Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Victim Age and Gender Crossover Among Sex Offenders

Some child molesters abuse children of both genders. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between gender crossover and victim age. The authors hypothesized that offenders who molested children of both genders would be more likely to have very young victims and that offenders who molested very young children would be more likely to abuse children of both sexes than offenders with older victims. The sample consisted of 362 sex offenders being considered for civil commitment as sexually violent predators in Florida. Data were collected from file reviews. The relationship between victim age and gender crossover was examined using chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The proportion of offenders with victims of both genders significantly increased as the victims' ages decreased, and sex offenders with preschool-age victims were most likely to have abused both boys and girls. A sex offender with a victim 6 years of age or younger had more than 3 times the odds of having perpetrated sex crimes against both genders than a sex offender with only older victims. Sex offenders with victims of both genders had more than 3 times the odds of having preschool victims. The presence of a major mental illness increased the odds of gender crossover more than threefold. Pedophilia increased the odds of having victims younger than 6 more than 11-fold. Implications for practice are discussed.
Miniaturizing bromodeoxyuridine incorporation enables the usage of flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis of adherent tissue culture cells for high throughput screening

Analysis of cell cycle progression by 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation is commonly used for evaluating the mode of action of anticancer drugs, but usually requires a high number of cells and large amounts of monoclonal antibodies. In addition, manual sample handling is not suitable for high throughput. To circumvent these limitations, we have developed a miniaturized method to measure BrdU incorporation into DNA directly in 96‐wells plates. Adherent cells were grown in 96‐well plates in the absence or presence of compounds of interest. After BrdU pulse labeling or pulse chase, cells were harvested, transferred to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) V‐bottom plates, and fixed by adding methanol. DNA denaturation was performed directly in the plates by heat using a PCR thermocycler. BrdU incorporation was detected by indirect immunocytochemical staining, and cellular DNA was counterstained using propidium iodide. Samples were acquired by a BD FACSCalibur with BD Multiwells Auto sampler or BD HTS. We defined a dynamic range of the optimal cell number, for which cells maintained exponential growth up to 72 h. The assay was robust up to 30,000 cells per well. BrdU dot plots of cell cycle phases showed an excellent separation of cell populations, and DNA histograms showed a low coefficient of variation. Thermal denaturation was suitable for 96‐well plates to detect BrdU incorporation with a good signal‐to‐noise ratio, and cluster analysis allowed fingerprint readouts for drug sensitivity and mechanism of action as exemplified for paclitaxel and doxorubicin. This method provided rapid high‐throughput BrdU/DNA content analysis with high accuracy and reproducibility, accompanied by a reduction in reagent consumption. A critical step was identified as the standardization of DNA denaturation using a PCR thermocycler. Here,we show some applications of this method for cell cycle studies in drug discovery. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
TT virus levels in the plasma of infected individuals with different hepatic and extrahepatic pathology

TT virus (TTV) infection is extremely widespread in the general population. A sensitive real‐time PCR assay was developed that quantitated accurately the most prevalent TTV genotypes in Italy. When used to test 217 individuals for TTV viraemia, the overall prevalence was 94%. Viraemia levels varied widely amongst individual subjects, with no major differences related to gender or age. The highest TTV titres were in haemophiliacs and in patients with non‐A–E hepatitis, but they did not differ from the group with miscellaneous diseases. HIV‐ and HCV‐infected subjects and patients with primary liver diseases had TTV loads similar to those of healthy individuals. J. Med. Virol. 63:189–195, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Facial expression recognition using LBP and LPQ based on Gabor wavelet transform

In this paper, a novel facial expression recognition method using local binary pattern (LBP) and local phase quantization (LPQ) based on Gabor face image is proposed. To capture the salient visual properties, the Gabor filter is firstly adopted to extract features of the face image among five scales and eight orientations. Then the Gabor image is encoded by the LBP operator and LPQ operator, respectively. Two-stage principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) approach are used to reduce the dimension of the fused feature combined by the Gabor LBP feature and Gabor LPQ feature. In the experiment, the classification is done by the multi-class SVM classifiers based on the Japanese female facial expression (JAFFE) database. The result shows that the proposed method outperforms many other approaches in this paper in terms of accuracy.
QoE-aware elasticity support in cloud-native 5G systems

Typically, maintaining static pool of cloud resources to meet peak requirements with good service quality makes the cloud infrastructure costly. To cope with this, this paper proposes an approach that enables a cloud-infrastructure to automatically and dynamically scale-up or scale-down resources of a virtualized environment aiming for efficient resource utilization and improved quality of experience (QoE) of the offered services. The QoE-aware approach ensures a truly elastic infrastructure, capable of handling sudden load surges while reducing resource and management costs. The paper also discusses the applicability of the proposed approach within the ETSI NFV MANO framework for cloud-based 5G mobile systems.
Alteration of AKAP220, an upstream component of the Rb pathway, in oral carcinogenesis

Few genes have been implicated in the development of oral cancer. In our study, we identified a novel gene in the Rb pathway that is frequently altered and overexpressed in oral tumors. Significantly, the alteration is also associated with early oral premalignant lesions (OPLs). This region was identified through a genomewide scan using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR of 40 microdissected oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Recurrent gain of a ∼400 bp signal was observed in multiple patients. This gain was localized to 13q14.11, a region frequently altered in multiple cancer types. Through microsatellite analysis, a 1.9 Mbp minimal region of alteration (MRA) was defined between D13S263 and D13S1227. Allelic imbalance (AI) in the MRA was present in only 28% of low‐grade dysplasia, but strikingly increased with progression to 64% in high‐grade dysplasia, plateauing at 61% in tumors, thus implicating this alteration in the early stages of disease development. Of the 3 genes residing within the MRA, Receptor Activator of NK‐kappa‐B Ligand (RANKL) and Diacylglycerol Kinase (DGKH) showed no change in expression levels in tumors compared to normal tissue. In contrast, 12 of 16 tumors showed significant overexpression of A‐Kinase Anchoring Protein 220 (AKAP220). Since AKAP220 plays a role in regulating the Rb pathway, its dysregulation may contribute significantly to alterations in cell cycle regulation that facilitate progression of OPLs. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Native oxide and optical constant determination of InP lattice-matched quaternary materials using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry

Quaternary materials lattice-matched to InP have been examined using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). The optical constants of InGaAsP and InAlGaAs, lattice-matched to InP with bandgaps of 1.2eV, have been determined. The native oxide layer of the materials was simulated using a weighted Bruggeman effective medium approximation (EMA) approach comprising the known optical constants of the native oxides of the end-point materials. The extracted optical constants from VASE measurements are compared with interpolated values from literature data, in order to assess the effectiveness of such an approach for quaternary alloys. Additionally, the absorption coefficients of InGaAsP and InAlGaAs are compared, the results of which can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of both material systems in high efficiency multijunction (MJ) photovoltaic (PV) devices.
How HR can create competitive advantage for the firm: Applying the principles of resource-based theory

This paper aims to demonstrate the practical application of resource-based theory to the work of HR practitioners and to show how employees can be a direct source of competitive advantage for the firm. ,The popular models of competitive strategy seem to reduce employees to invisible units of production – an inconsequential, undifferentiated mass. Even criticisms of Porter’s model do not appear to notice that he forgot about the workers. The idea that a firm’s internal resources, especially its employees, could play a part in generating competitive advantage is not considered. This is despite a great deal of scholarly research demonstrating that employees do not just contribute to competitive advantage; they can themselves be a direct source of competitive advantage. ,This paper is valuable to HR practitioners, HR consultants, organizational development specialists and strategic planners.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors, methotrexate or both? An inquiry into the formal evidence for when they are to be used in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE The relative high cost and potential side effects mandate careful scrutiny as to when tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) inhibitors should be used in everyday practice. We surveyed how TNF inhibitors performed in randomized controlled trials when compared to methotrexate in methotrexate naive rheumatoid arthritis patients. METHODS We identified all randomized controlled trials with TNF inhibitors and methotrexate. We surveyed A-whether the patients enrolled were methotrexate naive or not; B-efficacy outcomes and C-radiographic outcomes. RESULTS Four studies that had been reported to be conducted among metho-trexate naive patients were identified. TEMPO trial was not done entirely in methotrexate naive patients, contrary to what has been reported by its authors. Among these studies the methotrexate naive arms did as well as the TNF inhibitor alone. The combination was better than either drug alone. Among the 6 studies in which the methotrexate failure patients had been enrolled, the TNF inhibitors always performed better when analyzed head to head with the methotrexate alone arms. CONCLUSIONS Available data indicate that TNF inhibitors are superior to solo methotrexate use only in the setting of combination treatment.
The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in people with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) for classification. METHODS People with psoriasis were identified from the computerized morbidity indices of 2 large UK general practices, total population 22,500. Questionnaires were mailed to all 633 patients thus identified. Of the respondents, a 50% sample was assessed clinically and a proportion had blood samples and radiographs taken. Patients labeled as having psoriasis were also cross-referenced with a local secondary care morbidity index for PsA and rheumatoid arthritis. Figures for the prevalence of PsA were estimated from these data. RESULTS One hundred sixty-eight questionnaires were returned (response rate 27%) and 93 people (55% of questionnaire respondents) were examined. Of these 93 people, 12 (4 of whom were cross-referenced to the hospital database) were thought to have PsA clinically, all fulfilling the CASPAR criteria for PsA. Six of the 93 examined patients did not have psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis and had no historical features or clinical signs of psoriasis on interview and examination. Extrapolating from the data of those people actually examined, the estimated (corrected) prevalence was 13.8% (95% confidence interval 7.1-24.1%). CONCLUSION The estimated prevalence of PsA in this population, using the CASPAR criteria, was 13.8%. Misclassification of psoriasis and arthritis, and response bias, indicate that this is probably an overestimate.
Combined treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and dexamethasone phosphate‐containing liposomes improves neurological outcome and restricts lesion progression after embolic stroke in rats

Variable efficacies have been reported for glucocorticoid drugs as anti‐inflammatory treatment after stroke. We applied an alternative drug delivery strategy, by injection of dexamethasone phosphate‐containing liposomes in combination with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), in an experimental stroke model, and tested the hypothesis that this approach improves behavioral recovery and reduces lesion growth. Rats were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion with a blood clot. After 2 h, animals were intravenously injected with rtPA plus empty long‐circulating liposomes (LCL), free dexamethasone phosphate (DXP), or DXP‐containing LCL (LCL‐DXP). Neurological status was evaluated with different behavioral tests up to 7 days after stroke. Lesion development was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging of tissue and perfusion parameters from 0–2 h until 7 days after stroke. Expression of brain inflammatory markers was measured with RT‐PCR at post‐stroke day 7. Treatment with rtPA plus LCL‐DXP resulted in significantly improved behavioral outcome as compared to treatment with rtPA plus empty LCL or free DXP. Acute and final brain lesion sizes were comparable between treatment groups; however a predictive algorithm revealed a significantly larger salvaged tissue area after treatment with LCL‐DXP. We conclude that delivery of dexamethasone phosphate via LCL in combination with rtPA‐induced thrombolysis can significantly improve outcome after stroke. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging‐based predictive algorithms provide a sensitive means to measure treatment effects on lesion development.
Hyperreflexia in Guillain-Barré syndrome: relation with acute motor axonal neuropathy and anti-GM1 antibody

OBJECTIVES To investigate the incidence of hyperreflexia in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and its relation with electrodiagnosis of acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), antiganglioside GM1 antibody, and Campylobacter jejuni infection. It was reported that patients with AMAN in northern China often had hyperreflexia in the recovery phase. METHODS In 54 consecutive Japanese patients with GBS, sequential findings of tendon reflexes were reviewed. By electrodiagnostic criteria, patients were classified as having AMAN or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). Anti-GM1 and anti-C jejuni antibodies were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Seven (13%) patients developed hyperreflexia with the spread of the myotatic reflex to other segments in the early recovery phase, one of whom already had hyperreflexia in the acute progressive phase. Of the seven patients, six had AMAN and all seven had anti-GM1 antibodies, whereas only two had anti-C jejuni antibodies. Hyperreflexia was more often found in patients with AMAN than AIDP (6/23v 1/18, p=0.002), and in patients with anti-GM1 antibodies than without them (7/26v 0/28, p=0.01). Hyperreflexic patients had milder peak disabilities than patients without hyperreflexia (p=0.03). Increased motor neuron excitability in the hyperreflexic patients was supported by increased soleus H-reflex amplitudes and the appearance of H-reflexes in the small hand or foot muscles. CONCLUSIONS Hyperreflexia often occurs in patients with GBS especially with AMAN, anti-GM1 antibodies, and milder disease. Increased motor neuron excitability further characterises the subgroup of patients with GBS with AMAN and anti-GM1 antibodies.
Renminbi Undervaluation and the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Balance

This paper examines the impact of the fixed exchange rate policy and the undervaluation of the Chinese currency (Renminbi) on the U.S.-China bilateral trade balance. Due to China’s fixed exchange rate policy during the last decade, many have suspected that the Renminbi has been undervalued, and that this undervaluation has contributed to the expansion of the U.S. trade deficit. Based on previous studies, the first part of this paper explores Chinese economic policy and the possible consequences of the fixed exchange rate and the undervaluation of the Renminbi. The second part of the paper examines the following through empirical analysis: (1) the misalignment of the Renminbi through the behavioral equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) approach, (2) the relationship between the real exchange rate of the Renminbi and the U.S.-China bilateral trade balance and (3) the relationship between the undervaluation and the US bilateral trade deficit with China. The results indicate that the undervaluation of the Renminbi is neither substantial nor permanent. Moreover, the devalued Renminbi does not significantly increase China’s trade surplus with the United States. The U.S. bilateral trade deficit with China is not permanently adversely affected by Renminbi undervaluation. Table of
A 2×2, 316 GHz SiGe scalable transmitter array with novel phase locking method and on-die antennas

We demonstrate a fully integrated 2×2 SiGe transmitter array at 316 GHz. A novel method is introduced to phase-lock the high frequency signal sources without any additional circuitry. This method suppresses the other possible oscillatory modes automatically. The power of the locked signal sources are combined in the air by the 2×2 on-chip antenna array which are fed with the locked sources. This array is scalable to larger sizes in the same layout style. This array transmitter utilizes Colpitts oscillators as high frequency signal sources; however, this method can be applied to any other oscillator architecture to perform the frequency and phase locking. The frequency of this transmitter follows the simple equations for a single Colpitts oscillator, thereby facilitating the design of the circuit.
A loosely synchronous-coded OFDM system for power-line communications in home networks

High-speed data communication is critical for home networks to support the increasing needs of online multimedia entertainment. Power-line communication (PLC) presents a 'no new wires' solution for home networks. However, power line is a troublesome and noisy platform for home networks. And the traditional approach with PLC is interference-limited and has a small bandwidth. In this paper we propose a new scheme of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) to provide better noise-limited PLC networks. This schema is based on loosely synchronous (LS) codes with very nice correlations. Construction criteria of LS codes used in the proposed system are provided and discussed. The capacity properties and spectral efficiency of LS coded OFDM systems over PLC channels are also studied in this paper. We show that the proposed LS coded OFDM can efficiently achieve the diversity provided by power line channels. Such a schema can be employed in PLC to increase data throughput, system capacity and spectral efficiency in home networks
Movement disorders associated with the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors.

BACKGROUND To review the case reports and case series of movement disorders ascribed to the use of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHOD Reports of SSRI-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in the literature were located using a MEDLINE search and review of bibliographies. RESULTS Among the 71 cases of SSRI-induced EPS reported in the literature, the most common side effect was akathisia (45.1%), followed by dystonia (28.2%), parkinsonism (14.1%), and tardive dyskinesia-like states (11.3%). Among patients with Parkinson's disease treated with SSRIs, there were 16 cases of worsening parkinsonism. Patients who developed dystonia, parkinsonism, or tardive dyskinesia were older on average than patients with akathisia; 67.6% of affected patients were females. Fluoxetine, the most commonly prescribed SSRI to date, was implicated in 53 (74.6%) of cases of SSRI-induced EPS. Several reports (57.7%) were confounded by the concomitant use of other medications that can contribute to the development of EPS. CONCLUSION SSRI-induced EPS are probably related to agonism of serotonergic input to dopaminergic pathways within the CNS. Several patient-dependent and pharmacokinetic variables may determine the likelihood that EPS will emerge. Although these side effects are infrequent, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of their occurrence.
Spermatogonial stem cells in the albino rat.

The existence of two classes of spermatogonial stem cells in the rat testis, i.e., reserve type A0 spermatogonia and renewing, types A1-A4 spermatogonia, postulated by Clermont and Bustos-Obregon ('68), was reexamined in a quantitative analysis of type A spermatogonia in both whole mounts of tubules and in radioautographed sections of testes from animals killed at various times, up to 26 days, after one or multiple injections of 3-H-thymidine. The cell counts obtained from whole mounts of tubules revealed that the number of isolated type A0 cells per unit area of limiting membrane remained constant throughout the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Paired type A0 spermatogonia also remained unchanged in number per unit area of basement membrane from stage I to stage VIII of the cycle. The low mitotic index of type A0 spermatogonia (0.1%) indicated that these cells were not actively involved in the production of spermatogonia or spermatocytes during each cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and thus were considered as reserve stem cells. The type A1 spermatogonia, which are formed during stage I of the cycle, remained resting until stage IX, when they undertook a series of four successive divisions resulting in the production of new type A1 and Intermediate-type spermatogonia. An analysis of the labeling indices of type A spermatogonia obtained from cell counts in radioautographed testicular sections after a single or multiple 3-H-thymidine injections indicated that the percentages of labeled type A cells corresponded to the percentages of type A1-A4 at each stage, whereas the percentages of unlabeled type A cells corresponded to the percentages of type A0 spermatogonia obtained from counts of cells in whole mounts. This confirmed that type A0 cells were generally non-proliferative throughout the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium while the type A1-A4 spermatogonia underwent complete renewal during each cycle. The present results thus support the concept of the existence of two classes of spermatogonial stem cells in rats.