Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence rates of skin cancer in Townsville, Australia

Worldwide, incidence rates of skin cancer are increasing alarmingly in populations of predominantly Caucasian origin. A prospective population‐based survey, set up to collect epidemiological information on all excised and histologically confirmed skin cancers, started in Townsville, Australia (population of 127,000) in December 1996. Data on the anatomical distribution of skin cancer has been collected using a detailed body map. Estimations of type‐specific and site‐specific incidence rates were age‐standardized according to world standard population. Site‐specific incidence rates were adjusted for surface proportion of the body site and are given per 100,000 body units. Between December 1996 and December 1997, a total of 3,536 patients with 5,945 histologically confirmed skin cancer lesions were recorded. Age‐standardized incidence rates of basal cell carcinoma were 2,058.3 for men and 1,194.5 for women, 1,332.3 for men and 754.8 for women for squamous cell carcinoma, and 49.1 for men and 41.7 for women for cutaneous melanoma (CM). Site‐specific incidence rates of non‐melanocytic skin cancer were extreme on sun‐exposed areas of the face, whereas site‐specific incidence rates of CM were highest for neck, posterior trunk and face. Less exposed body sites, such as unexposed upper limbs or thighs, showed reduced incidence rates for all types of skin cancer. Tropical North Queensland has the world's highest incidence rates of skin cancer of all types. Site‐specific incidence rates demonstrate that highly sun‐exposed body sites are at high risk of developing skin cancer and provide, therefore, strong indirect evidence for the causal relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer. Int. J. Cancer 78:587–593, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Robust control of tonal reproduction curves for the xerographic system

This paper considers the robust control of tonal reproduction curves. By modeling the xerographic tonal reproduction curve (TRC) plant as a polytopic system, this paper proposes a controller design method with the fastest convergence speed. In order to further improve the performance on color consistency, we propose a controller design method by assigning the closed-loop poles in a sector region. Furthermore, finite time stabilization method is used for improving the transient behavior. Our controller designs are based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be computed efficiently. Simulation results are given to illustrate our result.
Power and consensus : an analysis and description of the nature of labour relations, with specific reference to labour disputes and their settlement in South African local authorities

The aim and intention of this thesis is to critically describe the theoretical and practical applications of labour relations practices in the public sector internationally and in South African local authorities. In particular, this objective involves a description of the following key themes: A background to labour relations theory, the role of parties to the labour relationship, the premises of labour relations, the causes of labour conflict, the processes of dispute resolution and settlement, and applied dispute settlement approaches. A literature survey highlights the key concepts and principle labour conflict resolution measures applied internationally. In South Africa the above-noted labour relations themes are examined by means of a standardised-schedule delphi questionnaire which addresses the approaches adopted and related concerns of all Grade 10-15 local authorities (as in 1992). This thesis highlights the desire to institutionalise labour conflict in. the organisation as a dynamic management concern. Findings indicate that in the public sector internationally labour relations are complicated by a number of unique environments, notably, the political, social, economic, legislative and the organisational environments, within which the organisation must function. Subsequently, applied practices are characterised by restrictive measures which limit the scope of fundamental labour rights, especially the right to associate, the right to bargairi and the right to strike. In this context, it is submitted that the use of power-driven processes, as commonly employed by public sector organisations, fail to institutionalise labour conflict effectively. This finding is based on the evidence of increasing labour disputes in this sector since the 1960's.
Design and characterization of a rotating brushless PM exciter for a synchronous generator test setup

This paper deals with the characterization and construction of a rotating brushless PM exciter intended for synchronous generator excitation purposes. Traditionally, PM exciters are used as pre-exciters in synchronous generator excitations systems. In order to reduce the number of components and to increase the step time response of the system, a PM exciter is designed as an outer pole PM machine, with permanent magnets on the stator and armature windings on the rotor. The exciter was constructed electrically and mechanically to be fitted into an in-house synchronous generator test setup. A finite element model of the exciter was validated with no-load measurements of voltages and magnetic flux densities. The exciter was then characterized with unsaturated and saturated parameters.
ASH and NASH

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) have a similar pathogenesis and histopathology but a different etiology and epidemiology. NASH and ASH are advanced stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). NAFLD is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver (steatosis), without any other evident causes of chronic liver diseases (viral, autoimmune, genetic, etc.), and with an alcohol consumption ≤20–30 g/day. On the contrary, AFLD is defined as the presence of steatosis and alcohol consumption >20–30 g/day. The most common phenotypic manifestations of primary NAFLD/NASH are overweight/obesity, visceral adiposity, type 2 diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension. The prevalence of NAFLD in the general population in Western countries is estimated to be 25–30%. The prevalence and incidence of NASH and ASH are not known because of the impossibility of performing liver biopsy in the general population. Up to 90% of alcoholics have fatty liver, and 5–15% of these subjects will develop cirrhosis over 20 years. The risk of cirrhosis increases to 30–40% in those who continue to drink alcohol. About 10–35% of alcoholics exhibit changes on liver biopsy consistent with alcoholic hepatitis. Natural histories of NASH and ASH are not completely defined, even if patients with NASH have a reduced life expectancy due to liver-related death and cardiovascular diseases. The best treatment of AFLD/ASH is to stop drinking, and the most effective first-line therapeutic option for NAFLD/NASH is non-pharmacologic lifestyle interventions through a multidisciplinary approach including weight loss, dietary changes, physical exercise, and cognitive-behavior therapy.
Effects of an empowerment-based education program for public health nurses in Taiwan.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an empowerment-based education program (EBEP) on employee empowerment, job satisfaction, job productivity and innovative behaviours for public health nurses (PHN) in Taiwan. BACKGROUND Empowerment is an important consideration among nurses trying to function in ever-changing health care and education settings. Several studies focused on the trend of public health nursing revealed that PHN have experienced a severe feeling of powerlessness. Developing empowerment strategies through organisations may be a means of helping employees recognise powerlessness in difficult situations and take appropriate action. DESIGN Quasi-experimental design. METHODS PHN in two health bureaus in Taiwan were assigned into an empowerment group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 32). Twenty-four hours of the EBEP lasted four weeks included four empowerment classes and four group workshops following each curriculum for PHN to apply principles of empowerment in their work environment. Data were collected at baseline and four weeks after the intervention. Analysis of covariance (ancova) was used to examine the intervention effect. RESULTS The experimental group reported significantly higher psychological empowerment [F (1,47) = 5.09, MSE = 3.25, p = 0.001, eta(2) = 0.18] and competence [F (1,47) = 3.96, MSE = 28.78, p = 0.05, eta(2) = 0.22] and impact [F (1,47) = 4.98, MSE = 44.79, p = 0.002, eta(2) = 0.20] subscales, job productivity [F (1,47) = 4.88, MSE = 5.18, p = 0.002, eta(2) = 0.19] and innovative behaviours [F (1,47) = 5.09, MSE = 3.25, p = 0.001, eta(2) = 0.24] than the control group after the EBEP. CONCLUSION The EBEP had significant effect on psychological empowerment and subscales of competence and impact, innovative behaviour and job productivity but no effect on organisational empowerment and job satisfaction for PHN. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Our findings suggest public health administration could design empowerment-based education to improve employee empowerment and job productivity for PHN. Furthermore, using multiple components to design empowerment education should be considered in further studies.
Diet, reproductive factors and lung cancer risk among Chinese women in Singapore: Evidence for a protective effect of soy in nonsmokers

The factors associated with risk of lung cancer among nonsmokers have not been fully elucidated, but dietary factors have consistently been shown to play a role. Chinese women are unique in having a high incidence of lung cancer despite a low smoking prevalence. This population is also known to have a high intake of soy, a dietary source of phytoestrogens. We conducted a hospital‐based case‐control study among Singapore Chinese women, comprising 303 cases and 765 age‐matched controls, of whom 176 cases and 663 controls were lifetime nonsmokers. Data on demographic background, reproductive factors and dietary intake of fruit, vegetables and soy foods were obtained by in‐person interview. We observed an inverse association between intake of total, cruciferous and non‐cruciferous vegetables and risk of lung cancer among smokers. Although smokers in the highest tertile of fruit intake also had a lower risk, this was not statistically significant. Higher intake of soy foods significantly reduced risk of lung cancer among lifetime nonsmokers, but not among smokers. When soy isoflavonoid intake in mg/week was computed based on frequency and portion size of intake of eight common local soy foods, the adjusted OR among nonsmokers for the highest tertile compared to the lowest was 0.56, 95% CI 0.37–0.85 (p for trend <0.01). Fruit intake was also significantly associated with reduced lung cancer risk among nonsmokers, but the effect was not significant after adjustment for soy intake. On the other hand, soy intake remained an independent predictor of risk after controlling for fruit intake. Reproductive effects were also primarily confined to lifetime nonsmokers, among whom having 3 or more livebirths (adjusted OR 0.65, 0.44–0.96) and a menstrual cycle length of more than 30 days (OR 0.46, 0.25–0.84) accorded a significantly reduced risk of lung cancer. Place of birth was significantly associated with risk among nonsmokers (OR 2.6, 1.7–3.9 for China‐born vs. local born) but not among smokers. When analysis was restricted to nonsmokers with adenocarcinomas, the dietary effects were consistent or enhanced. On stepwise regression, soy intake and cycle length emerged as the independent dietary and reproductive predictors of lung cancer risk in nonsmokers. These findings are consistent with other evidence suggesting an involvement of estrogen‐related pathways in lung cancer among non‐smoking women. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unexpected role of surface transglutaminase type II in celiac disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS In celiac disease (CD), transglutaminase type II (TG2) has 2 fundamental roles: (1) as the autoantigen recognized by highly specific autoantibodies and (2) the modifier of pathogenic gliadin T-cell epitopes. It follows that inhibition of TG2 might represent an attractive strategy to curb the toxic action of gliadin. Here we studied the validity of this strategy using the organ culture approach. METHODS Duodenal biopsy specimens from 30 treated patients with CD, 33 untreated patients with CD, and 24 controls were cultured with or without gliadin peptides p31-43, palpha-9, and deamidated palpha-9 for 20 minutes, 3 hours, and 24 hours. In 31 patients with CD and 16 controls, TG2 inhibitor R283 or anti-TG CUB 7402 or anti-surface TG2 (6B9) mAbs were used in cultures. T84 cells were also cultured with or without peptides with or without TG inhibitors. Mucosal modifications after culture were assessed by immunofluorescence, in situ detection of TG activity, confocal microscopy, and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. RESULTS The enzymatic inhibition of TG2 only controlled gliadin-specific T-cell activation. The binding of surface TG2 contained gliadin-specific T-cell activation and p31-43-induced actin rearrangement, epithelial phosphorylation, and apoptosis, both in organ cultures and T84 cells. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate a novel and unexpected biological role for surface TG2 in the pathogenesis of CD suggesting a third role for TG2 in CD. These results have a specific impact for celiac disease, with wider implications indicating a novel biologic function of TG2 with possible repercussions in other diseases.
SBA1 Encodes a Yeast Hsp90 Cochaperone That Is Homologous to Vertebrate p23 Proteins

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SBA1 gene was cloned by PCR amplification from yeast genomic DNA following its identification as encoding an ortholog of human p23, an Hsp90 cochaperone. TheSBA1 gene product is constitutively expressed and nonessential, although a disruption mutant grew more slowly than the wild type at both 18 and 37°C. A double deletion of SBA1and STI1, encoding an Hsp90 cochaperone, displayed synthetic growth defects. Affinity isolation of histidine-tagged Sba1p (Sba1His6) after expression in yeast led to coisolation of Hsp90 and the cyclophilin homolog Cpr6. Using an in vitro assembly assay, purified Sba1His6 bound to Hsp90 only in the presence of adenosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or adenyl-imidodiphosphate. Furthermore, interaction between purified Sba1His6 and Hsp90 in yeast extracts was inhibited by the benzoquinoid ansamycins geldanamycin and macbecin. The in vitro assay was also used to identify residues in Hsp90 that are important for complex formation with Sba1His6, and residues in both the N-terminal nucleotide binding domain and C-terminal half were characterized. In vivo analysis of known Hsp90 substrate proteins revealed that Sba1 loss of function had only a mild effect on the activity of the tyrosine kinase v-Src and steroid hormone receptors.
Time-varying mechanical behavior of multijointed arm in man.

1. The aim of this study was to describe the time-varying changes in the mechanical parameters of a multijointed limb. The parameters we considered are the coefficients of stiffness, viscosity, and inertia. Continuous pseudorandom perturbations were applied at the elbow joint during a catching task. A modified version of an ensemble technique was used for the identification of time-varying parameters. Torques at the elbow and wrist joints were then modeled with a linear combination of the changes in angular position and velocity weighted by the matrix of angular stiffness and the matrix of angular viscosity, respectively. Control experiments were also performed that involved the stationary maintenance of a given limb posture by resisting actively the applied perturbations. Different limb postures were examined in each such experiment to investigate the dependence of the mechanical parameters on limb geometry. 2. The technique for the identification of limb mechanical parameters proved adequate. The input perturbations applied at the elbow joint elicited angular oscillations at the wrist essentially uncorrelated with those produced at the elbow. The frequency of oscillation is much higher at the wrist than at the elbow, mainly because of the smaller inertia. The variance accounted for by the model was approximately 80% under both stationary and time-varying conditions; in the latter case the value did not vary significantly throughout the task. In addition, the model predicted values of the inertial parameters that were close to the anthropometric measures, and it reproduced the stepwise increase in limb inertia that occurs at the time the ball is held in the hand. 3. The values of angular stiffness and viscosity estimated under stationary conditions did not vary significantly with joint angle, in agreement with previous results obtained under quasi-static postural conditions. The matrix of the coefficients of angular stiffness was not symmetrical, indicating a prominent role for nonautogenic reflex feedbacks with unequal gains for elbow and wrist muscles. 4. A complex temporal modulation of angular stiffness and viscosity was observed during the catching task. The changes in the direct coefficients of angular stiffness tended to covary with those in the coupling coefficients from trial start up to approximately 30 ms before impact time. Around impact time, however, there was a complete dissociation: the direct terms peaked, whereas the coupling terms dropped. The direct terms of angular viscosity also increased before impact, whereas the viscosity coupling terms remained close to zero throughout. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
[Analysis of an AZFc deletion family with natural transmission].

OBJECTIVE To report a rare family of AZFc deletion with natural transmission and explore the potential mechanism by which identical microdeletions cause different phenotypes. METHODS Chromosomal quantity and construction were detected by G-band, Y-chromosomal microdeletions by multiple PCR amplification for 12 sequence tagged sites (STSs, and the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the DAZL gene, the autosomal homologue of deleted-in-azoospermia (DAZ) gene by DNA sequencing. RESULTS Chromosome analysis revealed a normal karyotype 46, XY in the father and both of his two sons and microdeletions of the full AZFc region were identical, including sY152, sY157, sY242, sY254, sY255, sY239 locus. However, the phenotypes of the affected patients were different: the father had normal fertility, but the sperm density of his two sons deteriorated age-dependently, and the younger one suffered from left cryptorchidism. SNP analysis demonstrated that two polymorphisms in exon 2 and 3 of the DAZL gene were identical in both the father and his sons. CONCLUSION Identical Y-chromosomal microdeletions causing different phenotypes in this family is not associated with the polymorphisms of DAZL gene and may be related to other genes or environmental factors.
Relationship of serum osteocalcin levels with blood glucose, insulin resistance and lipid profile in central Indian men with type 2 diabetes

Objective: To assess the relationship of serum osteocalcin levels with blood glucose, insulin resistance and lipid profile in central Indian men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in 56 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic men and in 56 age and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results: After adjustment for age and BMI, osteocalcin levels were negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.0004), fasting insulin (p = 0.0311), HOMA-IR (p = 0.0023), and triglycerides (p = 0.0095), and positively correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p = 0.0042) in type 2 diabetic patients. In multivariate logistic regression analyses that adjusted for age, BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, osteocalcin was inversely associated with the presence of type 2 diabetes (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Osteocalcin may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, not only through direct involvement in glucose homeostasis, but also through improving lipid profile.
Study on the impact of variable gear ratio on the EPS damping control

The system structure and working principle is described briefly which integrate the active front steering (AFS) system and electric power steering (EPS) system. According to the principle and the necessary simplification of the integrated system, the integrated system mathematic model was given. To study the impact of variable gear ratio (VGR) on active damping control of EPS, the matlab simulation was carried out. Simulation results show that variable gear ratio has only a minor impact on the active damping control of electric power steering system; the original active damping control can still be used normally without changes.
Designing energy efficient traveling paths for multiple mobile chargers in wireless rechargeable sensor networks

Mobile charging is an important topic for wireless rechargeable sensor networks (WRSNs) which has been studied extensively over the past few years. With the help of wireless energy transfer (WET), it is now possible to extend lifetime of sensor nodes to a longer period. In WET, wireless charging vehicle (WCV) moves on its designed traveling path in the network and charges sensor nodes by halting at some stopping locations. However, large scale WRSNs demand for multiple WCVs to make mobile charging more feasible. It is to be noted that for designing energy efficient traveling paths, it is desirable to minimize the stopping locations of the WCV which improves charging efficiency in the noticeable amount. Moreover, charging multiple nodes at the same time improves charging performance and thus it is recent trend. Inspired by the above facts, in this paper, we serve the objective of designing energy efficient traveling paths for multiple WCVs with multi-node charging. Our proposed scheme works in two phases. In the first phase, we perform clustering to divide the network region into charging subregions according to available number of WCVs. In the second phase, we apply charging radius based nearest neighbor approach (CR-NN) to find anchor points (i.e., stopping locations) for those WCVs to design traveling paths. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of our scheme and demonstrate performance gains with respect to several metrics such as charging latency, waiting time, node failure rate, and so on.
Implementation of geriatric acute care best practices: initial results of the NICHE SITE self-evaluation.

Nurses Improving Care of Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) provides hospitals with tools and resources to implement an initiative to improve health outcomes in older adults and their families. Beginning in 2011, members have engaged in a process of program self-evaluation, designed to evaluate internal progress toward developing, sustaining, and disseminating NICHE. This manuscript describes the NICHE Site Self-evaluation and reports the inaugural self-evaluation data in 180 North American hospitals. NICHE members evaluate their program utilizing the following dimensions of a geriatric acute care program: guiding principles, organizational structures, leadership, geriatric staff competence, interdisciplinary resources and processes, patient- and family-centered approaches, environment of care, and quality metrics. The majority of NICHE sites were at the progressive implementation level (n = 100, 55.6%), having implemented interdisciplinary geriatric education and the geriatric resource nurse (GRN) model on at least one unit; 29% have implemented the GRN model on multiple units, including specialty areas. Bed size, teaching status, and Magnet status were not associated with level of implementation, suggesting that NICHE implementation can be successful in a variety of settings and communities.