Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scholarlycommons Psc Working Paper Series Population Studies Center Estimating Smoking-attributable Mortality in the United States Estimating Smoking-attributable Mortality in the United States Estimating Smoking-attributable Mortality in the United States

Tobacco is the largest single cause of premature death in the developed world. Two methods of estimating the number of deaths attributable to smoking use mortality from lung cancer as an indicator of the damage from smoking. We reestimate the coefficients of one of these, the Preston/Glei/Wilmoth model, using recent data from U.S. states. We calculate smoking attributable fractions for the 50 states and the U.S. as a whole in 2000 and 2004. We estimate that 21% of adult deaths among men and 17% among women were attributable to smoking in 2004. Across states, attributable fractions range from 11% to 30% among men and from 7% to 23% among women. Smoking related mortality also explains as much as 60% of the mortality disadvantage of Southern states. At the national level, our estimates are in close agreement with those of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Preston/Glei/Wilmoth, particularly for men. But we find greater variability by state than does CDC. We suggest that our coefficients are suitable for calculating smoking-attributable mortality in contexts with relatively mature cigarette smoking epidemics. ABSTRACT Tobacco is the largest single cause of premature death in the developed world. Two methods of estimating the number of deaths attributable to smoking use mortality from lung cancer as an indicator of the damage from smoking. We reestimate the coefficients of one of these, the Preston/Glei/Wilmoth model, using recent data from U.S. states. We calculate smoking attributable fractions for the 50 states and the U.S. as a whole in 2000 and 2004. We estimate that 21% of adult deaths among men and 17% among women were attributable to smoking in 2004. Across states, attributable fractions range from 11% to 30% among men and from 7% to 23% among women. Smoking related mortality also explains as much as 60% of the mortality disadvantage of Southern states. At the national level, our estimates are in close agreement with those of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Preston/Glei/Wilmoth, particularly for men. But we find greater variability by state than does CDC. We suggest that our coefficients are suitable for calculating smoking-attributable mortality in contexts with relatively mature cigarette smoking epidemics.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Information and communication technologies for informal carers and paid assistants

The aim of this study was to explore the ben-eﬁts of information and communication technologies (ICT)-based services for informal carers and paid assistants of older people living in the community. We cross-case analysed the effects of twelve initiatives in the EU, the USA and Canada, based on their individual analysis documented through interviews with promoters and a literature review. We carried out the cross-case analysis following a variables-oriented strategy on seven dimensions of impact at micro-, meso-and macro-levels: the quality of life of informal carers and paid assistants, quality of life of care recipients, quality of care, care efﬁciency and sustainability, acceptability, and infrastructure and accessibility. ICT-based services for informal carers and paid assistants improve the quality of life of older people and their carers and access to qualiﬁed care. They also generate savings which contribute to the sustainability of the care systems. These ﬁndings constitute a ﬁrst look at the beneﬁts of the use of ICT-based services for informal carers and paid assistants. Nevertheless, more research using experimental methods is needed to demonstrate the impact of these ICT-based services at meso-and macro-levels. This would help to support policy-makers to deploy these technologies for long-term care delivery.
Product Line Rivalry

This paper examines product selection by multi-product firms, taking explicit account of the sequential nature of real decisions: firms choose product lines before the quantity or price rivalry with other firms is resolved. Unlike most previous work, we focus on demand side strategic considerations rather than cost side. We find close substitutes produced by the same firm is a natural outcome, in contrast to conventional wisdom.
Managerial performance and business success

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of managerial performance in the success of men-owned businesses (MOB) and women-owned businesses (WOB) for Canadian and Israeli entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach - A process-oriented approach, a relatively overlooked perspective in this field, was used for this assessment. The methodology used was based on two national samples from Canada and Israel ( Findings - Multilevel analyses revealed that gender is significantly associated with some managerial functions, but except for the business longevity – it is not directly associated with measures of business success; nationality is associated with two measures of business success: turnover and growth. Women entrepreneurs, both Canadian and Israeli, ranked significantly higher in some functions of their managerial performance compared to their male counterparts. Practical implications - This study's main implications are in deciphering the major role of managerial performance and nationality and the relatively marginal effect of gender in business success measures, implying that the gender gap in successful entrepreneurial businesses is decreasing. These findings can become foundations for better understanding broader entrepreneurship questions and practice-based researched endeavors. Originality/value - This paper's main contribution is in the identified need for developing training and education programs for entrepreneurs in the areas of managerial skills and practices; as well as in opening future avenues for cross-national assessments of a process-oriented perspective in these areas.
Retinal Pigment Epithelium Is Protected Against Apoptosis by αB-Crystallin

PURPOSE The degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is considered to be a crucial event in the pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cumulative oxidative damage has been implicated in the development of the changes seen in AMD. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of the small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin in the RPE in response to oxidative stress and to explore whether alphaB-crystallin expression confers an antiapoptotic cytoprotective effect on RPE cells. METHODS Native human RPE cells from the macula and retinal periphery were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis for expression of alphaB-crystallin. Monolayer cultures of human RPE cells were stressed by heat shock (42 degrees C for 20 minutes) or oxidant-mediated injury (50-300 micro M H(2)O(2) for 1 hour). Induction of alphaB-crystallin and the corresponding mRNA was assessed by Western and Northern blot analyses. To study the cytoprotective effect of alphaB-crystallin, human RPE cells were transfected with either a neomycin-selectable expression vector containing alphaB-crystallin cDNA or a control vector without alphaB-crystallin cDNA. Caspase-3 activity was determined by observing the cleavage of a colorimetric peptide substrate. Cell viability was quantified by combined propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 staining. RESULTS alphaB-crystallin is constitutively expressed in RPE under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Western blot analysis of freshly isolated RPE showed greater baseline expression levels in RPE derived from the macular area than in that from the more peripheral regions. Heat shock treatment and oxidative stress caused a significant increase in alphaB-crystallin mRNA and protein. Oxidant-mediated injury in RPE cells with baseline expression levels of alphaB-crystallin resulted in apoptotic cell death, as measured by caspase-3 activity, whereas RPE cells that had been stably transfected with alphaB-crystallin were more resistant to H(2)O(2)-induced cellular injury. CONCLUSIONS alphaB-crystallin may function as a stress-inducible antiapoptotic protein in human RPE and is inducible by oxidative stress, a condition implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD. Overexpression of alphaB-crystallin may be an important mechanism for the RPE to prevent apoptotic cell death in response to cellular stress.
Exploiting Spectral Reuse in Resource Allocation, Scheduling, and Routing for IEEE 802.16 Mesh Networks

The IEEE 802.16 standard for wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN) has been created to meet the need of wide-range broadband wireless access at low cost. The objective of this paper is to study how to exploit spectral reuse in an IEEE 802.16 mesh network through timeslot allocation, bandwidth adaptation, hierarchical scheduling, and routing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work which formally quantifies spectral reuse in IEEE 802.16 mesh networks and which exploits spectral efficiency under an integrated framework. Simulation results show that the proposed spectral reuse scheduling and load-aware routing significantly enhance the network throughput performance in IEEE 802.16 mesh networks.
Calprotectin Increases the Activity of the SaeRS Two Component System and Murine Mortality during Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Calprotectin, the most abundant cytoplasmic protein in neutrophils, suppresses the growth of Staphylococcus aureus by sequestering the nutrient metal ions Zn and Mn. Here we show that calprotectin can also enhance the activity of the SaeRS two component system (TCS), a signaling system essential for production of over 20 virulence factors in S. aureus. The activity of the SaeRS TCS is repressed by certain divalent ions found in blood or neutrophil granules; however, the Zn bound-form of calprotectin relieves this repression. During staphylococcal encounter with murine neutrophils or staphylococcal infection of the murine peritoneal cavity, calprotectin increases the activity of the SaeRS TCS as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α, resulting in higher murine mortality. These results suggest that, under certain conditions, calprotectin can be exploited by S. aureus to increase bacterial virulence and host mortality.
Nominal Wage Contracts, Aggregate and Firm-Specific Uncertainty – How High is the Private Gain from Indexation?

In this paper I investigate to what extent firm-specific uncertainty affects the gain from indexation. Earlier studies have tried to explain wage rigidity by arguing that insiders face little layoff risk due to employment fluctuations caused by aggregate shocks. However, this analysis abstracts from idiosyncratic risk and this seems hard to reconcile with recent microeconomic evidence which shows that firm-specific uncertainty explains a large part of establishments' employment changes. By numerically solving an insider-outsider model I show that the introduction of firm-specific uncertainty increases the gain from indexation considerably (from 0 to 1.5 percent of the wage). It is not evident that the gain from indexation is small enough to support an equilibrium with a constant nominal wage. According to the model, nominal wage contracts should be more prevalent, when layoff is not so costly for the worker, due to high unemployment benefits or short duration of unemployment spells.
The Role of Extracellular Adenosine in Regulating Mossy Fiber Synaptic Plasticity

Hippocampal mossy fiber synapses show unique molecular features and dynamic range of plasticity. A recent paper proposed that the defining features of mossy fiber synaptic plasticity are caused by a local buildup of extracellular adenosine (Moore et al., 2003). In this study, we reassessed the role of ambient adenosine in regulating mossy fiber synaptic plasticity in mouse and rat hippocampal slices. Synaptic transmission was highly sensitive to activation of presynaptic adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs), which reduced transmitter release by >75%. However, most of A1Rs were not activated by ambient adenosine. Field potentials increased only by 20-30% when A1Rs were fully blocked with the A1R antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) (1 μm). Moreover, blocking A1Rs hardly altered paired-pulse facilitation, frequency facilitation, or posttetanic potentiation. Frequency facilitation was similar in A1R-/- mice and when measured with NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs in CA3 pyramidal cells in the presence of DPCPX. Additional experiments suggested that the results obtained by Moore et al. (2003) can partially be explained by their usage of a submerged recording chamber and elevated divalent cation concentrations. In conclusion, a reduction of the basal release probability by ambient adenosine does not underlie presynaptic forms of plasticity at mossy fiber synapses.
A cross-sectional study of socio-demographic determinants of recurrent diarrhoea among children under five of rural area of Western Maharashtra, India.

BACKGROUND About 2 million episodes of diarrhoea occur each year in India. Of the 6.6 million deaths among children aged 28 days to 5 year; deaths from diarrhoea are estimated to account for 1.87 million. An average Indian child less than 5 years of age can have 2-3 episodes of diarrhoea. Mother's literacy, family income, feeding practices, environmental conditions are important determinants of the common childhood infection like diarrhoea. The present study was undertaken to study these important determinants of recurrent diarrhoea among children under five in a rural area of western Maharashtra, India. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected villages of Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra, India. Three villages from two primary health centres and 652 children under five from these villages were chosen by a simple random sampling technique (every fifth child enrolled in Anganwadi). House-to-house survey was done and data was collected by interviewing the mothers of these children. Nutritional status was assessed by measuring the weight and mid-arm circumference of the child. Statistical analysis was done with Microsoft Excel and StatistiXL 1.8 using percentage, proportions and chi-square test wherever applicable. RESULTS The prevalence of recurrent diarrhoea was 9.81%. Recurrent diarrhoea was more common in the age group of 13 - 24 months (29.6%) and 25 - 36 months (23.4%) and children belonging to lower socioeconomic class (64%). Malnutrition was significantly associated with recurrent diarrhoea and 21% of malnourished children had the same. Recurrent diarrhoea was significantly more common (39.1%) among children with introduction of top-up feeds before four to six months. CONCLUSION Low socioeconomic status, bad sanitary practices, nutritional status and weaning practices significantly influence the prevalence of recurrent diarrhoea.
Modeling of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell using Artificial Neural Networks

Performance and prediction of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) System is investigated by using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The Back- Propagation (BP) based neural network has been constructed with actual systems. Experimental data and preprocess data are utilized to determine the accuracy and speed of several prediction algorithms. The performance of the BP network is investigated by varying error goals, and number of neurons. Simulation model of fuel cell, practical model and Neural Networks (NNs) model has been tested. The simulation results have shown that the BP base NN can successfully predict the stack voltage and stack current of PEMFC system.
Greater Transfer to Walking of Lower Extremity Training with Robotics and Virtual Reality than Robotics Training Alone: Preliminary Findings

Virtual reality systems have been used to deliver goal directed repetitive training to promote rehabilitation of individuals post-stroke. Lower extremity training of individuals post-stroke who used a robot coupled with virtual environment has been shown to transfer to improved overground locomotion. To isolate the active components of training in this study we compared the outcomes of training with the robot-virtual reality (VR) system to the robot alone. Four individuals post-stroke participated in a four-week training protocol. One group trained with the robot-VR system and the other group with the robot alone. The improvement in walking speed and endurance for the robot-VR group was greater than the robot group alone. Adherence as well as the number of exercises performed in each session was comparable for the two groups. The duration of training sessions was comparable at the beginning of the study. However, subjects in the robot group reported higher fatigue and produced 16% fewer minutes of training towards the end of the study. These findings support the use of virtual environments coupled with a robot for transfer of training from the virtual to the real world environment
Stabilization of networked control systems with data packet dropout via switched system approach

The problem of stabilization of networked control systems (NCSs) with data packet dropout is studied. Sufficient conditions are presented on the stability and stabilization of the NCSs with packet dropout. The novelty of this work lies in that NCSs with arbitrary but finite data packet dropout are modelled as switched linear systems, and this enables us to apply the result of switched systems to the analysis and synthesis of such NCSs. The admissible upper bound of the dropped packets can be determined by a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) which guarantee the stability of the NCSs. Stabilizing controllers (via state feedback and static output feedback) can be constructed by solving a set of LMIs. Also, for an NCS with a convergence rate constraint, similar results are obtained. Examples are worked out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method
GROWTH , POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN MOZAMBIQUE Country

M ozambique has experienced more than a decade of sustained economic grow th based on tw o sectors, agriculture and industry. Absolute poverty has fallen rapidly. The main factor in the reduction of poverty since the mid 1990s has been increased production in agriculture, the main source by far of livelihoods in the country. H ow ever, this grow th represents only a ‘bounce-back’ to pre-w ar levels of agricultural production, w ithout any substantial improvement in productivity, w hich remains very low even w hen compared regionally. G row th in industrial production has been the main driving force behind M ozambique’s rapidly grow ing exports. Based on a few mega-projects, this grow th has, how ever, created few jobs w hile its contribution to public revenue has been marginal w hen compared to its value of production. Due to the enclave character of such projects, the spillover effect in terms of technology transfer or skills development has been minimal. External aid provides a major part of all foreign exchange available to M ozambique, and it has thus far had a positive effect on grow th w ithout major negative impact on the real exchange rate. Aid must be allocated now to crucial services for creating globally competitive agricultural production capacity, including rural infrastructure, in order to promote sustainable livelihoods and enhance labour productivity. ∗ We wish to acknowledge the useful comments and suggestions from the external peer reviewer, professor Finn Tarp, University of Copenhagen, and from Pedro Martins, visiting IPC research fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. ∗∗ University of Tampere, Finland and Visiting Researcher, International Poverty Centre. ∗∗∗ International Poverty Centre. 2 Country Study no 10
Comprehensive Evaluation of One-Carbon Metabolism Pathway Gene Variants and Renal Cell Cancer Risk

Introduction Folate and one-carbon metabolism are linked to cancer risk through their integral role in DNA synthesis and methylation. Variation in one-carbon metabolism genes, particularly MTHFR, has been associated with risk of a number of cancers in epidemiologic studies, but little is known regarding renal cancer. Methods Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected to produce high genomic coverage of 13 gene regions of one-carbon metabolism (ALDH1L1, BHMT, CBS, FOLR1, MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, SHMT1, SLC19A1, TYMS) and the closely associated glutathione synthesis pathway (CTH, GGH, GSS) were genotyped for 777 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases and 1,035 controls in the Central and Eastern European Renal Cancer case-control study. Associations of individual SNPs (n = 163) with RCC risk were calculated using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, sex and study center. Minimum p-value permutation (Min-P) tests were used to identify gene regions associated with risk, and haplotypes were evaluated within these genes. Results The strongest associations with RCC risk were observed for SLC19A1 (Pmin-P = 0.03) and MTHFR (Pmin-P = 0.13). A haplotype consisting of four SNPs in SLC19A1 (rs12483553, rs2838950, rs2838951, and rs17004785) was associated with a 37% increased risk (p = 0.02), and exploratory stratified analysis suggested the association was only significant among those in the lowest tertile of vegetable intake. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively examine variation in one-carbon metabolism genes in relation to RCC risk. We identified a novel association with SLC19A1, which is important for transport of folate into cells. Replication in other populations is required to confirm these findings.
Time Inconsistency, Expectations and Technology Adoption: The Case of Insecticide Treated Nets

Economists have recently argued that time inconsistency may play a central role in explaining intertemporal behavior, particularly among poor households. However, time-preference parameters are typically not identied in standard dynamic choice models and little is known about the fraction of inconsistent agents in the population. We formulate a dynamic discrete choice model in an unobservedly heterogeneous population of possibly time-inconsistent agents motivated by specically collected information combined with a eld intervention in rural India. We identify and estimate all time-preference
Cell Growth by a Nitric Oxide-Dependent of Early Myeloid Cells Suppressing Tumor Cyclophosphamide Induces the Development

and Jose L. SubizaBlondineth Pelaez, Jose A. Campillo, Jose A. Lopez-Asenjohttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/166/11/6608J Immunol€2001; 166:6608-6615; ;Referenceshttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/166/11/6608.full#ref-list-1This article cites 58 articles, 28 of which you can access for free at: Subscriptionshttp://jimmunol.org/subscriptionsInformation about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: Permissionshttp://www.aai. org/ji/copyright.htmlSubmit copyright permission requests at: Email Alertshttp://jimmunol.org/cgi/alerts/etocReceive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at: