Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations of blood lead with estimated glomerular filtration rate using MDRD, CKD-EPI and serum cystatin C-based equations.

BACKGROUND Low-level lead exposure is widespread and has been implicated as a chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk factor. However, studies evaluating associations of lead dose with newer, potentially more accurate, estimates of kidney function, in participants with a wide range of glomerular filtration rates (GFRs), are scarce. METHODS We compared associations of blood lead and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and cystatin C single variable, multivariable and combined creatinine/cystatin C equations in 3941 adults who participated in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cystatin C subsample. RESULTS Geometric mean blood lead was 1.7 μg/dL. After multivariable adjustment, differences [95% confidence interval (CI)] in mean eGFR for a doubling of blood lead were -1.9 (-3.2, -0.7), -1.7 (-3.0, -0.5) and -1.4 (-2.3, -0.5) mL/min/1.73 m(2), using the cystatin C single variable, multivariable and combined creatinine/cystatin C equations, respectively, reflecting lower eGFR with increased blood lead. The corresponding differences (95% CI) were -0.9 (-1.9, 0.02) and -0.9 (-1.8, 0.01) using the creatinine-based MDRD and CKD-EPI equations, respectively. In participants aged ≥60 years, differences in mean eGFR ranged from -3.0 to -4.5 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and odds of reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were increased for all estimates of GFR. CONCLUSIONS These results support the inclusion of cystatin C-based eGFR in future lead research and provide additional evidence for environmental lead exposure as a CKD risk factor.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES AND PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS IN ASIAN MARKETS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND VIETNAM

A cross-country comparative analysis of corporate governance structures and financial performance of publicly listed companies in Singapore and Vietnam, covering a four-year period from 2008 to 2011, is undertaken in this study. More specifically, the similarities and differences in the corporate governance structures and financial performance of the companies are compared and interpreted in the institutional context of each market. On an average basis, we find that the size, composition and diversity of the boards in these two markets are statistically significantly different. In contrast, there is no statistical evidence to reject the similarities in ownership structure, board leadership structure, and financial performance between the firms of the two markets. In addition, our comparative analysis on the corporate governance structures–financial performance nexus also reveals that the performance effects of corporate governance structures vary significantly between the two markets, thus supporting the view that the performance effects of corporate governance structures are country-specific. Our findings suggest that country-level characteristics should be captured when modelling the corporate governance–firm performance relationship in cross-country comparative corporate governance research.
Cybersecurity Cost of Quality: Managing the Costs of Cybersecurity Risk Management

There is no standard yet for measuring and controlling the costs associated with implementing cybersecurity programs. To advance research and practice towards this end, we develop a mapping using the well-known concept of quality costs and the Framework Core within the Cybersecurity Framework produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in response to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014. This mapping can be easily adopted by organizations that are already using the NIST CSF for cybersecurity risk management to plan, manage, and continually improve cybersecurity operations. If an organization is not using the NIST CSF, this mapping may still be useful for linking elements in accounting systems that are associated with cybersecurity operations and risk management to a quality cost model.
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS ANALYSIS OF THE OSCILLATORY FLOW IN A JET PUMP : THE INFLUENCE OF TAPER ANGLE

A two-dimensional CFD model for predicting the oscillating flow through a jet pump is developed. Various taper angles are investigated and total minor loss coefficients are derived. A good correspondence is achieved with experimental results from the literature. However, at higher taper angles a dramatic decay in the jet pump pressure drop is observed, which serves as a starting point for the improvement of jet pump design criteria for compact thermoacoustic applications.
Estimation of Local Cardiac Wall Deformation and Regional Wall Stress from Biplane Coronary Cineangiograms

A new mathematical method was developed to estimate the local epicardial deformation, wall thickness, and the regional circumferential and longitudinal wall stress using biplane coronary cineangiograms. In this method, the motion images of the coronary artery bifurcation points were used as natural landmarks for the kinematic analysis of the ventricular deformation. In four dogs and a normal patient's coronary cineangiograms, the estimation results show the validity of the present analysis, compared to the experimental results based upon the implanted markers. Thus, the present method provides a new method of evaluating the regional wall deformation and wall stress together with the blood vessel conditions using the coronary cineangiography procedure.
Representing measures for points in a uniform algebra

Recent years have seen much effort put into attempts to develop an "abstract" function theory. In the complex domain, this has led to the study of the structure of uniform algebras. A uniform algebra 31 is a family of continuous complex-valued functions on a compact Hausdorff space X, which contains the function 1, which is closed with respect to the algebraic operations of addition and multiplication by complex scalars, which is topologically closed in the uniform norm, and which distinguishes points of X. Succinctly, 91 is a closed separating unitary subalgebra of the Banach algebra C(X) of all continuous complex-valued functions on X. Standard examples are obtained by taking X to be a compact subset of complex Euclidean space C and SI to be the closed subalgebra of C(X) generated by the constants and the coordinate functions on C. Some of the most suggestive ideas in the theory of uniform algebras come from a paper of Gleason [l ]. He calls elements x and y in X equivalent if
Soluble, but Not Transmembrane, TNF-α Is Required during Influenza Infection To Limit the Magnitude of Immune Responses and the Extent of Immunopathology

TNF-α is a pleotropic cytokine that has both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions during influenza infection. TNF-α is first expressed as a transmembrane protein that is proteolytically processed to release a soluble form. Transmembrane TNF-α (memTNF-α) and soluble TNF-α (solTNF-α) have been shown to exert distinct tissue-protective or tissue-pathologic effects in several disease models. However, the relative contributions of memTNF-α or solTNF-α in regulating pulmonary immunopathology following influenza infection are unclear. Therefore, we performed intranasal influenza infection in mice exclusively expressing noncleavable memTNF-α or lacking TNF-α entirely and examined the outcomes. We found that solTNF-α, but not memTNF-α, was required to limit the size of the immune response and the extent of injury. In the absence of solTNF-α, there was a significant increase in the CD8+ T cell response, including virus-specific CD8+ T cells, which was due in part to an increased resistance to activation-induced cell death. We found that solTNF-α mediates these immunoregulatory effects primarily through TNFR1, because mice deficient in TNFR1, but not TNFR2, exhibited dysregulated immune responses and exacerbated injury similar to that observed in mice lacking solTNF-α. We also found that solTNF-α expression was required early during infection to regulate the magnitude of the CD8+ T cell response, indicating that early inflammatory events are critical for the regulation of the effector phase. Taken together, these findings suggest that processing of memTNF-α to release solTNF-α is a critical event regulating the immune response during influenza infection.
Respiratory viral threats

Purpose of review To assess new information from peer-reviewed publications in 2005 regarding emerging respiratory viral threats. Recent findings The expanding epizootic of avian A/H5N1 influenza and increasing number of human cases heighten concern regarding the threat of pandemic influenza. Studies of the 1918 pandemic virus have shown the potential for direct interspecies transmission from an avian host. In the absence of an effective vaccine, antiviral agents could provide an important response measure. Inadequate supplies and potential antiviral resistance are limiting factors. Seasonal influenza heavily affects infants and young children, who also serve to foster transmission at the community level, findings that indicate the need for broader immunization strategies in pediatric populations. Like avian influenza, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus was a zoonotic infection, perhaps derived from related coronaviruses in bats. Molecular diagnostic techniques have led to the recent identification of several new coronaviruses and a respiratory parvovirus. It has also helped to define the impact of previously described ones such as human metapneumovirus and rhinoviruses, which account for the majority of asthma exacerbations and frequent lower respiratory tract illnesses. Summary Progress has been made in development of possible specific interventions for influenza and possibly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, but effective antivirals and vaccines for most other respiratory viruses are currently lacking.
Identification of genes with abnormal expression changes in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common and deadly forms of hematopoietic malignancies. We hypothesized that microarray studies could identify previously unrecognized expression changes that occur only in AML blasts. We were particularly interested in those genes with increased expression in AML, believing that these genes may be potential therapeutic targets. To test this hypothesis, we compared gene expression profiles between normal hematopoietic cells from 38 healthy donors and leukemic blasts from 26 AML patients. Normal hematopoietic samples included CD34+ selected cells (N = 18), unselected bone marrows (N = 10), and unselected peripheral bloods (N = 10). Twenty genes displayed AML‐specific expression changes that were not found in the normal hematopoietic cells. Subsequent analyses using microarray data from 285 additional AML patients confirmed expression changes for 13 of the 20 genes. Seven genes (BIK, CCNA1, FUT4, IL3RA, HOMER3, JAG1, WT1) displayed increased expression in AML, while 6 genes (ALDHA1A, PELO, PLXNC1, PRUNE, SERPINB9, TRIB2) displayed decreased expression. Quantitative RT/PCR studies for the 7 over‐expressed genes were performed in an independent set of 9 normal and 21 pediatric AML samples. All 7 over‐expressed genes displayed an increased expression in the AML samples compared to normals. Three of the 7 over‐expressed genes (WT1, CCNA1, and IL3RA) have already been linked to leukemogenesis and/or AML prognosis, while little is known about the role of the other 4 over‐expressed genes in AML. Future studies will determine their potential role in leukemogenesis and their clinical significance. This article contains Supplementary Material available at http://www.interscience. wiley.com/jpages/1045‐2257/suppmat. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ADHD: Auditory and Visual Stimuli in Automatic and Controlled Processes.

OBJECTIVE Deficits in ADHD executive function (EF) task have been widely documented in a number of different studies. The aim of this work is to analyze the characteristics of auditory vigilance in ADHD and control subjects in two conditions: with and without interference. METHOD in the first study the Merrill's (1992) procedure on automaticity with the dual-task interference paradigm was used; in the second study the auditory test with automatic procedure was used. RESULTS The results of the study confirm that people with ADHD show deficits in auditory vigilance tests and become less careful when interference is introduced. CONCLUSION Results were discussed in terms of a deficit in automaticity process.
ICT and Governance: The Socio-Economic Concerns

The developing countries are gradually catching up with the effective governance trends and are increasingly relying on technological advancement to solve their governance related problems. The issues such as whether /CT would be able to meet the needs of the weaker sections, or whether it would bring the government, non-government and private sectors closer, or whether it would be able to establish equal and fair access to information on goods and services have become predominant in today's context. This article highlights the significance of ! CT and its impact on governance processes. It also brings out certain key socioeconomic concerns that need to be adressed by developing countries like India in making /CT applications favourable for sustained all-round development and good governance.
Promoting brand engagement behaviors and loyalty through perceived service value and innovativeness

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of perceived value and innovativeness (service concept newness and relative advantage) in promoting customer brand engagement behaviors (CBEBs) and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model was empirically tested using nationwide survey data from 430 customers of Uber in Australia. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The results of this study show that collecting brand information is positively influenced by perceived value, service concept newness and relative advantage. Participating in brand marketing activities is positively influenced by service concept newness and relative advantage. Interacting with others is positively influenced by perceived value and service concept newness. Subsequently, brand loyalty is positively influenced by participating in brand marketing activities and interacting with others. The direct impacts of perceived value and relative advantage on brand loyalty are also established. Research limitations/implications This study only collected data from Uber customers. Another limitation of this study is the use of cross-sectional data. Practical implications To promote brand loyalty, service innovation needs to have both the right characteristics (i.e. perceived value, service concept newness and relative advantage) and practices that foster customer brand engagement behaviors. Originality/value Although service-dominant logic (SDL) is a theoretical lens used by research in the areas of service innovation and customer engagement, empirical studies that integrate the two areas remain limited. The findings of this study suggest a new mechanism in which service innovation can increase loyalty through increased CBEBs.
Incidence of cancer in primary biliary cirrhosis: The mayo experience

Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be at increased risk for malignancies. Several studies have addressed the risk of specific malignancies; however, there is little information about overall incidences of malignancies in these patients. We hypothesize that these patients may be at an increased risk for cancer. We performed a retrospective chart review evaluating patients with the diagnosis of PBC and malignancies. We reviewed records of patients with PBC presenting to the Mayo Clinic between 1976 and 1985. The diagnosis of PBC was made using evidence of cholestasis, positive antimitochondrial antibody titers and liver biopsy findings consistent with PBC. The incidence of malignancies were then compared with published data by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. Of the 1,692 patients with PBC in the Mayo Clinic data base, 114 patients were identified with primary cancer. The number of malignancies was higher than would be anticipated by chance alone; with 93 observed versus 62.4 expected events (P < .001). Hepatobiliary malignancies had a relative risk of 46 (P < .0001) for women and 55 (P < .0001) in men. There was a dramatic increased risk for development of hepatobiliary malignancies. PBC patients might benefit from more aggressive surveillance for hepatobiliary malignancies during their lifetime
Increased recovery of salmonellae from environmental samples enriched with buffered peptone water

The incidence and persistence of salmonellae in weather pools on the top of Stone Mountain were investigated with lactose and buffered peptone water used as pre-enrichment broths. A total of 162 samples were collected from 16 weather pools over a 3-month period. The use of buffered peptone water increased the recovery of salmonellae by approximately 25%. The combined use of direct enrichment in tetrathionate broth containing brilliant green dye and pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water followed by enrichment in tetrathionate broth made it possible to detect all 37 of the contaminated samples. All of the isolates were Salmonella bareilly, the only serotype recovered in a previous study. All but one of the isolations were made from moist or wet samples. S. bareilly was isolated from rabbit dung and litter collected near the weather pools, but attempts to trap rabbits for study were unsuccessful. Random samples taken along a side of the mountain yielded S. bareilly in weather pools within the upper third of the mountain; below this level, S. weslaco and S. memphis were recovered, but not S. bareilly.
Distinct Domains of the Protein Tyrosine Kinase tyk2 Required for Binding of Interferon-/ and for Signal Transduction *

tyk2 belongs to the JAK family of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases recently found implicated in signaling through a large number of cytokine receptors. These proteins are characterized by a large amino-terminal region and two tandemly arranged kinase domains, a kinase-like and a tyrosine kinase domain. Genetic and biochemical evidence supports the requirement for tyk2 in interferon-α/β binding and signaling. To study the role of the distinct domains of tyk2, constructs lacking one or both kinase domains were stably transfected in recipient cells lacking the endogenous protein. Removal of either or both kinase domains resulted in loss of the in vitro kinase activity. The mutant form truncated of the tyrosine kinase domain was found to reconstitute binding of interferon-α8 and partial signaling. While no contribution of this protein toward interferon-β binding was evident, increased signaling could be measured. The mutant form lacking both kinase domains did not exhibit any detectable activity. Altogether, these results show that a sequential deletion of domains engenders a sequential loss of function and that the different domains of tyk2 have distinct functions, all essential for full interferon-α and -β binding and signaling.
Cloud service trustworthiness assessment based on cloud controls matrix

Cloud computing has been widely adopted by corporate and individual customers due to its resource-sharing model that allows on-demand access to scalable and high performance computing services. The growth of such services means there are a lot of service providers who can provide similar services, and hence quality attributes of the services become the criteria for cloud service selection. This paper focuses on cloud service trustworthiness that embraces both security and dependability attributes. A trustworthiness assessment method is proposed based on the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix security guidelines that are mapped to NIST SP800-53 security and privacy recommendations and AICPA trust services principles and criteria in order to classify security and dependability characteristics of each control. Based on the mapping, the provision capabilities of a cloud service as listed in the CSA Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire are assessed and the trustworthiness score of the service is calculated. The assessment method then can assist service consumers in determining and comparing trustworthiness of candidate cloud services as one factor to consider in the service selection process.
Intraoperative Evoked EMG Monitoring in an Animal Model: A New Technique for Evaluating Pedicle Screw Placement

An electric drill was used to introduce holes in the L4 through L7 pedicles in pigs. Constant-voltage stimulating pulses (5.5 V, stimulus rate = 3/sec) were delivered through a ball-tipped probe used to palpate the walls of each pedicle, and observation was made of electromyogram (EMG) evoked from hind limb muscles. Screws were placed in each pedicle hole, and evaluated for absolute voltage necessary to evoke EMG (threshold). At the conclusion of each experiment, screw positions were ascertained by removal and dissection of the lumbosacral spine. Approximately 50% of screw placements resulted in defects of the pedicle. In each of these cases, 5.5 V stimuli delivered through the probe evoked EMG from muscles innervated by adjacent motor axons. Conversely, for those cases where the pedicle was intact, significantly higher voltages were needed to evoke EMG. The authors believe that this is a promising intraoperative technique to simply and reliably identify mispositioned screws, thereby minimizing neurologic complications.
Genotype, phenotype, and outcomes of nine patients with T‐B+NK+ SCID

Yu GP, Nadeau KC, Berk DR, de Saint Basile G, Lambert N, Knapnougel P, Roberts J, Kavanau K, Dunn E, Stiehm ER, Lewis DB, Umetsu DT, Puck JM, Cowan MJ. Genotype, phenotype, and outcomes of nine patients with T‐B+NK+ SCID. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 733–741. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Sentiment analysis of texts by capturing underlying sentiment patterns

With the rapid proliferation of online-blogging and micro-blogging websites, millions of text posts are generated and made available online every day. Utilizing this rich data channel could facilitate educated purchasing of items, discovering trends and public tendencies regarding various products available in the market, discovering political inclination of societies prior to a national election, etc. Since the last decade, Sentiment Analysis (SA) has received increased attention from many researchers as a method for addressing topics, such as the aforementioned ones. This paper focuses on SA using sentiment features and patterns. We propose different sentiment polarity detection methods, two unsupervised methods and one supervised, which we compare with two baseline methods, a state-of-the-art Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier trained on a unigram bag-of-words model, and an unsupervised SentiStrength (38) algorithm. In our experiments, we show that our polarity detection methods are highly effective and can outperform the aforementioned baselines in most of our conducted experiments.