Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Value of Dynamics Serum sCD163, sTREM-1, PCT, and CRP in Differentiating Sepsis, Severity Assessment, and Prognostic Prediction

Objective. To describe the dynamics changes of sCD163, soluble serum triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) during the course of sepsis, as well as their outcome prediction. Patients and Methods. An SIRS group (30 cases) and a sepsis group (100 cases) were involved in this study. Based on a 28-day survival, the sepsis was further divided into the survivors' and nonsurvivors' groups. Serum sTREM-1, sCD163, PCT, CRP, and WBC counts were tested on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. Results. On the ICU admission, the sepsis group displayed higher levels of sTREM-1, sCD163, PCT, and CRP than the SIRS group (P < 0.05). Although PCT and sTREM-1 are good markers to identify severity, sTREM-1 is more reliable, which proved to be a risk factor related to sepsis. During a 14-day observation, sCD163, sTREM-1, PCT, and SOFA scores continued to climb among nonsurvivors, while their WBC and CRP went down. Both sCD163 and SOFA scores are risk factors impacting the survival time. Conclusion. With regard to sepsis diagnosis and severity, sTREM-1 is more ideal and constitutes a risk factor. sCD163 is of a positive value in dynamic prognostic assessment and may be taken as a survival-impacting risk factor.
Assessing Home Internet Users' Demand for Security: Will They Pay ISPs?

One strategy for improving cyber security would be for Internet service providers (ISPs) to take a more active role in curtailing criminal behavior over the Internet. However, few ISPs today are offering robust security to their customers. They largely contend that home Internet users are unwilling to pay for improvements in cyber security. Yet no prior studies have attempted to quantify home Internet customers’ willingness to pay the monetary and nonmonetary costs of ISP security initiatives. Our research study took the first step in filling this gap in the literature. Specifically, we used choice-based conjoint analysis to examine the preferences of U.S. broadband Internet customers. Our findings support the notion that consumers are willing to accept price increases, ISPrequired security training, and suspensions of their Internet service when malware is detected on their computer in exchange for reductions in the risk of their computer slowing down or crashing, the risk of their identity being stolen, or the risk that others will be affected by their insecurity.
Resistance to antimicrobial agents and prevalence of R plasmids in Pasteurella multocida from turkeys

One hundred fifty-three isolates of Pasteurella multocida, representing the causative agent of 95% of all known outbreaks of fowl cholera occurring in California meat and breeder turkeys from August 1985 through February 1987, were examined for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Of the 153 isolates, 6 were shown to be resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Of the six resistant isolates, five contained R plasmids. All but one of the R plasmids were small (6 to 7 megadaltons) and nonconjugative, encoding resistance to tetracycline or kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfonamides; the other was large (70 megadaltons) and conjugative, transferring resistance to kanamycin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline to P. multocida and Escherichia coli. The three plasmids encoding resistance to tetracycline alone appeared identical.
Functional outcomes following trauma-related lower-extremity amputation.

BACKGROUND The principal aims of this study were to examine functional outcomes following trauma-related lower-extremity amputation and to compare outcomes according to the amputation levels. We hypothesized that above-the-knee amputations would result in less favorable outcomes than would through-the-knee or below-the-knee amputations. A secondary aim was to examine the factors, in addition to amputation level, that influence outcome, including the type of soft-tissue coverage, selected patient characteristics, and the technological sophistication of the prosthetic device. METHODS A cohort of 161 patients who had undergone an above-the-ankle amputation at a trauma center within three months following the injury was followed prospectively at three, six, twelve, and twenty-four months after the injury. The Sickness Impact Profile, a self-reported measure of functional status, was used as the principal measure of outcome. Secondary outcomes included pain; degree of independence in transfers, walking, and climbing stairs; self-selected walking speed; and the physician's satisfaction with the clinical, functional, and cosmetic recovery of the limb. Longitudinal multivariate regression techniques were used to determine whether outcomes differed according to the level of amputation after we controlled for covariates. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the scores on the Sickness Impact Profile between the patients treated with above-the-knee and those treated with below-the-knee amputation. However, patients with a below-the-knee amputation performed better than did patients with an above-the-knee amputation on the timed test for walking speed (p = 0.04). Patients with a through-the-knee amputation had worse regression-adjusted Sickness Impact Profile scores (p = 0.05) and slower self-selected walking speeds (p = 0.004) than did patients with either a below-the-knee or an above-the-knee amputation. Differences according to the level of amputation were most pronounced for physical function. In general, physicians were less satisfied with the clinical, cosmetic, and functional recovery of the patients with a through-the-knee amputation. Except for problems encountered with insufficient gastrocnemius coverage of the stump in many patients with a through-the-knee amputation, neither the soft-tissue coverage nor the technological sophistication of the prosthesis correlated with outcome. CONCLUSIONS Severe disability accompanies above-the-ankle lower-extremity amputation following trauma, regardless of the level of amputation. Clinicians should critically evaluate the need for a through-the-knee amputation in patients with a traumatic injury. The results of this study also underscore the need for controlled studies that examine the relationship between the type and fit of prosthetic devices and functional outcomes.
Prediction by Low Plasma HbA1c of Mortality, Cardiac and Noncardiac Disease Risk

Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive value of HbA1c for risk of overall mortality or a composite endpoint of death and nonfatal events. Methods Logistic regression retrospectively assessed the longitudinal association of measured HbA1c with outcome in 746 middle-aged adults, recruited from a tertiary health center and stratified to absence or presence of type 2 diabetes, using the recent American Diabetes Association criteria. Results A total of 70 deaths and additional incident nonfatal events in 82 cases were recorded at a median of 3.1-year follow-up. Multivariable linear regression revealed among nondiabetic individuals HbA1c to be significantly associated—independent of fasted glucose—inversely with triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, distinct from the diabetic sample. Sex and diabetes status differed in baseline HbA1c values with respect to the development of outcome. Nondiabetic men who subsequently died exhibited significantly lower HbA1c, as did men and women with incident coronary heart disease. Similar difference was observed for incident hypothyroidism and nondiabetic subjects developing malignancy. In logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age, and fasting glucose, each 0.7% (SD, 1) decrement of baseline HbA1c predicted the composite endpoint in the nondiabetic sample (risk estimates, 1.49%; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.04), but not in the diabetic sample, whereas overall mortality in the whole sample was increased (risk estimates, 1.51%; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–2.17). Conclusions Inverse association of HbA1c with adverse outcomes in men and nondiabetic people indicates the involvement of HbA1c levels in autoimmune activation. The weaker inverse association with prevalent diabetes and in women is consistent with the operation of more pronounced confounding autoimmune processes.
The HELLAS2XMM survey IV. Optical identifications and the evolution of the accretion luminosity in the Universe

We present results from the photometric and spectroscopic identification of 122 X-ray sources recently discov- ered by XMM-Newton in the 2-10 keV band (the HELLAS2XMM 1dF sample). Their flux cover the range 8 10 15 4 10 13 erg cm 2 s 1 and the total area surveyed is 0.9 square degrees. One of the most interesting results (which is found also in deeper sourveys) is that about 20% of the hard X-ray selected sources have an X-ray to optical flux ratio (X/O) ten times or more higher than that of optically selected AGN. Unlike the faint sources found in the ultra-deep Chandra and XMM-Newton surveys, which reach X-ray (and optical) fluxes more than one order of magnitude lower than the HELLAS2XMM survey sources, many of the extreme X/O sources in our sample have R 10 (to be compared with 9 sources known from the deeper, pencil-beam surveys). Eight of them are narrow line QSO (seemingly the extension to very high luminosity of the type 2 Seyfert galax- ies), four are broad line QSO. The results from our survey are also used to make reliable predictions about the luminosity of the sources not yet spectroscopically identified, both in our sample and in deeper Chandra and XMM-Newton samples. We then use a combined sample of 317 hard X-ray selected sources (HELLAS2XMM 1dF, Chandra Deep Field North 1Msec, Chandra SSA13 and XMM-Newton Lockman Hole flux limited samples), 221 with measured redshifts, to evaluate the cosmo- logical evolution of the hard X-ray source's number and luminosity densities. Looking backward in time, the low luminosity sources (log L2 10 keV = 43 44 erg s 1 ) increase in number at a much slower rate than the very high luminosity sources (log L2 10 keV> 44: 5e rg s 1 ), reaching a maximum around z= 1 and then levelling o beyond z= 2. This translates into an accretion driven luminosity density which is dominated by sources with log L2 10 keV 44: 5e rg s 1 appear, with yet rather large uncertainties, to be comparable between z= 2 and 4.
Gut Microbiota: A Modulator of Brain Plasticity and Cognitive Function in Ageing

Gut microbiota have recently been a topic of great interest in the field of microbiology, particularly their role in normal physiology and its influence on human health in disease. A large body of research has supported the presence of a pathway of communication between the gut and the brain, modulated by gut microbiota, giving rise to the term “microbiota-gut-brain” axis. It is now thought that, through this pathway, microbiota can affect behaviour and modulate brain plasticity and cognitive function in ageing. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the existence of such a connection and possible mechanisms of action whereby microbiota can influence the function of the central nervous system. Since normalisation of gut flora has been shown to prevent changes in behaviour, we further postulate on possible therapeutic targets to intervene with cognitive decline in ageing. The research poses various limitations, for example uncertainty about how this data translates to broad human populations. Nonetheless, the microbiota-gut-brain axis is an exciting field worthy of further investigation, particularly with regards to its implications on the ageing population.
Gene therapy for leber congenital amaurosis caused by RPE65 mutations: safety and efficacy in 15 children and adults followed up to 3 years.

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of subretinal gene therapy in the RPE65 form of Leber congenital amaurosis using recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV2) carrying the RPE65 gene. DESIGN Open-label, dose-escalation phase I study of 15 patients (range, 11-30 years of age) evaluated after subretinal injection of the rAAV2- RPE65 vector into the worse-functioning eye. Five cohorts represented 4 dose levels and 2 different injection strategies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were systemic and ocular safety. Secondary outcomes assayed visual function with dark-adapted full-field sensitivity testing and visual acuity with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts. Further assays included immune responses to the vector, static visual fields, pupillometry, mobility performance, and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS No systemic toxicity was detected; ocular adverse events were related to surgery. Visual function improved in all patients to different degrees; improvements were localized to treated areas. Cone and rod sensitivities increased significantly in the study eyes but not in the control eyes. Minor acuity improvements were recorded in many study and control eyes. Major acuity improvements occurred in study eyes with the lowest entry acuities and parafoveal fixation loci treated with subretinal injections. Other patients with better foveal structure lost retinal thickness and acuity after subfoveal injections. CONCLUSIONS Gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis caused by RPE65 mutations is sufficiently safe and substantially efficacious in the extrafoveal retina. There is no benefit and some risk in treating the fovea. No evidence of age-dependent effects was found. Our results point to specific treatment strategies for subsequent phases. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Gene therapy for inherited retinal disease has the potential to become a future part of clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00481546.
Live Video Streaming Service over Peer to Peer Network: Design, Implementation and Experience *

Summary Providing live video streaming service over peer to peer network to a large population of end users remains challenging and interesting, due in large part to the scalability of "self-growing" community of peers, high demanding bandwidth over fluctuant and heterogeneous underlay network, system stability to high churn rate as well as stringent deadline for continuous playback. Although there have been many research efforts advocate various algorithms with respect to application layer multicast, overlay or peer to peer network, few existing works indeed study the impact of the congestion on data transmission paths in such networks which is the key to the performance of streaming applications. Besides, it is more important to investigate practical issues in this arena rather than to follow prescribed theoretical assumptions. Thus in this paper we first consider the spanning tree in multicast as the representative transmission mode and then develop a statistical link model to quantitatively analyze the impact of congestion on the system performance. Since the tree-based structure is vulnerable to network congestion and peer dynamics, while link dependence favors system stability, in the design and implementation of a practical live video streaming system, we adopt a gossip-based overlay construction protocol to accommodate topology change and a composite but efficient streaming mechanism to stream video contents with lower delay than simplex data-driven scheme. The experimental results over PlanetLab indicate that this architecture offers continuous playback, demanding bandwidth and low latency. More interestingly, with the service to totally more than 500,000 users and maximum 15,239 concurrent users provided by only one common streaming server in Feb. 2005, we further exhibit insightful statistical results to reveal system properties, and thus demonstrating that it could scale to reliably support a large and highly dynamic population of end users in the Internet.
Reliability block diagram simulation techniques applied to the IEEE Std. 493 standard network

This is one of a series of papers discussing the application and accuracy of different analysis techniques supporting the determination of industrial and commercial power system reliability and availability. There is a need recognized in the power industry to identify and utilize a standard tool, or a set of tools, to analyze the reliability of power systems. Historically, the results of applying different reliability methodologies and tools varied significantly, and comparisons were difficult. The Reliability Analysis Techniques Working Group of the Gold Book (IEEE Std. 493-1997) developed a standard network to enable comparison of analytical techniques. This paper describes the approach of simulations via reliability block diagrams as applied to the Gold Book standard network. Reliability indexes of the load points are presented, and are compared with ones obtained from other techniques in the series to determine the accuracy.
Maternal compound W serial measurements for the management of fetal hypothyroidsm.

OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of fetal hypothyroidism is based at present on measurements of TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) in fetal blood samples obtained by cordocentesis. The measurement of maternal serum and urinary concentrations of compound W, immunologically similar to but chromatographically distinct from diiodothyronine sulfate (T2S), has been advocated as a new possible marker for fetal hypothyroidism. DESIGN In this paper, we measured serum compound W levels in 84 pregnant women, 20 with and 64 without thyroid disorders before and during specific treatment. Compound W was also assessed in fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis from 49 normal fetuses and 4 fetuses with suspected hypothyroidism due to transplacental passage of propylthiouracil (PTU). Compound W levels were measured by T2S RIA in maternal and fetal serum. To assess the possible usefulness of 3, 5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) for therapy of fetal hypothyroidism we evaluated the transplacental passage of TRIAC by administering the drug to four pregnant women before therapeutic abortion. RESULTS In normal pregnancies, both maternal and fetal compound W levels increased progressively during gestation with a significant direct correlation (P<0.001, in both mothers and fetuses). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between fetal compound W and fetal FT4 values (P<0.005), whereas no correlation was observed between maternal serum compound W and maternal FT4 in either euthyroid or hyperthyroid women, suggesting the fetal origin of compound W. The hypothyroid fetuses of PTU-treated mothers showed low compound W levels, and maternal compound W values were in the low normal range and did not show the typical increase during progression of gestation. A significant increase of maternal compound W was observed when the PTU dose was reduced. TRIAC was documented to cross the placental barrier and the treatment of a hyperthyroid pregnant woman on PTU caused the high fetal TSH levels and goiter to normalize. CONCLUSIONS Serial measurements of 3,3'-T2S crossreactive materials (compound W and 3, 3'-diiodothyroacetic acid sulfate) in maternal blood and the administration of TRIAC to the mother may represent a useful and safe alternative to invasive techniques for the diagnosis and therapy of fetal hypothyroidism.
Crying Wolf: An examination and reconsideration of the perception of crisis in LIS

Recent discussions of education for library professionals have strongly criticized the state of most Library and Information Science (LIS) schools, which are portrayed as techno-centric, male-dominated, and out of touch with the needs of practitioners. In the present essay we examine the major claims for a new crisis in LIS education and conclude that the data do not support most of the popular criticisms made of this field. Instead, the notion of crisis is best understood as indicative of a moment of change and an opportunity to significantly affect the long-term future of the field.
AMERICAN AND CHINESE THINKING STYLES: ATTITUDE EFFECTS ON HOLISTIC AND ATTRIBUTE ADS

American (i.e., Western) thinking favors the analytic style, focusing on the focal object and internal attributes; Chinese (i.e., Eastern) thinking favors the holistic style, paying attention to the context and whole system. This research investigates whether such holistic and analytic thinking styles affect attitudes towards holistic ads which contain many types of information (availability, price, company, etc.) and attribute ads which contain only one type of information (product feature). The first study showed that (i) American consumers prefer attribute ads more than Chinese consumers do; (ii) both American and Chinese consumers prefer holistic ads more than attribute ads; and both prefer the holistic ads equally well. The second study showed that the impact of cultural differences in thinking styles on ad attitudes were not influenced by thinking speed – whether the thinking was fast and automatic or whether the thinking was slow and effortful. The stable and verifiable managerial implication is that ad content in the East and West, in the US and China must include more, diverse information.
The impact of work-life balance on the wellbeing of employees in the private sector in Ireland

Work-life balance is an important topic in both professional business practice and academic research. The literature shows that work-life balance is a central issue affecting wellbeing, as family and work are the most important elements of everyone’s life. Any competing demands of work and family life cause conflict and negatively affect the wellbeing of workers. This study focused on assessing the impact of work-life balance determined by work-family conflict and family-work conflict on the wellbeing of individuals employed in the private sector in Ireland. Wellbeing was measured by levels of family satisfaction, work satisfaction and psychological distress. Quantitative research methods were used for the study, and a sample population was chosen amongst participants who were single and in a relationship, female and male, with and without children, by using a convenient sampling method. The questionnaire used contained existing scales where the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were above the recommended 0.7. Out of 190 distributed questionnaires, 114 were completed and returned, giving an overall returning rate of 60%. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. The study identified the existence of negative effects of poor WLB determined by high levels of work-family conflict and family-work conflict on family satisfaction. This study also confirmed negative effects of poor WLB due to high levels of work-family conflict on work satisfaction and psychological health. Negative impacts of family-work conflict on work satisfaction and psychological health were not supported. This study also showed that the main causes of work-family conflicts were excessive working hours and inflexibility of work schedule. It was recognised that employers can improve WLB by implementing family-friendly initiatives such as flexi-time, time off in lieu, compressed working week, childcare support and eldercare support.