Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrete Event Simulation for Healthcare Organizations: A Tool for Decision Making

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Healthcare organizations face challenges in efficiently accommodating increased patient demand with limited resources and capacity. The modern reimbursement environment prioritizes the maximization of operational efficiency and the reduction of unnecessary costs (i.e., waste) while maintaining or improving quality. As healthcare organizations adapt, significant pressures are placed on leaders to make difficult operational and budgetary decisions. In lieu of hard data, decision makers often base these decisions on subjective information. Discrete event simulation (DES), a computerized method of imitating the operation of a real‐world system (e.g., healthcare delivery facility) over time, can provide decision makers with an evidence‐based tool to develop and objectively vet operational solutions prior to implementation. DES in healthcare commonly focuses on (1) improving patient flow, (2) managing bed capacity, (3) scheduling staff, (4) managing patient admission and scheduling procedures, and (5) using ancillary resources (e.g., labs, pharmacies). This article describes applicable scenarios, outlines DES concepts, and describes the steps required for development. An original DES model developed to examine crowding and patient flow for staffing decision making at an urban academic emergency department serves as a practical example.
Sport, Health and Drugs: A Critical Sociological Perspective

Sport may teach people how to win gracefully, but it may also teach them how to win at any cost, even if this involves violence or cheating. To understand the complex relationship between modern sport and other aspects of society, it is necessary to strip away our preconceptions of how sport ought to operate and to examine, in as detached a manner as possible, the way in which sport really operates. Particular issues examined include: Sport, health and public policy; child abuse and sex abuse in sport; conflicts in the role of club medical staff in professional football; doping in sport; sports medicine and the development of performance enhancing drugs; and a case study of cycling and the 1998 Tour de France. Interview transcripts, case studies and press cuttings are used to ground theory into reality. Students and lecturers should find this a useful resource.
Respiratory function and the obesity paradox

Purpose of reviewObese individuals have impaired respiratory function relative to their normal-weight counterparts. Despite these negative effects, obesity is paradoxically associated with better survival in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this review is to describe this ‘obesity paradox’, to discuss the effects of obesity on respiratory function, and to speculate as to whether obesity-related alterations in respiratory mechanics can influence the natural history of COPD. Recent findingsGiven the known negative effects of obesity on respiratory physiology, it is reasonable to predict that obese COPD patients would be more likely to experience greater dyspnea and exercise intolerance relative to COPD patients of normal weight. However, recent evidence suggests that obese COPD patients have similar or better dyspnea scores during exercise and do not have diminished exercise capacity. These observations may be attributable to the fact that obese COPD patients have reduced operating lung volumes and higher inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity ratios than their lean COPD counterparts. SummaryObese patients with COPD do not appear to be at a disadvantage during exercise relative to lean COPD patients. Obesity may be associated with improved survival in COPD but specific mechanisms for this paradox remain to be elucidated.
Priorities for oral and dental research

Linked to the above, the top priorities for oral and dental research should include the extension and strengthening of the evidence base for the clinical practice of oral health care provision. Where possible this should be achieved by means of high quality, randomized clinical research, leading to powerful systematic, and related high‐quality reviews of contemporaneous relevance to everyday clinical practice. However, this approach is not possible, or applicable to all aspects of clinical practice; for example, determining the efficacy of novel restorative systems, many of which may be superseded by next generation products before there has been an opportunity to investigate performance and longevity in clinical service. To address such needs, priority should be given to supporting practice‐based research networks and the generation and timely use of large health data sets as part of a much‐needed program of engagement in “big data” research. [2]
Managing asthma in the real world

Asthma treatment is suboptimal in many patients, with impacts on morbidity and mortality, healthcare resource utilisation and patients' quality of life. The reasons for this include the inherent variability of asthma and the unpredictability of exacerbations, which can range from mild to fatal. In addition, asthma can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in the very young and old. Although treatment guidelines are widely available and well publicised, surveys have identified a significant gap between treatment aims and current levels of asthma control. Patient adherence to inhaled corticosteroids is poor, and many patients rely on short‐acting β2‐agonists. The reasons for this are complex but are believed to include poor perception by patients of their asthma severity, concerns about the safety and efficacy of medication and low treatment expectations. Patients appear to be unaware of the extent to which airway inflammation can be controlled and are therefore satisfied with poor asthma control, accepting a high level of symptoms. Increasing patient understanding of asthma and its treatment, allowing patients greater involvement in treatment decisions, increasing the role of asthma nurses and improved communication between physicians and patients may improve outcomes in patients with asthma.
Hymns (Nasheeds): A Contribution to the Study of the Jihadist Culture

This article deals with militant Islamist hymns (anasheed jihadiya; in the following simply referred to as nasheeds) as an expression of jihadist culture. In this context jihadism is regarded as a militant fraction within the Salafi movement, with which it shares goals but not means. 1 The jihadist culture as a tool to create a common jihadist identity and to mobilize new recruits is probably as important as its ideology is. In 2004 Marc Sageman made the following remarks in his book Understanding Terror Networks: “… social bonds play a more important role in the emergence of the global Salafi jihad than ideology. ” 2 The history of nasheeds will be traced back as well as an analysis of its contents and usage will be given.
Miro Web: Integrating Multiple Data Sources through Semistructured Data Types

The MIROWeb Espris developped a unique technology to integrate multiple data sources through an object-relational model with semistructured data types. In addresses the problem of integrating irregular web sources and regular relational databases through a mediated architecture based on hybrid model, supporting relational object and semi-structured features. The project data exchange format is XML, the new standard of the Web and the pivot language is XMLQL, a query language based on XML templates from AT&T. The demonstration will show the data warehousing approach for mediation, based on Oracle 8 and a semi-structured cartridge developped in the project for supporting XML and XMLQL queries.
WTO Agreements on SPS and TBT : Implications for Food Quality Issues

Trade liberalization, hoped to be achieved through WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is expected to lead to export promotion and import substitution opportunities for Indian food sector. However, these opportunities cannot be exploited unless serious attention is paid to two important WTO agreements – Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Due to the ‘experience’ and ‘credence’ nature of food products, trading partners impose import restrictions based on food safety and quality concerns. These concerns are legitimised by SPS and TBT agreements. Hence, to obtain maximum possible benefit from these agreements, India will have to improve its safety and quality norms to match the Codex standards and participate effectively in Codex standard setting meetings. Moreover, it must ask for substantial amendments to some of the articles of these agreements which seem discriminatory in nature. Finally, India will have to strengthen import monitoring mechanisms so that domestic food and phytosanitary laws are effectively applied to imported food items.
A neuromorphic system for video object recognition

Automated video object recognition is a topic of emerging importance in both defense and civilian applications. This work describes an accurate and low-power neuromorphic architecture and system for real-time automated video object recognition. Our system, Neuormorphic Visual Understanding of Scenes (NEOVUS), is inspired by computational neuroscience models of feed-forward object detection and classification pipelines for processing visual data. The NEOVUS architecture is inspired by the ventral (what) and dorsal (where) streams of the mammalian visual pathway and integrates retinal processing, object detection based on form and motion modeling, and object classification based on convolutional neural networks. The object recognition performance and energy use of the NEOVUS was evaluated by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Neovision2 program using three urban area video datasets collected from a mix of stationary and moving platforms. These datasets are challenging and include a large number of objects of different types in cluttered scenes, with varying illumination and occlusion conditions. In a systematic evaluation of five different teams by DARPA on these datasets, the NEOVUS demonstrated the best performance with high object recognition accuracy and the lowest energy consumption. Its energy use was three orders of magnitude lower than two independent state of the art baseline computer vision systems. The dynamic power requirement for the complete system mapped to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware that includes a 5.6 Megapixel color camera processed by object detection and classification algorithms at 30 frames per second was measured at 21.7 Watts (W), for an effective energy consumption of 5.45 nanoJoules (nJ) per bit of incoming video. These unprecedented results show that the NEOVUS has the potential to revolutionize automated video object recognition toward enabling practical low-power and mobile video processing applications.
Impact of narrative versus factual print ad copy on product evaluation: The mediating role of ad message involvement

The relative impact of narrative versus factual message strategies on product evaluation was explored. The role of ad message involvement (AMI) as a mediator was also investigated. Narrative versus factual print ad copy resulted in more favorable product evaluations for two fictitious brands, one each from the cell phone and sunglasses product categories. Narrative print ad copy also elicited higher ad message involvement which, in turn, mediate the differential effect of narrative versus factual copy on product evaluations. The study demonstrated one of the major pathways through which the relatively more persuasive effects of narrative versus factual print ad copy appears to operate. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An isolated DC-DC converter with fully integrated magnetic core transformer

this work presents an isolated DC-DC converter with fully integrated magnetic core transformer. The converter achieves best-in-class efficiency and EMI performance which are most concerned for isolated DC-DC converter with on chip transformer. The proposed chip-level isolated DC-DC converter contains an integrated transformer with 4μm thick stacked layers CoZrTa magnetic core, a symmetric pre-driver, a full-bridge driver, modified LLC resonance network, a full-wave bridge rectifier with on-chip Schottky diode and type II compensation network. Fully symmetric architecture and accurate timing control are utilized to minimize the radiated emissions and maximize the efficiency. In comparison with state of the art the measurement results demonstrate proposed DC-DC converter achieves best-in-class efficiency (46%) and EMI performance (pass CISPR22 Class B limit with 10dB margin) by maintaining a high quality factor of 11 for transformer at much lower frequency (25MegHz). Keywords— integrated transformer; EMI; magnetic core; LLC converter; high efficiency;
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of CXA-101, a New Antipseudomonal Cephalosporin, in Healthy Adult Male and Female Subjects Receiving Single- and Multiple-Dose Intravenous Infusions

ABSTRACT CXA-101 is a novel, broad-spectrum cephalosporin with excellent antipseudomonal activity. A Phase 1 study was performed to determine the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CXA-101 after single- and multiple-dose intravenous administration over 1 h to healthy male and female subjects. In part 1 of the study, five cohorts of eight subjects each (six receiving CXA-101 and two receiving a placebo) received single ascending doses of 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 mg. In part 2, cohorts 1 and 2 received 500 mg and 1,000 mg, respectively, every 8 h, and cohort 3 received 1,500 mg every 12 h; each cohort received dosing for 10 days. Standard safety and tolerability assessments were performed. Blood and urine pharmacokinetic samples were assayed by a validated bioanalytical method and analyzed using standard noncompartmental methodology. All 64 subjects completed dosing; none withdrew from the study. Drug-related systemic adverse events were infrequent and mild. Mild, non-treatment-limiting infusion site events occurred during multiple-dose administration. No clinically significant laboratory or electrocardiographic finding or dose-limiting toxicity was observed. CXA-101 exhibited dose-linear pharmacokinetics; the mean plasma half-life was ∼2.3 h. More than 90% of the administered dose was eliminated unchanged through renal excretion. In summary, CXA-101 administered as a 1-hour infusion was generally safe and well tolerated in single doses up to 2,000 mg and in multiple doses up to 3 g daily over 10 days. The favorable safety and predictable pharmacokinetic profile of CXA-101 support its continuing clinical development for the treatment of serious bacterial infections.
Rassf Family of Tumor Suppressor Polypeptides*

The Rassf1–6 polypeptides each contain a Ras/Rap association domain, which enables binding to several GTP-charged Ras-like GTPases, at least in vitro or when overexpressed. The Ras/Rap association domains are followed by SARAH domains, which mediate Rassf heterodimerization with the Mst1/2 protein kinases. Rassf1A is unequivocally a tumor suppressor, and all Rassf proteins behave like tumor suppressors, exhibiting epigenetic silencing of expression in many human cancers and pro-apoptotic and/or anti-proliferative effects when re-expressed in tumor cell lines. Herein, we review the binding of the Rassf polypeptides to Ras-like GTPases and the Mst1/2 kinases and their role in Rassf function.
Isolation and Characterization of Intracellular Protein Inclusions Produced by the Entomopathogenic BacteriumPhotorhabdus luminescens

ABSTRACT Cells of the entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens contain two types of morphologically distinct crystalline inclusion proteins. The larger rectangular inclusion (type 1) and a smaller bipyramid-shaped inclusion (type 2) were purified from cell lysates by differential centrifugation and isopycnic density gradient centrifugation. Both structures are composed of protein and are readily soluble at pH 11 and 4 in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and in 8 M urea. Electrophoretic analysis reveals that each inclusion is composed of a single protein subunit with a molecular mass of 11,000 Da. The proteins differ in amino acid composition, protease digestion pattern, and immunological cross-reactivity. The protein inclusions are first visible in the cells at the time of late exponential growth. Western blot analyses showed that the proteins appeared in cells during mid- to late exponential growth. When at maximum size in stationary-phase cells, the proteins constitute 40% of the total cellular protein. The protein inclusions are not used during long-term starvation of the cells and were not toxic when injected into or fed toGalleria mellonella larvae.
Biomarkers of TGF-β Signaling Pathway and Prognosis of Pancreatic Cancer

Background Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway, may act both as a tumor suppressor and as a tumor promoter in pancreatic cancer, depending on tumor stage and cellular context. TGF-β pathway has been under intensive investigation as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of cancer. We hypothesized a correlation between TGF-βR2/SMAD4 expression in the tumor, plasma TGF-β1 ligand level, genetic variation in TGF-B pathway and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Method We examined TGF-βR2 and SMAD4 protein expression in biopsy or surgical samples from 91 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using immunohistochemistry. Plasma level of TGF-β1 was measured in 644 patients with PDAC using ELISA. Twenty-eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, and SMAD4 genes were determined in 1636 patients with PDAC using the Sequenom method. Correlation between protein expression in the tumor, plasma TGF-β1 level, and genotypes with overall survival (OS) was evaluated with Cox proportional regression models. Results The expression level of TGF-βR2 and SMAD4 as an independent marker was not associated with OS. However, patients with both low nuclear staining of TGF-βR2 and high nuclear staining of SMAD4 may have better survival (P = 0.06). The mean and median level of TGF-β1 was 15.44 (SD: 10.99) and 12.61 (interquartile range: 8.31 to 19.04) ng/ml respectively. Patients with advanced disease and in the upper quartile range of TGF-β1 level had significantly reduced survival than those with low levels (P = 0.02). A significant association of SMAD4 SNP rs113545983 with overall survival was observed (P<0.0001). Conclusion Our data provides valuable baseline information regarding the TGF-β pathway in pancreatic cancer, which can be utilized in targeted therapy clinical trials. High TGF-β1 plasma level, SMAD4 SNP or TGF-βR2/SMAD4 tumor protein expression may suggest a dependence on this pathway in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems ( MCIS ) 2009 Aligning Business And Learning : Competency Based Learning Management In Organisations

The value of human capital strongly influences competitiveness, making the alignment of training and business objectives a key priority for organisations in today’s turbulent markets. This entails integrating learning into daily working tasks and putting in place mechanisms for the effective management of business processes, organisational roles, competencies and learning processes, to reduce the time to fill competency gaps and to build proficiency according to evolving business needs. In this paper we discuss competency-based learning management and a practical implementation of this approach in the context of the PROLIX project for business process oriented learning.
Uncommon Metastasis of a Glioblastoma Multiforme in Liver and Spleen

A case of a glioblastoma multiforme is presented. Craniotomy was performed with total resection of the right temporal tumor. Postoperatively, the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy, but 6 months after therapy he developed severe nausea and weight loss. Recurrence of an intracranial tumor in the right temporal region with nodules in the liver and spleen were detected by CT scan. Fine-needle biopsies of the liver confirmed the diagnosis of a glioblastoma metastasis with characteristic immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein. This rare case of an intracerebral glioblastoma metastasizing to liver and spleen was managed by systemic chemotherapy.
A Faustian bargain? Institutional responses to national and international rankings

In the highly competitive international world of learning, universities make full use of favourable league table positions to strengthen their reputations. Yet are they, in so doing, entering into a Faustian Bargain in which the long-term cost outweighs the short-term gain? Success in league tables comes at a cost in terms of accepting the orthodoxies of others instead of pursuing particular institutional missions linked to the particular priorities of the local community. Based on recent surveys of institutional experience and on a new analysis of the impact of league tables on English higher education, this paper argues that if, as seems likely, rankings are here to stay, the shortcomings of the present approach must be acknowledged and addressed. By Peter W.A. West, University of Strathclyde, United KingdomL’exploitation des classements nationaux et internationaux par les etablissements d’enseignement superieur : Un pacte avec le diable ? Face a l’internationalisation du secteur educatif, desormais hautement concurrentiel, les universites exploitent au maximum leur place dans les classements internationaux en vue d’accroitre leur prestige. Mais cette strategie ne revient-elle pas a conclure un pacte avec le diable, dont les couts a long terme sont en realite bien superieurs aux avantages immediats ? L’universite qui choisit d’asseoir sa reputation sur ces classements accepte en effet, implicitement, de se plier aux regles fixees par ceux qu’elle cherche a emuler, au lieu de concentrer ses efforts sur certaines missions specifiques, plus en adequation avec les besoins particuliers de la communaute locale. A la lumiere de sondages recents menes aupres des etablissements, et d’une nouvelle analyse de l’impact des classements sur le systeme d’enseignement superieur britannique, ce rapport suggere que si la pratique des classements persiste – et c’est fort probable – le secteur n’aura d’autre choix que d’identifier leurs insuffisances et anomalies pour y apporter les ameliorations necessaires.Par Peter W.A. West, Universite de Strathclyde, Royaume-Uni