Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward an Understanding of Government Cloud Acceptance - A Quantitative Study of G-Cloud Acceptance by Saudi Government Agencies using Extended UTAUT

With todayâs rapid advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), an increasing number of governments worldwide are seeking solutions to enhance their IT infrastructures and services, and reshape their e-government systems to meet public needs of providing easily accessible, cost-effective, high quality, and reliable e-services. In recent years, government cloud (G-Cloud) has emerged as a new and innovative computing paradigm with a promising opportunity for many governments to rationalize the way they manage their services and resources. Government cloudâs potential benefits has been recognized by many governments around the world. This paper will study the acceptance of cloud computing technologies and services in Saudi government agencies by investigating the significant and influential factors that affect the behavioral intentions to use G-Cloud. Moreover, in light of the rising concerns over trust issues in cloud computing which have been reported to be one of the major barriers to the adoption of the cloud, the study proposes an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model by incorporating trust as a key factor in the acceptance of G-Cloud.
Brightly colored pepper cultivars for greenhouse production in Florida

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in Florida has traditionally been field-grown and harvested at a maturegreen stage. However, the demand for high-quality colored pepper has led producers to look at pepper grown under protected structures. Thirty-six colored pepper cultivars (red, orange, yellow, chocolate, and purple) from both Israeli and Dutch seed companies were compared during the Fall 2000- Spring 2001 season in Gainesville, Fla. Seedlings were transplanted 28 July 2000 into 11-L black-polyethylene pots filled with medium-grade perlite and grown in a double-layer polyethylene- covered high-roof greenhouse with passive ventilation. Plants were pruned once to two stems and trellised during growth using the Spanish-style growing method. Plants were harvested 20 times from 13 Oct. 2000 until 8 Mar. 2001. Total marketable yield varied from 6.9 to 11.3 kg·m[sup-] depending on cultivar. 'Amos', 'Pekin', and 'Lion' produced the greatest marketable yields of the red, yellow, and orange cultivars, respectively. Marketable number of fruit per plant varied from 10.8 for larger-fruited cultivars (greater than 64 mm diameter) to 20 for smaller-fruited cultivars (less than 64 mm diameter) even though marketable weight per plant was the same (2.6 to 3.4 kg per plant). Number of fruit with blossom-end rot disorder or those that were culled, ranged from less than one fruit per plant to five fruit per plant depending on cultivar. Fruit quality characteristics such as average fruit weight, fruit height, fruit diameter, pericarp thickness, and presence of cracking or speckling were dependant on cultivar. Red cultivars 'Torkal' and 'Zambra', yellow cultivars 'Kelvin', 'Neibla', 'Taranto', and 'Bossonova', and orange cultivars 'Paramo', 'Lion', and 'Boogie' have proven suitable for production in Florida under protected conditions.
Core protein mu2 is a second determinant of nucleoside triphosphatase activities by reovirus cores

NTPase activities in mammalian reovirus cores were examined under various conditions that permitted several new differences to be identified between strains type 1 Lang (T1L) and type 3 Dearing (T3D). One difference concerned the ratio (at pH 8.5) of ATP hydrolysis at 50 degrees C to that at 35 degrees C. A genetic analysis using T1L x T3D reassortant viruses implicated the L3 and M1 gene segments in this difference, with M1 influencing ATPase activity most strongly at high temperatures. L3 and M1 encode the core proteins lambda1 and mu2, respectively. Another difference concerned the absolute levels of GTP hydrolysis by cores at 45 degrees C and pH 6.5. A genetic analysis using T1L x T3D reassortants implicated the M1 gene as the sole determinant of this difference. The results of these experiments, coupled with previous findings (S. Noble and M. L. Nibert, J. Virol. 71:2182-2191, 1997), suggest either that a single type of NTPase in cores is strongly influenced by two different core proteins--lambda1 and mu2--or that cores contain two different types of NTPase influenced by the two proteins. The findings appear relevant for understanding the complex functions of reovirus cores in RNA synthesis and capping.
What Difference Does it Make? Evaluating the Impact of Continuing Professional Development in Schools

This article outlines the findings from a recent research study that explored the ways in which continuing professional development is being evaluated in schools. It focuses upon the extent to which schools are gauging the impact of continuing professional development (CPD) particularly at the classroom level. The article provides a contemporary overview of evaluative practice of CPD and concludes that the impact of CPD on student learning remains significantly under-evaluated. The article suggests that schools require more support and training in order to evaluate the impact of CPD more effectively.
Pharmacogenetics of drug metabolizing enzymes in Brazilian populations

Abstract Phase I and II drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play an important role in biotransformation of endogenous and exogenous compounds including drugs currently used in pharmacoterapy. Moreover, the genetic variability of DMEs causes important interindividual differences in drug and metabolite exposure, drug response, and risk of adverse drug reactions. We reviewed pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies that evaluated the influence of polymorphisms in the CYPs genes – mainly CYP1, CYP2 and CYP3 gene families – and in the phase II genes – TPMT, NAT2, GSTs and UGTs – on therapeutic response in Brazilian cohorts. Ethnic admixture of Brazilians resulted in a population characterized by a unique genetic profile, in which ancestry informative markers change continuously among ethnic groups. Therefore, some of the PGx biomarkers have a different distribution among Brazilians and PGx data from well-defined ethnic groups are not applicable to Brazilian populations. PGx data focused on phase I and phase II DMEs from Brazilian studies are needed in order to establish the influence of the genetic diversity on therapeutic response to clinically relevant drugs in a population with a composition from a complex genetic admixture. These studies and their impact are discussed in this review.
A Phase II Study of Combined Adriamycin, L-PAM, and Methotrexate with Citrovorum Factor Rescue in Advanced Ovarian Carcinomas

In a phase II study of combined adriamycin, L-PAM, and methotrexate with citrovorum factor rescue, 14 of 15 patients with primary advanced or recurrent ovarian malignant tumors obtained an objective remission. In remission, all patients improved their quality of life. So far the median duration of remission is 5+ months for the complete responders and 7 months for the partial responders. Myelosuppression of varying severity occurred in 93 % of the courses. The regimen proved highly effective, although toxic in some advanced patients.
In Vitro Absorption and Metabolism of a Citrus Chemopreventive Agent, Auraptene, and Its Modifying Effects on Xenobiotic Enzyme Activities in Mouse Livers

Abstract: We previously reported that auraptene (7-geranyloxycoumarin, AUR), widely occurring in citrus fruit, is a structurally novel type of effective cancer-preventive agent, as manifested in several rodent models. However, its bioavailability and metabolism in biological systems have yet to be investigated. In the present study, we examined the chemical stability of AUR at pH 1.57 and 37°C (as a stomach digestion model) and observed its stoichiometric conversion to umbelliferone [7-hydroxycoumarin, UMB; half-life (t1/2) = 15 h; 7-ethoxycoumarin (ETC) was stable for 24 h]. Differentiated Caco-2 cells, a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, were used as a small intestine model. ETC permeated the basolateral (portal vein) side of Caco-2 cells in a time-dependent manner; AUR slightly permeated the cells, but with an intracellular accumulation. Epoxyauraptene and UMB were detected when AUR was treated with the rat liver S-9 mixture. ETC was also converted to UMB, but its t1/2 of two hours was much shorter than that of AUR (≥24 h). This suggests that AUR, bearing a geranyloxyl side chain, is a relatively metabolism-resistant substrate for cytochrome P-450 enzymes and, thus, is stable in the liver compared with ETC. Oral administration of AUR by gavage at 50-200 mg/kg body wt dose dependently induced glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in mouse livers without affecting cytochrome P-450 activity. Using 10 coumarin-related compounds, we found that only those coumarins having a 7-alkyloxyl group induced GST, but not cytochrome P-450, activity. The present study presumes that AUR accumulates in the epithelial cells of the small intestine and then gradually permeates into the portal vein. Stable localizability of AUR in the colon and liver may be associated with the induction of GST activity, which is important as the action mechanism for suppression of rodent chemical carcinogenesis.
Progression from prehypertension to hypertension in a Jamaican cohort: incident hypertension and its predictors.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the incidence of hypertension in people with and without prehypertension and determine the factors that predict progression to hypertension. METHODS Data from a cohort of 25-74-year-old residents of Spanish Town, Jamaica, were analysed. All participants completed a structured questionnaire and had blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measurements and venous blood sampling performed by trained personnel. Blood Pressure was classified using the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) criteria. RESULTS 708 persons who had the required data and were not hypertensive at baseline were included in this analysis. Mean follow-up time was 4.1 years; 28.7% of prehypertensive participants developed hypertension compared to 6.2% of normotensive participants. The unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR [95% CI]) for progression among prehypertensive compared to normotensive participants was 4.62 [2.96, 7.43]. Among males, the rate of progression to hypertension was significantly higher for those 45-64 years old and those who were current smokers. Among females, progression was higher for age groups 25-44 years, 45-64 years, those who were overweight (BMI > or =25), obese (BMI > or =30) and current smokers. In multivariate models, prehypertension, female gender overweight status and older age remained significantly associated with progression to hypertension among the combined prehypertensive and normotensive groups. IRR [95% CI] were: prehypertension, 3.45 [2.18-5.45]; female gender 1.81 [1.12, 2.94]; overweight, 1.87 [1.15, 2.94]; age 45-64 years, 1.73 [1.08, 2.76]; age > 65 years 2.39 [1.31, 4.34]. CONCLUSIONS Prehypertension is associated with a three-fold increase in the incidence of hypertension. Higher BMI, age and female gender also independently predict the development of hypertension.
Strategies for Synchronous and Multiple Metastatic Liver Tumors Designed from Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Concept

At some point in the natural course of colorectal cancer up to 50% of patients will develop metastasis to the liver and it is one of the most critical effects for patient prognosis. The incidence of synchronous liver metastasis has been detected at around 20% - 25%, but the optimal timing of surgical resection remains controversial. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has also been found to be beneficial not only for initially unresectable but also resectable synchronous metastases. Then, traditional surgical strategies of hepatic resection in accordance with past chemotherapeutic regimens have been used decreasingly over the past several years. This review will primarily discuss treatments in association with the recent developed chemotherapeutic regimens and surgical procedure from the clinical data and the concept for epithetlial-mesenchymal transition, which has recently been studied to elucidate mechanisms of the liver metastatic process.
Current Frequency Spectral Subtraction and Its Contribution to Induction Machines’ Bearings Condition Monitoring

Induction machines are widely used in industrial applications. Safety, reliability, efficiency, and performance are major concerns that direct the research activities in the field of electrical machines. Even though the induction machine is very reliable, many failures can occur such as bearing faults, air-gap eccentricity, and broken rotor bars. The challenge is, therefore, to detect them at an early stage in order to prevent breakdowns. In particular, stator current-based condition monitoring is an extensively investigated field for cost and maintenance savings. In this context, this paper deals with the assessment of a new stator current-based fault detection approach. Indeed, it is proposed to monitor induction machine bearings by means of stator current spectral subtraction, which is performed using short-time Fourier transform or discrete wavelet transform. In addition, diagnosis index based on the subtraction residue energy is proposed. The proposed bearing faults condition monitoring approach is assessed using simulations, issued from a coupled electromagnetic circuits approach-based simulation tool, and experiments on a 0.75-kW induction machine test bed.
Effects of recent zebra mussel invasion on water chemistry and phytoplankton production in a small Irish lake

Lough Doon is a dual basin lake in the west of Ireland, split into an upper and lower basin that are morphometrically and physiochemically similar. Zebra mussels [Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771)] were introduced in the lower basin in 1998 and are now well established there. A survey in July 2007 involving scuba dive transects and dredging revealed a population of 5.5 × 10 8 zebra mussels (4.9 × 10 5 kg) in the lower basin, while just 3 zebra mussels were recorded in the upper basin. To assess the effects of Dreissena infestation on suspended solids, algal production and nutrient concentrations, near-surface water samples from Lough Doon were analysed from January−July 2007 (n = 12) for selected chemical and biological parameters. Sampling revealed marked differences in seston load between the two basins, with the infested lower basin exhibiting significantly reduced concentrations of suspended solids, chlorophyll-a and phytoplankton biovolumes and, conversely, greater Secchi transparency. Total phosphorus concentrations were lower in the lower basin but concentrations of ammonium and, particularly, nitrate were significantly higher. Inter-basin differences in Lough Doon mirror the post-invasion changes observed in other, larger European and North American lakes and reflect the effectiveness of coupled filter feeding-excretion by zebra mussels in reducing seston load and converting particulate nutrients into soluble forms. The data provide initial evidence that modest zebra mussel populations can significantly alter water chemistry in a small well-mixed lough, with implications for water quality management as the zebra mussel continues its rapid range extension in Ireland.
Anaemia is an independent predictive marker for clinical prognosis in HIV-infected patients from across Europe. EuroSIDA study group.

OBJECTIVES To describe changes in haemoglobin over time and to determine the joint prognostic value of the current haemoglobin, CD4 lymphocyte count and viral load among patients from across Europe. PATIENTS The analysis included 6725 patients from EuroSIDA, an observational, prospective cohort of patients with HIV from across Europe. METHODS Normal haemoglobin was defined as haemoglobin greater than 14 g/dl for men and 12 g/dl for women; mild anaemia was 8-14 g/dl for men and 8-12 g/dl for women; severe anaemia was defined as less than 8 g/dl for both males and females. Linear regression techniques were used to estimate the annual change in haemoglobin; standard survival techniques were used to describe disease progression and risk of death. RESULTS At recruitment to the study, 40.4% had normal levels of haemoglobin, 58.2% had mild anaemia and 1.4% had severe anaemia. At 12 months after recruitment, the proportion of patients estimated to have died was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-3.9] for patients without anaemia, 15.9% for patients with mild anaemia (95% CI 14.5-17.2) and 40.8% for patients with severe anaemia (95% CI 27.9-53.6; P < 0.0001). In a multivariate, time-updated Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for demographic factors, AIDS status and each antiretroviral treatment as time-dependent covariates, a 1 g/dl decrease in the latest haemoglobin level increased the hazard of death by 57% [relative hazard (RH) 1.57; 95% CI 1.41-1.75; P < 0.0001], a 50% drop in the most recent CD4 lymphocyte count increased the hazard by 51% (RH 1.51; 95% CI 1.35-1.70; P < 0.0001) and a log increase in the latest viral load increased the hazard by 37% (RH 1.37; 95% CI 1.15-1.63; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Severe anaemia occurred infrequently among these patients but was associated with a much faster rate of disease progression. Among patients with similar CD4 lymphocyte counts and viral load, the latest value of haemoglobin was a strong independent prognostic marker for death.
Age‐Specific Prevalence of Hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg) and Antibody to HBeAg (Anti‐HBe) among Asymptomatic Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Carriers in Okinawa and Kyushu, Japan

A total of 1,741 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers in two areas (Okinawa and Kyushu) in Japan were surveyed for the presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and the corresponding antibody (anti‐HBe) to determine the age‐specific prevalence of these markers and the mean age of carriers with HBeAg. Prevalence of HBeAg was significantly higher in Kyushu (36.4% of 755 carriers) than in Okinawa (20.0% of 986 carriers) (P<0.001). The mean age of carriers with HBeAg was 25.5 years in Kyushu and 16.1 years in Okinawa, suggesting that HBeAg converted to anti‐HBe earlier in Okinawa than in Kyushu. In contrast, the prevalence of anti‐HBe was significantly higher in Okinawa (74.6% of 986) than in Kyushu (56.3% of 755) (P<0.001). The prevalence of HBeAg decreased with age up to 40–49 years of age and then increased in both areas. Prevalence of anti‐HBe was inversely related to the prevalence of HBeAg in both areas. These data suggest that HBeAg and anti‐HBe are chronological markers of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and that the duration of HBeAg persistence can be different in different area, even in the same country.
A Novel Approach for 2-D Electromagnetic Field Analysis of Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Taking Into Account Axial End Leakage Flux

This paper proposes a novel approach for electromagnetic field analysis of surface-mounted permanent synchronous machines taking into account axial end leakage flux. In order to calculate the axial end leakage flux using the 2-D finite-element analysis (FEA), the leakage magnetic flux in the axial direction is reflected to the 2-D model by applying the permeability factor into the slot area. The permeability factor is derived by the equivalent magnetic circuit method. At this time, the permeability factor is calculated by considering the main leakage path in the slot and the leakage path in the axial direction of air region. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing the results of the proposed method with the experimental results as well as the conventional 2-D FEA results and the 3-D FEA results.
Genetic sub‐types of human malignant astrocytoma correlate with survival

In human malignant astrocytoma, age of the patient and histological grade of the tumor are important prognostic variables. Several genetic changes have been reported to occur in these tumors, which may be of additional and independent prognostic relevance. To determine their prognostic significance, we analyzed 75 high‐grade tumors, 12 anaplastic astrocytomas and 63 glioblastomas multiforme, for the presence of genetic changes that occur frequently in high‐grade astrocytoma, i.e., loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for chromosome 10, p53‐gene alteration (mutation and/or LOH), and EGFR‐gene amplification. We defined 4 groups of patients who showed a specific combination of genetic changes in the tumor: group 1,p53‐gene alteration without complete LOH 10; group 2, complete LOH 10 only; group 3, p53‐gene alteration + complete LOH 10; group 4, complete LOH 10 + EGFR‐gene amplification. In univariate analysis, the log‐rank test revealed significant differences in survival between patients of group 1 (median survival of 13 months) and group 3 (median survival of 5.2 months, p = 0.0058) and between patients of group 1 and group 4 (median survival of 4 months, p = 0.0033). In multivariate analysis, age and genetic sub‐type proved to be important prognostic variables, whereas histological grading was less important. The age‐corrected survival time for group‐4 patients is significantly shorter than that for group‐1 patients (relative risk = 3.79, p = 0.0075). Our data indicate that genetic sub‐type is an important prognostic variable in human high‐grade astrocytoma. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 79:159–165, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dissemination and spread of New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 Superbugs in hospital settings.

OBJECTIVE To find out frequency of isolation of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae and the predominantly responsible metallo-beta-lactamasegene in a hospital setting. METHODS The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2009 to June 2012 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised non-duplicate clinical carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae isolates obtained from different collection units across Pakistan. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion screening of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae was confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration using E-test. Polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect blaKPC, blaNDM-1, blaIMP, and blaVIM genes. In addition variable number tandem repeat typing was performed on selected cluster of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae. RESULTS Of the 114 carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae isolates, 104(94%) tested positive for blaNDM-1 gene. At 68(66%), Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent species isolated, followed by E.coli 33(31%). Moreover, 89(78%) of the blaNDM-1 gene positive Klebsiella pneumonia isolates were from the clinical samples of patients admitted to the critical care units and 75(66%) were from neonates and the elderly. Of the 65(67%) patients suffering from bacteraemia and sepsis, 32(57%) had expired, of which 22(60%) were aged <1 month. Variable number tandem repeat analysis of hospital-acquired New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae showed similarities between the isolates. CONCLUSIONS New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-positive enterobacteriaceae was found widely disseminated in major hospitals across Pakistan. Patients at extreme ages and those in critical care units were found to be the most affected with fatal outcomes.