Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Validation of a Prehospital Stroke Scale to Predict Large Arterial Occlusion: The Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation Scale

Background and Purpose— We aimed to develop and validate a simple prehospital stroke scale to predict the presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in patients with acute stroke. Methods— The Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) scale was designed based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) items with a higher predictive value of LVO on a retrospective cohort of 654 patients with acute ischemic stroke: facial palsy (scored 0–2), arm motor function (0–2), leg motor function (0–2), gaze (0–1), and aphasia or agnosia (0–2). Thereafter, the RACE scale was validated prospectively in the field by trained medical emergency technicians in 357 consecutive patients transferred by Emergency Medical Services to our Comprehensive Stroke Center. Neurologists evaluated stroke severity at admission and LVO was diagnosed by transcranial duplex, computed tomography, or MR angiography. Receiver operating curve, sensitivity, specificity, and global accuracy of the RACE scale were analyzed to evaluate its predictive value for LVO. Results— In the prospective cohort, the RACE scale showed a strong correlation with NIHSS (r=0.76; P<0.001). LVO was detected in 76 of 357 patients (21%). Receiver operating curves showed a similar capacity to predict LVO of the RACE scale compared with the NIHSS (area under the curve 0.82 and 0.85, respectively). A RACE scale ≥5 had sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.68, positive predictive value 0.42, and negative predictive value 0.94 for detecting LVO. Conclusions— The RACE scale is a simple tool that can accurately assess stroke severity and identify patients with acute stroke with large artery occlusion at prehospital setting by medical emergency technicians.
How to develop knowledge culture in organizations? A multiple case study of large distributed organizations

Purpose – This paper seeks to identify various factors affecting knowledge culture in some of the large organizations and suggest realistic strategies for developing knowledge culture.Design/methodology/approach – In‐depth case studies were conducted at six large distributed organizations to investigate and assess knowledge management (KM) practices and associated organizational culture. The core data collection is based on semi‐structured interviews with senior managers who play a significant role in KM programs at their respective organizations. A range of internal documents of these organizations has also provided some important inputs for the empirical analysis.Findings – The study identified ten major factors affecting knowledge culture in organizations. These include leadership, organizational structure, and evangelization, communities of practice, reward systems, time allocation, business processes, recruitment, infrastructure and physical attributes.Research limitations/implications – Perhaps, the.
Influence of Disk Separation Distance on Accuracy of the Disk Approximation Test for Detection of Inducible Clindamycin Resistance in Staphylococcus spp

ABSTRACT We undertook this study to assess the accuracy of the clindamycin-erythromycin disk approximation test (D-test) for detection of inducible clindamycin resistance in Staphylococcus spp. One hundred sixty-three Staphylococcus aureus and 68 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) spp. which were erythromycin nonsusceptible but clindamycin susceptible were tested using the D-test performed at both 15-mm and 22-mm disk separations and compared with genotyping as the “gold standard. ” The rate of inducible clindamycin resistance was 96.3% for S. aureus and 33.8% for CoNS spp. The sensitivities of the D-tests performed at 15 mm and 22 mm were 100% and 87.7%, respectively, and specificities were 100% for both. The use of 22-mm disk separation for the D-test to detect inducible clindamycin resistance results in an unacceptably high very major error rate (12.3%). All isolates with false-negative results harbored the ermA gene, and the majority were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. False-negative results were associated with smaller clindamycin zone sizes and double-edged zones. We recommend using a disk separation distance of ≤15 mm. There is wide geographic variation in the rates of inducible clindamycin resistance, and each laboratory should determine the local rate before deciding whether to either perform the D-test routinely or else report that all erythromycin-resistant S. aureus isolates are also clindamycin resistant.
Tertiary Health Prevention and Saving

The paper studies the interaction between saving and tertiary health prevention in a two-period framework where future decline in health is certain. The cost of investment in prevention occurs in the health attribute and future benefits include an increase in the probability of receiving treatment and a partial recovery of health if treated. In this framework, we show that the effects of changes in the returns on saving and on tertiary prevention depend on agent's correlation attitude (either correlation aversion or correlation loving). Furthermore, we study how prudence/imprudence in health and cross-prudence/imprudence in wealth determine the impact of a background health risk on optimal choices. Finally, we analyze the effect of high-order preferences in case of high-degree risk changes.
Essays on Incongruent Preferences for Eort Allocations in Multi-Task Agency Relations

This thesis comprises three self-contained essays that deal with inefficient effort allocations in multi-task agency relations with moral hazard. The first essay analyzes a multi-task agency framework where the agent exhibits task-specific abilities. Besides investigating the appendant consequences of applying incongruent performance measures in incentive contracts, this essay demonstrates that the provision of incentives—including the optimal aggregation of information— takes the agent’s task-specific abilities into consideration. It further emphasizes the relation between job characteristics and the principal’s preference for selecting specific agents. This essay essentially demonstrates that differences in task-specific abilities across agents can explain why they are allocated to various jobs; or why they receive different incentive contracts, even if their jobs are identical. The second essay considers a multi-task agency model with a risk-neutral and financially constrained agent. It analyzes the inefficiency of the agent’s induced effort allocation across tasks when the principal has only access to an incongruent information system about the agent’s performance. This essay further investigates the costly acquisition of information aimed at improving the agent’s performance evaluation, and therefore, mitigating her effort distortion. It contrasts two alternatives for the principal: (i) to centrally invest in the information acquisition; or (ii), to delegate this task to a supervisor. This essay demonstrates that the principal generally favors delegation for a sufficiently incongruent information system, and a centralized investment, otherwise. This can be observed if the supervisor’s performance evaluation is adequately precise. Otherwise, the contrary implication applies. The third essay analyzes incongruent preferences between firms for the characteristics of exchanged goods as an inefficiency of mutual market transactions, and collusive behavior within firms as an inefficiency of integrated transactions. It investigates the consequences of both inefficiencies on (i) firms’ decision on whether to integrate transactions or to utilize the market; and (ii), the properties of contractual arrangements. This essay proposes two important implications. First, diverging preferences between firms affect diametrically their benefits of mutual market transactions. Better aligned preferences are thereby disadvantageous from the demanding firm’s perspective since it imposes higher costs to ensure relation-specific investments. Second, anticipated collusion may force firms to employ market transactions, even if integrated transactions would have been more efficient otherwise. Nevertheless, potential collusion can be beneficial if it facilitates the achievement, or improves the efficiency, of superior relational contracts within and between firms due to a worse fall-back alternative.
The Lesbian Label as a Component of Women’s Stigmatization in Sport Organizations: An Exploration of Two Health and Kinesiology Departments

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the meanings and organizational implications of lesbianism and the lesbian label within the sport organization context. Fourteen faculty members from two health and kinesiology departments were asked how they, their colleagues, and their departments defined, responded to, coped with, and managed the lesbian label. First and foremost, the words of these faculty members identify the lesbian label as a component of a lesbian stigma at both the individual and departmental levels and within the field of health and kinesiology as a whole. The consequences of the stigma, however, varied by department suggesting the importance of departmental culture and atmosphere. Implications of these findings, as they pertain to sport managers, are discussed.
Food Insecurity and Adjustment Problems in a National Sample of Adolescents1

This study examined a structural equation model of the associations among food insecurity, parental emotional distress, quality of parenting, and adolescents’ adjustment problems, controlling for socioeconomic status (SES), sex, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, we examined the relative effects of food insecurity, SES, parental emotional distress, and quality of parenting on adjustment problems. A sample of 11,139 12–17-year-olds selected from the 2002 National Survey of American Families data set were used. The results revealed the following: first, the model exhibited a reasonable fit to the data. Second, heightened food insecurity was associated with increased parental emotional distress, poor quality of parenting, and increased adjustment problems. Third, increased parental emotional distress was associated with poor quality of parenting and with higher levels of adjustment problems; and better quality of parenting was associated with lower levels of adjustment problems. Fourth, food insecurity had an indirect effect on adjustment problems through its effect on parental emotional distress and quality of parenting. Finally, parental emotional distress and quality of parenting had stronger total effects on adjustment problems than did food insecurity. The implications of these findings for policy are also discussed.
Partner support for individual self-expansion opportunities

Previous research indicates that partner responsiveness and self-expansion play key roles in the creation, maintenance, and improvement of close relationships. This experiment examined the hypothesis that active (vs. passive) partner support for an individual’s opportunity for self-expansion would increase relationship satisfaction. In an experimental task manipulated to be either self-expanding or stressful, dating couple members (N = 116; 58 couples) received active or passive support messages, ostensibly from their partners. Among those in longer term (14–60 months), but not in shorter term relationships, relationship satisfaction increased significantly more for those who received active (vs. passive) support for self-expansion. This same pattern was not found when partners’ messages responded to a stressful task or for couples in short-term relationships. This study provides the first experimental evidence for effects on relationship satisfaction of partner support for individual self-expansion. In addition, the findings suggest the potential substantial importance of relationship length for moderating self-expansion processes.
ON THE EARLY EVOLUTIONARY ORIGIN OF BIOLOGICAL PERIODICITY

The potential difference of energy is the driving power behind every continuously functioning engine, machine or device. The energy used may be of mechanical, electrical or chemical origin, or it may be radiation or heat. The basic principle of the working of such machines is always that the energy should not flow freely from high to low potential positions. It must proceed along a series of artificially constructed constrained pathways, accomplishing useful work on the way for man. Depending on the constrained pathways, the useful work may be anything from running a mill to moving the pointer of an instrument. The flow of the energy is manipulated within the machinery, and human technologies realize these manipulations either by mechanical, electrical or by electronical methods. The same is true for machines driven by heat, by chemical or radiation energy. This kind of energy is always transformed in a first step into mechanical or electrical energy within the machinery, and their manipulation takes place afterwards by mechanical, electrical or electronical methods. Living organisms are continuously functioning systems, too—they produce useful work driven by chemical energy. This is also true for the plants, which convert radiation energy from light into chemical energy during the first steps of their energy utilization. The major difference between continuously functioning machines and living systems is that, in the latter, the pathways of the energy are not manipulated by mechanical or electrical means but by chemical means. Currently human technology is unable to use this method. Nevertheless, the changes of chemical energy can be manipulated in a similar manner by chemical means, as the mechanical or electrical energy can be manipulated by mechanical, electrical or
Capillarity-induced ordering of spherical colloids on an interface with anisotropic curvature

Objects floating at a liquid interface, such as breakfast cereals floating in a bowl of milk or bubbles at the surface of a soft drink, clump together as a result of capillary attraction. This attraction arises from deformation of the liquid interface due to gravitational forces; these deformations cause excess surface area that can be reduced if the particles move closer together. For micrometer-sized colloids, however, the gravitational force is too small to produce significant interfacial deformations, so capillary forces between spherical colloids at a flat interface are negligible. Here, we show that this is different when the confining liquid interface has a finite curvature that is also anisotropic. In that case, the condition of constant contact angle along the three-phase contact line can only be satisfied when the interface is deformed. We present experiments and numerical calculations that demonstrate how this leads to quadrupolar capillary interactions between the particles, giving rise to organization into regular square lattices. We demonstrate that the strength of the governing anisotropic interactions can be rescaled with the deviatoric curvature alone, irrespective of the exact shape of the liquid interface. Our results suggest that anisotropic interactions can easily be induced between isotropic colloids through tailoring of the interfacial curvature.
The Transfer Effect: A Critical Race Theory Examination of Black Male Transfer Student Athletes’ Experiences

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of Black male student athletes who transferred from predominantly White institutions (PWIs) to a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in the southeastern United States (U.S.). This qualitative case study involved a single focus group interview and two individual interviews with Black male transfer student athletes who were enrolled at a HBCU. Critical race theory (CRT) was applied as a theoretical framework to examine the impact of race and racism on the participants’ experiences within different educational and sociocultural environments. The key research topics of interest included identifying the participants’ reasons for transferring from a PWI to a HBCU and understanding their college experiences at the HBCU. Findings revealed participants’ encounters with various forms of covert and overt racism at PWIs resulted in negative college experiences, which motivated them to transfer to a HBCU. Using tenets of CRT and a thematic analysis proc.
Chronic Treatment with Mood-Stabilizers Attenuates Abnormal Hyperlocomotion of GluA1-Subunit Deficient Mice

Abnormal excitatory glutamate neurotransmission and plasticity have been implicated in schizophrenia and affective disorders. Gria1−/− mice lacking GluA1 subunit (encoded by Gria1 gene) of AMPA-type glutamate receptor show robust novelty-induced hyperactivity, social deficits and heightened approach features, suggesting that they could be used to test for anti-manic activity of drugs. Here, we tested the efficacy of chronic treatment with established anti-manic drugs on behavioural properties of the Gria1−/− mice. The mice received standard mood stabilizers (lithium and valproate) and novel ones (topiramate and lamotrigine, used more as anticonvulsants) as supplements in rodent chow for at least 4 weeks. All drugs attenuated novelty-induced locomotor hyperactivity of the Gria1−/− mice, especially by promoting the habituation, while none of them attenuated 2-mg/kg amphetamine-induced hyperactivity as compared to control diet. Treatment with lithium and valproate reversed the elevated exploratory activity of Gria1−/− mice. Valproate treatment also reduced struggling behaviour in tail suspension test and restored reciprocally-initiated social contacts of Gria1−/− mice to the level shown by the wild-type Gria1+/+ mice. Gria1−/− mice consumed slightly more sucrose during intermittent sucrose exposure than the wild-types, but ran similar distances on running wheels. These behaviours were not consistently affected by lithium and valproate in the Gria1−/− mice. The efficacy of various anti-manic drug treatments on novelty-induced hyperactivity suggests that the Gria1−/− mouse line can be utilized in screening for new therapeutics.
Rectal Mucosal Schwann-Cell Hamartoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma is a newly recognized disease entity that describes lesions which share some features but are distinct from schwannomas and neurofibromas. This mesenchymal lesion, consisting of a proliferation of Schwann cells in the lamina propria and a strong positivity for the S-100 protein, should be differentiated from other similar lesions because it exists solely in the intestines as a polypoid lesion. Here, we report on a case of Schwann cell hamartoma diagnosed on pathology of rectal polyp removed during colonoscopy Case presentation: Our patient is a 60 y/o male who presented for an outpatient colonoscopy to evaluate weight loss and intermittent hematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoid diverticulosis and a small 5 mm rectal polyp. The polyp was sessile and removed with a cold biopsy forceps. On pathology, the rectal polyp showed S-100 positivity and had benign bland spindle cell proliferation in the lamina propria, findings that were consistent with a diagnosis of Mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma. A follow up colonoscopy was recommended in 3 years. Conclusion: Mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma is considered a benign lesion and no reports of malignant transformation have been described. However, further follow up data is needed before making final recommendations. Our case report emphasizes this emerging disease and we propose close follow ups for possible malignant transformation. Key-words: Schwann Cell; Neuroma; Polyp; Hamartoma; Neurofibroma
Nonverval concomitants of perceived and intended persuasiveness.

Three experiments explored the hypothesis that the degree of liking which is nonverbally communicated to an addressee is a direct correlate of the intended persuasiveness of a communicator and the perceived persuasiveness of his communication. The nonverbal attitude-communication literature provided a basis for several derivative hypotheses relating to specific position, posture, facial, movement, and verbal cues. The findings supported the hypotheses and indicated that the intended persuasiveness of a communicator and the judged or perceived persuasiveness of his communication were correlated. The study also provided interpretations for some movement cues whose referents were previously unclear and suggested a grouping of postural cues which together define total bodily relaxation.
Spatiotemporal T790M Heterogeneity in Individual Patients with EGFR-Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Acquired Resistance to EGFR-TKI

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation T790M accounts for approximately half of acquired resistances to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Because T790M is mediated by TKI exposure, its penetration and “on–off” may affect T790M status. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed T790M status and clinical course of patients who had undergone multiple rebiopsies after acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI. Results: Of 145 patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC receiving rebiopsy after acquired resistance, 30 underwent multiple site rebiopsies, and 24 received repeated rebiopsies at the same lesion. In 22 patients who underwent rebiopsies from both central nervous system (CNS; 20 cerebrospinal fluids [CSF] and 2 brain tumoral tissues) and thoracic lesions (7 lung tissues, 14 pleural effusions, and 1 lymph node), 12 were thoracic-T790M-positive. Of these 12 patients, 10 were CNS-T790M-negative, despite exhibiting thoracic-T790M-positive. All 10 thoracic-T790M-negatives were CNS-T790M-negative. Three patients revealed a spatial heterogeneous T790M status among their thoracic lesions. In 24 patients receiving repeated rebiopsies at the same lesion (12 lung tissues, 6 CSFs, and 6 pleural effusions), T790M status of lung lesions varied in five patients after TKI-free interval. In all five patients whose T790M status changed from positive to negative, EGFR-TKI rechallenge was effective. In three of these five patients, after further TKI exposure, T790M status changed from negative to positive again. There was also a patient whose CSF T790M status changed from negative to positive after high-dose erlotinib therapy. Conclusions: T790M status in an individual patient can be spatiotemporally heterogeneous because of selective pressure from EGFR-TKI.