Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does network position foster knowledge production? Evidence from international scientific collaboration network

There is consensus among scholars that social networks are important mechanisms of knowledge spillovers. By occupying a central and advantageous network position in the collaboration network, it is easy for actors to access intangible external resources. However, empirical studies of the impact of network structure on knowledge production remain scarce. Based on copublication data from the Web of Science database (WoS) from 2000 to 2015, we construct eleven international scientific collaboration networks and empirically estimate the impacts of multiple network properties, comprehensively measured by degree centrality, structure holes, and small‐world quotient, on national knowledge output. Empirical results based on fixed effect negative binomial models suggest positive effects of the three facets of network properties, that is, higher degree centrality, structural holes, and small‐world quotient are beneficial for facilitating and improving national knowledge production, which in turn encourages international academic collaboration.
Hospitalizations for Cellulitis in Canada: A Database Study

Background: Cellulitis is the skin disease most commonly responsible for emergency department visits and inpatient admissions. Objective: To determine factors associated with prolonged admissions and mortality in inpatients with cellulitis. Methods: Data on patients with an admission diagnosis of cellulitis from 2004 to 2008 in the Canadian Discharge Abstract Database were analyzed. Factors associated with mortality and prolonged hospital stay (> 7 days) were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analysis through logistic regression. Results: During the study period, 65,454 patients were hospitalized for cellulitis. Factors associated with prolonged admission included admission to or consultation by a surgical service (OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.17–2.43) and dermatology consultation (OR 4.50,95% CI 3.92–5.17). Factors associated with mortality included surgical (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03–1.76) or infectious disease (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39–2.21) consultation. Conclusion: Misdiagnosis of cellulitis, suggested by the use of consulting services, may play a role in the morbidity and mortality of cellulitis patients.
Comparison of basal neuropeptide Y and corticotropin releasing factor levels between the high ethanol drinking C57BL/6J and low ethanol drinking DBA/2J inbred mouse strains.

BACKGROUND Recent genetic and pharmacological evidence indicates that low neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in brain regions involved with neurobiological responses to ethanol promote increased ethanol consumption. Because of their opposing actions, it has been suggested that NPY and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) exert a reciprocal regulation on drug self-administration. It has been widely reported that inbred C57BL/6 mice consume significantly higher amounts of ethanol than do DBA/2 mice. Therefore, we used immunohistochemical techniques to determine if basal NPY and/or CRF levels differed in predicted directions between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. METHODS Ethanol-naive C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were deeply anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (100 mg/kg) and perfused transcardially with 0.1 mM of phosphate-buffered saline followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in buffered saline. Brains were collected and postfixed for 4 hr at 4 degrees C and then were cut into 35-microm sections. Tissues containing the nucleus accumbens (NAc), hypothalamus, and amygdala were processed for NPY or CRF immunoreactivity using immunofluorescent or DAB techniques. Immunoreactivity was quantified from digital images using Image J software. RESULTS The C57BL/6J mice showed reduced NPY expression in the NAc shell, the basolateral amygdala, and the central nucleus of the amygdala when compared with DBA/2J mice. However, these strains did not differ in CRF expression in any of the brain regions analyzed. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that low NPY levels in the amygdala and/or the shell of the NAc, which are not compensated for by similar changes in CRF levels, may contribute to the high ethanol consumption characteristic of C57BL/6J mice.
Male Incarceration, the Marriage Market, and Female Outcomes

This paper studies how rising male incarceration has affected women through its effect on the marriage market. Variation in marriage-market shocks arising from incarceration is isolated using two facts: the tendency of people to marry within marriage markets defined by the interaction of race, location, and age and the fact that increases in incarceration have been very different across these three characteristics. Using a variety of estimation strategies, including difference and fixed effects models and TSLS models in which we use policy parameters to instrument for within-marriage market changes in incarceration, we find evidence that is, on the whole, consistent with the implications of the standard marriage-market model. In particular, higher male imprisonment appears to have lowered the likelihood that women marry, modestly reduced the quality of their spouses when they do marry, and shifted the gains from marriage away from women and toward men. The evidence suggests that women in affected markets have increased their schooling and labor supply in response to these changes.
[11C]Choline Positron Emission Tomography in Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer

Purpose: Novel radiotracers could potentially allow the identification of clinically aggressive tumor phenotypes. As choline metabolism increases during malignant transformation and progression of human mammary epithelial cells, we examined the ability of [11C]choline (CHO) positron emission tomography imaging to detect clinically aggressive phenotype in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancer in vivo. Experimental Design: CHO positron emission tomography was done in 32 individuals with primary or metastatic ER–positive breast cancer. Semiquantitative (standardized uptake value) and fully quantitative (net irreversible transfer rate constant of CHO, Ki) estimates of CHO uptake in the tumors were calculated and compared with tumor grade, size, involved nodes, and also ER, progesterone receptor, Ki-67, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 scores. Results: Breast tumors were well visualized in 30 of 32 patients with good tumor background ratios. A wide range of uptake values were observed in primary and metastatic tumors. CHO uptake variables correlated well with tumor grade. For most imaging variables, a poor association was found with tumor size, ER, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, Ki-67, and nodal status. Conclusions: CHO showed good uptake in most breast cancers and merits further investigation as a breast cancer imaging agent. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(17):5503–10)
Endonasal endoscopic skull base multilayer reconstruction surgery with nasal pedicled mucosal flap to manage high flow CSF leakage.

AIM Multilayer reconstruction of skull base using nasal pedicled mucosal flap has been widely accepted as a standard method for repairing high flow cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leakage. In this study, we analyzed our outcome and summarized several valuable operation experiences from this technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 20 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal multilayer reconstruction using a nasal pedicled mucosal flap to repair high flow CSF leakage and were available for follow-up. RESULTS In this series, all cases encountered intraoperative high-flow CSF leakage, including 11 (55%) patients with opening of third ventricles (TV) and 9 (45%) patients with wide opening of cistern (CS). After endoscopic endonasal multilayer reconstruction with nasal pedicled mucosal flap, 3 patients (15.0%) encountered CSF leakage in the early postoperative period but were successfully repaired; 2 patients (10.0%) encountered late postoperative CSF leakage. In the TV group, the ratio of CSF leakage was 18.2% (2/11); while the incidence of CSF leakage was 11.1% (1/9) in the CS group. One patient developed meningitis due to CSF leakage four month after surgery, then gave up treatment and died. CONCLUSION Multilayer reconstruction with nasal pedicled flap seems to be useful and reliable for the treatment of ventral skull base defects using endoscopic endonasal approach.
Water scarcity and livelihoods in Bihar and West Bengal, India

Abstract Through a cross-sectional survey of 1600 households, we analyse the impact of water scarcity on livelihood patterns of rural households in three districts of Bihar and West Bengal. We find significant correlation between water scarcity and livelihood profiles. Households involved in farming and rural labour, or a mix of farming, rural labour and enterprises, earn 30–50% less than what they would have earned through alternative livelihoods. Yet, 50% of the sampled households were engaged in farming and rural labour. When accounting for endogeneity, urban migration provides much higher returns compared to rural labour supply or entrepreneurship.
Development and Evaluation of an In Vitro Vaginal Model for Assessment of Drug’s Biopharmaceutical Properties: Curcumin

Vaginal administration is a promising alternative to the per-oral route in achieving systemic or local therapeutic effects, when intestinal drug absorption is hindered by problematic biopharmaceutical drug properties. The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro vaginal model and use it to characterize biopharmaceutical properties of liposomally associated curcumin destined for vaginal delivery. The in vitro permeability, metabolism, and tissue retention of high/low permeable compounds were assessed on cow vaginal mucosa and compared to the permeabilities determined through Caco-2 cells and rat jejunum in vitro. The results showed that the intestinal mucosa was superior to the vaginal one in categorizing drugs based on their permeabilities in high/low permeable classes. Passive diffusion was found to be the main mechanism of drug penetration through vaginal mucosa and it was not affected by transporter–enzyme alliance, as their expression/activity was significantly reduced compared to the intestinal tract. Curcumin permeability from the solution form was the lowest of all tested substances due to its significant tissue retention and curcumin–mucus interactions. The permeability of liposomally associated curcumin was even lower but the binding of liposomally associated curcumin to the vaginal tissue was significantly higher. The permeability and tissue retention of liposomal curcumin were vesicle size dependent. Vaginal application of liposomally associated curcumin provides relatively high levels of curcumin in vaginal tissue, with limited systemic absorption.
International Spillovers of Forward Guidance Shocks

We estimate a two-country model of the US and Canada over the post 2009 sample to study the cross-country spillovers of forward guidance shocks. To do so, we propose a method to identify forward guidance shocks during the fixed interest rate regime. US forward guidance shocks have a larger impact than conventional monetary policy shocks. A 2 quarter expansionary forward guidance shock decreases Canadian output by about 0.2% to 0.4% on impact. The effect of US forward guidance shocks on Canadian output, unlike conventional policy shocks, depends crucially on the state of the US risk premium shock. The estimated forward guidance shocks coincide with significant US monetary policy announcements such as the introduction of calendar based guidance.
Verification of Seasonal Climate Forecast toward Hydroclimatic Information Needs of Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana

Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa face many difficulties when making farming decisions due to unexpected changes in weather and climate. Access to hydroclimatic information can potentially assist farmers to adapt. This study explores the extent to which seasonal climate forecasts can meet hydroclimatic information needs of rice farmers in northern Ghana. First, 62 rice farmers across 12 communities were interviewed about their information needs. Results showed that importance of hydroclimatic information depends on the frequency of use and farming type (rain-fed, irrigated, or both). Generally, farmers perceived rainfall distribution, dam water level, and temperature as very important information, followed by total rainfall amount and onset ranked as important. These findings informed our skills assessment of rainfall (Prcp), minimum temperature (Tmin), and maximum temperature (Tmax) from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF-S4) and at lead times of 0 to 2 months. Forecast bias, correlation, and skills for all variables vary with season and location but are generally unsystematic and relatively constant with forecast lead time. Making it possible to meet farmers’ needs at their most preferred lead time of 1 month before the farming season. ECMWF-S4 exhibited skill in Prcp, Tmin, and Tmax in northern Ghana except for a few grid cells in MAM for Prcp and SON for Tmin and Tmax. Tmin and Tmax forecasts were more skillful than Prcp. We conclude that the participatory coproduction approach used in this study provides better insight for understanding demand-driven climate information services and that the ECMWF-S4 seasonal forecast system has the potential to provide actionable hydroclimatic information that may support farmers’ decisions.
Gregarious behavior in desert locusts is evoked by touching their back legs

Desert locusts in the solitarious phase were repeatedly touched on various body regions to identify the site of mechanosensory input that elicits the transition to gregarious phase behavior. The phase state of individual insects was measured after a 4-h period of localized mechanical stimulation, by using a behavioral assay based on multiple logistic regression analysis. A significant switch from solitarious to gregarious behavior occurred when the outer face of a hind femur had been stimulated, but mechanical stimulation of 10 other body regions did not result in significant behavioral change. We conclude that a primary cause of the switch in behavior that seeds the formation of locust swarms is individuals regularly touching others on the hind legs within populations that have become concentrated by the environment.
Input impedance of voltage source converter with stationary frame linear current regulators and phase-locked loop

Small-signal stability in balanced three-phase systems can be analyzed using Generalized Nyquist stability Criterion (GNC), which is based on source and load impedances in synchronous rotating (d-q) frame. The derivation of d-q input impedance of controlled power electronics converters is relatively easy in the case that current controller is implemented in d-q reference frame, while the analysis in the case of stationary (α-β) reference frame controller is missing. This paper addresses such analysis for Active Front End (AFE) rectifier with different α-β frame linear current regulators, with a focus on the resonant controllers, and Phase-Locked Loop (PLL). A comparison in terms of input impedance of stationary and rotating frame current controller is also reported. Simulation and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed analysis.
Pro-poor growth in Indonesia: Challenging the pessimism of Myrdal's Asian Drama

This chapter addresses the unrelenting pessimism in Asian Drama about Indonesiaâ€™s development prospects. This pessimism was based on two key realities: the poor level of governance demonstrated by the Sukarno regime (partly a heritage of Dutch colonial policies) and the extreme poverty witnessed in rural areas.Using historical and modern data on the Indonesian economy, the chapter explains the policy approach that resulted in three decades of rapid, pro-poor growth during the Suharto regime.The Asian financial crisis in 1998 caused the Suharto regime to fall and introduced democratically elected governments. After a decade of stagnation, economic growth returned to the rapid rate seen during the first three decades of the Suharto regime, but it is no longer pro-poor. Â
HeatSpace: Automatic Placement of Displays by Empirical Analysis of User Behavior

We present HeatSpace, a system that records and empirically analyzes user behavior in a space and automatically suggests positions and sizes for new displays. The system uses depth cameras to capture 3D geometry and users' perspectives over time. To derive possible display placements, it calculates volumetric heatmaps describing geometric persistence and planarity of structures inside the space. It evaluates visibility of display poses by calculating a volumetric heatmap describing occlusions, position within users' field of view, and viewing angle. Optimal display size is calculated through a heatmap of average viewing distance. Based on the heatmaps and user constraints we sample the space of valid display placements and jointly optimize their positions. This can be useful when installing displays in multi-display environments such as meeting rooms, offices, and train stations.
Time Delay of Index Calculation: Analysis of Cerebral State, Bispectral, and Narcotrend Indices

Background: On the basis of electroencephalographic analysis, several parameters have been proposed as a measure of the hypnotic component of anesthesia. All currently available indices have different time lags to react to a change in the level of anesthesia. The aim of this study was to determine the latency of three frequently used indices: the Cerebral State Index (Danmeter, Odense, Denmark), the Bispectral Index (Aspect Medical Systems Inc., Newton, MA), and the Narcotrend Index (MonitorTechnik, Bad Bramstedt, Germany). Methods: Artificially generated signals were used to produce up to 14 constant index values per monitor that indicate “awake state,” “general anesthesia,” and “deep anesthesia” and smaller steps in between. The authors simulated loss of and return to consciousness by changing between the artificial electroencephalographic signals in a full-step and two stepwise approaches and measured the time necessary to adapt the indices to the particular input signal. Results: Time delays between 14 and 155 s were found for all indices. These delays were not constant. Results were different for decreasing and increasing values and between the full-step and the stepwise approaches. Calculation time depended on the particular starting and target index value. Conclusions: The time delays of the tested indices may limit their value in prevention of recall of intraoperative events. Furthermore, different latencies for decreasing and increasing values may indicate a limitation of these monitors for pharmacodynamic studies.
Mortality in relation to urinary and faecal incontinence in elderly people living at home.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between incontinence and mortality in elderly people living at home. DESIGN Of the randomly selected people aged 65 years and older living in Settsu city, Osaka in October 1992, 1405 were contacted and constituted the study cohort. Follow-up for 42 months was completed for 1318 (93.8%; 1129 alive, 189 dead). MEASURES Data on general health status, history of health management, psychosocial conditions and urinary and faecal incontinence were collected by interview during home visits at the time of enrolment. RESULTS From the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated survival rates decreased with a decline in continence in both the 65-74 and 75 years and older age groups. From the Cox proportional hazards model, unadjusted hazard ratios of minor, moderate and severe incontinence for mortality, compared with continence, were 2.27, 2.96 and 5.94, respectively. Multivariate analysis yielded adjusted hazard ratios of minor, moderate and severe incontinence of 0.99, 1.17 and 1.91, respectively, leaving severe incontinence as the significant factor, when other indicators are controlled. CONCLUSIONS Incontinence is related to mortality and severe incontinence represents an increased risk factor for mortality in elderly people living at home.
Cancer surveillance series: interpreting trends in prostate cancer--part III: Quantifying the link between population prostate-specific antigen testing and recent declines in prostate cancer mortality.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to investigate the circumstances under which dissemination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, beginning in 1988, could plausibly explain the declines in prostate cancer mortality observed from 1992 through 1994. METHODS We developed a computer simulation model by use of information on population-based PSA testing patterns, cancer detection rates, average lead time (the time by which diagnosis is advanced by screening), and projected decreased risk of death associated with early diagnosis of prostate cancer through PSA testing. The model provides estimates of the number of deaths prevented by PSA testing for the 7-year period from 1988 through 1994 and projects what prostate cancer mortality for these years would have been in the absence of PSA testing. RESULTS Results were generated by assuming a level of screening efficacy similar to that hypothesized for the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Under this assumption, the projected mortality in the absence of PSA testing continued the increasing trend observed before 1991 only when it was assumed that the mean lead time was 3 years or less. Projected mortality trends in the absence of PSA screening were not consistent with pre-1991 increasing trends for lead times of 5 years and 7 years. CONCLUSIONS When screening is assumed to be at least as efficacious as hypothesized in the PLCO trial, it is unlikely that the entire decline in prostate cancer mortality can be explained by PSA testing based on current beliefs concerning lead time. Only very short lead times would produce a decline in mortality of the magnitude that has been observed.
Online platforms to teach Nutrition Education to children: a non-systematic review.

INTRODUCTION Childhood obesity is now considered a worldwide problem. Nutrition Education (NE) has been identified as a key factor in preventing overweight and obesity in children. In recent years, there has been an increase in the interest in innovative ways to teach this knowledge to children, mainly through the use of the Internet. OBJECTIVE Review and analyze the available evidence about programs focused on NE for children through the use of the Internet. RESULTS Three different ways were found to deliver NE over the Internet to children: platforms designed to communicate with other peers or professionals; platforms designed to provide NE through the contents included in the web tool; and platforms designed to provide NE through the contents included in the web tool and automated feedback. Most of these programs were effective in achieving the objectives established. CONCLUSION Although the use of Internet platforms to teach NE to children has been shown to be effective, the amount of evidence is still scarce. Some of the main advantages the Internet provides are: the opportunity to put the children in contact with education and health professionals; children can keep a record of the food consumed; and it is a more attractive and interesting way for children to learn NE, compared to traditional methods.
Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in early stage gastric cancer. A comparison between intestinal‐ and diffuse‐type gastric adenocarcinomas

Background. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection has been suggested to be a risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. However, those previous studies have been concerned with advanced cancer cases. To the authors' knowledge, no detailed investigation on the prevalence of H pylori in early stage gastric cancer tissue has been performed. The relationship between early stage gastric cancer and the prevalence of H pylori was studied by a immunohistochemical staining analysis.