Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of driver distraction on road safety: results from a representative survey in two Australian states

Objective: To quantify the prevalence and effects of distracting activities while driving. Design: Cross sectional driver survey. Setting: New South Wales and Western Australia, Australia. Participants: 1347 licensed drivers aged between 18 and 65 years. Data were weighted to reflect the corresponding driving population. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of distracting activities while driving; perceived risks and adverse outcomes due to distractions. Results: The most common distracting activities during the most recent driving trip were lack of concentration (weighted percentage (standard error, SE) 71.8% (1.4%) of drivers); adjusting in-vehicle equipment (68.7% (1.5%)); outside people, objects or events (57.8% (1.6%)); and talking to passengers (39.8% (1.6%)). On average, a driver engaged in a distracting activity once every six minutes. One in five crashes (21%) during the last three years, involving one in 20 drivers (5.0% (0.7%)), was attributed to driver distraction based on self-report. In the population under study, this equated to 242,188 (SE 34,417) drivers. Younger drivers (18–30 years) were significantly more likely to report distracting activities, to perceive distracting activities as less dangerous, and to have crashed as a result. Conclusions: Distracting activities while driving are common and can result in driving errors. Driver distraction is an important cause of crashes. Further research is needed to estimate the risk conferred by different distracting activities and the circumstances during which activities pose greatest risk. These results suggest that a strategy to minimize distracting activities while driving, with a focus on young drivers, is indicated.
Three-Dimensional Nanoscale Mapping of State-of-the-Art Field-Effect Transistors (FinFETs)

Abstract The semiconductor industry has seen tremendous progress over the last few decades with continuous reduction in transistor size to improve device performance. Miniaturization of devices has led to changes in the dopants and dielectric layers incorporated. As the gradual shift from two-dimensional metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor to three-dimensional (3D) field-effect transistors (finFETs) occurred, it has become imperative to understand compositional variability with nanoscale spatial resolution. Compositional changes can affect device performance primarily through fluctuations in threshold voltage and channel current density. Traditional techniques such as scanning electron microscope and focused ion beam no longer provide the required resolution to probe the physical structure and chemical composition of individual fins. Hence advanced multimodal characterization approaches are required to better understand electronic devices. Herein, we report the study of 14 nm commercial finFETs using atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS). Complimentary compositional maps were obtained using both techniques with analysis of the gate dielectrics and silicon fin. APT additionally provided 3D information and allowed analysis of the distribution of low atomic number dopant elements (e.g., boron), which are elusive when using STEM-EDS.
Automatic Construction Algorithm for Multi-class Support Vector Machines with Binary Tree Architecture

Summary Multi-class support vector machines with binary tree architecture (SVM-BTA) have the fastest decision-making speed in the existing multi-class SVMs. But SVM-BTA usually has bad classification capability. According to internal characteristics of feature samples, this paper uses resemblance coefficient method to construct automatically binary tree to incorporate multiple binary SVMs. The multi-class SVMs with constructed binary tree have good classification capability and fast decision-making speed. Experimental results of yeast protein localization site prediction and radar emitter signal recognition show that the introduced multi-class SVMs with binary tree architectures are superior to several popular multi-class SVMs including one-against-all, one-against-one, directed acyclic graph, bottom-up binary tree and several classification methods in the recent literatures.
Synergistic Effects of Combined Wnt/KRAS Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Activation of Wnt signalling due to inability to degrade β-catenin is found in >85% of colorectal cancers. Approximately half of colon cancers express a constitutively active KRAS protein. A significant fraction of patients show both abnormalities. We previously reported that simultaneous down-regulation of both β-catenin and KRAS was necessary to induce significant cell death and tumor growth inhibition of colorectal cancer cells. Although attractive, an RNAi-based therapeutic approach is still far from being employed in the clinical setting. Therefore, we sought to recapitulate our previous findings by the use of small-molecule inhibitors of β-catenin and KRAS. We show here that the β-catenin inhibitors PKF115-584 and pyrvinium pamoate block β-catenin-dependent transcriptional activity and synergize with the KRAS inhibitor S-trans, trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS, salirasib) in colon cancer cells driven by Wnt and KRAS oncogenic signals, but not in cells carrying BRAF mutations. The combined use of these compounds was superior to the use of any drug alone in inducing cell growth arrest, cell death, MYC and survivin down-modulation, and inhibition of anchorage-independent growth. Expression analysis of selected cancer-relevant genes revealed down-regulation of CD44 as a common response to the combined treatments. These data provide a proof of principle for a combination therapeutic strategy in colorectal cancer.
Effect of thiazide on rates of bone mineral loss: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the effect of thiazide diuretic drugs on rates of bone mineral loss. DESIGN--Longitudinal, observational study with a mean follow up of five years. SETTING--Hawaii Osteoporosis Center, Honolulu. SUBJECTS--1017 Japanese-American men born between 1900 and 1920, of whom 378 were treated for hypertension (study group) and 639 did not have hypertension (control group). INTERVENTION--Thiazide diuretics were taken by 325 men for a mean of 11.9 years; 53 men took antihypertensive drugs other than thiazides. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Rate of bone loss estimated from serial photon absorptiometric scanning at three skeletal sites (calcaneus, distal radius, and proximal radius). RESULTS--Rates of bone loss at all three sites were significantly reduced among thiazide users when compared with controls. The reductions in loss rate ranged from 28.8% (p = 0.02) (distal radius) to 49.2% (p = 0.0005) (calcaneus) relative to the controls. At all three sites the men taking other antihypertensive drugs had faster loss rates (22.6-43.1%) than those of the controls but the difference was significant only for the distal radius. CONCLUSION--Thiazide diuretics slow the rate of bone loss in elderly men.
Pleural Tuberculosis in Patients with Early HIV Infection Is Associated with Increased TNF-Alpha Expression and Necrosis in Granulomas

Although granulomas may be an essential host response against persistent antigens, they are also associated with immunopathology. We investigated whether HIV co-infection affects histopathological appearance and cytokine profiles of pleural granulomas in patients with active pleural tuberculosis (TB). Granulomas were investigated in pleural biopsies from HIV positive and negative TB pleuritis patients. Granulomas were characterised as necrotic or non-necrotic, graded histologically and investigated for the mRNA expression of IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-4 by in situ hybridisation. In all TB patients a mixed Th1/Th2 profile was noted. Necrotic granulomas were more evident in HIV positive patients with a clear association between TNF-α and necrosis. This study demonstrates immune dysregulation which may include TNF-α-mediated immunopathology at the site of disease in HIV infected pleural TB patients.
Preferential effect of isoflurane on top-down vs. bottom-up pathways in sensory cortex

The mechanism of loss of consciousness (LOC) under anesthesia is unknown. Because consciousness depends on activity in the cortico-thalamic network, anesthetic actions on this network are likely critical for LOC. Competing theories stress the importance of anesthetic actions on bottom-up “core” thalamo-cortical (TC) vs. top-down cortico-cortical (CC) and matrix TC connections. We tested these models using laminar recordings in rat auditory cortex in vivo and murine brain slices. We selectively activated bottom-up vs. top-down afferent pathways using sensory stimuli in vivo and electrical stimulation in brain slices, and compared effects of isoflurane on responses evoked via the two pathways. Auditory stimuli in vivo and core TC afferent stimulation in brain slices evoked short latency current sinks in middle layers, consistent with activation of core TC afferents. By contrast, visual stimuli in vivo and stimulation of CC and matrix TC afferents in brain slices evoked responses mainly in superficial and deep layers, consistent with projection patterns of top-down afferents that carry visual information to auditory cortex. Responses to auditory stimuli in vivo and core TC afferents in brain slices were significantly less affected by isoflurane compared to responses triggered by visual stimuli in vivo and CC/matrix TC afferents in slices. At a just-hypnotic dose in vivo, auditory responses were enhanced by isoflurane, whereas visual responses were dramatically reduced. At a comparable concentration in slices, isoflurane suppressed both core TC and CC/matrix TC responses, but the effect on the latter responses was far greater than on core TC responses, indicating that at least part of the differential effects observed in vivo were due to local actions of isoflurane in auditory cortex. These data support a model in which disruption of top-down connectivity contributes to anesthesia-induced LOC, and have implications for understanding the neural basis of consciousness.
Estimation of high return period flood quantiles using additional non-systematic information with upper bounded statistical models

Abstract. This paper proposes the estimation of high return period quantiles using upper bounded distribution functions with Systematic and additional Non-Systematic information. The aim of the developed methodology is to reduce the estimation uncertainty of these quantiles, assuming the upper bound parameter of these distribution functions as a statistical estimator of the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Three upper bounded distribution functions, firstly used in Hydrology in the 90's (referred to in this work as TDF, LN4 and EV4), were applied at the Jucar River in Spain. Different methods to estimate the upper limit of these distribution functions have been merged with the Maximum Likelihood (ML) method. Results show that it is possible to obtain a statistical estimate of the PMF value and to establish its associated uncertainty. The behaviour for high return period quantiles is different for the three evaluated distributions and, for the case study, the EV4 gave better descriptive results. With enough information, the associated estimation uncertainty for very high return period quantiles is considered acceptable, even for the PMF estimate. From the robustness analysis, the EV4 distribution function appears to be more robust than the GEV and TCEV unbounded distribution functions in a typical Mediterranean river and Non-Systematic information availability scenario. In this scenario and if there is an upper limit, the GEV quantile estimates are clearly unacceptable.
The yeast centrosome translates the positional information of the anaphase spindle into a cell cycle signal

The spindle orientation checkpoint (SPOC) of budding yeast delays mitotic exit when cytoplasmic microtubules (MTs) are defective, causing the spindle to become misaligned. Delay is achieved by maintaining the activity of the Bfa1–Bub2 guanosine triphosphatase–activating protein complex, an inhibitor of mitotic exit. In this study, we show that the spindle pole body (SPB) component Spc72, a transforming acidic coiled coil–like molecule that interacts with the γ-tubulin complex, recruits Kin4 kinase to both SPBs when cytoplasmic MTs are defective. This allows Kin4 to phosphorylate the SPB-associated Bfa1, rendering it resistant to inactivation by Cdc5 polo kinase. Consistently, forced targeting of Kin4 to both SPBs delays mitotic exit even when the anaphase spindle is correctly aligned. Moreover, we present evidence that Spc72 has an additional function in SPOC regulation that is independent of the recruitment of Kin4. Thus, Spc72 provides a missing link between cytoplasmic MT function and components of the SPOC.
Quantification of Circulating DNA in the Plasma and Serum of Cancer Patients

Abstract: A variety of tumor‐genetic alterations have been identified circulating free‐form in the plasma and serum of cancer patients that may have diagnostic and prognostic implications. Currently, no consensus exists as to whether plasma or serum is preferable for circulating nucleic acid analysis, and the impact of collection and processing on yield is unknown. We prospectively assessed DNA content in paired plasma and serum obtained from 10 patients with AJCC stage IV advanced metastatic melanoma. Blood (30 mL) was collected from each patient as follows: 10 mL each was processed immediately for serum and plasma and an additional 10 mL was incubated overnight at 37°C and processed for serum. In addition, blood was collected from 25 normal healthy donor volunteers to determine the concentration of free DNA circulating in paired plasma and serum. DNA was isolated from 800 μl of plasma or serum and quantified. Median‐free DNA concentrations were fourfold greater in serum than in the corresponding plasma sample. Serum isolated from blood allowed to clot overnight yielded four times more DNA than serum processed immediately. Among normal healthy volunteers, only serum contained detectable free DNA. These findings provide conclusive evidence that elevated levels of circulating DNA could be identified consistently in patients with cancer than in normal healthy donors. Furthermore, the method of blood processing may significantly affect the levels of circulating nucleic acids and impact the investigator's results. Significant consideration must be given to the methods by which circulating nucleic acids are obtained for clinical analysis.
How teachers develop and sustain resilience in their work

Many studies on teachers' lives have concentrated on the stressful aspect of such lives, listing what makes them stressful. This case study prefers to concentrate on teachers' lives and explore what makes teachers' resilient in these stressful situations. Although resilience in children has been well researched, resilience in adults, and teachers in particular, remains under researched. This study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the factors that enable teachers to develop and sustain resilience in their working lives. It includes reflecting on the school setting as well as outside it, in order to understand further the factors that develop and sustain resilience in teachers throughout their career. The study concentrates on the stressful lives of teachers in an inner city disadvantaged school. A multi—method approach was adopted. A questionnaire was first used to map the territory, followed by interviews with ten teachers who volunteered for the study and that the Principal identified as resilient. The role of recalling critical incidents in their teaching careers was also used in the data collection process. The findings show that while the role of colleagues, students, family and friends is important in developing and sustaining resilience, the role of the Principal is pivotal. Recommendations are identified for developing and sustaining resilience within the school organisation. The study adds to our understanding of the complex working lives of teachers and contributes to the debate on retention and teacher effectiveness.
Chemical Constituents of Plants from the Genus Paris

by Jin-Chao Weia)b), Wen-Yuan Gao*a), Xiao-Dan Yanb), Ying Wangb), Song-Song Jinga), and PeiGen Xiaoc) a) School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China (phone: þ86-22-87401895; fax: þ86-22-87401895; e-mail: biochemgao@163.com) b) School of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, P. R. China c) Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, P. R. China
Higher derivative corrections to locally black brane metrics

In this paper we generalize the construction of locally boosted black brane space time to higher derivative gravities. We consider the Gauss-Bonnet term (with coefficient α') as a toy example. We find the solution to the α' corrected Einstein equations to first order in the boundary derivative expansion. This allows us to find the α' corrections to the boundary stress tensor in the presence of the Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk action. We therefore obtain the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy which agrees with other methods of computation in the literature.
Interference and Deployment Issues for Cognitive Radio Systems in Shadowing Environments

In this paper we describe a model for calculating the aggregate interference encountered by primary receivers in the presence of randomly placed cognitive radios (CRs). We show that incorporating the impact of distance attenuation and lognormal fading on each constituent interferer in the aggregate, leads to a composite interference that cannot be satisfactorily modeled by a lognormal. Using the interference statistics we determine a number of key parameters needed for the deployment of CRs. Examples of these are the exclusion zone radius, needed to protect the primary receiver under different types of fading environments and acceptable interference levels, and the numbers of CRs that can be deployed. We further show that if the CRs have apriori knowledge of the radio environment map (REM), then a much larger number of CRs can be deployed especially in a high density environment. Given REM information, we also look at the CR numbers achieved by two different types of techniques to process the scheduling information.
Analysis of the status of informed consent in medical research involving human subjects in public hospitals in Shanghai

Objectives The objectives of the study are to understand the current practice of informed consent in medical research in public hospitals in Shanghai, and to share our views with other countries, especially developing countries. Methods In the study, 145 consent forms (CFs) of the selected research projects in eight public hospitals with ethics committees in Shanghai were audited, and the principle investigators (PIs) of these research projects and 40 student subjects who had participated in clinical drug tests were surveyed by questionnaires. Results The CFs of medical researches in public hospitals with ethics committees in Shanghai were generally acceptable. However, there were some defects in the CFs. Although most of the surveyed PIs had correct recognition of informed consent, some processes of informed consent were not in accordance with generally accepted requirements. A large number of the PIs considered the greatest difficulty with informal consent was lack of correct recognition of subjects or legally authorised representatives on medical research. Discussion Informed consent in medical research should consider the research ethics, the background of potential subjects, the local resources and culture of medical research. In addition, special protection is needed for student subjects in informed consent as well as efforts for building and restoring the public's trust in biomedical research. Conclusion The informed consent in Shanghai's public hospitals with ethics committees was generally acceptable and the achievement of adequate informed consent is influenced by many factors.
Balance in academic leadership : voices of women from Turkey and the United States of America (US)

This comparative study examines the experiences of women leaders in Turkey and the US. It argues that the theme of 'balance in leadership' appeared to be the most influential driving force in women leaders' stories. It further shows that balance in leadership is associated with balance in two areas : balancing private and professional life, and balance in research, teaching and leadership. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with nineteen women leaders working at four-year public and private (foundation) universities in Turkey and the US. It is hoped that aspiring leaders can learn from these women's experiences.
Effect of different approaches to treatment of smoking as a potential confounder in a case–control study on occupational exposures

Aim: To evaluate the effect of different approaches to treatment of smoking as a potential confounder in an occupational study of lung cancer. Methods: Data were used from a case–control study on 956 men with lung cancer and 1253 population controls recruited in two northern Italian areas during 1990–1992. The risk of lung cancer associated with 11 selected job titles and eight selected industrial activities was estimated using seven different methods to treat smoking history. To evaluate the confounding effect of smoking, odds ratios obtained using the first six models were compared with estimates from the seventh and most complex model, in which cumulative tobacco consumption and time since cessation were considered. Results: Although crude odds ratios for some of the occupational categories were biased by up to 25%, such bias decreased to less than 10% when a simple model including smoking status (never, ex-, current) was used. Conclusions: In occupational studies on lung cancer risk, information on smoking status may allow satisfactory control of the potential confounding effect of the habit.
Acclimation of leaf characteristics of Fagus species to previous-year and current-year solar irradiances.

To examine the effects of different solar irradiances on leaf characteristics at the leaf primordium and expansion stages, we shaded parts of branches in the upper canopies of two adult beech trees, Fagus crenata Blume and Fagus japonica Maxim. , for 4 years. The treatments during the leaf primordium and leaf expansion stages, respectively, were: (1) high light and high light (H, control), (2) high light and low light (HL), (3) low light and low light (LL), and (4) low light and high light (LH). Both number of cell layers in palisade tissue and individual leaf area were affected by the previous-year irradiance, whereas cell length of palisade tissue was larger in LH leaves than in LL leaves, suggesting determination by current-year irradiance. Lamina chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio was higher in HL and LL leaves than in LH leaves, suggesting determination by current-year irradiance. Diurnal minimum values of leaf water potential measured under sunlit conditions were lower in H and LH leaves than in HL and LL leaves. Effective osmotic adjustment was found in H and LH leaves, suggesting that leaf water relations were affected by current-year irradiance. Net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance measured under sunlight conditions were higher in H and LH leaves than in HL and LL leaves. Thus, effects of current-year irradiance had a greater effect on leaf-area-based daily carbon gain than previous-year irradiance.