Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of HRM Practices on the Performance of Public Institutions (In Focus: Albanian Customs Administration)

The field of human resource management (HRM) has attracted great attention among different disciplines because of the contribution and its impact on issues within organizations. The concept of human resources and their management has evolved in recent years. A particular area, which has received considerable attention through theoretical debate, is the relationship between HRM practices in the organizational performance (OP). Researchers are constantly trying to analyze and explain the impact of HRM practices in OP, often taking into account one of two perspectives: systemic perspective or strategic perspective. However, recently the debate has shifted towards a more integrated approach to management on how a universal set of HRM practices can contribute to the OP. After an expose of achievements to date on theoretical approaches and achievements empirical concept of HRM and performance, the impact and nature of the link between the two, through this study will argue theoretical and practical existence of ways and mechanisms to explained the impact of HRM on organizational performance.Thus, connection and influence between HRM and performance in this study includes multiple levels of analysis and is associated with a mechanism called practices of human resource management, such as training, recruitment, career opportunities, remuneration, job security, performance evaluation and job description, who individually or together is expected to have a greater impact, expressing so the synergy effect. Because generally the mechanisms that link organizational performance are mainly financial incentives, the difficulty is when operated largely in their absence such as public administration. Therefore, the primary focus of this study is to select a set of practices of HR that are supposed to have a big impact on the performance of public administration and in particular is taken to study Albanian Customs Administration (ACA) given its importance in maintaining and improving financial and economic indicators for the country. Because of the direct impact that the customs administration has in the performance of the Albanian economy and as well as the performance of this administration often is paralleled with the functioning of the state, explains the reason for its selection in this study. In this study we present an explanatory link of human resource practices against the performance of the customs administration and to broaden the debate about the theoretical and methodological issues and the impact of connectivity between HRM and organizational performance. Our goal is to build an agenda for further research in this field. Keywords: practices of human resource management, customs administration, organizational performance
Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S. and Denmark: Recent trends

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence rates vary by gender, age, time and place. Geographic differences in gender‐, age‐ and time‐specific HCC incidence rates may improve the understanding of HCC risk factors. We computed annual standardized HCC incidence rates for the United States (U.S.) 1978–2004 and for Denmark 1978–2003. Among U.S. white men aged 45–59 the HCC incidence rates were comparable to the Danish rates until 1995, but more than tripled over the following 8 years to become over 2.5‐fold higher than the Danish rate by 2003, with an additional small increase in 2004. HCC rates in black U.S. men aged 45–59 also increased sharply after 1995. Among women aged 45–59 the U.S. HCC rates were elevated in recent years, but did not show the sharp increase after 1995 observed among men; the Danish rates showed a decreasing trend throughout 1978–2003. U.S. rates in the 60–74 years age groups showed a protracted and gradual increase with no evidence of a sharp increase after 1995. In the 60–74 years age group, rates for Danish men were comparable to those for U.S. white men, but rates for Danish women decreased. The U.S. prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are 2.1 and 1.1% for men and women, respectively, the Danish 0.2%. The disparity in HCV prevalence is the most likely explanation for the differences between Danish and U.S. trends in HCC incidence. Intravenous drug use and blood transfusions are the major sources of HCV, and we suggest that increased HCV infection prevalence among Vietnam era military veterans may contribute to the earlier and steeper HCC incidence increase for U.S. men than for U.S. women. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Myrosin cells are differentiated directly from ground meristem cells and are developmentally independent of the vasculature in Arabidopsis leaves

ABSTRACT Myrosin cells accumulate myrosinases in their vacuoles to catalyze the production of toxic compounds when tissues are damaged by herbivores. Myrosin cells are positioned adjacent to the abaxial side of the vasculature but their origin is unclear. To determine whether the myrosin cells are differentiated from vascular precursor cells, we generated a transgenic Arabidopsis line that expressed a myrosin cell reporter together with one of 3 vascular precursor cell reporters. The myrosin-positive cells were discontinuously distributed while the vascular precursor-positive cells were continuously distributed. The fluorescent signals of the myosin and vascular reporters did not overlap. Furthermore, the shape of myrosin-positive cells was different from the shape of vascular precursor-positive cells. These results indicate that myosin cells develop independently of the vasculature.
Performance evaluation of the UHF class 0 RFID tag for the proposed anti-collision algorithm

The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is an automatic identification technology of choice over other existing technologies. Nowadays, the ability to identify many objects simultaneously is crucial for more advanced applications such as to identify objects in the warehouse and at the supermarket. These applications require an efficient identification technique which can identify many objects at one time without long delay. Meanwhile, one of the main issues during the identification process is the tags collision which occurs when all these tags are simultaneously responding to the reader commands. The RFID applications also require the tag to be simple, small, cheap and memoryless. Therefore the research is to evaluate the the performance of the proposed tag architecture for the Fast Detection Anti-collision Algorithm (FDACA) using the Total Tag Replies parameter. The Total Tag Replies parameter for the Binary Tree and the proposed FDACA tags are explained. The tag architecture for both techniques are described in Verilog Hardware Description Language (HDL) and simulated using Xilinix software. Then both tag architectures are synthesized using Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) technology (0.18 μm Library, Synopsys Compiler and tools). The tags performances are evaluated based on the obtained synthesis parameters.
Determinants of outcome of compensated hepatitis C virus‐related cirrhosis

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of decompensation (ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, and encephalopathy), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death or liver transplantation in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐related cirrhosis, taking into account the viral genotype and interferon (IFN) therapy. Between 1989 and 1994, 668 patients with no clinical evidence of decompensation were referred to our department for liver biopsy because of positivity for anti‐HCV antibodies and elevated aminotransferase activity; 103 of these patients had cirrhosis. The median follow‐up was 40 months. Fifty‐nine patients were treated with IFN for a mean duration of 11 ± 6 months; 3 (5%) had a prolonged biochemical and virological response. Baseline characteristics of IFN‐treated and untreated patients were not significantly different. HCV genotypes (InnoLiPa) were predominantly 1b (48%) and 3a (20%). During follow‐up, complications of cirrhosis occurred in 26 patients, HCC in 11 patients, and decompensation not related to HCC in 19 patients. Sixteen patients died, 94% of liver disease. Three patients were transplanted for liver failure. The 4‐year risk of HCC was 11.5% (annual incidence 3.3%) and that of decompensation was 20%. Survival probability was 96% and 84% at 2 and 4 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the absence of IFN therapy was the only independent factor predictive both for HCC and decompensation. A low albumin level at entry and the absence of IFN therapy were the two independent factors predictive of death or liver transplantation. Probability of survival at 2 and 4 years was significantly different between IFN‐treated and untreated patients (respectively 97% and 92% vs 95% and 63%,P< .0001). In conclusion, in patients with compensated HCV‐related cirrhosis: 1) complications of cirrhosis are frequent, whatever the viral genotype; and 2) the severity of cirrhosis and the absence of IFN therapy are independently predictive of bad outcome
Globular adiponectin inhibits angiotensin II‐induced nuclear factor κB activation through AMP‐activated protein kinase in cardiac hypertrophy

Activation of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) has been found necessary for cardiac hypertrophic growth in vivo and in vitro experiments. Adiponectin, an adipocyte‐derived polypeptide, suppresses cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload. Here we investigated the potential effect of adiponectin on NF‐κB activation in hypertrophic neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and related signal transduction pathway. We treated NRVMs with globular adiponectin (gAd) before angiotensin II (AngII) stimulation. Pretreating cells with gAd reduced the increased incorporation of [3H]‐leucine and the mRNA levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) stimulated by AngII, indicating gAd inhibited AngII‐induced cardiac hypertrophic signaling. Moreover, gAd pretreatment suppressed inhibitory protein κB (I‐κB) phosphorylation and decreased p65 nuclear translocation, DNA‐binding and transcription activity of NF‐κB. Meanwhile, gAd promoted AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, which is a downstream signaling mediator of adiponectin. Pharmacological activator of AMPK could inhibit AngII‐induced NF‐κB translocation, and inhibitor of AMPK or a dominant‐negative AMPK adenovirus suppressed gAd‐mediated inhibition of I‐κB phosphorylation and NF‐κB activation. When AMPK was inhibited, the suppressive effect of gAd on ANP mRNA expression was reduced. Our data indicate that gAd inhibits cardiac hypertrophic signaling through AMPK mediated suppression of NF‐κB activation. J. Cell. Physiol. 222:149–155, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Higher Fish Consumption in Pregnancy May Confer Protection against the Harmful Effect of Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter

Background/Aim: The objective of this study was to assess a hypothesized beneficial effect of fish consumption during the last trimester of pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes resulting from prenatal exposure to fine air particulate matter. Methods: The cohort consisted of 481 nonsmoking women with singleton pregnancies, of 18–35 years of age, who gave birth at term. All recruited women were asked about their usual diet over the period of pregnancy. Measurements of particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in size (PM2.5) were carried out by personal air monitoring over 48 h during the second trimester of pregnancy. The effect of PM2.5 and fish intake during gestation on the birth weight of the babies was estimated from multivariable linear regression models, which beside the main independent variables considered a set of potential confounding factors such as the size of the mother (height, prepregnancy weight), maternal education, parity, the gender of the child, gestational age and the season of birth. Results: The study showed that the adjusted birth weight was significantly lower in newborns whose mothers were exposed to particulate matter greater than 46.3 µg/m3 (β coefficient = –97.02, p = 0.032). Regression analysis stratified by the level of maternal fish consumption (in tertiles) showed that the deficit in birth weight amounted to 133.26 g (p = 0.052) in newborns whose mothers reported low fish intake (<91 g/week). The birth weight deficit in newborns whose mothers reported medium (91–205 g/week) or higher fish intake (>205 g/week) was insignificant. The interaction term between PM2.5 and fish intake levels was also insignificant (β = –107,35, p = 0.215). Neither gestational age nor birth weight correlated with maternal fish consumption. Conclusions: The results suggest that a higher consumption of fish by women during pregnancy may reduce the risk of adverse effects of prenatal exposure to toxicants and highlight the fact that a full assessment of adverse birth outcomes resulting from prenatal exposure to ambient hazards should consider maternal nutrition during pregnancy.
IscR acts as an activator in response to oxidative stress for the suf operon encoding Fe‐S assembly proteins

In Escherichia coli, Fe‐S clusters are assembled by gene products encoded from the isc and suf operons. Both the iscRSUA and sufABCDSE operons are induced highly by oxidants, reflecting an increased need for providing and maintaining Fe‐S clusters under oxidative stress conditions. Three cis‐acting oxidant‐responsive elements (ORE‐I, II, III) in the upstream of the sufA promoter serve as the binding sites for OxyR, IHF and an uncharacterized factor respectively. Using DNA affinity fractionation, we isolated an ORE‐III‐binding factor that positively regulates the suf operon in response to various oxidants. MALDI‐TOF mass analysis identified it with IscR, known to serve as a repressor of the iscRSUA gene expression under anaerobic condition as a [2Fe‐2S]‐bound form. The iscR null mutation abolished ORE‐III‐binding activity in cell extracts, and caused a significant decrease in the oxidant induction of sufA in vivo. OxyR and IscR contributed almost equally to activate the sufA operon in response to oxidants. Purified IscR that lacked Fe‐S cluster bound to the ORE‐III site and activated transcription from the sufA promoter in vitro. Mutations in Fe‐S‐binding sites of IscR enabled sufA activation in vivo and in vitro. These results support a model that IscR in its demetallated form directly activates sufA transcription, while it de‐represses isc operon, under oxidative stress condition.
Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in the United States: arthritis data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1991-94.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the US national prevalence of tibiofemoral radiographic knee osteoarthritis (RKOA) with and without symptoms, and its influence on functional tasks. METHODS Radiographic and interview data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a nationally representative cross-sectional health examination survey, were used to estimate lifetime RKOA prevalence in adults age 60 years and older. Demographic trends, self-reported activity limitations, physical performance test results, and patterns of recent analgesic use were analyzed. RESULTS Among US adults, the prevalence of RKOA and symptomatic RKOA was 37.4% and 12.1%, respectively. RKOA prevalence was greater among women than men (42.1% vs 31.2%). Women had significantly more Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 3-4 changes (12.9% vs 6.5% in men). However, symptomatic RKOA prevalence did not differ by sex. Additionally, some 1.6% of US adults had knee joint replacement. Multivariable analysis showed significantly higher odds of both RKOA and symptomatic RKOA with greater body mass index (BMI > or = 30), greater age, non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity, and among men with manual labor occupations. Only symptomatic RKOA was significantly associated with self-reported activity limitations: difficulty walking, stooping, standing from a seated position, and stair climbing. Adults with symptomatic RKOA used significantly more assistive walking devices, had slower measured gait velocities, and used significantly more prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and prescription narcotics, and nonprescription acetaminophen. CONCLUSION NHANES III data provide an overall national assessment of the prevalence, demographic distributions, and functional impact of symptomatic knee OA, which affects more than 1 in 10, or 4.3 million older US adults.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: Pathogenesis and effects on the ageing and Alzheimer brain

Abstract Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a feature of ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD); it is also associated with intracerebral hemorrhage and stroke. Here, the pathogenesis of CAA and its effects on the brain are reviewed and the possible effects of CAA on therapies for Alzheimer's disease are evaluated. Tracer experiments in animals and observations on human brains suggest that peptides such as Aβ are eliminated along the peri-arterial interstitial fluid drainage pathways that are effectively the lymphatics of the brain. In CAA, Aβ becomes entrapped in drainage pathways in the walls of cerebral arteries, reflecting a failure of elimination of Aβ from the ageing brain. One consequence of failure in clearance of Aβ is accumulation of soluble and insoluble Aβ associated with cognitive decline in AD. Replacement of vascular smooth muscle cells by Aβ occurs in severe CAA with weakening of artery walls and increased risk of vessel rupture and intracerebral hemorrhage. Risk factors for CAA include mutations of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene and possession of the ϵ4 allele of apolipoprotein E. There is also evidence that cerebrovascular disease may be a factor in the failure of elimination of Aβ along perivascular pathways in sporadic AD; this would link ageing in cerebral arteries with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. If therapeutic agents, including anti-Aβ antibodies, are to be used to eliminate Aβ in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the effects of CAA on the treatment and the effects of the treatment on the CAA need to be considered.
A review of troponin assay performance in Wales: can the same (method-dependent) decision limits be used in different sites?

An audit of troponin measurement protocols in use in Wales showed significant variations in practice with no consensus on analytical methods, or in the selection of a decision limit for the diagnosis of myocardial damage. Peer review data on assay imprecision at concentrations approaching the analytical limit of detection are lacking. The objective of the study was to establish clinically relevant precision profiles for the troponin methods used throughout Wales, which could be used to develop a standardized approach to the selection of a decision limit. A series of five pools of human serum spiked with troponin I-T complex were prepared and stored at -7°C until despatch. Five sets of each pool were dispatched to all Welsh laboratories and stored at -20°C until analysis. The analysis protocol consisted of two replicates of each pool per batch, and two batches per day for five days (n=20). All the laboratories performed all the measurements in the same week. The lowest concentration providing a 10% coefficient of variation (CV) was 0.02 µg/L for the Roche method and 0.11 µg/L for the Beckman AccuTnI. The lowest concentrations that could be distinguishable from the 99th percentile reference limit were 0.02 µg/L for the Roche method and 0.07 µg/L for the Beckman AccuTnI. Current methods do not achieve the 10% CV at the 99th percentile reference limit proposed by the European Society of Cardiology. Use of the lowest concentration that can be reliably distinguished from the 99th percentile reference limit offers a novel alternative decision limit, which provides a slightly lower concentration than at the 10% CV but maintaining confidence in the assay that false-positive rates will be minimized.
Le bridge, nouveau défi de l'intelligence artificielle ?

RÉSUMÉ. Le jeu de bridge est un jeu extrêmement complexe et ce aussi bien pour les humains que pour les programmes de bridge. Contrairement au jeu de Go où l’IA AlphaGo a récemment atteint le niveau de grand maître, les IA de bridge sont encore loin des meilleurs joueurs humains. La différence essentielle entre les deux jeux porte sur l’aspect information incomplète omniprésent dans le bridge. Un programme expert de ce jeu pourrait donc réaliser des tâches différentes et complémentaires de celles traitées par AlphaGo. La première partie de cet article est consacrée à la présentation des différents aspects du bridge et de quelques pistes de réflexion sur les différents challenges qui lui sont inhérents ainsi que des résultats obtenus par la communauté bridge informatisé. Dans la seconde partie, nous présentons nos travaux concernant l’adaptation au bridge d’une méthode récente permettant d’optimiser des IA de jeux en recherchant une graine aléatoire meilleure que les autres sur le jeu concerné. L’IA Wbridge5 développée par Yves Costel a été boostée avec la meilleure graine trouvée a l’issue de ces expériences et a remporté les championnats du monde de robots de bridge en septembre 2016.
Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Low Income Women of Mexican Descent in the United States

Survey methods were used to collect cross-sectional data on PTSD symptoms in the context of resources, risks, and strengths of a convenience sample of 315 low income women of Mexican descent. Women were compared by generation in the US, including Mexico-born women who immigrated as adults (≥age 18), as teens (age 12–17), or as children (≤age 12), and US-born women whose parents and/or grandparents were Mexico-born. Results showed that US-born women reported significantly more types of trauma than women who immigrated as adults or teens, and more PTSD symptoms than women who immigrated as adults. Also, one to three times as many women who were exposed to the United States before age 18 reported sexual trauma exposure compared with women who immigrated as adults. In a three-step multiple regression analysis, lack of intrinsic strength factors (13%) accounted for more variance in PTSD symptoms than resources (6%) or risks (10%; p < 0.001).
Optimal Lot Sizing Under Carload Discount Schedules

Abstract In order to encourage customers to buy more of an item, suppliers often offer discount schedules, most common ones being all-units and incremental discounts. The carload discounts schedule is one of the simplest schedules that are commonly used in practice. In this paper, an optimal lot sizing procedure is developed for this model. It turns out that the procedure is extremely simple, contrary to the expectations reported in the literature.
Economists' and Criminologists' Views on Guns: Crime, Suicides, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handgun Laws

Economists and Criminologists have very different models of human behavior. A total of 74 out of all 130 academics who published peer-reviewed empirical research on gun issues in criminology and economics journals responded to our survey. That was a 57% response rate. Looking at their views on their views on deterrence and regulations generally, our survey finds that these two groups have very different views on gun regulations that vary in systematic, predictable ways. Our survey results are consistent with those predictions and statistically significant. While economists tend to view guns as making people safer, criminologists hold this position less strongly. Combining all the economists and criminologists together shows that researchers believe that guns are used more in self-defense than in crime; gun-free zones attract criminals; guns in the home do not increase the risk of suicide; concealed handgun permit holders are much more law-abiding than the typical American; and that permitted concealed handguns lower the murder rate. All those results are statistically significant. The survey of economists was conducted from August 25th to September 12th 2014. The survey of criminologists was conducted from May 29th to June 14th 2015.