Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms associated with asthma are inversely related to glioblastoma multiforme.

While searching for a recent article on asthma genetics, I came across the study by Schwartzbaum et al. (1). As the article carried a bold title I read on, but was somewhat disappointed by the content. Three years ago, asthma had already been associated with 64 genes, and 33 of these associations had been successfully replicated (ref. 2; these figures are at probably doubled now). The reasons the authors chose only three of these genes (and thus ignored broad categories of candidates) are not explained. If the intention was purely to study the two genes for which plausible mechanisms in tumor development existed (IL-4RA and IL-13), it seems odd both to include ADAM33 and to select its T1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). As a definitive causative SNP in ADAM33 remains elusive, selection of a single SNP to represent the gene would be contrary to most guidelines (e.g., ref. 3). Furthermore, the authors state the T1 polymorphism ‘‘was found to be associated with asthma in three different populations’’ in line with their selection criteria of SNPs ‘‘consistently associated with asthma. ’’ In the first of three references, T1 was only associated with asthma in one of two study populations and not when the results were pooled (4). In the second reference (5), T1 was not associated with asthma in either a case-control nor a family-based analysis. The third paper describes T1 to ‘‘show borderline significance in the U.S. white subjects,’’ but is cautious as no association was seen in three other groups (and may have been a result of multiple testing; ref. 6). T1 was also not associated with asthma in a meta-analysis of new and existing data involving over 7,500 individuals (7). In discussing their findings, it is surprising that the authors feel they are ‘‘confirming previous literature’’ then give an odds ratio whose confidence intervals comfortably include one (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-1.25). Similarly, three of the SNPs tested are said to show association, although only one of these has a P value of <0.05 in Table 2. The authors also do not mention important aspects of genetic association studies, such as linkage disequilibrium patterns across the genes, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing, or the high false-positive rate in such studies with small populations. Schwartzbaum et al. have highlighted a fascinating observation in clinical medicine and create a platform for further research in this area. However, they have succumbed to the increasing trend of using an attention-grabbing title that implies a greater scope or stringency of research than the paper comprises.
Evolution of Metapostnotum in Flat Wasps (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae): Implications for Homology Assessments in Chrysidoidea

Some authors in the past based their conclusions about the limits of the metapostnotum of Chrysidoidea based on the position of the mesophragmo-metaphragmal muscle, rather than aspects of the skeleton and musculature associated with the metapectal-propodeal complex. The latter character system suggests another interpretation of the metapostnotum delimitation. Given this scenario, the main goal of this work is to present a new perspective on the metapostnotum in Chrysidoidea, especially Bethylidae, helping to resolve questions related to the evolution of the metapostnotum. This is based on homologies established by associating of insertion points of ph2-ph3 and ph3-T2 muscles with the delimitation of the respective sclerite the muscles insert into. Our results indicate that, according the position of the metaphragmal muscles, the metapostnotum in Bethylidae is medially expanded in the propodeal disc and has different forms of configuration. Internally, the limits of the metapostnotum can be tracked by the shape of the mesopostnotum, and vice versa. Thus, the anteromedian area of the propodeal disc sensu Evans was reinterpreted in the current study as the metapostnotum. In conjunction with associated structures, we provide evidence to clarify the relationships between the families within Chrysidoidea, although certain families like Embolemidae, Dryinidae and Chrysididae exhibit extreme modifications of the condition found in Aculeata, as observed in Bethylidae. We review the terminology used to describe anatomical features on the metapectal-propodeal complex in Bethylidae in general, and provide a list of recommended terms in accordance with the online Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology. The morphology of the studied subfamilies are illustrated. Studies that focus on a single structure, across a larger number of taxa, are more insightful and present specific questions that can contribute to broader issues, thus providing a better understanding of the morphology and evolution of insects.
outputs The Giant Lavas of Kalkarindji : rubbly phoehoe lava in an ancient continental flood basalt province

The Kalkarindji continental flood basalt province of northern Australia erupted in the mid Cambrian (c. 511 505 Ma). It now consists of scattered basaltic lava fields, the most extensive being the Antrim Plateau Volcanics (APV) a semi-continuous outcrop (c. 50,000 km) reaching a maximum thickness of 1.1 km. Cropping out predominately in the SW of the APV, close to the top of the basalt succession, lies the Blackfella Rockhole Member (BRM). Originally described as ‘basaltic agglomerate’ the BRM has, in recent years, been assumed to be explosive tephra of phreatomagmatic origin, thus providing a potent vehicle for volatile release to the upper atmosphere. Our detailed field investigations reveal that this basaltic agglomerate is, in reality, giant rubble collections (15 20 m thick) forming the upper crusts of rubbly pāhoehoe lava units 25 40 m thick; covering 18,000 72,000 km and an estimated volume of 1,500 19,200 km. These flows, rheologically but not chemically, distinct from the majority of Kalkarindji lavas, indicate a fundamental change in eruption dynamics. A low volatile content, induced high amounts of pre-eruptive degassing causing super-cooling and an increase in crystal nucleation and viscosity. A more viscous lava and a consistently faster rate of effusion (analogous to that of Laki, Iceland) created the flow dynamics necessary to disturb the lava crust to the extent seen in the BRM. Volatile release is estimated at 1.65 × 10 2.11 × 10 Tg total CO2 at a rate of 867 Tg a and 9.07 × 10 1.16 × 10 Tg SO2 at 476.50 Tg a. These masses accounted for 0.5% of Cambrian atmospheric conditions whilst limiting factors reduced the effect of volatile delivery to the atmosphere, thus any potential global impact caused by these flows alone was minimal.
Pay as How Well You Do: A Quality Based Incentive Mechanism for Crowdsensing

In crowdsensing, appropriate rewards are always expected to compensate the participants for their consumptions of physical resources and involvements of manual efforts. While continuous low quality sensing data could do harm to the availability and preciseness of crowdsensing based services, few existing incentive mechanisms have ever addressed the issue of sensing data's quality. The design of quality based incentive mechanism is motivated by its potential to avoid inefficient sensing and unnecessary rewards. In this paper, we incorporate the consideration of data quality into the design of incentive mechanism for crowdsensing, and propose to pay the participants as how well they do, to motivate the rational participants to perform data sensing efficiently. This mechanism estimates the quality of sensing data, and offers each participant a reward based on her effective contribution. We also implement the mechanism and evaluate the improvements in terms of quality of service and profit of service provider. The evaluation results show that our mechanism achieves superior performance when compared to the uniform pricing scheme.
Person Re-identification using prototype formation

Person re-identification is to match the appearance based images of an individual who has already been captured by different camera perspectives. This paper presents an appearance based model for person re-identification. It consists of the formation of prototypes followed by a matching strategy. The prototypes are discovered from the visual appearances among the individuals with similar characteristics. When a probe comes along, it necessitates to be classified through prototype assignment. To determine the correct matching of a given probe, the similarity computation is performed between the probe and a subset of gallery images, that shares the same prototype with the probe. Thus the strategy of finding the correspondence within a subset of gallery instances reduces the computational overhead. This model is useful in scenarios where individuals appear with similar attire. The performance measure of the proposed method is evaluated on benchmark data sets and presented using cumulative matching characteristic (CMC) curves.
Nonlinear system identification using integrated linear-NN models : series vs . parallel structures

Abstract. In this paper, the performance of integrated linear-NN models is investigated for nonlinear system identification using two different structures: series vs. parallel. In particular, Laguerre filters are selected as the linear models, and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) or feed-forward neural networks (NN) are selected for the nonlinear models. Results show promising capability of the (novel) parallel Laguerre-NN structure especially in terms of its generalization capability when subjected to data different from those used during the identification stage in comparison to the series Laguerre-NN.
Crosscheck Principle in Pediatric Audiology Today: A 40-Year Perspective

The crosscheck principle is just as important in pediatric audiology as it was when first described 40 years ago. That is, no auditory test result should be accepted and used in the diagnosis of hearing loss until it is confirmed or crosschecked by one or more independent measures. Exclusive reliance on only one or two tests, even objective auditory measures, may result in a auditory diagnosis that is not clear or perhaps incorrect. On the other hand, close and careful analysis of findings for a test battery consisting of objective procedures and behavioral tests whenever feasible usually leads to prompt and accurate diagnosis of auditory dysfunction. This paper provides a concise review of the crosscheck principle from its introduction to its clinical application today. The review concludes with a description of a modern test battery for pediatric hearing assessment that supplements traditional behavioral tests with a variety of independent objective procedures including aural immittance measures, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory evoked responses.
Fragility of Hydraulic Elevators for Use in Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering

New performance-based earthquake engineering methods developed by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, the Applied Technology Council, and others include damage analysis at a highly detailed level, requiring the compilation of fragility functions for a large number of damageable generic structural and nonstructural components. This brief paper presents the development of a fragility function for hydraulic elevators. It uses post-earthquake survey data from 91 elevators in nine California locations after two earthquakes. Surveys were used to collect data on facilities and elevators. Ground-motion records from the California Integrated Seismic Network were used to estimate engineering demands at each site. Binary regression analysis was used to fit a fragility function, which takes the form of a lognormal cumulative distribution function with median value of PGA=0.42 g and logarithmic standard deviation of 0.3. The fragility function appears to be reasonable based on four criteria.
Regularized orbit models unveiling the stellar structure and dark matter halo of the Coma elliptical NGC 4807

This is the second in a series of papers dedicated to unveiling the mass structure and orbital content of a sample of flattened early-type galaxies in the Coma cluster. The ability of our orbit libraries to reconstruct internal stellar motions and the mass composition of a typical elliptical in the sample is investigated by means of Monte Carlo simulations of isotropic rotator models. The simulations allow a determination of the optimal amount of regularization needed in the orbit superpositions. It is shown that under realistic observational conditions and with the appropriate regularization, internal velocity moments can be reconstructed to an accuracy of ≈15 per cent; the same accuracy can be achieved for the circular velocity and dark matter fraction. In contrast, the flattening of the halo remains unconstrained. Regularized orbit superpositions are applied to a first galaxy in our sample, NGC 4807, for which stellar kinematical observations extend to 3 r eff. The galaxy seems dark-matter dominated outside r > 2 r eff. Logarithmic dark matter potentials are consistent with the data, as well as NFW profiles, mimicking logarithmic potentials over the observationally sampled radial range. In both cases, the derived stellar mass-to-light ratio ϒ agrees well with independently obtained mass-to-light ratios from stellar population analysis. The achieved accuracy is �ϒ ≈ 0.5. Kinematically, NGC 4807 is characterized by mild radial anisotropy outside r > 0.5 r eff, becoming isotropic towards the centre. Our orbit models hint at either a distinct stellar component or weak triaxiality in the outer parts of the galaxy. Ke yw ords: stellar dynamics ‐ galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD ‐ galaxies: kinematics and dynamics ‐ galaxies: structure.
Complex nonlinear adaptive predistortion

To improve the performance of nonlinear RF power amplifiers, either in terms of spectrum control or constellation quality, digital predistortion has become an attractive alternative to the simple approach of `backing off' the amplifier into a quasi-linear region of operation. This allows more efficient use of the amplifier in both RF output and DC power consumption. In this paper, we formulate a sequentially-adaptive algorithm for training a complex baseband predistorter that minimizes mean-square-error between the complex input signal and the eventual amplifier output. The algorithm fits within the direct learning category of adaptive filters, and extends other adaptive filter formulations to the complex signal and nonlinear system domain. We study performance of the algorithm on several test models for amplifiers, in terms of normalized mean square error, output power spectrum and constellation quality.
Tests of the Market's Reaction to Federal Funds Rate Target Changes

In this article, Daniel L. Thornton tests several hypotheses about the market's reactions to changes in the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate target. Thornton finds that short-term rates and long-term rates responded differently to funds rate target changes when target changes were accompanied by a change in the discount rate. He presents evidence that the smaller response of long-term rates (in these instances) is due to the market revising its inflation outlook when the target is changed. Thornton finds no evidence that the size of the market's response varies with the size of the target change; however, he does find that the response to target changes is somewhat larger when the target change is the first change in a new direction. The reader is cautioned, however, that some of his results are based on a very small number of target changes.
The 4% Rule - At What Price?

The 4% rule is the advice many retirees follow for managing spending and investing. We examine this rule’s inefficiencies—the price paid for funding its unspent surpluses and the overpayments made to purchase its spending policy. We show that a typical rule allocates 10–20% of a retiree’s initial wealth to surpluses and an additional 2–4% to overpayments. Further, we argue that even if retirees were to recoup these costs, the 4% rule’s spending plan remains wasteful, since many retirees actually prefer a different, cheaper spending plan.
Perceptions of students and teachers about the forms and student self-assessment activities in the classroom during the formative assessment

Self-assessment is a process by which a learner collects information about himself and reflects on his / her learning. Self-assessment of students includes reflective activities in which students are encouraged to consider the strengths and weaknesses of their work. Students can improve their self-regulation skills through self-assessment. The purpose of this study is to reflect pupils' perceptions about their self-assessment in learning in Kosovo pupils, taking in consideration that pupils' self-esteem is new and has not been applied until now. In the study, will be involved 725 students from 12 to 18 years old. Four hundred pupils from lower secondary school and three hundred and twenty-five upper secondary school students. The research is conducted directly with the students using the quantitative research method, questioning the participants through the questionnaire. Participant’s response analysis clearly shows that self-assessment helped to develop awareness and metacognitive behaviour among students. Most respondents in questionnaiures have found useful self-assessment as a learning tool. The results show that both students' and teachers' perceptions consider that pupils' self-assessment in the classroom is present, but not even at a very satisfying level. To students, the result is significant at p < . 05 (p< 0.00001) and to teachers the result is not significant (p = .969701).
Clinical Relevance of Rehospitalizations for Unstable Angina and Unplanned Revascularization Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Rehospitalizations following acute myocardial infarction for unplanned coronary revascularization and unstable angina (UA) are often included as parts of composite end points in clinical trials. Although clearly costly, the clinical relevance of these individual components has not been described. Methods and Results Patients enrolled in a prospective, 24‐center, US acute myocardial infarction registry were followed for 1 year after an acute myocardial infarction for rehospitalizations, that were independently adjudicated by experienced cardiologists. Patients who did and did not experience UA or revascularization rehospitalization were propensity matched using greedy matching. Among 3283 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were included, mean age was 59 years, 33% were female, and 70% were white. Rehospitalization rates for UA and unplanned revascularization at 1 year were 5.0% and 4.1%, respectively. After propensity matching, we included 2433 patients in the UA rehospitalization group and 2410 in the unplanned revascularization group. Using weighted proportional hazards Cox regression, there was no significant association between a rehospitalization for UA and 5‐year all‐cause mortality (9.6% versus 13.8%; adjusted hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.60–1.16). Patients rehospitalized for unplanned revascularization had a lower 5‐year mortality risk (7.0% versus 15.1%; hazard ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.92) compared with those without such rehospitalizations. Nevertheless, patients with UA and unplanned revascularization had a substantially greater hazard of subsequent rehospitalizations compared with patients without such events (UA: hazard ratio 4.36, 95% CI 3.48–5.47; revascularization: hazard ratio 4.38, 95% CI 3.53–5.44). Conclusions Rehospitalizations for UA and unplanned revascularization in the year after an acute myocardial infarction are associated with higher risks of subsequent rehospitalizations but not with mortality.
The Upside to One Urban District’s School Closings: African Americans Achieve in Income Balanced Schools

In 2003, in an effort to address St. Louis Public Schools’ (SLPS’) declining enrollment and debt, the interim superintendent closed 16 schools. In 2016, more than a decade since the school closings, the enrollment dwindled from 44,000 students to half that number. This study is an examination of the closed schools to determine if displaced African American children from the shuttered schools were better off as a result of attending the replacement schools. The findings suggest SLPS’ replacement schools were not better than the shuttered schools as was predicted in the SLPS 2003 Plan. Instead, we found displaced African American children who attended income imbalanced SLPS and charter schools in St. Louis had fewer children proficient on the state’s English Language Arts (ELA) assessment than their peers who participated in the Voluntary Interdistrict Transfer Program (VITP). The implications of these findings in the use of school closings as reform initiatives are discussed.
Isoliquiritigenin-Induced Differentiation in Mouse Melanoma B16F0 Cell Line

The chemotherapeutical treatment is very limited for malignant melanoma, a highly lethal disease occurs globally. Natural products derived from traditional Chinese medicine licorice are attractive in quest new treatments due to their anti-tumor activities. A new dietary flavonoid isoliquiritigenin (ISL) were thus investigated to indentify its anti-melanoma activities on mouse melanoma B16F0 cells in present study. Using biochemical and free radical biological experiments in vitro, we identified the pro-differentiated profiles of ISL and evaluated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during B16F0 cell differentiation. The data showed a strong dose-response relationship between ISL exposure and the characteristics of B16F0 differentiation in terms of morphology changes and melanogenesis. The accumulated intercellular ROS during exposure are necessary to support ISL-induced differentiation, which was proven by additional redox modulators. It was confirmed further by the relative activities of enzymes and genes modulated melanogenesis in ISL-treatments with or without ROS modulators. The tumorigenicity of ISL-treated cells was limited significantly by using the colony formation assay in vitro and an animal model assay in vivo respectively. Our research demonstrated that isoliquiritigenin is a differentiation-inducing agent, and its mechanisms involve ROS accumulation facilitating melanogenesis.
Grading Journals in Economics: The ABCs of the ABDC

The Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) have graded journals in the fields of Economics and Statistics to evaluate the quality of research. This paper examines the consistency of these grades with 44 bibliometric indicators of journal quality and measures of interrater agreement. First, we categorise the bibliometrics employing a unique cluster analysis based on an interrater agreement statistic. Then, we determine which journals have been assigned ABDC grades that do not reflect the rank of the bibliometrics. These cases provide an indication of the extent to which the ABDC journal grades are determined by non-bibliometric factors.