Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A critical analysis of the implementation of policy mechanisms for cost recovery : a case study of the Msunduzi Municipality.

Cost recovery has been widely documented as a means through which local municipalities can financially sustain service provision. In the South African context, the devolution of powers from the national government to local government transferred service delivery functions and financing of service provision to local municipalities. Policy analysts use implementation theory to understand the complexity of policy implementation. There are diverse models which policy implementation analysts use to analyse the implementation process but there is no consensus on an ideal model. This study attempts to analyse the implementation of cost recovery mechanisms at the Msunduzi Municipality. The study found that tailoring of cost recovery principles and other constitutional mandates (such as free basic services) is problematic for local municipalities. The study found that different contexts provide different outcomes of the policies implemented. For instance, the Provincial government intervention after a service delivery crisis of the Msunduzi municipality resulted into contrasting outcomes. Before the Provincial intervention, revenue collection was at 55% and increased to 80% after the intervention. The study also found that the capacity of the local municipality to implement cost recovery mechanisms has a great bearing on the outcome of the policy in question. The Provincial Intervention Team provided the necessary technical and human capacity to improve collection of consumer service debt. This is consistent with implementation theorists like Lipsky, Matland and Wiemer and Vining who argue that contextual factors may lead to divergence from initial intended goals and objectives of a policy or programme. The study also found that implementation of cost recovery is being hampered by non-payment of services charges by consumers, billing and collection problems and failure to comply with the Financial Management Act before the provincial intervention.
Teratology Society Public Affairs Committee position paper: developmental toxicity of endocrine disruptors to humans.

SUSAN BARLOW,1 ROBERT J. KAVLOCK,2 JOHN A. MOORE,3 SUSAN L. SCHANTZ,4 DANIEL M. SHEEHAN,5 DANA L. SHUEY,6 AND JOSEPH M. LARY7* 1Consultant Toxicologist, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6RE United Kingdom 2Reproductive Toxicology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 3Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, Washington, DC 20006 4Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61802 5Genetic and Reproductive Toxicology Division, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079 6DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company, Stine-Haskell Research Center, Newark, Delaware 19714 7Division of Birth Defects and Pediatric Genetics, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Plasma proteomics of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation on chronic anti-coagulation with warfarin or a direct factor Xa inhibitor

Summary Plasma proteins mediate thrombogenesis, inflammation, endocardial injury and structural remodelling in atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesised that anti-coagulation with rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, would differentially modulate biologically-relevant plasma proteins, compared with warfarin, a multi-coagulation protein antagonist. We performed unbiased liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy and candidate multiplexed protein immunoassays among Japanese subjects with non-valvular chronic AF who were randomly assigned to treatment with 24 weeks of rivaroxaban (n=93) or warfarin (n=94). Nine metaproteins, including fibulin-1 (p=0.0033), vitronectin (p=0.0010), haemoglobin α(p=0.0012), apolipoproteins C-II (p=0.0017) and H (p=0.0023), complement C5 precursor (p=0.0026), coagulation factor XIIIA (p=0.0026) and XIIIB (p=0.0032) subunits, and 10 candidate proteins, including thrombomodulin (p=0.0004), intercellular adhesion molecule-3 (p=0.0064), interleukin-8 (p=0.0007) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (p=0.0003), were differentially expressed among patients with and without known clinical risk factors for stroke and bleeding in AF. Compared with warfarin, rivaroxaban treatment was associated with a greater increase in thrombomodulin (Δ0.1 vs. 0.3 pg/ml, p=0.0026) and a trend towards a reduction in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (Δ2.2 vs. –4.9 pg/ml, p=0.0757) over 24 weeks. Only modest correlations were observed between protein levels and prothrombin time, factor Xa activity and prothrombinase-induced clotting time. Plasma proteomics can identify distinct functional patterns of protein expression that report on known stroke and bleeding risk phenotypes in an ethnically-homogeneous AF population. The greater upregulation of thrombomodulin among patients randomised to rivaroxaban represents a proof-of-principle that pharmacoproteomics can be employed to discern novel effects of factor Xa inhibition beyond standard pharmacodynamic measures.
The dark side of CEO succession

This paper looks at the succession process reviewing some of the psychological forces which corne into play at such times. Factors such as the denial of death, the need for a legacy, loss of power, unconscious sabotage and the need for reprisai will be discussed. The psychological ramifications of chosing between an insider versus an outsider will be another issue to be explored. Finally, in creating a smooth transition, the key role of the board is emphasized.
Variation in the digestive capacity of the broiler chicken.

A diet for broiler chickens that provides the nutrients essential for maintenance and growth of the flock as a whole may also have chemical and physical properties which are detrimental to the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport and utilization of nutrients. The digestive capacity of the chicken can be modelled according to interactions between feed– related and bird–related factors known to affect energy metabolism. The results of recent experimental work in Australia to examine these interactions provide evidence that gut morphology and bacterial colonisation of the gut are at least partially dependent on the sex of the chicken. Clearly, gut microflora have a highly significant impact on between–bird variation in the digestive capacity of the broiler chicken. This has very important commercial implications for the nutrition and management of broilers. Sex–related differences may be important in uptake and utilization of energy and other nutrients, and in responses to anti–nutritional factors, feed enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, other feed additives, and vaccinations against gut pathogens.
Tourism and the Halal Industry: A Global Shari'ah Perspective

Upon first glance, Islamic tourism seems only to cater for the needs of millions of Muslims around the globe who are performing hajj or umrah, visiting Mecca and Medina, or the shrines of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. Yet in many ways Islamic tourism is lagging behind more conventional forms of international tourism and has yet to realise its fuller potentials. This article addresses the shariah concepts of halal and haram and their manifestations in the halal industry and tourism in two main areas: market developments of interest to halal tourism internationally and those that have taken place in Malaysia. Other topics discussed are halal certification procedures, the role of fatwas in the determination of halal, and more generally the return of Islamic values to the market place. The final segment of this article addresses the role of custom, culture, and religion as they are manifested in the behaviour of Muslim travellers and tourists.
Management of Innovation in Small and Medium Enterprises: A Case Study Approach

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) help in strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation. These enterprises contribute to economy by providing employment to large number of people and also significantly to growth and GDP of an economy. Knowledge has become important factor of success and has replaced old factors like labor and capital. In order to survive in the globalized market, small and medium enterprises use knowledge to innovate. But there are some small and medium enterprises in India that remain non-innovative. Non-innovative small and medium enterprises are not able to recognize business environmental factors. As a result of which they fail to survive and eventually perish. The research study explores few innovative small and medium enterprises from the selected sector i.e. information technology and pharmaceutical sector. The present study presents few case studies of small and medium enterprises in information technology and pharmaceutical sector in India. These case studies look at the background information, management of innovation, factors that influence innovation, resources of innovation that affect implementation of innovative practices in SMEs. Some enterprises are start-ups which have been started by first time entrepreneurs but some are decade old companies which have grown with time. The factors that influenced the innovation are opportunities, new business proposition, high cost of existing product, aim to have more market share or to be the market leader or to provide affordable medicine to everybody. The management of innovation differed in the different sectors owing to different nature of the sectors.
Early assessment of knee function and quality of life in patients after total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to assess knee function and changes of the perceived quality of life before total knee replacement surgery and after four weeks of post-operative rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 200 patients with Kellgren III/IV osteoarthritis of the knee who received a total cemented knee endoprosthesis and underwent comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation for four weeks. The Lysholm and Gilquist Knee Scale was used to assess the clinical status of the patients and the SF-36 Questionnaire served to evaluate the quality of life. Patients were evaluated before the operation and after the four-week rehabilitation. RESULTS A significant improvement in the following knee functions was observed after four weeks of rehabilitation: walking, climbing stairs, stability, and turning around on one leg. The pain, swelling and limp decreased. The quality of life after the four-week rehabilitation was considerably better in the domains of physical function and emotional status. CONCLUSIONS The positive effects of surgery and rehabilitation on knee function and quality of life can be observed as early as after four weeks of rehabilitation following total knee replacement.
Sex and the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) and related developmental disorders are more common in males than in females, but the reasons for this disparity are uncertain. Males born very preterm also appear to be more vulnerable to white matter injury and intraventricular hemorrhage than females. Experimental studies in adult animals and data from adult patients with stroke indicate that sex hormones such as estrogens provide protection against hypoxic‐ischemic injury, and the neonatal brain is also influenced by these hormones. However, hormonal influences on the fetus and neonates are substantially different from those on adults. Recent data from neonatal rodents subjected to hypoxia‐ischemia also demonstrate differences between males and females. Knockout of the gene for poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP‐1), a major step in the cascade of injury, protected male but not female mouse pups from hypoxic‐ischemic injury. Other reports demonstrated major differences between male and female neurons grown separately in cell culture, suggesting that sex differences in the fetal or neonatal period result from intrinsic differences in cell death pathways. This new information indicates that there are important neurobiological differences between males and females with respect to their response to brain injuries. This information is relevant to understanding the pathogenesis of CP as well as to the design of future clinical trials of potential neuroprotective strategies.
A biped gait learning algorithm for humanoid robots based on environmental impact assessed artificial bee colony

Gait pattern performance is a very important issue in the field of humanoid robots, and more and more researchers are now engaged in such studies. However, the tuning processes of the parameters or postures are very tedious and time-consuming. In order to solve this problem, an artificial bee colony (ABC) learning algorithm for a central pattern generator (CPG) gait produce method is proposed in this paper. Furthermore, the fitness of the bee colony is considered through environmental impact assessment, and it is also estimated from the cause of colony collapse disorder from the results of recent investigations in areas, such as pesticides, electromagnetic waves, viruses, and the timing confusion of the bee colony caused by climate change. Each environmental disaster can be considered by its adjustable weighting values. In addition, the developed biped gait learning method is called the ABC-CPG algorithm, and it was verified in a self-developed high-integration simulator. The strategy systems, motion control system, and gait learning system of the humanoid robot are also integrated through the proposed 3-D simulator. Finally, the experimental results show that the proposed environmental-impact-assessed ABC-CPG gait learning algorithm is feasible and can also successfully achieve the best gait pattern in the humanoid robot.
Fast Random Bit Generation in Optical Domain With Ultrawide Bandwidth Chaotic Laser

We propose a novel scheme of random bit generator which does signal processing in the optical domain. The output of an ultrawide bandwidth chaotic laser is sampled through an electrooptical modulator, then quantized by an all-optical flip-flop, and finally coded into random bit sequences. Simulation results show that 5-Gb/s random bits in the return-to-zero format and with a duty ratio of 1/2 can be generated, which can pass standard statistical tests for randomness after an exclusive-or operation.
Patient’s Comfort and Technical Quality Exams at 1.5 and 3.0 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Increased interest of clinicians for using 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as imaging modality of choice for their patients, has been evident in the past few years. The aim of this study was to compare the technical quality of the obtained tomography using 3.0 T and 1.5 T MRI, and to compare the subjective feeling of discomfort of patients and subjective acoustic noise experience during imaging using MRI at 3.0 T and 1.5 T. Brain MRI (1.5 and 3.0 T) was performed in 58 patients, according to a standardized protocol. All studies have been randomly described by independent two radiologists. The reference standard for the existence of technical artifact is established on the basis of both radiologists’ consensus. We also compared the subjective feelings of the discomfort and acoustic noise during the both MRI (1.5 T and 3.0 T) exams. Artifacts were significantly more common during 3.0 T MRI in comparison with the 1.5 T MRI (χ2 = 5.286, P < 0.05), as well as in male patients (χ2 = 8.841, P < 0.05), and sub-jective assessments of discomfort and acoustic noise were higher in patients who underwent imaging using 3.0 T MRI, (χ2 = 125.959, df = 1, P < 0.001) and in females (χ2 = 195.449, df = 1, P < 0.001). Additional research is needed to prove that appropriate information for patients about the discomfort during 3.0 T MRI and their psychological preparation is very important element for optimal use of 3.0 T MRI in daily clinical practice.
Precision bonders - A game changer for monolithic 3D

It is well recognized that dimensional scaling has reached its diminishing return phase and the industry is now looking to monolithic 3D to be the future technology driver. This was clearly voiced in the Qualcomm keynote at DAC 2014. This paper will present the game changing impact of the emerging precision bonders, such as EVG's Gemini® XT FB. Innovative process flows combined with a 'Smart Alignment' technique could enable any semiconductor vendor to integrate monolithic 3D into its existing manufacturing line and existing process flows with minimal technology challenge. This provides a natural path for product innovation and an unparalleled competitive edge. In sharp contrast, prior published works on monolithic 3D were conditioned on new process flows and new transistor formation recipes. In addition, this game-changer breakthrough offers a very cost competitive flow.
The taming of ketamine *

Ketamine first became available in Britain for clinical trial in January 1970, but early results revealed a high incidence of delirium and unpleasant dreams during the recovery period. ’ These sequelae were particularly severe in unpremedicated patients undergoing minor gynaecological operations lasting less than 15 min. Published studies have shown the importance of the dose of ketamine,’ presupplementation of a n a e s t h e ~ i a , ~ . ~ sex of the ~ a t i e n t , ~ and the type and duration of in determining the nature and severity of sequelae. Fig. 1 summarizes the incidence of undesired effects found in the studies from this centre and shows the need for further investigations. Ketamine possesses many unique properties, such as ability to be given by the intravenous or intramuscular route, and the production of profound analgesia without cardiovascular depression. These could, in certain circumstances, make it superior as an induction agent to any other at present in clinical use, provided the post-operative problems could be minimized. It was thus felt that a study of adjuvants which would further reduce these sequelae was indicated, and this paper shows how acceptable results can be obtained in general surgical patients.
System integration of GaN technology

Gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor technology offers a potential for significant performance increase in power electronic converters. This potential cannot be fully exploited if GaN devices are used as drop-in replacement for silicon devices in existing systems. This paper investigates the switching limits influenced by the device output parasitic capacitance and parasitic inductance of the commutation cell capacitor. The trade-offs between thermal management and high frequency switching of GaN devices in power converters are explored. Finally, an outlook on technology needs for 3D integration of GaN converters for achieving high switching frequencies and power densities is given.
Evaluating the Impact of Insurance Companies in the Development of Insurance Practices in Bangladesh

This article attempts to explore the ultimate determinants affecting the recent progress of insurance company in Bangladesh. The whole scenario is presented through focusing on the various elements affecting the performance of insurance company over a period of time. These performances of insurance companies are affected by many macro economic variables such as savings and investment, distribution of wealth, interest rate and economic growth such as GDP. The models developed in this paper make known that some of the determinants such as premium, pooling of risk, endowment, insurable interest, utmost good faith and so forth. Although in Bangladeshi perspective insurance is still in the dark side of our daily life. As a upshot, this paper examines whether the so called insurance companies are really playing an effective role for the betterment of Bangladeshi economy equal wealth distribution the cornerstone of success.
Intrapreneurship Prerequisites and Outcomes in High-Tech Industries

For achieving profitable growth, many companies have developed new approaches to innovate and to create new businesses. Management acts as a facilitator and promoter of intrapreneurship. Management activities affect organisational culture and the basic assumptions of intrapreneurship in terms of risk taking, innovation, creativity and learning to result into change within the organisation. It is evident that intrapreneurship provides a ground for competitive advantage to an existing organisation. During the first stage of the study, the effect of total pre-requisites of intrapreneurship on the total intrapreneurship outcome, and its factors and dimensions amongst the employees having 1to10 years of work experience in hi-tech industries was determined. The final sample of 80 executives was drawn on a random basis from various hi-tech industries located in and around Indore.
Regulatory Reform Of Stock And Futures Markets

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Iodinated contrast prior to evaluation for thyrotoxicosis.

BACKGROUND Radioactive iodine is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis. However, in many patients these tests are not possible to obtain due to recent administration of iodinated contrast for other types of diagnostic studies, most frequently computed tomography (CT) scans. OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of iodinated contrast use in hospital inpatients newly diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis and the utility of these studies. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Academic medical center. INTERVENTION None. PATIENTS Inpatients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis who were seen in consultation by the endocrinology service. MEASUREMENTS The records of inpatient endocrinology consultations (n = 1171) performed by our service over a 4-year period were reviewed. Records of patients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis were identified and reviewed to determine if iodinated contrast had been recently administered, the types of studies it was used for, and the results of those studies. RESULTS Forty-five patients (45%) had been given iodinated contrast within 2 weeks prior to endocrinology evaluation, 43 for CT scanning, and 2 for angiography. Of the patients who underwent CT scanning, 7 (16%) had a finding that potentially changed their inpatient management. Only 1 of these patients required emergent treatment of a condition diagnosed by CT scan before further diagnostic studies could have been performed. CONCLUSIONS A substantial number of inpatients with thyrotoxicosis receive iodinated contrast prior to endocrinologic evaluation. Acute findings from these studies that change patient management are uncommon. Awareness of this issue may facilitate care of hospitalized patients with thyrotoxicosis.