Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Appraisal Systems in Hiram Hospital and Its Relationship With Employees’ Performance: Empirical Study

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between different performance appraisal methods and employees’ performance in a private hospital in South Lebanon. Three main appraisal methods were selected for this study including traditional appraisal, self-appraisal and customer appraisal methods. In addition, the employees’ performance was measured at different levels including task, adaptive and contextual performance. Design: Based on a quantitative approach and using self-administered questionnaires, primary data was collected randomly from 125 employees of the target hospital. Findings: The results obtained showed that employees are generally performing in an adequate level and they are pleased with the current applied performance appraisal systems at this hospital and especially at the level of customer appraisal methods. Originality: This study showed how private hospital in Lebanon use performance appraisal systems in managing their human resources through measuring employees’ performance, motivating them and most commonly, making critical administrative decisions related to training and development or even rewarding and coercive actions. Future suggestions: Future studies are recommended to expand the research geographically and comprise variety of hospitals in terms of size or type. Also, studying different performance appraisal systems would enrich the literature especially at the empirical level.
Empirische Bildungsforschung eine Standortbestimmung

In this interview, Professor Dieter Lenzen comments on diverse issues focusing on empirical educational research, but also on educational science in general. He discusses, among other topics, the development and current situation of empirical educational research. Additionally, he addresses the “parent-child relationship” in educational science and empirical educational research. Finally, the interview turns to the future position of empirical educational research in the scientific system and possible prospective issues. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen, Universität Hamburg, Mittelweg 177, 20148 Hamburg, Deutschland E-Mail: praesident@uni-hamburg.de Dieter Lenzen Empirische Bildungsforschung in Deutschland: Rückblick, Zukunft und Bedeutung für die Erziehungswissenschaft – Fragen an Professor Lenzen Journal for Educational Research Online Journal für Bildungsforschung Online Volume 11 (2019), No. 1, 9–15 © 2019 Waxmann
Antiretroviral Resistance After First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy Failure in Diverse HIV-1 Subtypes in the SECOND-LINE Study.

We investigate mutations and correlates according to HIV-1 subtype after virological failure (VF) of standard first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) (non-nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] +2 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor [N(t)RTI]). SECOND-LINE study participants were assessed at baseline for HIV-1 subtype, demographics, HIV-1 history, ART exposure, viral load (VL), CD4(+) count, and genotypic ART resistance. We used backward stepwise multivariate regression (MVR) to assess associations between baseline variables and presence of ≥3 N(t)RTI mutations, ≥1 NNRTI mutation, ≥3 thymidine analog-N(t)RTI [ta-N(t)RTI] mutations (TAMs), the K65/K70 mutation, and predicted etravirine (ETV)/rilpivirine (RPV) activity. The inclusion p-value for MVR was p < . 2. The exclusion p-value from stepwise elimination was p > . 05. Of 541 participants, 491 (91%) had successfully characterized baseline viral isolates. Subtype distribution: B (n = 123, 25%), C (n = 202, 41%), CRF01_AE (n = 109, 22%), G (n = 25, 5%), and CRF02_AG (n = 27, 5%). Baseline CD4(+) 200-394 cells/mm(3) were associated with <3 N(t)RTI mutations (OR = 0.47; 95% CI 0.29-0.77; p = .003), absence of the K65/K70 mutation (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.26-0.73; p = .002), and higher ETV sensitivity (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.35-0.78; p = .002). Recent tenofovir (TDF) use was associated with K65/K70 mutations (OR = 8.91; 95% CI 5.00-15.85; p < .001). Subtype CRF01_AE was associated with ≥3 N(t)RTI mutations (OR = 2.34; 95% CI 1.31-4.17; p = .004) and higher RPV resistance (OR = 2.13; 95% CI 1.30-3.49; p = .003), and subtype C was associated with <3 TAMs (OR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.21-0.99; p = .015). Subtypes CRF01_AE (OR = 2.46; 95% CI 1.26-4.78; p = .008) and G (OR = 4.77; 95% CI 1.44-15.76; p = .01) were associated with K65/K70 mutations. Higher VL at confirmed first-line VF was associated with ≥3 N(t)RTI mutations (OR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.07-1.78; p = .013) and ≥3 TAMs (OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.15-2.29; p = .006). The associations of first-line resistance mutations across the HIV-1 subtypes in this study are consistent with knowledge derived from subtype B, with some exceptions. Patterns of resistance after failure of a first-line ta-N(t)RTI regimen support using TDF in N(t)RTI-containing second-line regimens, or using N(t)RTI-sparing regimens.
Desire to lose weight and need of weight loss support in the adult population—Results from a cross‐sectional study in Sweden

Evidence‐based methods to lose weight are important in tackling increasing obesity trends in adult populations. More knowledge about persons who want to lose weight and do not/do need weight loss support is necessary to design effective preventive practices. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of desire to lose weight in the general population and the prevalence of health problems and health‐related factors in persons with overweight or obesity who want to lose weight and believe that they do not/do need weight loss support.
Nowości The role and importance of protection and thrombectomy devices during percutaneous coronary interventions in degenerated vein grafts

Wstęp W wytycznych Europejskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego dotycz1cych przezskórnych interwencji wieñcowych (2005 r.) rekomenduje siê w klasie zaleceñ I i poziomie wiarygodnoœci danych A rutynowe stosowanie dystalnych systemów protekcji podczas przezskórnych interwencji wieñcowych (PCI – percutaneous coronary interventions) w mia¿d¿ycowo zmienionych pomostach ¿ylnych (SVG – saphenous vein grafts) [1]. W artykule prezentujemy przegl1d najczêœciej stosowanych systemów protekcji i trombektomii oraz ich przydatnoœæ w okreœlonych sytuacjach klinicznych. W ci1gu pierwszych 10 lat po zabiegu pomostowania aortalno-wieñcowego (CABG – coronary artery bypass grafting) u ok. 33% pacjentów dochodzi do okluzji wszczepionego pomostu. U kolejnych 33% wystêpuj1 istotne zmiany mia¿d¿ycowe [2–4]. Ponowna rewaskularyzacja chirurgiczna wi1¿e siê ze znacznie wiêkszym ryzykiem ni¿ podczas pierwotnego zabiegu CABG [5]. Korzystn1 alternatyw1 leczenia dla tej grupy chorych jest przezskórna rewaskularyzacja zdegenerowanych pomostów ¿ylnych. Przy wyborze strategii leczenia chorych po CABG czynnikami, które mog1 przemawiaæ za ponown1 operacj1, s1 zmiany w pomoœcie do têtnicy przedniej zstêpuj1cej, zaawansowana mia¿d¿yca, liczne zmiany aktywne, frakcja wyrzutowa lewej komory <30% oraz wspó3istniej1ca cukrzyca. Przezskórne interwencje w SVG s1 szczególnie nara¿one na ryzyko dystalnej embolizacji. Zatorowoœæ obwodowa powoduje zamkniêcie 3o¿yska mikrokr1¿enia z nastêpczym spazmem i agregacj1 p3ytek krwi. Dystaln1 embolizacjê mo¿e powodowaæ spontaniczne pêkniêcie blaszki mia¿d¿ycowej z wytworzeniem zakrzepu i przesuniêciem elementów na obwód naczynia lub mechaniczne uszkodzenie blaszki podczas zabiegów PCI. U 20% pacjentów wi1¿e siê to z wyst1pieniem powa¿nych niekorzystnych zdarzeñ sercowych (MACE – major adverse cardiac events), w tym g3ównie zawa3u miêœnia sercowego [6]. U ponad jednej trzeciej pacjentów wystêpuje zjawisko braku ponownego przep3ywu (no-reflow) na poziomie tkankowym pomimo braku organicznej przeszkody w poszerzonym naczyniu [7]. Protekcyjne dzia3anie blokerów receptora p3ytkowego glikoproteiny IIb/IIIa, w odró¿nieniu od natywnych naczyñ wieñcowych, nie jest przydatne podczas angioplastyki pomostów ¿ylnych. Zastosowanie ich nie poprawia wyników PCI i nie ogranicza zwi1zanych z ni1 powik3añ. Wynika to
Transient Pulmonary Atelectasis after Ketamine Sedation during Cardiac Catheterization in Spontaneously Breathing Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Background: Ketamine is applied widely for sedation during cardiac catheterization in spontaneously breathing children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, a rare and unreported respiratory complication, transient and reversible atelectasis of lungs (TRAL), was identiﬁ ed. Purpose: The study was performed to investigate retrospectively the prevalence and clinical characteristics of TRAL after ketamine sedation in pediatric cardiac catheterization. Methods: Four thousand four hundred and seventy-four sick children were sedated with ketamine, and pediatric cardiac catheterization was carried out under spontaneous breathing. TRAL was detected in 33 children (17 M/16 F, age was 2.1 ± 1.7 years) by retrospective analysis. The clinical and radiographic characteristics were recorded before, during and after TRAL. Results: In pediatric cardiac catheterization, the prevalence of TRAL was 0.74% after ketamine sedation. TRAL occurred in 23 children with cyanotic CHD, and 10 with acyanotic CHD. All TRALs had common clinical and radiographic features: the diffuse opacity of bilateral lungs developed rapidly (identiﬁ ed under X-ray ﬂ uoroscopy), associated with decrease in lung volume, and then the decrease in SpO 2 (94.2 ± 9.2% vs. 59.4 ± 2.2%, P<0.05), and heart rates (143.5 ± 14.3 bpm vs. 58.3 ± 9.7 bpm, P<0.05) followed quickly. TRAL was relieved by supportive oxygen in 32 children (23 with face mask, and 9 with endotracheal intubation), and the duration of TRAL was 1.6 ± 0.5 minutes. However, TRAL caused the death of one child. Conclusions: TRAL is a rare and urgent respiratory complication after ketamine sedation, and the mechanism is unclear. Rapid and diffuse opacity of bilateral lungs is the earliest sign of TRAL in pediatric cardiac catheterization, and the immediate supportive oxygen is crucial.
Decomposition Analysis of Factors that Drive the Changes of Major Air Pollutant Emissions in China at a Multi-Regional Level

The regional emission reduction determines the national emission reduction for one country, and the differences in regional economic characteristics may result in regional differences in air pollutant emissions (APEs). In this regard, this study constructs a regional contribution index of different factors through an extended LMDI (Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index) method and investigates regional differences in factors driving the changes of China’s major APEs (SO2, NOx, and PM2.5). It reveals that the regional emission efficiency effect was a key inhibitory factor on APEs, which was more obvious in the eastern and northern regions. The regional energy intensity had greater inhibitory effects on SO2 and NOx than on PM2.5, and these inhibitory effects were more obvious in the eastern region. The regional population structure promoted APEs for northern, southern, northeastern, and eastern regions, and inhibited APEs for central, southwestern, and northwestern regions. The regional relative income had a slight effect, which curbed APEs for northern, eastern, southern, and northern regions. The national economic growth effect was the key factor in promoting APEs, which was obvious in eastern and northern regions, followed by southern, central, and southwestern regions. Policy implications are put forward based on empirical results.
An integrated biorefinery process of oil palm empty fruit bunch for bioethanol and flame retardant

As an agricultural Country, Indonesia hold a green potential in a form of biomass abundance. A great number of wastes generated from the palm oil production, such as empty fruit bunch, is the potential raw material for biofuel and advanced material. Second generation bioethanol has been gaining a lot of interest due to the utilization of waste and its non-food advantage. However, the process production is still far from eco-friendly. Therefore, we developed an integrated biorefinery process which utilized every components and wastes in the bioethanol production process with the aim for an efficient and green process with zero waste. The hollocellulose of the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was experiencing simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation process using co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Scheffersomyces stipitis and obtained a comparable concentration of ethanol. Lignin dissolved in black liquor was extracted, purified and characterized its thermal behavior in preparation for lignin as flame retardant additives.As an agricultural Country, Indonesia hold a green potential in a form of biomass abundance. A great number of wastes generated from the palm oil production, such as empty fruit bunch, is the potential raw material for biofuel and advanced material. Second generation bioethanol has been gaining a lot of interest due to the utilization of waste and its non-food advantage. However, the process production is still far from eco-friendly. Therefore, we developed an integrated biorefinery process which utilized every components and wastes in the bioethanol production process with the aim for an efficient and green process with zero waste. The hollocellulose of the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was experiencing simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation process using co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Scheffersomyces stipitis and obtained a comparable concentration of ethanol. Lignin dissolved in black liquor was extracted, purified and characterized its thermal behavior in preparation for li.
Development and application of a Socioeconomic Vulnerability Indicator Framework (SVIF) for Local Climate Change Adaptation in Taiwan

This paper outlines the development of a socioeconomic vulnerability indicator framework (SVIF) which was designed to provide a tool to inform bespoke local adaptation actions along the Taiwanese coast. The framework incorporates a range of diverse indicators, from ones that are related to demographic characteristics to others that represent economic and infrastructure features. As such, the framework encapsulates multiple and complex dimensions of socio-economic vulnerability rather than deriving a less nuanced single index; this is an approach that, whilst more commonly employed elsewhere, may mask critical features of socioeconomic vulnerability at local levels. The paper describes the piloting of the SVIF as it quantifies and visually summarizes the susceptibility and resilience of four townships (Mailiao, Kauho, Linbian and Jiadong) along the exposed coast of Southwest Taiwan. The paper demonstrates the SVIF’s potential in characterizing specific aspects of socio-economic vulnerability that local decision-makers could use to tailor local adaptation. The SVIF was successful in differentiating between the four local areas, highlighting clear differences between urban and rural townships. With further development by using a more participative approach and expanding its application to wider geographical contexts both in Taiwan and further afield, the authors are confident that the SVIF has the potential to provide a useful tool for local adaptation.
Investigating the potential of whole grain sorghum as an ingredient in foods to assist in the prevention of chronic disease

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Efficiency of crowdfunding as institution of global market for venture capital

The paper discusses the effectiveness of crowdfunding institution. Crowdfunding is the result of evolutionary institutional changes in the global venture capital market. The crowdfunding institution has lower transaction costs and allocates risks more evenly in comparison with the institutions of business angel and venture fund. Regression models of the effectiveness of global fundraising campaigns with the help of three types of institutions were designed. Comparison of models makes it possible to conclude that crowdfunding as an effective mechanism for organizing venture transactions, which significantly expands the audience of investors and projects that attract investments in the early stages.
Physiotherapie mit externem Fokus

178 Für die Behandlung chronischer Schmerzpatienten gilt die Kombination aus Patientenedukation und Bewegungstherapie als gängiger Standard. Hierfür instruiert der Therapeut adäquate Übungen, kontrolliert deren korrekte Ausführung und richtet so zwangläufig das Augenmerk des Patienten permanent auf dessen Schmerzen und Funktionsstörungen. Nicht immer ist dieser autoritäre und körperorientierte Therapieansatz effektiv. Als innovative Alternative dient eine Behandlungsstrategie, die ihren Fokus vor allem auf das zielorientierte Bewältigen spannender Übungen richtet und dem Patienten Mitspracherechte bei der Gestaltung der Behandlung einräumt. Dadurch werden aus chronischen Schmerzpatienten funktionierende Menschen.
Responsible AI by Design in Practice

Recently, a lot of attention has been given to undesired consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as unfair bias leading to discrimination, or the lack of explanations of the results of AI systems. There are several important questions to answer before AI can be deployed at scale in our businesses and societies. Most of these issues are being discussed by experts and the wider communities, and it seems there is broad consensus on where they come from. There is, however, less consensus on, and experience with how to practically deal with those issues in organizations that develop and use AI, both from a technical and organizational perspective. In this paper, we discuss the practical case of a large organization that is putting in place a company-wide methodology to minimize the risk of undesired consequences of AI. We hope that other organizations can learn from this and that our experience contributes to making the best of AI while minimizing its risks.
Insertion-deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene, blood pressure profile, albuminuria, and sodium sensitivity in patients with arterial hypertension

Wstep W prezentowanym badaniu oceniano czestośc insercyjno-delecyjnego polimorfizmu genu konwertazy angiotensyny (ACE) w grupie chorych na nadciśnienie tetnicze oraz jego związek ze zmiennością ciśnienia tetniczego, albuminurią i sodowrazliwością, uznanymi wskaźnikami wczesnych powiklan sercowo-naczyniowych, w zalezności od podazy sodu w diecie. Material i metody Grupe badaną stanowilo 69 chorych na samoistne nadciśnienie tetnicze I stopnia lub II stopnia wedlug klasyfikacji Polskiego Towarzystwa Nadciśnienia Tetniczego. Badania przeprowadzono w warunkach szpitalnych u osob stosujących przez 7 dni kontrolowaną diete, zawierającą kolejno: 100-120 mmol, 10-20 mmol, 220-240 mmol sodu na dobe. W 6. i 7. dobie spozywania diety niskosodowej oraz wysokosodowej zakladano dobowe zbiorki moczu, w ktorych oznaczano objetośc moczu, wydalanie sodu, potasu i kreatyniny oraz wydalanie albumin. W 7. dobie diety niskosodowej i wysokosodowej dokonywano 24-godzinnego pomiaru ciśnienia tetniczego metodą ABPM. Na kazdej z diet pobierano probki krwi zylnej celem oznaczen rutynowymi metodami: aktywności reninowej osocza (PRA), aldosteronu (ALDO), sodu, potasu i kreatyniny. Ponadto od wszystkich badanych jednorazowo pobierano 10 ml krwi zylnej w celu izolacji DNA, a nastepnie oznaczania metodą PCR polimorfizmu I/D genu ACE. Wyniki Stwierdzono istotnie wiekszą czestośc genotypu DD i alleli D u osob sodowrazliwych. W warunkach diety niskosodowej chorzy sodowrazliwi z genotypem DD i ID/II nie roznili sie albuminurią (UAE), klirensem meatyniny (Ccr), dobowym wydalaniem sodu (UNa), dobowym wydalaniem potasu (UK), objetością moczu (Uvol) oraz wartościami średniego dobowego (MAP), dziennego (DMAP) i nocnego ciśnienia tetniczego (NMAP), a takze jego spadkiem nocnym. Dieta wysokosodowa wywolywala podobny, znamienny wzrost 24MAP, DMAP, NMAP i STD oraz istotnie hamowala spadek nocnego ciśnienia, zarowno u osob z genotypem DD, jak i ID/II. Jednak średnia wartośc N/D byla jednak istotnie mniejsza u chorych z genotypem DD. Na diecie wysokosodowej zaobserwowano istotnie wiekszy wzrost wydalania UAE i Ccr u DD. W warunkach diety niskosodowej stwierdzono nieznacznie, ale znamiennie wyzszą PRA i ALDO u osob z genotypem DD w porownaniu z osobami o genotypie ID/II. Dieta wysokosodowa wywolywala znamiennie wyzsze zahamowanie PRA i ALDO u osob z genotypem DD w porownaniu z ID/II. Wnioski 1. Genotyp delecyjny DD wystepuje istotnie cześciej u osob rasy bialej badanej populacji, z nadciśnieniem tetniczym sodowrazliwym. 2. Dieta wysokosodowa wywoluje znamiennie slabszy nocny spadek ciśnienia, wiekszą albuminurie, mniejszy spadek PRA i ALDO u chorych z nadciśnieniem sodowrazliwym o genotypie DD, co moze sugerowac, ze przy przewleklym nadciśnieniu i dlugotrwale stosowanej diecie bogatosodowej u tych chorych wcześniej rozwiną sie powiklania sercowo-naczyniowe i nerkowe.
PERAN SOCIAL SKILL TRAINING DALAM MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN SOSIAL PASIEN SKIZOFRENIA KATATONIK

This study aimed to determine the role of social skill training in improving social skills. Data collection methods used in this study are interviews, WAIS testing, projective test, and SSCT. The subject of the study was an 18 years old male who had a catatonic schizophrenic disorder who did not want to interact socially before entering Menur Psychiatric Hospital. The intervention given was Social Skill Training to improve social skills in 7 sessions. Through Social Skill Training, subjects are trained in various social skills, such as greeting, introducing themselves, communicating lightly and to make friends so that the subject is no longer to be silent and sculpting in the room and make the subject be able to go to school again. The results showed a number of changes, such as subjects who were able to greet, introduce themselves first, even able to have small conversations with people around the subject.