Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Breast Cancer in Korean Women: A Quantitative Systematic Review

Objectives: The epidemiological characteristics of breast cancer incidence by age group in Korean women are unique. This systematic review aimed to investigate the association between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer risk in Korean women. Methods: We searched electronic databases such as KoreaMed, KMbase, KISS, and RISS4U as well as PubMed for publications on Korean breast cancer patients. We also conducted manual searching based on references and citations in potential papers. All of the analytically epidemiologic studies that obtained individual data on HRT exposure and breast cancer occurrence in Korean women were selected. We restricted the inclusion of case-control studies to those that included age-matched controls. Estimates of summary odds ratio (SOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effect models. Results: One cohort and five case-control studies were finally selected. Based on the heterogeneity that existed among the six studies (I-squared=70.2%), a random effect model was applied. The summary effect size of HRT history from the six articles indicated no statistical significance in breast cancer risk (SOR, 0.983; 95% CI, 0.620 to 1.556). Conclusions: These facts support no significant effect of HRT history in the risk of breast cancer in Korean women. It is necessary to conduct a pooled analysis.
The Non-coding Mammary Carcinoma Susceptibility Locus, Mcs5c, Regulates Pappa Expression via Age-Specific Chromatin Folding and Allele-Dependent DNA Methylation

In understanding the etiology of breast cancer, the contributions of both genetic and environmental risk factors are further complicated by the impact of breast developmental stage. Specifically, the time period ranging from childhood to young adulthood represents a critical developmental window in a woman’s life when she is more susceptible to environmental hazards that may affect future breast cancer risk. Although the effects of environmental exposures during particular developmental Windows of Susceptibility (WOS) are well documented, the genetic mechanisms governing these interactions are largely unknown. Functional characterization of the Mammary Carcinoma Susceptibility 5c, Mcs5c, congenic rat model of breast cancer at various stages of mammary gland development was conducted to gain insight into the interplay between genetic risk factors and WOS. Using quantitative real-time PCR, chromosome conformation capture, and bisulfite pyrosequencing we have found that Mcs5c acts within the mammary gland to regulate expression of the neighboring gene Pappa during a critical mammary developmental time period in the rat, corresponding to the human young adult WOS. Pappa has been shown to positively regulate the IGF signaling pathway, which is required for proper mammary gland/breast development and is of increasing interest in breast cancer pathogenesis. Mcs5c-mediated regulation of Pappa appears to occur through age-dependent and mammary gland-specific chromatin looping, as well as genotype-dependent CpG island shore methylation. This represents, to our knowledge, the first insight into cellular mechanisms underlying the WOS phenomenon and demonstrates the influence developmental stage can have on risk locus functionality. Additionally, this work represents a novel model for further investigation into how environmental factors, together with genetic factors, modulate breast cancer risk in the context of breast developmental stage.
Empirical reconstruction and long-duration tracking of the magnetospheric boundary in single- and multi-spacecraft contexts

The magnetospheric boundary is always moving, making it difficult to establish its structure. This paper presents a novel method for tracking the motion of the boundary, based on in-situ observations of the plasma velocity and of one or more additional observables. This method allows the moving boundary to be followed for extended periods of time (up to several hours) and aptly deals with limitations on the time resolution of the data, with measurement errors, and with occasional data gaps; it can exploit data from any number of spacecraft and any type of instrument. At the same time the method is an empirical reconstruction technique that determines the one-dimensional spatial structure of the boundary. The method is illustrated with single- and multi-spacecraft applications using data from Ampte/Irm and Cluster.
Use of self-administered instruments to assess psychiatric disorders in older people: validity of the General Health Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the self-completion version of the revised Clinical Interview Schedule

Background Diagnosis of depressive disorder using interviewer-administered instruments is expensive and frequently impractical in large epidemiological surveys. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of three self-completion measures of depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders in older people against an interviewer-administered instrument. Method A random sample stratified by sex, age and social position was selected from the Whitehall II study participants. This sample was supplemented by inclusion of depressed Whitehall II participants. Depressive disorder and other mental disorders were assessed by the interviewer-administered structured revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) in 277 participants aged 58–80 years. Participants also completed a computerized self-completion version of the CIS-R in addition to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results The mean total score was similar for the interviewer-administered (4.43) and self-completion (4.35) versions of the CIS-R [95% confidence interval (CI) for difference −0.31 to 0.16]. Differences were not related to sex, age, social position or presence of chronic physical illness. Sensitivity/specificity of self-completion CIS-R was 74%/98% for any mental disorder and 75%/98% for depressive episode. The corresponding figures were 86%/87% and 78%/83% for GHQ and 77%/89% and 89%/86% for CES-D. Conclusions The self-completion computerized version of the CIS-R is feasible and has good validity as a measure of any mental disorder and depression in people aged ⩾ 60 years. GHQ and CES-D also have good criterion validity as measures of any mental disorder and depressive disorder respectively.
Five-Year Progression of Refractive Errors and Incidence of Myopia in School-Aged Children in Western China

Background To determine the change in refractive error and the incidence of myopia among school-aged children in the Yongchuan District of Chongqing City, Western China. Methods A population-based cross-sectional survey was initially conducted in 2006 among 3070 children aged 6 to 15 years. A longitudinal follow-up study was then conducted 5 years later between November 2011 and March 2012. Refractive error was measured under cycloplegia with autorefraction. Age, sex, and baseline refractive error were evaluated as risk factors for progression of refractive error and incidence of myopia. Results Longitudinal data were available for 1858 children (60.5%). The cumulative mean change in refractive error was −2.21 (standard deviation [SD], 1.87) diopters (D) for the entire study population, with an annual progression of refraction in a myopic direction of −0.43 D. Myopic progression of refractive error was associated with younger age, female sex, and higher myopic or hyperopic refractive error at baseline. The cumulative incidence of myopia, defined as a spherical equivalent refractive error of −0.50 D or more, among initial emmetropes and hyperopes was 54.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45.2%–63.5%), with an annual incidence of 10.6% (95% CI, 8.7%–13.1%). Myopia was found more likely to happen in female and older children. Conclusions In Western China, both myopic progression and incidence of myopia were higher than those of children from most other locations in China and from the European Caucasian population. Compared with a previous study in China, there was a relative increase in annual myopia progression and annual myopia incidence, a finding which is consistent with the increasing trend on prevalence of myopia in China.
Muddled Information

We study a model of signaling in which agents are heterogeneous on two dimensions. An agent’s natural action is the action taken in the absence of signaling concerns. Her gaming ability parameterizes the cost of increasing the action. Equilibrium behavior muddles information across dimensions. As incentives to take higher actions increase—due to higher stakes or more manipulable signaling technology—more information is revealed about gaming ability, and less about natural actions. We explore a new externality: showing agents’ actions to additional observers can worsen information for existing observers. Applications to credit scoring, school testing, and web searching are discussed.
Automated Versus Manual In Vivo Segmentation of Carotid Plaque MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Automatically identifying carotid plaque composition using MR imaging remains a challenging task in vivo. The purpose of our study was to compare the detection and quantification of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque components based on in vivo MR imaging data using manual and automated segmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients from a multicenter study were split into a training group (20 patients) and a study group (40 patients). Each MR imaging study consisted of 4 high-resolution carotid wall sequences (T1, T2, PDw, TOF). Manual segmentation was performed by delineation of the vessel wall and different plaque components. Automated segmentation was performed in the study group by a supervised classifier trained on images from the training group of patients. RESULTS: For the detection of plaque components, the agreement between the visual and automated analysis was moderate for calcifications (κ = 0.59, CI 95% [0.36–0.82]) and good for hemorrhage (0.65 [0.42–0.88]) and lipids (0.65 [0.03–1.27]). For quantification of plaque volumes, the intraclass correlation was high for hemorrhage (0.80 [0.54–0.92]) and fibrous tissue (0.80 [0.65–0.89]), good for lipids (0.65 [0.43–0.80]), and poor for calcifications. CONCLUSIONS: In 40 patients with carotid stenosis, our results indicated that it was possible to automatically detect carotid plaque components with substantial or good agreement with visual identification, and that the volumes obtained manually and automatically were reasonably consistent for hemorrhage and lipids but not for calcium.
Auxin and Cytokinin Metabolism and Root Morphological Modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings Infected with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) or Exposed to Cadmium

Arabidopsis thaliana L. is a model plant but little information is available about morphological root changes as part of a phytohormonal common response against both biotic and abiotic stressors. For this purpose, two-week-old Arabidopsis seedlings were treated with 10 μM CdSO4 or infected with CMV. After 12 days the entire aerial parts and the root system were analyzed, and the presence of CMV or the accumulation of Cd were detected. Microscopic analysis revealed that both CMV and Cd influenced root morphology by a marked development in the length of root hairs and an intense root branching if compared to controls. Among the three treatments, Cd-treated seedlings showed a shorter root axis length and doubled their lateral root diameter, while the lateral roots of CMV-infected seedlings were the longest. The root growth patterns were accompanied by significant changes in the levels of indole-3-acetic acid, trans-zeatin riboside, dihydrozeatin riboside, as a probable consequence of the regulation of some genes involved in their biosynthesis/degradation. The opposite role on root development played by the phythormones studied is discussed in detail. The results obtained could provide insights into novel strategies for plant defense against pathogens and plant protection against pollutants.
Impact of whole-body vibration training versus fitness training on muscle strength and muscle mass in older men: a 1-year randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of 1-year whole-body vibration (WBV) training on isometric and explosive muscle strength and muscle mass in community-dwelling men older than 60 years. METHODS Muscle characteristics of the WBV group (n = 31, 67.3 +/- 0.7 years) were compared with those of a fitness (FIT) group (n = 30, 67.4 +/- 0.8 years) and a control (CON) group (n = 36, 68.6 +/- 0.9 years). Isometric strength of the knee extensors was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer, explosive muscle strength was assessed using a counter movement jump, and muscle mass of the upper leg was determined by computed tomography. RESULTS Isometric muscle strength, explosive muscle strength, and muscle mass increased significantly in the WBV group (9.8%, 10.9%, and 3.4%, respectively) and in the FIT group (13.1%, 9.8%, and 3.8%, respectively) with the training effects not significantly different between the groups. No significant changes in any parameter were found in the CON group. CONCLUSION WBV training is as efficient as a fitness program to increase isometric and explosive knee extension strength and muscle mass of the upper leg in community-dwelling older men. These findings suggest that WBV training has potential to prevent or reverse the age-related loss in skeletal muscle mass, referred to as sarcopenia.
Scaling Online Social Networks without Pains

Online Social Networks (OSN) face serious scalability challenges due to their rapid growth and popularity. To address this issue we present a novel approach to scale up OSN called One Hop Replication (OHR). Our system combines partitioning and replication in a middleware to transparently scale up a centralized OSN design, and therefore, avoid the OSN application to undergo the costly transition to a fully distributed system to meet its scalability needs. OHR exploits some of the structural characteristics of Social Networks: 1) most of the information is one-hop away, and 2) the topology of the network of connections among people displays a strong community structure. We evaluate our system and its potential benefits and overheads using data from real OSNs: Twitter and Orkut. We show that OHR has the potential to provide out-of-the-box transparent scalability while maintaining the replication overhead costs in check.
Proprietary vs. Public Domain Licensing of Software and Research Products

We study the production of knowledge when many researchers or inventors are involved, in a setting where tensions can arise between individual public and private contributions. We first show that without some kind of coordination, production of the public knowledge good (science or research software or database) is sub-optimal. Then we demonstrate that if "lead" researchers are able to establish a norm of contribution to the public good, a better outcome can be achieved, and we show that the General Public License (GPL) used in the provision of open source software is one of such mechanisms. Our results are then applied to the specific setting where the knowledge being produced is software or a database that will be used by academic researchers and possibly by private firms, using as an example a product familiar to economists, econometric software. We conclude by discussing some of the ways in which pricing can ameliorate the problem of providing these products to academic researchers.
Exploring Antecedents of Behavior Intention to Use Internet Banking in Korea: Adoption Perspective

This study is aimed at analyzing adoption and usage behavior within the context of Internet banking services in South Korea. In a country where the penetration rate of the Internet is very high, it seems that the self-efficacy would play a crucial role in affecting the Internet banking adoption. To pursue this research question, this study adopts TAM and incorporates the self-efficacy into TAM as one of antecedent variables such as risk, Internet experience, facilitating conditions. The proposed research model is tested empirically with 185 usable questionnaires and partial least square (PLS) method. Experimental results showed that the self-efficacy plays a prominent role in influencing the Internet banking usage compared to other factors.
A no-arbitrage term structure model without latent factors

I present a framework for modeling part of the dynamics of the term structure. The framework can be used to link the term structure to observed variables such as inflation and output. Its partial nature allows us to dispense with yield-based factors (e.g., latent factors) while retaining restrictions associated with no-arbitrage. I apply the model to the joint dynamics of inflation and the term structure. As other research has noted, both short-term and long-term bond yields adjust gradually to a change in inflation. I find that the dynamics of the price of interest rate risk needed to fit this pattern from 1983 through 2003 are implausible. An alternative interpretation is that investors were systematically surprised by the slow adjustment of short-term yields to inflation.
Domains of Neuronal Microtubule-associated Proteins and Flexural Rigidity of Microtubules

Microtubules are flexible polymers whose mechanical properties are an important factor in the determination of cell architecture and function. It has been proposed that the two most prominent neuronal microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), tau and MAP2, whose microtubule binding regions are largely homologous, make an important contribution to the formation and maintenance of neuronal processes, putatively by increasing the rigidity of microtubules. Using optical tweezers to manipulate single microtubules, we have measured their flexural rigidity in the presence of various constructs of tau and MAP2c. The results show a three- or fourfold increase of microtubule rigidity in the presence of wild-type tau or MAP2c, respectively. Unexpectedly, even low concentrations of MAPs promote a substantial increase in microtubule rigidity. Thus at ∼20% saturation with full-length tau, a microtubule exhibits >80% of the rigidity observed at near saturating concentrations. Several different constructs of tau or MAP2 were used to determine the relative contribution of certain subdomains in the microtubule-binding region. All constructs tested increase microtubule rigidity, albeit to different extents. Thus, the repeat domains alone increase microtubule rigidity only marginally, whereas the domains flanking the repeats make a significant contribution. Overall, there is an excellent correlation between the strength of binding of a MAP construct to microtubules (as represented by its dissociation constant K d) and the increase in microtubule rigidity. These findings demonstrate that neuronal MAPs as well as constructs derived from them increase microtubule rigidity, and that the changes in rigidity observed with different constructs correlate well with other biochemical and physiological parameters.
Towards a better compressed sensing

In this paper we look at a well known linear inverse problem that is one of the mathematical cornerstones of the compressed sensing field. In seminal works \cite{CRT,DOnoho06CS} $\ell_1$ optimization and its success when used for recovering sparse solutions of linear inverse problems was considered. Moreover, \cite{CRT,DOnoho06CS} established for the first time in a statistical context that an unknown vector of linear sparsity can be recovered as a known existing solution of an under-determined linear system through $\ell_1$ optimization. In \cite{DonohoPol,DonohoUnsigned} (and later in \cite{StojnicCSetam09,StojnicUpper10}) the precise values of the linear proportionality were established as well. While the typical $\ell_1$ optimization behavior has been essentially settled through the work of \cite{DonohoPol,DonohoUnsigned,StojnicCSetam09,StojnicUpper10}, we in this paper look at possible upgrades of $\ell_1$ optimization. Namely, we look at a couple of algorithms that turn out to be capable of recovering a substantially higher sparsity than the $\ell_1$. However, these algorithms assume a bit of "feedback" to be able to work at full strength. This in turn then translates the original problem of improving upon $\ell_1$ to designing algorithms that would be able to provide output needed to feed the $\ell_1$ upgrades considered in this papers.
Shallow Parsing using Noisy and Non-Stationary Training Material

Shallow parsers are usually assumed to be trained on noise-free material, drawn from the same distribution as the testing material. However, when either the training set is noisy or else drawn from a different distributions, performance may be degraded. Using the parsed Wall Street Journal, we investigate the performance of four shallow parsers (maximum entropy, memory-based learning, N-grams and ensemble learning) trained using various types of artificially noisy material. Our first set of results show that shallow parsers are surprisingly robust to synthetic noise, with performance gradually decreasing as the rate of noise increases. Further results show that no single shallow parser performs best in all noise situations. Final results show that simple, parser-specific extensions can improve noise-tolerance. Our second set of results addresses the question of whether naturally occurring disfluencies undermines performance more than does a change in distribution. Results using the parsed Switchboard corpus suggest that, although naturally occurring disfluencies might harm performance, differences in distribution between the training set and the testing set are more significant.
Cross-language speech retrieval: establishing a baseline performance

Pkic Sheridan, Martin Wechsler, Peter Schauble Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland We present here the realisation of a cross-language speech retrieval system which retrieves German speech documents in response to user queries specified as Prench text. This has been achieved through the integration of two existing modules of the SPIDER information retrieval system, namely the query pseudo-translation module and the speech retrieval module. Our approach to cross-language retrieval uses an automatically constructed corpus-based information structure called a simihwity thesaurus. A similarity thesaurus can be constructed over any loosely comparable corpus a parallel corpus is not necessary. The similarity thesaurus used here was constructed over a 330 MByte corpus of comparable German and Fkench news stones. Our speech retrieval module is based on a speaker-independent phoneme recognize and it indexes speech documents by N-grams of phonemic features. The speech retrieval module includes an additional probabilistic matching technique designed to aid retrieval from erroneous data such as the phonemic output of the speech recognition process. We have evaluated our cross-language speech retrieval system over a collection of 30 hours (3.4 GBytes) of German speech, comparing the effectiveness of l%nch queries (cross-language) against performance on equivalent German queries (mon~lingual). It must be stressed that this work represents our first step in the direction of cross-language speech retrieval. Our aim here is to establish a bmefine of performance on this task, against which we can then measure the success of our continuing research in this area.