Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Misclassification of sex in central cancer registries.

BACKGROUND Intrarecord edits on site-sex combinations are a standard tool to identify errors in the coding of sex in cancer registry data. However, the percentage of sex-specific cancers, like cervix, is low (20 percent of total invasive cases). Visual review and follow-back to improve the quality of the sex coding is labor intensive and typically only performed as a special project on subsets of data. The New York State Cancer Registry (NYSCR) created an edit for identifying potential sex misclassification in cancer registry data and has made its components available for use through the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). The edit uses the most popular male and female first names based on decade of birth to identify potentially miscoded cases. This paper provides a summary of 3 independently conducted assessments of the sex edit at the central cancer registry level and includes a focus on misclassification of sex for breast cancer. METHODS The sex edit was applied in 3 state cancer registries: Alabama, Alaska, and Florida. Alabama applied the edit to their entire database for 1996-2004 (N = 190,614) and compared the results to external databases available to most cancer registries. Alaska applied the edit to their entire database (N = 46,645) and were able to compare the results to 2 unique, state-based databases (Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend database and State Troopers database). Florida applied the sex edit to a sample of sites (n = 953,074) with particular attention to breast cancer. RESULTS for breast cases were compared to results from an a priori quality control project on Florida male breast cancer cases. Using the Florida data, issues specific to male breast cancer were evaluated. RESULTS In Alabama, 45 percent of 977 cases flagged as potentially miscoded sex were determined to be miscodes. In Alaska, 19 percent of 88 cases flagged as potentially miscoded sex were determined to be miscodes but the percent of miscoded cases identified by the edit more than doubled in the most recent years of data. For the Florida male breast cancer comparison, the sex edit correctly identified 729 of 903 cases known to be miscoded (81 percent) and was unable to assign a potential sex on the remaining 174 cases-but did not incorrectly flag any cases as miscodes. IMPLICATIONS The sex edit is a useful tool for identifying cases that require further review to confirm the reported sex code is correct. However, it only assesses 69 percent to 84 percent of cases based on name and, of those flagged, only 19 percent to 45 percent are true misclassifications. But for breast cancer, a site with a skewed male to female ratio, the verified misclassification rate was 100 percent of the male breast cancer cases flagged as potential females. The proper application of the sex edit can improve the quality of the sex variable and can greatly reduce the impact of miscoded sex on gender-skewed sites like male breast cancer.
Patent citations and value: through the lens of a social network approach

Identifying valuable technological inventions in a timely manner for further development and commercialisation has important strategic implications for organisations to maximise social welfare and return on investments. Building upon the advantages that social network approach can predict performance in short investigation periods, this study develops a conceptual and novel framework to predict patent value through analysing patent citations network structural indicators. Our proposed approach helps alleviate truncation problems suffered by existing patent evaluation methods. Testable propositions are also offered. This study contributes to patent economics literature and research fields that would benefit from a more accurate measure of valuable technological inventions. The proposed approach also has practical and commercial values to research institutes and industrial firms.
A preliminary study into research about open innovation with focus on the field of computer science

This paper describes preliminary results regarding research on Open Innovation (OI) in peer reviewed literature. Special focus is put on the field of computer science as compared to other fields using the categorization scheme of Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science Core Collection (ISI Core Collection). The study was triggered by the observation that peer reviewed literature on OI seems to have a less distinct growth in recent years than publications included in Google Scholar which involves non-peer reviewed literature to a much larger extent. When analyzing peer reviewed literature on OI, we observed that the field of Computer Science seems to have significantly less diversity than all other fields with more than ten publications indexed in the ISI Core Collection. Our preliminary interpretation of this observation is that the topic ‘Open Innovation’ has not yet been researched and discussed in depth and breadth comparable to other fields, in particular Business Economics, Engineering, and Operations Research Management Science.
Growth velocity and serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in precocious puberty during gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogue treatment

Growth velocity and serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (P‐III‐NP) were evaluated in 11 girls (age 3.8–8.5 years) with central precocious puberty during luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH‐RH) analogue treatment (D‐Trp6‐LH‐RH, 60 μg/kg im for 28 days, n = 7; D‐ser(TBU)6‐LH‐RH, 1600 μg/day intranasally, n = 4). Before treatment, growth velocity (10.2 ± 1.9 cm/ year) and P‐III‐NP concentrations (12.8 ± 4.3 μg/l) were in the pubertal range. During therapy, growth velocity significantly decreased to the prepubertal levels. P‐III‐NP concentrations decreased significantly after six months of therapy (7.9 ± 3.7 μg/l, p< 0.001). Three girls with low growth velocity (< 4 cm/year), stimulated growth hormone peak < 10 μg/l, and altered 12‐h nocturnal growth hormone secretion at 12 and/or 18 months of treatment, had a more marked decrease in P‐III‐NP concentrations (patient 3: −65.9%; patient 5: −58.7%; patient 10: −61.0%) after 6 months of therapy. Our results suggest that LH‐RH analogue treatment in central precocious puberty may impair growth. In these cases, measurement of serum P‐III‐NP levels may be an additional marker to‐ monitor growth.
Growth synchrony between leaves and stems during twig development differs among plant functional types of subtropical rainforest woody species.

During the development of woody twigs, the growth in leaf may or may not be proportional to the growth in stem. The presence or absence of a synchronicity between these two phenologies may reflect differences in life history adaptive strategies concerning carbon gain. We hypothesized that sun-adapted species are more likely to be less synchronous between growths in total leaf area (TLA) and stem length compared with shade-adapted species, with a bias in growth in stem length, and that shade-adapted species are more likely to be more synchronous between increases in individual leaf area (ILA) (leaf size) and leaf number (LN) during twig development compared with sun-adapted species, giving priority to growth of leaf size. We tested these two hypotheses by recording the phenologies of leaf emergence, leaf expansion and stem elongation during twig development for 19 evergreen woody species (including five shade-adapted understory species, six sun-adapted understory species and eight sun-adapted canopy species) in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China. We constructed indices to characterize the synchronicity between TLA and stem length (αLS) and between leaf size and leaf number (αSN) and we derived the α values from logistic functions taking the general form of A = A(max)/[1 + exp(β - αB)] (where A is the TLA or average ILA, B is the corresponding stem length or LN at a specific time, and A(max) is the maximum TLA or the maximum ILA of a twig; the higher the numerical value of α, the less synchronous the corresponding phenologies). Consistent with our hypotheses, sun-adapted species were higher both in α(LS) and α(SN), showing less synchronous patterns in the growths of TLA vs stem length and leaf size vs LN during twig development. Moreover, α(LS) and α(SN) were significantly positively correlated with relative growth rates of LN and leaf size across species, as indicated by both analyses of ordinary regression and phylogenetic generalized least squares. The across-species synchronies during twig development show that the temporal dynamics of the leaf size-twig size spectrum is of adaptive significance in plants. We suggest that temporal dynamics of plant functional traits should be extensively studied to characterize plant life history.
Long-term physical activity is associated with reduced arterial stiffness in older adults: longitudinal results of the SAPALDIA cohort study.

BACKGROUND longitudinal analyses of physical activity (PA) and arterial stiffness in populations of older adults are scarce. We examined associations between long-term change of PA and arterial stiffness in the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). METHODS we assessed PA in SAPALDIA 2 (2001-03) and SAPALDIA 3 (2010-11) using a short questionnaire with a cut-off of at least 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week for sufficient activity. Arterial stiffness was measured oscillometrically by means of the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in SAPALDIA 3. We used multivariable mixed linear regression models adjusted for several potential confounders in 2,605 persons aged 50-81. RESULTS adjusted means of baPWV were significantly lower in persons with sufficient moderate-to-vigorous PA (i) in SAPALDIA 2 but not in SAPALDIA 3 (P = 0.048) and (ii) in both surveys (P = 0.001) compared with persons with insufficient activity in both surveys. There was a significant interaction between sex and the level of change in PA concerning baPWV (P = 0.03). The triples of parameter estimates describing the association between level of PA change and baPWV were not significantly different between the two sex-specific models (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS keeping up or adopting a physically active lifestyle was associated with lower arterial stiffness in older adults after a follow-up of almost a decade. Increasing the proportion of older adults adhering to PA recommendations incorporating also vigorous PA may have a considerable impact on vascular health at older age and may contribute to healthy ageing in general.
Can Empathy Explain Gender Differences in Economic Policy Views in the United States?

ABSTRACT This paper shows that different levels of empathy of men and women explain the well-documented gender differences in interventionist government economic policy views in the United States. Using the Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to measure empathy, the study finds that more empathic people support more interventionist policies. While greater empathy leads both men and women to support more government action, there is no gender difference in the effects of empathy on policy views. When policy views are separated by area, gender differences on policies concerning poverty, inequality, and social welfare disappear once empathy is accounted for, though they persist in views on free markets.
Protease activity during cell differentiation of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Individual aggregates, migrating pseudoplasmodia, and sorocarps of Dictyostelium discoideum were assayed for proteolytic activities by colorimetric and fluorometric techniques. Cathepsin D-like and cathepsin B-like acid protease activities were found to decrease throughout development, but the patterns of decrease were different for the two enzymes. A gradual decrease was found for cathepsin D, whereas a sharp decrease between aggregates and migrating pseudoplasmodia was detected for cathepsin B. By using microdissection techniques and fluorometric assays for amino acids and peptides, prestalk cells and prespore cells exhibited no difference in cathepsin D activity, whereas cathepsin B activity was higher in the prestalk cells. Similarly, stalk cells and spores in the sorocarps showed no difference in cathepsin D activity, but showed a fivefold higher cathepsin B activity in the stalk cells. This finding suggests a possible role for cathepsin B in stalk cell differentiation.
Noncavernomatous portal vein thrombosis in hepatic cirrhosis: treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and local thrombolysis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the use of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and local, low-dose thrombolysis in the treatment of complete, noncavernomatous portal vein occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS TIPS implantation and portal vein recanalization was attempted in seven patients with noncavernomatous portal vein obstruction and recurrent variceal bleeding. TIPS placement was followed by thrombolytic therapy to restore portal venous blood flow. Hemodynamic effects and clinical characteristics after the procedure and during follow-up were assessed. RESULTS The implantation of TIPS and the recanalization of the portal vein trunk were successful in all patients. The treatment reduced the portal venous pressure gradient and restored portal blood flow. No bleeding complications were observed. CONCLUSION TIPS placement and recanalization of the main portal vein is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with liver cirrhosis and noncavernomatous portal vein occlusion.
MEK Is a Key Modulator for TLR5-induced Interleukin-8 and MIP3α Gene Expression in Non-transformed Human Colonic Epithelial Cells*

Flagellin, a specific ligand for Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), is a molecular pattern associated with several bacterial species. Recently, TLR signaling has been intensively studied. However, TLR5-associated signaling in non-transformed colonocytes has not been investigated. Here we studied the expression of cytokines induced by flagellin in non-transformed human colonic NCM460 cells and the signaling mechanisms mediating these responses. Cytokine expression array experiments showed that exposure of the cells to flagellin (100 ng/ml) for 12 h increased the expression of interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage-inflammatory protein 3α (MIP3α) in a TLR5-specific manner. Flagellin also activated MAP kinases (ERK1/2, JNK, and p38) and degraded IκBα. Dominant negative MEK1 (a kinase that activates ERK1/2) blocked flagellin-stimulated IL-8 and MIP3α transcriptional activity, while the MEK-specific inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 reduced protein production of these cytokines. Conversely, transfection with a constitutively active MEK1 increased IL-8 and MIP3α transcriptional activity in a NFκB-independent manner. Furthermore, overexpression of the constitutively active MEK1 induced IL-8 and MIP3α protein production. We also demonstrated that C-terminal coiled-coil and TRAF-C domains of TRAF6, unable to mediate NFκB activation, are involved in MEK-mediated IL-8 and MIP3α expression. Thus, in non-transformed human colonocytes, MEK activation following flagellin/TLR5 engagement is a key modulator for NFκB-independent, IL-8 and MIP3α expression.
Mood Instability Is a Precursor of Relationship and Marital Difficulties: Results from Prospective Data from the British Health and Lifestyle Surveys

The DSM system implies that affective instability is caused by reactivity to interpersonal events. We used the British Health and Lifestyle Survey that surveyed community residents in 1984 and again in 1991 to study competing hypotheses: that mood instability (MI) leads to interpersonal difficulties or vice versa. We analyzed data from 5,352 persons who participated in both waves of the survey. Factor analysis of the Eysenck Personality Inventory neuroticism scale was used to derive a 4-item scale for MI. We used depression measures that were previously derived by factor analyzing the General Health Questionnaire. We tested the competing hypotheses by regressing variables at follow-up against baseline variables. The results showed that MI in 1984 clearly predicted the development of interpersonal problems in 1991. After adjusting for depression, depression becomes the main predictor of spousal difficulties, but MI remains a predictor of interpersonal difficulties with family and friends. Attempts to investigate the reverse hypothesis were ambiguous. The clinical implication is that when MI and interpersonal problems are reported, the MI should be treated first, or at least concurrently.
Metallothionein Redox Cycle and Function

The biologic function of metallothionein (MT) has been a perplexing topic ever since the discovery of this protein. Many studies have suggested that MT plays a role in the homeostasis of essential metals such as zinc and copper, detoxification of toxic metals such as cadmium, and protection against oxidative stress. However, mechanistic insights into the actions of MT have not been adequately achieved. MT contains high levels of sulfur. The mutual affinity of sulfur and transition metals makes the binding of these metals to MT thermodynamically stable. Under physiologic conditions, zinc-MT is the predominant form of the metal-binding protein. The recognition of the redox regulation of zinc release from or binding to MT provides an alternate perspective on biologic function of MT. Oxidation of the thiolate cluster by a number of mild cellular oxidants causes zinc release and formation of MT-disulfide (or thionin if all metals are released from MT, but this is unlikely to occur In vivo), which have been demonstrated in vivo. Therefore, the thermodynamic stability of zinc binding makes MT an ideal zinc reservoir in vivo, and the redox regulation of zinc mobilization enables MT function in zinc homeostasis. MT-disulfide can be reduced by glutathione in the presence of selenium catalyst, restoring the capacity of the protein to bind zinc. This MT redox cycle may play a crucial role in MT biologic function. It may link to the homeostasis of essential metals, detoxification of toxic metals and protection against oxidative stress.
Environmental Consequences of the Desire to Dominate and Be Superior

A belief in human dominance over nature lies at the heart of current environmental problems. In this article, we extend the theoretical scope of social dominance theory by arguing that social dominance orientation (SDO) is an important variable in understanding person–environment relations. We argue that individuals high in SDO are more willing to exploit the environment in unsustainable ways because SDO promotes human hierarchical dominance over nature. Four studies provide support for this perspective. High SDO was associated with lower levels of environmental concern in a nationally representative New Zealand sample (Study 1) and in country-level data across 27 nations (Study 2). SDO was also positively related to utilization attitudes toward nature (Study 3) and mediated the gender difference in beliefs about anthropogenic climate change (Study 4), and both occurred independently of right-wing authoritarianism. Implications for the human-dominated view of nature subscribed to by those high in SDO are discussed.
Exposure to the Chinese famine in early life and hypertension prevalence risk in adults

Objectives: Famine exposure in early life has been reported to be associated with higher risk of hypertension prevalence in adults. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of exposure to the Chinese famine during early life with the risk of hypertension prevalence in adults. Methods: There were 8742 participants born between 1952 and 1964 derived from the Dongfeng–Tongji cohort included in the present study. Participants were classified as nonexposed group, fetal exposed group, early-childhood exposed group, mid-childhood exposed group, and late-childhood exposed group, respectively. Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between famine exposure in early life and risk of hypertension prevalence in adults. Results: The prevalence of hypertension among individuals in nonexposed group, fetal exposed group, early-childhood exposed group, mid-childhood exposed group, and late-childhood exposed group were 34.0, 38.0, 43.9, 47.4, and 54.4%, respectively. Compared with nonexposed group, participants exposed to the famine in the fetal [1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.51], early childhood (1.44, 95% CI: 1.20–1.73), mid-childhood (1.67, 95% CI: 1.38–2.02), and late childhood (2.11, 95% CI: 1.75–2.55) had higher risk of hypertension prevalence in adults after adjustment for potential confounders (P for trend <0.0001). Adjustment for age did not materially change the results. Conclusion: Results in the present study indicated that exposure to the famine in early life increases the risk of hypertension prevalence in adulthood.
Oral Communication in Accounting Practice: Perspectives from the Philippines.

With Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN 2015) ushering market integration, including free exchange of human resources among member countries, employer expectations from university graduates adapt to the increasingly competitive demands of the global workplace. Such development makes more urgent the alignment of academic and professional prioritization of work-related skills. Specifically, this study compares the oral communication skills deemed essential by accounting supervisors and the proficiency of entry-level accountants based on their self-assessment. To achieve this research objective, two questionnaires were prepared and administered through electronic mail-one for 100 accounting supervisors and another for 100 entry-level accountants, both randomly selected from the Big Four Audit Firms in the Philippines. Respondents rated each oral communication skill based on essentiality and proficiency, respectively. The results suggest that listening is the most essential oral communication skill in the work of new accountants. Also, entry-level accountants perceive themselves as “very proficient” in four out of five oral communication skills which accounting supervisors consider “highly essential. ” The ability to “describe situations accurately and precisely to superiors” is the only highly essential skill that the entry-level accountants need to improve. Generally, the findings reflect positively on the work-readiness of the entry-level accountant respondents in relation to oral communication skills.