Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Predicting Therapeutic Efficacy of Combination Treatment With Sitagliptin and Insulin in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: The ASSIST-K Study

Background It is unclear whether dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors decrease hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in a glucose-dependent manner in patients on insulin therapy who have impaired insulin secretion. This study investigated factors influencing the efficacy of sitagliptin when used concomitantly with insulin to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the real-world setting. Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 1,004 T2DM patients at 36 Japanese clinics associated with the Diabetes Task Force of the Kanagawa Physicians Association. Eligible patients had been on insulin for at least 6 months, with a baseline HbA1c of 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) or higher. Baseline characteristics and laboratory data from 495 patients were subjected to multiple regression analysis to identify factors influencing the change of HbA1c. Results Most patients (n = 809) received sitagliptin at a dose of 50 mg. In the 1,004 patients, HbA1c decreased by 0.74% (6 mmol/mol) and body weight increased by 0.1 kg after 6 months of combination therapy. Multiple regression analysis showed that a higher baseline HbA1c, older age, and lower body mass index influenced the change of HbA1c after 6 months. Hypoglycemic symptoms occurred in 7.4%, but none were severe. Conclusions These results emphasize the importance of a higher HbA1c at the commencement of sitagliptin therapy in patients on insulin. Glucose-dependent suppression of glucagon secretion by sitagliptin may be useful in patients with impaired insulin secretion. Sitagliptin can be used concomitantly with insulin irrespective of the insulin regimen, duration of insulin treatment, and concomitant medications.
Assuming the worst: Hostile attribution bias in vulnerable narcissists

ABSTRACT Past research suggests that grandiose narcissists expect admiration from others and are punitive against transgressors, but vulnerable narcissists are not nearly so socially confident. Instead, vulnerable narcissists may exhibit a hostile attribution bias, where they are suspicious and mistrustful of others’ motives. Using both a vignette-based methodology in Study 1 (N = 205) and a trait-based methodology in Study 2 (N = 137), we found a consistent link between vulnerable narcissism and hostile attribution bias. Importantly, no such link exists for grandiose narcissists, suggesting that hostile attribution bias is specific to vulnerable narcissists. These findings provide intriguing avenues for future research and add clarity to the field’s understanding of who vulnerable narcissists are and how they view their social worlds.
Breastfeeding rates in central and western China in 2010: implications for child and population health.

OBJECTIVE To describe breastfeeding practices in rural China using globally recommended indicators and to compare them with practices in neighbouring countries and large emerging economies. METHODS A community-based, cross-sectional survey of 2354 children younger than 2 years in 26 poor, rural counties in 12 central and western provinces was conducted. Associations between indicators of infant and young child feeding and socioeconomic, demographic and health service variables were explored and rates were compared with the most recent data from China and other nations. FINDINGS Overall, 98.3% of infants had been breastfed. However, only 59.4% had initiated breastfeeding early (i.e. within 1 hour of birth); only 55.5% and 9.4% had continued breastfeeding for 1 and 2 years, respectively, and only 28.7% of infants younger than 6 months had been exclusively breastfed. Early initiation of breastfeeding was positively associated with at least five antenatal clinic visits (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 3.48; P < 0.001) and negatively associated with delivery by Caesarean (aOR: 0.53; P < 0.001) or in a referral-level facility (aOR: 0.6; P = 0.014). Exclusive breastfeeding among children younger than 6 months was positively associated with delivery in a referral-level facility (aOR: 2.22; P < 0.05). Breastfeeding was not associated with maternal age or education, ethnicity or household wealth. Surveyed rates of exclusive and continued breastfeeding were mostly lower than in other nations. CONCLUSION Despite efforts to promote breastfeeding in China, rates are very low. A commitment to improve infant and young child feeding is needed to reduce mortality and morbidity.
The Role of Perceived Development Opportunities on Affective Organizational Commitment of Older and Younger Nurses

Abstract The research concerning human resource management (HRM) and organizational commitment is extensive. However, few studies have examined whether the relationship between employee perceptions of an organization's HR practices and work-related attitudes such as organizational commitment is moderated by age or career stage. This study examines the influence of perceived development opportunities and supervisory support on affective organizational commitment and whether this relationship is moderated by age or career stage. We collected the survey data from nurses in a Finnish university hospital (N = 937). The response rate was 54.4%. Our results show that the oldest nurses and those who had the longest organizational tenure were most affectively committed to the organization and had the highest rate of intention to remain at their current workplace. Affective organizational commitment was predicted by organizational tenure, skills that are appropriate for present work demands, supervisory support for development, and opportunities to use one's competencies. We detected no significant age-related interaction effects.
Early TBI-Induced Cytokine Alterations are Similarly Detected by Two Distinct Methods of Multiplex Assay

Annually, more than a million persons experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the US and a substantial proportion of this population develop debilitating neurological disorders, such as, paralysis, cognitive deficits, and epilepsy. Despite the long-standing knowledge of the risks associated with TBI, no effective biomarkers or interventions exist. Recent evidence suggests a role for inflammatory modulators in TBI-induced neurological impairments. Current technological advances allow for the simultaneous analysis of the precise spatial and temporal expression patterns of numerous proteins in single samples which ultimately can lead to the development of novel treatments. Thus, the present study examined 23 different cytokines, including chemokines, in the ipsi and contralateral cerebral cortex of rats at 24 h after a fluid percussion injury (FPI). Furthermore, the estimation of cytokines were performed in a newly developed multiplex assay instrument, MAGPIX (Luminex Corp), and compared with an established instrument, Bio-Plex (Bio-Rad), in order to validate the newly developed instrument. The results show numerous inflammatory changes in the ipsi and contralateral side after FPI that were consistently reported by both technologies.
Managing Credit Risk in Rural Financial Institutions in Latin America

The purpose of this report is to review common credit risk management techniques used in a sample of Latin American financial institutions with agricultural portfolios, identify the factors that contribute to successful credit risk management as measured by several key financial performance indicators in order to assist donors, governments, and owners of financial institutions to promote and adopt the most efficient and robust techniques. This report also examines a sample of 42 financial institutions in Latin America that have agricultural portfolios, and identifies their principal perceived risks, how they asses and manage credit risk, and how effective they are in the process as measured by key financial performance indicators (such as asset quality, portfolio growth, and profit margins).
Merger Clusters During Economic Booms

Merger activity is intense during economic booms and subdued during recessions. This paper provides a non-financial explanation for this observable pattern. We construct a model in which the target-by setting the takeover price-screens the acquirer on his (expected) ability to realize synergy gains when merging. In an economic boom, it is less profitable to sort out relatively "bad fit" acquirers, leading to a hike in merger activity. Although positive economic shocks produce expected gains at the time of merging, these mergers turn out to be less efficient in the long term-a finding that is broadly consistent with the existing empirical evidence. Furthermore, again because of the absence of boom-time screening, the more efficient acquirers earn higher merger profits during "merger waves" than outside of waves, which is also in line with empirical evidence. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG - (Fusionscluster in Boomphasen) In Zeiten wirtschaftlicher Hochkonjunktur ist die Zahl der Firmenzusammenschlusse hoch, in Rezessionszeiten eher niedrig. Dieser Aufsatz gibt eine Erklarung fur diese Beobachtung, die nicht auf rein finanzwirtschaftlichen Faktoren beruht. Im vorgestellten Modell ha das Unternehmen, welches ubernommen wird, die Moglichkeit, den Ubernahmepreis festzulegen und kann damit auch die ubernehmende Firma auswahlen. Das Auswahlkriterium sind die erwarteten Synergiegewinne im Falle einer Fusion, die fur eine gute Passung der beiden fusionierenden Unternehmen sprechen. In Phasen der Hochkonjunktur ist es allerdings fur Unternehmen generell interessant, zu fusionieren, und es wird relativ weniger profitabel, grosen Auswahlaufwand zu treiben, um schlecht passende Fusionspartner auszusortieren und eventuell gar keinen Fusionspartner zu finden. Daher kommt es in diesen Zeiten zu mehr Fusionen als in anderen Konjunkturphasen, die als Fusionswellen bezeichnet werden. Zum Zeitpunkt der Fusion lassen sich auch die erwarteten Gewinne durch die gunstige okonomische Gesamtsituation realisieren. Im weiteren Verlauf stellen sich jedoch solche Fusionen mit schlecht passenden Partnern als wenig effizient heraus-was auch empirische Analysen bestatigt haben. Daruber hinaus zeigt das Modell, dass-wiederum wegen der fehlenden Auswahlprozedur in Boomphasen-die effizienteren Fusionspartner wahrend Fusionswellen hohere Gewinne machen als auserhalb von Fusionswellen. Dies ist zuvor bereits empirisch beobachtet worden.
Does the Level of Religiosity Determine Budgetary Slacks Behavior as the Result of Superrior’s Pressure?

This study aimed to investigate budgetary slack behavior due to obedience pressure to authority in governmental organization. This study also evaluates the role of religiosity in determining budgetary slack creation in such situation. The results of experiment with 64 undergraduate students as participants indicate that majority of participants obeyed the order of their immediate superior to create budgetary slack in violation of organization policy. This study also found that participants’ level of religiosity do have impact on their actual behavior to create budgetary slack. Participants with high level of religiosity are documented to create smaller amount of budgetary slack than those who have low level ofreligiosity when faced with obedience pressure from their superior.
Secretion of VEGF-165 has unique characteristics, including shedding from the plasma membrane

VEGF secretion is studied using VEGF165-GFP chimera. Efficient secretion requires Sar1- and Arf1-dependent steps and glycosylation in the Golgi. VEGF is retained in the outer surface of the plasma membrane, and shedding with other membrane components is an important step in the secretion process.
Collegiate Schemas: The Influence of Institutional Met Expectations on Tenure-Track Faculty Job Satisfaction.

Met expectations” research into job satisfaction (Locke, 1976; Porter & Steers, 1973) has shown that the expectations employees bring to their jobs influence their overall job satisfaction. At colleges and universities, faculty job satisfaction is important because it can provide a measure of overall institutional effectiveness (Cameron, 1978), and can directly influence decisions to leave the institution (Mobley, 1977; Smart, 1990; Zhou & Volkwein, 2004). This study used multiple regression analyses to determine if tenure-track faculty job satisfaction is influenced by the differences between the colleges and universities, as measured by institutional characteristics, where faculty earned their bachelor’s and doctorate degrees and their current institution of employment. This study posited that faculty form mental models or schemas of college and university work environments based on their undergraduate and graduate school experiences. These collegiate schemas create expectations for future work experiences among college and university faculty. Faculty job satisfaction was determined using responses to questions from the National Science Foundation’s 2001 Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Faculty degree history was obtained from the Survey of Earned Doctorates. Institutional characteristics examined included institutional type, size, expenditures, reputation, geographic location, and racial/ethnic diversity, and were acquired from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Optical properties of germanium nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in acetone

Germanium (Ge) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by means of pulsed laser ablation of bulk germanium target immersed in acetone with ns laser pulses at different pulse energies. The fabricated NPs are characterized by employing different techniques such as UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, micro-Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The mean size of the Ge NPs is found to vary from few nm to 40 nm with the increase in laser pulse energy. Shift in the position of the absorption spectra is observed and also the photoluminescence peak shift is observed due to quantum confinement effects. High resolution TEM combined with micro-Raman spectroscopy confirms the crystalline nature of the generated germanium nanoparticles. The formation of various sizes of germanium NPs at different laser pulse energies is evident from the asymmetry in the Raman spectra and the shift in its peak position towards the lower wavenumber side. The FESEM micrographs confirm the formation of germanium micro/nanostructures at the laser ablated position of the bulk germanium. In particular, the measured NP sizes from the micro-Raman phonon quantum confinement model are found in good agreement with TEM measurements of Ge NPs.
On the Hydrogen Emission from the Type Ia Supernova SN 2002ic

The discovery of SN 2002ic and subsequent spectroscopic studies have led to the surprising finding that SN 2002ic is a Type Ia supernova with strong ejecta-circumstellar interaction. Here we show that nearly 1 year after the explosion the supernova has become fainter overall, but the Hα emission has brightened and broadened dramatically compared to earlier observations. We have obtained spectropolarimetry data that show that the hydrogen-rich matter is highly aspherically distributed. These observations suggest that the supernova exploded inside a dense, clumpy, disklike circumstellar environment.
Career advancement of women senior academic administrators in Indonesia: supports and challenges

Increasing numbers of women have gained access to college and the college teaching profession worldwide. However, women continue to be underrepresented in academic, research, and leadership positions. Women who have aspirations for top leadership positions still encounter numerous internal and external challenges. Existent literature on women administrators’ career advancement in higher education also has revealed that in order to reach top positions, it is necessary that women leaders utilize available resources and strategies. Studies on women administrators’ career advancement have focused primarily on female leaders or professors in Western universities. This study contributes to this scholarly knowledge by adding women leaders’ voices from the East. I used a qualitative descriptive approach to investigate how eight women senior academic administrators in two public research universities in Indonesia navigated their way to leadership positions. I collected the data using two to three hours of interviews with each woman during the summer of 2009. From the interviews, six themes emerged: (a) family is key in these women’s efforts to manage tensions between professional and domestic roles, (b) support from the closest individuals was important in balancing the participants’ multiple roles, (c) my participants’ personal attributes helped them in accomplishing their responsibilities, (d) heavy workloads contributed to women’s lack of aspiration to pursue top leadership positions, (e) institutional policies regarding promotion systematically favor men, and (f) women had to work harder to become leaders. Findings of this study revealed that culture and religious beliefs distinctive to Indonesian contexts can facilitate or hinder women senior academic administrators’ career advancement. Reflections of these women suggested that the strong support system in the Javanese culture helps women administrators in balancing their domestic and public roles. Socioeconomic status has affected women’s career advancement as well. Women who have the means, resources, and assistance to accomplish their
A Goldilocks principle for modelling radial velocity noise

F. Feng, M. Tuomi, H. R. A. Jones, R. P. Butler, and S. Vogt, 'A Goldilocks principle for modelling radial velocity noise', MNRAS, Vol. 461 (3): 2440-2452, first published online on 20 June 2016, the version of record is available online at doi: 10.1093/mnras/stw1478. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The Use of Perceptual Data To Assess Intercollegiate Athletics. AIR 1995 Annual Forum Paper.

The Student Athlete Survey was developed and administered to all student athletes at a university during the spring semesters of 1994 and 1995. The survey was designed to: help the athletic department obtain early warning about potential problems; (2) gain insight into the quality of athlete/coach interaction; (3) obtain some global measures of student-athlete satisfaction. The survey was administered during the spring 1994 and 1995 semesters; and the survey procedures were designed to provide respondents with complete anonymity. The range of information addressed by the survey involved the following: global measures of satisfaction with college academic, athletic, and overall experiences; estimates of the number of student athletes who would or would not attend this college again if they were being recruited now; frequency of physical, verbal, and mental abuse by coaching staff; conflict between practice time and cafeteria dining schedule; perceptions of the extent to which athletes are treated fairly by the athletic department; perceived strengths of the coaching staff; and perceived areas in which the coaching staff needs to improve. Survey results provided timely information to enable the athletic director to take corrective actions to improve student-athlete experiences. (SW) ***********************************************A. ********************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** The Use Of Perceptual Data To Assess Intercollegiate Athletics Archer R. Gravely Director of institutional Research
A cross-cultural study of the use of metadiscourse markers in argumentative essays by Iranian and Chinese EFL students

Abstract Students from different cultures and first languages act differently in developing argumentative essays. This study aimed to compare the rhetorical models followed by the Iranian and Chinese EFL university students in writing argumentative essays. The research aimed to investigate the effect of first language on the use of rhetorical patterns in two different cultural settings. Hyland’s model was used in order to compare students‘ writing. Hyland’s model for interactional-source subtypes includes: hedges, boosters, attitude markers, engagement markers, self-mentions. The required data were collected from 80 EFL learners in Iran and China. Mann–Whitney U test was run to clarify the differences in using the metadiscourse markers. The results indicated there were significant differences between Iranian and Chinese EFL students in the use of all, but one, of the mentioned metadiscourse markers. The findings can provide a better perspective toward culture-specific variations in writing skill.
Culture Adaptation Alters Transcriptional Hierarchies among Single Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reflecting Altered Patterns of Differentiation

We have used single cell transcriptome analysis to re-examine the substates of early passage, karyotypically Normal, and late passage, karyotypically Abnormal (‘Culture Adapted’) human embryonic stem cells characterized by differential expression of the cell surface marker antigen, SSEA3. The results confirmed that culture adaptation is associated with alterations to the dynamics of the SSEA3(+) and SSEA3(-) substates of these cells, with SSEA3(-) Adapted cells remaining within the stem cell compartment whereas the SSEA3(-) Normal cells appear to have differentiated. However, the single cell data reveal that these substates are characterized by further heterogeneity that changes on culture adaptation. Notably the Adapted population includes cells with a transcriptome substate suggestive of a shift to a more naïve-like phenotype in contrast to the cells of the Normal population. Further, a subset of the Normal SSEA3(+) cells expresses genes typical of endoderm differentiation, despite also expressing the undifferentiated stem cell genes, POU5F1 (OCT4) and NANOG, whereas such apparently lineage-primed cells are absent from the Adapted population. These results suggest that the selective growth advantage gained by genetically variant, culture adapted human embryonic stem cells may derive in part from a changed substate structure that influences their propensity for differentiation.