Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Papillomavirus Prevalence Is Associated With Socioeconomic Gradients Within a Medically Underserved Appalachian Region

Objectives To assess type-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a medically underserved Appalachian area and to determine whether gradients in poverty are associated with prevalence. Methods Among 398 women, a validated assay tested self-collected cervicovaginal samples for 37 HPV types. Three economic strata were created based on household income: below the federal poverty level for 1 person, between the FPLs for families of 1 to 4 persons, and above the FPL for a family of 4. Results Prevalence was 55.6%, with 33% having at least 1 high-risk infection. Prevalence was 27.8% for 9-valent HPV vaccine–preventable types and 39.2% for multiple types. Compared with FPL for a family of 4, women with federal poverty level for 1 person had 3 times greater prevalence, 2.3 times greater prevalence of high-risk types, and 2.5 times greater prevalence of multiple types. Conclusion Human papillomavirus prevalence was high, with one-third of the sample having at least 1 high-risk type and those in the lowest-income category being disproportionately infected.
Pre-analytical and biological variability in circulating interleukin 6 in healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-6, a key player in the inflammatory response, may be a useful biomarker in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim was to determine analytical variability, a reference interval in healthy subjects, and long- and short-term variation in serum and plasma IL-6 in healthy subjects and RA patients. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from R&D was used for determination of serum and plasma IL-6. The IL-6 concentration did not depend on the type of anticoagulant used or the 3-h time delay between sampling and processing or repeated freeze–thaw cycles. The median plasma and serum IL-6 in 318 healthy subjects were 1.3 pg ml−1 (range 0.33–26) and 1.4 pg ml−1 (range 0.25–23), respectively. The median coefficient of variation in plasma IL-6 in 27 healthy subjects during 1 month, and repeated after 6 and 12 months were 27%, 31% and 26%, respectively. No significant long-term changes were observed in serum IL-6 over a 3-year period (14%, p=0.33). Exercise (cycling) increased serum IL-6 in healthy subjects but not in RA patients. In conclusion, circulating IL-6 is stable regarding sample handling and shows little variation over time. Changes in IL-6 concentrations >60% (2 times the biological variation) are likely to reflect changes in disease activity and not only pre-analytical or normal biological variability.
A Trail Guide to Publishing Success: Tips on Writing Influential Conceptual, Qualitative, and Survey Research

Publishing in top journals is difficult. Common challenges undermine authors’ attempts to explain and influence their discipline's understanding and practice. We identify and describe these roadblocks to publishing success. We also benchmark best practice in management, marketing, and supply chain journals to provide a trail guide for writing — and publishing — influential conceptual, qualitative, and survey research. Given equifinality in research, our trail guide should not be viewed as the only way to craft excellent, influential research. However, if we agree on the basics, we can (1) increase consistency in the review process, (2) reduce publication cycles, and (3) begin to roll back the length of articles.
Automatic Diagnosis and Classification of Abnormalities in Digital X-ray Mammograms

Mammography remains the most effective tool for the early detection of breast cancer and ComputerAided Diagnosis (CADx) is usually used as a second opinion by the radiologists. The main objective of our study is to introduce a method to generate and select the features of suspicious lesions in mammograms and classifying them by using support vector machine, in order to build a CADx system to discriminate between malignant and benign parenchyma. Our method has been verified with the well-known Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) database and we have used the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) to measure the performance of our method. The experimental results show that our method achieved an overall classification accuracy of 96.36%, with 96.77% sensitivity and 95.83% specificity in the training phase and achieved an overall classification accuracy of 94.29%, with 94.11% sensitivity and 94.44% specificity in the testing phase. Key–Words: Mammography, Breast, Computer Aided Diagnosis, Support Vector Machine, ROC analysis.
Trustworthiness and trust: influences and implications

Abstract This paper frames trustworthiness as the key upstream construct of trust and recognises that trust operates at two levels in services relationships, with a number of key drivers that are mediated by trustworthiness. Our findings are supported by survey data from customers of UK financial services, with the data points captured over a number of years which allow for fluctuations in trust level. Empirically we find that trustworthiness impacts both the cognitive and affecting dimensions of trust, with the impact being greatest on cognitive trust. As a result of our findings it is possible for practitioner to implement policies to not only build trust but also deal with issues where there is a need to rebuild it, as in the case of our research setting.
Essays on software market: security, liability, and pricing

Software has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Not only large-scale operating systems in businesses but also home electric appliances such as television sets and telephones are powered by thousands of program instructions. In the new era of information technology, understanding economic issues becomes a key success factor for the software industry, along with maintaining technological superiority. Despite the economic nature and the increasing attention from the stakeholders in the software industry, many problems of the software market have not been examined by the economists and hence still remain unanswered especially in the emerging areas such as software security and open source software. My dissertation consists of three essays which examine two issues through an economic lens: (i) software security and liability and (ii) open source software pricing. I aim to make both academic and practical contributions by applying economic tools to analyze problems that have been intensely discussed by computer scientists, software engineers, policy makers and jurists, and by justifying ongoing argument on the two issues with academic rigor. Essay I proposes a risk-sharing mechanism between software vendors and customers as a possible way to incentivize the software vendors to improve software security. Essay II examines a policy-oriented approach of software liability and identifies conditions under which the legal liability mechanism is effective in terms of improving software security. In Essay III, I study the pricing mechanisms newly introduced to the software market as a way to make money from open source software. Comparison between commercial pricing model with open source software pricing models such as dual-licensing model and support model leads to the conditions under which each pricing model is viable. Factors that affect the success of the open source software pricing models are identified.
Founder mutations in the BRCA1 gene in west Belarusian breast‐ovarian cancer families

To the Editor: Mutations in BRCA1 (MIM 113705) confer a high lifetime risk to both breast and ovarian cancers (1, 2). Knowledge of the nature and frequency of population-specific mutations in BRCA1 is a critical step in the development of simple and inexpensive diagnostic approaches to DNA analysis in particular ethnic groups. We have undertaken a hospital-based study to identify possible BRCA1 mutations in the west Belarusian population. Recently, a founder effect in the BRCA1 gene was detected in the Polish population (3). It has been hypothesised that BRCA1 founder mutations in Polish and west Belarusian families can be similar because of hundreds of years of coexistence in one country. In order to assess this, we evaluated a panel of 19 Belarusian families with aggregation of breast and ovarian cancers for occurrence of five BRCA1 constitutional mutations found recently to be recurrent in the Polish population. The study group consisted of breast cancer patients of the Oncology Centre in Grodno (West Belarus) from unrelated families with aggregation of breast and ovarian cancers. In 10 families, breast and ovarian cancers were demonstrated. Nine families showed breast cancers only. In six families at least three and in 13 families two female relatives were affected by breast or ovarian cancer, and at least one cancer was diagnosed under the age of 50. Blood samples for genetic analyses were taken from at least one of the affected woman from each family (generally the youngest). Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes using the non-enzymatic rapid method described by Lahiri and Nurnberger (4). Five BRCA1 abnormalities were studied using ASA-PCR for 5382insC, 4153delA, 185delAG, 3819del5 and RFLP-PCR for C61G mutation as described (3). Results
An Evaluation of a Solution Focused Computer Game in Adolescent Interventions

Many adolescents experience difficulties with traditional face-to-face mental health care approaches. Personal Investigator (PI) is a 3D computer game specifically designed for use in adolescent interventions. The game implements a model of Solution Focused Therapy. It aims to assist in easing the difficulties experienced by adolescents with direct face-to-face approaches. In sessions a therapist and adolescent sit together at a computer and play PI. Issues raised in the game serve as a context for more detailed discussions between the therapist and client. This article describes a study in which PI was used with 22 adolescent clients, attending mental health care services due to a variety of difficulties. Whilst further trials are required, results indicate positive benefits of using PI. PI can help in building an effective client—therapist relationship, can assist in structuring sessions, and can assist in improving client engagement in the therapeutic process.
An analysis method for flight delays based on Bayesian network

We design a Bayesian network by series analysis on actual airline data. The creation of the initial parameters is based on the analysis for the continuous flights fly over the same point. The framework is constructed and process of delay prediction is analyzed. The method is test in data sets which is offered by the company. And it clearly demonstrates the value of BN for analyzing the system-level effects arising from micro-level causes.
Silicon Transporters and Effects of Silicon Amendments in Strawberry under High Tunnel and Field Conditions

Together with longer production periods, the commercial transition to day-neutral strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) varieties has favored the development of diseases such as powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) that thrives in late summer-early fall. In an attempt to find alternative solutions to fungicides currently employed to curb the disease, we wanted to investigate the potential of silicon (Si) amendments that have been associated with prophylactic properties against powdery mildews. To this end, our first objective was to determine if strawberry was a Si-competent species following the recent characterization of the properties of Si transporters that plants must carry to uptake silicic acid. Based on genomic data, we were able to conclude that strawberry contained both functional influx (Lsi1) and efflux (Lsi2) transporters for Si uptake. Subsequently commercial experiments under high tunnel and field conditions were conducted with different Si fertilization regimes: constant soluble Si feeding in high tunnel, and bi-weekly soluble Si feeding or three concentrations of calcium silicate fertilization in the field. Results from high tunnel experiments showed that strawberry could accumulate as much as 3% Si on a dry-weight basis, the highest concentration ever reported for this species. All six tested cultivars contained roughly the same concentration, thereby confirming the limited genetic variability, also observed in other species, associated with the trait. Silicon fertilization under high tunnel led to a significant reduction of powdery mildew severity in both years and on all cultivars, and a significant increase in yield of marketable fruits reaching as much as 300% with cv. Monterey. By contrast, Si fertilization under field conditions in soils deficient in plant available Si, either in soluble or solid form, did not result in significant accumulation of Si in plants, regardless of the cultivars, year or concentrations. Our results have thus provided both genotypic and phenotypic proof that strawberry can greatly benefit from Si fertilization, but have also highlighted the importance of validating the fertilization regime to ensure that Si is properly absorbed and/or available to the plant.
Detailed thermal resistance model for characterization of the overall effective thermal conductivity of a flat heat pipe

The present work describes the method by which the thermal resistance of a flat heat pipe spreader can be more accurately computed. The total effectiveness of the heat spreader is dependent on the one-dimensional (R1D) thermal resistance and the thermal spreading resistance (Rs). Recently developed more accurate methods from the literature were used to calculate the spreading resistance by taking into account all the multiple layers of the heat pipe. Both R1D and Rs depend to a large extent on the effective thermal conductivity of the wick. The calculation of effective thermal conductivity of wick is demonstrated using well-defined silicon micropillars. The effect of interfacial heat transfer resistance, which is usually neglected on the wick's thermal resistance is also discussed. Finally, the effective thermal conductivity of a flat heat pipe as a function of vapor chamber size and effective wick thermal conductivity is calculated. As the overall device performance strongly depends on the estimation of wick thermal resistance, the results of this study show that an effective thermal conductivity that is equal to or better than diamond can be attained with proper design. Furthermore, this work provides design tools that can be used to optimize the overall device level thermal performance.
Changes in Polish Farmers’ Attitudes Toward Risk After Poland’s Accession to the EU

ABSTRACT This article presents the econometric estimation of the risk attitudes of Polish farmers. For that purpose, a model of production under risk has been employed. The research is based on data from the Polish Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), from the years 2004–2010. For the Polish farming sector, risk-related considerations became increasingly important after Poland’s EU accession in 2004. After the accession, Polish agriculture was affected by market liberalization, which was somewhat mitigated by CAP support. To examine the risk aversion of Polish farmers, an estimation procedure based on Antle’s (1987) approach has been applied. This study suggests that, as was the case in other countries, risk aversion decreased following EU accession, that is, the Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion based on producers specializing in field crops systematically decreased over the analyzed period.
Do Emerging Financial Markets React to Monetary Policy Announcements? The Case of Poland

This paper provides evidence on the short-run reactions of an emerging financial market to monetary policy announcements. We employ an instrumental variable estimation approach based on the "identification through heteroscedasticity" technique to estimate the impact of nominal and unexpected official interest rate changes on asset prices in Poland. The new methodology controls for possible feedback relations between financial variables and the official interest rate changes. The measures of unexpected interest rate changes are extracted from the implied forward interest rates on the money market. In the analysis, the short-term interest rates respond significantly to the official interest changes, but neither the long-term interest rates, stock indices, nor foreign exchange rates react to monetary announcements in the expected direction. The unexpected monetary policy changes have stronger influence on the money market than the nominal changes in the official interest rate on the days of the monetary policy announcements.
Customer Orientation

This study investigates the effect of being customer oriented on service performance perceptions and outcome behaviors. Specifically, the focus is on identifying the influence that being perceived as a customer-oriented firm has on consumer quality perceptions, customer satisfaction, and service value. The impact of being customer oriented on consumers’ outcome behaviors is also investigated. Responses from 649 consumers indicate that customer orientation is directly related to customers’ evaluations of employee service performance, physical goods, and servicescapes. Indirect effects on organizational quality, customer satisfaction, value attributions, and outcome behaviors are also reported. The implications of the research are discussed, as are the limitations.
Handling Exotic Positions for Counterparty Risk Management

This paper proposes a simple approach for incorporating the difficult-to-value trades to the rest of counterparty portfolios using the existing and already-approved pricing models. It requires simulating only the risk factors that these pricers require for the population of Monte Carlo simulation paths. A smaller subset of paths can be used to generate a path of trade values using these pricers. An appropriate set of basis functions over the risk factors can be selected in order to model the conditional expectation values and use the model to map the conditional values to the population. However, it is assumed that the input and output values of the pricers are properly manipulated in order to create the appropriate path-dependency. The approach is applied to the case of in-the-money American put option where the counterparty risk exposure profiles are compared between the full valuation and the valuations using this method for various path numbers. The case is extended to a null value portfolio composed of two offsetting options where one is priced using the benchmark method and another using the proposed approach for various path numbers.
THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY: TRENDS AND CHANGING STRUCTURE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

By 2010, foodservice establishments are projected to capture 53 percent of consumers' food expenditures, whereas in 1980, foodservice captured less than 40 percent. The foodservice industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and about 11 million jobs. It has been rapidly changing due to economic factors, technological advances, and labor matters.1 This overview covers many of the issues and trends affecting the different segments of the foodservice supply chain including the foodservice operators, distributors and food manufacturers. Changing customer demographics are a driving force in the evolution of the foodservice industry. As the baby boomers reach middle age, they do not seem to have time to cook and their children and grandchildren do not seem to have the interest, or talent. The U.S. population in 2000 had over double ($6,500) the per capita discretionary income that it had in 1975 ($3,109) 2 and, with a high value for recreation and pleasure they are pulled out of the kitchen and into the restaurants. An ever-shrinking world also brings variety to menus as cultures and cuisines converge, introducing new flavors and textures. A tight labor market has affected the foodservice industry from top to bottom leading to a derived demand for convenience products from manufacturers. At all links in the chain, companies are experiencing mergers and acquisitions. Operators, manufacturers, and distributors are all fighting for a share of the profits as competition continues to intensify. This review of the foodservice industry incorporates interviews with industry professionals, current information from leading foodservice associations, and predictions from the top industry research firms and consultants.
Marketing principles in the application of e‐commerce

E‐commerce has been much hyped as a potentially transformational force in many industries, and financial services is an industry where its impact is expected to be particularly strong. In this qualitative research four case studies have been developed, from a series of in‐depth interviews, to investigate the way some UK financial services organisations have responded to this innovation. By taking a broad perspective, from a range of managers across a number of disciplines, this study particularly focuses on the application of marketing principles, on an organisation wide basis, to the new challenges presented by e‐commerce. E‐commerce can be seen to present considerable structural and cultural challenges for large established organisations. It is also potentially changing a number of aspects of customer management. Significant areas for further research are identified.
Statistical maps of cerebral blood flow deficits in Alzheimer’s disease

Images of cerebral blood flow or metabolism are useful as adjunct to the differential diagnosis of cortical dementia. The aim of this study was to create statistical objective voxel maps of significant differences in regional cerebral blood flow between patients with Alzheimer’s disease and age‐matched healthy volunteers. Maps of significantly reduced cerebral blood flow were created based on a spatially normalized distribution of cerebral blood flow, measured with O‐15‐water and positron emission tomography in 16 Alzheimer’s patients, compared to 16 healthy age‐matched volunteers. After spatial normalization of voxel counts, the t‐statistic of the cerebral blood flow deficit was determined from the local voxel‐SDs. In the patients, significant reduction (P < 0.05) of the flow distribution was present in regions near the hippocampus, extending rostrally to the temporo–parietal region in both hemispheres, including the medial parietal cortex plus smaller frontal areas. The maximum reduction occurred in the left tapetum/hippocampus (53%, P = 0.061). In conclusion, statistical maps of cerebral blood flow deficits objectively reveal the location of deficits, identifying areas that are difficult to identify by subjective visual inspection of conventional sections of cerebral blood flow maps. This is particularly well illustrated by the pronounced flow reduction of the medial parietal cortices.