Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concussions and heading in soccer: A review of the evidence of incidence, mechanisms, biomarkers and neurocognitive outcomes

Abstract Background: Soccer is currently the most popular and fastest-growing sport worldwide. Similar to many sports, soccer carries an inherent risk of injury, including concussion. Soccer is also unique in the use of ‘heading’. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the research examining the incidence, mechanisms, biomarkers of injury and neurocognitive outcomes of concussions and heading in soccer. Methods: Seven databases were searched for articles from 1806 to 24 May 2013. Articles obtained by the electronic search were reviewed for relevance, with 229 selected for review. Ultimately, 49 articles met criteria for inclusion in the present review. Results: Female soccer players have a higher incidence of concussions than males. The most frequent injury mechanism is player-to-player contact for both genders. Few studies examined the effects of concussion in soccer players; however, neurocognitive outcomes were similar to those reported in the larger sport concussion literature, while the effect of heading is less clear. Conclusion: Despite variation in research designs and study characteristics, the outcomes of concussions in soccer align with the greater concussion literature. This review makes recommendations for future research to increase standardization of research for improved understanding of concussions in soccer as well as the effects of heading.
The influence of lean concepts on the product innovation process of a Brazilian shoe manufacturer

Our study concerns product innovation in a shoe manufacturer featuring a multi-project environment with simple products. Due to the wide range of new products implemented, manufacturing plays a key role in the innovation process. The main study objective involves understanding how lean concepts are applied to the study environment and employed in this particular production system, since lean production is usually applied to complex environments such as those typical of the auto sector, in which few new projects are started in a given timeframe. This simple case study looks at how businesses in a sector as diverse as shoe manufacturing, which have different target markets and product structures, can benefit from lean practices as boosters of innovation. Process and personnel development, project transfer from R&D to production, factory layout design, and product development practices are among the topics explored.
Identifying In-Trans Process Associated Genes in Breast Cancer by Integrated Analysis of Copy Number and Expression Data

Genomic copy number alterations are common in cancer. Finding the genes causally implicated in oncogenesis is challenging because the gain or loss of a chromosomal region may affect a few key driver genes and many passengers. Integrative analyses have opened new vistas for addressing this issue. One approach is to identify genes with frequent copy number alterations and corresponding changes in expression. Several methods also analyse effects of transcriptional changes on known pathways. Here, we propose a method that analyses in-cis correlated genes for evidence of in-trans association to biological processes, with no bias towards processes of a particular type or function. The method aims to identify cis-regulated genes for which the expression correlation to other genes provides further evidence of a network-perturbing role in cancer. The proposed unsupervised approach involves a sequence of statistical tests to systematically narrow down the list of relevant genes, based on integrative analysis of copy number and gene expression data. A novel adjustment method handles confounding effects of co-occurring copy number aberrations, potentially a large source of false positives in such studies. Applying the method to whole-genome copy number and expression data from 100 primary breast carcinomas, 6373 genes were identified as commonly aberrant, 578 were highly in-cis correlated, and 56 were in addition associated in-trans to biological processes. Among these in-trans process associated and cis-correlated (iPAC) genes, 28% have previously been reported as breast cancer associated, and 64% as cancer associated. By combining statistical evidence from three separate subanalyses that focus respectively on copy number, gene expression and the combination of the two, the proposed method identifies several known and novel cancer driver candidates. Validation in an independent data set supports the conclusion that the method identifies genes implicated in cancer.
Effect of sunlight on enumeration of indicator bacteria under field conditions

The effect of sunlight on the enumeration of fecal coliform (FC) and fecal streptococcal (FS) bacteria when water samples are collected in containers and brought back to the laboratory for analysis or when the water samples are filtered through membranes on site was determined. FC and FS in raw sewage stored in clear glass or translucent polyethylene containers were resistant to the effects of sunlight. However, under the same conditions of storage and exposure to sunlight, 90% of FC and FS in sewage diluted 1:100 in seawater were inactivated within 13 to 32 min. When sewage was similarly diluted in stream water and exposed to sunlight, 90% of FC were inactivated after 28 to 38 min, whereas 90% of FS were not inactivated even after a 2-h exposure to sunlight. Other experiments showed that 90 to 99% of FC and FS retained on membranes were inactivated when these membranes were exposed to sunlight for 10 to 15 min. FS were inherently more resistant to sunlight inactivation than were FC. Finally, evidence was obtained to show that sunlight initially stresses the bacteria but eventually causes cell death.
Geochemical characterization of placic horizons in subtropical montane forest soils, northeastern Taiwan

Well‐developed placic horizons have been found in subalpine forest soils with large clay contents in Taiwan. We investigated their formation processes in five profiles in a subalpine ecosystem of northeastern Taiwan, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive spectrometry (EDS), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), differential X‐ray diffraction (DXRD) and chemical extractions. The placic horizons, ranging from 3‐ to 17‐mm thick, always occurred above argillic horizons with abrupt changes in pH and texture between the two horizons. When fully developed, the placic horizons were clearly differentiated between upper and lower sub‐horizons. EDS and chemical extractions revealed that the cementing materials in both were predominantly inorganic Fe oxides. However, contents of aluminosilicates and organically complexed Fe and Al were greater in the lower than in the upper placic sub‐horizon. Results of EPMA indicated that interstitial fine materials in the upper placic sub‐horizon were composed mainly of Fe oxides, whereas Fe oxides were codominant with illuvial clay in the lower sub‐horizon. These analyses identified the migration of Fe and clay as major formation processes in both sub‐horizons. We hypothesize that there is a pedogenic sequence that starts with clay illuviation, followed by podzolization. The resultant textural and permeability differentiation reinforces the tendency to profile episaturation that is already inherent from the heavy rainfall and clayey surface soils. Topsoil Fe is therefore reduced and mobilized, and then illuviated with clay and organically complexed Fe/Al to initiate the lower placic sub‐horizon. The poor permeability of this layer reinforces the moisture conditions in the surface soils, and the further reduction, illuviation and deposition of inorganic Fe to form the upper placic sub‐horizon.
Neoangiogenesis in laryngeal carcinoma: angiogenin and CD105 expression is related to carcinoma recurrence rate and disease‐free survival

Marioni G, Marino F, Blandamura S, D’Alessandro E, Giacomelli L, Guzzardo V, Lionello M, de Filippis C & Staffieri A (2010) Histopathology57, 535–543 Neoangiogenesis in laryngeal carcinoma: angiogenin and CD105 expression is related to carcinoma recurrence rate and disease‐free survival
On Output Price Uncertainty and the Comparative Statics of Industry Equilibrium

The analysis of firm response to output price variability has, until recently, been incomplete due to a failure to consider explicitly the effect of firm response on the attainment of competitive equilibrium at the industry level. A recent paper by Appelbaum and Katz [1] has addressed the issue of industry equilibrium under output price uncertainty. They show how the optimal number of firms might change through the process of exit and entry, and they characterize the collective influence of firms' decisions on expected market price. However, their analysis focuses on firms with a single-stage production process which allows no production flexibility (in the form of adjustment of output levels) after output price is revealed. An earlier paper by Hartman [3] has shown that, at the firm level, the optimal response to output price uncertainty will depend on whether production flexibility exists. Specifically, if firms employ a two-stage production process which is characterized by the presence of a quasi-fixed factor, then firm-level output may increase or decrease in response to changes in output price variability even if firms are risk neutral. The assumption that production flexibility exists changes those results initially developed by Sandmo [7], and applied more recently by Appelbaum and Katz [1], which are based on a single-stage production process. This paper provides an extension of the Appelbaum and Katz analysis to admit production flexibility. Equivalently, it extends the analysis of Hartman to consider explicitly the effect of firm response on the attainment of competitive equilibrium at the industry level. Appelbaum and Katz show that for an industry of identical risk-averse firms with a singlestage production technology, the effect of a mean-preserving increase in price uncertainty is to decrease industry output and to raise market price. A more recent comment by Ishii [5] shows that output per firm will also fall, yet none of these authors shows unambiguously whether the number of firms increases or decreases. Although not explicitly stated, the analysis in Appelbaum and Katz suggests there would be no firm or industry response to a mean-preserving change in price spread if firms were risk-neutral (expected-profit maximizers). The model employed in this paper is analogous to that of Appelbaum and Katz with two principal exceptions: (i) here an industry is composed of firms all of which are either risk neutral
Raised Plasma Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor &agr; in Patients With Depression: Normalization During Electroconvulsive Therapy

Objective To examine whether electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could modulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)&agr; levels in patients with depressive disorders. Method Plasma levels of TNF&agr; were analyzed in 23 depressed patients, mainly with severe depressive disorders, and in 15 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Fifteen depressed patients were followed longitudinally with measurement of TNF&agr; before, during, and after repeated ECT treatment. For comparison, TNF&agr; levels were also analyzed longitudinally in the 8 depressed patients not receiving ECT. Results Patients with depressive disorders had markedly raised TNF&agr; levels compared with healthy controls. The clinical improvement during repeated ECT was accompanied by a gradual and significant decline in TNF&agr; level, reaching levels comparable with those in healthy controls at the end of the study. Such a decline was not seen in the depressed patients not receiving ECT, who instead showed raised TNF&agr; levels throughout the study period. Conclusion Our findings support an association between inflammation and TNF&agr; in particular and severe depression, and suggest that ECT may down-regulate this immune activation.
US stock market sensitivity to interest and inflation rates: a quantile regression approach

ABSTRACT This article studies the sensitivity of the US stock market to nominal and real interest rates and inflation during the 2003–2013 period using quantile regression (QR). The empirical results show that the stock market has a significant sensitivity to changes in interest rates and inflation and finds differences across sectors and over time. Moreover, the effect of changes in both interest rates and inflation tends to be more pronounced during extreme market conditions, thus distinguishing expansion periods from recession periods.
Policies for economic diversification

This article begins by showing that not all developing countries concentrate their exports in products which make intensive use of natural resources or cheap labour, and that those which also export some products typical of more developed countries tend to grow faster, apparently independently of their human capital endowment or the quality of their institutions. For this purpose, an index is used which measures the degree to which each country displays this type of export mix. This is an idiosyncratic phenomenon which seems to be linked with the capacity to undertake the production and export of new products. There is therefore a place for incentive policies, accompanied by the ability of the government to recognize failed attempts and to stop subsidizing them. Because of the idiosyncratic nature of the phenomenon, it is not possible to propose universal solutions, but the author does set out ten principles to be borne in mind in policy design in each country.
Diagnosis of Planar Arrays Through Phaseless Measurements and Sparsity Promotion

A new compressive-sensing-inspired approach is proposed to the detection of faulty radiators in planar antenna arrays from a reduced set of phaseless far-field measurements. In order to deal with whatever kind of arrays, the problem is cast as the recovery of the aperture-field distribution, and two new convex-programming solution procedures are introduced. The first one relies on the improvement of the Total Variation norm technique, while the second one exploits a new aperture field expansion, which allows drastically reducing the number of unknowns of the problem. A wide set of numerical experiments involving benchmark scenarios, as well as full-wave data relative to a realistic antenna, is provided in support of the given theory.
Achilles Tendonitis: Are Corticosteroid Injections Useful or Harmful?

ObjectiveThe use of local corticosteroid injections for the treatment of Achilles tendonitis is controversial. Some authors advocate their use based on efficacy in accelerating the healing process of Achilles tendonitis; others feel the associated side effects should preclude their use altogether. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively review and critically appraise the available literature in order to examine the evidence concerning this clinical dilemma. Data sourcesMEDLINE was searched using MeSH and textwords for English- and French-language articles related to Achilles tendonitis and corticosteroids published since 1966. Additional references were reviewed from the bibliographies of the retrieved articles. The total number of articles reviewed was 145. Study selectionAll clinical study designs were included as well as related animal studies using experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Data extraction and synthesisIn reviewing the literature, particular attention was paid to the relative strengths of the different study designs. From these data, the factors associated with effectiveness and safety of injected corticosteroids were examined. Main resultsThe only rigorous studies (one randomized controlled trial, one cohort study) showed no benefit of corticosteroids over placebo. In animal studies, corticosteroid injections decrease adhesion formation, temporarily weaken the tendon if given intratendinously, but have no effect on tendon strength if injected into the paratenon. The overall incidence of side effects with locally injected corticosteroids is ∼1%. Most side effects are temporary, but skin atrophy and depigmentation can be permanent. Although there are many case reports of Achilles tendon rupture following local corticosteroid injection, there are no published rigorous studies that evaluate the risk of rupture with or without corticosteroid injection. ConclusionsThere are insufficient published data to determine the comparative risks and benefits of corticosteroid injections in Achilles tendonitis. The decreased tendon strength with intratendinous injections in animal studies suggests that rupture may be a potential complication for several weeks following injection.
SMS-based library catalogue system: a preliminary investigation of user acceptance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential users' cognitive beliefs and intention to use (IU) a proposed short message service (SMS)‐based library catalogue system. The motivation for this research is the growing popularity of mobile information systems and the need to explore if SMS is a technology that libraries could tap into to enhance their services to users.Design/methodology/approach – A review of literature on SMS‐based services and applications within the library sector is followed by a prototyping of an SMS‐based library catalogue system and the development of a number of hypotheses using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the base framework. The study investigates potential users' cognitive beliefs and IU the systems as well as the effect of self‐efficacy (SE) on these. A survey questionnaire is distributed to a purposeful and convenient sample of university students who are also users of the university library online public access catalogue.Findings – The results of .
Fatigued patients with multiple sclerosis have impaired central muscle activation

Background The pathogenesis of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. Objective To elucidate the role of central motor activation we hypothesized that patients with primary fatigue have impaired central motor function and increased fatigability as compared to secondary fatigued and non-fatigued patients. Methods Sixty patients with relapsing remitting MS and an Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤ 3.5 were recruited and grouped as fatigued (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) ≥ 5.0) or non-fatigued (FSS ≤ 4.0). Nineteen patients were primary fatigued, 20 secondary fatigued and 21 non-fatigued. Maximal voluntary contraction, central activation and peripheral activation were determined by percutaneous twitch interpolation of the right quadriceps muscle. Results Maximal voluntary contraction was similar between groups but did relate to scores of fatigue. Peripheral activation was similar in all groups. Central activation was impaired in both groups of fatigued patients compared to non-fatigued patients being 0.96(0.05) in primary fatigued and 0.96(0.04) in secondary fatigued versus 0.99(0.1) in non-fatigued patients. The impairment of central motor activation was related to degree of fatigue in all patients. During fatiguing exercise there was a similar loss of strength, without any time differences between the three groups. Conclusion We conclude that impaired central motor activation is involved in MS-fatigue.
External and internal reality: The impact of the current socio‐economic crisis on the analytic dyad

This paper addresses the impact of the current economic crisis on the psychic functioning of the patient and the analyst, their relationship and collaboration. This intrusion of ‘external reality’ is multidimensional, and thus with multiple meanings. The critical role of the economic factor brings various dimensions of money into play, such as self‐preservation, power as well as aspects of psychosexual development. In addition, the crisis involves symbolic loss of basic ideals such as honesty and social responsibility. Patient and analyst are affected in similar and different ways in their respective roles as well as according to the specific intrapsychic functioning of each. Moreover, unique characteristics of the crisis often create a crisis in the analysis. In order to avoid deformation of the analytic relationship, the analytic dyad must examine and work through the multiple meanings of the crisis as well as the meaning of the impact of the crisis on the analytic relationship for both patient and analyst. This complex transference‐ countertransference interplay poses specific challenges to the analyst. After discussion of these issues, clinical material is presented that demonstrates how they appear in analytic practice today.
Predictors of change in health-related quality of life among older people with depression: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Background: Depression is a common psychological problem among older people. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is now recognized by healthcare providers as an important treatment goal for people with depression. This study aimed to identify predictors of change in HRQoL among older people with depression. Methods: In a longitudinal study, data were collected when participants were newly diagnosed with a depressive disorder at a regional outpatient department in Hong Kong and 12 months later. Seventy-seven Chinese participants aged 65 years or older completed the study. Measures included the Physical Health Condition Checklist (PHCC), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version (WHOQOL). Results: Significant improvements between the first and second assessments were noted in the total WHOQOL scores, GDS scores, and the number of the social support. The results of linear regression models showed that the increases in the IADL scores and decreases in the PHCC and GDS scores were significantly associated with higher final WHOQOL scores. Discussion: Treatment for depression was effective in improving the participants’ overall condition and their perceived HRQoL. The results suggest that interventions to alleviate older people's level of depression, manage their physical ill health and enhance their instrumental activities of daily living ability could help improve their perceived HRQoL.