Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Syddansk Universitet Are formalised implementation activities associated with aspects of quality of care in general practice ? A cross-sectional study

Background: There is a substantial variation in how different general practices manage knowledge implementation, including the degree to which activities are collectively and formally organised. Yet, it is unclear how these differences in implementation activities affect quality of care. Aim: To investigate if there are associations between specific formalised knowledge implementation activities and quality of care in general practices, exemplified by the use of spirometry testing. Design & setting: A nationwide cross-sectional study combining survey and register data in Denmark. Method: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to GPs, and data on spirometry testing among first-time users of medication against obstructive lung diseases were obtained from national registers. Associations were investigated using multilevel mixed-effect logit models. Results: GPs from 1114 practices (58%) responded, and 33 788 patients were linked to a responding practice. In partnership practices, the frequency of interdisciplinary and GP meetings affected the quality of care. Interdisciplinary and GP meetings held on a weekly basis were significantly associated with a higher level of quality of care and this was measured by the odds ratio (OR) of patients having spirometry. The development of practice protocols and standard recordings in the electronic medical record (EMR) for a range of disease areas compared with few or no areas at all also impacted the quality of care level provided. The effect of formalised implementation activities was not as evident in single-handed practices as in partnerships. Le J V et al. BJGP Open 2017; DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen17X100737 1 of 11 RESEARCH Conclusion: This study provides valuable knowledge for GPs who aim to organise their practice in a way that supports implementation and quality improvement most effectively. Also, results may be useful for managers of implementation strategies and quality improvement initiatives when planning future activities.
The Effects of Iodine Supplementation in Pregnancy on Iodine Status, Thyroglobulin Levels and Thyroid Function Parameters: Results from a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial in a Mild-to-Moderate Iodine Deficiency Area

Background: Iodine supplementation during pregnancy in areas with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency is still debated. Methods: A single-center, randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled (3:2) trial was conducted. We enrolled 90 women before 12 weeks of gestation. From enrollment up until 8 weeks after delivery, 52 women were given an iodine supplement (225 ug/day, potassium iodide tablets) and 38 were given placebo. At recruitment (T0), in the second (T1) and third trimesters (T2), and 8 weeks after delivery (T3), we measured participants’ urinary iodine-to-creatinine ratio (UI/Creat), thyroid function parameters (thyroglobulin (Tg), TSH, FT3, and FT4), and thyroid volume (TV). The newborns’ urinary iodine concentrations were evaluated in 16 cases. Results: Median UI/Creat at recruitment was 53.3 ug/g. UI/Creat was significantly higher in supplemented women at T1 and T2. Tg levels were lower at T1 and T2 in women with UI/Creat ≥ 150 ug/g, and in the Iodine group at T2 (p = 0.02). There was a negative correlation between Tg and UI/Creat throughout the study (p = 0.03, r = −0.1268). A lower TSH level was found in the Iodine group at T3 (p = 0.001). TV increased by +Δ7. 43% in the Iodine group, and by +Δ11. 17% in the Placebo group. No differences were found between the newborns’ TSH levels on screening the two groups. Conclusion: Tg proved a good parameter for measuring iodine intake in our placebo-controlled series. Iodine supplementation did not prove harmful to pregnancy in areas of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency, with no appreciable harmful effect on thyroid function.
PROTOTYPE OF A NEW LEARNING FACTORY - AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH TO INTEGRATE PRODUCTION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Industry demands graduate engineering students with general competences in context of simultaneous engineering. To prepare students for their future job specification new didactical concepts have to be developed. This paper presents a new learning factory concept designed and tested at the Ruhr-University Bochum which focuses on the improvement of interdisciplinary collaboration between product development and production. The conceptual basis is a multidisciplinary role-play realising the approaches of problem based learning and self-reflection of one’s actions in the team.
Application of dual threshold image processing technology in the android Chinese font recognition system

This paper analyzes the design solutions and realization process of mobile phone font recognition software based on Android platform. The article mainly describes the key technology of font recognition, image processing technology, and how to use dual threshold technology automatic searches for the suitable threshold algorithm ideas, and the final code realization process. In addition, this paper also introduces the technology of noise reduction and image matching technology applying to the font recognition system.
The role of socio-cultural factors in static trade panel models

The focus is on cross-sectional dependence in panel trade flow models. We propose alternative specifications for modeling time invariant factors such as socio-cultural indicator variables, e.g., common language and currency. These are typically treated as a source of heterogeneity eliminated using fixed effects transformations, but we find evidence of cross-sectional dependence after eliminating country-specific effects. These findings suggest use of alternative simultaneous dependence model specifications that accommodate cross-sectional dependence, which we set forth along with Bayesian estimation methods. Ignoring cross-sectional dependence implies biased estimates from panel trade flow models that rely on fixed effects.
An empirical investigation of the financial growth life cycle

The key contribution of this paper is an empirical examination of the financial growth life cycle model by combining a number of statistical tests. This approach is significantly different to that traditionally adopted in empirical investigations of SME financing, which is to examine the applicability of theories developed in corporate finance on panel data. Additionally, it presents data on personal sources of finance employed by firm owners, which is typically not available, even in comprehensive secondary databases.
Influence of NaCl Salinity and Different Substracts on Plant Growth, Mineral Nutrient Assimilation and Fruit Yield of Strawberry

A hydroponic culture was carried out with strawberry cv. Camarosa to investigate the effects of four salinity levels and four different substrates on plant growth, mineral nutrient assimilation and fruit yield of strawberry. Total dry weight accumulation of plants was not inhibited at low salinities, but it was significantly inhibited at 60 mM NaCl. Dry mass (DM) partitioning in NaCl-stressed plants was in favor of crown and petioles and at the expense of root, stem and leaf, whereas leaf, stem and root DM progressively declined with an increase in salinity. Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) significantly decreased in cv. Camarosa at 60 and 90 mM. Results also showed that the presence of NaCl in the root medium induced an increase in total Na+ content of the plants in the shoot and root. Despite Na+ and K+, the increase in total inorganic ions resulted from increasing salinity, with Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations decreasing in shoot and increasing in roots with an increase in salinity. For all micro- and macroelements however, significant concentration changes related to different substrates were not detected in the present experiments. Results also showed a significant decline of Fe content of 40% and 49% in shoot and root, respectively.
Towards an Explanatory Model of Suicidal Ideation: The Effects of Cognitive Emotional Regulation Strategies, Affectivity and Hopelessness

Abstract Suicide constitutes a public health problem that has a significant economic, social and psychological impact on a global scale. Recently, the American Psychological Association has indicated that suicide prevention should be a public health priority. Suicidal ideation appears as a key variable in suicide prevention. The objective of this research was to verify the adjustment of an explanatory model for suicidal ideation, which considers the effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies, affectivity and hopelessness. An open mode on-line sample of 2,166 Argentine participants was used and a path analysis was carried out. The results make it possible to conclude that the model presents an optimal fit (χ2 = .10, p = .75, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .01) and predicts 42% of suicidal thoughts. The model proves to be invariant based on age and gender. In conclusion, there is an importance of reducing the use of automatic strategies, such as repetitive negative thoughts of ruminative type, and increasing the use of more controlled strategies, such as reinterpretation or planning.
Understanding the Morphology in the Form of Business Expansion: Perspective of Small Tourism Firm in Coastal Resort Destination

Resort morphology literature can be traced back since 1930s and most cases referring to the coast of Europe and United State. In 1970s, it begins to give emphasis on aspects such as land use pattern, infrastructure, Central Business District, Recreational Business District and impact studies. The literature expands to the aspects of socioeconomic, hotel development and resort lifecycle in the 1980s. Later in 1990s, it was extended to politic and investment, tourist behavior, transportation, Tourism Business District and environmental management. Following 2000s, the discussion move into change in land use intensity and restructuring resort strategies. All these aspects are still relevant in the existing literature today. However, it was argued that existing issue from these literatures cannot escape from too much emphasis on the physical aspects. Limited study given to the aspect of non-physical than theoretical components of space management for physical and strategic planning purposes. For example, the aspects of business expansion and entrepreneur growth, and as to how this is able to influence resort morphology. The Small tourism firm manages to sustain their present from generation to generation with increasing skills relevant to financial, personal attitude, business resources and networking, and abilities in terms of operational, managerial and strategic. Therefore, the characteristic of resort morphology should be seen in a different context in which the competitiveness and survivability of these small tourism firms is vital to explore.
Woodlands of the past : The excavation of wetland woods at Zwolle-Stadshagen (The Netherlands) II. Development of the palaeo-landscape in its hydrological context

Micromorphology was used to reconstruct the palaeo-landscape in which a woodland had grown between about 150 BC and AD 600 in Zwolle-Stadshagen. The woodland developed in a depression between ridges of Weichselian aeolian coversands of the Twente Formation. Some time before 1500 BC a well-drained podzol had developed in the coversand depression. Micromorphological research showed that a rising groundwater level drowned the podzol. On top of the podzol organic material from a low herbaceous vegetation with a low quantity of trees, possibly a kind of moorland, accumulated in which sand was continuously blown-in from local coversand ridges. For more than 1500 years the ridges had to be cleared of vegetation by human, probably agricultural, activities. Peat growth on which a woodland was present started between AD 6-102 and was attributed to the general evolution of the mean sea level in the Holocene. The lower part of the peat was moderately acid and partly decomposed. The upper part was less acid and increasingly decomposed due to bioturbation by terrestrial worms, indicating drier conditions. At the same thin layers of almost pure clay (< 2 μm) were deposited. During this period a new active fresh watercourse, periodically either flooding or
Heterogeneity of PD-L1 Expression in Lung Mixed Adenocarcinomas and Adenosquamous Carcinomas

Immune checkpoint inhibitors against programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have proven to be remarkably effective in non–small cell lung cancer. PD-L1 represents a predictive biomarker in lung cancer, although its heterogenous expression represents an emerging challenge for accurate biomarker-based patient selection. Lung adenocarcinomas (ADCs) show a high rate of intratumor morphologic heterogeneity that may reflect a heterogenous molecular and immunophenotypic profile. The aim of our study was to analyze the expression of PD-L1 in different intratumor subtypes and/or growth patterns in a series of mixed adenocarcinomas (mADCs) and adenosquamous lung carcinomas (AdSqLCs). As many as 73 mADCs and 6 AdSqLCs were selected. Comprehensive histologic subtyping was performed, and PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry assay using different primary antibodies and automated immunostainers. Overall, PD-L1 expression was observed in 37 of 79 cases (39.2%) (31 mADCs and all AdSqLCs). PD-L1 expression was heterogenous in 22 of 37 PD-L1-positive cases (23.2% mADC and 83% AdSqLC). PD-L1 expression was observed more frequently in ADC with solid pattern. Heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression was significantly related to the presence of micropapillary (P=0.028) and solid (P=0.017) patterns. All PD-L1-positive cases were epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type, 2 cases harbored concomitantly PD-L1 expression and ALK rearrangement. Our data suggest that PD-L1 expression is quite heterogenous in mADCs and AdSqLCs, partly contributing to explaining the discrepant results between biopsy and surgical resections and discordant clinical effectiveness in regard to PD-L1-positive or negative ADC diagnosed on cytology/small biopsy.
Effect of Heavy Crude Oil on the Pattern of Respiratory Chain of Pseudomonas sp.

Bacteria are versatile organisms which can grow in different mediums. The respiratory chain of bacteria consists of different cytochromes and terminal oxidases, which allow their adaptation to various media. Pseudomonas is a useful bacterium for industries, it can aerobically biodegrade some types of toxic materials in soil and water. One of the most important organic pollutants in oil-producing countries is crude oil. Pseudomonas is able to biodegrade crude oil and use it as a carbon source. Our results show that Pseudomonas can degrade aliphatic fractions of crude oil more efficiently than aromatic fractions. Pseudomonas uses the cytochrome bo complex as its main terminal oxidase in nutrients rich medium and in medium containing ethanol as carbon source, while in medium containing crude oil, it uses both cytochrome bo and bd complexes as terminal oxidase.
Corporate Social Media: Understanding the Impact of Service Quality & Social Value on Customer Behavior

Companies are making major investments in platforms such as Facebook and Twitter because they realize that social media are an influential force on customer perceptions and behavior. However, to date, little guidance exists as to what constitutes an effective deployment of social media and there is no empirical evidence that social medial investments are yielding positive returns. This research provides two important and unique contributions to research and practice through the development and validation of a meaningful measure of the service quality effectiveness of the corporate social media environment, and through the development of an important mediator construct (Social Value) that can be used to capture the user experience of a social media community. These contributions and the resulting research model provide a strong theoretical basis for researchers interested in testing the impact of corporate social media service quality and social value on customers’ behavioral responses.
Progress in promising anti-fibrotic therapies

ABSTRACT Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is the most deleterious consequence of chronic liver diseases of different etiologies. Progression of liver diseases to cirrhosis, irrespective of etiology, involves chronic parenchymal injury, persistent activation of inflammatory response, sustained activation of fibrogenesis and wound-healing response. Despite intensive research on antifibrotic drugs, novel therapeutics specifically for liver have not been yet licensed. This review will examine compounds currently under development and key challenges in specific settings as for example that of NAFLD associated fibrosis. Areas covered: Results of the main phase II and III trial, including those with negative results, are presented and discussed. The endpoints selected and their limitations highlighted in order to suggest potential options to move forward. Expert opinion: Strategies based on single-molecule targets, associated so far with some disappointing results, may be unlikely to succeed in the context of such complex pathogenesis. Blocking at the same time different pathways that drive fibrosis progression may be required to provide significant benefit.
Short-Term Therapies for Treatment of Acute and Advanced Heart Failure—Why so Few Drugs Available in Clinical Use, Why Even Fewer in the Pipeline?

Both acute and advanced heart failure are an increasing threat in term of survival, quality of life and socio-economical burdens. Paradoxically, the use of successful treatments for chronic heart failure can prolong life but—per definition—causes the rise in age of patients experiencing acute decompensations, since nothing at the moment helps avoiding an acute or final stage in the elderly population. To complicate the picture, acute heart failure syndromes are a collection of symptoms, signs and markers, with different aetiologies and different courses, also due to overlapping morbidities and to the plethora of chronic medications. The palette of cardio- and vasoactive drugs used in the hospitalization phase to stabilize the patient’s hemodynamic is scarce and even scarcer is the evidence for the agents commonly used in the practice (e.g., catecholamines). The pipeline in this field is poor and the clinical development chronically unsuccessful. Recent set backs in expected clinical trials for new agents in acute heart failure (AHF) (omecamtiv, serelaxine, ularitide) left a field desolately empty, where only few drugs have been approved for clinical use, for example, levosimendan and nesiritide. In this consensus opinion paper, experts from 26 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K. and Ukraine) analyse the situation in details also by help of artificial intelligence applied to bibliographic searches, try to distil some lesson-learned to avoid that future projects would make the same mistakes as in the past and recommend how to lead a successful development project in this field in dire need of new agents.
Influence of pressure on dislocation, disclination, and generalized-disclination structures of a {310}/[001] tilt grain boundary in MgO

Due to gravitational self-compression, the pressure in planetary interiors can reach millions of times the atmospheric pressure. Such high pressure has a significant influence on their rheology. In the present paper, we focus on how pressure in the range of the Earth’s lower mantle may influence the structure of a MgO {310}/[001] tilt boundary. The defected structure of the grain boundary (GB) will be described through its dislocation, disclination, and generalized-disclination (g-disclination) density fields. At first, the strain and rotation fields in the boundary area at different pressures are derived from the discrete atomic positions simulated by first-principles calculations. For each pressure, the discontinuities of displacement, rotation, and strain in the boundary area are continuously rendered by dislocation, disclination, and g-disclination density fields, respectively. These density fields measured at different pressures are compared to provide understanding on how pressure does influence the GB structures in Earth materials.
A Systematic Review of the Discrimination Against Sexual and Gender Minority in Health Care Settings

The present systematic review aimed to determine discrimination experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals and attitudes toward SGM among health care staff in health care settings. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review was conducted in 3 databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct) using keywords of sexual and gender minority, including “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual,” “transgender,” “LGB,” “LGBT,” “health care discrimination,” “stigma,” “homophobia,” “transphobia,” and “attitudes of healthcare professionals” from May to September 2016. Predetermined inclusion criteria were selected. Thirty quantitative studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Discriminative behaviors experienced by SGM individuals were stigma, denial or refusal of health care, and verbal or physical abuse. Knowledge and educational levels, beliefs, and religion of health care providers affected their attitudes toward SGM patients and their homophobia level. These findings revealed that health care providers needed more education about SGM issues, and SGM-friendly policies should be created for improving health care for SGM individuals.
The efficacy and safety of Kyung-Ok-Ko on cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer patients

Abstract Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a major symptom experienced by lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Since CRF has a multidimensional influence on cancer patients, they may experience physical weakening, a decline in cognitive function, and depression from emotional consequences. Kyung-Ok-Ko is used for improving fatigue or weak physical constitution. It is known to be effective in immune activation, reducing fatigue, and enhancing cognitive function. Although Kyung-Ok-Ko is clinically used for the treatment of CRF, its efficacy and safety against CRF in lung cancer patients are yet to be studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Kyung-Ok-Ko. Methods: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, patients-assessor blind, parallel-group, single-center clinical trial. Lung cancer patients with CRF, after termination of chemo or radiation therapies, are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Kyung-Ok-Ko or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary outcome is Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). The secondary outcomes include Visual Analog Fatigue Scale (VAFS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACIT) Fatigue scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Korean version (MoCA-K), and Korean pattern identification questionnaire. Adverse events are evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). All outcomes and adverse events are assessed at the baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. Discussion: This study investigates whether Kyung-Ok-Ko can alleviate CRF in lung cancer patients. The results of this study will provide clinical evidence for the application of Kyung-Ok-Ko in the treatment of CRF in lung cancer patients. Trial registration: Korean Clinical Trial Registry (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number: KCT000666). Trial status: Currently, participant recruitment is ongoing.