Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does a Facilitating Context Matter

Electronic Human Resource Management (e-HRM) is assumed to be a driving force behind HRM value creation. However, the issue remains of whether empirical evidence supports this assumption. Moreover, is the relationship straightforward and direct or is it conditional, and do contextual factors intervene? This paper presents a study on this issue. Data was collected through a survey conducted in three international firms using e-HRM applications. The findings suggest that e-HRM usage in line with the system’s intended purpose and the contextual factors facilitating e-HRM usage are positively related to HRM value creation. Facilitating contextual factors are positively related to HRM value creation as well, but they also moderate the relationship between e-HRM usage and HRM value creation. However, this moderation is the opposite to what was hypothesized: if the facilitating contextual factors are high, then the relationship between e-HRM usage and HRM value creation is weaker. This finding needs further investigation to clarify the intervening role of contextual factors.
Ultra High Pressure Tribometer for Testing CO2 Refrigerant at Realistic Compressor Conditions and the Role of CO2 in the Tribological Behaviour of Compressor Surfaces

In recent years, the environmental necessity to replace HFC refrigerants with natural refrigerants like carbon dioxide (CO2) in refrigeration and air-conditioning applications has led to the development of an Ultra High Pressure Tribometer (UHPT) specifically customized for testing in CO2 environment at pressures comparable to those found in compressors up to 13.8 MPa (2000 psi). It was found that at three different pressures of CO2 refrigerant under unlubricated conditions the experimental results were similar. However, under boundary- lubricated conditions, the highest pressure had a slightly more positive effect on friction than in the case of the lower pressures. Furthermore, the role of oxygen and in particular CO2 in the tribological performance of compressor surfaces was examined. It was found that the presence of oxygen is beneficial and that the use of CO2 promotes a different wear mechanism than in the case of pure O2 while it is superior to other environments.
Diversity of antibiotic resistance among bacteria Isolated from sediments and water of carp farms located in a Polish nature reserve

The present study collected bacterial samples from water and bottom sediments from fish farms located in a nature reserve area in Poland with no recorded history of antibiotic use. The aim of the study was to determine the initial states of tetracycline, streptomycin, and erythromycin resistance before a potential increase of intensive aquaculture and application of antimicrobial agents in that region. With this in mind, the diversity and antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes of isolates from the bottom sediments and water in five of the 13 fish ponds in Raszyn were evaluated. A total of 58 (sediment, n = 24; water, n = 34) non-repetitive and non-susceptible isolates were affiliated to 14 genera. Among the sediment isolates, Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. were isolated most frequently, and from the water, Stenotrophomonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Phenotypically resistant isolates selected by disk diffusion were further screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplicon sequencing. The isolates derived from the water showed a greater percentage of phenotypically resistant isolates to each of the three antibiotics. The most common tetracycline resistant genes detected in isolates from both the water and sediment were tet(A), tet(T), tet(W), and tet(34). On the other hand, the genes tet(X), tet(H), tet(M), and tet(BP) were the most frequent among sedimentary isolates, while tet(B), tet(C), tet(D), and tet(32) were prevalent in aquatic isolates. The most prevalent streptomycin resistance genes among the aquatic isolates were aac(6’)-I, str(A), and str(B). The erythromycin resistance genes detected in all isolates included msr(A), erm(X), erm(V), erm(F), and
Abnormalities of Renal Perfusion and the Renal Pressor System in Dogs with Chronic Aortic Coarctation

To clarify the role of the renin-angiotensin system in coarctation hypertension, 2-year-old inbred dogs with chronic neonatally induced thoracic aortic coarctation were subjected to 6 days of rigorous salt restriction. The following parameters were then measured: glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, plasma renin activity, plasma renin concentration, renin reactivity, and renin substrate concentration. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were significantly lower in salt-restricted coarcted dogs: 3.0 ± 0.2 and 9.0 ± 1.5 ml/min kg−1, respectively, compared with values of 4.0 ± 0.2 (P < 0.005) and 13.2 ± 0.9 (P < 0.025) ml/min kg−1 in salt-restricted controls. Plasma renin activity was abnormally high in experimental dogs: 13.5 ± 2.5 vs. 4.5 ± 1.5 ng angiotensin I/ml hour−1 in controls (P < 0.005). In addition, a significant elevation of renin reactivity (indicating a relative increase in circulating accelerators or a relative decrease in inhibitors of the renin reaction) was apparent in the plasma of coarcted dogs. Plasma renin concentration was elevated but to an insignificant degree in coarcted dogs, and renin substrate concentration was comparable with that of controls. The impaired renal perfusion and abnormal elevation of plasma renin activity during salt restriction is analogous to clinical and experimental observations in hypertensive states associated with total renal underperfusion and supports a major role for the renal pressor system in the pathogenesis of coarctation hypertension. The insignificant elevation of plasma renin concentration is not incompatible with this view. The demonstration of increased renin reactivity in coarctation hypertension provides additional evidence that acceleration of the renin reaction is common to all hypertensive states.
The BOY NAMED SUE Quantitative Trait Locus Confers Increased Meiotic Stability to an Adapted Natural Allopolyploid of Arabidopsis[C][W][OPEN]

This work uses genomic sequencing and microscopy to examine the differences in meiotic stability and fertility between synthetic and natural allopolyploids of Arabidopsis thaliana and A. arenosa. The authors find that the natural allopolyploid A. suecica and its parents have very similar genomic architecture and identify a single locus from A. suecica associated with increased meiotic stability. Whole-genome duplication resulting from polyploidy is ubiquitous in the evolutionary history of plant species. Yet, polyploids must overcome the meiotic challenge of pairing, recombining, and segregating more than two sets of chromosomes. Using genomic sequencing of synthetic and natural allopolyploids of Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis arenosa, we determined that dosage variation and chromosomal translocations consistent with homoeologous pairing were more frequent in the synthetic allopolyploids. To test the role of structural chromosomal differentiation versus genetic regulation of meiotic pairing, we performed sequenced-based, high-density genetic mapping in F2 hybrids between synthetic and natural lines. This F2 population displayed frequent dosage variation and deleterious homoeologous recombination. The genetic map derived from this population provided no indication of structural evolution of the genome of the natural allopolyploid Arabidopsis suecica, compared with its predicted parents. The F2 population displayed variation in meiotic regularity and pollen viability that correlated with a single quantitative trait locus, which we named BOY NAMED SUE, and whose beneficial allele was contributed by A. suecica. This demonstrates that an additive, gain-of-function allele contributes to meiotic stability and fertility in a recently established allopolyploid and provides an Arabidopsis system to decipher evolutionary and molecular mechanisms of meiotic regularity in polyploids.
Vision-specific distress and depressive symptoms in people with vision impairment.

PURPOSE To determine the unique contribution of vision-specific distress in predicting depressive symptoms in people with vision impairment attending a tertiary eye care clinic. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, interview-administered surveys were conducted with 143 adult patients who had presenting visual acuity <0.3 logMAR. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and vision-specific distress was assessed with the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) Questionnaire emotional well-being subscale. In addition, level of restriction of participation in common daily activities due to vision impairment was assessed with the IVI and measures of general physical health and social support were included. RESULTS Twenty-one (14.7%) of 143 participants reported clinically significant depressive symptoms and an additional 27.3% (n = 39) had mild depressive symptoms. Vision-specific distress was the strongest unique predictor of depressive symptoms (beta = 0.37, P < 0.001), with physical health (beta = -0.22, P < 0.01), age (beta = -0.18, P < 0.05), and experience of a negative life event (beta = 0.15, P < 0.05) also contributing significantly to depressive symptoms. Results also indicated that vision-specific distress mediates the impact of participation restriction due to vision impairment on depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS An assessment of vision-specific distress may be a useful tool with which to identify those at risk of depression or in need of early intervention in eye care or rehabilitation settings. Depression treatment approaches or depression prevention strategies for people with vision impairment may benefit from a focus on vision-specific distress.
Predictive value of clinical, laboratory, pathologic, and treatment variables in steroid/lmmunosuppressive resistant lupus nephritis

Twenty‐seven patients with lupus nephritis and nephrotic syndrome had persistent disease activity despite an adequate trial of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs; 30% were Asians, compared with 7% of our overall SLE population. Two years later, seven had a very good outcome and seven a poor outcome. Thirty clinical, pathological, laboratory, and treatment variables were analyzed in a good versus poor responder subset comparison in an effort to determine which factors were associated with favorable outcome. Administration of pulse steroids (P = .069) and a low biopsy chronicity index (P = .048) were associated with the good responder subset. Serum creatinine, biopsy class, blood pressure, complement, and anti‐DNA values at entry as well as the choice of immunosuppressive drug were not helpful in predicting outcome. All seven good responders were plasmapheresed (P = .026). Patients with refractory lupus nephritis who have a low biopsy chronicity index may benefit from the use of pulse steroids or plasmapheresis, and controlled studies are suggested.
ADHD Prevalence in Adult Outpatients With Nonpsychotic Psychiatric Illnesses

Objective: The prevalence of ADHD in the general adult population has been estimated to be about 4.4%. However, few studies exist in which the prevalence of ADHD in psychiatric adult outpatient samples has been estimated. These studies suggest that the prevalence is higher than in the general population. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of ADHD in a psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatient sample and to compare this data with the prevalence of a group of nonclinical participants. Method: The structured clinical interview Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.-Plus) was applied to 161 consecutive nonpsychotic psychiatric adult outpatients and to 149 healthy participants from the community. In addition, clinical rating scales were applied to measure the severity of general psychopathology such as mania, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and alcohol consumption in both groups. Results: The prevalence of ADHD in psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatients was 16.80% and 5.37% in nonclinical participants. In male psychiatric outpatients the prevalence of ADHD was 8.5% and for females was 21.6%. Conclusion: This study concludes that a higher prevalence of ADHD exists in psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatients compared with nonclinical participants. In the psychiatric adult outpatients, females showed a higher prevalence of ADHD than males. Implications and limitations are discussed. (J. of Att. Dis. 2007; 11(2) 150-156)
Rural elders and long-term care.

This is the final article in our 4-part series on rural health. Previous articles were “Physicians and rural America” (November 2000, pp 348-351), “Hospitals in rural America” (December 2000, pp 418-422), and “Rural children’s health” (February 2001, pp 142-147). All articles were adapted, with permission, from Ricketts III TC: Rural Health in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press; 1999.
Trends in alcohol use among women with and without myocardial infarction in the United States: 1997-2008.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the frequency and temporal trends of alcohol use among women with and without myocardial infarction (MI) in the United States. METHOD We pooled yearly surveys from the nationally representative Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System between 1997 and 2008. Subjects for this study were 1,186,951 women, of whom 50,055 had a previous MI. Yearly weighted prevalence rates and frequencies of drinking behaviors were calculated for alcohol use in women with and without previous MI. RESULTS Fewer post-MI women consumed alcohol than other women (24% vs. 46%), but the prevalence of drinking increased over time in both groups. Nearly one third of post-MI women and half of all women consumed more than one drink per day. Heavy episodic drinking (four or more drinks per day) increased over time in both groups. After multivariable adjustment, post-MI women were less likely to report any drinking or consuming more than one drink per day, but the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and the increasing trends over time were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Heavy alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking among women in the United States increased over the past decade, regardless of MI history. Although this may have reflected the influence of national guidelines on alcohol consumption, the increase in heavy episodic drinking suggests that better efforts to educate clinicians and women about the harms from excessive alcohol are required.
Robust optimal policies for Markov decision processes with safety-threshold constraints

We study the synthesis of robust optimal control policies for Markov decision processes with transition uncertainty (UMDPs) and subject to two types of constraints: (i) constraints on the worst-case, maximal total cost and (ii) safety-threshold constraints that bound the worst-case probability of visiting a set of error states. For maximal total cost constraints, we propose a state-augmentation method and a two-step synthesis algorithm to generate deterministic, memoryless optimal policies given the reward to be maximized. For safety threshold constraints, we introduce a new cost function and provide an approximately optimal solution by a reduction to an uncertain Markov decision process under a maximal total cost constraint. The safety-threshold constraints require memory and randomization for optimality. We discuss the use and the limitations of the proposed solution.
Black South African Students' Beliefs and Attitudes about Condoms

To investigate the beliefs and attitudes of black South African students regarding condoms structured questionnaires were completed anonymously by 1986 students. Most highly endorsed problems were the large number needed for many rounds of sex, partner's feelings of distrust, unpleasantness of purchasing condoms, and that condoms injure the vagina. Encouragement of use should be responsive to local practices.
The preclinical Alzheimer cognitive composite: measuring amyloid-related decline.

IMPORTANCE As Alzheimer disease (AD) research moves to intervene in presymptomatic phases of the disease, we must develop outcome measures sensitive to the earliest disease-related changes. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the feasibility of a cognitive composite outcome for clinically normal elderly participants with evidence of AD pathology using the ADCS Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (ADCS-PACC). The ADCS-PACC combines tests that assess episodic memory, timed executive function, and global cognition. The ADCS-PACC is the primary outcome measure for the first clinical trial in preclinical AD (ie, the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's study). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS With the ADCS-PACC, we derive pilot estimates of amyloid-related decline using data from 2 observational studies conducted in North America and another conducted in Australia. The participants analyzed had normal cognition and mean ages of 75.81, 71.37, and 79.42 years across the 3 studies. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES For the 2 studies that collected data on Aβ levels (ADNI and AIBL), we estimate decline in a preclinical AD "Aβ-positive" placebo group and compare them with an "Aβ-negative" group. For the study that did not include data on Aβ levels (the ADCS Prevention Instrument [ADCS-PI] study), we grouped participants by the presence of APOE-ε4 and by clinical progression. RESULTS In ADNI, Aβ-positive participants showed more decline than did Aβ-negative participants with regard to the ADCS-PACC score at 24 months (mean [SE] difference, -1.239 [0.522] [95% CI, -2.263 to -0.215]; P = .02). In AIBL, the mean (SE) difference is significant at both 18 months (-1.009 [0.406] [95% CI, -1.805 to -0.213]; P = .01) and 36 months (-1.404 [0.452] [95% CI, -2.290 to -0.519]; P = .002). In the ADCS-PI study, APOE-ε4 allele carriers performed significantly worse on the ADCS-PACC at 24 months (mean [SE] score, -0.742 [0.294] [95% CI, -1.318 to -0.165]; P = .01) and 36 months (-1.531 [0.469] [95% CI, -2.450 to -0.612]; P = .001). In the ADCS-PI study, cognitively normal participants who progress from a global Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0 are significantly worse on the ADCS-PACC than cognitively normal participants who are stable with a global Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0 at months 12, 24, and 36 (mean [SE] ADCS-PACC score, -4.471 [0.702] [95% CI, -5.848 to -3.094]; P < .001). Using pilot estimates of variance and assuming 500 participants per group with 30% attrition and a 5% α level, we project 80% power to detect effects in the range of Δ = 0.467 to 0.733 on the ADCS-PACC. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Analyses of at-risk cognitively normal populations suggest that we can reliably measure the first signs of cognitive decline with the ADCS-PACC. These analyses also suggest the feasibility of secondary prevention trials.
An examination of the effects of the antioxidant Pycnogenol® on cognitive performance, serum lipid profile, endocrinological and oxidative stress biomarkers in an elderly population

The study examines the effects of the antioxidant flavonoid Pycnogenol on a range of cognitive and biochemical measures in healthy elderly individuals. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, matched-pair design, with 101 elderly participants (60—85 years) consuming a daily dose of 150 mg of Pycnogenol for a three-month treatment period. Participants were assessed at baseline, then at 1, 2, and 3 months of the treatment. The control (placebo) and Pycnogenol groups were matched by age, sex, body mass index, micronutrient intake, and intelligence. The cognitive tasks comprised measures of attention, working memory, episodic memory, and psychomotor performance. The biological measures comprised levels of clinical hepatic enzymes, serum lipid profile, human growth hormone, and lipid peroxidation products. Statistically significant interactions were found for memory-based cognitive variables and lipid peroxidation products, with the Pycnogenol group displaying improved working memory and decreased concentrations of F2-isoprostanes relative to the control group.
Stability Test of Ampicillin Sodium Solutions in the Accufuser® Elastomeric Infusion Device Using HPLC: UV Method

The stabilities of two kinds of solutions (30 mg/mL) of Ampicillin sodium in 0.9% NaCl in water (NS, normal saline) and in sterile water (SW) in the intravenous elastomeric infusion device (Accufuser? ) were evaluated based on recommended solutions and storage periods. The injectable NS- and SW-Ampicillin solutions in the Accufuser? device were stored and evaluated at controlled temperature (room temperature, 25℃ ± 2℃ and cold temperature, 4℃ ± 2℃) during 7 days. Effects of the periods of storage (from 0 to 7 days) and the temperatures of storage (RT and CT) on the physico-chemical appearances and concentrations of active compounds were determined. The visual clarity, pH, and concentrations of Ampicillin were determined by stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-ultraviolet (UV) detection. The results showed that the amount of Ampicillin in studied solutions gradually decreased with time. The Ampicillin in NS, which was stored in CT, was relatively stable, retaining 94% of its original amount up to 7 days. The solution that showed least stability was Ampicillin in SW, which was stored in RT, retaining 80% of its original amount. Generally, solutions that were stored in CT were more stable than the solutions that were stored in RT. No significant changes in physical appearance or color of the solutions were observed during the study. Particles were not detected in any solution samples. In summary, two kinds of solutions of Ampicillin sodium, in NS and SW, showed different chemical stabilities with time in intravenous infusion device without any significant physical changes and retained about 94% vs 89% and 83% vs 80% of initial concentrations after 7 days in CT and RT, respectively. We suggest that 30 mg/mL of Ampicillin sodium in NS solution in an Accufuser? infusion device which is stored in CT can be applicable for 7 days in clinical situations.
Discordant Expression of Osteoblast Markers in MC3T3-E1 Cells that Synthesize a High Turnover Matrix (*)

To examine the autocrine effects that an organizing extracellular matrix has on osteoblast precursors, we created MC3T3-E1 cell lines that stably expressed pro-α1(I) collagen chains with a truncated triple helical domain. Cells that had incorporated the pro-α1(I) expression plasmid (pMG155) expressed shortened pro-α1(I) transcripts at high levels and efficiently secreted the expression gene products into culture media. Those cells lost over 30% of newly deposited collagenous matrix compared with virtually no loss in control cultures, and media from the abnormal cells had qualitative differences in matrix metalloprotinase production. Electron micrographs strongly suggested that type I collagen molecules containing the truncated pro-α1(I) chains dramatically interfered with collagen fibrillogenesis in newly forming osteoblast matrix. Abnormal collagen fibrillogenesis was also associated with altered characteristics of cellular differentiation in that abnormal cells displayed a delayed and attenuated increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Surprisingly, synthesis of osteocalcin was more than 5-fold higher than control cultures. These findings demonstrate that osteoblasts require a normally structured collagenous matrix for up-regulation of alkaline phosphatase activity. However, in the presence of rapid turnover of osteoblast matrix, osteocalcin gene expression may be up-regulated in response to local signals by an unknown mechanism.