Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lifetime alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of KRAS+ and BRAF‐/KRAS‐ but not BRAF+ colorectal cancer

Ethanol in alcoholic beverages is a causative agent for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a biologically heterogeneous disease, and molecular subtypes defined by the presence of somatic mutations in BRAF and KRAS are known to exist. We examined associations between lifetime alcohol intake and molecular and anatomic subtypes of colorectal cancer. We calculated usual alcohol intake for 10‐year periods from age 20 using recalled frequency and quantity of beverage‐specific consumption for 38,149 participants aged 40–69 years from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Cox regression was performed to derive hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between lifetime alcohol intake and colorectal cancer risk. Heterogeneity in the HRs across subtypes of colorectal cancer was assessed. A positive dose‐dependent association between lifetime alcohol intake and overall colorectal cancer risk (mean follow‐up = 14.6 years; n = 596 colon and n = 326 rectal cancer) was observed (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12 per 10 g/day increment). The risk was greater for rectal than colon cancer (phomogeneity = 0.02). Alcohol intake was associated with increased risks of KRAS+ (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.15) and BRAF−/KRAS− (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.11) but not BRAF+ tumors (HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.78–1.01; phomogeneity = 0.01). Alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of KRAS+ and BRAF−/KRAS‐ tumors originating via specific molecular pathways including the traditional adenoma‐carcinoma pathway but not with BRAF+ tumors originating via the serrated pathway. Therefore, limiting alcohol intake from a young age might reduce colorectal cancer originating via the traditional adenoma‐carcinoma pathway.
A Dynamic Model for Binary Panel Data With Unobserved Heterogeneity Admitting a √n‐Consistent Conditional Estimator

A model for binary panel data is introduced which allows for state dependence and unobserved heterogeneity beyond the effect of available covariates. The model is of quadratic exponential type and its structure closely resembles that of the dynamic logit model. However, it has the advantage of being easily estimable via conditional likelihood with at least two observations (further to an initial observation) and even in the presence of time dummies among the regressors. Copyright 2010 The Econometric Society.
Population migration between the regions of Great Britain, 1971-9.

Data from the United Kingdom's National Health Service Central Register are used to analyze inter-regional migration over the period 1971-1979. A decline in out-migration from southeast England after 1973 is noted, and the reasons for this change are considered. An increase in the shift of population from north to south is also noted.
[Visualization of cochlear implant electrode movements in the cochlea by using x-ray microscopy].

BACKGROUND The movements of the electrode cable of a cochlear implant inside the cochlea during the insertion procedure generally are invisible, even in temporal bone experiments. Yet, the development of new designs of electrodes, their positioning near to the modiolus etc. requires an exact knowledge on the dynamic behaviour of the electrodes inside the cochlea. The exclusive method for looking through the undamaged cochlea walls is by x-ray technique. METHODS A specific x-ray tube with a focal spot size of barely 5 microns allows useful direct magnifications of more than 20-30 times. We performed temporal bone experiments with this tube and studied the behaviour of conventional and perimodiolar electrode cables of a MedEl-Cl during the insertion procedure under fluoroscopic viewing. RESULTS The high resolution imaging revealed the influence of stiffness of the electrode cable on the insertion depth of a conventional electrode. If the angle of the direction of insertion was too steep, the resulting kinking of the cable at the medial wall of the basal turn was instantly visible. The direct visualisation of the movements of the cable was useful in optimizing the design and stiffness of various prototypes of perimodiolar electrodes for a deep insertion. CONCLUSIONS The dynamic examination technique disclosed that the stiffness of actual electrode cables is not optimally adapted to the form of the cochlear cavity for deep insertion. The non-destructive visualisation technique will facilitate the development of advanced electrode design, especially for various concepts of perimodiolar electrodes.
CSR and organizational citizenship behavior for the environment in hotel industry.

The aim of this study is to investigate how corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributes to organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE) among employees in hotel industry. Corporate green brand should be built not only from the provision of green products or services but also from green behavior among employees in their daily activities. This study also seeks the understanding of the moderating effects of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and employees’ attachment styles on the relationship between CSR and OCBE. ,The data for testing the study model were harvested from respondents in the hotel industry in Vietnam business context. ,The research results unveiled the positive effect of CSR on OCBE and the roles of CE and employee attachment styles in moderating this effect. ,Hospitality organizations should integrate CSR initiatives into their sustainable strategy to shape employee OCBE. Entrepreneurial values should also be cultivated among employees to drive them to further respond to CSR initiatives and engage in OCBE. ,This study expands CSR and green research streams by identifying the effect of CSR on OCBE among hotel employees as well as moderation mechanisms of CE and employee attachment styles for such an effect.
Prevalence of Stafne's bone cavity--retrospective analysis of 14,005 panoramic views.

AIM Stafne's bone cavity (SBC) is a very rare defect, affecting only selected parts of the mandibular bone. Its etiology is unknown. On two-dimensional images, it appears as a narrowed cavity and might be interpreted as a space-occupying process inside the bone. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of SBC on panoramic views, and compare these results to published reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 14,005 panoramic views were examined retrospectively with regard to the presence of SBC. All images were analyzed regarding typical characteristics as originally described by Stafne. RESULTS A total of 11 cases fulfilled diagnostic criteria of SBC (0.08%). All patients were men (100%), at a mean age of 58.1 years (range=38-75 years). Eight patients (72.7%) had SBC on the left side, three patients on the right side (27.3%). In eight cases, SBC was found in the mandibular corpus (72.7%), and in three cases in the mandibular angle (27.3%). Correlating with published results, SBC was found at a relative frequency of 0.13%. CONCLUSION SBC on panoramic views or other imaging modalities should alert the clinician to exclude other potential pathologies. In doubtful cases, surgical procedures might be necessary to verify the diagnosis.
The erythemal response of human skin to ultraviolet radiation

A reflectance instrument was used to measure objectively the erythemal response of human skin to ultraviolet radiation. Dose‐response curves have been constructed for four radiation wavelengths. In each case, the measured increase in erythema was found to be linearly related to the logarithm of the dose of ultraviolet radiation. Significantly different slopes of response were obtained for radiation of 254 and 280 nm compared with 300 and 313 nm radiation. The relevance of these findings is discussed with relation to the mechanism of erythema production and the erythema action spectrum.
Exploring potential R&D collaborators based on patent portfolio analysis: The case of biosensors

The purpose of this study is to develop a framework which modifies the patent portfolios analysis to identify potential R&D collaborators for enterprises. The proposed framework uses association analysis of patent documents to identify important technologies related to the technologies or products in question. This study also designs three indicators, namely technology field scale, relative technology advantage, and relative technological integration capability, to draw patent portfolio diagrams. The diagram can show the important complementary technologies for enterprises, providing valuable suggestions for potential R&D collaborators. To illustrate this framework, this study uses the framework to identify potential R&D collaborators for biosensor-related enterprises based on patents. Experimental results show that the patent portfolio diagrams can properly position biosensor-related enterprises and clearly show important complementary technologies for enterprises. Enterprises with important complementary technologies are good candidates for R&D collaboration.
The prevalence and genetics of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents in faecal Enterobacteriaceae from children in Bangladesh

SUMMARY The present study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in enteric flora in 64 children in rural Bangladesh over a 12-month period. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates varied throughout the year and multiple resistance was highest during the post monsoon period. Seventythree percent of children had isolates resistant to more than three antibiotics throughout the year. Resistance to streptomycin was highest (78%), followed closely by ampicillin (72%). Of 82 multiply resistant isolates, plasmid DNA was demonstrated in 75%. Plasmid sizes ranged between 3·7 and 110 MDa, the commonest plasmids were of 70, 98 and 110 MDa. Complete or partial resistance was transferred by conjugation from 52% of the isolates, most frequently by single plasmids. The commonest plasmid incompatibility group was F11-A (46%) followed by incompatibility group P (22%). Plasmids of molecular weight 98 MDa most often hybridized with F11-A probes and those of 110 MDa with H11 probes. Plasmids from 10 transconjugants were digested with restriction enzymes and digest patterns demonstrated the presence of common plasmids. The findings show that there is a diverse, and mobile, genetic pool of resistance genes in this rural community. This genetic reservoir is potentially transferable to enteric pathogens, with major implications for public health and diarrhoeal disease control.
Information Access, Conservation Practice Choice, and Rent Seeking in Conservation Procurement Auctions: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment

&NA; Existing research emphasizes the sensitivity of conservation auction performance and bidder behavior to auction design choices, as these auctions are not incentive compatible, meaning rent seeking must be controlled. Procuring agencies must decide how to provide bidders with information about the environmental quality of different conservation practices to manage the trade‐off between an increased probability of selecting the optimal practice and increased rent‐seeking behavior associated with this information. We use an induced‐value laboratory experiment to explore how access to quality information and variation in the bid‐submission protocol can best be combined to improve auction performance. We find that the auction performs best when a bid‐menu format, in which participants submit bids for all their practices, is combined with information about the environmental quality rank of available conservation practices.
Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis by a Sonicate Immunoassay Based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

ABSTRACT A sandwich immunoassay for the rapid, low-level detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis has been developed. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis is the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle, and one of the major obstacles in controlling the spread of this disease is the inability to rapidly detect small amounts of bacteria or other diagnostic markers shed during the subclinical stage of infection. This paper details the development and performance of an assay for sonicated M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis lysate that is based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). There are two key components of the assay: (i) an immobilized layer of monoclonal antibodies that target a surface protein on the microorganism; and (ii) extrinsic Raman labels (ERLs) that are designed to selectively bind to captured proteins and produce large SERS signals. By correlating the number of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis bacilli present prior to sonication to the amount of total protein in the resulting sonicate, the detection limit determined for total protein can be translated to the microorganism concentration. These findings yield detection limits of 100 and 200 ng/ml (estimated to be 500 and 1,000 M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis bacilli/ml) for sonicate spiked in phosphate buffer and sonicate spiked in whole milk, respectively. Moreover, the time required to complete the assay, which includes sample preparation, antigen extraction, ERL incubation, and readout, is less than 24 h. The potential for incorporation of this novel assay into diagnostic laboratories is also briefly discussed.
Effect of absence on visual perception and discomfort

Prior researches on binocular mismatches of stereoscopic images mostly focus on optical errors (magnification, shift, rotation, distortion) and photometric asymmetries (color, luminance, definition). In this paper, a type of binocular mismatches - effect of absence is investigated to find whether the partial loss of an object in either one of a stereo pair influences characteristics of human fusion and depth perception when certain disparity is provided, in which two situations are taken into account: with overlap and without overlap. Implications for the effect of absence on fusion mechanism and visual comfort are also discussed in this paper. Experimental results prove the conclusion that the effect of absence can cause misperception and contribute to visual discomfort.
Association between carbohydrate nutrition and prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults

Abstract We aimed to examine the relationship between dietary glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load of foods consumed, intakes of carbohydrates, sugars and fibre, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults. Data collected from 2334 participants aged 55+ years and 1952 participants aged 60+ years were analysed. Dietary information was collected using a semi-quantitative FFQ. Depressive symptoms were based on antidepressant use or either the 36-Item Short-Form Survey, which included the Mental Health Index (MHI), or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-10 Scale. Participants in the highest v. lowest tertile of dietary GI intake had increased odds of depressive symptoms (assessed by the MHI scale), multivariable-adjusted OR 1·55 (95 % CI 1·12, 2·14). Participants in the highest compared with lowest tertile of fruit consumption had reduced odds of prevalent depressive symptoms, multivariable-adjusted OR 0·66 (95 % CI 0·46, 0·95). Total fibre, vegetable fibre and breads/cereal fibre intakes were all inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms, with global P values of 0·03, 0·01 and 0·03, respectively. Participants in the second v. first tertile of vegetable consumption had 41 % reduced odds of prevalent depressive symptoms, multivariable-adjusted OR 0·59 (95 % CI 0·40, 0·88). We show that dietary GI and fibre intakes as well as consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms.
Plane-Wave Generators: Design Guidelines, Achievable Performances and Effective Synthesis

The aim of this paper is to investigate the main aspects of the synthesis of plane wave generators (PWGs) i.e., arrays capable of emulating a plane wave, or a superposition of plane waves, in a given region. In particular, we introduce new figures of merit, particularly suitable for PWG synthesis procedures, and simple guidelines regarding size and shape of the PWG, as well as the number of radiating sources needed to synthesize the required plane waves. The performance limits of a PWG are analyzed, in terms of indexes related to the stability of the solution and to the level of the field amplitude on the lateral walls of the anechoic chamber in which the PWG is placed. Finally we present a synthesis method for PWGs, based on a planar sparse array architecture. Starting from the previously achieved results, a novel effective synthesis procedure is introduced. By means of such a procedure we are also able to take explicitly into account the mechanical and electrical tolerances in the PWG realization. In such a way we can assure the best performances, given the unavoidable errors in the positioning and excitation of the radiating elements.
Exercise Dose in Clinical Practice

There is wide variability in the physical activity patterns of the patients in contemporary clinical cardiovascular practice. This review is designed to address the impact of exercise dose on key cardiovascular risk factors and on mortality. We begin by examining the body of literature that supports a dose-response relationship between exercise and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including plasma lipids, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We next explore the relationship between exercise dose and mortality by reviewing the relevant epidemiological literature underlying current physical activity guideline recommendations. We then expand this discussion to critically examine recent data pertaining to the impact of exercise dose at the lowest and highest ends of the spectrum. Finally, we provide a framework for how the key concepts of exercise dose can be integrated into clinical practice.
In situ trace metal analysis of Neoarchaean – Ordovician shallow‐marine microbial‐carbonate‐hosted pyrites

Pre‐Cambrian atmospheric and oceanic redox evolutions are expressed in the inventory of redox‐sensitive trace metals in marine sedimentary rocks. Most of the currently available information was derived from deep‐water sedimentary rocks (black shale/banded iron formation). Many of the studied trace metals (e.g. Mo, U, Ni and Co) are sensitive to the composition of the exposed land surface and prevailing weathering style, and their oceanic inventory ultimately depends on the terrestrial flux. The validity of claims for increased/decreased terrestrial fluxes has remained untested as far as the shallow‐marine environment is concerned. Here, the first systematic study of trace metal inventories of the shallow‐marine environment by analysis of microbial carbonate‐hosted pyrite, from ca. 2.65–0.52 Ga, is presented. A petrographic survey revealed a first‐order difference in preservation of early diagenetic pyrite. Microbial carbonates formed before the 2.4 Ga great oxygenation event (GOE) are much richer in pyrite and contain pyrite grains of greater morphological variability but lesser chemical substitution than samples deposited after the GOE. This disparity in pyrite abundance and morphology is mirrored by the qualitative degree of preservation of organic matter (largely as kerogen). Thus, it seems that in microbial carbonates, pyrite formation and preservation were related to presence and preservation of organic C. Several redox‐sensitive trace metals show interpretable temporal trends supporting earlier proposals derived from deep‐water sedimentary rocks. Most notably, the shallow‐water pyrite confirms a rise in the oceanic Mo inventory across the pre‐Cambrian–Cambrian boundary, implying the establishment of efficient deep‐ocean ventilation. The carbonate‐hosted pyrite also confirms the Neoarchaean and early Palaeoproterozoic ocean had higher Ni concentration, which can now more firmly be attributed to a greater proportion of magnesian volcanic rock on land rather than a stronger hydrothermal flux of Ni. Additionally, systematic trends are reported for Co, As, and Zn, relating to terrestrial flux and oceanic productivity.
Development of voltage stability index using synchro-phasor based data

Through the development of phasor measurement units (PMU), various aspects of power system dynamic behavior could be monitored and diagnosed. Monitoring dynamic voltage stability becomes one of achievements we can obtain from PMUs. It is very important to select the method appropriate to the KEPCO system since there are many voltage stability indices. In the paper, we propose an advanced WAVI (Wide Area Voltage Stability) for monitoring dynamic voltage stability. It reflects the PMU installation plan of KEPCO, thus it is suitable for KEPCO system specially. The salient features of the proposed index are; i) it uses only PMU measurements without coupling with EMS data. ii) it is computationally unburden so that it can be applied to real-time situation. The proposed index is applied to the KEPCO test system and the result shows that it successfully predicts voltage instability through the comparative studies.
Connections Matter: Family Centers and German Social Policy

German social policy has promoted family centers for the past decade, and in that period they have spread considerably. At first glance, this development suggests that contemporary social policy in Germany is implementing new services to support families directly. We question that. To support our critical perspective, we present some of the key results of a content analysis of political documents promoting family centers in the most populous German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Our analysis shows that the spread of family centers in North Rhine-Westphalia is founded on particular assumptions about families, assumptions that create connections with various traditional fields of federal social policy in Germany. Drawing on Luhmann’s theory of social systems and on new institutionalism, we conclude that the case of family centers in North Rhine-Westphalia shows how the “new” idea of family centers does not contradict but conform to pre-existing, long-established institutional structures social services in Germany. In the broader historical context of German social policy, therefore, the case of North Rhine-Westphalia illustrates how family centers should not be interpreted as family services per se.
High-temperature (250 °C / 500 °F) 19′000 rpm BLDC fan for forced air-cooling of advanced automotive power electronics

In an increasing number of application areas and industry sectors, such as the automotive, aerospace, military or oil and gas industry, a trend towards higher ambient temperature rating from 120 °C upward for electrical machines and power electronic converters can be observed. Forced air-cooling of power electronic converters offers reduced complexity of the cooling circuit compared to water-cooling. For high ambient temperature rated converters fans are required that withstand these temperatures and still feature performance comparable to standard conditions in order to still enable a high converter power density and efficiency. Commercially available fans for power electronics cooling are typically rated up to 75 °C, very rarely fans are specified up to 105 °C. In this paper, the electrical and mechanical design of a 40mm × 40mm × 28mm fan is presented in detail that offers an operational temperature range up to 250 °C at the rated speed of 19′000 rpm and similar fluid dynamical performance in terms of static pressure and volume flow at 120 °C as commercial high performance fans at 20 °C. The 3-phase BLDC machine driving the fan is integrated into its hub and has got an input power of 15W. The fan can be driven using a 3-phase inverter supplied from 12V DC voltage with an inverter switching frequency of less than 1.3 kHz.