Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recreational Marijuana Use and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Insights from Nationwide Inpatient Sample in the United States

Background Marijuana is a widely used recreational substance. Few cases have been reported of acute myocardial infarction following marijuana use. To our knowledge, this is the first ever study analyzing the lifetime odds of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with marijuana use and the outcomes in AMI patients with versus without marijuana use. Methods We queried the 2010-2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for 11-70-year-old AMI patients. Pearson Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student T-test for continuous variables were used to compare the baseline demographic and hospital characteristics between two groups (without vs. with marijuana) of AMI patients. The univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess and compare the clinical outcomes between two groups. We used Cochran–Armitage test to measure the trends. All statistical analyses were executed by IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). We used weighted data to produce national estimates in our study. Results Out of 2,451,933 weighted hospitalized AMI patients, 35,771 patients with a history of marijuana and 2,416,162 patients without a history of marijuana use were identified. The AMI-marijuana group consisted more of younger, male, African American patients. The length of stay and mortality rate were lower in the AMI-marijuana group with more patients being discharged against medical advice. Multivariable analysis showed that marijuana use was a significant risk factor for AMI development when adjusted for age, sex, race (adjusted OR 1.079, 95% CI 1.065-1.093, p<0.001); adjusted for age, female, race, smoking, cocaine abuse (adjusted OR 1.041, 95% CI 1.027-1.054, p<0.001); and also when adjusted for age, female, race, payer status, smoking, cocaine abuse, amphetamine abuse and alcohol abuse (adjusted OR: 1.031, 95% CI: 1.018-1.045, p<0.001). Complications such as respiratory failure (OR 18.9, CI 15.6-23.0, p<0.001), cerebrovascular disease (OR 9.0, CI 7.0-11.7, p<0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR 6.0, CI 4.9-7.4, p<0.001), septicemia (OR 1.8, CI 1.5–2.2, p<0.001), and dysrhythmia (OR 1.8, CI 1.5-2.1, p<0.001) were independent predictors of mortality in AMI-marijuana group. Conclusion The lifetime AMI odds were increased in recreational marijuana users. Overall odds of mortality were not increased significantly in AMI-marijuana group. However, marijuana users showed higher trends of AMI prevalence and related mortality from 2010-2014. It is crucial to assess cardiovascular effects related to marijuana overuse and educate patients for the same.
Culture: The Missing Concept in Organization Studies.

1996 by Cornell University. 0001-8392/96/41 02-0229/$1 . 00. Inattention to social systems in organizations has led researchers to underestimate the importance of culture-shared norms, values, and assumptions-in how organizations function. Concepts for understanding culture in organizations have value only when they derive from observation of real behavior in organizations, when they make sense of organizational data, and when they are definable enough to generate further study. The attempt to explain what happened to "brainwashed" American prisoners of war in the Korean conflict points up the need to take both individual traits and culture into account to understand organizational phenomena. For example, the failure of organizational learning can be understood more readily by examining the typical responses to change by members of several broad occupational cultures in an organization. The implication is that culture needs to be observed, more than measured, if organization studies is to advance.
Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase Signaling Is Required for Erythropoietin-Mediated Acute Protection Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Background—Parenteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) to rats induces protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury 24 hours later. However, the mechanisms by which rhEPO mediates protection have not been determined. Methods and Results—rhEPO was perfused into isolated rat hearts over 15 minutes immediately before 30 minutes of no-flow ischemia and 45 minutes of reperfusion. Compared with saline-perfused control hearts, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was increased in rhEPO-perfused hearts. rhEPO also increased AKT activity and decreased apoptosis. All of these effects were blocked when the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin was infused with rhEPO. Conclusions—rhEPO provides immediate protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the isolated perfused rat heart that is mediated by the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway.
The evolution of social entrepreneurship: what have we learned?

Purpose – If there is one thing that truly characterizes entrepreneurship and especially social entrepreneurship, it is the “engaged scholarship” at their very heart. That is, teaching, outreach/service and research are connected, often tightly. The purpose of this paper therefore is to discuss the evolution of social entrepreneurship and the lessons learned. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on the results of a multi-country survey dealing with social entrepreneurship. Findings – It is found that a lot of maturing needs to be done in the area of social entrepreneurship work. Originality/value – This paper provides real value to the literature by showing what is actually done in the teaching of social entrepreneurship.
Stock Market Performance And Modern Portfolio Theory: Case On Malaysian Stock Market And Asian Indices

Stocks market performance measurement has long been regarded as the most interesting part in investment. Many new methods emerge every year but most of these are rooted from Modern Portfolio theory by Harry Markowitz. In this research paper, we have used the efficient frontier from modern portfolio theory to determine the best stocks performance in KLCI index from 2006-2010. The data is compared to Sharpe performance measurement and we’ve discussed on how the best performers under efficient frontier do not agree with the result of best performers under Sharpe performance measurement. We have extended our study to look into Asian Indices include Japan, India and Hong Kong while setting the US market as our benchmark by using risk and return, together with coefficient of variance to rank the indices. We have also argued on the highest risky index. To complete the study, we’ve also used Johansen co-integration test to envisage the Asian indices market direction and economy influence. We have also discovered that most of the Asia markets co-integrate and follow Japanese market (N225) rather than the US market (S&P500).
Higher disease activity leads to more structural damage in the spine in ankylosing spondylitis: 12-year longitudinal data from the OASIS cohort

Objectives To analyse the long-term relationship between disease activity and radiographic damage in the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Patients from the Outcome in AS International Study (OASIS) were followed up for 12 years, with 2-yearly clinical and radiographic assessments. Two readers independently scored the X-rays according to the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Disease activity measures include the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), AS Disease Activity Index (ASDAS)-C-reactive protein (CRP), CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), patient’s global assessment and spinal pain. The relationship between disease activity measures and radiographic damage was investigated using longitudinal, autoregressive models with 2-year time lags. Results 184 patients were included (70% males, 83% HLA-B27 positive, mean (SD) age 43 (12) years, 20 (12) years symptom duration). Disease activity measures were significantly longitudinally associated with radiographic progression. Neither medication nor the presence of extra-articular manifestations confounded this relationship. The models with ASDAS as disease activity measure fitted the data better than models with BASDAI, CRP or BASDAI+CRP. An increase of one ASDAS unit led to an increase of 0.72 mSASSS units/2 years. A ‘very high disease activity state’ (ie, ASDAS >3.5) compared with ‘inactive disease’ (ie, ASDAS <1.3) resulted in an additional 2-year progression of 2.31 mSASSS units. The effect of ASDAS on mSASSS was higher in males versus females (0.98 vs −0.06 mSASSS units per ASDAS unit) and in patients with <18 years vs ≥18 years symptom duration (0.84 vs 0.16 mSASSS units per ASDAS unit). Conclusions This is the first study showing that disease activity contributes longitudinally to radiographic progression in the spine in AS. This effect is more pronounced in men and in the earlier phases of the disease.
The Military Operation of the EU in Chad and the Central African Republic: Good Policy, Bad Politics

This article evaluates the military operation of the European Union in Chad and the Central African Republic in 2008–09. Despite a promising conceptual approach and close cooperation with the United Nations (UN), the operation created significant political problems between member states. It led to a split – France arguing that it carried too much of the burden and Germany and the United Kingdom sensing that they were sponsoring a pet project. When the UN failed to achieve its ambitious promises to establish a parallel presence and follow-on force, tensions arose with the UN as well. This type of operation is therefore unlikely to be repeated in the near future.
Improving sports skills and sportsmanship in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

ABSTRACT Children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often display deficiencies in communication skills, social competence, and emotional regulation. Many parents report that these difficulties are especially obvious in the context of sports participation. These children are more likely to experience social problems and be less athletically competent than their peers. Thus, sports skills and sportsmanship training may be beneficial to children diagnosed with ADHD. In the present study, a multi-component skills and behavior management program was developed in the context of a sports-skills camp. In the first component of the study, the efficacy of basketball skills training was examined for two boys. Results indicate that the training decreased dribbling errors but had no effect on shooting performance. In a second component, a token system was implemented to increase sportsmanlike behaviors and suppress unsportsmanlike behavior for three study participants. The contingencies pl.
Quantitative microscopy uncovers ploidy changes during mitosis in live Drosophila embryos and their effect on nuclear size

ABSTRACT Time-lapse microscopy is a powerful tool to investigate cellular and developmental dynamics. In Drosophila melanogaster, it can be used to study division cycles in embryogenesis. To obtain quantitative information from 3D time-lapse data and track proliferating nuclei from the syncytial stage until gastrulation, we developed an image analysis pipeline consisting of nuclear segmentation, tracking, annotation and quantification. Image analysis of maternal-haploid (mh) embryos revealed that a fraction of haploid syncytial nuclei fused to give rise to nuclei of higher ploidy (2n, 3n, 4n). Moreover, nuclear densities in mh embryos at the mid-blastula transition varied over threefold. By tracking synchronized nuclei of different karyotypes side-by-side, we show that DNA content determines nuclear growth rate and size in early interphase, while the nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio constrains nuclear growth during late interphase. mh encodes the Drosophila ortholog of human Spartan, a protein involved in DNA damage tolerance. To explore the link between mh and chromosome instability, we fluorescently tagged Mh protein to study its subcellular localization. We show Mh-mKO2 localizes to nuclear speckles that increase in numbers as nuclei expand in interphase. In summary, quantitative microscopy can provide new insights into well-studied genes and biological processes. Summary: A new 3D time-lapse microscopy image analysis pipeline consisting of nuclear segmentation, tracking, annotation and quantification revealed karyotype changes in Drosophila embryos.
’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs A comparison of single-reed and bowed-string excitations of a hybrid wind instrument Conference Item

A hybrid wind instrument is constructed by connecting a theoretical excitation model (such as a real-time computed physical model of a single-reed mouthpiece) to a loudspeaker and a microphone which are placed at the entrance of a wind instrument resonator (a clarinet-like tube in our case). The successful construction of a hybrid wind instrument, and the evaluation with a single-reed physical model, has been demonstrated in previous work [1, 2]. In the present paper, inspired by the analogy between the principal oscillation mechanisms of wind instruments and bowed string instruments, we introduce the stick-slip mechanism of a bow-string interaction model (the hyperbolic model with absorbed torsional waves) to the hybrid wind instrument set-up. Firstly, a dimensionless and reduced parameter form of this model is proposed, which reveals the (dis-)similarities with the single-reed model. Just as with the single-reed model, the hybrid sounds generated with the bow-string interaction model are close to the sounds predicted by a complete simulation of the instrument. However, the hybrid instrument is more easily destabilised for high bowing forces. The bow-string interaction model leads to the production of some raucous sounds (characteristic to bowed-string instruments, for low bowing speeds) which represents the main perceived timbral difference between it and the single-reed model. Another apparent timbral difference is the odd/even harmonics ratio, which spans a larger range for the single-reed model. Nevertheless, for both models most sound descriptors are found within the same range for a (stable) variety of input parameters so that the differences in timbre remain relatively low. This is supported by the similarity of both excitation models and by empirical tests with other, more dynamic excitation models.
Torque Control of Switched Reluctance Motors

This paper presents the performance of an instantaneous torque control method. The simulation and experimental results illustrate the capability of Switched Reluctance Motors (SRM) being used in the motor drive industry. Based on experimental data, the advantages of this control method and its disadvantages in practical implementation were studied. The model used in the simulation is the linear magnetic model which has the 12/8 structure, the same structure as the experimental switched reluctance motor.
Risk Management and Financial Performance of Banks in Nigeria

Risk management issues in the banking sector do not only have greater impact on bank performance but also on national economic growth and general business development. The bank’s motivation for risk management comes from those risks which can lead to underperformance. This study focuses on the association of risk management practices and bank financial performance in Nigeria. Secondary data sourced was based on a 4year progressive annual reports and financial statements of 10 banks and a panel data estimation technique adopted. The result implies an inverse relationship between financial performance of banks and doubt loans, and capital asset ratio was found to be positive and significant. Similarly it suggests the higher the managed funds by banks the higher the performance. The study concludes a significant relationship between banks performance and risk management. Hence, the need for banks to practice prudent risks management in order to protect the interests of investors. Keywords: risk management, credit risk, financial distress, reputable risk, bank performance
Coping Strategies for Role Conflict in Married Professional Women with Children.

This study investigated how 97 women in dual-career families with preschool children manage typical conflicts between their professional and parental roles. Their characteristic coping strategies were measured using five scales developed for the study, labeled Structural Role Redefinition, Personal Role Redefinition, Increased Role Behavior, Cognitive Restructuring and Tension Reduction. Increased Role Behavior and Cognitive Restructuring were the most highly endorsed coping strategies. As expected, personal and situational resources (i.e., self-esteem, career engagement, spouse and social support) were associated with lower role conflict and greater coping effectiveness. The results are explained in terms of the realities of the work world for women and the continued societal emphasis on the greater importance of parenting for mothers than for fathers.
Quantitative Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Cutaneous and Ocular Melanoma and Quality Assessment by Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Purpose: Inconsistent reports on the detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) have resulted in uncertainty on the prognostic value of circulating melanoma cells. Experimental Design: We developed real-time RT-PCR assays for quantitation of tyrosinase, MelanA/MART1, and gp100 and for porphobilinogen deaminase housekeeping gene. Melanoma tissue (n = 18), peripheral blood samples from healthy donors (n = 21), and patients with cutaneous (n = 122) and uveal (n = 64) melanoma from our institution were analyzed. For quality control, an additional 251 samples from ongoing multicenter studies were compared with in-house samples. Results: Tyrosinase was not detected in healthy donor blood samples. For the two other markers, cutoff values had to be defined to distinct patient samples from controls. Patients with stage IV uveal and cutaneous melanoma expressed all three markers more frequently and at higher levels in peripheral blood as compared with earlier stages. The variation of expression was 4 logs and correlated with tumor load and serum lactate dehydrogenase. In 2 of 3 uveal melanoma patients, detection of circulating tumor cells preceded the development of liver metastases. The diagnostic sensitivity was optimal in blood samples containing >0.1pg/μl porphobilinogen deaminase (95.7% of in-house samples and 57.4% of multicenter samples). Conclusions: Real-time RT-PCR is able to quantitatively define the quality of a sample and provides quantitative data for melanoma markers. Disparities in the results of previous studies may be attributable to undetected differences in sample quality. The prognostic relevance of this assay is currently under evaluation in several prospective randomized trials.
Association study of polymorphisms in FOXO3, AKT1 and IGF-2R genes with human longevity in a Han Chinese population

FOXO3, AKT1 and IGF-2R are critical members of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Previous studies showed that polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXO3, AKT1 and IGF-2R were associated with human longevity in Caucasian population. However, the association of these SNPs in different ethnic groups is often inconsistent. Here, we investigated the association of genetic variants in three genes with human longevity in Han Chinese population. Twelve SNPs from FOXO3, AKT1 and IGF-2R were selected and genotyped in 1202 long-lived individuals (nonagenarians and centenarians) and younger individuals. Rs9486902 of FOXO3 was found to be associated with human longevity in both genders combined in this study (allelic P = 0.002, corrected P = 0.024). The other eleven SNPs were not significantly associated with human longevity in Han Chinese population. The haplotypes TTCTT, CCTTC and CTCCT of FOXO3 as well as GGTCGG and GGTCAG of AKT1 were shown to have a significant difference between case and control (P =0.006, 2.78×10−5, 4.68×10−6, 0.003,0.005, respectively). The estimated prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in long-lived individuals was significantly lower than in common adult populations (P = 0.001, 2.3×10−26). Therefore, the search for longevity-associated genes provides the identification of new potential targets beneficial for the treatment of diabetes.
People with severe and moderate aphasia and their partners as estimators of communicative skills: A client‐centred evaluation

Background: According to the philosophy of the social model of disability, clients are the best estimators of their own life situation. Eliciting the experiences of people with severe aphasia is demanding because of their language and possible other cognitive problems. They are therefore usually excluded from the studies. However, there is evidence that modified assessment tools are accessible for them and help them to give self‐reports. Aims: The aim of the present study was to ascertain how people with aphasia evaluate their own communicative skills during rehabilitation by means of modified assessment tools. In addition, their answers were compared with the estimations of their significant others or other partners. Methods & Procedures: The data were collected during regular rehabilitation courses, which were carried out in two parts (8 + 4 days) with 3 months in between. Participants were 35 respondents with aphasia, aged 26 to 65 years, and 35 of their significant others or other partners, aged 29 to 71 years. The study was completed according to an initial, interim, and delayed post‐test questionnaire design. Two measures were used: the Finnish version of the Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI) (Lomas et al., 1989) and an investigator‐constructed questionnaire, the Use of Different Communication Methods (UDCM). The questionnaires for the people with aphasia were made more accessible by pictures. Outcomes & Results: The self‐assessments of the participants with aphasia indicated that their functional communication skills did not change, but that the use of different communication methods improved slightly during the intervention. The significant others' and other partners' estimations showed that their communication skills improved significantly. Ratings of the two groups in functional communication skills differed significantly from each other before the intervention but thereafter the estimates correlated. There were no significant differences in the ratings of the use of different communication methods at any phase of the follow‐up study. However, the ratings correlated significantly only at the last assessment. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that people with severe and moderate aphasia are able to assess their communication skills with modified, aphasia‐friendly self‐assessment tools. The results also indicate that people with aphasia and their partners perceive the communicative skills quite similarly, especially after the intervention has begun. The use of accessible measures enables people with severe aphasia to participate in the evaluation of therapy outcomes, as suggested by the philosophies of the social model of rehabilitation. This study was supported by grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation. We also thank those with aphasia and their significant others and other partners who participated in this study, and the Finnish Stroke and Dysphasia Association.