Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diet Contributes Significantly to the Body Burden of PBDEs in the General U.S. Population

BACKGROUND Exposure of the U.S. population to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is thought to be via exposure to dust and diet. However, little work has been done to empirically link body burdens of these compounds to either route of exposure. OBJECTIVES The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the dietary contribution to PBDE body burdens in the United States by linking serum levels to food intake. METHODS We used two dietary instruments--a 24-hr food recall (24FR) and a 1-year food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)--to examine food intake among participants of the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We regressed serum concentrations of five PBDEs (BDE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153) and their sum (Sigma PBDE) against diet variables while adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and body mass index. RESULTS Sigma PBDE serum concentrations among vegetarians were 23% (p = 0.006) and 27% (p = 0.009) lower than among omnivores for 24FR and 1-year FFQ, respectively. Serum levels of five PBDE congeners were associated with consumption of poultry fat: Low, medium, and high intake corresponded to geometric mean Sigma PBDE concentrations of 40.6, 41.9, and 48.3 ng/g lipid, respectively (p = 0.0005). We observed similar trends for red meat fat, which were statistically significant for BDE-100 and BDE-153. No association was observed between serum PBDEs and consumption of dairy or fish. Results were similar for both dietary instruments but were more robust using 24FR. CONCLUSIONS Intake of contaminated poultry and red meat contributes significantly to PBDE body burdens in the United States.
The significance of albumin corrected anion gap in patients with cardiopulmonary arrest.

PURPOSE The reliable parameter, which can be obtained easily and quickly, is necessary to predict the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) of patients with cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in the emergency situation. In this study, we evaluated the significance of albumin corrected anion gap (ACAG) for the prediction of ROSC in patients with CPA. PATIENTS AND METHODS In 166 patients with CPA between January 2009 and December 2010, 132 patients could be analyzed retrospectively. We compared acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA) score, anion gap (AG) and ACAG levels between patients with/without ROSC and evaluated the significance of AG and ACAG to predict ROSC in patients with CPA. RESULTS Both AG and ACAG were significantly lower in patients with ROSC than in patients without ROSC. Both AG and ACAG had the relation with APACHE II and SOFA scores, however, coefficients of correlation with APACHE II and SOFA score were higher in ACAG (r = 0.506) than in AG (r = 0.482). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ACAG for the prediction of ROSC in patients with CPA were better than those of AG. CONCLUSION Our study shows that both AG and ACAG have the relation with ROSC and ACAG is better to predict the ROSC following CPR in patients with CPA compared with AG. ACAG can be easily obtained in the emergency situation, and ACAG is a useful parameter to predict ROSC in patients with CPA.
Throughput and latency of acyclic erasure networks with feedback in a finite buffer regime

The exact Markov modeling analysis of erasure networks with finite buffers is an extremely hard problem due to the large number of states in the system. In such networks, packets are lost due to either link erasures or blocking by the full buffers. In this paper, we propose a novel method that iteratively estimates the performance parameters of the network and more importantly reduces the computational complexity compared to the exact analysis. This is the first work that analytically studies the effect of finite memory on the throughput and latency in general wired acyclic networks with erasure links. As a case study, a random packet routing scheme with ideal feedback on the links is used. The proposed framework yields a fairly accurate estimate of the probability distribution of buffer occupancies at the intermediate nodes using which we can not only identify the congested and starving nodes but also obtain analytical expressions for throughput and average delay of a packet in the network. The theoretical framework presented here can be applied to many wired networks, from Internet to more futuristic applications such as networks-on-chip under various communication and network coding scenarios.
DNA contained by two densonucleosis viruses

The DNA contained by particles of densonucleosis viruses 1 and 2 were analyzed within the particle, and properties of DNA extracted from these particles were determined. The DNA appears to exist as a single-stranded molecule with limited secondary structure within particles, as assessed by spectral changes induced by formaldehyde, melting profiles, and circular dichroism studies. The single-stranded DNA had an apparent molecular weight of 1.9 X 10(6) to 2.2 X 10(6) as assessed by differences in the molecular weight of virus particles and top component and percentage of nucleic acid. DNA extracted from virus particles in low-salt buffers possessed properties typical of a single-stranded molecule. Double-stranded DNA could be extracted from virus particles under appropriate high salt and elevated temperature. The linear double-stranded DNA extracted from both viruses had a molecular weight of about 3.9 X 10(6) to 4.1 ZX 10(6) determined by neutral sedimentation and electron microscopy and an equivalent genome size determined by reassociation kinetics. About 87% of the DNA was homologous between the two viruses.
Correlation between Family Environment and Suicidal Ideation in University Students in China

Background: This study investigated the association between suicidal ideation and family environment. The sample included 5183 Chinese university students. A number of studies on suicidal ideation have focused on individuals rather than families. This paper reviews the general principles of suicidal ideation and the consequences resulting from the family environment. Methods: This study used six different colleges as the dataset, which included 2645 males and 2538 females. Students were questioned with respect to social demographics and suicidal ideation factors. The data were analyzed with factor and logistic analyses to determine the association between suicidal ideation and poor family environment. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 9.2% (476/5183). Most participants with suicidal ideation had significant similarities: they had poor family structures and relationships, their parents had unstable work, and their parents used improper parenting styles. Female students were more likely to have suicidal thoughts than male students. Conclusions: This study shows that suicidal ideation is a public health issue among Chinese university students and demonstrates the importance of considering the family environment when examining university students’ suicidal ideation. Understanding family-related suicidal ideation risk factors can help to predict and prevent suicides among university students.
An Australian investigation of emotional work, emotional well-being and professional practice: an emancipatory inquiry.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study set out to explore the relationship between emotional work, emotional well-being and professional practice of generalist community health nurses who provided palliative care to clients living at home. BACKGROUND Research suggests that palliative care practice is emotionally demanding and at times challenging. Whilst nurses find their palliative practice a source of job satisfaction the associated stresses can impact on nurses emotional well-being. DESIGN A qualitative emancipatory methodology informed this study. METHODS Semi-structured interviews/storytelling and reflective journaling were the two methods applied. Sixteen community health nurses including the researcher participated. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. RESULTS The concept of emotional well-being is associated with nurses' feelings of being balanced or out of balance. There is a pervasive interconnectedness between emotional work, emotional well-being and professional practice that is influenced by factors such as organisational and workplace issues; communication with health professionals, professional boundaries; education and professional development. Three major interwoven themes emerged highlighting that palliative care provision was demanding and rewarding, yet dependent on the nurse's comfortability within practice. Self-care is also important to the generalist nurses and strategies to enhance well-being include healthy lifestyle choices, debriefing, self-validation, assertiveness and emotional support. CONCLUSIONS Emotional well-being is complex and multifaceted. The value of emotional well-being to professional practice is important. Palliative care provision is associated with demands, rewards and comfortability. It is essential that attention be given to the experiences of generalist community health nurses who engage in palliative care provision. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE As the demand for community palliative care increases, the issues that limit and enhance the emotional well-being of generalist palliative care nurses' become critical. The findings have international relevance to generalist and specialist palliative care nurses, academics and researchers alike.
Nitric oxide production during the early neonatal period in small‐for‐gestational‐age infants

In a study of endogenous nitric oxide production in growth‐retarded, very preterm newborns <32wk GA), urinary NOx/creatinine ratio and plasma guanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate levels were determined during the early neonatal period. Newborns were divided into three groups: appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA, n= 19), moderately small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA, n= 13) and severely SGA (n= 6) infants. Severely SGA infants showed significant higher values of nitric oxide derivatives during the first 24 h of life compared with the other groups.
Global and Fixed-Terminal Cuts in Digraphs

The computational complexity of multicut-like problems may vary significantly depending on whether the terminals are fixed or not. In this work we present a comprehensive study of this phenomenon in two types of cut problems in directed graphs: double cut and bicut. 1. The fixed-terminal edge-weighted double cut is known to be solvable efficiently. We show a tight approximability factor of $2$ for the fixed-terminal node-weighted double cut. We show that the global node-weighted double cut cannot be approximated to a factor smaller than $3/2$ under the Unique Games Conjecture (UGC). 2. The fixed-terminal edge-weighted bicut is known to have a tight approximability factor of $2$. We show that the global edge-weighted bicut is approximable to a factor strictly better than $2$, and that the global node-weighted bicut cannot be approximated to a factor smaller than $3/2$ under UGC. 3. In relation to these investigations, we also prove two results on undirected graphs which are of independent interest. First, we show NP-completeness and a tight inapproximability bound of $4/3$ for the node-weighted $3$-cut problem. Second, we show that for constant $k$, there exists an efficient algorithm to solve the minimum $\{s,t\}$-separating $k$-cut problem. Our techniques for the algorithms are combinatorial, based on LPs and based on enumeration of approximate min-cuts. Our hardness results are based on combinatorial reductions and integrality gap instances.
Online Shoppers' Perceptions of E-Retailers' Ethics, Cultural Orientation, and Loyalty: An Exploratory Study in Taiwan

Purpose – This study aims to examine the impact of cultural orientation on consumer perceptions regarding the ethics of online retailers (CPEOR), and to understand the influence of CPEOR on e‐loyalty intention.Design/methodology/approach – The paper operationalizes Roman's CPEOR scale and Triandis’ individuality and collectivism typology. A valid sample of 949 respondents is collected via an online survey.Findings – Consumers with horizontal individualism, and with horizontal and vertical collectivism tend to hold higher perceptions of e‐retailers’ ethics. The higher consumers perceive positive CPEOR, the more they tend to purchase from the same online sellers.Practical implications – Multinational enterprises must understand the possible effects of cultural context on consumer attitudes of e‐retailers’ ethics before they can create successful marketing strategies. Additionally, if e‐retailers maintain shopping situations where transactions are secure, private, and certain, e‐shoppers are more likely to b.
Epigenomic profiling in polycythaemia vera and essential thrombocythaemia shows low levels of aberrant DNA methylation

Aims The purpose of this study was to compare the DNA-methylation signature in classic chronic Philadelphia negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET), in order to obtain a global insight into DNA-methylation changes associated with these malignancies. Methods Thirty-five MPN samples from 11 ET JAK2 V617F, 12 ET JAK2 wild type (WT) and 12 PV JAK2 V617F patients as well as 12 from healthy donors were analysed. DNA samples extracted from whole peripheral blood were hybridised to the ‘HumanMethylation27 DNA Analysis BeadChip. ’ Results All groups showed a very homogeneous methylation pattern. Only the ZNF577 gene showed a differential methylation profile between PV JAK2 V617F positive and controls. This aberrant methylation was correlated with a differential gene expression of ZNF577. No aberrant hypermethylation was found in the SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 genes. Conclusions According to our results, an aberrant methylation pattern does not seem to play a crucial role in MPN pathogenesis; nor does it justify phenotypical differences between PV and ET.
Detection of susceptibility loci on APOA5 and COLEC12 associated with metabolic syndrome using a genome-wide association study in a Taiwanese population

Background Although the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been reported in various populations in several genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the data is not conclusive. In this GWAS study, we assessed whether SNPs are associated with MetS and its individual components independently and/or through complex interactions in a Taiwanese population. Methods A total of 10,300 Taiwanese subjects were assessed in this study. Metabolic traits such as waist circumference, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose were measured. Results Our data showed an association of MetS at the genome-wide significance level (P < 8.6 x 10-8) with two SNPs, including the rs662799 SNP in the apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene and the rs16944558 SNP in the collectin subfamily member 12 (COLEC12) gene. Moreover, we identified the effect of APOA5 rs662799 on triglyceride and HDL, the effect of rs1106475 in the actin filament associated protein 1 like 2 (AFAP1L2) gene on systolic blood pressure, and the effect of rs17667932 in the mediator complex subunit 30 (MED30) gene on fasting glucose. Additionally, we found that an interaction between the APOA5 rs662799 and COLEC12 rs16944558 SNPs influenced MetS, high triglyceride, and low HDL. Conclusions Our study indicates that the APOA5 and COLEC12 genes may contribute to the risk of MetS and its individual components independently as well as through gene-gene interactions.
Barrier island migration over a consolidating substrate

Barrier islands that overlie a compressible substrate load and consolidate the underlying subsurface. Through time, the elevation and aerial extent of these islands are reduced, making them more susceptible to inundation and overwash. Sand washed over the island and onto backbarrier marsh or into the bay or estuary begins the consolidation process on a previously non-loaded substrate, with time-dependent consolidation a function of the magnitude of the load, duration of load, and characteristics of the substrate. The result is an increase in the overwash, migration, breaching, and segmentation of these islands. This research determined the degree to which consolidation affects the evolution of barrier island systems overlying a poorly-consolidated substrate, both for natural islands and those that have been restored with an infusion of sand from an external source. A two-dimensional (crossshore) mathematical model was developed, tested with field data, and then applied to evaluate how a compressible substrate modifies long-term barrier island evolution. The model spans time durations of years to decades and represents cross-shore evolution of a sandy barrier island due to erosion, runup, overwash, migration, and time-dependent consolidation of the underlying substrate due to loading by the island. The implications of two strategies for restoring these islands (a one-time “Initial” large-scale infusion of sand from an external source versus traditional “Incremental” beach nourishment and subsequent smaller maintenance volumes) were tested. Barrier islands overlying a compressible substrate are more likely to have reduced dune elevations due to consolidation, incur overall volumetric adjustment of the profile to fill in compressed regions outside the immediate footprint of the island, and experience increased overwash and migration when the dune reaches a critical elevation with respect to the prevalent storm conditions. Initial large-scale infusion of sand from an external source decreased the cross-shore migration rate, consolidation rate, and rate of dune lowering for barrier islands overlying a compressible substrate as compared to the Incremental restoration. The reduction in the migration and consolidation processes for the Initial Method resulted in more stability of the island as compared to the Incremental Method. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. DESTROY THIS REPORT WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED. DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINATOR. ERDC/CHL TR-09-8 iii
A VARIABLE-SCALE MAP FOR SMALL-DISPLAY CARTOGRAPHY 1

: The aim of this paper is to develop methods for presenting geodata for personal navigation in real-time to a mobile user. Ideally, the user should have an overview map in the vicinity of his position; required for e.g. choosing the right road in a crossing. At the same time the user requires a small-scale map where he can see the final target of his route. A solution to obtain these user requirements is to create a variable-scale map that is constantly changing to make the user position always be in the large-scale part of the map. In the paper a formula for a variable-scale map is derived and its properties are demonstrated. Furthermore, real-time generalisation methods are described, these methods are used to adapt the original cartographic data to the small-scale areas of the map. A prototype system of a variable-scale approach was created using the emerging XML-based vector-data standards (GML and SVG), where the generalisation and scale-variations were performed in an XSLT transformation. The paper describes a minor case study which shows that variable-scale maps have a potential for personal navigation.
Evaluation of a Systematic Design for a Virtual Patient Community

Virtual Communities (VCs) offer ubiquitous access to information and exchange possibilities for people in similar situations, which is especially valuable for patients with chronic / life-threatening diseases. However, it is seldom considered possible to create VCs systematically. This article describes the evaluation of the design elements and factors that contributed to the success of the VC krebsgemeinschaft.de (a VC for cancer patients in the German-speaking internet), by assessing user acceptance and usage. Additionally, the existence of trust (a constituent element of working VCs) in krebsgemeinschaft.de is addressed. Based on these criteria, we empirically verify the chosen design components and generate insights into the systematic development and operation of VCs in general and VCs for patients in the German healthcare system in particular.
A trade-off between energy intake and exposure to parasites in oystercatchers feeding on a bivalve mollusc

Models of animal dispersion between habitat patches that differ in resource density assume that animals maximize their fitness by maximizing the rate at which they consume resources. How valid is this assumption? Studies on wading birds have been central to the application of dispersion models to predator–prey systems. However, these birds do not always attempt to maximize their rate of energy intake, implying that maximization involves costs as well as benefits. Overwintering oystercatchers feeding on cockles in the Burry Inlet, South Wales, do not consume the larger more energetically profitable cockles even though consuming these prey would increase their rate of energy intake. This paper tests the hypothesis that maximizing energy intake involves a trade–off with exposure to helminth parasites. Cockles are important intermediate hosts for helminth parasites, for which oystercatchers are the definitive host. The helminth intensity of cockles increased significantly with cockle size. A functional response model was used to examine how size selection by the birds influenced energy intake and the ingestion rate of parasites. To maximize energy intake birds should selectively consume the larger size classes, but to minimize the ingestion rate of parasites they should consume the smallest size classes. In the wild, birds selectively consumed intermediate size classes, which could represent a compromise between these conflicting demands. The implications for animal dispersion models are discussed.