Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fostering knowledge sharing through human resource management in R&D teams

Within organisations, employees create, accumulate and share knowledge, often within teams. To increase team effectiveness, today's organisations seek to promote knowledge sharing among their employees. Previous studies of knowledge sharing within organisations have ignored a critical factor: human resource management (HRM). To address this oversight, 52 sets of completed questionnaires from 203 research and development (R&D) employees formed the basis of our empirical analysis, exploring the relationship between HRM and the willingness of team members to share knowledge. We classified team members according to their work values and focused on exploring whether the HRM of teams with different work values would impact knowledge sharing differently. We discuss our findings in terms of their implications for management practices and future research.
Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dalfampridine-ER in healthy volunteers and in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Objective: Using data pooled from several studies of dalfampridine extended release (ER), a population pharmacokinetic model was developed for the purposes of characterizing the population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dalfampridine-ER with respect to variability in pharmacokinetics, covariates affecting the pharmacokinetics, and whether the current therapeutic dosage represents an optimal dosage. Studies were conducted in healthy volunteers and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients over the course of development and registration of dalfampridine extended release tablets (dalfampridine-ER [Ampyra]; prolonged-, modified- or sustained-release fampridine [Fampyra] in some countries). Methods: The model used to best describe the population pharmacokinetics of dalfampridine-ER was an open, one-compartment model with first-order absorption, first-order elimination and an absorption lag time. Results: The population median estimated oral clearance was 36 L/h for a 50-year-old woman with a creatinine clearance of 105 mL/min and 42 L/h for a comparable man. The typical volume of distribution was 304 L for women and 403 L for men. The estimated absorption rate constant was 1.22 hours−1 in the fasted state and 2.22 hours−1 when given with food. The covariates identified as having a significant effect (p < 0.01) on model fit were food and gender on absorption rate, and gender, age and creatinine clearance on oral clearance. Only creatinine clearance and age are of clinical relevance. Concomitant medications did not affect any of the parameters in the model. Exposure–response relationships for both efficacy and safety were consistent with what has been observed in clinical trials. Limitations of this study include some reliance on unpublished data, and the limited effectiveness of the model for determining the likelihood of the efficacy and safety of dalfampridine-ER in clinical practice. Conclusions: The approved therapeutic dosage regimen of dalfampridine-ER 10 mg twice daily was identified as the optimum dosing regimen based on model-predicted exposure response relationships for efficacy and adverse events. A limitation of this study is the limited effectiveness of the models used to predict long-term efficacy and safety of dalfampridine-ER in clinical use.
Improving antenatal care for pregnant adolescents in southern Malawi

BACKGROUND This paper considers why antenatal care (ANC) programs for adolescents may need to be improved in areas where a high proportion of first pregnancies are to young girls. DESIGN Descriptive data on the characteristics of 615 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) who attended for a first antenatal care visit at two rural hospitals in southern Malawi are given. For the 41.5% who came for a supervised delivery, details of their pregnancy care and delivery outcome are provided. The Chi-square test is used for determining significant differences between age and parity groups and logistic regression for an analysis of low birthweight. RESULTS Fifty-two percent of girls were nulliparous, 24.5% were < or =16 years and 73.3% were illiterate. Prevalence of anemia, malaria and HIV infection was high. Girls who were nulliparous, illiterate, made early antenatal care visits or gave a history of stillbirth or abortion were less likely to attend for delivery. Few primiparae required an assisted vaginal delivery or cesarean section but primiparae had more adverse birth outcomes. Forty percent of primiparae <17 years gave birth to low birthweight babies as did 28.3% of multiparae. In a logistic regression (all adolescents) low birthweight was correlated with literacy (p=0.03) and number of antenatal care visits (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy morbidity and adverse birth outcomes were common in spite of antenatal care attendance. This partly reflects poor management of malaria during pregnancy. In areas like Malawi, where childbearing starts early, girls in their first pregnancy need good quality care and careful monitoring if problems are not to be perpetuated to a second pregnancy. Many girls start pregnancy with HIV and schistosomal infections which indicates the need for programs before girls become pregnant.
Repression of the Id2 (inhibitor of differentiation) gene promoter during exit from the cell cycle

The Id2 gene is one of several “Id‐like” genes which encode helix‐loop‐helix proteins which dimerize with basic helix‐loop‐helix proteins and inhibit binding to the DNA enhancer element known as an E box. By repressing the DNA binding activity of basic helix‐loop‐helix proteins, Id proteins inhibit transcription of tissue‐specific genes in myoblasts, hematopoietic precursor cells, and other types of undifferentiated cells. Serum starvation results in the disappearance of Id gene transcripts in most types of cultured cells, and often induces differentiation of these cells. In order to gain some insight into this process, we have analyzed Id2 promoter function in the glioma cell line U87Y. We have isolated 300 base pairs of Id2 promoter sequence which is sufficient to repress the activity of a reporter gene in serum‐starved U87Y cells, but induces the activity of the reporter gene when the cells are stimulated with fresh serum. Two regions within this 300 base pair sequence contain repressor elements; deletion of either region results in increased promoter activity. Both repressor regions serve as binding sites for a protein in extracts from serum‐starved U87Y cells but not in serum‐stimulated cells. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lower bounds on the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension of multi-layer threshold networks

We consider the problem of learning in multilayer feed-forward networks of linear threshold units. We show that the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension of the class of functions that can be computed by a two-layer threshold network with real inputs is at least proportional to the number of weights in the network. This result also holds for a large class of twolayer networks with binary inputs, and a large class of three-layer networks with real inputs. In Valiant's probably approximately correct learning framework, this implies that the number of examples necessary for learning in these networks is at least linear in the number of weights. This bound is within a log factor of the upper bound.
The Relationship between Stress, Work Hours and Depressive Symptoms among Migrant Factory Workers in China

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS, WORK HOURS AND DEPRESSI VE SYMPTOMS AMONG MIGRANT FACTORY WORKERS IN CHINA Anthony Ping Kam So Center for Counseling and Family Studies Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling This study sought to identify the relationship between work hours, stress, and depressi v symptoms among migrant factory workers in China (N = 911). Using correlat ional analyses, the researcher arrived at results that indicated there was a we k but significant positive correlation between working hours and stress levels; a significant m oderate relationship between working hours and depression levels, and a significant associa tion between stress levels and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China. Additionally, multiple regression analysis found a significant correlati on between depressive symptoms and dorm-living (environmental factor) in the participants. Data indicated social support and gender difference were found to have significant influence in stress levels and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China .
Operations in the On-Demand Economy: Staffing Services with Self-Scheduling Capacity

Motivated by recent innovations in service delivery such as ride-sharing services and work-from-home call centers, we study capacity management when workers self-schedule. Our service provider chooses capacity to maximize its profit (revenue from served customers minus capacity costs) over a horizon. Because demand varies over the horizon, the provider benefits from flexibility to adjust its capacity from period to period. However, the firm controls its capacity only indirectly through compensation. The agents have the flexibility to choose when they will or will not work and they optimize their schedules based on the compensation offered and their individual availability. To guarantee adequate capacity, the firm must offer sufficiently high compensation. The goal of this paper is to examine how a firm that allows its agents to self schedule solves this problem.An augmented newsvendor formula captures the tradeoffs for the firm and the agents. If the firm could keep the flexibility but summon as many agents as it wants (i.e,. have direct control) for the same wages it would not only generate higher profit, as is expected, but would also provide better service levels to its customers. If the agents require a "minimum wage" to remain in the agent pool they will have to relinquish some of their flexibility. To pay a minimum wage the firm must restrict the number of agents that can work in some time intervals. The costs to the firm are countered by the self-scheduling firm's flexibility to match supply to varying demand. If the pool of agents is sufficiently large relative to peak demand, the firm earns more than it would if it had control of agents' schedules but had to maintain a fixed staffing level over the horizon.
Structure of the major oligosaccharide from the lipooligosaccharide of Haemophilus ducreyi strain 35000 and evidence for additional glycoforms.

Haemophilus ducreyi is a sexually transmitted pathogen that colonizes the genital epithelium in humans, causing genital ulcers or chancroid. Its surface lipooligosaccharides (LOSs) have been shown to play a role in ulcer formation and may also be important in cell adhesion and invasion of host tissue. Earlier we presented a preliminary structure of the major LOS from strain 35000 that suggested the presence of terminal lactosamine [Melaugh, W. , Phillips, N.J., Campagnari, A.A. , Karalus, R. , & Gibson, B. W. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 13434-13439]. We have now confirmed this structure and assigned the anomeric linkages by 2D NMR studies. In addition to this major structure, analysis by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of both O-deacylated LOSs and the oligosaccharides released after treatment with mild acid indicates the presence of several other LOS glycoforms. These glycoforms constitute a series of both truncated and elongated analogs of the major oligosaccharide determined by NMR. One of these glycoforms exists as a smaller oligosaccharide corresponding to the major structure minus terminal galactose. Three other glycoforms appear as larger molecular weight species formed by the addition of phosphoethanolamine, N-acetylhexosamine, and N-acetylhexosamine plus hexose. Two sialylated glycoforms were also identified and subsequently confirmed by treatment with neuraminidase, but these glycoforms were not found in the released oligosaccharide pool due to the acid lability of of sialic acid. This study clearly indicates that the LOSs from H. ducreyi strain 35000 exist as a heterogeneous population whose structures differ primarily in their phosphorylation states and terminal sugars and whose terminal glycan structures can resemble those of human antigens.
Investigating the Use of High Resolution Multi-spectral Satellite Imagery for Crop Mapping in Nigeria - Crop and Landuse Classification using WorldView-3 High Resolution Multispectral Imagery and LANDSAT8 Data

Imagery from recently launched high spatial resolution WorldView-3 offers new opportunities for crop identification and landcover assessment. Multispectral WorldView-3 at 1.6m spatial resolution and LANDSAT8 images covering an extent of 100Km2 in humid ecology of Nigeria were used for crop and landcover identification. Three supervised classification techniques (maximum likelihood(MLC), Neural Net clasifier(NNC) and support vector machine(SVM)) were used to classify WorldView-3 and LANDSAT8 into four crop classes and seven non-crop classes. For accuracy assessment, kappa coefficient, producer and user accuracies were used to evaluate the performance of all three supervised classifiers. NNC performed best with an overall accuracy(OA) of 92.20, kappa coefficient(KC) of 0.83 in landcover identification using WorldView-3. This was closely followed by SVM with an OA of 91.77%, KC of 0.83. MLC performed slightly lower at an OA of 91.25% and KC of 0.82. Classification of crops and landcover with LANDSAT8 was best with MLC classifier with an OA of 92.12% , KC of 0.89. Cassava at younger than 3 months old could not be identified correctly by all classifiers using WorldView-3 and LANDSAT8 products. In summary WorldView-3 and LANDSAT8 data had satisfactory performance in identifying different crop and landcover types though at varying degrees of accuracies.
Why we should not skip aspirin in cardiovascular prevention

Summary Since more than 20 years, aspirin is an approved and established first-line antiplatelet medication in cardiovascular prevention. This is partially due to ist unique mode of action which is not shared with any other antiplatelet agent as well by the reliability of its pharmacological efficacy: inhibition of platelet COX-1 and subsequent thromboxane formation in almost every patient. Aspirin acts synergistic with ADP-antagonists in dual antiplatelet therapy of acute coronary syndroms (ACS) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and is also approved for long-term secondary prevention. Patients with atrial fibrillation are an exception and benefit more from anticoagulants. After the introduction of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), i.e. direct inhibitors of factor Xa or thrombin formation, there is a renewed discussion about the role of antiplatelet agents, specifically if additional dual antiplatelet treatment is still necessary for an optimum clinical effect or whether one component, such as aspirin might be skipped in favor of other classes of oral antiplatelet agents, such as ADP-antagonists. The available data are insufficient to recommend this because of a low number of studies and a still uncertain benefit/ risk (bleeding) ratio. More research on aspirin as a chemopreventive appears also to be necessary and is going on, in particular in individuals at high-risk for vascular thrombotic diseases (diabetics, preeclampsia, venous thrombembolism). Zusammenfassung Acetylsalizylsäure (ASS) ist seit über 20 Jahren zugelassene und bewährte Antiplättchenmedikation zur kardiovaskulären Prävention. Dies beruht pharmakologisch auf dem besonderen Wirkmechanismus, den keine andere Antiplättchensubstanz aufweist: Hemmung der Plättchen-COX-1 und der nachfolgenden Thromboxansynthese bei fast jedem Patienten. ASS wirkt synergistisch mit ADP-Rezeptorantagonisten in der dualen Antiplättchentherapie des akuten Koronarsyndroms (ACS) sowie bei perkutanen Koronarinterventionen (PCI) und ist Langzeitmedikation der ersten Wahl in der Sekundärprävention der Atherothrombose. Patienten mit Vorhofflimmern sind eine Besonderheit und profitieren mehr von einer Antikoagulation. Nach Einführung der neuen oralen Antikoagulantien (NOACs), direkten Inhibitoren von Faktor Xa oder Thrombin, wurde diskutiert, ob nicht auf eine zusätzliche duale Antiplättchentherapie verzichtet werden kann und eventuell eine Anti-plättchensubstanz, genügt, d. h. , ob z. B. ASS durch einen ADP-Antagonisten ersetzt werden kann. Die vorhandenen Daten sind unzureichend und erlauben zurzeit keine klare Aussage über das Nutzen/Risikoverhältnis, insbesondere das Blutungsrisiko. Mehr Forschung zu ASS ist erforderlich und erfolgt in mehreren Studien und Patientenpopulationen. Dazu gehören insbesondere Personen mit einem erhöhten Risiko für Gefäßthrombosen (Diabetes mellitus, Präeklampsie, idiopathische venöse Thromboembolie).
An Analysis of and Recommendations for the Peruvian Blood Collection and Transfusion System

Background Peru experienced a crisis in its blood collection and supply system in the mid-2000s, as contaminated blood led to several transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI), occurring in the backdrop of extremely low voluntary donation rates and a national blood supply shortage. Thus, the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA) implemented a national investigation on the safety and quality of the Peruvian blood collection/transfusion network. Methods Every Peruvian blood bank was evaluated by MINSA from 2007–2008. These evaluations consisted of an update of the national registry of blood banks and visits to each blood bank from MINSA oversight teams. Information was collected on the condition of the blood bank personnel, equipment, supplies, and practices. Further, previously-collected blood at each blood bank was randomly selected and screened for TTI-causing pathogens. Results Uncovered in this investigation was a fragmented, under-equipped, and poorly-staffed blood collection and transfusion network, consisting of 241 independent blood banks and resulting in suboptimal allocation of resources. Further, blood with evidence of TTI-causing pathogens (including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis) and set for transfusion was discovered at three separate blood banks as part of the random screening process. Conclusion Using the successful reorganizations of national blood supply systems in other Latin American countries as examples, Peru would be well-served to form large, high-volume, regional blood collection and transfusion centers, responsible for blood collection and screening for the entire country. The small, separate blood banks would then be transformed into a network of blood transfusion centers, not responsible for blood collection. This reorganization would allow Peru to better utilize its resources, standardize the blood collection and transfusion process, and increase voluntary donation, resulting in a safer, more abundant national blood product.
Effects of Mixtures of Tween80 and Cellulolytic Enzymes on Nutrient Digestion and Cellulolytic Bacterial Adhesion

: A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the mixture of Tween 80 and cellulolytic enzymes (xylanase and cellulase) on total tract nutrient digestibility and rumen cellulolytic bacterial adhesion rates in Holstein steers. Ground timothy hay sprayed with various levels of Tween 80 and cellulolytic enzymes was used as substrates in an in vitro experiment to find out the best combinations for DM degradation. The application level of 2.5% (v/w) Tween 80 and the combination of 5 U xylanase and 2.5 U cellulase per gram of ground timothy hay (DM basis) resulted in the highest in vitro dry matter degradation rate (p<0.05). Feeding the same timothy hay to Holstein steers also improved in vivo nutrient (DM, CP, CF, NDF and ADF) digesibilities compared to non-treated hay (p<0.05). Moreover, Tween 80 and enzyme combination treatment increased total ruminal VFA and concentrations of propionic acid and isovaleric acid with decreased acetate to propionate ratio (p<0.001). However, adhesion rates of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens determined by Real Time PCR were not influenced by the treatment while that of Ruminococcus albus was decreased (p<0.05). The present results indicate that a mixture of Tween 80 and cellulolytic enzymes can improve rumen environment and feed digestibility with variable influence on cellulolytic bacterial adhesion on feed.
Angiotensin-(1–7) Inhibitory Mechanism of Norepinephrine Release in Hypertensive Rats

Release of norepinephrine (NE) by the hypothalamic nuclei may contribute to regulation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] has an antihypertensive effect and may decrease SNS activity. We tested the hypothesis that Ang-(1–7) inhibits the release of NE in hypothalami, via the Ang-(1–7) and angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptors, acting through a bradykinin (BK)/NO-dependent mechanism. Hypothalami from normotensive controls and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were isolated and endogenous NE stores labeled by incubating the tissues with [3H]NE. [3H]NE release from the hypothalami was stimulated by KCl in the presence or absence of Ang-(1–7) alone or combined with various antagonists and inhibitors. Ang-(1–7) significantly attenuated K+-induced NE release by hypothalami from normotensive rats but was more potent in SHR. The Ang-(1–7) receptor antagonist [d-Ala7]Ang-(1–7), the AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319, and the BK B2 receptor antagonist icatibant all blocked the inhibitory effect of Ang-(1–7) on K+-stimulated NE release in SHR. The inhibitory effect of Ang-(1–7) disappeared in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and was restored by the precursor of NO, l-arginine. The diminished NE release caused by Ang-(1–7) was blocked by a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor as well as by a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). We concluded that Ang-(1–7) decreases NE release from the hypothalamus via the Ang-(1–7) or AT2 receptors, acting through a BK/NO-mediated mechanism that stimulates cGMP/PKG signaling. In this way, Ang-(1–7) may decrease SNS activity and exert an antihypertensive effect.
Glaucoma in Asia: regional prevalence variations and future projections

Purpose To evaluate glaucoma prevalence and disease burden across Asian subregions from 2013 to 2040. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 population-based studies of 1318 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) cases in 66 800 individuals and 691 primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) cases in 72 767 individuals in Asia. Regions in Asia were defined based on United Nations’ (UN) classification of macro-geographic regions. PubMed, Medline and Web of Science databases were searched for population-based glaucoma prevalence studies using standardised criteria published to 31 December 2013. Pooled glaucoma prevalence for individuals aged 40–80 years was calculated using hierarchical Bayesian approaches. Prevalence differences by geographic subregion, subtype and habitation were examined with random effects meta-regression models. Estimates of individuals with glaucoma from 2013 to 2040 were based on the UN World Population Prospects. Results In 2013, pooled overall glaucoma prevalence was 3.54% (95% credible interval (CrI) 1.83 to 6.28). POAG (2.34%, 95% CrI 0.96 to 4.55) predominated over PACG (0.73%, 95% CrI 0.18 to 1.96). With age and gender adjustment, PACG prevalence was higher in East than South East Asia (OR 5.55, 95% CrI 1.52 to 14.73), and POAG prevalence was higher in urban than rural populations (OR 2.11, 95% CrI 1.57 to 2.38). From 2013 to 2040, South Central Asia will record the steepest increase in number of glaucoma individuals from 17.06 million to 32.90 million compared with other Asian subregions. In 2040, South-Central Asia is also projected to overtake East Asia for highest overall glaucoma and POAG burden, while PACG burden remains highest in East Asia. Conclusions Across the Asian subregions, there was greater glaucoma burden in South-Central and East Asia. Sustainable public health strategies to combat glaucoma in Asia are needed.