Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Germ-line alterations in MSR1 gene and prostate cancer risk.

PURPOSE The MSR1 gene maps to 8p22-23, a novel susceptibility locus for hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). Mutations in MSR1 have been reported to associate with prostate cancer (PRCA) risk. Here we report a follow-up study from Finland to evaluate the association between PRCA and MSR1 gene. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The youngest affected patient from each of 120 HPC families was initially used for the screening of MSR1 mutations by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Selected variants of MSR1 gene were then screened in 537 unselected PRCA cases and in 480 controls. RESULTS Among 120 HPC families, five MSR1 sequence variants were identified. The carrier frequencies of the R293X, P275A, and -14743A>G variants were compared between the probands with HPC, unselected PRCA cases, and healthy male blood donors. No significant differences were observed. The odds ratios for R293X, P275A, and -14743A>G mutations were also calculated to estimate the PRCA risk. No significantly elevated or lowered risks for PRCA among these three variants were detected. However, the mean age at diagnosis of the R293X mutation carriers among HPC probands was significantly lower compared with noncarriers (55.4 versus 65.4 years; t test, P = 0.04). The same trend was observed among unselected PRCA cases (65.7 versus 68.7 years; t test, P = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support a major role for the MSR1 gene in the causation of hereditary or unselected PRCAs but suggest a possible modifying role in cancer predisposition.
Clinical Interventions in Aging Dovepress Peripheral Nerve Blocks versus General Anesthesia for Total Knee Replacement in Elderly Patients on the Postoperative Quality of Recovery

Background: Both peripheral nerve blocks with sedation or general anesthesia can be used for total knee replacement surgery. Objectives: We compared these anesthetic techniques on the postoperative quality of recovery early in elderly patients. Materials and methods: In our study, 213 patients who were $65 years old and undergoing total knee replacement were randomized to peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) – lumbar plexus and sciatic – with propofol sedation, or general anesthesia with combined propofol and remifentanil. Blocks were performed using nerve stimulation and 0.35% ropivacaine. All patients received postoperative multimodal analgesia. Postoperative recovery was assessed at 15 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after surgery, with the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale, in physiological, nociceptive, emotive, modified activities of daily living, modified cognitive, and overall patient perspective domains. Results: Intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate were more stable with PNBs (P,0.001). The recovery was better with PNBs in physiological (P,0.001), emotive (depression and anxiety) (P,0.001), nociceptive (pain and nausea) (P,0.001), modified cognitive (P,0.001), and all domains recovery (P,0.001), but not in activities of daily living (P=0.181). Intraoperative drugs and the postoperative sulfentanil requirement of the PNBs group were lower (all P,0.001). Differences were greatest early after surgery with equivalence by 1 week. Satisfaction was high and not different between groups (P=0.059). Conclusion: Lumbar plexus and sciatic blocks with sedation facilitates faster postoperative recovery than general anesthesia, but not at 1 week after total knee replacement in patients who were 65 years or older. The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. (NCT01871012).
Concrete Problems in AI Safety

Rapid progress in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) has brought increasing attention to the potential impacts of AI technologies on society. In this paper we discuss one such potential impact: the problem of accidents in machine learning systems, defined as unintended and harmful behavior that may emerge from poor design of real-world AI systems. We present a list of five practical research problems related to accident risk, categorized according to whether the problem originates from having the wrong objective function ("avoiding side effects" and "avoiding reward hacking"), an objective function that is too expensive to evaluate frequently ("scalable supervision"), or undesirable behavior during the learning process ("safe exploration" and "distributional shift"). We review previous work in these areas as well as suggesting research directions with a focus on relevance to cutting-edge AI systems. Finally, we consider the high-level question of how to think most productively about the safety of forward-looking applications of AI.
Top Management Turnover M Related M&A’s: An Additional Test of the Theory of Relative Standing

To date, the most promising attempt to explain departure rates of executives of acquired firms examined the conditions that create perceptions of relative standing, but did not gauge the perceptions themselves. This study extends this line of research by surveying the post-merger perceptions of the top managers of firms acquired in friendly, related deals. We used a two-stage data collection design with the attempt to explain turnover in the first three years following the acquisition, and also predict it in the fourth year.
SVMTool: A general POS Tagger Generator Based on Support Vector Machines

This paper presents the SVMTool, a simple, flexible, effective and efficient part–of–speech tagger based on Support Vector Machines. The SVMTool offers a fairly good balance among these properties which make it really practical for current NLP applications. It is very easy to use and easily configurable so as to perfectly fit the needs of a number of different applications. Results are also very competitive, achieving an accuracy of 97.16% for English on the Wall Street Journal corpus. It has been also successfully applied to Spanish exhibiting a similar performance. A first release of the SVMTool Perl prototype is now freely available for public use. A most efficient C++ version is coming very soon.
CADM1, MAL and miR124-2 methylation analysis in cervical scrapes to detect cervical and endometrial cancer

Aims Gene promoter hypermethylation is recognised as an essential early step in carcinogenesis, indicating important application areas for DNA methylation analysis in early cancer detection. The current study was set out to assess the performance of CADM1, MAL and miR124-2 methylation analysis in cervical scrapes for detection of cervical and endometrial cancer. Methods A series of cervical scrapes of women with cervical (n=79) or endometrial (n=21) cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) (n=16) or CIN2 (n=32), and women without evidence of CIN2 or worse (n=120) were assessed for methylation of CADM1, MAL and miR124-2. Methylation analysis was done by the PreCursor-M assay, a multiplex quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Results All samples of women with cervical cancer (79/79, 100%), independent of the histotype, and 76% (16/21; 95% CI 58.0% to 94.4%) of women with endometrial cancer scored positive for DNA methylation for at least one of the three genes. In women without cancer, methylation frequencies increased significantly with severity of disease from 19.2% (23/120; 95% CI 12.1% to 26.2%) in women without CIN2 or worse to 37.5% (12/32; 95% CI 20.7% to 54.3%) and 68.8% (11/16; 95% CI 46.0% to 91.5%) in women with CIN2 and CIN3, respectively. Overall methylation positivity and the number of methylated genes increased proportionally to the lesion severity. Conclusions DNA methylation analysis of CADM1, MAL and miR124-2 in cervical scrapes consistently detects cervical cancer and the majority of CIN3 lesions, and has the capacity to broaden its use on cervical scrapes through the detection of a substantial subset of endometrial carcinomas.
p38 MAPK Signaling in Postnatal Tendon Growth and Remodeling

Tendon is a dynamic tissue whose structure and function is influenced by mechanical loading, but little is known about the fundamental mechanisms that regulate tendon growth and remodeling in vivo. Data from cultured tendon fibroblasts indicated that the p38 MAPK pathway plays an important role in tendon fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro. To gain greater insight into the mechanisms of tendon growth, and explore the role of p38 MAPK signaling in this process, we tested the hypotheses that inducing plantaris tendon growth through the ablation of the synergist Achilles tendon would result in rapid expansion of a neotendon matrix surrounding the original tendon, and that treatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 would prevent this growth. Rats were treated with vehicle or SB203580, and subjected to synergist ablation by bilateral tenectomy of the Achilles tendon. Changes in histological and biochemical properties of plantaris tendons were analyzed 3, 7, or 28 days after overload, and comparisons were made to non-overloaded animals. By 28 days after overload, tendon mass had increased by 30% compared to non-overloaded samples, and cross-sectional area (CSA) increased by around 50%, with most of the change occurring in the neotendon. The expansion in CSA initially occurred through the synthesis of a hyaluronic acid rich matrix that was progressively replaced with mature collagen. Pericytes were present in areas of active tendon growth, but never in the original tendon ECM. Inhibition of p38 MAPK resulted in a profound decrease in IL6 expression, and had a modest effect on the expression of other ECM and cell proliferation genes, but had a negligible impact on overall tendon growth. The combined results from this study provided novel insights into tendon mechanobiology, and suggest that p38 MAPK signaling does not appear to be necessary for tendon growth in vivo.
Towards choosing better primes for spoken dialog systems

When humans and computers use the same terms (primes, when they entrain to one another), spoken dialogs proceed more smoothly. The goal of this paper is to describe initial steps we have found that will enable us to eventually automatically choose better primes in spoken dialog system prompts. Two different sets of prompts were used to understand what makes one prime more suitable than another. The impact of the primes chosen in speech recognition was evaluated. In addition, results reveal that users did adopt the new vocabulary introduced in the new system prompts. As a result of this, performance of the system improved, providing clues for the trade off needed when choosing between adequate primes in prompts and speech recognition performance.
Broad-Scale Phosphoprotein Profiling of Beta Adrenergic Receptor (β-AR) Signaling Reveals Novel Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation Events

β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) are model G-protein coupled receptors that mediate signal transduction in the sympathetic nervous system. Despite the widespread clinical use of agents that target β-ARs, the signaling pathways that operate downstream of β-AR stimulation have not yet been completely elucidated. Here, we utilized a lysate microarray approach to obtain a broad-scale perspective of phosphoprotein signaling downstream of β-AR. We monitored the time course of phosphorylation states of 54 proteins after β-AR activation mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. In response to stimulation with the non-selective β-AR agonist isoproterenol, we observed previously described phosphorylation events such as ERK1/2(T202/Y204) and CREB(S133), but also novel phosphorylation events such as Cdc2(Y15) and Pyk2(Y402). All of these events were mediated through cAMP and PKA as they were reproduced by stimulation with the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin and were blocked by treatment with H89, a PKA inhibitor. In addition, we also observed a number of novel isoproterenol-induced protein dephosphorylation events in target substrates of the PI3K/AKT pathway: GSK3β(S9), 4E-BP1(S65), and p70s6k(T389). These dephosphorylations were dependent on cAMP, but were independent of PKA and correlated with reduced PI3K/AKT activity. Isoproterenol stimulation also led to a cAMP-dependent dephosphorylation of PP1α(T320), a modification known to correlate with enhanced activity of this phosphatase. Dephosphorylation of PP1α coincided with the secondary decline in phosphorylation of some PKA-phosphorylated substrates, suggesting that PP1α may act in a feedback loop to return these phosphorylations to baseline. In summary, lysate microarrays are a powerful tool to profile phosphoprotein signaling and have provided a broad-scale perspective of how β-AR signaling can regulate key pathways involved in cell growth and metabolism.
On nonlinear AIMD congestion control for high-speed networks

This papers analyzses a class of nonlinear positive systems that model the dynamics of nonlinear additive-increase multiplicative-decrease (AIMD) protocols. The system class covers a range of protocols that are currently used in real communication networks, such as standard TCP, and recent proposals for congestion control protocols such as Scalable TCP
Space and Time in Macroeconomic Panel Data: Young Workers and State-Level Unemployment Revisited

A provocative paper by Shimer (2001) finds that state-level youth shares and unemployment rates are negatively correlated, in contrast to conventional assumptions about demographic effects on labor markets. This paper updates Shimer's regressions and shows that this surprising correlation essentially disappears when the end of the sample period is extended from 1996 to 2005. This shift does not occur because of a change in the underlying economy during the past decade. Rather, the presence of a cross-sectional (that is, spatial) correlation in the state-level data sharply reduces the precision of the earlier estimates, so that the true standard errors are several times larger than those originally reported. Using a longer sample period and some controls for spatial correlation in the regression, point estimates for the youth-share effect on unemployment are positive and close to what a conventional model would imply. Unfortunately, the standard errors remain very large. The difficulty of obtaining precise estimates with these data illustrates a potential pitfall in the use of regional panel data for macroeconomic analysis.
Gall-bladder Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus: The Diabetic Neurogenic Gall Bladder

Manifestations of autonomic neuropathy which occur in diabetes mellitus include nocturnal diarrhea or constipation with associated atony of the stomach and dysfunction of the small bowel, sphincter disturbances, atonic bladder, orthostatic hypotension, sudomotor and pilomotor disturbances, and impotence (see reviews by Joslin and Rundles). Although only one of these disorders may be present, usually several occur together. Peripheral nerve involvement has also been present in the majority of the cases reported. The diverse structures, functions, and locations of the organs affected suggest that the entire autonomic nervous system is vulnerable. It therefore seems possible that other, hitherto unrecognized, neurogenic syndromes may exist in diabetes. A deliberate search for such syndromes was undertaken and the findings concerning gallbladder dysfunction in a group of unselected diabetic patients form the subject of this preliminary report. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cholecystography was performed in two groups of patients, using Telepaque or Biligrafin. Group A consisted of thirty-five patients with diabetes mellitus of various degrees of severity. Nine of these patients were males, thirty-six to seventy-four (mean sixty-three) years of age, and twentysix were women, aged forty to seventy-two (mean fifty-nine) years. The insulin requirements of these patients varied between o and 72 units. Some were receiving tolbutamide treatment. None of the patients had ketosis or marked electrolyte disturbances during the period of examination. Fourteen patients had symptoms and/or signs suggesting chronic cholecystitis or cholelithiasis, and two others had compensated liver cirrhosis of the Laennec type. In these sixteen patients abdominal discomfort, if present, was not severe.
The development of self-awareness of deficits from 1 week to 1 year after traumatic brain injury: Preliminary findings

Primary objective: To examine the process of recovery of self-awareness with consideration for the variables of severity of injury and deficit factors. Research design: A longitudinal, descriptive design was used. Methods and procedures: Eighteen participants and their significant others were interviewed using the Awareness Questionnaire at 1 week, 1 month, 4 months and 1 year post-injury. Main outcomes and results: Participants differed in self-awareness according to severity of injury, deficit factors and time post-injury. Overall, participants with mild TBI demonstrated better self-awareness. There was a significant interaction effect between severity of injury and time post-injury. Reduced self-awareness of cognitive deficits was noted for the participants with moderate and severe TBI. Conclusions: Time post-injury, severity of injury and deficit factors are confounding variables in the study of self-awareness.
Reconceptualizing the Determinants of Risk Behavior

Past research has resulted in contradictory findings concerning the effect of risk on decision-making behavior in organizations. This article proposes a model that reconciles these unresolved contradictions by examining the usefulness of placing risk propensity and risk perception in a more central role than has been previously recognized. Based on this analysis, it is posited that risk propensity dominates both the actual and perceived characteristics of the situation as a determinant of risk behavior. Propositions derived from the conceptual model provide an agenda for future research on individual risk behavior in organizational settings.
Visual-spatial abilities of pilots

U.S. Air Force pilots and control subjects participated in five experiments, each of which assessed a different type of visual–spatial ability. Although pilots judged metric spatial relations better than did nonpilots, they did not judge categorical spatial relations better than did nonpilots. Pilots mentally rotated objects better than did nonpilots, but pilots did not extrapolate motion, scan images, or extract visual features from objects obscured by visual noise better than did nonpilots. The results imply that efficient use of specific processing subsystems is especially important for, and characteristic of, pilots. The possible neuropsychological bases for the enhanced abilities and their susceptibility to change are discussed
Leadership Style, Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction: A Case Study on High School Principals in Tehran, Iran

Teachers’ job satisfaction and commitment depends upon the leadership style of high schools principals. This study clarifies the relationship between principals’ leadership style, organizational commitment and job satisfaction. A quantitative questionnaire using Likert-type scales was administered to 357 high school teachers and principals in Tehran, Iran. The study samples were selected through stratified sampling technique. The data was tested for reliability and results presented based on the study objectives. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to explain teacher job satisfaction and commitment by leadership style. The results revealed positive and significant relationships between leadership style, organizational commitment and job satisfaction. This study also clarifies the relations of job satisfaction and commitment, and highlights the crucial role of leadership style in teachers’ job satisfaction and commitment. Hence, the school principals should select the best leadership style according to the organizational culture and employees’ capacity. Implications of the study are discussed in relation to managers and principals, as well as to policy makers at the educational level. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA
Machiavellianism and Managerial Work Attitudes and Perceptions

The relationships of Machiavellianism with managerial work attitudes and perceptions were investigated using questionnaire data for 75 managerial personnel. Machiavellianism for managers was significantly correlated negatively with job satisfaction, perceived participation in decision making and job involvement, and positively with role ambiguity and job tension. Machiavellianism was not significantly related to perceived managerial job performance.
Robust Face Recognition under Varying Illumination and Occlusion Considering Structured Sparsity

A large amount of work has been done over the past decades in face recognition (FR). Most of them deal with uncontrolled variations such as changes in illumination, pose, expression and occlusion individually. However, limited work focuses on simultaneously handling multiple variations. In real-world environment, uncontrolled variations usually coexist. FR approaches which are robust to one kind of variation may fail to deal with another. In this paper, we propose an approach considering structured sparsity to deal with the illumination changes and occlusion at the same time. Our approach represents a face image taking into account that the face images usually lie in the structured union of subspaces in a high dimensional feature space. Considering the spatial continuity of the occlusion, we propose a cluster occlusion dictionary for occlusion modelling. In addition, a discriminative feature is embedded in our model to correct the illumination effect. This enables our approach to handle images that lie outside the illumination subspace spanned by the training set. Experimental results on public face databases show that the proposed approach is very robust to large illumination changes and occlusion.
Review: Chemical and structural modifications of pulmonary collectins and their functional consequences

The lung is continuously exposed to inhaled pathogens (toxic pollutants, micro-organisms, environmental antigens, allergens) from the external environment. In the broncho-alveolar space, the critical balance between a measured protective response against harmful pathogens and an inappropriate inflammatory response to harmless particles is discerned by the innate pulmonary immune system. Among its many components, the surfactant proteins and specifically the pulmonary collectins (surfactant proteins A [SP-A] and D [SP-D]) appear to provide important contributions to the modulation of host defense and inflammation in the lung. Many studies have shown that multimerization of SP-A and SP-D are important for efficient local host defense including neutralization and opsonization of influenza A virus, binding Pneumocystis murina and inhibition of LPS-induced inflammatory cell responses. These observations strongly imply that oligomerization of collectins is a critical feature of its function. However, during the inflammatory state, despite normal pool sizes, chemical modification of collectins can result in alteration of their structure and function. Both pulmonary collectins can be altered through proteolytic inactivation, nitration, S-nitrosylation, oxidation and/or crosslinking as a consequence of the inflammatory milieu facilitated by cytokines, nitric oxide, proteases, and other chemical mediators released by inflammatory cells. Thus, this review will summarize recent developments in our understanding of the relationship between post-translational assembly of collectins and their modification by inflammation as an important molecular switch for the regulation of local innate host defense.