Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Peritonitis: main reason of severe sepsis in surgical intensive care].

INTRODUCTION Aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology of sepsis in an university surgical intensive care unit. We were mainly interested in getting information about incidence, reason and clinical course of peritonitis. The results should give more information about diagnostic and therapy of sepsis in the surgical intensive care. METHODS We analyzed our 2 676 ICU-patients from 2000 to 2002 with infection as main diagnosis. By means of medical report we analyzed the kind of infection and the clinical course of 561 (21 %) patients. For 356 (13.3 %) patients with peritonitis we observed the kind, the reason and the severity of infection and further the special events in the clinical course. RESULTS The incidence of severe sepsis was 14.8 %. With 63 % the peritonitis is the main infectiological diagnosis on admission to ICU. 33.8 % of infections are hospital acquired. 71.3 % of patients with peritonitis developed a severe sepsis or septic shock during the clinical course. On average 4.7 further abdominal surgical interventions and 5.1 new occurring nosocomial infections marked a difficult surgical and infectious treatment course. Hospital acquired infections (70 %), high value of scoring and inadequate surgical treatment (23.7 %) have proved to be a good prognostic instrument for the development of tertiary peritonitis. With a share of 17 % from patients with peritonitis and a mortality of 35 % they have a strong influence on the ICU-mortality. CONCLUSION Peritonitis is the main reason of severe sepsis on the surgical ICU. Hospital acquired infections especially the tertiary peritonitis have the highest mortality. High mortality is the consequence from the large number of difficult clinical courses and high rates of severe sepsis and septic shock. "Second hits" play a crucial role for the therapy and the prognosis of these patients. To decline the mortality future studies must more consider the problem of hospital acquired and tertiary abdominal infections.
Distorted Self-Perceived Weight Status and Underestimation of Weight Status in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients

Objectives Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM 2) patients' self-perception of their weight status is very critical in diabetes care. We sought to investigate perception of weight status in a sample of 200 DM 2 patients attending an outpatient clinic at a Teaching Hospital and compared it with their BMI-measured weight status, with a focus on underestimation of their weight status. Factors associated with underestimation of weight status in this sample were also explored. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, anthropometric and clinical variables were assessed using appropriate tools. Questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic data and self-perception of weight status. Self-perceived weight status was compared to BMI-measured weight status by cross-tabulation, Kappa statistics of agreement and χ2 for trend analysis. Both univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with underestimation of weight status. Results The prevalence of general overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was 32.0% (n = 64) and 58.0% (n = 116) respectively. Generally, 58.0% (n = 116) of the participants had a distorted weight perceived weight status in which 77.6% (n = 90) underestimated their weight status. Factors associated with underestimation of weight status were being overweight/obese (AOR = 22.9, 95% CI = 8.30–63.07, p<0.001), not married (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.50–9.17, p = 0.005) and never tried to lose weight (AOR = 6.9, 95% CI = 2.35–19.97, p<0.001). Participants aged over 40 years and those being hyperglycaemic were not significantly associated to underestimation of weight status. Conclusion We found a substantial discordance between BMI-measured and self-perceived weight status. Factors that were associated with underestimation of weight status were being; overweight/obese, not married and never tried to lose weight. Diabetes patients should be provided with information about weight guidelines.
Práticas de Gestão e Desempenho Financeiro: Um Estudo Realizado em Empresas da Região de Campo Limpo Paulista

Esta pesquisa verifica o efeito da gestao balanceada no desempenho financeiro de pequenas e medias empresas, a partir das suas praticas de gestao. A literatura da RBV explica que a restricao de recursos impede as firmas terem o desempenho diferenciado, e a ausencia de praticas de gestao adequadas e uma dessas restricoes. Lanca-se aqui o conceito de gestao balanceada como uma capacidade desenvolvida internamente a firma, capaz de promover praticas de gestao eficientes para o alcance de desempenho financeiro superior. Para definir gestao balanceada utiliza-se os conceitos de alinhamento, coerencia e consistencia (Ansoff, 1979; Henderson; Venkatraman, 1993; Mintzberg et al . 2000). Para resolver a pergunta de partida proposta utilizou-se de analise multivariada de dados com uma amostra de 54 empresas da Regiao de Campo Limpo Paulista (SP). Especificamente algumas variaveis de controle foram utilizadas na regressao com o intuito de reduzir relacoes nao previstas pelas hipoteses. Os resultados indicam que empresas com gestao balanceada apresentam leve superioridade no desempenho financeiro em relacao aquelas que nao apresentam esta caracteristica. Tendo sido possivel separar as empresas em dois grupos, os resultados apontaram que as praticas de gestao foram importantes preditoras no desempenho das empresas com gestao balanceada. A pesquisa ensina que as praticas de gestao nao sao recursos que por si so resolvem o problema do desempenho superior, os individuos precisam estar dispostos a despender esforcos para balancear sua gestao.
Low back pain among Iranian industrial workers.

BACKGROUND Most epidemiological data concerning low back pain (LBP) are from high-income countries and there is very little information about LBP in the working population in developing countries. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of LBP in Iranian industrial workers. To explore associations between LBP and physical and psychosocial factors at work, as well as lifestyle factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study of the largest car-manufacturing group in Iran. The prevalence of LBP, work exposures and lifestyle factors were recorded using the standardized Nordic questionnaire for analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Demographic data and lifestyle factors (age, sex, education, weight, work experience, smoking and fitness training) were also collected. RESULTS Of the 18,031 employees, 78% participated. The majority of subjects in this study population were young males (<30 years) and a small proportion was female (4%). The 1-year prevalence of self-reported LBP in this Iranian industrial population was 21% (20% males and 27% females). The prevalence rate of absence due to LBP was 5% per annum. The multiple logistic regression models indicated that the following remained risk indicators for LBP in the previous 12 months: increasing age, no regular exercise, heavy lifting, repetitive work and monotonous work. CONCLUSION LPB is a common problem in the working population even in a developing country. Age and gender as well as certain work-related physical and psychosocial factors influenced the prevalence of LBP but the differences between different categories of workers were small.
Fault Tolerant Flight Control Techniques with Application to a Quadrotor UAV Testbed

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are gaining more and more attention during the last few years due to their important contributions and cost-effective applications in several tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue missions, geographic studies, as well as various military and security applications. Due to the requirements of autonomous flight under different flight conditions without a pilot onboard, control of UAV flight is much more challenging compared with manned aerial vehicles since all operations have to be carried out by the automated flight control, navigation and guidance algorithms embedded on the onboard flight microcomputer/microcontroller or with limited interference by a ground pilot if needed.
Information Geometric Algorithm for Estimating Switching Probabilities in Space-Varying HMM

This paper proposes an iterative natural gradient algorithm to perform the optimization of switching probabilities in a space-varying hidden Markov model, in the context of human activity recognition in long-range surveillance. The proposed method is a version of the gradient method, developed under an information geometric viewpoint, where the usual Euclidean metric is replaced by a Riemannian metric on the space of transition probabilities. It is shown that the change in metric provides advantages over more traditional approaches, namely: it turns the original constrained optimization into an unconstrained optimization problem; the optimization behaves asymptotically as a Newton method and yields faster convergence than other methods for the same computational complexity; and the natural gradient vector is an actual contravariant vector on the space of probability distributions for which an interpretation as the steepest descent direction is formally correct. Experiments on synthetic and real-world problems, focused on human activity recognition in long-range surveillance settings, show that the proposed methodology compares favorably with the state-of-the-art algorithms developed for the same purpose.
Modélisation et computation des processus cognitifs et informationnels en conception amont : une investigation chez les designers et les concepteurs.

La recherche presentee ici porte sur les phases amont du processus de conception innovante. Ces phases font intervenir differents metiers qui operent dans un contexte d'ingenierie concourante (design, ergonomie cognitive, marketing). La frontiere entre ces metiers devient de plus en plus floue et bon nombre des representations utilisees lors des phases collectives se doivent d'etre comprehensibles par tous. Cette recherche a ete developpee en une sequence qui s'appuie sur la (1) formalisation des processus cognitifs metiers du design ou de l'ergonomie cognitive, (2) l'extraction de connaissances, regles et routines qui nous ont conduits a la (3) definition de nouveaux formalismes. Ces formalismes sont utilisables pour la computation partielle des phases d'information, generation, evaluation et materialisation qui forment notre modele theorique. Ils ont pour vocation d'etre integres dans des outils logiciels de design computationnel destines aux etapes precoces de la conception. Cette recherche se positionne en sciences de la conception et plus precisement dans les domaines de l'ingenierie Kansei, du design emotionnel, de la creativite appliquee et du design d'experience.
Effects of computing and communications on state fusion over long-haul sensor networks

We consider a sensor network where the state estimates are sent over long-haul connections from sensors to a fusion center to be correlated and fused to generate a global state estimate. The network loss and latency determine the state estimates received within a time-window at the fusion center, which in turn determine the quality QCC(τ) of the global state estimate computed within the allocated time τ. We derive a probabilistic performance bound on QCC(τ) as a function of the distribution of state estimates as well as the computation and network parameters, which shows a separation between the contributions of communications and computing parts. We then show that measurements based on field tests can be used to derive confidence bounds for QCC(τ). We complement the analytical results with component simulations and a system-level simulation of tracking a ballistic object to illustrate the qualitative effects of computing, including allocated computation time, and communications, including loss rates and transport protocols.
Association of Dry Eye and Inflammatory Systemic Diseases in a Tertiary Care–Based Sample

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the frequency and types of inflammatory systemic diseases in a cohort of patients with dry eye, and identify clinical features suggesting the presence of these. Methods: Consecutive new patients with a primary diagnosis of dry eye evaluated at a tertiary dry eye center between January 2010 and December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Standardized questionnaires were used to obtain data regarding systemic symptoms, previous medical diagnoses, and family history. Dry eye evaluations included Schirmer testing, tear film break-up time, corneal fluorescein staining, and bulbar conjunctival lissamine green staining. Clinically significant dry eye was defined as having a Schirmer test score without anesthesia of ⩽10 mm or conjunctival lissamine green staining of ≥1 using the Oxford scale. Results: A total of 228 new patients were analyzed. Of these, 47.4% (108/228) presented with a known diagnosis of inflammatory disease. Based on a review of systems and ocular examination, 81 patients (81/228) underwent a further work-up that revealed 25 additional diagnoses that were not known on presentation. The most common newly identified conditions included occult thyroid eye disease (n = 20), primary Sjögren Syndrome (4), and Sjögren Syndrome suspect (1). Female gender, family history of autoimmune disease, self-reported joint pain or dry mouth, external signs of orbital inflammation, and conjunctival chemosis were more common in patients with inflammatory systemic disease as compared with that in patients with no identifiable condition (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Systemic inflammatory diseases are frequently associated with dry eye in patients evaluated at a tertiary academic center. Diagnostic evaluations may help uncover previously undiagnosed significant conditions in about one-third of tested patients.
Rapid metabolic phenotypes for acetyltransferase and cytochrome P4501A2 and putative exposure to food-borne heterocyclic amines increase the risk for colorectal cancer or polyps.

The metabolic activation of food-borne heterocyclic amines to colon carcinogens in humans is hypothesized to occur via N-oxidation followed by O-acetylation to form the N-acetoxy arylamine that binds to DNA to give carcinogen-DNA adducts. These steps are catalyzed by hepatic cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) and acetyltransferase-2 (NAT-2), respectively, which are known to be polymorphic in humans. On the basis of this proposed metabolic activation pathway, patients at greatest risk to develop colorectal cancer or nonfamilial polyps should be those who possess both the rapid NAT-2 and rapid CYP1A2 phenotypes and are exposed to high dietary levels of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. Using a method that involves caffeine administration and high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of urinary metabolites, we have determined the CYP1A2 and NAT-2 phenotypes of 205 controls and 75 cancer/polyp cases. Exposure information was obtained using a dietary and health habits questionnaire. Both the rapid CYP1A2 and rapid NAT2 phenotypes were each slightly more prevalent in cases versus controls (57% and 52% versus 41% and 45%, respectively). However, the combined rapid CYP1A2-rapid NAT-2 phenotype was found in 35% of cases and only 16% of the controls, giving an odds ratio of 2.79 (P = 0.002). Univariate analysis of the questionnaire indicated that age, rapid-rapid phenotype, and consumption of well done red meat were associated with increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. Furthermore, a logistic regression model that included age (as a continuous variable), consumption of well done red meat, and rapid-rapid phenotype as independent covariates gave odds ratios of 1.08, 2.08, and 2.91, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Toward a Dependability Case Language and Workflow for a Radiation Therapy System

We present a near-future research agenda for bringing a suite of modern programming-languages verification tools - specifically interactive theorem proving, solver-aided languages, and formally defined domain-specific languages - to the development of a specific safety-critical system, a radiotherapy medical device. We sketch how we believe recent programming-languages research advances can merge with existing best practices for safety-critical systems to increase system assurance and developer productivity. We motivate hypotheses central to our agenda: That we should start with a single specific system and that we need to integrate a variety of complementary verification and synthesis tools into system development.
DNA Methylation Affects Meiotic trans-sensing, Not Meiotic Silencing, in Neurospora

During the early stages of meiosis in Neurospora, the symmetry of homologous chromosomal regions is carefully evaluated by actively trans-sensing their identity. If a DNA region cannot be detected on the opposite homologous chromosome, then this lack of “sensing” activates meiotic silencing, a post-transcriptional gene silencing-like mechanism that silences all genes in the genome with homology to the loop of unpaired DNA, whether they are paired or unpaired. In this work, we genetically dissected the meiotic trans-sensing step from meiotic silencing by demonstrating that DNA methylation affects sensing without interfering with silencing. We also determined that DNA sequence is an important parameter considered during meiotic trans-sensing. Altogether, these observations assign a previously undescribed role for DNA methylation in meiosis and, on the basis of studies in other systems, we speculate the existence of an intimate connection among meiotic trans-sensing, meiotic silencing, and meiotic recombination.
Genes encoding longevity: from model organisms to humans

Ample evidence from model organisms has indicated that subtle variation in genes can dramatically influence lifespan. The key genes and molecular pathways that have been identified so far encode for metabolism, maintenance and repair mechanisms that minimize age‐related accumulation of permanent damage. Here, we describe the evolutionary conserved genes that are involved in lifespan regulation of model organisms and humans, and explore the reasons of discrepancies that exist between the results found in the various species. In general, the accumulated data have revealed that when moving up the evolutionary ladder, together with an increase of genome complexity, the impact of candidate genes on lifespan becomes smaller. The presence of genetic networks makes it more likely to expect impact of variation in several interacting genes to affect lifespan in humans. Extrapolation of findings from experimental models to humans is further complicated as phenotypes are critically dependent on the setting in which genes are expressed, while laboratory conditions and modern environments are markedly dissimilar. Finally, currently used methodologies may have only little power and validity to reveal genetic variation in the population. In conclusion, although the study of model organisms has revealed potential candidate genetic mechanisms determining aging and lifespan, to what extent they explain variation in human populations is still uncertain.
Abstract If You're Happy and You Know It... Job Satisfaction in the Low Wage Service Sector If You're Happy and You Know It... Job Satisfaction in the Low Wage Service Sector

The issue of worker satisfaction is important both for the sake of individuals themselves and also for employers for whom happy staff should be productive staff. Highly satisfied staff have been shown to have lower propensities to quit and to be absent. Whilst there have been some interesting contributions in this field, the existing studies are weakened by their inability to control for workplace characteristics. Uniquely, our data set, covering three low wage sectors, enables us to do this whilst still providing a wealth of demographic information. Using principal components analysis we examine five measures of workers' satisfaction and find that individuals respond quite differently depending upon the measure of contentment employed. We then examine which of our component forms of satisfaction has the greatest impact on overall satisfaction. Satisfaction with short-term rewards and long-term prospects are found to be far more influential in determining overall satisfaction than contentment with social relationships or work intensity.
Norwalk-Like Virus Sequences in Mineral Waters: One-Year Monitoring of Three Brands

ABSTRACT In a recent study, RNA with nucleotide sequeces specific for “Norwalk-like viruses” (NLV) was detected in 11 different brands of European mineral waters. To clarify this finding, a 1-year monitoring study was conducted. Samples of three European brands of mineral water without gas were monitored weekly by reverse transcriptase PCR using generic and genogroup-specific oligonucleotides. Additional analyses were performed to investigate a possible correlation between NLV sequence contamination and mineral water lot numbers, the long-term stability (persistence) of NLV sequences in mineral water, and the level of contamination. NLV sequences were detected in 53 of 159 samples analyzed (33%) and belonged entirely to genogroup II. Although all NLV strains identified were closely related, three mineral water brand-specific clusters could be identified for both primer systems by sequencing. Analyses of second samples from lots previously shown to be positive for NLV sequences gave corresponding results in 45 of 53 cases (85%) (within a six-pack). NLV persistence was tested by analyzing 10 positive samples after 6 and 12 months of storage in darkness at room temperature. After 6 months, all samples remained positive; after 12 months, 9 of 10 samples were still positive for NLV sequences. No NLV sequences could be detected by analysis of 0.1-liter aliquots of 53 samples shown to be positive by testing of 1-liter volumes. Based on this fact and a test sensitivity of approximately 10 viral units, levels of contamination in positive mineral water samples were estimated to be in the range of 10 to 100 genomic equivalents per liter.
A Novel Approach for API Recommendation in Mashup Development

Mashing up Web services and RESTful APIs is a novel programming approach to develop new applications. As the number of available resources is increasing rapidly, to discover potential services or APIs is getting difficult. Therefore, it is vital to relieve mashup developers of the burden of service discovery. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic model to assist mashup creators by recommending a list of APIs that may be used to compose a required mashup given descriptions of the mashup. Specifically, a relational topic model is exploited to characterize the relationship among mashups, APIs and their links. In addition, we incorporate the popularity of APIs to the model and make predictions on the links between mashups and APIs. Moreover, the statistical analysis on a public mashup platform shows the current status of mashup development and the applicability of this study. Experiments on a large service data set confirm the effectiveness of this proposed approach.