Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Designing Privacy into Online Communities

Participation has exploded in online communities such as social networking sites, media sharing sites, and blogging sites. This widespread participation has generated substantial concern about the privacy implications of use. Although most online communities include privacy management features, it is not well understood how members of online communities take advantage of privacy management. To explore this issue, a study was conducted that compared privacy management on Facebook and MySpace, two popular social networking sites. Out of 222 subjects, 18.9% or early one in five had suffered a privacy incident within the past year. In a particularly striking result, less than half of those who suffered a privacy incident either reviewed or changed their privacy settings. So even though privacy incidents occur regularly, these findings indicate privacy management tools are not extensively used to protect privacy. This provides evidence of poor design of privacy management on social networking sites. To improve design, we argue that privacy must be conceptualized as a quality of an online space, rather than as a collection of access settings to be managed by individual members. This moves privacy from an individual consideration to the level of a structural component of a system. We offer an analysis of current privacy management practices and offer suggestions for improving the design of privacy management in social software.
Diagnosing acute cardiac ischemia in the emergency department: a systematic review of the accuracy and clinical effect of current technologies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) encompasses the diagnoses of unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Accurate diagnosis and triage of patients with ACI in the emergency department should increase survival for these patients and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature published between 1966 and December 1998 on the accuracy and clinical effect of diagnostic technologies for ACI. We evaluated prospective and retrospective studies of adult patients who presented to the ED with symptoms suggesting ACI. Outcomes were diagnostic performance (test sensitivity and specificity) and measures of clinical effect. Meta-analyses were performed when appropriate. A decision and cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted that investigated various diagnostic strategies used in the diagnosis of ACI in the ED. RESULTS We screened 6,667 abstracts, reviewed 407 full articles, and included 106 articles articles in the main analysis. Single measurements of biomarkers at presentation to the ED have low sensitivity for AMI, although they have high specificity. Serial measurements greatly increase the sensitivity for AMI while maintaining their excellent specificity. Diagnostic technologies to evaluate ACI in selected populations, such as electrocardiography, sestamibi perfusion imaging, and stress ECG, may have very good to excellent sensitivity; however, they have not been sufficiently studied. The Goldman Chest Pain Protocol has good sensitivity (about 90%) for AMI but has not been shown to result in any differences in hospitalization rate, length of stay, or estimated costs in the single clinical effect study performed. Its applicability to patients with unstable angina pectoris has not been evaluated. The use of an Acute Cardiac Ischemia-Time-Insensitive Predictive Instrument led to the appropriate triage of 97% of patients with ACI presenting to the ED and reduced unnecessary hospitalizations. CONCLUSION Many of the current technologies remain underevaluated, especially regarding their clinical effect. The extent to which combinations of tests may provide better accuracy than any single test needs further study.
Bankruptcy and Insider Trading: Differences between Exchange-Listed and OTC Firms

Over the two-year period prior to the bankruptcy announcement, insider trading is significantly greater for over-the-counter bankrupt firms, but not for exchange-listed firms, than for an industry-size matched sample of nonbankrupt firms. In addition, the level of insider selling increases over the final five months leading to the first public announcement of over-the-counter firms. Finally, firms displaying the most negative price reaction over the announcement period are found to have a significantly larger proportion of insider selling than other firms. Copyright 1992 by American Finance Association.
The acceptance of GMO Seeds in German agriculture: empirical results

Summary Genetic engineering – hardly any other issue has been discussed so intensively along the value chain of food industry and agriculture in the past few months. Although GMO seeds are more commonly used in the world-wide agriculture European countries and in particular farmers in Germany are more reserved towards this topic (agricultural initiatives against the GMO seed report that already 5% of the agricultural acreage in Germany is announced as GMO-free zones 1 ). Why do farmers reject to cultivate GMO seeds? The scientific discussion mainly addresses consumer’s acceptance of GMO-Food (e. g. LOUREIRO / HINE (2001), BAKER / BURNHAM (2002), BAKER / MAZZOCCO (2002)), there are hardly any cognitions about farmer’s acceptance. With the objective of closing this research gap and as a neutral contribution to the discussion about agricultural genetic engineering within the German agriculture we interviewed 370 German farmers about their attitudes to GMO seeds. The results of the study exhibit indications about the acceptance and the probability of utilization of GMO seeds. Furthermore the outcome evinces which factors can explain farmer’s attitudes to agricultural genetic engineering. In addition the study gives indications about the willingness to pay for GMO seeds. The theoretical funding for the empirical study arises from the social psychology by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) of AJZEN (1985) to predict farmers’ intentions about GMO seeds. Transferring the considerations of Theory of Planned Behavior, we developed the following construct to predict the adoption of GMO.
Low back pain in older adults: are we utilizing healthcare resources wisely?

OBJECTIVES 1) To examine recent change in prevalence and Medicare-associated charges for non-invasive/minimally invasive evaluation and treatment of nonspecific low back pain (LBP); and 2) to examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization appropriateness in older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). DESIGN Two cross-sectional surveys of 1) national (1991-2002) and Pennsylvania (2000-2002) Medicare data; and 2) patients aged >or= 65 years with CLBP. SETTING Outpatient data. PARTICIPANTS Patients aged >or= 65 years with LBP. MEASUREMENTS Study 1: Outpatient national and Pennsylvania Part A Medicare data were examined for number of patients and charges for all patients, and for those with nonspecific LBP. Total number of visits and charges for imaging studies, physical therapy (PT), and spinal injections was also examined for Pennsylvania. Study 2: 111 older adults with CLBP were interviewed regarding presence of red flags necessitating imaging and history of having a lumbar MRI, neurogenic claudication (NC), and back surgery. RESULTS Study 1: Between 1991 and 2002, there was a 42.5% increase in total Medicare patients, 131.7% increase in LBP patients, 310% increase in total charges, and 387.2% increase in LBP charges. In Pennsylvania (2000-2002), there was a 5.5% increase in LBP patients and 33.2% increase in charges (0.2% for PT, 59.4% for injections, 41.9% for MRI/CT, and 19.3% for X rays). Study 2: None of the 111 participants had red flags and 61% had undergone MRIs (29% with NC, 24% with failed back surgery syndrome). CONCLUSION LBP documentation and diagnostic studies are increasing in Medicare beneficiaries, and evidence suggests that MRIs may often be ordered unnecessarily. Injection procedures appear to account for a significant proportion of LBP-associated costs. More studies are needed to examine the appropriateness with which imaging procedures and non-invasive/minimally invasive treatments are utilized, and their effect on patient outcomes.
Reduced treatment intensity in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND Whether it is possible to reduce the intensity of treatment in early (stage I or II) Hodgkin's lymphoma with a favorable prognosis remains unclear. We therefore conducted a multicenter, randomized trial comparing four treatment groups consisting of a combination chemotherapy regimen of two different intensities followed by involved-field radiation therapy at two different dose levels. METHODS We randomly assigned 1370 patients with newly diagnosed early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma with a favorable prognosis to one of four treatment groups: four cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) followed by 30 Gy of radiation therapy (group 1), four cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of radiation therapy (group 2), two cycles of ABVD followed by 30 Gy of radiation therapy (group 3), or two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of radiation therapy (group 4). The primary end point was freedom from treatment failure; secondary end points included efficacy and toxicity of treatment. RESULTS The two chemotherapy regimens did not differ significantly with respect to freedom from treatment failure (P=0.39) or overall survival (P=0.61). At 5 years, the rates of freedom from treatment failure were 93.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.5 to 94.8) with the four-cycle ABVD regimen and 91.1% (95% CI, 88.3 to 93.2) with the two-cycle regimen. When the effects of 20-Gy and 30-Gy doses of radiation therapy were compared, there were also no significant differences in freedom from treatment failure (P=1.00) or overall survival (P=0.61). Adverse events and acute toxic effects of treatment were most common in the patients who received four cycles of ABVD and 30 Gy of radiation therapy (group 1). CONCLUSIONS In patients with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma and a favorable prognosis, treatment with two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy is as effective as, and less toxic than, four cycles of ABVD followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy. Long-term effects of these treatments have not yet been fully assessed. (Funded by the Deutsche Krebshilfe and the Swiss Federal Government; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00265018.)
The Influence of Regeneration Fellings on the Development of Artificially Regenerated Beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) Plantations

BEDNAŘ PAVEL, CERNÝ JAKUB. 2014. The Infl uence of Regeneration Fellings on the Development of Artifi cially Regenerated Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Plantations. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 62(5): 859–867. This paper analyses the development of beech plantations aged 7 to 18 years that were planted in gap cuts (0.1–0.25 ha; ISF 50%), clear cuts (0.5–1.0 ha; ISF 87%) and fi nally underplanted areas in shelterwood cuts in mature spruce stands (G = 22–26 m2/ha; ISF 28%). The research consisted of the following analyses: height growth, diameter growth and beech quality development. We used standard statistical tools (p < 0.05) for evaluating height and diameter growth, which showed signifi cant diff erences in both characteristics (total height and DBH) within 7-year-old and 13-yearold plantations grown in all three regeneration treatments. The tallest beech trees with greatest DBH at the age of 7 and 13 were found in clearings whereas shortest and thinnest trees grew in shelterwoods. However, at the age of 18, there was no signifi cant diff erent between gap cut and clear cut in both parameters. The best quality was observed in shelterwoods.
Missed Opportunities? Reaching the Ethnic Consumer Market

Changing population demographics within the UK have become a source of increased interest to marketers as companies have realized the importance of targeting their products and advertising efforts towards minority and ethnic groups. In addition, as the UK’s ethnic minorities grow in both numbers and in terms of prosperity, so does the commercial significance of this market. A clearer understanding of both the nature of changing markets and the relative importance of different minority ethnic groups as consumers is imperative to facilitate both consumer understanding and business development; marketers need to understand better how to target these people, what they have in common with the mainstream and where the differences lie. This paper seeks to describe current understanding of ethnic consumers and their impact on the marketplace while highlighting an area where future research is potentially of considerable benefit.
Clinician Satisfaction With Computer Decision Support in the Intensive Care Unit

The purpose of this study was to determine baseline user satisfaction for 2 computer decision support systems (DSSs) with demonstrated improvement in patient outcome used in a burn intensive care unit. We conducted a survey of staff members of a 16-bed burn intensive care unit (n = 82) using a written, anonymous questionnaire to determine satisfaction for 2 DSSs: a commercial glycemic management system and software program to guide initial burn fluid resuscitation. Staff members are not yet convinced of a positive correlation between DSS technology and patient outcomes. We suggest user satisfaction may be generally improved for DSS with concentration in the areas of interface, information, and communication.
Acquisitions and Investment

We derive a simple theoretical framework in which acquisitions are treated as an alternative way of obtaining capital goods. Our framework predicts that both investment and acquisitions are positively related to a firm's shadow value of capital. We transform our theoretical specification into an econometric model, which we then estimate using a long panel data-set spanning 503 US firms over 15 consecutive years. Our results indicate that an increase in the shadow value of capital has approximately the same proportionate effect on the level of acquisitions as it does on investment. This result proves to be robust to a variety of alternative specifications. Copyright 2002 by The London School of Economics and Political Science
Cytokines and biotrauma in ventilator-induced lung injury: a critical review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Mechanical ventilation is known to induce and aggravate lung injury. One of the underlying mechanisms is biotrauma, an inflammatory response in which cytokines play a crucial role. OBJECTIVE To review the literature on the role of cytokines in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). MATERIAL AND METHODS 57 English written, peer-reviewed articles on cytokines in in-vitro settings (n=5), ex-vivo models (n=9) in-vitro models (n=19) and clinical trials (n=24). RESULTS Mechanical ventilation (MV) can induce cytokine upregulation in both healthy and injured lungs. The underlying mechanisms include alveolar cellular responses to stretch with subsequent decompartimentalisation due to concomitant cellular barrier damage. The cytokines involved are interleukin (IL)-8 and CXC chemokines, and probably IL-6, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Cytokines are important for signalling between inflammatory cells and recruiting leucocytes to the lung. There is strong circumstantial evidence that the release of cytokines into the systemic circulation contributes to the pathogenesis of MODS. Multiple studies demonstrate the relation between elevated proinflammatory cytokine concentrations and mortality. CONCLUSION Cytokines are likely to play a role in the various interrelated processes that lead to VILI and other MV-related complications, such as MODS and possibly ventilatorassociated pneumonia. Cytokines are good surrogate endpoints in exploring the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of VILI in both experimental and clinical studies.
Heritage Tourism in Peripheral Areas: Development Strategies and Constraints

Abstract Heritage tourism has been widely seen in the last years as an effective way of addressing the socio-economic problems and the heritage degradation of peripheral territories. Heritage is a rising tourism product providing tourists with experiences based on the (in)tangible remains of the past. Due to the lack of other possibilities, the policies found in peripheral territories often highlight tourism – particularly heritage tourism – as the most valuable activity to launch a more sustainable development process. Nevertheless, the impact of heritage tourism is controversial and not always evident both in terms of socio-economic regeneration and in terms of heritage rehabilitation, contradicting some generalized rhetoric. The article presents the main conclusions of research undertaken in the Portuguese peripheral municipality of Almeida, where heritage tourism is claimed to be the most promising activity to overcome the current trend of decline. Data were collected from municipal and regional entities using a previously structured survey about perceptions and attitudes towards heritage tourism development in the municipality. The findings disclose the main obstacles, the strategies and the challenges that this territory is facing to underpin development based on heritage tourism. The main conclusions highlight the strong fragmentation between public and private entities and the lack of a tourism management plan for Almeida's successful future as a destination of heritage tourism. In certain ways, and due to similar problems, the findings and the proposals of the present research can be applied to other peripheral areas.
Multi-Period Consumption Decision under Conditions of Uncertainty

An investor is faced with several investment alternatives. Any investment plan induces a vector of consumption where the consumption in each period is a random variable. Obviously, the optimal vector of consumption is determined by the multi-period utility function. However, in most cases we have no information on the investor's preference, and hence we cannot choose the optimal consumption strategy. Assuming that the multi-period utility function is nondecreasing we establish a decision rule which divides the feasible set of consumption strategies into two sets: the “efficient set” and the “inefficient set. ” Thus, in the second step each investor selects the optimal consumption strategy from the efficient set according to his preference.
Remitting Behaviour of "Temporary" and "Permanent" Migrants: The Case of Greeks in Germany and Australia

This paper makes the point that migrants have different motives for sending remittances and remittance receivers have different claims on migrants' income, depending on whether people move to accumulate capital to improve their living at home after they return - temporary migration - or to start a new life in a foreign country - permanent migration. This hypothesis is empirically tested with data from Greek-German and Greek-Australian migration. The findings attest to the fact that German remittances constitute obligatory income streams to close family at home, while Australian remittances are gifts. Some quantitative estimates of the relative impact of individual factors on remittances are also obtained. Some hints are also given for a changing remitting behaviour of Greek migrants in Germany, along with the changing character of migration in that country. Copyright Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1997.
The Risk of Overdiagnosis of Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

Current laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) syndrome include positivity for lupus anticoagulant (LA) or medium-high titer 2-glycoprotein I( 2GPI)-dependent anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies (1). The concept of 2GPI-dependency is poorly defined since it is not clear which species of 2GPI (bovine or human? ) is involved nor which criteria should be used to demonstrate such dependency. As we are dealing with an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are directed against self proteins, in our laboratory we routinely test patient plasma for the presence of aCL and anti-human 2GPI with standardized home-made ELISAs (2, 3). Over a 2-year period (1999-2000), 43 patients tested positive for aCL antibodies (medium-high titer), 23 of which tested also positive for anti-human 2GPI antibodies. Among the 20 aCL positive but antihuman 2GPI negative patients, 8 had a previous thromboembolic event, and the diagnosis of APS could not be made according to our method to determine 2GPI-dependency, i.e. the positivity in antihuman 2GPI ELISA. To further characterize these 8 patients (Table 1), we performed a modified aCL ELISA to check for authentic aCL antibodies (2): in contrast to the standard ELISA, the presence of 2GPI is avoided in this procedure which uses diluted plasma or purified immunoglobulin test samples, and 0.3% gelatin as blocking agent and sample diluent. No patient plasma was positive in this test. Then we run an ELISA by coating plates directly with bovine 2GPI instead of human 2GPI: 5 patients resulted positive in this test. Moreover, two of the 8 aCL positive patients had antibodies to other CL-binding proteins (i.e. complement component C4, complement factor H, kallikrein-sensitive glycoprotein PK120) (4). Thus, among the 8 studied patients, 5 had antibodies to bovine 2GPI, 2 had autoantibodies to CL-binding proteins distinct from 2GPI, and the remaining patient had aCL whose nature was not determined. The patients testing positive for bovine 2GPI might have been classified as APS patients on the basis of the above mentioned definition ( 2GPI-dependent aCL antibodies) in the absence of autoimmune antibodies (i.e. anti human 2GPI). These data suggest that the 2GPI-dependency of aCL should be determined by the combined determination of aCL and anti-human 2GPI. This approach would avoid an overdiagnosis of APS and identify only patients with an autoimmune disease. On the other hand, the classification of patients testing positive for antibodies to bovine 2GPI or other CL-binding proteins deserves further studies.
Implementing e-CRM using intelligent agents on the internet

Internet has opened new doors between a company and its customers as companies are preparing to shift their focus from transaction to relationships. Today it is widely acknowledged that how a company treats its customers goes a long way in determining its future profitability, and companies are making bigger and bigger investments on it. Firms that develop strategies and technologies for implementing customer relationship management, with the most profitable customers, become winners in the intensely competitive, dynamic markets of the digital economy. Intelligent agents are a rapidly developing area of research. It is an emerging technology, which has its roots firmly in AI research. With the proliferation and evolution of the Internet, it has also increasingly emerged as a means to achieve customer satisfaction and delight by the way of extensive e-CRM. However, it is not yet very clear how agents can be used in the domain of e-CRM. In the first part, this paper provides an overview of intelligent agents. The second part presents the ways in which enhanced customer attainment and retention can be achieved with e-CRM. Finally an integrated model is proposed wherein we suggest how intelligent agents can be used as powerful tool to achieve e-CRM over the Internet.