Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research approaches to mass casualty incidents response: development from routine perspectives to complexity science

Objective To review the research methods of mass casualty incident (MCI) systematically and introduce the concept and characteristics of complexity science and artificial system, computational experiments and parallel execution (ACP) method. Data sources We searched PubMed, Web of Knowledge, China Wanfang and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases for relevant studies. Searches were performed without year or language restrictions and used the combinations of the following key words: “mass casualty incident”, “MCI”, “research method”, “complexity science”, “ACP”, “approach”, “science”, “model”, “system” and “response”. Study selection Articles were searched using the above keywords and only those involving the research methods of mass casualty incident (MCI) were enrolled. Results Research methods of MCI have increased markedly over the past few decades. For now, dominating research methods of MCI are theory‐based approach, empirical approach, evidence‐based science, mathematical modeling and computer simulation, simulation experiment, experimental methods, scenario approach and complexity science. Conclusions This article provides an overview of the development of research methodology for MCI. The progresses of routine research approaches and complexity science are briefly presented in this paper. Furthermore, the authors conclude that the reductionism underlying the exact science is not suitable for MCI complex systems. And the only feasible alternative is complexity science. Finally, this summary is followed by a review that ACP method combining artificial systems, computational experiments and parallel execution provides a new idea to address researches for complex MCI.
Cost-effectiveness of electricity energy efficiency programs

Cost-effectiveness of electricity energy efficiency programs / T.H. Arimura, S. Li, R.G. Newell and K. Palmer. NBER, October 2011 (Working Paper 17556) We analyze the cost-effectiveness of electric utility ratepayer-funded programs to promote demand-side management (DSM) and energy efficiency (EE) investments. We specify a model that relates electricity demand to previous EE DSM spending, energy prices, income, weather, and other demand factors. In contrast to previous studies, we allow EE DS.
BUCHAREST HOTEL MARKET IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Providing services has become the most important sector of the economy and the main dynamic factor of the economic competition, within the developed countries economies. In such economies, the sector of economies has assimilated the workforce issued in the other sector, when this over plus of labor force represented simultaneously the cause of its expansion. The services have had a double part: they contribute on both the material entertainment of the labor force, as well as on maintaining the reestablishment of people’s health, to their physical and intellectual recovery, to the development of the individual, as regards the cultural and scientific points of view, and implicitly, to the growth of the living standards. For the time being, one can characterize the economies of the developed countries, as well as of many other countries in progress of development, as services oriented economies; the development and diversification of services has been determined by the need of satisfying diversified social needs. In this way, the part of services aims on becoming proportional to their contribution within the process of economic growth. One can definitely say that between services and the economic growth, a double conditioning takes place, meaning: on one hand, the development of services appears as a consequence of the economic growth, and on the other hand, it grows up the economic growth, thus contributing on diversifying the production and on improving the level of training or qualification of the labor force.
Structure-based mechanism of lipoteichoic acid synthesis by Staphylococcus aureus LtaS

Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes polyglycerol-phosphate lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from phosphatidylglycerol. LtaS, a predicted membrane protein with 5 N-terminal transmembrane helices followed by a large extracellular part (eLtaS), is required for staphylococcal growth and LTA synthesis. Here, we report the first crystal structure of the eLtaS domain at 1.2-Å resolution and show that it assumes a sulfatase-like fold with an α/β core and a C-terminal part composed of 4 anti-parallel β-strands and a long α-helix. Overlaying eLtaS with sulfatase structures identified active site residues, which were confirmed by alanine substitution mutagenesis and in vivo enzyme function assays. The cocrystal structure with glycerol-phosphate and the coordination of a Mn2+ cation allowed us to propose a reaction mechanism, whereby the active site threonine of LtaS functions as nucleophile for phosphatidylglycerol hydrolysis and formation of a covalent threonine–glycerolphosphate intermediate. These results will aid in the development of LtaS-specific inhibitors for S. aureus and many other Gram-positive pathogens.
High incidence of anal high‐grade squamous intra‐epithelial lesions among HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative homosexual and bisexual men

Objective:The incidence of anal cancer among homosexual men exceeds that of cervical cancer in women, and HIV-positive homosexual men may be at even higher risk than HIV-negative men. Cervical cancer is preceded by high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (HSIL) and anal HSIL may similarly be the precursor to anal cancer. In this study, we describe the incidence of and risk factors for HSIL in HIV-positive and HIV-negative homosexual and bisexual men. Design:Prospective cohort study of HIV-positive and HIV-negative homosexual men. Setting:The University of California, San Francisco. Patients:346 HIV-positive and 262 HIV-negative men enrolled at baseline, 277 HIV-positive and 221 HIV-negative homosexual men followed after baseline. Study design:A questionnaire was administered detailing lifestyle habits, medical history and sexual practices. Anal swabs for cytology and human papillomavirus studies were obtained, followed by biopsies of visible lesions. Human papillomavirus testing was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ‘hybrid capture’. Blood was obtained for HIV testing and measurement of CD4 levels. Main outcome measures:Incident HSIL. Results:HIV-positive men were more likely to develop HSIL than HIV-negative men relative risk (RR), 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6–5.7. Life-table estimates of the 4-year incidence of HSIL was 49% (95% CI, 41–56) among HIV-positive men and 17% (95% CI, 12–23) among HIV-negative men. Among HIV-positive men, those with lower baseline CD4 counts (P = 0.007) and persistent infection with one or more human papillomavirus types, determined using PCR (P = 0.0001), were more likely to develop HSIL. Conclusions:HIV infection, lower CD4 levels and human papillomavirus infection were associated with high rates of incident HSIL among homosexual men. However, high rates were found at all CD4 levels among HIV-positive men and among HIV-negative men.
Site-directed Mutations of T4 Helicase Loading Protein (gp59) Reveal Multiple Modes of DNA Polymerase Inhibition and the Mechanism of Unlocking by gp41 Helicase*

The T4 helicase loading protein (gp59) interacts with a multitude of DNA replication proteins. In an effort to determine the functional consequences of these protein-protein interactions, point mutations were introduced into the gp59 protein. Mutations were chosen based on the available crystal structure and focused on hydrophobic residues with a high degree of solvent accessibility. Characterization of the mutant proteins revealed a single mutation, Y122A, which is defective in polymerase binding and has weakened affinity for the helicase. The interaction between single-stranded DNA-binding protein and Y122A is unaffected, as is the affinity of Y122A for DNA substrates. When standard concentrations of helicase are employed, Y122A is unable to productively load the helicase onto forked DNA substrates. As a result of the loss of polymerase binding, Y122A cannot inhibit the polymerase during nucleotide idling or prevent it from removing the primer strand of a D-loop. However, Y122A is capable of inhibiting strand displacement synthesis by polymerase. The retention of strand displacement inhibition by Y122A, even in the absence of a gp59-polymerase interaction, indicates that there are two modes of polymerase inhibition by gp59. Inhibition of the polymerase activity only requires gp59 to bind to the replication fork, whereas inhibition of the exonuclease activity requires an interaction between the polymerase and gp59. The inability of Y122A to interact with both the polymerase and the helicase suggests a mechanism for polymerase unlocking by the helicase based on a direct competition between the helicase and polymerase for an overlapping binding site on gp59.
The Effect of Computer-aided Detection on Radiologist Performance in the Detection of Lung Cancers Previously Missed on a Chest Radiograph

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine whether computer-aided detection (CAD) can improve a radiologist’s ability to detect lung cancers previously missed on a chest radiograph (CXR). Materials and Methods: Eighty-one cases of lung cancer previously missed on CXR were collected, along with the CXRs of 215 age-matched and emphysema-matched controls without lung cancer. Tumor subtlety was scored from 1 (very subtle) to 5 (very obvious) by expert thoracic radiologists. All 297 CXRs were processed using a CAD system (OnGuard, Version 5.1 Riverain Medical, Miamisburg, OH) to create a set of 2 images for each patient, 1 with and 1 without CAD. Eleven general radiologists took part in a reader study. Each radiologist viewed the CXR without CAD and then the one with CAD for each patient sequentially. Areas of concern, if present, were marked. The degree of confidence in diagnosis was scored on a scale of 0 (no cancer) to 100 (definite) in succession for CXRs without CAD and then for those with CAD. Localization receiver operating characteristic analysis was used for evaluation of the observers’ performance. Results: Of the 81 cancer cases, OnGuard correctly detected 40 tumors with a sensitivity of 49.4%. In the reader study, there was a significant increase in the area under the localization receiver operating characteristic curve with the aid of OnGuard, which increased from 0.38 to 0.43. Aggregate reader sensitivity improved significantly from 0.44 to 0.5 with the use of OnGuard. Conclusion: The use of OnGuard improves reader accuracy and sensitivity for the detection of lung cancers previously missed on CXR.
Association of ATP1A1 and Dear Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Haplotypes With Essential Hypertension: Sex-Specific and Haplotype-Specific Effects

Essential hypertension remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. As a complex multifactorial disease, elucidation of susceptibility loci remains elusive. ATP1A1 and Dear are candidate genes for 2 closely linked rat chromosome-2 blood pressure quantitative trait loci. Because corresponding human syntenic regions are on different chromosomes, investigation of ATP1A1 (chromosome [chr]-1p21) and Dear (chr-4q31.3) facilitates genetic analyses of each blood pressure quantitative trait locus in human hypertension. Here we report the association of human ATP1A1 (P<0.000005) and Dear (P<0.03) with hypertension in a relatively isolated, case/control hypertension cohort from northern Sardinia by single-nucleotide polymorphism haplotype analysis. Sex-specific haplotype analyses detected stronger association of both loci with hypertension in males than in females. Haplotype trend-regression analyses support ATP1A1 and Dear as independent susceptibility loci and reveal haplotype-specific association with hypertension and normotension, thus delineating haplotype-specific subsets of hypertension. Although investigation in other cohorts needs to be performed to determine genetic effects in other populations, haplotype subtyping already allows systematic stratification of susceptibility and, hence, clinical heterogeneity, a prerequisite for unraveling the polygenic etiology and polygene–environment interactions in essential hypertension. As hypertension susceptibility genes, coexpression of ATP1A1 and Dear in both renal tubular cells and vascular endothelium suggest a cellular pathogenic scaffold for polygenic mechanisms of hypertension, as well as the hypothesis that ATP1A1 and/or Dear could contribute to the known renal and vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with essential (polygenic) hypertension.
Anxiety diagnoses in smokers seeking cessation treatment: relations with tobacco dependence, withdrawal, outcome and response to treatment.

AIMS To understand the relations among anxiety disorders and tobacco dependence, withdrawal symptoms, response to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy and ability to quit smoking. DESIGN Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants received six 10-minute individual counseling sessions and either: placebo, bupropion SR, nicotine patch, nicotine lozenge, bupropion SR + nicotine lozenge or nicotine patch + nicotine lozenge. SETTING Two urban research sites. PARTICIPANTS Data were collected from 1504 daily smokers (>9 cigarettes per day) who were motivated to quit smoking and did not report current diagnoses of schizophrenia or psychosis or bupropion use. MEASUREMENTS Participants completed baseline assessments, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and ecological momentary assessments for 2 weeks. FINDINGS A structured clinical interview identified participants who ever met criteria for a panic attack (n = 455), social anxiety (n = 199) or generalized anxiety disorder (n = 99), and those who qualified for no anxiety diagnosis (n = 891). Smokers with anxiety disorders reported higher levels of nicotine dependence and pre-quit withdrawal symptoms. Those ever meeting criteria for panic attacks or social anxiety disorder showed greater quit-day negative affect. Smokers ever meeting criteria for anxiety disorders were less likely to be abstinent at 8 weeks and 6 months post-quit and showed no benefit from single-agent or combination-agent pharmacotherapies. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety diagnoses were common among treatment-seeking smokers and were related to increased motivation to smoke, elevated withdrawal, lack of response to pharmacotherapy and impaired ability to quit smoking. These findings could guide treatment assignment algorithms and treatment development for smokers with anxiety diagnoses.
The role of the endocrine factors and obesity in hormone-dependent gynecological neoplasias.

Between September 1990 and February 1992, we studied 70 women of post-menopausal age, of whom 33 were affected by hormone-dependent gynecologic tumors and 37 by other pathologies, measuring estrogens, androgens, SHBG and also measuring excess fat and its distribution. The aim of our research was to ascertain what relation there was between adipose tissue, taking account central or peripheric localization, the levels of sex steroids and the onset of endometrial and breast cancer. In the group of tumor patients, we found a quantity of fat mass greater than in the control group (p < 0.05); there was, beside, in the first group, an inverse proportional correlation between the SHBG levels and BMI, and between SHBG and the fat mass (P < 0.05). We also observed an inverse relation between the levels of testosterone and SHBG (P < 0.05). These findings confirm the role that the adipose tissue and androgens would have on the globulin production, which in turn would reflect on the percentage of potentially active steroids in endometrial and mammary tissues. We also wished to ascertain if the distribution of fatty tissue (prevalently abdominal or prevalently gluteo-femoral) could have different endocrine-metabolic consequences. We found a directly proportional relation between an index of central obesity, the T/L Ratio, and the levels of DHA-S (P < 0.05), but the significance of this relation is not clear, inasmuch as DHA-S is one of the least active of the androgens. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Shared knowledge mediated correlation between cultural excellence and organisational performance

Culture of excellence (CoE) is a critical determining element for efficient organisational performance (OP) in ever-competing global economy. Both manufacturing and service sectors implement this aspect to maintain their competitive advantage. We report the role of knowledge-sharing (KS) in strengthening the CoE and OP relationship in the context of Iranian manufacturing sectors. Past developments, recent progress and future trends in establishing such relation is comprehensively overviewed. A conceptual framework is proposed and empirically tested to determine the impact of KS on CoE and OP correlation. Managers from 222 European foundation for quality management excellence award-winning manufacturing companies in Iran are selected to conduct a case study via survey. Model is validated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling and the path modelling among the studied variables is developed. It is demonstrated that CoE significantly impacts the OP, and KS partially mediates CoE and OP relationship. The admirable features of the structural model suggest that CoE can be advocated as a recommendable management system to effectively support the organisational competitiveness. Present findings might contribute towards the development of superior OP through the creation of a valid and reliable measurement instrument for CoE. We further assert that the proposed conceptual framework may offer interesting insights for practitioners and researchers.
Histologic effects of collagen-filled interlocking detachable coils in the ablation of experimental aneurysms in swine.

PURPOSE To assess the histologic changes produced by platinum microcoils with an inner core of cross-linked bovine collagen in experimentally induced aneurysms in swine, and to assess the feasibility of the system for the delivery of the collagen. METHODS Bilateral pouch aneurysms were created in the side wall of the common carotid artery in seven barnyard pigs. Eight aneurysms were treated with coils designed with an interlocking detachment mechanism: in four of these, the coils had an inner core of collagen; in the other four, the platinum microcoils had a similar design but without the collagen mandrel. The packing density of the coils within the aneurysm was approximately the same for both types of coils. The other six aneurysms were left untreated and served as controls. Angiograms were obtained at the time of treatment (2 weeks after the aneurysms were created) and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. All animals were killed 8 weeks after the treatment (10 weeks after the aneurysms were created). Arteries and aneurysms were resected en bloc and fixed for histopathologic study. RESULTS The interlocking detachment mechanism worked well. Little difference was noted between the two types of coils in their ability to effect complete aneurysmal thrombosis (three of four aneurysms treated with collagen-core coils and two of four aneurysms treated with conventional coils). The collagen-core coils stimulated new collagen formation in areas proximal to the coils, and more fibroblasts were noted near the collagen-core coils than near the conventional coils. CONCLUSION Local fibroblast proliferation and collagen production were stimulated by heterologous cross-linked collagen embedded in micro-coils in this experimental model. Such biologic stimulation holds promise for improving the endovascular cure rate of aneurysms in humans.
TCO-PUF: A subthreshold physical unclonable function

A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) is a promising technology towards comprehensive security protection for integrated circuit applications. It provides a secure method of hardware identification and authentication by exploiting inherent manufacturing process variations to generate a unique response for each device. Subthreshold Current Array PUFs, which are based on the non-linearity of currents and voltages in MOSFETs in the subthreshold region, provide higher security against machine learning-based attacks compared with delay-based PUFs. However, their implementation is not practical due to the low output voltages generated from transistor arrays. In this paper, a novel architecture for a PUF, called the “Two Chooses One” PUF or TCO-PUF, is proposed to improve the output voltage ranges. The proposed PUF shows excellent quality metrics. The average inter-chip Hamming distance is 50.23%. The reliability over the temperature and ±10% supply voltage fluctuations is 91.58%. In terms of security, on average TCO-PUF shows higher security compared to delay-based PUFs and existing designs of Subthreshold Current Array PUFs against machine learning attacks.
A Long‐Run Performance Perspective on the Technology Bubble

The events surrounding the stock-price peak of March 2000 are commonly interpreted as the bursting of a bubble, with some researchers pointing out that the pattern could also arise in fundamental models. We inform the debate by studying the long-run performance of Internet and technology stocks from March 2000 onward. Using several estimation methods, we do not find conclusive evidence of negative abnormal returns. The results are consistent with a new interpretation of the events; namely, the price drop of the early 2000s was not warranted in light of future cash flows and risk.
Youth, consumption and citizenship: the Brazilian case

There is evidence that points to a possible politicisation of consumption in Brazil, similar to what has been occurring in other countries. In this process, consumption attitudes, behaviors, and practices are perceived and used as a way of participation and political action. Theories of pos-materialism and hypotheses of mistrust in relation to political institutions have been used as an explanation for this phenomenon. However, little is known about the use of these actions by young adults in Brazil. To explore this question we developed a quantitative survey to analyze the perceptions, interests, forms of engagement, personal and institutional trust, and political practices, including political consumption, of 457 brazilian young adults. Respondents were aged 16 to 25, lived in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and were part of the three highest economic classes in the country – A, B, and C. The results obtained show that, in Brazil, involvement in activities of political consumption are low, with little variation regarding social and economic class, age and school level. This can be explained by the important role of the family in Brazilian culture and by the presence of numerous, active social organizations that seem to be the main actors of social changes, making individual action secondary. Our data do not confirm theories of post-materialism or lack of trust in political institutions as the explanation of political consumption phenomenon.
The Anatomy of Doctrine and Ways to Keep It Fit

ABSTRACT The word ‘doctrine’ has been part of military terminology for more than 100 years. Even though the word is ubiquitous in modern military literature, it is still ambiguous and tends to put very different ideas into readers’ mind. In order to make the concept less vague and thus more useful, this paper explores the historical and pragmatic origin of the concept, and points out some of its potential pitfalls. The main message of the article is that, although it can be extremely hard to make a viable doctrine, it is worth the effort.