Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce from Reluctance to Resistance – Study of Internet Banking Services Adoption in the United Kingdom Background and Context of the Research

a prolific writer and researcher of note, is currently a part time Lecturer Kingdom. In addition, he supervises postgraduate dissertations at various UK universities, these includes and MSc in International Strategic Management from Staffordshire University. His doctoral thesis focused on internet technological applications tailored towards practical contributions to organizational developments. Edwin has more than 20 years of combined lecturing and banking and finance experience. His academic research interest and publications focuses on the adoption of network technologies in financial industries. He is also interested in consumer behaviour in financial services. Edwin has published widely and presented research papers at various conferences and seminars in the United Kingdom and published widely. Edwin also lectures business and management related courses at postgraduate levels in the United Kingdom. Abstract The internet banking services is an innovative financial transaction channel that has assumed a new urgency and relevance in today's world of business. The developed countries have embraced these services with little difficulty while the developing countries are beginning to see the benefits. The objective of this research is to explore the supply and demand of internet banking services in the United Kingdom with special emphasis on three cities: London, Birmingham and Manchester. The study primarily-2-probed into the extent to which the internet banking services has adopted in the three major cities of the UK – London, Birmingham and Manchester. Secondly, it looked at the factors that are driving this adoption and thirdly, the reasons for non-usage by some segments of the selected regions. The consumer resistance theory by Ram and Sheth (1989) was therefore used as a framework of the study. As the focus is to ascertain the reasons for non-usage, and based on this framework, the following divisions were arrived at based on the non-users: 1) those that intends to use the services and 2) those that have no intention to use the services. The study data shows that there are significant differences based on the reluctant/resistance paradigm. The reluctant group falls into those that want to use but have not wholly made up their minds to do so while the resistance groups are those that have no intention of using the internet banking system at all. The study in a nutshell, provides financial managers and the academic community with a tool to engage these non-users through product designs and promotions.
Workplace relational factors and physicians' intention to withdraw from practice

Background: Physician turnover threatens continuity of care for patients and is a huge expense for health care organizations. Health care organizations have been advised to help physicians build positive relations with colleagues, staff, and patients as a strategy to socially integrate physicians in the workplace and to increase physician retention. Although these recommendations are touted as "evidence-based" practices, the importance of workplace relationships for physician retention has not been established empirically. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine two questions: Are physicians who report better relationships with colleagues, staff, and patients less likely to intend to withdraw from practice? Do the effects of these relational factors differ for large-group and solo/small-group practice physicians? Methodology: Using data from the Physician Worklife Survey, we analyzed the associations between physicians' reported relationships with colleagues, staff, and patients and intention to withdraw from practice within 2 years using logistic regression. Findings: Relationships with colleagues had a significant and negative association with intended withdrawal from practice for large-group practice physicians. The joint effect of relationships with colleagues, staff, and patients was significant for large-group practice physicians, but it only approached significance for solo/small-group practice physicians. Practice Implications: This study suggests that workplace relationships may influence physicians' intention to withdraw from practice, but the mechanisms by which they do so are unclear. Possible interventions to improve physician retention include promotion of informal mentoring and efforts to support community involvement of physicians and their families. Further research examining the role of these and other programs in promoting physician retention can help employers to foster positive workplace relationships and improve retention.
Formation of carcinogens indoors by surface-mediated reactions of nicotine with nitrous acid, leading to potential thirdhand smoke hazards

This study shows that residual nicotine from tobacco smoke sorbed to indoor surfaces reacts with ambient nitrous acid (HONO) to form carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Substantial levels of TSNAs were measured on surfaces inside a smoker’s vehicle. Laboratory experiments using cellulose as a model indoor material yielded a > 10-fold increase of surface-bound TSNAs when sorbed secondhand smoke was exposed to 60 ppbv HONO for 3 hours. In both cases we identified 1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal, a TSNA absent in freshly emitted tobacco smoke, as the major product. The potent carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone and N-nitroso nornicotine were also detected. Time-course measurements revealed fast TSNA formation, with up to 0.4% conversion of nicotine. Given the rapid sorption and persistence of high levels of nicotine on indoor surfaces—including clothing and human skin—this recently identified process represents an unappreciated health hazard through dermal exposure, dust inhalation, and ingestion. These findings raise concerns about exposures to the tobacco smoke residue that has been recently dubbed “thirdhand smoke. ” Our work highlights the importance of reactions at indoor interfaces, particularly those involving amines and NOx/HONO cycling, with potential health impacts.
Obesity in early adulthood as a risk factor for psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To study whether obesity increases the risk of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), given that obesity is a risk factor for psoriasis and is associated with more severe disease. DESIGN Case series. We used Cox regression analysis to study the relationship between obesity and PsA while controlling for age at psoriasis onset, current body mass index (BMI), sex, family history of psoriasis, worst-ever body surface area (BSA) involvement, Koebner phenomenon, and nail involvement. SETTING Dermatology clinics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Patients Volunteer sample of patients with dermatologist-diagnosed psoriasis enrolled in the Utah Psoriasis Initiative from November 2002 to October 2008 (943 subjects; 50.2% women, 49.8% men). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physician diagnosis of PsA from self-report questionnaire. RESULTS In our subjects, we found that BMI at age 18 years was predictive of PsA (odds ratio [OR], 1.06) (P < .01) over and above control variables. Other variables that were predictors of PsA included younger age at psoriasis onset (odds ratio [OR], 0.98) (P < .01), female sex (OR, 1.45) (P = .01), higher worst-ever BSA involvement with psoriasis (OR, 1.01) (P = .04), Koebner phenomenon (OR, 1.59) (P < .01), and nail involvement (OR, 1.76) (P < .01). Current BMI and family history of psoriasis were not significant predictors of PsA. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that obesity at age 18 years increases the risk of developing PsA. Adiposity is associated with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines known to be associated with psoriasis. This inflammatory milieu could increase the risk of PsA in predisposed subjects. Prevention and early treatment of obesity may decrease the risk of PsA.
Reaction of I131 Anti‐Rho(D) with Enzyme Treated Red Cells

The effect of proteolytic enzymes (papain, trypsin, ficin and bromelin) on Rho(D) positive and negative red cells was studied with I131 anti‐Rho(D). Enzymatic pretreatment of red cells results in almost a two‐fold increase in the amount of I131 antiRho(D) bound to these cells. The “enzyme exposed Rho(D)” antigen by some criteria (stability to hemolysis, absence of an increase in negative cells and studies on the supernatant solutions) appears to have the same specificity as the Rho(D) antigen on the untreated cell. The ability of proteolytic enzymes to produce this effect on Rho(D) positive red cells does not correlate directly with the ability of these enzymes to digest casein, although the effect appears to be associated with the proteolytic activity of these enzymes. The amount of increase in uptake of I131 anti‐Rho(D) induced by enzymes is directly proportional to the quantity of antibody bound by the untreated cell, irrespective of the Rh phenotype or zygosity of the red cell.
Computer Modeling of Diabetes and Its Complications

Computer simulation models are mathematical equations combined in a structured framework to represent some real or hypothetical system. One of their uses is to allow the projection of short-term data from clinical trials to evaluate clinical outcomes and costs over a long-term period. This technology is becoming increasingly important to assist decision making in modern medicine in situations where there is a paucity of long-term clinical trial data, as recently acknowledged in the American Diabetes Association Consensus Panel Guidelines for Computer Modeling of Diabetes and its Complications. The Mount Hood Challenge Meetings provide a forum for computer modelers of diabetes to discuss and compare models and identify key areas of future development to advance the field. The Fourth Mount Hood Challenge in 2004 was the first meeting of its kind to ask modelers to perform simulations of outcomes for patients in published clinical trials, allowing comparison against “real life” data. Eight modeling groups participated in the challenge. Each group was given three of the following challenges: to simulate a trial of type 2 diabetes (CARDS [Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study]); to simulate a trial of type 1 diabetes (DCCT [Diabetes Control and Complications Trial]); and to calculate outcomes for a hypothetical, precisely specified patient (cross-model validation). The results of the models varied from each other and for methodological reasons, in some cases, from the published trial data in important ways. This approach of performing systematic comparisons and validation exercises has enabled the identification of key differences among the models, as well as their possible causes and directions for improvement in the future.
Spatial models for the quantification of ecosystem services across the Australian capital region

The recognition that human life depends on services provided by ecosystems has given rise to the field of ecosystem services. The main goal of the thesis is to develop a robust methodology for investigating how human interventions in the landscape affect ecosystem services, using as a case study the Australian Capital Region. The methods, which are based on remote sensing, spatial environmental 1nodelling and geographic information systems, address the measurement, modelling and mapping of a comprehensive set of ecosystem services associated with major land cover types and land uses. These analyses are used to explore the synergies and trade-offs between these services across the Australian Capital Region. This thesis is structured in three sections. The first section introduces the aims and scope of the thesis; defines the concept of ecosystem services and its role as a communication tool for scientists, policy 1nakers and stakeholders and describes the methods used by the thesis. The second section presents a land use and land cover classification for the Australian Capital Region. This classification underpins the quantification and mapping of five key ecosystem services in the remainder of the second section. These ecosystem services are: (i) carbon flows and storage; (ii) provision of food; (iii) biodiversity richness; (iv) water quality; and (v) recreation and ecotourism. The third section analyses the impacts of a hypothetical land use change scenario in which food production in the region is increased to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the importation of food the so-called 'carbon miles' associated with the transport of food into the region from other parts of Australia and the world. The analysis assesses not only the impact on carbon stored in the region, but also the impact on other ecosystem services. The analysis also identifies what parts of the Australian Capital Region are most affected under the scenario outcomes. The thesis concludes with the key outcomes of this study. The methods presented in this thesis demonstrate that remote sensing, spatial environmental modelling and geographic information system are cost-effective tools to study and quantify ecosystem services at a regional scale. The results of this thesis could help in the promotion of sustainability in landscape and conservation planning.
Trends and Correlates of Disparities in Alcohol-Related Mortality Between Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites in the United States, 1999 to 2014.

BACKGROUND Among Hispanics, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are among the leading causes of death despite generally lower alcohol consumption rates. Moreover, recent national studies have suggested temporal changes in Hispanic consumption and alcohol mortality, which raises the question of whether Hispanic white disparities in alcohol-related mortality are also changing over time. This study aimed to describe temporal trends of alcohol-related mortality between Hispanics and non-Hispanic (NH) whites in the United States from 1999 to 2014 and to assess county-level sociodemographic characteristics that are associated with racial/ethnic disparities in age-adjusted alcohol-related mortality. METHODS We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional, ecologic study using multiple cause-of-death mortality data linked, at the county level, to census data from the American Community Survey. RESULTS Overall, 77% of alcohol-related deaths were among men, and Hispanic men had the highest age-adjusted alcohol-related mortality rate (41.6 per 100,000), followed by NH white men (34.8), NH white women (10.8), and Hispanic women (6.7). Whereas the relative gap in alcohol-related mortality between NH white and Hispanic women increased from 1999 to 2014, the disparity between NH white and Hispanic men that was pronounced in earlier years was eliminated by 2012. From 2007 to 2014, when the race/ethnic disparity among men was decreasing, county-specific Hispanic:NH white age-adjusted mortality ratios (AAMRs) ranged from 0.29 to 2.64. Lower Hispanic rates were associated with large metropolitan counties, and those counties that tended to have Hispanic populations were less acculturated, as evidenced by their higher rates of being foreign-born, non-U.S. citizens or citizens through naturalization, and a higher proportion that do not speak English "very well. " CONCLUSIONS Since 1999, whereas the increasing mortality rate among whites is leading to a widening gap among women, mortality differences between Hispanic and white men have been eliminated. The understanding of contextual factors that are associated with disparities in alcohol-related mortality may assist in tailoring prevention efforts that meet the needs of minority populations.
Exhaled Breath Metabolomics for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Intubated and Mechanically-Ventilated Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-Patients

The diagnosis of hospital-acquired pneumonia remains challenging. We hypothesized that analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath could be used to diagnose pneumonia or the presence of pathogens in the respiratory tract in intubated and mechanically-ventilated intensive care unit patients. In this prospective, single-centre, cross-sectional cohort study breath from mechanically ventilated patients was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Potentially relevant VOCs were selected with a p-value < 0.05 and an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) above 0.7. These VOCs were used for principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). AUROC was used as a measure of accuracy. Ninety-three patients were included in the study. Twelve of 145 identified VOCs were significantly altered in patients with pneumonia compared to controls. In colonized patients, 52 VOCs were significantly different. Partial least square discriminant analysis classified patients with modest accuracy (AUROC: 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57–0.88) after leave-one-out cross-validation). For determining the colonization status of patients, the model had an AUROC of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.57–0.82) after leave-one-out cross-validation. To conclude, exhaled breath analysis can be used to discriminate pneumonia from controls with a modest to good accuracy. Furthermore breath profiling could be used to predict the presence and absence of pathogens in the respiratory tract. These findings need to be validated externally.
Quantifying volcanic hazard at Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy) with uncertainty assessment: 1. Vent opening maps

Campi Flegrei is an active volcanic area situated in the Campanian Plain (Italy) and dominated by a resurgent caldera. The great majority of past eruptions have been explosive, variable in magnitude, intensity, and in their vent locations. In this hazard assessment study we present a probabilistic analysis using a variety of volcanological data sets to map the background spatial probability of vent opening conditional on the occurrence of an event in the foreseeable future. The analysis focuses on the reconstruction of the location of past eruptive vents in the last 15 ka, including the distribution of faults and surface fractures as being representative of areas of crustal weakness. One of our key objectives was to incorporate some of the main sources of epistemic uncertainty about the volcanic system through a structured expert elicitation, thereby quantifying uncertainties for certain important model parameters and allowing outcomes from different expert weighting models to be evaluated. Results indicate that past vent locations are the most informative factors governing the probabilities of vent opening, followed by the locations of faults and then fractures. Our vent opening probability maps highlight the presence of a sizeable region in the central eastern part of the caldera where the likelihood of new vent opening per kilometer squared is about 6 times higher than the baseline value for the whole caldera. While these probability values have substantial uncertainties associated with them, our findings provide a rational basis for hazard mapping of the next eruption at Campi Flegrei caldera.
Up-Regulation of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor in Rat Thoracic Aorta by Pressure-Overload

We have examined whether expression of angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) and/or type 2 (AT2) receptors are changed in thoracic aorta under pressure-overload by abdominal aortic banding in rats and determined whether their changes are accompanied by alteration in contractile response of thoracic aorta to Ang II. AT2 receptor mRNA levels determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were increased by about 300% in aortas 4, 7, 14, and 28 days after banding without changes in AT1 receptor mRNA levels. Contractile response of aortic rings to Ang II was decreased in thoracic aortas 7 days after banding, and AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319 (1-[[4-(dimethulamino)-3-methylphenyl]methyl]-5-(diphenylacetyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid ditrifluoroacetate) (10–6 M) increased the Ang II responsiveness in pressure-loaded but not in sham rings. After removal of the endothelium or treatment with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), no differences were observed in Ang II responsiveness between sham and pressure-loaded rings. Either losartan (1 mg/kg/day i.p.) or candesartan (2 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 7 days after banding not only abolished the up-regulation of AT2 receptor mRNA in aortas but also recovered their Ang II responsiveness. Basal cGMP levels were 2 times higher in pressure-loaded than in sham rings; both levels were not affected by Ang II (10–7 M; 5 min), but greatly decreased by l-NAME (10–4 M, 30 min). These results suggest that pressure-overload induces the up-regulation of AT2 receptor expression in aortas via AT1 receptor and thereby negatively modulates the vasoconstrictor sensitivity to Ang II, probably mediated by the mechanisms independent of the nitric oxide-cGMP system.
Endovascular Administration after Intravenous Infusion of Thrombolytic Agents for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Ischemic Strokes

OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility of combined intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic strokes and to evaluate its associated risks, using magnetic resonance imaging as a triage tool. Intravenous treatment followed by intra-arterial infusion may increase the rate of recanalization and lead to better clinical results, with reduced frequency of intracranial hemorrhage. METHODS Our Brain Attack Team evaluated patients who presented within 3 hours after symptom onset. Patients who did not demonstrate improvement and exhibited no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on head computed tomographic scans were treated with intravenously administered recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (0.6 mg/kg) and underwent emergency magnetic resonance imaging of the head. T2-weighted turbo-gradient and spin echo and echo-planar diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging scans were obtained. Patients with evidence of imaging abnormalities indicating acute cortical infarction underwent cerebral angiography. After determination of vessel occlusion, intra-arterially administered urokinase (up to 750,000 units) or intra-arterially administered recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (maximal dose, 0.3 mg/kg) was used to achieve recanalization. RESULTS We treated 45 patients with this protocol. The mean age was 67 ± 13 years, and 58% of the patients were women. There was a significant improvement in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores after treatment. There was good correlation between abnormal perfusion-weighted imaging findings and cerebral angiographic findings (complete vessel occlusion). The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 4.4% in this cohort. Seven patients died in the hospital, and the majority of survivors (77%) experienced good outcomes (Barthel index of ≥95) 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that this protocol is feasible and that combined intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis to treat acute ischemic strokes is sufficiently safe to warrant further evaluation.