Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations between casein haplotypes and milk yield traits.

The genotyping of 13 sires and 250 of their sons for casein polymorphisms revealed 10 different haplotypes for Norwegian Cattle. Associations between haplotypes and yields of protein, milk, and fat were studied using a granddaughter design. Three subsets of data containing families with haplotypes 1, 5, and 10 were analyzed independently and denoted by analyses 1, 5, and 10, respectively. In addition, all sire families of all haplotypes were pooled and analyzed in analysis T. No associations were found between haplotypes and traits for milk yield in analyses 1, 10, and T. However, the null hypothesis of an equal effect within sire of bulls was rejected in analysis 5 for yields of protein and milk. The increase in protein yield associated with haplotype 5 ranged from 2.52 to 14.58 kg (from .09 to .51 phenotypic standard deviations). These results may indicate the presence of at least one quantitative trait locus in the region of the casein genes that affects protein yield of Norwegian Cattle. The findings were confirmed with a new analysis of two large sire families segregating haplotype 5 (analysis 5N).
The way the cookie crumbles: online tracking meets behavioural economics

Limitations on online tracking are object of a regulatory debate that has shifted to the use of default rules to enhance privacy. The European Union implemented this idea with the Cookies Directive. The Directive aims to change the default system for track­ ing and move to an opt-in system in which data subjects must agree to it beforehand. This article evaluates the Directive’s implementation across Member States and studies the cases of the Netherlands and the UK. It then draws from the behavioural eco­ nomics literature on default rules to evaluate these regulations and to consider whether it is possible to implement the policy in a way that avoids some of the problems they faced. K E Y W O R D S : online tracking, online privacy, cookie law, data protection, default rules, consumer choice I N T R O D U C T I O N Advertisers, and in particular online behavioural advertisers, receive considerable benefits from tracking devices such as cookies. Unlike mass advertising techniques, such as billboards, the Internet is able to personalize content. Having more informa­ tion about data subjects’ interests, companies can increase the relevance of advertise­ ments, targeting the particular interests of the person to whom an advertisement is shown. This increment in relevance allows for more sales and higher rents for adver­ tising spots, increasing revenue for both sellers and websites. The click-through rate of advertisements (fraction of visitors that click on them), commonly used as a meas­ ure of their success, has been shown to increase by approximately 670 per cent with online behavioural advertisement compared to traditional advertisement. * Resident Fellow, Yale Law School, Information Society Project; E-mail: A previ­ ous version of this paper was presented at the 7th Privacy Law Scholars Conference (Washington DC). I am grateful to Michael Faure, Klaus Heine, Tobias Hlobil, Joasia Luzak, Aleecia Mcdonald, Stephan Michel, Sjoera Nas, Sharon Oded, Alessio Pacces, Robert Sloan, Jim Tierney, Ann-Sophie Vandenberghe, Louis Visscher and two anonymous referees for their comments and suggestions. I gratefully acknowledge financial support from Erasmus University Trustfunds. All errors remain my own. Jun Yan and others, ‘How Much Can Behavioral Targeting Help Online Advertising? ’, Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on World Wide Web (ACM 2009). C V The Author (2016). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email:
Multi-technique observations of convective rain events at a tropical location

The effects of the convective rain on various atmospheric parameters have been investigated at Kolkata (22.57°N, 88.37°E), India, during pre-monsoon and monsoon period of 2013. Various parameters like cloud base height and depth, liquid water content, rain rate and rain drop size distribution (DSD) are observed concurrently. The atmospheric electric field measured with an electric field monitor and the attenuation and depolarisation of satellite signals measured by a Ku-band receiving system are also studied during rain events. The instability indices obtained from radiometric measurements and the rain height profiles from micro rain radar are used to classify rain into two types, namely, convective and stratiform. The signatures of rain events on multi-technique observations are studied to indicate the various aspects of convective processes at a tropical location.
Predictability of sleep in patients with insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether the night-to-night variability in insomnia follows specific predictable patterns and to characterize sleep patterns using objective sleep and clinical variables. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING University-affiliated sleep disorders center. PARTICIPANTS 146 participants suffering from chronic and primary insomnia. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Daily sleep diaries were completed for an average of 48 days and self-reported questionnaires once. Three nights were spent in the sleep laboratory for polysomnographic (PSG) assessment. Sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, and total sleep time were derived from sleep diaries and PSG. Time-series diary data were used to compute conditional probabilities of having an insomnia night after 1, 2, or 3 consecutive insomnia night(s). Conditional probabilities were submitted to a k-means cluster analysis. A 3-cluster solution was retained. One cluster included 38 participants exhibiting an unpredictable insomnia pattern. Another included 30 participants with a low and decreasing probability to have an insomnia night. The last cluster included 49 participants exhibiting a high probability to have insomnia every night. Clusters differed on age, insomnia severity, and mental fatigue, and on subjective sleep variables, but not on PSG sleep variables. CONCLUSION These findings replicate our previous study and provide additional evidence that unpredictability is a less prevalent feature of insomnia than suggested previously in the literature. The presence of the 3 clusters is discussed in term of sleep perception and sleep homeostasis dysregulation.
Limitations and future of electrocardiography devices: A review and the perspective from the Internet of Things

Electrocardiography (ECG) devices are considered essential medical tools for detecting and preventing cardiovascular diseases. These devices are used to obtain information about the structure and function of the human heart. Given the various medical uses of the information from ECG devices, it is essential that these devices provide accurate information about the heart in a precise manner. Although many advances in ECG devices have been made over the years, the literature reveals not only limitations in conventional devices but also highlights how the Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to improve medical applications in ECG devices. This paper reviews previous works on ECG devices to identify their limitations as well as provides some insights into the development of IoT-based ECG devices.
Case Reviews in the Family Physician's Office*

The majority of patients with emotional or psychiatric disorders are treated in the primary care setting without psychiatric input. Psychiatrists need to find ways of helping family physicians manage these patients without necessarily taking over their care. One way of achieving this is for a psychiatric consultant to visit the family physician's office on a regular basis to discuss the physician's problem cases. This paper describes such a pilot project, outlines the kinds of problems family physicians discussed and recommendations that were made, and discusses the benefits of this collaborative approach.
Metabolic Maladies in New Zealand Maoris

The problems of health and disease in the Maori and European people of New Zealand offer many opportunities for study of diseases by modern epidemiological methods. The emergence of the Maori people of New Zealand as a particularly high-risk group in terms of a variety of related metabolic disturbances has only recently been appreciated. Obesity, diabetes, hyperuricaemia, clinical gout, and coronary artery disease are common in both sexes, and the prevalence of certain of these conditions has been shown to far exceed that of the European section of the community (Prior, 1962). The extent of the differences in mortality rates in the two racial groups has now been defined in the Report on Maori and European Health published by the Department of Health (1960). Notably higher death rates are shown from infectious diseases, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diabetes in both sexes, while Maori women in the 40-59 age-group have a four times greater mortality from coronary disease and a five times greater mortality from hypertension than women of European stock. The rates in Maori men for these two conditions are similar
Investigational anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of ischaemic brain injury

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in Western countries. To date, only ∼ 2% of stroke patients are eligible for thrombolysis treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. The very limited options available for stroke treatment and recent disappointing clinical trials in stroke call for novel therapeutic approaches. Inflammation represents one of the key pathophysiological mechanisms for the progression of ischaemic stroke. Recent advances in preclinical models of stroke using investigational small molecular antagonists, neutralising antibodies/proteins or genetically altered gene functions against various inflammatory mediators suggest a great therapeutic potential of anti-inflammation for ischaemic stroke. The scope of the present review is to update the evidence for a role of inflammatory pathways in stroke and to summarise the investigational drugs currently available both in preclinical and clinical development for potential treatment of ischaemic stroke.
A study on dumping power flow fluctuation at grid-connection point of residential micro-grid with clustered photovoltaic power generation systems

Power output fluctuation of photovoltaic power generation systems (PVSs) may cause negative impact on the existing electric power system when the penetration of PVSs is quite large. A micro-grid consisting of clustered PVSs and a battery system would be one of the promising measures to the negative impact of clustered PVSs, while the maximum power and storage capacity of battery system should be reduced as much as possible from the economic point of view. Because of the difference in output fluctuation among PVSs in the various locations, the total output fluctuations of PVSs would be relaxed due to the so-called "smoothing-effect". Considering such the effect, the required performance of battery system can be reduced, even though small output fluctuation of each micro-grid still remains. By using data on solar irradiance observed in five points simultaneously, this study evaluates the total output fluctuation of several micro-grids and the required performance of battery system, taking the smoothing effect into account.
Config: a case study in combining software engineering techniques

Config is a software component of the Graphical R-Matrix Atomic Collision Environment. Its development is documented as a case study combining several software engineering techniques: formal specification, generic programming, object-oriented programming, and design by contract. It is specified in VDM$++$; and implemented in C$++$, a language which is becoming more than a curiosity amongst the scientific programming community. C$++$supports object orientation, a powerful architectural paradigm in designing the structure of software systems, and genericity, an orthogonal dimension to the inheritance hierarchies facilitated by object oriented languages. Support in C$++$ for design by contract can be added in library form. The combination of techniques make a substantial contribution to the overall software quality.
Frontier ethics: mental health care needs and ethical dilemmas in rural communities.

Roughly 15 million of the 62 million rural U.S. residents struggle with mental illness and substance abuse. These rural dwellers have significant health care needs but commonly experience obstacles to obtaining adequate psychiatric services. Important but little-recognized ethical dilemmas also affect rural mental health care delivery. Six attributes of isolated settings with limited resources appear to intensify these ethical dilemmas: overlapping relationships, conflicting roles, and altered therapeutic boundaries between caregivers, patients, and families; challenges in preserving patient confidentiality; heightened cultural dimensions of mental health care; "generalist" care and multidisciplinary team issues; limited resources for consultation about clinical ethics; and greater stresses experienced by rural caregivers. The authors describe these features of rural mental health care and provide vignettes illustrating dilemmas encountered in the predominantly rural and frontier states of Alaska and New Mexico. They also outline constructive approaches to rural ethical dilemmas in mental health care.
Blood pressure fluctuation and intraventricular hemorrhage in the preterm infant of less than 31 weeks' gestation.

A total of 22 infants of less than 31 weeks' gestation who were mechanically ventilated for a minimum of 12 hours for respiratory distress syndrome were studied. The coefficient of variation of direct systolic pressure was measured each minute from six to 36 hours of age and averaged per hour after birth with a microcomputer-based system of data collection. At the start of recording, the ultrasound scan appeared normal in each infant, but intraventricular hemorrhage developed in ten infants less than 36 hours of age. Twelve infants remained free of intraventricular hemorrhages. BP fluctuation was greater for a longer proportion of measured time in infants in whom intraventricular hemorrhage did not develop compared with those in whom it did develop P less than . 05). These findings do not support a causal relationship between BP fluctuation and intraventricular hemorrhage within the range of coefficient of variation studied.
Lung cancer risk and radon exposure in a cohort of iron ore miners in Malmberget, Sweden

Objectives Lung cancer caused by radon in miners is a well-known risk. However, the risk estimates vary between studies and between mines. We have studied the dose response–relationship in a Swedish iron ore mine where two other studies have previously reached different risk estimates. As this mine has relatively low radon levels, the results are highly relevant for risk estimation in non-uranium underground mines. Methods A new cohort of 5486 male workers employed from 1923 to 1996 was established. Cumulative radon exposures were assessed based on a large number of measurements, including reconstructions of historical conditions. 122 lung cancer cases occurred during the follow-up period of 1958–2000. Results The average cumulative exposure in underground workers was 32 kBq year/m3 (65 working level months (WLM)), experienced over 14.6 years. The excess RR (ERR) per kBq year/m3 was 0.046 (95% CI 0.015 to 0.077; 0.022 ERR/WLM). Confounding by quartz may affect these results but appears to account only for 10–20% of the risk. The results for squamous cell and small cell lung cancer were 0.049 and 0.072, respectively. However, no increased risk was observed for adenocarcinoma (0.000 ERR per kBq year/m3, 95% CI −0.017 to 0.017). Conclusion Our overall risk estimate is about half of that found in the first Malmberget study but twice that found in the same cohort in the previously published pooled analysis. Radon did not increase the risk for adenocarcinoma in the lung.
Das nichtparametrische Regressionsmodell

Regressionsmodelle stellen ein in der wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Forschung und Praxis vielfach verwendetes Instrument zur Modellierung von Zusammenhängen dar. Dieser Beitrag führt in das Funktionsprinzip des nichtparametrischen Regressionsmodells ein, welches keine Informationen über die Art einer funktionalen Beziehung benötigt und somit bei der Analyse unbekannter und hochgradig nichtlinearer Zusammenhänge eingesetzt werden kann. Es wird aufgezeigt, wann und warum es gegenüber dem gewöhnlichen linearen Regressionsmodell zu bevorzugen ist. Ferner wird auf die konkrete Schätzung eines nichtparametrischen Regressionsmodells und auf seine Nachteile im Vergleich zum linearen Regressionsmodell eingegangen.
The relation between X-ray CT numbers and charged particle stopping powers and its significance for radiotherapy treatment planning.

The theoretical results for CT number and relative stopping power given appear to be very reliable, except possibly when large components of high Z elements are present. This implies that the calibration curve given could be used to convert measured CT numbers to relative stopping powers for use in radiotherapy treatment planning for charged particles, such as protons, heavy ions and negative pions, particularly in regions where experimental data are not available. As materials which are tissue-equivalent for electrons and x-rays are not tissue-equivalent for pions (Lewis et al., 1982), it may be more reliable to use theoretical results for real tissues, rather than experimental results for the tissue substitutes in common use.
Conventional and Anti-Erosion Fluoride Toothpastes: Effect on Enamel Erosion and Erosion-Abrasion

New toothpastes with anti-erosion claims are marketed, but little is known about their effectiveness. This study investigates these products in comparison with various conventional NaF toothpastes and tin-containing products with respect to their erosion protection/abrasion prevention properties. In experiment 1, samples were demineralised (10 days, 6 × 2 min/day; citric acid, pH 2.4), exposed to toothpaste slurries (2 × 2 min/day) and intermittently stored in a mineral salt solution. In experiment 2, samples were additionally brushed for 15 s during the slurry immersion time. Study products were 8 conventional NaF toothpastes (1,400–1,490 ppm F), 4 formulations with anti-erosion claims (2 F toothpastes: NaF + KNO3 and NaF + hydroxyapatite; and 2 F-free toothpastes: zinc-carbonate-hydroxyapatite, and chitosan) and 2 Sn-containing products (toothpaste: 3,436 ppm Sn, 1,450 ppm F as SnF2/NaF; gel: 970 ppm F, 3,030 ppm Sn as SnF2). A mouth rinse (500 ppm F as AmF/NaF, 800 ppm Sn as SnCl2) was the positive control. Tissue loss was quantified profilometrically. In experiment 1, most NaF toothpastes and 1 F-free formulation reduced tissue loss significantly (between 19 and 42%); the Sn-containing formulations were the most effective (toothpaste and gel 55 and 78% reduction, respectively). In experiment 2, only 4 NaF toothpastes revealed significant effects compared to the F-free control (reduction between 29 and 37%); the F-free special preparations and the Sn toothpaste had no significant effect. The Sn gel (reduction 75%) revealed the best result. Conventional NaF toothpastes reduced the erosive tissue loss, but had limited efficacy regarding the prevention of brushing abrasion. The special formulations were not superior, or were even less effective.
A distributed computing approach in speed enhancement of a rake receiver simulator

Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system simulators are commonly used as a design and research tool to aid the deployment of 3G as well as forthcoming wireless communication systems. High data rates, reliability, security and Bit Error Rate (BER) performance are key requirements of a 3G system. If realistic simulations are to be performed, these requirements have led to unacceptably long computation times. Inclusion of a rake receiver module, which is mainly employed to address multipath interference, results in further reduction in simulator speed. This paper presents a distributed computing approach using MATLAB to overcome the speed issue of a WCDMA simulator with a rake receiver. We show that the simulation time can be reduced by about 80% by the use of distributed computing combined with code optimizations.
Oland is feasible to treat sewage-like nitrogen concentrations at low hydraulic residence time.

Energy-positive sewage treatment can in principle be obtained by maximizing energy recovery from concentrated organics in the side stream, and by minimizing energy consumption for residual carbon and nitrogen polishing in the main stream with partial nitritation and anammox. To test the feasibility of this concept, oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification (OLAND) was tested on sewage-like nitrogen influent concentrations with a lab-scale rotating biological contactor at 25°C. After a long steady-state operation of the reactor treating 537 mg N L -1 , the influent ammonium concentration was stepwise decreased to 278, 146, 66 and 30 mg N L -1 over 41, 48, 52 and 60 days, respectively, maintaining a continuous loading rate by a stepwise decrease in hydraulic residence time (HRT). At the two lowest concentrations and HRT (2 and 1 h), volumetric removal rates were still relatively high with 444 and 383 mg N L -1 d -1 , respectively. However, due to the absence of an oxygen control system, more nitratation occurred at lower nitrogen levels, yielding removal efficiencies of 51 and 46%, respectively. At 30 mg N L -1 , transiting from continuous to intermittent disc rotation decreased the dissolved oxygen concentration from 1.4 to 1.2 mg O2 L -1 , increasing the removal efficiency with 11%. The latter indicated that desired removal efficiencies could be obtained provided sufficient suppression of nitratation. The results of this study show the OLAND feasibility for treatment of low nitrogen levels and HRT, a prerequisite to energy-positive wastewater treatment.
Test–retest reliability and responsiveness of a French Canadian Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI-FC)

Abstract Purpose: The Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI) is a self-report questionnaire assessing activity limitations and participation restrictions resulting from an upper limb musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). A French Canadian version of the ULFI (ULFI-FC) has recently demonstrated good internal consistency, and convergent validity, as well as clinical applicability in a rehabilitation context where clinicians have important time constraints. This study aimed to examine the test–retest reliability and responsiveness of the ULFI-FC. Methods: In order to study the ULFI-FC’s responsiveness, 60 participants completed the ULFI-FC and a French Canadian version of the DASH (DASH-FC) twice at an interval of two to six weeks, based on the evolution of their upper limb MSD. Half of the sample also completed the ULFI-FC three days after the second assessment for the test–retest reliability analysis. Results: The ULFI-FC demonstrated high test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.92–0.97) and good internal responsiveness (Cohen’s d = 0.49–0.62; standardized responsive means = 0.60–0.88). External responsiveness was further supported by moderate correlations of change scores with the DASH-FC (r = 0.42–0.64). Conclusions: Study findings support the use of the ULFI-FC in rehabilitation as an outcome measure to monitor activity limitations and participation restrictions among French-speaking patients presenting with upper limb MSD. Implications for Rehabilitation The ULFI-FC is a reliable and valid tool with good responsiveness to change for assessing activity limitations and participation restrictions in adults presenting with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. This tool can thus be useful in clinical and research settings. By exploring meaningful activities that are affected by patients' upper limb musculoskeletal disorders, the tool's Patient Specific Index is particularly relevant for clinicians adhering to a patient-centered approach.