Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unmeasured anions account for most of the metabolic acidosis in patients with hyperlactatemia.

PURPOSE To characterize the different components of metabolic acidosis in patients with hyperlactatemia in order to determine the degree to which lactate is responsible for the acidosis and the relevance that this might have in the outcome of these patients. METHODS Arterial blood gas, arterial lactate, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, phosphate, albumin, and creatinine were measured on admission to make a diagnosis of the acid-base disturbances present. Intensive Care Unit and in-hospital mortality were also recorded. RESULTS A total of 58 patients with hyperlactatemia were included. They usually had a mild acidemia (pH 7.31 +/- 0.12) and a significantly high Standard Base Deficit (7.6 +/- 6.7 mEq/L). In addition to lactate (4.3 +/- 2.3 mEq/L), chloride (106.9 +/- 9.5 mEq/L) and unmeasured anions (8.6 +/- 5.0 mEq/L) accounted for the metabolic acidosis. Unmeasured anions were primarily responsible for the acidosis in both Intensive Care Unit survivors and nonsurvivors (44.7% +/- 26.0% and 46.0% +/- 17.5%, respectively, P = 0.871). Lactate contributed in similar percentages to the acidosis in both groups (23.0% +/- 11.8% and 24.2% +/- 9.7% in Intensive Care Unit survivors and nonsurvivors, respectively; P = 0.753). Correlation between Standard Base Deficit and lactate was found only in Intensive Care Unit nonsurvivors (r = 0.662, P < 0.01). DISCUSSION Hyperlactatemia is usually accompanied by metabolic acidemia, but lactate is responsible for a minor percentage of the acidosis; unmeasured anions account for most of the acidosis in patients with hyperlactatemia. The percentage of the acidosis due to hyperlactatemia was not relevant in terms of outcome.
Economic Benefits of an ERP System to a Low Tech SME

This case study describes the potential economic benefits for installing enterprise resource planning system in small to medium enterprises, using a study of a small enterprise in the UK. The motivation for the research is to investigate the claim of ERP vendors that their ERP solutions increase the performance of their customers, increase profitability and efficiency of work processes. The case study goes through three years of ERP implementation and this paper discusses what effects the system has had on the company’s overall performance, what the benefits up until now are, and where there could be an enhancement to SMEs from the ERP system. The major benefits accrue from the more accurate estimates the system is able to provide and the resulting improvement in quotes.
The Food Processor II

The late 1 980s were characterized by a growing awareness of the role of nutrition in health, resulting in the proliferation of a number of software packages designed to expedite dietary analysis. At one end of the spectrum are moderately priced packages designed primarily for the consumer with a personal interest in nutrition; at the other end are more expensive packages which are more appropriate for nutrition professionals involved in dietary counseling and/or nutritional research. The Food Processor II is primarily designed to satisfy the latter need, although this package is one of the more affordable of the higher-end nutrition analysis packages. The program functions as follows. First, the user inputs personalized information such as age, sex, height, weight, and activity level for the individual whose diet is to be analyzed. This information is then used to construct an individualized profile, which displays the recommended daily intake levels for 30 nutrients. These levels are based upon the 1989 U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), or they can be based upon the Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intakes. There is currently no established RDA for certain dietary components such as cholesterol, dietary fiber, and sodium, so the program uses suggested values for these nutrients or values based upon the U.S. Dietary Goals. Once the profile has been completed, a food list is then constructed. Individual food items, selected from an extensive data base of 2,400 food items, are identified, and appropriate portion sizes are entered. Up to 45 foods can be entered in a given food list. Generation of this food list is the most time-consuming element for the user. The user then requests a nutrient analysis of the food list, which can then be compared to his or her recommended profile, in tabular as well as graphic form. The graphic output is particularly useful for identifying dietary excesses and deficiencies. The user can obtain additional information on nutrients of interest by using the single nutrient function of the program, which provides a sorted, tabular breakdown of the foods that contributed to a given nutrient. This program was tested on an IBM PS/2 Model 50 with monochrome display. Installation of the package was straightforward, as was use of the program. The sequence of operations is logical, so that the user does not need to refer to the documentation after completing a few analyses. The best features of this program, other than the ease of …
Aldose Reductase Inhibition Prevents Hypoxia-induced Increase in Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) by Regulating 26 S Proteasome-mediated Protein Degradation in Human Colon Cancer Cells*

The development of intratumoral hypoxia, a hallmark of rapidly progressing solid tumors, renders tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We have recently shown that inhibition of aldose reductase (AR), an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of lipid aldehydes and their glutathione conjugates, prevents human colon cancer cell growth in culture as well as in nude mouse xenografts by inhibiting the NF-κB-dependent activation of oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory and carcinogenic markers. However, the role of AR in mediating hypoxic stress signals is not known. We therefore investigated the molecular mechanisms by which AR inhibition prevents the hypoxia-induced human colon cancer cells growth and invasion. Our results indicate that AR inhibition by the pharmacological inhibitor fidarestat or ablation by AR-specific siRNA prevents hypoxia-induced proliferation of HT29, SW480, and Caco-2 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced increase in the level of HIF-1α in colon cancer cells was significantly decreased by AR inhibition. During hypoxic conditions, treatment of HT29 cells with the AR inhibitor fidarestat significantly decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, a down target of HIF-1α, at both mRNA and protein levels and also prevented the activation of PI3K/AKT, GSK3β, Snail, and lysyl oxidase. Furthermore, inhibition of hypoxia-induced HIF-1α protein accumulation by AR inhibition was abolished in the presence of MG132, a potent inhibitor of the 26 S proteasome. In addition, AR inhibition also prevented the hypoxia-induced inflammatory molecules such as Cox-2 and PGE2 and expression of extracellular matrix proteins such as MMP2, vimentin, uPAR, and lysyl oxidase 2. In conclusion, our results indicate that AR mediates hypoxic signals, leading to tumor progression and invasion.
Determinants of beef consumption in China

With working paper 40 dealing with meat consumption in general, this paper focuses on factors affecting beef purchasing decisions in China. Using probit regression analysis, the effect of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics was estimated as well as other influences on preferences as they affect beef purchasing decisions. The relatively high price of beef (34%) and consumers' unfamiliarity with its cooking method (26%) are the main limitations for beef consumption when compared with other meats, followed by 'don't like the taste and smell' which shows that compared with pork, beef is still relatively new to Chinese consumers and some of them are not used to the flavour of beef products. The characteristics of target consumers who show a preference towards beef are: residents of urban areas, a small family or a family with more than average males over 16 years old, the young (below 45 years old) and well educated, possessing a good income and considering safety, price and ease of preparation as important purchasing criteria.
A study differentiating credit risk management strategy between Islamic and non-Islamic Banks in UEA

This study attempts to identify any differences between Islamic and non-Islamic banks in UAE. Furthermore, factors affecting rate of return on lending have also been examined for UAE banks, Islamic and non-Islamic banks. This study has used quantitative research design. Data has been collected through questionnaire. Data is obtained directly as primary evidence from the senior credit risk managers from all the local commercial banks within United Arab Emirates. The sample for the study consists of 6 commercial banks from UAE with 3 non-Islamic and 3 Islamic banks with 148 credit risk managers as respondents for the survey. Descriptive statistic and inferential statistics are used to obtain the results. Islamic and non-Islamic banks differ in 'expert system', 'lending policy' and 'lending decisions'. Islamic banks are performing better making lending decision and lending policies than non-Islamic banks. Whereas, non-Islamic (conventional) banks are having better expert system than Islamic bank. All explanatory variables i.e. bank-wise exposure, experts system, company factors, lending decision, corporate borrowers, demographic variables and lending policy have significant influence on the profitability of UAE banks. Overall, credit risk management practices of Islamic banks are significantly contributing in profitability of banks than non-Islamic banks. Originality - This paper uses questionnaire-based methodology has not been used previously in UAE financial sector as well as in studies of credit risk management. Therefore this research could become the cornerstone of further academic research in other developing countries using this methodology. Practical implication. This study is significantly important for the academic point of view as well as for the practitioners, risk managers and policy makers.
The influence of climate zones on energy efficiency advertising of residential properties

Problem/purpose – Energy used in housing is a major contributor to Australia’s energy consumption and associated environmental impacts. The country’s vastness leads itself into a broad range of climate conditions and each climate zone demands different energy efficient characteristics in housing. Real estate agents play an active role in motivating home buyers in purchasing energy efficient housing through advertising. The objective of this research is to examine whether the nature of promoting energy efficient features in sales advertisements is influenced by the climate zone where the houses are located. Design/methodology/approach – The research examined all detached dwelling advertisements in three climate zones in Victoria, Australia – hot, mild and cool – during the period of 2008 – 2013 with over 40,000 advertisements reviewed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the appearance of different energy efficient characteristics in housing advertisements and if they were influenced by the type of climate zone. Findings – The results highlight that energy efficiency and housing sustainability features were not considered to be a major factor by real estate agents when advertising residential properties. However, there were differences in advertising characteristics related to energy efficient features in different climate zones where the advertisements in colder zones tend to have more words related to energy saving characteristics. Yet distinctive design characteristics for different climate zones are not significantly differentiated in real estate advertisements and agents tend to follow standard wording when describing such features. Originality/value – Much research emphasis has been given to the performance and appropriateness of particular energy efficient technologies within differing climate zones but little regard has been given to how real estate agents engage with the narrative relating to the diffusion of such technologies into the marketing process. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by setting a platform for future research. Research limitations/implications – The specific location of the keywords within the text string was not examined and this will be the subject of future research as it may illuminate the importance given by real estate agents to energy efficient characteristics.
Examining the impact of hospital technology and administrative innovation on performance: An Econometric investigation

ii Acknowledgments . vi Vita . vii List of Tables . xii List of Figures . xiv Chapter 1 . 1 1.1. Research Background and Objectives . 1 1.2. Chapter 2: Essay 1 . 2 1.3. Chapter 3: Essay 2 . 3 1.4. Chapter 4: Essay 3 . 4 Chapter 2 . 6 2.
Role of CD154 in the secondary immune response: the reduction of pre‐existing splenic germinal centers and anti‐factor VIII inhibitor titer

Using the murine model of hemophilia A, we have examined the role of CD154 in the secondary immune response to factor VIII (FVIII). We previously reported that repeated i.v. injection of FVIII in hemophilia A mice induces a T cell‐dependent anti‐FVIII antibody formation. Herein, blocking of CD154 by a monoclonal antibody in FVIII‐primed hemophilia A mice resulted in the disappearance of pre‐existing spleen germinal centers (GC) in the white pulp within 24 h of treatment. Moreover, further expansion of GC in response to FVIII challenge was completely inhibited. In parallel, anti‐FVIII antibody titers were markedly reduced and T cell responses to FVIII were abolished. The rapid disappearance of the GC after anti‐CD154 treatment was not accompanied by increased B cell apoptosis; instead B cells accumulated in the peripheral zone of the splenic white pulp. Interestingly, repeated exposure to FVIII with anti‐CD154 antibody administration blocked anti‐FVIII antibody formation but failed to induce long‐lasting unresponsiveness. Our data demonstrate that the CD40‐CD154 interaction is critical for B cell homeostasis and the secondary immune response to FVIII. For potential clinical application, the data also suggest that therapies targeting the CD154 molecule may be useful for the treatment of high titer FVIII inhibitors in hemophilia A.
Expatriate Managers in China: The Influence of Chinese Culture on Cross-Cultural Management

This article deals with expatriate managers in the People's Republic of China and how their experiences are shaped by the cultural environment in which they work. It, therefore, combines an analysis of Chinese culture and its potential impact on business effectiveness with an account of fieldwork carried out with expatriate managers in the Suzhou Industrial Park, south of Shanghai. Using qualitative analysis we focused on six broad issues: culture shock; language barriers; miscommunication with local staff; staff turnover; empowerment and motivation; and teamwork.
Drug safety evaluation of sorafenib for treatment of solid tumors: consequences for the risk assessment and management of cancer patients

Introduction: Sorafenib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Considerable clinical experience has been accumulated since its first Phase III clinical trial in metastatic renal cancer patients in 2007. The management of its early acute toxicity in fit patients is well known. The management of prolonged treatment becomes the new challenge. Areas covered: Using sorafenib as a key word for PubMed search, we review preclinical and clinical data and discuss the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sorafenib, its acute and cumulative toxicities and their consequences for patient management. Expert opinion: The systematic multi-disciplinary risk assessment of cancer patients prior to TKI initiation reduces the risks of acute and late toxicity, especially drug–drug interactions and arterial risks. Sarcopenia is now identified as a major risk of severe toxicity. The very diverse clinical pictures of cumulative toxicity must be known. The monitoring of sorafenib systemic exposure is helpful especially in elderly patients. Moreover, at disease progression, it allows distinguishing between underexposure to sorafenib and truly acquired resistance to the drug. The optimal use of sorafenib should allow improving the reported results of flat-dose. Finally, most of this knowledge could be used for the development and optimal use of the other TKIs.
Case studies of siblings with juxtaglomerular hyperplasia and secondary aldosteronism associated with severe azotemia and renal rickets--Bartter's syndrome or disease?

In 1962 two cases of juxtaglomerular (J-G) hyperplasia and secondary aldosteronism without hypertension with otherwise near normal renal function were presented. We have followed, since birth, two male siblings (F.T., age 6; J.T., age 3), with many features of "Bartter's syndrome," but who progressed to severe renal failure (F.T. and J.T.) and in one child (F.T.) overt renal rickets. Metabolic alkalosis, high levels of plasma renin activity (PRA) not suppressed by Na loading were found, but renal biopsy (J.T.) and autopsy (F.T.) revealed a severe glomerular and interstitial nephritis with mild J-G hyperplasia (not the typical "invasive" J-G cell hyperplasia seen in Bartter's cases). Balance studies demonstrated renal sodium wasting in both J.T. and F.T. PRA and aldosterone excretion rates were inappropriately high for sodium intake. Severe bone disease present in F.T. was associated with an increase in the total hydroxyproline (HP): Cr ratio to 1.77 (N = .13). Free HP excretion was increased in J.T. in whom bones appeared normal. It is suggested that either the typical cases with "invasive" J-G hyperplasia and near normal renal function represent a distinct entity (? Bartter's disease) or that "Bartter's syndrome" must be extended to include uremia and renal osteodystrophy.
Wireless Head Cap for EOG and Facial EMG Measurements

A head cap made of fabric for measuring EOG and facial EMG signals is presented. Reusable and easy to use electrodes, embroidered of silver coated thread, are integrated into the cap. A two-way wireless data transmission link operating at license free 2.4 GHz frequency band is used for transferring the 16-bit measurement data, sampled with 1 kHz frequency from six channels at maximum, to the receiver device connected to a PC. Tailored PC software is used for displaying the signals and controlling the measurement parameters. The measurement system is intended for recording facial expressions during human emotion studies but it can also be utilized in computer user interface control. The paper shows preliminary results from EOG and facial EMG measurements
Conservation Planning when Costs Are Uncertain

Abstract: Spatially explicit information on the financial costs of conservation actions can improve the ability of conservation planning to achieve ecological and economic objectives, but the magnitude of this improvement may depend on the accuracy of the cost estimates. Data on costs of conservation actions are inherently uncertain. For example, the cost of purchasing a property for addition to a protected‐area network depends on the individual landholder's preferences, values, and aspirations, all of which vary in space and time, and the effect of this uncertainty on the conservation priority of a site is relatively untested. We investigated the sensitivity of the conservation priority of sites to uncertainty in cost estimates. We explored scenarios for expanding (four‐fold) the protected‐area network in Queensland, Australia to represent a range of vegetation types, species, and abiotic environments, while minimizing the cost of purchasing new properties. We estimated property costs for 17, 790 10 × 10 km sites with data on unimproved land values. We systematically changed property costs and noted how these changes affected conservation priority of a site. The sensitivity of the priority of a site to changes in cost data was largely dependent on a site's importance for meeting conservation targets. Sites that were essential or unimportant for meeting targets maintained high or low priorities, respectively, regardless of cost estimates. Sites of intermediate conservation priority were sensitive to property costs and represented the best option for efficiency gains, especially if they could be purchased at a lower price than anticipated. Thus, uncertainty in cost estimates did not impede the use of cost data in conservation planning, and information on the sensitivity of the conservation priority of a site to estimates of the price of land can be used to inform strategic conservation planning before the actual price of the land is known.
Effects of Macrodiversity and Microdiversity on CDMA Forward-Link Capacity

Both macrodiversity and microdiversity can effectively overcome the harmful effect of fading. Much of previous work focused on their benefits to the reverse link in CDMA systems. However, their effects on the forward link are less well understood. In this paper, we analyze the CDMA forward-link capacity with macrodiversity and microdiversity. It is shown that macrodiversity causes forward-link capacity loss since the extra forward-link channels supported by the involved base stations enhance not only the received signal power, but also the total interference. Unfortunately the latter gains more whatever power allocation scheme is adopted. Based on the analysis of the cause of capacity loss, we further present a new transmission scheme, in which some joint control among the involved base stations is made to assure that the signals arrived at the desired mobile in phase and simultaneously. The simulation results show that in the new transmission scheme much higher capacity can be achieved with macrodiversity and the capacity increases rapidly with the number of involved base stations. A comparison of the forward-link capacity with microdiversity and macrodiversity indicates that both types of diversity can bring benefits to the forward-link capacity. However, with macrodiversity higher capacity can be obtained at the cost of complexity. key words: CDMA, forward-link capacity, macrodiversity, mi-
Understanding Muscle Architectural Adaptation: Macro- and Micro-Level Research

Recent research using muscle-imaging techniques has revealed a remarkable plasticity of human muscle architecture where significant changes in fascicle lengths and angles have resulted from the chronic performance, or cessation, of strong muscle contractions. However, there is a paucity of data describing architectural adaptations to chronic stretching, disuse and immobilization, illness, and aging, and those data that are available are equivocal. Understanding their impact is important in order that effective interventions for illness/injury management and rehabilitation, and programs to improve the physical capacity of workers, the aged and athletes can be determined. Nonetheless, recent advances in myocellular research could provide a framework allowing the prediction of architectural changes in these understudied areas. Examination of the site-specific response to mechanical stress of calpain-dependent ubiquitin-proteasome proteolysis, or of the cellular response to stress after the knockout (or incapacitation) of sarcomeric and cytoskeletal proteins involved in cellular signal transduction, provides an exciting paradigm by which myocellular adaptation can be described. Such research might contribute to the understanding of macro-level changes in muscle architecture.