Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disparity in Quantitative Risk Assessment: A Review of Input Distributions

Monte Carlo simulations are commonplace in quantitative risk assessments (QRAs). Designed to propagate the variability and uncertainty associated with each individual exposure input parameter in a quantitative risk assessment, Monte Carlo methods statistically combine the individual parameter distributions to yield a single, overall distribution. Critical to such an assessment is the representativeness of each individual input distribution. The authors performed a literature review to collect and compare the distributions used in published QRAs for the parameters of body weight, food consumption, soil ingestion rates, breathing rates, and fluid intake. To provide a basis for comparison, all estimated exposure parameter distributions were evaluated with respect to four properties: consistency, accuracy, precision, and specificity. The results varied depending on the exposure parameter. Even where extensive, well‐collected data exist, investigators used a variety of different distributional shapes to approximate these data. Where such data do not exist, investigators have collected their own data, often leading to substantial disparity in parameter estimates and subsequent choice of distribution. The present findings indicate that more attention must be paid to the data underlying these distributional choices. More emphasis should be placed on sensitivity analyses, quantifying the impact of assumptions, and on discussion of sources of variation as part of the presentation of any risk assessment results. If such practices and disclosures are followed, it is believed that Monte Carlo simulations can greatly enhance the accuracy and appropriateness of specific risk assessments. Without such disclosures, researchers will be increasing the size of the risk assessment “black box,” a concern already raised by many critics of more traditional risk assessments.
Integrated reactive nitrogen budgets and future trends in China

Significance China is the world’s largest producer of reactive nitrogen (Nr), and Nr in the form of synthetic fertilizer has contributed substantially to increased food production there. However, Nr losses from overuse and misuse of fertilizer, combined with industrial emissions, represent a serious and growing cause of air and water pollution. This paper presents a substantially complete and coherent Nr budget for China and for 14 subsystems within China from 1980 to 2010, evaluates human health/longevity and environmental consequences of excess Nr, and explores several scenarios for Nr in China in 2050. These scenarios suggest that reasonable pathways exist whereby excess Nr could be reduced substantially, while at the same time benefitting human well-being and environmental health. Reactive nitrogen (Nr) plays a central role in food production, and at the same time it can be an important pollutant with substantial effects on air and water quality, biological diversity, and human health. China now creates far more Nr than any other country. We developed a budget for Nr in China in 1980 and 2010, in which we evaluated the natural and anthropogenic creation of Nr, losses of Nr, and transfers among 14 subsystems within China. Our analyses demonstrated that a tripling of anthropogenic Nr creation was associated with an even more rapid increase in Nr fluxes to the atmosphere and hydrosphere, contributing to intense and increasing threats to human health, the sustainability of croplands, and the environment of China and its environs. Under a business as usual scenario, anthropogenic Nr creation in 2050 would more than double compared with 2010 levels, whereas a scenario that combined reasonable changes in diet, N use efficiency, and N recycling could reduce N losses and anthropogenic Nr creation in 2050 to 52% and 64% of 2010 levels, respectively. Achieving reductions in Nr creation (while simultaneously increasing food production and offsetting imports of animal feed) will require much more in addition to good science, but it is useful to know that there are pathways by which both food security and health/environmental protection could be enhanced simultaneously.
Solitary Testicular Metastasis of Prostate Cancer Mimicking Primary Testicular Cancer

We report a rare case of testicular metastasis from prostate cancer. A 68-year-old patient presented with a right testicular mass with discomfort. He had a history of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and had received adjuvant radiation therapy and had been treated with androgen deprivation therapy continuously at another institution. We performed a right inguinal orchiectomy. The testicular mass was diagnosed as a metastasis from prostate carcinoma.
Calcium blood level modulates endogenous nitric oxide action: effects of parathroidectomy in patients with hyperparathyroidism.

UNLABELLED Platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is produced by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the activity of which is modulated by the activity of nitric oxide (NO) constitutive synthase (cNOS) which, in turn, is activated by a calcium/calmodulin complex. In primary hyperparathyroidism (H-PTH) an increase in platelet free calcium levels is present. In this study we evaluate the platelet cGMP levels, as an expression of NO production, in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) alone (IBMXcGMP) and after stimulation by ionomycine (IONO; IONOcGMP) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; SNPcGMP), in eight subjects affected by H-PTH before and after removal of adenoma. Platelet cGMP levels were also measured in seven normal subjects. IBMXcGMP and IONOcGMP were elevated in H-PTH patients compared with normal subjects (1.9 +/- 0.3 vs 0.8 +/- 0.2 fmol/10(6) platelets and 2.7 +/- 0.4 vs 1.4 +/- 0.3; P < 0.02 and P < 0.05 respectively) but SNPcGMP was unaffected (3.9 +/- 0.6 vs 2.5 +/- 0.5). After parathyroidectomy, blood levels of intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH), total calcium (t-Ca), IBMXcGMP and IONOcGMP all decreased (177.5 +/- 23.9 vs 45.0 +/- 8.8 pg/ml, P < 0.005; 6.5 +/- 0.5 vs 4.6 +/- 0.1 mEq/1, P < 0.005; 1.9 +/- 0.3 vs 0.8 +/- 0.2, P < 0.005; 2.7 +/- 0.4 vs 1.8 +/ 0.3, P < 0.05 respectively), while SNPcGMP was not modified (3.9 +/- 0.6 vs 4.3 +/- 0.9). t-Ca and i-PTH were directly correlated with IBMXcGMP (P < 0.02, rs = 0.613; P < 0.02, rs = 0.576 respectively) and i-PTH was also correlated with t-Ca (P < 0.001), rs = 0.840). IN CONCLUSION (1) levels of IBMXcGMP and IONOcGMP are high in subjects with H-PTH; (2) after surgery both IBMXcGMP and IONOcGMP decrease to normal values. As IBMXcGMP expresses basal cGMP and IONOcGMP expresses the cGMP after cNOS stimulation, it can be speculated that the increase in NO production could be a mechanism to downregulate the vasoconstriction which may be caused by the high calcium levels in smooth muscle cells. After surgery, together with the normalization of calcium levels, NO production also returned to normal values.
A continuum damage model for alveolar bone remodeling

Several authors ([1, 2] among others) have proposed mechanical models to predict long term tooth movement considering both the tooth and its surrounding bone tissue as isotropic linear elastic materials coupled to an iadaptative elasticityi behavior [3, 4]. However, tooth movements obtained through orthodontic appliances result from a complex biochemical process of bone structure and density adaptation to its mechanical environment, called bone remodeling. This process is far from linear elasticity. It leads to permanent deformation due to biochemical actions. The proposed biomechanical constitutive law (inspired from Doblar· e’s model [5]) is based on a Continuum Damage Mechanics material coupled to an elasto-visco-plastic law and considering a damage variable not as actual damage but as a measure of bone density. It is formulated as to be used explicitly for alveolar bone, whose remodeling cells, opposite to most bones, are triggered by the pressure state applied to the bone matrix.
Purification of marginal plates from bovine renal peroxisomes: identification with L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase B

The matrix of mammalian peroxisomes frequently contains crystalline inclusions. The most common inclusions are membrane associated plate- like "marginal plates" of hitherto unknown nature in renal peroxisomes and central polytubular "cores" composed of urate oxidase in hepatic peroxisomes. In bovine kidney, peroxisomes of proximal tubules exhibit peculiar angular shapes that are caused by multiple marginal plates (Zaar, K., and H.D. Fahimi. 1990. Cell Tissue Res. 260:409-414). Enriched or highly purified peroxisome preparations from this source were used to purify and characterize marginal plates. By SDS-PAGE, one major polypeptide of Mr 33,500 was observed that corresponded to the marginal plate protein. This polypeptide was identified by its enzymatic activity as well as by immunoblotting and preembedding immunocytochemistry as the isozyme B of L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.2). Morphologically, marginal plates were revealed to consist of rectangular straight-edged sheets, exhibiting a defined crystalline lattice structure. The sheets apparently are composed of a single layer of protomers which associate laterally to form a plate-like structure. As deduced from the negative staining results and the additional information of the thickness of marginal plates, each protomer seems to consist of eight subunits forming a cube-like array. The tendency of L- alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase B to self-associate in vitro (Philips, D.R., J.A. Duley, D.J. Fennell, and R.S. Holmes. 1976. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 427:679-687) corresponds to the mode of association of cubical protomers to form the so-called marginal plates in renal peroxisomes.
Emotional fools and dangerous robots: Postcolonial engagements with emotion management

ii Chapter One: Introduction . 9 The research and I: 10 Background and rationale: 12 Research Questions: 16 Methodology: 17 Interpretation of narratives in response to the research questions: 17 Short description of chapters: 21 Chapter Two: Emotion in Organizations . 24 Reviewing theoretical approaches: 24 Organizational-Behaviour Approach: 24 Psychoanalytic approach: 27 Sociology of Organizations: 31 Critical Organizational Studies (COS): 32 Reviewing the table, and locating myself in it: 36 Emotional Arenas: 39 Emotion work and emotional labour: 40 The professional who manages emotions: 46 Resistance to emotion management rules: 48 Gender and Emotion Management: 52 Race and emotions in organizations: 54 Conclusion: 58 Chapter Three: The Disaster Industry: . 60 ‘Same-ing’ Development and Disaster: 65 Extending the postcolonial critique of development and disasters: 73 Rearticulating the research questions in a theoretically informed way:. 78 Chapter Four: Methodology . 81 Epistemological and ontological commitments: 82 Linking ontology, epistemology and methodology: 83 Data collection and data analysis: 90 Narratives: 92 Sampling and access issues: 95 The interview schedule: 99 Ethical considerations and Conversational Process: 102 Making sense of the narratives: 104 Rigour and Validity in qualitative research: 112 Reflexive Marginality: 113 Reflexivity 115 Attempting quadric-hermeneutics? 121 Introductory note to interpretation chapters: . 121 2 | P a g e Chapter FivePolitical and regulatory features of the emotional arena . 124 Corporatization of INGOs: 125 INGOs as ‘Corporates’: 125 Interaction between Donors and INGOs: 131 Interaction between INGOs: 132 Interaction between INGOs and NGOs: 133 Interaction within INGOs: 135 Professionalization of INGOs: 138 INGOs as instrumental emotional arenas: 145 Chapter SixEmotional Encounters: . 150 Emotional Encounters: 151 National Workers and Accountability: 152 National workers ‘particularised’ knowledge and poor abilities: 162 National workers weaker gender and class positioning: 170 Othering and Counter discourse: 177 ‘Be’ the Other: 183 Expatriates as the Other’s Other: 186 INGOs as incapable of ‘learning’ new rules of participation and consultation: 190 Chapter SevenIntrapersonal aspects of emotions in INGOs . 205 Emotion norms in INGOs: 207 Professionalism: 210 Emotional intelligence: 216 Individual maturity: 218 Ideal Emotionally Managed Employee the Expatriate: 224 The resistant potential of being ‘almost the same but not quite’: 228 Resisting by not desiring expatriate jobs: 230 Resisting by refuting organizational constructions of maturity: 232 Resisting organizational emotion norms by drawing on postcolonial subjectivity: 235 Costs to self? 256 Chapter EightContributions of the study: . 261 Summary of interpretation: 261 Theoretical contributions: 264 Methodological contributions: 272 Empirical contributions: 274 Limitations of the research: 279 Implications for future research: 283 Conclusion: 284 References. 287
ERP software selection with MCDM: application of TODIM method

Any ERP software in the market cannot fully meet the needs and expectations of manufacturing companies, because each company, which looks for implementing ERP system, runs its business with different strategies and goals. Therefore, enterprise resource planning ERP software selection is an important and critical decision process. Another aspect of this problem is that multi-disciplinary content reveals the multi-criteria decision making as the appropriate field of study. In this study, by employing TODIM method, which allows the usage of both qualitative and quantitative data, an example, which involves ERP software selection process of a steel forming and hot dip-galvanising firm located in Izmir, Turkey, is provided by using a proposed framework. A new path toward ERP software selection is designed for the decision makers in various industries include manufacturing companies. In order to deal with the complex calculations in the decision making process, the proposed framework is formed as an applicable tool for all decision makers in various industries.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Assessment Tools & Current Treatment Strategies

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder mainly involving joints. It is a lifelong process &its etiology is poorly understood.It is the result of interaction between the environmental factors with the genetics of persons which is likely to associated with the disease. Many assessment tools have been used for assessing the disease with each having its own merits & demerits. For its treatment patient has to take medicines for life long which results in tolerance to efficacy & increase in adverse effects. Different treatment guidelines are followed in different parts of world according to their convenience. No doubt drugs like methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunamide, sulfasalazine are still the pillars of the treatment but there is always a need for newer efficacious & safe drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. © 2011 IGJPS. All rights reserved.
Association between nutritional status and arsenicosis due to chronic arsenic exposure in Bangladesh

The role of nutritional factors in arsenic metabolism and toxicity is not clear. Provision of certain low protein diets resulted in decreased excretion of DMA and increased tissue retention of arsenic in experimental studies. This paper reports a prevalence comparison study conducted in Bangladesh to assess the nutritional status among the chronic arsenic exposed and unexposed population. 138 exposed individuals diagnosed as arsenicosis patients were selected from three known arsenic endemic villages of Bangladesh and age, sex matched 144 unexposed subjects were randomly selected from three arsenic free villages. The mean arsenic concentration in drinking water for the exposed and unexposed population was 641.15 and 13.5 μg L−1 respectively. Body Mass Index was found to be lower than 18.5, the cut off point for malnutrition, in 57 (41.31%) out of 138 exposed arsenicosis cases and 31 (21.53%) out of 144 unexposed individuals. The crude prevalence ratio (or risk) was 1.92 (95% CI = 1.33 – 2.78) for poor nutritional status among the arsenicosis cases compared to the unexposed population. The findings of this study add to the evidence that poor nutritional status may increase an individual's susceptibility to chronic arsenic toxicity, or alternatively that arsenicosis may contribute to poor nutritional status.
Potent and long-lasting vasodilatory effects of adrenomedullin in humans. Comparisons between normal subjects and patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a recently discovered hypotensive peptide that has been isolated from human pheochromocytoma cells. Observations that ADM is produced from cardiovascular tissue and is found in plasma suggest that it may be important in the regulation of regional vascular resistance. METHODS AND RESULTS Limb vascular responses to ADM were examined in 10 healthy subjects and compared with those in 18 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The peptide increased forearm blood flow (FBF) from 2.7 +/- 0.3 to 11.8 +/- 0.9 mL.min-1.100 mL-1 in the control group and from 2.4 +/- 0.3 to 6.5 +/- 0.7 mL.min-1.100 mL-1 in the CHF group. The ADM-induced FBF increase was significantly impaired in the CHF group (P < .01). After cessation of the infusion, an increased FBF level was sustained for > 60 minutes in the control group, whereas in the CHF group the response returned to the baseline in < 30 minutes. The ADM infusion increased forearm skin blood flow in both groups (P < .05), whereas the skin blood flow response was impaired in the CHF group (P < .01). The role of nitric oxide in ADM-induced vasorelaxation was also studied in 11 healthy subjects and 6 patients with CHF. FBF and skin blood flow responses during ADM administration were significantly attenuated by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine administration in healthy control subjects (P < .05), whereas both flow responses remained the same in the CHF group. CONCLUSIONS These observations demonstrate that ADM exerts a potent and long-lasting vasodilatory effect on skeletal muscle arteries with involvement of nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms in normal human peripheral vasculature and that these vascular effects are significantly attenuated in patients with CHF, in part because of impaired production of nitric oxide in the forearm resistance vessels.
Intramural Sportsmanship Rating Systems: A Case Study on Participant Knowledge and Perceived Effectiveness

This qualitative case study explored the manner by which team captains and intramural players were educated about the Sportsmanship Rating System (SRS) used by their intramural sports program and their perceptions about the SRS. While some form of an SRS is widely used by NIRSA members (Stier et al., 2008), virtually no research has been conducted as to its effectiveness. The site was a medium sized, public, four year institution in the mid-Atlantic region. A total of 31 participants took part in the study. Data collection took place over a six-week time period and included a) observation, b) document analysis, c) interviews, and d) focus groups. The findings revealed that an SRS is mostly ineffective in positively modifying sportsmanship behavior unless the intramural participants are properly educated about the SRS and understand its scoring criteria.
A Personalized Trust-Aware Model for Travelogue Discovering

Nowadays, many social tourism platforms, such as tripadvisor.com and lvping.com, provide tourists opportunities to share their experiences on tourism destinations, services and sites. The increasing number of these available opinions makes potential travelers impossible easily discovering helpful information from an immense number of lengthy travelogues. Therefore, it is vitally important to develop models and algorithms to assist potential tourists access useful travelogues. This paper proposes a travelogue discovering model that incorporates the implicit trust relations among the social tourism platform, with the aim of discovering the most suitable travelogue for travelers. In addition, the model generates personalized assistance for tourists. The empirical study confirms the effectiveness of our proposed model in discovering helpful travelogues.
La circulation des compétences, un enjeu pour le développement

Introduction Dans l’etude des migrations et des mobilites, le paradigme circulatoire s’est substitue a celui de la fuite des cerveaux (brain drain). Le changement, realise au tournant du millenaire, consacre une nouvelle vision, globalisee plus que statocentrique, du mouvement. Une connotation positive y est souvent attachee : les competences se meuvent sur la planete d’une facon moins unilaterale que par le passe. Les flux Sud-Nord des detenteurs de ces competences peuvent notamment etre com.
Avoiding Unnecessary Congestion Responses in Layered Multicast with Heterogeneous Receivers

Receiver-driven layered multicast has been designed to support scalable multimedia applications and very recently used to support bulk file transfers. Layered multicast congestion control assumes that all the receivers behind a bottleneck are equally able to subscribe to a particular number of cumulative layers. This paper explores the requirement placed on heterogeneous receivers behind a bottleneck router link. In such a scenario, leaving a layer by a less capable receiver (as a result of a congestion response) leads to resource underutilization in multicasting. Three approaches to a solution to the problem are discussed together with their limitations. Index Terms scalable content, layered multicast, traffic prioritization, shared feedback announcements, explicit congestion notification
Acute Pancreatitis: Review and Clinical Update

Hospital Physician January 2009 A cute pancreatitis describes an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas that can range from mild interstitial pancreatitis to severe pancreatitis with pancreatic necrosis and concomitant multiorgan failure. Acute pancreatitis is typically rapid in onset and most commonly encountered in its mild form. In 2005, more than 230,000 patients were treated for acute pancreatitis in hospitals in the United States.1 Recent studies have demonstrated an increase in the incidence of acute pancreatitis, and some have projected substantially higher incidence rates than previously reported, although case-fatalities have remained stable since 1970.2 The increased frequency of acute pancreatitis may be due to the rising incidence of obesity, a risk factor for the development of gallstones and, by extension, gallstone pancreatitis.3 Acute pancreatitis confers a heavy financial burden on the health care system and significant physiologic stress on the patient. A recent study estimated that the average cost per hospitalization for acute pancreatitis is $9870.4 Acute pancreatitis is responsible for $2.2 billion in US health care expenditures annually. The average length of hospital stay for a patient with acute pancreatitis is approximately 5 to 6 days.2,5,6 In addition, acute pancreatitis may be accompanied by life-threatening complications as well as significant morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Intractable Conflicts: Socio-Psychological Foundations and Dynamics

Introduction Part I: 1. Nature of intractable conflicts 2. Eruption of intractable conflicts 3. Escalation of intractable conflicts Part II: 4. Collective memory of intractable conflicts 5. Ethos of conflict 6. Collective emotional orientations in intractable conflicts Part III: 7. Institutionalization of the culture of conflict 8. Socio-psychological barriers to peaceful conflict resolution Part IV: 9. Breaking the cycles of intractable conflict 10. Peace building: concepts and their nature 11. Peace building: processes and methods Epilogue References.