Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Environmental Cadmium Exposure with Periodontal Disease in U.S. Adults

Background Periodontal disease is a complex, multifactorial, chronic inflammatory disease that involves degradation of periodontal structures, including alveolar bone. Cadmium adversely affects bone remodeling, and it is therefore possible that environmental Cd exposure may be a risk factor for periodontal-disease–related bone loss. Objective We examined the relationship between environmental Cd exposure and periodontal disease in U.S. adults. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). We defined periodontal disease as clinical attachment loss of at least 4 mm in > 10% of sites examined. We used multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses to estimate the association between creatinine-corrected urinary Cd levels and periodontal disease. Results Of the 11,412 participants included in this study, 15.4% had periodontal disease. The age-adjusted geometric mean urine Cd concentration (micrograms per gram creatinine) was significantly higher among participants with periodontal disease [0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45–0.56] than among those without periodontal disease (0.30; 95% CI, 0.28–0.31). Multivariable-adjusted analyses, which included extensive adjustments for tobacco exposure, showed that a 3-fold increase in creatinine-corrected urinary Cd concentrations [corresponding to an increment from the 25th (0.18 μg/g) to the 75th (0.63 μg/g) percentile] was associated with 54% greater odds of prevalent periodontal disease (odds ratio = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.26–1.87). We observed similar results among the subset of participants who had limited exposure to tobacco, but only after removing six influential observations. Conclusion Environmental Cd exposure was associated with higher odds of periodontal disease.
In Situ Studies of the Primary Immune Response to ( 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl ) acetyl . II . A Common Clonal Origin for Periarteriolar Lymphoid Sheath-associated Foci and Germinal Centers

In the genetically restricted response that follows immunization with (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl coupled to protein carriers, two distinct populations of B cells are observed in the spleens of C57BL/6 mice. By 48 h postimmunization, loci of antigen-binding B cells appear along the periphery of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths. These loci expand to contain large numbers of antibody-forming cells that neither bind the lectin, peanut agglutinin, nor mutate the rearranged immunoglobulin variable region loci. Germinal centers containing peanut agghtininpositive B cells can be observed by 96-120 h after immunization. Although specific for the immunizing hapten, these B cells do not produce substantial amounts of antibody, but are the population that undergoes somatic hypermutation and affinity-driven selection. Both focus and germinal center populations are paucidonal, founded, on average, by three or fewer B lymphocytes. Despite the highly specialized roles of the focus (early antibody production) and germinal center (higher affinity memory cells) B cell populations, analysis of VH to D to J. joins in neighboring loci and germinal centers demonstrate that these B cell populations have a common clonal origin.
Soil Organic-Matter in Water-Stable Aggregates Under Different Soil-Management Practices

Abstract An experiment of different management practices in a commercial vineyard, which was established in 2006 in the locality of Nitra-Dražovce, Slovakia on Rendzic Leptosol, was used to evaluate the dynamics of soil organic-matter parameters during the years 2008–2015. The following treatments were established: 1. G (grass without fertilisation as control), 2. T (tillage), 3. T+FYM (tillage + farmyard manure), 4. G+NPK3 (grass + 3rd intensity of fertilisation for vineyards: it means 125 kg/ha N, 50 kg/ha P, 185 kg/ha K), and 5. G+NPK1 (grass + 1st intensity of fertilisation for vineyards: it means 100 kg/ha N, 30 kg/ha P, 120 kg/ha K). The results showed that the soil-management practices in the vineyard significantly influenced the soil organic carbon in water-stable aggregates (SOC in WSA). The content of SOC in WSAma increased on average in the following order: T < G < G+NPK1 < G+NPK3 < T+FYM. Intensive soil cultivation in the T treatment resulted in a statistically significant build-up of SOC in WSAma at an average rate of 1.33, 1.18, 0.97, 1.22 and 0.76 g/kg/y across the size fractions > 5 mm, 5‒3 mm, 2–1 mm, 1–0.5 mm and 0.5–0.25 mm, respectively. The content of non-labile carbon reflected the contents of SOC in WSA. The highest labile carbon (CL) in WSAma, as compared to others, was found in T+FYM. Overall, application of higher NPK doses resulted in higher content of CL in WSAma compared with the lower applications of NPK. On the other hand, lower applications of NPK to soil increased the content of CL in WSAmi, as compared to G+NPK3.
Symmetric delta lenses and spans of asymmetric delta lenses

Bidirectional Transformations provide mechanisms for maintaining synchronization between updatable data sources. Lenses are certain mathematically specified bidirectional transformations. As part of a project to unify the treatment of symmetric lenses (of various kinds) as equivalence classes of spans of asymmetric lenses (of corresponding kinds), we relate symmetric delta lenses with spans of asymmetric delta lenses. Because delta lenses are based on state spaces which are categories rather than sets, there is further structure that needs to be accounted for. One of the main findings in this paper is that the required equivalence relation among spans is compatible with, but coarser than, the one expected. The main result is an isomorphism of categories between a category whose morphisms are equivalence classes of symmetric delta lenses (here called fb-lenses) and the category of spans of delta lenses modulo the new equivalence.
EVALUATION OF METHODS IN DETECTING VANCOMYCIN MIC AMONG MRSA ISOLATES AND THE CHANGES IN ACCURACY RELATED TO DIFFERENT MIC VALUES

INTRODUCTION: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presenting reduced susceptibility to vancomycin has been associated to therapeutic failure. Some methods used by clinical laboratories may not be sufficiently accurate to detect this phenotype, compromising results and the outcome of the patient. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of methods in the detection of vancomycin MIC values among clinical isolates of MRSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Vancomycin Minimal Inhibitory Concentration was determined for 75 MRSA isolates from inpatients of Mãe de Deus Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. The broth microdilution (BM) was used as the gold-standard technique, as well as the following methods: E-test® strips (BioMérieux), M.I. C.E® strips (Oxoid), PROBAC® commercial panel and the automated system MicroScan® (Siemens). Besides, the agar screening test was carried out with 3 µg/mL of vancomycin. RESULTS: All isolates presented MIC ≤ 2 µg/mL for BM. E-test® had higher concordance (40%) in terms of global agreement with the gold standard, and there was not statistical difference among E-test® and broth microdilution results. PROBAC® panels presented MICs, in general, lower than the gold-standard panels (58.66% major errors), while M.I. C.E. ® MICs were higher (67.99% minor errors). CONCLUSIONS: For the population of MRSA in question, E-test® presented the best performance, although with a heterogeneous accuracy, depending on MIC values.
Augmentation of a Rotator Cuff Suture Repair Using rhPDGF-BB and a Type I Bovine Collagen Matrix in an Ovine Model

Background Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain. High rates (20%-94%) of structural failure of the repair have been attributed to multiple factors, including poor repair tissue quality and tendon-to-bone integration. Biologic augmentation using growth factors has potential to promote tendon-to-bone integration, improving the function and long-term success of the repair. One such growth factor is platelet-derived growth factor–BB (PDGF-BB), which has been shown to improve healing in tendon and bone repair models. Hypothesis Recombinant human PDGF-BB (rhPDGF-BB) combined with a highly porous type I bovine collagen matrix will improve the biomechanical function and morphologic appearance of the repair in a dose-dependent manner, relative to a suture-only control, after 12 weeks in an acute ovine model of rotator cuff repair. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods An interpositional graft consisting of rhPDGF-BB and a type I collagen matrix was implanted in an ovine model of rotator cuff repair. Biomechanical and histologic analyses were performed to determine the functional and anatomic characteristics of the repair after 12 weeks. Results A significant increase in the ultimate load to failure was observed in repairs treated with 75 μg (1490.5 ± 224.5 N, P = .029) or 150 μg (1486.6 ± 229.0 N, P = .029) of rhPDGF-BB, relative to suture-only controls (910.4 ± 156.1 N) and the 500-μg rhPDGF-BB group (677.8 ± 105.9 N). The 75-μg and 150-μg rhPDGF-BB groups also exhibited increased tendon-to-bone inter-digitation histologically. No differences in inflammation or cellularity were observed among treatments. Conclusion This study demonstrated that an interpositional graft consisting of rhPDGF-BB (75 or 150 μg) and a type I collagen matrix was able to improve the biomechanical strength and anatomic appearance in an ovine model of rotator cuff repair compared to a suture-only control and the 500-μg rhPDGF-BB group. Clinical Relevance Recombinant human PDGF-BB combined with a type I collagen matrix has potential to be used to augment surgical repair of rotator cuff tears, thereby improving clinical success.
Removal of Ballistocardiogram Artifacts Using the Cyclostationary Source Extraction Method

Ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifact is considered here as the sum of a number of independent cyclostationary components having the same cycle frequency. Our proposed method, called cyclostationary source extraction (CSE), is able to extract these components without much destructive effect on the background electroencephalogram (EEG). It is shown that the proposed method outperforms other methods particularly in preserving the remaining signals. The CSE is utilized to remove the BCG artifact from real EEG data recorded inside the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, i.e., visual evoked potential (VEP). The results are compared to the results of benchmark BCG removal techniques. Analyzing the power spectral density of the cleaned EEG data, it is shown that CSE effectively removes the frequency components corresponding to the BCG artifact. It is also shown that VEPs recorded inside the scanner and processed using the proposed method are more correlated with the VEPs recorded outside the scanner. Moreover, there is no need for electrocardiogram (ECG) data in this method as the cycle frequency of the BCG is directly computed from the contaminated EEG signals.
Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Philippines, 1998–2014

In 2005, the Regional Committee for the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR) established a goal to eliminate measles by 2012.The recommended elimination strategies in WPR include 1) ≥95% 2-dose coverage with measles-containing vaccine (MCV) through routine immunization services and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 2) high-quality case-based measles surveillance; 3) laboratory surveillance with timely and accurate testing of specimens to confirm or discard suspected cases and detect measles virus genotypes; and 4) measles outbreak preparedness, rapid response, and appropriate case management. In the WPR, the Philippines set a national goal in 1998 to eliminate measles by 2008. This report describes progress toward measles elimination in the Philippines during 1998-2014 and challenges remaining to achieve the goal. WHO-United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)-estimated coverage with the routine first dose of MCV (MCV1) increased from 80% in 1998 to 90% in 2013, and coverage with the routine second dose of MCV (MCV2) increased from 10% after nationwide introduction in 2010 to 53% in 2013. After nationwide SIAs in 1998 and 2004, historic lows in the numbers and incidence of reported measles cases occurred in 2006. Despite nationwide SIAs in 2007 and 2011, the number of reported cases and incidence generally increased during 2007-2012, and large measles outbreaks occurred during 2013-2014 that affected infants, young children, older children, and young adults and that were prolonged by delayed and geographically limited outbreak response immunization activities during 2013-2014. For the goal of measles elimination in WPR to be achieved, sustained investments are required in the Philippines to strengthen health systems, implement the recommended elimination strategies, and develop additional strategies to identify and reduce measles susceptibility in specific geographic areas and older age groups.
A Model of Equilibrium Institutions

Institutions that serve the interests of an elite are often cited as an important reason for poor economic performance. This paper builds a model of institutions that allocate resources and power to maximize the payoff of an elite, but where any group that exerts sufficient fighting effort can launch a rebellion that destroys the existing institutions. The rebels are then able to establish new institutions as a new elite, which will similarly face threats of rebellion. The paper analyses the economic consequences of the institutions that emerge as the equilibrium of this struggle for power. High levels of economic activity depend on protecting private property from expropriation, but the model predicts this can only be achieved if power is not as concentrated as the elite would like it to be, ex post. Power sharing endogenously enables the elite to act as a government committed to property rights, which would otherwise be time inconsistent. But sharing power entails sharing rents, so in equilibrium power is too concentrated, leading to inefficiently low investment.
Measurability and safety verification for stochastic hybrid systems

Dealing with the interplay of randomness and continuous time is important for the formal verification of many real systems. Considering both facets is especially important for wireless sensor networks, distributed control applications, and many other systems of growing importance. An important traditional design and verification goal for such systems is to ensure that unsafe states can never be reached. In the stochastic setting, this translates to the question whether the probability to reach unsafe states remains tolerable. In this paper, we consider stochastic hybrid systems where the continuous-time behaviour is given by differential equations, as for usual hybrid systems, but the targets of discrete jumps are chosen by probability distributions. These distributions may be general measures on state sets. Also non-determinism is supported, and the latter is exploited in an abstraction and evaluation method that establishes safe upper bounds on reachability probabilities. To arrive there requires us to solve semantic intricacies as well as practical problems. In particular, we show that measurability of a complete system follows from the measurability of its constituent parts. On the practical side, we enhance tool support to work effectively on such general models. Experimental evidence is provided demonstrating the applicability of our approach on three case studies, tackled using a prototypical implementation.
Research Commentary - Cooperation, Coordination, and Governance in Multisourcing: An Agenda for Analytical and Empirical Research

Multisourcing, the practice of stitching together best-of-breed IT services from multiple, geographically dispersed service providers, represents the leading edge of modern organizational forms. While major strides have been achieved in the last decade in the information systems (IS) and strategic management literature in improving our understanding of outsourcing, the focus has been on a dyadic relationship between a client and a vendor. We demonstrate that a straightforward extrapolation of such a dyadic relationship falls short of addressing the nuanced incentive-effort-output linkages that arise when multiple vendors, who are competitors, have to cooperate and coordinate to achieve the client's business objectives. We suggest that when multiple vendors have to work together to deliver end-to-end services to a client, the choice of formal incentives and relational governance mechanisms depends on the degree of interdependence between the various tasks as well as the observability and verifiability of output. With respect to cooperation, we find that a vendor must not only put effort in a “primary” task it is responsible for but also cooperate through “helping” effort in enabling other vendors perform their primary tasks. In the context of coordination, we find that task redesign for modularity, OLAs, and governance structures such as the guardian vendor model represent important avenues for further research. Based on the analysis of actual multisourcing contract details over the last decade, interviews with leading practitioners, and a review of the single-sourcing literature, we lay a foundation for normative theories of multisourcing and present a research agenda in this domain.
Economic Analysis of Alternative Strategies for Detection of ALK Rearrangements in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Identification of alterations in ALK gene and development of ALK-directed therapies have increased the need for accurate and efficient detection methodologies. To date, research has focused on the concordance between the two most commonly used technologies, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, inter-test concordance reflects only one, albeit important, aspect of the diagnostic process; laboratories, hospitals, and payors must understand the cost and workflow of ALK rearrangement detection strategies. Through literature review combined with interviews of pathologists and laboratory directors in the U.S. and Europe, a cost-impact model was developed that compared four alternative testing strategies—IHC only, FISH only, IHC pre-screen followed by FISH confirmation, and parallel testing by both IHC and FISH. Interviews were focused on costs of reagents, consumables, equipment, and personnel. The resulting model showed that testing by IHC alone cost less ($90.07 in the U.S., $68.69 in Europe) than either independent or parallel testing by both FISH and IHC ($441.85 in the U.S. and $279.46 in Europe). The strategies differed in cost of execution, turnaround time, reimbursement, and number of positive results detected, suggesting that laboratories must weigh the costs and the clinical benefit of available ALK testing strategies.
Calculation of rate constants for vibrational and rotational excitation of the H+3 ion by electron impact

We present theoretical thermally averaged rate constants for vibrational and rotational (de-)excitation of the H + 3 ion by electron impact. The constants are calculated using the multichannel quantum-defect approach. The calculation includes processes that involve a change |ΔJ| ≤ 2 in the rotational angular momentum J of H + 3 . The rate constants are calculated for states with J ≤ 5 for rotational transitions of the H + 3 ground vibrational level. The thermal rates for transitions among the lowest eight vibrational levels are also presented, averaged over the rotational structure of the vibrational levels. The conditions for producing non-thermal rotational and vibrational distributions of H + 3 in astrophysical environments are discussed.
Implicit Media Tagging and Affect Prediction from video of spontaneous facial expressions, recorded with depth camera

We present a method that automatically evaluates emotional response from spontaneous facial activity recorded by a depth camera. The automatic evaluation of emotional response, or affect, is a fascinating challenge with many applications, including human-computer interaction, media tagging and human affect prediction. Our approach in addressing this problem is based on the inferred activity of facial muscles over time, as captured by a depth camera recording an individual's facial activity. Our contribution is two-fold: First, we constructed a database of publicly available short video clips, which elicit a strong emotional response in a consistent manner across different individuals. Each video was tagged by its characteristic emotional response along 4 scales: \emph{Valence, Arousal, Likability} and \emph{Rewatch} (the desire to watch again). The second contribution is a two-step prediction method, based on learning, which was trained and tested using this database of tagged video clips. Our method was able to successfully predict the aforementioned 4 dimensional representation of affect, as well as to identify the period of strongest emotional response in the viewing recordings, in a method that is blind to the video clip being watch, revealing a significantly high agreement between the recordings of independent viewers.
Recovery Policies for Enhancing Web Services Reliability

Web services are gaining acceptance as a standards-based approach for integrating loosely coupled services often distributed over a network. Hence, achieving high levels of reliability and availability in spite of service or infrastructure failures poses unique set of challenges. However, Web services middleware provide limited constructs for specifying faults detection and recovery actions. Additionally, faults-handling logic often gets scattered and tangled with the service logic. Consequently, this negatively impacts maintainability and adaptability. To address these requirements for reliable and fault tolerant Web services execution, we propose set extensible recovery policies to declaratively specify how to handle and recover from typical faults in Web services composition. The identified constructs were incorporated into a lightweight service management middleware named MASC (manageable and adaptive service composition) to transparently enact the fault management policies and facilitate the monitoring, configuration and control of managed services. Several experimental results with a service based supply chain management system illustrate the effectiveness of our approach to providing reliable and uninterrupted services
Evaluation of low-ohmic resistance measurement capabilities between VSL and NIST

The low-ohmic resistance measurement capabilities of the Van Swinden Laboratorium (VSL) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were compared using a set of resistors with values 100 mΩ, 10 mΩ, 1 mΩ, and 100 μΩ respectively. The measurement data of both laboratories generally agree well within the combined measurement uncertainties, ranging from 0.54 μΩ/Ω at 100 mΩ to 4.3 μΩ/Ω at 100 μΩ (k = 2). Careful transport of the resistors was crucial for achieving this result.