Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of CNS treatment on mood in adult survivors of childhood leukemia: a report from the Children's Cancer Group.

PURPOSE This study assessed the relationship between CNS treatment and psychologic mood using the Profile of Moods State (POMS), a standardized measure of affect, among a large sample of young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; N = 555). PATIENTS AND METHODS Survivors of childhood ALL (ages 18 to 33 years at study entry) participated in a structured telephone interview eliciting demographic, health, and behavioral data and the POMS. Treatment data included total dose of CNS irradiation (CRT) and intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) obtained from medical records. RESULTS Mood disturbance was reported by 24% of survivors. High-dose CRT and MTX predicted disturbance rates modestly and primarily in combination with education variables. Interactions between educational achievement, a history of attendance in special education classes, and sex were better predictors than treatment type or dose. Nonwhite males, those younger than 12.5 years of age at diagnosis, and those with negative perceptions of current health and cancer's impact on employment were also at greater risk for mood disturbance (P <.01 to.001). CONCLUSION Although most survivors are doing well psychologically, a subset of long-term survivors show potentially serious mood disturbance. Mood disturbance seems to be a function of interactions between preexisting individual difference variables (eg, sex, race/ethnicity), treatment factors, and posttreatment educational experiences. Prevention strategies aimed at childhood cancer survivors at greatest risk for mood disturbance may be improved by focus on posttreatment psychosocial and educational supports.
Hierarchical Spatial Hashing for Real-time Collision Detection

We present a new, efficient and easy to use collision detection scheme for real-time collision detection between highly deformable tetrahedral models. Tetrahedral models are a common representation of volumetric meshes which are often used in physically based simulations, e.g. in Virtual surgery. In a deformable models environment collision detection usually is a performance bottleneck since the data structures used for efficient intersection tests need to be rebuilt or modified frequently. Our approach minimizes the time needed for building a collision detection data structure. We employ an infinite hierarchical spatial grid in which for each single tetrahedron in the scene a well fitting grid cell size is computed. A hash function is used to project occupied grid cells into a finite ID hash table. Only primitives mapped to the same hash index indicate a possible collision and need to be checked for intersections. This results in a high performance collision detection algorithm which does not depend on user defined parameters and thus flexibly adapts to any scene setup.
Tenure and the political autonomy of faculty inquiry

This commentary discusses several problems with the target article by Ceci et al. First, the results admit of an alternative interpretation that undercuts the conclusion drawn. In addition, at a number of points, the research should be supplemented by examining situations in which there is no tenure-granting policy. Finally, 60% of the questions are concerned with whistle-blowing, but the issues involved in such cases make them much less relevant to the assessment of tenure than the authors suppose.
Cultivating Foreignness: How Organizations Maintain and Leverage Minority Identities

Scholars increasingly recognize that organizational fields contain minority identities, linked to alternative logics. Extant work has been largely silent on how such minority identities are maintained, and what their implications are for organizational agency. I contribute to filling this gap by examining how organizations cultivate minority identities, and how such identities both enable and constrain agency. Employing the foreignness of multinational enterprise subsidiaries as a particular case of minority identity, I find that managers actively cultivate minority identities by embedding into niche networks, reinforcing alternative expectations, and categorizing themselves into distinct collective identities. These elements of the minority identity enable particular forms of agency – internal experimentation and an external license to deviate – while constraining others – adaptation to the dominant logic and positioning in mature market segments. The findings extend theory by highlighting how minority identities are generated and sustained, as well as their implications for agency.
Spectrum Decision in Cognitive Radio Networks: A Survey

Spectrum decision is the ability of a cognitive radio (CR) to select the best available spectrum band to satisfy secondary users' (SUs') quality of service (QoS) requirements, without causing harmful interference to licensed or primary users (PUs). Each CR performs spectrum sensing to identify the available spectrum bands and the spectrum decision process selects from these available bands for opportunistic use. Spectrum decision constitutes an important topic which has not been adequately explored in CR research. Spectrum decision involves spectrum characterization, spectrum selection and CR reconfiguration functions. After the available spectrum has been identified, the first step is to characterize it based not only on the current radio environment conditions, but also on the PU activities. The second step involves spectrum selection, whereby the most appropriate spectrum band is selected to satisfy SUs' QoS requirements. Finally, the CR should be able to reconfigure its transmission parameters to allow communication on the selected band. Key to spectrum characterization is PU activity modelling, which is commonly based on historical data to provide the means for predicting future traffic patterns in a given spectrum band. This paper provides an up-to-date survey of spectrum decision in CR networks (CRNs) and addresses issues of spectrum characterization (including PU activity modelling), spectrum selection and CR reconfiguration. For each of these issues, we highlight key open research challenges. We also review practical implementations of spectrum decision in several CR platforms.
Transient reducing greenhouse warming on early

The evidence for abundant liquid water on early Mars despite 3 the faint young Sun is a long-standing problem in planetary research. Here 4 we present new ab initio spectroscopic and line-by-line climate calculations 5 of the warming potential of reduced atmospheres on early Mars. We show 6 that the strength of both CO2-H2 and CO2-CH4 collision-induced absorp7 tion (CIA) has previously been significantly underestimated. Contrary to pre8 vious expectations, methane could have acted as a powerful greenhouse gas 9 on early Mars due to CO2-CH4 CIA in the critical 250-500 cm −1 spectral win10 dow region. In atmospheres of 0.5 bar CO2 or more, percent levels of H2 or 11 CH4 raise annual mean surface temperatures by tens of degrees, with tem12 peratures reaching 273 K for pressures of 1.25-2 bar and 2-10% of H2 and 13 CH4. Methane and hydrogen produced following aqueous alteration of Mars’ 14 crust could have combined with volcanically outgassed CO2 to form tran15 sient atmospheres of this composition 4.5-3.5 Ga. This scenario for the late 16 Noachian climate can be tested via future in situ and orbital studies of the 17
Schmidt Highlighting Diabetes Mellitus e 3 Diabetes Mellitus : Tissue Damage and Healing and Therapeutic Opportunities

The defining feature of diabetes mellitus is the presence of hyperglycemia. The most common forms of diabetes mellitus are type 1 diabetes mellitus, in which an absolute deficiency of insulin ensues consequent to pancreatic beta cell destruction, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which insulin resistance may lead to hyperglycemia. Obesity is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it is on the rise. Beyond obesity as a risk factor, it is known that a form of lean diabetes mellitus reflects a phenomenon in which fundamental defects in insulin secretion, on account of pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, primarily trigger the development of diabetes mellitus. As of 2014, 9.3% of Americans were said to have diabetes mellitus (29.1 million people); the lifetime risk for the development of diabetes mellitus in the United States stands at 40%. In addition to those with diagnosed diabetes mellitus, it is estimated that 86.1 million adults in the United States have prediabetes. The complications of diabetes mellitus affect nearly every tissue of the body, and diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, blindness, renal failure, and amputations. Further, the early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adolescents and young adults (≤age 40 years) has been linked to a more aggressive form of the disease, with premature development of serious complications. Together, these sobering statistics underscore the vital importance of uncovering the root causes of diabetes mellitus and its complications to best design strategies for therapeutic intervention in this disorder. In this “Highlights” on Diabetes Mellitus, a summary of recent articles published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) will be presented. Spanning studies at the cellular/molecular and animal model level, to translational and intervention studies in human subjects, these reports offer new insights into the causes and consequences of diabetes mellitus and shed light on plausible therapeutic targets.
The role of, and key considerations for, advertising campaigns and educational awareness workshops within the work-related road safety context

In the attempt to reduce injury and improve safety, organisations may implement an array of strategies and interventions ranging from policy development and implementation, vehicle selection and incident monitoring through to education and awareness-raising. This conceptual paper discusses aspects relating to the latter collection of interventions and, in particular, the role, and some key considerations with respect to the content and dissemination, of advertising campaigns and educational awareness workshops. In relation to advertising campaigns, this paper discusses how some of the overarching principles associated with advertising in the broader general community road safety strategy also apply within the work-related road safety context. The paper provides a summary of some key considerations when devising an advertising campaign, including the nature of campaign/message content as well as the processes by which to devise and refine such content. In relation to driver education awareness workshops, this paper outlines the key considerations for delivering a series of workshops specifically aimed at occupational driving within the organisational context. A case study approach will be utilised to demonstrate the manner in which educational awareness workshops can complement successful advertising campaigns promoting safer work related driving through better risk management practice. Research underpinning the development of driver behaviour modification tools incorporated within the workshops will also be discussed along with the mechanisms utilised to encourage improvements in driver monitoring and behaviour. In an effort to assist organisations with their continual search for cost-effective approaches which may, ultimately, contribute to improvements in driver behaviour and safety, the current paper offers some clear and practical suggestions in relation to the development and dissemination of two types of interventions, advertising campaigns and education awareness workshops.
Stalled Progress?

Trends toward gender equality largely stalled in the 1990s, but the progress of women in management was mixed. Given the importance of managers as actors in the reproduction of inequality, and managerial positions as rewards in their own right, this study investigates the relative status of women in management over the past two decades, using U.S. Decennial Census data from 1980 to 2000. The authors find that women’s entry into management occupations slowed markedly in the 1990s. Furthermore, after decreasing in the 1980s, gender segregation among managers rebounded sharply upward in the 1990s. However, greater segregation coincided with a decreasing gender earnings gap, which largely resulted from narrowing gaps within integrated or male‐dominated managerial occupations. Finally, there remains a substantial earnings penalty for managers who work in female‐dominated occupations.
Effect of simvastatin on Lp(a) concentrations

The effect of HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors on Lp(a) concentrations is controversial, with some studies showing an increase and others showing no effect on Lp(a) concentrations. Many of these studies have been limited by small sample size and the lack of a prospective design. We evaluated the effect of four treatments: (1) placebo, (2) simvastatin 10 mg PO QPM, (3) simvastatin 20 mg PO QAM, and (4) simvastatin 20 mg PO QPM on Lp(a) concentrations in a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial of 24 weeks in 343 subjects in 28 clinical sites in the United States. Simvastatin was not associated with a change in Lp(a) concentrations relative to placebo. These results were not affected by controlling for race, initial Lp(a) level, or urinary albumin excretion. Simvastatin significantly reduced low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (10 mg PO QPM: ‐ 27.6%; 20 mg PO QAM: ‐ 28.1%; and 20 mg PO QPM: ‐ 34.3%, all p<0.001). It was concluded that in a large, randomized, controlled trial, simvastatin does not affect Lp(a) levels but markedly lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
Father and Daughter Relationship and Its Impact on Daughter’s Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement

Present study examined the father and daughter relationship and its impact on daughter’s self-esteem and academic achievement. Sample is comprised of total 321 unmarried adolescent girls aged 13 to 21 whose fathers are alive and they are living together. The Quality of Relationship Inventory, Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used to measure quality of father-daughter relationship and self esteem. Academic achievement was assessed through participant’s reporting on demographic sheet. It was a survey design, participants were asked to fill the above mentioned battery of tests including demographic sheet and researcher remained there to answer any query. For the analysis of results, descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. The correlation between quality of Father-Daughter relationship with self esteem, academic achievement, found significant at 0.01 alpha level. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v4n1p311
Quantitative Risk Assessment for Multivariate Continuous Outcomes with Application to Neurotoxicology: The Bivariate Case

Summary The neurotoxic effects of chemical agents are often investigated in controlled studies on rodents, with multiple binary and continuous endpoints routinely collected. One goal is to conduct quantitative risk assessment to determine safe dose levels. Such studies face two major challenges for continuous outcomes. First, characterizing risk and defining a benchmark dose are difficult. Usually associated with an adverse binary event, risk is clearly definable in quantal settings as presence or absence of an event; finding a similar probability scale for continuous outcomes is less clear. Often, an adverse event is defined for continuous outcomes as any value below a specified cutoff level in a distribution assumed normal or log normal. Second, while continuous outcomes are traditionally analyzed separately for such studies, recent literature advocates also using multiple outcomes to assess risk. We propose a method for modeling and quantitative risk assessment for bivariate continuous outcomes that address both difficulties by extending existing percentile regression methods. The model is likelihood based; it allows separate dose–response models for each outcome while accounting for the bivariate correlation and overall characterization of risk. The approach to estimation of a benchmark dose is analogous to that for quantal data without the need to specify arbitrary cutoff values. We illustrate our methods with data from a neurotoxicity study of triethyl tin exposure in rats.
Timing and cell interactions underlying neural induction in the chick embryo.

Previous studies on neural induction have identified regionally localized inducing activities, signaling molecules, potential competence factors and various other features of this important, early differentiation event. In this paper, we have developed an improved model system for analyzing neural induction and patterning using transverse blastoderm isolates obtained from gastrulating chick embryos. We use this model to establish the timing of neural specification and the spatial distribution of perinodal cells having organizer activity. We show that a tissue that acts either as an organizer or as an inducer of an organizer is spatially co-localized with the prospective neuroectoderm immediately rostral to the primitive streak in the early gastrula. As the primitive streak elongates, this tissue with organizing activity and the prospective neuroectoderm rostral to the streak separate. Furthermore, we show that up to and through the mid-primitive streak stage (i.e., stage 3c/3+), the prospective neuroectoderm cannot self-differentiate (i.e. , express neural markers and acquire neural plate morphology) in isolation from tissue with organizer activity. Signals from the organizer and from other more caudal regions of the primitive streak act on the rostral prospective neuroectoderm and the latter gains potency (i.e., is specified) by the fully elongated primitive streak stage (i.e., stage 3d). Transverse blastoderm isolates containing non-specified, prospective neuroectoderm provide an improved model system for analyzing early signaling events involved in neuraxis initiation and patterning.
The Surface Energy Balance System ( SEBS ) for estimation of turbulent heat fluxes

A Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) is proposed for the estimation of atmospheric turbulent fluxes and evaporative fraction using satellite earth observation data, in combination with meteorological information at proper scales. SEBS consists of: a set of tools for the determination of the land surface physical parameters, such as albedo, emissivity, temperature, vegetation coverage etc., from spectral reflectance and radiance measurements; a model for the determination of the roughness length for heat transfer; and a new formulation for the determination of the evaporative fraction on the basis of energy balance at limiting cases. Four experimental data sets are used to assess the reliabilities of SEBS. Based on these case studies, SEBS has proven to be capable to estimate turbulent heat fluxes and evaporative fraction at various scales with acceptable accuracy. The uncertainties in the estimated heat fluxes are comparable to in-situ measurement uncertainties.
FLOOD HYDROGRAPH ESTIMATION USING WATERSHED BOUNDED NETWORK MODEL

Storage routing models are becoming more widely accepted for flood hydrograph synthesis. The network models represent a considerable advance in this direction even though these models are based on many assumptions and empirical relationships. Watershed Bounded Network Model (WBNM) is one such model. This model maintains a good relationship between the hydrological and geomorphological properties of a watershed and is capable of accurate flood hydrograph synthesis. The model can account for the non-uniform distribution of rainfall over the watershed. Lag is a dominant factor to be known for the successful application of WBNM. In this paper the theoretical basis of WBNM and its application to Pageru watershed in southern India is presented. The watershed contains three well spread rain gauges. Isolated flood events from a four years record were considered for the calibration of the model. Validation of the model revealed that the predicted hydrographs are compared well with observed hydrographs for the given rainfall excess hyetographs. Therefore, with its sound geomorphological basis, Watershed Bounded Network Model has a valid and versatile application over a wide range of conditions. _______________________________________________________________________
The Dopamine D4 Receptor (DRD4) Exon 3 VNTR Contributes to Adaptive Personality Differences in an Italian Small Island Population

The search for evolutionary forces shaping the diversity of human personality traits encouraged studies that have found that islanders are relatively closed and introverted, with little interest in the external world. The ‘personality gene flow’ hypothesis was proposed to explain the mechanism underlying this difference, suggesting that the frequency of alleles that influence islander personality traits might progressively increase in the gene pools on islands because of selective emigration of individuals not displaying these alleles. We genotyped 96 individuals from the Italian mainland and 117 from Giglio Island, whose residents were previously assessed regarding their personality traits. We genotyped three polymorphisms: the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon 3 repeat region, the serotonin–transporter SLC6A4 5–HTTLPR indel and the dopamine transporter SLC6A3 DAT1 3′UTR repeat region. Only the DRD4 exon 3 repeat was hypothesised to show varying allele frequencies because this polymorphism could be associated with human migration and personality traits such as extraversion, openness and novelty seeking. As predicted, no differences in allele frequencies were found for the SLC6A4 and SLC6A3 polymorphisms, whereas significant differences were observed in the frequency of the DRD4 exon 3 alleles. The DRD4.2 repeat was more common in mainlanders, as expected, whereas the DRD4.7 allele was over–represented among islanders who never emigrated. This last result contradicts the suggested association of this allele with long–distance migrations. We suggest that emigration might have caused gene flow out the island that resulted in somewhat unpredictable changes in the frequencies of specific alleles, thus influencing islander personality traits. Copyright © 2013 European Association of Personality Psychology
Do women develop alcoholic brain damage more readily than men?

Chronic alcoholism is related to brain damage (i.e., volume changes) in both men and women. There is an open question whether the brains of women are more vulnerable than those of men to alcohol toxicity. The present follow-up study focuses on a direct comparison of sex-related differences in alcoholic brain shrinkage and its reversibility. In a prospective design, a random sample of 65 alcoholics of both sexes (51 males and 14 females) was studied. Computerized tomography brain scans before and after a 6-week inpatient treatment program with controlled abstinence revealed a significant re-expansion of the brain as assessed by linear measurements. By controlling for moderating variables such as age, mean daily alcohol consumption, liver dysfunction, etc. the degree of brain shrinkage was found to be similar in men and women despite significantly shorter ethanol expositions in the women. These findings corroborate the hypotheses of other investigators about basic biological differences between the two sexes as to the effects of alcohol. The hypothesis of an enhanced vulnerability of women to acute and chronic complications of alcoholism is supported.