Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are breast cancer screening practices associated with sociodemographic status and healthcare access? Analysis of a French cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of women's sociodemographic and healthcare access characteristics according to breast cancer screening practices (organized, individual or no screening). A cross-sectional study was set up in seven French districts using a self-administered postal questionnaire. Randomization was stratified proportionally on age and urban/rural status in each district separately among attendees and nonattendees to the organized breast cancer screening programme (OS). A total of 5638 women aged 50–74 years returned their questionnaires: 1480 in the attendee OS group and 4158 in the nonattendee group. Among them, 3537 declared having undergone a recent mammography outside the organized programme (individual, IS group) and 621 declared never having undergone a mammography or having done so more than 2 years ago (NS group). Analyses showed a gradient between the three groups (IS, OS and NS, respectively) in their association with breast cancer screening practices considering three factors: an increasing gradient was observed for renunciation of basic healthcare for financial reasons, a decreasing gradient in the regular visit to a medical gynaecologist and having had a Pap smear in the last 3 years. Three other variables that showed a decreasing gradient are: living with a partner, current use of hormone replacement therapy and having had a check-up in the last 5 years. In conclusion, the main differences between breast cancer screening practices were largely associated with difficulties in healthcare access, considering regular gynaecological visits in particular.
Transdisciplinary research for supporting environmental management

Generation and integration of different forms of disciplinary knowledge and knowledge outside of academia have become increasingly important in the effort of tackling real-world problems that are related to complex and uncertain human-environment systems. In recent years, transdisciplinary research has emerged as a collaborative and integrative approach for the co-generation of system knowledge, target knowledge, and transformation knowledge among scientists and stakeholders. In this paper, we present a methodology for participatory modelling processes that we apply in a transdisciplinary project for sustainable energy supply based on renewable energies in the county of GrosGerau in the German state of Hesse. The core of the transdisciplinary research project is a stakeholder dialogue including stakeholder interviews and a series of workshops. The participatory processes will be supported by actor-based modelling and Bayesian network modelling for joint knowledge generation and integration among scientific experts and institutional stakeholders. Actor-based modelling is a semi-quantitative method used for the analysis of problem perceptions that are depicted in perception graphs (PG). These perception graphs are analyzed with the software DANA (http://dana.actoranalysis.com) in order to identify sustainable development paths. On the other hand, probabilistic Bayesian Networks (BNs) can be used to model complex problem fields using quantitative data as well as qualitative expert judgments. In our study of the problem field, we aim at developing implementable management strategies, particularly by the generation of qualitative and quantitative scenarios.
Study of Combustion Characteristics of an SI Engine Fuelled with Ethanol and Oxygenated Fuel Additives

This study investigates the effects of ethanol-blended gasoline with oxygenated additives on a multi – cylinder Spark Ignition (SI) Engine. The experiments were conducted in two stages. In stage I, the test fuels were prepared using 99.9% pure ethanol and gasoline with a cycloheptanol blend, in the ratio of E69.5 + 0.5 cycloheptanol, E64.6 + 0.4 cycloheptanol, E59.7 + 0.3 cycloheptanol, E49.8 + 0.2 cycloheptanol. The remainder was gasoline. In stage II, the test fuels were prepared using 99.9% pure ethanol and gasoline with cyclooctanol blend, in the ratio of E69.5 + 0.5 cyclooctanol, E64.6 + 0.4 cyclooctanol l, E59.7 + 0.3 cyclooctanol, E49.8 + 0.2 cyclooctanol. The remainder was gasoline. Performance and emission tests were conducted on a multi – cylinder SI Engine coupled with an eddy current dynamometer. The emission tests were measured using an exhaust gas analyzer. The experimental results proved that the blend increased brake thermal efficiency more than a sole fuel, such as gasoline. The emission tests found that the CO slightly decreased, while HC and O 2 increased moderately and CO 2 and NO x appreciably decreased. In addition, combustion analyses were made with the help of combustion analyzer, in which cylinder pressure and heat release rate were analysed.
Genetic variants in ATP6 and ND3 mitochondrial genes are not associated with aggressive prostate cancer in Mexican–Mestizo men with overweight or obesity

Abstract Mitochondrial defects have been related to obesity and prostate cancer. We investigated if Mexican–Mestizo men presenting this type of cancer, exhibited somatic mutations of ATP6 and/or ND3.Body mass index (BMI) was determined; the degree of prostate cancer aggressiveness was demarcated by the Gleason score. DNA from tumor tissue and from blood leukocytes was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and ATP6 and ND3 were sequenced. We included 77 men: 20 had normal BMI, 38 were overweight and 19 had obesity; ages ranged from 52 to 83. After sequencing ATP6 and ND3, from DNA obtained from leukocytes and tumor tissue, we did not find any somatic mutations. All changes observed, in both genes, were polymorphisms. In ATP6 we identified, in six patients, two non-synonymous nucleotide changes and in ND3 we observed that twelve patients presented non-synonymous polymorphisms. To our knowledge, this constitutes the first report where the complete sequences of the ATP6 and ND3 have been analyzed in Mexican–Mestizo men with prostate cancer and diverse BMI. Our results differ with those reported in Caucasian populations, possibly due to ethnic differences.
Sensor Alert Web Service for IEEE 1451-based sensor networks

This paper describes the Sensor Alert Web Service (SAWS) for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1451-based sensor networks developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The SAWS consists of the Sensor Alert Notification Producer Service (SANPS) and Sensor Alert Notification Consumer Service (SANCS). The SANPS and SANCS are described in the Web Service Description Language (WSDL) based on Web Services Notification (WS-Notification). A SAWS prototype system consisting of a SAWS consumer, a SAWS provider, and an IEEE 1451.5-802.11 wireless sensor node is presented in the paper. When a sensor reading exceeds the preset sensor thresholds, the SAWS provider will automatically send to the SAWS consumer a sensor alert message described in the Common Alert Protocol (CAP). A case study of sensor alerts is presented to validate the SAWS system.
Disorganization: The Forgotten Executive Dysfunction in High-Functioning Autism (HFA) Spectrum Disorders

Executive function (EF) abilities were investigated in 72 children with high-functioning autism (HFA) spectrum disorders through the collection of parent ratings and performance on laboratory measures of EF. In addition, discrepancy analysis was used to isolate executive functioning on tasks that carry multiple demands. Comparison of HFA and Asperger Disorder (AD) groups did not reveal consistent differences in EF. Results did indicate global EF deficits in the combined group of children with HFA and AD. Within the EF domain, specific deficits in flexibility and organization were most prominent.
Risk of acute otitis media in relation to the viral etiology of infections in children.

We carried out a prospective case-control study to analyze the etiology of respiratory tract infections among children with and without acute otitis media (AOM). Of the 658 patients admitted to our hospital during the period concerned, 197 (29.9%) had AOM, and for each such child the next patient of the same age was chosen as a control. The total number of virologically positive samples was 99 (50.3%) among the patients with AOM vs. 93 (47.2%) among the controls. The only etiologic agent that was more common in the patients with AOM was respiratory syncytial virus, found in 31 cases vs. 15 controls (relative risk [2.27]; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-4.35; P < .02). Our results confirm earlier observations from uncontrolled studies regarding the fact that respiratory syncytial virus is especially liable to cause AOM. Since respiratory syncytial virus is causing predictable epidemics, this finding could be useful for the timing of efforts to prevent AOM in young infants.
A study of the baculum in some North American Microtinae.

As a systematic tool, the os penis or baculum has received considerable study in recent years. Descriptive studies have been summarized by Gilbert (1892), while Burt (1936) has listed the important papers dealing with the use of this structure in taxonomy. Burt (ibid.) suggested that the internal situation of this structure does not expose it to the stresses and strains as are the bones of the limbs and skulls, and points out that its true character is less likely to be disguised by extraneous factors. He concludes that the characters of the baculum should indicate to a greater extent the real affinities of the animal. Few reports are available on the structure of the os penis in the voles and lemmings. The baculum of Arvicola arvalis has been figured by Gilbert (ibid.) but since this was illustrated at natural size, none of the trenchant characters can be observed. Tullberg (1899) has illustrated the baculum of Arvicola amphibius but the figure is so small that it is impossible to observe the precise characters. Didier (1943) has used the character of the baculum to ascertain the relationship of Arvicola t. terrestris, A. t. amphibius and A. t. monticola. Considerable variation exists within a species and variation with age is apparent (Plate 1). Nevertheless, specific characters are for the most part fairly well marked and enable the investigator to draw conclusions regarding the relationships existing between genera, and, to a lesser degree, species may be separated from one another on the structural character of the baculum.
Online Viscosity Measurement of Complex Solutions Using Ultrasound Doppler Velocimetry

A new method to measure the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids over a wide range of shear rates in a short period of time is presented. The technique is based on the measurement of the velocity profile in a pipe flow using ultrasound Doppler velocimetry (UDV), which is a non-invasive method, and simultaneously determining the pressure drop. The velocity profile is used to obtain shear rate distribution, while the pressure drop is used to calculate the shear stress distribution. By taking the ratio of these quantities at a radial position, local viscosity can be obtained within the shear rate range in the flow, zero at the center, and maximum at the wall, within minutes. For comparison purposes, viscosity of xanthan gum solutions with concentrations of 0.6 and 1.0 kg/m3 are also measured using a conventional technique and the agreement between the results is satisfactory. Therefore, this technique shows promise for use as an online viscosity sensor for production processes.
Fluorescence‐based Monitoring of Interleukin‐2 Gene Expression

The interaction of the T-celi receptor with antigenic peptides bound to the products of the major histocompatibility complex leads to T-cell activation, with subsequent production of a large array of soluble tnediators that regulate almost every aspect of immune function. Interieukin-2 plays a major role among the latter (reviewed in Smith 1988). As evidenced by the results of earlier experiments, expression of the interleukin-2 gene appears largely restricted to T cells and strictly dependent on activation by antigen. Transient expression assays have been designed to locate the segments of the interleukin-2 gene that can confer T cell-specific inducibility on linked reported genes such as the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase or the firefly luciferase genes. These transient assays, in which the reporter genes are propagated extrachromosomally, have indicated that the expression of the interleukin-2 gene is predominantly controlled at the transcriptional level by both positive (Durand et al. 1988, Serfling et al. 1989) and negative (Nabel et al. 1988) regulatory sequences arrayed between around —400 and — 50 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. In both the mouse and human species, these 5' cis-regulatory sequences are bound by a variety of ubiquitous and lymphocyte-speciftc factors (e.g., NF-AT, Oct-1, N F K B , A P I , A P 3 ., reviewed in Ullman et al. 1990). Also, and probably accordingly, the expression of the interieukin-2 gene may be modulated by multiple signaling pathways emanating from the engagement of the T-cell receptor (Durand et al. 1988) or of the CD28 molecule (June et al. 1989), the action of interleukin-1 (Muegge et al.
Translation of poliovirus RNA: role of an essential cis-acting oligopyrimidine element within the 5' nontranslated region and involvement of a cellular 57-kilodalton protein

Translation of poliovirus RNA is initiated by cap-independent internal entry of ribosomes into the 5' nontranslated region. This process is dependent on elements within the 5' nontranslated region (the internal ribosomal entry site) and may involve novel translation factors. Systematic mutation of a conserved oligopyrimidine tract has revealed a cis-acting element that is essential for translation in vitro. The function of this element is related to its position relative to other cis-acting domains. This element is part of a more complex structure that interacts with several cellular factors, but changes in protein binding after mutation of this element were not detected in a UV cross-linking assay. A 57-kDa protein from the ribosomal salt wash fraction of HeLa cells was identified that binds upstream of the oligopyrimidine tract. Translation of poliovirus mRNA in vitro was strongly and specifically inhibited by competition with the p57-binding domain (nucleotides 260 to 488) of the 5' nontranslated region of encephalomyocarditis virus, indicating a probable role for p57 in poliovirus translation. p57 is likely to be identical to the ribosome-associated factor that binds to and is necessary for the function of the internal ribosomal entry site of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA.
Primary/Secondary Process Cognition and Embodied Space

Neuropsychoanalytic theoretical and clinical work (Bazan 2013) gestures at the differences between how primary and secondary process thinkers experience their bodies in space. Not much is known about this, however, though it seems that primary process thinkers may have more fluid body schemas than secondary process thinkers. That is, they may be more prone to subjective distortions of space. We first present a detailed analysis that demonstrates the individual differences between primary and secondary processing as measured by the GeoCat (Vanheule et al. 2011) on a novel task of implicit embodied distancing of self-to-objects (Embodied Distancing Task; Finn et al. 2013). These findings were examined from two perspectives: psychoanalytic theory on psychopathology and embodiment (Horowitz, Duff, and Stratton 1964; Muller and Tillman 2007) and existential-phenomenological perspectives on the self (Heidegger 1927; Merleau-Ponty 1945). We sought to explore the notion that predominantly primary process thinkers experience their bodies, and thus the space around them, differently from how predominantly secondary process thinkers do. We examined the responses of participants on the Embodied Distance Task, a novel task of experiential distance distortions in peripersonal space.
Mdm2 Promotes Genetic Instability and Transformation Independent of p53

ABSTRACT Mdm2, a regulator of the tumor suppressor p53, is frequently overexpressed in human malignancies. Mdm2 also has unresolved, p53-independent functions that contribute to tumorigenesis. Here, we show that increased Mdm2 expression induced chromosome/chromatid breaks and delayed DNA double-strand break repair in cells lacking p53 but not in cells with a mutant form of Nbs1, a component of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 DNA repair complex. A 31-amino-acid region of Mdm2 was necessary for binding to Nbs1. Mutation of conserved amino acids in the Nbs1 binding domain of Mdm2 inhibited Mdm2-Nbs1 association and prevented Mdm2 from delaying phosphorylation of H2AX and ATM-S/TQ sites, repair of DNA breaks, and resolution of DNA damage foci. Similarly, the mutation of eight amino acids in the Mdm2 binding domain of Nbs1 inhibited Mdm2-Nbs1 interaction and blocked the ability of Mdm2 to delay DNA break repair. Both Nbs1 and ATM, but not the ubiquitin ligase activity of Mdm2, were necessary to inhibit DNA break repair. Only Mdm2 with an intact Nbs1 binding domain was able to increase the frequency of chromosome/chromatid breaks and the transformation efficiency of cells lacking p53. Therefore, the interaction of Mdm2 with Nbs1 inhibited DNA break repair, leading to chromosome instability and subsequent transformation that was independent of p53.
An assessment of morphogenetic fluctuation during reproductive phase change in Arabidopsis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Reproductive phase change in Arabidopsis thaliana is characterized by two transitions in phytomer identity, the differentiation of the first elongate internode (bolting transition) and of the first flower (floral transition). An evaluation of the dynamics of these transitions was sought by examining the precision of the corresponding phytomer identity changes. METHODS The length of the first elongate internode and the frequency of chimeric inflorescence structures, e.g. paraclades not subtended by a leaf (no-leaf/paraclades) and flowers subtended by a bract (bract/flowers), were measured in the Wassilewskija (Ws) accession and 47 early flowering mutants under a wide range of photoperiods. The impact of photoperiodic perturbations applied to Ws plants at different times of development was also evaluated. KEY RESULTS In Ws, both types of characters were remarkably constant across photoperiods in spite of a high degree of interindividual variability. Bract/flowers were not normally produced in Ws, but they were observed in conditions that suggest enhanced light signalling, e.g. in response to continuous light perturbations and in mutants with reduced hypocotyl elongation. In contrast, no-leaf/paraclades were normally present in approx. 20 % of Ws plants, and their frequency was increased in conditions that suggest reduced light signalling, e.g. in mutants with altered specification of long-day responses. The length of the first elongate internode was unrelated to the rate of stem elongation and to the regulation of reproductive phase change. CONCLUSIONS Bract/flowers and no-leaf/paraclades corresponded to opposite effects on the floral transition that reflected different dynamics of progression to flowering. In contrast, the length of the first elongate internode was only indirectly related to the regulation of reproductive phase change and was mainly dependent on global morphogenetic constraints. This paper proposes that morphogenetic variability could be used to identify critical phases of development and characterize the canalization of developmental patterns.
A Sparse-Based Approach for DOA Estimation and Array Calibration in Uniform Linear Array

This paper aims at achieving a joint estimation of direction-of-arrival (DOA) and array perturbations, such as gain and phase uncertainty, mutual coupling, and sensor location error, which deteriorate the performance of the DOA estimation if not carefully handled. To that end, in this paper, the array perturbations represented by a perturbation matrix as multiplicative noise to the array manifold are then reformulated to facilitate the perturbation compensations. One great finding on the perturbation matrix is that it is a sparse matrix, which contains a lot of zero elements and only few nonzero elements. With this reformulation, the perturbation compensation problems turn into sparse matrix completion problems. Then, by utilizing the sparsity of both the DOAs and perturbation matrix, a joint estimation of DOAs and array perturbations is proposed under a unified optimization framework. In addition, numerical studies are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the joint estimation.
ImmunoCAP Phadiatop Infant: A New Blood Test for Detecting IgE Sensitisation in Children at 2 Years of Age

Ballardini N, Nilsson C, Nilsson M, Lilja G. Allergy. 2006;61:337–343 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. To evaluate the efficacy of a blood test, Phadiatop Infant (PI), in determining immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to food and aeroallergens in children at 2 years of age. STUDY POPULATION. Prospective study of 239 children followed from birth. Families were recruited during pregnancy. For 75% of the participants, 1 or both parents had a history of atopic disease. METHODS. Clinical evaluation occurred every 6 months through 2 years of age. At 2 years of age, all children underwent skin-prick testing (SPT), allergen-specific IgE testing to a panel of common food and aeroallergens, and the PI blood test. Subjects with ≥1 positive SPT and allergen-specific IgE test were as categorized IgE sensitized. Those with either ≥1 positive SPT or ≥1 positive allergen-specific IgE were labeled as inconclusive. Those with all negative tests were considered non–IgE sensitized. Cutoff for a positive PI test result was >0.35 kU/L. RESULTS. On the basis of SPT and allergen-specific IgE tests, 26 (11%) of the 239 children were considered IgE sensitized, 182 (76%) were non–IgE sensitized, and 31 (13%) were labeled inconclusive. Using SPT and allergen-specific IgE tests as a reference, in the IgE-sensitized and non–IgE-sensitized groups, the sensitivity of the PI test was 96%, specificity was 98%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 89%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 99%. When children with any positive SPT or allergen-specific IgE test (ie, the inconclusive group) were included, sensitivity was 82%, specificity was 98%, PPV was 94%, and NPV was 95%. There was a statistically significant association between any clinical symptom of atopic disease and a positive PI test result (odds ratio: 2.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.3–5.5). CONCLUSIONS. The ability of PI used as an independent test to detect IgE sensitization in young children seems to be a reliable alternative to SPT or allergen-specific IgE antibody testing. REVIEWER COMMENTS. As the prevalence of atopic diseases in the population increases, early identification of IgE-sensitized, atopic children is desirable. The PI test seems to be a reasonable alternative that does not require the placement of SPT or the selection of specific antigens for SPT or blood tests. In this study, the correlation of the PI test with SPT or blood-test results was good. The correlation with clinical symptoms was not quite as convincing. In terms of individual allergic symptoms, a positive PI test result only correlated significantly with eczema. This was probably limited by the fact that children were only followed up to age 2, when asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis are more frequently infection related than allergic.