Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BMDExpress 2: enhanced transcriptomic dose-response analysis workflow

SUMMARY A new version (version 2) of the genomic dose-response analysis software, BMDExpress, has been created. The software addresses the increasing use of transcriptomic dose-response data in toxicology, drug design, risk assessment and translational research. In this new version, we have implemented additional statistical filtering options (e.g. Williams' trend test), curve fitting models, Linux and Macintosh compatibility and support for additional transcriptomic platforms with up-to-date gene annotations. Furthermore, we have implemented extensive data visualizations, on-the-fly data filtering, and a batch-wise analysis workflow. We have also significantly re-engineered the code base to reflect contemporary software engineering practices and streamline future development. The first version of BMDExpress was developed in 2007 to meet an unmet demand for easy-to-use transcriptomic dose-response analysis software. Since its original release, however, transcriptomic platforms, technologies, pathway annotations and quantitative methods for data analysis have undergone a large change necessitating a significant re-development of BMDExpress. To that end, as of 2016, the National Toxicology Program assumed stewardship of BMDExpress. The result is a modernized and updated BMDExpress 2 that addresses the needs of the growing toxicogenomics user community. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BMDExpress 2 is available at https://github.com/auerbachs/BMDExpress-2/releases. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Metformin Use and Gastric Cancer Risk in Diabetic Patients After Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

BACKGROUND Although prior studies showed metformin could reduce gastric cancer (GC) risk in patients with diabetes mellitus, they failed to adjust for Helicobacter pylori infection and glycemic control. We aimed to investigate whether metformin reduced GC risk in H. pylori-eradicated diabetic patients and its association with glycemic control. METHODS This was a territory-wide cohort study using hospital registry database, recruiting all diabetic patients who were prescribed clarithromycin-based triple therapy for H. pylori infection from 2003 to 2012. Subjects were observed from H. pylori therapy prescription until GC diagnosis, death, or end of study (December 2015). Exclusion criteria included GC diagnosed within first year of H. pylori therapy, prior history of GC or gastrectomy, and failure of H. pylori eradication. The hazard ratio (HR) of GC with metformin (defined as at least 180-day use) was estimated by Cox model with propensity score adjustment for covariates (age, sex, comorbidities, medications [including insulin], and time-weighted average hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]). All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 7.1 years (IQR = 4.7-9.8), 37 (0.51%) of 7266 diabetic patients developed GC at a median age of 76.4 years (IQR = 64.8-81.5 years). Metformin use was associated with a reduced GC risk (adjusted HR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.24 to 0.98). There was a trend towards a lower GC risk with increasing duration (Ptrend = .01) and dose of metformin (Ptrend = .02). HbA1c level was not an independent risk factor for GC. CONCLUSIONS Metformin use was associated with a lower GC risk among H. pylori-eradicated diabetic patients in a duration- and dose-response manner, which was independent of HbA1c level.
Health hazards and risks for musculoskeletal problems among child labourers in the brickfield sector of West Bengal, India.

Aims The purpose of this study was to describe the health hazards among child labourers in brickfields, and to assess occupational health problems, together with physiological and respiratory stress, compared with child control subjects. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 child brickfield workers and 120 control subjects, and a modified Nordic Questionnaire was applied to assess the discomfort felt among both groups of workers. Physiological assessment of the workload was carried out by the measurement of heart rate, blood pressure and spirometry of the workers. Results Child brickfield workers suffer from pain, especially in the lower back (97%), shoulder (88%), hands (82%), wrist (76%), neck (73%) and ankle (71%). The post-activity heart rate of the child brickfield workers was 166.5 beats/min, whereas the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 132.2 and 67.2 mm/Hg, respectively. The forced vital capacity value of child brickfield workers was 2.04, and in the case of the controls it was 2.18, which was significantly different. The forced expiratory volumes in 1 s of experimental and control subjects were 1.82 and 1.92, respectively. The peak expiratory flow rate was significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Most of the brick-making activities were strenuous ones that affected the children. The cardiovascular and respiratory health of the child brickfield workers has changed markedly due to strenuous activity. The child brickfield workers also experienced other occupational health problems and severe musculoskeletal pain.
Macro-and MicroStructural Aspects of Sleep in Severe Parkinson ’ s Disease

Objectives and background: Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) occurring in 60% to 98% of patients. Polysomnographic measures showed that patients with PD had significantly less total sleep time (TST), less sleep period time, increased number of awakenings and wake time after sleep onset (WASO) and, consequently, reduced sleep efficiency. The aim of the study was to explore the sleep pattern of PD patients, focusing on sleep microstructure by analysing the cyclic alternating pattern (CAP). Methods: Fourteen patients with idiopathic severe PD and fourteen matched healthy volunteers were recruited. All subjects underwent overnight polysomnography and completed Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Macroand micro-structural sleep variables were evaluated. Results: Patients with PD had a reduced SE and increased rates of stage shifts and awakenings; the N2 and REM sleep percentages were lower and WASO was higher in patients. Moreover, patients with PD had lower total CAP rate and lower CAP rate in all NREM sleep stages (particularly in N3) than did normal controls. Moreover, the analysis of CAP A subtypes distribution showed a decreased A1 percentage in patients (more pronounced in N3) and a slight, not significant increase of A3 subtypes. Conclusions: The total CAP rate is reduced in these patients across all sleep stages and this reduction is mainly due to a decrease in CAP A1 subtype. The changes in the microand macro-structure of sleep could be only partially explained by the chronic partial sleep deprivation in PD patients.
Technological Collaboration: Bridging the Innovation Gap between Small and Large Firms**

This paper analyzes how technological collaboration acts as an input to the innovation process and allows small and medium‐sized enterprises to bridge the innovation gap with their bigger counterparts. Based on a large longitudinal sample of Spanish manufacturing firms, the results show that though technological collaboration is a useful mechanism for firms of all sizes to improve innovativeness, it is a critical factor for the smallest firms. The impact of this collaboration varies depending on innovation output and type of partner. Specifically, the impact of collaboration in small and medium‐sized firms is more significant for product than process innovations. Regarding type of partner, vertical collaboration—with suppliers and clients—has the greatest impact on firm innovativeness, though this effect is clearer for medium‐sized enterprises than for the smallest firms.
Pelagic dispersal of Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus larvae examined using an advection-diffusion-mortality model

Norway lobster Nephrops norvegjcus (L.) larvae are hatched into the water column from areas of fine mud and spend about 50 d in the plankton before resettling onto mud as juveniles. Whilst in the pelagic environment, however, advection and horizontal turbulent diffusion spread larvae away from the mud region and thus potentially could limit recruitment. A simple advection-diffusionmortality model has been used to examine the likely losses of larvae from an N. norvegicus system due to pelagic dispersal. Turbulent diffusion alone causes insufficient loss to affect recruitment on mud patches larger than 20 X 20 km for reasonable estimates of eddy diffusivity. Low levels of mean advection (0.04 to 0.05 m S' ) , however, severely limit settlement even on very large mud areas (100 X 100 km). Distributions of larvae released from a mud region In the western Irish Sea consistently show them to be spread southward away from the mud patch although i t remains unclear whether advection in the region is sufficiently large for these losses to influence recruitment.
A Comparison between Conventional Tilled and Bicropped Winter Wheat Grown in Monoculture over Four Years

A four year experiment was conducted at a site in the south-east of Ireland in which medium and high input conventional winter wheat production systems were compared to no input and low input systems in which winter wheat was direct drilled into an understory of white clover. Whole crop and grain yields from all systems were strongly related to external input levels, yields from bicropped treatments were poor. Nitrogen uptake and grain yields from the conventional treatments declined during the course of the study whereas nitrogen uptake and yields from bicropped treatments were more stable. Fertiliser N application significantly depressed biological production efficiency and altered biomass partitioning. The proportion of biomass partitioned to the stem decreased with fertiliser N, differences between treatments persisted until final harvest. Although the clover sward was still present in the fourth year, this component of the bicrop was gradually replaced by weeds as the experiment progressed in spite of several attempts to control weeds. It is suggested that further research is needed to identify a clover management strategy which ensures the persistence of the white clover sward and allows it to enrich soil fertility in such a way as to be of benefit to the accompanying wheat crop.
A Review: Customer Perceived Value and its Dimension

Grammar can be classified as the most prominent element in the context of English Language. However, grammar has always been a problem among undergraduates. Although they are given the right amount of input on grammar during schooling days, they still have problems in using it because the process of learning grammar does not continue during their tertiary education. Many lecturers find it difficult in making sure undergraduates are able to utilize grammar in a proper manner as English subjects in tertiary education will only last till the end of the first year in many tertiary institutions. It is proposed that formative assessment should be conducted throughout their duration of study in their tertiary institution. This paper highlights the findings from a questionnaire to 20 English lecturers who are currently serving in two private institutions, namely Management & Science University and Kolej MASA. Ten of them are senior lecturers with lecturing experience of more than 5 years and the remaining lecturers with below 5 years. The categories for the questions were built based on lecturers’ understanding on the formative assessment and the needs in understanding grammar in using English. The findings indicate that junior lecturers are keener compare to senior lecturers in terms of using formative assessment in evaluating grammar skills among undergraduates.
THE STELLAR INITIAL MASS FUNCTION AT 0.9 < z < 1.5

We explore the stellar initial mass function (IMF) of a sample of 49 massive quiescent galaxies (MQGs) at 0.9 < z < 1.5. We base our analysis on intermediate resolution spectro-photometric data in the GOODS-N field taken in the near-infrared and optical with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 G141 grism and the Survey for High-z Absorption Red and Dead Sources. To constrain the slope of the IMF, we have measured the TiO2 spectral feature, whose strength depends strongly on the content of low-mass stars, as well as on stellar age. Using ultraviolet to near-infrared individual and stacked spectral energy distributions, we have independently estimated the stellar ages of our galaxies. Knowing the age of the stellar population, we interpret the strong differences in the TiO2 feature as an IMF variation. In particular, for the heaviest z ∼ 1 MQGs (M > 1011M☉), we find an average age of 1.7 ± 0.3 Gyr and a bottom-heavy IMF (Γb = 3.2 ± 0.2). Lighter MQGs (2 × 1010 < M < 1011 M☉) at the same redshift are younger on average (1.0 ± 0.2 Gyr) and present a shallower IMF slope (). Our results are in good agreement with the findings about the IMF slope in early-type galaxies of similar mass in the present-day universe. This suggests that the IMF, a key characteristic of the stellar populations in galaxies, is bottom-heavier for more massive galaxies and has remained unchanged in the last ∼8 Gyr.
THE DEGENERACY OF M33 MASS MODELING AND ITS PHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS

The Local Group galaxy M33 exhibits a regular spiral structure and is close enough to permit high resolution analysis of its kinematics, making it an ideal candidate for rotation curve studies of its inner regions. Previous studies have claimed the galaxy has a dark matter halo with an Navarro–Frenk–White profile, based on statistical comparisons with a small number of other profiles. We apply a Bayesian method from our previous paper to place the dark matter density profile in the context of a continuous, and more general, parameter space. For a wide range of initial assumptions we find that models with inner log slope γin < 0.9 are strongly excluded by the kinematics of the galaxy unless the mass-to-light ratio of the stellar components in the 3.6 μm band satisfies ϒ3.6 ⩾ 2. Such a high ϒ3.6 is inconsistent with current modeling of the stellar population of M33. This suggests that M33 is a galaxy whose dark matter halo has not been significantly modified by feedback. We discuss possible explanations of this result, including ram pressure stripping during earlier interactions with M31.
The crystal structure of synthetic soda melilite, CaNaAlSi2O7

The crystal structure of synthetic soda melilite was refined to R = 5.10/0 from three-dimensional diffractometer data. Soda melilite is isostructural with the other naturally-occuring melilites. Aluminum and Si atoms are ordered in the structure while Ca and N a atoms are disordered.
Do dyslexics have auditory input processing difficulties?

ABSTRACT Word production difficulties are well documented in dyslexia, whereas the results are mixed for receptive phonological processing. This asymmetry raises the possibility that the core phonological deficit of dyslexia is restricted to output processing stages. The present study investigated whether a group of dyslexics had word level receptive difficulties using an auditory lexical decision task with long words and nonsense words. The dyslexics were slower and less accurate than chronological age controls in an auditory lexical decision task, with disproportionate low performance on nonsense words. The finding suggests that input processing difficulties are associated with the phonological deficit, but that these difficulties may be stronger above the level of phoneme perception.
Experimental Characterization of an Earth Eco-Efficient Plastering Mortar

AbstractEarthen plastering mortars are becoming recognized as highly eco-efficient. The assessment of their technical properties needs to be standardized, but only a German standard exists for the moment. An extended experimental campaign was developed in order to assess multiple properties of a ready-mixed earth plastering mortar and also to increase scientific knowledge of the influence of test procedures on those properties. The experimental campaign showed that some aspects related to the equipment, type of samples, and sample preparation can be very important; although others seemed to have less influence on the results and the classification of mortars. It also showed that some complementary tests can easily be performed and considered together with the standardized ones, whereas others may need to be improved. The plaster satisfied the requirements of the existing German standard but, most importantly, it seemed adequate for application as rehabilitation plaster on historic and modern masonry build.
Hamiltonian formalism for models of rotating shallow water insemigeostrophic scaling

This paper presents a first rigorous study of the so-called large-scale semigeostrophic equations which were first introduced by R. Salmon in 1985 and later generalized by the first author. We show that these models are Hamiltonian on the group of $H^s$ diffeomorphisms for $s>2$. Notably, in the Hamiltonian setting an apparent topological restriction on the Coriolis parameter disappears. We then derive the corresponding Hamiltonian formulation in Eulerian variables via Poisson reduction and give a simple argument for the existence of $H^s$ solutions locally in time.
Self-Similar Solutions of a Nonlinear Heat Equation

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of cer- tain solutions of the nonlinear heat equation ut − ∆u + |u| α u =0 in (0, ∞) × R N , where α> 0. We focus especially on solutions that may change sign and that do not necessarily have a radial behavior as |x |→∞ .
Switching Costs and Sustained Competitive Advantage

Research increasingly points to the importance of switching costs as a strategy for customer retention and to achieve sustained competitive advantage. However, the conceptual tools and theoretical models developed to understand this important phenomenon cannot explain some key micro and macro phenomena. In this article, the author delineates the foundations of a new theory and contrasts it with the mainstream economic theory of competition in the presence of switching costs, and shows how the new theory is better able to explain real-world occurrences. Finally, the author studies the downstream effects of the various types of switching costs with respect to their role in contributing to sustained competitive advantage.
Women in distance doctoral programs: How they negotiate their identities as mothers, professionals, and academics in order to persist

ABSTRACT Aim/Purpose The purpose of this study was to explain how Distance Education women EdD students who are mothers balanced and integrated their multiple identities (e.g., mother, student, professional) to persist. Background It is well documented that parenting students experience higher levels of stress and pressure during their degree pursuit than their non-parenting counterparts. It is also well documented that doctoral attrition is a persistent problem across decades and disciplines, and examination of specific populations was necessary to better understand how to foster doctoral persistence. Methodology Data were collected from 17 women via questionnaires, life maps, and interviews and were analyzed in accordance with grounded theory procedures. Contribution This study generated a novel theoretical model to explain women EdD students' academic identity progression from students to scholars and its intersection with other salient identities, especially mother, and the core sense of self in alignment with other identity theories. Findings Academic identity development from student to research scholar is complex and challenging, but follows a unique progression that begins with gaining competence in research, followed by a confidence to conduct research. This positive attitude toward research is often shaped by an influential advisor or mentor, a relationship that enables a student mother to envision herself as a scholar and mother. However, it is a woman's social conditions (e.g., supportive spouse, friends, or employer) that provide her the confidence and space to differentiate, develop, and intersect multiple identities, a process that allows for successful negotiation and integration of identities, and ultimately, persistence and attainment of the doctorate. Recommendations Findings highlight the need for more women faculty for Practitioners role models in higher education. To increase the number of women faculty mentors in academia, program administrators can recruit, retain, and support and encourage parental visibility through developing structures and supports for faculty with families. Given the women candidates' emphasis on stewardship, faculty should design coursework to allow students to intersect assignments with professional goals and practices, and support empirically and theoretically grounded dissertations aimed at not only solving problems of practice but also aimed at advocacy. Recommendation Research is needed with women doctoral candidates for Researchers in other disciplines from other institutions and regions of the country, including those without children and individuals in non-heterosexual relationships. Impact on Society This study is an important first step in better understanding female identity development through the doctoral process. Future Research Themes uncovered in this research need further investigation. Ruptures in relationships were uncovered but not fully explored or saturated. …
Water Stress in Banana- A Review

In banana, one of the major constraints for productivity is drought. Water deficit severely affects the plant growth and yield, because it deeply reduces the photosynthetic capacity of the banana plants as the crop sensitivity is reflected by reduced greenness of foliage. Water deficit during the period of finger development inhibits the translocation of assimilates to bunches. The present review made for the better understanding of the effects of water deficit to physiological and biochemical changes in banana.
Influence of Information Technology On Quality of Accounting Information System

This research is based on phenomenon that happened in field. Where there are still problems related to the lack of quality information technology used in the accounting information system used by an organization. This research is a review literature research. Researchers examine various sources of reference from secondary data sources (information from bona fide media, books, and previous journals related to the research undertaken.Research proves that there is a Quality Influence of Information Technology On Quality of Accounting Information System used by organization.