Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A social model for efficient resource discovery in peer-to-peer networks

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks attract attentions worldwide with its great success in file sharing networks (such as Napster, Gnutella, Freenet, BitTorren, Kazaa, and JXTA). As a major design pattern for future systems opposite to the traditional client-server paradigm, research on P2P networks is extremely important and could possibly radically alter the way of day-to-day use of computer systems. Efficient resource discovery remains a fundamental problem for large-scale P2P networks. In contrast to P2P networks, people in social networks can directly contact some acquaintances that potentially have knowledge about the resources they are looking for. Similarly to social networks where people are connected by their social relationships, two autonomous peer nodes can be connected in unstructured P2P networks if users in those nodes are interested in each other's data. The similarity between P2P networks and social networks, where peer nodes can be considered as people and connections can be considered as relationships, leads us to believe that theories of social networks are useful for improving the performance of resource discovery in P2P networks. In this thesis, we present Small World Architecture for peer-to-peer Networks (SWAN) and Efficient Social-Like Peer-to-peer (ESLP) model for resource discovery in P2P networks by organising peer nodes into a social peer-to-peer network either intentionally or spontaneously. SWAN is first presented in this thesis. In SWAN, each node keeps a list of neighbouring nodes in the same peer group, and peer groups are connected by a small number of inter-group links. Not every peer node needs to be connected to remote groups, but every peer node can easily find out which peer nodes have external connections to a specific peer group in SWAN. However, similarly to previous community-based P2P file-sharing systems, SWAN is based on the same concept of clustering peer nodes intentionally into peer groups, which needs extra communication overhead to maintain a hierarchical group structure in a highly dynamic and distributed environment. Addressing this issue, an Efficient Social-Like Peer-to-peer (ESLP) model is presented in this thesis to self-organise autonomous peer nodes on unstructured P2P networks by mimicking different human behaviours in social networks. In the ESLP model, queries are preferentially forwarded to the peer nodes that are more likely to have the requested resources or potentially have the knowledge on whom has the requested resources. Unlike community-based P2P models, we do not intend to create and maintain peer groups or communities consciously. In contrast, each peer node connects to other peer nodes with the same interests spontaneously by the results of daily searches. ESLP has been simulated in a dynamic environment with a growing number of peer nodes. From the experimental results, ESLP achieves better performance than existing methods, such as NeuroGrid.
Tocilizumab in uveitis refractory to other biologic drugs: a study of 3 cases and a literature review.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the clinical response to Tocilizumab (TCZ) in three patients with non-infectious uveitis refractory to anti-TNF-α drugs. METHODS Assessment of TCZ-treated patients with immune-mediated uveitis from two Spanish medical referral centers. Uveitis had been refractory to previous standard synthetic immunosuppressive drugs and at least one TNF-α inhibitor. A literature review of patients with immune-mediated uveitis treated with TCZ therapy was also conducted. RESULTS 3 women (5 eyes) with uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy and at least one anti-TNF-α drug were treated with TCZ. The mean age of the patients was 48.6±16.1 (range 37-67) years. In two cases uveitis was bilateral and in the other unilateral. The underlying diseases were rheumatoid arthritis in one case and Behçet's disease in the other two cases. After a mean follow-up of 7.3±5.7 (range 1-12) months using TCZ therapy, all patients experienced ocular improvement. Also, in 3 eyes inactive intraocular inflammation was achieved. None of the patients had side effects during the period of treatment with this drug. A literature review disclosed that our observations are in keeping with other reports that showed good response to TCZ in 11 of 12 patients with immune-mediated uveitis refractory to other biologic agents. CONCLUSIONS TCZ appears to be an effective and safe therapy for the management of patients with uveitis refractory to other biologic drugs.
Clopidogrel use and long-term clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stent implantation.

CONTEXT Recent studies of drug-eluting intracoronary stents suggest that current antiplatelet regimens may not be sufficient to prevent late stent thrombosis. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between clopidogrel use and long-term clinical outcomes of patients receiving drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) for treatment of coronary artery disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS An observational study examining consecutive patients receiving intracoronary stents at Duke Heart Center, a tertiary care medical center in Durham, NC, between January 1, 2000, and July 31, 2005, with follow-up contact at 6, 12, and 24 months through September 7, 2006. Study population included 4666 patients undergoing initial percutaneous coronary intervention with BMS (n = 3165) or DES (n = 1501). Landmark analyses were performed among patients who were event-free (no death, myocardial infarction [MI], or revascularization) at 6- and 12-month follow-up. At these points, patients were divided into 4 groups based on stent type and self-reported clopidogrel use: DES with clopidogrel, DES without clopidogrel, BMS with clopidogrel, and BMS without clopidogrel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Death, nonfatal MI, and the composite of death or MI at 24-month follow-up. RESULTS Among patients with DES who were event-free at 6 months (637 with and 579 without clopidogrel), clopidogrel use was a significant predictor of lower adjusted rates of death (2.0% with vs 5.3% without; difference, -3.3%; 95% CI, -6.3% to -0.3%; P = .03) and death or MI (3.1% vs 7.2%; difference, -4.1%; 95% CI, -7.6% to -0.6%; P = .02) at 24 months. However, among patients with BMS (417 with and 1976 without clopidogrel), there were no differences in death (3.7% vs 4.5%; difference, -0.7%; 95% CI, -2.9% to 1.4%; P = .50) and death or MI (5.5% vs 6.0%; difference, -0.5%; 95% CI, -3.2% to 2.2%; P = .70). Among patients with DES who were event-free at 12 months (252 with and 276 without clopidogrel), clopidogrel use continued to predict lower rates of death (0% vs 3.5%; difference, -3.5%; 95% CI, -5.9% to -1.1%; P = .004) and death or MI (0% vs 4.5%; difference, -4.5%; 95% CI, -7.1% to -1.9%; P<.001) at 24 months. However, among patients with BMS (346 with and 1644 without clopidogrel), there continued to be no differences in death (3.3% vs 2.7%; difference, 0.6%; 95% CI, -1.5% to 2.8%; P = .57) and death or MI (4.7% vs 3.6%; difference, 1.0%; 95% CI, -1.6% to 3.6%; P = .44). CONCLUSIONS The extended use of clopidogrel in patients with DES may be associated with a reduced risk for death and death or MI. However, the appropriate duration for clopidogrel administration can only be determined within the context of a large-scale randomized clinical trial.
Empower MCDM by Habitual Domains to Solve Challenging Problems in Changeable Spaces

Challenging decision problems in changeable spaces are characterized by existence of complex decision parameters that are changing with time and situations, including criteria and alternatives. Some of these parameters may be critical for their effective solutions, but hidden in the depth of potential domains. In this rapidly changing world, including technology and attitude, without paying attention to the problems in changeable spaces, we could easily commit serious mistakes due to decision blinds, decision traps and/or decision shocks. The article starts with a brief description of the evolution of MCDM toward challenging problems in changeable spaces. Then it briefly sketches a dynamic human behavior mechanism and habitual domain theory which provide an effective list for us to search relevant decision parameters and pave the way for latter discussion. Competence set analysis, derived from habitual domain, is then introduced to exemplify decision blinds, decision traps and decision shocks in challenging decision problems. Checking lists and methods for discovering blinds and traps and for dealing with shocks are also provided. Innovation dynamics, a systematic network of thoughts, is introduced to further look out relevant key parameters in dynamic challenging problems. The related academic subjects in each link of the innovation dynamics are also explained, which allow us to see the complexity and interconnectivities among different challenging problems in changeable spaces. Finally we introduce three habitual domain tool boxes to empower ourselves to expand and enrich our thoughts into the depth of the potential domains of the challenging problems, which allows us to more effectively identify hidden parameters, problems and competence sets to reduce decision blinds, avoid decision traps and solve the problems, or dissolve the problems before they occur.
Is the Mandatory Implementation of Workplace Health Management Systems Harmful to the Competitiveness of European Employers or an Obstacle to Economic Growth?

This paper analyses, reviews and connects the existing literature about workplace health management systems. We investigate the empirical evidence if a mandatory implementation could lead to a Pareto improvement for all stakeholders. This evaluation is based on the inclusion of several studies, which are not yet connected to the health-related issue. The increasing incidence of employee health issues generates high costs for employers as well as for insurers. Workplace Health Management Systems act as preventive measures in reducing health-related costs. Many case studies are used to explain the concepts and the specific cost reduction for the companies analyzed. But there is still a lack of a broad empirical base to provide convincing evidence for the cost-effectiveness of these programs. To demonstrate the general efficiency of these systems, several studies of different concepts with similar characteristics are compared to ensure, that the mandatory implementation leads to positive effects on the economy. We find that by implementing just a few prevention measures, positive returns can be achieved for a majority of sectors. Given that the market seems incapable of creating this allocation improvement by itself, the integration of health management into the Working Conditions Act seems reasonable, since this could allow a Pareto-efficient outcome to be achieved. Consequently, implementation will not lead to a reduction in the competitiveness of European employers, but rather to increased staff retention and improved productivity due to fewer employee sick days and an improvement in public health and makes the mandatory implementation of workplace health management systems a considerable issue for policymakers.
Does the sale of nonprofit hospitals threaten health care for the poor?

Much of the controversy over for-profit ownership in health care focuses on a recent wave of acquisitions of nonprofit hospitals by investorowned corporations. Nonprofits have been joining investor-owned corporations to obtain the financial resources they need tomaintain their viability in an increasingly competitive industry environment. Investor-owned corporations see the acquisition of nonprofit hospitals as an opportunity to build market share and to expand their provider networks. Through these acquisitions, investor-owned corporations are beginning to penetrate new health care markets. An issue central to the controversy is how the acquisition of a nonprofit hospital by an investor-owned corporation affects the community the hospital serves. Investor-owned corporations have long been accused of placing the bottom line before the community’s welfare. A specific concern is that investorowned hospitals are less willing than nonprofits are to provide services to persons who are unable to pay for their care. Several studies have compared investorowned and nonprofit hospitals in terms of the amount of uncompensated care they provide, yet relatively little research has been done to examine how specific communities are affected when a nonprofit hospital is acquired by an investor-owned corporation. Comparative studies suggest that nonprofits provide on average more uncompensated care than do their investor-owned counterparts, but this difference appears to reflect the locations where investor-owned corporations choose to build and buy hospitals. Investorowned corporations tend to locate in relatively affluent communities. However, when a nonprofit hospital is acquired by an investorowned corporation, the hospital continues to serve the same community; only the ownership status of the institution changes. Thus, it is important to measure the provision of uncompensated care by the same hospital in the same community, before and after acquisition. Here we examine how the acquisition of nonprofit hospitals by investor-owned corporations affects acquired hospitals’ provision of uncompensated care. We focus on acquisitions in California between 1980 and 1992, because of the long presence of investor-owned hospitals there.
The impact of social cognition training on recovery from psychosis

Purpose of review Social cognition training is an emerging intervention, which aims to ameliorate impairment in social interaction and improve functional outcomes in persons with a psychosis. This article reviews the research conducted on the impact of this intervention published in English language journals over the past 2 years. Recent findings Social cognition training comprises three types of programs; targeted, broad-based, and comprehensive – targeted programs being the most effective. Programs largely focus on the domains of facial affect, or emotion recognition (FAR), Theory of Mind (ToM), and attributional bias. There is some evidence that ToM is amenable to change, but not FAR and attributional bias. Summary Interventions designed to ameliorate impairment in social functioning largely involve a skills training laboratory model underpinned by social learning theory. The evidence for the effectiveness of current social cognition training strategies to improve functional outcome for persons with psychosis in general and schizophrenia in particular remains equivocal. Clearly, further work is required beyond the laboratory training model and future research may well benefit from the inclusion of longitudinal naturalistic studies.
Using Software Metrics to Better Understand Complexity Growth during Software Evolution

Many successful software projects evolve all the time. New features are added and bugs are fixed. All these continuous changes to software projects tend to increase the complexity. In this paper, we propose an approach to study complexity growth within software projects with aid of software metrics. We evaluated currently existing software metrics and their applicability on evolving software projects. We found that specific software metrics can be used to identify evolution categories of classes. This paper focuses on better understanding how software metrics can identify the cause of increasing complexity in software projects.
Helicobacter pylori Infection is Associated with Elevated Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Elderly Koreans

This study was conducted to investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the lipid profile among elderly Koreans. A total of 462 subjects (mean age 66.2 ± 7.6 yr, 84% males) who underwent health check-up were investigated. Each subject underwent gastroduodenoscopy with gastric mucosal biopsy, and H. pylori infection was determined by histopathological examination using the updated Sydney System score. The presence of H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the elevated serum levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05 for each) in univariate analysis. H. pylori infection was not associated with triglyceride and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (P > 0.05 for each). After controlling confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of H. pylori infection for high LDL cholesterol level (> 140 mg/dL) was 3.113 (95% confidence interval, 1.364-7.018; P = 0.007). There were no significant associations between the presence of H. pylori infection and elevated total cholesterol levels (> 200 mg/dL) in this model (P = 0.586). The results of this study demonstrate that H. pylori infection is associated with the elevated serum LDL cholesterol levels in elderly Koreans, supporting the hypothesis that H. pylori plays a role in promoting atherosclerosis by modifying lipid metabolism.
Perceived discrimination and use of preventive health services

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relation between perceptions of health care discrimination and use of health services.OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of perceived discrimination in health care, its association with use of preventive services, and the contribution of perceived discrimination to disparities in these services by race/ethnicity, gender, and insurance status.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of 54,968 respondents to the 2001 California Health Interview Survey.MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were asked about experience with discrimination in receiving health care and use of 6 preventive health services, all within the previous 12 months.METHODS: We used multivariate logistic regression with propensity-score methods to examine the adjusted relationship between perceived discrimination and receipt of preventive care.RESULTS: Discrimination was reported by 4.7% of respondents, and among these respondents the most commonly reported reasons were related to type of insurance (27.6%), race or ethnicity (13.7%), and income (6.7%). In adjusted analyses, persons who reported discrimination were less likely to receive 4 preventive services (cholesterol testing for cardiovascular disease, hemoglobin A1c testing and eye exams for diabetes, and flu shots), but not 2 other services (aspirin for cardiovascular disease, prostate specific antigen testing). Adjusting for perceived discrimination did not significantly change the relative likelihood of receipt of preventive care by race/ethnieity, gender, and insurance status.CONCLUSIONS: Persons who report discrimination may be less likely to receive some preventive health services. However, perceived discrimination is unlikely to account for a large portion of observed disparities in receipt of preventive care.
N-gramas sintácticos y su uso en la lingüística computacional

En este articulo, estamos introduciendo un nuevo concepto que se utilizara en la linguistica computacional, se llama los n-gramas sintacticos: son n-gramas que se construyen siguiendo el arbol sintactico. Es equivalente a introducir la informacion sintactica en los metodos de aprendizaje automatico, que siempre era un problema muy dificil. Discutimos los elementos que pueden formar estos n-gramas: palabras, clases gramaticales (POS tags), nombres de relaciones sintacticas, caracteres. Consideramos dos ejemplos de como se puede obtener los ngramas sintacticos basandonos en un arbol sintactico, tanto para el espanol como para el ingles. Adicionalmente, presentamos un modelo mas utilizado de solucion de problemas de la linguistica computacional, especificamente, el modelo de espacio vectorial. Al final, mostramos una aplicacion de los ngramas sintacticos para la tarea de atribucion de autoria, en cuyo caso los resultados son mejores que los resultados de los metodos de linea base
Trust, Information-Sharing and the Doctor–Patient Relationship: A Multi-Method, Empirical-Ethics Study of New Zealand General Practice

Information-sharing in health care presents opportunities for efficient and effective patient care based on the exchange of high quality information, improved decision making, and increased collaboration and coordination of care across the system. However, it also presents concerns around the control of information and maintaining trust in the privacy, confidentiality and security of information. These concerns reflect the difficulty in balancing how to share information in ways that protect the interests of the individual and any overriding interests of the public. This thesis reports on research exploring trust and information-sharing between patients and General Practitioners (GPs) in New Zealand using a multi-method, empirical-ethics approach. This combines a critical realist theoretical perspective with critical applied ethics. The findings from two empirical studies outline expectations that GPs ensure patient privacy and confidentiality, only sharing information as necessary or appropriate. While levels of trust in health professionals and organisations are high, patient knowledge and awareness of the rules and practices around information-sharing are low. Further these matters are not often discussed between GPs and patients, and patients are not concerned by this. Patients showed little concern about information being shared within the health system or with health professionals, but had concerns about the potential implications of third-party sharing. While some actions may disrupt or breach trust there are ways that GPs can seek to rebuild trust with patients. The findings confirm the importance of trust for the GP–patient relationship and suggests that patients’ trust GPs to use and share information when necessary and for their benefit. In an ethical analysis based on Beauchamp and Childress’ four principles, this thesis suggests that trust is best conceived as a foundational aspect of what it is to interact with patients in a way that fulfils GPs’ obligations. This thesis suggests that an orientation towards building and maintaining trusting GP–patient relationships provides a more robust and relationally focused way of balancing conflicting ethical obligations as exist around information-sharing.
Complexes of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E6 Proteins Form Pseudo-Death-Inducing Signaling Complex Structures during Tumor Necrosis Factor-Mediated Apoptosis

ABSTRACT High-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) such as HPV type 16 (HPV16) and HPV18 are causative agents of most human cervical carcinomas. E6, one of the oncogenes encoded by HPV16, possesses a number of biological and transforming functions. We have previously shown that the binding of E6 to host apoptotic proteins such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) R1, the adaptor protein FADD, and procaspase 8 results in a significant modification of the normal flow of apoptotic events. For example, E6 can bind to and accelerate the degradation of FADD. In addition, full-length E6 binds to the TNF R1 death domain and can also bind to and accelerate the degradation of procaspase 8. In contrast, the binding of small splice isoforms known as E6* results in the stabilization of procaspase 8. In this report, we propose a model for the ability of HPV16 E6 to both sensitize and protect cells from TNF as well as to protect cells from Fas. We demonstrate that both the level of E6 expression and the ratio between full-length E6 and E6* are important factors in the modification of the host extrinsic apoptotic pathways and show that at high levels of E6 expression, the further sensitization of U2OS, NOK, and Ca Ski cells to TNF-mediated apoptosis is most likely due to the formation of a pseudo-death-inducing signaling complex structure that includes complexes of E6 proteins.