Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cortical Hand Bone Porosity and Its Association with Distal Radius Fracture in Middle Aged and Elderly Women

Objective Reduced bone mineral density (BMD), assessed by Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), is a well-known risk factor for fragility fracture. A large proportion of patients with fracture have only slightly reduced BMD. Assessment of other bone structure features than BMD may improve identification of individuals at increased fracture risk. Digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR), which is a feasible tool for measurement of metacarpal cortical bone density, also gives an estimate of cortical bone porosity. Our primary aim was to explore the association between cortical porosity in the hand assessed by DXR and distal radius fracture. Methods This case-control study included 123 women >50 years with distal radius fracture, and 170 controls. DXR was used to measure metacarpal BMD (DXR-BMD), cortical porosity (DXR-porosity), thickness (DXR-CT) and bone width (DXR-W) of the hand. Femoral neck BMD was measured by DXA. Results The fracture group had a statistically significant lower DXR-BMD (0.492 vs. 0.524 g/cm2 p<0.001), higher cortical DXR-porosity (0.01256 vs. 0.01093, p<0.001), less DXR-CT (0.148 vs. 0.161cm, p<0.001) and lower femoral neck DXA-BMD (0.789 vs. 0.844 g/cm2, p = 0.001) than the controls. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, a significant association with distal radius fracture (OR, 95% CI) was found for body mass index (0.930, 0.880–0.983), DXA-BMD (0.996, 0.995–0.999), DXR-BMD (0.990, 0.985–0.998), DXR-porosity (1.468, 1.278–1.687) and DXR-CT (0.997, 0.996–0.999). In an adjusted model, DXR-porosity remained the only variable associated with distal radius fracture (1.415, 1.194–1.677). Conclusion DXR derived porosity is associated with fracture at distal radius and might be a sensitive marker for skeletal fragility.
Dimensionality reduction of face images for gender classification

Data in most real world applications are high dimensional and learning algorithms like neural networks have problems in handling high dimensional data. However, the intrinsic dimension is often much less than the original dimension of the data. We use a fractal based method to estimate the intrinsic dimension and show that a nonlinear projection method called curvilinear component analysis can effectively reduce the original dimension to the intrinsic dimension. We apply this approach for dimensionality reduction of the face images data and use neural network classifiers for gender classification.
Reducing the risks for traumatic and overuse injury among competitive alpine skiers

To achieve success, skiers attempt to optimise various biomechanical parameters (eg, trajectory, velocity, interaction between the skis and snow, energy) that influence performance,1 but this increases risk of injury.2 It is therefore not surprising that injuries are common among alpine skiers.3 To reduce the injury rate, the International Ski Federation (FIS) regulates ski length and width, sidecut radius, and the distance between the foot and ground. In the case of slalom skis, only the minimal waist width is regulated (≥63 mm), while in other disciplines the maximal waist width is regulated by FIS (typically ≤65 mm). On hard snow, wider skis are associated with an elevated risk for injury,4 so we suggest that it may be wise to revise this FIS regulation. Measures concerning the geometry of skis implemented recently have contributed significantly to the 26% reduction in absolute injury rate (injuries/100 athletes/season) (risk ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.87). 3 We acknowledge that new regulations concerning helmets, the development …
Introducing Social Class: An Update on a Teaching Technique.

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on a method for teaching undergraduates about social class, first proposed by Skipper and Kohout (1968) almost 20 years ago, and to present some interesting data gathered over that time span. In what they termed the "Family Name-Social Class Index," Skipper and Kohout (1968) presented six family (mainly ethnic) names to introductory sociology students and asked them to assign social class rankings on the basis of the names alone. The students were also asked to
High‐level radioactive waste management in the USA

High‐level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal policy in the USA since 1987 has focused on a site in volcanic tuffs 305 meters beneath Yucca Mountain, Nevada, with current plans calling for the repository to be opened in 2017 subject to approval by the Obama Administration. Yet the offsite radiation release standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency are still being finalized, and there is significant doubt over whether a repository at Yucca Mountain can be successfully licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Moreover, the proposed repository has a capacity cap insufficient to accept the total HLW stream from the civilian and military sectors, and focus on a single site is unnecessarily risky. Thus, the HLW problem in the USA remains far from being solved. After providing an overview of the nuclear waste regime of the USA, this paper reviews the technical, legal, and political status of the Yucca Mountain project. A large range of current issues and social values are discussed in this context, including the recently proposed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership that would revive spent fuel reprocessing and has important implications for national security and nuclear non‐proliferation.
Gender Differences in Loneliness

Earlier studies on gender differences in loneliness appear to have produced contradictory results. However, when 39 existing data sets were classified according to whether they used the UCLA scale (N = 28) or a self-labeling measure (N = II) of loneliness, the results revealed a clear pattern. Statistically significant sex differences are not usually found with the UCLA scale, but, when they are found, males typically have higher loneliness scores. In terms of self-labeling, women more frequently than men admit being lonely. Sex role factors may help explain these seemingly contradictory results. Of the various possible explanations of the gender differences in self-labeled loneliness, most assume that social influence processes play a crucial role. To test this viewpoint, an experiment was conducted. Subjects (N = 117) were presented with a case history of a lonely person, which varied only the target person's sex. The subjects were more rejecting of a lonely male than of a lonely female. These results support the view that women are more apt to acknowledge their loneliness than men because the negative consequences of admitting loneliness are less for women.
Characterization of Spectrum, de novo Rate and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation of Dominant GJB2 Mutations in Chinese Hans

Dominant mutations in GJB2 may lead to various degrees of sensorineural hearing impairment and/or hyperproliferative epidermal disorders. So far studies of dominant GJB2 mutations were mostly limited to case reports of individual patients and families. In this study, we identified 7 families, 11 subjects with dominant GJB2 mutations by sequencing of GJB2 in 2168 Chinese Han probands with sensorineural hearing impairment and characterized the associated spectrum, de novo rate and genotype-phenotype correlation. We identified p.R75Q, p.R75W and p.R184Q as the most frequent dominant GJB2 mutations among Chinese Hans, which had a very high de novo rate (71% of probands). A majority (10/11) of subjects carrying dominant GJB2 mutations exhibited palmoplantar keratoderma in addition to hearing impairment. In two families segregated with additional c.235delC or p.V37I mutations of GJB2, family members with the compound heterozygous mutations exhibited more severe phenotype than those with single dominant GJB2 mutation. Our study suggested that the high de novo mutation rate gives rise to a significant portion of dominant GJB2 mutations. The severity of the hearing and epidermal phenotypes associated with dominant GJB2 mutations may be modified by additional recessive mutations of GJB2.
Somatic variation of H‐2Kk expression and structure in a T‐cell lymphoma: instability, stabilization, high production and structural mutation.

In the heterozygous T lymphoma line LDHB, variants which have lost the expression of individual H‐2 class I genes are spontaneously generated in vitro at a frequency of 10(‐1)‐10(‐2). A cell line (HK13) in which the class I gene Kk is stably expressed (frequency of loss variants less than 10(‐4) was selected from LDHB cells by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Further selection of HK13 cells for high Kk expression led to the isolation of the HK22 line which expresses twice as much Kk as HK13. From HK13 and HK22 cells, spontaneous structural variants of Kk having lost individual serological determinants of the Kk wild‐type molecule, were isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Such variants occur at a frequency of 10(‐6)‐10(‐7) per cell per generation. The analysis of these variants indicates that they carry mutations in the Kk structural gene and that HK13 cells express a single Kk gene which appears to be duplicated in HK22 cells. We did not find evidence for the generation of variants expressing ‘alien’ class I products in the LDHB cell line. The instability of class I gene expression in LDHB cells and the transition to stable expression may represent steps of T‐cell differentiation in the thymus.
EMT in Breast Carcinoma—A Review

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular program that is involved in embryonic development; wound healing, but also in tumorigenesis. Breast carcinoma (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and the majority of deaths (90%) are caused by invasion and metastasis. The EMT plays an important role in invasion and subsequent metastasis. Several distinct biological events integrate a cascade that leads not only to a change from an epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype, but allows for detachment, migration, invasion and ultimately, colonization of a second site. Understanding the biological intricacies of the EMT may provide important insights that lead to the development of therapeutic targets in pre-invasive and invasive breast cancer, and could be used as biomarkers identifying tumor subsets with greater chances of recurrence, metastasis and therapeutic resistance leading to death.
How to Understand the Cell by Breaking It: Network Analysis of Gene Perturbation Screens

Functional genomics has demonstratedconsiderable success in inferring the innerworking of a cell through analysis of itsresponse to various perturbations. Inrecent years several technological advanc-es have pushed gene perturbation screensto the forefront of functional genomics.Most importantly, modern technologiesmake it possible to probe gene function ona genome-wide scale in many modelorganisms and human. For example, largecollections of knock-out mutants play aprominent role in the study of Saccharomycescerevisiae [1], and RNA interference (RNAi)has become a widely used high-through-put method to knock-down target genes ina wide range of organisms, includingDrosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans,and human [2–4]. Another major advance is the develop-ment of rich phenotypic descriptions byimaging or measuring molecular featuresglobally. Observed phenotypes can revealwhich genes are essential for an organism,or work in a particular pathway, or have aspecific cellular function. Combining high-throughput screening techniques with richphenotypes enables researchers to observedetailed reactions to experimental pertur-bations on a genome-wide scale. Thismakes gene perturbation screens one ofthe most promising tools in functionalgenomics.Advances in the design and analysis ofgene perturbation screens may have animmediate impact on many areas ofbiological and medical research. Newscreening and phenotyping techniquesoften directly translate into new insightsin gene and protein functions. Results ofperturbation screens can also reveal unex-ploited areas of potential therapeuticintervention. For example, a recent RNAiscreen showed that some of the mostcritical protein kinases for the proliferationand survival of cancer cell lines are alsothe least studied [5]. A goal becoming more and moreprominent in both experimental as wellas computational research is to leveragegene perturbation screens to the identifi-cation of molecular interactions, cellularpathways, and regulatory mechanisms.Research focus is shifting from under-standing the phenotypes of single proteinsto understanding how proteins fulfill theirfunction, what other proteins they interactwith, and where they act in a pathway.Novel ideas on how to use perturbationscreens to uncover cellular wiring dia-grams can lead to a better understandingof how cellular networks are deregulatedin diseases like cancer. This knowledge isindispensable for finding new drug targetsto attack the drivers of a disease and notonly the symptoms.This review surveys the current state-of-the-art in analyzing single gene perturba-tion screens from a network point of view.We describe approaches to make the stepfrom the parts list to the wiring diagram byusing phenotypes for network inferenceand integrating them with complementarydata sources.
Expression of the HER1–4 family of receptor tyrosine kinases in breast cancer

EGFr/HER1 and c‐erbB‐2/HER2 expression are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. The type I receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family to which they belong has four members (HER1–4). In this study, expression of HER1–4 and oestrogen receptor (ER) expression were determined by immunohistochemistry in 220 breast carcinomas. Elevated expression of HER1 was observed in 16.4%, HER2 in 22.8%, HER3 in 17.5%, and HER4 in 11.9% of these tumours. Patients whose tumours overexpressed HER1, 2 or 3 had reduced survival (p = <0.001), whereas those whose tumours overexpressed HER4 had increased survival (p = 0.013); 38.6% of cases overexpressed one or more of HER1, 2 or 3. HER4 was rarely overexpressed with other HERs (1.4% of cases). Cox's multiple regression analysis demonstrated that overexpression of HER1/2/3, HER4, and standard prognostic indicators independently affected survival. HER1–3 expression was related to ER negativity (p < 0.0001, χ2). Patients with ER‐positive, HER1–3‐positive tumours had a significantly poorer survival (p < 0.001) than those with ER‐positive/HER‐negative or HER4‐positive tumours. Expression of HER RTKs displays complex interactions between different family members. There is a strong interaction, in terms of survival, between HER expression and ER expression. The development of HER‐targeted agents (eg Herceptin, Iressa), and agents targeted at the downstream signalling pathways, therefore provides new possibilities in the treatment of breast cancer. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 Inhibition: Linking Metabolic Control to Cardiovascular Protection

Dipeptidyl peptidases 4 (DPP4) inhibitors are a new class of oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). They are also called “incretins” because they act by inhibiting the degradation of endogenous incretin hormones, in particular GLP-1, that mediates their main metabolic effects. DPP4 is an ubiquitous protease that regulates not only glucose and lipid metabolism, but also exhibits several systemic effects at different site levels. DPP4 inhibition improves endothelial function, reduces the pro-oxidative and the pro-inflammatory state, and exerts renal effects. These actions are mediated by different DPP4 ligands, such as cytokines, growth factors, neuotransmitters etc. Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that DPP4 inhibitors are efficient in protecting cardiac, renal and vascular systems, through antiatherosclerotic and vasculoprotective mechanisms. For these reasons DDP4 inhibitors are thought to be “cardiovascular protective” as well as anti-diabetic drugs. Clinical trials aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of DPP4 inhibitors in reducing cardiovascular events, independent of their anti-hyperglycemic action, are ongoing. These trials will also give necessary information on their safety.
Examining Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy in a Preservice Social Studies Education Course

In a preexperimental study of preservice practitioners’ professional dispositions, we examined the relationship between an innovative culturally responsive teaching model in a social studies methods course and teacher candidates’ culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy. Findings indicate preservice teachers exposed to an in-depth culturally responsive teaching epistemology were more confident in their abilities to employ culturally relevant teaching practices. Participants noted increased willingness to work in diverse communities. Preservice teachers were more efficacious in their abilities to teach multicultural social studies content. Our study suggests that a comprehensive culturally responsive, social studies methods course inspired efficacious attitudes toward teaching diverse learners and content.
Implantation is apparently unaffected by the dopamine agonist Cabergoline when administered to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a result of ovarian overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor 2 (VEGFR2). VEGF/VEGFR2 binding disrupts cellular junctions and increases vascular permeability (VP), a characteristic of OHSS, but enhances angiogenesis, which is a fundamental step in implantation. In animals, the dopamine agonist Cabergoline (Cb2) prevents VP without affecting angiogenesis. In humans, Cb2 averts OHSS, but a possible detrimental effect on angiogenesis and implantation has not been explored. A pilot study was designed to analyze whether or not Cb2 administration, as a procedure for preventing OHSS, affects the outcome of assisted reproduction treatment (ART). METHODS A retrospective study with endpoints of implantation and ongoing/term pregnancy rates. Women (n = 35) at risk of OHSS (20-30 follicles developed and >20 oocytes collected) took a daily oral dose of 0.5 mg Cb2 for 8 days, beginning on the day of hCG. They were matched with controls treated during the same period and who were similar with respect to age, number and quality of the embryos replaced, embryonic stage at transfer and sperm quality. RESULTS No difference was detected between the groups in fertilization, implantation or pregnancy rates. A total of 14 ongoing (beyond 32 weeks) or full term pregnancies were registered in each group. No major problem was detected during pregnancy or after delivery in any of these babies. CONCLUSIONS Administration of Cb2 in order to prevent OHSS is safe and does not appear to affect ART outcome.
The Power of Public Relations in Media Relations: A National Survey of Health PR Practitioners

Based on the typology of power suggested by French and Raven, this study identified five types of power PR practitioners believe they have. Survey results suggest that PR practitioners working for health organizations believe they have Expert Power in media relations, especially those who work for non-profit organizations, have frequent contact with reporters, and develop close relationships with reporters. In general, they do not believe they exert Information Coercive and Advertising Coercive power. This research also examined the effect of three internal contingent factors on the perceived power of PR in media relations. Only Organizational Stability was a significant predictor of Expert Power.
Gamma-radiation-induced single cell DNA damage as a measure of susceptibility to lung cancer: a preliminary report.

The comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method for detecting DNA single-strand and double-strand breaks and the individual cell's DNA repair profile. This pilot study was designed to determine whether the comet assay could measure inherited susceptibility to lung cancer. We applied the comet assay in the alkaline condition to test the DNA damage in gamma-irradiated and untreated cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of 31 cases with previously untreated lung cancer and 39 controls. For each culture, 200 consecutive cells were examined and the number of cells with DNA uncoiling under electrophoresis () was recorded. The comet tail length (the radius of the nucleus plus the length of the migrated DNA) at 400-fold magnification was measured for the first 50 identified comet cells. The mean number of induced comet cells was significantly higher in cases (96.0+/-45.7) than matched controls (68.9+/-35.8) (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in induced comet tail length between cases and controls. When we categorized the number of comet cells by the 75th percentile value in the controls, a higher number of comet cells was associated with significantly increased risk for lung cancer [odds ratio = 4.8 (confidence intervals of 1.5, 15.2)] after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity and smoking status. The number of gamma-irradiation-induced comet cells (r=0.499, P<0.05) and comet tail length (r=0.520, P<0.05) correlated with the results on a previously reported lung cancer susceptibility marker, bleomycin sensitivity. Also, the number of gamma-irradiation-induced comet cells correlated with the results of the benzo[alpha]pyrene diol epoxide mutagen sensitivity assay, which quantifies induced chromatid breaks (r=0.275, P<0.05). The comet assay might be a simple and inexpensive tool for detecting genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.
Gene Expression Profiles Identify Inflammatory Signatures in Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) constitute a heterogeneous group of antigen-presenting leukocytes important in activation of both innate and adaptive immunity. We studied the gene expression patterns of DCs incubated with reagents inducing their activation or inhibition. Total RNA was isolated from DCs and gene expression profiling was performed with oligonucleotide microarrays. Using a supervised learning algorithm based on Random Forest, we generated a molecular signature of inflammation from a training set of 77 samples. We then validated this molecular signature in a testing set of 38 samples. Supervised analysis identified a set of 44 genes that distinguished very accurately between inflammatory and non inflammatory samples. The diagnostic performance of the signature genes was assessed against an independent set of samples, by qRT-PCR. Our findings suggest that the gene expression signature of DCs can provide a molecular classification for use in the selection of anti-inflammatory or adjuvant molecules with specific effects on DC activity.
Using Ontologies to Strengthen Folksonomies and Enrich Information Retrieval in Weblogs: Theoretical background and corporate use-case

While free-tagging classification is widely used in social software implementations and especially in weblogs, it raises various issues regarding information retrieval. In this paper, we describe an approach that mixes folksonomies and semantic web technologies in order to solve some of these problems, and to enrich information retrieval capabilities among blog posts. We first introduce the corporate context of the study and the issues we have faced that motivated our approach. Then, we argue how the use of domain ontologies combined with the SIOC vocabulary on the top of an existing folksonomy and weblogging platform offers a way to get rid of free-tagging classification flaws, and enhances information retrieval by suggesting related blog posts. Aside of the theoretical background, this paper also focuses on implementation. We present experimental results of this approach through the example of add-ons to a corporate blogging platform and the associated semantic web search engine, that extensively uses RDF and other semantic web technologies to find appropriate information and suggest related posts.