Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of factors related to illegal tobacco sales to young people in Ontario

OBJECTIVE To identify and to discuss factors influencing illegal merchant sales of tobacco to underage people in Ontario, Canada. DESIGN Results were obtained through random retail compliance checks of tobacco merchants. A multivariate analysis specified the relationship between selected independent variables and the willingness of tobacco merchants to sell to minors. The selected independent variables included retail operation type, community population size, the presence of tobacco production, signage, sex and age of volunteers, smoking prevalence rates, and enforcement rates. PARTICIPANTS A random, stratified sample of 438 tobacco retailers in 186 communities in Ontario. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Willingness of merchants to sell tobacco to minors. RESULTS Older youths and girls were more likely to be sold tobacco products. Purchase attempts carried out in tobacco-producing regions were also statistically related to illegal sales. CONCLUSIONS Policy efforts to control youth access to tobacco in Canada may need to invoke legislation requiring merchants to request proper identification from customers who appear to be under the age of 25, and who seek to purchase tobacco products. Further attention could also be directed at tobacco control policies and enforcement strategies that need to consider the unique challenges faced by jurisdictions where the tobacco industry is a powerful presence.
Acetylcholine Receptors

The number of extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors (125I-labeled α-bungarotoxin binding sites) per unit length of muscle fiber and the average fiber circumference were determined for rat diaphragm muscle fibers denervated 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days. From these data receptor densities (sites per square micrometer of surface) were calculated. Values thus obtained were considerably lower than those estimated previously by autoradiography. Receptor density increased from < 6 sites/µm2 in innervated muscle to 635 ± 29 sites/µm2 14 days after denervation. The form of the relationship between receptor density and acetylcholine sensitivity and the time-course of change in receptor density after denervation are as previously reported.
Temporary organizations: Prevalence, logic and effectiveness

Contents: Foreword Joerg Sydow Preface Patrick N. Kenis, Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan and Bart Cambre Introduction: Temporary Organizations - A Challenge and Opportunity for our Thinking About Organizations Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan, Bart Cambre and Patrick N. Kenis PART I: MAKING THE CASE 1. The Prevalence and Characteristics of Interorganizational Temporary Collaborations of Dutch Small- and Medium-sized Firms (SMEs) Leon A.G. Oerlemans, Jan M.P. de Kok and Jeroen P.J. de Jong 2. Research on Temporary Organizations: The State of the Art and Distinct Approaches Toward 'Temporariness' Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan, Rene M. Bakker and Patrick N. Kenis 3. Applying Organization Theory to Temporary Organizations Patrick N. Kenis, Bart Cambre, Gerardus J.M. Lucas, Leon A.G. Oerlemans PART II: CONCEPTUAL INSIGHTS INTO TEMPORARY ORGANIZATIONS 4. Time Matters: The Impact of 'Temporariness' on the Functioning and Performance of Organizations Rene M. Bakker and Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan 5. The Atemporality of Temporary Organizations: Implications for Goal Attainment and Legitimacy Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan, Patrick N. Kenis and Patrick A.M. Vermeulen 6. Proximity in Temporary Organizations Joris Knoben and Tobias Goessling 7. Structure in Temporary Organizations Joerg Raab, Joseph Soeters, Paul C. van Fenema and Erik de Waard 8. The Resource Dilemma of Temporary Organizations: A Dynamic Perspective on Temporal Embeddedness and Resource Discretion Rene M. Bakker, Bart Cambre and Keith G. Provan 9. Turning a Negative into a Positive: How Innovation Management Moderates the Negative Impact of TO Complexity on the Effectiveness of Innovative Interorganizational Temporary Collaborations Leon A.G. Oerlemans and Marius T.H. Meeus Conclusion: Towards an Integrated View of Temporary Organizations: Future Research Agenda and Managerial Implications Patrick N. Kenis, Martyna Janowicz-Panjaitan and Bart Cambre Index
Synthesis of Aligned Arrays of Ultrathin ZnO Nanotubes on a Si Wafer Coated with a Thin ZnO Film

derived from BaCO3. Small particle size has been shown to suppress a martensitic phase transition, and in this context microwave plasma synthesis appears rapid enough to prevent particle sintering and subsequent transition to the monoclinic phase. Prolonged exposure (1 h) to an O2 or Ar plasma of either the orthorhombic or monoclinic phases did not result in a phase change as judged by powder XRD. In conclusion, we have used a simple microwave plasma reactor for reproducible bulk synthesis of several ternary niobate and titanate phases. MIP synthesis does not require direct interaction between a solid and microwave radiation and is, therefore, amenable to any solid-state reaction. Importantly, for some reactions the plasma can also be used to heat solids into a temperature regime where additional dielectric heating can occur, resulting in a local temperature much greater than the equilibrium MIP temperature. Experimental Precursor oxides (Nb2O5 ,T iO 2, and BaO 99.99 %) and carbonates (Li2CO3 99.99 %, Na2CO3 99.995 %, K2CO3 99.995 %, CaCO3 99.995+ %, BaCO3 99.999 %, and PbCO3 99.99+ %) were purchased from Aldrich and used as received. Plasma gases (Ar and O2) were purchased from BOC. In a typical synthesis, a total mass of 2 g of precursors was ground in a drybox and pressed at 10 tonnes into a 13 mm pellet, and the pellet was transferred to the microwave apparatus via a desiccator. The pellet was placed in an alumina boat and exposed to a plasma at 13 mbar (1mbar = 10 2 Pa), 900 W, and a gas flow rate of 200 cm 3 min –1 for argon and 142 cm 3 min –1 for dioxygen. After microwave plasma irradiation, products were transferred directly into a drybox for storage. Products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (Philips 1800 diffractometer PH 03, with Cu Ka radiation (k = 1.54 A) in reflection mode), scanning electron microscopy (FEI Sirion 200), and analytical transmission electron microscopy (FEI CM200 FEGTEM) that included electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
DRPM: dynamic speed control for power management in server class disks

A large portion of the power budget in server environments goes into the I/O subsystem - the disk array in particular. Traditional approaches to disk power management involve completely stopping the disk rotation, which can take a considerable amount of time, making them less useful in cases where idle times between disk requests may not be long enough to outweigh the overheads. We present a new approach called DRPM to modulate disk speed (RPM) dynamically, and gives a practical implementation to exploit this mechanism. Extensive simulations with different workload and hardware parameters show that DRPM can provide significant energy savings without compromising much on performance. We also discuss practical issues when implementing DRPM on server disks.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal metaplasia in subjects who had undergone surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma in Northwest Italy.

AIM To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and its more virulent strains as well as the correlation with the histologic features among patients who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer (GC). METHODS Samples from 317 (184 males, 133 females, mean age 69+/-3.4 years) consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Five hundred and fifty-five (294 males, 261 females, mean age 57.3+/-4.1 years) patients consecutively admitted to the Emergency Care Unit served as control. Histological examination of tumor, lymph nodes and other tissues obtained at the time of surgery represented the diagnostic "gold standard". An enzyme immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum anti-H pylori (IgG) antibodies and Western blotting technique was utilized to search for anti-CagA protein (IgG). RESULTS Two hundred and sixty-one of three hundred and seventeen (82.3%) GC patients and 314/555 (56.5%) controls were seropositive for anti-H pylori (P<0.0001; OR, 3.58; 95%CI, 2.53-5.07). Out of the 317 cases, 267 (84.2%) were seropositive for anti-CagA antibody vs 100 out of 555 (18%) controls (P<0.0001; OR, 24.30; 95%CI, 16.5-35.9). There was no difference between the frequency of H pylori in intestinal type carcinoma (76.2%) and diffuse type cancer (78.8%). Intestinal metaplasia (IM) was more frequent but not significant in the intestinal type cancer (83.4% vs 75.2% in diffuse type and 72.5% in mixed type). Among the patients examined for IM, 39.8% had IM type I, 8.3% type II and 51.9% type III(type III vs others, P = 0.4). CONCLUSION This study confirms a high seroprevalence of H pylori infection in patients suffering from gastric adenocarcinoma and provides further evidence that searching for CagA status over H pylori infection might confer additional benefit in identifying populations at greater risk for this tumor.
Machine learning based prediction of warfarin optimal dosing for African American patients

This paper proposes a new model for predicting the optimal warfarin dosing for African American patients. The prediction model is created using the multivariable regression method. The accuracy of dosing prediction is directly related to patient's safety. We show that the proposed model has better accuracy compare to all other available prediction methods for optimal dosing of warfarin.
Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors in Inflammation Control

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were discovered over a decade ago, and were classified as orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. To date, three PPAR subtypes have been discovered and characterized (PPARα, β/δ, γ). Different PPAR subtypes have been shown to play crucial roles in important diseases and conditions such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and fertility. Among the most studied roles of PPARs is their involvement in inflammatory processes. Numerous studies have revealed that agonists of PPARα and PPARγ exert anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo. Using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model of inflammation, a recent study in our laboratories showed that these agonists hinder the initiation phase, but not the late phase of the inflammatory process. Furthermore, in the same experimental model, we recently also observed that activation of PPARδ exerted an anti-inflammatory effect. Despite the fact that exclusive dependence of these effects on PPARs has been questioned, the bulk of evidence suggests that all three PPAR subtypes, PPARα, δ, γ, play a significant role in controlling inflammatory responses. Whether these subtypes act via a common mechanism or are independent of each other remains to be elucidated. However, due to the intensity of research efforts in this area, it is anticipated that these efforts will result in the development of PPAR ligands as therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Analysis of the interrelationship of the pulmonary irritation and elicitation thresholds in rats sensitized with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)

Abstract This paper summarizes a range of experimental data central for developing a science-based approach for hazard identification of monomeric and polymeric aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The dose–response curve of HDI-induced pulmonary responses in naïve or dermally sensitized rats after one or several inhalation priming exposures was examined in the Brown Norway (BN) rat asthma model. Emphasis was directed to demonstrate the need and the difficulty in selecting an appropriate pulmonary dose when much of the inhaled chemically reactive vapor may concentration dependently be retained in the upper airways of obligate nose-breathing rats. The course taken acknowledges the experimental challenges in identifying an elicitation threshold for HDI-monomer near or above the saturated vapor concentration or in the presence of a HDI-polymer aerosol. The inhalation threshold dose on elicitation was determined based on a fixed concentration (C) × variable exposure duration (t) protocol for improving inhalation dosimetry of the lower airways. Neutrophilic granulocytes (PMN) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in equally inhalation primed naïve and dermally sensitized rats were used to define the inhalation elicitation threshold C × t. Sensitized rats elaborated markedly increased PMN challenged sensitized rats relative to equally challenged naïve rats at 5625 mg HDI/m3 × min (75 mg/m3 for 75 min). PMN were essentially indistinguishable at 900 mg HDI/m3 × min. By applying adjustment factors accounting for both inter-species differences in inhalation dosimetry and intra-species susceptibility, the workplace human-equivalent threshold C × t was estimated to be in the range of the current ACGIH TLV® of HDI. Thus, this rat “asthma” model was suitable to demonstrate elicitation thresholds for HDI-vapor after one or several inhalation priming exposures and seems to be suitable to derive occupational exposure values (OELs) for diisocyanates in general.
Promoting transparency and accountability through ICTs, social media, and collaborative e‐government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which governments build social media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) into e‐government transparency initiatives, to promote collaboration with members of the public and the ways in members of the public are able to employ the same social media to monitor government activities.Design/methodology/approach – This study used an iterative strategy that involved conducting a literature review, content analysis, and web site analysis, offering multiple perspectives on government transparency efforts, the role of ICTs and social media in these efforts, and the ability of e‐government initiatives to foster collaborative transparency through embedded ICTs and social media.Findings – The paper identifies key initiatives, potential impacts, and future challenges for collaborative e‐government as a means of transparency.Originality/value – The paper is one of the first to examine the interrelationships between ICTs, social media, and c.
Continuous Record Asymptotics for Rolling Sample Variance Estimators

It is widely known that conditional covariances of asset returns change over time. Researchers adopt many strategies to accommodate conditional heteroskedasticity. Among the most popular are: (a) chopping the data into short blocks of time and assuming homoskedasticity within the blocks, (b) performing one-sided rolling regressions, in which only data from, say, the preceding five year period is used to estimate the conditional covariance of returns at a given date, and (c) two-sided rolling regressions which use, say, five years of leads and five years of lags. GARCH amounts to a one-sided rolling regression with exponentially declining weights. We derive asymptotically optimal window lengths for standard rolling regressions and optimal weights for weighted rolling regressions. An empirical model of the S&P 500 stock index provides an example.
Effects of exercise training on older patients with major depression.

BACKGROUND Previous observational and interventional studies have suggested that regular physical exercise may be associated with reduced symptoms of depression. However, the extent to which exercise training may reduce depressive symptoms in older patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program compared with standard medication (ie, antidepressants) for treatment of MDD in older patients, we conducted a 16-week randomized controlled trial. METHODS One hundred fifty-six men and women with MDD (age, > or = 50 years) were assigned randomly to a program of aerobic exercise, antidepressants (sertraline hydrochloride), or combined exercise and medication. Subjects underwent comprehensive evaluations of depression, including the presence and severity of MDD using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores before and after treatment. Secondary outcome measures included aerobic capacity, life satisfaction, self-esteem, anxiety, and dysfunctional cognitions. RESULTS After 16 weeks of treatment, the groups did not differ statistically on HAM-D or BDI scores (P = .67); adjustment for baseline levels of depression yielded an essentially identical result. Growth curve models revealed that all groups exhibited statistically and clinically significant reductions on HAM-D and BDI scores. However, patients receiving medication alone exhibited the fastest initial response; among patients receiving combination therapy, those with less severe depressive symptoms initially showed a more rapid response than those with initially more severe depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS An exercise training program may be considered an alternative to antidepressants for treatment of depression in older persons. Although antidepressants may facilitate a more rapid initial therapeutic response than exercise, after 16 weeks of treatment exercise was equally effective in reducing depression among patients with MDD.
Obesity and Risk for Brain/CNS Tumors, Gliomas and Meningiomas: A Meta-Analysis

Objective This meta-analysis aims to examine the association between being overweight/obese and risk of meningiomas and gliomas as well as overall brain/central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Study Design Potentially eligible publications were sought in PubMed up to June 30, 2014. Random-effects meta-analysis and dose-response meta-regression analysis was conducted. Cochran Q statistic, I-squared and tau-squared were used for the assessment of between-study heterogeneity. The analysis was performed using Stata/SE version 13 statistical software. Results A total of 22 studies were eligible, namely 14 cohort studies (10,219 incident brain/CNS tumor cases, 1,319 meningioma and 2,418 glioma cases in a total cohort size of 10,143,803 subjects) and eight case-control studies (1,009 brain/CNS cases, 1,977 meningioma cases, 1,265 glioma cases and 8,316 controls). In females, overweight status/obesity was associated with increased risk for overall brain/CNS tumors (pooled RR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.03–1.21, 10 study arms), meningiomas (pooled RR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.13–1.43, 16 study arms) and gliomas (pooled RR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.03–1.32, six arms). Obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) females seemed particularly aggravated in terms of brain/CNS tumor (pooled RR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.05–1.36, six study arms) and meningioma risk (pooled RR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.28–1.71, seven arms). In males, overweight/obesity status correlated with increased meningioma risk (pooled RR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.22–2.04, nine study arms), whereas the respective association with overall brain/CNS tumor or glioma risk was not statistically significant. Dose-response meta-regression analysis further validated the findings. Conclusion Our findings highlight obesity as a risk factor for overall brain/CNS tumors, meningiomas and gliomas among females, as well as for meningiomas among males.
Comparing patient and professional views of expected treatment outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a Delphi study identifies possibilities for change in service delivery in England, UK.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To clarify by consensus the professional and patient views of expected treatment outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to compare the similarities and differences and identify the potential for adjusting service delivery. BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an under-researched topic necessary to illuminate health planning, and patient partnership needs in the UK clinical screening is low priority for this condition. Government policy expects that service users are involved in planning services for their condition, but few opportunities exist for this process. DESIGN A feasibility study in two phases conducted three service user focus groups and one specialist professional group to provide statements of expected treatment outcomes from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease interventions. The statements then formed a further two-round Delphi structured survey to compare service users' and carers' views with those of specialist professionals to ascertain what differences could be developed in service delivery for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS Three rounds of Delphi survey were administered. Round 1: Specialist professionals and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranked statements using nominal group technique. A nine-point scale Delphi consensus study used the statements in two further rounds. RESULTS Twenty-four of 54 professionals contacted, and 52 of 152 patients and carers completed Delphi rounds 2 and 3. Consensus was found within and between both groups. The greatest difference was where professionals sought government targets and did not realise patient expectations, which were constrained by policy disincentives. The greatest agreement was for accurate record keeping and the need for revised chronic obstructive pulmonary disease services. CONCLUSIONS Patients consider that services should support them to retain their independence and enable their adaptation to the condition. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Health professionals aim to provide patient focused care based on need. This helps improve outcomes of interventions. Patients are willing and able if supported to increase independence and maintain self-help.
Clinical and Microbiological Features of HIV-Associated Tuberculous Meningitis in Vietnamese Adults

Methods The aim of this prospective, observational cohort study was to determine the clinical and microbiological features, outcome, and baseline variables predictive of death, in Vietnamese adults with HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis (TBM). 58 patients were admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City and underwent routine clinical and laboratory assessments. Treatment was with standard antituberculous therapy and adjunctive dexamethasone; antiretroviral therapy was not routinely available. Patients were followed up until the end of TB treatment or death. Results The median symptom duration was 11 days (range 2–90 days), 21.8% had a past history of TB, and 41.4% had severe (grade 3) TBM. The median CD4 count was 32 cells/mm3. CSF findings were as follows: median leucocyte count 438×109cells/l (63% neutrophils), 69% smear positive and 87.9% culture positive. TB drug resistance rates were high (13% mono-resistance 32.6% poly-resistance 8.7% multidrug resistance). 17% patients developed further AIDS-defining illnesses. 67.2% died (median time to death 20 days). Three baseline variables were predictive of death by multivariate analysis: increased TBM grade [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.73, 95% CI 1.08–2.76, p = 0.02], lower serum sodium (AHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98, p = 0.002) and decreased CSF lymphocyte percentage (AHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99, p = 0.003). Conclusions HIV-associated TBM is devastating disease with a dismal prognosis. CSF findings included CSF neutrophil predominance, high rates of smear and culture positivity, and high rates of antituberculous drug resistance. Three baseline variables were independently associated with death: increased TBM grade; low serum sodium and decreased CSF lymphocyte percentage.
Posterior orbitofrontal sulcogyral pattern associated with orbitofrontal cortex volume reduction and anxiety trait in panic disorder

Aims: The posterior region of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), which forms its sulcogyral pattern during neurodevelopment, receives multisensory inputs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between posterior OFC sulcogyral pattern and OFC volume difference in patients with panic disorder.