Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of potential sources of bias in a genetic epidemiologic study of breast cancer

Systematic errors, or bias, can arise at several stages of a study, including selection of subjects, measurement of exposure and disease, and data analysis. Little attention appears to have been paid to potential sources of bias in genetic epidemiologic studies, despite the fact that the study of units (families) and members (relatives) within those units produces unique opportunities for bias to be introduced. The ability to evaluate whether selection bias has occurred is rare. In 1944, a case‐control family study of breast cancer was initiated at the Dight Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Minnesota. A follow‐up study of these 544 families is currently being conducted on sisters, daughters, nieces, and granddaughters of the probands, and a control group of women who are spouses of male first‐ and second‐degree relatives. Updated data are collected on females who are 18 years or older through telephone interviews and questionnaires. The availability of detailed family history information on these families at baseline provided an opportunity to evaluate several potential sources of bias. Analyses were performed to determine if families lost to follow‐up differed from those who were successfully located or excluded (ineligible), and whether participation rates within a family differed by relationship to proband, age, and family history of cancer. The latter participation rates for individuals were examined with respect to a telephone interview, a mailed questionnaire, and screening mammography. There were no statistically significant differences in the cancer histories of families that were excluded, those that were lost to follow‐up, and those that participated. Within families, degree of relationship to the breast cancer proband was significantly associated with age‐adjusted participation rates on mailed questionnaires (P < 0.005) and mammography (P < 0.005), but not telephone interviews (P = 0.29). After adjustment for age, marry‐ins with a family history of breast cancer were not significantly more likely than marry‐ins without a family history to undergo mammography (P = 0.11) or return mailed questionnaires (P = 0.74). Although non‐participation is a potentially serious source of bias to a genetic epidemiologic study and the effect of variable participation rates should be explored when investigating the genetic component of a disease, it does not appear to be a problem for this particular study. Genet. Epidemiol. 14:85–95,1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of Enteric Parasites among HIV Seropositive Patients and Co-Relation with CD4 T Cell Count

Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic, with cases reported virtually from every country. In HIV infected patients, a progressive decline in their immunological responses makes them extremely susceptible to a variety of common and opportunistic infections. Intestinal parasitic infection remains as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Presently, CD4 T cell count has been shown to be an excellent indicator which defines the degree of an immune suppression. Diarrhoea and intestinal parasitic infections are strongly associated with low CD4 T cell count. Therefore the present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric parasites affecting the HIV seropositive patients with and without diarrhoea. An attempt was also made to evaluate the association between CD4 T cell count and presence of enteric parasites. A total of 510 HIV seropositive patients were included in the study. Microscopic examination was done by direct saline and iodine mount. Smears were prepared to identify the coccidian parasites by using modified ZiehlNeelsen stain. All the specimens were subjected to sedimentation and floatation technique for concentration of parasitic ova and cysts. Sheather’s sugar floatation technique was performed for detection of coccidian parasites. Estimation of CD4/CD8 count was done by automated flowcytometer analyzer (BD FACS). Out of 510 HIV seropositive patients, intestinal parasites were detected in 132 (25.88%) cases and most commonly observed intestinal parasite was Cryptosporidium parvum followed by Isospora belli and least commonly observed parasites were Hymenolepis nana and Taenia spp. The maximum incidence of diarrhoea was seen among patients with CD4 T cell count less than 200 cells / μl. Also, the detection rate of intestinal parasites was more in patients presented with diarrhoea having CD4 T cell count less than 200 cells / μl. The detection of intestinal parasites in HIV seropositive patients will help in proper management of these patients as drugs are available for the treatment of most of the infections. Hence, routine screening of the stool samples of HIV seropositive patients with and without diarrhoea should be done for prompt patient care, to prevent the fulminant form of the disease. K e y w o r d s
Serum Acid Phosphatase Activity in Diabetes Mellitus

Lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase show increase in diabetes mellitus and this is closely related to diabetic metabolic alterations. This was a cross- sectional study conducted on 50 diabetic subjects (25 patients with complications and 25 patients without complications) in RIMS hospital during the period from September 2010 to August 2012. Twenty five age and sex matched healthy individual were taken as controls. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was estimated by Fast Ion Exchange Resin Method. Acid Phosphatase was estimated by colorimetric kit method. The difference in the level of Fasting Blood Sugar(FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar(PPBS) and HbA1c between control, diabetic groups without and diabetes with complication groups was significant statistically (P<0.001) indicating a poor control of glucose in the study group. There was a significant difference in the level of Acid Phosphatase in control, diabetic group without complication and diabetes with complication(2.03±0.73, 4.58±0.68, 8.61±1.05IU/L) respectively. The comparison of serum acid phosphatase level in male and female subjects in the study groups was insignificant. Statistically significant increase in serum acid phosphatase level was observed in the diabetes with complication compared to those without the complication (P <0.001). There was a significant positive correlation of acid phosphatase with fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin. Acid phosphatase can be used as an index for the development, control of diabetes and prognosis of diabetic complications.
The effects of the salesperson’s characteristics on buyer-seller relationships

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the influence of the salesperson’s characteristics (organizational commitment [OC] and disposition to innovate) on buyer’s behaviors in buyer – supplier relationships. A model is proposed depicting the effects of the salesperson’s OC and disposition to innovate on buyer’s long-term orientation and opportunism through partner-specific value to the buyer. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 155 sales professionals of Japanese manufacturers. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings – As predicted, the salesperson’s OC and disposition to innovate enhance buyer’s long-term orientation through providing partner-specific value to the buyer, and in turn, buyer’s long-term orientation mitigates opportunism. Practical implications – The salesperson plays an important role for developing and maintaining Buyer-seller relationships. Based on authors’ results, firms should promote salespeople’s OC because a highly committed salesperson i.
Myeloma light chains induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND To determine the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a potential mechanism contributing to the characteristic tubulointerstitial renal fibrosis in multiple myeloma, we examined whether myeloma light chains (LCs) directly induce EMT in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). METHODS As positive controls we used TGF-beta1 and cyclosporine A (CsA), two agents known to induce EMT in PTECs. Human LCs were isolated and purified from the urine of myeloma patients with modest renal insufficiency without evidence of glomerular involvement. HK-2 cells were exposed to kappa LC (25 microM) for periods up to 72 h. RESULTS LCs induced marked cellular morphological alterations in PTECs, accompanied with increased expression levels of profibrotic TGF-beta1, FSP-1 and extracellular matrix components. Using semiquantitative immunoblotting and RT-PCR, we observed that the expression of E-cadherin decreased after 24 h, while the expression of alpha-SMA increased in PTEC after continuous exposure to kappa-LCs. Human serum albumin (HSA; 160 microM) had less potent effect on the expression of EMT-related molecules. Neutralizing TGF-beta1 antibody blocked CsA-induced EMT but had no effect on LC-exposed cells. LC-induced EMT and the secretions of IL-6 and MCP-1 were, however, markedly attenuated by p38 MAPK interference. The use of bone morphogenetic protein-7 or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) induced the formation of cell aggregates, and the reacquisition of E-cadherin expression and renal proximal tubule epithelial morphology within the confluent cell monolayer during and after LC exposure. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that LC is a direct stimulus for EMT in PTECs. LC-induced EMT involved multiple cytokines, is modulated by p38 MAPK, but appeared independent of the action of TGF-beta1. LC-induced EMT may be an important mechanism of kidney injury associated with myeloma and may be reversible upon the administration of exogenous PACAP.
Do Women Engage in Less Earnings Management than Men?: The Case of Privately Held French SMEs

This study investigates the effect of a CEO’s gender on his/her decision to engage in earnings management. We focus on private small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a code-law accounting framework, namely, that of France. From a sample of 30,476 French SMEs for the year 2012, we use discretionary accruals as a proxy for earnings quality. We first provide evidence that French private SMEs manage earnings: the average value of discretionary accruals is above 9% of total assets. In accordance with our gender hypothesis, we show that, regardless of the model used, firms run by female CEOs engage in significantly less earnings management than firms run by male CEOs. This result is robust to various tests for endogeneity. Moreover, we highlight a negative effect of the feminization of top management on the level of discretionary accruals. Finally, we consider another observable CEO characteristic, namely, age. We find that CEO age is negatively correlated with the magnitude of accruals, but the effect of gender remains significant.
Identifying Earnings Overstatements: A Practical Test

We measure the power of some simple financial statement analysis techniques for identifying instances of significant earnings overstatements, and then contrast the results with those from several measures of unexpected accruals. Our results suggest that relative to a group of matched control firms, those firms identified by the SEC as having overstated earnings outside the boundaries of GAAP have significantly different financial statement characteristics. We also find that a simple measure of accruals, supplemented by a few financial statement indicators, has greater success in identifying these earnings overstatements than measures of unexpected accruals on which researchers typically rely. Because SEC enforcement actions likely represent the most extreme forms of upwards earnings management, they are a reflection of where most practical concerns are directed about the existence of accounting manipulation. Our results highlight a lack of power among widely used measures of unexpected accruals, consistent with the view that methods based on the approach of Jones (1991) are primarily a response to researchers' concerns with type I errors, rather than the type II errors which we characterize as being of primary practical concern. We conclude that future research directed at improved measures of earnings management for practical purposes might profitably focus on insights from financial statement analysis rather than further incremental refinement of models used to identify unexpected accruals.
Sentinel lymph-node biopsy-based prediction of further breast cancer metastases in the axilla.

BACKGROUND Histopathological factors may help identifying a subgroup of breast cancer patients with metastases confined to the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). METHODS A retrospective analysis was carried out on 111 tumours successfully mapped with Patent blue, 69 of which had SLN metastases. RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed that SLN metastases situated in the sinuses and a small tumour size are the two most important predictors of involvement of only one SLN. The metastasis size and a small tumour size were found important in the model discriminating between tumours with metastases to SLNs only and those with non-SLN involvement. Classification of tumours with only one SLN metastasis and those with a multinodal involvement resulted in a smaller error rate, falsely classified as lesser nodal involvement. Patients with tumours <1.8 cm and metastatic to the sinuses of a single SLN had a low probability of non-SLN metastasis, and might be candidates for axillary sparing after a positive SLN biopsy. CONCLUSIONS Further investigations are required to assess the validity of such predictive models for the identification of patients with no metastases beyond the SLN. Axillary treatment must remain the rule until predictive models of non-SLN involvement are fully validated.
Prognostic Indicators for Salvage Surgery of Recurrent Sinonasal Malignancy

Objective Identify prognostic factors after salvage surgery for recurrent sinonasal malignancy (SNM). Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Subjects Forty-two patients who underwent curative surgery for locally recurrent SNM ± adjuvant therapy from June 5, 2000, to December 19, 2012. Patients without follow-up were excluded. Methods Chart review with established prognostic indicators for primary malignancies. Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier log-rank test, Fisher’s exact test, Student’s t test, and Cox regression. Results Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria: 38.5% developed a second recurrence, and 21.4% had metastases following treatment. The average disease-free interval (DFI) was 26.9 months (range, 2-90 months). DFI was significantly affected by ethmoid versus nonethmoid site (P = .049), histology (P = .012), carotid artery involvement (P = .008), perineural extension (P = .006), and clival invasion (P = .015). The overall survival rates at 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years following surgery were 83.3%, 69%, and 47.6%, respectively. Survival was affected by histology (P = .014), stratified grade (P = .042), tumor extension into the orbit (P = .019), carotid artery (P = .001), perineural space (P = .028), and clivus (P = .022). Complications occurred in 28.6% of patients and were associated with histology (P = .04). Length of hospital stay related to treatment was affected by histology (P = .009), grade (P = .013), and postoperative complication (P < .001). The median percentage of time hospitalized was 8%, and 43% of patients who died within 12 months spent >10% of their remaining days in the hospital. Conclusion High-risk histologic subtype (melanoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine cancer, sarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma), grade, and orbital and skull base involvement negatively affect survival and/or DFI for patients with local recurrence of SNM. Improved stratification of patients can be used to guide decision making for patients with recurrent SNM and to avoid inappropriate surgery.
Microsatellite analysis in biotechnolgy of animal reproduction.

In year 1970 was found nucleotide sequenz which have repeated sequenz of nucleotide. with high polymorh and using PCR could be amplified. That sequenz of nucleotide called Microsatelite. Microsatelite consist of 1 – 6 repeated nucleotide, which is CA repeated as mostly a repeated DNA in the animal [39]. Based on difference of long and amount ofrepeated nucleotide, there are three kind of DNA satelite, midi-, miniand microsatelite [28]. Microsatelite analysis was used to analyse of paternity and identity of animal, which was done as a conventional analysis with blood group analysis. The advantage of microsatelite analysis compare to blood group system are the exclution probability was high (EXP 99.9%), needs small sampel (tissues, sperm or follicel of hair), could be use for all animal without special age and possible for died animal.
Ship-to-ship beyond line-of-sight communications: A comparison between ray tracing simulations and the PETOOL

A Matlab-based ray tracing (RT) simulator is implemented for the analysis of ship-to-ship communications. The anomalous propagation effect due to the evaporation duct which results in bending and/or trapping the rays is modelled. Based on extensive RT simulations, the received rays are identified and their parameters are estimated. We briefly describe the implementation of the RT simulator and compare the obtained ray tracing results with those obtained from a widely used simulation tool, the PETOOL. We highlight the excellent agreement between the two tools for line-of-sight (LOS) ranges and also highlight that there is significant disagreements between them for beyond-line-of-sight (beyond-LOS) ranges. Then, based on our RT simulator, we provide detailed results describing the effect of the evaporation duct phenomena on the communication link quality in the beyond-LOS zone.
Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, overweight and obesity in pre-school children.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association of overweight and obesity with breastfeeding and complementary feeding in pre-school children. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 566 children, enrolled in private schools of the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, in 2004-2005. The dependent variable was overweight and obesity. Body Mass Index percentile curves were employed to classify children's nutritional status, considering values > or =P85 and or =P95 as obesity. The following explanatory variables were analyzed: child and family socio-demographic characteristics; birth weight; parents' nutritional status; breastfeeding; complementary feeding; and current feeding. Analysis of association between explanatory variables and outcome was performed with simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regression with hierarchical model. RESULTS Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population studied was 34.4%. The following were protective factors against overweight and obesity: exclusive breastfeeding for six months or more (95% CI [0.38;0.86]; OR=0.57; p=0.02) and breastfeeding for more than 24 months (95% CI [0.05;0.37]; OR=0.13; p=0.00). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that breastfeeding can protect children against overweight and obesity, thus representing yet another advantage of maternal milk.
Differences and Similarities in Mother and Child Reports About IPV Risks: Concordance Is Likely but Cannot Be Assumed

Reports from 297 mother–child dyads were compared to explore concurrence in relation to violence committed by the father on specific high-risk items and in terms of general risk to the mother and to the child using composite measures. Results indicated the majority of the mother–child dyads report similar risk using eight individual items (60.9%-77.1%) and on the composite measures (61.9% and 54.2%). However, concordance was lower than anticipated. Findings highlight the importance of not simply relying on parental report but instead obtaining the child’s report about their own exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in clinical, research, and forensic applications.
Overweight and obesity amongst Black women in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal: A ‘disease’ of perception in an area of high HIV prevalence

Abstract Background Overweight and obesity is an emerging health problem, particularly amongst urban Black women living in areas of high HIV prevalence. Understanding factors affecting this pandemic is essential to enable effective weight loss programmes to be implemented. This study explored urban Black women's perception of their body image against a backdrop of pre-existing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Method In this cross-sectional exploratory study 328 urban Black women were sampled systematically. Anthropometric measurements were conducted and women were interviewed using the Stunkard body image silhouettes as a tool to determine perception. Results Most of the subjects (61%) were in the 40–59 years age group. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 37 (± 9.41 kg/m2) with over 90% being overweight or obese. Diabetes mellitus was the most common NCD, with a prevalence of 72%. Amongst the diabetic patients 7% were overweight and 64% obese. Perceived body image compared to derived BMI showed that women underestimated their body image across all weight categories. Over 40% indicated a normal to overweight preferred body image, with 99% of respondents associating the underweight silhouettes with disease and HIV infection. Conclusion Urban Black women with underlying NCDs and living in an area of high HIV prevalence perceive themselves to be thinner than their actual BMI, which may be a barrier to weight loss management. This misperception may be used as a proxy risk marker for weight gain in urban Black women.
Evidence on the Effects of SFAS 142 on the Reliability of Goodwill Write-Offs

We provide evidence on the impact of SFAS No. 142 on the reliability of goodwill write-offs and goodwill balances by examining the association of goodwill write-offs with stock returns and the association of goodwill balances with stock prices in a period after SFAS No. 142 relative to a period before SFAS No. 142. We find that (i) goodwill write-offs (or impairments) and goodwill balances are more strongly associated with stock returns and stock prices respectively in the post SFAS 142 period relative to the pre-SFAS 142 period and (ii) in the post SFAS No. 142 period, goodwill write-offs and goodwill balances are more strongly associated with stock returns and stock prices respectively for firms with a high number of segments relative to firms with few segments. Our tests suggest that contrary to the relatively widespread concerns of critics about the reliability of goodwill impairments under SFAS 142, the standard has had a favorable impact on the reliability of goodwill write-offs and goodwill balances.