Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and the risk of head and neck cancer: A case‐control analysis

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) have been associated with a reduced risk for certain cancers. We explored the association between use of NSAIDs and the risk of head and neck cancer (HNC). We conducted a case‐control analysis in the UK‐based Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) among people below the age of 90 years with incident HNC between 1995 and 2013. Six controls per case were matched on age, sex, calendar time, general practice, and number of years of active history in the CPRD prior to the HNC diagnosis. Other potential confounders including comorbidities and comedication were also evaluated, and we adjusted our final analyses for BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption. Our analyses included 2,745 HNC cases and 16,470 controls. Aspirin or NSAID use overall did not significantly change the HNC risk. However, patients with six or more prescriptions for ibuprofen were at a statistically significantly reduced risk for HNC (adjusted OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37–0.94). The HNC risk tended to decrease with increasing cumulative exposure to ibuprofen, and to be more pronounced for cancer of the larynx. To conclude, in this large population‐based observational study we found a decreased risk for HNC associated with regular use of ibuprofen.
Investigation of Organic Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells from Optical Aspect

Low in cost, light in weight and flexible in mechanics, the solution-processed organic solar cells have aroused worldwide interest and have been the promising alternative to the tradi‐ tional silicon-based solar cells [1-4]. However, they are still not available for the commercial‐ ization due to their low power conversion efficiency (PCE). Therefore, many research works have focused on the employing of new materials and device structures to improve the de‐ vice performance. The milestone is the introduction and application of the bulk heterojunc‐ tion structure consisting of an interpenetrating network of electron donor and acceptor materials [5]. By using this structure, the conventional organic solar cell (OSC) with poly(3hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) blend shows a su‐ perior performance. Recently, the inverted organic solar cell (IOSC, in which the polarities of the two electrodes are exchanged) has also been introduced as the possible candidate for OSC to remedy the low air stability of OSC [6]. Both OSC and IOSC are now attracting the research interest. However, most of the previous works are mainly done for OSC or IOSC separately, and almost no researches are reported about the systemic comparison between OSC and IOSC for their different performances besides the air stability. Since the reported PCE of IOSC is relatively lower than that of OSC in many researches, one may doubt that which structure is better, the conventional one or the inverted one? As a result, one section of this chapter aims to investigate the performance differences of OSC and IOSC.
Molecular Markers of Response to Treatment for Melanoma

A large number of agents are currently in development for patients with metastatic melanoma. Potent small molecule inhibitors of mutant BRAF and the immunotherapy agent ipilimumab have demonstrated promising clinical activity and will likely change the standard of care in the future. However, only a fraction of patients currently receive durable benefit from immune therapies, and despite initial high response rates, resistance to the small molecule targeted agents eventually develops. Substantial opportunities exist for developing biomarkers that will lead to improved combinations and to choices for therapy after progression on a prior targeted agent. Development of clinically useful predictive biomarkers in tumor or blood has been particularly difficult for the immune therapies, owing to the complexity of interactions between tumor and host that impact on anti-tumor immune responses. In the setting of multiple active agents, and none capable of producing long-lasting benefit in most patients, it will be critical to develop assays to match individual patients with the treatment or treatments most likely to be effective to produce the greatest benefit in the overall population.
[Effects of allitridum on rapidly delayed rectifier potassium current in HEK293 cell line].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of allitridum on rapidly delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) in HEK293 cell line. METHODS HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with HERG channel cDNA plasmid pcDNA3.1 via Lipofectamine. Allitridum was added to the extracellular solution by partial perfusion after giga seal at the final concentration of 30 µmol/L. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the HERG currents and gating kinetics before and after allitridum exposure at room temperature. RESULTS The amplitude and density of IHERG were both suppressed by allitridum in a voltage-dependent manner. In the presence of allitridum, the peak current of IHERG was reduced from 73.5∓4.3 pA/pF to 42.1∓3.6 pA/pF at the test potential of +50 mV (P<0.01). Allitridum also concentration-dependently decreased the density of the IHERG. The IC50 of allitridum was 34.74 µmol/L with a Hill coefficient of 1.01. Allitridum at 30 µmol/L caused a significant positive shift of the steady-state activation curve of IHERG and a markedly negative shift of the steady-state inactivation of IHERG, and significantly shortened the slow time constants of IHERG deactivation. CONCLUSION Allitridum can potently block IHERG in HEK293 cells, which might be the electrophysiological basis for its anti-arrhythmic action.
Improved Evolutionary Extreme Learning Machines Based on Particle Swarm Optimization and Clustering Approaches

Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a new learning method for single-hidden layer feedforward neural network (SLFN) training. ELM approach increases the learning speed by means of randomly generating input weights and biases for hidden nodes rather than tuning network parameters, making this approach much faster than traditional gradient-based ones. However, ELM random generation may lead to non-optimal performance. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique was introduced as a stochastic search through an n-dimensional problem space aiming the minimization (or the maximization) of the objective function of the problem. In this paper, two new hybrid approaches are proposed based on PSO to select input weights and hidden biases for ELM. Experimental results show that the proposed methods are able to achieve better generalization performance than traditional ELM in real benchmark datasets.
Short form 36 (SF36) health survey questionnaire: normative data for adults of working age.

OBJECTIVES--To gain population norms for the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36) in a large community sample and to explore the questionnaire's internal consistency and validity. DESIGN--Postal survey by using a booklet containing the SF36 and several other items concerned with lifestyles and illness. SETTING--The sample was drawn from computerised registers of the family health services authorities for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire. SAMPLE--13,042 randomly selected subjects aged 18-64 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Scores for the eight health dimensions of the SF36. RESULTS--The survey achieved a response rate of 72% (n = 9332). Internal consistency of the different dimensions of the questionnaire was high. Normative data broken down by age, sex, and social class were consistent with those from previous studies. CONCLUSIONS--The SF36 is a potentially valuable tool in medical research. The normative data provided here may further facilitate its validation and use.
Fast Measurement and Reconstruction of Large Workpieces with Freeform Surfaces by Combining Local Scanning and Global Position Data

In this paper, we propose a new approach for the measurement and reconstruction of large workpieces with freeform surfaces. The system consists of a handheld laser scanning sensor and a position sensor. The laser scanning sensor is used to acquire the surface and geometry information, and the position sensor is utilized to unify the scanning sensors into a global coordinate system. The measurement process includes data collection, multi-sensor data fusion and surface reconstruction. With the multi-sensor data fusion, errors accumulated during the image alignment and registration process are minimized, and the measuring precision is significantly improved. After the dense accurate acquisition of the three-dimensional (3-D) coordinates, the surface is reconstructed using a commercial software piece, based on the Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) surface. The system has been evaluated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using reference measurements provided by a commercial laser scanning sensor. The method has been applied for the reconstruction of a large gear rim and the accuracy is up to 0.0963 mm. The results prove that this new combined method is promising for measuring and reconstructing the large-scale objects with complex surface geometry. Compared with reported methods of large-scale shape measurement, it owns high freedom in motion, high precision and high measurement speed in a wide measurement range.
The germinal matrices in the developing dentate gyrus are composed of neuronal progenitors at distinct differentiation stages

Background: Differentiation of granule cells (GCs) begins from late embryonic stage in the developing dentate gyrus (DG). Migration of the neurogenic stem cells and progenitors in the developing DG makes understanding of the DG morphogenesis difficult. The proliferative area in the developing DG was divided into the three germinal matrices (GMs). However, the stage of the progenitor cells in each GM along the GC differentiation process is not clear. Results: Here, we extensively compared expression of neurogenic transcription factors (TFs) of which sequential expression in the neocortical development and the adult DG neurogenesis was reported. The GC differentiation marked by Prox1 expression takes place from embryonic day 16.5 in the tertiary GM. Although neurogenesis in each GM basically proceeds along the radial axis of the forming GC layer, cells expressing stem cell markers were observed intermingling with NeuroD/Prox1 expressing differentiated cells in the tertiary GM at postnatal day 5, and gradually restricted in the subgranular zone as the development went on. Conclusions: We describe expression pattern of neurogenic TFs during DG development, which suggests conserved sequential expression of TFs in the GC lineage, and spatiotemporal relationships of GC differentiation and DG morphogenesis during embryonic and early postnatal periods. Developmental Dynamics 242:1442–1453, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High-efficiency switching strategy and neutral-point voltage control in single-phase three-level inverter

To improve the efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) system using the three-level inverter, PV modules are separately connected to the DC-links. However, in this connection, the output current distortion can be caused by the unbalanced neutral-point voltage. Then, total efficiency is decreased. This paper proposes a high-efficiency switching strategy and a method for the neutral-point voltage control for a single-phase three-level inverter. In the single-phase three-level inverter, this switching method increases efficiency by reducing switch loss. In addition, the proposed method is implemented by changing space vector and modifying the reference voltages to control the neutral-point voltage. As a result, efficiency of the PV system is increased. The proposed method is proven by the simulation results.
Depressive symptoms and adherence to asthma therapy after hospital discharge.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of depressive symptoms on adherence to therapy after discharge in patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbations. DESIGN Prospective cohort study in which depressive symptoms were assessed during hospitalization and use of asthma medications was electronically monitored for 2 weeks after discharge. SETTING Inner-city academic hospital in Baltimore, MD. PATIENTS Patients were 59 adults with a mean age of 43.2 +/- 10.9 years (+/- SD), who were mostly female (64%), African American (80%), and were hospitalized for an asthma exacerbation. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Electronic monitors were used to evaluate inhaled corticosteroid and oral corticosteroid use for up to 2 weeks after discharge. Forty-one percent of patients had high levels of depressive symptoms. Mean adherence to therapy was significantly lower in patients with (vs without) high levels of depressive symptoms (60 +/- 26% vs 74 +/- 21%, p + 0.02). Even after controlling for age, gender, and education, depressive symptoms were a significant and independent predictor of poorer adherence. High levels of depressive symptoms were associated with a 11.4-fold increase (95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 58.2) in the odds of poor adherence to therapy after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms are common in inner-city adults hospitalized for asthma exacerbations and identify a subset of patients at high risk for poor adherence to asthma therapy after discharge. Further research is needed to determine if screening for and treating depression improves adherence and asthma outcomes in this population.
Maternal and Paternal Lines of Familial Longevity

Westendorp R.G. J., Kirkwood T.B. L. - Maternal and Paternal Lines of Familial Longevity ; To investigate factors contributing to heritability of human longevity, we analysed associations between parent and offspring life spans in an historical data set from the British aristocracy. The data set spanned the period from 700 to 1875 and included a total of 6,415 males and 2,441 females with information on the dates of birth and death of the individual and of both parents. The demographic transition towards increased life spans began in this population around 1700. In the period between 700 and 1700, we found that the probability of longevity of men but not women was dependent on longevity of the parents, espe- ; cially the father. The probability of men and to a lesser extent women haying a long life was dependent on longevity of their spouses, indicating the positive influence of favourable environmental conditions on the chance of reaching old age. In the later period (1701-1875), after adjusting for environmental conditions, longevity of women and to a lesser extent men was dependent on their mothers. Longevity of women was also dependent on their fathers. These patterns suggest hypotheses about how longevity is genetically transmitted.
Equilibrium Price Dispersion: A Model of Intermediated Search with Repeated Interaction

This thesis develops a model in which homogeneous producers and merchants interact repeatedly in a search market. Merchants are able to reduce the cost of search by offering trading certainty to producers with whom they have a preexisting relationship. Equilibria are characterised in Markov strategies, and it is found that pricedispersed equilibria exist in asymmetric strategies. Conditions in which a price-dispersed equilibrium can be welfare improving compared to a single-price equilibrium are found, and two extensions to the basic model are provided. ∗I thank Abhijit Sengupta and Vladimir Smirnov for their supervision and help with this thesis. I am also grateful to John Cusbert, David Quach, Stephanie Button and Daniel Carter for their useful comments, as well as to Gautam Bose and the participants of the UNSW National Honours Colloquium. Special thanks go to Kunal Sengupta for his continued and helpful discussion and suggestions. †I can be contacted at tomcusbert@gmail.com.
Andrew Glassner's notebook - recreational computer graphics

Preface Chapter 1 - Solar Halos and Sun Dogs January & March 1996 Chapter 2 - Frieze Groups May 1996 Chapter 3 - Origami Polyhedra July & September 1996 Chapter 4 - Going the Distance January/February 1997 Chapter 5 - Situation Normal March/April 1997 Chapter 6 - Signs of Significance May/June 1997 Chapter 7 - Net Results July/August 1997 Chapter 8 - The Perils of Problematic Parameterization September/October 1997 Chapter 9 - Inside Moire Patterns November/December 1997 Chapter 10 - Upon Reflection Jaunuary/February Chapter 11 - Circular Reasoning March/April 1998 Chapter 12 - Aperiodic Tiling May/June & July/August 1998 Chapter 13 - Know When to Fold September/October 1998 Chapter 14 - The Triangular Manuscripts November/December 1998 Chapter 15 - Polygons Under the Covers January/February 1999 Chapter 16 - String Crossings March/April 1999 Index
Do age‐specific survival patterns of wild boar fit current evolutionary theories of senescence?

Actuarial senescence is widespread in age‐structured populations. In growing populations, the progressive decline of Hamiltonian forces of selection with age leads to decreasing survival. As actuarial senescence is overcompensated by a high fertility, actuarial senescence should be more intense in species with high reproductive effort, a theoretical prediction that has not been yet explicitly tested across species. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) females have an unusual life‐history strategy among large mammals by associating both early and high reproductive effort with potentially long lifespan. Therefore, wild boar females should show stronger actuarial senescence than similar‐sized related mammals. Moreover, being polygynous and much larger than females, males should display higher senescence rates than females. Using a long‐term monitoring (18 years) of a wild boar population, we tested these predictions. We provided clear evidence of actuarial senescence in both sexes. Wild boar females had earlier but not stronger actuarial senescence than similar‐sized ungulates. Both sexes displayed similar senescence rates. Our study indicates that the timing of senescence, not the rate, is associated with the magnitude of fertility in ungulates. This demonstrates the importance of including the timing of senescence in addition to its rate to understand variation in senescence patterns in wild populations.
The URBIS project: Vacant urban area classification and detection of changes

The Urban Land Recycling Information Services for Sustainable Cities (URBIS) project aims to identify and monitor the vacant and abandoned zones in large urban zones (LUZ). High resolution remotely sensed multispectral images will be employed along with the available in situ data to perform classification and multi-temporal change detection on European LUZ in order to facilitate urban redevelopment monitoring. The activity builds on the result of a previous Atlas project that produced high-resolution land use maps for 305 European LUZ and their surroundings (with population over 100.000 inhabitants). This paper focuses on the presentation of URBIS project objectives and scope, and the methodology applied by the research unit at the University of Genoa for classification and change detection of vacant urban zones performed within this project.
Validity and Reliability of the Garmin Vector Power Meter in Laboratory and Field Cycling

Abstract To assess the validity and reliability of the Garmin Vector against the SRM power meter, 6 cyclists completed 3 continuous trials at power outputs from 100–300 W at 50–90 rev·min−1 and a 5-min time trial in laboratory and field conditions. In field conditions only, a 30-s sprint was performed. Data were compared with paired samples t-tests, with the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and the typical error. Reliability was calculated as the coefficient of variation (CV). There was no significant difference between the devices in power output in laboratory (p=0.245) and field conditions (p=0.312). 1-s peak power was significantly different between the devices (p=0.043). The LoA were ~1.0±5.0 W and ~0.5±0.5 rev·min−1 in both conditions. The LoA during the 30-s sprint was 6.3±38.9 W and for 1-s peak power it was 18.8±17.1 W. The typical error for power output was 2.9%, while during sprint cycling it was 7.4% for 30-s and 2.7% for 1-s peak power. For cadence, the typical error was below 1.0%. The mean CVs were ~1.0% and ~3.0% for the SRM and Garmin, respectively. These findings suggest, that the Garmin Vector is a valid alternative for training. However, during sprint cycling there is lower agreement with the SRM power meter. Both devices provide good reliability (CV<3.0%).
Impact of Review-Set Selection on Human Assessment for Text Classification

In a laboratory study, human assessors were significantly more likely to judge the same documents as relevant when they were presented for assessment within the context of documents selected using random or uncertainty sampling, as compared to relevance sampling. The effect is substantial and significant [0.54 vs. 0.42, p<0.0002] across a population of documents including both relevant and non-relevant documents, for several definitions of ground truth. This result is in accord with Smucker and Jethani's SIGIR 2010 finding that documents were more likely to be judged relevant when assessed within low-precision versus high-precision ranked lists. Our study supports the notion that relevance is malleable, and that one should take care in assuming any labeling to be ground truth, whether for training, tuning, or evaluating text classifiers.
The consequences of category spanning depend on contrast

Recent research finds that producers assigned to multiple categories receive less attention and legitimacy and have lower chances of success and survival. We argue that the effect of category spanning on the reception from the audience depends on the fuzziness of the categories. When a set of categories lacks contrast (have very fuzzy boundaries), spanning them does not cause much additional confusion for the audience, thus the penalties associated with spanning ought to be slight. But, when the contrasts of the categories spanned are high, audience members will have difficulty interpreting the producer, so spanning categories will be devalued more. We study these processes using data from an online-review web site. Results show that audience members devalue organizations that span high-contrast categories more than those that span low-contrast categories. These effects are weaker for more active reviewers.
Practical structure layout optimization and advice

With the delta between processor clock frequency and memory latency ever increasing and with the standard locality improving transformations maturing, compilers increasingly seek to modify an application's data layout to improve spatial and temporal locality and to reduce cache miss and page fault penalties. In this paper, we describe a practical implementation of the data layout optimizations structure splitting, structure peeling, structure field reordering and dead field removal, both for profile and non-profile based compilations. We demonstrate significant performance gains, but find that automatic transformations fail for a relatively high number of record types because of legality violations or profitability constraints. Additionally, we find a class of desirable transformations for which the framework cannot provide satisfying results. To address this issue, we complement the automatic transformations with an advisory tool. We reuse the compiler analysis done for automatic transformation and correlate its results with performance data collected during runtime for structure fields, such as data cache misses and latencies. We then use the compiler as a performance analysis and reporting tool and provide insight into how to layout structure types more efficiently.