Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Serum Urate and Lipid Profile to Hemoglobin A1c%among Sudanese with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (A study in Khartoum State)

The aim of this study was to assess correlations between the serum levels of urate, lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, HDLcholesterol and triglycerides) to Hemoglobin A1c% among Sudanese with type 2 diabetic patients and to compare these variables with apparently healthy individuals as a control group. A case-control study was conducted during the period from Jan. 2011 to Nov. 2012 in Khartoum state among 150 Sudanese diabetic patients and 100 healthy controls for comparison. The serum levels of lipid profiles and serum urate were measured using chemistry analyzer (BS-200) and commercial kits from Biosystem company, Hemoglobin A1c% analyses was performed using Nycocard reader II and commercial kits from Nycocard company, LDL-C was calculated using Friedewald`s Formula. The results of this study showed the means of the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and urate of the diabetic group to be significantly raised when compared to the control group, whereas the means of the serum levels of HDL-C of the diabetic group were significantly reduced when compared to the control group. The study showed weak positive correlation between the glycated hemoglobin and total cholesterol (r=0.20), LDL-C (r=0.36) and serum urate of the diabetic group (r=0.28) and very weak positive correlation with triglycerides (r=0.10) and also showed weak negative correlation between glycated hemoglobin and HDL-C in the diabetic group (r=0.32). From this study it had been concluded that the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and serum urate were significantly raised, whereas the serum levels of HDL-C were significantly reduced in Sudanese patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus. HbA1c% has a significant weak positive correlation with the serum levels of T. cholesterol, LDL and urate and has insignificant correlation with the serum levels of triglycerides and a significant negative correlation with the serum levels of HDL-C the results of this study, suggest a relationship between insulin resistance, and the metabolism of lipids and urate. صلختسملا ةساردلا هذه نم فدهلا وه مدلا يف نوهدلاو تارويلا حلامأ تايوتسم نيب ةقلاعلا مييقت ) ،يلكلا لورتسلوكلا ديرسلجلا يثلاثو ةعفترملا ةفاثكلا وذ لورتسلوكلا ،ةضفخنملا ةفاثكلا وذ لورتسلوكلا ( ىضرملا نيب يمكارتلا ركسلا عم فأ عم تاريغتملا هذه ةنراقمو يناثلا عونلا نم يركسلاب نيباصملا نيينادوسلا تيرجأ ،ةطباض ةعومجمك ءاحصأ دار رياني نم ةرتفلا للاخ ةساردلا 2011 ربمفون ىلإ 2012 تلمش ثيح موطرخلا ةيلاو يف م 150 نيينادوسلا ىضرملا نم و يناثلا عونلا نم يركسلاب نيباصملا 100 ةنراقملل ةطباض هعومجمك ءاحصلأا نم . نوهدلا تايوتسم سايق مت
Underserved Minority Children Are Not Meeting the US Public Health Recommendation for Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity

Background: In the US childhood obesity is more prevalent among underserved minority children. It is recommended that children should spend a minimum of 60 min/d in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in order to maintain a healthy body weight. Methods: We measured the amount of MVPA based on a minimum of 5 consecutive days of Actical measurements in 483 underserved minority children (10.3 ± 1.0 y (range 9-12 y); 51.1% male; 31.1% Black/68.9% Hispanic; 66% overweight or obese) who took part in our community childhood obesity intervention program (Healthy Kids-Houston). The majority of children (93.2%) were from low-income families. Results: The minority children spent only 45 minutes per day on MVPA and only 23% were meeting the MVPA recommendation. Time spent on MVPA decreased with age (-6.8 ± 1.1 min/d (mean ± SE), P<0.01) with boys spending more time (+12.5 ± 1.1min/d, P<0.001) in MVPA than girls. Obese children spent significantly less time (32.1 ± 1.1 min/d) on MVPA than normal weight children (42.2 ± 1.1 min/d, P<0.001) and overweight children (39.7 ± 1.1 min/d, P<0.01). The amount of time spent on MVPA was not significantly different between normal-weight and overweight children (P=0.43). Race (P=0.12) and SES (P=0.39) had no effect on MVPA. Children spent more time on MVPA (+14.5 ± 1.0 min/d, P<0.001) during weekdays than weekend days. Conclusions: Underserved minority children living in a large metropolitan city are not meeting the MVPA recommendation regardless of weight status. To combat childhood obesity, public and private resources should be utilized and the environment improved to promote MVPA in underserved minority communities.
INTERNET BANKING ACCEPTANCE IN MALAYSIA BASED ON THE THEORY OF REASONED ACTION

The theory of reasoned action originally introduced in the field of Social Psychology has been widely used to explain individuals' behaviour. The theory postulates that individuals' behaviour is influenced by their attitude and subjective norm. The purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence an individual's intention to use a technology based on the theory of reasoned action. We used Internet banking as the target technology and Malaysian subjects as the sampling frame. A principal component analysis was used to validate the constructs and multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. As expected, the results supported the theory's proposition as that an individuals' behavioural intention to use Internet banking is influenced by their attitude and subjective norm. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications were offered.
Decision support system for erosion risk assessment

Soil erosion is a serious environmental and production problem in south Portugal. The objectives of the study were to develop and validate a soil erosion-predicting model based on the revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in a geographic information systems (GIS) environment. The maps resulting from the interpolation techniques were introduced in a GIS and their values reclassified. After that, spatial modeling was used do develop the final overlay map from all the information of the analyzed soil properties and RUSLE parameters simulating a "potential soil erosion map". The study showed that the serious eroded area (when sediment is higher than 50 t/ha) is 20%, but contributes 60% sediments of all watersheds. This system will be used to provide site specific land use and management methods that could decrease risk of erosion in the higher risk locations of the study watershed.
Understanding Juvenile Offending Trajectories

Abstract Aconsiderable amount of international research has adopted a criminal careers framework to improve our understanding of offending patterns across the life course. Recent innovations in statistical modelling techniques such as Semi-Parametric Group-based Method (SPGM) have provided researchers with tools to model offending trajectories. While this framework and these techniques may improve our understanding of life course offending patterns, few Australian studies have adopted such an approach. SPGM was employed in the current study to model the offending patterns of the 1983–84 Queensland offender cohort (n = 4,470) to address three research questions: (1) How many distinct offending trajectories could be identified and what was the nature of these trajectories? (2) How were sex, Indigenous status, socioeconomic disadvantage, and remoteness related to offending trajectory membership? and (3) Are juvenile offending trajectories predictors of adult offending? Findings indicated that there were three distinct groups of juvenile offenders: Early Peaking-Moderate Offenders, Late Onset-Moderate Offenders, and Chronic Offenders. Males and Indigenous offenders were overrepresented in the chronic offending trajectory. Support for the utility of the model was found, as Chronic Offenders were more likely to have offended as adults. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed and the need for further trajectory research within an Australian context is emphasised.
Synthesis of local knowledge on drivers of tree cover change in the Blue Nile basin

The quantity and position of trees in a landscape can have significant impacts on farm soil and water resources. Here we present a synthesis of local knowledge studies conducted in three micro-catchments of the Blue Nile Basin (Diga, Fogera and Jeldu Woredas) exploring natural and anthropogenic drivers of tree cover change. In total more than 90 purposively selected farmers were interviewed, whilst focus group discussions and feedback sessions were held with larger groups. Local knowledge revealed that all three sites suffered from rapid deforestation of native tree cover over the last 20 years. All three systems were recognized by farmers as declining in agricultural productivity. The decline of native forest in Jeldu was found to be more rapid than the other two sites, partially due to market pressures from the capital city. Fogera and Diga were found to have remnant native forest still present, although certain tree species had disappeared completely due to over-exploitation for their products. This was associated with population expansion which has driven land cultivation into more marginal land (such as steeper slopes and marshy lowlands), resulting in land degradation and heightened pressure on common grazing land. The farmers demonstrated detailed agro-ecological knowledge on how the physical attributes of trees impacted on water and soil resources. Farmers were able to describe the impacts of loss of native tree cover on erosion control, river bank stabilization, protection of headwaters and water quality improvements. There were knowledge gaps on how to integrate native trees into the cereal and horticultural cropping systems. The research findings suggest some potential policy changes and intervention strategies to reach farmers and increase understanding of the functions of trees in watershed management according to on-farm niches and ecosystem service provisioning. Media grab: Local knowledge enhances our understanding of drivers of tree cover change in the Blue Nile Basin
Jacobi-Davidson style QR and QZ algorithms for the partial reduction of matrix pencils

The Jacobi-Davidson subspace iteration method o ers possibilities for solving a variety of eigenproblems. In practice one has to apply restarts because of memory limitations, in order to restrict computational overhead, and also if one wants to compute several eigenvalues. In general, restarting has negative e ects on the convergence of subspace methods. We will show how e ective restarts can be incorporated in the Jacobi-Davidson methods, very similar to the implicit restart procedure for the Arnoldi process. We will present two algorithms, JDQR for the standard eigenproblem, and JDQZ for the generalized eigenproblem, that are based on the iterative construction of the (generalized) partial Schur form with the Jacobi-Davidson approach. The algorithms are suitable for the e cient computation of several (even multiple) eigenvalues, and the corresponding eigenvectors, near a user-speci ed target value in the complex plane.
Variation in the population biology of protogynous coral reef fishes over tens of kilometres

This study describes changes in the timing of maturation and sex reversal and shifts in the sexual composition of unfished local populations of protogynous reef fishes across the continental shelf of the Great Barrier Reef. On outer shelf reef crests, both Chlorurus sordidus and Scarus frenatus matured as females and underwent protogynous sex reversal at reduced sizes and ages relative to fish from equivalent midshelf habitats 20 km away. Earlier maturation at smaller body sizes on the outer shelf is likely to be an adaptive response to the higher mortality rates in these habitats compared with the middle shelf. Furthermore, reduced size and age at sex reversal on the outer shelf is consistent with the reduced growth and increased mortality regimes in these locations. The sexual composition of local populations changed markedly across the shelf for C. sordidus but not for S. frenatus. High densities of C. sordidus on the outer shelf were characterized by threefold higher proportions of both terminal-phase.
An analytical approach towards EHD analysis of connecting-rod bearing

Elastohydrodynamic (EHD) journal bearings in rotating machine parts are subjected to very severe operat-ing conditions, leading to a reduction in the minimal thick-ness of the lubricating film which can generate premature wear of the contact. In this work, an analytical method of calculating the minimal thickness of the oil film was pro-posed. It takes into account the effect of the elastic defor-mations due to both hydrodynamic pressure and inertia. The elastic deformations are calculated analytically and simultaneously. The connecting – rod bearing body defor-mations was predicted under low and moderate engine regimes. The correction produced by the introduction of the effect of inertia, have shown a clear difference for the global behaviour. The method was applied for analysis of a General Motors connecting – rod bearing engine. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.mech. 20.2. 6935
How do managerial techniques evolve over time? The distortion of “facilitation” in healthcare service improvement

ABSTRACT When applied to solving real-world problems in the public sector, managerial techniques are likely to evolve over time in response to the context of their implementation. The temporal dynamics of this evolution and its underlying processes, however, remain under-researched. To address this gap, we present a qualitative longitudinal case study of a UK-based knowledge mobilization programme utilizing “facilitation” as a service improvement approach. We describe the processes underpinning the distortion of facilitation over time and argue that an uncritical and uncontrolled adaptation of managerial techniques may mask the unsustainable nature of the resulting improvement outcomes captured by conventional performance measurement.
Mena 11 a isoforms play distinct roles in breast cancer cell cohesion and association with TMEM

Mena, an actin regulatory protein, functions at the convergence of motility pathways that drive breast cancer cell invasion and migration in vivo. The tumor microenvironment spontaneously induces both increased expression of the MenaINV and decreased expression of Mena11a isoforms in invasive and migratory tumor cells. Tumor cells with this Mena expression pattern participate with macrophages in migration and intravasation in mouse mammary tumors in vivo. Consistent with these findings, anatomical sites containing tumor cells with high levels of Mena expression associated with perivascular macrophages were identified in human invasive ductal breast carcinomas and called TMEM. The number of TMEM sites positively correlated with the development of distant metastasis in humans. Here we demonstrate that mouse mammary tumors generated from EGFP-MenaINV expressing tumor cells are significantly less cohesive and have discontinuous cell-cell contacts compared to Mena11a xenografts. Using the mouse PyMT model we show that metastatic mammary tumors express 8.7 fold more total Mena and 7.5 fold more MenaINV mRNA than early non-metastatic ones. Furthermore, MenaINV expression in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) samples of human invasive ductal carcinomas correlate with TMEM score while Mena11a does not. These results suggest that MenaINV is the isoform associated with breast cancer cell discohesion, invasion and intravasation in mice and in humans. They also imply that MenaINV expression and TMEM score measure related aspects of a common tumor cell dissemination mechanism and provide new insight into metastatic risk. Correspondence: Evanthia T. Roussos evanthia.roussos@med.einstein.yu.edu, (718) 678-1131, John Condeelis john.condeelis@einstein.yu.edu, Maja H. Oktay, (718) 920-6091,moktay@montefiore.org. Evanthia T. Roussos (evanthia.roussos@med.einstein.yu.edu), Sumanta Goswami (sumanta.goswami@einstein.yu.edu), Michele Balsamo (mbalsamo@mit.edu), Yarong Wang (yarong.wang@einstein.yu.edu), Robert Stobezki (stobezki@yu.edu), Esther Adler (eadler@montefiore.org), Brian D. Robinson (brr2006@nyp.org), Joan G. Jones (joj2013@med.cornell.edu), Frank B. Gertler (fgertler@mit.edu), John S. Condeelis (john.condeelis@einstein.yu.edu), Maja H. Oktay (moktay@montefiore.org) NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Clin Exp Metastasis. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 September 27. Published in final edited form as: Clin Exp Metastasis. 2011 August ; 28(6): 515–527. doi:10.1007/s10585-011-9388-6. N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript
Prevalence and Patterns of Poisoning Cases among Patients Presented to Jimma University Specialized Hospital: A Five Years Retrospective Data Analysis

A poison is any substance that is harmful to the body when ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through skin. Poisonings are either intentional or accidental. According to World Health Organization data, in 2004 Estimated 346,000 people died worldwide from unintentional poisoning. Epidemiological Data on this important health issues are scarce in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the pattern of poisonings and the approaches employed for the management of poisoning and outcomes of poisoning cases in Jimma University specialized hospital. A facility based cross sectional retrospective data analysis was done. The reviewed data includes patient’s medical record and additional laboratory data sets from January, 2010 to December 31, 2015. Majority of patients 186 (78.9%) were in the age group between 12-30 years and females were more affected (65.4%). The commonest poisoning agents used were household cleaning agents (40.4%) followed by Organophosphates (24%). Most cases (76.7%) were intentional exposures and most patients (96.1%) presented to hospital in the first 24 h and psychiatric referral was made for 49.8% of patients. Supportive cares and GI decontamination were the approaches employed for management. Intentional exposure accounted for the majority of cases. Linkage of patients with suicidal attempts to appropriate mental health service should be improved.
5-chloro-1H-benzotriazole and potassium sorbate as binary corrosion inhibitor of copper in acidic solution

The effect of potassium sorbate as well as 5-chloro-1H-benzotriazole – potassium sorbate on the corrosion behavior of copper in acidic sulfate media containing Cl ions was examined. For this purpose, the electrochemical methods and quantum chemical calculations were used. The inhibition efficiency in the presence of 5-chloro-1H-benzotriazole – potassium sorbate was higher than in the presence of potassium sorbate. Also, the inhibition efficiency of binary inhibitor depends on the concentration of Cl ions added in sulfate solution. According to the results obtained by potentiodynamic polarization measurements, both potassium sorbate and 5-chloro1H-benzotriazole – potassium sorbate behave as mixed type inhibitors. Quantum chemical parameters are in good agreement with results obtained by electrochemical measurements.
Organizational Learning in the Hotel Industry: an eclectic instrument of measurement

Organizational Learning, despite being a widely debated topic in the literature on management, regarding the hotel industry still suffers from scattered information. This study was conducted with 295 professionals, among them managers and employees of hotels in Brazil and Portugal in order to validate a measuring instrument of organizational learning, properly adapted for hotel industry, and identify differences in the degree of efficiency of the organizational learning process between hotels of different categories, and between managers and employees. Initially a content validation with representatives of the hotel industry was made, than a confirmatory factor analysis was performed. As a result, we obtained a scale with 4 factors and 12 items, which was able to identify differences in the level of organizational learning between hotels and between managers and employees. There is evidence that the ability of individuals and groups to learn is encouraged, but is not being achieved in full in this industry, and that the most critical part of the process involves the dimension of creation and knowledge management in this industry.
The Effects of Computerized Dynamic Assessment on Promoting At-Risk Advanced Iranian EFL Students’ Reading Skills

Dynamic Assessment (DA) is theoretically framed within Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory (SCT) and relies on reunification of assessment and instruction. This process-oriented study of reading comprehension aims at investigating the impacts of applying computerized dynamic assessment (C-DA) which is an ongoing strand of DA on promoting at-risk advanced Iranian EFL students’ reading skills. The sample of this study comprised of 32 advanced BA students selected based on convenience sampling from Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) undergraduates from a university in Iran. In this study, the DIALANG software and the Computerized Dynamic Reading Test (CDRT) were utilized to identify the individuals’ proficiency level and to examine the effectiveness of the enrichment program (EP) in DA respectively. Upon completion of the CDRT, the learners were presented with two mediated and unmediated scores. The formula called Learning Potential Score (LPS) was also utilized in order to measure the students’ potential for learning. Analysis of the results showed that a pretest (unmediated) score was a sufficient indication neither for measuring individuals’ ability nor for preparing an effective lesson plan for them. The findings of this investigation may prove to be significantly useful for those who are concerned about individuals requiring a lot of attention, that is, at-risk or retarded learners within the realm of DA.
Improvement in vitro Dissolution Rate of Quercetin Using Cocrystallization of Quercetin-Malonic Acid

The aim of the study was to improve the in-vitro dissolution rate of quercetin (Qu) using cocrystallization of quercetin. Cocrystals of quercetin (Co Qu) were produced with malonic acid (Ma) as coformer at ratio 1:2 using solvent evaporation method. Cocrystals quercetin-malonic acid (Co Qu-Ma) was characterized using Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) and in-vitro dissolution study. A new endothermic peak at 277.9 °C was shown from the thermogram. Diffractogram of Co Qu-Ma showed a new diffraction peak at 2θ 9.81, 12.99, and 19.80°. Microphotograph showed that Qu and Ma exhibited a columnar-shaped and a pebble-shaped crystal, respectively, and FTIR wavenumber of O-H functional group of quercetin was shifted from its original position at 3411 to 3428 cm-1 in the physical mixture (pm) of Qu-Ma and 3418 cm-1 in Co Qu-Ma, respectively. The physicochemical characterizations using DTA, PXRD, SEM and FTIR indicated that Co Qu-Ma were successfully obtained through solvent evaporation method. The in-vitro dissolution rate of Co Qu-Ma was 95.30% at 60 min. Cocrystals effectively increased dissolution rate and dissolution efficiency in comparison to the pure quercetin and physical mixture of quercetin-malonic acid.