Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Referrer satisfaction as a quality criterion: developing an questionnaire for measuring the quality of services provided by a radiology department].

PURPOSE To develop a questionnaire for measuring referring physician satisfaction and to conduct a pilot study in which this questionnaire is given to all physicians referring patients to the authors' radiology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS After qualitative pre-testing and adjustment of the prototype questionnaire, data were collected using the finalized standardized questionnaire comprising 29 indicators rated on a 4-point ordinal scale mailed with a personalized cover letter to the total referring physician population of a radiology department (n = 727). The replies, rated 1 - 4, were entered into a data entry mask for statistical analysis. RESULTS The response rate was 33.8 %. The indicators with the highest satisfaction rating were the range of examinations offered ("very satisfied": 79.3 % mean 3.79), the quality of the technical equipment used for MRI and CT (79.3 %, 3.79) and mammography (82.5 %, 3.82), and the quality of the images yielded by these procedures (74.5 %, 3.73 and 82.2 %, 3.83). Dissatisfaction was relatively high with the indicators "time to receipt of the written report" (28.3 % "not very satisfied" or "not at all satisfied", mean 2.97), "time to receipt of the X-ray images" (18.2 %, 3.07) and "availability of previous findings" (20.9 %, 3.05); satisfaction was higher among external referring physicians (p < 0.05). Physicians rated the importance of these three indicators as relatively high ("very important": 62.4 %, 54.3 % and 49.6 %). Other indicators showing a similar level of dissatisfaction were "car parking availability" (24.1 %, 3.01), "patient waiting time" (27.4 %, 2.87) and "patient environment" (21.2 %, 2.99), although these factors were rated as less important ("very important": 33.0 %, 33.7 % and 40.4 %). CONCLUSION This questionnaire constitutes a standardized validated instrument for assessing referring physician satisfaction with a radiology department. The data from this pilot study highlight areas for potential improvement. Deployment of such a questionnaire in different radiology departments could serve to establish best practice benchmarks.
Monogamy and sex role reversal in the pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus


We observed the mating pattern and social behaviour of the pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus in temperate waters of Japan during three successive breeding seasons. Males cared for a clutch in their brood pouch for 9-19 days until hatching and had several broods in the season with nonbrooding intervals of only 1 or 2 days. The population sex ratio was female biased and some females were always excluded from reproduction. Although males were sometimes courted by unmated females together with their regular partners, they always mated with the latter. The pair bond was maintained until the next season if both members survived. When males lost their partners, they remated with neighbouring unmated females within a few days. In contrast, widowed females remained unmated for a long time. Females had larger home ranges and were more active in courtship displays than males. This pipefish provides the first example of sex role reversal among monogamous syngnathid fish. We suggest that mate guarding by females is a primary proximate factor for maintenance of monogamy in this fish. Copyright 2001 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Statistical Biases and Security Rates of Return

The advent of the computer has permitted financial theorists to collect and analyze large amounts of financial data. In the field of investments some of the most important work has focused on historical rates of return in investments in common stocks. The classical study in this area is the Fisher-Lorie study [8,9] in which intern al rates of return were calculated for every security listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 1926–1965. Other studies related to the area have been complicated by Herzog [10], Fisher [6,7], Latané and Young [11], Soldofsky and Biderman [12], and Evans [3,4].
Ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels in sleep apnea syndrome: Role of obesity

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among plasma leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, resistin levels, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive newly diagnosed OSAS patients and 15 age-matched nonapneic controls were enrolled in this study. After sleep study between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM on the morning, venous blood was obtained in the fasting state to measure ghrelin and adipokines. RESULTS: Serum ghrelin levels of OSAS group were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the control group. No significant difference was noted in the levels of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin in OSAS group when compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between ghrelin and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) (r = 0.237, P < 0.05) or the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) (r = 0.28, P < 0.05). There was also a significant positive correlation between leptin and body mass index (r = 0.592, P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was observed between leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and any polysomnographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that serum ghrelin levels were higher in OSAS patients than those of control group and correlated with AHI and ESS. Further studies are needed to clarify the complex relation among OSAS, obesity, adipokines, and ghrelin.
The Effects of Continuous One-Arm Kettlebell Swing Training on Physiological Parameters in United States Air Force Personnel: A Pilot Study

Abstract : The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one-arm kettlebell (KB) swing training on various U.S. Air Force (USAF) physical fitness testing components. Thirty trained male (n=15) and female (n=15) USAF subjects volunteered and were sequentially assigned to one of three groups based on 1.5-mile run time: (1) KB one-arm swing training, (2) KB one-arm swing training plus high intensity running (KB + run), and (3) traditional USAF physical training (PT) according to Air Force Instruction 36-2905. The following measurements were made before and after 10 weeks of training: 1.5-mile run, 1-minute maximal push-ups, 1-minute maximal sit-ups, maximal grip strength, pro agility, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, body weight, and percent body fat. Subjects attended three supervised exercise sessions per week for 10 weeks. During each exercise session, all groups performed a 10-minute dynamic warmup followed by either (1) 10 minutes of continuous KB swings, (2) 10 minutes of continuous KB swings plus 10 minutes of high-intensity running, or (3) 20 minutes of moderate-intensity running plus push-ups and sit-ups.
Infection enhancement of influenza A H1 subtype viruses in macrophage‐like P388D1 cells by cross‐reactive antibodies

The contribution of cross‐reactive hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies to infection enhancement of influenza A H1 subtype NWS virus and two antigenic drift strains was investigated in a macrophage‐like cell line P388D1. When P388D1 cells, previously treated with neuraminidase (NA) to remove the viral receptors, were infected with NWS virus exposed to rabbit antiviral immunoglobulin (IgG) showing various levels of cross‐HI titers, virus yields were enhanced in the presence of a subneutralizing antibody, depending on their cross‐HI titers. By flow cytometric analysis using a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled NWS virus, the efficiency of attachment of virus‐rabbit IgG complexes to Fc receptors on NA‐treated cells showed close correlation with its cross‐HI titer. These data suggest that cross‐reactive HI antibodies could contribute to infection enhancement through the formation of potent infectious immune complexes with drift strains to mediate virus infection via Fc receptor uptake. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAB) in mouse IgG subclasses IgG1 and IgG2a showing strain‐specific or cross‐reactive HI activity were tested for their infection enhancement characteristics. A strain‐specific mAB enhanced infection of homologous NWS virus, but not that of two other drift strains in either antibody dilution. In contrast, a cross‐reactive mAB caused infection enhancement of all three virus strains in the presence of the subneutralizing antibody. This indicates that cross‐reactivity, but not the IgG subclass, acts as an enhancing factor to this phenomenon. The antibody, with the same specificity as cross‐reactive mAB, was detected semiquantitatively by competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with results almost consistent with cross‐HI titers of polyclonal rabbit antiviral IgGs. These data suggest that the antibody detected by this assay might be one of the potent antibodies governing cross‐HI activity as a whole antibody and causing infection enhancement of drift strains.
Stock diffusion theory: a dynamic model for inventory control

Abstract This paper proposes a dynamic approach for inventory management, which can be used for a definitely non stationary demand whose rate evolves both in mean and in variance. Specifically, the stock consumption is modelled as a Markov process with a slow diffusion term and the Fokker Planck equation is used to derive the probability distribution of the stock consumption and that of the reorder time. The knowledge of these distributions makes it possible to manage the inventory in a dynamical way and to keep the safety stock to a minimum level. To test the model, some typical demand patterns are used: results demonstrate its ability to capture both the evolution of the mean and that of the variance of the demand.
Efficient image gradient based vehicle localization

This paper reports novel algorithms for the efficient localization and recognition of traffic in traffic scenes. The algorithms eliminate the need for explicit symbolic feature extraction and matching. The pose and class of an object is determined by a form of voting and one-dimensional (1-D) correlations based directly on image gradient data, which can be computed "on the fly. " The algorithms are therefore very well suited to real-time implementation. The algorithms make use of two a priori sources of knowledge about the scene and the objects expected: (1) the ground-plane constraint and (2) the fact that the overall shape of road vehicles is strongly rectilinear. Additional efficiency is derived from making the weak perspective assumption. These assumptions are valid in the road traffic application domain. The algorithms are demonstrated and tested using routine outdoor traffic images. Success with a variety of vehicles in several traffic scenes demonstrates the efficiency and robustness of context-based image understanding in road traffic scene analysis. The limitations of the algorithms are also addressed in the paper.
A low-Power PGA with DC-Offset Cancellation in 65 nm CMOS process

A low-Power Programming Gain Amplifier (PGA) with DC-Offset Cancellation for long term evolution (LTE) is implemented in a 65-nm CMOS. The proposed PGA is composed of a three-stage sub-VGA with DC-offset cancellations (DCOC) and common-mode feedbacks (CMFB). The gain of the proposed PGA ranges from 0 dB to 42 dB with a step of 3 dB, which can be easily tuned by switched-resistors and switched-capacities. The proposed VGA achieves a tunable gain up to up to 6 dB by the first stage, up to 12 dB by the second stage, and up to 24 dB by the third stage respectively. The DCOC is adapted to cancel the DC offset voltage introduced by the mismatch presented in circuits. At the same time, CMFB is utilized to reduce the mismatch between the top and bottom current sources. It has a low power consumption of 2.76 mW at a supply of 1.2 V with 10 MHz's gain bandwidth (GBW), input-referred noise of 18 nV/vHz.
Dimensions of adolescent problem drinking.

Issues involved in defining and measuring adolescent problem drinking have occupied the attention of alcohol researchers since the mid-1970s. However, appropriate definitions and measures of problem drinking remain important and unanswered conceptual and research questions. The research reported in this study was designed to address these issues by identifying multiple dimensions of adolescent problem drinking and examining correlates of these dimensions using multivariate regression models. A longitudinal sample of 2,771 students who had tried alcohol was used in these analyses. The sample was followed over three waves of data collection, between 1985 and 1990, in middle and high schools located in a southeastern U.S. county. Data from the third wave were used to characterize problem-drinking behavior. Results of exploratory factor analyses supported the conclusion made by others that adolescent problem drinking is a multidimensional phenomenon. Three dimensions measuring (1) level or frequency of alcohol use, (2) problems related to drinking and (3) symptoms of dependency were identified and were only moderately intercorrelated. The independent measures used to model the three problem-drinking measures were the same for each model, and the significant predictors and proportions of variance explained by the predictors differed widely across models. Results of the regression models confirmed the uniqueness of the three measures and suggested that the potency of specific risk factors varies for different types of problem drinking. Prevention implications and recommendations for this area of research are discussed.
The German-Owned Manufacturing Sector in the North-East of England

The north-east of England is one of the most successful regions in attracting foreign investment in the UK-Germany being the most important European investor. This article seeks to provide a detailed account of the underlying motives and linkage effects of German direct investment in the manufacturing sector in the north-east of England. The study of 19 of the 29 German-owned manufacturing companies found that market-orientation was by far the most important pull-factor. The direct effects in terms of associated jobs and capital spending created a solid and persistent structure with six companies even expanding. However, to be more beneficial to the restructuring of the regional economy the existing linkages of the German-owned manufacturing sector have to be consolidated and additional networks built up. A separate discussion of the rise and fall of the Siemens semiconductor plant at Wallsend reveals the volatility of flagship investments and stresses the need for a regional industrial policy combining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with endogenous economic development.
Examining private and public provision in Canada’s provincial health care systems: comparing Ontario and Quebec

Globally, the mix of private- and public-sector involvement in health care delivery is a focus of political concern. This concern in Canada takes place within the parameters of the federal Canada Health Act. Private for-profit activities in the health care sector in Canadian provinces have moderately shrunk the definition of ‘necessary medical and hospital services’ that must be provided by the public administration system under the federal Canada Health Act. In this article, we argue that the development of new technologies, pharmaceutical innovations, competing (non-health) demands on the federal dollar, and an aging population together create an environment where pressures for economic and political sustainability have led to some erosion of necessary health services in the provinces. Such pressures have, in turn, led to the growth of private commercial-sector health services. Within Canada’s federal system, provincial negotiation of the role of commercial health care organizations has developed in different ways in Ontario and Quebec. Such subnational developments are a significant focus for comparative health policy analysis.
Implied Probability Distributions: Empirical Analysis

An earlier article, "Implied Binomial Trees," introduced a theoretical model for implying the stochastic process of an underlying asset price from the prices of associated options. This sequel provides details concerning application of the model to the full record of S&P 500 index options transactions from April 2, 1986 through December 31, 1993. Most prominently, it introduces a revised optimization technique for estimating expiration-date risk-neutral probability distributions which is probably theoretically superior and definitely orders of magnitude faster than the approaches outlined in the antecedent paper. This method maximizes the smoothness of the distribution while at the same time insuring that multimodalities are not unrealistically strong. With the exception of the lower left-hand tail of the distribution, alternative optimization specifications typically produce approximately the same implied distributions. Considerable care is taken to specify such parameters as interest rates, dividends, and synchronous index levels, as well as to filter for general arbitrage violations resulting implied probability distributions exhibit changes in skewness as time-to-expiration approaches which are consistent and to use time aggregation to correct for unrealistic persistent jaggedness of implied volatility smiles. The with theoretical predictions. While time patterns of skewness and kurtosis exhibit a discontinuity across the divide of the 1987 market crash, they remain remarkably stable on either side of the divide. Moreover, since the crash, the risk-neutral probability of a four standard deviation decline in the S&P index (-46% over a year) is 100 times more likely than would appear to be the case under the assumption of lognormality.
The Effect of Welfare Payments on the Marriage and Fertility Behavior of Unwed Mothers: Results from a Twins Experiment

We study the relationship between welfare benefits and the time to first marriage and time to next birth among initially unwed mothers. We use twin births to generate random within‐state variation in benefits, effectively controlling for unobservables that may confound the relationship between welfare payments and behavior. Higher base welfare benefits (1) lead unwed white mothers to forestall their eventual marriage and (2) lead unwed black mothers to hasten their next birth. The magnitudes of these effects are fairly modest. Moreover, we find no evidence that the marginal benefit paid at the birth of an additional child—the focus of the family cap debate—affects fertility.
Estimating Sri Lanka's Potential Output

In this paper we present various techniques to estimate Sri Lanka’s potential output and output gap, including statistical and model-based approaches. Compared to conventional statistical filters that rely exclusively on information in a single series, the model-based approaches allow potential output estimates to incorporate information contained in observable data series including inflation, actual output, unemployment and capacity utilization. The estimation results suggest that Sri Lanka’s potential output has risen slightly in the last few years.
Introduction to macro-economics

At its most basic level, macroeconomics is the study of aggregate fluctuations and growth, in conjunction with the role played by public policy. The aggregate fluctuations and growth variables include the overall production of goods and services, employment of labor, price, interest rates, money, and trade and the value of international currencies. The relevant public policies are both monetary and fiscal as implemented by a central bank and a national government. In summary, macroeconomics is the study of how an overall economy operates and the influence that public policy has on aggregate economic outcomes.
Intramembrane proteolysis of Toxoplasma apical membrane antigen 1 facilitates host-cell invasion but is dispensable for replication

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is a conserved transmembrane adhesin of apicomplexan parasites that plays an important role in host-cell invasion. Toxoplasma gondii AMA1 (TgAMA1) is secreted onto the parasite surface and subsequently released by proteolytic cleavage within its transmembrane domain. To elucidate the function of TgAMA1 intramembrane proteolysis, we used a heterologous cleavage assay to characterize the determinants within the TgAMA1 transmembrane domain (ALIAGLAVGGVLLLALLGGGCYFA) that govern its processing. Quantitative analysis revealed that the TgAMA1L/G mutation enhanced cleavage by 13-fold compared with wild type. In contrast, the TgAMA1AG/FF mutation reduced cleavage by 30-fold, whereas the TgAMA1GG/FF mutation had a minor effect on proteolysis; mutating both motifs in a quadruple mutant blocked cleavage completely. We then complemented a TgAMA1 conditional knockout parasite line with plasmids expressing these TgAMA1 variants. Contrary to expectation, variants that increased or decreased TgAMA1 processing by >10-fold had no phenotypic consequences, revealing that the levels of rhomboid proteolysis in parasites are not delicately balanced. Only parasites transgenically expressing or carrying a true knock-in allele of the uncleavable TgAMA1AG/FF+GG/FF mutant showed a growth defect, which resulted from inhibiting invasion without perturbing intracellular replication. These data demonstrate that TgAMA1 cleavage plays a role in invasion, but refute a recently proposed model in which parasite replication within the host cell is regulated by intramembrane proteolysis of TgAMA1.
Social Media and e-Participation: Challenges of Social Media for Managing Public Projects

e-Participation has advantages over traditional modes of public participation: independent of time and place, information can be provided and updated at reasonable costs. A broad range of citizens can be involved regardless of demographics, family or work situation, thereby broadening the basis for public participation. Thus, public authorities seek to employ social media for the purposes of project management in terms of e-Participation. Nevertheless, social media presents challenges that need to be resolved to be suitable for e-Participation, such as user-friendliness, technical requirements for information preparation, and data protection requirements. Reviewing the literature, it is concluded that although common social media solutions are successful in generating attention for participation projects, they are not necessarily appropriate for conducting the project itself. Therefore, the case of a reference company offering a specialized platform and social network is introduced. It was identified as good practice in recent reports published by the European Commission.