Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dentofacial characteristics of Chinese obstructive sleep apnea patients in relation to obesity and severity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate dentofacial characteristics in relation to obesity and degree of severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in male Chinese patients and to elucidate the relationship between demographic parameters (age, body weight, height, and body mass index [BMI]) cephalometric parameters and OSA in these subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lateral cephalograms of 121 Chinese male patients in natural head posture were obtained. Based on BMI value, the patients were divided into three groups. Based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) value, the patients were divided into a mild-to-moderate and a severe group. RESULTS The hyoid position and soft palate length were significantly different among the three obesity groups. Soft palate length was significantly longer (P < .01) in the severe OSA group than in the mild-to-moderate OSA group. Tongue base was significantly more inferiorly placed (P < .05) in the severe OSA group than in the mild-to-moderate OSA group. Craniocervical extension was significantly increased (P < .05) in the severe OSA group. Statistically significant differences were found among the three obesity groups in mandibular length, mandibular body length, maxillary length, anterior cranial base length, and overbite. The multiple stepwise linear regression analysis identified body weight, lower posterior facial height, mandibular body length, craniocervical extension, and sella-hyoid distance as the significant predictive variables for AHI. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the existence of craniofacial and upper airway soft tissue differences in relation to obesity and severity of OSA among male Chinese OSA patients. Body weight and certain cephalometric parameters were significant predictors of OSA in Chinese male subjects.
Religious Characteristics of Government-Funded Faith-Related Social Service Organizations

Government funding of religious organizations to provide public social services is becoming increasingly legitimate in American social welfare. A possible unintended consequence of government funding is the erosion of religiousness in these organizations. However, lack of clarity about the nature of religious characteristics limits accurate assessment of the threat of government funding to organizational religiousness. This paper uses findings from a comparative case study of two government-funded faith-related social service organizations in the Midwest as an initial test of the utility of Sider and Unruh’s (2004) recently proposed typology of religious characteristics of social service and educational organizations The two studied organizations maintained high commitments to their religious convictions even while securing the majority of their revenues from government sources. Based on this finding, this study posits a two-dimensional conceptualization of organizational religiousness that helps to explain how faith-based organizations with substantial government funding can successfully resist secularization.
Modelling of Plasma-Separation through Microporous Membranes

Available mathematical models of ultrafiltration have been used to predict changes in maximum plasma filtration rate with wall shear rate for given filters and blood properties. We have done many plasmapheresis experiments in vitro, using hollow-fiber filters (500–1000 cm2) and fresh bovine blood collected on ACD or heparin. The comparison between predicted and experimentally obtained filtration rates was good for models based on the concentration polarization theory and lift velocity theory. In other experiments with pulsatile inlet flow we found that plasma filtration rate increased by 20 to 50% compared to nonpulsatile conditions. These results are in good agreement with the modified model of ultrafiltration incorporating pulsating flow. This paper presents relationships between plasma filtration velocity (steady and pulsating flow) and hemolysis limit as a function of wall shear rate and filter size.
A tale of REDD+ projects. How do location and certification impact additionality?

Since the emergence of the REDD+ mechanism, hundreds of projects have emerged around the globe. Much attention has been given to REDD+ projects in the literature, but the conditions under which they are likely to be efficient ares till not well known. In this article, we study how the location of REDD+ projects is chosen and how those location choices influence project additionality. Based on a sample of six REDD+ projects in Brazil, we propose an empirical analysis of the location choices and estimate additionality in the first years of implementation using impact evaluation techniques. In order to explain the heterogeneity of the empirical results, we present a simple theoretical model and show that project location is strongly influenced by the type of project proponent, which appears to be a good proxy for its objectives, whether oriented toward environmental impacts, development impacts, or external funding. Our results suggest that (1) the incentives behind REDD+ certification mechanisms can lead to low environmental efforts or an investment in areas that are not additional, (2) location biases are dependent on the REDD+ project manager’s type, and (3) the existence of a location bias does not necessarily preclude additionality.
Skills Shortage in the hospitality sector in Great Britain with special focus on London: An analysis to the industry response

There have been several studies about the quality and availability of skilled workforce in the hospitality industry (e.g. Nickson, 2010; ILO,2006). The UK hospitality sector is very diverse in terms of the range of business it represents, the range of occupations within it, the types of customers it serves and the nature of the people employed within occupational groups. It is dominated by restaurants, public houses and hotels which are typically small enterprises employing fewer than 10 people. Lucas and Mansfield (2008) Employment in the hospitality industry is characterised by the following issues: • An unpredictable and ad-hoc demand for services; • A high level of customer contact; • Low levels of labour productivity; • Low wages across a range of occupations; • High rates of labour turnover; and • High level of hard-to-fill vacancies. The hospitality workforce is characterized by over reliance on specific types of workers who are marginalized within secondary labour markets, in particular; young people, students, women, ethnic minorities and migrants. There is a high proportion of part time workers throughout the sector. Profit maximisation is pursued through the use of flexible working practices, which underpins the notion that people are employed as a resource or a cost to be minimized and controlled, rather than nurtured and developed. (Nickson, 2013) According to Walsh, Masako and Taylor (2007), the greatest volume of turnover occurs among a hotel’s front-line and back of the house employees. Managerial level employees proactively manage their careers and control their professional development by seeking out jobs and organisations that meet specific criteria important to them. This study aims to investigate skill shortage within the hospitality industry in the United Kingdom, focusing on hospitality businesses in London and analyse management response. It seeks to analyse the current business practices in employee management and skills enhancement to identify best practices and areas for improvement References: Walsh, K. & Masako.S. Taylor (2007). Developing In-House Careers and Retaining Management Talent. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 48(2), pp. 163-182. Lucas, R. & Mansfield, S (2008). Staff shortages and immigration in the hospitality sector, s.l. : UKBA. Nickson, D. (2013). Human Resource Management for the Hospitality and Tourism Industries. Second ed. Oxon: Routledge.
A deep learning-based operation optimization strategy for BFG/coal co-firing boiler

How to operate a BFG/coal co-firing boiler in high efficiency is challenging for a gas/solid multi-fuel combustion system. Taking operation data from a real boiler, this study proposes an operation optimization strategy of BFG/coal co-firing boiler based on deep learning. Firstly, the thermal efficiency model is constructed based on deep learning with all the actual sampling data, which outperform the other modeling methods. Then, the high efficiency data being selected as labeled data, a deep learning-based model of air flow is constructed. It needs to be emphasized that, to take full advantage of all available information and improve the model accuracy, all the labeled and unlabeled data are utilized in auto-coder learning of the air flow modeling. Finally, the constructed air flow model is used for the operation optimization and the thermal efficiency model is used to evaluate the level efficiency improvement. The high accuracy of the proposed modeling approaches makes the implementation of the operation optimization strategy readily practicable.
Glioblastoma multiforme classified as mesenchymal subtype.

INTRODUCTION Recently, researchers have been considering as adverse prognostic factors in primary glioblastomas not only clinical indicators but also various cellular, genetic and immunological markers. The aim of the present article was to report a case of primary glioblastoma multiforme with poor survival in a patient after surgical intervention, and to determine the unfavorable prognostic markers. CASE REPORT We present a 71-year-old man with histologically verified glioblastoma multiforme and a postoperative survival of 48 days. The patient did not receive any radiotherapy and adjuvant therapy with temozolomide because of the short survival. Serum and transcription levels of TNF-α, CD44, YKL-40 and IL-6 were determined by molecular-biological and immunological analyses. We found very high transcription levels of the genes CD44, YKL-40 and IL-6, increased gene expression of TNF-α, and elevated serum concentrations of TNF-α, YKL-40 and IL-6 and reduced serum concentration of CD44. CONCLUSION Molecular-biological and immunological analyses support the hypothesis that glioblastoma multiforme is presented by a heterogeneous group of glial tumors with different clinical course and prognosis. The high expression levels of TNF-α, CD44, YKL-40, and IL-6 indicate that the tumor can be categorized as mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma multiforme, which accounts for the rapid clinical course and lethal outcome of the condition.
PLASMA FIBRONECTIN IN IDIOPATHIC MYELOFIBROSIS

Fibronectin is thought to have a central role as a non-specific opsonic protein in the host defence system. Decreased plasma levels are reported in idiopathic myelofibrosis (Norfolk et al, 7 983), while an abnormal form of fibronectin, designated as fibronectin C (FN-C), is found in patients with acute leukaemia (Klingemann et al, 1983: Reilly et al, 1984a). We would like to report here the presence of FN-C as well as plasma fibronectin levels in seven patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis. The plasma fibronectin concentration in citrated plasma (9 vol blood: 1 vol 3.6 sodium citrate) was determined by Laurell’s electroimmunoassay (Laurell, 1966) using 1% rabbit anti-human fibronectin (Behring Werke AG, Marburg). Normal plasma concentration in 140 healthy volunteers ranged from 130 to 430 pg/ml. Two-dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IEP) was performed according to Clarke & Freeman (1 965). The first dimension was run in 1% agarose at 300 V ( 2 V/cm) for 4 h, whereas the second dimension (having 0.9% anti-fibronectin in the agarose) was run overnight at 120 V (1 V/cm) . The fibronectin levels of freshly assayed samples ranged from 240 to 480 pg/ml. The 2D-IEP demonstrated one peak in freshly prepared plasma from the patients (Fig 1). However, when patients or control plasma was stored at 30°C or 80°C for 24 h, 3 d or 3 months, a second slower migrating peak was observed in the 2D-IEP (Fig 1). These data demonstrate, firstly, that normal plasma fibronectin levels are frequently found in idiopathic myelofibrosis:
Corporate social responsibility: measuring and reporting the effectiveness of community involvement on the basis of the LBG model

Corporate social responsibility is increasingly becoming the only way to sustainable development as well as the basis for competitiveness through factors such as the strengthening of brand reputation, attracting and keeping talented employees, an increase in efficiency, cost savings, meeting the expectations of society and creating new opportunities for business and contributing to economic growth. In connection with the necessity of the implementation of the sustainable development, business becomes aware of the executor of social objectives and business benefits. The objective of this paper is to introduce indicator the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) as a practical tool used in business to measure the costs and effects of social commitment of companies on the market. The analysis of the literature, simple statistical methods and case studies of several best practice applications of the LBG on the market were the research methods used in the paper. Special attention has been paid to the aspect of how the LBG model enables the evaluation of the costs and effects involved in companies actively participated in the model within years 2013-2016.
Hemodynamic Effects of Spinal Anesthesia in the Elderly: Single Dose Versus Titration Through a Catheter

Sixty elderly patients (> 70 yr old) undergoing surgery for hip fracture were prospectively studied in order to compare hemodynamic tolerance of titrated doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine using continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA) versus single-dose spinal anesthesia (SDSA). Patients were randomized into two groups (CSA group: n = 30; SDSA group: n = 30). The SDSA patients received 10-15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (based on age and height), and the CSA patients received a starting dose of 5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, followed after 15 min by optional reinjection of 2.5 mg every 5 min until a T10 level sensory block was reached. Onset of anesthesia, noninvasive hemodynamic variables and the need for ephedrine were studied for 4 h after induction of anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was successful in all patients. Decreases in mean arterial pressure were significantly less frequent and less pronounced in the CSA group (19.9% +/- 1.6% of the baseline value) than in the SDSA group (40.2% +/- 1.9%, P < 0.0001). The mean dose of ephedrine was significantly less in the CSA group (1.8 +/- 0.7 mg, administered to only 37% of patients) than in the SDSA group (19.4 +/- 3.3 mg administered to all patients, P < 0.0001). No late complications related to the spinal anesthesia technique were observed in either group. We concluded that CSA, using small titrated doses of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, is safe, efficient, and provides better hemodynamic stability than SDSA in elderly patients. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:312-6)
The evidence for glutamine use in the critically-ill

Research into the metabolic role of glutamine in trauma and sepsis brings evidence to suggest a conditional deficiency occurs because increased and altered tissue demands exceed endogenous production. Such a deficiency has functional implications, and the restorative provision of parenteral glutamine has been shown to offer improved clinical outcomes in a variety of conditions. In the critically-ill it is associated with improvements in immune function, and improved survival from infection leading to an overall improved outcome.
SU-F-R-26: Prognostic Radiomics of Breast Cancer On DCE and DWI MR Images.

PURPOSE For this study, we investigated quantitative radiomics of breast tumors on diffusion weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRIs in the task of assessing the prognostic status of breast cancers. METHODS Our IRB-approved, retrospectively-collected dataset included 316 breast cancers with 235 ER+ and 81 ER- cases. All images were acquired during clinical breast MRI incorporating dynamic-contrast MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI. Phenotypic categories extracted quantitatively from DCE-MRI included tumor size, shape, margin sharpness, enhancement texture, kinetics, and variance kinetics, and from DWI-DCE ADC features (average, range, variation) for DWI. Phenotypes, as well as merged tumor signatures from round robin evaluation, were assessed for the prognostic tasks using area under the ROC curve (AUC) as the index of performance. RESULTS In the task of distinguishing between ER+ and ER- cancers, computer-extracted phenotypes from DCE and DWI yielded comparable performance levels, however, we found that the phenotypes, as well as the modality-specific tumor signatures, showed only slight correlation (r=-0.44), thus indicating the promise of multi-modality signatures. In the tasks of ER+ vs. ER-. PR+ vs. PR-, lymph node positive vs negative, we obtained AUC values of 0.66 (0.03), 0.64 (0.03), and 0.64 (0.03) for DCE-MRI, and AUC values of 0.64 (0.03), 0.61 (0.03), and 0.61 (0.03) for DWI-MRI, respectively. The combination of the modalities yielded AUC values of 0.67 (0.03), 0.64 (0.03), and 0.62 (0.03), respectively. CONCLUSION The correlation and performance results obtained from merging radiomic features from DCE-MRI and DWI-MRI indicate that the additional benefit of multimodality breast MRI in assessing prognosis is promising. Funded by an NIH (PREP) (R25) Grant and the University of Chicago Dean Bridge Fund. COI: M.L. Giger is a stockholder in R2 technology/Hologic and receives royalties from Hologic, GE Medical Systems, MEDIAN Technologies, Riverrain Medical, Mitsubushi, and Toshiba. MLG is a co-founder and stockholder in Quantitative Insights.
A pragmatic approach to develop computational thinking skills in novices in Computing Education

Fundamental skills acquired by undergraduate students during their academic, play a crucial role in their career. One such skill is computational thinking (CT), which will help to solve problems algorithmically using computers. Computational thinking will improve their problem solving skills in a non-conventional manner as this leads the student to think in multiple paths to reach the solution. However, it is a challenge in Computing Education to develop student's ability to solve problems in an algorithmic way. The aim of this paper is to introduce a potential and pragmatic approach to develop computational thinking skills in novices.
IN VITRO BEHAVIOUR OF HUMAN OSTEOBLASTS ON DENTIN AND BONE

This investigation studied how the behaviour of isolated osteoblasts on standard tissue culture polystyrene compared with cells cultured on cut surfaces of dentin, a natural calcified material. Cellular attachment, viability and growth were monitored in parallel cultures of human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG63, HOS TE85, SaOS‐2) and primary human osteoblast‐like cells (HOBs). Culture plastic was either left untreated or roughened with abrasive paper of various grit sizes (4000–1200 grit) in order to obtain a level of roughness comparable to that of the dentin slices. Cell counting and intracellular BCECF staining showed that after an initial incubation of 2h, the primary cells attached and spread out more quickly on the different substrates than the three cell lines. The primary cells also showed a stronger mitochondrial staining and viability on dentin. During subsequent culture morphological differences appeared with the cells on dentin displaying more cellular extensions. All three cell lines proliferated more slowly on dentin than on plastic. In contrast, the primary HOBs were not significantly affected in their growth by the different substrates. Total and specific alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity of the cell lines was not significantly affected by the different substrates after short‐term adhesion, but it was increased for the primary cells on the dentin. However, after 2–3 days of culture, AP was decreased on the dentin slices for both the cell lines and primary HOBs. Plasma treatment of the roughened plastic did not alter cellular viability or AP activity, suggesting that grinding of the surface did not affect the property of the culture plastic to support cell attachment and growth. In conclusion, the results show that not only do osteoblastic cells behave differently on a natural calcified substrate surface than on standard culture plastic, but also that differences were evident between the various cell types, in particular the primary HOBversus the continuous cell lines.
THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND SPORTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CASE STUDY OF PAKISTAN

The economic conditions and sports participation in developed countries has been studied extensively. For a number of countries in the developed world, it has been reported that economic conditions have a direct impact on participation and performance in various sports (Black et al., 2002). However, there has been no significant study conducted to assess the effects of economic conditions on sports participation in the developing world. The aim of this study was to fill that void and ascertain the impact of economic conditions on high performance sports in Pakistan, and the underlying reasons for the decline of sports in the country. Pakistan's participation & performance at the Asian games have been used as a basis for the study. Moreover, studies that have assessed the teaching of physical education in Pakistan have also been reviewed to identify issues with sports participation (Sarwar et al., 2010). Decline of sports participation of children in Secondary Schools, utilization of Sports Funds & availability of Sports Facilities was also considered to identify reasons for decline in performance. Data relating to available resources such as physical education teachers employed and utilization of funds for sports was taken from National Sports Policy of Pakistan 2005, and used to test and validate various hypotheses under consideration. The results show significant decline in the performance of Pakistan at the Asian games from 1950 to 2000 (p <0.05) along with negative relationship with economic conditions of Pakistan. It was noted that only 48 % schools had access to physical education teachers. Out of these schools it was found that 40% schools were not utilizing the funds fully, for physical education and 50% school did not have facilities for indoor / outdoor games / sports. The analysis of economic conditions in Pakistan and participation in sports showed that there was no significant relationship between the economic conditions and performance in sports. These results suggest that in order to stem the decline in sports performance, focus should be on grass roots level activities in schools, implementation of systematic and scientific coaching, long term planning and upgrading our competition and monitoring system in addition to provisioning of sports facilities at all levels.