Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cancer incidence rates among South Asians in four geographic regions: India, Singapore, UK and US.

BACKGROUND Data are limited regarding cancer incidence among Indians residing in different geographic regions around the world. Examining such rates may provide us with insights into future aetiological research possibilities as well as screening and prevention. METHODS Incidence rates for all cancers combined and 19 specific cancers were obtained for India from Globocan 2002, for Indians in Singapore from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (VIII), and from national data sources for South Asians (SA) in the United Kingdom (UK) and for Asian Indians/Pakistanis (AIP) and whites in the United States (US). RESULTS We observed the lowest total cancer incidence rates in India (111 and 116 per 100,000 among males and females, respectively, age-standardized to the 1960 world population) and the highest among US whites (362 and 296). Cancer incidence rates among Indians residing outside of India were: intermediate Singapore (102 and 132), UK (173 and 179) and US ranges 152-176 and 142-164. A similar pattern was observed for cancers of the colorectum, prostate, thyroid, pancreas, lung, breast and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In contrast, rates for cancers of the oral cavity, oesophagus, larynx and cervix uteri were highest in India. Although little geographic variability was apparent for stomach cancer incidence, Indians in Singapore had the highest rates compared with any other region. The UK SA and the US AIP appear with adopt the cancer patterns of their host country. CONCLUSION Variations in environmental exposures such as tobacco use, diet and infection, as well as better health care access and knowledge may explain some of the observed incidence differences.
Oriented chain-extended polyethylene

Abstract Simple observations have been made of the fracture behaviour and Young's modulus parallel to c, for drawn polyethylene after annealing at 5·34 kbar between 220 and 260°C. The modulus shows three regions of behaviour, corresponding to the textural changes described in the preceding paper. At first the polymer has extra stiffness associated with drawing, but this has disappeared by 236°C when the average crystal thickness is only of order 500 A. There follows a region of series behaviour, to 1000 A thickness, in which the modulus increases according to the proportion of crystalline and interlamellar regions, both of which have constant properties. Beyond this the polymer softens abruptly as chain-extended lamellae replace chainfolded and then stiffens again with further increase of crystal thickness. The maximum overall chain modulus produced is about 40 kbar, essentially determined by the proportion of interlamellar regions, which have a modulus of 3 kbar. Attainment of the theoretical modulus req.
Collaborative Filtering-Based Recommendation of Online Social Voting

Social voting is an emerging new feature in online social networks. It poses unique challenges and opportunities for recommendation. In this paper, we develop a set of matrix-factorization (MF) and nearest-neighbor (NN)-based recommender systems (RSs) that explore user social network and group affiliation information for social voting recommendation. Through experiments with real social voting traces, we demonstrate that social network and group affiliation information can significantly improve the accuracy of popularity-based voting recommendation, and social network information dominates group affiliation information in NN-based approaches. We also observe that social and group information is much more valuable to cold users than to heavy users. In our experiments, simple metapath-based NN models outperform computation-intensive MF models in hot-voting recommendation, while users’ interests for nonhot votings can be better mined by MF models. We further propose a hybrid RS, bagging different single approaches to achieve the best top- $k$ hit rate.
Critical Issues in the Evaluation of Comorbidity of Psychiatric Disorders

Comorbidity has become an increasingly popular theme in psychiatry and clinical psychology, although its heuristic value was recognised long ago. Frequently used in research and practice, no definition of comorbidity is uniformly accepted and it has no comprehensive and coherent theoretical framework. These factors have led to substantial variation in the magnitude of comorbidity across studies. The variability in the definition, assessment and design of comorbidity studies has led to an increasingly complex and confusing picture about the potential value of this concept. The full exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity requires an interdisciplinary approach to investigating nosology, assessment, and underlying models of comorbidity, as well as experimental study designs beyond the scope of clinical and epidemiological studies. A more precise specification of comorbidity patterns might help identify common biochemical and cognitive markers relevant in the aetiology of specific mental disorders as well as comorbid conditions. Critical issues that might help us understand and explain the variability of findings are described.
Radiofrequency, high-frequency, and electrocautery treatments vs partial inferior turbinotomy: microscopic and macroscopic effects on nasal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE To compare the microscopic and macroscopic effects of radiofrequency, high-frequency, and electrocautery therapies with partial inferior turbinotomy in the treatment of nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy. DESIGN Nonrandomized controlled trial. SETTING Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Genoa. PATIENTS The study included 80 patients affected by nasal obstruction from hypertrophied inferior turbinates. INTERVENTIONS Homogeneous patient groups A, B, C, and D underwent radiofrequency, high-frequency, and electrocautery treatments and partial inferior turbinotomy, respectively, to surgically reduce hypertrophied inferior turbinates. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Prior to surgery and at 7-day and 2-month follow-up evaluations, patients' outcomes were assessed via visual analogue scale, nasal endoscopy, nasal monofilament test, nasal mucociliary transport time (NMTT), anterior active rhinomanometry, and histologic examination of microbiopsy specimens from the inferior turbinate mucosa. RESULTS Compared with groups A, B, and C 2 months after surgery, group D showed a lower subjective assessment of symptoms score, normal NMTT (vs an increase in all other groups), lower stimulus to trigger a touch response at monofilament test (vs hyposensitivity in the other groups), and absence of histologic changes. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, no one has previously performed comparative studies to conclusively demonstrate which surgical technique is ideal. Our results show that the partial inferior nasal turbinotomy is the best method of treatment because it most effectively maintains satisfactory nasal physiologic integrity without damaging nasal mucosa or underlying nerves.
Possible Selves and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life

The pursuit of personal goals has been linked to general psychological well-being; however, less is known about the association with depression in later adulthood when individuals are contending with age-related changes in health and social relationships. We explored the connection between both health- and social related goals (as measured by possible selves) and depressive symptoms in a sample of 85 community-dwelling older adults who ranged in age from 60 to 92 (M = 74, standard deviation = 7.5). Participants took part in face-to-face, semistructured interviews in which they responded to measures of possible selves (future images of oneself), health, and depressive symptoms. We found that the presence of health-related, but not social-related, possible selves was significantly associated with fewer reported depressive symptoms. Additionally, the presence of health-related fears was specifically linked to fewer reported depressive symptoms. These findings suggested that the promotion of and investment in health-related personal goals may be useful in off-setting depressive symptoms in older adults, as well as indicated a potential benefit of a disease prevention focus regarding health in later life. Finally, the results may have implications for potential clinical interventions in addressing late-life depression.
Regulation and characterization of Thermobifida fusca carbohydrate‐binding module proteins E7 and E8

E7, a single domain Family 33 cellulose binding module (CBM) protein, and E8, a non‐catalytic, three‐domain protein consisting of a Family 33 CBM, a FNIII domain, followed by a Family 2 CBM, were cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized. Western blots showed that E7 and E8 were induced and secreted when Thermobifida fusca was grown on cellobiose, Solka floc, switchgrass, or alfalfa as well as on β‐1,3 linked glucose molecules such as laminaribiose or pachyman. E8 bound well to α‐ and β‐chitin and bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC) at all pHs tested. E7 bound strongly to β‐chitin, less well to α‐chitin and more weakly to BMCC than E8. Filter paper binding assays showed that E7 was 28% bound, E8 was 39% bound, a purified CBM2 binding domain from Cel6B was 88% bound, and only 5% of the Cel5A catalytic domain was bound. A C‐terminal 6×His tag influenced binding of both E7 and E8 to these substrates. Filter paper activity assays showed enhanced activity of T. fusca cellulases when E7 or E8 was present. This effect was observed at very low concentrations of cellulases or at very long times into the reaction and was mainly independent of the type of cellulase and the number of cellulases in the mixture. E8, and to a lesser extent E7, significantly enhanced the activity of Serratia marscescens Chitinase C on β‐chitin. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 1066–1077. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
D‐4F, an apoA‐I mimetic peptide, inhibits proliferation and tumorigenicity of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by upregulating the antioxidant enzyme MnSOD

We recently reported that apoA‐I and apoA‐I mimetic peptides prevent the development of flank tumors in immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice. To delineate the mechanism(s) of action of apoA‐I mimetic peptides in tumor development, we examined the effect of D‐4F (an apoA‐I mimetic peptide) on the antioxidant status and on the gene expression and function of antioxidant enzymes in ID8 cells (a mouse epithelial ovarian cancer cell line) and in a mouse model. We demonstrate that D‐4F treatment significantly reduces the viability and proliferation of ID8 cells, with a concomitant improvement of the antioxidant status of ID8 cells as measured by lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide levels. D‐4F treatment induces MnSOD (but not CuZnSOD) mRNA, protein, and activity. Inhibition of MnSOD in ID8 cells using shRNA vectors abrogates the inhibitory effects of D‐4F on ID8 cell viability and proliferation. Moreover, tumor development from ID8 cells carrying shRNA for MnSOD were unaffected by D‐4F treatment. Our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of D‐4F on ID8 cell proliferation and tumor development are mediated, at least in part, by the induced expression and activity of MnSOD.
Naturally occurring variation in the Glutathione-S-Transferase 4 gene determines neurodegeneration after traumatic brain injury.

AIM Genetic factors are important for outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI), although exact knowledge of relevant genes/pathways is still lacking. We here used an unbiased approach to define differentially activated pathways between the inbred DA and PVG rat strains. The results prompted us to study further if a naturally occurring genetic variation in glutathione-S-transferase alpha 4 (Gsta4) affects the outcome after TBI. RESULTS Survival of neurons after experimental TBI is increased in PVG compared to the DA strain. Global expression profiling analysis shows the glutathione metabolism pathway to be the most regulated between the strains, with increased Gsta4 in PVG among top regulated transcripts. A congenic strain (R5) with a PVG genomic insert containing the Gsta4 gene on DA background displays a reversal of the strain pattern for Gsta4 expression and increased survival of neurons compared to DA. Gsta4 is known to effectively reduce 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), a noxious by-product of lipid peroxidation. Immunostaining of 4-HNE was evident in both rat and human TBI. Intracerebral injection of 4-HNE resulted in neurodegeneration with increased levels of a marker for nerve injury in cerebrospinal fluid of DA compared to R5. INNOVATION These findings provide strong support for the notion that the inherent capability of coping with increased 4-HNE after TBI affects outcome in terms of nerve cell loss. CONCLUSION A naturally occurring variation in Gsta4 expression in rats affects neurodegeneration after TBI. Further studies are needed to explore if genetic variability in Gsta4 can be associated to outcome also in human TBI.
Similarities between decapod and insect neuropeptidomes

Background. Neuropeptides are important regulators of physiological processes and behavior. Although they tend to be generally well conserved, recent results using trancriptome sequencing on decapod crustaceans give the impression of significant differences between species, raising the question whether such differences are real or artefacts. Methods. The BLAST+ program was used to find short reads coding neuropeptides and neurohormons in publicly available short read archives. Such reads were then used to find similar reads in the same archives, and the DNA assembly program Trinity was employed to construct contigs encoding the neuropeptide precursors as completely as possible. Results. The seven decapod species analyzed in this fashion, the crabs Eriocheir sinensis, Carcinus maenas and Scylla paramamosain, the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, the lobster Homarus americanus, the fresh water prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii had remarkably similar neuropeptidomes. Although some neuropeptide precursors could not be assembled, in many cases individual reads pertaining to the missing precursors show unambiguously that these neuropeptides are present in these species. In other cases, the tissues that express those neuropeptides were not used in the construction of the cDNA libraries. One novel neuropeptide was identified: elongated PDH (pigment dispersing hormone), a variation on PDH that has a two-amino-acid insertion in its core sequence. Hyrg is another peptide that is ubiquitously present in decapods and is likely a novel neuropeptide precursor. Discussion. Many insect species have lost one or more neuropeptide genes, but apart from elongated PDH and hyrg all other decapod neuropeptides are present in at least some insect species, and allatotropin is the only insect neuropeptide missing from decapods. This strong similarity between insect and decapod neuropeptidomes makes it possible to predict the receptors for decapod neuropeptides that have been deorphanized in insects. This includes the androgenic insulin-like peptide that seems to be homologous to drosophila insulin-like peptide 8.
Testing the Model of Goal-Directed Behavior for Predicting Binge Drinking Among Young People

ABSTRACT Background: One of the most problematic modes of alcohol consumption in young adults is risky drinking in single episodes, which typically takes place in social contexts. Several studies have applied the Theory of Planned Behavior to drinking intentions and behavior in young people. However, previous studies show that this model lacks a “bridge” that links a mental process like intentions to a physical process represented by the actual action. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to test the predictive power of the Model of Goal-Directed Behavior plus social influences in order to overcome theory of planned behavior gaps in predicting binge-drinking behavior in young people. Methods: 404 undergraduates completed a questionnaire containing measures for the MGB variables, social identity, and group norms. Two weeks later, participants reported how many times they had had five/four or more alcoholic drinks on a single occasion. Structural equation modeling revealed strong support for model validity. Results: The final equation accounted for 66% in intentions to binge drink, and 48% in drinking behavior, while a planned behavior model accounted for the 47% of variance in intentions to binge and 37% of the drinking behavior. Social influences positively affected desire and intentions to drink. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, compared to other attitude-behavior frameworks, the MGB is preferable in modeling the proximal determinants of binge drinking. Therefore, the distinction between desire and intention and the consideration of social influences seem to be essential to improve the prediction of binge drinking among young people.
Comparison between sublimation and evaporation as process for growing lead iodide polycrystalline films

Polycrystalline films were grown by physical vapor deposition using lead iodide purified by evaporation as starting material. Purity and stoichiometry of starting material were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma and wet procedures. Palladium film was thermal deposited as rear contact onto glass and alumina substrates 5x5 cm2 in size. Onto it, lead iodide films were grown by evaporation with source temperatures from 430 to 450 degree(s)C in a 500 mmHg Argon atmosphere. Substrate temperature were from 200 to 250 degree(s)C and deposition times from 2 to 10 days. Film thickness was measured by 59.5 keV (241Am) emission absorption, resulting values up to 50micrometers . The films were characterized by optical and atomic force microscopy, giving an average grain size up to 2micrometers . Film's low temperature photoluminescence confirmed the purity of the starting material. X-ray diffraction measurements of film's reflections show an intensity relation [(Sigma) I(0 0 l)] / [(Sigma) I(h k l)] from 0.2 to 0.9 that correlates to the film deposition temperature. For determining electrical and spectrometric properties, front palladium thermal deposition contacts and acrylic encapsulation were done onto the lead iodide films. Apparent resistivities from 1012 to 1015 (Omega) . cm and current densities in the order of 6 pA/cm2 (50 V) were determined. X-ray film response and uniformity was checked by irradiating with an X-ray medical equipment. Film properties and performance were correlated with starting material and substrate temperature, with previous results for lead iodide films grew by other methods and with similar results for mercuric iodide films.
Tilting Cotorsion Pairs

Let R be a ring and T a 1‐tilting right R‐module. Then T is of countable type. Moreover, T is of finite type in the case where R is a Prüfer domain. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 16D90, 16D30, 13G05 (primary), 03E75, 20K40, 16G99 (secondary).
Using Simulated 3D Surface Fuelbeds and Terrestrial Laser Scan Data to Develop Inputs to Fire Behavior Models

Abstract Understanding fine-scale variability in understory fuels is increasingly important as physics-based fire behavior models drive needs for higher-resolution data. Describing fuelbeds 3Dly is critical in determining vertical and horizontal distributions of fuel elements and the mass, especially in frequently burned pine ecosystems where fine-scale fuels arrangement drives fire intensity and resulting fire effects. Here, we describe research involving the use of highly resolved 3D models. We create fuelbeds using individual grass, litter, and pinecone models designed from field measurements. These fuel models are distributed throughout the fuelbed to replicate fuel distribution in rectified nadir photography taken for each plot. The simulated fuelbeds are converted into voxel arrays and biomass is estimated from calculated surface area between mesh vertices for each voxel. We compare field-based fuel depth and biomass with simulated estimates to demonstrate similarities and differences. Biomass distributions between simulated fuel beds and terrestrial laser scan data correlated well using Weibull shape parameters (r = 0.86). Our findings indicate that integration of field, simulated, and terrestrial laser scanner data will improve characterization of fuel mass, type, and spatial allocations that are important inputs to physics-based fire behavior models.
Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in University Students

An analysis of psychological well-being (self-esteem and subjective vitality) of 639 Spanish university students was performed, while accounting for the amount of leisure-time physical activity. The Spanish versions of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Subjective Vitality Scale were employed. Participants were divided into four groups (Low, Moderate, High, and Very high) depending on estimation of energy expenditure in leisure-time physical activity. Men and women having higher physical activity rated higher mean subjective vitality; however, differences in self-esteem were observed only in men, specifically between Very high and the other physical activity groups.
Transfer Entropy Reconstruction and Labeling of Neuronal Connections from Simulated Calcium Imaging

Neuronal dynamics are fundamentally constrained by the underlying structural network architecture, yet much of the details of this synaptic connectivity are still unknown even in neuronal cultures in vitro. Here we extend a previous approach based on information theory, the Generalized Transfer Entropy, to the reconstruction of connectivity of simulated neuronal networks of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We show that, due to the model-free nature of the developed measure, both kinds of connections can be reliably inferred if the average firing rate between synchronous burst events exceeds a small minimum frequency. Furthermore, we suggest, based on systematic simulations, that even lower spontaneous inter-burst rates could be raised to meet the requirements of our reconstruction algorithm by applying a weak spatially homogeneous stimulation to the entire network. By combining multiple recordings of the same in silico network before and after pharmacologically blocking inhibitory synaptic transmission, we show then how it becomes possible to infer with high confidence the excitatory or inhibitory nature of each individual neuron.
Radiosurgery with Chemotherapy as an Alternative to RT for Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients 65 Years Old or Older: A Prospective Review of 40 Patients

Introduction: Elderly patients have historically been treated with conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods: We reviewed the results of treatment approaches, which included surgery, chemotherapy, and Gamma Knife (GK) radiosurgery, as an alternative to EBRT in this cohort of patients. Patients were treated during the period of 1999-2010 and were 65 years of age and older with histologically confirmed GBM. Results: Forty patients, 65 years of age and older without previous radiation therapy (RT), were identified. Median age was 75 years (range 65-95). Median overall survival (OS) time was 10.9 months. Analysis showed that patients treated with GK, surgical resection, and chemotherapy (median OS of 14.2) had a significantly higher (P=.03) OS than patients treated with GK, chemotherapy, and no surgical resection (median OS of 8.9 months) and than patients with GK, surgical resection, and no chemotherapy (median OS of 5.37 months). Conclusions: In this study of glioblastoma patients over the age of 65 years with no previous RT, aggressive treatment with Gamma Knife radiosurgery, chemotherapy, and surgery is associated with improved OS. Categories: Radiation Oncology, Neurosurgery