Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Simulation of Pulsed Electroacoustic Measurement Method

Pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method is a very popular method for measurement of charge in dielectrics. In this method, an acoustic wave proportional to charge is generated by a pulsed HV. The acoustic wave traverses several material layers before being sensed and converted to electrical signal by a piezoelectric transducer. Due to multiple reflections in its path, a direct analysis of traveling acoustic wave would be complex. In this paper, we have proposed simulation of the physical model of the PEA method consisting of electrical and acoustic circuits. Using PSpice model of the method, authors have tried to address some design-related issues, which appear to have not been reported in earlier works. The acoustic circuit has been realized using analogy between acoustic wave and wave propagation in electric transmission line. The piezoelectric transducer is also modeled as a transmission line as in modified Leach's transducer model, except that, in the present case the transducer absorbs acoustic signal instead of generating. Approximate theoretical equations have been used to compare with simulations, wherever a comparison is possible, and found to match well in those cases.
Exposure to house painting and the use of floor treatments and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Painting in the home has been identified as a potential risk factor for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether exposure to house painting or floor treatments before birth or during childhood increased the risk of childhood ALL. Data from 389 cases and 876 frequency‐matched controls were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for study matching variables and potential confounders. Overall, there was little evidence of an increased risk with painting inside the house in the year before the pregnancy, during the pregnancy, or after the child's birth; however, the risk appeared to be increased in certain circumstances. The odds ratio (OR) for more than three rooms being painted during pregnancy was 1.68 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 2.80]. The OR for someone other than the parents painting inside the house in the year before the pregnancy was 2.37 (95% CI 1.30, 4.30) and 3.07 (95% CI 1.46, 6.46) when more than three rooms were painted. The OR for the mother painting the outside of the house with oil‐based paint in the year before the pregnancy was 2.97 (95% CI 1.06, 8.33). No association was found with having floor treatments in any time period. We found some evidence of an increased risk of ALL associated with house painting. An apparently increased risk associated with someone other than the parents painting inside the house may be related to the amount of paint used and the intensity of the dose received.
Insula of the old world monkey. Architectonics in the insulo‐orbito‐temporal component of the paralimbic brain

The insula of the rhesus monkey has a surface area of approximately 160 mm2 and can be divided into three architectonic sectors. The agranular sector is coextensive with prepiriform allocortex and is characterized by three agranular cellular strata, a zonal layer of myelinated fibers, and a high level of intracortical acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The dysgranular sector adjoins the agranular sector and shows first the emergence of a granular L4 and then a gradual differentiation of L2. Cortical myelin is low and mostly within deep layers; the AChE level is less than in the agranular sector. The third and granular sector covers the posterior aspect of the insula and contains granular L4 and L2, incipient sublamination of L3, increased cortical myelin with an emergent outer line of Baillarger, and a very low density of AChE. These observations indicate that AChE histochemistry can be used for the architectonic analysis of cortex.
Influence maximization on twitter: A mechanism for effective marketing campaign

When Influence Maximization (IM) is applied to social network to maximise the network coverage, it becomes an effective mechanism for marketing applications. In this paper, we focus on a specific influence maximization problem, i.e., selecting a set of seeds on twitter to maximise information propagation, which can be used for information reaching out in marketing campaigns. The proposed approach is taking into the consideration of social ties, user interactions, and information propagation on Twitter. The influence probability is calculated according to users' action history including tweet, favourite, mention/reply, and retweet. An information diffusion model is proposed with the capability to simulate the dynamic process of information spread on Twitter. A concise heuristic algorithm is developed for influence maximization accordingly. Experimental results and analysis are provided based on a real Twitter network including 3,292 users in Darwin city in Australia.
We Need to Talk: Disclosure of Sexual Problems Is Associated With Depression, Sexual Functioning, and Relationship Satisfaction in Women

Women with sexual problems (e.g., difficulties with desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain during sexual activity) experience more depressive symptoms, and poorer sexual functioning and relationship satisfaction compared with unaffected women. A robust literature highlights the importance of sexual communication, and sexual self-disclosures in particular, for the well-being of individuals in romantic relationships. However, little is known about the disclosure of sexual problems to romantic partners and its association with women's psychological, sexual, and relationship well-being. This study examined the proportion of women (N = 277) who disclose (vs. do not disclose) sexual problems to their partner, and the consequences of disclosure. Women (Mage = 29.79, SD = 6.54) completed online validated measures assessing sexual problems, relationship satisfaction, sexual functioning, and depressive symptoms. The majority (69.3%) reported disclosing sexual problems to their current romantic partner. Disclosers reported fewer depressive symptoms, and greater sexual functioning and relationship satisfaction compared to nondisclosers. Disclosing sexual problems may benefit women's well-being by enhancing intimacy or allowing couples to adapt sexual activities to accommodate sexual problems. Clinicians might use cognitive-behavioral strategies to assist women in disclosing sexual problems to partners to maximize the potential psychological, sexual, and relationship benefits.
TISSUE CULTURE OF ISOLATED HUMAN GLOMERULI

Summary Glomerular cells have been grown in a reproducible manner from 5 normal human kidneys. A technique is described which combines mechanical disruption of renal cortex and microdissection, and provides large numbers of pure glomeruli within 30‐45 minutes. Histological examination shows this technique produces intact glomeruli without cell disturbance. During tissue culture, glomeruli attach to the flask and the intrinsic cells migrate onto the flask and divide. Variations of culture conditions have shown that glomeruli are robust without fastidious culture requirements. Intact kidney tissue can be left at 4°C for periods up to 24 hours prior to isolation of individual glomeruli without affecting subsequent cellular growth in culture. They grow in most commonly used media although the cells require 20% foetal calf serum for optimum growth. Their pH optimum is between 7.0 and 7.4 with temperature optimum of 37°C. As glomeruli must attach prior to cell growth, minimum movement is critical to promote optimum growth. Under these optimum conditions a regular and predictable growth of cells of two distinct types, has been observed over 14 days; one of these types is probably epithelial.
Risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions on Pap smear in women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

To determine risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) on Pap smear, 253 women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection had Pap smear, HIV antibody testing, CD4+ cell measurements, and human papillomavirus (HPV) genome detection by Southern blot hybridization. Associated with SIL (P < .05) on univariate analysis were genital HPV (SIL prevalence in HPV-positive subjects, 36.3%; odds ratio [OR], 9.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2-20.3) and HIV infection (SIL prevalence in seropositive subjects, 21.9%; OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-5.1). No demographic or behavioral variables were associated with risk for SIL. Multivariate analyses identified genital HPV infection (OR, 6.78; 95% CI, 2.9-15.7), detection of known high-risk HPV types (OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 4.1-34.1), strong HPV Southern blot signal strength (OR, 10.8; 95% CI, 3.5-33.7), and severe HIV-related immunosuppression (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.04-9.5) as independent risk factors associated with SIL. Thus, severe immunosuppression due to HIV infection increases the risk for SIL mediated by HPV infection.
Sen on Rationality , Commitment and Preferences

This article discusses Sen’s critique of the behavioral implications of revealed preference theory. Sen proposes the concept of commitment as a way to account for the possibility of counter-preferential choice. More generally, it is part of an argument against the thesis that rationality may be reduced to some criteria of internal consistency of choices. The main purpose of this paper is to show that though commitment is more often discussed in the context of Sen’s critique of various consistency axioms of choice such as the transitivity axiom, this concept is also deeply related to the Sen’s equally significant evaluation of the completeness axiom. Comparing Sen’s account to John Searle’s critique of the classical model of rationality, I suggest that Sen uses the commitment concept as a more general critique of the Humean paradigm where “reason is the slave of passions”. Sen’s latest concerns with public reasoning and partial orderings indicate an attempt of his part to go beyond the Humean paradigm of rationality and to reflect on the way preferences are formed and constructed through rational deliberation.
FINANCIAL INCLUSION, RATHER THAN SIZE, IS THE KEY TO TACKLING INCOME INEQUALITY

In this paper we assess empirically whether financial inclusion contributes to reducing income inequality when controlling for other key factors, such as economic development and fiscal policy. We conclude that financial inclusion contributes to reducing income inequality to a significant degree, while the size of the financial sector does not. The policy implication of this result is that financial inclusion should be at the forefront of government policies to reduce income inequality in a given economy. Given the broad way in which we have defined inequality in our empirical analysis, this means facilitating the use of credit to both households, especially low-income ones, as well as to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The risk of rupture in untreated aneurysms: the impact of size, gender, and expansion rate.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to establish the risk of rupture as related to size of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), gender, and expansion of the aneurysm. METHODS Between 1976 and 2001, 476 patients with conditions considered unfit for surgery with AAA 5.0 cm or more were followed with computed tomographic scans every 6 months until rupture, surgery, death, or deletion from follow-up. Surgery was performed for rupture (n = 22), improved medical condition (n = 37), increase in size (n = 95), symptoms (n = 17), and other reasons (n = 24). RESULTS Fifty ruptures occurred during the follow-up period. The average risk of rupture (and standard error) in male patients with 5.0-cm to 5.9-cm AAA was 1.0% (0.01%) per year, in female patients with 5.0-cm to 5.9-cm AAA was 3.9% (0.15%) per year, in male patients with 6.0-cm or greater AAA was 14.1% (0.18%) per year, and in female patients with 6.0-cm or greater AAA was 22.3% (0.95%) per year. CONCLUSION The risk of rupture in male patients with AAA 5.0 to 5.9 cm is low. The four-time higher risk of rupture in female patients with AAA 5.0 to 5.9 cm suggests a lower threshold for surgery be considered in fit women. The data regarding risk of rupture in patients with AAA 6.0 cm or more may allow more appropriate decision analysis for surgery in patients with unfit conditions with large AAA.
Economic Consequences of Pierce’s Disease and Related Policy in the California Winegrape Industry

Since 2000, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), has spent approximately $40 million per year to contain and control the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS), which spreads Pierce’s Disease (PD). Compliance with the program has cost the nursery industry approximately $7 million per year in recent years. Using a simulation model of the market for California winegrapes, we estimate PD costs winegrape growers and consumers $61 million annually, with the current program in place. If the PD Control Program ended, and the GWSS was distributed freely throughout California, the annual cost to the winegrape industry would increase by $261 million.
Could Crime Risk Be Propagated across Crime Types?

It has long been acknowledged that crimes of the same type tend to be committed at the same location or proximity in a short period. However, the investigation of whether this phenomenon exists across crime types remains limited. The spatial-temporal clustered patterns for two types of crimes in public areas (pocket-picking and vehicle/motor vehicle theft) are separately examined. Compared with existing research, this study contributes to current research from three aspects: (1) The repeat and near-repeat phenomenon exists in two types of crimes in a large Chinese city. (2) A significant spatial-temporal interaction between pocket-picking and vehicle/motor vehicle theft exists within a range of 100 m. Some cross-crime type interactions seem to have a stronger ability of prediction than does single-crime type interaction. (3) A risk-avoiding activity is identified after spatial-temporal hotspots of another crime type. The spatial extent with increased risk is limited to a certain distance from the previous hotspots. The experimental results are analyzed and interpreted with current criminology theories.
Global Proteomics and Pathway Analysis of Pressure-Overload–Induced Heart Failure and Its Attenuation by Mitochondrial-Targeted Peptides

Background—We investigated the protective effects of mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant and protective peptides, Szeto-Schiller (SS) 31 and SS20, on cardiac function, proteomic remodeling, and signaling pathways. Methods and Results—We applied an improved label-free shotgun proteomics approach to evaluate the global proteomics changes in transverse aortic constriction (TAC)–induced heart failure and the associated signaling pathway changes using ingenuity pathway analysis. We found that 538 proteins significantly changed after TAC, which mapped to 53 pathways. The top pathways were in the categories of actin cytoskeleton, mitochondrial function, intermediate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and citrate cycle. Concomitant treatment with SS31 ameliorated the congestive heart failure phenotypes and mitochondrial damage induced by TAC, in parallel with global attenuation of mitochondrial proteome changes, with an average of 84% protection of mitochondrial and 69% of nonmitochondrial protein changes. This included significant amelioration of all the ingenuity pathway analysis noted above. SS20 had only modest effects on heart failure and this tracked with only partial attenuation of global proteomics changes; furthermore, actin cytoskeleton pathways were significantly protected in SS20, whereas mitochondrial and metabolic pathways essentially were not. Conclusions—This study elucidates the signaling pathways significantly changed in pressure-overload–induced heart failure. The global attenuation of TAC-induced proteomic alterations by the mitochondrial-targeted peptide SS31 suggests that perturbed mitochondrial function may be an upstream signal to many of the pathway alterations in TAC and supports the potential clinical application of mitochondrial-targeted peptide drugs for the treatment heart failure.
"Which box should I check?": examining standard check box approaches to measuring race and ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE This study examined methodological concerns with standard approaches to measuring race and ethnicity using the federally defined race and ethnicity categories, as utilized in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Surveys were administered to 219 economically disadvantaged, racially and ethnically diverse participants at Boston Women Infants and Children (WIC) clinics during 2010. STUDY DESIGN We examined missingness and misclassification in responses to the closed-ended NIH measure of race and ethnicity compared with open-ended measures of self-identified race and ethnicity. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Rates of missingness were 26 and 43 percent for NIH race and ethnicity items, respectively, compared with 11 and 18 percent for open-ended responses. NIH race responses matched racial self-identification in only 44 percent of cases. Missingness and misclassification were disproportionately higher for self-identified Latina(o)s, African-Americans, and Cape Verdeans. Race, but not ethnicity, was more often missing for immigrant versus mainland U.S.-born respondents. Results also indicated that ethnicity for Hispanic/Latina(o)s is more complex than captured in this measure. CONCLUSIONS The NIH's current race and ethnicity measure demonstrated poor differentiation of race and ethnicity, restricted response options, and lack of an inclusive ethnicity question. Separating race and ethnicity and providing respondents with adequate flexibility to identify themselves both racially and ethnically may improve valid operationalization.
Familial risk of colon and rectal cancer in Iceland: Evidence for different etiologic factors?

The aim of this study was to characterize the familial risk of colon and rectal cancer using 2 population‐based registries in Iceland, the Icelandic Cancer Registry and a genealogy database. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was used to estimate the risk among relatives of colorectal cancer index cases diagnosed in Iceland over a 46‐year period (1955–2000). The 2,770 colorectal cancer patients had 23,272 first‐degree relatives. Among first‐degree relatives, there was an increased risk of both colon (SIR 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34–1.62) and rectal cancer (SIR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04–1.47). An increased risk of colon cancer was observed among siblings of colon cancer patients (SIR 2.03, 95% CI 1.76–2.33), whereas no such increase was observed for parents or offspring. Furthermore, the risk of rectal cancer was only increased among brothers (SIR 2.46 95% CI 1.46–3.89) of rectal cancer patients and not among their sisters (SIR 1.0 95% CI 0.40–2.06). The added risk of colon cancer among first‐degree relatives was independent of site of colon cancer in the proband. Our results confirm that family history of colorectal cancer is a risk factor for the disease. However, family history has a different association with colon cancer than with rectal cancer, suggesting that the 2 cancer types may have different etiologic factors. Our results have implications for colon and rectal cancer screening programs. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sixty‐six kilodalton‐related antigens of Plasmodium knowlesi are merozoite surface antigens associated with the apical prominence

Summary We have previously reported that Fab fragments of a monoclonal antibody to the 66 kD‐related antigens of Plasmodium knowlesi inhibit merozoite invasion of erythrocytes, strongly suggesting a role for these antigens as merozoite receptors for red cells. In this paper we have examined the distribution of these antigens on the surface of free merozoites. Rapid immunofluorescence microscopy on free, unfixed cells demonstrated a preferential association of antigen with a polar region of merozoites. This was confirmed, and localized essentially to the apical region, by immunoelectron microscopy under a variety of fixation regimes. Metabolic inhibitors did not affect the distribution, suggesting that apical localization is not due to capping induced by cross‐linking antibodies. These observations suggest that 66 kD‐related antigens may play a role in the orientation of the apical prominence of merozoites towards the red cell, and/or in the junction formation that occurs subsequent to orientation.
Incarceration and veterans of the first Gulf War.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the prevalence of incarceration and the association with deployment among veterans of the first Persian Gulf War (GW). METHODS A structured telephone interview of military personnel from Iowa deployed to the Persian Gulf and a comparison sample of nondeployed military personnel was conducted. The interview consisted of validated questions, validated instruments, and investigator-derived questions to assess relevant medical and psychiatric conditions. A total of 4,886 subjects were randomly drawn from one of four study domains, i.e., GW regular military, GW National Guard/Reserve, non-GW regular military, or non-GW National Guard/Reserve. Symptoms of medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, and health care utilization were the main outcome measures. RESULTS Nearly one-quarter (845 of 3,695 subjects, 22.9%) had been incarcerated at some point before the interview ("ever incarcerated"). Ever incarcerated veterans had a higher frequency of psychiatric and medical comorbidity and higher rates of health care utilization. Ever incarcerated status was associated with male gender, enlisted rank, lower educational levels, low levels of military preparedness, discharge from service, cigarette smoking, antisocial traits, court martial and/or other military discipline, having seen a mental health professional, and having used illegal drugs. GW veterans who participated in combat had a modestly higher risk for incarceration after the GW than did noncombatants (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.5). CONCLUSIONS Military recruits with a history of incarceration more often displayed problematic behaviors, more often developed psychiatric/medical conditions, and had high rates of health care utilization. A history of incarceration may be a behavioral marker for substance abuse, antisocial behavior, and mental illness. Importantly, GW deployment carried no increased risk of subsequent incarceration overall.