Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identifying the Barriers of Developing Organizational Learning in Administrative Organizations

Management scientists state that for the purpose of surviving and developing, it is necessary to be engaged in learning forever. Learning can help' organizations with any changes, innovations, and creations. According to studies, the learning capacity in nationwide administrative organizations is rather low. In this article, first the concept and also the necessary characteristics for learning development are mentioned. Then in accordance with them, the characteristics of learning capacity in organizations are recognized. Second, the barriers of organizational learning are studied and considering them, the essential proposals for the developmt:nt of learning are offered
Podocyte electrophysiology, in vivo and in vitro

Podocytes are the most differentiated cell types in the glomerulus, which have been assumed to participate in the regulation of the ultrafiltration coefficient Kf. In podocytes in vivo and in vitro vasoactive agonists, such as angiotensin II and acetylcholine, increase the free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration via a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and an influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular space. An increase of the cytosolic Ca2+ in podocytes activates Cl− channels in podocytes in vivo and in vitro, resulting in a depolarization of podocytes. In vitro studies have shown that in addition to Ca2+‐activated Cl− channels, cAMP‐activated Cl− channels and Ca2+‐activated K+ channels are present in cultured podocytes. The characterization of the signaling pathways that regulate ion channels in podocytes may be important in the understanding of the regulation of the ultrafiltration coefficient Kf. This review summarizes the currently known electrophysiological properties of podocytes. Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:224–227, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accuracy and preference assessment of prefilled insulin pen versus vial and syringe with diabetes patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals

Abstract Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the dosing accuracy of the new prefilled FlexTouch insulin pen (FT) in comparison to conventional vial and syringe (V&S) when used by patients (Pts), caregivers (CG) and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Methods: A total of 120 subjects participated in the trial (40 diabetes patients aged 61 ± 11 [mean ± SD] yrs, 20 caregivers [parents and other relatives], 20 physicians, and 40 nurses/certified diabetes educators). The participants were introduced to the devices in randomized order and were asked to perform injections of 5, 25, 43 and 79 IU doses into laboratory tubes. Dosing accuracy was analyzed by weighing the tubes on a pharmaceutical balance and calculating the mean absolute deviation (MAD) from the intended doses. After completing a device assessment questionnaire, Patient Perception Questionnaire (PPQ), with questions regarding device design and performance, the procedure was repeated for the other device, and the patients were finally asked to complete a device preference questionnaire (DPQ). Results: Dosing accuracy was significantly better for FT when used by any of the cohorts at all doses. (MAD ± SD for FT/V&S; 5 IU: 0.4 ± 0.4/0.6 ± 0.6 IU; 25 IU: 0.3 ± 0.4/0.7 ± 0.9 IU; 43 IU: 0.4 ± 0.4/0.9 ± 1.2 IU; 79 IU: 0.5 ± 0.5/1.7 ± 1.6 IU, p < 0.005 for all doses). Dosing accuracy with FT for all three subgroups was comparable (patients: 0.35–0.59 IU; HCP&CG: 0.29–0.54 IU; n.s.). Dosing accuracy with V&S for all three subgroups was not comparable: HCP and CG performed much better with V&S than patients and delivered the doses with significantly higher accuracy (range of mean MAD; patients: 0.81–2.54 IU; HCP&CG: 0.51–1.30 IU, p < 0.005 at all doses). FT was ranked superior to V&S for all aspects of the PPQ. In the DPQ, 93% of the patients voted for FT (neutral: 5%, V&S: 2%), (CG: 100%/0%/0%; HCPs: 85%/2%/13%; p < 0.001 in all cases). Conclusion: FT, compared to V&S, was more accurate at all tested doses and was used with similar accuracy by patients, HCPs, and CGs. Using questionnaires only, and without dexterity assessment, study participants rated FT higher than V&S in every component of the PPQ and the vast majority of them preferred FT. These findings may point to a better alternative for dosing accuracy and improved adherence when using the new prefilled insulin pen compared to V&S for insulin delivery in patients with diabetes.
Design an ASIP for edit distance algorithm in pattern recognition

In this paper an ASIP (Application Specific Instruction set Processor) for edit distance algorithms between two strings in Pattern Recognition is presented. ASIP adopts the high performance and low power of ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) and the flexibility of DSP (Digital Signal Processors). The levenshtein algorithm is an algorithm to determine the distance between two strings. Two different Register Configurations (RC) named RC0 and RC1 is proposed. The total numbers of clock pulses in RC1 for levenshtein algorithm are lower than RC0.
The use of antipsychotics in a medium–long stay psychiatric hospital from 1998 to 2010

Abstract Objective. Atypical agents have emerged as the dominant choice among antipsychotics. Data about development of antipsychotic use in medium–long stay psychiatric hospitals is lacking. Material and methods. Antipsychotic drug consumption data and cost was obtained from 1998 to 2010 for all inpatients of a 231-bed psychiatric hospital. Number of hospital stays was obtained from the hospital admission unit. Daily defined dose (DDD) values were those assigned by the WHO. Antipsychotic use was also measured using recently available consensus-based recommendations. Antipsychotic use was then calculated as the sum of individual DDD or total equivalent doses of all antipsychotics divided by the annual stay number. Results. Antipsychotic use increased 135% from 1998 to 2010 when measured in DDDs or 108% when measured with the consensus-based recommendations. Antipsychotic expenditure has risen six-fold since 1998. This augmentation is due to the increase of use of atypical antipsychotics. Conclusion. In conclusion, antipsychotic use has at least doubled in the last 13 years. This growth, attributable to an increase in atypical drug use, has contributed to a six-fold increase in the total antipsychotic expenditure. Whether this prescription pattern has translated into palpable clinical benefits remains unclear.
Fuzzy $(c+p)$-Means Clustering and Its Application to a Fuzzy Rule-Based Classifier: Toward Good Generalization and Good Interpretability

This paper introduces a new classifier design method based on a modification of the classical fuzzy c-means clustering. First, a new fuzzy c-means clustering with p constant prototypes is proposed. This method can be considered a generalization of the concept of the conditional fuzzy clustering with some prototypes a priori known. A special initialization of the prototypes is introduced. Next, the proposed clustering method is used to construct the premises of an IF-THEN rule-based classifier. The conclusions of these rules are obtained by minimization of a criterion function with various approximations of a misclassification error (e.g., based on the quadratic, the linear, the sigmoidal or the Huber's loss function). The conjugate gradient algorithm is used to minimize the proposed criterion function. Each IF-THEN rule is represented in the Mamdani-Assilan form, which has good interpretability. Finally, an extensive experimental analysis on 14 benchmark datasets is performed to demonstrate the validity of the classifier introduced. Its competitiveness to the state-of-the-art classifiers, with respect to both performance and interpretability, is also shown.
Prediction and Generation of Backchannel Form for Attentive Listening Systems

In human-human dialogue, especially in attentive listening such as counseling, backchannels are important not only for smooth communication but also for establishing rapport. Despite several studies on when to backchannel, most of the current spoken dialogue systems generate the same pattern of backchannels, giving monotonous impressions to users. In this work, we investigate generation of a variety of backchannel forms according to the dialogue context. We ﬁrst show the feasibility of choosing appropriate backchannel forms based on machine learning, and the synergy of using linguistic and prosodic features. For generation of backchannels, a framework based on a set of binary classiﬁers is adopted to effectively make a “not-to-generate” decision. The proposed model achieved better prediction accuracy than a baseline which always outputs the same backchannel form and another baseline which randomly generates backchan-nels. Finally, evaluations by human subjects demonstrate that the proposed method generates backchannels as naturally as human choices, giving impressions of understanding and empathy.
A Clinical Study of Pharyngolaryngectomy with Total Esophagectomy

Objective Patients with advanced hypopharyngeal or cervical esophageal cancer have a comparatively high risk of also developing thoracic esophageal cancer. Pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy is highly invasive, and few reports about it exist. We examined the postoperative complications and respective countermeasures and prognoses of patients who underwent pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Japan. Subjects and Methods We examined the postoperative complications and respective countermeasures and prognoses of 40 patients who underwent pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy in our hospital. Results Postoperative complications were observed in 23 patients (57.5%) and consisted of 8 groups: tracheal region necrosis in 5 patients; neck abscess formation/wound infection in 5; fistula in 4; tracheostomy suture leakage in 2; ileus in 2; lymphorrhea in 2; pulmonary complications in 2; and other complications, including hemothorax, tracheoinnominate artery fistula, temporary cardiac arrest due to intraoperative mediastinum operation, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus enteritis, and sepsis, in 1 patient each. A lethal complication—brachiocephalic vein hemorrhage due to tracheostomy suture leakage and hemorrhagic shock due to tracheoinnominate artery fistula—occurred in 2 (5%) patients. The crude 5-year survival rate was 48.6%. Conclusions Serious postoperative complications were related to tracheostomaplasty. Although pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy is highly invasive, we believe that our outlined treatment method is the most appropriate for cases of advanced hypopharyngeal or cervical esophageal cancer that also requires concurrent surgery for esophageal cancer.
Valuing third sector sustainability organisations – qualitative contributions to systemic social transformation

ABSTRACT The number and diversity of civil society or third sector sustainability organisations (TSSOs) have increased in recent decades. TSSOs play a prominent role in local approaches to sustainability. However, the contributions made by TSSOs are not fully understood, beyond a limited suite of quantifiable outputs and impacts. In this qualitative study, we examine how four TSSOs from two Australian regions, Tasmania and Queensland's Sunshine Coast, contribute to social transformation beyond discrete outputs. We examine the operation, ethos, scope and influence of these organisations over time. In so doing, we identify three common ways in which these organisations facilitate social change: by (i) enhancing social connectivity through boundary work; (ii) mobilising participatory citizenship and (iii) contributing to social learning. We conclude that TSSOs contribute significantly to the systemic social conditions that enable change for sustainability and the development of community resilience and well-being, but do so in ways undervalued by existing metrics, formal evaluation processes and funding models. Clearer recognition of, and strategic emphasis on, these qualitative contributions to social transformation is vital in ensuring that TSSOs remain viable and effective over the long term.
Epigenetic events and protection from colon cancer in New Zealand

The incidence of colon cancer is high in many developed nations, especially New Zealand. Molecular understanding of the nature of colon cancer shows a disease whose well‐characterized morphological progression is paralleled at the cellular level by increased numbers of gene or chromosome mutations, loss of heterozygosity, changed methylation patterns, and genomic instability. In the present study, we consider whether an imbalance of factors that affect DNA methylation patterns might explain at least part of the high colon cancer incidence in New Zealand. Folate is the major micronutrient whose intake impacts methylation, particularly through interaction with choline and methionine. Folate is generally somewhat deficient in the New Zealand diet, with the voluntary addition of folate to white flour not producing desired levels. Selenium affects methylation status in several ways and is recognized as being low in New Zealand soils and, therefore, diet. Zinc is also low in the diets of some New Zealand population groups, which can lead to hypomethylation. Several of the components of fruits and vegetables affect methylation patterns, and the average New Zealand intake, at two to three servings per day, is considerably below recommended amounts. Low dietary fiber, high tobacco use, and increasing rates of obesity are also likely New Zealand risk factors that may impact on methylation status. Dietary supplementation is not as common in New Zealand as in countries such as the United States, but may provide a way to raise the levels of nutrients and phytochemicals affecting methylation status, thereby enhancing colon cancer protection. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 44:36–43, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Are the results of randomized controlled trials on anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation generalizable to clinical practice?

BACKGROUND Randomized trials demonstrate a clear benefit of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke, but the proportion of eligible patients who are treated with anticoagulants remains low. The reluctance to treat all eligible patients with anticoagulants may be due to studies in clinical practice showing variable risk-benefit, raising concerns about application to general medical practice. METHODS A systematic review of published medical literature was performed to identify studies of patients with atrial fibrillation who were treated with warfarin in actual clinical practice. Data from these studies were compared with pooled data from randomized controlled trials. RESULTS Three studies met the predefined criteria, each in a different health care setting, totaling 410 patients with 842 patient-years of follow-up. Patients in clinical practice were older and had more comorbid conditions compared with trial participants. However, the ischemic stroke rate was similar between clinical practice and randomized studies (1.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9%-2.7%] vs 1.4% [95% CI, 0.9%-2.0%]). Intracranial hemorrhage (0.1% [95% CI, 0%-0.3%] vs 0.3% [95% CI, 0.06%-0.5%]) and major bleeding (1.1% [95% CI, 0.4%-1.8%] vs 1.3% [95% CI, 0.8%-1.8%]) rates were also similar. There was a higher rate of minor bleeding in clinical practice than in trials (12.0% [95% CI, 9.7%-14.3%] vs 7.9% [95% CI, 6.6%-9.2%]). CONCLUSIONS Patients who undergo anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation in actual clinical practice differ from those in randomized trials, but have similar rates of stroke and major bleeding. The risk of minor bleeding is higher and may require more intensive monitoring in practice.
Complex measurements may be required to establish the prognostic impact of immunophenotypic markers in AML.

OBJECTIVES The prognostic impact of immunophenotypic markers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is controversial. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the value of CD34, CD117, CD7, and CD123 expression in a consecutive series of 592 adult patients with de novo AML. RESULTS CD34+ measured as a percentage (≥2.88%) and CD34 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) (≥146.79, arbitrary units [AU]) expression had a prognostic impact in terms of overall survival (OS; P = .005, P = .003), leukemia-free survival (LFS; P = .011, P < .001), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; P = .014, P =. 001). The percentage of CD117+ cells (61.29%) was associated with shorter LFS (P =. 043), and CD117 MFI (≥284.01 AU) was associated with a shorter OS (P =. 033) and LFS (P =. 028). In the multivariate analysis, high CD34 MFI retained the independent value as predictor of LFS and CIR (P =. 012; hazard ratio [HR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-2.28 and P =. 045; HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.01-2.46). CONCLUSIONS CD34 positivity threshold with prognostic relevance is low (3% positive cells). Immunophenotypic findings in AML probably could only be fully exploited after a complex analysis that takes into account unconventional thresholds and the MFI.
The demographics and career paths of Canadian university deans: gender, race, experience, and provenance

ABSTRACT This article reports on a study of 384 decanal appointments and reappointments and examines Canadian university deans' demographics and career paths. The study focused on four variables: gender, race, experience, and provenance; and analyzed variations across faculty and university types. The findings show that the great majority of Canadian university deans possess a Canadian background, with half of them being recruited internally, and that proportions of non-White and female deans mostly align with those of the professoriate. However, the study reveals a pattern of upward cumulative attrition suggesting that structural barriers to success, perseverance, and promotion are shaping non-White and female deans' career paths. Finally, data suggest that about 40% of Canadian university deans are reappointed for a second term.
Opportunities and challenges of developing thermostable vaccines

All vaccines lose potency over time and the rate of potency loss is temperature-dependent. Therefore, cold-chain systems have been established to ensure that the potency of vaccines is maintained by storing them under refrigerated conditions (in most cases between 2 and 8°C) until the point of use. This article aims to review the approaches being used to develop thermostable vaccine formulations that would be resistant to damage caused by freezing or excessive heat, and that could reduce dependence on the cold chain. The challenges associated with the implementation of these novel formulations are discussed, as well as the potential benefits and opportunities of taking vaccines out of the cold chain.
Managing the asymptomatic patient with severe aortic stenosis: randomised controlled trials of early surgery are overdue

In the developed world, aortic stenosis (AS) is the commonest valve disease requiring surgery. AS is common in the elderly and up to 3% of subjects over 75 years of age may have severe disease.1 In the past decade the number of isolated aortic valve replacements (AVRs) performed in the USA and the UK has doubled. As the population in developed countries continues to age, it is predicted that the prevalence of AS will double in the next 20 years. Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons will increasingly face the dilemma of how to manage optimally this important group of predominantly elderly patients, many of whom will be asymptomatic and have been identified by the incidental finding of a systolic murmur or abnormal ECG. The development of symptoms in severe AS heralds a malignant phase of the condition and prompt AVR results in a clear reduction in mortality, which is still apparent in the modern era, reflecting the lack of effective medical treatments.2 Surgery in this situation is universally regarded as a class I indication despite the absence of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). 3 4 In contrast, the management of patients with severe AS in the absence of symptoms remains one of the most controversial areas in modern cardiology, reflected in differences in guidelines of the major cardiovascular societies.3 4 Currently the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)3 regards symptoms on exercise testing as …
Investigating a multi-faceted view of user experience

This paper reports the influence of website design and brand on users' experience; it also explores the effect of users' cultures and values (health awareness) on their judgement of health websites. Eighty-six respondents from Jordan and the UK viewed three health-related websites with different designs and brand names. Content, usability, aesthetics, pleasurable interaction, service quality, and overall judgement were assessed through questionnaires; interviews were conducted to support the questionnaire results. Results demonstrated that a familiar website brand, comprehensive content and interactive features had the strongest effect on users' judgement; respondents were more positive to a website with a familiar brand, comprehensive content and interactive features, while there were minor effects of health awareness and culture on users' overall preferences.
Optimization of a Three-Dimensional Diagnostic Flow Solver

Abstract : In this study, we investigate the performance of a three-dimensional diagnostic flow solver. The numerical solver is profiled to find the hot spots of the code. These hot spots are then optimized for performance using techniques such as loop reordering and cache blocking. OpenMP is used to parallelize the code execution, further enhancing its performance. Finally, preliminary efforts to use NVIDIA Inc. Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming model are discussed.
Delayed enhancing lesions after coil embolization of aneurysms: clinical experience and benchtop analyses

Background Foreign body emboli during endovascular treatment (EVT) may cause delayed enhancing lesions (DELs). Objective To report our experiences of this complication in patients treated for cerebral aneurysms and to investigate the cause of the lesions by benchtop analyses. Methods Three patients with DELs on MRI after EVT were retrospectively investigated. Unusual friction had occurred in the midst of coil delivery in two patients. The imaging findings, cause of the lesions due to the devices used for the procedure, treatment, and follow-up results were assessed. Two benchtop analyses were performed. First, a microcatheter that showed similar unusual friction during coiling was retrieved and dissected at the point of friction. Second, the EVT procedure was simulated with multiple coil advancement and withdrawal maneuvers within an acutely angulated microcatheter to identify downstream foreign body material emboli. Results The DELs were identified 27–37 days (mean 32.7) after the procedure. The patients presented with left arm weakness, headache, and no other symptoms. The lesions were located in the hemisphere corresponding to the treatment. The symptoms subsided after conservative therapy. The dissected microcatheter showed whitish semitransparent material adherent to the inner lumen. Similar material was sieved after multiple coil advancement and withdrawal maneuvers. Conclusions DELs may be caused by fragmentation and emboli of the inner coating wall of the microcatheter. Development of unusual friction during coil delivery may be a sign of damage of the microcatheter inner wall and the device should be discarded.