Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An insight into centralised sourcing strategy for enhancing performance and sustainability of multi-tier supply network

In a multi-tier supply network, sourcing strategy, consisting of supplier selection (SS) and order quantity allocation (OQA) to selected supplier(s), is a critical and challenging task for practitioners. Every player, in every tier of sourcing network, attempts to select quality conscious suppliers and optimise its own inventory cost per unit time for OQA. However, this may results in sub-optimal solution(s) for overall multi-tier supply network. Considering centralised sourcing strategy for SS and OQA may provide global best solution and sustainable supply network. This paper attempts to quantitatively illustrate inventory cost saving for coordinated centralised sourcing strategy for all tiers compared to independent decentralised sourcing strategy at individual tier in the supply network. Suitable mathematical models (single and multi-tier) and corresponding solution framework is used to determine local optima and global best solution for a comparative analysis. A real life electric goods manufacturing industry case study is used to demonstrate significant cost advantage for a centralised as compared to decentralised sourcing strategy. Sensitivity analysis with varied unit material price is also illustrated in this study.
CKD and mortality risk in older people: a community-based population study in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases with age; however, the prognostic significance in older people is uncertain. This study aims to determine the association of CKD with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in community-dwelling older people 75 years and older. STUDY DESIGN Cohort study of people 75 years and older recruited in 1994 to 1999 to 1 arm of a trial of multidimensional health assessment with mortality follow-up. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 53 general practices in Great Britain. 15,336 (73%) of those eligible participated. 13,177 (86%) had serum creatinine measured at baseline. MAIN FACTOR Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). OUTCOMES All-cause and cardiovascular mortality. MEASUREMENTS eGFR derived from serum creatinine level using the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation in milliliters per minute per 1.73 m(2); dipstick proteinuria. Mortality by linkage to national death registration and death certification. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 7.3 years (interquartile range, 5.0), 7,633 (58%) had died, 42% of cardiovascular causes. In the first 2 years of follow-up, adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in eGFR bands of 45 to 59, 30 to 44, and less than 30 compared with eGFR greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were 1.13 (95% confidence interval, 0.93 to 1.37), 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 2.28), and 3.87 (95% confidence interval, 2.78 to 5.38) in men and 1.14 (95% confidence interval, 0.93 to 1.40), 1.33 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.68), and 2.44 (95% confidence interval, 1.68 to 3.56) in women, respectively. Hazard ratios were greater for cardiovascular mortality and lower after 2 years. Dipstick proteinuria was independently associated with all-cause, but not cardiovascular, mortality risk in both sexes. LIMITATIONS Single serum creatinine measurement, no calibration of serum creatinine, MDRD Study equation not validated in older people. CONCLUSION As kidney function decreases, there is a graded and independent increase in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in older people 75 years and older, especially in men and those with eGFR less than 45 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Dipstick proteinuria did not add to cardiovascular mortality risk in this elderly population. In older people, identification and management of CKD should prioritize the smaller numbers with more severe CKD.
The Estimation of the Volatile Fatty Acids formed during the Fermentation of Mixtures of Minced Grass and Water

The sodium content of dissolved bone cannot be measured directly with a flame photometer. Measurements with this instrument are vitiated by an excess of strong acid, ammonia, calcium, phosphate or oxalate. Furthermore, co-precipitation of sodium occurs with the methods commonly used for the removal of calcium or phosphate; this source of error has been largely overlooked in previous methods for the determination of sodium in bone (Butler & Tuthill, 1931; Harrison, 1937; Forbes & Perley, 1951). The principle of our method is: 24Na is added to the bone solution, interfering substances are removed by precipitation and sublimation and a correction made, by measurement of the residual radioactivity, for the loss of sodium. One part of marrow-free bone was dissolved in 2 vol. 70% A.R. HNO3 and diluted with water to a final concentration of approx. 0 3 g. bone/ml. solution. To a sample (1 ml.) was added 0.01 ml. 24Na2CO3 solution corresponding to approx. 12 000 counts/min., the solution neutralized with ammonia (sp.gr. 0 88) and adjusted to pH 7 with 3N-HCI. Excess (5 ml.) 4% (w/v) ammonium oxalate was added and, after 1 hr. , the solution was filtered through Whatman no. 40 filter paper into a 25 ml. Pyrex flask. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness and heated in a muffle furnace at 2800 until all ammonium nitrate and oxalate had sublimed (approx. 1 hr.). The charred residue was extracted twice with water and the extract filtered into a measuring tube (vol. offiltrate approx. 7 ml.). Approx. 2 ml. of this solution were diluted to 10 ml. with KCI (20 mg. K+/100 ml.) and the resultant solution analysed with the flame photometer for the sodium content. The rest of the filtrate was diluted with 0-5 ml. 3M-NaCl (as carrier) and water to 10 ml. The radioactive material was assayed with a liquidcounter tube. Analysis of a solution containing all reagents was carried out to determine the blank correction. The loss ofsodium in the analysis was determined by comparison of the initial and final radioactivities ofthe solutions; the results obtained by flame photometry were accordingly corrected. By the use of this technique on pure sodium solutions and on known mixtures of calcium and sodium salts, results correct to ± 5% were obtained. The exchange of 24Na with hard glass was negligible. Considerable co-precipitation of sodium with calcium occurred: over 20% of the sodium was still retained even after three washings ofthe precipitate, showing that the use oflabelled sodium was essential to this determination. The sodium content of human rib (10) was 216254 (average 239) m-moles/kg. Human femur (6) contained 290-320 (average 300) m-moles/kg. , and rabbit femur (16) 267-370 (average 312) m-moles/kg.
Studies on some North American shrew cestodes.

In spite of the importance of the various species of shrews to the biotic community, several aspects of their ecology remain very incompletely known. The helminths parasitic in the more conspicuous small mammals in North America have been studied more or less completely, but those occurring in shrews have been largely disregarded. This situation is particularly inappropriate when one considers that shrews often constitute the most abundant mammalian group in a given area. We have attempted to secure an adequate amount of shrew helminth material for study, and it is the purpose of this paper to present observations resulting from this work. There have been, apparently, three species of cestodes recorded so far from North American shrews; these are Hymenolepis anthocephalus Van Gundy, 1935, Diorchis reynoldsi Jones, 1944, and Protogynella blarinae Jones, 1943. These parasites have been reported from the short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda Say sspp. It seems that the parasites of the smaller shrews have been entirely neglected. This in part may be due to the difficulty with which good shrew material is obtained, since the animals undergo extremely rapid decomposition after death, often making cestodes useless for study. Taxonomic difficulties with the host animals themselves also may be considerable, particularly where several species occur in the same region. For several years the senior author has collected helminths from shrews, but in some cases good material has been obtained only after repeated attempts. Most of the shrew material with which we are concerned was collected in the Central States. During the summer of 1948 the writers collected helminths from a number of shrews in the Jackson Hole region of Wyoming. Additional material has been obtained from the western provinces of Canada and from Alaska. Material was secured from the following species of shrews: Blarina brevicauda, Sorex cinereus, S. vagrans, S. obscurus, S. articus, and Microsorex hoyi. Subspecific names of the hosts are not considered here, except where mentioned in connection with a specific cestode. Most of the taxonomic work regarding the shrews, particularly the Alaskan forms, has been done by the senior author at the U. S. National Museum. The cestodes which we have so far observed in shrews are considered separately. Of these, 4 species are described as new.
Prostate cancer in men using testosterone supplementation.

PURPOSE Although an association between testosterone supplementation and the development of prostate cancer is unproven, a recent increase in the use of this therapy has reopened the debate about its safety in men at risk for prostate cancer. To increase awareness of this risk, we report on a series of patients in whom clinically significant prostate cancer developed and was presumed to be related to exogenous testosterone use. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical records of 6 urology practices were reviewed to identify men undergoing testosterone supplementation for sexual dysfunction or "rejuvenation " who were found to have prostate cancer after initiation of exogenous testosterone supplementation. Cases were analyzed to determine clinical and pathological parameters characterizing the presentation of prostate cancer. RESULTS A total of 20 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer after initiation of testosterone therapy. Prostate cancer was detected within 2 years of testosterone initiation in 11 men (55%) and from 28 months to 8 years in the remainder. The tumors were of moderate and high grade, being Gleason sum 6, 7 and 8 to 10 in 9 (45%), 6 (30%) and 5 (25%) men, respectively. Median serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration at diagnosis tended to be low at 5.1 ng/ml (range 1.1 to 329.0) and digital rectal examination generally proved more sensitive than PSA assays in detecting the cancer. Patients seen by nonurologist physicians were monitored less often for prostate cancer during testosterone use than those followed by urologists. CONCLUSIONS Prostate cancer may become clinically apparent within months to a few years after the initiation of testosterone treatment. Digital rectal examination is particularly important in the detection of these cancers. Physicians prescribing testosterone supplementation and patients receiving it should be cognizant of this risk, and serum PSA testing and digital rectal examination should be performed frequently during treatment.
Split-spinous process laminotomy and discectomy for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: a preliminary report.

OBJECT The authors evaluated a new minimally invasive spinal surgery technique to correct degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis involving a split-spinous process laminotomy and discectomy (also known as the "Marmot operation"). METHODS This prospective study randomized 70 patients with lumbar stenosis to undergo either a Marmot operation (40 patients), or a conventional laminectomy (30 patients), with or without discectomy. Spinal anteroposterior diameter, cross-sectional area, lateral recess distance, spinal stability, postoperative back pain, functional outcomes, and muscular trauma were evaluated. The follow up ranged from 10 to 18 months, with a mean of 15.1 months for the Marmot operation group and 14.8 months for the conventional laminectomy group. Compared with patients in the conventional laminectomy group, patients who received a Marmot operation had a shorter mean postoperative duration until ambulation without assistance, a reduced mean duration of hospital stay, a lower mean creatine phosphokinase-muscular-type isoenzyme level, a lower visual analog scale score for back pain at 1-year follow up, and a better recovery rate. These patients also had a longer mean duration of operative time and a greater mean blood loss compared with the conventional group. Satisfactory neurological decompression and symptom relief were achieved in 93% of these patients. Most of the patients (66%) in this group needed discectomy for decompression. The postoperative mean lateral recess width, spinal anteroposterior diameter, and cross-sectional area were all significantly increased. There was no evidence of spinal instability in any patient. One patient with insufficient lateral recess decompression and recurrent disc herniation needed additional conventional laminectomy and discectomy, and one patient with mild superficial wound infection was successfully treated with antibiotics and frequent dressing changes. CONCLUSIONS A Marmot operation may provide effective spinal decompression. Although this method requires more operative time than a conventional method, it may involve only minimal muscular trauma, spinal stability maintenance, and early mobilization; shorten the duration of hospital stay; reduce postoperative back pain; and provide satisfactory neurological and functional outcomes.
Lack of association of the PTPN22 gene polymorphism R620W with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE It has recently been reported that some autoimmune diseases seem to be associated with a functional polymorphism in PTPN22, a gene which encodes a phosphatase known to be important in T-cell signaling. The aim of our study was to check for the prevalence of the PTPN22 R620W polymorphism in patients with systemic sclerosis. METHODS DNA samples from 54 systemic sclerosis patients and 55 healthy controls were obtained from peripheral blood and genotyping was performed by means of a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products (RFLP-PCR). RESULTS Allele frequency for the T allele was slightly higher in the patients group (0.074 versus 0.055). Eight out of the 54 systemic sclerosis patients (14.8 %) were heterozygous for this single nucleotide polymorphism whereas the CT genotype was found in 6 out of the 55 controls (10.9%). Nevertheless, the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.542). Neither certain antibodies linked to systemic sclerosis (anti-centromere and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies) nor any particular clinical involvement were associated with the polymorphism. CONCLUSION This particular single nucleotide polymorphism of PTPN22 does not seem to be associated with systemic sclerosis.
Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions: an international cross-border study

Purpose This paper aims to study the effects of cross-border psychological determinants among students of two Iberian universities (Portugal and Spain) on entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach Based on previous literature, the studies do not include any model that simultaneously uses self-efficacy, risk-taking propensity and proactive personality as psychological determinants of entrepreneurial intentions. Here, the authors try to fill this gap by developing an integrative psychological model about the formation of entrepreneurial intentions, including all these variables as the main preceding factors to entrepreneurial initiative and their influence on intentions for self-employment. Taking a sample of 293 university students from both countries, the authors empirically test regression models to analyse hold influence over the preference expressed in terms of becoming an entrepreneur. Findings The results show differences between two countries regarding to entrepreneurial intentions. In terms of the motivations present for launching a business, the higher they are the greater the preference over the option to work for third parties. Originality/value In addition, and in terms of the variable perceived ease of launching a company, the higher this rises, the lower the level of preference for working for third party entities. Furthermore, the greater the level of perception in terms of the social value of entrepreneurship, the greater the preference for becoming an entrepreneur.
Workplace Engagement and Workers’ Compensation Claims as Predictors for Patient Safety Culture

Objective Demonstrate the relationship between employee engagement and workplace safety for predicting patient safety culture. Introduction Patient safety is an issue for the U.S. health-care system, and health care has some of the highest rates of nonfatal workplace injuries. Understanding the types of injuries sustained by health-care employees, the type of safety environment employees of health-care organizations work in, and how employee engagement affects patient safety is vital to improving the safety of both employees and patients. Methods The Gallup Q12 survey and an approved, abbreviated, and validated subset of questions from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture were administered to staff at a large tertiary academic medical center in 2007 and 2009. After controlling for demographic variables, researchers conducted a longitudinal, hierarchical linear regression analysis to study the unique contributions of employee engagement, changes in employee engagement, and employee safety in predicting patient safety culture. Results Teams with higher baseline engagement, more positive change in engagement, fewer workers’ compensation claims, and fewer part-time associates in previous years had stronger patient safety cultures in 2009. Baseline engagement and change in engagement were the strongest independent predictors of patient safety culture in 2009. Engagement and compensation claims were additive and complimentary predictors, independent of other variables in the analysis, including the demographic composition of the workgroups in the study. Conclusions A synergistic effect exists between employee engagement and decreased levels of workers’ compensation claims for improving patient safety culture. Organizations can improve engagement and implement safety policies, procedures, and devices for employees with an ultimate effect of improving patient safety culture.
Paraspermatogenesis of Cerithioidean snails: Retention of an acrosome and nuclear remnant

Paraspermatozoa of Cerithioidea are oligopyrenic with a central nuclear remnant surrounded by glycoprotein bodies and an anterior acrosome complex. Posteriorly, the parasperm have one long and several small flagella. Biosynthesis of proteins begins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), early in paraspermatogenesis, prior to the degradation of the nucleus. The breakdown of the nucleus has features characteristic of apoptosis but a nuclear remnant remains that is composed of intact DNA. The acrosome complex of parasperm is Golgi‐derived, forming posteriorly and migrating anteriorly along the plasma membrane to the apex of the nuclear remnant as the paraspermatid matures. This mechanism of acrosome formation is similar to that in euspermiogenesis in neomenioid aplacophorans and neritid snails and is plesiomorphic to mollusks. However, eusperm acrosomes of Cerithioidea form differently. In the paraspermatid, small, dense granules secreted by the Golgi body fuse to form larger granular vesicles, many of which are released by exocytosis into the seminal fluid. These granular vesicles stain red with acridine orange at pH 7 under 489‐nm light, indicating that they are lysosomes. The retention of a nuclear remnant and development of an acrosome complex in the parasperm of cerithioideans, as well as the secretion of lysosomes into the seminal fluid, suggests novel functions for these unusual germ cells. J. Morphol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acetaminophen increases the risk of arsenic‐mediated development of hepatic damage in rats by enhancing redox‐signaling mechanism

We evaluated whether the commonly used analgesic‐antipyretic drug acetaminophen can modify the arsenic‐induced hepatic oxidative stress and also whether withdrawal of acetaminophen administration during the course of long‐term arsenic exposure can increase susceptibility of liver to arsenic toxicity. Acetaminophen was co‐administered orally to rats for 3 days following 28 days of arsenic pre‐exposure (Phase‐I) and thereafter, acetaminophen was withdrawn, but arsenic exposure was continued for another 28 days (Phase‐II). Arsenic increased lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, depleted glutathione (GSH), and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities. Acetaminophen caused exacerbation of arsenic‐mediated lipid peroxidation and ROS generation and further enhancement of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. In Phase‐I, acetaminophen caused further GSH depletion and reduction in SOD, catalase, GPx and GR activities, but in Phase‐II, only GPx and GR activities were more affected. Arsenic did not alter basal and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)‐mediated NO production, but decreased constitutive NOS (cNOS)‐mediated NO release. Arsenic reduced expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS genes. Acetaminophen up‐regulated eNOS and iNOS expression and NO production in Phase‐I, but reversed these effects in Phase‐II. Results reveal that acetaminophen increased the risk of arsenic‐mediated hepatic oxidative damage. Withdrawal of acetaminophen administration also increased susceptibility of liver to hepatotoxicity. Both ROS and NO appeared to mediate lipid peroxidation in Phase‐I, whereas only ROS appeared responsible for peroxidative damage in Phase‐II. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 187–198, 2014.
Resting heart rate and coronary artery calcium in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis of a significant association between resting heart rate (RHR) and coronary artery calcium (CAC). METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of a subset of women enrolled in the estrogen-alone clinical trial of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). We used a longitudinal study that enrolled 998 postmenopausal women with a history of hysterectomy between the ages of 50 and 59 at enrollment at 40 different clinical centers. RHR was measured at enrollment and throughout the study, and CAC was determined approximately 7 years after the baseline clinic visit. RESULTS The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 55 (2.8) years. With adjustment for age and ethnicity, a 10-unit increment in RHR was significantly associated with CAC (SD 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.38), but this was no longer significant after adjustment for body mass index (BMI), income, education, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and hypertension (SD 1.06, 95% CI 0.90-1.25). In a fully adjusted multivariable model, however, there was a significant interaction (p=0.03) between baseline RHR and systolic blood pressure (SBP) for the presence of any CAC. Compared to women with an RHR < 80 beats per minute (BPM) and an SBP < 140 mm Hg, those who had an RHR ≥ 80 BPM and an SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg had 2.66-fold higher odds (1.08-6.57) for the presence of any CAC. CONCLUSIONS Compared to those with normal BP and RHR, postmenopausal, hysterectomized women with an elevated SBP and RHR have a significantly higher odds for the presence of calcified coronary artery disease.