Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementing workflow automation systems: implications for management control

Automation has revolutionised industry and initiated profound economic change. In the past two decades, manufacturing productivity has seen substantial improvements, yet office productivity has remained practically unaffected. Workflow automation systems, a new class of system which focus on automating document flows, promises to redress this imbalance. The study looks at the implication of adoption of a workflow automation system and in particular the impact on the managerial control system. The financial service sector is a main adopter of this technology and many such companies are planning future implementation of workflow automation systems. The study sets out to explore the extent of the control features that will be included in the systems and attempts to ascertain the attitude of three groups i.e. users, managers and IT personnel. Their opinions on the consequences which this would have for the operation of the control process in their organisations were then documented and analysed. The control process model developed by J. Child (1984) proved useful in the classification of process control activities. Following analysis of the research data, an amendment to Child's framework is proposed.
Morbidity Risk Factors After Low Anterior Resection With Total Mesorectal Excision and Coloanal Anastomosis: A Retrospective Series of 483 Patients

Objective:To report postoperative morbidity after low anterior resection (LAR) and coloanal anastomosis (CAA) for rectal cancer and identify possible risk factors of complications. Background:Coloanal anastomosis after total mesorectal excision (TME) is associated with significant morbidity. Precise data on the specific morbidity and the risk factors are lacking. Methods:We analyzed retrospectively 483 consecutive LARs with TME and CAA carried out in a single center between 1996 and 2005. All complications occurring up to 3 months after LAR and up to 3 months after closure of the diverting stoma were graded according to the Dindo classification. Results:Of 483 patients, 164 (33.9%) suffered at least 1 complication, leading to death in 2 (0.4%) patients. Grade III/IV complications occurred in 69 of 483 (14.2%) patients. Thirty-four (7.0%) patients developed leakage of the CAA and 3 patients had leakage of the small bowel anastomosis after stoma closure. Ileostomy closure was carried out after a mean of 88.7 days (36–630) after LAR. The stoma was not closed in 4 of 456 (0.6%) patients. In multivariate analysis, male sex (P = 0.0216) and postoperative transfusion (P = 0.0025) were associated with complications. Medical complications were furthermore associated with previous thrombembolic events (P = 0.0012) and associated surgery at the time of LAR (P = 0.0010). Circumferential tumor localization was predictive of surgical complications (P = 0.0015). The only factor associated with a risk of leakage was transfusion (P = 0.0216). Conclusions:In this series morbidity occurred in 34% and dehiscence of the CAA in 7.0%. Transfusion requirement was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications and anastomotic leakage.
Segmentation of cDNA Microarray Spots Using Markov Random Field Modeling

MOTIVATION Spot segmentation is a critical step in microarray gene expression data analysis. Therefore, the performance of segmentation may substantially affect the results of subsequent stages of the analysis, such as the detection of differentially expressed genes. Several methods have been developed to segment microarray spots from the surrounding background. In this study, we have proposed a new approach based on Markov random field (MRF) modeling and tested its performance on simulated and real microarray images against a widely used segmentation method based on Mann-Whitney test adopted by QuantArray software (Boston, MA). Spot addressing was performed using QuantArray. We have also devised a simulation method to generate microarray images with realistic features. Such images can be used as gold standards for the purposes of testing and comparing different segmentation methods, and optimizing segmentation parameters. RESULTS Experiments on simulated and 14 actual microarray image sets show that the proposed MRF-based segmentation method can detect spot areas and estimate spot intensities with higher accuracy.
Integrated Analysis of Myocardial Blush and ST-Segment Elevation Recovery After Successful Primary Angioplasty: Real-Time Grading of Microvascular Reperfusion and Prediction of Early and Late Recovery of Left Ventricular Function

Background—ST-segment elevation (&Sgr;STe) recovery and the angiographic myocardial blush (MB) grade are useful markers of microvascular reperfusion after recanalization of the infarct-related artery. We investigated the ability of a combined analysis of MB grade and &Sgr;STe changes to identify different patterns of myocardial reperfusion shortly after primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and to predict 7-day and 6-month left ventricular (LV) functional recovery. Methods and Results—MB grade and &Sgr;STe recovery were evaluated shortly after successful primary PTCA (restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow) in 114 consecutive patients with &Sgr;STe acute myocardial infarction. LV function was assessed by 2D echocardiograms before PTCA and at 7 days and 6 months thereafter. By combining MB and &Sgr;STe changes, 3 main groups of patients were identified. Group 1 patients (n=60) had both significant MB (grade 2 to 3) and &Sgr;STe recovery (>50% versus basal &Sgr;STe) and a high rate of 7-day (65%) and 6-month (95%) LV functional recovery. In group 2 patients (n=21), who showed MB but persistent &Sgr;STe, the prevalence of early LV functional recovery was low (24%) but increased up to 86% in the late phase. Group 3 patients (n=28), who had neither significant MB nor &Sgr;STe resolution, had poor early (18%) and late (32%) LV functional recovery. Conclusions—After successful primary PTCA, integrated analysis of MB and &Sgr;STe recovery allows a real-time grading of microvascular reperfusion of the infarct area and predicts the time-course and magnitude of LV functional recovery.
Nanointerfacial strength between non-collagenous protein and collagen fibrils in antler bone

Antler bone displays considerable toughness through the use of a complex nanofibrous structure of mineralized collagen fibrils (MCFs) bound together by non-collagenous proteins (NCPs). While the NCP regions represent a small volume fraction relative to the MCFs, significant surface area is evolved upon failure of the nanointerfaces formed at NCP–collagen fibril boundaries. The mechanical properties of nanointerfaces between the MCFs are investigated directly in this work using an in situ atomic force microscopy technique to pull out individual fibrils from the NCP. Results show that the NCP–fibril interfaces in antler bone are weak, which highlights the propensity for interface failure at the nanoscale in antler bone and extensive fibril pullout observed at antler fracture surfaces. The adhesion between fibrils and NCP is additionally suggested as being rate dependent, with increasing interfacial strength and fracture energy observed when pullout velocity decreases.
Chronic Zinc Deficiency Alters Chick Gut Microbiota Composition and Function

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a prevalent micronutrient insufficiency. Although the gut is a vital organ for Zn utilization, and Zn deficiency is associated with impaired intestinal permeability and a global decrease in gastrointestinal health, alterations in the gut microbial ecology of the host under conditions of Zn deficiency have yet to be studied. Using the broiler chicken (Gallus gallus) model, the aim of this study was to characterize distinct cecal microbiota shifts induced by chronic dietary Zn depletion. We demonstrate that Zn deficiency induces significant taxonomic alterations and decreases overall species richness and diversity, establishing a microbial profile resembling that of various other pathological states. Through metagenomic analysis, we show that predicted Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways responsible for macro- and micronutrient uptake are significantly depleted under Zn deficiency; along with concomitant decreases in beneficial short chain fatty acids, such depletions may further preclude optimal host Zn availability. We also identify several candidate microbes that may play a significant role in modulating the bioavailability and utilization of dietary Zn during prolonged deficiency. Our results are the first to characterize a unique and dysbiotic cecal microbiota during Zn deficiency, and provide evidence for such microbial perturbations as potential effectors of the Zn deficient phenotype.
Mercaptosuccinate Dioxygenase, a Cysteine Dioxygenase Homologue, from Variovorax paradoxus Strain B4 Is the Key Enzyme of Mercaptosuccinate Degradation

Background: Hitherto, bacterial thiol dioxygenases were only rarely identified and characterized, and the catabolism of mercaptosuccinate is scarcely known. Results: Mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase catalyzes exclusively the conversion of mercaptosuccinate yielding succinate and sulfite. Conclusion: Mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase represents a novel thiol dioxygenase and is the key enzyme during mercaptosuccinate degradation. Significance: The identification of this thiol dioxygenase provides new insights in substrate specificity of cupin motif containing dioxygenases. The versatile thiol mercaptosuccinate has a wide range of applications, e.g. in quantum dot research or in bioimaging. Its metabolism is investigated in Variovorax paradoxus strain B4, which can utilize this compound as the sole source of carbon and sulfur. Proteomic studies of strain B4 resulted in the identification of a putative mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase, a cysteine dioxygenase homologue, possibly representing the key enzyme in the degradation of mercaptosuccinate. Therefore, the putative mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase was heterologously expressed, purified, and characterized in this study. The results clearly demonstrated that the enzyme utilizes mercaptosuccinate with concomitant consumption of oxygen. Thus, the enzyme is designated as mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase. Succinate and sulfite were verified as the final reaction products. The enzyme showed an apparent Km of 0.4 mm, and a specific activity (Vmax) of 20.0 μmol min−1 mg−1 corresponding to a kcat of 7.7 s−1. Furthermore, the enzyme was highly specific for mercaptosuccinate, no activity was observed with cysteine, dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol, and 3-mercaptopropionate. These structurally related thiols did not have an inhibitory effect either. Fe(II) could clearly be identified as metal cofactor of the mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase with a content of 0.6 mol of Fe(II)/mol of enzyme. The recently proposed hypothesis for the degradation pathway of mercaptosuccinate based on proteome analyses could be strengthened in the present study. (i) Mercaptosuccinate is first converted to sulfinosuccinate by this mercaptosuccinate dioxygenase; (ii) sulfinosuccinate is spontaneously desulfinated to succinate and sulfite; and (iii) whereas succinate enters the central metabolism, sulfite is detoxified by the previously identified putative molybdopterin oxidoreductase.
Knowledge Production in Two Types of Medical PhD Routes - What's to Gain?

Purpose: To assess the assumption that differences exist between the traditional and publication-based PhD routes in terms of the thesis’ length and the scientific publications originating from it. Method: A retrospective comparative study on medical PhD theses offered by an online repository was performed. All free full-text medical PhD theses defended at United Kingdom institutions between 2003 and 2015 were analyzed and assigned to the traditional (TT) or publication based thesis (PBT) group. Several characteristics of theses and thesis-related articles were collected and analyzed. The thesis-related articles were investigated regarding quantity and visibility (citations, impact factor, and journal rank). Results: The theses length proved similar in PBT and TT group. PBT group included significantly more studies than TT group (mean 4.44 vs. 2.67) also reflected in significantly more thesis-related articles. The percentage of articles listed in Web of Science and published in a journal with impact factor proved significantly lower in TT compared with PBT group. On the contrary, article citations were significantly higher for TT. Both groups published similarly in high-ranked journals (Q1 or Q2). Conclusion: The research productivity originating from the PBT group was, as expected, significantly larger but not significantly more visible than those from TT group.
Effects of Helicobacter pylori and Heat Shock Protein 70 on the Proliferation of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells

Infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) changed the proliferation of gastric epithelial cells and decreased the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). However, the effects of H. pylori on the proliferation of gastric epithelial cells and the roles of HSP70 during the progress need further investigation. Objective. To investigate the effects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on the proliferation of human gastric epithelial cells. Methods. H. pylori and a human gastric epithelial cell line (AGS) were cocultured. The proliferation of AGS cells was quantitated by an MTT assay, and the expression of HSP70 in AGS cells was detected by Western blotting. HSP70 expression in AGS cells was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) to investigate the role of HSP70. The siRNA-treated AGS cells were cocultured with H. pylori and cell proliferation was measured by an MTT assay. Results. The proliferation of AGS cells was accelerated by coculturing with H. pylori for 4 and 8 h, but was suppressed at 24 and 48 h. HSP70 expression was decreased in AGS cells infected by H. pylori for 48 h. The proliferation in HSP70-silenced AGS cells was inhibited after coculturing with H. pylori for 24 and 48 h compared with the control group. Conclusions. Coculture of H. pylori altered the proliferation of gastric epithelial cells and decreased HSP70 expression. HSP70 knockdown supplemented the inhibitory effect of H. pylori on proliferation of epithelial cells. These results indicate that the effects of H. pylori on the proliferation of gastric epithelial cells at least partially depend on the decreased expression of HSP70 induced by the bacterium.
Recombinant human activated protein C improves pulmonary function in ovine acute lung injury resulting from smoke inhalation and sepsis

Objective:To investigate the effects of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) on pulmonary function in acute lung injury (ALI) resulting from smoke inhalation in association with a bacterial challenge. Design:Prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental animal study with repeated measurements. Setting:Investigational intensive care unit at a university hospital. Subjects:Eighteen sheep (37.2 ± 1.0 kg) were operatively prepared and randomly allocated to either the sham, control, or rhAPC group (n = 6 each). After a tracheotomy had been performed, ALI was produced in the control and rhAPC group by insufflation of 4 sets of 12 breaths of cotton smoke. Then, a 30 mL suspension of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (containing 2–5 × 1011 colony forming units) was instilled into the lungs according to an established protocol. The sham group received only the vehicle, i.e., 4 sets of 12 breaths of room air and instillation of 30 mL normal saline. The sheep were studied in the awake state for 24 hrs and were ventilated with 100% oxygen. RhAPC (24 &mgr;g/kg/hr) was intravenously administered. The infusion was initiated 1 hr post-injury and lasted until the end of the experiment. The animals were resuscitated with Ringer's lactate solution to maintain constant pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. Measurements and Main Results:In comparison with nontreatment in controls, the infusion of rhAPC significantly attenuated the fall in Pao2/Fio2 ratio (control group values were 521 ± 22 at baseline [BL], 72 ± 5 at 12 hrs, and 74 ± 7 at 24 hrs, vs. rhAPC group values of 541 ± 12 at BL, 151 ± 29 at 12 hours [p < .05 vs. control], and 118 ± 20 at 24 hrs), and significantly reduced the increase in pulmonary microvascular shunt fraction (Qs/Qt; control group at BL, 0.14 ± 0.02, and at 24 hrs, 0.65 ± 0.08; rhAPC group at BL, 0.24 ± 0.04, and at 24 hrs, 0.45 ± 0.02 [p < .05 vs. control]) and the increase in peak airway pressure (mbar; control group at BL, 20 ± 1, and at 24 hrs, 36 ± 4; rhAPC group at BL, 21 ± 1, and at 24 hrs, 28 ± 2 [p < .05 vs. control]). In addition, rhAPC limited the increase in lung 3-nitrotyrosine (after 24 hrs [%]: sham, 7 ± 2; control, 17 ± 1; rhAPC, 12 ± 1 [p < .05 vs. control]), a reliable indicator of tissue injury. However, rhAPC failed to prevent lung edema formation. RhAPC-treated sheep showed no difference in activated clotting time or platelet count but exhibited less fibrin degradation products (1/6 animals) than did controls (4/6 animals). Conclusions:Recombinant human activated protein C attenuated ALI after smoke inhalation and bacterial challenge in sheep, without bleeding complications.
The Supernova Remnant G106.3+2.7 and Its Pulsar-Wind Nebula: Relics of Triggered Star Formation in a Complex Environment

We propose that the pulsar nebula associated with the pulsar J2229+6114 and the supernova remnant (SNR) G106.3+2.7 are the result of the same supernova explosion. The whole structure is located at the edge of an H I bubble with extended regions of molecular gas inside. The radial velocities of both the atomic hydrogen and the molecular material suggest a distance of 800 pc. At this distance, the SNR is 14 pc long and 6 pc wide. Apparently, the bubble was created by the stellar wind and supernova explosions of a group of stars in its center, which also triggered the formation of the progenitor star of G106.3+2.7. The progenitor star exploded at or close to the current position of the pulsar, which is at one end of the SNR rather than at its center. The expanding shock wave of the supernova explosion created a comet-shaped supernova remnant by running into dense material and then breaking out into the inner part of the H I bubble. A synchrotron nebula with a shell-like structure (the "Boomerang") of length 0.8 pc was created by the pulsar wind interacting with the dense ambient medium. The expanding shock wave created an H I shell of mass 0.4 M☉ around this nebula by ionizing the atomic hydrogen in its vicinity.
Effects of variations of load distribution on network performance

The paper is concerned with the characterization of the relationship between topology and traffic dynamics. We use a model of network generation that allows the transition from random to scale free networks. Specifically, we consider three different topological types of network: random; scale-free with /spl gamma/=3; scale-free with /spl gamma/=2. By using a novel LRD traffic generator, we observe best performance, in terms of transmission rates and delivered packets, in the case of random networks. We show that, even if scale-free networks are characterized by shorter characteristic-pathlength (the lower the exponent, the lower the pathlength), they show worst performances in terms of communication. We conjecture that this can be explained in terms of changes in the load distribution, defined as the number of shortest paths going through a given vertex. In fact, that distribution is characterized by (i) a decreasing mean and (ii) an increasing standard deviation, as the networks becomes scale-free (especially scale-free networks with low exponents). The use of a degree-independent server also discriminates against a scale-free structure. As a result, since the model is uncontrolled, most packets go through the same vertices, favoring the onset of congestion.
Brain Biochemical Effects of Methylphenidate Treatment Using Proton Magnetic Spectroscopy in Youth with Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Controlled Pilot Study

Introduction: This study conducted spectroscopic analyses using proton (1H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (at 4 Tesla) in a sample of adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), before and after treatment with extended release methylphenidate (OROS MPH), as compared to a sample of healthy comparators. Aims: The main aim of this study is to use 1H MRS to measure differences in brain biochemistry between adolescents with and without ADHD, and to assess changes in cerebral biochemistry, before and after stimulant treatment in ADHD youth. Results: Subjects with ADHD were medically healthy adolescents treated in an open label fashion with OROS MPH (mean dose: 54 mg/day; 0.90 mg/kg/day). Subjects with ADHD were scanned before and after OROS MPH treatment. Healthy comparators were scanned once. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy studies were performed on a 4.0 T Varian Unity/Inova MR scanner; proton spectra were acquired from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC). Data were analyzed using MANOVA and repeated measurement ANOVA. Higher metabolite ratios (Glutamate/myo‐inositol, Glutamine/myo‐inositol, Glutamate + Glutamine/myo‐inositol) were observed in the ACC in untreated ADHD subjects as compared to controls, and to treated ADHD youth; these group differences did not reach the a priori threshold for statistical significance. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest the presence of glutamatergic abnormalities in adolescents with ADHD, which may normalize with MPH treatment. Larger sample, controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
In Support of a Distinction between Voluntary and Stimulus-Driven Control: A Review of the Literature on Proportion Congruent Effects

Cognitive control is by now a large umbrella term referring collectively to multiple processes that plan and coordinate actions to meet task goals. A common feature of paradigms that engage cognitive control is the task requirement to select relevant information despite a habitual tendency (or bias) to select goal-irrelevant information. At least since the 1970s, researchers have employed proportion congruent (PC) manipulations to experimentally establish selection biases and evaluate the mechanisms used to control attention. PC manipulations vary the frequency with which irrelevant information conflicts (i.e., is incongruent) with relevant information. The purpose of this review is to summarize the growing body of literature on PC effects across selective attention paradigms, beginning first with Stroop, and then describing parallel effects in flanker and task-switching paradigms. The review chronologically tracks the expansion of the PC manipulation from its initial implementation at the list-wide level, to more recent implementations at the item-specific and context-specific levels. An important theoretical aim is demonstrating that PC effects at different levels (e.g., list-wide vs. item or context-specific) support a distinction between voluntary forms of cognitive control, which operate based on anticipatory information, and relatively automatic or reflexive forms of cognitive control, which are rapidly triggered by the processing of particular stimuli or stimulus features. A further aim is to highlight those PC manipulations that allow researchers to dissociate stimulus-driven control from other stimulus-driven processes (e.g., S-R responding; episodic retrieval). We conclude by discussing the utility of PC manipulations for exploring the distinction between voluntary control and stimulus-driven control in other relevant paradigms.