Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactate clearance as a predictor of mortality in trauma patients

BACKGROUND Initial serum lactate has been associated with mortality in trauma patients. It is not known if lactate clearance is predictive of death in a broad cohort of trauma patients. METHODS We enrolled 4,742 trauma patients who had an initial lactate measured during a 10-year period. Patients were identified via the trauma registry. Lactate clearance was calculated at 6 hours. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent contribution of both initial lactate and lactate clearance with mortality, after adjustment for severity of injury. RESULTS Initial lactate level was strongly correlated with mortality: when lactate was less than 2.5 mg/dL, 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5–6.2%) of patients died; with lactate 2.5 mg/dL to 4.0 mg/dL, mortality was 6.4% (95% CI, 5.1–7.8%); with lactate 4.0 mg/dL or greater, mortality was 18.8% (95% CI, 15.7–21.9%). After adjustment for age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, heart rate, and blood pressure, initial lactate remained independently associated with increased mortality, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.0, 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1–2.0) and 3.8 (95% CI, 2.8–5.3), for lactate less than 2.5 mg/dL, 2.5 mg/dL to 4.0 mg/dL, and 4.0 mg/dL or greater, respectively. Among patients with an initially elevated lactate (≥4.0 mg/dL), lower lactate clearance at 6 hours strongly and independently predicted an increased risk of death. For lactate clearances of 60% or greater, 30% to 59%, and less than 30%, the adjusted odds ratio for death were 1.0, 3.5 (95% CI 1.2–10.4), and 4.3 (95% CI, 1.5–12.6), respectively. CONCLUSION Both initial lactate and lactate clearance at 6 hours independently predict death in trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.
The experimental performance of a multi-level AC-DC power electronic converter for PMG-based WECSs

This paper experimentally tests a new multi-level generator-side ac-dc power electronic converter (PEC) for applications in permanent magnet generator (PMG)-based wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). The tested generator-side PEC is designed as a cascaded H-bridge multi-level PEC, and is fed by one 3φ supply. The used H-bridge cells are modified such that each cell is composed of a forward half-bridge and a backward half-bridge. The forward half-bridge produces a dc voltage, while the backward half-bridge provides a path for the current to flow to the next H-bridge cell (connected in series). The new multi-level ac-dc PEC is implemented for experimental testing as a generator-side ac-dc PEC in a 7.5 kW PMG-based WECS. The tested acdc PEC is operated using switching signals that are generated by the sinusoidal level-shifted pulse width modulation strategy. Experimental test results demonstrate reduced harmonic distortion in input currents, efficient and high quality power transfer from the PMG to the dc link, and high input power factor.
The social contagion hypothesis: comment on ‘Social contagion theory: examining dynamic social networks and human behavior’

I reflect on the statistical methods of the Christakis–Fowler studies on network‐based contagion of traits by checking the sensitivity of these kinds of results to various alternate specifications and generative mechanisms. Despite the honest efforts of all involved, I remain pessimistic about establishing whether binary health outcomes or product adoptions are contagious if the evidence comes from simultaneously observed data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Value relevance of the degree of leverages

This study empirically investigates the impact of the degree of leverages on the stock returns for the firms operating in an emerging market. We examine this phenomenon on 232 manufacturing firms listed in National Stock Exchange (NSE) in India over a period from 2002 to 2011. The findings of this study indicate that the degrees of operating, financial and total leverage have statistically significant impact on the stock returns of the select listed Indian manufacturing firms over the period under study. This study is limited to the Manufacturing firms in India for a period from 2002 to 2011 including the recessionary period. Our study provides an important insight to the practitioners, the researchers and the investors for the significance of accounting numbers in the context of India, one of fastest growing emerging markets in the world.
Analysis of energy consumption and behavior of Elevator in a residential building

Elevator is currently a common used electric appliance in most midrise and high rise building, Energy consumption behavior of Elevator is crucial to be investigated in order that the collected data can be a useful guideline for future energy conservation. In this paper, the author investigated a selected elevator in a building in Thailand. The sample is the residential building which have total of 5 elevators which were installed and used as normal service. The sample was categorized based on elevator type and building type. The recorded traffic data was collecting as number of number of calls, percentage of car load and traveling direction. The result ranged by different direction versus percentage of car load throughout 24 hours cycle demonstrated the elevator using behaviors. Therefore the collected data indicated that elevator the load factor which are impacting to the overall energy consumption. This information as guideline is worthy for future energy conservation by using of EERU.
Transforming Growth Factors β Coordinate Cartilage and Tendon Differentiation in the Developing Limb Mesenchyme*

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling has an increasing interest in regenerative medicine as a potential tool to repair cartilages, however the chondrogenic effect of this pathway in developing systems is controversial. Here we have analyzed the function of TGFβ signaling in the differentiation of the developing limb mesoderm in vivo and in high density micromass cultures. In these systems highest signaling activity corresponded with cells at stages preceding overt chondrocyte differentiation. Interestingly treatments with TGFβs shifted the differentiation outcome of the cultures from chondrogenesis to fibrogenesis. This phenotypic reprogramming involved down-regulation of Sox9 and Aggrecan and up-regulation of Scleraxis, and Tenomodulin through the Smad pathway. We further show that TGFβ signaling up-regulates Sox9 in the in vivo experimental model system in which TGFβ treatments induce ectopic chondrogenesis. Looking for clues explaining the dual role of TGFβ signaling, we found that TGFβs appear to be direct inducers of the chondrogenic gene Sox9, but the existence of transcriptional repressors of TGFβ signaling modulates this role. We identified TGF-interacting factor Tgif1 and SKI-like oncogene SnoN as potential candidates for this inhibitory function. Tgif1 gene regulation by TGFβ signaling correlated with the differential chondrogenic and fibrogenic effects of this pathway, and its expression pattern in the limb marks the developing tendons. In functional experiments we found that Tgif1 reproduces the profibrogenic effect of TGFβ treatments.
Psoralen and ultraviolet A and narrow‐band ultraviolet B in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by vitiligo disease activity score: an open prospective comparative study

Background Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder with great cosmetic and psychological morbidity and an unpredictable course. No treatment available is a definitive cure. Systemic psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) has been the mainstay of treatment. Narrow‐band UVB (NBUVB) was later introduced. In this study, we have compared the phototherapy modalities PUVA and NBUVB in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by using vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA), for the first time.
Role of endothelium and nitric oxide in the in vitro response of equine colonic venous rings to vasoconstrictor agents.

OBJECTIVE To determine in vitro contractile responses of equine colonic veins to various vasoconstrictor agents. ANIMALS Colonic veins collected from 8 adult horses. PROCEDURE Veins were cut into 4-mm-wide rings, placed in organ baths at 37 C, and attached to a force-transducer interfaced with a polygraph; 2 g of tension was applied, and rings were allowed to equilibrate for 45 minutes. Bath solution was replaced, and tension was reapplied at 15-minute intervals. Cumulative concentration responses (10(-8) to 10(-4) M) were determined for each agent, using separate rings (n = 8). Three vein groups were evaluated: endothelium-intact, endothelium-denuded, and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-5) M)-treated. Maximal responses by each vein to each agent were considered 100%; responses to lower concentrations were calculated as percentage of maximum. RESULTS Considering all vein groups, comparison of the doses that caused 50% of the maximal contraction revealed relative sensitivity of colonic veins to be: angiotensin II (ANG) > thromboxane B2 analogue (TXB) > 5-hydoxytryptamine (5HT) > norepinephrine (NE) > histamine (HST) > prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) > vasopressin (VP). Compared with ANG, PGF, TXB, and VP, treatment with HST, 5HT, and NE evoked significantly greater responses. Endothelium-denuded and L-NAME-treated colonic veins had significantly greater maximal contractile responses than did endothelium-intact veins. CONCLUSIONS Response of colonic veins to vasoconstrictor agents was differential; sensitivity was not altered by endothelium removal or L-NAME treatment; maximal responses of endothelium-intact veins were greater than those of endothelium-denuded and L-NAME-treated veins; and responses of endothelium-denuded and L-NAME-treated veins were not different. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Alterations in colonic veins that mimic conditions associated with large-colon volvulus may contribute to blood flow alterations, edema formation, and vascular responses to hypovolemic and endotoxic shock.
Cancer Mortality Patterns Among Women Who Served in the Military: The Vietnam Experience

In response to concerns of women veterans regarding the long-term health effects of military service in Vietnam, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been conducting a retrospective cohort mortality study of women Vietnam veterans. Military records were used to identify approximately 4600 women who served in Vietnam between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, and a comparison cohort of nearly 5300 women who served during the same time frame but not in Southeast Asia or the Pacific theater. Current data include vital status determinations as of December 31, 1991, with a total of 532 deaths and an average follow-up of just over 20 years for both groups. Both the Vietnam and non-Vietnam women cohorts had a significant deficit of deaths from all causes compared to women in the US population. The two cohorts showed no difference in total mortality or in deaths from all cancers. A significant excess risk of pancreatic cancer was observed among Vietnam nurses compared to either non-Vietnam nurses (relative risk = 5.74) or women in the US population (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 2.78). Vietnam nurses also had an elevated risk of dying from cancer of the uterine corpus. Non-Vietnam nurses had a higher lung cancer mortality rate than women in the general population (SMR = 1.55) or nurses who served in Vietnam. Observed deficits of deaths from all causes and circulatory system diseases generally confirm a healthy selection bias for entry into and retention in the military that has been observed among men serving in the Armed Forces.
Communicating Eye-gaze Across a Distance: Comparing an Eye-gaze enabled Immersive Collaborative Virtual Environment, Aligned Video Conferencing, and Being Together

Eye gaze is an important and widely studied non-verbal resource in co-located social interaction. When we attempt to support tele-presence between people, there are two main technologies that can be used today: video-conferencing (VC) and collaborative virtual environments (CVEs). In VC, one can observe eye-gaze behaviour but practically the targets of eye-gaze are only correct if the participants remain relatively still. We attempt to support eye-gaze behaviour in an unconstrained manner by integrating eye-trackers into an Immersive CVE (ICVE) system. This paper aims to show that while both ICVE and VC allow people to discern being looked at and what else is looked at, when someone gazes into their space from another location, ICVE alone can continue to do this as people move. The conditions of aligned VC, ICVE, eye-gaze enabled ICVE and co-location are compared. The impact of factors of alignment, lighting, resolution, and perspective distortion are minimised through a set of pilot experiments, before a formal experiment records results for optimal settings. Results show that both VC and ICVE support eye-gaze in constrained situations, but only ICVE supports movement of the observer. We quantify the mis-judgements that are made and discuss how our findings might inform research into supporting eye-gaze through interpolated free viewpoint video based methods.
Na(+)-D-glucose cotransport by intestinal BBMVs of the Antarctic fish Trematomus bernacchii.

Intestinal nutrient absorption in fish adapted to low temperature was investigated by isolating, with a Mg(2+)-precipitation procedure, brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from intestines of the Antarctic teleost Trematomus bernacchii. In particular, D-glucose transport was analyzed by measuring both 1) fluorescence changes of the electrical potential-sensitive dye 3,3'-diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide [DiS-C2(5)] and 2) intravesicular uptake of D-[14C]glucose. Results demonstrated that transport of D-glucose across intestinal BBMs of the Antarctic fish is stimulated by the presence of a transmembrane Na+ gradient (out > in) and was specifically inhibited by phloridzin. Furthermore, Na(+)-dependent D-glucose uptake was strongly enhanced by the presence of an electrical potential (inside-negative) across the membrane. There was a marked difference in temperature dependence of Na(+)-sugar cotransport between the Antarctic fish and a temperate fish, such as the European yellow eel. , Na(+)-dependent D-glucose uptake in T. bernacchii intestinal BBMV reached its maximal rate at -2-0 degree C (close to fish living temperature) and was exponentially inactivated by incubation at higher temperatures. Kinetic analysis of D-glucose influx indicated the presence of a single Na(+)-dependent carrier process (apparent maximal carrier-mediated influx = 0.233 +/- 0.009 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1; apparent half-saturation constant for carrier-mediated influx = 0.157 +/- 0.026 mmol/l) and a nonsaturable transfer component (apparent diffusional permeability of membrane to the sugar = 0.233 +/- 0.016 microliter.mg protein-1.min-1). The Na(+)-dependent carrier-mediated mechanism was specific for sugars, since it was partially inhibited by the presence in the extravesicular medium of other monosaccharides, but not by ascorbic acid or amino acids of different types. These data suggest that in the intestine of Antarctic fish luminal D-glucose transport takes place by a specific Na(+)-dependent electrogenic secondary active transport working well at subzero temperatures.
The Causality Relationship Between Energy Consumption and Economic Growth: The Case of Turkey

This paper investigates relationship between economic growth and energy consumption for Turkey. Economic growth and energy consumption variables are conceptualized as an econometric model and an analysis is made to relate energy consumption to Turkey's economic growth by using the ADF test, the Cointegration approach, the Granger Causality test and Error Correction Model over the period of 1970–2007. We discovered bidirectional causality between energy consumption and economic growth. This means that there is a causality relationship between the two.
A Simple Procedure for Combining Expert Opinion with Statistical Estimates to Achieve Superior Portfolio Performance

In this article, the authors describe a simple procedure for combining statistical estimates with expert opinions to produce a view of future asset performance. The authors discuss the impact of behavioral bias on these views and propose general modeling principles to reduce this bias. They use standard linear filtering techniques to combine statistical estimates with expert opinions seamlessly and discuss applications to dynamic portfolio optimization.
Biometric Security

Now a days also ID-password based authentication system is more popular. But as users and number of sites, users are going to handle, are increasing day by day it is not only difficult to remember ID and passwords but also to manage such a great database for site manager. Also no one is ready to have risk of hackers, key loggers etc. Users need more security. So here, the focus is on biometric security. Part I of this paper illustrate successful security mechanism for operating system using bio-enable feature, for keeping operating system secure from hackers and in Part II it focuses on imposing bio-enable register and attendance system for employees.
Organizational dynamic capability establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises

This paper studied the effect of entrepreneur's social capital on organizational dynamic capability from commercial and institutional aspects. Through investigation, it was found that the network intensity of institutional social capital has significant positive effect on the market dynamic capability. Furthermore, the result also indicated that organizational slack has served as a moderator for the interference mechanism stated above, showing that the effect of entrepreneur's social capital on dynamic capability is restricted by organizational slack on most occasions.
OntoFetcher: An approach for query generation to gather ontologies and ranking them by ensuring user's context

Ontologies have been widely used to represent a domain and share knowledge. Various researchers working on the same domain can collaborate with each other using this shared knowledge. Building such ontology from scratch is a difficult and time consuming task. This is mainly due to the fact that normally the ontologist does not have expertise of the domain. Therefore to save time one can use existing ontologies. Several existing approaches like AKTiveRank, OntoQA, OntoKhoj and OntoRank have been proposed to search and rank ontologies but each having some limitation. Some techniques just used popularity of ontologies to rank ontologies, while some analyzed the structure of the ontology but missed the context of user. In this paper we propose an ontology searching and ranking scheme which also incorporates the context of the user by asking the required property relationship between concepts. Our system use Swoogle to fetch ontologies. We also propose a query generation process inorder to get those ontologies which contains synonyms and homonyms of user's queried concepts and properties.
Exploring the effects of knowledge characteristic and self-efficacy on employees' innovative behaviors: The moderating effect of environmental uncertainty

Along with global marketing competition and shortened product life cycle, many firms attempt to engage in product innovation in order to create new products for sustaining their competitive advantage. Prior studies have indicated that firms' successful product innovation are intimately linked with employees' innovative behavior. Furthermore, some previous studies also indicate that knowledge characteristic and self efficacy are important factors to improve organizational development; however, few studies investigate the relationship among knowledge characteristic, self-efficacy, and employees' innovation behavior. Therefore, we attempt to explore these relationships in this study. On the other hand, environmental uncertainty is a key influencing factor in the competitive environment, especially for knowledge intensive manufacturing industry. However, few studies explore the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty among knowledge characteristic, self-efficacy, and employees' innovation behavior in manufacturing industry. Therefore, we address the research gap by investigating sales and R&D employees in manufacturing industry. Our results show that knowledge characteristic has positive effect on employees' innovative behavior for the R&D employees. Furthermore, self-efficacy has positive effect on employees' innovative behavior for both sales and R&D employees. Finally, environmental uncertainty has positive moderate effect on the relationship among knowledge characteristic, self-efficacy, and employees' innovation behavior.
International Funding and Collaboration in Sea Level Rise Research

International collaboration and research funding in Sea Level Rise (SLR) research are investigated in this chapter. SLR can be taken as a paradigmatic research area to study the international scientific collaboration and research funding efforts because it is affecting the whole planet and is an interdisciplinary research area involving disciplines belonging to the geosciences but also the life sciences, technology sciences, and social sciences. The aim of the chapter is to identify the main stakeholders in the topic, institutions, and countries; analyze overlapping efforts; identify possible research gaps; and to study the role played by the funding agencies. Bibliometrics and a social network analysis approach are applied. Co-occurrence networks of keywords, affiliations, and funding agencies among scientific papers in Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science Core Collection in the SLR topic are analyzed. Conclusions show that international scientific collaboration is common in SLR, but international co-financing is less frequent.
Identification of a new race of Hemileia vastatrix in Brazil

In this study, a survey of physiological races of Hemileia vastatrix was carried out on 34 coffee leaf rust populations collected at several coffee genotypes in Brazil. After the inoculation on leaf disc of coffee differential clones, the races I, II, III, XIII, XVII and XXXVII were characterised. This is the first report of race XXXVII on Coffea arabica in Brazil, which shows the evolutionary potential of H. vastatrix. The emergence of complex races like XXXVII represents a challenge for breeders in the development of resistant cultivars.
Reverse immunology approach for the identification of CD8 T‐cell‐defined antigens: Advantages and hurdles

One of the challenges of tumour immunology remains the identification of strongly immunogenic tumour antigens for vaccination. Reverse immunology, that is, the procedure to predict and identify immunogenic peptides from the sequence of a gene product of interest, has been postulated to be a particularly efficient, high‐throughput approach for tumour antigen discovery. Over one decade after this concept was born, we discuss the reverse immunology approach in terms of costs and efficacy: data mining with bioinformatic algorithms, molecular methods to identify tumour‐specific transcripts, prediction and determination of proteasomal cleavage sites, peptide‐binding prediction to HLA molecules and experimental validation, assessment of the in vitro and in vivo immunogenic potential of selected peptide antigens, isolation of specific cytolytic T lymphocyte clones and final validation in functional assays of tumour cell recognition. We conclude that the overall low sensitivity and yield of every prediction step often requires a compensatory up‐scaling of the initial number of candidate sequences to be screened, rendering reverse immunology an unexpectedly complex approach.