Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Quantitative Evaluation of Costs, Opportunities, Benefits, and Risks Accompanying the Use of E-Government Services in Qatar

Providers of e-government systems and policymakers recognize that usability and adoption are key success indicators of e-government services. Borrowed from the field of e-commerce, several models were proposed and tested in the literature to evaluate users' adoption of e-government services in different contexts. This chapter examines users' satisfaction with e-government services in Qatar reflected by the cost, opportunity, benefit, and risk of using these e-services. After a quick review on research works done on evaluating e-government services in the Middle East region, quantitative data collected from three e-government services in Qatar is presented and analyzed using structural equation modelling techniques. Results revealed that while the hypotheses linking cost and opportunity to satisfaction were rejected, benefits and risk were significantly able to explain the level of users' satisfaction with e-government services.
Promises and Perils in 3 D Architecture

The idea of 3D stacking architecture was initially introduced to postpone the end of Moore’s law for CMOS technology. By stacking dies vertically on each other and connecting them with die-to-die vias, overall timing and energy efficiency improve due to better routing and shorter wires. It also introduces the notion of mixed process technology integration, connecting dies with different process technologies with high bandwidth connections. The promise of 3D also brings with it a new set of challenges in managing thermal constraints, power delivery networks, and coming to terms with changes to transistor properties caused by new types of mechanical stress. This paper overviews the primary methods for 3D stacking, the challenges it faces, and studies its opportunities in broad design range: from general-purpose to application-specific systems. In the last part, these implementations are evaluated and some future directions are proposed.
Are Mindfulness-Based Interventions Effective for Substance Use Disorders? A Systematic Review of the Evidence

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly suggested as therapeutic approaches for effecting substance use and misuse (SUM). The aim of this article is to review current evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of MBIs for SUM. A literature search was undertaken using four electronic databases and references of retrieved articles. The search included articles written in English published up to December 2011. Quality of included trials was assessed. In total, 24 studies were included, three of which were based on secondary analyses of previously investigated samples. Current evidence suggests that MBIs can reduce the consumption of several substances including alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, cigarettes, and opiates to a significantly greater extent than waitlist controls, non-specific educational support groups, and some specific control groups. Some preliminary evidence also suggests that MBIs are associated with a reduction in craving as well as increased mindfulness. The limited generalizability of the reviewed findings is noted (i.e., small sample size, lack of methodological details, and the lack of consistently replicated findings). More rigorous and larger randomized controlled studies are warranted.
Can evolutionary tools reliably tell us about dengue virus' past outbreaks?

The mosquito-borne dengue virus is most prevalent in southeastern Asia, with four common strains or “serotypes” of the virus infecting up to 10% of children in Vietnam annually. Dengue virus is a major challenge for evolutionary biologists because of its complex ecology and rapidly changing disease dynamics. But can evolutionary models become a reliable tool for epidemiologists studying infectious disease? Coming up with a model to relate dengue’s genealogical history, or phylodynamics, with the epidemiology of the disease is challenging because of its complexity: seasonal infection rates, changes in mosquito population sizes, different viral strains, urban versus rural populations densities, and the widespread movement of people—where viruses can usurp geographic boundaries—are all contributing factors. Now, Rasmussen et al. (2013) have looked at dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1) in southern Vietnam, the most dominant endemic strain of the virus, for which a large number of sequence samples (237) are available along with reliable data on dengue hospitalizations. They incorporated some of these additional ecological complexities to tweak different phylodynamic models and were able to reconstruct dengue’s past dynamics from genealogies that are consistent with the observed hospitalization data and also lead to new insights into the factors shaping viral family histories. Their best-fit models accounted for population variation in urban versus rural areas or the population dynamics of mosquitos, matching the hospital-reported cases. This gave new insights for the researchers to create new and improved models that are more reliable and accurate for the complex dynamics of infectious disease.
Pregabalin-Associated Stuttering in a Patient With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Case Report.

when she previously received lithium carbonate at 600 mg daily 1 year ago. At that time, despite normal serum levels of lithium, the patient reported having hypersalivation that subsided when she voluntarily stopped her medication a few weeks later. According to the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, this case scored 6 corresponding to a probable adverse drug reaction related to the administration of lithium carbonate. Lithium is known to be related to hyposalivation because it inhibits adenylyl cyclases, but few cases of hypersalivation related to lithium have been described, even with normal serum levels of lithium (0.85, 1.15, and 0.65 mEq/L). Accordingly, the appearance of hypersalivation in our patient can be considered as an adverse effect of lithium carbonate intake. However, this adverse effect is very rare in the medical literature and had appeared at both treatment trials of lithium carbonate by our patient. In addition, at both treatment trials, our patient had been taking an antihypertensive medication that usually increases the serum level of lithium. It is known that lithium has a narrow therapeutic index, and many patients on longterm lithium therapy experience some form of toxicity as the result of pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs including angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin conversion enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Lithium is removed from the body through glomerular filtration, with subsequent reabsorption occurring in the tubules and mostly in the proximal tubule. When the conversion enzyme of angiotensin is inhibited, sodium and water reabsorption decreases and lithium clearance decreases which increases serum lithium levels. In addition, lithium toxicity on collecting duct cells can manifest through the downregulation of aquaporin-2, altering the concentrating capacity of the urine and thus resulting in polyuria with subsequent polydypsia. Bipolar patients receiving lithium carbonate in addition to an ACE inhibitor or an ARB are at a high risk of developing lithium intoxication especially those who have a high lithium serum level (between 0.8 and 1.2 mEq/L). Case reports of patients manifesting with signs and symptoms of lithium intoxication without high lithium serum levels exist. Patients at advanced age, having a pre-existing neurological or a general medical condition or a combination of lithium carbonatewith other psychopharmacologic agents, are known to develop lithium intoxication without high lithium serum levels. In this regard, intra–red blood cell concentration of lithium may better reflect lithium intoxication when lithium serum levels are in the therapeutic range. On
Detection of ureolytic activity of bacterial strains isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes using infrared spectroscopy

The pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) depends directly on the presence of bacteria in the nematode digestive tracts. Based on 16S rRNA and MALDI‐TOF analyses 20 isolated bacteria were assigned to 10 species with 10 isolates classified as Pseudomonas ssp. Six strains (30%) show ureolytic activity on Christensen medium. Spectroscopic analysis of the strains showed that the ureolytic activity is strongly correlated with the following wavenumbers: 935 cm−1 in window W4, which carries information about the bacterial cell wall construction and 1158 cm−1 in window W3 which corresponds to proteins in bacterial cell. A logistic regression model designed on the basis of the selected wavenumbers differentiates ureolytic from non‐ureolytic bacterial strains with an accuracy of 100%. Spectroscopic studies and mathematical analyses made it possible to differentiate EPN‐associated Pseudomonas sp. strains from clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. These results suggest, that infrared spectra of EPN‐associated Pseudomonas sp. strains may reflect its adaptation to the host.
Role of hemodilutional anemia and transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass in renal injury after coronary revascularization: Implications on operative outcome*

Objective:Acute renal injury and failure (ARF) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been linked to low on-pump hematocrit (hematocrit). We aimed to 1) elucidate if and how this relation is modulated by the duration of CPB (TCPB) and on-pump packed red blood cell transfusions and 2) to quantify the impact of post-CPB renal injury on operational outcome and resource utilization. Design:Retrospective review. Setting:A Northwest Ohio community hospital. Patients:Adult coronary artery bypass surgery patients with CPB but no preoperative renal failure. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We quantified post-CPB renal injury via 1) the peak postoperative change in serum creatinine (Cr) level relative to pre-CPB values (%&Dgr;Cr) and 2) ARF, defined as the coincidence of post-CPB Cr ≥2.1 mg/dL and >2 times pre-CPB Cr. The separate effects of lowest hematocrit, intraoperative packed RBC transfusions, and TCPB on %&Dgr;Cr and ARF were derived via multivariate regression, overlapping quintile subgroup analyses, and propensity matching. Lowest hematocrit (22.0% ± 4.6% sd), TCPB (94 ± 35 mins), and pre-CPB Cr (1.01 ± 0.23 mg/dL) varied widely. %&Dgr;Cr varied substantially (24 ± 57%), and ARF was documented in 89 patients (5.1%). Both %&Dgr;Cr (p < .001) and ARF (p < .001) exhibited sigmoidal dose-dependent associations to lowest hematocrit that were 1) modulated by TCPB such that the renal injury was exacerbated as TCPB increased, 2) worse in patients with relatively elevated pre-CPB Cr (≥1.2 mg/dL), and 3) worse with intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusions (n = 385; 21.9%), in comparison with patients at similar lowest hematocrit. Operative mortality (p < .01) and hospital stays (p < .001) were increased systematically and significantly as a function of increased post-CPB renal injury. Conclusions:CPB hemodilution to hematocrit <24% is associated with a systematically increased likelihood of renal injury (including ARF) and consequently worse operative outcomes. This effect is exacerbated when CPB is prolonged with intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusions and in patients with borderline renal function. Our data add to the concerns regarding the safety of currently accepted CPB practice guidelines.
It Governance In The Banking Sector: Evidence From Italy, Germany, France And Spain

The paper analyzes Information Technology (IT) governance disclosure on a sample of the major 20 EU banks (from Italy, Germany, France and Spain) to observe if, how and where banks report on their IT governance issues. Since IT governance (like other aspects of banking business) can be influenced by regulatory environment, we examine whether any differences in supervisor attitude to IT concern will induce differences in IT governance across countries. IT is an intrinsic component of banks’ operational functioning; it is a key resource in developing and supporting banking services, enabling institutions’ strategies, and it is essential for almost all banking processes and distribution channels. IT and data architectures are also becoming even more necessary to improve banks’ risk management process, and support the broad management of financial risks. Due to this increasing relevance of IT, it is necessary to pay more attention to IT governance as an integral part of banking corporate governance, making sure that IT processes are fully integrated into the life cycle of business process and used as an enhancer of organizational strategy and goals. Recurring to IT governance transparency, as a key mechanism of corporate governance, we: i) elaborate an original IT governance framework; ii) perform a content analysis on banks public disclosure and a selected number of supervisors’ official documents (2008-2015) to build up IT governance indices; iii) run a multidimensional analysis to detect causal relationships between variables. Our analysis indicates that differences in the level of IT governance disclosure are bank specific and not related to country’s institutional settings; we also observed an increasing consistent attention of both supervisors and banks to IT issues starting from 2013.
Islet-like cell clusters occur naturally in human gall bladder and are retained in diabetic conditions†

A 53-year-old woman was admitted for persistent stomach ache. Ultrasonography examination revealed presence of gallstones and the patient electively decided to go for cholecystectomy. She had been diabetic for past 12 years and diabetes was controlled with combinations of drug, exercise and/or insulin injection as advised by her physician. Following cholecystectomy, gall bladder was taken to the laboratory and processed for routine histochemistry and immunostaining. The gall bladder showed normal morphology with columnar epithelial cells (Fig. 1A). We also observed presence of a large number of (‘islet-like’) cell aggregates (Fig. 1B) in epithelial cells isolated from the gall bladder. These aggregates were seen to be immunopositive for pancreatic islet hormones (Fig. 1C): insulin (green) and glucagon (red). The presence of such hormone-producing cells in hepato-biliary epithelium has been documented in mice [1]. In our laboratory, we observe the presence of such hormone-containing islet-like cell aggregates even in non-diabetic individuals. Such aggregates show presence of islet hormones and also contain (pro-) hormone transcript in high abundance (Supporting Fig. S1). Here, we present an unusual case wherein insulin-producing cells were seen to be retained in the gall bladder of a diabetic woman. Co-expression of insulin and glucagon hormones in several of these epithelial cells suggests that these hormone-containing cells may be similar to the ‘immature’ islet cells observed during pancreas development. Pro-insulin and pro-glucagon transcripts were detectable in these cells by TaqMan based duplex real-time PCR (Fig. 1C). These observations demonstrate for the first time that hormone-containing cell aggregates present in non-diabetic human beings may be retained in diabetic individuals. Though we presently do not understand the mechanisms that contribute to generation of hormone-producing cells in human gall bladder, these observations reveal that gall bladder epithelial cells can be a potentially important source of islet progenitors for cell replacement therapy in diabetes. 1 Gall bladder epithelial cells in a diabetic woman. Paraffin sections obtained from gall bladder of a 53-year-old woman were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Sections show epithelial cells lining the inner layer of gall bladder (A). Isolated epithelial .
Heterogeneity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Makassar, Indonesia.

SETTING Patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) visiting government TB diagnostic and treatment centres in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, from February to October 2008 were included in the study. OBJECTIVE To determine the distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes in Makassar. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. Spoligotyping, mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) and principal genetic grouping (PGG) were used to genotype the M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. RESULTS Among 179 isolates derived from pulmonary TB patients, distribution of spoligotypes comprised the East Africa-Indian (30.2%), T (17.9%), H (12.3%) and Beijing (9.5%) lineages. Other lineages found in smaller proportions were the Latin American-Mediterranean, MANU, S and X lineages. Nineteen isolates (10.6%) could not be grouped into any of the reported lineages or shared types. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of katG(463) and gyrA(95) grouped these isolates primarily into PGG1 (9/19, 47%). CONCLUSION Only a few genetically identical clustered isolates were identified within the 9-month study period, and most isolates were genetically diverse. Furthermore, 15 spoligopatterns identified in our study have not been reported previously. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study describing genotypes of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates in Sulawesi.
Quantitative Assessment and Repeatability of Chlorine in Exhaled Breath Condensate

Background: Airway condition is presumably reflected in epithelial lining fluid (ELF). Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been used as a surrogate marker of the composition of ELF. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the technical repeatability of chlorine measurements in EBC and comparing two separate condensators (Ecoscreen® and R Tube™) regarding recovery and repeatability. Furthermore, the association between condensate recoveries and variations in the airway status were scrutinized. Methods: EBC was collected using two condensators from 10 healthy volunteers. In addition, 13 asthmatic patients produced EBC with or without an added resistance of 5 cm H2O (Res5), applied to the outflow tract of Ecoscreen. All tests were done in random order. Chlorine levels (analyzed by a coulometric technique) in EBC served as a tool for investigation. Results: Chlorine was measurable in all samples. The coefficient of repeatability of chlorine measurements was <10%. Chlorine levels were higher in EBC obtained from R Tube (p < 0.001), and differences in recoveries and variability in chlorine levels were presumably related to technical differences in the condensators and not to the repeatability of chlorine measurements per se. Air-flow-dependent chlorine levels were obtained from healthy volunteers. Application of Res5, recruiting additional alveoli, resulted in increased recovery of the EBC volume, but not of chlorine, from those that had the most pronounced airway obstruction (p = 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that by employing a sensitive analysis technique, chlorine is repeatedly measurable in EBC. We suggest that the bulk of chlorine in EBC originates from large airways and not from the alveolar area. Both condensators were comparable regarding repeatability but differed regarding chlorine recovery.
Field intercomparison of the gas/particle partitioning of oxygenated organics during the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) in 2013

ABSTRACT We present results of the first intercomparison of real-time instruments for gas/particle partitioning of organic species. Four recently-developed instruments that directly measure gas/particle partitioning in near-real time were deployed in Centreville, Alabama during the Southern Oxidant Aerosol Study (SOAS) in 2013. Two instruments were filter inlet for gases and aerosols high-resolution chemical ionization mass spectrometers (FIGAERO-HRToF-CIMS) with acetate (A-CIMS) and iodide (I-CIMS) ionization sources, respectively; the third was a semi-volatile thermal desorption aerosol GC-MS (SV-TAG); and the fourth was a high-resolution thermal desorption proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometer (HR-TD-PTRMS). Signals from these instruments corresponding to several organic acids were chosen for comparison. The campaign average partitioning fractions show good correlation. A similar level of agreement with partitioning theory is observed. Thus the intercomparison exercise shows promise for these new measurements, as well as some confidence on the measurement of low versus high particle-phase fractions. However, detailed comparison show several systematic differences that lie beyond estimated measurement errors. These differences may be due to at least eight different effects: (1) underestimation of uncertainties under low signal-to-noise; (2) inlet and/or instrument adsorption/desorption of gases; (3) differences in particle size ranges sampled; (4) differences in the methods used to quantify instrument backgrounds; (5) errors in high-resolution fitting of overlapping ion groups; (6) differences in the species included in each measurement due to different instrument sensitivities; and differences in (7) negative or (8) positive thermal decomposition (or ion fragmentation) artifacts. The available data are insufficient to conclusively identify the reasons, but evidence from these instruments and available data from an ion mobility spectrometer shows the particular importance of effects 6–8 in several cases. This comparison highlights the difficulty of this measurement and its interpretation in a complex ambient environment, and the need for further improvements in measurement methodologies, including isomer separation, and detailed study of the possible factors leading to the observed differences. Further intercomparisons under controlled laboratory and field conditions are strongly recommended. Copyright © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research
King-Casas Economic Exchange Getting to Know You : Reputation and Trust in a Two-Person

, 78 (2005); 308 Science et al. Brooks King-Casas Economic Exchange Getting to Know You: Reputation and Trust in a Two-Person This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. clicking here. colleagues, clients, or customers by , you can order high-quality copies for your If you wish to distribute this article to others here. following the guidelines can be obtained by Permission to republish or repurpose articles or portions of articles ): February 27, 2014 www.sciencemag. org (this information is current as of The following resources related to this article are available online at http://www.sciencemag.org/content/308/5718/78.full.html version of this article at: including high-resolution figures, can be found in the online Updated information and services, http://www.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2005/03/31/308.5718.78.DC1.html can be found at: Supporting Online Material http://www.sciencemag.org/content/308/5718/78.full.html#related found at: can be related to this article A list of selected additional articles on the Science Web sites http://www.sciencemag.org/content/308/5718/78.full.html#ref-list-1 , 9 of which can be accessed free: cites 27 articles This article 152 article(s) on the ISI Web of Science cited by This article has been http://www.sciencemag. org/content/308/5718/78.full. html#related-urls 88 articles hosted by HighWire Press; see: cited by This article has been http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/collection/neuroscience Neuroscience subject collections: This article appears in the following