretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the incidence of 30-day complications. RESULTS: A total of 991 patients were eligible (593 full-thickness excision with 114 open and 479 closed, and 398 partial-thickness excision with 263 open and 135 closed). After matching, balanced cohorts consisting of 220 patients with full-thickness excision and 210 patients with partial-thickness excision were created. Operative time was similar for open and closed defects for both full-and partial-thickness excision. The incidence of 30-day complications was similar for open and closed defects after full- (15% vs. 12%, p = 0.432) and partial-thickness excision (7% vs 5%, p = 0.552). The total number of complications was also similar after full- or partial-thickness excision. Patients undergoing full-thickness excision with open defects had a higher incidence of clinically significant bleeding complications (9% vs 3%, p = 0.045). LIMITATIONS: Data were obtained from 3 institutions with different equipment and perioperative management over a long time period. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in overall complications between open and closed defects for patients undergoing local excision of rectal neoplasms, but there may be more bleeding complications in open defects after full-thickness excision. A selective approach to defect closure may be appropriate. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww. com/DCR/A470.
FANCD2 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target and Biomarker in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Harboring the PAX3–FOXO1 Fusion Gene

Purpose: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma that harbors the PAX3–FOXO1 fusion gene (t-ARMS) is a common and lethal subtype of this childhood malignancy. Improvement in clinical outcomes in this disease is predicated upon the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Experimental Design: Robust mouse models were used for in vivo analysis, and molecular studies were performed on xenografts treated in parallel. Two independent patient sets (n = 101 and 124) of clinically annotated tumor specimens were used for analysis of FANCD2 levels and its association with clinical and molecular characteristics and outcomes. Results: Our xenograft studies reveal a selective suppression of FANCD2 by m-TOR kinase inhibition and radiosensitization of the t-ARMS line only. In the initial patient set, we show that FANCD2 transcript levels are prognostic in univariate analysis, and are significantly associated with metastatic disease and that the copresence of the translocation and high expression of FANCD2 is independently prognostic. We also demonstrate a significant and nonrandom enrichment of mTOR-associated genes that correlate with FANCD2 gene expression within the t-ARMS samples, but not within other cases. In the second patient set, we show that on a protein level, FANCD2 expression correlates with PAX3–FOXO1 fusion gene and is strongly associated with phospho-P70S6K expression in cases with the fusion gene. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that FANCD2 may have a significant role in the radiation resistance and virulence of t-ARMS. Indirectly targeting this DNA repair protein, through mTOR inhibition, may represent a novel and selective treatment strategy. Clin Cancer Res; 20(14); 3884–95. ©2014 AACR.
Reliability and validity of the World Health Organization Five-item Well-Being Index for detecting depressive disorders in senior middle school students

Objective:To examine the reliability and validity of the World Health Organization Five-item Well-Being Index(WHO-5) for detecting depressive disorders in senior middle school students.Methods:A sample of 706 grade 1 to grade 3 students from one senior middle school in Shanghai completed the WHO-5.Cronbach's alpha coeffiicient and structure validity were examined.Structure validity was evaluated using factor analysis.The Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) was used to explore the correlative validity.Totally 104 students were readministered the WHO-5 2 weeks after its initial administration to assess the test-retest reliability.And 134 students were also interviewed by psychiatrists to assess whether they had any depressive disorders according to Mini International Neuropsychiatry Inventory(MINI). MINI was regarded as the gold standard to investigate the validity of WHO-5.Criterion-related validity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic ROC analysis.Results:The Cronbach's alpha was estimated to be 0.907. the test-retest reliability was 0.644. A factor analysis identified only one factor.The WHO-5 was significantly correlated with BDI.Correlative validity was-0.52. ROC analysis showed that the WHO-5 could be used to detect depressive disorders(area under curve:0.714). A cut-off of 11.5 or 12.5 yielded the balanced sensitivity/specificity trade-off:70%/62% or 85%/56%. Conclusion:The World Health Organization Five-item Well-Being Index(WHO-5) has an adequate internal consistency.The WHO-5 demonstrates good sensitivity and common specificity.It may be a coarse-screen instrument for detecting depressive disorders in senior middle school students.
Maté Drinking and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in South America: Pooled Results from Two Large Multicenter Case–Control Studies

Background: Maté tea is a nonalcoholic infusion widely consumed in southern South America, and may increase risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and other cancers due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and/or thermal injury. Methods: We pooled two case–control studies: a 1988 to 2005 Uruguay study and a 1986 to 1992 multinational study in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, including 1,400 cases and 3,229 controls. We computed ORs and fitted a linear excess OR (EOR) model for cumulative maté consumption in liters/day–year (LPDY). Results: The adjusted OR for ESCC with 95% confidence interval (CI) by ever compared with never use of maté was 1.60 (1.2–2.2). ORs increased linearly with LPDY (test of nonlinearity; P = 0.69). The estimate of slope (EOR/LPDY) was 0.009 (0.005–0.014) and did not vary with daily intake, indicating maté intensity did not influence the strength of association. EOR/LPDY estimates for consumption at warm, hot, and very hot beverage temperatures were 0.004 (−0.002–0.013), 0.007 (0.003–0.013), and 0.016 (0.009–0.027), respectively, and differed significantly (P < 0.01). EOR/LPDY estimates were increased in younger (<65) individuals and never alcohol drinkers, but these evaluations were post hoc, and were homogeneous by sex. Conclusions: ORs for ESCC increased linearly with cumulative maté consumption and were unrelated to intensity, so greater daily consumption for shorter duration or lesser daily consumption for longer duration resulted in comparable ORs. The strength of association increased with higher maté temperatures. Impact: Increased understanding of cancer risks with maté consumption enhances the understanding of the public health consequences given its purported health benefits. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(1); 107–16. ©2013 AACR.
Application of a Novel Hybrid Study Design to Explore Gene‐Environment Interactions in Orofacial Clefts

Orofacial clefts are common birth defects with strong evidence for both genetic and environmental causal factors. Candidate gene studies combined with exposures known to influence the outcome provide a highly targeted approach to detecting GxE interactions. We developed a new statistical approach that combines the case‐control and offspring‐parent triad designs into a “hybrid design” to search for GxE interactions among 334 autosomal cleft candidate genes and maternal first‐trimester exposure to smoking, alcohol, coffee, folic acid supplements, dietary folate and vitamin A. The study population comprised 425 case‐parent triads of isolated clefts and 562 control‐parent triads derived from a nationwide study of orofacial clefts in Norway (1996–2001). A full maximum‐likelihood model was used in combination with a Wald test statistic to screen for statistically significant GxE interaction between strata of exposed and unexposed mothers. In addition, we performed pathway‐based analyses on 28 detoxification genes and 21 genes involved in folic acid metabolism. With the possible exception of the T‐box 4 gene (TBX4) and dietary folate interaction in isolated CPO, there was little evidence overall of GxE interaction in our data. This study is the largest to date aimed at detecting interactions between orofacial clefts candidate genes and well‐established risk exposures.
Preparation and optimization of glyceryl behenate-based highly porous pellets containing cilostazol

Abstract The aim of this study was to prepare a highly porous multiparticulate dosage form containing cilostazol for gastroretentive drug delivery. The floating pellets were prepared with glyceryl behenate as a matrix former and camphor as a sublimating agent by extrusion/spheronization and sublimation under vacuum. Granules prepared with sublimation at 60 °C displayed a slower dissolution rate and smoother surface morphology than those prepared at lower temperatures. This was unexpected as the reported melting point of glyceryl behenate is higher than 69 °C. The DSC study revealed that melting began at a lower temperature owing to the multicomponent property of glyceryl behenate, which led to a sintering effect. The prepared pellets were spherical with unimodal size distribution. They also had porous structures with increased porosity, which led to immediate buoyancy. As cilostazol is a hydrophobic drug that has an erosion-based release mechanism, drug release profile was highly correlated with the percentage of disintegrated pellets. Various excipients were added to the glyceryl behenate-based formulation to increase the floating duration. When hydroxyethyl cellulose was added to the glyceryl behenate-based pellets, acceptable dissolution rate and buoyancy were acquired. This system could potentially be used for gastroretentive delivery of various hydrophobic drugs, which was generally considered difficult.
Big Search in Cyberspace

With the rapid development of big data analytics, mobile computing, Internet of Things, cloud computing, and social networking, cyberspace has expanded to a cross-fused and ubiquitous space made up of human beings, things, and information. Internet applications have evolved from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, and web information has seen an explosive growth, which is strongly promoting the advent of a global era of big data. In this ubiquitous cyberspace, traditional search engines can no longer fully satisfy the evolving needs of various types of users. Therefore, search engines must make completely innovative, revolutionary changes for the next generation of search, which is referred to as “big search”. This paper first studies the development needs of big search. Then, big search is defined, and the 5S properties (Sourcing, Sensing, Synthesizing, Solution, and Security) of big search, which are different from those of traditional search engines, are elaborated. Also, the paper provides a system architecture for big search, explores the key technologies that support the 5S properties, and describes potential application fields of big search technology. Finally, the research opportunities of big search are discussed.
Chocó, Colombia: a hotspot of human biodiversity.

OBJECTIVE Chocó is a state located on the Pacific coast of Colombia that has a majority Afro-Colombian population. The objective of this study was to characterize the genetic ancestry, admixture and diversity of the population of Chocó, Colombia. METHODOLOGY Genetic variation was characterized for a sample of 101 donors (61 female and 40 male) from the state of Chocó. Genotypes were determined for each individual via the characterization of 610,545 single nucleotide polymorphisms genome-wide. Haplotypes for the uniparental mitochondrial DNA (female) and Y-DNA (male) chromosomes were also determined. These data were used for comparative analyses with a number of worldwide populations, including putative ancestral populations from Africa, the Americas and Europe, along with several admixed American populations. RESULTS The population of Chocó has predominantly African genetic ancestry (75.8%) with approximately equal parts European (13.4%) and Native American (11.1%) ancestry. Chocó shows relatively high levels of three-way genetic admixture, and far higher levels of Native American ancestry, compared to other New World African populations from the Caribbean and the United States. There is a striking pattern of sex-specific ancestry in Chocó, with Native American admixture along the female lineage and European admixture along the male lineage. The population of Chocó is also characterized by relatively high levels of overall genetic diversity compared to both putative ancestral populations and other admixed American populations. CONCLUSION These results suggest a unique genetic heritage for the population of Chocó and underscore the profound human genetic diversity that can be found in the region.
The Adaptation, Face, and Content Validation of a Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease for People with Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract Background: Irrreversible interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Palliative care needs of patients and caregivers are not routinely assessed; there is no tool to identify needs and triage support in clinical practice. Objective: The study objective was to adapt and face/content validate a palliative needs assessment tool for people with ILD. Methods: The Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease-Cancer (NAT:PD-C) was adapted to reflect the palliative care needs identified from the ILD literature and patient/caregiver interviews. Face and content validity of the NAT:PD-ILD was tested using patient/caregiver focus groups and an expert consensus group. Participants in the study were two English tertiary health care trusts' outpatients clinics. There were four focus groups: two patient (n = 7; n = 4); one caregiver (n = 3); and one clinician (n = 8). There was a single caregiver interview, and an expert consensus group—academics (n = 3), clinicians (n = 9), patients (n = 4), and caregivers (n = 2). Each item in the tool was revised as agreed by the groups. Expert consensus was reached. Results: Overall, the tool reflected participants' experience of ILD. Each domain was considered relevant. Adaptations were needed to represent the burden of ILD: respiratory symptoms (especially cough) and concerns about sexual activity were highlighted. All emphasized assessment of caregiver need as critical, and the role of caregivers in clinical consultations. Conclusions: The NAT:PD-ILD appears to have face and content validity. The inclusion of the family caregiver in the consultation as someone with their own needs as well as a source of information was welcomed. Reliability testing and construct validation of the tool are ongoing.