Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tailoring health communication : the perspective of information users' health information behaviour in relation to their physical health status

The aim of this thesis was twofold: firstly, to increase understanding about the user of health information; namely about differences of users ́ characteristics of health information behaviour, and secondly, to contribute to the research on factors that could be used as bases to tailor health information. Health information behaviour was scrutinised as information needs and seeking and information use in particular. It was also studied in relation to individuals ́ physical health status. More studies on information use are needed, because understanding individual characteristics in issues related to information use has been considered critical for promoting healthy behaviours. Moreover, the thesis addressed the gap in research on the relationship between health information behaviour and tailoring health information. The thesis consists of three empirical studies and a literature review. The empirical research environments were provided by an intervention study aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes among a high risk population and by a population-based study among military conscription aged men. The setting was the City of Oulu in Northern Finland with the University of Oulu and the Oulu Deaconess Institute as the main operators of the studies. The empirical data were collected through questionnaires as well as through physiological and biochemical measurements during years 2010 and 2011. The data were analysed with statistical methods. Moreover, a literature review of tailored interventions studies using a computer as the medium of delivery in the context of physical activity, nutrition and weight management, was conducted. The findings indicate differences in health information users ́ characteristics related to their information use as such and in relation to the indicators of their physical health status. It is suggested that, for example, health information presentation could be tailored on the basis of found differences and different message strategies and tactics could be used for different kinds of individuals. In addition, in the literature review the biases of tailored intervention studies stood out as influential on their outcomes. The thesis contributes to the current field of research on both health information behaviour and tailoring health communication. Moreover, the findings can support the development of more effective health promotion programs and intervention studies.
A detailed profile of cognitive dysfunction and its relation to psychological distress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a common metabolic disorder. DM2 is associated with cognitive impairments, and with depressive symptoms, which occur in about one third of patients. In the current study we compared the cognitive profile and psychological well-being of 119 patients with DM2 (mean age: 66 ± 6; mean duration: 9 ± 6 years) with 55 age and education matched-control participants. Groups were compared on cognitive performance in five major cognitive domains, psychological wellbeing [assessed by Symptom Checklist (SCL)-90-R and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)] and abnormalities on brain MRI. We hypothesized an interrelationship between cognition, MRI abnormalities, and psychological well-being. DM2 patients performed significantly worse than controls on cognitive tasks, especially on tasks that required more mental efficiency, although the differences were modest (effect sizes Cohen d < .6). We speculate that DM2 patients have a diminished ability to efficiently process unstructured information. Patients with DM2 had significantly higher scores on the SCL-90-R (p < .001) and on the BDI-II (p < .001) and worse MRI ratings than controls, but psychological distress did not correlate with cognition, MRI ratings or biomedical characteristics. Contrary to our hypothesis, cognitive disturbances and psychological distress thus seem independent symptoms of the same disease. (JINS, 2007, 13, 288–297.)
Students' reasons for working or not working in class: aligning academic and social motivation

This study investigated the extent to which student s worked or did not work in school for essentially social reasons rather than for acad emic reasons. Primary students in Year 6 (n = 253) and high school students in Year 7 (n = 231) completed a survey about reasons for working or not working in school. Students indicated that social motives encompassing parents, teachers, and peers w re important to them, both as reasons to work and reasons not to work. ANOVA ana lyses produced interesting sex and level of schooling differences. Females student s a d primary students were more likely to hold social reasons for working hard (inc luding to please the teacher, to make the teacher look good, and wanting to be like frien ds), while male students and high school students were more likely to hold social rea sons for not working (including to annoy a disliked teacher, to make a disliked teache r look incompetent, wanting to be like friends, not wanting to look stupid, and not w orking because parents don’t care). These results are discussed in terms of the complex ity of students’ motivation. Though it is desirable to have students working bec ause they find tasks intrinsically interesting, it is unrealistic to imagine that this will occur for most students most of the time. Pedagogy that incorporates students’ soc ial motives and fosters an awareness of future goals may increase learning.
Integrating behavioral health under an ACO global budget: barriers and progress in Oregon.

OBJECTIVES This study describes challenges that coordinated care organizations (CCOs), a version of accountable care organizations, experienced when attempting to finance integrated care for Medicaid recipients in Oregon and the strategies they developed to address these barriers. STUDY DESIGN Cross-case comparative study. METHODS We conducted a cross-case comparative study of 5 diverse CCOs in Oregon. We interviewed key stakeholders: CCO leaders, practice leaders, and primary care and behavioral health clinicians. A multidisciplinary team analyzed data using an immersion-crystallization approach. Financial barriers to integrating care and strategies to address them emerged from this analysis. Findings were member-checked with a CCO integration workgroup to ensure wider applicability. RESULTS State legislation that initiated CCOs promoted integration expansion. CCOs, however, struggled to create sustainable funding mechanisms to support integration. This was due to regulatory and financial silos that persisted despite CCO global budget formation; concerns about actuarial soundness that limited reasonable, yet creative, uses of federal funds to support integration; and billing difficulties connected to licensing and documentation requirements for behavioral and mental health providers. Despite these barriers, CCOs, with the help of the state, supported expanding integrated care in primary care by using state funds to pilot test integration models and to promote alternative payment methodologies. CONCLUSIONS Oregon's CCO mandate included a focus on better integrating medical and behavioral healthcare for Medicaid recipients. Despite this intention, challenges exist in the financing of integration, many of which state and federal leaders can address through payment and regulatory reform.
The Political Economy of Soda Taxation

There has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States over the past several decades. The academic literature has highlighted numerous possible causes, including the consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages. Soda taxes have been suggested as a way of reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and a number of U.S. states disfavor" sugar-sweetened beverages relative to food in their tax code. In this note we employ a political economy model to explain the adoption of these soda taxes. " We find that more Democratic states and those with a higher rate of adult obesity are more likely to have soda taxes and states with more convenience stores per capita are less likely to have adopted a tax.
Smoking is a major preventable risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis: estimations of risks after various exposures to cigarette smoke

Background Earlier studies have demonstrated that smoking and genetic risk factors interact in providing an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Less is known on how smoking contributes to RA in the context of genetic variability, and what proportion of RA may be caused by smoking. Objectives To determine the association between the amount of smoking and risk of RA in the context of different HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles, and to estimate proportions of RA cases attributed to smoking. Design, Setting and Participants Data from the Swedish Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (EIRA) case–control study encompassing 1204 cases and 871 controls were analysed. Main Outcome Measure Estimated OR to develop RA and excess fraction of cases attributable to smoking according to the amount of smoking and genotype. Results Smoking was estimated to be responsible for 35% of anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive cases. For each HLA-DRB1 SE genotype, smoking was dose-dependently associated with an increased risk of ACPA-positive RA (p trend <0.001). In individuals carrying two copies of the HLA-DRB1 SE, 55% of ACPA-positive RA was attributable to smoking. Conclusions Smoking is a preventable risk factor for RA. The increased risk due to smoking is dependent on the amount of smoking and genotype.
REPEATED SUPRATHERAPEUTIC ACETAMINOPHEN ( PARACETAMOL ) USE RESULTING IN A FATALITY

In the United States acetaminophen (paracetamol) is the most commonly used nonprescription analgesic. In addition to its nonprescription use, acetaminophen is also a common ingredient of prescription opioid combination products. This case report describes an acetaminophen-related fatality that occurred as a consequence of an unintentional overdose of a prescribed hydrocodone/acetaminophen product. While these deaths are uncommon, they can be prevented if the prescriptions for these products are written and dispensed properly and if patients are warned not to exceed the proper dosage recommendations.
Comparative wear tests of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene

Wear particle–induced osteolysis is a major concern in hip implant failure. Therefore, recent research work has focussed on wear-resistant materials, one of the most important of which is cross-linked polyethylene. In view of this, the objective of this study was to compare the in vitro wear performance of cross-linked polyethylene to traditional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. In order to mimic appropriate in vivo conditions, a novel high-capacity wear tester called a circularly translating pin-on-disc was used. The results of this in vitro study demonstrated that the wear rate for cross-linked polyethylene was about 80% lower than that of conventional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. This difference closely matches in vivo results reported in the literature for total hip replacements that use the two biopolymers. The in vitro results were also verified against ASTM F732-00 (standard test method for wear testing of polymeric materials for use in total joint prostheses). The 50-station circularly translating pin-on-disc proved to be a reliable device for in vitro wear studies of orthopaedic biopolymers.
The emergence of HIV/AIDS in the Americas and beyond

HIV-1 group M subtype B was the first HIV discovered and is the predominant variant of AIDS virus in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa. However, the circumstances of its origin and emergence remain unresolved. Here we propose a geographic sequence and time line for the origin of subtype B and the emergence of pandemic HIV/AIDS out of Africa. Using HIV-1 gene sequences recovered from archival samples from some of the earliest known Haitian AIDS patients, we find that subtype B likely moved from Africa to Haiti in or around 1966 (1962–1970) and then spread there for some years before successfully dispersing elsewhere. A “pandemic” clade, encompassing the vast majority of non-Haitian subtype B infections in the United States and elsewhere around the world, subsequently emerged after a single migration of the virus out of Haiti in or around 1969 (1966–1972). Haiti appears to have the oldest HIV/AIDS epidemic outside sub-Saharan Africa and the most genetically diverse subtype B epidemic, which might present challenges for HIV-1 vaccine design and testing. The emergence of the pandemic variant of subtype B was an important turning point in the history of AIDS, but its spread was likely driven by ecological rather than evolutionary factors. Our results suggest that HIV-1 circulated cryptically in the United States for ≈12 years before the recognition of AIDS in 1981.
Impact of atrial fibrillation on the clinical course of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is considered a ‘benign’ form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with limited data on the long-term outcome. However, the clinical impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in ApHCM is largely unknown. The hypothesis was that AF is common and has a prognostic implication in ApHCM. Methods The occurrence of AF and outcome was assessed in 306 consecutive patients with ApHCM (68% male, 62±11 years). Results AF occurred in 77 patients with ApHCM (prevalence, 25.2%; annual incidence, 4.6%/year) and was independently predicted by old age and large left atrium (>45 mm). Among 70 AF patients indicated with anticoagulation, 53 patients (76%) received warfarin. During a follow-up of 5.5±2.0 years, the patients with AF had a higher incidence of all-cause death, cardiovascular death and strokes (11.7% vs 1.3%, 6.5% vs 0.9% and 19.5% vs 2.6%, respectively, all p<0.05) than those without AF. When adjusted by the age and gender, those with AF still had an increased risk for all-cause death (HR 6.58; 95% CI 1.65–26.16, p=0.007) and strokes (HR 5.13; 95% CI 1.85 to 14.18, p=0.002). AF was detected before the time of stroke in 8 (53%) out of 15 patients with both AF and stroke. In addition, six out of eight patients were on anticoagulation at the time of stroke. The cause of death was a stroke in three (33%) out of nine patients with AF. Conclusion In patients with ApHCM, AF was common and was associated with a substantial risk for strokes and mortality suggesting that AF should be carefully managed in ApHCM.
An IARC Manual series aimed at assisting cancer epidemiology and prevention. "Environmental carcinogens: selected methods of analysis".

Since 1975, the IARC has been preparing a series of volumes entitled "Environmental Carcinogens: Selected Methods of Analysis" (IARC Manual series) of which the purposes are to assist analysts, epidemiologists and regulatory authorities in planning or performing exposure measurements that are truly comparable between different studies. The Manual series provides expert information within each volume on multi-media sampling, methods of analyses and some background of epidemiology, metabolism, use/occurrence for a group of known or suspect carcinogens. So far, eleven volumes have been published or are in preparation on the following subjects: N-nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, PAH, aromatic amines, mycotoxins, N-nitroso compounds, volatile halogenated hydrocarbons, metals, passive smoking, benzene and alkylated benzenes, dioxins, PCDFs and PCBs. The presentation will discuss needs and priorities for use of analytical chemistry in estimating exposures of apparently greatest relevance to cancer causation, i.e. the approach to developing this series. Indications from epidemiology, evaluations of carcinogenic risk to humans, and recent developments in total exposure assessment are that new methods and matrices need more emphasis, e.g. as with biochemical dosimetry, exhaled breath, and in indoor air.
Distribution and Local Movement of Humpback Whales in Okinawan Waters Depend on Sex and Reproductive Status

The distribution and local movement patterns of humpback whales in waters off the west coast of Okinawa Island, southwest Japan, were investigated using line transect and photo-identification methodologies. Line transect surveys were conducted from 2011 to 2014 and photo-identification survey from 2006 to 2012. During the surveys, humpback whales aggregated in the areas around Ie and Kerama Islands, and tended to travel along the inshore coast of Okinawa Island when they move locally between those two sites. A total of 496 humpback whales of the known sex were photo-identified (322 males, 75 females and 99 females with a calf). Of these, 24.8% were confirmed moving locally between the sites of Ie and Kerama Islands within the same season. Frequency rates of the local movement for males, females and females with a calf were 41.9, 25.0, and 15.1%, respectively; the frequency of local movement for males was significantly higher than that for females and females with a calf. These results indicate that male humpback whales tend to move more actively between the local breeding sites as compared to females and females with a calf. We speculate that the males search for more opportunities to mate, whereas females with a calf tend to remain in the same areas to nurse their calves. These findings extend our knowledge of the habitat use and reproductive ecology of humpback whales in Okinawan waters, which remain poorly understood.
Assessment of myocardial reperfusion by intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography and coronary flow reserve after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [correction of angiography] in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND This study investigated whether the extent of perfusion defect determined by intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) relates to coronary flow reserve (CRF) for assessment of myocardial reperfusion and is predictive for left ventricular recovery. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-five patients with first AMI underwent intravenous MCE with NC100100 with intermittent harmonic imaging before PTCA and after 24 hours. MCE before PTCA defined the risk region and MCE at 24 hours the "no-reflow" region. The no-reflow region divided by the risk region determined the ratio to the risk region. CFR was assessed immediately after PTCA and 24 hours later. Left ventricular wall motion score indexes were calculated before PTCA and after 4 weeks. CFR at 24 hours defined a recovery (CFR >/=1.6; n=17) and a nonrecovery group (CFR <1.6; n=8). Baseline CFR did not differ between groups. MCE ratio to the risk region was smaller in the recovery group compared with the nonrecovery group (34+/-49% vs 81+/-46%, P=0.009). A ratio to the risk region of </=50% defined an MCE reperfusion group. It was associated with improvement of CFR from 1.67+/-0.47 at baseline to 2. 15+/-0.53 at 24 hours (P<0.001) and of regional wall motion score index from 2.6+/-0.5 to 1.9+/-0.5 at 4 weeks (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Intravenous MCE can be used to define perfusion defects after AMI. Assessment of microcirculation by MCE corresponds to evaluation by CFR. Serial intravenous MCE has the potential to identify patients likely to have improved left ventricular function after AMI.
Inhibition and inactivation of the F1 adenosinetriphosphatase from Bacillus PS3 by dequalinium and activation of the enzyme by lauryl dimethylamine oxide.

The F1-ATPase from Bacillus PS3 (TF1) hydrolyzes 50 microM ATP in three kinetic phases. An initial burst rapidly decelerates to a partially inhibited, intermediate phase, which, in turn, gradually accelerates to an uninhibited, final steady-state rate. Lauryl dimethylamine oxide (LDAO) stimulates the final rate over 4-fold. The stimulatory effect saturates at about 0.1% LDAO. Under these conditions, the intermediate phase is nearly absent. Dequalinium inhibits TF1 reversibly in the dark in the presence or absence of LDAO. The apparent affinity of TF1 for dequalinium increases in the presence of LDAO. Dixon plots of the initial rates of the intermediate phase and the final rates against dequalinium concentration at a series of fixed ATP concentrations in the presence and absence of 0.03% LDAO indicate noncompetitive inhibition in each case. Replots of the slopes of the Dixon plots for the initial rate of the intermediate phase and the final rate against 1/[ATP] reveal apparent Km values of 770 microM and 144 microM, respectively, when obtained in the absence of LDAO. The apparent Km values determined from the data obtained in the presence of LDAO for the same phases are 303 microM and 163 microM, respectively. These results suggest that LDAO stimulates ATPase activity either by increasing the affinity of noncatalytic sites for ATP, which promotes release of inhibitory MgADP from a catalytic site, or by directly promoting release of MgADP from the affected catalytic site. Dequalinium retards this process without affecting the affinity of noncatalytic sites for ATP. When irradiated in the presence of dequalinium, TF1 is rapidly inactivated with an apparent Kd of 12.5 microM in the presence or absence of LDAO. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
How do mobile technologies affect work and private lives? The case of Turkish banking professionals

Mobile technologies (MTs) became important part of infrastructure in service industries. The impacts of MT usage in work are shown to be significant; improving the productivity, responsiveness, effectiveness and flexibility of companies, while reshaping the work place organization and making employees accessible on a 7/24 basis. However, there are great differences in terms of the types and levels of these impacts on organizations and individuals as the industry, region/country changes. Moreover, not much is known about the effects of MTs in developing countries like Turkey where there is a rapidly increasing mobile penetration (mobile phone and internet subscription rates) which is a critical infrastructure component of mobile working. Turkey has quite an advanced banking industry that has went through serious industrial restructuring. Banking industry has always been among the early adapters and first users of new information and communication technologies, as well as first appliers of new organizational development and human resource management techniques. In the last few years, mobile technologies has become key technologies for banks and accordingly, the usage of mobile devices by banking professionals for work purposes increased. As happened in other new information technologies and human resources systems, experiences of banking industry in mobile technology usage at work-place can provide best practices or lessons for practitioners form other industries. This study tries to provide insights on the perceptions of employees in the Turkish banking industry, about the impact of these technologies on their work practices and on their private lives. A structured survey is carried out with 107 white collar professionals from 5 major retail banks in Turkey. By conducting Factors Analysis and correlation analysis, 8 ma