Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Room for improvement? A quality-of-life assessment in patients with malignant bowel obstruction

This prospective study followed 35 patients admitted to hospital with malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) to evaluate quality of life (QOL). Subjects completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) at recruitment, and at one week, one month and three months. The highest ranked ESAS scores at recruitment (which was generally 18-36 hours post admission to hospital) included loss of appetite (median=7.5), fatigue (6.5) and overall well-being (6.0). The total ESAS score improved by 7.5, 11.5 and 11.0 points respectively at one week, one month and three months (p<0.05, p<0.01, NS). RSCL median scores for physical and psychological subscales were high at baseline (36.2, 42.9) and improved significantly at one week and one month (p<0.05). Psychological functioning appeared to be worsening by three months and at no time did activity level improve significantly. The overall QOL score was extremely poor at baseline (6.0 median) improving to 3.3 at one month (median fall=1.0, p<0.05) and 3.4 at three months. Further work should address the lack of improvement in activity and apparent deterioration in psychological functioning after one month.
Structural Insights into the Secretin PulD and Its Trypsin-resistant Core*

Limited proteolysis, secondary structure and biochemical analyses, mass spectrometry, and mass measurements by scanning transmission electron microscopy were combined with cryo-electron microscopy to generate a three-dimensional model of the homomultimeric complex formed by the outer membrane secretin PulD, an essential channel-forming component of the type II secretion system from Klebsiella oxytoca. The complex is a dodecameric structure composed of two rings that sandwich a closed disc. The two rings form chambers on either side of a central plug that is part of the middle disc. The PulD polypeptide comprises two major, structurally quite distinct domains; an N domain, which forms the walls of one of the chambers, and a trypsin-resistant C domain, which contributes to the outer chamber, the central disc, and the plug. The C domain contains a lower proportion of potentially transmembrane β-structure than classical outer membrane proteins, suggesting that only a small part of it is embedded within the outer membrane. Indeed, the C domain probably extends well beyond the confines of the outer membrane bilayer, forming a centrally plugged channel that penetrates both the peptidoglycan on the periplasmic side and the lipopolysaccharide and capsule layers on the cell surface. The inner chamber is proposed to constitute a docking site for the secreted exoprotein pullulanase, whereas the outer chamber could allow displacement of the plug to open the channel and permit the exoprotein to escape.
On‐Chip Andreev Devices: Hard Superconducting Gap and Quantum Transport in Ballistic Nb–In0.75Ga0.25As‐Quantum‐Well–Nb Josephson Junctions

A superconducting hard gap in hybrid superconductor–semiconductor devices has been found to be necessary to access topological superconductivity that hosts Majorana modes (non‐Abelian excitation). This requires the formation of homogeneous and barrier‐free interfaces between the superconductor and semiconductor. Here, a new platform is reported for topological superconductivity based on hybrid Nb–In0.75Ga0.25As‐quantum‐well–Nb that results in hard superconducting gap detection in symmetric, planar, and ballistic Josephson junctions. It is shown that with careful etching, sputtered Nb films can make high‐quality and transparent contacts to the In0.75Ga0.25As quantum well, and the differential resistance and critical current measurements of these devices are discussed as a function of temperature and magnetic field. It is demonstrated that proximity‐induced superconductivity in the In0.75Ga0.25As‐quantum‐well 2D electron gas results in the detection of a hard gap in four out of seven junctions on a chip with critical current values of up to 0.2 µA and transmission probabilities of >0.96. The results, together with the large g‐factor and Rashba spin–orbit coupling in In0.75Ga0.25As quantum wells, which indeed can be tuned by the indium composition, suggest that the Nb–In0.75Ga0.25As–Nb system can be an excellent candidate to achieve topological phase and to realize hybrid topological superconducting devices.
Relative Price Increase for Nature and Ecosystem Services in Cost-Benefit Analysis

In 2015, the Dutch working group on discount rates recommended using the standard discount rate in cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) of nature, while taking into account annual relative price increases of 1% for the effects on ecosystem services. In this background document, PBL substantiates this advice. Two matters play an important role in determining the relative price increase: the relative growth rate of nature compared to the growth rate of consumption, and the degree to which nature is substitutable. Nature is getting scarcer If nature grows more slowly than consumption and is not or only partly substitutable, it will become scarcer in the future. This justifies the application of a relative price increase for ecosystem services. It is important to note that applying a relative price increase equals using a lower discount rate. Substitution, here, refers to replacing ecosystem services with other goods and services for consumption. The degree of substitutability is not the same for all ecosystem services. Apples grown in the Netherlands can be substituted with imported apples, whereas outdoor recreation in protected nature areas cannot be perfectly substituted with a visit to a museum. Advice: relative price increase of 1% Our empirical analysis shows that an annual price increase of 1% for ecosystem services relative to the price of consumer goods reflects differences in trends in the relative scarcity of ecosystem services and consumer goods. We advise to use this relative price increase in cost-benefit analysis. Cost-benefit analysis, generally, use a discount rate of 3%; this becomes 2% for changes in ecosystem services. It is possible to deviate from the advised percentage. A discount rate of 3% could be used if ecosystem services do not become scarcer; for example if growth keeps pace with growth in regular consumption or if the ecosystem services can be substituted with other consumer goods. If the reverse is true, and ecosystem services become much scarcer, a discount rate exceeding 2% would be defensible.
Colonoscopic evaluation of hematochezia in low and average risk patients for colorectal cancer: a prospective study.

AIM To relate the endoscopic findings in patients with hematochezia with regard to age in "low and average risk" for colorectal cancer (CRC) and to localize significant lesions in order to identify patients who need sigmoidoscopy or total colonoscopy. METHODS This prospective study was performed in an open access GI endoscopy unit. Out of 4322 consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy, 918 reported hematochezia. The final study group comprized 180 patients aged below 45 and 237 over 45. Main exclusion criteria were a 1st-degree family history of colorectal carcinoma, patients reporting blood mixed with stools and/or progressive colonic symptoms, or patients who had undergone colon surgery for neoplastic lesions. RESULTS Total colonoscopy could be performed in 96% of patients. Abnormal findings were observed in 34.3% of the younger and in 65.7% of the older ones. Findings were the presence of polyps in the distal colon (n = 2) and IBD in the proximal colon (n = 29) in the group of the younger patients, and polyps (n = 15), IBD (n = 13), and carcinoma (n = 6, 4 of the lesions were located proximal to the splenic flexure) in the elderly. Our findings suggest that the diagnostic potential of total colonoscopy in patients younger than 45 referring scant hematochezia, is not mandatory. By exploring only the distal tract of the colon we have misdiagnosed two cases of IBD located in the ascending colon. In this group of patients additional risk factors must be identified before performing a total colonoscopy. Regarding the patients older than 45 yr, the exploration of the distal colon would have led to our overlooking a carcinoma, two neoplastic polyps and one IBD located in the proximal colon. CONCLUSION Young patients with scant hematochezia but without risk factors for neoplasia do not need a total colonoscopy, whereas is mandatory performing a total colonoscopy in older patients even in the presence of anal pathology.
Chronic ozone exacerbates the reduction in photosynthesis and acceleration of senescence caused by limited N availability in Nicotiana sylvestris

Both elevated ozone (O3) and limiting soil nitrogen (N) availability negatively affect crop performance. However, less is known about how the combination of elevated O3 and limiting N affect crop growth and metabolism. In this study, we grew tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) in ambient and elevated O3 at two N levels (limiting and sufficient). Results at the whole plant, leaf, and cellular level showed that primary metabolism was reduced by growth in limiting N, and that reduction was exacerbated by exposure to elevated O3. Limiting N reduced the rates of photosynthetic CO2 uptake by 40.8% in ambient O3‐exposed plants, and by 58.6% in elevated O3‐exposed plants, compared with plants grown with sufficient N. Reductions in photosynthesis compounded to cause large differences in leaf and whole plant parameters including leaf number, leaf area, and leaf and root biomass. These results were consistent with our meta‐analysis of all published studies of plant responses to elevated O3 and N availability. In tobacco, N uptake and allocation was also affected by growth in limiting N and elevated O3, and there was an O3‐induced compensatory response that resulted in increased N recycling from senescing leaves. In addition, transcript‐based markers were used to track the progress through senescence, and indicated that limiting N and elevated O3, separately and in combination, caused an acceleration of senescence. These results suggest that reductions in crop productivity in growing regions with poor soil fertility will be exacerbated by rising background O3.
Determinants of forward-looking disclosure: evidence from Bahraini capital market

This study investigates the factors that may affect the extent of corporate forward-looking disclosure. The study has used a forward-looking disclosure index of 56 items and applies the qualitative data analysis miner (QDA miner) as a software package to measure the amount of forward-looking information disclosed by a sample of Bahraini listed companies in the period 2010-2013. QDA miner has used mainly for coding and analysing the collection of text data. The study employs statistical analysis to examine the relationship between corporate forward-looking disclosure and five firm characteristics (firm size, financial leverage, sector type, profitability, and liquidity). The backward regression analyses show that financial leverage and firm size are found to be significant; however, sector type, profitability, and liquidity are found to have insignificant association with the level of corporate forward-looking disclosure.
A Financial Stress Index for the United Kingdom

In this paper we develop an index to monitor the intensity of financial stress in the UK over a period of 45 years. By aggregating various market-based indicators of financial stress from six major markets, we allow each indicator to be assessed in terms of its systemic importance. This enables the index to capture the interconnectedness of financial markets. The index successfully captures three episodes of heightened stress in UK financial history. We also attempt to determine how much a financial shock to the UK economy is amplified in a period of stress vis-a-vis a tranquil period. It involves exploring the dynamic relationship of the index with the UK real economy by two specifications of threshold vector auto-regression models. We find empirical evidence for the existence of feedback loops in the shock propagation between the real and the financial sector in the United Kingdom.
Five dilemmas in public procurement

Procurement systems in democratic governments across the globe face competing demands, conflated values and goals, and are being called upon to address societies "wicked" problems under the rubric of government "reform. " As a result, government purchasing professionals are being challenged to develop new flexible structures and processes that devolve purchasing responsibility, yet maintain accountability and control; limit the opportunity for fraud/mismanagement while reducing operational constraints; increase economic efficiency while satisfying political demands for minority/local/small and women owned business participation; increase open and transparent competition while achieving best value; and applying best practices while confronting legal limitations. Essentially these dilemmas have placed public procurement at the forefront of government reform efforts. The current study delineates the nature of five dilemmas that purchasing practitioners face, and the implications of these dilemmas for purchasing in the public sphere are explored. Given the complexity of these dilemmas, procurement professionals will be continually called upon to balance these inherent tensions with little guidance from policymakers or elected officials.
Hemin Binding Protein C Is Found in Outer Membrane Vesicles and Protects Bartonella henselae against Toxic Concentrations of Hemin

Bartonella species are Gram-negative, emerging bacterial pathogens found in two distinct environments. In the gut of the obligately hematophagous arthropod vector, bartonellae are exposed to concentrations of heme that are toxic to other bacteria. In the bloodstream of the mammalian host, access to heme and iron is severely restricted. Bartonellae have unusually high requirements for heme, which is their only utilizable source of iron. Although heme is essential for Bartonella survival, little is known about genes involved in heme acquisition and detoxification. We developed a strategy for high-efficiency transposon mutagenesis to screen for genes in B. henselae heme binding and uptake pathways. We identified a B. henselae transposon mutant that constitutively expresses the hemin binding protein C (hbpC) gene. In the wild-type strain, transcription of B. henselae hbpC was upregulated at arthropod temperature (28°C), compared to mammalian temperature (37°C). In the mutant strain, temperature-dependent regulation was absent. We demonstrated that HbpC binds hemin and localizes to the B. henselae outer membrane and outer membrane vesicles. Overexpression of hbpC in B. henselae increased resistance to heme toxicity, implicating HbpC in protection of B. henselae from the toxic levels of heme present in the gut of the arthropod vector. Experimental inoculation of cats with B. henselae strains demonstrated that both constitutive expression and deletion of hbpC affect the ability of B. henselae to infect the cat host. Modulation of hbpC expression appears to be a strategy employed by B. henselae to survive in the arthropod vector and the mammalian host.
Activity profile and physiological demands of top-class soccer assistant refereeing in relation to training status

To determine the movement patterns and physiological demands of top-class soccer assistant referees, we performed computerized time-motion analysis and measured heart rate and blood lactate concentration in 15 assistant referees during 22 competitive matches in the top Danish league. To relate match performance to the physical capability of the assistant referees, they performed a 3 2 30 m sprint protocol before and after matches and a laboratory treadmill test within 3 weeks of the games. The mean total distance covered by the top-class assistant referees was 7.28 (range 5.78-8.16) km, of which 1.15 (0.86-1.44) km was high-intensity running and 1.16 (0.12-2.34) km was sideways running. The amount of high-intensity running during a game was correlated with performance of repeated sprints (r = 0.80, P ≪ 0.05). Mean heart rate was 137 (117-159) beats · min-1 , corresponding to 73% (60-88%) of maximal heart rate and 65% (53-80%) of maximal oxygen uptake. Blood lactate concentration was 4.7 (1.6-11.0) and 4.8 (1.1-13.7) mmol · l -1 after the first and second half, respectively. Sprinting performance was poorer (P ≪ 0.05) after than before the games. The peak distance to the offside line was greater (P ≪ 0.05) in the second than the first half (7 - 1 vs 5 - 0 m). Our results show that: (1) top-class assistant soccer refereeing is characterized by brief intense bouts of forward and sideways running interspersed with long periods of low activity; (2) top-class soccer assistant referees have moderate aerobic energy production during games with episodes of high aerobic and anaerobic energy turnover; (3) assistant referees' performance of repeated sprints correlates with the amount of high-intensity running performed in a game; and (4) sprint performance decreases towards the end of a game, which appears to affect assistant referees' ability to keep up with play.
Expecting Rejection: Understanding the Minority Stress Experiences of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Individuals

Abstract Purpose: Transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals often are the target of enacted or external (i.e., distal) experiences of stigma, discrimination, and violence, which are linked to adverse health, particularly psychological distress. There is limited research, however, examining felt or internal (i.e., proximal) stressors faced by TGNC individuals. This study sought to examine one type of internal stressor, expecting rejection, and aimed to (1) identify how and to what extent rejection expectations operate day-to-day for TGNC individuals and (2) explore how TGNC individuals respond to expectations of rejection. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 participants from 2014 to 2015 who identified as TGNC (mean age=30.4; 60% people of color); data were analyzed using a consensual qualitative research method. Results: Four thematic categories emerged about expecting rejection: (1) where to expect rejection; (2) thoughts and feelings associated with expectations of rejection; (3) coping strategies used to manage the expectation of rejection; and (4) the intersection of race and ethnicity with rejection expectations. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that expecting rejection is a frequent and salient internal stressor for TGNC individuals. We discuss the psychological and cumulative potential health impact of minority stress, and the applicability of Meyer's Minority Stress Model. Therapeutic interventions are needed to address the specific cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses TGNC individuals experience as a result of the stress associated with expecting rejection, including fear, anxiety, and situational avoidance.
Implementing sustainable mission command in the Hellenic Army

Abstract The modern Mission Command philosophy in military operations originated with the German concept of Auftragstaktik (mission tactics). It emphasizes in general terms the exercise of disciplined initiatives by subordinates during the execution of mission-type orders in the course of military operations that are conducted within the overall intent of a commander. The present paper contains an overview of the historical evolution of the mission command concept and its application. The paper compares the mission command concept with the detailed or linear method of command. This paper focuses on the relevance of the mission command concept for the Hellenic Land Forces (HLF) in Greece. The paper provides a historical account on when and where mission command was successfully exercised by the Hellenic Armed Forces in the modern military history of Greece. The authors support the premise that the mission command concept is essential for safeguarding Greek national security in the current environment of evolving symmetric and asymmetric threats, and in meeting operational challenges in a diverse and difficult terrain. The paper examines the cultural reasons that have impeded the adoption of the mission command concept within the HLF and recommends a three-phase model for its permanent implementation.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gallbladder disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of our study was to evaluate the enhancement patterns of gallbladder disease using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CE-US) with the contrast agent levovist. METHODOLOGY The subjects were 42 patients, of whom 25 had gallbladder cancer, 2 had adenoma, 5 had adenomyomatosis, 5 had cholesterol polyps and 5 had debris. We assessed the enhancement patterns of each case using CE-US with levovist and classified these patterns into 6 types: diffuse, scattered, branched, linear, homogeneous and unenhanced. RESULTS The enhancement of gallbladder cancer revealed various patterns. Only 4 malignant cases showed branched patterns. We speculated that branched patterns in the present study were possibly the characteristic of malignancy. CE-US easily distinguished a small polypoid lesion from debris. Using CE-US, we visualized the shape of the gallbladder cancer lesions and some areas of direct invasion to the liver, as well as metastasis. CONCLUSIONS CE-US is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique that is useful in visualizing not only the shape of the lesion and some areas of the direct invasion to the liver, but also metastasis. The above findings suggest that imaging using a contrast agent could lead to improvements in the diagnosis of gallbladder lesions.
An Efficient and Stable Method for Short Maturity Asian Options

In this paper, we develop a Markov chain‐based approximation method to price arithmetic Asian options for short maturities under the case of geometric Brownian motion. It has the advantage of being a closed‐form approximation involving only matrices. It is an accurate, efficient, and stable method for the pricing and hedging of short maturity arithmetic Asian options for which previous methods in the literature have shown either slower convergence or instabilities in hedging parameters. We demonstrate that this method is as good as and sometimes better than existing approximation methods in the literature.
Educational Mismatches and Job Resolution in South Korea, the USA, and Germany

We examine the persistence of educational mismatches in relation to job mobility in South Korea, the USA, and Germany using ten‐year panel data. The USA, with a flexible labour market, has the highest job mobility, so mismatches for workers’ jobs in terms of educational attainment are resolved via job mobility. In contrast, in Korea, which has a dual‐structure labour market where workers have limited job mobility between core and periphery sectors, the likelihood of being mismatched increases. In Germany, the educational system, which emphasises job training, makes it possible to resolve or extinguish mismatches via job mobility only for the youth; while job mobility does not help resolve mismatches in any other age groups. These findings indicate that the different patterns in job mobility resolving mismatches over the three countries may not only stem from the efficacy of job information systems or from reducing friction in the labour market but may also be an interactive outcome of various labour market institutions affecting flexibility, such as stratification or job competency.