Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cumulative tar exposure. A new index for estimating lung cancer risk among cigarette smokers

A new index for estimating lifetime exposure to tar from cigarette smoking was found to be the best measure of the relative risk for Kreyberg type I (KI) and Kreyberg type II (KII) lung cancer in a case‐control study of 2296 cases (1274 KI and 1022 KII) and 4667 controls. There is a steep, near‐linear dose‐response of lung cancer risk of both histologic types to cumulative exposure to tar, although the odds ratios are three to five times higher for KI than for KII. The odds ratios for lung cancer in women are consistently higher than those in men with the same level of exposure to tar, particularly among long‐term smokers who smoke heavily. Based on their estimates of odds ratios associated with tar exposure, the authors projected an approximate 15‐20% decrease in KI lung cancer risk among long‐term smokers who smoked heavily for every 10‐mg decrease in tar in the cigarettes they smoked.
A human temporal bone study of stapes footplate movement.

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine whether stapes movement is pistonlike or complex. BACKGROUND The literature provides conflicting information on whether stapes footplate motion is only pistonlike or has other types of movement, such as hingelike or rocking. METHODS Using 10 freshly harvested human cadaver temporal bones, 3 targets were placed on the stapes footplate through an extended facial recess approach. The targets were 0.5-mm pieces of reflective adhesive material positioned on the long axis of the footplate at the anterior crus, central footplate, and posterior crus. Displacement and phase of the three targets were measured from 0.2 to 10 kHz at a 90dB sound pressure level input at the tympanic membrane. The measuring system was a sophisticated laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). A computer program (Tymptest) calculated footplate displacement and relative phase at the three sites and the ratio of anterior-posterior rocking movement of the footplate long axis to displacement at the center. RESULTS Below 2.0 kHz, stapes vibration is predominately pistonlike. Above 2.0 kHz, anterior-posterior rocking motion increases logarithmically with frequency, and, near 4.0 kHz, rocking and pistonlike motion are approximately equal. CONCLUSIONS Stapes footplate vibration is primarily pistonlike up to 2.0 kHz but becomes more complex at higher frequencies because of an increase in anterior-posterior rocking motion. Hingelike movements were not observed. This information may be helpful in the design of ossicular replacement prostheses that mimic or improve upon normal stapes vibration.
Urban-Area Segmentation Using Visual Words

In this letter, we address the problem of urban-area extraction by using a feature-free image representation concept known as ldquoVisual Words.rdquo This method is based on building a ldquodictionaryrdquo of small patches, some of which appear mainly in urban areas. The proposed algorithm is based on a new pixel-level variant of visual words and is based on three parts: building a visual dictionary, learning urban words from labeled images, and detecting urban regions in a new image. Using normalized patches makes the method more robust to changes in illumination during acquisition time. The improved performance of the method is demonstrated on real satellite images from three different sensors: LANDSAT, SPOT, and IKONOS. To assess the robustness of our method, the learning and testing procedures were carried out on different and independent images.
Quantitative assessment of carotid plaque composition using multicontrast MRI and registered histology

MRI is emerging as a promising modality for monitoring carotid atherosclerosis. Multiple MR contrast weightings are required for identification of plaque constituents. In this study, eight MR contrast weightings with proven potential for plaque characterization were used to image carotid endarterectomy specimens. A classification technique was developed to create a tissue‐specific map by incorporating information from all MR contrast weightings. The classifier was validated by comparison with micro‐CT (calcification only) and with matched histological slices registered to MR images using a nonlinear warping algorithm (other components). A pathologist who was blinded to the classifier results manually segmented digitized histological images. The sensitivity of the classifier, as determined by pixel‐by‐pixel comparison with the pathologist's segmentation and micro‐CT, was 60.4% for fibrous tissue, 83.9% for necrosis, 97.6% for calcification, and 65.2% for loose connective tissue. The corresponding values for specificity were 87.9%, 75.0%, 98.3%, and 94.9%, respectively. In conclusion, multicontrast MRI was successfully used in conjunction with a supervised classification algorithm to identify plaque components in endarterectomy specimens. Furthermore, this methodology will provide a framework for comparing different classification algorithms, and determining which combination of MR contrasts will be most valuable for in vivo plaque imaging. Magn Reson Med 50:1199–1208, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biomechanical comparisons between a new avascular necrosis of femaral head stem based on Chinese patients with avascular necrosis and two other designs

Background There is a relatively high failure rate of the femoral component in patients with avascular necrosis at the intermediate‐term follow‐up. Improving the geometrical fit of the femoral stem against the medullary canal may help to provide long‐term survivorship of the hip replacement for patients with avascular necrosis. Methods We designed a specific stem, based on morphometric studies of proximal femoral canals in Chinese avascular necrosis patients and evaluated the stem by finite element analyses, comparing the novel stem with two commercially available and commonly used stems. Results The morphometric data from avascular necrosis patients showed specific geometric differences in the proximal femoral canal, including profile curves in both the sagittal and coronary planes than the patients with femoral neck fracture. The shorter stemmed prostheses (Fitmore® and our stem) performed better than the longer stemmed prosthesis (VerSys®). Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the femoral geometries of Chinese avascular necrosis patients. Our stem provides better stability and is theoretically beneficial to bone ingrowth, which may increase the long‐term stability and fixation of the implant.
Structural Basis for Native Agonist and Synthetic Inhibitor Recognition by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Regulator PqsR (MvfR)

Bacterial populations co-ordinate gene expression collectively through quorum sensing (QS), a cell-to-cell communication mechanism employing diffusible signal molecules. The LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR) protein PqsR (MvfR) is a key component of alkyl-quinolone (AQ)-dependent QS in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PqsR is activated by 2-alkyl-4-quinolones including the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS; 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone), its precursor 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (HHQ) and their C9 congeners, 2-nonyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (C9-PQS) and 2-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (NHQ). These drive the autoinduction of AQ biosynthesis and the up-regulation of key virulence determinants as a function of bacterial population density. Consequently, PqsR constitutes a potential target for novel antibacterial agents which attenuate infection through the blockade of virulence. Here we present the crystal structures of the PqsR co-inducer binding domain (CBD) and a complex with the native agonist NHQ. We show that the structure of the PqsR CBD has an unusually large ligand-binding pocket in which a native AQ agonist is stabilized entirely by hydrophobic interactions. Through a ligand-based design strategy we synthesized and evaluated a series of 50 AQ and novel quinazolinone (QZN) analogues and measured the impact on AQ biosynthesis, virulence gene expression and biofilm development. The simple exchange of two isosteres (OH for NH2) switches a QZN agonist to an antagonist with a concomitant impact on the induction of bacterial virulence factor production. We also determined the complex crystal structure of a QZN antagonist bound to PqsR revealing a similar orientation in the ligand binding pocket to the native agonist NHQ. This structure represents the first description of an LTTR-antagonist complex. Overall these studies present novel insights into LTTR ligand binding and ligand-based drug design and provide a chemical scaffold for further anti-P. aeruginosa virulence drug development by targeting the AQ receptor PqsR.
A Comparison of Genetic Sequencing Operators

This work compares six sequencing operators that have been developed for use with genetic algorithms. An improved version of the edge recombination operator is presented, the concepts of adjacency, order, and position are reviewed in the context of these operators , and results are compared for a 30 city \Blind" Traveling Salesman Problem and a real world warehouse/shipping scheduling application. Results indicate that the eeective-ness of diierent operators is dependent on the problem domain; operators which work well in problems where adjacency is important (e.g., the Traveling Salesman) may not be eeective for other types of sequencing problems. Operators which perform poorly on the Blind Trav-eling Salesman Problem work extremely well for the warehouse scheduling task.
The influence of culture on perceptions of the female exerciser stereotype

An exerciser stereotype in which exercisers receive more positive ratings on physical and personality attributes than those described as non-exercisers and control targets has been identified in previous research (Munroe-Chandler et al., 2012). The purpose of the present study was to examine the female exerciser stereotype in light of both culture and individual mainstream acculturation. Participants (N = 510) read a vignette describing a female exerciser, and rated the target on personality and physical attributes before completing the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (Ryder et al., 2000). Results revealed that those who were more acculturated to mainstream Canadian culture rated the target higher on personality attributes compared to those who were less acculturated to mainstream culture (ps < .05). Findings indicate that mainstream acculturation may be a more important factor when forming impressions of exercisers than the individual’s acculturation to heritage culture.
Self-hatred in psychoanalysis : detoxifying the persecutory object

The Theory of Persecutory States of Mind. Tsigounis, J. Savege Scharff, Introduction to the Persecutory Object. J. Savege Scharff, Sources of Persecutory Anxiety - Death Instinct or Bad Objects. D. E. Scharff, The Interpersonal, Sexual Tie to the Traumatic Object. Ashbach, Persecutory Objects, Guilt and Shame. Varela, The Noise of a Persecutory Object. Ravenscroft, Persecutory Objects in the Body of Self and Other in Munchausen by Proxy. The Practice of Detoxifying Persecutory Objects in Assessment, Psychotherapy and Consultation. Kaufman, Working with Murderous Project and Internal Mutilation. Johnson, Treating Persecutory Anxiety in an Adolescent Boy. Bagnini, Containing Anxiety with Divorcing Couples. Hall, Recovering from Projections as the Group Cotherapist. Altamarino, Holding and Containing During Surgery for Physical Deformity. Stadter, Working with Persecutory Aspects of Family Business. Tsigounis, Detoxification Possible and Impossible.
The use of sulfasalazine and pentoxifylline (low‐cost antitumour necrosis factor drugs) as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris: a comparative study

Background Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) represents a potentially life‐threatening autoimmune blistering disease in which IgG autoantibodies are directed against cell–cell adhesion molecules. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α has been suggested to have a possible role in the mechanism underlying acantholysis.
Differential display detects altered gene expression between cataractous and normal human lenses.

PURPOSE To identify and analyze differentially genes expressed between lens epithelia dissected from age-related cataractous and noncataractous human lenses. METHODS RNAs from 50 pooled cataractous and 25 pooled noncataractous epithelia were compared by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction differential display (RT-PCR-DD). Two differentially displayed bands were chosen for further study. These were reamplified, cloned, and sequenced. Expression of these genes was further evaluated in pooled and individual epithelia by RT-PCR with gene-specific primers. RESULTS Significant differences in gene expression were detected between the cataractous and the noncataractous epithelia. Three mRNAs displayed higher levels and 12 mRNAs displayed lower levels of expression in the cataractous samples compared with that in the noncataractous samples. Of the mRNAs expressed at higher levels, one was identified as metallothionein IIa (METII). Of the mRNAs with decreased expression, one was identified as protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit (P2A-RS). Overexpression of METII and underexpression of P2A-RS were confirmed in pooled and individual epithelia. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence that age-related cataract is associated with alterations in the expression of multiple epithelial genes including METII and P2A-RS. METII is a detoxification protein induced by oxidative stress, and P2A-RS is a mitotic suppressor involved in cell-cycle control. These results implicate these proteins and their associated functions in the maintenance of lens transparency.
Nonlinear mean filters in image processing

The use of nonlinear means in image processing is introduced. The properties of these means in the presence of different types of noise are investigated. It is shown that nonlinear filters based on these means behave well for both additive and impulse noise. Their performance in the presence of signal dependent noise is satisfactory. They preserve the edges better than linear filters, and they reject the noise better than median filters.
Using Genetic Algorithms with Asexual Transposition

Traditional Genetic Algorithms (GA) use crossover and mutation as the main genetic operators to achieve population diversity. Previous work using a biologically inspired genetic operator called transposition, allowed the GA to reach better solutions by replacing the traditional crossover operators. In this paper we extend that work to the case of asexual reproduction. The GA efficiency was compared when using asexual transposition and the classical crossover operators. The results obtained show that asexual transposition still allowed the modified GA to achieve higher performances.
Gender and the Study of Economics: Is There A Role Model Effect?

In this paper we explore the question of whether the gender of the instructor in first year university microeconomics might play a role either in the performance of students in the course - especially the performance of female students - or in the likelihood that a student will continue in economics. We could find no evidence that gender of instructor matters. As in other studies, we find that female students fare worse in economics than do male students controlling for measured ability and background. Moreover, fewer females continue in economics than do males, even conditioning on first year performance. Yet again, we could find no indication that the gender of instructor made any difference to the continuation probability. We are unable to contribute to the explanation of the puzzle of female performance or continuation in economics, therefore, though we cast some doubt on one of the hypotheses that has been suggested.
Current and future treatment options for gonorrhoea

The delivery of effective antimicrobial therapy is essential for public health control of gonorrhoea, in the absence of a suitable vaccine. The antimicrobial agent chosen should have high efficacy and quality, lack toxicity and give >95% success when given empirically. Guidelines, which are informed by surveillance data, are used to aid clinicians in their choice of appropriate agent. Historically, gonorrhoea treatment has been delivered as a single, directly observed dose but this has resulted in failure of successive antimicrobial agents which have been replaced by a new antimicrobial to which resistance has been rare or non-existing. Following the drift towards decreased susceptibility and treatment failure to the extended spectrum cephalosporins, and the lack of ‘new’ alternative antimicrobials, the threat of difficult to treat or untreatable gonorrhoea has emerged. The challenge of maintaining gonorrhoea as a treatable infection has resulted in national, regional and global response or action plans. This review discusses different approaches to the future treatment of gonorrhoea including; use of ceftriaxone, the injectable cephalosporin at increased dosage; dual antimicrobial therapy; use of drugs developed for other infections and use of older agents, directed by rapid point of care tests, to susceptible infections. Finally, it is considered whether the time is right to readdress the possibility of developing an effective gonococcal vaccine, given the major advances in our understanding of natural infection, molecular pathogenesis and the revolution in molecular biology techniques.
PERCEIVED IN-GROUP DENSITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT IN A SAMPLE OF NORTHERN IRISH CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS

The “contact hypothesis” suggests that desegregation is good for minority group members, but this view has been challenged by studies describing a so-called “ethnic density effect”. This study examined the possibility of an “ethnic density effect” in the context of historical ethno-religious segregation in Northern Ireland. It was hypothesised that the “ethnic density effect” is not simply the result of structural variables, such as ethnic population mix at local community level, but also on individual perceptions of area based ethno-religious group density, perceptions of their local group status and their levels of in-group identification or solidarity. Data from 1000 randomly selected participants were tested for ethno-religious group invariance in the prediction of psychological adjustment, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results indicated a small direct “ethnic density effect” based on perceptions of religious mix at local level (p < .05). Ethno-religious differences were observed in the relationships between perceived ethnic density and perceived discrimination (p < .05). The “ethnic density effect” reported in some cultural contexts was evident in Northern Ireland and this has implications for policy makers concerned with community relations.
A psychoacoustic method for studying the necessary and sufficient perceptual cues of American English fricative consonants in noise.

In a previous study on plosives, the 3-Dimensional Deep Search (3DDS) method for the exploration of the necessary and sufficient cues for speech perception was introduced (Li et al., (2010). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127(4), 2599-2610). Here, this method is used to isolate the spectral cue regions for perception of the American English fricatives /∫, 3, s, z, f, v, θ, δ in time, frequency, and intensity. The fricatives are analyzed in the context of consonant-vowel utterances, using the vowel /α/. The necessary cues were found to be contained in the frication noise for /∫, 3, s, z, f, v/. 3DDS analysis isolated the cue regions of /s, z/ between 3.6 and 8 [kHz] and /∫, 3/ between 1.4 and 4.2 [kHz]. Some utterances were found to contain acoustic components that were unnecessary for correct perception, but caused listeners to hear non-target consonants when the primary cue region was removed; such acoustic components are labeled "conflicting cue regions. " The amplitude modulation of the high-frequency frication region by the fundamental F0 was found to be a sufficient cue for voicing. Overall, the 3DDS method allows one to analyze the effects of natural speech components without initial assumptions about where perceptual cues lie in time-frequency space or which elements of production they correspond to.
Time-DivisionMultiuser MIMOwith Statistical Feedback

This paper investigates a time-division multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system in K-block flat fading where users are given individual outage rate probability constraints and only one user accesses the channel at any given time slot (or block). Assuming a downlink channel and that the transmitter knows only the statistical information about the channel, our aim is to minimize the overall transmit power for achieving the users’ outage constraint by jointly optimizing the power allocation and the time-sharing (i.e., the number of time slots) of the users. This paper first derives the so-called minimum power equation (MPE) to solve for the minimum transmit power required for attaining a given outage rate probability of a single-user MIMO block-fading channel if the number of blocks is predetermined. We then construct a convex optimization problem, which can mimic the original problem structure and permits to jointly consider the power consumption and the probability constraints of the users, to give a suboptimal multiuser time-sharing solution. This is finally combined with the MPE to provide a joint power allocation and time-sharing solution for the time-division multiuser MIMO system. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme performs nearly the same as the global optimum with inappreciable difference.
Communities of Practice in Campus Recreation: A Framework for Developing Student Intramural Officials

Campus intramural sports officials often participate in external officiating experiences beyond campus intramural contests, such as community sport programs, middle and high school sports, and even intercollegiate sports. While these external opportunities may enhance an official's skills and abilities, there are concerns that the demand from external agencies and competing salaries result in campus intramural programs being left with underdeveloped officials. This in turn contributes to the critique that encouraging external officiating experiences does not contribute to the college or university mission of learning, research, and professional development. The purpose of this article is to present a justification why campus intramural sports officials should engage in sports officiating experiences beyond campus intramural and extramural contests. A conceptual framework known as Communities of Practice (Wenger, 1998) is presented to illustrate how external officiating experiences may contribute to the college or university mission of learning, research, and professional development. Benefits of participating in external officiating experiences are also presented.