Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Best permutation: a novel network selection scheme in heterogeneous wireless networks

Network selection in an environment of heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs) has been widely studied, but mobility-related factors were not well considered by selection schemes in the literature. Since vertical handover (VHO) corresponds to permutation of networks, the selection of a network actually becomes the selection of a permutation when VHO properties are considered. In this paper, we propose a best permutation scheme (Basic Besper) for mobility-based network selection in a generic HWN environment and two methods (i.e. Simplified Besper and Enhanced Besper) to further improve the time complexity of Basic Besper. According to our performance evaluations, Bespers could always select the best network and permutation based on mobility-related factors and many advantages compared with classic best network schemes are demonstrated. Furthermore, the two methods (especially Enhanced Besper) could find the best network quite rapidly, which is important for the continuity of real-time applications during VHOs.
Impairment of renal slice function following brain death, with reversibility of injury by hormonal therapy.

The effects of the agonal period and subsequent donor management on renal slice function, using the K+ - Na+ ratio, have been studied in the pig. Brain ischaemia or death resulted in a reduction in renal slice function, whether the pig was maintained normovolemic or hypovolemic by i.v. fluid and dobutamine therapy. This deterioration in function was, however, reversed or prevented by a period of therapy with thyroxine (T3), insulin, and cortisol. A period of 24 hr storage of the kidney slice in a low ionic strength solution in ice resulted in a further deterioration in slice function in all groups studied.
Frequency-Domain Intergroup Interference Coordination for V2V Communications

With the development of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, the interference among different V2V communication groups will become the limitation for high-rate transmissions. Two intergroup interference coordination schemes are proposed for the V2V communication. The first proposed scheme is a Doppler-shift-based frequency-domain interference alignment scheme. Through pre- and postprocessing, we guarantee that one V2V group is free from interference, and the other V2V group is partially interfered. The second proposed scheme is a frequency-domain precoding scheme. Through frequency-domain precoding, the intergroup interference between the two V2V groups can be mitigated completely.
High prevalence of undiagnosed airflow limitation in patients with cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of airflow limitation (AL) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unknown, and whether AL is adequately diagnosed and treated in these patients has not been investigated before, to our knowledge. METHODS We compared clinical and spirometric data in three groups of individuals. Two of them were participants in the follow-up of an ongoing population-based study according to the presence or absence of CVD. The third group included patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) confirmed by coronariography regularly visited at a tertiary referral university hospital. AL was defined according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines. RESULTS We studied 450 population participants without CVD, 52 population participants with CVD, and 119 hospital patients with CAD. The prevalence of AL in these three groups was 17.5% (95% CI, 14.0-21.0), 19.2% (95% CI, 8.1-30.7), and 33.6% (95% CI, 25.0-42.2), respectively (P < .05). Underdiagnosis of AL ranged from 60% in population participants with CVD up to 87.2% in hospital patients with CAD. Sixty percent of those with spirometrically confirmed AL (in all three groups) did not receive any respiratory treatment. CONCLUSIONS AL is frequent in individuals with CVD, particularly in those with CAD attended in the hospital, is largely underdiagnosed and therefore is highly undertreated. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov; Identifier: NCT00787748.
The clinical course of shoulder pain: prospective cohort study in primary care

Current knowledge of the clinical course and efficacy of treatment for shoulder pain comes mainly from studies of hospital patients. However, only a few patients experiencing such pain require referral to a specialist. Although shoulder pain is common in the general population, the outcome of patients presenting in general practice is unknown.1 We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine the outcome of shoulder pain in primary care. Twelve general practitioners recruited 166 patients who consulted with a new episode of shoulder pain during one year. They recorded demographic information, diagnosis, management, and an assessment of passive elevation of the shoulder; patients assessed the disability associated with their symptoms with a validated 22 item disability questionnaire.2 To assess outcome, identical disability questionnaires were sent to patients six and 18 months after consultation, together with a question measuring self assessed change in symptoms …
Constructing understandings of end-of-life care in Europe: a qualitative study involving cognitive interviewing with implications for cross-national surveys.

BACKGROUND Although national findings regarding people's end-of-life care (EoLC) preferences and priorities are available within Europe, a lack of research coordination between countries has meant that cross-national understandings of EoLC remain unknown. PURPOSE To (1) identify English and German understandings of EoLC within the context of an EoLC survey, and (2) to synthesise these understandings to aid interpretation of results from a cross-national survey. METHODS An inductive and interpretive two-phased sequential design involving (1) qualitative analysis of cognitive interview data from 15 English and 15 German respondents to develop country-related categories, and (2) qualitative synthesis to identify a conceptually coherent understanding of EoLC. RESULTS Open and axial coding resulted in six English and six German categories. Commonalities included (a) the importance of social and relational dimensions, (b) dynamic decision making comprising uncertainty, (c) a valuing of life's quality and quantity, and (d) expectations for holistic care involving autonomy, choice, and timely information from trusted professionals. Differences involved attention to practical matters, and thoughts about prolongation of life, preferred place of death, and the role of media and context. Synthesis resulted in four concepts with underlying coherence: expectations of a high standard of EoLC involving autonomy, choice, and context; evolving decision making amid anticipated change; thoughts about living and existing; and worldviews shaping EoLC preferences in real and hypothetical scenarios. CONCLUSION Individual and country-related diversity must be remembered when quantifying EoLC understandings. Inductive-interpretive analysis of cognitive interview data aids interpretation of survey findings. Cross-national research coordination and qualitative synthesis assists EoLC in Europe.
A low-phase-noise area-efficient 3-D LC VCO in standard 0.18-um CMOS technology

A miniaturized (0.224 mm2) 4.5~5.0 GHz 3-D LC VCO possessing area-efficient metal-6 on-chip inductors is implemented in 0.18 um 1P6M CMOS technology. With inductors directly above the other devices, this VCO shows a measured phase noise of -124.6 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the 4.9 GHz carrier while dissipating 24 mW. The figure-of-merit (-184.7 dBc/Hz) achieved is better than most of the previous state-of-art results of the CMOS LC VCOs while occupying only half the die area
EL COMPROMISO ORGANIZACIONAL: UN VALOR PERSONAL Y EMPRESARIAL EN EL MARKETING INTERNO

Organizational commitment has been extensively studied and has a great importance for companies. In this research an analysis of relevant scientific literature has been done in order to answer the question: what is commitment and what kind of commitment exists? Tridimensional model of commitment is shown and a groundbreaking example of the relation of this model with ethical aristothelical tradition. Theory of value has also been analyzed. To answer the question what factors contribute most to compromise? , the results of an empirical research on Spanish hotel sector are shown, within the scope of internal marketing. This research concludes that factors with greater correlation with commitment are: internal communication, management concern, training and family work balance.
Impact of Resistance Training in Subjects With COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of resistance training on subjects with COPD. METHODS: We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Elsevier ScienceDirect, EBM Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov and also of leading respiratory journals for randomized controlled trials on COPD treatment for ≥ 4 weeks with resistance training compared with non-exercise control or with combined resistance and endurance training compared with endurance training alone. Data from these studies were pooled to calculate odds ratio and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% CI. RESULTS: Eighteen trials with 750 subjects with advanced COPD met the inclusion criteria. There were 2 primary and 5 secondary outcomes. Compared with non-exercise control, resistance training led to significant improvements in the dyspnea domain of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (WMD of 0.59, 95% CI 0.26–0.93, I2 = 0%, P < .001), skeletal muscle strength, and percent-of-predicted FEV1 (WMD of 6.88%, 95% CI 0.41–13.35%, I2 = 0%, P = .04). The combination of resistance and endurance training significantly improved the St George Respiratory Questionnaire total score (WMD of −7.44, 95% CI −12.62 to −2.25, I2 = 0%, P = .005), each domain score, and skeletal muscle strength. There were no significant differences in 6-min walk distance, 6-min pegboard and ring test, maximum exercise work load, and maximum oxygen consumption between the 2 groups. There were no reports of adverse events related to resistance-training intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training can be successfully performed alone or in conjunction with endurance training without increased adverse events during pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD.
Post-Suburbia: Government and Politics in the Edge Cities

The years shortly after the end of World War II saw the beginnings of a new kind of community that blended the characteristics of suburbia with those of the central city. Over the decades these "edge cities" have become permanent features of the regional landscape. This text charts the emergence of these areas and explains why and how they developed. The book describes the adaptation of traditional units of government to the ideals and demands of the changing world along the metropolitan fringe. It shows how these post-suburban municipalities had to fashion a government that perpetuated the ideals of small-scale village life and yet, at the same time, provided for a large tax base to pay for needed municipal services. The author follows six counties that were among the pioneers of the post-suburban world: Suffolk and Nassau counties in New York; Oakland county, Michigan; DuPage county, Illinois; Saint Louis county, Missouri; and Orange County, California. Although county governments took on new co-ordinating functions, the text conlcudes, the many municipalities along the metropolitan fringe continued to retain their independence and authority. Underlying this balance of power was the persistent adherence to the long-standing suburban tradition of grassroots rule. Despite changes in the economy and appearance of the metropolitan fringe, this ideology retained its appeal among post-suburban voters, who rebelled at the prospect of thorough centralization of authority. Thus the fringe may have appeared post-suburban, but traditional suburban attitudes continued to influence the course of governmental development.
Diagnosis of hepatic nodules 20 mm or smaller in cirrhosis: Prospective validation of the noninvasive diagnostic criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma

This study prospectively evaluates the accuracy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of nodules 20 mm or smaller detected during ultrasound (US) surveillance. We included 89 patients with cirrhosis [median age, 65 years; male 53, hepatitis C virus 68, Child‐Pugh A 80] without prior hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom US detected a small solitary nodule (mean diameter, 14 mm). Hepatic MRI, CEUS, and fine‐needle biopsy (gold standard) (FNB) were performed at baseline. Non‐HCC cases were followed (median 23 months) by CEUS/3 months and MRI/6 months. FNB was repeated up to 3 times and on detection of change in aspect/size. Intense arterial contrast uptake followed by washout in the delayed/venous phase was registered as conclusive for HCC. Final diagnoses were: HCC (n = 60), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1), and benign lesions (regenerative/dysplastic nodule, hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia) (n = 28). Sex, cirrhosis cause, liver function, and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels were similar between HCC and non‐HCC groups. HCC patients were older and their nodules significantly larger (P < 0.0001). First biopsy was positive in 42 of 60 HCC patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of conclusive profile were 61.7%, 96.6%, 97.4%, and 54.9%, for MRI, 51.7%, 93.1%, 93.9%, and 50.9%, for CEUS. Values for coincidental conclusive findings in both techniques were 33.3%, 100%, 100%, and 42%. Thus, diagnosis of HCC 20 mm or smaller can be established without a positive biopsy if both CEUS and MRI are conclusive. However, sensitivity of these noninvasive criteria is 33% and, as occurs with biopsy, absence of a conclusive pattern does not rule out malignancy. These results validate the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) guidelines. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
Hidden impacts of ocean acidification to live and dead coral framework

Cold-water corals, such as Lophelia pertusa, are key habitat-forming organisms found throughout the world's oceans to 3000 m deep. The complex three-dimensional framework made by these vulnerable marine ecosystems support high biodiversity and commercially important species. Given their importance, a key question is how both the living and the dead framework will fare under projected climate change. Here, we demonstrate that over 12 months L. pertusa can physiologically acclimate to increased CO2, showing sustained net calcification. However, their new skeletal structure changes and exhibits decreased crystallographic and molecular-scale bonding organization. Although physiological acclimatization was evident, we also demonstrate that there is a negative correlation between increasing CO2 levels and breaking strength of exposed framework (approx. 20–30% weaker after 12 months), meaning the exposed bases of reefs will be less effective ‘load-bearers’, and will become more susceptible to bioerosion and mechanical damage by 2100.
Perverse liquidity effect of monetary policy: some evidence for India

The liquidity effect of money supply increases, as policy-oriented measures, would generally lead to a decline in interest rates. This is the direct effect. However, such money supply increases lead to a sum of the direct effect plus the positive indirect price and income effects. In sum, the net effect may be positive leading to a net increase and not a decrease in the interest rate. The regular money demand function is suitably modified to capture the structural changes of the Indian economy to verify the net effect of monetary policy-induced money supply movements. The empirical evidence indicates the presence of a perverse liquidity effect.
The influence of various degrees of confinement and supervision on the incidence of dystokia and stillbirths in Hereford heifers.

Abstract Confinement of Hereford heifers in a pen during parturition resulted in a marked increase in the incidence of dystokia and stillbirths when cqmpared with animals left to calve in either the paddock or a large yard. The continuous presence of an observer during second-stage labour also was associated with an increase in both calving problems and assisted parturitions among penned cattle but the stillbirth rate was reduced in those animals undergoing a dystokia. In most cases, death of the foetus or new-born calf was due to a difficult delivery. The cause of death, however, was not determined for about one-third of all stillborn foetuses found in the paddock or yard. In a few instances, the loss of new-born animals in the paddock was due to prematurity whereas in the pen, death occasionally occurred through misadventure or from suffocation by the amnion. An increase in the degree of confinement and supervision of parturient animals was also accompanied by an alteration in the main types of calving .
Exploring the Causal Machinery behind Sex Ratios at Birth: Does Hepatitis B Play a Role?

The causal machinery underlying sex determination is directly relevant to many questions relating gender and family composition to social and economic outcomes. In recent work, Oster highlighted a correlation between parental hepatitis B carrier status and sex of the child. One of her analyses went further, speaking directly to causality. That analysis appeared to have answered an important question that had remained unresolved in medical and biological literatures—namely, does chronic infection with hepatitis B cause male‐skewed sex ratios at birth? Oster’s creative empirical analysis appeared to suggest that it does; however, in this article I reassess the result and present evidence that, at the very least, the question remains open. Further investigation into questions around the causal machinery of sex determination is warranted in the social science literature, as well as in that of biology and medicine. However, my results suggest that it is extremely unlikely that chronic hepatitis B infection plays a biologically significant role.
Operational Improvement: The Key to Value Creation in Private Equity

With credit tightening having reduced the availability of leverage and intensified the competition for new deals, the economic recession has caused many companies in private equity firm portfolios to under-perform. These changes are forcing the private equity firms to depend even more on their ability to improve operating performance to achieve their investment goals and generate attractive returns. But few PE firms have proved capable of achieving such improvements in portfolio companies consistently over time. Copyright Copyright (c) 2009 Morgan Stanley.
The Impact of Rotigotine on Cardiovascular Autonomic Function in Early Parkinson’s Disease

Dysautonomia can occur in early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD) influencing tolerance to dopaminergic therapies. Rotigotine, a non-ergot dopamine agonist, has recently been developed as an effective alternative antiparkinsonian drug, but its influence on the autonomic nervous system was not investigated. Twenty subjects out of 34 consecutive de novo PD patients were submitted to full assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function before and after reaching a stable rotigotine regimen [6 mg/24 h (n = 3) or 8 mg/24 h (n = 17)]. Patients reached significant clinical improvement (–27% on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III) and did not show significant differences in cardiovascular tests compared to baseline data. However, an unexpected trend towards increasing systolic blood pressure after head-up tilt test was detected. Our study demonstrates that rotigotine does not influence cardiovascular autonomic responses in early de novo PD patients. Consequently, it may represent a well-tolerated and efficacious therapeutic option in newly diagnosed PD subjects.
How online search behavior is influenced by user-generated content on review websites and hotel interactive websites.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance in research on consumer psychology of hospitality, since it investigates how online search behavior of users (particularly, information search and choice) is influenced by the opinions of other people in a new context characterized by the generalized use of Web 2.0 applications. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical research was carried out in the hotel sector in Iberian Peninsula, where two Web 2.0 applications are especially relevant for users: the review Web sites and the hotel interactive Web sites. A qualitative method (in-depth interviews with hotel managers) and a quantitative technique (personal surveys to a sample of 830 users) were used to conduct this research. Findings – The results indicates that the perceived influence on behavior of the user-generated content on these Web 2.0 applications is determined, in both cases, by the value of the information, the credibility of the sources and the degree of similarity between the user and the creat.
Mounier Kuhn syndrome presenting with recurrent atelectasis

Abstract Objective and importance Mounier Kuhn syndrome is usually diagnosed in adulthood, and only a few cases have been described in childhood. Clinical presentation We present the case of a seven-year-old boy suffering from recurrent pneumonia and atelectasis. Intervention Previously performed chest X-rays showed bilateral hyperinflation and tracheobronchomegaly. Chest computed tomography (CT) confirmed the presence of distal enlargement of trachea and bronchi. Tracheobronchomegaly associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections is consistent with Mounier Kuhn syndrome. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from the sputum of the patient. He was then treated according to the guidelines for P. aeruginosa management in cystic fibrosis patients considering the similarities in clinical presentations and pathophysiology of both diseases. Antibiotic treatment resulted in a remarkable reduction of events of pulmonary exacerbation and hospitalizations. There are no specific guidelines for treatment options in case of pulmonary exacerbation of Mounier Kuhn syndrome. Case reports discussing the choice and efficiency of antibiotic treatment are random. Conclusion headings We share our experience of treating pulmonary exacerbation caused by P. aeruginosa in a patient with Mounier Kuhn syndrome suggesting a possible treatment option of pseudomonas infections in this syndrome.
CAP Forum on E‐Business: Compromise or Customize: XBRL's Paradoxical Power

Business reports are changing in response to regulatory and market demands. Requests by regulators for electronic filings of financial statements and tax forms are increasing and such filings are rapidly becoming mandatory in many countries. In response, extensible business reporting language (XBRL) is a market-driven, collaborative effort to make electronic filings more useful to, and to reduce the burden on, both publishers and consumers of business reports. XBRL does much more than simply list data items that can be submitted in an electronic filing. XBRL is a complete set of tools for regulators or groups to fully communicate the meanings of and interrelationships among the business reporting concepts. In addition, core sets of concepts from regulators or groups can be extended, expanded, or otherwise modified for more specific communication by jurisdictions, industries, or individual corporations. This unique customization capability lets companies better present their electronic filings as parallels to their paper filings. A “customizable standard” offers new opportunities and new challenges. This paper discusses XBRL's paradoxical power - the trade-offs between customizing to better parallel existing paper reports and compromising to more closely match the standards, and the research needed for the transition from freeform to customized reports.