Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study to Determine the Impact of Empathy on Leadership Effectiveness Among Business Leaders in the United States and Malaysia

Global markets have increased the challenges faced by business organizations causing them to manage their employees across varying cultures, different time zones, and complex organizational structures. Thus, more effective leadership skills are required to enhance business survival and continuity. Empathy is a pivotal leadership tool in today’s global market. This study investigated the impact of empathy on leadership effectiveness by testing four hypotheses to determine the relationships between empathy, leadership effectiveness, and leaders’ backgrounds using a sample of 216 business leaders located in the United States (51.9%) and Malaysia (48.1%). Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was used to measure empathy and to test the impact of empathy on leadership effectiveness in the United States and Malaysia. The results indicate that American business leaders have significantly higher empathy than Malaysian business leaders, and that leaders with higher empathy appear to be more effective. The clear implication is that multinational organizations need to develop leaders with high empathy skills.
Pancreaticoduodenal Resection: Surgical Experience and Evaluation of Risk Factors in 103 Patients

From an institutional review of 103 pancreaticoduodenal resections (PDRs) performed during the period 1968–1981, risk factors and selection criteria of this procedure were evaluated. A total of 43.7% of the patients were operated on for benign lesions, mainly right-sided chronic pancreatitis (35%); 56.3% of the interventions were performed for malignant disease, mainly carcinoma of the periampullary region. Despite the absence of any selection, the hospital mortality in 103 consecutive PDRs only reached 10.6% for the whole group (11/103 patients) and 8.3% for the elective group (8/96 patients). Mortality was significantly influenced by age barrier over 65 years (p < 0.0001) and by urgent degree of surgery (p < 0.03). All three patients with renal insufficiency had a fatal outcome after PDR. A total of 19.4% of the patients (20/103 patients) developed a surgical complication. The most important complication was pancreatic fistula (15/103 patients, 14.5%) responsible for all digestive-related fatal outcomes (six patients). Surgical treatment of pancreatic fistula (10 patients) is compromised by a high morbidity and a high mortality rate (50%). Postoperative morbidity as well as the incidence of the pancreatic fistula were significantly influenced by the age of the patients over 65 years (p < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively),'and by the serum bilirubin level over 6 mg/dl (p < 0.002). The poor quality of the pancreatic tissue (p < 0.03) and the urgent degree of the intervention (p < 0.03) also raised the incidence of pancreatic leakage. Morbidity rate was more important in the malignant disease group (p < 0.05). Corrected 5-year actuarial survival after PDR is excellent for ampullary cancer, moderate for chronic pancreatitis, and extremely poor for pancreatic and bile duct carcinoma. The decision to perform PDR should be taken after evaluation of the aforementioned risk factors: the emergency, age, serum bilirubin, quality of pancreatic tissue and renal insufficiency, underlying disease, and psycho-social status of the patient.
Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy: constitutive activation of the mTOR pathway with associated exocrine-islet transdifferentiation and therapeutic implications.

BACKGROUND Amino-acids stimulate the mammalian target of rapamycin complex(mTORC)1; mTORC1 integrates amino-acid and energy-sensing pathways in beta-cells. Rapamycin inhibits mTORC1. We examined the mTOR pathway and cell cycle data in the exocrine pancreas in diffuse persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI). DESIGN Tissues from two diffuse PHHI cases, one pediatric control and from adult pancreatic tissue microarray were analyzed. The case studies are newborns of non-diabetic mothers, one with SUR1 mutation, and the other with a family history of PHHI. Immunostaining for (p)-mTOR(Ser2448), phospholipase(PLD)1, cell cycle analytes ( Ki67, Skp2, p27Kip1), and insulin were performed. Cell cycle analytes were assessed by automated cellular imaging or visual quantification. Multispectral imaging of double immunostaining for insulin/p-mTOR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed. RESULTS Hematoxylin-eosin and insulin-staining showed beta-cell hyperplasia in the exocrine pancreas, without mass effect. Overexpression of (p)-mTOR on the plasmalemmal, but not nuclear compartment, consistent with mTORC1, was noted in acinar elements. Residual expression was noted in islets. Double immunostaining revealed occasional exocrine cells co-expressing mTOR and insulin. No such co-expressions were seen in the control. TEM showed acinar cells containing zymogen and hormone-secreting granules. No nuclear Skp2 was noted. Obversely, p27Kip1 was expressed. Mitotic index was 1/40 (0.25/10) HPF. CONCLUSION Morphoproteomic, histopathologic and morphometric findings in this study of diffuse PHHI coincide with existing genomic and signal transduction data in: 1) supporting a role for a constitutively activated and overexpressed mTORC1 pathway in the acinar pancreas in its pathogenesis; 2) reaffirming transdifferentiation of acinar-to-islet cells; 3) raising the possibility of rapamycin as a therapeutic option in PHHI.
Relationship between Emotional Regulation Strategies and Self –reported Ego Defense Styles Among Nursing Interns at Alexandria, Main University Hospital

Internship year represents the first actual contact of the nurse graduates with the real work environment with all its challenges. The transition from student nurse to qualified staff nurse is often filled with overwhelming stress. Many nurse interns reported being distressed and emotionally overwhelmed in dealing with new or traumatic experiences when rotating various critical clinical settings at Alexandria Main University Hospital. The experienced stress is likely to be exacerbated by lack of emotional regulation and adopting immature defenses that cause many forms of defensive behaviors. Consequently, nurses may experience burnout, low satisfaction in professional and social life and resign in the early phases of career. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between emotional regulation strategies and self –reported ego defense styles among nursing interns at Alexandria Main University Hospital. Subjects of this study included 100 nursing interns in the internship year 2014 -2015. Data was collected by using the following tools: Tool I: Defense Style Questionnaire 40’’ (DSQ-40), Tool II: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data was collected by the researchers after the first month of the beginning of internship year. Results: The finding showed that, mature defense style is positively correlated to cognitive reappraisal of emotional regulation. Whereas, immature defense style was positively correlated to emotional suppression. The only immature defense mechanism that female’s interns relied upon more heavily than men was somatization. A significant difference between gender and emotional regulation strategies, female’s interns tend to use more cognitive reappraisal, whereas, male tend to use more emotional suppression.
Association between some educational indicators and dental caries experience of 12-year-old children in developing countries: an ecological approach.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the association between some educational indicators and dental caries experience of 12-year-old children in developing countries. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN The ecological association between DMFT levels amongst 12 year olds (DMFT-12 index) with six educational indicators (adult literacy rate, mean years of schooling, pupil-teacher ratio for primary level, educational expenditure as a percentage of gross national product, primary enrollment ratio and percent completing primary level) has been studied using developing countries as the unit of analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis and stepwise linear multiple regression technique were used to identify the significantly associated educational indicators with the DMFT-12 index. RESULTS A negative association between DMFT-12 index and percent completing primary education level has been observed (r = -0.509; p < 0.01). Also, stepwise regression analysis results have shown that only percent completing primary level education is significantly associated with DMFT-12 index scores (partial regression coefficient = -0.042; 95% confidence intervals: -0.064, -0.021). CONCLUSION Dental caries experience of 12-year-old children appears to be highest in countries with low percent of primary level completion. Percent completing primary level education may be considered a good predictor of DMFT-12 index in developing countries.
Timing and utilisation of antenatal care service in Nigeria and Malawi

ABSTRACT As the world draws curtains on the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), there is increasing interest in evaluating the performance of countries on the goals and assessing related challenges and opportunities to inform the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study examined changes in the timing and utilisation of maternal health care services in Nigeria and Malawi; using multivariate negative log–log and logistic regression models fitted to demographic and health survey data sets. Predicted probabilities were also computed to observe the net differences in the likelihood of both the first and the required number of antenatal care (ANC) visits for each of the three analysis years. Women in Nigeria were 7% less likely in 2008 compared to 2003, and in Malawi, 32% more likely in 2013 compared to 2000, to utilise ANC in the first trimester of pregnancy. Timing of first ANC visit was strongly influenced by wealth in Nigeria but not in Malawi. The findings in our case studies show how various contextual factors may enable or inhibit policy performance. Maternal and child health, SDGs should incorporate both wealth and degrees of urbanicity into country level implementation strategies.
The Epidemiology of Psychological Problems in the Elderly

Objective: To determine the prevalence of mood, anxiety, and other disorders in the population of Canadians aged 55 years and over. Method: We undertook an analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). Results: There was a linear decrease for all disorders after age 55 years. This was true for men and women; for anglophones, francophones, and allophones; and for both people born in Canada and people who immigrated to Canada after age 18 years. Consistent with previous research, the prevalences were higher for women than men. Immigrants reported fewer problems than nonimmigrants, with the differences decreasing with age. Francophones of both sexes reported more mood disorder than anglophones, but francophone men had less anxiety disorder than anglophone men. Conclusions: Unlike other studies that have found an upturn in the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the elderly, our results indicate a steady decrease in these disorders. Our findings are discussed in terms of explanations for age-related differences in psychiatric disorders.
Venous thromboembolism in association with features of the metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Central obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and chronic hypertension--features of the metabolic syndrome--have been individually associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, whether each of these factors additively increases the risk of VTE is uncertain. AIM To determine whether features of the metabolic syndrome independently increase the risk of VTE. DESIGN Prospective cohort study derived from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation 2 (HOPE-2) randomized clinical trial. SETTING One hundred and forty-five clinical centres in 13 countries. METHODS We studied 5522 adults aged > or =55 years with cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. At enrollment, 35% had 0-1 features of the metabolic syndrome, 30% had two, 24% had three and 11% had four. We defined symptomatic VTE as an objectively confirmed new episode of deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. RESULTS VTE occurred in 88 individuals during a median 5.0 years of follow-up. The incidence rate of VTE (per 100 person-years) was 0.30 with 0-1 features, 0.36 with two features, 0.38 with three features and 0.40 with four features of the metabolic syndrome (trend p = 0.43). Relative to the presence of 0-1 features of the metabolic syndrome, the adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) for VTE was 1.22 (0.71-2.08) with two features, 1.25 (0.70-2.24) with three features, and 1.26 (0.59-2.69) with four features. DISCUSSION The number of features of the metabolic syndrome present was not a clinically important risk factor for VTE in older adults with vascular arterial disease.
Axial-Flux Permanent-Magnet Generator for Induction Heating Gensets

This paper presents a single-phase slotless axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous machine for induction heating gensets. A full-scale prototype of the machine (110 kVA, 400 Hz, 690 A) has been designed and subsequently analyzed through finite element analysis (FEA). Induced current distributions in the permanent magnets and in the rotors have also been calculated through FEA, showing that the resulting losses are kept at bay due to the low armature reaction. An effective way of achieving regulation of the power transferred to the load has been analytically derived. The prototype has also been built, and experimental tests confirm the aforesaid analyses.
Decreased large artery distensibility in borderline hypertension is related to increased in vivo low-density lipoprotein oxidation

The present study tested the hypothesis that reduced arterial elasticity seen in hypertension is related to increased oxidation of LDL. Fifteen men with borderline hypertension (BHT), with blood pressure values classified as high normal (systolic blood pressure 130-140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure 85-89 mmHg) were included. The control group comprised 22 men with normal blood pressure values (< 135/80 mmHg) matched for age, body size and LDL-cholesterol level. Distensibility of aorta was measured using magnetic resonance imaging, and distensibility of the common carotid artery using ultrasound. Baseline LDL diene conjugation was used as a marker for ox-LDL. Aortic and carotid distensibilities were lower in the BHT men than in controls (1.4 - 0.6 vs. 1.9 - 0.6%/10 mmHg, p < 0.05 for aortic distensibility; 2.9 - 0.9 vs. 3.6 - 0.6%/10 mmHg, p < 0.05 for carotid distensibility). Ox-LDL was significantly higher in the BHT men than in controls (44 - 15 vs. 28 - 8 w mol/L, p < 0.01). In univariate analysis, ox-LDL associated with aortic distensibility (r = -0.43, p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the differences in distensibilities between the groups disappeared when the values were adjusted for ox-LDL. These data show decreased arterial elasticity and increased LDL oxidation in young men with borderline hypertension, and suggest that oxidative modification of LDL particles may play a pathophysiological role in the development of reduced arterial distensibility in hypertension.
Trade Shocks, Firm Hierarchies, and Wage Inequality

Abstract This paper shows robust effects of trade shocks on within-firm wage inequality through changes in firm hierarchies. It uses two distinct research designs—one considering firm-level shocks to foreign demand and transportation costs, the other analyzing the Muslim boycott of Danish exports after the 2006 “cartoon crisis. ” Consistent with knowledge-based and incentive-based hierarchy models, trade shocks affect organizational choices through production scale. Adding a hierarchy layer increases inequality throughout the organization, particularly widening the 90-50 wage gap and pay differences between top and bottom layers. Delayering after the boycott leads to wage compression through wage cuts, demotions, and employee turnover.
p38γ Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Confers Breast Cancer Hormone Sensitivity by Switching Estrogen Receptor (ER) Signaling from Classical to Nonclassical Pathway via Stimulating ER Phosphorylation and c-Jun Transcription*

Background: ER signals through binding to estrogen-responsive elements and interacting with c-Jun. Results: p38γ phosphorylates ER at Ser-118. This increases ER-c-Jun binding, promotes AP-1-dependent transcription, and confers breast cancer hormone sensitivity. Conclusion: p38γ increases breast cancer hormone sensitivity by regulating ER signaling between classical and nonclassical pathways. Significance: Regulating p38γ activity may be a new approach to increase breast cancer hormone sensitivity. Estrogen receptor (ER) α promotes breast cancer growth by regulating gene expression through classical estrogen response element (ERE) binding and nonclassical (interaction with c-Jun at AP-1 sites) pathways. ER is the target for anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen (TAM). However, the potential for classical versus nonclassical ER signaling to influence hormone sensitivity is not known. Moreover, anti-estrogens frequently activate several signaling cascades besides the target ER, and the implications of these “off-target” signaling events have not been explored. Here, we report that p38γ MAPK is selectively activated by treatment with TAM. This results in both phosphorylation of ER at Ser-118 and stimulation of c-Jun transcription, thus switching ER signaling from the classical to the nonclassical pathway leading to increased hormone sensitivity. Unexpectedly, phosphorylation at Ser-118 is required for ER to bind both p38γ and c-Jun, thereby promoting ER relocation from ERE to AP-1 promoter sites. Thus, ER/Ser-118 phosphorylation serves as a central mechanism by which p38γ regulates signaling transduction of ER with its inhibitor TAM.
Antigen delivery to dendritic cells shapes human CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory responses to Staphylococcus aureus

Intracellular persistence of Staphylococcus aureus favors bacterial spread and chronic infections. Here, we provide evidence for the existence of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory against staphylococcal antigens. Notably, the latter could provide a missing link in our understanding of immune control of intracellular S. aureus. The analyses showed that pulsing of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) with native staphylococcal protein antigens induced release of Th2-associated cytokines and mediators linked to T regulatory cell development (G-CSF, IL-2 and IL-10) from both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, thus revealing a state of tolerance predominantly arising from preformed memory T cells. Furthermore, G-CSF was identified as a suppressor of CD8+ T cell-derived IFNγ secretion, thus confirming a tolerogenic role of this cytokine in the regulation of T cell responses to S. aureus. Nevertheless, delivery of in vitro transcribed mRNA-encoded staphylococcal antigens triggered Th1-biased responses, e.g. IFNγ and TNF release from both naïve and memory T cells. Collectively, our data highlight the potential of mRNA-adjuvanted antigen presentation to enable inflammatory responses, thus overriding the existing Th2/Treg-biased memory T cell response to native S. aureus antigens.
Risk Factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Turkish Population: Role of Food Allergy

Goals The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of food hypersensitivity in Turkish patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Background The IBS is a chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain, distension, meteorism and either diarrhea or constipation. The role of diet in the pathogenesis of IBS remains controversial. Many investigators have shown that individual foods can trigger symptoms in some patients; nevertheless, the percentage of patients that benefit from dietary manipulation ranges from 15% to 67% in different reports. Study Skin prick test to 11 common allergens, total IgE, eosinophilic cationic protein and eosinophil counts were evaluated in 100 patients satisfying the Rome II criteria and compared with 25 healthy controls. The history and physical examination of the groups were recorded and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories were performed. Results One hundred patients were entered into the study with a mean age of 45.63±12.91 years. Of the patients 53 had constipation predominant, 19 had diarrhea predominant, and 28 had alternating type IBS. Skin prick tests positivity were more common among the IBS patients in comparison with controls (25% and 1%, respectively, P<0.05). Mean IgE values were higher in patients than controls (70.83±66.05 and 15.20±14.01 IU/mL, respectively, P<0.000). Eosinophilic cationic protein values were also higher in IBS patients than controls (16.75±11.28 and 11.56±4.72, respectively, P<0.05) Evaluation of Beck Depression Inventory showed that tendency to depression in patients with IBS was 38% and 4% in controls (P<0.05). Conclusions According to our results, in patients complaining of IBS it is of importance to search for a food component. Clinical improvements can be observed after the introduction of an adequate exclusion diet.
Misdiagnosis of sarcoidosis in patients with chronic beryllium disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Sarcoidosis (SA) is a chronic systemic disorder characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells in affected organs, resulting in the formation of granulomas. Granulomas are observed in numerous infectious diseases and hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., beryllium). Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a multisystem entity caused by dust, fumes or mists of beryllium metal or its salts. Although beryllium has been used for years by several industries in Israel, no case of CBD had ever been reported until recently when we described a 21-year-old female dental technician with CBD who was originally diagnosed as having SA. We launched the current investigation to test the hypothesis that other cases of CBD in Israel were not previously reported because these patients were misdiagnosed as having SA. METHODS Forty-seven patients with confirmed-SA from our outpatient clinic were recalled in order to reevaluate their occupational exposure history. We performed the beryllium lymphocyte transformation test (BeLTT) on each patient with a potentially positive environmental exposure anamnesis to beryllium (14/47). RESULTS Two of the 14 patients with evidence of granulomas in lung tissue (pulmonary involvement) and 1/14 with extrapulmonary involvement who all had a positive occupational exposure to beryllium and a positive BeLTT test had been erroneously diagnosed as having SA instead of CBD. CONCLUSION Our findings emphasize the vital importance of taking a comprehensive occupational history in the clinical evaluation of patients suspected of having SA.