Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endocrine factors in the etiology of endometrial carcinoma.

In the blood of 39 women with endometrial carcinoma the FSH, LH, estrone, androstendion, estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone were determined by the RIA method. Compared to the control group the estrone (303.3 +/- 44.3 pmol/l), estradiol (165.2 +/- 29.4 pmol/l) and the androstendion (5.24 +/- 0.44 nmol/l) were significantly higher. The source of the increased estrogen levels was mainly of adrenal origin. The peripheral conversion, i.e. aromatization of androstendion into estrone was particularly marked in the case of adipose patients. The unbalanced estrogen effect in the absence of progesterone is one of the decisive factors in the etiology of endometrial carcinoma.
Obesity and Paediatric Migraine

This study investigates the influence of obesity on the severity of migraine in children. One hundred and twenty-four patients (77 female, 36 with aura; mean age 12.9 ± 2.8 years; age range 4.0–17.0 years) were included. Headache features such as number and duration of attacks, pain severity and associated symptoms were compared between obese, overweight and normal weight patients. The percentage of obesity was 17.7. Although pain severity and duration were not different among groups, obese patients had more frequent attacks than the overweight and normal weight patients (5.3 ± 2.4, 4.4 ± 2.4 and 3.8 ± 2.4 attacks/month, respectively, P = 0.018). There was also a positive correlation between relative body mass index and number of attacks (P = 0.026, r = 0.20). Obesity did not have an influence on migraine-associated symptoms including aura, phono/photophobia, nausea and vomiting. In this study, obesity appeared to be related to the frequency of headache attacks in children and adolescents with migraine.
Characterising patients and controls with brain graphs constructed from fMRI data

Network science is a novel method of investigating the structure and function of the brain. We used network analysis in an attempt to distinguish between brain graphs constructed from fMRI data from patients and controls. The nodes in the brain graphs are spatial regions of interest and the strength of their connection is the correlation of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal of pairs of nodes. The first data set contained little temporal information, so we performed a spectral clustering method on the communicability networks generated from the data. We found that there was some distinction between healthy and braindamaged individuals. The second data set contained time-series data, which allowed us to construct time-dependent adjacency matrices. The patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the data was taken with the patients and controls taking the drugs Aripiprazole, Sulpiride, or a placebo. We performed time-dependent community detection on the multilayer networks and the mean flexibility of the network was found. We found that for all drugs, the controls had a higher mean network flexibility than the patients.
Metagenomic analysis of a sample from a patient with respiratory tract infection reveals the presence of a γ-papillomavirus

Previously unknown or unexpected pathogens may be responsible for that proportion of respiratory diseases in which a causative agent cannot be identified. The application of broad-spectrum, sequence independent virus discovery techniques may be useful to reduce this proportion and widen our knowledge about respiratory pathogens. Thanks to the availability of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology, it became today possible to detect viruses which are present at a very low load, but the clinical relevance of those viruses must be investigated. In this study we used VIDISCA-454, a restriction enzyme based virus discovery method that utilizes Roche 454 HTS system, on a nasal swab collected from a subject with respiratory complaints. A γ-papillomavirus was detected (complete genome: 7142 bp) and its role in disease was investigated. Respiratory samples collected both during the acute phase of the illness and 2 weeks after full recovery contained the virus. The patient presented antibodies directed against the virus but there was no difference between IgG levels in blood samples collected during the acute phase and 2 weeks after full recovery. We therefore concluded that the detected γ-papillomavirus is unlikely to be the causative agent of the respiratory complaints and its presence in the nose of the patient is not related to the disease. Although HTS based virus discovery techniques proved their great potential as a tool to clarify the etiology of some infectious diseases, the obtained information must be subjected to cautious interpretations. This study underlines the crucial importance of performing careful investigations on viruses identified when applying sensitive virus discovery techniques, since the mere identification of a virus and its presence in a clinical sample are not satisfactory proofs to establish a causative link with a disease.
Adiponectin and IGFBP-1 in the development of gestational diabetes in obese mothers

Objective Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is more common in pregnancies complicated by obesity and both diseases increase the risk for fetal overgrowth and long-term adverse health consequences for the mother and child. Previous studies have linked low maternal serum adiponectin to GDM in normal and overweight women. We hypothesized that lower adiponectin, in particular the high-molecular-weight form, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and its binding protein (IGFBP-1) are associated with GDM in pregnant obese Hispanic women. Methods 72 obese, predominantly Hispanic (92%), women were recruited at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Adiposity was assessed, fasting serum samples were collected, and glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol levels, adipokines, and hormones associated with obesity and insulin resistance were measured. 30 women had been recently diagnosed with GDM. Results Gestational weeks, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm circumference, serum leptin, IGF-I, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-6 did not differ in the two groups. Obese women with GDM had significantly higher fasting glucose, A1C, triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, adiponectin, and IGFBP-1 compared to obese women without GDM. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was positively correlated to IGF-I and negatively correlated to adiponectin. Conclusions Obese pregnant women with recently diagnosed GDM had a significantly exacerbated metabolic profile, low serum adiponectin and IGFBP-1 levels at 24–28 weeks of gestation, as compared to women with obesity alone. Because low adiponectin is well established to cause insulin resistance and decreased IGFBP-1 indicates increased IGF-I bioavailability, we propose that these changes are mechanistically linked to the development of GDM in obese Hispanic women.
Species-specific positive selection of the male-specific lethal complex that participates in dosage compensation in Drosophila

In many taxa, males and females have unequal ratios of sex chromosomes to autosomes, which has resulted in the invention of diverse mechanisms to equilibrate gene expression between the sexes (dosage compensation). Failure to compensate for sex chromosome dosage results in male lethality in Drosophila. In Drosophila, a male-specific lethal (MSL) complex of proteins and noncoding RNAs binds to hundreds of sites on the single male X chromosome and up-regulates gene expression. Here we use population genetics of two closely related Drosophila species to show that adaptive evolution has occurred in all five protein-coding genes of the MSL complex. This positive selection is asymmetric between closely related species, with a very strong signature apparent in Drosophila melanogaster but not in Drosophila simulans. In particular, the MSL1 and MSL2 proteins have undergone dramatic positive selection in D. melanogaster, in domains previously shown to be responsible for their specific targeting to the X chromosome. This signature of positive selection at an essential protein–DNA interface of the complex is unexpected and suggests that X chromosomal MSL-binding DNA segments may themselves be changing rapidly. This highly asymmetric, rapid evolution of the MSL genes further suggests that misregulated dosage compensation may represent one of the underlying causes of male hybrid inviability in Drosophila, wherein the fate of hybrid males depends on which species' X chromosome is inherited.
Children and YouTube: access to safe content

Watching cartoons is part of a child's daily routine. Today the Internet and social video repositories such as YouTube encourage exploration for new online videos, but pornography is dramatically pervasive on the Internet and children may accidently access inappropriate content. In this paper, we first introduce the problem by showing a real example in which audio porno content was substituted for the original audio of a famous Disney cartoon. Next, we discuss the effectiveness of the YouTube user interface for signaling inappropriate content and propose some suggestions, such as delivering the nature of the retrieved content before accessing it, that could be adopted to improve its safety for children.
Mixed Constitutions and Political Instability

Mixed constitutions combine executive presidents with assembly-dependent prime ministers. While some analysts argue that these regimes foster stability, their presidents are also often viewed as pivotal actors when such regimes collapse. Russia's First Republic seemed to fit the latter pattern, and this article inquires into whether the addition of an executive presidency to its constitution truly had a destabilizing effect on Russia's first attempt at democracy. Specialists provide different perspectives on this question. One view is that the constitution had no effect on political outcomes; a second perspective suggests that it may have had effects particular to Russia. Alternatively, its impact may have followed patterns similar to other countries. To examine these views the article provides a classification of this constitution using a comparative typology and then looks at the outcomes of political disagreements over government, policy and the constitution. It finds that these followed the sort of patterns of compromise and conflict that one might expect from a comparative perspective. The implications for our understanding of Russian politics and other political transitions are explored. It is argued that the Russian case helps to clarify the strengths and weaknesses of the mixed constitutions that have attracted such divergent views.
On fractional linear network coding solution of multiple-unicast networks

It is known that there exists a multiple-unicast network which has a rate 1 linear network coding solution if and only if the characteristic of the finite field belongs to a given finite or co-finite set of primes. In this paper, we present a generalization of this result for a linear network coding solution of any rate. Specifically, we show that for any non-zero positive rational number k/n, there exists a multiple-unicast network which has a rate k/n fractional linear network coding solution if and only if the characteristic of the finite field belongs to a given finite or co-finite set of primes.
Identification of MIMO LPV models based on interpolation

This paper presents SMILE (State-space Model Interpolation of Local Estimates), a new technique to estimate linear parameter varying state-space models for multiple-input multiple-output systems whose dynamics depends on a single varying parameter, called the scheduling parameter. The SMILE technique is based on the interpolation of linear time-invariant models that are valid for fixed operating conditions of the system, that is, for constant values of the scheduling parameters. The methodology yields affine LPV models that are numerically well-conditioned and therefore suitable for LPV control synthesis procedures. The underlying interpolation technique is formulated as a nonlinear least-squares optimization problem that can be efficiently solved by standard solvers. Application of the proposed methodology to a vibroacoustic setup, whose dynamics are highly sensitive to the ambient temperature, clearly demonstrates the potential of the SMILE technique.
Cognitive Impairment and Risk of Stroke in the Older Population

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that vascular dementia in older persons is more common than previously hypothesized. A substantial proportion of dementia in old age may be an early manifestation of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), that eventually becomes clinically evident as an acute cerebrovascular accident. This study was aimed at assessing whether cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in older persons free of stroke are associated with higher risk of future stroke, independently of other risk factors.
Pernicious Performance Appraisals: A Critical Exercise

This article presents a pedagogical exercise where students can experience bias and chance in a performance appraisal process. Students in the role of Vice-presidents interview and make decisions regarding employment and pay for analysts. Student analysts are interviewed and either fired, promoted, or given pay increases based on the interview and the Vice-president’s information. Ultimately, it is revealed that there is no difference in true performance among analysts and that all decisions were based on bias and chance. The article provides an extensive literature review and teaching notes to support the problems with the administrative use of performance appraisals.
Models used to Represent the Windings and its Effect on the Torque Obtained from Finite Element Analysis

This paper presents a comparison among different models used to represent the windings and their influence in the mechanic torque obtained from the finite element analysis. The results of the simulations are compared with those obtained from the static measurements of a real 8/6 switched reluctance motor, designed for an electric vehicle application. Also, the mathematical model of the spatially distributed coils, used for the simulations, is developed. Furthermore, the theory supporting the different torque results, obtained with the models, is presented.
From the dichotomous paradigm of the shopping experience to the ubiquitous paradigm

As highlighted at a recent professional symposium on cross-channel commerce held by LSA (LSA, 2013), the trend in consumer habits is towards fragmentation, with consumers turning to increasingly varied channels and formats.1 New shopping habits (aiming at better cost control and resulting from more dispersed lifestyles) associated with the development of a ‘digital ecosystem’ (de Rosnay, 2013) prompts us to reconsider the traditional dichotomy – derived from that between commerce and e-commerce – that the business world and the academic community have observed between the ‘shopping experience’ and the ‘e-shopping experience’. The first reason for a discussion about the ‘dichotomous paradigm’ of the shopping experience stems from its segmented nature (having a shopping experience in a store vs. online). Indeed, the fragmentation of lifestyles,2 which causes consumers to commute and move about more and more and to consume on the go3 – the development of a ‘transit and takeaway society’ for Virilio (2009) – coupled with techno-commercial arrangements combining channels (cross-channel commerce) and/or formats (cross-format commerce4), tends to render a dichotomous and segmented perspective obsolete and replace it with an analysis in terms of flows, in terms of a ‘shopping peregrination’. For consumers, this entails optimizing trips (saving time, heightened efficiency) especially when one has a large number of activities to do (dropping off and picking up children, grocery shopping, leisure). For Gasnier (2007), shopping is now part of a complex chain that is meticulously organized and timed. The second reason to discuss the dichotomous paradigm concerns the notion of the attractiveness of a retail outlet or a commercial website. Indeed, as Pine and Gilmore (1999) have shown, shopping experience strategies appeared in the 1990s so that businesses could first build a reputation and attractiveness by providing their customers with highly hedonistic experiences (Filser, 1996), and then charge higher profit margins than they would be able to if they were just selling products or services. The same approach was then applied to websites. The aim of providing e-shopping experiences to online users, inspired by strategies used in brickand-mortar stores, was to increase differentiation and user traffic to websites (Belaud, 2011b ; Lemoine, 2008, 2012). In both cases, the strategy is to promote a shopping or an e-shopping experience by creating a (more or less) revisited destination. On the other hand, ‘in-transit’ shopping – such as bus and railway station retailing, which is fast expanding (Keller, 2009; Sabbah, 2011) as well as the possible use of mobile shopping apps for smartphones, called ‘Shazaming’ – the product offering Editorial: From the dichotomous paradigm of the shopping experience to the ubiquitous paradigm
Chinese Special Attribution Process From Taiwan Undergraduate: The "Yuan" Scale Construction

The concept of “Yuan” plays an important role in Chinese society. Like the function of “the self-fulfilling prophecy”, attributes to the life gain and loss “Yuan” that was the special social interaction supports thinking about Chinese. One thousand nine hundred and twenty undergraduates were selected via random cluster sampling. The results showed that the model of correlated factors is stable and has prediction power. Taiwanese undergraduates’ belief in Yuan still contains the traditional viewpoint. Their behaviors, however, have become active as opposed to passive, which means that they consider Yuan as an important factor of interpersonal interactions, but do not perceive it as predestined.
Three-dimensional Numerical Simulations of Rayleigh-Taylor Unstable Flames in Type Ia Supernovae

Flame instabilities play a dominant role in accelerating the burning front to a large fraction of the speed of sound in a Type Ia supernova. We present a three-dimensional numerical simulation of a Rayleigh-Taylor unstable carbon flame, following its evolution through the transition to turbulence. A low-Mach number hydrodynamics method is used, freeing us from the harsh time step restrictions imposed by sound waves. We fully resolve the thermal structure of the flame and its reaction zone, eliminating the need for a flame model. A single density is considered, 1.5 × 107 g cm-3, and half-carbon, half-oxygen fuel: conditions under which the flame propagated in the flamelet regime in our related two-dimensional study. We compare to a corresponding two-dimensional simulation and show that while fire polishing keeps the small features suppressed in two dimensions, turbulence wrinkles the flame on far smaller scales in the three-dimensional case, suggesting that the transition to the distributed burning regime occurs at higher densities in three dimensions. Detailed turbulence diagnostics are provided. We show that the turbulence follows a Kolmogorov spectrum and is highly anisotropic on the large scales, with a much larger integral scale in the direction of gravity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that it becomes more isotropic as it cascades down to small scales. On the basis of the turbulent statistics and the flame properties of our simulation, we compute the Gibson scale. We show the progress of the turbulent flame through a classic combustion regime diagram, indicating that the flame just enters the distributed burning regime near the end of our simulation.
AirHopper: Bridging the air-gap between isolated networks and mobile phones using radio frequencies

Information is the most critical asset of modern organizations, and accordingly coveted by adversaries. When highly sensitive data is involved, an organization may resort to air-gap isolation, in which there is no networking connection between the inner network and the external world. While infiltrating an air-gapped network has been proven feasible in recent years (e.g., Stuxnet), data exfiltration from an air-gapped network is still considered to be one of the most challenging phases of an advanced cyber-attack. In this paper we present "AirHopper", a bifurcated malware that bridges the air-gap between an isolated network and nearby infected mobile phones using FM signals. While it is known that software can intentionally create radio emissions from a video display unit, this is the first time that mobile phones are considered in an attack model as the intended receivers of maliciously crafted radio signals. We examine the attack model and its limitations, and discuss implementation considerations such as stealth and modulation methods. Finally, we evaluate AirHopper and demonstrate how textual and binary data can be exfiltrated from physically isolated computer to mobile phones at a distance of 1-7 meters, with effective bandwidth of 13-60 Bps (Bytes per second).
Special Issue on Combining Probability and Logic Introduction

This volume arose out of an international, interdisciplinary academic network on Probabilistic Logic and Probabilistic Networks involving four of us (Haenni, Romeijn, Wheeler and Williamson), called Progicnet and funded by the Leverhulme Trust from 2006–8. Many of the papers in this volume were presented at an associated conference, the Third Workshop on Combining Probability and Logic (Progic 2007), held at the University of Kent on 5–7 September 2007. The papers in this volume concern either the special focus on the connection between probabilistic logic and probabilistic networks or the more general question of the links between probability and logic. Here we introduce probabilistic logic, probabilistic networks, current and future directions of research and also the themes of the papers that follow.
Rendering Algebraic Surfaces – CS 348 B Final Project

where , , . The next step is to determine whether there exists a root of this equation, because if this equation has no real roots then the ray does not intersect the surface. It is natural to restrict the visualization of a surface to some volume which represents a part of the real space. Since we use convex extents, a ray may intersect it through an interval only and it is quite easy to calculate the end points of this interval, and ! "# where $ ! "#. Surely, the interval % , ! "#& depends on the parameters of the ray ' , , , , , (. The task is now to check whether this ray intersects the surface. If the ray intersects the surface, then the parameter ) of the intersection point lies between and ! "#.