Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Train–Vehicle Crash Risk Comparison Between Before and After Stop Signs Installed at Highway–Rail Grade Crossings

Objective: The safety benefit of stop sign treatment employed at passive highway–rail crossings has been a subject of research for many years. The objectives of this research is to investigate whether and to what degree the crash rate has changed at previously passive grade crossings after stop signs were implemented and examine whether and how the crash characteristics (associated with vehicle type, crossing surrounding, crossing design, crash severity, etc.) changed subsequently. Methods: Federal Railroad Administration grade crossing databases during the 26-year period (1980–2005) were applied in this study. Among the stop-controlled grade crossings, a total of 7394 “target” crossings were identified to be once crossbucks controlled and subsequently upgraded with the installation of stop signs without the implementation of other traffic control devices during the study period. Each target crossing was further divided into two time periods: when it was controlled by crossbucks only (before) and when it was controlled by stop signs (after). Both annual crash rate analysis and crash propensity analysis of before–after stop sign installation are conducted to quantify the safety benefit of stop sign treatment. Results: It was found that during the 26-year period (1980–2005), the annual crash rates when the crossings were controlled by crossbucks-only were consistently higher than the crash rates when the crossings were controlled by stop signs. The further crash propensity analysis indicated that the stop sign treatment was especially effective at crossings with higher annual average daily traffic (AADT), advanced warning signs, sight distance problem, adverse lighting conditions; the motorist-stopped-on-crossing, did-not-stop, and injury crash risks were also significantly reduced after stop signs were applied. Conclusions: The finding of this study suggested that the vehicle volume should be included into the guideline for stop sign use. Therefore, engineers and decision makers are encouraged to routinely check available sight distances at passive crossings controlled by crossbucks only and add stop signs to the crossings with insufficient sight distances. Additionally, it is suggested that advanced warning signs should be jointly used at stop-controlled crossings to maximize the safety effect. However, stop signs were less effective at crossings with higher train speeds or track classifications, where active warning devices may be a better safety solution for grade crossings.
Increased nuchal translucency with normal karyotype: a follow‐up study of 100 cases supplemented with CGH and MLPA analyses

To evaluate whether high‐resolution comparative genomic hybridization (HR‐CGH) and subtelomeric and syndrome‐specific multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) would detect minor chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT) and normal karyotype on conventional karyotyping.
The use of lithium in affective disorders. I. Acute endogenous depression.

A double-blind study involving 29 patients was designed to investigate the efficacy of lithium compared with imipramine in the treatment of acute endogenous depression. After two to three weeks, there was evidence of a moderate to strong antidepressant effect of imipramine, while lithium produced only a weak to mild antidepressant effect. The authors discuss these findings in the light of other reports on the use of lithium in the treatment of acute endogenous depression.
A sib-pair study of the Temperament and Character Inventory scales in major depression.

BACKGROUND Certain aspects of the personality may be associated with the vulnerability to develop depression. A sib-pair method has been used to examine the familiality of the 7 scales of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and whether this could be related to the genetic vulnerability to develop depression. METHODS Probands with depression and their nearest-aged siblings from Wales were compared with healthy control probands and their nearest-aged siblings on the TCI and measures of depressed mood. RESULTS All 7 scales of the TCI were familial, and scores on 6 of the scales were similar to US population scores. However, the Welsh subjects' scores on the self-transcendence scale were markedly lower than the US mean, suggesting strong cultural or national influences on this measure. Harm avoidance scores were substantially influenced by current and past depression, but this scale also showed stable traitlike characteristics that are likely related to the genetic vulnerability to depression. Novelty seeking and self-directedness were also partly state-dependent and were negatively correlated with low mood; high scorers may be resilient to the development of depression. High reward dependence may also protect against the development of depression and is unrelated to mood state. The cooperativeness, persistence, and self-transcendence scales appear to have a limited relationship with the development of depression. CONCLUSIONS Harm avoidance, reward dependence, novelty seeking, and self-directedness have traitlike characteristics that are related to the familiality of depression. Cooperativeness, self-transcendence, and persistence are also familial, but this appears to be unrelated to depression.
Heritability of Smoking, Alcohol Use, and Psychological Characteristics Among Adolescent Twins in Qingdao, China

Background: Previous studies of genetic and environmental influences on adolescent substance use have been limited to Western samples. Methods: This study assesses genetic and environmental contributions to cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and psychological variables (depression, anxiety, aggression, hostility) among 602 pairs of adolescent twins, 11 to 19 years old, in Qingdao, China. Results: Heritable influences were more pronounced for alcohol use than cigarette smoking. In univariate analyses, no heritable effects were found for depression or aggression, and modest heritability was found for anxiety. Hostility was relatively more heritable in girls than boys. Bivariate associations between substance use and psychological measures could be attributed to a combination of common genetic and environmental factors. Conclusions: Among Chinese adolescents, experimentation with tobacco is familial, and experimentation with alcohol is heritable. The genetic and environmental architecture of hostility differs by gender. Consistency of univariate results with Western adolescent samples appears limited to the alcohol use measures.
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans in Childhood and Adolescence: Report of Eight Patients

Abstract: We reviewed all occurrences of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in children under 17 years of age who were evaluated at Sainte‐Justine Hospital, a tertiary‐care pediatric center, between 1980 and 2002. The medical records and histologic features of all were reviewed. Eight patients were identified, three boys and five girls. The interval between apparent onset and diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 14 years. All lesions except one were removed by surgical excision with a margin of 1.5 to 3 cm including underlying fascia or by Mohs technique. Follow‐up ranged from 2 to 15 years with median of 5 years. To date all the patients are alive and none has had a recurrence.
Intrinsic connectivity of the rat subiculum: I. Dendritic morphology and patterns of axonal arborization by pyramidal neurons

The dendritic and axonal morphology of rat subicular neurons was studied in single cells labeled with Neurobiotin. Electrophysiological classification of cells as intrinsic burst firing or regular spiking neurons was correlated with morphologic patterns and cell locations. Every cell had dendritic branches that reached the outer molecular layer, with most cells having branches that reached the hippocampal fissure. All but two pyramidal cells had axon collaterals that entered the deep white matter (alveus). Branching patterns of apical dendrites varied as a function of the cell's soma location along the fissure–alveus axis of the cell layer. The first major dendritic branch point for most cells occurred at the superficial edge of the cell layer giving deep cells long primary apical dendrites and superficial cells short or absent primary apical dendrites. In contrast, basal dendritic arbors were similar across cells regardless of cell position. Apical and basal dendrites of all cells had numerous spines. Superficial and deep cells also differed in axonal collateralization. Deep cells (mostly intrinsically bursting [IB] class) had one or more ascending axon collaterals that typically remained within the region circumscribed by their apical dendrites. Superficial cells (mostly regular spiking [RS] class) tended to have axon collaterals that reached longer distances in the cell layer. Numerous varicosities and axonal extensions were present on axon collaterals in the cell layer and in the apical dendritic region, suggesting intrinsic connectivity. Axonal varicosities and extensions were found on axons that entered presubiculum, entorhinal cortex or CA1, supporting the notion that these were projection cells. Local collaterals were distinctly thinner than collaterals that would leave the subiculum, suggesting little or no myelin on local collaterals and some myelin on efferent fibers. We conclude that both IB and RS classes of subicular principal cells make synaptic contacts in and apical to the cell layer. Based on the patterns of axonal arborization, we suggest that subiculum has at least a crude columnar and laminar architecture, with ascending collaterals of deep cells forming columns and broader axonal arbors of superficial cells serving to distribute activity across multiple columns. J. Comp. Neurol. 435:490–505, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Bone metabolism in 53 children and adolescents with chronic inflammatory bowel disease].

BACKGROUND Osteopathy is a common clinical feature of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and young adults at the time of primary diagnosis. The aim of the following study was to address the question of prevalance of a decreased bone density or increased bone metabolism in children with IBD. PATIENTS We examined 63 patients (mean age 13 years; 5 - 18 years): 36 Crohn's disease (MC) patients, 16 colitis ulcerosa (CU) patient and one patient with colitis indeterminata (CID). 10 children who had been referred to the gastroenterological outpatient department due to suspected IBD symptoms were later found not to suffer from IBD. These 10 patients therefore were included in the study as controls. RESULTS 8 of 10 CU patients and 18 of 28 MC patients showed a pathological bone density and abnormalities in bone metabolism. Repetitive bone density measurement was performed in 18 patients. In MC patients a - 0.39 SDS decrease of bone mineral density was found, without a simultaneous deterioration of clinical stage and inspite of a decreased cumulative prednisolon dosage. However in CU patients a + 0.06 SDS increase of bone mineral density was detected. These patients had a lower cumulative prednisolon dosage and a stable clinical course. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, pediatric IBD patients often show abnormalities in bone metabolism and decreased bone density. There is a need for multicentre, prospective randomised control trials to further identify therapeutic tools on the basis of the multifactorial etiology of bone disease in pediatric IBD patients.
National Combustion Meeting Organized by the Western States Section of the Combustion Institute and hosted by the University of Utah May 19-22 , 2013 Multi-target Global Sensitivity Analysis of n-Butanol Combustion

Global sensitivity analysis is applied to the combustion of n-butanol. The sensitivity of both ignition delay times and species concentrations are studied with respect to uncertainties in the reaction rate coefficients. It is demonstrated that the ignition delay times are sensitive to only a few rate coefficients, as are each of the species we studied. Comparisons are made to reaction pathway analysis. In the speciation studies, it is shown that two types of reactions have large global sensitivity coefficients. The first type promotes the formation of a given species and is identified in a reaction pathway analysis. The second type inhibits the formation of the species and is not directly identified in reaction pathway analysis. In order to accurately predict the formation of a given species, both of these types of reactions need to be accurately modeled when their global sensitivity coefficients are large. In this paper we also describe recently developed techniques to reduce the number of samples that are necessary for producing accurate global sensitivity coefficients.
Internal and External Tibial Rotation Strength after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Ipsilateral Semitendinosus and Gracilis Tendon Autografts

The internal and external tibial rotation torques of subjects who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts were measured to determine whether harvest of the tendons results in weakness of tibial internal and external rotation. Cybex NORM dynamometer examinations were performed to measure internal and external tibial torque at angular velocities of 60, 120, and 180 deg/sec in 23 subjects. The sex-specific average torque data of the reconstructed limbs were compared with those of the contralateral limbs. Relative internal and external torque scores were calculated for each subject by subtracting the peak torque of the reconstructed knee from that of the contralateral knee. These relative scores were averaged and compared with the null hypothesis that each score should be statistically similar to zero. Subjects were evaluated at an average of 51 40 months postoperatively. The mean relative internal torque scores of the reconstructed limbs showed a statistically significant decrease from those of the contralateral limbs at all angular velocities. The mean relative external torque scores of the reconstructed limbs were statistically similar to those of the contralateral limbs at all angular velocities. Subjects who had undergone ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus and gracilis tendons demonstrated internal tibial rotation weakness in their reconstructed knees compared with their contralateral knees at all angular velocities tested. These results suggest that semitendinosus and gracilis tendon harvest causes weakness of internal tibial rotation.
Current geography masks dynamic history of gene flow during speciation in northern Australian birds

During early stages of speciation, genome divergence is greatly influenced by gene flow. As populations diverge, geography can allow or restrict gene flow in the form of barriers. Current geography, e.g. whether sister species are allopatric or parapatric, is often used to predict the potential for gene flow during the divergence process. We test the validity of this assumption in eight meliphagoid bird species codistributed across four regions. These regions are separated by known biogeographic barriers within and between northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. We find that bird populations across the same barrier have a range of divergence levels and probability of gene flow regardless of range connectivity. Geographic distance and maximum range connectivity over time can better predict divergence and probability of gene flow than whether populations are currently allopatric or parapatric. We also find support for a nonlinear decrease of the probability of gene flow during the divergence process. This implies that although gene flow influences divergence early in speciation, other factors associated with higher divergence restrict gene flow later in speciation. Current geography may then mislead inferences regarding potential for gene flow during speciation under a complex and dynamic history of geographic and reproductive isolation.
Marital Status and Motherhood: Implications for Physical Activity

Single motherhood has been associated with negative health consequences, such as increased risk for cardiovascular disease and depression, which might be accompanied by reduced levels of physical activity. This pilot study aimed to compare the magnitude of differences in physical activity between unmarried mothers, married mothers, and non-mothers. Participants (N = 66) in three equal-sized groups (n = 22) completed a battery of physical activity questions and wore an accelerometer for one week in March to May of 2012. Analyses of covariance controlling for group differences in demographic characteristics and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons were conducted to detect differences in physical activity between groups. Compared to unmarried mothers, married mothers and non-mothers had significantly greater leisure time activity as measured by the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (F(2,61) = 6.11, p = . 004), overall activity in the previous year measured by the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire scores (F(2, 61) = 8.65, p = . 001), and minutes spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from the accelerometer (F(2,58) = 4.39, p = . 02). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups for International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores or accelerometer activity and step counts. Overall, unmarried mothers were less physically active when compared to married mothers and non-mothers. Future studies should explore the correlates and health outcomes associated with physical activity among unmarried mothers.
Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly

Objective: Since both the incidence of lung cancer and the proportion of the population over age 65 are increasing rapidly in North America, we undertook a retrospective review of elderly patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in an attempt to assess the effect of age on treatment decisions, response, survival, and toxicity.
A Mathematics Content Course and Teaching Efficacy Beliefs of Undergraduate Majors in Education

This study was designed to assess the mathematics teaching efficacy beliefs of undergraduates in elementary education through a manipulative-based course in mathematics. Responses of 106 university undergraduates to the 21-item Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs administered as pre- and posttest without a control group showed a significant immediate postcourse change in their efficacy beliefs using dependent t test.
Oceanic Influence on Extreme Rainfall Trends in the North Central Coast of Venezuela : Present and future climate assessments

Extreme events are an important part of climate variability and their intensity and persistence are often modulated by large scale climatic patterns which might act as forcing drivers affecting their probability of occurrence. When the North Tropical Atlantic (NTA) and the Equatorial Pacific (Niño 3 region) anomalies are of opposite signs and the first one is positive while the second one is negative, the rainfall response is stronger in the northern coast of Venezuela as well as in the Pacific coast of Central America during the Nov-Feb period. The difference between these two SST anomalies series (NTA-Niño3) is used in this analysis and it is called the Atlantic-Pacific Index or API. By fitting a dynamic generalized extreme value (GEV) model to station based daily rainfall at different locations and to the Xie and Arkin dataset for the Vargas state, we found the API index to be an adequate index to explain the probabilistic nature of rainfall extremes in the northern Venezuelan coast for the months Nov-Feb. Dependence between the Atlantic-Pacific index and the probabilistic behavior of extreme rainfall was also explored for simulations from two global coupled General Circulation Models for the 20 century climate (20C3M experiment) and the 21 century climate (SRES A2 experiment): the Echam5 model and the HadCM3 model. A significant dependence of extreme rainfall on the Atlantic-Pacific index is well described by the GEV dynamic model for the Echam5 20C3M experiment model outputs. When looking at future climates under the SRES A2 experiment, the dependence of extreme rainfall from the API index is still significant for the middle part of the 21 century (2046-2064), while this dependence fades off for the latest part of the century (2081-2099).
Subacute polyneuropathy after initiation of peritoneal dialysis, improved following kidney transplantation.

Uremic neuropathy is the most common neurologic complication of uremia, and it affects more than 60% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who undergo dialysis. (1) This type of neuropathy symmetrically involves the distal extremities, especially the lower limbs. On electrophysiological assessment, an axonal pattern is dominant. The clinical course and the intensity of uremic neuropathy vary from one individual to another. Coexisting chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus can aggravate the symptoms,(2) while dialysis can stop or delay progression of chronic uremic neuropathy. (3) Complete improvement occurs after kidney transplantation. (4) Recently, acute and subacute neuropathies in ESRD patients have also been reported. (5-8) These conditions have a demyelinating feature and develop after the initiation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The pathogenesis of these nonchronic forms of neuropathy remains unclear. We report 2 cases of subacute uremic polyneuropathy that improved following kidney transplantation.
Extended investigation of tau and mutation screening of other candidate genes on chromosome 17q21 in a Swedish FTDP‐17 family

Frontotemporal dementia and Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP‐17) is an autosomal dominant condition clinically characterized by behavioral, cognitive and motor disturbances. It was recently discovered that the majority of the FTDP‐17 families carry missense or 5′ splice mutations in the exons coding for the microtubule‐binding domains of the tau protein. However, in at least five FTDP‐17 families, no such mutations could be identified. In the present study, we aimed at further investigate abnormalities in the tau gene in a Swedish FTDP‐17 family, where no mutations in the tau gene previously have been identified. Initially, we searched for larger deletions by Southern blot hybridization. Furthermore, possible abnormal splicing events was investigated by RT‐PCR from brain tissue of affected individuals. In addition, we investigated the presence of mutations in other genes in the FTDP‐17 candidate region on chromosome 17q21; Gamma‐tubulin, Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein (GFAP), Human dual specificity phosphatase tyrosine/serine (VHR), Rap‐interacting protein 8 (RPIP8), P35, and the recently identified FTDCG1. In conclusion, no pathological changes in the tau gene were observed, neither was any mutations segregating with the disease detected in the investigated candidate genes. Further investigation of extended intron sequences or promoter regions of the tau gene and additional candidate genes on chromosome 17q21, therefore seems to be necessary in order to identify the additional causes of FTDP‐17. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Numerical solution of RLW equation using radial basis functions

The numerical solution of the regularized long wave equation is investigated by means of the meshless method based on collocation with the well-known radial basis functions (RBFs). Single solitary wave motion, two solitary wave interaction and wave undulation are studied. Results of the meshless method with different RBFs are compared.