Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic evaluation of a strontium-specific extraction chromatographic resin for obtaining a purified Sr fraction with quantitative recovery from complex and Ca-rich matrices

This paper presents a systematic evaluation of a commercially available strontium-specific extraction chromatographic resin based on a crown ether (Sr spec™), for use in applications of Sr isotope ratio analysis dealing with samples displaying a complex and/or Ca-rich matrix composition. A protocol, consisting of (i) loading a sample digest in 7 M HNO3 onto the resin, (ii) rinsing the resin with 7 M HNO3 to remove concomitant matrix elements and (iii) rinsing the resin with 0.05 M HNO3 to strip off the purified Sr fraction, was found to provide the best results. The performance in terms of (i) the purity of the Sr fraction obtained, (ii) the efficiency of Rb/Sr and Ca/Sr separation, (iii) the Sr recovery from samples with a complex and Ca-rich matrix composition and (iv) the Sr isotope ratios obtained using multi-collector ICP-MS, was evaluated for various amounts (250, 500, 750 and 2000 µL) of resin using digests of bone and soil certified reference materials, dental tissues, fluorite and glass samples. Further, it was investigated whether or not the isolation protocol introduces Sr isotopic fractionation. Also the possibility of regenerating the resin after use, allowing multiple use of the resin, was assessed. Finally, the Sr isotopic composition of 2 bone (NIST SRM 1400 Bone Ash and NIST SRM 1486 Bone Meal) and 2 soil (BCR CRM 141 Calcareous Loam Soil and BCR CRM 142 Light Sandy Soil) certified reference materials was determined. The method was shown to be fit-for-purpose for population migration studies and provenancing of archaeological artefacts, and is expected to be suited for a broad range of Sr isotope ratio applications.
Early experience of health maintenance organizations under Medicare competition demonstrations

Between 1982 and 1985, health maintenance organizations (HMO's) entered the Medicare market under the Medicare competition demonstrations. The status and experience of these HMO's in 1984 are described. The characteristics of the HMO's, their market areas, and the benefit packages they offered are presented. Information from case studies of 20 of these HMO's is used to discuss the planning process through which the organizations prepared to enter the Medicare market. Data from administrative reports, submitted by the HMO's, are used to describe the operational experience, including enrollments, utilization, and financial performance.
PRUDENTIAL REGULATORY REGIMES, ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, AND EARNINGS MANAGEMENT IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY

We analyze if a change in accounting standard or a change in prudential regulationimpacts banks’ loan loss provision. We find that, in general, the banks using aprinciples-based accounting standard exhibit a lower level of earnings managementcompared to banks using a rules-based accounting standard. When a country movesfrom pro-cyclical macro-prudential regulations to a dynamic provisioning regime,banks are more likely to set aside a larger amount of loan loss provision for the purposeof income smoothing.
Decision making tools for selecting sustainable wastewater treatment technologies in Thailand

Wastewater consists of valuable resources that could be recovered or reused. Still it is under threat because of ineffective wastewater management and systems. In Thailand, less than 25% of wastewater generated may be treated while then rest is inadequately treated and sent back directly into waterbodies or the environment. Furthermore, the technologies that have been applied may be inefficient and unsustainable. Efficiency, sustainability, and simplicity are important concepts when designing an appropriate wastewater treatment system in developing countries. The objectives of this study were to review and evaluate wastewater treatment technologies and propose a method to improve or select an appropriate technology. An expert system in Excel® program was developed to determine the best solution. Sensitivity analysis was applied to compare and assess uncertainty factors. Due to the different conditions of each area, the key factor of interest was varied. Furthermore, Robust Decision Making tool was applied to determine the best way to improve existing wastewater treatment facility and to choose the most appropriate wastewater treatment technology.
Genetic and environmental influences on the association between performance-based self-esteem and exhaustion: A study of the self-worth notion of burnout.

In the self-worth model, burnout is considered to be a syndrome of performance-based self-esteem (PBSE) and experiences of exhaustion. Studies have shown that PBSE and burnout indices such as Pines' Burnout Measure (BM) are associated. Whether these variables have overlapping etiologies has however not been studied before. Genetic and environmental components of covariation between PBSE and exhaustion measured with Pines' BM were examined in a bivariate Cholesky model using data from 14,875 monozygotic and dizygotic Swedish twins. Fifty-two per cent of the phenotypic correlation (r = 0.41) between PBSE and Pines' BM was explained by genetics and 48% by environmental factors. The findings of the present study strengthen the assumption that PBSE should be considered in the burnout process as proposed by the self-worth conception of burnout. The present results extend our understanding of the link between this contingent self-esteem construct and exhaustion and provide additional information about the underlying mechanisms in terms of genetics and environment. This finding corroborates the assumed syndrome view on burnout, while it also suggests an altered view of how the syndrome emerges and how it can be alleviated.
Endocrine autoimmunity in patients with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) — association with HLA genotype.

INTRODUCTION Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slow-developing form of autoimmune diabetes, characterised by the presence of type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibody and presentation at diagnosis similar to patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of auto-antibodies related to endocrine autoimmune diseases in patients with LADA and to assess their association with HLA genotype. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated the presence of anti-thyroglobulin (ATG), anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO), anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (ATTA), and anti 21 hydroxylase (A21H) in 70 patients with LADA, 69 with Type 2 diabetes, and in 50 healthy controls HLA genotype was assed in subpopulation of sluclied subjects. RESULTS The presence of ATPO (28.6 vs. 10%); ATG (28.6 vs. 14%) was higher in patients with LADA in comparison to healthy controls and ATPO in comparison to patients with type 2 diabetes (38.6 vs. 17.4 %). In patients with LADA the presence of autoimmune thyroid autoantibodies was associated with newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism; almost 7% of patients presented with high TSH. The presence of A21H (2.86 vs. 5.8 vs. 6.1%) and ATTA (2.86 vs. 4.3 vs. 6.0%) was not different between groups. Patients with high TSH level were positive for DQA1*0301 and DRB1*04 HLA genotype: DQB1*0201 and DQB1*02 were higher in patients positive for ATTA. CONCLUSIONS Patients with LADA have higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmune diseases. In patients with LADA similarly to type 1 genotype DQA1*0301 seems to CONFER susceptibility to thyroid autoimmunity, and DQB1*0201 to celiac disease.
Involvement of p300 in TGF-beta/Smad-pathway-mediated alpha2(I) collagen expression in mouse mesangial cells.

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) induces alpha2(I) collagen gene (COL1A2) expression in mesangial cells through physical and functional cooperation of Smad proteins and Sp1. A transcriptional coactivator, p300, is also suggested to play an important role in TGF-beta1/Smad signal transduction. However, the role of p300 in TGF-beta1/Smad-pathway-mediated transcriptional activation of the COL1A2 gene in mesangial cells is still obscure. METHODS Endogenous p300 expression and its modulation by TGF-beta1 were evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The physical interaction of p300 with Smad2/3 was examined by immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting. The functional role of p300 in TGF-beta1/Smad-pathway-mediated COL1A2 transcription was investigated in cotransfection experiments using a COL1A2 promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct and p300 expression plasmids. RESULTS TGF-beta1 induced COL1A2 gene expression in cultured mouse mesangial cells which was blocked by overexpression of inhibitory Smad7. In addition, TGF-beta1-induced nuclear export of endogenous Smad7 was observed in mouse mesangial cells. Endogenous p300 was expressed in the nucleus of the cells. TGF-beta1 induced interaction of endogenous p300 with Smad2/3, and a dominant negative construct of p300 inhibited the TGF-beta1-induced COL1A2 expression in cultured mouse mesangial cells. CONCLUSIONS p300 may be involved in TGF-beta1/Smad-pathway-mediated type I collagen gene transcription in mouse mesangial cells. Our findings would reveal a molecular basis of TGF-beta1-induced type I collagen gene transcription in mouse mesangial cells.
Managing Operational Efficiency And Health Outcomes At Outpatient Clinics Through Effective Scheduling

MANAGING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AT OUTPATIENT CLINICS THROUGH EFFECTIVE SCHEDULING by SAMIRA FAZEL ANVARYAZDI August 2018 Primary Major Advisor: Dr. Saravanan Venkatachalam Co-Major Advisor: Dr. Ratna Babu Chinnam Major: Industrial Engineering Degree: Doctor of Philosophy A variety of studies have documented the substantial deficiencies in the quality of health care delivered across the United States. Attempts to reform the United States health care system in the 1980s and 1990s were inspired by the system's inability to adequately provide access, ensure quality, and restrain costs, but these efforts had limited success. In the era of managed care, access, quality, and costs are still challenges, and medical professionals are increasingly dissatisfied. In recent years, appointment scheduling in outpatient clinics has attracted much attention in health care delivery systems. Increase in demand for health care services as well as health care costs are the most important reasons and motivations for health care decision makers to improve health care systems. The goals of health care systems include patient satisfaction as well as system utilization. Historically, less attention was given to patient satisfaction compared to system utilization and conveniences of care providers. Recently, health care systems have started setting goals regarding patient satisfaction and improving the performance of the health system by providing timely and appropriate health care delivery.
Simultaneous characterization of mechanical and electrical properties of nanowire using MEMS device

This paper presents an experimental method for characterizing mechanical properties and electrical properties of nanowire simultaneously, by performing in-situ tensile test on nanowre using MEMS actuator in SEM. Mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, fracture strengh and electrical property such as current-voltage characteristic have been obtained for Cu nanowire and SiC nanowire using this method. Smaller Young's modulus is found in both nanowires due to the imperfection in crystallization. Nonlinear and linear I-V curves are revealed for Cu nanowire and SiC nanowire, respectively. Furthermore, SiC nanowire exhibits significant piezoresistive effect under low stress level, and possible explanations has been discussed.
Detecting BGP Origin Hijacks: Using a filter-based approach

Many processes rely on the availability of the Internet. The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is widely used for exchanging routing information between routers and is essential for the successful operation of the Internet. Because BGP has not been designed with security in mind, BGP anomalies such as origin hijacks, route leaks, and link failure often occur. This research proposes a detection system for detecting origin hijacks, which is one of themost common anomalies seen on the Internet. Our detection system uses a filter-based approach. Each filter attempts to validate announcements seen by our detection system. Announcements that could not be verified by any filter are seen as origin hijacks. Because of this approach, origin hijacks that would otherwise be missed by other solutions will be detected. We use multiple data sources such as RIR Statistics Exchange Format Listings (RSEF), routing registries, RPKI Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs) and CAIDA’s AS relationship dataset in order to validate announcements. Upon running our detection system on 29 days of BGP traffic, we were able to detect 902 origin hijacks. 83% of the detected origin hijacks had a lifespan of fewer than 2.5 hours which strongly suggests that these were undesired announcements.
Potential for Osseous Regeneration of Platelet Rich Fibrin: A Comparitive Study in Mandibular Third Molar Socket.

Aims: To evaluate the effi cacy of autologous plateletrich fi brin in regeneration of bone and to assess clinical compatibility of the material in mandibular third molar extraction socket. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 20 patients visiting the out patient department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Subbaiah Institute of Dental Sciences. Patients requiring extraction of bilateral symmetrical mandibular third molars were taken for the study. Following extraction, platelet rich fi brin prepared from patients own blood was placed in one extraction socket. The patients were assessed for postoperatively pain, periodontal pocket depth and bone blending and trabecular formation. Radiological assessment of the extraction site was done for a period of 6 months to evaluate the change in bone density. Results: All the local signs and symptoms of infl ammation were mild to moderate and subsided in normal course of time. Pain was less in study site compared to control site. Soft tissue healing was better in study site. Evaluation for bone blending and trabecular bone formation showed earlier in study (prf)site compared to control(non prf) site in 10 patients. The evaluation of bone density by radiological assessment showed the grey level values calculated at 4months at the prf site were comparatively higher than the average baseline value of bone density at extraction site in control site. Conclusion: The study showed that autologous PRF is biocompatible and has signifi cant improved soft tissue healing,bone regeneration and increase in bone density in extraction sockets. However a more elaborate study with a larger number of clinical cases is very much essential to be more conclusive regarding its effi cacy.
Aging, Cognitive Load, Dementia and Hearing Loss

Sensorineural systems play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of several neurological disorders. The function of the eye and ear represents a unique window for testing various conditions in cognitive decline or dementia. Touch and smell have also been found to be strongly involved in neurodegenerative conditions, and their decline has been significantly associated with the progression of the disease; hence, the idea that restoring sensory function in cognitively impaired adults might enable a significant improvement in their cognitive status, reducing the worldwide incidence and prevalence of dementia. Not all sensorineural ‘windows' can benefit equally from the same procedures; however, hearing and vision can certainly gain the most from dependable therapeutic and other diagnostic options. The ear, including the vestibular system, deserves an honored place among the sensory organs in this context due mainly to the sophisticated electrical devices available that have amply demonstrated their effectiveness in treating hearing loss. Restoring an individual's hearing can reduce the cognitive ‘load', i.e. the neural activity needed to understand/recognize the spoken word - an activity that becomes more demanding if the brain is obliged to recruit different neural populations to achieve the same performance, as happens in older adults with sensory impairments. The sensory interfaces may also facilitate the early diagnosis of conditions characterized by a lengthy preclinical phase, as well as enabling noninvasive, follow-up procedures to assess the outcome of rehabilitation measures and distinguish physiological brain aging from neurodegenerative disorders. The present study is a brief literature review on the issues and prospects relating to the unique relationship between hearing and cognitive decline, with a general introduction to the main topics before focusing on rehabilitation training with hearing aids and cochlear implants to combat cognitive decline.
Utilisation de conduites de séchage oscillantes pour réduire les contraintes liées au retrait du bois

La maitrise du procede sechage, etape essentielle dans la transformation du bois, est devenue incontournable pour la filiere bois. Cette these propose l'utilisation de conduites de sechage oscillantes pour reduire les contraintes de sechage liees au retrait par l'activation du fluage mecanosorptif. A ce jour, la meilleure facon d'appliquer les conduites oscillantes represente un defi pour la communaute scientifique. Dans ce travail, nous avons choisi comme materiel d'etude une essence feuillue fortement utilisee dans la filiere et tres susceptible aux deformations lors du sechage : le hetre (Fagus sylvatica). L'effet des conduites oscillantes sur les contraintes de sechage est etudie par une approche experimentale et par une approche theorique, articulees en trois parties : - Un premier volet experimental sur un sechoir semi – industriel pour saisir l'effet global des conduites oscillantes a l'echelle d'une pile de planches. L'amelioration de la qualite du bois seche s'est averee par : une meilleure homogeneite de la teneur en eau finale inter et intra-planche, la diminution des deformations globales et la diminution des contraintes residuelles exprimees par le gap du « slicing test ». - Ensuite, nous avons developpe un volet theorique sur la base de modelisations analytique et numerique pour etudier l'evolution des champs de teneur en eau et de contraintes mecaniques au sein d'une planche lorsque les conditions climatiques oscillent. Une formulation analytique simple, adaptee aux conduites oscillantes, est proposee pour les utilisateurs de sechoirs n'ayant pas acces a un outil numerique sophistique. L'approche numerique effectuee avec l'outil de simulation TransPore permet une etude plus realiste du sechage oscillant. Ainsi, le module mecanique de TransPore a ete utilise pour degager des configurations pertinentes de sechage permettant d'etudier l'effet des conduites oscillantes sur la relaxation des contraintes. - Enfin, un second volet experimental a ete realise sur un sechoir de laboratoire, a l'echelle d'une planche, pour tester les informations issues du volet theorique. Un dispositif de sechage dissymetrique (flying wood) et deux dispositifs de sechage sous charge (poutre cantilever et flexion trois points) ont ete utilises pour etudier l'effet des oscillations. Toutefois, ces essais ne permettent pas de montrer clairement l'effet des oscillations sur la relaxation des contraintes. La confrontation entre les resultats experimentaux a l'echelle d'une planche et la simulation numerique a mis en evidence l'effet consequent des oscillations parasites de faibles periode et amplitude sur les resultats experimentaux, provoquees par la regulation du sechoir. Des modifications du modele de comportement mecanique differe ont ete proposees en perspectives de ce travail afin de mieux saisir le comportement observe experimentalement.
The relationship between obesity and peripheral arterial disease in adult Nigerian diabetics.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim was to identify any relationship between obesity and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetic subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Male and female diabetic subjects aged 50-89 years. Body mass index (BMI) was used to estimate total body weight and the waist-to- hip ratio (WHR) as well as waist circumference (WC) were used for abdominal fat distribution estimation. Peripheral arterial disease was defined by an ankle brachial index <0.9. RESULTS Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was observed in 52.5% of the subjects. BMI, WHR and WC did not correlate with PAD. CONCLUSION None of the parameters (i.e BMI, WHR and WC) used to assess the relationship between obesity and PAD was found to correlate with PAD.
Effect of strategic foresight on the success of healthcare marketing

After a decade of war, Iraqi government embarks in the strengthening of private firms after years of sanctions. The government of Iraq for the preceding period after the international war and a series of several sanctions that negatively affected medical system focused on the development of the old medical system. Studies show that strategic foresight contributes to the success of organizations. Hence, this study aims to identify the impact of strategic foresight on the success of healthcare marketing in Iraq. A total of 171 respondents collected from private hospitals and clinics. The results revealed that strategic foresight with customer, market, competitive and technology foresight has a positive impact on healthcare marketing.
PENGARUH BUDAYA ORGANISASI TERHADAP KUALITAS INFORMASI DENGAN SISTEM INFORMASI AKUNTANSI SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI

This research is aimed to verify the influence of the influence of organizational culture on the quality of information with the accounting information system as a moderation variable, survey on conventional banks in Banda aceh, Bank Mandiri, BNI ( Bank Negara Indonesia ) , BRI ( Bank Rakyat Indonesia) , and BTPN (Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Negara)and Bank BCA(Bank Central Asia). The population in this study are the users of the system at these banks were selected at random. There are randomly selected 50 people. The collecting of data and information needed in this research was done by field research.The data used is primary data collected directly from the subject of research by a questionnaire form. The testing of the influences of independent variables toward dependent variable with moderation variable as moderator was done by using multiple regressions model. The results showed that organizational culture has a significant effect on the quality of information. Accounting information system is not a moderating variable between the influence of organizational culture on the quality of information. The results of this study suggest that conventional banking in Banda Aceh should be able to improve the quality of information by running the function of the accounting information system so that the quality of information will be better.
Bilingual Special Education: Training Issues

Bilingual special education, in its brief history, has undergone several shifts in emphasis—for example, from nonbiased, native-language assessments to bilingual services. Increasingly, training programs for teachers of students with both limited English proficiency and disabilities have emphasized an interface between special education and bilingual education. Though cuts in federal funding have reduced the number of training programs, the quality of training has improved. This article describes a pilot program of the California Special Education Project. Begun in 1984, this 3-year staff development program included a combination training and implementation phase, and in 1988 it won an award for exemplary services to language-minority children in special education.