Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A framework for understanding network intelligence

The term network intelligence is widely used in the field of communication networks. A number of new and potentially limiting concepts and products based on the concept of network intelligence have been introduced, including smart flows, intelligent routing, and intelligent web switching. Many intelligent systems focus on a specific service, function, or device, and do not provide true end-to-end network intelligence. True network intelligence requires more than a set of disconnected elements; it requires an interconnecting and functionally coupled architecture that enables the various functional levels to interact and communicate with each other. We propose a uniform framework for understanding end-to-end communication network intelligence (CNI), which is defined as the ability of a network to act appropriately in a changing environment. We consider an appropriate action to be one that increases the optimal and efficient use of network resources in delivering services, and we define success as the achievement of behavior subgoals that support the service provider's ultimate goals, which are defined external to the network system. The framework presented incorporates the functional elements of intelligence into computational modules and interconnects the modules into networks and hierarchies that have spatial, logical, and temporal properties. Based on the framework proposed, we describe an end-to-end multiservice network application spanning the network management layer, optical layer, switching/routing layer, services layer, and other layers.
Investigation of Air-to-Air Channel Characteristics and a UAV Specific Extension to the Rice Model

One of the key challenges while operating multiple unmanned aerial systems (UAS) is to maintain reliable air-to-ground (A2G) and air-to-air (A2A) communication links. In previous works, the authors have introduced a communication-aware mobility behavior which takes communication constraints and overall mission goals into account. In order to further improve the mobility behavior with the help of a channel estimator, accurate models of the dynamic A2A channel are a necessity. In this work, we extend the Rice channel model to account for multipath effects introduced by the flight altitude of unmanned vehicles on an IEEE 802.11 communication link. Based on laboratory measurements and several experimental flights the influence on the channel is evaluated and exemplary model parameters are derived.
A multifaceted intervention to improve sepsis management in general hospital wards with evaluation using segmented regression of interrupted time series

Problem Antibiotic administration to inpatients developing sepsis in general hospital wards was frequently delayed. We aimed to reproduce improvements in sepsis management reported in other settings. Context Ninewells Hospital, an 860-bed teaching hospital with quality improvement (QI) experience, in Scotland, UK. The intervention wards were 22 medical, surgical and orthopaedic inpatient wards. Design A multifaceted intervention, informed by baseline process data and questionnaires and interviews with junior doctors, evaluated using segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series (ITS) data. Measures for improvement Primary outcome measure: antibiotic administration within 4 hours of sepsis onset. Secondary measures: antibiotics within 8 hours; mean and median time to antibiotics; medical review within 30 min for patients with a standardised early warning system score ≥4; blood cultures taken before antibiotic administration; blood lactate level measured. Strategies for change The intervention included printed and electronic clinical guidance, educational clinical team meetings including baseline performance data, audit and monthly feedback on performance. Effects of change Performance against all study outcome measures improved postintervention but differences were small and ITS analysis did not attribute the observed changes to the intervention. Lessons learnt Rigorous analysis of this carefully designed improvement intervention could not confirm significant effects. Statistical analysis of many such studies is inadequate, and there is insufficient reporting of negative studies. In light of recent evidence, involving senior clinical team members in verbal feedback and action planning may have made the intervention more effective. Our focus on rigorous intervention design and evaluation was at the expense of iterative refinement, which likely reduced the effect. This highlights the necessary, but challenging, requirement to invest in all three components for effective QI.
Knowledge and attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the community.

AIMS This study examined basic aspects of knowledge and attitudes towards resuscitation in a New Zealand urban community. METHODS Using a telephone survey, we questioned 400 subjects aged (over 17 years of age), on their prior training, knowledge, and attitudes towards resuscitation. RESULTS Seventy-four percent of subjects had previously been taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Of these, 12% had been taught during the previous year, and 63% over 5 years previously. Older subjects were less likely to have learnt CPR than younger subjects. Seventy-three percent of those surveyed desired to know more about resuscitation (than they currently did) and 70% thought that resuscitation should be a compulsory component of the New Zealand Driver's Licence test. Sixty-three percent said they would be willing to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation on a stranger. CPR knowledge was poor, however, with only 4% knowing an acceptable rate at which to perform chest compressions, and only 9% knowing the correct compression-to-ventilations ratio for adult CPR. Overall knowledge was highest for those taught in the previous year, and for those persons aged between 26 and 45 years. CONCLUSIONS Although attitudes of the community toward CPR are positive, theoretical knowledge relating to basic CPR is poor. This suggests that present community CPR educational strategies have limited efficacy.
In vitro susceptibilities of aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections at a medical center in Taiwan: results of the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) 2002-2006.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) was initiated to monitor the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections (IAI). This report summarizes the SMART data from 1 of the study centers from 2002 to 2006. METHODS 492 Gram-negative isolates were collected from 482 patients with IAI. Susceptibilities of these isolates to 12 antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method. RESULTS Enterobacteriaceae comprised 68.3% of the isolates (n = 336). The 4 main species were Klebsiella spp. (n = 129; 26.2%), Escherichia coli (n = 122; 24.8%), Enterobacter spp. (n = 36; 7.3%), and Aeromonas hydrophila (n = 35; 7.1%). The commonest glucose non-fermentative GNB were Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 46; 9.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 35; 7.1%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was detected in 70 Enterobacteriaceae isolates (70/336; 21%). The ESBL phenotype was exhibited by 23% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 26% of E. coli, and 19% of Enterobacter spp. The highest rate of ESBL production was found in 2005 for E. coli (38%) and in 2003 for Klebsiella spp. (38%) and Enterobacter spp. (40%). The incidence of ESBL-producing isolates declined in 2005 and 2006. Low susceptibility rates of E. coli isolates to ciprofloxacin (58%) and levofloxacin (64%) were noted. Ertapenem (99%), imipenem (99%), and amikacin (94%) were the most potent agents against Enterobacteriaceae spp. CONCLUSIONS Continuous surveillance is crucial to monitor the trend of antimicrobial resistance patterns among GNB isolated from IAI.
The six success factors for REIT market development: lessons for China?

The six success factors for REIT market development: lessons for China? The recently published Routledge REITs Research Handbook, which I had the pleasure of editing (Parker, 2018), included six chapters on REITs in different regions of the world, each written by an expert author with an intimate knowledge of the region. Rather than the usual, trite comparative analysis of market capitalisation, distribution requirements, minimum holding levels, tax concessions and so forth, the authors surveyed the development of REITs in their region with a focus on the structural and market features that differed between regions. Ascending by helicopter above the text of each of the six chapters permits a holistic view that allows some common themes and features of six decades of international REIT evolution to be identified and classified as the six success factors for REIT market development:
Development and validation of a food frequency index using nutritional biomarkers in a sample of middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND An index of diet quality, which examines different aspects of a diet concurrently, may facilitate the identification of poor dietary habits in population sub-groups. The objectives of the present study were to develop a food frequency index (FFI) and to test its associations with nutritional biomarkers and nutrient intake. METHODS The study comprised a cross-sectional survey among 444 adults aged 55 years and older in Vienna, Austria, and a sub-sample of 226 subjects who provided fasting blood specimen. Data from a qualitative 28-item food-frequency questionnaire were used to develop the FFI. RESULTS FFI scores were positively correlated with plasma concentrations of beta-carotene (r = 0.26), beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.31), zeaxanthin (r = 0.19), lutein (r = 0.21), phylloquinone (r = 0.19), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (r = 0.20), and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (r = 0.24) and were negatively correlated with the ratio of total : HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.23). Sub-groups with higher FFI scores had, on average, lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol and higher intakes of total carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and most of the examined micronutrients. CONCLUSION The FFI as a measure of diet quality has the ability to discern population sub-groups, with reasonable validity, into low- or high-risk dietary habits.
An automated analysis of highly complex flow cytometry‐based proteomic data

The combination of color‐coded microspheres as carriers and flow cytometry as a detection platform provides new opportunities for multiplexed measurement of biomolecules. Here, we developed a software tool capable of automated gating of color‐coded microspheres, automatic extraction of statistics from all subsets and validation, normalization, and cross‐sample analysis. The approach presented in this article enabled us to harness the power of high‐content cellular proteomics. In size exclusion chromatography‐resolved microsphere‐based affinity proteomics (Size‐MAP), antibody‐coupled microspheres are used to measure biotinylated proteins that have been separated by size exclusion chromatography. The captured proteins are labeled with streptavidin phycoerythrin and detected by multicolor flow cytometry. When the results from multiple size exclusion chromatography fractions are combined, binding is detected as discrete reactivity peaks (entities). The information obtained might be approximated to a multiplexed western blot. We used a microsphere set with >1,000 subsets, presenting an approach to extract biologically relevant information. The R‐project environment was used to sequentially recognize subsets in two‐dimensional space and gate them. The aim was to extract the median streptavidin phycoerythrin fluorescence intensity for all 1,000+ microsphere subsets from a series of 96 measured samples. The resulting text files were subjected to algorithms that identified entities across the 24 fractions. Thus, the original 24 data points for each antibody were compressed to 1–4 integrated values representing the areas of individual antibody reactivity peaks. Finally, we provide experimental data on cellular protein changes induced by treatment of leukemia cells with imatinib mesylate. The approach presented here exemplifies how large‐scale flow cytometry data analysis can be efficiently processed to employ flow cytometry as a high‐content proteomics method. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Homeostatic Role of Interferons Conferred by Inhibition of IL-1-Mediated Inflammation and Tissue Destruction

In addition to their well known immune and proinflammatory activities, IFNs possess homeostatic functions that limit inflammation and tissue destruction in a variety of conditions such as arthritis, osteolysis, and multiple sclerosis. The mechanisms underlying the homeostatic actions of IFNs are not well understood. We report here that both type I and type II IFNs (IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ, respectively) suppressed a broad range of proinflammatory and tissue-destructive activities of IL-1, including induction of inflammatory mediators, production of matrix metalloproteinases, macrophage tissue invasion, and cartilage degradation. IFN-α attenuated IL-1-mediated cell recruitment in vivo. IFNs completely suppressed the activation of IL-1 signal transduction pathways in macrophages. The mechanism of IFN-mediated inhibition of IL-1 action and signaling was modulation of IL-1R expression, which was also observed in vivo. IFN-γ-mediated down-regulation of IL-1R type I expression was dependent on Stat1, a transcription factor typically considered to be a key mediator of macrophage activation by IFNs. These results identify cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the homeostatic role of IFNs in limiting inflammation and associated tissue destruction.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Previous studies suggested an association between exposure to trauma or stressful life events and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study investigates the hypothesis that traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) precede the onset of OCD. Sampling and Methods: 210 cases with OCD from university treatment facilities were compared with 133 sex- and age-matched controls from the adult general population. The data were derived from a German family study on OCD (GENOS). Direct interviews were carried out with the German version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Lifetime Version for Anxiety Disorders (DSM-IV). Results: Severe traumatization occurred in 6.2% of the OCD cases and in 8.3% of the controls. The lifetime prevalence rates of traumatization, PTSD and acute stress disorder were not different between the subjects with OCD and controls (p > 0.05). In 6 cases, acute stress disorder, subclinical or full PTSD preceded the onset of OCD, in 3 cases the trauma-related disorders and OCD occurred within the same year, in 5 other cases, the trauma-related disorders started after the onset of OCD. Conclusion: There is no significant association of traumatization or PTSD with OCD compared with controls. Given the low rate of trauma-related disorders occurring before (2.9%) or within (1.5%) the same year as the onset of OCD other factors than severe traumatic events determine the onset of OCD in most of the cases.
The ‘disciplinary effect’ of the performance-based research fund process in New Zealand

This paper examines how the research quality of academic disciplines within New Zealand universities has evolved since the Performance-based Research Fund (PBRF) began in 2003. It uses a database consisting of an anonymous ‘quality category’ (QC) for each person in the 2003 and 2012 assessment rounds. Individuals are assigned to nine discipline groups and the paper measures the distribution of researchers across disciplines within universities. There has been little change in the distribution and their concentration within and across universities. Exceptions are increases in the shares of medicine and agriculture, and a reduction in the share of education. Average Quality Scores are derived for each discipline. All groups substantially increased their scores. Transition matrices show that there are significant differences in the dynamics of disciplines during the PBRF process. Changes in the discipline composition of universities explains little of the proportional improvement of research quality among New Zealand universities.
Preclinical Toxicokinetic Evaluation of Phortress [2-(4-Amino-3-Methylphenyl)-5-Fluorobenzothiazole Lysylamide Dihydrochloride] in Two Rodent Species

Background and Aims: The 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole prodrug Phortress exerts potent and selective antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical toxicokinetic studies in 2 rodent species were undertaken to determine Phortress’ maximum tolerated dose and advise a safe starting dose for clinical evaluation. Methods: Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection following Phortress administration to mice (10 mg/kg, intravenously on days 1 and 8). Phortress (20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8) was administered to CYP1A1/βGAL reporter mice; tissues were examined macro- and microscopically. Toxicological and pharmacodynamic endpoints were examined in organs of rodents receiving Phortress (10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8). CYP1A1 expression and Phortress-derived DNA adducts were determined in lungs and livers (on days 11 and 36). Results: No accumulation of Phortress was detected in murine plasma. β-Galactosidase activity inferred Phortress-derived induction of cyp1a1 transcription in the livers of transgenic mice; no total body weight loss was encountered in these animals. However, a fall in lung:body weight and kidney:body weight ratios, raised serum alkaline phosphatase levels and hepatic histopathological disturbances in animals receiving 20 mg/kg Phortress indicate organ sites of potential toxicity. CYP1A1 protein was induced transiently in the lungs of both species and in the livers of rats. Elimination of hepatic DNA adducts and rat pulmonary adducts was evident; however, murine pulmonary adducts persisted. Conclusion: Rodent preclinical toxicology established that mice represent the more sensitive rodent species, resolving a maximum tolerated dose of 10 mg/kg Phortress.
Molecular Characterization of Mutant Arabidopsis Plants with Reduced Plasma Membrane Proton Pump Activity*

Arabidopsis mutants containing gene disruptions in AHA1 and AHA2, the two most highly expressed isoforms of the Arabidopsis plasma membrane H+-ATPase family, have been isolated and characterized. Plants containing homozygous loss-of-function mutations in either gene grew normally under laboratory conditions. Transcriptome and mass spectrometric measurements demonstrate that lack of lethality in the single gene mutations is not associated with compensation by increases in RNA or protein levels. Selected reaction monitoring using synthetic heavy isotope-labeled C-terminal tryptic peptides as spiked standards with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer revealed increased levels of phosphorylation of a regulatory threonine residue in both isoforms in the mutants. Using an extracellular pH assay as a measure of in vivo ATPase activity in roots, less proton secreting activity was found in the aha2 mutant. Among 100 different growth conditions, those that decrease the membrane potential (high external potassium) or pH gradient (high external pH) caused a reduction in growth of the aha2 mutant compared with wild type. Despite the normal appearance of single mutants under ideal laboratory growth conditions, embryos containing homozygous double mutations are lethal, demonstrating that, as expected, this protein is absolutely essential for plant cell function. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the two genes together perform an essential function and that the effects of their single mutations are mostly masked by overlapping patterns of expression and redundant function as well as by compensation at the post-translational level.
Energy management of commercial buildings - A case study from a POET perspective of energy efficiency

This paper aims at analyzing the energy management activities for commercial buildings of a financial service company in South Africa by energy efficiency in terms of performance, operation, equipment and technology (POET). The sustainability of a general energy management program is discussed within this POET framework. As an application of this discussion to the commercial building scenario, the award winning energy management program of this financial service group company is featured from the POET perspective of energy efficiency. The case study shows that the POET based framework can not only cover all major energy management activities, but also identify further energy efficiency improvement opportunities.
Regional Anesthesia Surveillance System: first experiences with a quality assessment tool for regional anesthesia and analgesia

Background: The incidence of complications related to regional anesthesia and analgesia is hardly known and estimates are based on extrapolation from controlled trials, insurance registries and retrospective chart reviews and only a few attempts of prospective data collection have been made. We designed a surveillance system for regional anesthesia for easy and reliable data acquisition.
Study of empirical approaches for retrieval of soil moisture in solani river catchment area of Uttarakand, India

Empirical approaches are very much site specific and their applicability should be tested before applying to any other data and region. Therefore, in this paper we have studied the applicability of two different empirical approaches of soil moisture retrieval with PALSAR data for Solani river catchment area of Roorkee, Uttarakhand. These two approaches are Dubois model and Oh model. Sensitivity of Oh and Dubois model was observed for change in soil dielectric and surface roughness. Further, inversion technique was developed so that soil moisture can be retrieved with PALSAR data without having a priori information of soil surface roughness. A comparison of both the models for their effectiveness of soil moisture retrieval in Solani river catchment has also been carried.
Outcomes of a Church-based Diabetes Prevention Program Delivered by Peers

Purpose This purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and potential health impact of a church-based diabetes prevention program delivered by peers. Methods Thirteen at-risk African American adults were recruited to a peer-led diabetes prevention program adapted from the National Diabetes Education Program’s Power to Prevent curriculum. The program consisted of 6 core education sessions followed by 6 biweekly telephone support calls. Components of feasibility examined included recruitment, attendance, and retention. Baseline, 8-week, and 20-week assessments measured clinical outcomes (percentage body weight change, waist circumference, lipid panel, blood pressure) and lifestyle behaviors (eg, physical activity and diet). Results Of the 13 participants enrolled at baseline, 11 completed the intervention. Mean attendance across 6 core sessions was 5.2 classes (87%). At 8 weeks, significant improvements were found for physical activity (P = .031), waist circumference (P = .049), serum cholesterol (P = .036), systolic blood pressure (P = .013), and fat intake (P = .006). At 20 weeks, not only did participants sustain the improvements made following the core intervention, but they also demonstrated additional improvements for HDL (P = .002) and diastolic blood pressure (P = .004). Conclusion Findings suggest that it is feasible to conduct a peer-led diabetes prevention program in a church-based setting that has a potentially positive impact on health-related outcomes.