Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral contraceptives and risk of endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Combined oral contraceptives (OCs) inhibit ovulation, substantially reduce the volume of menstrual flow and may hypothetically interfere with implantation of refluxed endometrial cells. The aim of this review is to establish if OC use influences the risk of endometriosis. METHODS We performed a MEDLINE search to identify all studies published in the last four decades (January 1970 to January 2010) in the English language on the relationship between OC exposure and risk of endometriosis. Two authors abstracted data on standardized forms. RESULTS We identified 608 potentially relevant studies and 18 studies (6 cross-sectional, 7 case-control and 5 cohort) were selected. Pooling of the results derived from all the included reports independently from study design, yielded a common relative risk of 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47-0.85] for current OC users, 1.21 (95% CI, 0.94-1.56) for past users and 1.19 (95% CI, 0.89-1.60) for ever users. Methodological drawbacks, such as uncertain temporal relationship between exposure and outcome in cross-sectional studies and suboptimal selection of controls in case-control studies, limit the quality of the available evidence. CONCLUSIONS The risk of endometriosis appears reduced during OC use. However, it is not possible to exclude the possibility that the apparent protective effect of OC against endometriosis is the result of postponement of surgical evaluation due to temporary suppression of pain symptoms. Confounding by selection and indication biases may explain the trend towards an increase in risk of endometriosis observed after discontinuation, but further clarification is needed. To date, the hypothesis of recommending OCs for primary prevention of endometriosis does not seem sufficiently substantiated.
Cell contacts in duodenal smooth muscle layers.

HENDERSON, RUTH M. , GUSZTAV DUCHON, AND EDWIN E. DANIEL. Cell contacts in duodenal smooth muscle layers. Am. J. Physiol. 221(Z) : 564-574. 197 1 . -Two types of cell contacts are described in canine duodenal smooth muscle, perfused in situ with glutaraldehyde fixative. The first is the five-layered junction or nexus. This junction is found only in the circular muscle and therefore cannot participate in electrical coupling in the longitudinal layer. The second type, which occurs largely in the longitudinal layer but also occasionally in the circular, consists of a region with parallelism of cell membranes, increased cytoplasmic density, an intercellular space of approximately 50 nm (500 A), and a central denser line. Experiments in which cells were shrunk by perfusion with a hypertonic solution or strongly contracted by acetylcholine or high potassium left both types of contact intact. This indicates that they are resistant to mechanical separation, and also that the observed uncoupling of slow waves in intestinal muscle under these conditions cannot be due simply to gross disruption of nexuses.
The role and prognostic impact of lymph node ratio on stage III colorectal cancer

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with stage III colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods We included 35 stage III colorectal cancer patients who underwent a curative resection at the County Clinic Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, 5th Surgical Clinic between January 2006-July2008. Patients were categorized into LNR groups 1 to 5 according to cut-off points: <0.1; 0.21; 0.36; 0.6; >0.61. The Kaplan-Meier and the Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the prognostic effect according to the LNR. Results From one hundred forty-eight patients who underwent colorectal cancer resection, 33.1 % were stage III and 35 patients met the study inclusion criteria. The five-year survival rate in N1 group was 64.62% compared to the N2 group, where it was 8.57% (p<0.001) The lymph node ratio (LNR) groups consisted of 5 cases (14.2%) in LNR1 group (<0.1), five-year survival rate 100%, 6 cases (17.14%) in LNR2 group (0.11–0.21), five-year survival rate 83.33%, 8 cases (22.8%) in LNR3 group (0.22–0.36), five-year survival rate 37.5%, 12 cases (34.28%) in LNR4 group (0.37–0.60), survival rate 0%, and LNR5 group (>0.6). The relationship between the five-year survival rates in the five LNR groups results in a statistically significant proportionality (p<0.001). Conclusion Lymph node ratio can be considered a more accurate and potent modality for prognosis in stage III colorectal cancer and may improve stratification in this heterogenous group of patients.
Geometric methods in the theory of singular 2-D linear systems

A geometric approach for systems represented by a singular 2D Fornasini-Mar chesini model is developed by introducing suitable notions of invariant subspace and controlled invariant subspace of the state space. The first notion is shown to be usefull in characterizin g the set of compatible boundary conditions and in studying the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the state space equation of the considered models. The second notion is proved to be relevant in investigating the solvability of a Disturbance Decoupling Problem and is employed for stating a constructive sufficient condition for the existence of solutions to such problem.
Visible Light Curable Restorative Composites for Dental Applications Based on Epoxy Monomer

A cationic photo-curable cycloaliphatic epoxy resin has been investigated as reactive monomer in blue light crosslinking process. We have demonstrated that camphorquinone is able to abstract labile hydrogen from the epoxy monomer, giving rise to the formation of carbon-centered radicals that are oxidized by the onium salt; a complete epoxy group conversion was reached after 50 s of irradiation. The presence of water up to 1 wt% was tolerated without any important detrimental effect on the kinetics of light-curing. The presence of the inorganic filler up to 65 wt% did not significantly influence the curing process.
“Paper or Plastic?”: How We Pay Influences Post-Transaction Connection

Does the way that individuals pay for a good or service influence the amount of connection they feel after the purchase has occurred? Employing a multi-method approach across four studies, individuals who pay using a relatively more painful form of payment (e.g., cash or check) increase their post-transaction connection to the product they purchased and/or the organization their purchase supports in comparison to those who pay with less painful forms of payment (e.g., debit or credit card). Specifically, individuals who pay with more painful forms of payment increase their emotional attachment to a product, decrease their commitment to nonchosen alternatives, are more likely to publicly signal their commitment to an organization, and are more likely to make a repeat transaction. Moreover, the form of payment influences post-transaction connection even when the objective monetary cost remains constant and when the psychological cost is indirect (i.e., donating someone else's money). Increasing the psychological pain of payment appears to have beneficial consequences with respect to increasing downstream product and brand connection.
"Boosted lubrication" in synovial joints by fluid entrapment and enrichment.

The manner in which a human load-bearing synovial joint is able to carry the applied loads has been the subject of speculation for many years. In the past, a number of theories have been advanced each using as a basis one of several modes of lubrication well known to mechanical engineets. More recently some of the more unique characteristics of human cartilage have been recognized, and theories have been modified accordingly. Thus MacConaill (1932) proposed an explanation based upon a type of lubrication known to engineers as "hydrodynamic", Charnley (1960) proposed an explanation based upon "boundary lubrication", and McCutchen (1962, 1966) explored the possibilities of "weeping lubrication". In the light of further study an explanation has been proposed by Linn (1967). Davies, Barnett, CocIrane, and Palfrey (1962) and Edwards (1967) have investigated the properties of articular surfaces. Negami (1964) along with Davies (1966) has studied the rheological properties of synovial fluid. Rydell (1965) and Paul (1967) have investigated the forces which act through joints in normal circumstances. Certainly, if an understanding is to be reached concerning the role of synovial fluid in a human load-carrying joint, the physical characteristics of the articular surfaces, in addition to those of the synovial fluid, must be taken into account. In the present study, a number of friction experiments were designed to investigate the extent to which the various modes of lubrication were present in physiological conditions. The overall geometry of the fluid-filled gap between the mating articular surfaces has been investigated, and the microscopic surface quality of cartilage has been recorded. On the basis of these observations, the features of normal joint lubrication are described and the factors which encourage full fluid film lubrication are listed. "Boosted lubrication", the name given to a mode of lubrication not previously described,
FLÖRT ŞİDDETİ TUTUM ÖLÇEĞİ GEÇERLİK VE GÜVENİRLİK ÇALIŞMASI

Amac: Bu arastirmada genclerin flort iliskilerinde siddete yonelik tutumlarinin belirlenmesi icin bir olcek gelistirilmesi amaclanmistir. Yontem: Arastirmanin orneklemini 1045 universite ogrencisi olusturmustur. Arastirmada ilgili literatur taramasi, kompozisyon yazdirma ve odak grup gorusmeleri dogrultusunda gelistirilen ve alti uzmandan gorus alinarak 130 degiskeni iceren madde havuzu olusturulmustur. Verilerin analizi madde toplam test korelasyonu, Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) ve Barlett Sphericity testi, dogrulayici ve acimlayici faktor analizi ile yapilmistir. Bulgular: Analizler sonucunda toplam varyansin %53.15’ini aciklayan 28 maddeli ve 5 faktorlu olcek elde edilmistir. Olcegin Cronbach-alpha guvenirlik katsayisi 0.91 olarak belirlenmistir.Arastirmada test-tekrar test guvenirlik testinde, iki olcum puanlari arasinda istatistiksel olarak onemli bir fark bulunmamistir (p>0.05). Sonuc: Flort siddetine yonelik tutumlari belirlemek amaciyla gelistirilen olcegin Turk toplumuna uygun ve guvenilir bir olcme araci oldugu degerlendirilmistir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Şiddet; flort siddet; tutum ABSTRACT The Validity and Reliability of The Dating Violence Scale Objective: In this study, it was aimed to develop a scale to identify students’ attitudes towards dating violence. Method: The study sample consisted of1045 university students 130 variables pool were developed in the direction of literature searching, composition and focus group interviews along with expert opinion. Data were analised using the item total test correlation, Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) and Barlett Sphericity test, confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. Results: In the result of the analysis, 28 items and 5 factor scale describing the 53.15% of the variance was obtained. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was determined as 0.91. In this research, in the test-retest reliability test, the difference between the two measurement scores was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Finally, it was concluded that the dating violence scale was that aimed to develop attitudes towards dating violence to be a suitable and reliable scale for Turkish society. Keywords: Violence; dating violence;attitude
Anthrose Biosynthetic Operon of Bacillus anthracis

ABSTRACT The exosporium of Bacillus anthracis spores consists of a basal layer and an external hair-like nap. The nap is composed primarily of the glycoprotein BclA, which contains a collagen-like region with multiple copies of a pentasaccharide side chain. This oligosaccharide possesses an unusual terminal sugar called anthrose, followed by three rhamnose residues and a protein-bound N-acetylgalactosamine. Based on the structure of anthrose, we proposed an enzymatic pathway for its biosynthesis. Examination of the B. anthracis genome revealed six contiguous genes that could encode the predicted anthrose biosynthetic enzymes. These genes are transcribed in the same direction and appear to form two operons. We introduced mutations into the B. anthracis chromosome that either delete the promoter of the putative upstream, four-gene operon or delete selected genes in both putative operons. Spores produced by strains carrying mutations in the upstream operon completely lacked or contained much less anthrose, indicating that this operon is required for anthrose biosynthesis. In contrast, inactivation of the downstream, two-gene operon did not alter anthrose content. Additional experiments confirmed the organization of the anthrose operon and indicated that it is transcribed from a σE-specific promoter. Finally, we demonstrated that anthrose biosynthesis is not restricted to B. anthracis as previously suggested.
Workplace demography and attitudinal outcomes: The role of power, status, and diversity climate within groups

WORKPLACE DEMOGRAPHY AND ATTITUDINAL OUTCOMES: THE ROLE OF POWER, STATUS, AND DIVERSITY CLIMATE WITHIN GROUPS By Abdifatah Ahmed Ali The study explored to what extent various environmental features can explain away the asymmetrical effects found in the relational demography literature. We used two theoretical paradigms stemming from different scientific disciplines: status and power dynamics from sociology and inclusion and diversity climate from management. We posited the composition of group members as well as those occupying managerial positions would serve as status and power signals for out-group employees (women, minorities). These signals would in turn have implications for the type of attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions) women and minority employees endorse. Further, we posited that an inclusive climate would inhibit social categorization processes for both in-group and out-group employees therefore leading to better attitudinal outcomes. Across two samples, we found that the status and power perspective did not account for the asymmetrical effects, whereas the diversity climate perspective did in most of our hypotheses. We highlight the implications for research utilizing both theoretical perspectives and make recommendations to companies regarding ways to address composition and diversity climate issues within workgroups. Copyright by ABDIFATAH AHMED ALI 2015
Diversification, Productivity, and Financial Constraints: Empirical Evidence from the US Electric Utility Industry

We examine the real effects of parent firm diversification on their electric utility operating companies over the period, 1990-2003. Since electric utility operating companies produce a single homogenous product, we can better measure their Total Factor Productivity and make valid comparisons of productivity across firms. We find that, consistent with a diversification discount, greater parent diversification is associated with lower productivity across electric utility operating companies. However, the productivity of the electric utility operating companies improves with greater parent diversification over time. Diversification appears to provide an alternative channel to divert investment dollars away from overinvestment in the core electric business. Finally, we find that the improvement in the productivity of the electric utility operating companies from greater parent firm diversification over time is limited to financially constrained firms. This suggests that when managers have no resources to waste, it is more likely that any diversification activities are carefully planned and undertaken for strategic purposes that can help to increase productivity of the core business.
Calibration of Three-Axis Magnetometer Using Stretching Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

In this paper, a stochastic optimization algorithm is proposed to calibrate the three-axis magnetometer onboard. The sensor errors, namely, hard iron, soft iron, nonorthogonality, scale factors, and bias, are taken into account. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) strategy is used to do the calibration, enhanced by the stretching technique to improve the accuracy and robustness. The performance of this algorithm is evaluated with a series of laboratory experiments and a field experiment of autonomous underwater vehicle. Comparisons with other analytical calibration methods are made. The results demonstrate that both the PSO and the stretched PSO algorithm can significantly compensate the magnetometer readings, and the latter algorithm has higher accuracy and more robustness.
Nonlocal Hierarchical Dictionary Learning Using Wavelets for Image Denoising

Exploiting the sparsity within representation models for images is critical for image denoising. The best currently available denoising methods take advantage of the sparsity from image self-similarity, pre-learned, and fixed representations. Most of these methods, however, still have difficulties in tackling high noise levels or noise models other than Gaussian. In this paper, the multiresolution structure and sparsity of wavelets are employed by nonlocal dictionary learning in each decomposition level of the wavelets. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms two state-of-the-art image denoising algorithms on higher noise levels. Furthermore, our approach is more adaptive to the less extensively researched uniform noise.
Are Long-Term Non-Progressors Very Slow Progressors? Insights from the Chelsea and Westminster HIV Cohort, 1988–2010

Define and identify long-term non-progressors (LTNP) and HIV controllers (HIC), and estimate time until disease progression. LTNP are HIV-1+ patients who maintain stable CD4+ T-cell counts, with no history of opportunistic infection or antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIC are a subset of LTNP who additionally have undetectable viraemia. These individuals may provide insights for prophylactic and therapeutic development. Records of HIV-1+ individuals attending Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (1988–2010), were analysed. LTNP were defined as: HIV-1+ for >7 years; ART-naïve; no history of opportunistic infection and normal, stable CD4+ T-cell counts. MIXED procedure in SAS using random intercept model identified long-term stable CD4+ T-cell counts. Survival analysis estimated time since diagnosis until disease progression. Subjects exhibiting long-term stable CD4+ T-cell counts with history below the normal range (<450 cells/µl blood) were compared to LTNP whose CD4+ T-cell count always remained normal. Within these two groups subjects with HIV-1 RNA load below limit of detection (BLD) were identified. Of 14,227 patients, 1,204 were diagnosed HIV-1+ over 7 years ago and were ART-naïve. Estimated time until disease progression for the 20% (239) whose CD4+ T-cell counts remained within the normal range, was 6.2 years (IQR: 2.0 to 9.6); significantly longer than 4.0 years (IQR: 1.0 to 7.3) for patients with historical CD4+ T-cell count below normal (Logrank chi-squared = 21.26; p<0.001). Within a subpopulation of 312 asymptomatic patients, 50 exhibited long-term stable CD4+ T-cell counts. Of these, 13 were LTNP, one of whom met HIC criteria. Of the remaining 37 patients with long-term stable low CD4+ T-cell counts, 3 controlled HIV-1 RNA load BLD. Individuals with stable, normal CD4+ T-cell counts progressed less rapidly than those with low CD4+ T-cell counts. Few LTNP and HIC identified in this and other studies, endorse the need for universal definitions to facilitate comparison.
Lattice-based adaptive random testing

Adaptive Random Testing (ART) denotes a family of testing algorithms that have a better performance compared to pure random testing with respect to the number of test cases necessary to detect the first failure. Many of these algorithms, however, are not very efficient regarding runtime. A new ART algorithm is presented that has a better performance than all other ART methods for the block failure pattern. Its runtime is linear in the number of test cases selected, which is nearly as efficient as pure random testing, as opposed to most other ART methods. This new ART algorithm selects the test cases based on a lattice.
Association of Knowledge of HIV and Other Factors with Individuals’ Attitudes toward HIV Infection: A National Cross-Sectional Survey among the Japanese Non-Medical Working Population

Background The stigma of and discrimination because of HIV has been described as the most important obstacle to prevention and treatment efforts. The purpose of this study was to investigate negative attitudes and prejudice toward HIV among the Japanese non-medical working population and to explore contributing factors. Methods An online anonymous nationwide survey involving approximately 3,000 individuals was conducted in Japan. Questions ranged from background information and HIV knowledge to individuals’ attitudes towards HIV infection in the workplace. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied for analysis. Results Thirty-three percent of participants feared transmission of HIV from infected colleagues, 34% tended to avoid contact with them and 40% had prejudiced opinions about HIV infection. Despite a relatively high level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS overall (11.9±3.3 from 15 points), only 50% of individuals were aware of some issues. Greater knowledge was associated with less negative attitudes towards HIV infection (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.31–0.48 for prejudiced opinion, high compared with low level of knowledge), whereas greater health consciousness was inversely related to attitude (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.50–2.58 for prejudiced opinion, high compared with low health consciousness). Conclusion Knowledge neutralizes peoples’ negative attitudes towards HIV infection, whereas greater health consciousness may worsen them. Educational programs should balance knowledge with health consciousness to improve the efficacy of HIV interventions.
Fluxes of carbon and nutrients to the Iceland Sea surface layer and inferred primary productivity and stoichiometry

Abstract. This study evaluates long-term mean fluxes of carbon and nutrients to the upper 100 m of the Iceland Sea. The study utilises hydro-chemical data from the Iceland Sea time series station (68.00° N, 12.67° W), for the years between 1993 and 2006. By comparing data of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrients in the surface layer (upper 100 m), and a sub-surface layer (100–200 m), we calculate monthly deficits in the surface, and use these to deduce the long-term mean surface layer fluxes that affect the deficits: vertical mixing, horizontal advection, air–sea exchange, and biological activity. The deficits show a clear seasonality with a minimum in winter, when the mixed layer is at the deepest, and a maximum in early autumn, when biological uptake has removed much of the nutrients. The annual vertical fluxes of DIC and nitrate amounts to 2.9 ± 0.5 and 0.45 ± 0.09 mol m−2 yr−1, respectively, and the annual air–sea uptake of atmospheric CO2 is 4.4 ± 1.1 mol C m−2 yr−1. The biologically driven changes in DIC during the year relates to net community production (NCP), and the net annual NCP corresponds to export production, and is here calculated as 7.3 ± 1.0 mol C m−2 yr−1. The typical, median C : N ratio during the period of net community uptake is 9.0, and clearly higher than the Redfield ratio, but is varying during the season.