Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DRIVERS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF LEBANESE PRIVATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

This research provides evidence on the relationship between responsiveness to quality assurance implementation and a business school i) organisational and leadership characteristics, ii) stakeholders’ perceptions of quality assurance as innovation, and iii) the institutional pressures in the organisational field. It is based on the insights from the institutional theory and the diffusion of innovation theory and uses a mixed-methods research approach. The current global demand for accountability and concern with educational productivity in higher education makes this research timely. The results of the study indicate that a business school’s level of internationalisation (normative pressure) is positively associated with responsiveness whereas competition (mimetic pressure) and the government stipulations (coercive pressure) are not significant in determining whether a business school will or will not implement any quality assurance measures. In addition, leadership and organisational characteristics (such as size and level of conferred degrees) have been found to be associated with positive responsiveness. On the other hand, stakeholders’ perceptions of quality assurance as innovation have not been found to explain the level of responsiveness to quality assurance implementation. This research concludes that responsiveness is due to a number of factors; government guidelines for quality assurance have not been seen to be effective mainly due to the lack of sanctions. The type of business has been found to impact responsiveness to quality implementation with for-profit organisations being less likely to implement quality assurance measures than their not-for- profit counterparts. By recommending appropriate approaches to increase institutional responsiveness to implement quality assurance, the research contributes to practice as it may inform state and business schools decision makers on the appropriateness of their policy formulation and execution. It can thus assist in drawing well-versed strategies and tactics. The research also contributes to the body of knowledge on the factors affecting the adoption of quality assurance in higher education institutions.
Which Pathway to Good Ideas? An Attention-Based View of Innovation in Social Networks

Research Summary: This study introduces the notion of attention allocation in networks to argue that individuals with different types of network structure produce good ideas via different pathways. Using survey data on communication networks at a software company, we find that people with highly constrained networks generate good ideas by following a logic of interrogation, by which they focus their attention on information from a particular contact. Conversely, individuals with less constrained networks produce good ideas by following a logic of recombination, whereby they divide their attention to information coming from across multiple contacts. The results show that in highly constrained networks, interrogation is a more reliable pathway to good ideas than recombination. We discuss the implications of these findings for behavioral strategy, social networks, and innovation. Managerial Summary: People can develop good ideas when they recombine diverse information inputs shared by non‐redundant communication partners that span multiple local clusters. But, in an organization, most individuals are embedded in constrained networks of people who know each other and thus typically receive redundant information from work colleagues. This study suggests that they can innovate via a different pathway: through interrogation. We find that people who focus their attention on information coming from a particular person succeed at generating good ideas because they deeply interrogate local knowledge and develop domain‐specific insights.
Antigen-driven T cell anergy and defective memory T cell response via deregulated Rap1 activation in SPA-1-deficient mice

SPA-1 is a principal Rap1 GTPase-activating protein in the hematopoietic progenitors and peripheral T cells, and SPA-1-deficient mice develop a spectrum of myeloproliferative stem cell disorders of late onset. In the present study, we show that SPA-1-deficient mice develop age-dependent T cell unresponsiveness preceding the myeloid disorders, whereas the T cell numbers remained unchanged. Progression of the T cell dysfunction was attributed to the age-dependent increase in CD44high T cell population that was unresponsive to T cell receptor stimulation. Younger SPA-1-deficient mice exhibited selectively impaired recall T cell responses against a T-dependent antigen with normal primary antibody response. These results suggested that the unresponsiveness of CD44high T cells was antigen-driven in vivo. T cells from younger SPA-1–/– mice showed much greater and more persisted Rap1 activation by anti-CD3 stimulation than control T cells. Furthermore, freshly isolated T cells from SPA-1–/– mice exhibited progressive accumulation of Rap1GTP as mice aged. T cells from aged SPA-1–/– mice with high amounts of Rap1GTP showed normal or even enhanced Ras activation with little extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in response to anti-CD3 stimulation, indicating that excess Rap1GTP induced the uncoupling of Ras-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. These results suggested that antigenic activation of naïve T cells in SPA-1–/– mice was followed by anergic rather than memory state due to the defective down-regulation of Rap1 activation, resulting in the age-dependent progression of overall T cell immunodeficiency.
Impact of acute guanfacine administration on stress and cue reactivity in cocaine-dependent individuals

Abstract Background: Stress and drug-paired cues increase drug craving and noradrenergic activity in cocaine-dependent individuals. Thus, medications that attenuate noradrenergic activity may be effective therapeutic treatment options for cocaine-dependent individuals. Objectives: To examine the impact of acute administration of the α2 adrenergic receptor agonist guanfacine on responses to multiple risk factors for relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, cocaine-dependent individuals (n = 84), were randomized to receive either 2 mg guanfacine (n = 50) or placebo (n = 34). Within each treatment arm, subjects were randomized to either a stress (guanfacine n = 26; placebo n = 15) or a no-stress (guanfacine n = 24; placebo n = 19) group. Participants in the stress group performed the Trier Social Stress Test. Subjects in each group were exposed to a neutral cue and then to cocaine-related cues. Plasma cortisol and subjective responses were compared between the four groups. Results: The no-stress guanfacine group reported greater craving in response to cocaine cues as compared to the neutral cue (p < 0.001). The guanfacine stress group reported greater subjective stress at the neutral cue than at baseline (p = 0.032). The cocaine cue increased subjective stress in the guanfacine (p < 0.001) no-stress group. There were no effects of guanfacine on cortisol levels in either the stress or no stress groups (all p > 0.70). Conclusion: This study found no effects of a single 2 mg dose of guanfacine on reactivity to stress and cues alone or on the interaction of stress and drug cues. In cocaine-dependent individuals an acute 2 mg dose of guanfacine may not be an effective therapeutic treatment strategy.
An overview of the survey on the socio-economic aspects of commercial fishing crew in the Northeast

This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing. All issues employ thorough internal scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review. Reviews are transparent collegial reviews, not anonymous peer reviews. All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications. Information Quality Act Compliance: In accordance with section 515 of Public Law 106-554, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center completed both technical and policy reviews for this report. These predissemination reviews are on file at the NEFSC Editorial Office. Species Names: The NEFSC Editorial Office's policy on the use of species names in all technical communications is generally to follow the American Fisheries Society's lists of scientific and common names for fishes, mollusks, and decapod crustaceans and to follow the Society for Marine Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals. Exceptions to this policy occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting in changes in the names of species. Statistical Terms: The NEFSC Editorial Office's policy on the use of statistical terms in all technical communications is generally to follow the International Standards Organization's handbook of statistical methods. Editorial Treatment: To distribute this report quickly, it has not undergone the normal technical and copy editing by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC's) Editorial Office as have most other issues in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE series. Other than the four covers and first two preliminary pages, all writing and editing have been performed by – and all credit for such writing and editing rightfully belongs to – those so listed on the title page.
Detection of Slime Factor Production and Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus Strains Isolated from Various Animal Clinical Samples

In this study, the production of slime factor in 180 Staphylococcus spp. (90 coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) and 90 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS)) isolated from various animal clinical specimens was investigated with Congo Red Agar (CRA), Microplate (MP), and Standard Tube (ST) tests and the results were compared to each other. The rate of production of slime factor in all of the Staphylococcus spp. investigated with CRA, MP, and ST tests were 61.1%, 55.5%, and 50.5%, respectively. The existence of Staphylococcus spp. resistance against various antibiotics was also determined by the agar disk diffusion method. The percentage of resistance against penicillin, methicillin, ampicillin, and gentamycin in slime-producing (SP) Staphylococcus spp. was 49.0%, 24.5%, 23.6%, and 13.6%, respectively, whereas for non-slime-producing (NSP) strains it was 42.9%, 15.7%, 14.2%, and 12.9%, respectively. The comparison of SP strains with NSP strains revealed that SP strains had more resistance to those antibiotics. It was determined that all of the Staphylococcus spp. were susceptible to vancomycin. The results observed from this study showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the tests applied (CRA, MP, and ST tests; X 2 = 0.28). In conclusion, the CRA test could be used for the detection of slime production in Staphylococcus spp. because it is reliable and practical.
Cloning and sequencing of the immunoglobulin A1 protease gene (iga) of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b

Secretion of immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) proteases is a characteristic of Haemophilus influenzae and several other bacterial pathogens causing infectious diseases, including meningitis. Indirect evidence suggests that the proteases are important virulence factors. In this study, we cloned the iga gene encoding immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease from H. influenzae serotype b into Escherichia coli, in which the recombinant H. influenzae iga gene was expressed and the resulting protease was secreted. Sequencing a part of a 7.5-kilobase DNA fragment containing the iga gene revealed a large open reading frame with a strongly biased codon usage and having the potential of encoding a protein of 1,541 amino acids and a molecular mass of 169 kilodaltons. Putative promoter and terminator elements flanking the open reading frame were identified. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of this H. influenzae IgA1 protease with that of a similar protease from Neisseria gonorrhoeae revealed several domains with a high degree of homology. Analogous to mechanisms known from the N. gonorrhoeae IgA protease secretion, we propose a scheme of posttranslational modifications of the H. influenzae IgA1 protease precursor, leading to a secreted protease with a molecular mass of 108 kilodaltons, which is close to the 100 kilodaltons reported for the mature IgA1 protease.
Extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by culture supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The development of reliable, eco-friendly processes for the synthesis of nanoscale materials is an important aspect of nanotechnology. Silver bionanoparticles have been known to have inhibitory and bactericidal effects. In the present study, authors report the extracellular synthesis of nanoparticles of silver by reduction of aqueous Ag + ions with the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that aqueous Ag + ions in solution when exposed to P. aeruginosa get reduced, thereby leading to the formation of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the change in colour of the culture filtrate from yellow to reddish brown after the addition of silver nitrate. The morphology and uniformity of silver nanoparticles were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The interaction between protein and silver nanoparticles was analyzed using FTIR. The process of reduction was extracellular, which makes it an easier method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. These biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were also evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae.
Binge eating and eating attitudes among Nazi concentration camp survivors

Background. Prisoners in Nazi concentration camps lived through extreme situations that included starvation. We test our hypothesis that there is a greater lifetime presence of binge eating among survivors from concentration camps than in a control group. Methods. The subjects were 51 political prisoners who survived Nazi concentration camps and 47 ex-partisans of similar age and sex. A clinical interview investigated the lifetime occurrence of binge eating. The Eating Attitudes Test was also administered. Results. The mean reported loss of weight among survivors was 27·3 kg. Thirty-three per cent of them and 4% of the ex-partisans reported going on eating binges at some time in their lives (P < 0·0007). There was no significant difference in the Eating Attitudes Test scores of survivors and ex-partisans, but, among survivors, the Bulimia subscale significantly discriminated subjects who reported current binge eating. Conclusions. Our study confirms that subjects who have survived a period of extreme food deprivation are more likely to develop binge eating behaviour.
Isolation and identification of probiotic Lactobacillus from local dairy and evaluating their antagonistic effect on pathogens

Objective: Probiotics such as lactobacilli prevent the development of a wide range of human and animal's pathogens. The aim of this study was evaluation of antagonistic effect of isolated lactobacilli from local dairy products against three standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of local dairy products including cow milk, buffalo milk, cheese, and yogurt were collected from different areas of Ahwaz city. Antimicrobial disc diffusion method was applied on S. aureus (ATCC-6538), B. subtilis (ATCC-12711), and P. aeruginosa (ATCC-27853). Antimicrobial effects of isolates were evaluated by disc diffusion test on Mueller-Hinton agar medium plated with three pathogens. Results: Obtained results showed that only three strains of isolated lactobacilli of local dairy samples had inhibitory effects on understudy pathogens including Lactobacillus alimentarius, Lactobacillus sake, and Lactobacillus collinoides. All three isolates showed moderate activity (inhibition zone <15 mm) except of L. collinoides and L. alimentarius that had relatively strong activity (inhibition zone ≥15 mm) against P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis, respectively. Conclusion: These bacteria can be raised for the production of various kinds of food, pharmaceutical products, and functional foods.
Splenic Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type-I Endemic Area of Japan: Clinicopathological, Immunohistochemical and Genetic Analysis of 27 Cases

Primary splenic involvement in lymphoid neoplasms is rare and the clinicopathologic features of splenic lymphoma are not well described compared to nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Here we characterized splenic lymphomas in an human T lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) endemic area of Japan. To assess the pattern of splenic involvement and evaluate prognosis, we reviewed 27 specimens consisting of 26 splenectomies and one necropsy, which were classified using REAL classification. Cases were divided into primary splenic lymphoma in 11 patients and secondary in 16 patients. The incidence of primary splenic lymphoma was 0.3% (11 of approximately 4,000 malignant lymphomas). Primary splenic lymphomas included 7 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBL), 2 follicular lymphomas (FL), and 1 each of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Secondary splenic lymphomas included 6 DLBL, 4 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), 2 FL, 2 Hodgkin's disease (HD), 1 each of hairy cell leukemia and ALCL. Gross examination showed two patterns of splenic involvement; solid type (formation of large nodular mass, n = 16) and disseminated type (multiple nodules with diffuse infiltration but no large nodular formation, n = 10). The type could not be determined in one case. Most solid types were DLBL or FL, while MCL was of the disseminated type. Immunohistochemistry showed all but each 2 cases of ALCL and HD were of B lineage. Follow-up of 26 patients indicated that all but one patient with primary lymphoma were still alive (range, 1–89 months) and 8 of 15 patients with secondary lymphomas died due to the progression of malignant lymphoma; the survival rate at 2 years was 50% in these patients. No elevation of anti-HTLV-I antibody was found. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) showed no reactivity of lymphoma cells, although a few small lymphocytes were positive for EBV. Hepatitis C virus was observed in 6 of 20 (30%) patients examined and 4 of 11 (36%) cases of primary splenic lymphoma. Our findings indicate that patients with primary splenic lymphoma have a favorable prognosis after splenectomy.
Impact of Supplier Relational Capital on Supply Chain Performance in Pakistani Textile Industry

This research aims to improve supply chain performance (SCP) through successful usage of supplier relational capital (SRC). This can be through investigating the effect of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and organizational culture (OC) on the relationship between supplier relational capital and supply chain performance in the context of Pakistani manufacturing firms. The questionnaire survey was posted to the Pakistani manufacturing firms that are using ERP system. A total of hundred (100) usable responses were received and used in the analysis. The findings of this research indicated that there is a strong and significant positive relationship between SRC on SCP. In addition, the results also show a significant and positive influence of organizational culture on the relationship between SRC and SCP. Moreover, a significant but moderate influence of ERP on SCP was observed. The evidences show that textile firms in Pakistan not only have to improve their relationship with suppliers but also promote a conducive organizational culture to reap the benefits of ERP implementation and consequentially supply chain performance.
Addressing physician quality of life: understanding the relationship between burnout, work engagement, compassion fatigue and satisfaction

Burnout and compassion fatigue are now recognized as occupational hazards associated with the medical profession. Interestingly, burnout and compassion fatigue do not occur in every physician and many continue to find joy, meaning and satisfaction in their work despite its challenges and stressors. Our study looked at the relationship between burnout, work engagement, compassion fatigue and satisfaction amongst doctors. We also studied the relationship between these and four measureable intrinsic human factors; self-efficacy, resilient personality type, sense of gratitude and work calling. Our study found that 37% of the doctors were at high risk of burnout and 7.5% were at high risk of compassion fatigue and only 3.3% and 1.5% were at low risk of burnout and compassion fatigue respectively. Only 2.7% and 0.3% had high rates of work engagement and compassion satisfaction respectively. There was a mild but significant negative correlation between burnout and engagement, and a poor negative correlation between compassion fatigue and satisfaction. Only intrinsic human factors were significantly correlated to burnout, work engagement, compassion fatigue and satisfaction. Our preliminary findings suggest that certain intrinsic factors increase work engagement and compassion satisfaction amongst doctors. As some of these intrinsic factors also appear to buffer against burnout and compassion fatigue, increasing work engagement and compassion satisfaction not only builds individual resilience against burnout and compassion fatigue but may also lead to improvement in overall health, professional quality of life and career longevity for doctors.
An Autonomous System to Take Angular Thermal-Infrared Measurements for Validating Satellite Products

An autonomous system for field land surface temperature (LST) measurements taken at different observation angles was developed to be deployed easily at any conventional meteorological tower station. The system permits ground-truth data to be acquired on a continuous basis, and angularly scans land and sky hemispheres with a single thermal-infrared (TIR) radiometer. This paper describes the autonomous angular system and the methodology to assess ground-truth LST and relative-to-nadir emissivity data from system measurements. Ground-truth LSTs were used to validate satellite-retrieved LST products at two experimental sites (rice crop and shrubland areas). The relative-to-nadir emissivity values were used to analyze the anisotropy of surface emissive properties over thermally-homogeneous covers. The EOS-MODIS MOD11_L2/MYD11_L2 LST product was evaluated and shown to work within expected uncertainties (<2.0 K) when tested against the system data. A slight underestimation of around −0.15 K was observed, which became greater for the off-nadir observation angles at the shrubland site. The system took angular measurements for the different seasonal homogeneous covers at the rice crop site. These measurements showed emissivity angular anisotropies, which were in good agreement with previously published data. The dual-view ENVISAT-AATSR data reproduced them, and revealed that the system data collected for thermally-homogeneous surfaces could be used to test future satellite TIR sensors with multi-angular or bi-angular capabilities, like the forthcoming SLSTR on board Copernicus Sentinel-3A.