Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical usefulness of carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 as a screening test for pancreatic cancer in an asymptomatic population

Background and Aim: Although the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is generally poor, it is well known that the survival rate for resected pancreatic cancer is much higher than that for more conservative treatment. The importance of early detection is emphasized for resection of pancreatic cancer. Measurement of serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9 has shown satisfactory sensitivity and predictive value in symptomatic patients, but no available data has been found on healthy asymptomatic subjects. Thus, the authors aimed to determine the clinical usefulness of CA 19‐9 as a screening tool for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic subjects.
Keynes versus Wagner: public expenditure and national income for three African countries

The public expenditure/income hypothesis has long been debated in economics. Following Keynes, public expenditure is seen as an exogenous factor to be used as a policy instrument to influence growth. On the other hand, Wagner argues that expenditure is an endogenous factor or an outcome, not a cause, of growth in national income. The purpose of this paper is to apply both the Granger and Holmes-Hutton statistical procedures to test the income-expenditure hypothesis for three African countries-Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. We find that the hypothesis of public expenditure causing national income is not supported by the data for these African countries.
Minimal concentrations of aminoglycoside that can synergize with penicillin in enterococcal endocarditis

Minimal concentrations of aminoglycoside that could produce a synergistic effect with penicillin were investigated in broth cultures containing 10(8) enterococci per ml, in vitro in vegetations infected with ca. 10(8) enterococci per g, and in vivo in an experimental model of enterococcal endocarditis. Penicillin G plus gentamicin (1.5 or 0.75 microgram/ml) sterilized a broth culture of a streptomycin-resistant strain (E1) at 48 h. In contrast, penicillin G plus gentamicin (1.5 or 0.75 microgram/ml) sterilized only 2 of 15 in vitro vegetations at 5 days. Similarly, doses of gentamicin that resulted in peak serum levels of 1.5 microgram/ml failed after 10 days of therapy with penicillin G plus gentamicin to sterilize in vivo vegetations infected with E1, and doses of gentamicin that resulted in peak serum levels of about 8 micrograms/ml sterilized four of six vegetations. Similar results were obtained with a streptomycin-susceptible strain. These studies indicated that the rate of bactericidal activity in broth cultures is greater than the bacteriological response in infected vegetations and that aminoglycoside concentrations that appear efficacious on the basis of synergy studies in broth cultures may not be satisfactory clinically.
ISDra2 transposition in Deinococcus radiodurans is downregulated by TnpB

Transposable elements belonging to the recently identified IS200/IS605 family radically differ from classical insertion sequences in their transposition mechanism by strictly requiring single‐stranded DNA substrates. This IS family includes elements encoding only the transposase (TnpA), and others, like ISDra2 from Deinococcus radiodurans, which contain a second gene, tnpB, dispensable for transposition and of unknown function to date. Here, we show that TnpB has an inhibitory effect on the excision and insertion steps of ISDra2 transposition. This inhibitory action of TnpB was maintained when ISDra2 transposition was induced by γ‐irradiation of the host cells and required the integrity of its putative zinc finger motif. We also demonstrate the negative role of TnpB when ISDra2 transposition was monitored in a heterologous Escherichia coli host, indicating that TnpB‐mediated inhibition does not involve Deinococcus‐specific factors. TnpB therefore appears to play a regulatory role in ISDra2 transposition.
Hypertension and Road Traffic Noise Exposure

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between road traffic noise exposure at home and the prevalence of hypertension. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional analyses in a large random sample (N = 40,856) of inhabitants of Groningen City, and in a subsample (the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease [PREVEND]) study cohort; N = 8592). Results: Before adjustment for confounders, road traffic noise exposure was associated with self-reported use of antihypertensive medication in the city of Groningen sample (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31 per 10-dB increase in Lden). Adjusted odds ratios were significant for the subjects between 45 and 55 years old in the full model when adjusted for PM10 (OR = 1.19) and at higher exposure (Lden >55 dB) only (OR = 1.21; with adjustment for PM10, OR = 1.31). In the PREVEND cohort, the unadjusted odds ratio was 1.35 for hypertension (systolic and diastolic blood pressure >140 and >90 mm Hg, respectively, or use of antihypertensive medication). Again, the adjusted odds ratio was significant for subjects between 45 and 55 years old (OR = 1.27; with adjustment for PM10, OR = 1.39). Conclusions: Exposure to road traffic noise may be associated with hypertension in subjects who are between 45 and 55 years old. Associations seemed to be stronger at higher noise levels.
Monthly and Semi-Annual Seasonality in the Irish Equity Market 1934-2000

This paper examines the monthly and semi-annual behaviour of the Irish equity market in the long term. Little has previously been written about the Irish market, and such work as has been undertaken has confined examination to relatively short time spans. The paper finds, over the 1934-2000 period, a strong and persistent monthly effect with a January peak, as well as evidence of April and half-year seasonality.
Effects of propofol and thiopental in isolated rat aorta and pulmonary artery.

This study was performed to determine if direct arterial dilating actions of propofol contribute to the drug's hypotensive actions. The effects of propofol were compared with those of thiopental on isolated vascular ring preparations from rat thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery. Thoracic aortic ring responses were evaluated in the presence and absence of endothelium, indomethacin, and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (LNAME; a specific inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide [EDRF/NO] synthase). Pulmonary artery responses were investigated with intact endothelium. After the induction of active isometric force by a predetermined EC50 dose of phenylephrine for each ring, effects of propofol (30, 100, 300 microM) and thiopental (10, 30, 100 microM) were examined. Propofol caused significant vasodilation in endothelium-intact, endothelium-denuded, and LNAME-treated aortic rings. In the endothelium-intact aortic and pulmonary artery rings, the initial vasodilation due to 30 and 100 microM propofol showed gradual and partial recovery over 15 min; 300 microM propofol caused sustained vasodilation. Endothelium-denuded rings and LNAME-pretreated endothelium-intact rings showed constant and sustained vasodilation with all propofol concentrations. Propofol also caused marked vasodilation in pulmonary arteries. In contrast, thiopental had no vasodilating effect in aortic or pulmonary artery preparations. In control experiments, propofol vehicle (Intralipid) also had no effect on vascular rings. Indomethacin pretreatment induced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction by thiopental in endothelium-intact rings and decreased the vasodilation due to propofol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Quantifying the total cost of infrastructure to enable environmentally preferable decisions: the case of urban roadway design

Efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of transportation infrastructure have generally overlooked many of the efficiencies that can be obtained by considering the relevant engineering and economic aspects as a system. Here, we present a framework for quantifying the burdens of ground transportation in urban settings that incorporates travel time, vehicle fuel and pavement maintenance costs. A Pareto set of bi-directional lane configurations for two-lane roadways yields non-dominated combinations of lane width, bicycle lanes and curb parking. Probabilistic analysis and microsimulation both show dramatic mobility reductions on road segments of insufficient width for heavy vehicles to pass bicycles without encroaching on oncoming traffic. This delay is positively correlated with uphill grades and increasing traffic volumes and inversely proportional to total pavement width. The response is nonlinear with grade and yields mixed uphill/downhill optimal lane configurations. Increasing bicycle mode share is negatively correlated with total costs and emissions for lane configurations allowing motor vehicles to safely pass bicycles, while the opposite is true for configurations that fail to facilitate passing. Spatial impacts on mobility also dictate that curb parking exhibits significant spatial opportunity costs related to the total cost Pareto curve. The proposed framework provides a means to evaluate relatively inexpensive lane reconfiguration options in response to changing modal share and priorities. These results provide quantitative evidence that efforts to reallocate limited pavement space to bicycles, like those being adopted in several US cities, could appreciably reduce costs for all users.
A Comparative Method for Studying Adaptation to a Randomly Evolving Environment

Abstract Most phylogenetic comparative methods used for testing adaptive hypotheses make evolutionary assumptions that are not compatible with evolution toward an optimal state. As a consequence they do not correct for maladaptation. The “evolutionary regression” that is returned is more shallow than the optimal relationship between the trait and environment. We show how both evolutionary and optimal regressions, as well as phylogenetic inertia, can be estimated jointly by a comparative method built around an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model of adaptive evolution. The method considers a single trait adapting to an optimum that is influenced by one or more continuous, randomly changing predictor variables.
Empirically derived dietary patterns and ovarian cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Dietary patterns, which reflect overall diet and possible nutrient and food interactions, have been reported to be related to ovarian cancer (OC) risk. However, studies on the relationship between dietary patterns and OC risk have been inconsistent. Thus, we carried out a systematic meta-analysis to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of OC. Relevant studies are identified by searching the Medline and Embase electronic databases up to December 2016. The Cochrane Q statistic and the I2 statistical were used to evaluate heterogeneity. A total of 22 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. There was evidence of a decreased risk for OC in the highest versus the lowest categories of healthy dietary pattern [odds ratio (OR)=0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74–0.99; P=0.04]. An increased risk of OC was shown for the highest versus the lowest category of a western-style dietary pattern (OR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.01–1.41; P=0.04). No significant association with OC risk was observed in the highest versus the lowest category of a heavy drinking pattern (OR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.67–1.19; P=0.42). The results of this meta-analysis suggest that a healthy dietary pattern is associated with reduced risk for OC and a western-style dietary pattern is associated with an increased risk of OC. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.
Aim High or Go Low? Pricing Strategies and Enrollment Effects When the Net Price Elasticity Varies with Need and Ability

Detailed data on individual applicants to a large public university are used to demonstrate that net price responsiveness decreases with need and ability. Enrollment effects are simulated and show a movement towards a high tuition/high aid (low tuition/low aid) policy significantly lowers (raises) tuition revenue with a modest increase (decrease) in the number of aid-eligible students.
A Hybrid Approach to Face Recognition Using Generalized Two-Dimensional Fisher's Linear Discriminant Method

This paper presents a novel Hybrid Approach to Face Recognition using Generalized Two-Dimensional Fisher’s Linear Discriminant (HAFR G-2DFLD) Method. It has been seen that the facial changes due to variations of pose, illumination, expression, etc. are appeared only some regions of the whole image. Therefore, the conventional face recognition methods, which use whole image for feature extraction and recognition, do not result much success. To cope with the above facial changes, face images are divided into a number of non-overlapping sub-images and then G-2DFLD method is applied to each of these sub-images as well as to the whole image to extract local and global discriminant features, respectively. A multi-class SVM is used as a classifier for each of the sub-images and also for the whole image for recognition based on those extracted features. Finally, a decision is made for recognition of the image by fusing the decisions of the individual SVMs. The proposed HAFR G-2DFLD method was evaluated on two popular face recognition databases, the AT&T and the UMIST face databases. The experimental results show that the new HAFR G-2DFLD method outperforms the conventional global feature extraction methods like, PCA, 2DPCA, PCA+FLD, 2DFLD and G-2DFLD methods in terms of face recognition.
Hearing Outcomes in Patients with Cleft Lip/Palate

Objective Children with cleft lip and palate or cleft palate only have a high incidence of conductive hearing loss from otitis media with effusion. Studies demonstrating longitudinal results are lacking. This study was undertaken to investigate long-term longitudinal hearing outcomes of children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate and cleft palate only. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Clinical charts of patients born with cleft lip and palate or cleft palate only in 1985 to 1994 who were referred to the cleft team in Bergen, Norway. Study findings include 15 years of follow-up. Participants The study population consisted of 317 children of whom 159 had nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate and 158 had nonsyndromic cleft palate. Main Outcome Measures Pure tone average calculated from pure tone audiometry at ages 4, 6, and 15 years. Results The median pure tone average significantly improved with increasing age. For the cleft lip and palate group, the median pure tone average at ages 4, 6, and 15 years was 16 dB hearing level (HL), 13 dB HL, and 9 dB HL, respectively (P ≤ .001). In the cleft palate group the median pure tone average at ages 4, 6, and 15 years was 15 dB HL, 12 dB HL, and 9 dB HL, respectively (P ≤ .001). There was no significant difference in the hearing levels between the two groups. Patients who had surgical closure of the palate at age 18 months had a significantly better pure tone average outcome at age 15 compared with patients who had surgery at 12 months. Conclusions Hearing improves significantly from childhood to adolescence in patients with cleft lip and palate and cleft palate only.
Delivery of cytoplasmic and apoplastic effectors from Phytophthora infestans haustoria by distinct secretion pathways

Summary The potato blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans secretes effector proteins that are delivered inside (cytoplasmic) or can act outside (apoplastic) plant cells to neutralize host immunity. Little is known about how and where effectors are secreted during infection, yet such knowledge is essential to understand and combat crop disease. We used transient Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated in planta expression, transformation of P. infestans with fluorescent protein fusions and confocal microscopy to investigate delivery of effectors to plant cells during infection. The cytoplasmic effector Pi04314, expressed as a monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) fusion protein with a signal peptide to secrete it from plant cells, did not passively re‐enter the cells upon secretion. However, Pi04314‐mRFP expressed in P. infestans was translocated from haustoria, which form intimate interactions with plant cells, to accumulate at its sites of action in the host nucleus. The well‐characterized apoplastic effector EPIC1, a cysteine protease inhibitor, was also secreted from haustoria. EPIC1 secretion was inhibited by brefeldin A (BFA), demonstrating that it is delivered by conventional Golgi‐mediated secretion. By contrast, Pi04314 secretion was insensitive to BFA treatment, indicating that the cytoplasmic effector follows an alternative route for delivery into plant cells. Phytophthora infestans haustoria are thus sites for delivery of both apoplastic and cytoplasmic effectors during infection, following distinct secretion pathways.
Sciatic Nerve Injury After Proximal Hamstring Avulsion and Repair

Background: Muscle bellies of the hamstring muscles are intimately associated with the sciatic nerve, putting the sciatic nerve at risk of injury associated with proximal hamstring avulsion. There are few data informing the magnitude of this risk, identifying risk factors for neurologic injury, or determining neurologic outcomes in patients with distal sciatic symptoms after surgery. Purpose: To characterize the frequency and nature of sciatic nerve injury and distal sciatic nerve–related symptoms after proximal hamstring avulsion and to characterize the influence of surgery on these symptoms. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients with proximal partial or complete hamstring avulsion. The outcome of interest was neurologic symptoms referable to the sciatic nerve distribution below the knee. Neurologic symptoms in operative patients were compared pre- and postoperatively. Results: The cohort consisted of 162 patients: 67 (41.4%) operative and 95 (58.6%) nonoperative. Sciatic nerve–related symptoms were present in 22 operative and 23 nonoperative patients, for a total of 45 (27.8%) patients (8 [4.9%] motor deficits, 11 [6.8%] sensory deficits, and 36 [22.2%] with neuropathic pain). Among the operative cohort, 3 of 3 (100.0%) patients showed improvement in their motor deficit postoperatively, 3 of 4 (75.0%) patients’ sensory symptoms improved, and 17 of 19 (89.5%) patients had improvement in pain. A new or worsening deficit occurred in 5 (7.5%) patients postoperatively (2 [3.1%] motor deficits, 1 [1.5%] sensory deficit, and 3 [4.5%] with new pain). Predictors of operative intervention included lower age (odds ratio [OR], 0.952; 95% CI, 0.921-0.982; P = .001) and complete avulsion (OR, 10.292; 95% CI, 2.526-72.232; P < .001). Presence of neurologic deficit was not predictive. Conclusion: Sciatic nerve–related symptoms after proximal hamstring avulsion are underrecognized. Currently, neurologic symptoms are not considered when determining whether to pursue operative intervention. Given the high likelihood of improvement with surgical treatment, neurologic symptoms should be considered when making a decision regarding operative treatment.
A Matter of Choice? Policy Divergence in Access to Social Housing Post-devolution

This paper considers access to social housing in England, Scotland and Wales. After putting Britain's social housing in context, it sets out the current legislative and policy context for access to social housing in the three countries, detailing key differences in approach and emphasis. It goes on to consider the establishment of choice-based lettings systems and the extent to which the various government departments are taking the lead in promoting their development. The paper concludes that the emphasis on choice, in particular on advertising-based methods of letting properties differs greatly across the UK, with a continuum, England, Wales, Scotland.
Production functions in the sports industry: an empirical analysis of professional cricket

Production functions are estimated for English county cricket using samples of data for the County Championship and the John Player League in the seasons of 1981–83. Results suggest possible lessons for the management and conduct of the game at the level of the individual club; in particular the allocation of resources for developing playing skills, the composition of playing staffs, selection of teams for particular games, and strategies on the field. Results also provide statistical evidence for some points of conventional wisdom regarding the professional game.
The Effect of Exchange Rates on BRICS Countries' Exports and GDP

In this study, we examine the relation between exchange rates, exports, and GDP for BRICS countries over the 1985-2011 period. It has long been argued that playing with the value of their currencies create an advantage to the countries in exports which in turn is reflected in their GDP per capita measures. In this study, we find that, for the four BRICS countries examined, there is no statistically significant difference between the increase in exports during the periods of increasing exchange rate for the examined country and the increase in exports during the periods of decreasing exchange rate for the examined country. In other words, the BRICS countries do not increase their exports significantly during the years when their currencies went down. Our results also show that, interestingly, these countries’ GDP per capita measures (in US$) are significantly lower when their currency values are low. We also find that during these periods, their energy production and scientific achievements also go down significantly. Overall, we reject the hypothesis that lower currency values help these countries. In fact, we contend that lowering their currency values hurt them in several aspects.
A 35 dBm Output Power and 38 dB Linear Gain PA With 44.9% Peak PAE at 1.9 GHz in 40 nm CMOS

This paper presents a 1.9 GHz linear power amplifier (PA) architecture that improves its power efficiency in the power back-off (PBO) region. The combination of power transistor segmentation and digital gain compensation effectively enhances its power efficiency. A fast switching scheme is proposed, such that PA drivers and segments are switched ON and OFF according to signal power; thus, the PA power consumption correlates with the power of the input signal. Binary power gain variations due to PA segmentation are dynamically compensated in the digital domain. The proposed solution overcomes the tradeoffs between power efficiency and linearity by employing the digital predistortion technique. The PA is implemented in a 40 nm CMOS process. It delivers a saturated output power of 35 dBm with 44.9% peak power-added efficiency (PAE) and a linear gain of 38 dB. The adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) at ±5 MHz at a maximum linear output power of 31 dBm for a baseband WCDMA signal is -35.8 dBc.
High spectral efficiency 1.6-b/s/Hz transmission (8 x 40 Gb/s with a 25-GHz grid) over 200-km SSMF using RZ-DQPSK and polarization multiplexing

With relatively simple standard transmission equipment, we achieved a wavelength-division-multiplexing transmission with a record-high spectral efficiency of 1.6 b/s/Hz using return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying and polarization multiplexing over 200-km standard single-mode fiber with a 40-Gb/s capacity per wavelength but 10-GSymbol/s rate.