Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding organizational culture: the key to successful middle manager strategic involvement in health care delivery?

AIM The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which organizational culture influenced strategic involvement. BACKGROUND It is crucial for the strategic management of health care that the cultural dimensions affecting health service organizations are identified and understood. How culture influences middle manager strategic involvement has not been established and therefore an understanding of the power of organizational culture is important to middle managers working in not-for-profit health care organizations. CONCLUSION It was demonstrated that strong organizational culture predicted strategic involvement, and supported the importance of middle managers remaining strategically involved in the development of new organizational strategic initiatives. Findings have implications for strategic management in health service organizations.
Hypotonic stress activates BK channels in clonal kidney cells via purinergic receptors, presumably of the P2Y1 subtype

Aim: Membrane stretch due to cell swelling may cause a minute leakage of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that stimulates endogenous purinergic receptors. The following elevation of the cytosolic‐free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) may then participate in cell volume regulation. The aim of the present study was to test if purinergic receptors and large conductance Ca2+ activated K+ (BK) channels are activated in response to hypotonic stress in clonal kidney cells (Vero cells).
Mining Educational Data to Predict Student’s academic Performance using Ensemble Methods

Educational data mining has received considerable attention in the last few years. Many data mining techniques are proposed to extract the hidden knowledge from educational data. The extracted knowledge helps the institutions to improve their teaching methods and learning process. All these improvements lead to enhance the performance of the students and the overall educational outputs. In this paper, we propose a new student’s performance prediction model based on data mining techniques with new data attributes/features, which are called student’s behavioral features. These type of features are related to the learner’s interactivity with the e-learning management system. The performance of student’s predictive model is evaluated by set of classifiers, namely; Artificial Neural Network, Naive Bayesian and Decision tree. In addition, we applied ensemble methods to improve the performance of these classifiers. We used Bagging, Boosting and Random Forest (RF), which are the common ensemble methods used in the literature. The obtained results reveal that there is a strong relationship between learner’s behaviors and their academic achievement. The accuracy of the proposed model using behavioral features achieved up to 22.1% improvement comparing to the results when removing such features and it achieved up to 25.8% accuracy improvement using ensemble methods. By testing the model using newcomer students, the achieved accuracy is more than 80%. This result proves the reliability of the proposed model.
Nasal Histamine Reactivity; Relationships to Skin-test Responses, Allergen Provocation and Symptom Severity in Patients with Long-continuing Allergic Rhinitis

It has been reported that skin-test reactivity and rhinitis symptom severity weaken in the course of time. A corresponding weakening might also be seen in non-specific nasal hyper-reactivity, but the relationships of these responses are poorly understood. Our aim was to measure nasal responsiveness to histamine in a series of patients with long-continuing allergic rhinitis and to compare these measurements with skin test responses, allergen provocation and changes in severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms. A total of 73 patients in whom allergic rhinitis had been verified over 20 years earlier were re-interviewed and re-investigated. Skin prick tests with common allergens were performed and the presence of nasal allergy was confirmed by allergen provocation. Non-specific nasal hyper-reactivity was determined with nasal histamine challenge using four concentrations of histamine phosphate. The response was registered by counting sneezes, recording changes in nasal discharge and mucosal swelling and measuring nasal airway resistance. Sneezing and discharge scores showed that milder non-specific nasal hyper-reactivity was associated with lack of reactivity in skin prick tests and nasal allergen challenge. No association was observed between allergy test results and changes in nasal airway resistance during the histamine provocation. In most patients the symptoms of rhinitis had become milder or disappeared during the follow-up, but the results of the histamine challenge showed no relationship with the changes in symptom severity. In patients with allergic rhinitis, reactivity to histamine is associated with a concomitant change in skin and nasal mucosal reactivity to allergens.
Cardiovascular Changes in Cirrhosis: Pathogenesis and Clinical Implications

Liver cirrhosis is associated with a wide range of cardiovascular abnormalities including hyperdynamic circulation, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, and pulmonary vascular abnormalities. The pathogenic mechanisms of these cardiovascular changes are multifactorial and include neurohumoral and vascular dysregulations. Accumulating evidence suggests that cirrhosis-related cardiovascular abnormalities play a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple life-threatening complications including hepatorenal syndrome, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, gastroesophageal varices, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Treatment targeting the circulatory dysfunction in these patients may improve the short-term prognosis while awaiting liver transplantation. Careful fluid management in the immediate post-transplant period is extremely important to avoid cardiac-related complications. Liver transplantation results in correction of portal hypertension and reversal of all the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the cardiovascular abnormalities, resulting in restoration of a normal circulation. The following is a review of the pathogenesis and clinical implications of the cardiovascular changes in cirrhosis.
Challenges Faced by families of Autistic Children

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a complex neurological disorder that affects brain function which causes impairments in multiple areas of development including social interaction, communication, and behavior and typically appears within the first three years of life. Families having children with ASD face many challenges as the disorder is associated with disruptive antisocial behavior. Parents with ASD children face extreme difficulties in dealing with challenging behaviors, teaching their child to communicate, teaching basic life skills, guarding their child from danger, and preparing their child for adult life. Besides, such families also experience high levels of stress, high recurrence risks, misconceptions and assumptions, feelings of guilt and blame regarding child’s diagnosis. The social stigma attached to the disorder causes lot of discrimination not only of the autistic child but also of the family as a whole because the family is seen to be a part of the illness. The present paper highlights the major challenges and difficulties faced by parents having children with autism.
Projections of the medial cerebellar nucleus to oculomotor‐related midbrain areas in the rat: An anterograde and retrograde HRP study

The mesencephalic projections of the medial cerebellar nucleus (MCN) were studied in the rat by using the method of anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin/horseradish peroxidase to establish connections of the nucleus with oculomotor‐related nuclei as a basis for its proposed role in eye movement. The principal targets of projections were the supraoculomotor ventral periaqueductal gray (PAG) and lateral PAG, and paraoculomotor cell groups (nucleus of Darkschewitsch and medial accessory nucleus of Bechterew). Lesser projections were observed to the intermediate layer of the superior colliculus, nucleus of the posterior commissure, and prerubral field. Following transcannular HRP gel implants into the oculomotor complex that included adjacent paraoculomotor nuclei, the largest number of retrogradely labeled cells was found in the caudal MCN. The findings suggest that the caudal MCN in the rat, like the primate fastigial nucleus, is involved in the control of eye movement.
Fractionation factors and activation energies for exchange of the low barrier hydrogen bonding proton in peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketone complexes of chymotrypsin.

NMR investigations have been carried out of complexes between bovine chymotrypsin Aalpha and a series of four peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketones, listed here in order of increasing affinity for chymotrypsin: N-Acetyl-L-Phe-CF3, N-Acetyl-Gly-L-Phe-CF3, N-Acetyl-L-Val-L-Phe-CF3, and N-Acetyl-L-Leu-L-Phe-CF3. The D/H fractionation factors (phi) for the hydrogen in the H-bond between His 57 and Asp 102 (His 57-Hdelta1) in these four complexes at 5 degreesC were in the range phi = 0.32-0.43, expected for a low-barrier hydrogen bond. For this series of complexes, measurements also were made of the chemical shifts of His 57-Hepsilon1 (delta2,2-dimethylsilapentane-5-sulfonic acid 8.97-9. 18), the exchange rate of the His 57-Hdelta1 proton with bulk water protons (284-12.4 s-1), and the activation enthalpies for this hydrogen exchange (14.7-19.4 kcal.mol-1). It was found that the previously noted correlations between the inhibition constants (Ki 170-1.2 microM) and the chemical shifts of His 57-Hdelta1 (delta2, 2-dimethylsilapentane-5-sulfonic acid 18.61-18.95) for this series of peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketones with chymotrypsin [Lin, J., Cassidy, C. S. & Frey, P. A. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 11940-11948] could be extended to include the fractionation factors, hydrogen exchange rates, and hydrogen exchange activation enthalpies. The results support the proposal of low barrier hydrogen bond-facilitated general base catalysis in the addition of Ser 195 to the peptidyl carbonyl group of substrates in the mechanism of chymotrypsin-catalyzed peptide hydrolysis. Trends in the enthalpies for hydrogen exchange and the fractionation factors are consistent with a strong, double-minimum or single-well potential hydrogen bond in the strongest complexes. The lifetimes of His 57-Hdelta1, which is solvent shielded in these complexes, track the strength of the hydrogen bond. Because these lifetimes are orders of magnitude shorter than those of the complexes themselves, the enzyme must have a pathway for hydrogen exchange at this site that is independent of dissociation of the complexes.
The oral 13C-bicarbonate technique for estimation of energy expenditure in dogs: validation against indirect calorimetry

To get more knowledge about the energy requirements of dogs and to formulate appropriate feeding guidelines, it is essential to determine their energy expenditure (EE) in a reliable and feasible way. In this study, the non-invasive oral stable isotope 13C-bicarbonate technique (o13CBT) was validated against indirect calorimetry (IC) for the determination of CO2-production and EE in dogs. Eleven privately owned dogs were simultaneously measured with IC and the o13CBT after being fasted overnight. All dogs were measured twice on two separate days. For calculation, measurements were divided into two groups depending on dogs’ behaviour during the measurement. Dogs of Group 1 (n = 17) were resting calmly in the chamber and dogs of Group 2 (n = 5) were more active. Mean heart rate was significantly higher in Group 2 (102 beats per minute [bpm]) than in Group 1 (77 bpm) (p < 0.001). Within groups, the CO2-production and EE [kJ d−1 kg BW−0.75] estimated by the o13CBT or IC did not differ significantly (Group 1: = 368; EEIC = 363; Group 2: = 701; EEIC = 718). However, the estimated 13C recovery factor (RF) for the estimation of CO2-production was significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (0.72 and 0.94, respectively, p < 0.001). The respiratory quotient (RQ), which is needed for the estimation of EE, did not differ between groups. This study shows that the non-invasive o13CBT can be used for accurate estimation of the CO2-production rate and EE in resting dogs. A value of 0.77 can be applied as an estimate of the RQ in fasted dogs and 0.72 as an appropriate estimate for RF when dogs are resting calmly during the measurements.
Quantitative Interpretation of Tracer Test Data

Geothermal reinjection is an important part of sustainable management of geothermal resources. Reinjection started out as a method of waste-water disposal, but is now also being used to counteract pressure draw-down and to extract more thermal energy from reservoir rocks. The possible cooling of production wells, or thermal breakthrough, is one of the main disadvantages associated with injection. To minimize this danger while maintaining the benefit from reinjection requires careful testing and research. Tracer testing, which is used to study flow-paths and quantify fluid-flow in hydrological systems, is probably the most important tool for this purpose. The main purpose in geothermal studies and management is to predict possible cooling of production wells due to long-term reinjection of colder fluid. Comprehensive interpretation of geothermal tracer test data, and consequent modeling for management purposes, has been rather limited, even though tracer tests have been used extensively. Their interpretation has mostly been qualitative rather than quantitative. A simple and efficient method of tracer test interpretation is presented, which is based on the assumption of specific flow channels connecting injection and production wells in geothermal systems. Computer software (TRINV) based on this method uses an automatic inversion technique to simulate tracer return profiles quite accurately, and to estimate (invert for) flow characteristics of the flow channels. The results of the interpretation are consequently used for predicting thermal breakthrough and temperature decline during long-term reinjection. This method has been used successfully in a number of geothermal fields worldwide and examples from Laugaland in N-Iceland and Ahuachapan in El Salvador demonstrate its’ effectiveness.
Towards malaria control and elimination in Ghana: challenges and decision making tools to guide planning

ABSTRACT Ghana is classified as being in the malaria control phase, according to the global malaria elimination program. With many years of policy development and control interventions, malaria specific mortality among children less than 5 years old has declined from 14.4% in 2000 to 0.6% in 2012. However, the same level of success has not been achieved with malaria morbidity. The recently adopted 2015–2020 Ghana strategic action plan aims to reduce the burden of malaria by 75.0%. Planning and policy development has always been guided by evidence from field studies, and mathematical models that are able to investigate malaria transmission dynamics have not played a significant role in supporting policy development. The objectives of this study are to describe the malaria situation in Ghana and give a brief account of how mathematical modelling techniques could support a more informed malaria control effort in the Ghanaian context. A review is carried out of some mathematical models investigating the dynamics of malaria transmission in sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana. The applications of these models are then discussed, considering the gaps that still remain in Ghana for which further mathematical model development could be supportive. Because of the collaborative approach adopted in their development, some model examples Ghana could benefit from are also discussed. Collaboration between malaria control experts and modellers will allow for more appropriate mathematical models to be developed. Packaging these models with user-friendly interfaces and making them available at various levels of malaria control management could help provide the decision making tools needed for planning and a platform for monitoring and evaluation of interventions in Ghana.
Proteins binding to 5' untranslated region sites: a general mechanism for translational regulation of mRNAs in human and yeast cells

We demonstrate that a bacteriophage protein and a spliceosomal protein can be converted into eukaryotic translational repressor proteins. mRNAs with binding sites for the bacteriophage MS2 coat protein or the spliceosomal human U1A protein were expressed in human HeLa cells and yeast. The presence of the appropriate binding protein resulted in specific, dose-dependent translational repression when the binding sites were located in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the reporter mRNAs. Neither mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm nor mRNA stability was demonstrably affected by the binding proteins. The data thus reveal a general mechanism for translational regulation: formation of mRNA-protein complexes in the 5' UTR controls translation initiation by steric blockage of a sensitive step in the initiation pathway. Moreover, the findings establish the basis for novel strategies to study RNA-protein interactions in vivo and to clone RNA-binding proteins.
Risk Everywhere: Modeling and Managing Volatility

Based on a unique high-frequency dataset for more than fifty commodities, currencies, equity indices, and fixed income instruments spanning more than two decades, we document strong similarities in realized volatilities patterns across assets and asset classes. Exploiting these similarities within and across asset classes in panel-based estimation of new realized volatility models results in superior out-of-sample risk forecasts, compared to forecasts from existing models and more conventional procedures that do not incorporate the information in the high-frequency intraday data and/or the similarities in the volatilities. A utility-based framework designed to evaluate the economic gains from risk modeling highlights the interplay between parsimony of model specification, transaction costs, and speed of trading in the practical implementation of the different risk models.
Scatter factor and hepatocyte growth factor are indistinguishable ligands for the MET receptor.

Scatter Factor (SF) is a fibroblast‐secreted protein which promotes motility and matrix invasion of epithelial cells. Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is a powerful mitogen for hepatocytes and other epithelial tissues. SF and HGF, purified according to their respective biological activities, were interchangeable and equally effective in assays for cell growth, motility and invasion. Both bound with identical affinities to the same sites in target cells. The receptor for SF and HGF was identified as the product of the MET oncogene by: (i) ligand binding and coprecipitation in immunocomplexes; (ii) chemical crosslinking to the Met beta subunit; (iii) transfer of binding activity in insect cells by a baculovirus carrying the MET cDNA; (iv) ligand‐induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the Met beta subunit. SF and HGF cDNA clones from human fibroblasts, placenta and liver had virtually identical sequences. We conclude that the same molecule (SF/HGF) acts as a growth or motility factor through a single receptor in different target cells.
Significance of troponin elevation after severe traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION Elevation of serum troponin (cTnI) after nontraumatic cerebral insult has been associated with an adverse prognosis. This association has not been well documented in traumatic brain injury (TBI). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association and prognostic significance of cTnI elevation in severe TBI. To evaluate the role of beta-blocker (BB) therapy in TBI patients with elevated cTnI. METHODS Retrospective review of all blunt trauma patients with severe TBI (head Abbreviated Injury Scale score [AIS] >/=3) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with serial TnI measurements at a Level I trauma center from January 1998 to December 2005. Patients with AIS score >/=3 to other body regions were excluded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine prognostic significance of TnI elevation. RESULTS There were 420 severe blunt TBI patients who had serial cTnI measurements during the study period. One hundred twenty-five (29.8%) had an elevated admission cTnI. TBI patients with an elevated cTnI had a lower admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (7.5 vs. 8.7, p < 0.05), higher Injury Severity Score (27.4 vs. 24.8, p < 0.01), and increased hospital mortality (44% vs. 29%, p < 0.05), compared with TBI patients with a normal cTnI. Increasing severity of head injury was associated with an increasing cTnI (TnI level 0.8 mug/L for head AIS score = 3 vs. TnI Level I 0.3 mug/L for head AIS score = 4, 5, p = 0.09). After adjusting for injury severity, elevated cTnI was an independent predictor for mortality (Odds ratio [OR[: 8.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.46, 22.15, p < 0.0001). BB therapy was associated with a significant survival advantage (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.87, p = 0.03) in TBI patients with any elevation of cTnI. CONCLUSION Elevated TnI is frequently observed after severe TBI. The level of TnI correlates with the severity of head injury and is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes. BB therapy is associated with a survival advantage in TBI patients with elevated cTnI.
Demyanov-Rubinov subdifferentials of real-valued functions

A new notion of subdifferentiability of real-valued functions called the Demyanov-Rubinov subdifferential is introduced. For convex functions this notion coincides with the classical subdifferential in the sense of convex analysis while for nonconvex functions it contains the Fréchet subdifferential as a (possibly empty) subset. In comparison with the latter the Demyanov-Rubinov subdifferential is non-trivial for a much broader class of functions.
Self‐Reported and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Most estimates of physical activity (PA) patterns in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are based on subjective self‐report measures prone to error. The aims of this study were to obtain objective measurements of PA using an accelerometer and estimates of energy expenditure based on the self‐reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and to describe their relationship.
Increased self‐diffusion of brain water in normal aging

With magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, brain water self‐diffusion was measured in 17 healthy volunteers 22–76 (mean, 44.6) years old. The calculated values for the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) ranged from 0.58 × 10−9 to 1.23 × 10−9 m2/sec in cerebral white matter. A significant correlation was found between the ADC in white matter and age (r =.7069, P <.01). The calculated values for ADC in cortical gray matter ranged from 1.06 × 10−9 to 1.72 × 10−9 m2/sec no correlation was found between ADCs in gray matter and age. The increased ADC in white matter may be caused by an increase in the extracellular volume due to age‐dependent neuronal degeneration or to changes in myelination. These findings have implications for future clinical investigations with diffusion MR imaging techniques in patients with neurologic diseases, and stress the importance of having an agematched group of healthy volunteers for comparison.