Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A higher Dietary Inflammatory Index score is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer among Chinese women: a case–control study

Abstract Previous studies have investigated the association between dietary inflammatory potential and the development of cancer. For breast cancer the results have been equivocal. The present study aimed to investigate whether higher Dietary Inflammatory IndexTM (DII) scores were associated with increased risk of breast cancer among Chinese women. A total of 867 cases and 824 controls were recruited into the present case–control study from September 2011 to February 2016. DII scores were computed based on baseline dietary intake assessed by a validated 81-item FFQ. The OR and 95 % CI were assessed by multivariable logistic regression after adjusting for various potential confounders. DII scores in this study ranged from −5·87 (most anti-inflammatory score) to +5·71 (most proinflammatory score). A higher DII score was associated with a higher breast cancer risk (adjusted ORquartile 4 v. 1 2·28; 95 % CI 1·71, 3·03; adjusted ORcontinuous 1·40; 95 %CI 1·25, 1·39). In stratified analyses, positive associations also were observed except for underweight women or women with either oestrogen receptor+ or progesterone receptor+ status (but not both). Results from this study indicated that higher DII scores, corresponding to more proinflammatory diets, were positively associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese women.
BIST method of SRAM for network-on-chip

Network-on-chip (NoC) is becoming promising communication architecture for the next-generation system on chips. Intellectual property (IP) core is an important part of NoC system, this paper puts SRAM as an IP core to complete the test study of SRAM. We present a Built-in self-test (BIST) method for SRAM of network-on-chip based on reusing network-on-chip as Test Access Mechanism (TAM). The proposed method establishes the functional model of NoC communication architecture and improves March C + algorithm to test SRAM. Reusing NoC as test access mechanism can provide safe and correct data transmission service without extra area overhead. We design it by Verilog language and implement the test in NoC system platform based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Experiment results for a NoC system show that the method not only improves fault coverage and the reliability of the test, but also reduces testing time with small increase in area overhead and achieves higher test speed.
Real time DNS traffic profiling enhanced detection design for national level network

A recent study shows, an investigation of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) activity can be done effectively through malicious DNS traffic analysis. But, most of the experiments are conducted in a limited, simulated environment e.g. small campus network. Since APT is very dynamic and to address traffic grows, a light weight computation architecture is then needed to profile suspected activity in near real time. In this study, we proposed an enhanced design to detect malicious DNS traffic for high speed, large scale, national level, near real time network. This experiment combines available open source solution tools in order to gain real time, better accuracy of anomaly recognition and faster detection.
Genetic variants in IRF6 and the risk of facial clefts: single‐marker and haplotype‐based analyses in a population‐based case‐control study of facial clefts in Norway

Mutations in the gene encoding interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) underlie a common form of syndromic clefting known as Van der Woude syndrome. Lip pits and missing teeth are the only additional features distinguishing the syndrome from isolated clefts. Van der Woude syndrome, therefore, provides an excellent model for studying the isolated forms of clefting. From a population‐based case‐control study of facial clefts in Norway (1996–2001), we selected 377 cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), 196 cleft palate only (CPO), and 763 control infant‐parent triads for analysis. We genotyped six single nucleotide polymorphisms within the IRF6 locus and estimated the relative risks (RR) conferred on the child by alleles and haplotypes of the child and of the mother. On the whole, there were strong statistical associations with CL/P but not CPO in our data. In single‐marker analyses, mothers with a double‐dose of the ‘a’‐allele at rs4844880 had an increased risk of having a child with CL/P (RR=1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–3.25; P=0.036). An RR of 0.38 (95% confidence interval: 0.16–0.92; P=0.031) was obtained when the child carried a single‐dose of the ‘a’‐allele at rs2235371 (the p.V274I polymorphism). The P‐value for the overall test was <0.001. In haplotype analyses, several of the fetal and maternal haplotype relative risks were statistically significant individually but were not strong enough to show up on the overall test (P=0.113). Taken together, these findings further support a role for IRF6 variants in clefting of the lip and provide specific risk estimates in a Norwegian population. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase(p110α) plays a critical role for the induction of physiological, but not pathological, cardiac hypertrophy

An unresolved question in cardiac biology is whether distinct signaling pathways are responsible for the development of pathological and physiological cardiac hypertrophy in the adult. Physiological hypertrophy is characterized by a normal organization of cardiac structure and normal or enhanced cardiac function, whereas pathological hypertrophy is associated with an altered pattern of cardiac gene expression, fibrosis, cardiac dysfunction, and increased morbidity and mortality. The elucidation of signaling cascades that play distinct roles in these two forms of hypertrophy will be critical for the development of more effective strategies to treat heart failure. We examined the role of the p110α isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) for the induction of pathological hypertrophy (pressure overload-induced) and physiological hypertrophy (exercise-induced) by using transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative (dn) PI3K(p110α) mutant specifically in the heart. dnPI3K transgenic mice displayed significant hypertrophy in response to pressure overload but not exercise training. dnPI3K transgenic mice also showed significant dilation and cardiac dysfunction in response to pressure overload. Thus, PI3K(p110α) appears to play a critical role for the induction of physiological cardiac growth but not pathological growth. PI3K(p110α) also appears essential for maintaining contractile function in response to pathological stimuli.
Auxin-producing bacteria isolated from the roots of Cattleya walkeriana, an endangered Brazilian orchid, and their role in acclimatization

Auxin-producing bacteria inhabit the roots of orchids and can bring benefits to the host plant. Plants of this family are multiplied by in vitro assimbiotic conditions and little is known about the role of these microorganisms for ex vitro acclimatization. Four auxin-producing rhizobacteria isolated from the specie Cattleya walkeriana were evaluated for their ability to promote survival and growth of in vitro germinated plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization. Partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of bacteria cultures from root velamen of this epiphytic species identified them as Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter and Curtobacterium. The presence of indole compounds in the filtered supernatants of liquid cultures was quantified by colorimetric assay and confirmed by HPLC. Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) and indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) were present in high quantities, except in Enterobacter sp. cultures, where in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) were more prevalent. These rhizobacteria were inoculated into asymbiotically-germinated plantlets of the host orchid, acclimatized in greenhouse for 90 days and assessed for their growth-promoting ability. The lowest ability to promote growth was observed for Burkholderia sp. and Curtobacterium sp. , while Bacillus sp. and Enterobacter sp. improved growth in all evaluated characteristics and increased the percentage of plantlet survival. This study highlights the role of auxin-producing rhizobacteria and their benefits for growth promotion of a Brazilian orchid germinated in asymbiotic conditions, during acclimatization, when plant mortality is high, limiting orchid propagation.
Trust But Verify: Lessons for the Empirical Evaluation of Law and Policy

In a recent article, Aneja, Donohue and Zhang claim that they are unable to replicate the regressions published by the National Research Council in Chapter 6 of Firearms and Violence. They conclude that the NRC regressions must have been based on bad data supplied by John Lott. The implication is that earlier studies that found that right-to-carry laws reduced crime were flawed because of bad data. However, we can replicate the NRC results with Lott’s original data and with the data set used by the NRC. The earlier studies are not flawed by bad data.
Penalty Structures and Deterrence in a Two‐Stage Model: Experimental Evidence

Multiperiod models of criminal enforcement based on the standard economic approach of Becker (1968) generally find that the optimal penalty structure is either flat or declining. We present the first experimental test of a two&#8208;stage theoretical model that predicts decreasing penalty structures will yield greater deterrence than increasing penalty structures. This prediction is based on the belief that if the penalty for the first offenses is sufficiently low, the agent should commit the offense and continue to offend if undetected. Our results are consistent with the theoretical prediction that decreasing fine structures are more effective at reducing risky behavior.
Doing everyday life—experiences of the oldest old

The purpose of this article is to explore how a group of elderly people, living and managing on their own, describe and experience their everyday doings. Interviews and observations were conducted with 18 community-living people aged 85 and above. The experiences of ‘Doing everyday life’ are described in five overarching themes: ‘Experiencing being old’, ‘Doings in everyday life’, ‘Patterns of the day’, ‘Altered doings’, and ‘The importance of time’. What is done during an ordinary day does not differ much from earlier in life, but how the doings are performed has changed. Being occupied and staying healthy and sound in mind was stressed as important in old age and even if reduced energy and functional constraints limited the doings, a strong volition to manage independently was expressed. The participants perceived society as regarding the elderly as useless and worthless. Knowledge emanating from the very old themselves is vital to diversify the image of elderly people and to offer interventions and support adapted to their needs and desires.
Gross Capital Flows by Banks, Corporates and Sovereigns

We construct a new quarterly data set of international capital flows broken down by sector - banks, corporates and sovereigns - and demonstrate the importance of distinguishing capital flows by the sector of domestic borrowers and lenders. We document four new sets of facts. First, banks account for the largest part of the external debt (stocks and flows) in advanced economies, whereas in emerging markets, banks, corporates and sovereigns have roughly equal shares. Second, the high correlation between total capital inflows and outflows documented in the literature is driven by banking sector flows; that is, domestic banks’ borrowing from foreigners is highly correlated with domestic banks’ lending to foreigners. Third, sovereign flows behave very differently from and often act as a countervailing force to private sector (banking and corporate) flows, especially in emerging markets. Fourth, different shocks (global financial cycles vs. domestic business cycles; banking vs. currency vs. sovereign crises) generate very distinct patterns of capital inflows and outflows by sector. The stylized facts we document deepen our understanding of the dynamics and behavior of capital flows, and have important implications for open economy models.
2-D Medium–High Frequency Fiber Bragg Gratings Accelerometer

A 2-D fiber Bragg grating (FBGs) accelerometer is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this paper. The accelerometer is composed of a universal flexure hinge and two FBGs in which the FBGs are vertically attached on the surface of the hinge. The sensing characteristics of the accelerometer are analyzed theoretically. The theoretical analysis results show that the proposed device has a linear response to applied acceleration and it was confirmed by the experiments. The experimental results show that the resonant frequencies of the accelerometer are 1050/1060 Hz in the x/y direction, respectively. The accelerometer has a wide frequency response from 50 to 900 Hz and a large sensitivity ~13.1/12.0 pm/G in the x/y direction, respectively. The maximum measurable acceleration reaches 200 G and the dynamic range is 80 dB. These unique characteristics make the accelerometer as an excellent candidate in various vibration signals monitoring field.
Quantitative Assessment of Chronic Postsurgical Pain Using the McGill Pain Questionnaire

ObjectivesThe McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) provides a quantitative profile of 3 major psychologic dimensions of pain: sensory-discriminative, motivational-affective, and cognitive-evaluative. Although the MPQ is frequently used as a pain measurement tool, no studies to date have compared the characteristics of chronic post-surgical pain after different surgical procedures using a quantitative scoring method. MethodsThree separate questionnaire surveys were administered to patients who had undergone surgery at different time points between 1990 and 2000. Surgical procedures selected were mastectomy (n = 511 patients), inguinal hernia repair (n = 351 patients), and cardiac surgery via a central chest wound with or without saphenous vein harvesting (n = 1348 patients). A standard questionnaire format with the MPQ was used for each survey. The IASP definition of chronic pain, continuously or intermittently for longer than 3 months, was used with other criteria for pain location. The type of chronic pain was compared between the surgical populations using 3 different analytical methods: the Pain Rating Intensity score using scale values, (PRI-S); the Pain Rating Intensity using weighted rank values multiplied by scale value (PRI-R); and number of words chosen (NWC). ResultsThe prevalence of chronic pain after mastectomy, inguinal herniorrhaphy, and median sternotomy with or without saphenectomy was 43%, 30%, and 39% respectively. Chronic pain most frequently reported was sensory-discriminative in quality with similar proportions across different surgical sites. Average PRI-S values after mastectomy, hernia repair, sternotomy (without postoperative anginal symptoms), and saphenectomy were 14.06, 13.00, 12.03, and 8.06 respectively. Analysis was conducted on cardiac patients who reported anginal symptoms with chronic post-surgical pain (PRI-S value 14.28). Patients with moderate and severe pain were more likely to choose more than 10 pain descriptors, regardless of the operative site (P < 0.05). DiscussionThe prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain was remarkably similar across different operative groups. This study is the first to quantitatively compare chronic post-surgical pain using similar methodologies in heterogeneous post-surgical populations.
Research of Cardiac Aided Diagnosis System Based on CUDA

Objective: Realize the accurate segmentation and tridimensional visualization of cardiac medical image and finish the design of cardiac aided diagnosis. Methods: Combine clinical experts diagnosis experience, CT image prior feature and graph cut algorithm model, adopt GPUs parallel data processing to realize the segmentation of cardiac struction and tridimensional visualization. Result: Finish the accurate, quick and robust segmentation and visualization of CT image sequence, initially realize the visualized cardiac aided diagnosis system based on GPUs. Conclusion: The study makes full use of the powerful parallel comouting capacity of computer graphics processing unit, solves the problems in medical image processing and segmentation, and improves the operating efficiency of the program and the user experience.
Gene Microarrays Reveal Extensive Differential Gene Expression in Both CD4+ and CD8+ Type 1 and Type 2 T Cells1

An important subdivision of effector T cells can be made based on patterns of cytokine production and functional programs. Type 1 T cells produce IFN-γ and protect against viral pathogens, whereas type 2 cells produce cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 and protect against large extracellular parasites. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells can be polarized into type 1 or type 2 cytokine-secreting cells, suggesting that both populations play a regulatory role in immune responses. In this study, we used high-density oligonucleotide arrays to produce a comprehensive picture of gene expression in murine CD4+ Th1 and Th2 cells, as well as CD8+ type 1 and type 2 T cells. Polarized type 1 and 2 cells transcribed mRNA for an unexpectedly large number of genes, most of which were expressed in a similar fashion between type 1 and type 2 cells. However, >100 differentially expressed genes were identified for both the CD4+ and CD8+ type 1 and 2 subsets, many of which have not been associated with T cell polarization. These genes included cytokines, transcription factors, molecules involved in cell migration, as well as genes with unknown function. The program for type 1 or type 2 polarization was similar for CD4+ and CD8+ cells, since gene expression patterns were roughly the same. The expression of select genes was confirmed using real-time PCR. The identification of genes associated with T cell polarization may give important insights into functional and phenotypic differences between effector T cell subsets and their role in normal responses and inflammatory disease.
Efficacy of metformin on pregnancy complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of metformin administration throughout pregnancy on pregnancy-related complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Study design: MEDLINE and ScienceDirect were searched to retrieve relevant trials. The endpoint was the incidence of complications of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pre-eclampsia (PE), miscarriage and premature birth included. Results: Five studies with 502 PCOS patients with metformin administration throughout pregnancy and 427 controls who used metformin just to get conception were included in our meta-analysis. In study group, a significantly lower change of emerging miscarriage and premature birth was observed, the pooled relative risk (RR) was 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19–0.56) for miscarriage and 0.40 (95%CI: 0.18–0.91) for premature birth. No significant difference was demonstrated in emerging GDM and PE. Conclusions: Metformin therapy throughout pregnancy can reduce the RR of miscarriage and premature birth incidence in PCOS patients with no serious side effects. Chinese abstract 目的：妊娠期间给予多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）患者二甲双胍，评估二甲双胍对妊娠相关并发症的疗效。 研究设计：在MEDLINE和ScienceDirect上检索相关研究。 终点为妊娠期并发症发生率，包括妊娠期糖尿病（GDM），子痫前期（PE），流产和早产。 结果：我们的meta分析包括5项共502例妊娠期间给予二甲双胍治疗的PCOS患者和427例使用二甲双胍后怀孕的对照人群。 实验组观察到流产和早产率显著降低，综合后流产的相对风险（RR）为0.32（95%置信区间（CI）：0.19-056），早产的RR为0.40（95%CI:0.18-0.91）。 出现GDM和PE的发生率无统计学差异。 结论：妊娠期间对PCOS患者给予二甲双胍可降低流产和早产的发生率且无严重副作用。
In vitro model for testing novel implants for equine laryngoplasty.

OBJECTIVE To develop an in vitro laryngeal model to mimic airflow and pressures experienced by horses at maximal exercise with which to test laryngoplasty techniques. STUDY DESIGN Randomized complete block. SAMPLE POPULATION Cadaveric equine larynges (n=10). METHODS Equine larynges were collected at necropsy and a bilateral prosthetic laryngoplasty suture was placed with #5 Fiberwire suture to achieve bilateral maximal arytenoid abduction. Each larynx was positioned in a flow chamber and subjected to static flow and dynamic flow cycling at 2 Hz. Tracheal pressure and flow, and pressure within the flow chamber were recorded at a sampling frequency of 500 Hz. Data obtained were compared with the published physiologic values for horses exercising at maximal exercise. RESULTS Under static flow conditions, the testing system produced inspiratory tracheal pressures (mean+/-SEM) of -33.0+/-0.98 mm Hg at a flow of 54.48+/-1.8 L/s. Pressure in the flow chamber was -8.1+/-2.2 mm Hg producing a translaryngeal impedance of 0.56+/-0.15 mm Hg/L/s. Under dynamic conditions, cycling flow and pressure were reproduced at a frequency of 2 Hz, the peak inspiratory (mean+/-SEM) pharyngeal and tracheal pressures across all larynges were -8.85+/-2.5 and -35.54+/-1.6 mm Hg, respectively. Peak inspiratory flow was 51.65+/-2.3 L/s and impedance was 0.57+/-0.06 mm Hg/L/s. CONCLUSIONS The model produced inspiratory pressures similar to those in horses at maximal exercise when airflows experienced at exercise were used. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This model will allow testing of multiple novel techniques and may facilitate development of improved techniques for prosthetic laryngoplasty.
Human bone marrow stromal cell: coexpression of markers specific for multiple mesenchymal cell lineages.

The role of hematopoietic stem cells in blood cell development is reasonably understood, whereas the identity and the function of bone marrow stromal cells are much less clear. Using stromal cells in bone marrow cultures of the Dexter type, a favorite medium for the study of hematopoiesis, we show that stromal cells actually represent a unique cell type. Conventional wisdom has held that stromal cells in Dexter cultures comprise a mixture of macrophages, hematopoietic cells, adipocytes, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, muscle cells, and endothelial cells. Our findings demonstrate that Dexter cultures consist of three cell types: macrophages ( approximately 35%), hematopoietic cells ( approximately 5%), and nonhematopoietic cells ( approximately 60%). We have purified the nonhematopoietic cells free of macrophages and hematopoietic cells to produce compelling evidence that they in fact represent a single cell type (multidifferentiated mesenchymal progenitor cell, MPC) which coexpresses genes specific for various mesenchymal cell lineages including adipocytes, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and muscle cells. We further show that these multi- or pluridifferentiated MPCs are capable of supporting hematopoiesis by demonstrating the expression of several hematopoietic growth factors and extracellular matrix receptors including G-CSF, SCF, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and ALCAM. Since the MPCs can be easily purified to near homogeneity (95%), they can be of value in enhancing engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells. Also, this new understanding of bone marrow stromal cells as "one cell with many different faces" promises to advance our knowledge of regulatory cellular interactions within bone marrow.