The development and confirmatory factor analysis of the Service-Learning Reflection Scale for undergraduates

The purpose of this study is to develop and to examine the construct validity of the service-learning reflection scale for undergraduates based on Kolb\u27s learning theory. The research aims to: (1) recognize undergraduates\u27 levels of reflection for service-learning; (2) let undergraduates understand their learning styles; (3) evaluate the effect of service-learning for the instructors. We used the Likert\u27s style to make the scales. There are 33 items in the initial scale divided into four subscales inclusive of the concrete experience (CE), the reflection observation (RO), the abstract conceptualization (AC), and the active experience (AE). For the very first time, we invite four experts to evaluate all the items to proceed three times Delphi technique process. We adopt the item analysis, exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis via 326 participants in the pretest. Cronbach\u27s alpha reliability coefficients of the four subscales are from .80 to .87, and that of the total scale was .95. The whole explained variance was 60.16%. In this study, we make use of the stratified sampling, 1,251 undergraduates, to analyze the construct validity by the confirmatory factor analysis. The model index such as GFI, AGFI, NFI, RFI, IFI and CFI are above .90, RMSEA and RMR are below .05, as well as PGFI and PNFI are above .50. In addition, the structural equation modeling analysis indicates measurement weights, measurement intercepts, structural covariance matrixes and measurement residuals of male/female and general/technical undergraduates groups are no significant differences. Moreover, the Cronbach\u27s alpha values of the four subscales are from .85 to .86, and that of the total scale is .95. The results show that the CFA and reliability analysis confirm the theoretical structure as well

Toward a Fairness-Aware Scoring System for Algorithmic Decision-Making

Scoring systems, as a type of predictive model, have significant advantages in interpretability and transparency and facilitate quick decision-making. As such, scoring systems have been extensively used in a wide variety of industries such as healthcare and criminal justice. However, the fairness issues in these models have long been criticized, and the use of big data and machine learning algorithms in the construction of scoring systems heightens this concern. In this paper, we propose a general framework to create fairness-aware, data-driven scoring systems. First, we develop a social welfare function that incorporates both efficiency and group fairness. Then, we transform the social welfare maximization problem into the risk minimization task in machine learning, and derive a fairness-aware scoring system with the help of mixed integer programming. Lastly, several theoretical bounds are derived for providing parameter selection suggestions. Our proposed framework provides a suitable solution to address group fairness concerns in the development of scoring systems. It enables policymakers to set and customize their desired fairness requirements as well as other application-specific constraints. We test the proposed algorithm with several empirical data sets. Experimental evidence supports the effectiveness of the proposed scoring system in achieving the optimal welfare of stakeholders and in balancing the needs for interpretability, fairness, and efficiency

Interleaved EPI based fMRI improved by multiplexed sensitivity encoding (MUSE) and simultaneous multi-band imaging

© 2014 Chang et al. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive and powerful imaging tool for detecting brain activities. The majority of fMRI studies are performed with single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) due to its high temporal resolution. Recent studies have demonstrated that, by increasing the spatial-resolution of fMRI, previously unidentified neuronal networks can be measured. However, it is challenging to improve the spatial resolution of conventional single-shot EPI based fMRI. Although multi-shot interleaved EPI is superior to single-shot EPI in terms of the improved spatial-resolution, reduced geometric distortions, and sharper point spread function (PSF), interleaved EPI based fMRI has two main limitations: 1) the imaging throughput is lower in interleaved EPI; 2) the magnitude and phase signal variations among EPI segments (due to physiological noise, subject motion, and B0 drift) are translated to significant in-plane aliasing artifact across the field of view (FOV). Here we report a method that integrates multiple approaches to address the technical limitations of interleaved EPI-based fMRI. Firstly, the multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (MUSE) post-processing algorithm is used to suppress in-plane aliasing artifacts resulting from time-domain signal instabilities during dynamic scans. Secondly, a simultaneous multi-band interleaved EPI pulse sequence, with a controlled aliasing scheme incorporated, is implemented to increase the imaging throughput. Thirdly, the MUSE algorithm is then generalized to accommodate fMRI data obtained with our multi-band interleaved EPI pulse sequence, suppressing both in-plane and through-plane aliasing artifacts. The blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signal detectability and the scan throughput can be significantly improved for interleaved EPI-based fMRI. Our human fMRI data obtained from 3 Tesla systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed methods. It is expected that future fMRI studies requiring high spatial-resolvability and fidelity will largely benefit from the reported techniques.published_or_final_versio

Two variants on T2DM susceptible gene HHEX are associated with CRC risk in a Chinese population

Increasing amounts of evidence has demonstrated that T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) patients have increased susceptibility to CRC (colorectal cancer). As HHEX is a recognized susceptibility gene in T2DM, this work was focused on two SNPs in HHEX, rs1111875 and rs7923837, to study their association with CRC. T2DM patients without CRC (T2DM-only, n=300), T2DM with CRC (T2DM/CRC, n=135), cancer-free controls (Control, n=570), and CRC without T2DM (CRC-only, n=642) cases were enrolled. DNA samples were extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes of the patients and sequenced by direct sequencing. The χ(2) test was used to compare categorical data. We found that in T2DM patients, rs1111875 but not the rs7923837 in HHEX gene was associated with the occurrence of CRC (p= 0.006). for rs1111875, TC/CC patients had an increased risk of CRC (p=0.019, OR=1.592, 95%CI=1.046-2.423). Moreover, our results also indicated that the two variants of HEEX gene could be risk factors for CRC in general population, independent on T2DM (p< 0.001 for rs1111875, p=0.001 for rs7923837). For rs1111875, increased risk of CRC was observed in TC or TC/CC than CC individuals (p<0.001, OR= 1.780, 95%CI= 1.385-2.287; p<0.001, OR= 1.695, 95%CI= 1.335-2.152). For rs7923837, increased CRC risk was observed in AG, GG, and AG/GG than AA individuals (p< 0.001, OR= 1.520, 95%CI= 1.200-1.924; p=0.036, OR= 1.739, 95%CI= 0.989-3.058; p< 0.001, OR= 1.540, 95%CI= 1.225-1.936). This finding highlights the potentially functional alteration with HHEX rs1111875 and rs7923837 polymorphisms may increase CRC susceptibility. Risk effects and the functional impact of these polymorphisms need further validation

浅析中药学与民族药学对木香的临床应用异同

Costusroot is commonly used in traditional medicine,Mongolian medicine,Tibetan medicine,Dai medicine and Uighur medicine. We discuss similarities and differences in clinical applications of costusroot in traditional medicine,Mongolian medicine,Tibetan medicine,Dai medicine and Uighur medicine, from aspects of its property and flavor,functions and indications ,and clinical applications. For sake of retaining their own features, the authors intended to integrate the essences of the two, broaden its clinical applications, make costusroot to play its role fully and fully understand the natural medicinal plants ,which is more conducive to modernize the traditional medicine.木香是中、蒙、藏、傣以及维医药学的常用药。本文从木香的性味、功效主治及临床应用等方面，比较探讨木香在中医药学、蒙医药学、藏医药学、傣医药学及维医药学中的临床应用异同，希冀在保留各自特色的基础上，相互借鉴，拓宽临床应用，使之发挥其更全面的作用，同时全面认识自然界药用植物，更有利于促进中药现代化

Household Catastrophic Medical Expenses in Eastern China: Determinants and Policy Implications

Background: Much of research on household catastrophic medical expenses in China has focused on less developed areas and little is known about this problem in more developed areas. This study aimed to analyse the incidence and determinants of catastrophic medical expenses in eastern China. Methods: Data were obtained from a health care utilization and expense survey of 11,577 households conducted in eastern China in 2008. The incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses was calculated using the method introduced by the World Health Organization. A multi-level logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants. Results: The incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses in eastern China ranged from 9.24% to 24.79%. Incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses was lower if the head of household had a higher level of education, labor insurance coverage, while the incidence was higher if they lived in rural areas, had a family member with chronic diseases, had a child younger than 5 years old, had a person at home who was at least 65 years old, and had a household member who was hospitalized. Moreover, the impact of the economic level on catastrophic medical expenses was non-linear. The poorest group had a lower incidence than that of the second lowest income group and the group with the highest income had a higher incidence than that of the second highest income group. In addition, region was a significant determinant. Conclusions: Reducing the incidence of household catastrophic medical expenses should be one of the priorities of health policy. It can be achieved by improving residents’ health status to reduce avoidable health services such as hospitalization. It is also important to design more targeted health insurance in order to increase financial support for such vulnerable groups as the poor, chronically ill, children, and senior populations

Intraosseous Lipoma of the Proximal Radius with Extraosseous Extension: A Case Report

Examination of lipomatous tumors with ultrasound (US) is generally limited to the soft tissue component of the mass and cortical contours of the involved bone. We report a patient with an intraosseous lipoma of the proximal radius with extra-osseous extension. US showed a heterogeneous hyperechoic mass lesion (3.5 × 3.0 cm in size) at the radial aspect of the left elbow, with bony cortex interruption. The lesion was associated with increased marginal color flow signals on color Doppler US study. Atypical lipoma or low-grade liposarcoma was diagnosed. The pathologic examination of the lesion demonstrated an abnormal collection of mature adipose tissue consistent with lipoma

CD40 Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Susceptibility and Coronary Artery Lesions of Kawasaki Disease in the Taiwanese Population

Background. Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Our previous studies showed expression of CD40 ligand on CD4+ T cells correlated to the coronary artery lesion (CAL) and disease progress in KD. Other studies from Japan suggested the role of CD40L in the pathogenesis of CAL, and this might help explain the excessive number of males affected with KD but cannot be reproduced by Taiwanese population. This study was conducted to investigate the CD40 polymorphism in KD and CAL formation. Methods. A total of 950 subjects (381 KD patients and 569 controls) were investigated to identify 2 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) of CD40 (rs4810485 and rs1535045) by using the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Results. A significant association was noted with regards to CD40 tSNPs (rs1535045) between controls and KD patients (P = 0.0405, dominant model). In KD patients, polymorphisms of CD40 (rs4810485) showed significant association with CAL formation (P = 0.0436, recessive model). Haplotype analysis did not yield more significant results between polymorphisms of CD40 and susceptibility/disease activity of KD. Conclusions. This study showed for the first time that polymorphisms of CD40 are associated with susceptibility to KD and CAL formation, in the Taiwanese population