Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rationale for Grade and Pay Structures in Nigerian Organizations for Effective and Improved Human Resources Compensation

Grades are attached to jobs not persons, but there may be more flexibility for movement between grades than in a conventional grade structure when, for example, a person has expanded his or her role and it is considered that this growth in the level of responsibility needs to be recognized but it is not appropriate to upgrade the job. This paper has examined the rationale for grade and pay structure in Nigerian organizations. The paper starts with theoretical framework of grade and pay structures, and goes on to a discussion of their rationale and the criteria for assessing their effectiveness. The different types of grade and pay structures are then described and the choices between them and the design options are examined. Consideration is then given to the design of grade and pay structures, and what needs to be done to introduce them. The paper argued that grade and pay structures are needed to provide a logically designed framework within which an organization‟s pay policies can be implemented.
Critical incidents which limit performance of Chilean University rowers who won a medal in the Pan American Games of Lima 2019

Main objective of this study was to provide a basis for the comprehension of the main critical incidents (i.e. obstacles) that Chilean rowers who were medallists in the Pan American Games of Lima 2019 have to face within the academic, socioeconomic and sports processes. 19 athletes were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling. A content validated questionnaire and an in-deep interview were used. Higher levels of consistency were observed. Through the inferential analysis (ANOVA) it was possible to conclude that athletes are concerned with some academic and social crisis within their sporting career. This fact does not allow them to concentration and integral tranquillity to be focused and achieve proper results in academic and sports areas. Results presented in this study may contribute to the improvement of public policies and, specifically, contingency and innovation plans for improvement within higher education institutions. This study is framed within the context of social transformation that Chile is currently living.
On Locally D-optimal Design for Nested Logit Model (Two Nests)

Discrete choice experiments play an important role in psychology and market research when measuring the consumer's preferences. Usually, the choice behavior is modeled by a multinomial response, where the probabilities of the preferences are given by a logistic model. The resulting "independence of irrelevant alternatives" property of this model, may lead to counter-intuitive results. To avoid these pitfalls, "nested multinomial logit models" have been introduced that allow correlations between the utilities of similar alternatives. In this paper, we consider some choice sets each with the same number of alternatives to obtain locally D-optimal design. In this situation, according to the number of alternatives in each nest there are some classes to define design. Afterward, a design which is produced by combination of designs (related to classes) will be defined and we obtain locally Doptimal deign for it.
SSC20-WKVI-05 Wireless Bus Interconnects for Small Satellite Systems

For small satellite engineering systems, successfully managing the hundreds of in-system interconnections caused by a wired interface is a major element in the success of a SmallSat mission. Testing, integration, and mission operation of SmallSat subsystems frequently requires system interfaces to be reconﬁgured for extended mission capability and system reliability. We propose a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based wireless interface technology to enable post-deployment reconﬁguration of in-system interfaces. This wireless interface will improve system reliability while enabling ad hoc system level changes and reducing the probability of subsystem failure. While a wireless interconnect brings many beneﬁts, its implementation raises potential technical challenges, including additional power consumption, data latency, interference with ground communications, susceptibility, and emissions. This work presents the concepts of wireless interface technologies, proof-of-concept experimental results of a BLE-based wireless interface system, and analysis of eﬀective solutions for the aforementioned technical challenges. By limiting the RF power of the wireless interfaces, the susceptibility, emissions, and power consumption were be made minimal. Latency and interference were also be minimized through software optimization and error correction techniques. Proof-of-concept prototype lab experiments demonstrate the feasibility and adaptability of the proposed technology with increased ability to reconﬁgure assets compared to traditional wire-based interconnects.
The levels of reprogramming factors influence the induction and maintenance of pluripotency: the case of CD1 mouse strain cells.

The amount of proteins of the regulatory pluripotency network can be determinant for somatic cell reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as well as for the maintenance of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Here we report a transposon-based reprogramming system (PB-Booster) that allowed high expression levels of a polycistronic transgene containing Myc, Klf4, Oct4 and Sox2 (MKOS) and showed increased reprogramming efficiency of fresh mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into iPSCs under low but not under high MKOS expression levels. In contrast, MEFs after 2 passages derived into similar number of iPSC colonies than fresh MEFs at high MKOS dose but this number was reduced at low MKOS dose. Timing of reprogramming was not affected by MKOS expression levels but, importantly, exogenous MKOS expression in established PSCs caused a significant cell loss. At high but not at low MKOS expression levels, MEFs of the CD1 strain produced more initial cell clusters than iPSCs and, although reprogrammed at a similar efficiency as MEFs of the 129/Sv strain, iPSCs could not be maintained in the absence of exogenous MKOS. In CD1-iPSCs, Oct4, Nanog, Rex1 and Esrrb expression levels were reduced when compared with the levels in PSCs derived from the 129/Sv strain. Culture of CD1-iPSCs in medium with MEK and GSK3ß inhibitors allowed their self-renewal in the absence of exogenous MKOS, but the expression levels of Oct4, Nanog, Rex1 and Esrrb were only partially increased. Despite the reduced levels of those pluripotency factors, CD1-iPSC kept high capacity for contribution to chimeric mouse embryos. Therefore, levels of regulatory pluripotency factors influence reprogramming initiation and PSC maintenance in vitro without affecting their differentiation potential in vivo.
Active Forgetting: Adaptation of Memory by Prefrontal Control.

Over the past century, psychologists have discussed whether forgetting might arise from active mechanisms that promote memory loss to achieve various functions, such as minimizing errors, facilitating learning, or regulating one's emotional state. The past decade has witnessed a great expansion in knowledge about the brain mechanisms underlying active forgetting in its varying forms. A core discovery concerns the role of the prefrontal cortex in exerting top-down control over mnemonic activity in the hippocampus and other brain structures, often via inhibitory control. New findings reveal that such processes not only induce forgetting of specific memories but also can suppress the operation of mnemonic processes more broadly, triggering windows of anterograde and retrograde amnesia in healthy people. Recent work extends active forgetting to nonhuman animals, presaging the development of a multilevel mechanistic account that spans the cognitive, systems, network, and even cellular levels. This work reveals how organisms adapt their memories to their cognitive and emotional goals and has implications for understanding vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Psychology, Volume 72 is January 4, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Transforming acute ecotoxicity data into chronic data: a statistical method to better inform radiological risk for non-human species.

Ecotoxicity data constitute the basic information to support the derivation of ecological benchmark values, whatever the stressor concerned. However the set of appropriate data may be limited, especially with regard to chronic exposure conditions. The available data are often biased in favor of acute data from laboratory controlled conditions, much easier to acquire. To make the best use of the available knowledge and better inform effects of ionizing radiation chronic exposure on non-human species, we investigated the transposition to ionizing radiation ecotoxicity of one method proposed for chemicals to extrapolate chronic information from acute toxicity data. Such a method would contribute to enrich chronic data sets required for the derivation of benchmark values making them more robust when used as reference values for ecological risk assessment. We developed accordingly the ACTR (Acute to Chronic Transformation for Radiotoxicity data) approach which we validated. We introduced then the new concept of Endpoint Sensitivity Distribution (ESD). This finally allowed us to compare purely chronic and ACTR-built ESDs for different taxa. For some of them, predicted and observed distributions looked very similar. This promising ACTR method appeared applicable with a reasonable level of confidence, but its generalization asks for improvements, some being already identified.
Identification of the metabolites of piperine via hepatocyte incubation and liquid chromatography combined with diode array detector and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE Piperine, an alkaloid isolated from Piper nigrum L, has been demonstrated to have many pharmacological effects and several health benefits. The aim of this study was to study the metabolic profiles of piperine in mouse, rat, dog and human hepatocytes. METHODS The biotransformation was carried out by incubating piperine with hepatocyte at 37 o C. After incubation for 2 h, the samples were pretreated and analyzed by liquid chromatography combined with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/DAD-HRMS). The structures of the metabolites were assigned through comparison of their accurate masses and product ions with those of the parent compound. RESULTS A total of twenty metabolites were detected and the structures were proposed. Piperine was metabolized through the following pathways: 1) oxidation to form a catechol derivative, which further underwent methylation, glucuronidation, glutathione (GSH) conjugation and hydroxylation followed by opening of the piperidine ring; 2) hydroxylation to form a carbinolamine intermediate followed by opening of the piperidine ring and the formation of alcohol and acid derivatives; and 3) hydroxylation to form stable hydroxylated metabolites. In mouse, formation of the catechol derivative (M12) and hydroxylation (M11) were the major metabolic pathways; in rat, formation of the catechol derivative (M12) and glucuronidation (M9) were the main pathways; and in dog and human, formation of the catechol derivative (M12) was the predominant pathway. No human-specific metabolite was observed. CONCLUSIONS This study provided some new information on the metabolic profiles of piperine, which should be of great importance in the study of the pharmacology and toxicity of this compound.
From Seeds to Fibrils and Back: Fragmentation as an Overlooked Step in the Propagation of Prions and Prion-Like Proteins

Many devastating neurodegenerative diseases are driven by the misfolding of normal proteins into a pathogenic abnormal conformation. Examples of such protein misfolding diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and prion diseases. The misfolded proteins involved in these diseases form self-templating oligomeric assemblies that recruit further correctly folded protein and induce their conversion. Over time, this leads to the formation of high molecular and mostly fibrillar aggregates that are increasingly inefficient at converting normal protein. Evidence from a multitude of in vitro models suggests that fibrils are fragmented to form new seeds, which can convert further normal protein and also spread to neighboring cells as observed in vivo. While fragmentation and seed generation were suggested as crucial steps in aggregate formation decades ago, the biological pathways involved remain largely unknown. Here, we show that mechanisms of aggregate clearance—namely the mammalian Hsp70–Hsp40–Hsp110 tri-chaperone system, macro-autophagy, and the proteasome system—may not only be protective, but also play a role in fragmentation. We further review the challenges that exist in determining the precise contribution of these mechanisms to protein misfolding diseases and suggest future directions to resolve these issues.
Relationship between pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) gene IVS6+95 polymorphism and unstable angina pectoris

AIM: To investigate the association between pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A(PAPP-A) gene IVS6+95 polymorphism and unstable angina pectoris(UAP) in Chinese Han population in the Suwan region.METHODS: A total of 172 patients with UAP and 156 control subjects without coronary artery disease were recruited into the study.The PAPP-A IVS6+95 polymorphism gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis(PCR-RFLP). Clinical data and biochemical indicators of blood sugar and blood lipids were collected.RESULTS: Statistical difference was observed in the frequencies of CC and CG,GG genotype between UAP group and control group(P0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAPP-A gene IVS6+95 polymorphism CC and UAP(P0.05). CONCLUSION: PAPP-A gene IVS6+95 polymorphism is strongly associated with UAP in Chinese Han population in the Suwan region.
The moderating effect of core self-evaluations between the relationships of work-family conflict and voluntary turnover, job promotions, and physical health.

Despite strong evidence that individuals process stressor-strain relationships differently, little attention in work-family conflict research has been given to moderating effects of core self-evaluations (CSE). Integrating conservation of resources theory with work-family conflict and CSE research, we predicted that CSE has moderating effects between the relationships of work-to-family conflict (WFC) and voluntary turnover, job promotions, and physical health. We tested our predictions at two time points over a 14-month period with a sample of 731 working mothers in Japan. Results confirmed that CSE moderated the relationships between WFC and voluntary turnover, job promotions, and physical health, such that respondents with higher CSE had lower degrees of voluntary turnover, higher degrees of job promotions, and lower degrees of health problems. This study helps clarify the inconsistent effects of WFC on voluntary turnover in previous research, expands on the limited research examining WFC and job promotion, and provides consistent evidence that CSE act as a moderator between WFC and outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Clinical study on a skin stretching technique with adjustable external fixators to treat skin defects

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a skin stretching technique with adjustable external fixators in treating skin defects. Eighteen patients treated with a skin-stretching technique with adjustable external fixators for skin defects from April 2017 to October 2019 were included. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were collected during therapy. The skin defects gradually became smaller until they were completely resolved according to the blood flow of the affected limb and wound skin (the color, temperature, elasticity, and capillary response). The defect sizes ranged from 4 cm × 2 cm to 20 cm × 6 cm. The 18 adjustable external fixators were dismantled in 2 to 9 days (mean, 4.05 days) after the operation, and the defects were completely closed and the sutures were removed after 2 to 3 weeks. The average VAS score was 5.97. The follow-up period was 4 to 12 months (mean, 6.3 months); 17 patients healed well with linear small scar, and no infections or patients of necrosis were observed. Sensory recovery was assessed using the Medical Research Council scale, and all the sensation scores were S3+. Eight patients were healed after the first stage. Nine patients were closed totally while small sinus or skin defect were observed after sutures were removed; 3 patients were healed after the second debridement, and 6 patients finally healed after the dressings were changed. Patellar osteomyelitis recurred in 1 patient who was transferred to the Orthopedic Department for further treatment, and a flap graft procedure was performed. The operation was simple and obviously reduced the course of the disease, the costs, and the damage to the donor site, and it is also significantly superior to skin graft or flap transplantation procedures in terms of the resulting skin sensation, color, texture, elasticity, and appearance.
HIV Infection Is Associated with Loss of Anti-Inflammatory Alveolar Macrophages

Key Points HIV infection is associated with the loss of CD163+CD206+ AM. Smoking increases surface expression of several activation markers on AM. CyTOF is a valuable tool for evaluating the phenotypic profile of BALF from smokers. HIV type 1 is associated with pulmonary dysfunction that is exacerbated by cigarette smoke. Alveolar macrophages (AM) are the most prominent immune cell in the alveolar space. These cells play an important role in clearing inhaled pathogens and regulating the inflammatory environment; however, how HIV infection impacts AM phenotype and function is not well understood, in part because of their autofluorescence and the absence of well-defined surface markers. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on human AM and to compare the effect of smoking on their phenotype and function. Time-of-flight mass cytometry and RNA sequencing were used to characterize macrophages from human bronchoalveolar lavage of HIV-infected and -uninfected smokers and nonsmokers. We found that the frequency of CD163+ anti-inflammatory AM was decreased, whereas CD163−CCR7+ proinflammatory AM were increased in HIV infection. HIV-mediated proinflammatory polarization was associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage activation. Conversely, smoking heightened the inflammatory response evident by change in the expression of CXCR4 and TLR4. Altogether, these findings suggest that HIV infection, along with cigarette smoke, favors a proinflammatory macrophage phenotype associated with enhanced expression of inflammatory molecules. Further, this study highlights time-of-flight mass cytometry as a reliable method for immunophenotyping the highly autofluorescent cells present in the bronchoalveolar lavage of cigarette smokers.
Knowledge and acceptance of interventions aimed at reducing sugar intake in Portugal

Abstract Objective: Governments worldwide have been implementing interventions aimed at improving citizens’ dietary habits. Examining how individuals perceive these interventions is relevant for promoting future policies in this area, as well as informing the way they are designed and implemented. In the current study, we focused on interventions aimed at reducing sugar intake in Portugal, given the current high sugar consumption patterns in the population. Design: Online survey to assess which interventions are the most salient and receive greater public support. Setting: Portugal. Participants: 1010 (76·7 % female, M Age 36·33, sd 13·22). Results: Data from a free-recall task showed that only about one-third of participants reported knowing about these interventions, namely those related to taxation, weight restrictions in individual sugar packets and limited availability of products with high sugar content. We also found evidence of high support for the eight interventions presented (except for replacing sugar by artificial sweeteners), positive attitudes towards the need of reducing sugar intake in the Portuguese population and high agreement with the importance of reducing sugar intake across all age groups, particularly among children. Participants also indicated paying attention to the amount of sugar in their diets and a low self-reported frequency of consumption of high sugary foods and beverages. A hierarchical regression analysis suggested that these variables were significantly associated with the overall acceptance of interventions, independently of social-demographic variables (i.e., age, education and sex). Conclusion: By examining how people perceive and accept different interventions targeting the reduction of sugar intake, the current work aims to support policymaking in this domain.
Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a review of recent literature and updated guideline recommendations

ABSTRACT Introduction Recent clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of aspirin in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) have suggested the risk of aspirin may outweigh its benefit in individuals once thought to be candidates for aspirin therapy. These results led to the publication of updated guideline recommendations in 2019 for aspirin use in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA). Areas covered Recent clinical trials and guidelines relevant to aspirin for primary prevention of ASCVD were identified using PubMed® (July 1, 2016 to April 1, 2019). Studies were limited to randomized, controlled clinical trials. The most current clinical practice guidelines were prioritized. Expert opinion Recent clinical trials demonstrated an increased risk of bleeding associated with aspirin use, which often outweighed cardiovascular risk reduction. In light of this new evidence, the ACC/AHA guidelines recommend aspirin for primary prevention in patients 40–70 years of age at a high ASCVD risk and low bleeding risk, who are unable to optimally control modifiable ASCVD risk factors.