Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE EFFECTIVENESS AND VALUE ADDED AT SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: A REGISTRAR'S VIEW

Higher education institutions are faced with many challenges in fulfilling their core mandate of teaching, research and community engagement. To achieve this, strong, sound and visionary institutional leadership is required, which should be embedded in sound corporate governance practices. The study aims to ascertain what registrars’ views on the effectiveness and value added by current corporate governance practices of higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa are. This was done through a literature review and supported by empirical evidence obtained from questionnaires addressed to registrars of public HEIs in South Africa, as well as follow up interviews held with participants. The study found strong support for sound corporate governance practices at HEIs in South Africa, and also indicates that these institutions are complying with and adhering to this, although room for improvement exists in certain areas. The value added to and contributions to corporate governance effectiveness by student representative council members and institutional forums were also investigated, and it was found that the evolving corporate governance role of the registrar, over and above the traditional academic and student affairs responsibilities, enjoyed much support. Additional reporting responsibilities, in accordance with current corporate governance developments, were identified as areas not meeting expectations.
When are the seeds of postoperative pressure sores sown?

Pressure sores are often thought to be slothful chronic wounds forming slowly because of poor nursing.1 In fact, they are acute injuries which develop rapidly when compression of tissues causes ischaemia and necrosis during serious illness and trauma, including surgery.2 Many of the situations predisposing to pressure sores are well known (though often less well acted on), but those that arise before, during, and after surgery deserve more attention than they have received. In the United States it has been suggested that up to a quarter of pressure sores that develop in hospital originate in the operating theatre.3 Protracted squeezing of tissues between weight bearing surfaces and bony prominences cannot account for the whole pathogenesis of bedsores. An endogenous factor must be invoked that is common to the diverse conditions predisposing to pressure injury—namely, old age, malnutrition, alcohol abuse, diabetes, advanced cancer, terminal illness, sepsis, and vascular and neurological disease. These are all conditions in which multiple organs tend to fail because of failure of the microcirculation. Accordingly, pressure sores should be viewed as the result of yet another organ …
Deuterium enrichment of ammonia produced by surface N+H/D addition reactions at low temperature

The surface formation of NH3 and its deuterated isotopologues – NH2D, NHD2, and ND3 – is investigated at low temperatures through the simultaneous addition of hydrogen and deuterium atoms to nitrogen atoms in CO-rich interstellar ice analogues. The formation of all four ammonia isotopologues is only observed up to 15 K, and drops below the detection limit for higher temperatures. Differences between hydrogenation and deuteration yields result in a clear deviation from a statistical distribution in favour of deuterium enriched species. The data analysis suggests that this is due to a higher sticking probability of D atoms to the cold surface, a property that may generally apply to molecules that are formed in low temperature surface reactions. The results found here are used to interpret ammonia–deuterium fractionation as observed in pre-protostellar cores.
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in non‐institutionalized people aged 65 or over from Spain: the elderly EXERNET multi‐centre study

Coupled with the growth of the older population, an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in this age group has occurred in the last decades. The main aims of the present study were (i) to provide an updated prevalence of overweight and obesity in a representative sample of the Spanish elderly population; (ii) to calculate the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) and (iii) to analyse the relationships between adiposity measurements and lifestyle. A cross‐sectional study was carried out in a sample of 3136 persons representative of the non‐institutionalized population ≥65 years of age. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized techniques and equipment. Overall, 84% of the population can be categorized as overweight and/or obese. The present study indicates that 67% of the Spanish elderly population has an increased percentage of fat mass and more than 56% suffer from central obesity. Moreover, SO is present in 15% of the Spanish elderly population. Finally, a strong relationship between both physically active and sedentary lifestyles and the level of adiposity was found. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among elderly people in Spain is very high and is still increasing. Lifestyle seems to be a determinant factor in the development of obesity among elderly people.
A Novel Filter Topology With Active Motor CM Impedance Regulator in PWM ASD System

This paper presents a novel hybrid output filter topology for the inverter-motor system. It is shown that the proposed filter drastically reduces the common mode (CM) voltage at the motor terminals. The proposed filter is composed of a conventional LC filter cascaded with an active motor CM impedance regulator. The active circuit, utilizing an integrated high-voltage op-amp, is very efficient in decreasing the motor CM equivalent capacitance, as well as damping the high common voltage on the motor terminal. Therefore, the motor impedance is also used as part of the filter, and the common voltage can be eliminated dynamically in the active impedance regulator by feedback control. Furthermore, the size of the passive filter can be reduced to a large extent. Experimental verification of the filter topology is provided with a laboratory system consisting of a 380-V inverter and a 0.37-kW induction motor.
Recent Guidelines and Recommendations for Laboratory Detection of Lupus Anticoagulants

Abstract The International Society on Haemostasis and Thrombosis (ISTH) and the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) have recently updated their lupus anticoagulant (LA) detection guidelines. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) subsequently will publish its first LA guideline. General agreement exists on issues such as sample preparation, the use of dilute Russell viper venom time (dRVVT) in diagnostic repertoires, the use of normalized ratios, calculations to demonstrate phospholipid dependence, calculations to demonstrate inhibition, and interpretive reporting. The ISTH recommendation to employ only dRVVT and activated partial thromboplastin time is not mirrored in the BCSH and CLSI documents. The potential for false negatives in mixing tests is acknowledged by all panels, yet they remain mandated by ISTH as there are occasions when they are crucial to diagnostic accuracy. BCSH indicates that a negative mixing test need not exclude the presence of a LA, and CLSI reprioritizes test order to screen-confirm-mix, the latter being considered unnecessary in specific circumstances. Opinions in the guidelines differ on setting cutoff levels (i.e., 97.5th vs. 99th percentile for normally distributed data). All guidelines cover testing of anticoagulated patients, more detail being given by BCSH and CLSI, who suggest that Taipan snake venom time is a useful adjunct test in patients receiving vitamin K antagonists. Although complete agreement is not apparent, the guidelines represent significant moves toward engendering common practices.
A linear time algorithm for triconnectivity augmentation

The problem of finding the smallest set of edges whose addition triconnects an undirected graph is considered. This is a fundamental graph-theoretic problem that has applications in designing reliable networks and fault-tolerant computing. A linear time sequential algorithm is given for the problem. This is a substantial improvement over the best previous algorithm for this problem, which runs in O(n(n+m)/sup 2/) time on a graph with n vertices and m edges. <<ETX>>
miR-199a-5p silencing regulates the unfolded protein response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and α1-antitrypsin deficiency.

RATIONALE Retention of abnormal α1-antitrypsin (AAT) activates the unfolded protein response in AAT-deficient monocytes. The regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in unfolded protein responses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathogenesis has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES To investigate miRNA expression and function in MM and ZZ monocytes and identify miRNA(s) regulating the unfolded protein response. METHODS Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from asymptomatic and symptomatic MM and ZZ individuals for miRNA expression profiling and pyrosequencing analysis. miRNA/gene and protein expression was measured with quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Overexpression and inhibition studies were performed with pre-miR or anti-miR, respectively. Luciferase reporter genes were used to elucidate direct miRNA-target interactions. Inflammatory cytokines were detected using the Meso Scale Discovery Plex assays. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Forty-three miRNAs were differentially expressed, with miR-199a-5p most highly up-regulated in asymptomatic ZZ versus MM monocytes. miR-199a-2 promoter hypermethylation inhibits miR-199a-5p expression and was increased in symptomatic MM and ZZ monocytes compared with asymptomatic counterparts. GRP78, activating transcription factor 6, p50, and p65 were increased in symptomatic versus asymptomatic ZZ monocytes. Reciprocal down- or up-regulation of these markers was observed after miRNA modulation. Direct miR-199a-5p targeting of activating transcription factor 6, p50, and p65 by miR-199a-5p was demonstrated using luciferase reporter systems. Overexpression of miR-199a-5p also decreased other arms of the UPR and expression of cytokines that are not putative targets. CONCLUSIONS miR-199a-5p is a key regulator of the unfolded protein response in AAT-deficient monocytes, and epigenetic silencing of its expression regulates this process in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Upper limb motion intent recognition using tactile sensing

Focusing on upper limb rehabilitation of weak stroke patients, this pilot study explores how motion intent can be detected using force sensitive resistors (FSR). This is part of a bigger project which will see the actuation and control of an intent-driven exoskeleton. The limited time stroke survivors have with their therapists means that they can not often get enough training. During active-assisted training, therapists guide the paralysed limb through a movement only after detecting visual or haptic cues of the motion intent from the patient. Aiming to replicate therapist practices of recognising patients' intention to move, a pilot study of a tactile system is performed. The system will perform consistently even with patients who have low muscle strength and control ability. Currently available devices for detecting muscle activity do not offer the robustness and performance necessary; Electromyography (EMG) sensors, a well-established method, is affected by factors like skin moisture and BCI (Brain Computer Interface) has a slow response time. The proposed tactile sensing system is a simple yet robust solution both from a sensing as well as a usability point of view. Pilot experiments have been performed with a healthy subject emulating low muscle activation conditions. An overall accuracy of 80.45% is achieved when detecting forearm and arm muscle contractions and hence motion intent.
Measuring progression of cerebral white matter lesions on MRI

Objective: To evaluate the concordance of a volumetric method for measuring white matter lesion (WML) change with visual rating scales. Methods: The authors selected a stratified sample of 20 elderly people (mean age 72 years, range 61 to 88 years) with an MRI examination at baseline and at 3-year follow-up from the community-based Rotterdam Scan Study (RSS). Four raters assessed WML change with four different visual rating scales: the Fazekas scale, the Scheltens scale, the RSS scale, and a new visual rating scale that was designed to measure change in WML. The authors assessed concordance with a volumetric method with scatter plots and correlations, and interobserver agreement with intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: For assessment of change in WML, the Fazekas, Scheltens, and periventricular part of the RSS scale showed little correlation with volumetrics, and low interobserver agreement. The authors’ new WML change scale and the subcortical part of the RSS scale showed good correlation with volumetrics. After additional training, the new WML change scale showed good interobserver agreement for measuring WML change. Conclusions: Commonly used visual rating scales are not well suited for measuring change in white matter lesion severity. The authors’ new white matter lesion change scale is more accurate and precise, and may be of use in studies focusing on progression of white matter lesions.
Frequency of typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonella species and detection of their drugs resistance patterns.

BACKGROUND To determine the prevalence of typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella species in Hamadan City, west of Iarn and detection of antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates. METHODS In a cross-sectional descriptive study, 296 Salmonella species including 192 strains of typhoidal Salmonella and 104 strains of non- typhoidal Salmonella were examined for serotyping and determining of antibiotic susceptibility. The strains were collected from patients referred to cilinical centers in Hamadan during 2001 to 2004. They were serotyped and then tested for their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, using Stokes disc diffusion method for 8 antibiotics. RESULTS Among 296 samples, 64.8% were typhoidal and 35.2% were non-typhoidal Salmonella species. Typhoidal Salmonella species were as follows: S. typhi 45.6%, S. paratyphi B 8.1%, S. paratyphi C 7.1% and S. paratyphi a 4.7%. Non-typhoidal Salmonella species were as follows: S.typhimurium 21.2%, S.enteritidis 4.4%, S. species 2.1%, S. cholerasuis 1.7%, S. arizona 1.3%, S. agona 1.1%, S. thompson 0.7%, S.muenchen, S.lexington and S. hirschfeldii 0.35%. A proportion of strains ( > 60%) were resistance to cefotaxime and ampicillin. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and amikacin was very low ( < 15%). S.typhimurim (100%), S. typhi (95.7%) S. paratyphi B (89.2%) and S. enteitidis (60%) showed multi-drug resistance. CONCLUSION S. typhi and S. typhimurium were the most predominant serotypes in this area. Most of the Salmonella species isolated from patients were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and co-trimoxazole, whereas, most of them were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and amikacin. As the prevalence of multidrug-resistant serovar Typhi increases, newer, more expensive, and less readily available antimicrobial agents will be required for the treatment of typhoid.
Issues & Opinions: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Lower motor neuron disease spreading to upper motor neurons

Contrary to the recently reemphasized notion that the primary neuron involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the cortical (upper) motor neuron (UMN), we believe that the lower motor neuron (LMN) is primarily involved by the retrograde transport of pathogens from neuromuscular junctions, and the disease process spreads monosynaptically to the UMN. Pathologically and epidemiologically, the LMN hypothesis is more logical than the UMN in light of the recent understanding of neuroaxonal transport systems, particularly in regard to anterograde cytoskeleton transport and the kinetics of the force promoting slow axonal transport. By correlating the early pathologic findings, i.e., the swelling of the initial axons and formation of intracytoplasmic inclusions in the LMN, ALS may be regarded as a disease of axonal transport, especially its slow component (SCa). Therapeutic intervention to facilitate SCa should be attempted in ALS. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Money, Politics, and a Future for the International Financial System

In developing the architecture for a financial system, the challenge is to combine deregulation and safety nets against systemic failure with effective prudential regulation and oversight. The author analyzes three approaches to choosing an adequate regulatory framework for a financial system. a) Those most worried about panic and herd behavior tend to favor relatively extensive controls on financial institutions'activities, including controls on interest rates and on the volume and direction of lending. b) Those most concerned about moral hazard advocate abolishing controls and safety nets, seeing the solution is stronger market discipline and reduced powers and discretion for regulators. c) Mainstream opinion advocates a mix of measures, to both strengthen market discipline and improve regulatory oversight. The approach a county opts for depends on 1) which monetary and exchange rate regime it chooses, 2) whether it is more concerned about moral hazard or about panic and herd behavior, and 3) how the politics of reform shape its solutions. The author suggests a scenario for development of the global financial system over the next two or three decades that assumes that the final outcome will resemble the market solution - not because that is the optimal policy choice but because of how political weakness will interact with advances in settlement technology. In the author's scenario, the world moves toward a monetary system in which fixed exchange rate systems or de facto currency competition limit the power of central banks. This limits options for discretionary and open-ended liquidity support to help deal with systemic financial crises. The costs of inflexible exchange rates are moderated by new types of wage contracts, using units of account that are correlated with the shocks a particular industry or kind of contract faces -- thus maintaining the positive aspects of monetary systems with flexible nominal exchange rates. Mistrust in monetary authorities and the emergence of private settlements lead to a return of asset-backed money as the means of payment. The disciplines on financial systems come to resemble somewhat those of historical"free banking"systems, with financial institutions requiring high levels of equity and payments systems protected only by limited, fully funded safety nets.
Meniere's Disease: Etiologic Considerations

This article explores the evidence for a common vascular pathophysiology for idiopathic Meniere's disease and migraine. After retrospectively reviewing 85 cases of Meniere's disease, it is concluded that (1) migraine occurs more often in patients with Meniere's disease than in the general population, (2) the classic symptoms of Meniere's disease can be part of a migraine attack, (3) symptoms of Meniere's disease may be associated with a migraine attack without headache (migraine equivalent), (4) treatment for the migraine with methysergide maleate or prednisone may also improve the symptoms of Meniere's disease, and (5) prospective studies with adequate follow-up are needed to further investigate this association. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;121:377-382)
The Dutch risk equalization model and predictable profits: are students and higher educated individuals profitable?

Summary In 2006 a new health insurance system was introduced in the Netherlands. This system comprises mandatory insurance, community rated premiums and open enrollment. Due to this new health insurance system, both incentives and the number of instruments for risk selection increased and a risk equalization model was implemented to overcome those incentives. Nevertheless, this model has been shown to predict healthcare cost imperfect and risk selection may still be profitable. Furthermore, two health insurers introduced health insurance aimed on students and individuals with a higher education imposing the presence of profits due to risk selection. In this research we focus on whether students and individuals with a higher education are profitable, given the current risk adjustment model used in the Netherlands. Using data from an annual health survey, healthcare costs are calculated and a replica of the risk adjustment model in the Netherlands is build. Applying t-test between predicted and actual healthcare costs reveals whether there are predictable profits for students and higher educated. Results show that statistically significant predictable profits are present for students (€137), and absent for higher educated (€27).
Measuring Market Power in the UK Retail Salmon Industry

This paper presents an investigation into the market structure for three product types of salmon (smoked, fresh and whole salmon) in the UK retail market. Evidence of the potential for market power and pricing conduct is analysed using structural simultaneous system equations based on the Bresnahan (1982) model. The importance of the retail market is recognised given the dominance of supermarket chains which accounted for £1.6 billion sales of seafood and the share of about 87% of all seafood retail sales in 2004 as compared with only 16% in 1988. The results indicate that the system is well represented by the models and that the market is competitive for fresh fillets and whole salmon but retailers exert some market power for smoked salmon. The hypothesis that market power is the same for all three products in the study was rejected; further indicating that retailers may be exercising market power for smoked salmon.
Paisajes políticos y ushnu en el orden social y espacial de Choquerecuay, s. XV-XVI

El sitio Inca de Choquerecuay está ubicado en la parte alta del Callejón de Huaylas. Presenta estructuras piramidales con posible “ushnu”, “kancha” y “colca”. Se sustentará que hubo un proceso de transformación del paisaje sagrado a través de la imposición del culto imperial (ushnu) y el pago y recaudo de tributos a grupos locales en estructuras de almacenamiento o “colcas”. Se contrastará la arqueología con el documento de Hernández Príncipe (1621) que sugiere alianzas entre Incas y curacas de Huaylas dentro de un proceso de dominación imperial basado en el modelo de transformación del paisaje sagrado con cultos locales subordinados.
Sulfur chemistry in bacterial leaching of pyrite

In the case of pyrite bioleaching by Leptospirillum ferrooxidans, an organism without sulfur-oxidizing capacity, besides the production of tetra- and pentathionate, a considerable accumulation of elemental sulfur occurred. A similar result was obtained for chemical oxidation assays with acidic, sterile iron(III) ion-containing solutions. In the case of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, only slight amounts of elemental sulfur were detectable because of the organism's capacity to oxidize sulfur compounds. In the course of oxidative, chemical pyrite degradation under alkaline conditions, the accumulation of tetrathionate, trithionate, and thiosulfate occurred. The data indicate that thiosulfate, trithionate, tetrathionate, and disulfane-monosulfonic acid are key intermediate sulfur compounds in oxidative pyrite degradation. A novel (cyclic) leaching mechanism is proposed which basically is indirect.