Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment with UV-B for psoriasis and nonmelanoma skin cancer: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND In a cost-effectiveness study currently being conducted of short-contact anthralin treatment for psoriasis in an outpatient setting as compared with the standard treatment with UV-B radiation, the excess incidence (IDD) of skin cancer due to exposure to UV-B could not be ascertained because the study did not last long enough. A meta-analysis of published data was deemed appropriate. OBJECTIVE To quantify the IDD of nonmelanoma skin cancer as a function of the total dose of UV-B and specific for time since first exposure, age at first treatment, and other treatments received. METHODS Systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis of all available evidence published in English, French, German, or Dutch between 1980 and 1996. RESULTS Four articles contained information that enabled us to calculate an overall IDD of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The estimates varied between -0.6 and 2 extra skin cancers per 100 patients with psoriasis treated with UV-B phototherapy per year. However, these estimates were calculated under several assumptions, and do not allow for the construction of a dose-response model specific for time since exposure or age at first treatment. A model based on animal data suggests that a total of 5 excess skin cancers can be expected per 100 treated in the 60 years after the start of treatment with 500 minimum effective doses of UV-B per year from age 25 years. CONCLUSIONS The available evidence is insufficient for quantifying the IDD of nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients with psoriasis treated with UV-B radiation. However, it seems unlikely that the excess risk exceeds 2% per year. As yet, it is not possible to assess at what level of exposure this IDD occurs, or how long after exposure excess risk is present.
THE KLUGE‐KERFOOT PHENOMENON—A STATISTICAL ARTIFACT

Kluge and Kerfoot (1973) reported that for seven vertebrate data sets the relative amount of interlocality differentiation for a given morphometric variable was positively correlated with the amount of its within-population variation. Since that time this empirical relationship (now called the "Kluge-Kerfoot phenomenon," Sokal, 1976) has been demonstrated in a number of data sets for a wide variety of organisms (insects, mollusks, fish, protozoa, and birds). In almost every study in which this relationship was examined some positive association was found. The underlying premise of Kluge and Kerfoot (1973) was that, if there were a positive relationship between the measures of variation within and among populations, it must be attributable at least in part to the variability of
e‐HRM in Mexico: adapting innovations for global competitiveness

Purpose – Using information and communication technologies to deliver human resource services (also known as e-HRM) has become an important strategy for firms seeking to achieve a competitive advantage. A case-based study was carried out with the purpose of investigating how four of the most competitive Mexican firms are implementing their e-HRM strategy. Design/methodology/approach – Literature from e-HRM and human resource management in Latin America is reviewed and integrated. Four case studies developed in Mexican firms are depicted. Findings – Evidence suggests that, to fully understand the way e-HRM is used in firms from emerging economies, it is important to take into consideration local idiosyncrasies. Originality/value – This study integrates Latin American dimensions of HR management in the study of e-HRM, a budding research stream that is under-investigated in emerging countries.
Environmental Regulation Cost and Industry Structure Changes

Nonstationary Markov analyses are used to investigate impacts of environmental regulatory costs associated with compliance on changes in market structure in pulp and paper industries. Results show environmental regulation expenditures have statistically significant effects on the probabilities of capacity moving to a larger company-size category, so industry structure is affected by environmental regulation. However, counter to expectations, results further show consolidation occurs with higher probability when environmental costs are falling rather than when they are rising. Policy analyses that presume immediate policy responses to cost changes or that industry structure is unchanged may yield time-inconsistent policy conclusions. (JEL D21, Q28)
Rural tourism in the Heart of England

Although in many respects, the Heart of England region can hardly be called “peripheral”, it nevertheless displays many of the features of out‐of‐the‐way rural destinations. Describes the outcomes of a research project into training provision for the small rural tourism business operator. It has identified that the training and support on offer to the rural operator tend to be parochial, fragmented and unco‐ordinated. The research was instigated by Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, a specialist in the provision of hospitality and tourism studies and ultimately aims at the development and implementation of a co‐ordinated training programme for this sector. By pointing up the poor quality of such provision in an essentially central location, the paper invites the questions: how much worse the situation must be in truly peripheral locations, and what action can be taken to improve the situation.
A revisit to the outward FDI determinants: further evidence from count panel data models with fixed effects

Given the discrete nature of the outward foreign direct investment (FDI) data, the count data regression models are set up as vehicles for our empirical work. We propose and test various econometric specifications that address the main problems inherent in the traditional Poisson regression. Empirical estimates derived from these models are found quite similar. We find that exchange rate and openness are not as significant factors in attracting FDI as previous studies had portrayed.
A hybrid bundle adjustment/pose-graph approach to VSLAM/GPS fusion for low-capacity platforms

We focus on the real-time fusion of monocular visual SLAM with GPS data in order to obtain city-scale, georeferenced pose estimations and reconstructions. Recently, GPS/VSLAM fusion through constrained local key-frame based Bundle Adjustment (BA) using Barrier Term Optimization (BTO) has proven to be (to the best of our knowledge) the most robust and accurate method. However, this approach requires a higher number of cameras to be considered in the optimization: in practice, more than 30 cameras are necessary, while a typical vision-only BA can succeed with as few as 10 cameras. This problem dimensionality makes the method unsuitable for autonomous embedded platforms of low computational capacity (e.g. MAVs). In this paper, we present a hybrid constrained BA/pose-graph approach using BTO, which is motivated by theoretical observations about covariance changes as a function of the gauge. We show that our method has desirable properties that allows its successful use in a BTO context, and present two different formulations. The experimental validation of our method shows that both our formulations reduce the computational cost in comparison with constrained BA using BTO, without any significant loss of precision. In particular, our first formulation yields a 60% reduction in execution time.
CLEC12A-Mediated Antigen Uptake and Cross-Presentation by Human Dendritic Cell Subsets Efficiently Boost Tumor-Reactive T Cell Responses

Potent immunotherapies are urgently needed to boost antitumor immunity and control disease in cancer patients. As dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful APCs, they are an attractive means to reinvigorate T cell responses. An appealing strategy to use the effective Ag processing and presentation machinery, T cell stimulation and cross-talk capacity of natural DC subsets is in vivo tumor Ag delivery. In this context, endocytic C-type lectin receptors are attractive targeting molecules. In this study, we investigated whether CLEC12A efficiently delivers tumor Ags into human DC subsets, facilitating effective induction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. We confirmed that CLEC12A is selectively expressed by myeloid cells, including the myeloid DC subset (mDCs) and the plasmacytoid DC subset (pDCs). Moreover, we demonstrated that these DC subsets efficiently internalize CLEC12A, whereupon it quickly translocates to the early endosomes and subsequently routes to the lysosomes. Notably, CLEC12A Ab targeting did not negatively affect DC maturation or function. Furthermore, CLEC12A-mediated delivery of keyhole limpet hemocyanin resulted in enhanced proliferation and cytokine secretion by keyhole limpet hemocyanin–experienced CD4+ T cells. Most importantly, CLEC12A-targeted delivery of HA-1 long peptide resulted in efficient Ag cross-presentation by mDCs and pDCs, leading to strong ex vivo activation of HA-1–specific CD8+ T cells of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Collectively, these data indicate that CLEC12A is an effective new candidate with great potential for in vivo Ag delivery into mDCs and pDCs, thereby using the specialized functions and cross-talk capacity of these DC subsets to boost tumor-reactive T cell immunity in cancer patients.
Tangent portfolio weights without explicitly specified expected returns

In this article, I propose an extension of the Treynor–Black model to a case where the investor is not fully invested in the stock market at the outset and there is no need to explicitly specify securities’ expected returns. I derive explicit tangent portfolio weights based on a factor model of securities’ expected returns. The computational burden of the model is linear in the number of securities in the portfolio and does not involve any matrix inversion. I present an empirical application using the market model of Sharpe, the three-factor model of Fama and French and the four-factor model of Carhart with up to 30 industry portfolios between 1963 and 2012 and up to 1000 US stocks starting in 1992 until 2012. The portfolios perform well out-of-sample relative to the entire US value-weighted stock market portfolio with dividends reinvested from the Center for Research in Security Prices. The proposed framework can be extended in a straightforward way to time-varying factor models with multiple state variables affecting securities’ expected returns and factor loadings.
Stadium attendance and television audience demand in English league football

Demand studies of professional team sports have traditionally focused on stadium attendance; however, advances in broadcasting mean that teams generate revenue from stadium goers and broadcasters alike. Previous studies of demand have focused on stadium attendance and television audiences, but none have assessed the demand for match-day attendances and demand by television audiences jointly. This study models match-day attendances and television audiences using data from tier-two of English league football. It shows that while televised matches depress stadium attendances, ceteris paribus, there is an important feedback in that larger stadium attendances have positive impacts on the size of television audiences. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Policy Rate Decisions and Unbiased Parameter Estimation in Typical Monetary Policy Rules

Policymakers do not always follow a simple rule for setting policy rates for various reasons and thus their choices are co-driven by a decision to follow a rule or not. Consequently, some observations are censored and cause bias in conventional estimators of typical Taylor rules. To account for the censored and discrete process of policy rate setting, I devise a new method for monetary policy rule estimation and demonstrate its ability to outperform the existing conventional estimators using two examples. JEL Classification: E4, E5
A BIVARIATE AUTOREGRESSIVE PROBIT MODEL: BUSINESS CYCLE LINKAGES AND TRANSMISSION OF RECESSION PROBABILITIES

I propose a new binary bivariate autoregressive probit model of the state of the business cycle. This model nests various special cases, such as two separate univariate probit models used extensively in the previous literature. The parameters are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood and forecasts can be computed by explicit formulae. The model is applied to predict the U.S. and German business cycle recession and expansion periods. Evidence of in-sample and out-of-sample predictability of recession periods by financial variables is obtained. The proposed bivariate autoregressive probit model allowing links between the recession probabilities in the United States and Germany turns out to outperform two univariate models.
American Immigrant Groups: Ethnic Identification and the Problem of Generations

A half century of inquiry and discussion on American immigrant groups has given currency to a handful of such concepts as 'Anglo-conformity', 'cultural pluralism', 'the third generation interest', 'behavioural assimilation' and 'structural assimilation'. This essay attempts to take another look at ethnic identification and ethnic continuity in the United States in the hope that this meagre arsenal of commonly accepted formulations can be enriched. Its vantage point will be a recently completed study oi language maintenance among immigrant groups in which several topics in the sociology of language were explored at the nationwide, community and family levels of analysis. ' Basic to this essay is the view that the erosion of ethnicity and ethnic identity experienced by most (but not all) American ethnic groups takes place in the course of three generations; it involves, in other words, the immigrant fathers, their sons and their grandsons. Contrary to the widely prevalent opinion that there ensues some kind of a return to the fold of ethnicity, whenever any immigrant group reaches the third generation stage of its development',^ we hold that the ethnic heritage, including the ethnic mother tongue, usually ceases to play any viable role in the life of the third generation. Hansen's claim to the effect that 'Anyone who has the courage to codify the laws of history must include what can be designated as the principle of the third generation interest',' stems largely from a misreading of the contrastive pattem involved. For he seemed to have come upon the idea of the 'returning grandsons' agamst the background of the 'ffeeing sons'. To cite him again: 'The theory is derived from the almost universal phenomenon that what the son wishes to forget the grandson wishes to remember. This tendency might be illustrated by a hundred examples. '* The resurgent interest of the grandsons in ethnicity is thus relative to the determination of
Innovation and Technological Change: An International Comparison

Innovation and technological change - an overview changing perspectives on the firm size problem R&D, firm size and innovative activity firm size, university-based research and the returns to R technical performance and firm size - analysis of patents and publications of US firms formal and informal R&D and firm size - survey results from the Netherlands a Poisson model of patenting and firm structure in Germany technological diffusion, firm size and market structure research diversity induced by rivalry firm size, growth and innovation - some evidence from West Germany advertising, innovation and market structure - a comparison between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany firm size versus diversity in the achievement of technological advance.
A nerve cuff technique for selective excitation of peripheral nerve trunk regions

The numerical modeling and experimental testing of a nerve cuff technique for selective stimulation of superficial peripheral nerve trunk regions are presented. Two basic electrode configurations ('snug' cuff monopolar and tripolar longitudinally aligned dots) have been considered. In addition, the feasibility of steering excitation into superficial nerve trunk regions using subthreshold levels of current flow from an electrode dot located on the opposite side of the nerve has been tested. The modeling objectives were to solve for the electric field that would be generated within a representative nerve trunk by each electrode configuration and to use a simple nerve cable model to predict the effectiveness of each configuration in producing localized excitation. In three acute experiments on cat sciatic nerve the objective was to characterize the effectiveness of each electrode configuration in selectively activating only the medial gastrocnemius muscle. Modeling and experimentation both suggest that longitudinally aligned tripolar dot electrodes on the surface of a nerve trunk, and bounded by a layer of insulation (such as a nerve cuff), will restrict excitation to superficial nerve trunk regions more successfully than will monopolar dot electrodes. Excitation steering will improve the spatial selectivity of monopolar and tripolar electrode configurations. <<ETX>>
Networking and culture in entrepreneurship

Case studies on three diverse cultural groups are used to investigate how culture norms and practices moderate the way entrepreneurs utilize social networking. Moving away from a universalist mono-dimensional position, prior research calls for studies on how culture moderates entrepreneurial networking. Understandably, the concept of a national culture inevitably refers to the mainstream culture which fails to address the sub-culture and minority culture. This paper explores entrepreneurial networking across three cultures (one mainstream culture and two minority) allowing the researcher an insight into how culture moderates entrepreneurial networking. The empirical results reveal variform universality of entrepreneurial networking in two ways: (1) seven drivers moderate how entrepreneurial networking is practiced across cultures, and (2) being embedded in a mainstream culture rather than a minority culture moderates how entrepreneurial networking is practiced.
Preterm Birth Genome Project (PGP) – validation of resources for preterm birth genome-wide studies

Abstract We determined a series of quality control (QC) analyses to assess the usability of DNA collected and processed from different countries utilizing different DNA extraction techniques prior to genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The quality of DNA collected utilizing four different DNA extraction techniques and the impact of shipping DNA at different temperatures on array performance were evaluated. Fifteen maternal-fetal pairs were used from four countries. DNA was extracted using four approaches: whole blood, blood spots with whole genome amplification (WGA), saliva and buccal swab. Samples were sent to a genotyping facility, either on dry ice or at room temperature and genotyped using Affymetrix SNP array 6.0. QC measured included extraction techniques, effect of shipping temperatures, accuracy and Mendelian concordance. Significantly fewer (50%) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) passed QC metrics for buccal swab DNA (P<0.0001) due to missing genotype data (P<0.0001). Whole blood or saliva DNA had the highest call rates (99.2 0.4% and 99.3 0.2%, respectively) and Mendelian concordance. Shipment temperature had no effect. DNA from blood or saliva had the highest call rate accuracy, and buccal swabs had the lowest. DNA extracted from blood, saliva and blood spots were found suitable for GWAS in our study.
Prospective Evaluation Plan for Randomised Trials of Prostate Cancer Screening

To enable pooled analyses of continuing and planned randomised trials of prostate cancer screening, guidelines for minimal data required for such analyses were developed in the recent meeting of the International Prostate Screening Trial Evaluation Group (IPSTEG). The aim of the pooled analysis with data on individual level will be: Estimation of the effect of screening on prostate cancer mortality with greater precision than individual studies Assessment of optimal screening procedures and interval Identification of subgroups within the populations that might receive most benefit from screening Evaluation of the quality of life effects and cost effectiveness of screening. All studies included in the combined analysis share a common core protocol with minimum data requirements. The protocol allows, however, adaptation of the procedures to local circumstances within defined options It should be noted that the process is continuing and the protocol is subject to evaluation and revision in the meetings of the IPSTEG on a regular basis. It should be noted that the process continuing and the protocol is subject evaluation and revision in the meetings the IPSTEG on a regular basis.
Job Satisfaction in Britain

Little recent empirical work in economics or industrial relations has examined job satisfaction, despite its demonstrated correlation with labour market behaviour such as quits, absenteeism and productivity. This paper uses information from a study of 5000 British employees to investigate the relationship between three measures of job satisfaction and a wide range of individual and job characteristics. Notably, men, workers in their thirties, the well-educated, those working longer hours and workers in larger establishments have lower levels of job satisfaction. The estimated job satisfaction equations are used to calculate a measure of the shadow wage and to provide some evidence that is consistent with the existence of non-compensating differentials in the industry and occupational wage structure.
Wide-Range 5.0/3.3/1.8-V I/O Buffer Using 0.35-m 3.3-V CMOS Technology

A 5.0/3.3/1.8-V tolerant I/O buffer implemented using typical CMOS 2P4M 0.35-mum process is proposed in this paper. Unlike traditional mixed-voltage-tolerant I/O buffers, the proposed I/O buffer can transmit and receive signals with voltage levels of 5.0/3.3/1.8 V. By using a stacked PMOS and a stacked NMOS at the output stage and a dynamic gate bias generator providing appropriate control voltages for the gates of the stacked PMOS, gate-oxide overstress and hot-carrier degradation are avoided. Moreover, gate-tracking and floating n-well circuits are used to remove undesirable leakage current paths. The proposed topology can be applied to any technologies with the constraint of VDD < VDDH < 2 times, which should be considered carefully in sub-100-nm technologies. Measurement results on silicon verify the function and the gate-oxide reliability of the proposed I/O buffer. The maximum transmitting speed of the proposed I/O buffer is measured to be 80/120/84 Mb/s for the supply voltage of I/O buffer at 5.0/3.3/1.8 V, respectively, given the load of 29 pF.