Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Body Repositioning after Venous Air Embolism: An Echocardiographic Study

Background Current therapy for massive venous air embolism (VAE) may include the use of the left lateral recumbent (LLR) position, although its effectiveness has been questioned. This study used transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate the effect of body repositioning on intracardiac air and acute cardiac dimension changes. Methods Eighteen anesthetized dogs in the supine position received a venous air injection of 2.5 ml/kg at a rate of 5 ml/s. After 1 min the dogs were repositioned into either the LLR, LLR 10 degrees head down (LLR‐10 degrees), right lateral recumbence, or remained in the supine position. Results Repositioning after VAE resulted in relocation of intracardiac air to nondependent areas of the right heart. Peak right ventricular (RV) diameter increase and mean arterial pressure decrease were greater in the repositioned animals compared with those in the supine position (P < 0.05). Right ventricular diameter and mean arterial pressure showed an inverse correlation (r = 0.81). Peak left atrial diameter decrease was greater in the LLR and LLR‐10 degrees positions compared with the supine position (P < 0.05). Repositioning did not influence peak pulmonary artery pressure increase, and no correlation was found between RV diameter and pulmonary artery pressure. All animals showed electrocardiogram and echocardiographic changes reconcilable with myocardial ischemia. Conclusions In dogs, body repositioning after VAE provided no benefit in hemodynamic performance or cardiac dimension changes, although relocation of intracardiac air was demonstrated. Right ventricular air did not appear to result in significant RV outflow obstruction, as pulmonary artery pressure increased uniformly in all groups and was not influenced by the relocation of intracardiac air. The combination of increased RV afterload and arterial hypotension, possibly with subsequent RV ischemia rather than RV outflow obstruction by an airlock appeared to be the primary mechanism for cardiac dysfunction after VAE.
Credit card spending limit and personal finance: system dynamics approach

Credit cards have become one of the major ways for conducting cashless transactions. However, they have long term impact to the wellbeing of its owner, trough the debt generated by the credit card usage. Credit card issuers approve high credit limit to credit card owners, therefore influencing their credit burden. A system dynamics model has been used to model behavior of a credit card owner in different scenarios according to the size of a credit limit. Experiments with the model demonstrated that a higher credit limit approved on the credit card decreases budget available for spending in the long run. This is a contribution toward the evaluation of action for credit limit control based on their consequences. Key words: credit card, credit limit, system dynamics
Nested PCR for detection of mutans streptococci in dental plaque

Aims: Mutans streptococci such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus have been implicated in human dental caries. In an attempt to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus in dental plaque, a nested PCR amplification based on the 16S rRNA gene was employed.
Investment Performance, Importance of Cash Levels, and Descriptive Company Statistics for U.S. Buybacks

An investment strategy based on buying U.S. stocks announcing share repurchase programmes over the period 1999 to 2014 suggest a minor long-run positive drift, with differing significance levels dependent on the test model. In descriptive terms, buyback activity is pro-cyclical and buyback companies are overrepresented among large-cap stocks that are less CapEx intensive and hold higher levels of cash on their announcement date. In contrast to the notion that insiders buy back stock based on market undervaluation, I contend the majority of buybacks are a flexible and innocuous means of deploying excess cash. Although buybacks can be interpreted as conservative, they express insider confidence in share prices and outlook on cash flows. However, I advise the investor to avoid exceptionally cash-rich stocks. These firms are more likely to choose buybacks simply to act on a build-up in cash, a rather mundane capital allocation decision considering its alternative use. Programme: Graduate School Master of Science in Finance Supervisor: Conny Overland
Synthesizing moderate upscale restaurant patrons’ dining experiences

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive hierarchical model of the interrelationships among five higher order marketing constructs (service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value, restaurant image and behavioural intentions) for moderate upscale restaurants in Malaysia. A third order conceptualisation of service quality is also included in the empirical analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations.FindingsService quality, customer satisfaction and restaurant image all have a strong, positive impact on the behavioural intentions of moderate upscale restaurant patrons. Service quality, perceived value and restaurant image are also important determinants of customer satisfaction. Behavioural intentions to re-patronise a restaurant and recommend it to friends are influenced more strongly by restaurant image than by customer satisfaction. Three primary dimensions and ten pertaining sub-dimensions are modelled in the third order conceptualisation of service quality. The primary and sub-dimensions also vary in importance amongst the customers in the sampling frame.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical research that develops and tests a comprehensive hierarchical model for moderate upscale restaurants to provide a complete and integrative analysis of a service setting. The interrelationships among service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value restaurant image and behavioural intentions are assessed. A third order conceptualisations of service quality is also included in the modelling framework.
Extremely low frequency (ELF) stray magnetic fields of laboratory equipment: a possible co-exposure conducting experiments on cell cultures

Abstract Measurements of extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields were conducted in the environment of commercial laboratory equipment in order to evaluate the possible co-exposure during the experimental processes on cell cultures. Three types of device were evaluated: a cell culture CO2 incubator, a thermostatic water bath and a laboratory shaker table. These devices usually have electric motors, heating wires and electronic control systems, therefore may expose the cell cultures to undesirable ELF stray magnetic fields. Spatial distributions of magnetic field time domain signal waveform and frequency spectral analysis (FFT) were processed. Long- and short-term variation of stray magnetic field was also evaluated under normal use of investigated laboratory devices. The results show that the equipment under test may add a considerable ELF magnetic field to the ambient environmental magnetic field or to the intentional exposure to ELF, RF or other physical/chemical agents. The maximum stray magnetic fields were higher than 3 µT, 20 µT and 75 µT in the CO2 incubator, in water bath and on the laboratory shaker table, respectively, with high variation of spatial distribution and time domain. Our investigation emphasizes possible confounding factors conducting cell culture studies related to low-level ELF-EMF exposure due to the existing stray magnetic fields in the ambient environment of laboratory equipment.
Spatiotemporal variability of the gas transfer coefficient (KCO2) in boreal streams: Implications for large scale estimates of CO2 evasion

Boreal streams represent potentially important conduits for the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. The gas transfer coefficient of CO2 (KCO2) is a key variable in estimating this source strength, but the scarcity of measured values in lotic systems creates a risk of incorrect flux estimates even when stream gas concentrations are well known. This study used 114 independent measurements of KCO2 from 14 stream reaches in a boreal headwater system to determine and predict spatiotemporal variability in KCO2. The KCO2 values ranged from 0.001 to 0.207 min−1 across the 14 sites. Median KCO2 for a specific site was positively correlated with the slope of the stream reach, with higher gas transfer coefficients occurring in steeper stream sections. Combining slope with a width/depth index of the stream reach explained 83% of the spatial variability in KCO2. Temporal variability was more difficult to predict and was strongly site specific. Variation in KCO2, rather than pCO2, was the main determinant of stream CO2 evasion. Applying published generalized gas transfer velocities produced an error of up to 100% in median instantaneous evasion rates compared to the use of actual measured KCO2 values from our field study. Using the significant relationship to local slope, the median KCO2 was predicted for 300,000 km of watercourses (ranging in stream order 1–4) in the forested landscape of boreal/nemoral Sweden. The range in modeled stream order specific median KCO2 was 0.017–0.028 min−1 and there was a clear gradient of increasing KCO2 with lower stream order. We conclude that accurate regional scale estimates of CO2 evasion fluxes from running waters are possible, but require a good understanding of gas exchange at the water surface.
Purchasing knowing-doing gaps and the influence of incentives from a buyer-internal customer relationship perspective

Purchasing knowing–doing gaps, zijn verschillen tussen wat professionele inkopers weten over inkoop (wat ze idealiter zouden moeten doen) en wat ze feitelijk doen. Purchasing knowing–doing gaps zijn een potentieel risico voor de algemeen aanvaarde overtuiging dat inkoop een positieve bijdrage levert aan de bedrijfsprestaties. In dit onderzoek hebben we geconstateerd dat financiele incentives een significante relatie hebben met het bestaan van purchasing knowing–doing gaps. Hoewel ze geen noodzakelijke voorwaarde zijn voor het bestaan of ontbreken van purchasing knowing–doing gaps. Financiele incentives kunnen door niet-financiele incentives zodanig worden beinvloed dat geincentiviseerd gedrag een verdelend effect kan hebben. We weten uit op sociale wetenschappen gebaseerd onderzoek dat professionele normen in feite een soort niet-financiele incentives zijn en dat ze kunnen interacteren met financiele incentives. In dit onderzoek naar Purchasing knowing–doing gaps en de invloed van financiele en niet-financiele incentives hebben we geconstateerd dat professionele inkoopnormen impact van financiele prikkels voor kopers tegen kunnen gaan. Directieleden en managers van inkoopafdelingen moeten daarom de professionele normen van hun inkopers onderzoeken om de impact van die normen op het financieel gestimuleerde gedrag beter te begrijpen. De academische bijdrage wordt geleverd door inzichten en literatuur uit verschillende wetenschappelijke disciplines te combineren en met name door het gebruik van met laboratoriumexperimenten in een inkoopcontext. Het gebruik van experimenten is niet nieuw voor de wetenschap als zodanig, maar wordt niet vaak gebruikt op het gebied van inkoop en leveranciersmanagement.
A ϕC31 integrase‐mediated integration hotspot in favor of transgene expression exists in the bovine genome

ϕC31 integrase, a site‐specific recombinase, can effectively mediate foreign genes bearing an attB sequence integrated into pseudo attP sites. We have previously identified two pseudo attP sites, BpsF1 and BpsM1 from the bovine genome. In this study, two new pseudo attP sites, BF4 and BF10, were discovered using half‐nested inverse PCR from cow fibroblasts. The genomic locations of these two pseudo attP sites were identified by direct sequencing and a BLAST search, and it was confirmed that they reside at positions 4q31 and 10q35 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Subsequently, the distinct integration frequencies of the four pseudo attP sites were examined. The BF4 site was identified as a hotspot where site‐specific integration occurred in most of the cell clones examined, accounting for 74% (42/57) of the integration; much more than the integration frequency for BF10 (7%; 4/57), BpsF1 (7%; 4/57) and BpsM1 (0/57). Interestingly, similar to other hotspots identified in the human and mouse genomes, in which transgenes integrated at hotspots result in high expression, the GFP gene integrated at hotspot BF4 was expressed at high levels in cow fibroblasts, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and FACS analysis. Furthermore, ELISA showed that the expression level of the GFP gene integrated at the BF4 site averaged ∼ 328 μg·mg−1, which is more than twofold higher than that integrated at the BF10 site. This study suggests that somatic cells carrying a desired gene integrated at the BF4 site can be used as nuclear donors to generate valuable transgenic animals by nuclear transfer.
It’s right nearby: how entrepreneurs use spatial bricolage to overcome resource constraints

ABSTRACT The mobilization of resources is an essential challenge for entrepreneurs. Existing research suggests that access to standard and high-quality resources is an important condition for entrepreneurial success, yet such resources are often out of reach for entrepreneurs. In this study, we explore entrepreneurial resource mobilization in resource-constrained peripheral locations. We identify three activities together constituting an underlying logic of spatial bricolage, defined as making do with the resources at hand in the immediate spatial context. Further, we suggest that the likelihood and prevalence of this logic of action is both situational and dispositional, as individual and contextual factors combine to generate important differences in the resource mobilization activities of the entrepreneurs. Our study contributes to a contextualized understanding of entrepreneurship by showing how spatial bricolage as a distinct logic can help entrepreneurs overcome resource constraints, and how the spatial context incorporates an important dimension of what constitutes ‘at hand’ in entrepreneurial bricolage.
GLIMEPIRIDE REDUCES ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION IN DIABETIC RATS

Hyperglycaemia is most probably a contributing factor in the development of ischaemic acute renal failure (ARF) in many patients. Both clinical and experimental data suggest that hyperglycaemia increases the risk of ARF. Present study was designed to evaluate in Glimepiride reduced on experimentally induced ischemia/reperfusion in diabetic rats. Type 2 Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of Streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, STZ) in overnight fasting rats followed by the i.p administration of Nicotinamide (110 mg/kg, NIC) after 15 minutes. After right nephrectomy, Glimepiride (0.5 mg/kg/day, p.o) was administered for 15 days. On the 16th day, ischemia was induced in contra lateral kidney for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 hr. Renal function marker and oxidative parameter were estimated at the end of 24 hr reperfusion. At the end of experimental period the level of malondialdehyde formation/ lipid peroxidation (LPO) in kidney tissue and serum marker Creatinine, Urea and Uric acids were significantly increased. Whereas, the activity of biomarkers of oxidative stress such as reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were found to be decreased significantly compared to control rats. Glimepiride improved the Serum Uric acid and tissues parameter LPO after renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in diabetic rats. In conclusion, Glimepiride shows low may improve experimentally induced ischemia/reperfusion in type 2 diabetic rats.
Learning Disabilities as a Symptom of Depression in Children

The presence of depression in school-age children may not be adequately recognized by teachers. Teachers may be misdiagnosing depressed children as having a specific learning problem. The incidence of depression in 282 children admitted to a child and family psychiatric unit for a variety of emotional/behavioral disorders was investigated. While depression was seen as a major factor in the poor learning of the identified depressed children, very few of these children were seen as having specific learning disabilities, even though some of them previously had been diagnosed as learning disabled. Recognition and appropriate treatment of childhood depression by involved professionals is important.
The Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN) program: A new approach to improving outcomes of diabetes care

The Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN) program is an international partnership effort to improve outcomes of diabetes care by increasing the focus on the person behind the disease, especially the psychosocial and behavioral barriers to effective diabetes management. DAWN was initiated by an international survey of > 5,000 people with diabetes and almost 4,000 diabetes care providers. The DAWN program has facilitated a number of concrete initiatives to address the gaps in diabetes care identified by the DAWN study. Diabetes is one of the major world health problems. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization predict that if current trends continue, the number of people with diabetes will more than double, from 176 to 370 million people by 2030.1 Diabetes is already the single most costly health care problem in Westernized countries. Among those diagnosed with the disease, at least half still do not achieve satisfactory glycemic control, despite the availability of effective treatments.2 As a consequence, millions of people with diabetes are at elevated risk of suffering needlessly from serious complications of the disease. With the growing number of people with diabetes, there is an urgent need to find better ways of curbing the human and economic burden of this chronic progressive disease, through prevention, detection, and treatment. A review of the literature suggests several important areas that have the potential to address these problems. Suboptimal diabetes self-management has been identified by several studies as one of the possible causes of poor outcomes of diabetes care in general practice.3,4 A multitude of research studies, mainly in the Western world and with relatively small patient samples, has indicated the potential importance of a multitude of psychological, social, and behavioral factors for patient self-management.5,6Access to patient-centered self-management support and education has …
Anaerobic taurine oxidation: a novel reaction by a nitrate-reducing Alcaligenes sp.

Enrichment cultures were prepared under strictly anoxic conditions in medium representing fresh water and containing an organosulfonate as electron donor and carbon source, and nitrate as electron acceptor. The inoculum was from the anaerobic digestor of two communal sewage works. The natural organosulfonates 2-aminoethanesulfonate (taurine), DL-2-amino-3-sulfopropionate (cysteate) and 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate (isethionate) all gave positive enrichments, whereas unsubstituted alkanesulfonates, such as methanesulfonate and arenesulfonates, gave no enrichment. Two representative enrichments were used to obtain pure cultures, and strains NKNTAU (utilizing taurine) and NKNIS (utilizing isethionate) were isolated. Strain NKNTAU was examined in detail. Out of 18 tested organosulfonates, it utilized only one, taurine, and was identified as a novel Alcaligenes sp. , a facultatively anaerobic bacterium. Carbon from taurine was converted to cell material and carbon dioxide. The amino group was released as ammonium ion and the sulfonate moiety was recovered as sulfate. Nitrate was reduced to nitrogen gas.
Efficacy of Probiotic Therapy in Preventing Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is common and is characterized by several neuropsychiatric symptoms ranging from mild impairments in cognitive function to coma, experienced by cirrhotic patients. Advanced encephalopathy or overt hepatic encephalopathy is associated with poor outcomes including increased mortality, but consequences of reduced physical and mental function as well as reductions in quality of life can be just as devastating. The cost of hepatic encephalopathy for the healthcare system is exorbitant. While therapies exist for severe encephalopathy, increasingly researchers are aiming to prevent clinically overt hepatic encephalopathy. There is growing interest in the use of probiotic products, which have an excellent physiological basis to reduce the absorption of ammonia, a key neurotoxin in precipitating encephalopathy. The present review discusses hepatic encephalopathy, the various classifications, and reviews literature for probiotics studying the effects on preventing severe encephalopathy. We subsequently postulate on the potential studies and strategies for research studies moving forward. AUTHOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT AND INFORMATION  The authors declare no conflict of interest  1Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. 2 Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. 3Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University. 4Program of Experimental Medicine, Western University Department of Medicine. 5 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University  Corresponding Author Adam Rahman MD MSc (EPID) FRCPC Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology, Western University adam.rahman@sjhc.london. on.ca 268 Grosvenor St. London, Ontario, N6A 4V2 Room B0-689, St. Joseph's Health Centre  © Rahman et. al. This is an open access journal distributed under the terms of the Creative Common License BY NC
The value of transcranial Doppler in predicting cerebral ischaemia during carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES transcranial Doppler (TCD) measurement of middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAV) is an indirect method of assessing cerebral blood flow and therefore predicting patients at risk of stroke during carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and may be used to determine the need for shunting. This study evaluates the accuracy of three accepted TCD criteria in predicting the need for a shunt. DESIGN prospective study. METHODS one hundred and twenty consecutive CEA were performed under loco/regional anaesthesia. Patients monitored by TCD and Awake neurological examination were included. Shunts were inserted if there was neurological deterioration. Awake patient monitoring was compared with the three TCD criteria. RESULTS inadequate TCD recordings were obtained in 16 operations (13%). In the remainder (104 cases), 12 developed symptoms of cerebral ischaemia and required a shunt (12%). Comparisons with the three accepted criteria were as follows: (1) m MCAV <30 cm/s had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 92%, 49%, 19%, and 98%, respectively; (2) clamp/pre-clamp ratio <0.6 had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 92%, 75%, 33% and 99%, respectively; (3) greater than 50% reduction in m MCAV had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV valves of 83%, 77%, 32% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS TCD flow velocities are not a reliable method for detecting cerebral ischaemia and therefore determining the need for a shunt in CEA.