Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Clinical Associations of Hemorrhoids at Screening Colonoscopy

Introduction: The reported prevalence of hemorrhoids detection during colonoscopic examination range between 4.4-86%. Available prevalence studies have a range of shortcomings with population-related bias depending on whether patients are derived from the general population or from colonoscopy clinics. Furthermore, there is limited information concerning the prevalence and correlative clinical risk factors for the incidental diagnosis of hemorrhoids in an asymptomatic, endoscopically-screened adult population. Aims: To determine the prevalence of endoscopicallydiagnosed hemorrhoids and correlative clinical and biochemical associations specifically with this diagnosis in asymptomatic patients. Methods: Retrospective case-controlled study that included all patients followed by the Institute of Medical Screening undergoing colonoscopy between 20062011 as part of routine screening or surveillance of moderate-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) or with a positive family history of CRC. Clinical and anthropometric data as well as laboratory results were correlated to the diagnosis of hemorrhoids. Results: Three thousand one hundred and seventy five patients were included in the study. Hemorrhoids were diagnosed in 507 patients (16%). On multivariate analysis, only a prior history of hypertension was positively associated with the endoscopic diagnosis of hemorrhoids (OR 1.43, CI 1.12-1.82; P=0.004) whilst BMI (OR 0.967, CI 0.94-0.99; P=0.015) showed a small but significant inverse correlation with this diagnosis. Colonic diverticulosis and angiodysplasia were unassociated with the diagnosis of hemorrhoids, whilst the presence of colonic polyps showed a minimal negative correlation with this diagnosis. Conclusions: Hemorrhoids are frequently detected in asymptomatic population. Arterial hypertension can be regarded as a risk factor for hemorrhoids, while high BMI has a protective power.
Understanding the dynamics of support for the European Union among Turkish youth:an examination of the importance of implicit attitudes

Turkish public opinion on EU is a relatively under-studied area in political science literature. To understand the dynamics behind the attitudes towards the EU, this study applies to implicit association test (IAT) and explicit survey measures, and two social psychological theories of inter-group relations, namely social identity, and system justification theories. The recent literature has shown that implicit attitudes can contribute to our understanding of vote choice (see Iyengar and Westwood 2015; Raccuia 2016; Ryan 2017). Employing data from a sample of 247 participants from three universities and the youth branches of the four major Turkish political parties, the study compares the strengths of explicit and implicit attitudes on a hypothetical membership referendum to the EU. The findings suggest that the Turkish national identity occupies a pivotal place in shaping the perceptions and preferences of the Turkish youth toward the EU. In the logistic regression analysis, the explicit EU attitudes predict vote choices on the hypothetical referendum better than any other variable. Even though it shows significant correlations with self-report EU measures, the predictive value of the implicit EU attitudes on voting behavior is not as strong as hypothesized. Nonetheless, in the OLS regression analysis, implicit measures are statistically significant in explaining the legitimacy of the system boundaries between the EU and Turkey. These findings are discussed in relation to their importance in understanding the complex nature of Turkish public opinion on the issue of the EU-Turkey relations and other political preferences
Evaluating Impact of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change on Surface Runoff using Arc SWAT Model in Sore and Geba Watershed, Ethiopia

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of LULC change on surface runoff in the watershed of Sore and Geba, the upper Baro-river basin covering an area of approximately 6551 km 2 in Ethiopia. Landsat images were used to analyze the LULC change trends for the periods of three decades (1987-2017). LULC map of the area produced using the maximum likelihood algorithms based supervised image classification. Trends in LULC change showed that farm land has augmented by 16.55% within the periods of between 1987 and 2017with annual expansion by 36.15 km 2 at the expense of other land use types such as open forest, dense forest and wood land. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model has been used to evaluate the impacts of LULC change on surface runoff. Nine sensitive flow control parameters were identified and used for calibration of the model. In both calibration and validation periods, good performance was obtained. Results show between 1987 and 2017, a 16.5% cultivated land expansion was observed which may explain an increase of about 6.65 m 3 /s (32 mm) in annual surface runoff. In general, during the study period significant influence of LULC change were reflected in changes to the hydrologic system of the region with an important management implication for this region as well as other similar regions in Ethiopia. Keywords : Land use change, Sore and Geba watershed, Surface runoff, SWAT DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-10-02 Publication date :October 31 st 2019
Firm size affecting efficiency of production and commercialization of knowledge: embedded in cluster development

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of platform innovation on the efficiency of firms located in different clusters. The sample contains data for 1,257 firms from 2005 to 2015 in Beijing’s Zhongguancun Science Park, which is known as China’s ‘Silicon Valley’. Using the DEA model to gauge the efficiency of each firm over time, we found that firm size has a significantly negative correlation with knowledge production efficiency, a significantly positive correlation with its knowledge commercialisation efficiency, and an inverted-U shaped relationship with overall efficiency. We then explored the mediating effect of firm size on the relationship between the characteristics of clusters and firm efficiency, before concluding with both managerial and academic implications.
Ae-OT: a New Generative Model based on Extended Semi-discrete Optimal transport

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have attracted huge attention due to its capability to generate visual realistic images. However, most of the existing models suffer from the mode collapse or mode mixture problems. In this work, we give a theoretic explanation of the both problems by Figalli’s regularity theory of optimal transportation maps. Basically, the generator compute the transportation maps between the white noise distributions and the data distributions, which are in general discontinuous. However, DNNs can only represent continuous maps. This intrinsic conflict induces mode collapse and mode mixture. In order to tackle the both problems, we explicitly separate the manifold embedding and the optimal transportation; the first part is carried out using an autoencoder to map the images onto the latent space; the second part is accomplished using a GPU-based convex optimization to find the discontinuous transportation maps. Composing the extended OT map and the decoder, we can finally generate new images from the white noise. This AE-OT model avoids representing discontinuous maps by DNNs, therefore effectively prevents mode collapse and mode mixture.
Body Size, Light Intensity, and Nutrient Supply Determine Plankton Stoichiometry in Mixotrophic Plankton Food Webs

Trophic strategy determines stoichiometry of plankton. In general, heterotrophic zooplankton have lower and more stable C∶N and C∶P ratios than photoautotrophic phytoplankton, whereas mixotrophic protists, which consume prey and photosynthesize, have stoichiometry between zooplankton and phytoplankton. As trophic strategies change with cell size, body size may be a key trait influencing eukaryotic plankton stoichiometry. However, the relationship between body size and stoichiometry remains unclear. Here we measured plankton size-fractionated C∶N ratios under different intensities of light and nutrient supply in subtropical freshwater and marine systems. We found a unimodal body size–C∶N ratio pattern, with a maximum C∶N ratio at ∼50 μm diameter in marine and freshwater systems. Moreover, the variation in C∶N ratios is explained mainly by body size, followed by light intensity and nutrient concentration. To investigate the mechanisms behind this unimodal pattern, we constructed a size-based plankton food web model in which the trophic strategy and C∶N ratio are an emerging result. Our model simulations reproduce the unimodal pattern with a C∶N ratio of photoautotrophs ≤50 μm increasing with body size due to increase of photosynthetic carbon, whereas C∶N ratios of organisms >50 μm decrease with size due to decreasing photoautotrophic but increasing heterotrophic uptake. Based on our field observations and simulation, we extend the classic “light-nutrient” theory that determines plankton C∶N ratio to include body size and trophic strategy dependency. We conclude that body size and size-dependent uptake of resources (light, nutrients, and prey) determine plankton stoichiometry at various light and nutrient supplies.
Multinational qEEG developmental surfaces

The quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) is a diagnostic method based on the spectral features of the resting state EEG. The departure of spectral features from normality is gauged by the z transform with respect to the age-adjusted mean and deviation of normative databases – known as the developmental equations/surfaces. However, the extent to which the data collected from different countries with various equipment require separate developmental equations remains unanswered. Here, we analyzed the EEG of 535 subjects from 3 countries, Switzerland, the USA and Cuba. The EEG power spectra of all samples were log transformed and their relations to the covariables (‘age’, ‘frequency’, ‘country’ and ‘individual’) were analyzed using the linear mixed effects model. We found that the origin ‘country’ of the subjects did not play a significant effect on the log spectra, even without interactions with other independent variables, whereas, ‘age’ and ‘frequency’ were highly significant. To estimate the developmental surfaces in greater detail, we carried out kernel regression (lowess) in two dimensions of log-age and frequency. We found two main phenomena: 1) slow rhythms (δ, θ) predominated in the lower ages and then decreased with a tendency to disappear at higher ages; 2) α rhythm was absent at lower ages, but gradually appeared more relevant in occipital and parietal regions, and increased with aging with an increasing centering frequency of α rhythm. We consider both phenomena as an expression of healthy neurodevelopmental and maturation related to age. It is the first study of multinational qEEG developmental surfaces accounting for ‘country’. The results demonstrate the possibility of creating international qEEG norms since the ‘individual’ and ‘age’ variability are much larger than the specific factors like ‘country’, or the technology employed ‘device’.
Development and Validation of a Scale for Measuring Instructors' Attitudes toward Concept-Based or Reform-Oriented Teaching of Introductory Statistics in the Health and Behavioral Sciences

Despite more than a decade of reform efforts, students continue to experience difficulty understanding and applying statistical concepts. The predominant focus of reform has been on content, pedagogy, technology and assessment, with little attention to instructor characteristics. However, there is strong theoretical and empirical evidence that instructors' attitudes impact the quality of teaching and learning. The objective of this study was to develop and initially validate a scale to measure instructors' attitudes toward reform-oriented (or concept-based) teaching of introductory statistics in the health and behavioral sciences, at the tertiary level. This scale will be referred to as FATS (Faculty Attitudes Toward Statistics). Data were obtained from 227 instructors (USA and international), and analyzed using factor analysis, multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. The overall scale consists of five sub-scales with a total of 25 items, and an overall alpha of 0.89. Construct validity was established. Specifically, the overall scale, and subscales (except perceived difficulty) plausibly differentiated between low-reform and high-reform practice instructors. Statistically significant differences in attitude were observed with respect to age, but not gender, employment status, membership status in professional organizations, ethnicity, highest academic qualification, and degree concentration. This scale can be considered a reliable and valid measure of instructors' attitudes toward reform-oriented (concept-based or constructivist) teaching of introductory statistics in the health and behavioral sciences at the tertiary level. These five dimensions influence instructors' attitudes. Additional studies are required to confirm these structural and psychometric properties.
Electrical and Reliability Characteristics of Self-Forming Barrier for CuNd/SiOCH Films in Cu Interconnects

In this study, Cu-2.2 at. % Nd alloy films using a co-sputtering deposition method were directly deposited onto porous low-dielectric-constant (low-k) films (SiOCH). The effects of CuNd alloy film on the electrical properties and reliability of porous low-k dielectric films were studied. The electrical characteristics and reliability of the porous low-k dielectric film with CuNd alloy film were enhanced by annealing at 425 °C. The formation of self-forming barrier at the CuNd/SiOCH interface was responsible for this improvement. Therefore, integration with CuNd and porous low-k dielectric is a promising process for advanced Cu interconnects.
Promoting Chinese Literacy in South Asian Preschoolers and their Mothers in Hong Kong: An Intervention Study

ABSTRACT Research Findings: This study evaluated the impact of Chinese literacy interventions on Chinese language learning of South Asian children and their mothers in Hong Kong. A total of 44 children and eight of their mothers participated in Chinese literacy interventions that consisted of two approaches – Copying and Morphological Awareness Training (CMAT) and Integrative Perceptual Approach (IPA). Children in the intervention group who underwent four weeks of CMAT followed by four weeks of IPA were compared to a control group of 29 children who only attended regular Chinese classes in their preschools. After controlling for non-verbal intelligence, ANCOVA analyses revealed that the intervention group did significantly better than the control group at posttest in (i) morphological awareness, word reading and writing when taught using CMAT; and (ii) word reading when taught using IPA. Mothers made gains on most Chinese literacy measures and children whose mothers participated in the intervention had higher gains in mean scores relative to their pretest scores on most measures than those whose mothers did not, suggesting the effectiveness of combined child and parent interventions. Practice or Policy: Findings support the development of evidence-based interventions to cater to the language learning needs of SA children and parents.
Does Public Knowledge of Climate Change Really Matter in Australia?*

ABSTRACT Replicating questions on climate change and polar knowledge from the United States, this study examines the impact of climate related facts for predicting acceptance of anthropogenic climate change, and for predicting Green voting in Australia. Analysis of national survey data from the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes show that the likelihood of Green voting increases with climate knowledge. Climate-related knowledge is also positively associated with acceptance of anthropogenic climate change, but the effect of knowledge is moderated by party political identification. Greens, Labor Party identifiers and politically un-affiliated Australians align more closely with the scientific consensus on climate change as their climate knowledge increases. However, climate knowledge has no effect on the climate change attitudes of Liberal and National party identifiers. Climate knowledge also interacts with gender. Climate knowledge has a stronger association with anthropogenic climate change beliefs among women than it does among men. These findings suggest the information deficit model of science communication is likely to be efficacious among supporters of politically progressive parties in Australia, but less so among political conservatives.
Transgressive clowns: between horror and humour

Abstract In his essay 'Horror and Humor' (1999) Noël Carroll muses upon what he considers the somewhat paradoxical existence horror-comedy subgenre in cinema. He finds that the clown best exemplifies the collision of the genres of horror and comedy, as the clown presents an uncanny figure that is at once familiar and unsettling, moving between the monstrous and the humorous. Clowns have maintained a presence in cinema since the earliest days of the medium, from the first short animated projections, Émile Reynaud’s Pauvre Pierrot (1892), to the rotoscoped, mischievous Koko the Clown in the Fleischer Brothers’ Out of the Inkwell series (1918–1929), to Stephen King’s IT (both the 1990 television mini-series and the 2017 feature film adaptation). Somewhere along the way (with certain exceptions) the clown in cinema has become associated with ‘evil’ and in particular with the horror genre. Following Carroll, this paper proposes to examine the clown in cinema at the intersection of humor and violence, focusing in particular on the 1988 cult film Killer Klowns from Outer Space, directed by Stephen Chiodo. This essay first proposes to broadly trace the representations of clowns in cinema; the essay will then turn to Killer Klowns, exploring the ways that film uses special effects, and references various pre-cinematic techniques such as shadow theatre and puppetry, in order to examine the ways these effects evoke a sense of the uncanny, of horror, and enable the spectacular commingling of humor and violence.
Patients with allergic and eosinophilic asthma in the German severe asthma registry

Targeted treatment strategies for asthma require a precise diagnosis of phenotypes. 308 adult patients (age mean±SD: 50.3±13.5yrs) with severe asthma from the German Severe Asthma Registry (www.german-asthma-net.de) were evaluated based on history of allergy symptoms, results of skin prick tests, total/specific IgE, and blood cell differentials. 121 patients (39%) showed typical signs of allergic asthma including allergic symptoms and a positive skin prick test and/or specific IgE with no elevated blood eosinophils (median total IgE: 222 (range 4-4023) IU/ml, eosinophils: 128 (0-295)/µl, FeNO: 23 (7-300) ppb). 53 (43.8%) of these patients were treated with omalizumab. 50 patients (16%) had asthma with elevated blood eosinophils (>300/µl) with no clinical or serological signs of allergy (median total IgE: 156 (18-5000) IU/ml), eosinophils: 586 (300-8500)/µl, FeNO: 51 (16-258) ppb. 75 patients (24%) had signs of allergy and elevated blood eosinophils (median total IgE: 310 (range 25-2345) IU/ml), eosinophils: 512 (300-11000)/µl, FeNO: 44 (10-228) ppb). Patients with features of allergic or eosinophilic disease or both differed significantly in age at diagnosis (21.9±17.6 yrs vs 38.7±15.4 yrs vs 28.6±15.8 yrs, p The results confirm the presence of clinically relevant phenotypes among severe asthma patients. As a first step, simple diagnostic criteria (e.g. allergy tests, serum IgE, blood eosinophils) are sufficient to identify potential patients for targeted therapies.
Blaming the bureaucrat: does perceived blame risk influence inspectors’ enforcement style?

Is there a relation between street-level bureaucrats’ enforcement style and their perception of the risk of getting blamed? This article answers this question on the basis of a survey (n = 507) among inspectors of the Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority. We included perceived media attention on their work as a factor that might influence street-level bureaucrats’ perception of blame risk and their enforcement style. Three dimensions of enforcement style were distinguished from earlier research: legal, facilitative and accommodative. We found that when inspectors perceive more blame risk, they employ a slightly less legal style and, instead, employ a more accommodative style. Thus, they act a little less formally and less coercively (i.e. legal) and take greater account of their peers’ opinions (i.e. accommodative). However, perceived media attention did not have a significant influence on enforcement style. Points for practitioners 1. When inspectors perceive more blame risk, they tend to pay more attention to the opinion of peers (other inspectors, supervisors, etc.). 2. Blame risk does not lead to the use of a more formal inspection style. 3. Media attention does not play an important role in enhancing the blame risk perception of inspectors. 4. This media and blame risk is less important than often found in the case of politicians. This may be connected to the fact that the work of inspectors as street-level bureaucrats is less visible to the wider public (and the media).
An introduction to the study on start-up success

Start-up success is an important topic of entrepreneurship research. This paper briefly introduces the main factors of success (survival, profitability and growth) and the related theories. In particular, the research on the resource-based view and industrial organization is highlighted. Financial capital and human capital are crucial start-up resources, and the related studies are considered under the resource-based view (including the previous studies about financing theory and financial constraints). Industrial organization is also a significant branch of research on a start-up’s post-entry performance, where particular attention is paid to the literature on innovation (together with some commonly used industry-specific factors in the previous research).
Systems Biomedicine of Colorectal Cancer Reveals Potential Targets for CRC Treatment

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Patients9 survival at the time of diagnosis depends largely on the stage of the tumor. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms promoting cancer progression from early stages to high-grade stages is essential for implementing therapeutic approaches. In the present study, we conducted transcriptomic data analysis employing a systems biology method to identify potential molecular targets for colorectal cancer treatment. These targets went under investigation one by one. We proposed some genes that their expression induction or suppression alone or in combination with each other would inhibit tumor progression or metastasis based on their biological activity. They are involved in cell proliferation, energy production under hypoxic conditions, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. Employing a network analysis point of view, some genes were discovered that has not been reported noticeably in any kind of cancer so far. As a result, they might have some roles in progression of colorectal cancer.