Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body size and composition and colon cancer risk in men.

BACKGROUND Several studies of male colon cancer have found positive associations with body size and composition. It is uncertain whether this relationship is due to non-adipose mass, adipose mass, distribution of adipose mass such as central adiposity, or all three. METHODS In a prospective cohort study of men aged 27-75 at recruitment in 1990-1994, body measurements were taken by interviewers. Fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated from bioelectrical impedance analysis. Waist circumference and waist-to-hips ratio (WHR) estimated central adiposity. Incident colon cancers were ascertained via the population cancer registry. Altogether, 16,556 men contributed 145,433 person-years and 153 colon cancers. RESULTS Rate ratios (RRs) comparing men in the fourth quartile with those in the first quartile were as follows: FFM 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-3.7]; height 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.1); waist circumference 2.1 (95% CI 1.3-3.5); WHR 2.1 (95% CI 1.3-3.4); fat mass 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-3.0); and body mass index 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.8). When continuous measures of FFM and WHR were modeled together, the RR for FFM per 10 kg was 1.37 (95% CI 1.04-1.80) and the RR for WHR per 0.1 unit was 1.65 (95% CI 1.28-2.13). After adjustment for FFM and WHR, the RRs for fat mass and body mass index were no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION Male colon cancer appears to be related to body size and composition by two different pathways, via central adiposity and via non-adipose mass.
SWIFT MONITORING OF CYGNUS X-2: INVESTIGATING THE NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET–X-RAY CONNECTION

The neutron star X-ray binary (NSXRB) Cyg X-2 was observed by the Swift satellite 51 times over a 4 month period in 2008 with the X-ray Telescope (XRT), UV/optical telescope, and Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) instruments. During this campaign, we observed Cyg X-2 in all three branches of the Z track (horizontal, normal, and flaring branches). We find that the NUV emission is uncorrelated with the soft X-ray flux detected with the XRT and is anticorrelated with the BAT X-ray flux and the hard X-ray color. The observed anticorrelation is inconsistent with simple models of reprocessing as the source of the NUV emission. The anticorrelation may be a consequence of the high inclination angle of Cyg X-2, where NUV emission is preferentially scattered by a corona that expands as the disk is radiatively heated. Alternatively, if the accretion disk thickens as Cyg X-2 goes down the normal branch toward the flaring branch, this may be able to explain the observed anticorrelation. In these models, the NUV emission may not be a good proxy for in the system. We also discuss the implications of using Swift/XRT to perform spectral modeling of the continuum emission of NSXRBs.
Human metapneumovirus‐associated respiratory tract infections in the Republic of Ireland during the influenza season of 2003–2004

ABSTRACT Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly identified paramyxovirus that has been associated with respiratory tract illness in children aged < 5 years, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients. This study determined the frequency of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) associated with hMPV in the Republic of Ireland. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 168 adult patients and respiratory specimens from 122 children aged < 5 years were collected between September 2003 and May 2004. The virus was detected by reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR using hMPV polymerase (L) and matrix (M)-specific primers in four (2.4%) of 171 BAL specimens obtained from 168 adults. No other respiratory virus was detected in these specimens, and no hMPV RNA was detected in respiratory specimens from children during the same time period. In all four adult cases, two of whom had underlying disease, hMPV was associated with mild, self-limiting upper RTIs. The most common clinical findings included fever (3/4 patients), cough (4/4) and rhinorrhoea (3/4). No patient died as a result of these RTI episodes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the amplified regions of the Mand fusion (F) genes of hMPV. The Irish isolates belonged to cluster 1B, and did not show a separate Irish sub-lineage.
Investigating the Effects of Store-Brand Introduction on Retailer Demand and Pricing Behavior

Researchers have recently been interested in studying the drivers of store-brand success as well as factors that motivate retailers to introduce store brands. In this paper, we study the effects of the introduction of a store-brand into a particular product category. Specifically, we are interested in the effect of store-brand introduction on the demand as well as on the supply side. On the demand side, we investigate the changes in preferences for the national brands and price elasticities in the category. On the supply side, we study the effects of the new entrant on the interactions between the national brand manufacturers and the retailer introducing the store brand, including how these interactions influence the retailer's pricing behavior. In doing so, we are also able to test whether the observed data are consistent with some of the commonly used assumptions regarding retailer pricing behavior. For the demand specification we use a random coefficients logit model that allows for consumer heterogeneity. The model parameters are estimated using aggregate data while explicitly accounting for endogeneity in retail prices.Our empirical results obtained from the oats product category based on store-level data from a multistore retail chain indicate that the store-brand introduction generates notable changes within the category. The store-brand introduction coincides with an increase in the retailer's margins for the national brand. We find that the preferences for the national brand are relatively unaffected by the introduction of the store-brand. While consumers are, in general, more price sensitive (in terms of elasticities) than they were prior to store-brand introduction, a statistical test of the differences inmean price elasticities across stores and between the two regimes fails to reject the hypothesis of no change in these elasticities. Elasticities in specific stores however, do increase after the store brand is introduced. We also find that there is considerable heterogeneity in the preferences for the store-brand. On the supply side, we test several forms of manufacturer-retailer interactions to identify retailer pricing behavior most consistent with the data. Our results indicate that the data reject several, commonly imposed, forms of interactions. In examining the nature of manufacturer interactions with the retailer, we find that the manufacturer of the national brand appears to take a softer stance in its interactions with the retailer subsequent to store-brand entry. This finding is consistent with academic research and with articles in the popular press which suggest that the store brand enhances the retailer's bargaining ability vis-A -vis the manufacturers of the national brands. We also provide results from a second product category frozen pasta) that are largely consistent with those found in the oats category.
The relationship between social identity, normative information, and college student drinking

The role of peer influence has long been recognized as important in the drinking decisions and behaviors of young people. Specifying the mechanisms behind these relationships, however, remains relatively underdeveloped. In this study we examine the moderating influence of group identity on the relationship between injunctive norms and drinking behavior. A total of 620 male and female undergraduate students completed an Internet questionnaire comprised of social identity, injunctive norms (perceptions of others' approval of their heavy drinking), and alcohol consumption measures (drinks per occasion). Three separate hierarchical regression models were run examining the relationship between social identity, injunctive norms, and alcohol consumption for three reference groups: friends, peers, and fraternity/sorority members, controlling for participant gender and race/ethnicity. Stronger identification with a reference group was associated with heavier drinking for all three models. Participants' perceptions of their friends' acceptability of their heavy drinking was positively associated with alcohol consumption; however, the injunctive norms term was not significant for the models examining peers or fraternity/sorority member reference groups. In each model, significant two‐way interaction terms representing the cross‐product of the social identity and injunctive norms indices indicated that among respondents who identified strongly with a reference group, perceptions of heavy drinking acceptability were positively associated with greater alcohol consumption. These results have implications for norms‐focused interventions that fail to account for varying identification with different social groups. This research was supported in part by a grant to James E. Lange from the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse U01 AA014738.
Using Journals to Improve Listening Behavior

This article describes a study of journal keeping to focus business students' attention on their listening behaviors and the need for improvement. Guided by an instructor, 42 students wrote daily observations of their listening behaviors for 10 weeks. These observations were arranged into 10 prescribed general listening categories. Using content analysis procedures, two trained decoders identified content themes that were observed by more than half the students in 7 of the 10 general categories. The results demonstrated that the journal, combined with content analysis procedures, can be used successfully to identify students' listening behavior problems so that a targeted training regimen can be designed to address these deficiencies.
HCV Genomic RNA Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Myeloid Cells

Background Elevated plasma levels of IL-1β and IL-18 from patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection indicate a possible activation of inflammasome by HCV. Methodology/Principal Findings To demonstrate whether HCV infection activates the inflammasome, we investigated inflammasome activation from HCV infected hepatic Huh7 cells, or monocytic cells and THP-1 derived macrophages challenged with HCV virions, but no any inflammasome activation was detected in these cells. However, when we transfected HCV genomic RNA into monocytes or macrophages, IL-1β was secreted in a dose-dependent manner. We also detected ASC oligomerization and caspase-1 cleavage in HCV RNA transfected macrophages. Using shRNA-mediated gene silencing or specific inhibitors, we found that HCV RNA-induced IL-1β secretion was dependent on the presence of inflammasome components such as NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1. Furthermore, we also found that RIG-I was dispensable for HCV RNA-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was required. Conclusions Our results indicate that HCV RNA activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in a ROS-dependent manner, and RIG-I is not required for this process.
Adaptive OFDM for Wireless Interconnect in Confined Enclosures

This letter considers and recommends OFDM with adaptive subcarrier modulation as a suitable candidate for wireless UWB communication in computer chassis. A rigorous measurement campaign studies the guaranteed spectral efficiency. It concludes that enhancement of the existing WiMedia OFDM systems with a bandwidth of 528 MHz in order to support adaptive OFDM would enable data-rates above 1 Gbps over short ranges, i.e. the spectral efficiency would be doubled. Moreover, the guaranteed spectral efficiency is shown to increase with bandwidth, i.e. the guaranteed data-rate increases better than linearly with bandwidth.
Disruption of Amyloid Plaques Integrity Affects the Soluble Oligomers Content from Alzheimer Disease Brains

The implication of soluble Abeta in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is currently accepted. In fact, the content of soluble extracellular Abeta species, such as monomeric and/or oligomeric Abeta, seems to correlate with the clinico-pathological dysfunction observed in AD patients. However, the nature (monomeric, dimeric or other oligomers), the relative abundance, and the origin (extra-/intraneuronal or plaque-associated), of these soluble species are actually under debate. In this work we have characterized the soluble (defined as soluble in Tris-buffered saline after ultracentrifugation) Abeta, obtained from hippocampal samples of Braak II, Braak III–IV and Braak V–VI patients. Although the content of both Abeta40 and Abeta42 peptides displayed significant increase with pathology progression, our results demonstrated the presence of low, pg/µg protein, amount of both peptides. This low content could explain the absence (or below detection limits) of soluble Abeta peptides detected by western blots or by immunoprecipitation-western blot analysis. These data were in clear contrast to those published recently by different groups. Aiming to explain the reasons that determine these substantial differences, we also investigated whether the initial homogenization could mobilize Abeta from plaques, using 12-month-old PS1xAPP cortical samples. Our data demonstrated that manual homogenization (using Dounce) preserved the integrity of Abeta plaques whereas strong homogenization procedures (such as sonication) produced a vast redistribution of the Abeta species in all soluble and insoluble fractions. This artifact could explain the dissimilar and somehow controversial data between different groups analyzing human AD samples.
Transcriptional accuracy modeling suggests two-step proofreading by RNA polymerase

Abstract We suggest a novel two-step proofreading mechanism with two sequential rounds of proofreading selection in mRNA transcription. It is based on the previous experimental observations that the proofreading RNA polymerase cleaves off transcript fragments of at least 2 nt and that transcript elongation after a nucleotide misincorporation is anomalously slow. Taking these results into account, we extend the description of the accuracy of template guided nucleotide selection beyond previous models of RNA polymerase-dependent DNA transcription. The model derives the accuracy of initial and proofreading base selection from experimentally estimated nearest-neighbor parameters. It is also used to estimate the small accuracy enhancement of polymerase revisiting of previous positions following transcript cleavage.
Covered stents by autologous vascular grafts: effect of radiation and external heating of stents.

has rapidly evolved during the last two decades. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been associated with two major risks. In the short term, (sub)acute occlusion caused by early arterial recoil or dissection may occur. In the long term, the main limitation of PTCA is the recurrence of stenosis, caused mainly by constrictive remodeling and/or increased neointimal hyperplasia. Despite intense research efforts, no pharmaceutical agent has conclusively shown an effect against restenosis. Once more, the only widely available and effective treatment against restenosis is stenting. Yet this mechanical support still fails in about 10–25% of cases. Restenosis rates are greater in high-risk patients, such as in diabetics, in patients with saphenous vein graft stenoses, as well as in small vessels (< 2.5 mm in diameter) and long lesions. Moreover, new methods such as laser angioplasty, atherectomy, and brachytherapy, which are attempting to reduce the restenosis rate, have been evolving throughout the past years. Nevertheless, despite their effectiveness in specific indications, important complications may occur with these approaches. The disruption of vessel wall integrity by large dissections, perforations, or the formation of aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the arterial wall are the severe side effects of new technologies. The treatment of these complications is still a challenge in interventional c a r d i o l o g y .
Research Statement Mathematical Modeling/computational Mathematics

My research is focused on mathematical modeling in the interdisciplinary areas of materials science and crystal growth and on development of advanced computational methods for tracking material/fluid surfaces and interfaces. Primarily, I am interested in modeling formation of a micro(nano)structure arrays as a result of the morphological (shape) instabilities of a solid film surfaces, material deposition, long-range molecular interactions with a substrate, self-assembly and external control. Such ordered surface structures, as well as a single crystals grown on a substrate have numerous applications in micro(nano)electronics, optoelectronics and photonics. Another side of this activity is modeling damage due to some of the mentioned factors under favorable conditions, for instance the loss of a structural integrity of a thin film by “dewetting” from a substrate or, in the polycrystalline film, by grain-boundary grooving (void formation). A fundamental problem in these fields is to predict the growth rate, the morphology of the film surface, and the stability of the morphology as functions of process parameters such as, for instance, the temperature, the material deposition rate and the strength of intermolecular interactions. The main challenges are formulation of the mathematical model from available experimental data and general laws of physics, development of mathematical/computational methods, and generation of results that advance understanding of a natural or man-made phenomena under consideration. My work puts an equal emphasis on the three components above, and thus it has to be viewed in the spirit of classical modeling in the natural sciences. Interaction with experimentalists, the ability to accommodate ideas from such diverse areas as the physical experiment and theory, fluid and solid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, crystal growth, non-equilibrium phenomena, pattern formation, nonlinear partial and ordinary differential equations (PDEs and ODEs), numerical analysis and methods, and familiarity with literature in these areas is crucial. Mathematically, the models are typically formulated in terms of highly nonlinear PDEs which do not admit exact solution. Once the solutions have been characterized
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Overexpressing Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Rescue Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have beneficial effects in acute lung injury (ALI), can serve as a vehicle for gene therapy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a counterregulatory enzyme of ACE that degrades angiotensin (Ang) II into Ang 1–7, has a protective role against ALI. Because ACE2 expression is severely reduced in the injured lung, a therapy targeted to improve ACE2 expression in lung might attenuate ALI. We hypothesized that MSCs overexpressing ACE2 would have further benefits in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice, when compared with MSCs alone. MSCs were transduced with ACE2 gene (MSC-ACE2) by a lentiviral vector and then infused into wild-type (WT) and ACE2 knockout (ACE2-/y) mice following an LPS-induced intratracheal lung injury. The results demonstrated that the lung injury of ALI mice was alleviated at 24 and 72 h after MSC-ACE2 transplantation. MSC-ACE2 improved the lung histopathology and had additional anti-inflammatory effects when compared with MSCs alone in both WT and ACE2-/y ALI mice. MSC-ACE2 administration also reduced pulmonary vascular permeability, improved endothelial barrier integrity, and normalized lung eNOS expression relative to the MSC group. The beneficial effects of MSC-ACE2 could be attributed to its recruitment into the injured lung and enhanced local expression of ACE2 protein without changing the serum ACE2 levels after MSC-ACE2 transplantation. The biological activity of the increased ACE2 protein decreased the Ang II amount and increased the Ang 1–7 level in the lung when compared with the ALI and MSC-only groups, thereby inhibiting the detrimental effects of accumulating Ang II. Therefore, compared to MSCs alone, the administration of MSCs overexpressing ACE2 resulted in a further improvement in the inflammatory response and pulmonary endothelial function of LPS-induced ALI mice. These additional benefits could be due to the degradation of Ang II that accompanies the targeted overexpression of ACE2 in the lung.
Juvenile Penalties for “Lawyering Up”

The presence of counsel for juveniles in the courtroom seems advantageous from a due process perspective, yet some studies suggest that juveniles receive harsher dispositions when represented by an attorney. This study tested whether a “counsel penalty” existed regardless of attorney type and, guided by prior sentencing literature, used a more comprehensive model to determine the influence of extralegal and contextual factors that may amplify the counsel penalty. Utilizing official data from a Northeastern state in a multilevel modeling strategy, this study found that regardless of the type of counsel retained, harsher sentences were received as compared with cases in which a juvenile was not represented by counsel even after controlling for offense type. Moreover, minority youth with public defenders and males with private counsel received harsher sentences while community characteristics did not appear to have a significant influence on sentencing decisions.
Impact of Renal Dysfunction on Mid-Term Outcome after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background There is conflicting evidence regarding the impact of preexisting renal dysfunction (RD) on mid-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). Methods and results Forty-seven articles representing 32,131 patients with AS undergoing a TAVI procedure were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled analyses were performed with both univariate and multivariate models, using a fixed or random effects method when appropriate. Compared with patients with normal renal function, mid-term mortality was significantly higher in patients with preexisting RD, as defined by the author (univariate hazard ratio [HR]: 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50–1.90; multivariate HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.17–1.84), baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (univariate HR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.47–1.86; multivariate HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.24–1.71), and serum creatinine (univariate HR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.48–1.92; multivariate HR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.36–1.99). Advanced stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD stage 3–5) was strongly related to bleeding (univariate HR in CKD stage 3: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.13–1.49; in CKD stage 4: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04–1.62), acute kidney injure (AKI) (univariate HR in CKD stage 3: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03–1.59; in CKD stage 4: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.74–2.96), stroke (univariate HR in CKD stage 4: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.52–7.46), and mid-term mortality (univariate HR in CKD stage 3: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.26–1.95; in CKD stage 4: 2.77, 95% CI: 2.06–3.72; in CKD stage 5: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.91–3.65) compared with CKD stage 1+2. Patients with CKD stage 4 had a higher incidence of AKI (univariate HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.34–2.16) and all-cause death (univariate HR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.28–1.99) compared with those with CKD stage 3. A per unit decrease in serum creatinine was also associated with a higher mortality at mid-term follow-up (univariate HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.18–1.30; multivariate HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08–1.30). Conclusions Preexisting RD was associated with increased mid-term mortality after TAVI. Patients with CKD stage 4 had significantly higher incidences of peri-procedural complications and a poorer prognosis, a finding that should be factored into the clinical decision-making process regarding these patients.