Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of communication to the efficiency and success of the banking industry in Kenya. a case study of ABC bank Limited

The objectives o f this study were to identify the effects o f communication in relation to efficiency and success of the banking industry in Kenya. The study also intended to give insights into the factors that affect communication and their characteristics and also give recommendations on the way they can be refined The pnmary data was collected by use o f structured questionnaire. The target population of the study was the banking industry in Kenya while the accessible population was Koinange street branch of ABC bank. The sample compnsed twenty employees o f the afore named bank The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics such as percentages frequencies and chi squire was used to show dependence valuables. The study revealed that tools of communication that allow feedback tended to increase clarity in communication and hence greater efficiency. The study found out that nsing levels o f computer usage as a tool of communication in an organization tended to fractionalize employees. Communication thus becomes more mechanistic and impersonal. This hinders social interaction which is a vital ingredient of effective communication. The study discovered that employee motivation levels have an impact on communication. The study also discovered that the nature and complexity of the banking task have a linear relationship with communication. Lastly the research found out that leadership styles adopted by an organization influences communication. Lack of communication, I op down manner of communication and improper use o f communication were found to be a big challenge to employee efficiency.
Can Marketing Help in Tackling Food Waste?: Proposals in Developed Countries

ABSTRACT One third of food destined for human consumption is wasted globally, and much of the food waste that comes from high-income or developed countries is caused by poor marketing practices, consumer behavior, and consumption patterns. The present study focuses on developed countries to propose some marketing actions that could help in reducing food waste. A comprehensive analysis was carried out for each marketing variable, to provide a snapshot of actions and proposals that are being developed. Our study highlights the relevance of marketing in contributing to reduce food waste, through the removal of “Buy one, get one free” sales promotions, clarifying date labeling, or raising food waste awareness campaigns. The main contribution of this study is the proposal of marketing actions that help in tacking food waste.
Family Firms, Expropriation and Firm Value: Evidence of the Role of Independent Directors’ Tenure in Malaysia

This paper was conducted to examine whether there was a negative relationship between independent directors’ tenure and firm value which indicated the existence of expropriation due to long tenure of independent directors and whether controlling shareholders’ ownership moderated this relationship among Malaysian firms. The results revealed that there was a negative relationship between independent directors’ tenure and firm value. It also showed there was a significant positive moderating effect of controlling shareholders’ ownership on the relationship among Malaysian family firms in exclusive industries. However, there was inconclusive evidence that this negative relationship and positive moderating effect were stronger amongst the family firms compared with non-family firms.
UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase. An Old Protein with New Tricks1

Sugars are central to a plant's raison d'etre as products of photosynthesis. They are the ultimate source of energy and carbon skeletons for all biomolecules, and they provide the material out of which a plant builds its cell walls, fibers, and wood. Thus, regulation of any activity involved in biosynthesis of sugars, especially Suc (the major transport form of carbon in plants), is of utmost interest in understanding the growth and development strategies of a plant. Sugars are also potent regulators of gene expression, via e.g. a hexokinase (HXK) transduction mechanism that senses hexoses, or via Suc-specific or osmoticum transduction pathways, further underlying the importance of sugars in plant homeostasis.
Clinical aspects and importance of nutrition in homeostasis of the bone tissue

Substantial changes have occurred in the nutritional management of many diseases in the last twenty years. Introduction of standards, clinical review and implementation of evidence based practice led to re-evaluation of some established dietary interventions. The most common form of osteoporosis is the primary osteoporosis, which is the result of the bone loss and deterioration of bone structure, as people age. Bone loss and osteoporosis can be prevented through adequate nutrition, physical activity, and, if necessary, appropriate treatment. This review will focus on nutritional and clinical aspects of bone tissue homeostasis, with references to physiological and pathophysiological processes.
Phytoceuticals: Mighty but ignored weapons against Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes peptic ulcer disease, mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas and gastric adenocarcinomas, for which the pathogenesis of chronic gastric inflammation prevails and provides the pathogenic basis. Since the role of H. pylori infection is promoting carcinogenesis rather than acting as a direct carcinogen, as several publications show, eradication alone cannot be the right answer for preventing H. pylori‐associated gastric cancer. Therefore, a non‐antimicrobial approach has been suggested to attain microbe‐associated cancer prevention through controlling H. pylori‐related chronic inflammatory processes and mediators responsible for carcinogenesis. Phytoceutical is a term for plant products that are active on biological systems. Phytoceuticals such as Korean red ginseng, green tea, red wine, flavonoids, broccoli sprouts, garlic, probiotics and flavonoids are known to inhibit H. pylori colonization, decrease gastric inflammation by inhibiting cytokine and chemokine release, and repress precancerous changes by inhibiting nuclear factor‐kappa B DNA binding, inducing profuse levels of apoptosis and inhibiting mutagenesis. Even though further unsolved issues are awaited before phytoceuticals are accepted as a standard treatment for H. pylori infection, phytoceuticals can be a mighty weapon for either suppressing or modulating the disease‐associated footprints of H. pylori infection.
Recovery & Regeneration Behaviours in Elite English Futsal Players

Futsal is a high-intensity, intermittent sport where accelerations and short sprints are performed at maximal or almost maximal intensity, interspersed by brief recovery periods, during a period of time relatively long. The aim of this study was to analyse the recovery and regeneration, as well as the hydration status of the futsal players in a 1-week period (3 days out, 1 travelling day and 3 days in a camp). Twenty elite level male futsal players from a national team that compete internationally, volunteered to participate in this study. Anthropometric measures, TQR questionnaires and Urine Osmolality status were analysed. The TQR questionnaire showed that there are statistical differences (p < 0.05) between both periods; in and out the training camp. Also, the hydration status of the players was not the desirable. The TQR questionnaire and the analysis of the urine with a refractometer might be two good methods to give feedback to the players about the categories where they should implement an action plan with the main aim to educate them.
Circulating miR-122-5p/miR-133b Ratio Is a Specific Early Prognostic Biomarker in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in cardiovascular development and disease. However, not only miRNAs of a cardiac origin have a critical role in heart function. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-122-5p, a hepatic miRNA, increases in the bloodstream during ischemic cardiogenic shock and it is upregulated in the infarcted myocardium. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential of circulating miR-122-5p as a biomarker for early prognostic stratification of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. METHODSANDRESULTS One hundred and forty-two consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary angioplasty were included in the study. Serum levels of miR-1-3p, -122-5p, -133a-3p, -133b, -208b-3p and -499a-5p were measured at the time of cardiac catheterization by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and related to in-hospital and long-term outcome. During a follow up of 20.8 months, 9 patients died, 6 had recurrence of myocardial infarction, and 26 patients suffered an adverse cardiovascular event. Event-free survival was significantly worse in patients with a higher miR-122-5p/133b ratio (3rd tertile distribution, above 1.42 Log(10)), having almost a 9-fold higher risk of death or myocardial infarction and a 4-fold higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the miR-122-5p/133b ratio is a new prognostic biomarker for the early identification of STEMI patients at a higher risk of developing major adverse events after undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2183-2191).
The Lessons of GIST — PET and PET / CT : A New Paradigm for Imaging

Correspondence: Annick D. Van den Abbeele, M.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. Telephone: 617632-2595; Fax: 617-582-8574; e-mail: abbeele@dfci.harvard. edu Received August 20, 2007; accepted for publication September 25, 2007. ©AlphaMed Press 1083-7159/2008/$30.00/0 doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.13-S2-8 Abstract Traditional anatomic tumor response criteria are based on unior bidimensional changes in tumor size, and do not take into account changes in tumor metabolism, tumor density, or decrease in the number of intratumoral vessels. These changes are, however, all indicative of response to imatinib therapy in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). In these patients, metabolic responses seen on positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) have been shown to be closely related to clinical benefit. Furthermore, these metabolic changes precede by weeks or months significant decrease in tumor size on computed tomography (CT). Conversely, lack of metabolic response on FDG-PET indicates primary resistance to the drug and may help identify patients who would benefit from another therapy, while re-emergence of metabolic activity within tumor sites following a period of therapeutic response indicates secondary resistance to the drug. Newly proposed CT criteria using either no growth in tumor size or a combination of tumor density and size criteria have shown a close correlation with the predictive value results of FDG-PET. Thus, the integration of FDG-PET and CT, as in the combined hybrid PET/CT scanners now available, will not only optimize the evaluation of patients with GIST treated with molecularly targeted drugs, but may ultimately help shorten clinical trials, and accelerate drug development in this disease and other cancers as well. The Oncologist 2008;13(suppl 2):8–13
Comparative chemistry of diffuse clouds V. Ammonia and formaldehyde

Using the VLA and NRAO 140 � telescopes we observed the λ1. 3 cm (1, 1) and (2, 2) lines of NH3 in absorption and emission toward the compact extragalactic continuum sources NRAO150 (B0355+508) and 3C 111 (B0415+379). These sources are occulted by some seven local diffuse and translucent clouds showing molecular absorption in OH, CO, HCO + and C2H: for the four features having NH3 absorption, we find rotational excitation temperatures 18–24 K, suggesting kinetic temperatures of at least 25–30 K. The abundance ratio N(NH3)/N(HCO + ) is comparable to values quoted for the cyanopolyne peak in TMC-1 (i.e., 2.5) in three of four cases where NH3 was seen. For clouds with higher column density N(HCO + ) > 10 12 cm −2 ,t he NH 3 column density N(NH3) is well correlated only with N(CS) (� N(NH3)/N(CS) �≈ 1.0) and N(H2CO) (� N(NH3)/N(H2CO) �≈ 0.4). N(H2CO) is well correlated with N(NH3 )a ndN(CS) (� N(H2CO)/N(CS) �≈ 2.3) and the H2CO abundance relative to other species is like TMC-1, with (� N(H2CO)/N(HCO + ) �≈ 2.3).
A Genomic View of the Human-Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Symbiosis

The human gut is colonized with a vast community of indigenous microorganisms that help shape our biology. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the Gram-negative anaerobeBacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a dominant member of our normal distal intestinal microbiota. Its 4779-member proteome includes an elaborate apparatus for acquiring and hydrolyzing otherwise indigestible dietary polysaccharides and an associated environment-sensing system consisting of a large repertoire of extracytoplasmic function sigma factors and one- and two-component signal transduction systems. These and other expanded paralogous groups shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic host-bacterial relationships in our intestine.
2 State-ofthe-Art and Trends in Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, or AAS, is an analytical technique commonly used for the quantitative and qualitative determination of elements in samples such as aqueous solutions, waters, sea-waters, metals and alloys, glass, drugs, food, environmental samples, industrial wastes, biological samples among others. This technique is based on measuring the amount of electromagnetic energy of a particular wavelength (ultraviolet or visible region), which is absorbed as it passes through a cloud of atoms of a particular chemical element (the analyte) coming from samples and standards. An appropriate mathematical treatment allows relating the amount of absorbed energy to the number of absorbed atoms by providing a measurement of the element concentration in the sample. This technique is established, relatively quickly, economically affordable and allows to determine more than 60 chemical elements from a huge type of samples. It is used by most of research laboratories and industry quality control around the world. The aim of this text is to present concisely this powerful technique providing basic information about fundamental concepts, instrumentation and application. Relevant and effective techniques will be shown including flame atomization, hydride generation, cold vapor and electrothermic atomization or graphite furnace. Fundamental and theoretical details will not be presented on mechanical components, electronic, software and data processing. They are deeply discussed in specific literature.
Improved treatment for cervical cancer--concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Despite screening programs, approximately 14,000 cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States. In approximately half these cases, locally advanced disease is present at the time of diagnosis. In developing countries, the disease is usually advanced by the time of diagnosis, the prevalence is much higher, and cervical cancer is the principal cause of death due to cancer in women. Pelvic radiation has been the standard, definitive therapy for advanced disease. With this treatment, the overall five-year survival rate is approximately 65 percent, but it ranges from 15 to 80 percent, depending on the extent of .
Near-Field Magnetic Induction MIMO Communication Using Heterogeneous Multipole Loop Antenna Array for Higher Data Rate Transmission

In this paper, we propose a novel method realizing multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) transmission in near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication for increasing channel capacity where limited capacity is a major bottleneck problem in magnetic communication systems. Since conventional magnetic communication systems using the same antenna patterns cannot easily implement MIMO transmission due to strong crosstalk between transmitters, we propose heterogeneous antenna arrays with multipole antennas, enabling crosstalk cancellation. We confirm the crosstalk cancellation of the proposed antenna array through numerical simulations and experiments, and verify the capacity enhancement of the proposed NFMI communication system over conventional NFMI communication schemes.
Flexible non cartilage seeds for osteoarthritic magnetic resoance image of knee: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative

Difficulties in analyzing diseased knee cartilage is attributed to large anatomical variation caused by osteoarthritic features. Using expert initialization as crucial source of information, interactive method is very useful in osteoarthritic cartilage segmentation. However, high level of expert intervention remains an issue for existing interactive segmentation model. Therefore, a flexible seeds labelling method has been proposed to automatically cover non-cartilage tissue. Compared to manual segmentation, the proposed method lowers the processing time by 48% in observer 1 and 30% in observer 2. Besides, the proposed method has demonstrated high Dice's reproducibility of 0.80 for observer 1 and 0.82 for observer 2. In future, inter-observer reproducibility should be performed to analyze the progression of knee osteoarthritis.
Ibudilast, a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, regulates Th1/Th2 balance and NKT cell subset in multiple sclerosis

We investigated the immunoregulatory effects of ibudilast, a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, at a clinically applicable dose (60 mg/day p.o. for four weeks) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Sensitive real-time PCR for quantifying cytokine mRNA in the blood CD4- cells revealed that the ibudilast monotherapy significantly reduced tumour necrosis factor-a and interferon (IFN)-g mRNA and the IFN-g/interleukin-4 mRNA ratio, suggesting a shift in the cytokine profile from Th1 toward Th2 dominancy. In a flow cytometric analysis, natural killer T cells, which have been reported to relate to Th2 responses in MS and its animal model (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis), increased significantly after the therapy. None of the significant immunological changes were seen in healthy subjects or untreated MS patients. Ibudilast may be a promising therapy for MS and its clinical effects warrant further study.
A higher anti-Müllerian hormone level is associated with an increased chance of pregnancy in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination

Abstract Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level has been found to be a useful marker of ovarian reserve, and a predictor of poor and hyper-responses in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). The study aimed to determine the association of serum AMH level with achieving pregnancy in patients undergoing COS with intrauterine insemination. The cross-sectional study investigated 204 patients who underwent COS with intrauterine insemination at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Taipei Medical University Hospital, from January 2011 to March 2012. The medical records of these patients were reviewed, and serum AMH levels were evaluated for association with successful clinical pregnancy. The AMH level in the patients who achieved clinical pregnancy was significantly higher than in patients who did not (median 2.7 vs 2.0 ng/ml, p = 0.005). Controlling for factors affecting infertility, AMH level had a significant independent influence on outcome; a higher AMH level was associated with a decreased risk of a non-pregnant outcome (odds ratio, OR = 0.895, p = 0.026). In patients undergoing COS and intrauterine insemination, a low AMH level is associated with a decreased chance of a clinical pregnancy, and this association remains irrespective of the presence or absence of endometriosis.
Rectal cancer: local staging and assessment of lymph node involvement with endoluminal US, CT, and MR imaging--a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To perform a meta-analysis to compare endoluminal ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in rectal cancer staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Relevant articles published between 1985 and 2002 were included if more than 20 patients were studied, histopathologic findings were the reference standard, and data were presented for 2 x 2 tables; articles were excluded if data were reported elsewhere in more detail. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics and results. Bivariate random-effects approach was used to obtain summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity for invasion of muscularis propria, perirectal tissue, and adjacent organs and for lymph node involvement. Summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were fitted for perirectal tissue invasion and lymph node involvement. RESULTS Ninety articles fulfilled all inclusion criteria. For muscularis propria invasion, US and MR imaging had similar sensitivities; specificity of US (86% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 80, 90]) was significantly higher than that of MR imaging (69% [95% CI: 52, 82]) (P =.02). For perirectal tissue invasion, sensitivity of US (90% [95% CI: 88, 92]) was significantly higher than that of CT (79% [95% CI: 74, 84]) (P <.001) and MR imaging (82% [95% CI: 74, 87]) (P =.003); specificities were comparable. For adjacent organ invasion and lymph node involvement, estimates for US, CT, and MR imaging were comparable. Summary ROC curve for US of perirectal tissue invasion showed better diagnostic accuracy than that of CT and MR imaging. Summary ROC curves for lymph node involvement showed no differences in accuracy. CONCLUSION For local invasion, endoluminal US was most accurate and can be helpful in screening patients for available therapeutic strategies.
Synchronous Primary Endometrial and Ovarian Cancers: A Multicenter Review of 63 Cases

Aims To investigate clinicopathologic characteristics, therapeutic methods, and prognostic factors in women with synchronous primary endometrial and ovarian cancers (SEOCs). Methods A retrospective review of 2 cancer registry databases in Turkey was conducted to identify patients diagnosed with SEOCs between January 1995 and December 2012. Patients with recurrent, metastatic, and metachronously occurring tumors were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic predictors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The analysis included 63 women with SEOCs. Seventy-six percent of the patients had stage I endometrial cancer, and 60% of the patients had stage I ovarian cancer. Thirty-seven patients (58.7%) had endometrioid/endometrioid histology. Optimal cytoreduction was obtained in 47 (74.6%) patients. Recurrence developed in 17 patients (27%). Multivariate analysis confirmed lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) as an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (odds ratio [OR] 3.1, p = 0.045), whereas early-stage disease and optimal cytoreduction were found to be independent good prognostic factors for both PFS (OR 12.85, p<0.001 and OR 4.58, p = 0.004, respectively) and OS (OR 7.31, p = 0.002 and OR 2.95, p = 0.028, respectively). The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 74% and 69%, respectively. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that optimal cytoreduction, early-stage disease, and LVSI are the most significant factors affecting survival in women with SEOC.