Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Capital Spillovers and Economic Performance in the Workplace in 2004: Some British Evidence

This paper considers the impact of education and training on both individual and co-worker pay and establishment performance using the matched employer-employee data in WERS 2004, the panel dataset 1998-2004 and the new Financial Performance Questionnaire. This enables us to assess the impact of workplace education and training using both subjective (managers’ assessments) and objective data on productivity, profits and establishment survival. We establish that workplace education and training can have positive impacts on establishment financial performance, survival and growth. In contrast to extant studies, it was found that the square and the interaction between own and co-workers years of training also have a positive and significant impact on hourly pay. We find evidence indicating that establishments with 60% or more of workers trained have a higher establishment performance and also have a powerful impact on the likelihood of establishment survival.
Cascade-Correlation Neural Network Modeling of the Abrasive Flow Machining Process

This paper presents some preliminary work for modeling the abrasive flow machining (AFM) of automotive engine air intake manifolds using a cascade-correlation neural network approach. AFM has not been widely used because of the lack of theoretic support for the complex behavior of the process. Currently, this process can only be monitored subjectively by the plant engineers and is not suited for mass production of manifolds. The objectives ofthis research are to improve the functional performance of automotive engines and to enable cost effective process control of the AFM process. A neural network model is used to capture the nonlinear relationship between the AFM media and the specified outgoing air flow rate by using part characteristics such as surface finish and weight and process parameters such as media temperature. This model allows the prediction of when the machining process should be terminated to meet the air flow specification and can be used as an off-line controller for the process. A leave-one-out cross validation method is used to validate and demonstrate the performance of the model in predicting the specified outgoing air flow rate for new values of the independent variables.
ANALYSIS OF KRIGED RAINFIELDS USING MULTIFRACTALS

Kriging interpolation is largely used in geostatistics to characterise the spatial structure of data and it is established in general based upon the stationary or intrinsic assumptions; however, the consequence of this second-order approximation is that the local singularities (or extremes) could be smoothed off. This drawback could be magnified as a finerscale phenomenon is being investigated, such as urban rainfall. Unlike Kriging, the theory multifractals provides a more complete description of the structure of data by considering a range of orders of statistical moments. This work demonstrates the link between multifractal analysis and the Kriging interpolation and finds that Kriging uses only part of information that is included in multifractals. This causes the loss of local singularity of Kriged rainfall field and could be improved by combining it with singularity analysis. A possible solution is proposed in this work and will be implemented and presented in the workshop.
CTLA-4 Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI 3-K) and Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT) Sustains T-Cell Anergy without Cell Death

The balance of T-cell proliferation, anergy and apoptosis is central to immune function. In this regard, co-receptor CTLA-4 is needed for the induction of anergy and tolerance. One central question concerns the mechanism by which CTLA-4 can induce T-cell non-responsiveness without a concurrent induction of antigen induced cell death (AICD). In this study, we show that CTLA-4 activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) and protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) sustains T-cell anergy without cell death. CTLA-4 ligation induced PI 3K activation as evidenced by the phosphorylation of PKB/AKT that in turn inactivated GSK-3. The level of activation was similar to that observed with CD28. CTLA-4 induced PI 3K and AKT activation also led to phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic factor BAD as well as the up-regulation of BcL-XL. In keeping with this, CD3/CTLA-4 co-ligation prevented apoptosis under the same conditions where T-cell non-responsiveness was induced. This effect was PI 3K and PKB/AKT dependent since inhibition of these enzymes under conditions of anti-CD3/CTLA-4 co-ligation resulted in cell death. Our findings therefore define a mechanism by which CTLA-4 can induce anergy (and possibly peripheral tolerance) by preventing the induction of cell death.
The empirical evidence for a diversified beta Beyond Cap Weight

F or over 40 years, our industry has relied on the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) beta and the capitalization-weighted market portfolio for asset allocation, for market representation and for our default core equity investments. This elegant worldview is now under siege from various directions. The " fundamentalists " advocate a portfolio that weights companies in accordance with the recent economic scale of their businesses, thereby resembling the composition of the economy rather than the composition of the stock market. The " minimum variance " crowd points to the value of consistency between investor objectives and portfolio construction. The " egalitarians " advocate equal weighting. Historically, these alternative index strategies have delivered higher return and lower CAPM beta, which can help an investor to target either more return or less risk, or a bit of both. Each of these strategies—along with the ever-dominant cap-weighted indexes—has strengths and weaknesses, some minor and some major. The cap-weighted standard is also facing a more subtle source of attack. Increasingly, investors are reassessing their risk budgets, usually downward. This can create pressure to move from active into passive strategies and to lower a fund's exposure to an undiversified single-factor equity risk. But, can we lower our risk profile without abandoning our return goals? Perhaps it is time to consider a bigger tent, allowing for the merits of multiple broad-market indexes and multiple betas. We explore the comparative merits of four major categories of quasi-passive " index " construction. We do so from a global perspective. And we explore the surprising efficacy of combining multiple strategies into a diversified beta portfolio.
Monocrotophos Induces the Expression and Activity of Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes in Pre-Sensitized Cultured Human Brain Cells

The expression and metabolic profile of cytochrome P450s (CYPs) is largely missing in human brain due to non-availability of brain tissue. We attempted to address the issue by using human brain neuronal (SH-SY5Y) and glial (U373-MG) cells. The expression and activity of CYP1A1, 2B6 and 2E1 were carried out in the cells exposed to CYP inducers viz., 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), cyclophosphamide (CPA), ethanol and known neurotoxicant- monocrotophos (MCP), a widely used organophosphorous pesticide. Both the cells show significant induction in the expression and CYP-specific activity against classical inducers and MCP. The induction level of CYPs was comparatively lower in MCP exposed cells than cells exposed to classical inducers. Pre-exposure (12 h) of cells to classical inducers significantly added the MCP induced CYPs expression and activity. The findings were concurrent with protein ligand docking studies, which show a significant modulatory capacity of MCP by strong interaction with CYP regulators-CAR, PXR and AHR. Similarly, the known CYP inducers- 3-MC, CPA and ethanol have also shown significantly high docking scores with all the three studied CYP regulators. The expression of CYPs in neuronal and glial cells has suggested their possible association with the endogenous physiology of the brain. The findings also suggest the xenobiotic metabolizing capabilities of these cells against MCP, if received a pre-sensitization to trigger the xenobiotic metabolizing machinery. MCP induced CYP-specific activity in neuronal cells could help in explaining its effect on neurotransmission, as these CYPs are known to involve in the synthesis/transport of the neurotransmitters. The induction of CYPs in glial cells is also of significance as these cells are thought to be involved in protecting the neurons from environmental insults and safeguard them from toxicity. The data provide better understanding of the metabolizing capability of the human brain cells against xenobiotics.
Tracking evolving communities in large linked networks

We are interested in tracking changes in large-scale data by periodically creating an agglomerative clustering and examining the evolution of clusters (communities) over time. We examine a large real-world data set: the NEC CiteSeer database, a linked network of >250,000 papers. Tracking changes over time requires a clustering algorithm that produces clusters stable under small perturbations of the input data. However, small perturbations of the CiteSeer data lead to significant changes to most of the clusters. One reason for this is that the order in which papers within communities are combined is somewhat arbitrary. However, certain subsets of papers, called natural communities, correspond to real structure in the CiteSeer database and thus appear in any clustering. By identifying the subset of clusters that remain stable under multiple clustering runs, we get the set of natural communities that we can track over time. We demonstrate that such natural communities allow us to identify emerging communities and track temporal changes in the underlying structure of our network data.
Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE) Guidelines for Industry Sponsored Clinical Trial and Epidemiology Contract Research

In response to concerns about interactions of academic and public health investigators with industry, the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE), in collaboration with six major vaccine manufacturers, developed guidelines for participation in industry-sponsored clinical trial and epidemiology contract research within Canada. Topics addressed include definition of investigators, data ownership, protocol development, data management, data analysis, producing a study report and publication of the results of the study.
Ubiquitylation-Dependent Negative Regulation of WASp Is Essential for Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics

ABSTRACT The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) is a key regulator of actin dynamics during cell motility and adhesion, and mutations in its gene are responsible for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Here, we demonstrate that WASp is ubiquitylated following T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) activation. WASp phosphorylation at tyrosine 291 results in recruitment of the E3 ligase Cbl-b, which, together with c-Cbl, carries out WASp ubiquitylation. Lysine residues 76 and 81, located at the WASp WH1 domain, which contains the vast majority of WASp gene mutations, serve as the ubiquitylation sites. Disruption of WASp ubiquitylation causes WASp accumulation and alters actin dynamics and the formation of actin-dependent structures. Our data suggest that regulated degradation of activated WASp might be an efficient strategy by which the duration and localization of actin rearrangement and the intensity of T-cell activation are controlled.
Glycaemic index: did Health Canada get it wrong? Position from the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC)

On behalf of Health Canada, Aziz et al. ( 1 ) recently published their evaluation of the use of glycaemic index (GI) claims on food labels. Although the importance of controlling postprandial glycaemia (PPG) was recognised in the position statement, they expressed the view that the GI could be ‘misleading’ and ‘would not add value’ to the existing standards for nutrition labels. Unfortunately, several statements indicate a lack of understanding of the evidence base for current information on food labels and of the GI concept in particular.
Implementing evidence-informed policy into practice for health care professionals managing people with low back pain in Australian rural settings: a preliminary prospective single-cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To provide access to professional development opportunities for health care professionals, especially in rural Australian regions, consistent with recommendations in the Australian National Pain Strategy and state government policy. DESIGN AND SETTING A preliminary prospective, single-cohort study design, which aligned health policy with evidence-informed clinical practice, evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of an interprofessional, health care provider pain education program (hPEP) for management of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP) in rural Western Australia. INTERVENTION The 6.5-hour hPEP intervention was delivered to 60 care providers (caseload nsLBP 19.8% ± 22.5) at four rural WA regions. OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes were recorded at baseline and 2 months post-intervention regarding attitudes, beliefs (modified Health Care Providers Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale [HC-PAIRS]), Back Pain Beliefs Questionnaire [BBQ]), and self-reported evidence-based clinical practice (knowledge and skills regarding nsLBP, rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 1 = nil and 5 = excellent). RESULTS hPEP was feasible to implement. At 2 months post-hPEP, responders' (response rate 53%) improved evidence-based beliefs were indicated by HC-PAIRS scores: baseline mean (SD) [43.2 (9.3)]; mean difference (95% CI) [-5.9 (-8.6 to -3.1)]; and BBQ baseline [34.3 (6.8)]; mean difference [2.1 (0.5 to 3.6)]. Positive shifts were observed for all measures of clinical knowledge and skills (P < 0.001) and increased assistance with planning lifestyle changes (P < 0.001), advice on self-management (P = 0.010), and for decreased referrals for spinal imaging (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS This policy-into-practice educational program is feasible to implement in rural Western Australia (WA). While preliminary data are encouraging, a further randomized controlled trial is recommended.
Risk factors for the presence of varices in cirrhotic patients without a history of variceal hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Current medical management dictates that all cirrhotic patients without a history of variceal hemorrhage undergo endoscopic screening to detect large varices. However, referral for endoscopic screening of only patients at highest risk for varices may be most cost-effective. The aim of this case-control study was to identify clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings that predict the presence of varices in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS Three hundred patients without a history of variceal hemorrhage underwent upper endoscopy as part of an evaluation before liver transplantation. Cases defined as the presence of any varices and cases defined as the presence of large varices were used for examining the risks associated with finding varices on upper endoscopy. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate associations between the presence of varices and patient characteristics. RESULTS Platelet count and Child-Pugh class were independent risk factors for the presence of any varices and the presence of large varices. For the presence of any varices, a platelet count of 90 x 10(3)/microL or less (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-4.0) and advanced Child-Pugh class (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.6-5.6) were independent risk factors. For large varices, a platelet count of 80 x 10(3)/microL or less (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.9) and advanced Child-Pugh class (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.3-5.8) were independent risk factors associated with varices. CONCLUSIONS Low platelet count and advanced Child-Pugh class were associated with the presence of any varices and with large varices. These factors allow identification of a subgroup of cirrhotic patients who would benefit most from referral for endoscopic screening for varices.
High rate of arterial complications in patients supported with extracorporeal life support for drug intoxication-induced refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND Cardiac failure is still a leading cause of death in drug intoxication. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) could be used as a rescue therapeutic option in patients developing refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. The aim of this report is to present our results of ECLS in the setting of poisoning from cardiotoxic drugs. METHODS We included in this analysis consecutive patients who received an ECLS for refractory cardiogenic shock or in-hospital cardiac arrest due to drug intoxication. The primary endpoint of our study was survival to hospital discharge with good neurological recovery after ECLS support. RESULTS Between January 2010 and December 2015, we performed 12 ECLS. Mean age was 44.2±17.8 years and there was a predominance of females (66.7%). Drug intoxication was mainly due to beta-blockers and/or calcium channel inhibitors (83.3%) and 5 (41.7%) patients had multiple drugs overdose. Weaning rate and survival to hospital discharge with good neurological recovery were 75% (9 patients). Among patients weaned from ECLS, mean duration of support was 2.4±1.1 days. Three (25%) patients underwent ECLS implantation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 2 (66.6%) of them died while on mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Six (50%) patients developed lower limb ischemia. Each patient was managed with ECLS decannulation: 2 (16.7%) patients underwent a concomitant iliofemoral thrombectomy, 3 (25%) needed further fasciotomy and the remaining patient (8.3%) required an amputation. CONCLUSIONS Refractory cardiogenic shock due to drug intoxication is still one of the best indications for ECLS owing to the satisfactory survival with good neurological outcome in such a critically ill population. Further data are however necessary in order to best understand the possible relation between drug intoxication and lower limb ischemia, which was quite superior to the reported rates.
Design and modeling of an inductive coupling wireless power transfer using printed spirals on medical hydrocolloid dressings

This paper presents the design and modeling of an inductive wireless power transfer by utilizing printed spiral inductors on the surface of a medical hydrocolloid dressing. Hydrocolloid is a flexible and bio-compatible polymeric dressing that is medically used and approved. In this work, the dressings with planar dimensions of 10cm×10cm and thickness of less than 1mm are used as flexible substrates. The spiral inductors are modeled, and designed. The spirals are then screen printed using silver conductive paste and a 90um mesh size leading to a metallization thickness of ∼20um. Before printing, the water-resistant surface of the hydrocolloid is coated with Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA). A wireless power transfer link between the printed spirals on the hydrocolloid is experimentally tested and validated reaching a voltage link gain of around 40%.
SProxy: A Caching Infrastructure to Support Internet Streaming

Many algorithmic efforts have been made to address technical issues in designing a streaming media caching proxy. Typical of those are segment-based caching approaches that efficiently cache large media objects in segments which reduces the startup latency while ensuring continuous streaming. However, few systems have been practically implemented and deployed. The implementation and deployment efforts are hindered by several factors: 1) streaming of media content in complicated data formats is difficult; 2) typical streaming protocols such as RTP often run on UDP; in practice, UDP traffic is likely to be blocked by firewalls at the client side due to security considerations; and 3) coordination between caching discrete object segments and streaming continuous media data is challenging. To address these problems, we have designed and implemented a segment-based streaming media proxy, called SProxy. This proxy system has the following merits. First, SProxy leverages existing Internet infrastructure to address the flash crowd. The content server is now free of the streaming duty while hosting streaming content through a regular Web server. Thus, UDP based streaming traffic from SProxy suffers less dropping and no blocking. Second, SProxy streams and caches media objects in small segments determined by the object popularity, causing very low startup latency, and significantly reducing network traffic. Finally, prefetching techniques are used to pro-actively preload uncached segments that are likely to be used soon, thus providing continuous streaming. SProxy has been extensively tested and we show that it provides high quality streaming delivery in both local area networks and wide area networks (e.g., between Japan and the U.S.).
Beyond a physical symptom: the importance of psychosocial factors in multiple sclerosis pain

Pain affects around two‐thirds of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Biomedical treatments show limited efficacy. A recently developed cognitive‐behavioural model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pain suggests several psychosocial factors may worsen pain and related disability. The current study investigated whether psychosocial factors drawn from this model explain significant amounts of the variance in pain severity and interference over and above measures of disease severity and pain subtype.
How Long Does (S)He Have? Retrospective Analysis of Outcomes After Palliative Extubation in Elderly, Chronically Critically Ill Patients

Objective:For chronically critically ill elderly patients on mechanical ventilation, prognosis for significant recovery may be minimal. These individuals, or their surrogates, may decide for “palliative extubation. ” A common prognostic question arises: “How long does she/he have? ” This study describes demographics, mortality, time to death, and factors associated with death after palliative extubation. Design, Setting, and Patients:Retrospective 3-year study in community hospital with ethnically diverse elderly population. Chronically critically ill patients followed from palliative extubation to death or survival to discharge. Measures:Mortality/survival following palliative extubation, time to death or discharge, factors associated with death. Results:Hundred and forty-eight subjects underwent palliative extubation. Mean age: 78 years, 60% female, ethnically diverse with 46% white, and 54% others. Top diagnostic categories: sepsis (47%) and respiratory failure (22%). After extubation, 114 patients (77%) died in hospital and 34 (23%) were discharged. Of those who died, median time to death 8.9 hours (range, 4 min to 7 d). Mortality proportion was 56% at 24 hours and increased with time. Factors associated with early death: Systolic blood pressure less than 90 (p = 0.002) and Charlson Comorbidity Index that is above 6 or 0 (p = 0.002). Conclusions:Palliative extubation at end of life was an option selected by an ethnically diverse elderly population. Approximately three-fourths of subjects died in hospital, and one-fourth was discharged alive. Over 50% who died did so within 24 hours, making this useful information for counseling and anticipatory planning. Subjects with systolic blood pressure less than 90 and Charlson Comorbidity Index that is very low or very high had higher mortality.