Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can Common Crawl Reliably Track Persistent Identifier (PID) Use Over Time

We report here on the results of two studies using two and four monthly web crawls respectively from the Common Crawl (CC) initiative between 2014 and 2017, whose initial goal was to provide empirical evidence for the changing patterns of use of so-called persistent identifiers. This paper focusses on the tooling needed for dealing with CC data, and the problems we found with it. The first study is based on over 10^12 URIs from over 5 x 10^9 pages crawled in April 2014 and April 2017, the second study adds a further 3 x 10^9 pages from the April 2015 and April 2016 crawls. We conclude with suggestions on specific actions needed to enable studies based on CC to give reliable longitudinal information.
Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection in Private Health Insurance

Moral hazard and adverse selection create inefficiencies in private health insurance markets. The authors use claims data from a large firm to study the independent roles of both moral hazard and adverse selection. Previous studies have attempted to estimate moral hazard in private health insurance by assuming that individuals respond only to the spot price, end-of-year price, average price, or a related metric. There is little economic justification for such assumptions and, in fact, economic intuition suggests that the nonlinear budget constraints generated by health insurance plans make these assumptions especially poor. They study the differential impact of the health insurance plans offered by the firm on the entire distribution of medical expenditures without parameterizing the plans by a specific metric. They use a new instrumental variable quantile estimation technique introduced in Powell [2013b] that provides the quantile treatment effects for each plan, while conditioning on a set of covariates for identification purposes. This technique allows us to map the resulting estimated medical expenditure distributions to the nonlinear budget sets generated by each plan. Their method also allows them to separate moral hazard from adverse selection and estimate their relative importance. They estimate that 77% of the additional medical spending observed in the most generous plan in their data relative to the least generous is due to adverse selection. The remainder can be attributed to moral hazard. A policy which resulted in each person enrolling in the least generous plan would cause the annual premium of that plan to rise by over $1,500.
Process of Care in Breast Reconstruction and the Impact of a Dual-Trained Surgeon

Background For postmastectomy reconstruction, the most common model in the United States is a two-team approach, consisting of breast and plastic surgeon. In other countries, a single-surgeon approach trained in both plastic and oncologic surgery is well described. We hypothesized that a dual-trained breast and plastic surgeon would decrease the postoperative care burden for the patient without compromising outcomes and serve as a model for team-centered breast reconstruction care. Methods A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate expander reconstruction from January 2013 to October 2014. Patient data up to 1 year postoperatively was recorded. Patients were stratified by treatment to “single-surgeon” or “two-surgeon” team. Demographic and operative data were recorded. Google Maps was used to calculate travel distance. A standard of mean cost of travel per mile and mean hourly wage for San Diego County was used. The primary outcome was the total number of postoperative clinic visits. In addition, factors predictive of postoperative clinic visits were evaluated. Results During the study period, 147 patients were included in analysis (69, single-surgeon; 78, two-surgeon). The mean cost of travel per mile was US $59.2 cents and mean hourly wage for San Diego County was US $25.49. For the 1-year follow-up period, patients with the single surgeon had a mean (SD) of 9.3 (3.72) postoperative visits compared with 15.6 (3.96) for patients in the two-surgeon team (P < 0.0001). There were no statistical differences between groups in the rate of complications. In the final model, treatment team, bilateral mastectomies, and complications (operative and nonoperative) were significant predictors of the total number of postoperative visits. Patients in the two-surgeon team spent an additional 11.13 hours and 216 miles commuting and in clinic. In total, the additional 6.3 clinic visits for patients in the two-surgeon team resulted in an average of US $695.33 additional dollars spent on travel and lost wages. Conclusions Single-surgeon patients required fewer postoperative visits. Fewer postoperative clinic visits may have significant socioeconomic and psychological benefits to patients. Given these results, we believe that streamlining care into an integrated multidisciplinary model would be beneficial.
Hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated protein inhibits adipose triglyceride lipase

Elaborate control mechanisms of intracellular triacylglycerol (TAG) breakdown are critically involved in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated protein (HILPDA)/hypoxia-inducible gene-2 (Hig-2) has been shown to affect intracellular TAG levels, yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that HILPDA inhibits adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), the enzyme catalyzing the first step of intracellular TAG hydrolysis. HILPDA shares structural similarity with G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2), an established inhibitor of ATGL. HILPDA inhibits ATGL activity in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of ∼2 μM. ATGL inhibition depends on the direct physical interaction of both proteins and involves the N-terminal hydrophobic region of HILPDA and the N-terminal patatin domain-containing segment of ATGL. Finally, confocal microscopy combined with Förster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analysis indicated that HILPDA and ATGL colocalize and physically interact intracellularly. These findings provide a rational biochemical explanation for the tissue-specific increased TAG accumulation in HILPDA-overexpressing transgenic mouse models.
Effect of filter parameters on the phase noise of RF MEMS tunable filters employing shunt capacitive switches

The effect of filter parameters on the phase noise of RF MEMS tunable filters employing shunt capacitive switches is investigated in this article. It is shown that the phase noise of a tunable filter is dependent on the input power, fractional bandwidth, filter order, resonator quality factor, and tuning state. Phase noise is higher for filters with smaller fractional bandwidth. In filters with high fractional bandwidth (>3%), phase noise increases as the input power approaches the power‐handling capability of the filter. In filters with smaller bandwidths, phase noise increases with input power upto a threshold level of input power, but begins to decrease thereafter. The unloaded quality factor of the filter has a noticeable effect on the phase noise of filters with narrow bandwidths. The phase noise changes with the filter tuning state and is maximum when all the switches are in the up‐state position. It is also shown that the phase noise increases with the filter order, due to increase in the number of noisy elements in the filter structure. This article provides a methodology to evaluate the phase noise of a tunable filter and proves that RF MEMS filters are suitable for high performance applications without considerable phase‐noise penalty. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2010.
Maternal E‐Cigarette Exposure in Mice Alters DNA Methylation and Lung Cytokine Expression in Offspring

Abstract E‐cigarette usage is increasing, especially among the young, with both the general population and physicians perceiving them as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking. Worryingly, e‐cigarettes are commonly used by pregnant women. As nicotine is known to adversely affect children in utero, we hypothesized that nicotine delivered via e‐cigarettes would negatively affect lung development. To test this, we developed a mouse model of maternal e‐vapor (nicotine and nicotine‐free) exposure and investigated the impact on the growth and lung inflammation in both offspring and mothers. Female Balb/c mice were exposed to e‐fluid vapor containing nicotine (18 mg/ml nicotine E‐cigarette [E‐cig18], equivalent to two cigarettes per treatment, twice daily,) or nicotine free (E‐cig0 mg/ml) from 6 weeks before mating until pups weaned. Male offspring were studied at Postnatal Day (P) 1, P20, and at 13 weeks. The mothers were studied when the pups weaned. In the mothers' lungs, e‐cigarette exposure with and without nicotine increased the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1&bgr;, IL‐6, and TNF‐&agr;. In adult offspring, TNF‐&agr; protein levels were increased in both E‐cig18 and E‐cig0 groups, whereas IL‐1&bgr; was suppressed. This was accompanied by global changes in DNA methylation. In this study, we found that e‐cigarette exposure during pregnancy adversely affected maternal and offspring lung health. As this occurred with both nicotine‐free and nicotine‐containing e‐vapor, the effects are likely due to by‐products of vaporization rather than nicotine.
Radiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Identification of Thoracolumbar Spine Variants with Implications for the Positioning of the Conus Medullaris in Rhesus Macaques

The anatomy of the vertebral column in mammals may differ between species and between subjects of the same species, especially with regards to the composition of the thoracolumbar spine. We investigated, using several noninvasive imaging techniques, the thoracolumbar spine of a total of 44 adult rhesus macaques of both genders. Radiographic examination of the vertebral column showed a predominant spine phenotype with 12 rib‐bearing thoracic vertebrae and 7 lumbar vertebrae without ribs in 82% of subjects, whereas a subset of subjects demonstrated 13 rib‐bearing thoracic vertebrae and 6 lumbar vertebrae without ribs. Computer tomography studies of the thoraco‐lumbar spine in two cases with a pair of supernumerary ribs showed facet joints between the most caudal pair of ribs and the associated vertebra, supporting a thoracic phenotype. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were used to determine the relationship between the lumbosacral spinal cord and the vertebral column. The length of the conus medullaris portion of the spinal cord was 1.5 ± 0.3 vertebral units, and its rostral and caudal positions in the spinal canal were at 2.0 ± 0.3 and 3.6 ± 0.4 vertebral units below the thoracolumbar junction, respectively (n = 44). The presence of a set of supernumerary ribs did not affect the length or craniocaudal position of the conus medullaris, and subjects with13 rib‐bearing vertebrae may from a functional or spine surgical perspective be considered as exhibiting12 thoracic vertebrae and an L1 vertebra with ribs. Anat Rec, 300:300–308, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A robust relative positioning system for multi-robot formations leveraging an extended GM-PHD filter

We propose a multi-robot tracking method to provide state estimates that allow a group of robots to maintain a formation even when the communication fails. We extend a Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density filter to incorporate, firstly, absolute poses exchanged by the robots, and secondly, the geometry of the desired formation. Sensory detections, information about the formation, and communicated data are all combined in the extended Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density filter. Our method is capable of maintaining the state estimates even when long-duration occlusions occur, and improves awareness of the situation when the communication rate is slow or sporadic. The method is evaluated using a high-fidelity simulator in scenarios with a formation of up to five robots. Experiments confirm the ability of the filter to deal with occlusions and refinement of the state estimate even when poses are exchanged at a low frequency, resulting in drastic reduction of the chance of collisions compared to a tracking-free implementation.
Refrigeration and cryopreservation of platelets differentially affect platelet metabolism and function: a comparison with conventional platelet storage conditions

Alternatives to room temperature storage of platelets (PLTs) may be beneficial to extend the limited shelf life and support transfusion logistics in rural and military areas. The aim of this study was to assess the morphologic, metabolic, and functional aspects of PLTs stored at room temperature or in refrigerated conditions or cryopreserved.
Dietary modulation of pregnancy estrogen levels and breast cancer risk among female rat offspring.

PURPOSE Against the hypothesis that high estrogen levels in utero increase the risk of developing breast cancer in later life are data showing that pregnancy estrogen levels are significantly higher in Asian women who have low breast cancer risk than in Caucasian women. We investigated whether maternal dietary intake of genistein or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are typical to Asian but not Caucasian diet, affect pregnancy estrogen levels and susceptibility to mammary tumorigenesis among offspring. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN For that purpose, pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats were fed isocaloric AIN-93-based diets containing either at 15 mg (low), 150 mg (medium), or 300 mg (high)/kg genistein/diet or low- or high-fat (16 versus 39% energy from fat) diet composed either of n-3 PUFA menhaden oil or n-6 PUFA corn oil. All diets were switched to regular AIN-93 diet when pups were born. RESULTS Maternal intake of n-3 PUFA diets significantly increased pregnancy 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels (48% increase when compared with high n-6 PUFA diet; P < 0.0045). High genistein exposure also increased pregnancy estrogen levels, but the increase did not reach statistical significance (P < 0.14). The offspring of high-fat n-3 PUFA-consuming dams were significantly less likely to develop 7,12-dimethylbenz-[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors (38% of these rats developed tumors during week 17 versus 64% of high n-6 PUFA offspring; P < 0.003). Maternal genistein intake did not affect offspring's tumor incidence. The mammary glands of high fat n-3 PUFA offspring contained more lobules (P < 0.07) and were thus more differentiated, whereas the glands of high genistein offspring contained more terminal end buds (P < 0.0015), which are the sites of malignant transformation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the elevated estrogen levels in the n-3 PUFA mothers were linked to reduced rather than increased breast cancer risk among their offspring, suggesting that other effects of n-3 PUFA may counteract the effects of high fetal estrogenicity on the mammary gland. High maternal genistein intake did not reduce offspring's breast cancer risk, and therefore high maternal soy intake in Asian women may not be associated with daughters' low breast cancer risk.
Characterizing Electro-osmotic Flow in Parylene Microchannels

Parylene-C, a polymer with great chemical inertness and a very high level of biocompatibility, is an attractive material for the fabrication of microfluidic devices for “lab-on-a-chip” applications. We present a systematic study of electro-osmotic flow (EOF) in channels formed by native and oxygen-plasma etched parylene-C. Native parylene supports stable EOF, and the electro-osmotic mobility increases (and tends to become unstable) in oxygen-plasma etched substrates, decreasing with exposure to air. To the best of our knowledge, these studies are absent from the literature, and could assist in the design of parylene-based microfluidic devices for bioanalytical applications. We also conducted an introductory investigation of the nature of surface charges, which has been object of intense discussion in polymers. Our results suggest that the adsorption of hydroxyl ions plays a role in determining EOF in parylene, as proposed for other hydrophobic polymers.
Hypercalcemic effect of potassium iodide on serum calcium in domestic fowl.

Five experiments were conducted to determine the influence of potassium iodide (KI) on serum calcium in the laying hen. Serum calcium was significantly increased when hens were fed a diet containing 5000 p.p.m. I as KI. This occurred even though feed consumption, egg production and size of ovary and oviduct were significantly decreased. In some hens fed KI, serum calcium was increased to as high as 70 mg. %, a 163% increase. Most of the increase was in the form of non-diffusible calcium. Hens fed a diet containing 0.05% calcium had significantly reduced serum calcium values. When these calcium-deficient hens were fed 5000 p.p.m. I as KI, a significant increase in serum calcium occurred within 3 days and within 7 days their average serum calcium value was significantly greater than that of hens fed a diet containing 3.00% calcium. A combination of KI plus estradiol was significantly more effective in increasing serum calcium than was either compound alone. Although these data gave no indication as to the mechanism of action of KI on serum calcium they do offer a new model in which to study calcium metabolism in the laying hen.
Variation in the Developmental and Morphological Interaction Between the Nasal Septum and Facial Skeleton

While the nasal septum exerts a morphogenetic influence on the facial skeleton, there is evidence that this relationship is highly variable. To better appreciate the precise role of the septum, it is important understand the variable interaction between the septum and surrounding skeleton during ontogeny. Here we analyzed nasal septal and facial skeletal postnatal phenotypic variation using cross‐sectional samples of C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice. Initial observations indicated between‐strain variation in the magnitude of septal deviation, suggesting differences in septal and facial skeletal interaction. We examined whether variation in septal deviation is due to ontogenetic differences in septal size, or whether variation in facial skeletal growth imposes spatial constraints on the septum. Using microCT we quantified septal size and deviation, and collected coordinate landmark data, which we analyzed using geometric morphometrics. C3H/HeJ mice were significantly more deviated than C57BL/6J during development. We found no differences in septal size between the two strains. However, while both strains exhibited an ontogenetic increase in snout length, C3H/HeJ mice exhibited a non‐allometric reduction in nasal bone length. This appears to be influenced by between‐strain variation in the spatial relationship between the nasal septum and nasofrontal suture. Unlike C57BL/6J mice, the C3H/HeJ nasal septum is positioned anterior to the nasofrontal suture potentially limiting an early direct influence of septal growth (e.g., through interstitial expansion) on sutural growth. Ultimately, our results underscore that while the septum is a key facial growth center, its precise influence on facial growth varies even in narrow morphological and taxonomic ranges. Anat Rec, 299:730–740, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association between myeloperoxidase levels and risk of coronary artery disease.

CONTEXT Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a leukocyte enzyme that promotes oxidation of lipoproteins in atheroma, has been proposed as a possible mediator of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between MPO levels and prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Case-control study conducted from July to September 2000 in a US tertiary care referral center, including 158 patients with established CAD (cases) and 175 patients without angiographically significant CAD (controls). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Association of MPO levels per milligram of neutrophil protein (leukocyte-MPO) and MPO levels per milliliter of blood (blood-MPO) with CAD risk. RESULTS Leukocyte- and blood-MPO levels were both significantly greater in patients with CAD than in controls (P<.001). In multivariable models adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, Framingham risk score, and white blood cell counts, MPO levels were significantly associated with presence of CAD, with an OR of 11.9 (95% CI, 5.5-25.5) for the highest vs lowest quartiles of leukocyte-MPO and an OR of 20.4 (95% CI, 8.9-47.2) for the highest vs lowest quartiles of blood-MPO. CONCLUSIONS Elevated levels of leukocyte- and blood-MPO are associated with the presence of CAD. These findings support a potential role for MPO as an inflammatory marker in CAD and may have implications for atherosclerosis diagnosis and risk assessment.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning Intensity Correction by Piecewise Fitting and Overlap-Driven Adjustment

Terrestrial laser scanning sensors deliver not only three-dimensional geometric information of the scanned objects but also the intensity data of returned laser pulse. Recent studies have demonstrated potential applications of intensity data from Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS). However, the distance and incident angle effects distort the TLS raw intensity data. To overcome the distortions, a new intensity correction method by combining the piecewise fitting and overlap-driven adjustment approaches was proposed in this study. The distance effect is eliminated by the piecewise fitting approach. The incident angle effect is eliminated by overlap-driven adjustment using the Oren–Nayar model that employs the surface roughness parameter of the scanned object. The surface roughness parameter at a certain point in an overlapped region of the multi-station scans is estimated by using the raw intensity data from two different stations at the point rather than estimated by averaging the surface roughness at other positions for each kind of object, which eliminates the estimation deviation. Experimental results obtained by using a TLS sensor (Riegl VZ-400i) demonstrate that the proposed method is valid and the deviations of the retrieved reflectance values from those measured by a spectrometer are all less than 3%.
Elevated CD14 (Cluster of Differentiation 14) and Toll‐Like Receptor (TLR) 4 Signaling Deteriorate Periapical Inflammation in TLR2 Deficient Mice

Apical periodontitis (periapical lesions) is an infection‐induced chronic inflammation in the jaw, ultimately resulting in the destruction of apical periodontal tissue. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are prominent in the initial recognition of pathogens. Our previous study showed that TLR4 signaling is proinflammatory in periapical lesions induced by a polymicrobial endodontic infection. In contrast, the functional role of TLR2 in regulation of periapical tissue destruction is still not fully understood. Using TLR2 deficient (KO), TLR2/TLR4 double deficient (dKO), and wild‐type (WT) mice, we demonstrate that TLR2 KO mice are highly responsive to polymicrobial infection‐induced periapical lesion caused by over activation of TLR4 signal transduction pathway that resulted in elevation of NF‐kB (nuclear factor kappa B) and proinflammatory cytokine production. The altered TLR4 signaling is caused by TLR2 deficiency‐dependent elevation of CD14 (cluster of differentiation 14), which is a co‐receptor of TLR4. Indeed, neutralization of CD14 strikingly suppresses TLR2 deficiency‐dependent inflammation and tissue destruction in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that a network of TLR2, TLR4, and CD14 is a key factor in regulation of polymicrobial dentoalveolar infection and subsequent tissue destruction. Anat Rec, 299:1281–1292, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.