Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
If home telemonitoring reduces mortality in heart failure, is this just due to better guideline-based treatment?

To investigate, in a ‘real-world’ setting, the impact of home telemonitoring (HTM) compared to usual care on achieved dose of guideline-recommended medication, hospitalisation rate and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on 333 patients with HF referred to a HTM service supported by a nurse-specialist (mean age 71±12 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 36 ± 11% and median N-Terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) 2,972 ng/L (interquartile range (IQR): 1,447–7,801 ng/L)). Most patients (n = 278) accepted HTM (HTM-group) but 55 refused and received usual care (UC-group). In the HTM-group, weight, heart rate, blood pressure and symptom severity were measured daily. Results: At referral, respectively 90%, 90%, 67% and 94% of patients with LVEF ≤40% (n = 229) were treated with β-blockers (BB), angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) and diuretics, with rates similar between groups. After 6 months, prescription of BB (92% vs 83%), ACE-I/ARB (92% vs 90%) and MRA (68% vs 67%) did not differ significantly between groups. The proportions of patients who achieved ≥50% and ≥100% of target doses of BB, ACE-I/ARB and MRA were also similar in each group. However, during a median follow-up of 1094 days (IQR 767–1419) fewer patients who chose HTM died (33% vs 49%; P = 0.002). Conclusion: Patients who choose HTM have a better prognosis than those who do not but this does not appear to be mediated through greater prescription of key HF medications.
Development of Stakeholder Analysis Framework for Collaborative Tourism development

Although tourism has been quite popular as development strategy, the outcomes may vary dependent upon managing stakeholders involved. Thus, stakeholder management has been the subject of growing research interests recently. Collaboration theory was suggested as an alternative to this question; however, collaboration theory may provide potential benefits, it lacks in consideration into stakeholder power relations. The purpose of this paper is two foleded. One is to examine critically collaboration theory in the context of tourism development, and address the necessity of stakeholder analysis framework, and the other is to provide the framework. This paper argues that careful analysis of stakeholders from diverse perspectives should be done in advance, and presents stakeholder analysis framework which consists of six analysis indicators: interest, perspective, power base(resource), involvement, influence, and legitimacy. The framework consists of three stages: (1) identifying stakeholder, (2) assessing stakeholder, and (3) establishing strategies. It is argued that the framework in this paper can be useful to analyze stakeholders and to set up strategy for more collaborative tourism development.
Cross-Sector Regeneration Partnership Strategies and Tourism

Abstract This paper critically reviews cross-sector regeneration partnership (CSRP) strategies with the aim of developing an understanding of tourism's role in individual initiatives and the manner they have facilitated its development in regions where they were launched. It achieves its aim by outlining a range of CSRPs, illustrating their distinctive framework, key challenges and limitations they encounter and the benefits they engender with the help of selected case examples, also highlighting the policy implications. The paper concludes by evaluating challenges and pathways that are likely to mould CSRP strategies in future and the way tourism as a tool for regeneration likely to be utilised.
Security Testing

What is Security Testing? Security testing is a testing technique to determine if an information system protects data and maintains functionality as intended. It also aims at verifying 6 basic principles as listed below: Confidentiality Integrity Authentication Authorization Availability Non-repudiation Security Testing Techniques: Injection Broken Authentication and Session Management Cross-Site Scripting XSS Insecure Direct Object References Security Misconfiguration Sensitive Data Exposure Missing Function Level Access Control Cross-Site Request Forgery CSRF Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards Open Source/Free Security Testing Tools:
The Water Jet-guided Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Gastroduodenal Ulcer with a Visible Vessel

In a randomized, prospective study, 57 patients with a gastroduodenal ulcer and a visible vessel with or without spurting bleeding were treated with a Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1.064 nm). Twenty-eight of these patients were treated using the conventional non-contact (NC) modality, and 29 were treated with the water jet (WJ) laser. Apart from the technical advantages (minimal smoke development, no damage to adjacent structures) the WJ group had a lower rate of induced spurting bleeds (25% WJ versus 55% NC). The therapeutic failure/mortality rate of 7%/0% respectively for the water-jet group was lower than the 18%/7% for the non-contact group. The initial clinical results of this study suggest that the water-jet Nd:YAG laser system is superior to the non-contact system.
Cracking the Cross-Media Code

ABSTRACT ESPN Research + Analytics has developed seven basic concepts of cross-media research and behavior by examining behavioral cells of users and usage. They found that the heavier user of one medium tends to be a heavier user of other media. Crossmedia usage is not a zero-sum game—rather, the media pie is growing because of “new markets of time. ” While earlier speculation focused on convergence, time spent using more than one medium at a time is limited. Media users are using different media platforms at different times and in different places for different purposes—the best available screen for their location.
Elevations of nucleus accumbens dopamine and DOPAC levels during intravenous heroin self‐administration

Extracellular dopamine and DOPAC (3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) levels in nucleus accumbens were sampled by microdialysis and quantified with high‐ performance liquid chromatography during intravenous heroin self‐administration sessions in rats. Dopamine levels in 10 and 20 min samples were elevated following the first injection of each session, reaching a plateau of elevation within the first two or three injections and falling back toward baseline only when drug access was terminated. Elevations were in the range of 150–300% when unit dosages of 0.05–0.2 mgkg were given. Increasing the work requirement from FR‐1 to FR‐10 did not appear to alter the degree of elevation of dopamine levels, and dopamine levels fell during extinction while lever‐pressing rates increased 20‐fold. While animals compensated for unit dose changes between 0.05 and 0.2 mg/kg/injection, adjusting their response rate such that the same hourly drug intake and the same asymptotic dopamine levels were maintained across these conditions, at 0.4 mg/kg/injection hourly drug intake and asymptotic dopamine levels were elevated beyond the levels sustained by the lower doses. These findings confirm that self‐administered doses of intravenous heroin are sufficient to activate the mesolimbic dopamine system and suggest that significant heroin “craving” can emerge when dopamine levels are still moderately elevated, long before the development of dopamine depletion associated with opiate withdrawal. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interruption of Thrombosis and Hemostasis by Anti-Platelet Agents

Blood platelets play a fundamental role in hemostasis and thrombosis. The physiological role of platelets is to preserve the integrity of the cardiovascular system such that upon injury platelets are activated and serve to interrupt a potentially deleterious situation (i.e., hemorrhage). However, platelets are also involved in the pathophysiology of thrombosis in which the normal repair process is grossly exacerbated, resulting in interruption of blood flow to vital tissues. Thus, a critical balance exists between the normal function of blood platelets to preserve tissue function and a pathophysiological function in which tissue is damaged due to thrombosis and subsequent ischemia. Numerous anti-platelet agents have been developed in an attempt to interrupt the thrombotic process without severely compromising the hemostatic state of patients. This article will be devoted to a discussion of a commonly utilized anti-thrombotic agent, aspirin, as well as a class of newer, possibly more effective anti-thrombotic agents referred to collectively as fibrinogen receptor antagonists.
Tartrate-resistant Acid Phosphatase (Acp 5): Identification in Diverse Human Tissues and Dendritic Cells

Histochemical demonstration of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is used for the specific identification of osteoclasts. The enzyme, which we have shown to be critical for normal bone development in mice, is also characteristic of monohistiocytes, including alveolar macrophages, and is associated with diverse pathological conditions such as Gaucher's disease and hairy cell leukemia. TRAP activity is enhanced in serum when bone resorption is increased, and the activity is used routinely to monitor treatment responses in Gaucher's disease. We have lately shown widespread expression of the enzyme in murine tissues with particular reference to the skin, thymus, gut epithelia, and isolated dendritic cells, suggesting a possible role in immunity. To further clarify the significance of TRAP in human physiology, we have examined its distribution in non-skeletal human tissues and in CD34+-derived human dendritic cells. TRAP mRNA determined by Northern blotting analysis was expressed abundantly in spleen, liver, colon, lung, small intestine, kidney, stomach, testis, placenta, lymph node, thymus, peripheral blood leukocyte, bone marrow, and fetal liver. Expression of TRAP protein was investigated by immunohistochemistry, with which the enzyme was identified in multiple tissues. Histochemical staining detected enzymatically active protein in spleen, lung, skin, colon, stomach, and ileum. Active TRAP was identified in CD34+-derived immature dendritic cells and co-localized to intracellular CD63 positive organelles. When these cells were matured by induction with LPS, the TRAP activity increased fivefold and remained within the cell during the phase associated with CD63 surface expression. Our findings demonstrate widespread expression of TRAP in human tissues. Its abundant expression in epithelia and dendritic cells suggests a potential role in antigen processing and in immune responses.
Rehabilitation of the psychomotor consequences of falling in an elderly population: A pilot study to evaluate feasibility and tolerability of virtual reality training.

BACKGROUND A fall in elderly subjects can lead to serious psychological consequences. These symptoms can develop into Fear of Falling with behavioural disorders comparable to PTSD that may severely limit autonomy. Virtual reality training (VRT) could be seen as a worthwhile therapeutic approach for this syndrome since it has been shown to be a useful tool for motor rehabilitation or combat-related PTSD. We thus developed a training scenario for VRT with psychomotor therapists. OBJECTIVE To test the feasibility and acceptability of VRT when used by elderly adults for fall rehabilitation. METHODS Our population of 8 patients older than 75 years, with a Mini Mental Score Examination greater than 18/30 performed sessions of VRT and answered a questionnaire on the feasibility and acceptability of it. RESULTS This sample showed a highly favourable response to the prototype of VRT. They found it easy to use, enjoyed the experience, and thought it realistic and helpful. CONCLUSION The conclusions of our study are limited by sample size. However, applications with VRT can offer the potential of an acceptable technique for elderly subjects. The next step will be to show the efficacy of this method in the management of post-fall PTSD.
Structure and Localization of the Human Gene Encoding SR-BI/CLA-1

The scavenger receptor, class B, type 1 receptor (SR-BI) mediates the selective transport of lipids from high density lipoprotein to cells. We describe the structure and subchromosomal location of human SR-BI and provide evidence that it is regulated by the transcription factor, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). SR-BI resides on chromosome 12q24.2-qter, spans ∼75 kilobase pairs, and contains 13 exons. RNA blot analysis of human tissues reveals an expression pattern similar to that described previously for rodents with the highest levels of mRNA in the adrenal gland, ovary, and liver. Unlike rodents, humanSR-BI was expressed at high levels in the placenta. The transcription start site for SR-BI was mapped, and DNA sequence analysis revealed a binding site for SF-1 in the proximal 5′-flanking sequence. SF-1, an orphan member of the nuclear hormone receptor gene family, plays a key role in the regulation of steroidogenesis and is expressed at high levels in steroidogenic tissues. SF-1 binds to the SR-BI promoter in a sequence-specific manner, and efficient transcription from this promoter in adrenocortical Y1 cells is dependent on an intact SF-1 site. These data extend our understanding of SF-1 function within steroidogenic tissues and suggest that SR-BI, which serves to supply selected tissues with lipoprotein-derived lipids, is part of the repertoire of SF-1-responsive genes involved in steroidogenesis.
Challenges of Cloud Computing in Business: Towards New Organizational Competencies

Cloud computing is a nascent but fast growing innovation that has attracted increasing attention from both researchers and practitioners as a new Information Technology (IT) paradigm. Cloud computing cannot be sufficiently understood as a standalone phenomenon in the IT market, but rather as a core ingredient of a larger transformation of the IT industry that impacts the entire IT ecosystem. Due to the change from enterprise computing to cloud computing, organizations and individuals need to develop new skills and competencies. Extant literature in cloud computing has mainly focused on its affordances and challenges with scant attention given to organizational resources that enable efficient and effective adoption. This paper addresses how organizations can identify their own local cloud adoption challenges and how to overcome those challenges by developing new competencies. The paper draws on resource-based theory to propose new organizational competencies required for seamless migration from enterprise computing to cloud computing. This study was conducted through an extensive review of academic publications on cloud computing as well as professional literature such as industry white papers and technical reports.
Agricultural Contracting Update: Contracts in 2003

Marketing and production contracts covered 39 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production in 2008, up from 36 percent in 2001, and a substantial increase over 28 percent in 1991 and 11 percent in 1969. However, aggregate contract use has stabilized in recent years and no longer suggests a strong trend. Contracts between farmers and their buyers are reached prior to harvest (or before the completion stage for livestock)and govern the terms under which products are transferred from the farm. Contracts are far more likely to be used on large farms than on small farms, and they form one element in a package of risk management tools available to farmers. Production contracts are used widely in livestock production, while marketing contracts are important to the production of many crops.
A highly linear multiple-gated CMOS downconverter using parallel resonators for low supply voltage

A low-voltage and high-linearity downconverter RFIC design using TSMC 0.18 µm CMOS foundry for WiMAX applications is presented in this paper. The LC resonator is used to block DC and RF signals for low supply voltage and the multiple-gated CMOS is adopted to eliminate third-order nonlinear term for high linearity. The crucial simulated results of WiMAX downconverter include that a conversion gain is 5.3 dB, an input 1 dB compression point (IP1dB) is −9 dBm, an input third-order intercept point (IIP3) is 1 dBm, and a noise figure (NF) is 12.2 dB. The supply voltage of 0.8 V is used and the power consumption is equal to 8 mW.
Bioinformatics approaches in clinical proteomics

Protein expression profiling is increasingly being used to discover, validate and characterize biomarkers that can potentially be used for diagnostic purposes and to aid in pharmaceutical development. Correct analysis of data obtained from these experiments requires an understanding of the underlying analytic procedures used to obtain the data, statistical principles underlying high-dimensional data and clinical statistical tools used to determine the utility of the interpreted data. This review summarizes each of these steps, with the goal of providing the nonstatistician proteomics researcher with a working understanding of the various approaches that may be used by statisticians. Emphasis is placed on the process of mining high-dimensional data to identify a specific set of biomarkers that may be used in a diagnostic or other assay setting.
Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Timing of Disclosure in a Representative Sample of Adults from Quebec

Objective: Our study sought to explore patterns of disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of adult men and women. Method: A telephone survey conducted with a representative sample of adults (n = 804) from Quebec assessed the prevalence of CSA and disclosure patterns. Analyses were carried out to determine whether disclosure groups differed in terms of psychological distress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and a logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with prompt disclosure. Results: Prevalence of CSA was 22.1% for women and 9.7% for men. About 1 survivor out of 5 had never disclosed the abuse, with men more likely not to have told anyone, than women. Only 21.2% of adults reported prompt disclosure (within a month of the first abusive event), while 57.5% delayed disclosure (more than 5 years after the first episode). CSA victims who never disclosed the abuse and those who delayed disclosure were more likely to obtain scores of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress achieving clinical levels, compared with adults without a history of CSA. In the multivariate analysis, experiencing CSA involving a perpetrator outside the immediate family and being female were factors independently associated with prompt disclosure. Conclusion: A significant number of adult women and men reported experiencing CSA, and most victims attested to either not disclosing or significantly delaying abuse disclosure.
Effects of aerosols on tropospheric photolysis rates in clear and cloudy atmospheres

The effect of aerosols on 14 tropospheric photolysis reactions is examined under noncloudy and cloudy sky conditions by using a detailed one-dimensional radiative transfer model. Pure (NH_4)_2SO_4, pure soot, and internal and external mixtures of the two aerosols, as well as mineral dust aerosol, are considered. Nonabsorbing aerosol generally enhances photolysis rates above and in the upper part of the aerosol layer in both noncloudy and cloudy atmospheres, with the enhancement effect reduced in the presence of clouds. In contrast, soot aerosol reduces photolysis rates under both noncloudy and cloudy sky conditions, with the reduction accentuated by a cloud layer. Mixtures of absorbing and nonabsorbing aerosols may produce enhancement or reduction in photolysis rates under clear sky conditions, whereas they generally reduce rates when a cloud is present. In the absence of cloud, sulfate aerosol at urban levels enhances tropospheric average photolysis rates from 11 to 18% for the 14 reactions studied; soot aerosol decreases tropospheric average rates from 6 to 11%. In the presence of a 500-m-thick stratus cloud, sulfate aerosol enhances each of 14 tropospheric average photolysis rates by about 5%; soot aerosol decreases tropospheric average photolysis rates from 9 to 19%.
Political marketing and the marketing concept

Refers to the argument that examining political and electoral processes from a marketing perspective offers new insights into the behaviour of political parties. However, research into the marketing activities of political parties is still growing at this stage, and very few papers address the marketing orientation of political parties, while none address the marketing concept. Presents the findings of an exploratory research project carried out in Queensland. The results indicate that key political marketing decision makers within the party examined often have a limited understanding of the marketing concept. The researcher’s redefinition of the marketing concept into political terms received a high level of acceptance from certain groups of respondents within the study. Shows that the marketing concept with its customer centred orientation created a major concern from the perspective of the state executive decision‐making category interviewed in this study. This was so primarily because this key decision‐making category indicated the role and significance of the voter (customer) in developing the political product is negligible.
A computer tool for harmonic distortion prediction in low voltage power systems

Power-Quality (PQ) is a crucial competitive and developing factor to all economic areas. The economic impact resulting from a bad PQ will be drastic to all consumers. Computers, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), commuted power sources and fluorescent lamps/tubes are examples of nonlinear loads that have for main drawback the consumption of non-sinusoidal current. This paper presents a useful computer tool that can simulate and predict the behavior of non-linear loads and LV power systems with main focus on residential electrical grids. The paper also reviews some of the basic concepts and techniques related with power quality parameters and how they can be computed and presented in the simulation tool. The tool has an easy-to-use, friendly interface, and can be used as a tool to teach design techniques or as a laboratory to study the applicability of methods to real situations. The students can do simulations with their own data on MicrosoftTM Windows® based platforms.
Order release mechanisms in supply chain management: a simulation approach

A simulation approach to measuring supply chain performance is evaluated which incorporates order release theory. Within manufacturing a number of order release mechanisms have been developed. The importance of order release is first examined and its applicability to monitoring the performance of the supply chain is proposed. A simulation model of a typical, single channel logistics network was developed. Using the simulation model, each of the order release mechanisms was assessed and close agreement was obtained with the work of previous researchers. A new order release approach is proposed which is found to be superior to those analysed previously and should lead to improved supply chain performance.