Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Business Creation in the United States: Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II Initial Assessment

PSED II began in 2005 with the selection of a cohort of 1,214 nascent entrepreneurs chosen from a representative sample of 31,845 adults. The first 12 month follow-up interviews were completed with 80% of the original cohort. The project is designed to replicate, with appropriate methodological improvements, PSED I. The PSED provides a unique, unprecedented description of the initial stages of the entrepreneurial process. The results suggest that prior experience and an appropriate strategy are critical for completing a new firm birth; personal attributes, motivations, and contexts seem to have minimal effect. The PSED findings have substantial implications for policy makers who wish to improve the capacity of the US entrepreneurial sector to confront global competitive threats with a steady flow of new and innovative firms.
IAPAC Guidelines for Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum for Adults and Adolescents

Background: An estimated 50% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally are unaware of their status. Among those who know their HIV status, many do not receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a timely manner, fail to remain engaged in care, or do not achieve sustained viral suppression. Barriers across the HIV care continuum prevent PLHIV from achieving the therapeutic and preventive effects of ART. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, and 6132 articles, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies with or without comparators, cross-sectional studies, and descriptive documents, met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 1047 articles were used to generate 36 recommendations to optimize the HIV care continuum for adults and adolescents. Recommendations: Recommendations are provided for interventions to optimize the HIV care environment; increase HIV testing and linkage to care, treatment coverage, retention in care, and viral suppression; and monitor the HIV care continuum.
A 0.45V 100-channel neural-recording IC with sub-µW/channel consumption in 0.18µm CMOS

Conventional neural-recording systems face limitations in simultaneously achieving a good NEF and low power consumption [1-4]. This is because the input amplifier current consumption is dictated by an input-referred noise requirement that determines the system sensitivity, while the supply voltage is determined by a DR requirement at the analog recording chain output that limits the maximum achievable resolution of the A-to-D conversion. In this paper, a power-efficient neural-recording architecture using a DR-folding technique is presented to enable low-voltage operation without compromising the DR performance. The proposed architecture can operate with only half of the typically required supply voltage, which results in about 50% power reduction.
Generation X and the Public Employee

This cross-sectional study reports the work-related differences and similarities of 241 Generation X and Baby Boomer employees in the public sector. A more homogeneous pattern of what employees want across age cohorts emerges, contrary to the literature and stereotypes on generational differences. Surprising levels of similarity were found between GenXers and Boomers, with the three significant areas of difference focused on issues of personal growth. The implications for recruiting, retention, motivation, training, and human resource processes are discussed.
Clinical Significance of Perineural Invasion in T 1-2 Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a pathologic feature associated with a poor prognosis in many human malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). OSCC is a surgically treated cancer in which the PNI status is routinely reported and is regarded as an adverse feature according to treatment guidelines. Despite the wide implications of PNI in the clinical management of OSCC, controversies exist regarding the diagnosis, prevalence and clinical significance of PNI, especially for early T1-2 OSCC. The objectives of this review are to discuss the available evidence and limitations regarding the clinical significance and application of PNI. This review focuses on the roles of PNI in T1-2 OSCC for the prognostication of oncologic outcomes and for guiding clinical management including neck dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Current evidences suggest that PNI is an important adverse pathologic feature of T1-2 OSCC, and that it is primarily associated with cervical lymph node metastasis and poor survival. Most reported data support the idea that T12N0 OSCC with PNI requires aggressive elective neck dissection. However, evidence is lacking for the role of postoperative adjuvant therapy in the improvement of locoregional control or survival of T1-2 OSCC with PNI as the only indication. Patient with low-risk T1-2 OSCC in which PNI is the only adverse feature should be informed about the risks, long-term toxicities and benefits regarding postoperative adjuvant therapy so that they can participate in individual decision making.
Screening by anti-endomysium antibody for celiac disease in diabetic children and adolescents in Austria.

BACKGROUND Unrecognized celiac disease (CD) may be found in a substantial proportion of patients with type I diabetes mellitus. METHODS A cohort of 403 Austrian children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus (210 males and 193 females; age range, 1-22 years) was screened for celiac disease using the IgA anti-endomysium antibody test (EMA) and the immunoglobulin (Ig)G anti-gliadin (AGA-IgG) and IgA anti-gliadin (AGA-IgA) antibody test. RESULTS Twelve patients' sera (2.98%) yielded positive EMA results and two patients' sera (0.49%) with IgA deficiency had high AGA-IgG values. All but one of these patients underwent intestinal biopsy. Six (1.49%) had clear histologic evidence of CD (flat mucosa), whereas three (0.74%) showed minor histologic changes (increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes) and four (0.99%), including the EMA-negative patients with IgA deficiency, had a normal mucosa. When the cases with silent and potential CD were combined, the overall prevalence in the current cohort was 2.98%. There was no difference in the hemoglobin (Hb)A1c level between antibody-positive and -negative patients, and subsequent gluten-free diet did not change this metabolic parameter. CONCLUSION The prevalence of clinically unrecognized CD, found by EMA screening, is much higher in Austrian children with diabetes than in a comparable population without diabetes. The prevalence of CD in diabetic children in Austria is distinctly lower, however, than in several other countries.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase gene amplification in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aim: Telomerase activation is essential for the immortality of cancer cells. The expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic component of the telomerase complex, regulates telomerase activity in human cancers. Amplification of the hTERT gene, located at chromosome 5p, is thought to be a potential genetic event contributing to telomerase activation in sporadic tumors.
Current concepts in the management of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects

Objectives: Pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect (PFUDD) may be associated with disabling complications, such as recurrent stricture, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. In this article we review the current concepts in the evaluation and surgical management of PFUDD, including redo urethroplasty. Materials and Methods: A PubMed™ search was performed using the keywords “pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect, anastomotic urethroplasty, pelvic fracture urethral stricture, pelvic fracture urethral injuries, and redo-urethroplasty. ” The search was limited to papers published from 1980 to March 2010 with special focus on those published in the last 15 years. The relevant articles were reviewed with regard to etiology, role of imaging, and the techniques of urethroplasty. Results: Pelvic fracture due to accidents was the most common etiology of PFUDD that usually involved the membranous urethra. Modern cross-sectional imaging, such as sonourethrography and magnetic resonance imaging help assess stricture pathology better, but their precise role in PFUDD management remains undefined. Surgical treatment with perineal anastomotic urethroplasty yields a success rate of more than 90% in most studies. The most important complication of surgical reconstruction is restenosis, occurring in less than 10% cases, most of which can be corrected by a redo anastomotic urethroplasty. The most common complication associated with this condition is erectile dysfunction. Urinary incontinence is a much rarer complication of this surgery in the present day. Conclusions: Anastomotic urethroplasty remains the cornerstone in the management of PFUDD, even in previously failed repairs. Newer innovations are needed to address the problem of erectile dysfunction associated with this condition.
The association of changes in physical-activity level and other lifestyle characteristics with mortality among men.

BACKGROUND Recent trends toward increasing physical exercise, stopping cigarette smoking, and avoiding obesity may increase longevity. We analyzed changes in the lifestyles of Harvard College alumni and the associations of these changes with mortality. METHODS Men who were 45 to 84 years of age in 1977 and who had reported no life-threatening disease on questionnaires completed in 1962 or 1966 and again in 1977 were classified according to changes in lifestyle characteristics between the first and second questionnaires. We analyzed changes in their level of physical activity, cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and body weight, and the relation of these factors to mortality between 1977 and 1985. RESULTS Of the 10,269 men, 476 died during this period (which totaled 90,650 man-years of observation). Beginning moderately vigorous sports activity (at an intensity of 4.5 or more metabolic equivalents) was associated with a 23 percent lower risk of death (95 percent confidence interval, 4 to 42 percent; P = 0.015) than not taking up moderately vigorous sports. Quitting cigarette smoking was associated with a 41 percent lower risk (95 percent confidence interval, 20 to 57 percent; P = 0.001) than continuing smoking, but with a 23 percent higher risk than constant nonsmoking. Men with recently diagnosed hypertension had a lower risk of death than those with long-term hypertension (relative risk, 0.75; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.55 to 1.02; P = 0.057), as did men with consistently normal blood pressure (relative risk, 0.52; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.40 to 0.68; P < 0.001). Maintenance of lean body mass was associated with a lower mortality rate than long-term, recent, or previous obesity. The associations between changes in lifestyle and mortality were independent and were largely undiminished by age. Our findings on death from coronary heart disease mirrored those on death from all causes. CONCLUSIONS Beginning moderately vigorous sports activity, quitting cigarette smoking, maintaining normal blood pressure, and avoiding obesity were separately associated with lower rates of death from all causes and from coronary heart disease among middle-aged and older men.
Effect on human attention of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones

This study examined the effect of exposure to the electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones on human attention. Three measures of attention were administered to 72 teenagers, 37 of whom were mobile phone users. The results showed that the mobile phone users performed better on one of the three measures of attention than did the non-mobile phone users. The results suggest that exposure to the electro- magnetic field emitted by mobile phones may have a mild facilitating effect on attention functions, which is consistent with previous observations that exposure to the electromagnetic field has a facilitating effect on cognitive processing. The possibility that mobile phone users may be naturally better at multiple tasking tasks was discussed.
Ponatinib in refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias.

BACKGROUND Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL) is frequently caused by mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain. Ponatinib (AP24534) is a potent oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks native and mutated BCR-ABL, including the gatekeeper mutant T315I, which is uniformly resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. METHODS In this phase 1 dose-escalation study, we enrolled 81 patients with resistant hematologic cancers, including 60 with CML and 5 with Ph-positive ALL. Ponatinib was administered once daily at doses ranging from 2 to 60 mg. Median follow-up was 56 weeks (range, 2 to 140). RESULTS Dose-limiting toxic effects included elevated lipase or amylase levels and pancreatitis. Common adverse events were rash, myelosuppression, and constitutional symptoms. Among Ph-positive patients, 91% had received two or more approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and 51% had received all three approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Of 43 patients with chronic-phase CML, 98% had a complete hematologic response, 72% had a major cytogenetic response, and 44% had a major molecular response. Of 12 patients who had chronic-phase CML with the T315I mutation, 100% had a complete hematologic response and 92% had a major cytogenetic response. Of 13 patients with chronic-phase CML without detectable mutations, 100% had a complete hematologic response and 62% had a major cytogenetic response. Responses among patients with chronic-phase CML were durable. Of 22 patients with accelerated-phase or blast-phase CML or Ph-positive ALL, 36% had a major hematologic response and 32% had a major cytogenetic response. CONCLUSIONS Ponatinib was highly active in heavily pretreated patients with Ph-positive leukemias with resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including patients with the BCR-ABL T315I mutation, other mutations, or no mutations. (Funded by Ariad Pharmaceuticals and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00660920.).
Patient-centred asthma education in the emergency department: the case in favour

In many countries of the world, despite an increase in the prevalence of asthma, there has been a reassuring recent decline in mortality and rates of hospitalisation due to the disease. Whilst this may appear to be good, considerable morbidity persists which may be under-recognised by the patient 1 and there is a danger of complacency developing amongst health professionals. If further initiatives to improve care are necessary then it would appear sensible to focus those efforts on areas of maximal need. One such area is the attendance of those with asthma at emergency departments (EDs). Patients who attend EDs may bypass other healthcare facilities and may be repetitive attendees. In a UK national census half of all those attending EDs were adults, a third had been admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months and a quarter had attended an ED in the previous 3 months 2. A multicentre French study has emphasised the seriousness of this situation and has shown that 26% of those attending EDs have life threatening attacks. A further 49% were classified as having severe exacerbations 3. As part of an initiative to identify factors associated with repeat ED visits by adults with asthma, one study has demonstrated that, in addition to severity, the lack of self-management education and of possession of a written asthma action plan may increase the likelihood of attendance 4. As a result of this, other …
MTC28, a novel 28-kilodalton proline-rich secreted antigen specific for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

Proteins that are actively secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis serve as major targets of immune responses in the infected host. To identify and purify novel proteins in the filtrates of M. tuberculosis cultures, a bacteriophage lambda library of M. tuberculosis H37Rv DNA was immunoscreened by using an anti-culture filtrate rabbit antiserum. Of 20 positive clones isolated, 6 were analyzed and found to express the genes for two known components of the early culture filtrate, the secreted 45/47-kDa antigen complex and the KatG protein, and two novel genes. Here we report the molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of one of the new genes encoding a culture filtrate protein of 310 amino acid (aa) residues. We called this gene mtc28. The deduced polypeptide sequence contained an NH2-terminal, highly hydrophobic 32-aa region having properties of a secretion signal peptide. The putative 278-aa mature MTC28 protein was characterized at its NH2 and COOH termini by a high content of proline and alanine residues organized in an (AP)n motif. Thus, MTC28 is a new member of a group of proline-rich antigens found in M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae. As shown by DNA hybridization experiments, the mtc28 gene was present only in species of the M. tuberculosis complex. Purified recombinant MTC28 antigen evoked strong delayed-type hypersensitivity and antibody responses in guinea pigs immunized with Mycobacterium bovis BCG, but not in guinea pigs immunized with Mycobacterium avium. The strong immunological activity of MTC28 and the absence of B- and T-cell epitopes cross-reactive with a common environmental mycobacterial species, such as M. avium, make this novel antigen an attractive reagent for immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis.
Diagnosis of acute rhinosinusitis in primary care: a systematic review of test accuracy.

BACKGROUND Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is a common primary care infection, but there have been no recent, comprehensive diagnostic meta-analyses. AIM To determine the accuracy of laboratory and imaging studies for the diagnosis of ARS. DESIGN AND SETTING Systematic review of diagnostic tests in outpatient, primary care, and specialty settings. METHOD The authors included studies of patients presenting with or referred for suspected ARS, and used bivariate meta-analysis to calculate summary estimates of test accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The authors also plotted summary ROC curves to explore heterogeneity, cutoffs, and the impact of different reference standards. RESULTS Using antral puncture as the reference standard, A mode ultrasound (positive likelihood ratio [LR+] 1.71, negative likelihood ratio [LR-] 0.41), B mode ultrasound (LR+ 1.64, LR- 0.69), and radiography (LR+ 2.01, LR- 0.28) had only modest accuracy. Accuracy was higher using imaging as the reference standard for both ultrasound (LR+12.4, LR- 0.35) and radiography (LR+ 9.4, LR- 0.27), although this likely overestimates accuracy. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) both had clear threshold effects, and modest overall accuracy. The LR+ for ESR >30 and >40 were 4.08 and 7.40, respectively. A dipstick of nasal secretions for leucocyte esterase was highly accurate (LR+ 18.4, LR- 0.17) but has not been validated. CONCLUSION In general, tests were of limited value in the diagnosis of ARS. Normal radiography helps rule out sinusitis when negative, whereas CRP and ESR help rule in sinusitis when positive, although, given their limited accuracy as individual tests, they cannot be routinely recommended. Prospective studies integrating signs and symptoms with point-of-care CRP, dipstick, and/ or handheld B-mode ultrasound are needed.
Measuring Effect of Repetitive Queries and Implicit Learning with Joining-in-type Robot Assisted Language Learning System

Computer assisted language learning (CALL) becomes more realistic and motivating for learners through introduction of humanoid robots. A robot assisted language learning (RALL) system is expected to provide an immersive environment for a second language (L2) learner to prepare for real face-to-face communication. We are developing a joining-in type RALL system using two humanoid robots, one playing the role of a teacher and the other playing the role of an advanced peer learner. The interaction between the two robots and learner is designed to smoothly switch between two learning modes, that is, tutoring and implicit learning, for effective language learning. In this paper, we measured the effect oﬁmplicit learning with repetitive queries quantitatively with 37 learners divided into two groups with and without interaction for implicit learning. The experimental results showed that the repetitive queries of speciﬁc grammatical expressions consistently improved the correct use of the expressions, and the improvement was signiﬁcantly greater when the peer learner robot presented an answer for implicit learning compared with when there was no assistance from the robot.
Passivation and carrier selectivity of TiO2 contacts combined with different passivation layers and electrodes for silicon solar cells

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) films have previously been demonstrated to function as electron-selective contacts to silicon solar cells, and an efficiency of 21.6% has been reported for a cell featuring a full-area TiO2 contact. However, the passivation quality of TiO2 contacts still falls short of that possible with best-in-class contacts based on, e.g., hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). We investigate here the performance of a-Si:H/TiO2 stacks as electron-selective, passivating contacts. We show that combining a-Si:H with TiO2 can result in excellent surface passivation (lifetime close to 3 ms for textured CZ wafers), especially for 7.5-nm-thick TiO2 capping layers. However, initial cell results show that such a-Si:H/TiO2 stacks give poorer efficiencies than TiO2 only, with extremely low fill factors due to S-shaped current-voltage curves. Also, the role of the rear electrode becomes apparent when substituting Al for an ITO/Ag stack: the latter has significantly lower open-circuit voltage and fill factor than the former. Combining a TiO2/Al rear electron contact (with no a-Si:H) and an intrinsic a-Si:H/p-type a-Si:H front hole contact, we demonstrate a double heterojunction silicon solar cell with an efficiency of approximately 15%. Furthermore, a full metal-oxide heterojunction cell that combines a molybdenum oxide (MoOx)/ITO hole contact with the TiO2/Al electron contact achieves an efficiency of 11%.
Changes in human capital and earnings inequality: Recent evidence from Brazil 1

Abstract This paper estimates changes in the rates of return to human capital across the earnings distribution using data from over a 10-year period for Brazil. It uses these estimates to simulate the separate impacts of changes in returns to skills and changes in the supply of skills on earnings inequality. Evidence points strongly to growing inequality in rates of return to education in Brazil. This finding suggests that recent macroeconomic and trade reforms have been of most benefit to the skilled rather than the unskilled. Supporting evidence points to an improved competitiveness in the labour market, with workers increasingly rewarded for productivity. However, although increases in returns to education are more pronounced at the top of the earnings distribution, this did not in practice led to increased inequality. This is because levels of education and other labour market-rewarded endowments have increased and offset the rate of return effect. Appropriate education policy is therefore an essential partner for macroeconomic and trade reform if a developing economy is to avoid worsening income inequality.