Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strengths and weaknesses of extension system as perceived extension filed staff.

Major modifications in the nation building departme nts were launched in Pakistan through the Devolutio n Plan 2000 promulgated by the then military regime. In the agriculture sector, changes were introduced in 2001 to replace the existing Training & Visit (T&V) system. The training sessions arranged by extension worker s in the decentralized system are similar to the ones arrang ed in the T&V system. The difference is that in the T&V system, there were fortnightly training sessions but under the current approach only two to three training ses sions are arranged in a crop season. Another difference is th at under T&V the Field Assistants were front line e xtension workers whereas in the decentralized system AOs are the extension workers. Another major difference of both approaches is that under T&V approach, extension wa s centrally managed by the Director General, Agricu lture (Ext & AR) at the provincial headquarters level whe reas presently extension is decentralized and local ly managed by District Officer of Agriculture (DOAs) at distri ct level who is answerable to Executive District Of ficer of Agriculture (EDOA). In previous system, the Extensi on Field Staff (EFS) followed fortnightly schedule to provide the information to contact farmers (CFs) who were sto pass on the same to non contact farmers (NCFs). Furthermore, decision-making under T&V system was d one at central level. Whereas, in the present syste m, the EFS are conducting crop-wise trainings for the dissemin ation of agricultural information and decision-maki ng is done at district level. The role of CFs has been abolished in the present system. So, keeping in view the chan ge made under decentralized extension system, the strengths and w eaknesses of contemporary system were assessed. The population of the study consisted of change agents and their supervisory staff working in Faisalabad d istrict. The data were collected by using “survey” method. The SPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS) was u sed to analyze the data. It was concluded that information reaches farmers,, access to information by farmers also increased under decentralized extension system. The decentralized extension system offers more feedbac k on farmers’ problems to Extension field Staff (EFS). H owever, respondents were very concerned about the a / reward criteria for good extension worker. It is recommended that a strong reward system should be i n placed for increasing efficiency. The data regarding the weakn esses show that work load of EFS is increased and e system lacks single line command tended toward agre e category.
Intellectual Capital, Monitoring and Risk: What Predicts the Adoption of Broad-Based Employee Stock Options?

In this paper, we use empirical analysis to analyze company characteristics associated with the adoption and maintenance of broad-based stock option plans. First, a cross-sectional analysis evaluates what company characteristics are now associated with these plans. Second, a longitudinal analysis examines the company characteristics that predict the adoption of such plans. Overall, our results provide support to the claim that higher monitoring costs prompt firms to adopt and maintain employee stock option plans. Firms with higher levels of business risk are less likely to shift some of that risk to employees through stock-based compensation, whereas firm with higher variability in total shareholder returns are more likely to adopt broad-based employee stock options. Nonunion firms are more likely to adopt and maintain such plans, and financial constraints do not appear to be driving the adoption decision.
Cytogenetic analysis of 46 pleomorphic soft tissue sarcomas and correlation with morphologic and clinical features: A report of the CHAMP study group

With the aim of identifying objective cytogenetic‐morphologic correlations, we evaluated 46 pleomorphic soft tissue sarcomas (mainly diagnosed originally as malignant fibrous histiocytomas) with clonal chromosome aberrations both cytogenetically and morphologically as part of an international collaborative study. By detailed histopathologic examination, most cases could be categorized into specific tumor types. Eight sarcomas were diagnosed as lipogenic (4 pleomorphic, 1 combined pleomorphic and myxoid/round cell, and 3 dedifferentiated liposarcomas), 19 as myogenic [11 leiomyosarcomas, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 4 myosarcomas not otherwise specified (NOS), and 3 probable myosarcomas NOS], 8 as myxofibrosarcomas, 1 as a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, 1 as malignant mesenchymoma, 1 as extraskeletal osteosarcoma, 1 as sarcoma resembling proliferative fasciitis, and 7 as pleomorphic sarcomas NOS. In a three‐grade system, 10 tumors were grade 2 and 36 were grade 3. The majority had highly complex karyotypes. A total of 24 recurrent abnormalities (defined by their presence in at least five cases) were detected: ring chromosomes, homogeneously staining regions (hsr) and/or double minute chromosomes (dmin), and structural rearrangement of 22 different chromosome bands or regions. The frequency and distribution of the recurrent karyotypic features were uneven. Grade 3 tumors displayed, on average, more aberrations per case than did grade 2 tumors. Nine of the selected abnormalities, including hsr/dmin and rearrangements of 19p13 and 19q13, were found only among the high‐grade tumors. When the tumors were subdivided according to lineage of differentiation, the highest frequency of aberrations was seen in pleomorphic sarcomas NOS, followed by myxofibrosarcomas, myogenic sarcomas, and lipogenic sarcomas. None of the selected rearrangements was, however, specific for any of these subgroups. The sole consistent cytogenetic‐morphologic association was that all three dedifferentiated liposarcomas had multiple abnormal clones, at least one of which contained supernumerary ring chromosomes. Due mainly to karyotype complexity, it therefore seems unlikely that cytogenetic analysis can assist in the differential diagnostic subclassification of pleomorphic sarcomas, nor was there any clear‐cut indication that the karyotypic picture could be used to predict clinical outcome. Although the mean number of recurrent chromosome aberrations was almost twice as high in sarcomas that gave rise to metastases as among those that did not, no particular aberration was restricted to either of the two subgroups. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 22:16–25, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Implementing Ontologies and Knowledge Bases as a Means for a More Efficient Creation and Adopting of Budget Local Self - Government Units in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In this paper we examine ontologies and new tools that can help municipalities and cities in The Republic of Srpska create and adopt their budgets faster and more efficiently. We show that using knowledge bases, ontologies and the latest tools for updating knowledge can improve the process of creating and adopting budgets. The model that we propose is simpler than the exisiting procedures in the local self-government units (cities and municipalities). The new model will provide a more accurate projection of revenues and expenditures based on the knowledge bases while they will also provide trend monitoring and better understanding of of the budget structure.
Consumer perceptions of food safety education sources

Purpose – Consumers often use inappropriate food‐handling practices and improving these could help to reduce the incidence of foodborne disease. However the development of an effective food safety education strategy is considered complex and could be improved by having a greater understanding of the consumer. This paper proposes investigating the modes and channels of communication that maybe used in education strategies.Design/methodology/approach – A self‐complete postal questionnaire was distributed to a linked demographic quota of adults in South Wales. Responses were entered into a specially constructed food safety database.Findings – Results indicated that the Environmental Health departments and UK Food Standards Agency were perceived to be the most trusted and credible organisations that can provide food safety information. The most believable spokespersons for promotion of food safety advice were determined as Environmental Health officers and the Chief Medical Officer. The most preferred source .
Efficient Bone Regeneration Induced by Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Released from Apatite-Coated Collagen Scaffolds

Abstract Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are the most potent osteoinductive growth factors. Clinically utilized BMP-2 uses a type-I collagen scaffold as a carrier. Here we hypothesized that an apatite coating on a type-I collagen scaffold would prolong the BMP-2 release period and enhance bone regeneration in calvarial defects in mice. Apatite coating was achieved by incubating collagen scaffolds in simulated body fluid. BMP-2 release kinetics and bioactivity were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and alkaline phosphatase activity measurement of cultured osteoblasts. Computed tomography and histomorphometry were performed eight weeks after various doses of BMP-2 were delivered to mouse calvarial defects using either non-modified or apatite-coated collagen scaffolds. Apatite-coated collagen scaffolds released 91.8 ± 11.5% of the loaded BMP-2 over 13 days in vitro, whereas non-modified collagen scaffolds released 98.3 ± 2.2% over the initial one day. The in vivo study showed that BMP-2 delivery with apatite-coated collagen scaffolds resulted in a significantly greater bone formation area and higher bone density than that with non-modified collagen scaffolds. This study suggests that simple apatite coating on collagen scaffolds can enhance the bone regeneration efficacy of BMP-2 released from collagen scaffolds.
Corporate Governance as an Instrument of Change State Owned Companies: The Case of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization

This paper analyses the evolution of Corporate Governance (CG) mechanisms and organizational changes of the Hellenic Telecommunication Organization (HTO) and has two objectives: to enrich the debate and to contribute to the increasing body of literature by examining and analyzing the organizational and institutional changes taken place in the HTO; and to place the HTO’s case within the international debate regarding the privatization of state-owned companies and the importance of CG mechanisms as instruments of change. It is argued that the privatization of state-owned companies, when is accompanied with appropriate reform measures, can produce multiple positive effects. CG reforms were the main instruments that used in order to prepare the telecommunications incumbent to face the open and competitive markets.
Causes and hemodynamic findings in chronic severe pulmonary regurgitation

Severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) most commonly occurs as a sequelae of treatment of pulmonic stenosis or Tetralogy of Fallot with fewer cases of primary pulmonic valvular regurgitation. The amount of PR is influenced by valvular integrity, right ventricular (RV) size, and RV diastolic pressures. In chronic severe PR, the RV remodels to accommodate the regurgitant flow and RV stroke volume increases to maintain effective forward blood flow. Hemodynamic changes include a widened pulmonary artery (PA) pulse pressure and low PA diastolic pressures. As the amount of regurgitation increases, RV end diastolic pressure becomes elevated and systemic cardiac output is reduced, especially with exercise. “Ventricularization” of the PA pressure tracing, in which the contour of the PA pressure is similar to the contour of the RV pressure, is a specific but not sensitive finding in severe PR. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of pesticide residues in animal origin baby foods by gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A simple, fast and multiresidue method for the determination of pesticide residues in baby foods of animal origin has been developed in order to check the compliance with the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) set at a general value of 0.01 mg/kg by Commission Directive 2006/125/EC for infant foods. The main classes of organochlorine, organophosphorus and pyrethroid compounds have been considered, which are mainly fat soluble pesticides. The analytical procedure consists in the extraction of baby food samples by acetonitrile (ACN) followed by a clean up using C18 solid-phase extraction column eluted with ACN. The compounds were determined by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with a Programmed Temperature Vaporizer (PTV) injection and a backflush system. In order to compensate for matrix effects PTV and matrix matched standard calibrations have been used. The method has been fully validated for 57 pesticides according to the Document SANCO/12571/2013. Accuracy and precision (repeatability) have been studied by recoveries at two spiking levels, the Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) (0.003–0.008 mg/kg) and 10 time greater (0.03–0.08 mg/kg), and the results were in the acceptable range of 70–120% with Relative Standards Deviations (RSD) ≤20%. Selectivity, linearity, LOQ and uncertainty of measurement were also determined for all the compounds. The method has been also applied for the analysis of 18 baby food animal origin samples, bought form the local market in Rome (Italy), and no pesticide in the scope of the method has been found above the MRL or the LOQ.
Kidney-specific chromosome transfer in genetic hypertension: the Dahl hypothesis revisited.

BACKGROUND A central dogma in the field of essential hypertension research is that the genetic transmission of increased blood pressure is determined solely by the genotype of the kidney. This concept is based in large part on studies in experimental rat models of spontaneous hypertension in which transplantation of a kidney from a hypertensive strain into a normotensive strain was reported to increase blood pressure, and transplantation of a kidney from a normotensive strain into a hypertensive strain was reported to decrease blood pressure. The enduring interpretation of these now classic experiments remains virtually unchanged from the view originally espoused a quarter century ago by Lewis Dahl, one of the founding fathers of the field of genetic hypertension research: "Blood pressure is determined by the genotype of the donor kidney and not the genotype of the recipient. " METHODS To test the Dahl hypothesis, we determined the blood pressure effects of selective intrarenal versus extrarenal exchange of single chromosome regions between the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the normotensive Brown Norway (BN) rat. RESULTS The replacement of a defined segment of chromosome 1 in the SHR with the corresponding chromosome region of the BN rat was sufficient to attenuate hypertension when selectively achieved either inside the kidney or outside the kidney. CONCLUSIONS The current finding (1) demonstrates that naturally occurring genetic variants exist that can regulate blood pressure when selectively expressed outside the kidney as well as inside the kidney, and (2) compels reconsideration of the long-held view that in essential hypertension, the genetic transmission of increased blood pressure is determined solely by the genotype of the kidney.
Medicinal plants used to treat malaria in Southern Benin

People in Benin who cannot resort to allopathic medicines provided by the pharmaceutical industry use many species of plants to alleviate malaria symptoms. Complicated mixtures of different parts of several plant species are employed orally or as a bathing substance. The inventory of 85 species and 30 mixtures bought by us in southern Benin is by no means exhaustive, but the lists serve as examples of the widespread uses in medicine in a restricted area.AbstractSi les médecines allopatiques fournis par l’industrie pharmaceutique sont trop chères, les gens prennent une multitude d’espèces de plantes afin de soulever les effets du paludisme. Des mélanges compliqués de différentes portions de plusieurs plantes sont appliquées par voie orale ou en bain. L’inventaire de 85 espèces et 30 mélanges obtenus dans le sud du Bénin n ’est pas excédant, mais les listes servent comme exemples des usages médicaux bien répandus dans une région limitée.
Determinants of Prestroke Cognitive Impairment in Stroke Associated with Small Vessel Disease

Understanding the determinants of prestroke cognitive impairment (PCI) in stroke associated with small vessel disease (SVD) may shed light on how to prevent further cognitive deterioration after stroke. We administered the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE) to close informants of 78 consecutive stroke patients who had SVD. PCI, as defined by an average score of IQCODE ≧3.4 was found in 19 (24%) patients. Regression analyses were performed on the following risk factors for PCI: age, years of education, gender, previous stroke, volume of white matter changes, measures of silent lacunes, cerebral atrophy index, medial temporal lobe atrophy and frontal lobe atrophy. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that only cerebral atrophy index (OR 1.5, CI 1.2–1.9, p < 0.001) predicted PCI among patients with SVD.
Does airway smooth muscle express an inflammatory phenotype in asthma?

In addition to hyperresponsiveness in asthma, airway smooth muscle (ASM) also manifests an inflammatory phenotype characterized by augmented expression of mediators that enhance inflammation, contribute to tissue remodelling and augment leucocyte trafficking and activity. Our present review summarizes contemporary understanding of ASM‐derived mediators and their paracrine and autocrine actions in airway diseases.
Understanding socialbot behavior on end hosts

Server-side socialbot detection approaches can identify malicious accounts and spams in online social networks. However, they cannot detect socialbot processes, residing on user hosts, which control these accounts. Therefore, new approaches are needed to detect socialbots on hosts. The fundamental to design host-side detecting approaches is to gain an insight into the behaviors of socialbots on host. In this article, we analyzed a series of representative socialbots in depth and summarized the typical features of socialbot behaviors. We proposed a new approach to defense against socialbots on end host. The contributions of this article are threefold: (1) our analysis approach can be used for reference during analyzing new socialbots in the future; (2) we provide several behavior features of socialbots on hosts, including network flow through which socialbots communicate with botmasters through the online social network, system calls via which socialbots conduct an activity, and process information of socialbots running on hosts. These features can be used by someone to design approaches to identifying socialbots on a host; (3) our proposed detection approach can effectively distinguish between a socialbot and a benign application on end hosts.
Evaluation of serum CA 125 level and its relation to surgical, histopathologic and ultrasonographic findings in patients with pelvic mass.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the levels of tumour marker CA 125 antigen and pelvic tumour size, histopathological type, stage, bilateral status, ascites, type of surgery, and postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 203 patients with a pelvic mass who were visited in the Shahid Sadoughi hospital in Yazd, Iran from 2007 to 2010. Data were analyzed by software SPSS v.14. RESULTS Statistical analysis, based on Fisher's exact test, showed that patients with pelvic mass who presented with either of bilateral involvement/ascites (p = 0.000), higher stage (p = 0.001), inability for complete resection (p = 0.000), or postoperative complications (p = 0.001) had significantly higher serum concentrations of CA 125 antigen. There was no relationship between serum level of CA 125 and such variables as tumor size (p = 0.883) and abdominal ultrasound findings (p = 0.297). CONCLUSION Using CA 125 as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with newly-discovered pelvic mass can be helpful in some aspects, but cannot estimate size of the tumor and its solid/cystic status. It also cannot predict post-surgical complications of malignant pelvic masses.
Listening to the Customer -The Concept of a Service-Quality Information System

The full text of this article is available free to all site visitors, compliments of IBM, as part of our ongoing Business Insight series. Jointly produced by MIT Sloan Management Review and The Wall Street Journal, Business Insight offers fresh thinking on crucial management issues supplemented by the deep knowledge of related, classic SMR articles, of which this is one. Read the Business Insight article to which it relates and other SMR classics on the topic, all free full text. Feedback from customers is vital to companies in their efforts to improve service. But companies must ensure that they have multiple perspectives from different customer groups. The authors advocate a listening system that uses many research approaches in combination to capture, organize, and disseminate information. Four in particular are essential: transactional surveys; customer complaint, comment, and inquiry capture; total market surveys; and employee surveys. The five elements of the service-quality information system are: 1. Measure service expectations. Companies frequently measure only customers' service perceptions, when they should be including their expectations about level of service, both what they desire and what they deem adequate. Expectations provide a frame of reference when considering customers' perception ratings. 2. Emphasize information quality. In evaluating information, companies should ask if it is relevant, precise, useful, in context, credible, understandable, and timely. 3. Capture customers' words. The system should include both quantitative and qualitative databases. Quantified data are more meaningful when combined with customers' verbatim comments and videotapes. 4. Link service performance to business results. What impact does service performance have on business results? Companies need to calculate lost revenue due to dissatisfied customers, measure customers' repurchases, and gauge the relationship between customer loyalty and propensity to switch. 5. Reach every employee. Companies should disseminate customer feedback to all employees. They are decision makers who affect the quality of service at all levels. Berry and Parasuraman suggest that managers need to make listening to customers a habit and find ways to personally hear customer feedback. Only then can they make decisions to improve service.
A Hybrid Energy Efficient Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

We proposed an energy conservation technique called Location Based Topology Control with Sleep Scheduling for ad hoc networks. It uses the feature of both topology control approach and power management approach. Like the topology control approach, it attempts to reduce the transmission power of a node, which is determined from its neighborhood location information. A node goes to sleep state based on the traffic condition as that of power management approach. In the proposed scheme, a node goes to sleep state only when its absence does not create local partition in its neighborhood. We preformed extensive simulation to compare the proposed scheme with existing ones. Simulation results show that the energy consumption is lower with increase in the network lifetime and higher throughput in the proposed scheme.