Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BRCA2 mutation carriers, reproductive factors and breast cancer risk

Background Germline mutations in the BRCA genes dramatically increase the risk of breast cancer. In the general population, breast cancer risk is affected by age at menarche, by age at first birth, by the number of births and by the duration of breast feeding. Whether this is true for mutation carriers is not clear. Methods In a case–control study, nested in a population-based cohort of the Icelandic Cancer Detection Clinic, two groups of cases were defined, matched on year of birth, on age at diagnosis and on age when giving information on reproductive factors: 100 carriers of the Icelandic founder BRCA2 mutation 999del5, and 361 BRCA2-negative cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 48 years. There were 1000 women in a matched group of unaffected controls. Conditional logistic regression was used for the analysis. Results An increased number of births was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer in BRCA2-negative cases but not in BRCA2-positive cases. A negative association between risk and duration of breast feeding was observed only in the mutation carriers. These associations were not statistically significant, but the effects of the two variables differed significantly according to mutation status (P = 0.007 and P = 0.045 for interaction with number of births and with duration of breast feeding, respectively). This was maintained when limiting the analysis to women diagnosed older than the age of 40 years. Conclusion The association between breast cancer and the number of pregnancies and between breast cancer and the duration of breast feeding was not the same for carriers and noncarriers of a detrimental BRCA2 mutation. In the context of other epidemiological and laboratory studies, this may indicate that the product of the BRCA2 gene has a function relating to the differentiation of epithelial tissue in the breast.
Reduced coronary and inotropic reserves with coronary microembolization.

Microembolized myocardium is characterized by perfusion-contraction mismatch with reduced contractile function and unchanged or even elevated blood flow. The present study investigated the consequences of microembolization on coronary and inotropic reserves. In eight anesthetized dogs, left circumflex coronary blood flow (CBF), regional blood flow (RBF), and posterior systolic wall thickening were measured. Repetitive injection of 42-microm microspheres into the left circumflex coronary artery decreased systolic wall thickening by 50% (17.2 +/- 2.4% vs. 8.0 +/- 1.4%; means +/- SD). Coronary reserve was determined by either intracoronary infusion of adenosine (n = 4) or the reactive hyperemia response following 15 s of coronary occlusion (n = 4); inotropic reserve was recruited by intracoronary infusion of dobutamine. The amount of injected microspheres was 158,000 +/- 48,000. CBF (45.5 +/- 16.5 vs. 47.8 +/- 14.4 ml/min) and RBF (1.15 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.33 +/- 0.39 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)) remained unchanged. Coronary reserve in response to intracoronary infusion of adenosine (410 +/- 94% vs. 290 +/- 77%; P < 0.05) and reactive hyperemia repayment (360 +/- 174% vs. 155 +/- 66%; P < 0.05) were blunted after microembolization. Inotropic reserve, i.e., the increment in systolic wall thickening with dobutamine, was decreased from 12.4 +/- 3.9% to 8.0 +/- 3.3% (P < 0.05). We conclude that coronary microembolization reduces coronary and inotropic reserves.
Gold Nanoparticle Contrast Agents in Advanced X-ray Imaging Technologies

Recently, there has been significant progress in the field of soft- and hard-X-ray imaging for a wide range of applications, both technically and scientifically, via developments in sources, optics and imaging methodologies. While one community is pursuing extensive applications of available X-ray tools, others are investigating improvements in techniques, including new optics, higher spatial resolutions and brighter compact sources. For increased image quality and more exquisite investigation on characteristic biological phenomena, contrast agents have been employed extensively in imaging technologies. Heavy metal nanoparticles are excellent absorbers of X-rays and can offer excellent improvements in medical diagnosis and X-ray imaging. In this context, the role of gold (Au) is important for advanced X-ray imaging applications. Au has a long-history in a wide range of medical applications and exhibits characteristic interactions with X-rays. Therefore, Au can offer a particular advantage as a tracer and a contrast enhancer in X-ray imaging technologies by sensing the variation in X-ray attenuation in a given sample volume. This review summarizes basic understanding on X-ray imaging from device set-up to technologies. Then this review covers recent studies in the development of X-ray imaging techniques utilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their relevant applications, including two- and three-dimensional biological imaging, dynamical processes in a living system, single cell-based imaging and quantitative analysis of circulatory systems and so on. In addition to conventional medical applications, various novel research areas have been developed and are expected to be further developed through AuNP-based X-ray imaging technologies.
Postmortem Redistribution of Morphine in Rats

Because morphine is often found in the postmortem (PM) blood samples of patients treated with or abusing the drug, its causation in death has to be considered. The possibility of PM redistribution of the opioid drug has not been studied previously. We treated adult Wistar rats with 4 mg/kg of morphine i.m. and measured cardiac cavity levels at the time of death, by killing (2 h postdose) 24 and 96 h PM. Morphine concentrations rose from 41.4 ± 13.2 ng/ml at death to 111.9 ± 66.6 ng/ml at 24 h (p = 0.00036), with no additional increase at 96 h (98.7 ± 21.7 ng/ml). After death there was accumulation of endogenous substances cross-reacting with the morphine radioimmunoassay. Although these attribute only 3% to total accumulation of morphine, they may complicate interpretation of morphine “readings” in patients who had not received the drug. Our study suggests that after death there is substantial redistribution of morphine. Elevated PM levels cannot necessarily by interpreted as representing antemortem concentrations.
Sleep and neuropsychological functioning in school aged children.

This thesis investigated the relationship between sleep disturbance and neuropsychological functioning in healthy, typically developing children and children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Three research questions were examined in this thesis. The first examined whether sleep disturbance is associated with specific deficits in executive functions or an overall deficit in executive functioning. The second research question examined the relationship between sleep disturbance and behaviour problems. A final research question examined whether sleep disturbance, in the absence of hypoxia, affects executive functioning in a comparable way to sleep disturbance associated with hypoxia. The first study demonstrated that global executive function (GEF) was significantly lower in healthy children with higher sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance was not associated with individual performance on executive function tasks. The second study also examined sleep and executive function in healthy children using a revised battery of neuropsychological tests. Compared to children with low sleep disturbance, children with high sleep disturbance had significantly lower GEF and lower processing speed. Both sleep quantity and sleep quality predicted GEF however sleep quantity explained an additional unique proportion of the variance. The third study examined sleep in children with cystic fibrosis. When dichotomized into high and low sleep disturbed groups, neither GEF nor processing speed was significantly different between the two groups. The sleep and neuropsychological functioning of children with CF was compared to the healthy, typically developing children from Study 3. There were no significant differences between children with CF and healthy controls on any sleep measures or executive function performance. Nine children with CF underwent one night of polysomnography. A further aim of Study 3 was to examine whether neuropsychological deficits were greater if in the presence of both high sleep disturbance and nocturnal hypoxia. Executive function deficits were worse in children with nocturnal hypoxia, irrespective of whether they had high or low sleep disturbance. In contrast, processing speed deficits were more evident in children with high sleep disturbance, irrespective of whether they had nocturnal hypoxia. A consistent finding throughout this thesis was that children with higher conduct problems have increased sleep disturbance (measured using parent report and actigraphy). These findings have implications for children’s development; future research examining the effects of sleep disturbance on executive function should consider whether these effects are irreversible.
Frequency modulation techniques for EMI reduction in SMPS

Frequency modulation (FM) techniques have been used to reduce EMI of synchronous digital systems working in the range of hundreds of MHz. The working principle consists of modulating the clock frequency in order to spread the energy of each single harmonic into a certain frequency band, thus reducing the peak amplitude of EMI at the harmonics frequencies. Nowadays the switching frequency of power converters has increased up to values which allow the application of frequency modulation to reduce EMI. The paper summarizes some theoretical principles of FM techniques applied to the switching frequency and shows the effectiveness, in terms of EMI reduction. Experimental tests are presented for validation, evaluating also the possible side effects on the converter efficiency and supply harmonics
Locking Compression Plate in Distal Femoral Intra-Articular Fractures: Our Experience

Background. Intra-articular fractures of distal femur present a huge surgical challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate functional outcome, fracture healing, and the complications of distal femoral intra-articular fractures using locking compression plates. Material and Methods. We reviewed 46 distal femoral fractures treated with distal femoral locking compression plates between 2009 to 2012. There were 36 men and 10 women with mean age of 35 years (range 20–72). More than half of the patients were of type C3 (AO classification) and had been caused by high energy trauma with associated injuries. Results. 2 patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 44 patients, the mean follow-up period was 25 months (range 18–36). The mean time for radiological union was 12 weeks (range 10–18) except 2 patients which had gone for nonunion. At the latest follow up ROM >120° is noted in 32 patients, 90–120 in 10 patients, and 70–90 in 2 patients. 38 patients (86%) had good/excellent outcome. Conclusion. Use of standard lateral approach for simple intra-articular distal femoral fractures (C1) and transarticular/minimally invasive techniques for complex intra-articular fractures (C2/C3) results in improved exposure of the knee joint and better union rates with low incidence of bone grafting.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Are Advantaged in the Current Liver Transplant Allocation System

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria receive priority on the liver transplant waiting list (WL) and compete with non‐HCC patients. Dropout from the WL is an indirect measure of transplant access. Competing risks (CR) evaluation of dropout for HCC and non‐HCC patients has not previously been reported. Patients listed between 16 March 2005 and 30 June 2008 were included. Probability of dropout was estimated using a CR technique as well as a Cox model for time to dropout. Overall, non‐HCC patients had a higher dropout rate from the WL than HCC patients (p < 0.0001). This was reproducible throughout all regions. In Cox regression, tumor size, model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were associated with increased dropout risk. Multivariable analysis with CR showed that MELD score and AFP, were most influential in predicting dropout for HCC patients. The index of concordance for predicting dropout with the CR was 0.70. HCC patients appear to be advantaged in the current allocation scheme based on lower dropout rates without regard to geography. A continuous score incorporating MELD, AFP and tumor size may help to prioritize HCC patients to better equate dropout rates with non‐HCC patients and equalize access.
High School Dropout and Students Identified with Behavioral Disorders

This study examined the extent and nature of the high school dropout problem among a sample of students with behavioral disorders It was found that the study sample had a much higher proportion of students who had been dropped out of school than those who had been graduated. The respective subsets of students who had dropped out of school and those who had graduated were compared across measures of demographic characteristics, referral information, and school history. Those who had dropped out of school were found to have experienced significantly more changes in educational service placements, school transfers, and previous releases than had their peers who had graduated. However, both subsets were found to be similar across indices of demographic and referral information. Implications for research and practice are also noted.
Atypical panmixia in a European dolphin species (Delphinus delphis): implications for the evolution of diversity across oceanic boundaries

Despite the scarcity of geographical barriers in the ocean environment, delphinid cetaceans often exhibit marked patterns of population structure on a regional scale. The European coastline is a prime example, with species exhibiting population structure across well‐defined environmental boundaries. Here we undertake a comprehensive population genetic study on the European common dolphin (Delphinus delphis, based on 492 samples and 15 loci) and establish that this species shows exceptional panmixia across most of the study range. We found differentiation only between the eastern and western Mediterranean, consistent with earlier studies, and here use approximate Bayesian computations to explore different scenarios to explain the observed pattern. Our results suggest that a recent population bottleneck likely contributed significantly to the differentiation of the Eastern Mediterranean population (in Greek waters). This interpretation is consistent with independent census data that suggest a sharp population decline in the recent past. The implication is that an unperturbed population may currently show panmixia across the full study range. This exception to the more typical pattern of population structure seen for other regional dolphin species (and for common dolphin populations elsewhere in the world) suggests particular ecological or life‐history traits distinct to this species in European waters.
Predicting backbone Cα angles and dihedrals from protein sequences by stacked sparse auto‐encoder deep neural network

Because a nearly constant distance between two neighbouring Cα atoms, local backbone structure of proteins can be represented accurately by the angle between Cαi−1CαiCαi+1 (θ) and a dihedral angle rotated about the CαiCαi+1 bond (τ). θ and τ angles, as the representative of structural properties of three to four amino‐acid residues, offer a description of backbone conformations that is complementary to φ and ψ angles (single residue) and secondary structures (>3 residues). Here, we report the first machine‐learning technique for sequence‐based prediction of θ and τ angles. Predicted angles based on an independent test have a mean absolute error of 9° for θ and 34° for τ with a distribution on the θ‐τ plane close to that of native values. The average root‐mean‐square distance of 10‐residue fragment structures constructed from predicted θ and τ angles is only 1. 9Å from their corresponding native structures. Predicted θ and τ angles are expected to be complementary to predicted ϕ and ψ angles and secondary structures for using in model validation and template‐based as well as template‐free structure prediction. The deep neural network learning technique is available as an on‐line server called Structural Property prediction with Integrated DEep neuRal network (SPIDER) at http://sparks‐lab.org. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fast automated screening method for the detection of blood transfusion in sports.

Currently, there is no simple direct screening method for the misuse of blood transfusions in sports. In this study, we investigated whether the measurement of iron in EDTA-plasma can serve as biomarker for such purpose. Our results revealed an increase of the plasma iron level up to 25-fold 6 h after blood re-infusion. The variable remained elevated 10-fold one day after the procedure. A specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93% were obtained with a proposed threshold at 45 µg/dL of plasma iron. Therefore, our test could be used as a simple, cost effective biomarker for the screening for blood transfusion misuse in sports.
Going digital: Changing the game of danish publishing

This article aims to analyse current transformations in the Danish book publishing industry in light of the convergence between the book and the broader media culture. We focus on changing relationships between actors (publishing houses, bookstores, etc.) in the trade book’s circuit of production, distribution and consumption. The development of the e-book challenges established routines of publishers, which must cope with new groups of actors in both the production and distribution of their products as well as new ways for readers to access and consume books. Methodologically, the study is based on qualitative interviews with key organizational actors in the Danish publishing industry and document studies of available industry information and statistics. On a theoretical level, the project combines organizational theory and institutional perspectives of mediatization in order to address the question of how the introduction of new media reconfigures old media industries. In particular, we focus on the interplay between book business actors’ perceptions of digital technology, the changing market conditions, and the possibilities this entails for them. The convergence between the book and other media is enabled by ‘institutional entrepreneurs’, who import perceptions and practices from other media industries into book publishing. These changes at the organizational level also affect the balance between ‘market’ and ‘cathedral’ in the book publishing industry as a whole. The distinction between ‘brownfield’ and ‘greenfield’ development allows us to understand why existing players in the book market generally try to adapt to digital technologies in ways that do not put their existing businesses at risk, while newcomers may face fewer barriers to pursuing new technological opportunities.
Modelling Predicting How People Play Games: Reinforcement learning in experimental games with unique

We examine learning in all experiments we could locate involving 100 periods or more of games with a unique equilibn'um in mixed strategies, and in a new experiment. We study both the ex post (" best fit ") akscrtptive power of learning models, and their ex ante predictive power, by simulating each experiment using parameters estimated from the other experiments. Even a one-parameter reinforcement learning model robustly outpelfonns the equilibrium predictions. Predictive power is improved by adding ' yorgemng " and " experimentation, " or by allowing greater ra-tionality as in probabilistic jictitious play. Implications for developing a low-rationality, cognitive game theory are discussed (JEL C72. C92) i Game theory has traditionally been developed as a theory of strategic interaction among players who are perfectly rational, and who (consequently) exhibit equilibrium behavior. This approach has been complemented by evolutionary game theory, which, motivated by biological evolution, seeks to understand how equilibria could arise in the long term by selection among generations of players who need not be rational or even conscious decision makers. Somewhere in between are models of learning, which consider the adaptive behavior of goal-oriented players who may not be highly rational, both to provide foundations also contributed to the design and programming of the new experiment. We are indebted to Barry O'Neill, Jack Ochs, and Amnon Rapoport for access to unpublished parts of their data. The present version reflects numerous comments by three anonymous referees on several earlier drafts. for theories of equilibrium and to model em-: pirically observed behavior. The present paper considers how well ~im-. ~'! ple learning models, motivated by the pay-' chology of learning, can model the interaction :. of players who must learn about the game and. C each other in the course of playing the game, over time spans that may not be long enough to lead to equilibrium. Our goal will be to model observed behavior, starting with behavior observed in experimental settings. (In the conclusion we will also consider the implications of this approach for applied economics in naturally occurring, nonexperimental settings .) We will show that a wide range of experimental data can be both well described ex post and robustly predicted ex ante by a very simple family of learning theories. Economists have traditionally avoided explaining behavior as less than rational for fear of developing many fragmented theories of mistakes. Part of the attraction of highly rational models …
A Deliberative Method for Ranking Risks (II): Evaluation of Validity and Agreement among Risk Managers

A deliberative method for ranking risks was evaluated in a study involving 218 risk managers. Both holistic and multiattribute procedures were used to assess individual and group rankings of health and safety risks facing students at a fictitious middle school. Consistency between the rankings that emerged from these two procedures was reasonably high for individuals and for groups, suggesting that these procedures capture an underlying construct of riskiness. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with their groups’ decision‐making processes and the resulting rankings, and these reports were corroborated by regression analyses. Risk rankings were similar across individuals and groups, even though individuals and groups did not always agree on the relative importance of risk attributes. Lower consistency between the risk rankings from the holistic and multiattribute procedures and lower agreement among individuals and groups regarding these rankings were observed for a set of high‐variance risks. Nonetheless, the generally high levels of consistency, satisfaction, and agreement suggest that this deliberative method is capable of producing risk rankings that can serve as informative inputs to public risk‐management decision making.