Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occupation, exposure to chemicals and risk of gliomas and meningiomas in Sweden.

BACKGROUND Occupational exposures may be related to the development of brain cancer. The objective was to estimate occupational-specific risk of gliomas and meningiomas among Swedish men and women gainfully employed in 1970 over the period 1971-1989, and the influence of occupational exposure to chemical substances. METHODS A dataset linking cancer diagnoses from the Swedish national cancer register to occupational and demographical data obtained in the 1970 census was used to fit log-linear Poisson models, in order to obtain relative risks adjusted by age, period, geographical area and town size. Exposure to 13 chemicals was assessed using a Swedish job-exposure matrix. RESULTS The main findings of this study among men were the increased risk of glioma with occupational exposure to arsenic, mercury, and petroleum products and of meningioma with lead. Women in occupational sectors with a higher socio-economic status showed an increased incidence of both, gliomas and meningiomas. CONCLUSIONS Occupational exposure to some chemicals appeared to be related with an increased risk of glioma and meningioma in men. Exposures involved in glioma and meningioma development seemed to be different.
Relaciones sociales y desempeño organizativo: Estudio empírico en empresas del sector hotelero

El objetivo de este estudio es aportar evidencia empirica acerca del papel que juegan las relaciones sociales de los miembros de establecimientos hoteleros sobre el desempeno de dichos establecimientos. Un analisis de regresion multiple se realizo para determinar que variables pueden ser predictoras de la capacidad de un hotel para mejorar su capacidad de innovacion y para lograr resultados financieros y de mercado. Los hallazgos sugieren que, tanto las relaciones sociales externas como internas, determinan la capacidad de innovacion de los hoteles. Asimismo, las relaciones sociales externas influyen sobre los resultados financieros y de mercado. El estudio pone de manifiesto que los gestores deben considerar con especial atencion el establecimiento de relaciones con personas o instituciones externas a la organizacion. Asimismo, los datos muestran que los esfuerzos realizados por las empresas hoteleras para generar espacios de interaccion y comunicacion entre sus empleados contribuyen a mejorar la capacidad de innovacion.
Studies on classification of fMRI data using deep learning approach

Brain as main server for entire human body is a complex composition. It is a challenging task to read and interpret the brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become one of the means to do the task. fMRI is a non-invasive technique to measure brain activity of a human subject according to various stimuli. However, the fMRI datasets for each subject is huge and high-dimensional. For instance, the dataset has four dimensions for 3D images time series. Pre-processing and analysing using pattern recognition are insignificance for datasets with varied anatomical structures and dimensions. On the other hand, supervised learning or biomarker is employed to reduce the curse-of-dimensionality of fMRI datasets. Yet, the process is difficult and subjective to the labeled datasets. Therefore, a well-versed approach in signal processing, natural language processing (NLP) and object recognition, known as deep learning is seen to have higher standard than usual classification approach. Deep learning is the improved version of neural network with higher capability and accuracy. This paper aims to review the deep learning approach in fMRI classifications based on three studies on fMRI data classification.
Optimal sizing of an islanded microgrid using Evolutionary Strategy

In islanded microgrid design, a proper Distributed Energy Resource (DER) selection, sizing and effective coordination between resources are important and challenging optimization tasks. The types and sizes of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, the capacities of battery bank and the other distributed generators must be optimized in islanded microgrid design. In this paper, the problem is formulated as a nonlinear integer minimization problem which minimizes the sum of the total capital, operational and maintenance cost of DERs, subject to constraints such as energy limits and emission limits of each DER and Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) of the microgrid. This paper proposes an Evolutionary Strategy (ES) for solving this minimization problem. LPSP of each individual of ES's population is calculated by simulation of 8760 hours in a year. The proposed methodology was used to design microgrids for MODERN project. The simulation studies have shown that the proposed methodology provides excellent convergence and feasible optimum solution for sizing of islanded microgrids using evolutionary strategy.
Attenuated induction of epithelial and leukocyte serine antiproteases elafin and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in Crohn’s disease

Elafin (or skin‐derived antileukoprotease) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) are serine antiproteases antagonizing human neutrophil elastase (HNE), thereby preventing tissue injury from excessive release of proteolytic enzymes by inflammatory cells. Furthermore, elafin and SLPI are “defensin‐like” molecules with broad antimicrobial activity. The balance between proteases and antagonists may critically determine inflammatory processes in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Real‐time PCR was performed to quantitate colonic, proinflammatory cytokine IL‐8, protease (HNE), and antiprotease mRNA (elafin and SLPI) in a total of 340 biopsies from 117 patients (47 CD, 45 UC, 25 controls). Histological inflammation was scored, and HNE, elafin, and SLPI were localized and semiquantified by immunostaining in 51 colonic paraffin sections (23 CD, 11 UC, 17 controls). Proinflammatory IL‐8, degree of histological inflammation, and granulocyte content were similar in UC and CD. Elafin stained predominantly in the epithelium and SLPI in mucosal inflammatory cells. HNE mRNA levels and immunostaining were increased equally in both forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Levels of mRNA and immunostaining of the antiproteases elafin and SLPI were enhanced strongly in inflamed versus noninflamed UC. It is surprising that comparing inflamed versus noninflamed CD, this increase was significantly less pronounced for elafin and even lacking for SLPI. Despite comparable degrees of inflammation and protease levels, the induction of both antiproteases was attenuated in CD. This could contribute to the transmural depth of tissue destruction in CD. Elafin and SLPI may be added to the list of defensin‐like peptides with diminished induction in CD versus UC.
Multiple Tendon Ruptures of Unknown Etiology

Tendon ruptures are common findings in foot and ankle practice. The etiology of tendon ruptures tends to be multifactorial—usually due to a combination of trauma, effects of systemic diseases, adverse effects of medications, and obesity. We present an unusual case of right Achilles tendinitis, left Achilles tendon rupture, bilateral peroneus longus tendon rupture, and left peroneus brevis tendon rupture of unknown etiology. This case report highlights the need for research for other possible, lesser known etiologies of tendon pathology. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV, Case Study
Nonlinear Systems and Control — Spring 2015 Dissipative Systems

We shall study a special class of systems called dissipative systems. Intuitively, we can think of systems interacting with the surrounding via some input / output ports, exchanging power with the surrounding, storing some energy and dissipating some. For example, electrical systems exchange power with the surrounding via an inner product between the current and voltage, i.e., Pe = v i. Energy in these systems may be stored in capacitors and/or inductors in the form of voltage or current, respectively. Another example is mechanical systems; these systems may by supplied with linear and/or rotational power, i.e., Pm = ωT or Pm = vF , where v is the velocity, F is the applied force, ω is the rotational speed, and T is the applied torque. This supply may be stored in the form of potential and/or kinetic energy. In what follows, we shall provide a solid foundation for such supply and storage concepts that allows us to describe systems from an input-output perspective.
Molecular characterization of rat glomerular epithelial cell complement receptors.

Complement receptor type 1 (CR1) has previously been isolated from cultured rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) by C3b affinity chromatography. In addition, the presence of Crry in GEC and in rat glomeruli has been demonstrated. Crry appears to be the rodent analogue of human decay accelerating factor, which was previously described in human GEC and in human glomeruli. In this study, the molecular biology of these rat complement receptors is examined. A specific cDNA probe for rat CR1 was generated by reverse transcription of GEC mRNA, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The oligonucleotide primers were chosen from conserved regions spanning 271 bases in human and mouse CR1. A 271-base-pair PCR product was generated from rat GEC cDNA, the nucleotide sequence of which was 70.1% and 77.2% identical to those of the respective mouse and human sequences. This PCR product, designated rCR1-p, was then used to probe for CR1 mRNA. By northern blot analysis, rCR1-p hybridized to 4.5-kilobase (kb) mRNA from both cultured GEC and rat glomeruli and also weakly hybridized to 4.5-kb CR1 mRNA from mouse spleen. In additional northern blots, a nucleotide probe for mouse Crry hybridized to mRNA of 2.1 to 2.4 kb from rat GEC, slightly larger than the 1.9- to 2.1-kb mouse Crry mRNA. Therefore, mRNA for CR1 and Crry are present in cultured rat GEC and in rat glomeruli in vivo. To further investigate the composition of rat CR1 mRNA, northern hybridizations were performed with nucleotide probes for mouse and human CR1. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Microbial Community Fingerprinting by Differential Display-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT Complex microbial communities exhibit a large diversity, hampering differentiation by DNA fingerprinting. Herein, differential display-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis is proposed. By adding a nucleotide to the 3′ ends of PCR primers, 16 primer pairs and fingerprints were generated per community. Complexity reduction in each partial fingerprint facilitates sample comparison.
An implicit iterative algorithm for algebraic Riccati matrix equations

In this paper, an implicit iterative algorithm is proposed to obtain the unique positive definite solution of the continuous algebraic Riccati matrix equation. In this proposed algorithm, there exists a tuning parameter which can be appropriately chosen such that the algorithm achieves better convergence performance. A sufficient condition is given for the convergence of the proposed algorithm. Moreover, an approach is also provided to choose an appropriate initial condition. Finally, a numerical example is employed to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Analysis of Gene Expression in Mouse 2-Cell Embryos Using Fluorescein Differential Display: Comparison of Culture Environments1

Abstract The effect of the oviductal environment on gene expression in 2-cell mouse embryos was examined with mRNA differential display. Embryos used for experiments were cultured in modified Whitten medium with or without oviductal tissue until late 2-cell stage. The results of sequencing indicated that the genes for ATP synthase (ATPase 6), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (S-AMDC) and nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) were differentially expressed in embryos cultured in the oviductal environment (nonblocking culture condition). The ATPase 6 gene is encoded by mitochondrial DNA and is essential for the production of ATP. This indicates that the expression of ATP synthesis-related genes at the 2-cell stage may be required to maintain normal development in vitro. S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase decarboxylates adenosylmethionine, which is a substrate of DNA methylation. The expression of S-AMDC may be responsible for the low level of methylation of preimplantation development. As NASP is a histone-binding protein that is thought to be testis and sperm specific, its function in embryos remains unclear. On the other hand, the Tcl1 gene and a novel gene, the c-1 gene, were strongly expressed in embryos cultured without oviductal tissue (blocking culture condition). The expression patterns of these genes are quite similar. However, the detailed functions of these genes in embryos remain to be determined.
Biosensor recognition elements.

Abstract : Molecular recognition is central to biosensing. Since the first biosensor was developed by Updike and Hicks (1967) many biosensors have been studied and developed. As shown in Fig. 1, a biosensor can be defined as a "compact analytical device or unit incorporating a biological or biologically derived sensitive "recognition" element integrated or associated with a physio-chemical transducer" (Turner, 2000). Initially, biosensor recognition elements were isolated from living systems. However many biosensor recognition elements now available are not naturally occurring but have been synthesized in the laboratory.
Influence of health, lifestyle, working conditions, and sociodemography on early retirement among nurses: The Danish Nurse Cohort Study

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between health, lifestyle, work-related and sociodemographic factors, and older nurses' exit from the labor market to Post-Employment Wage (PEW). PEW is an early retirement scheme to make it possible for workers to retire at the age of 60. Methods: The study was based on 5,538 nurses in the age of 51—59 who in 1993 completed a questionnaire on health, lifestyle, working environment, and sociodemographic factors. The survey information was combined with longitudinal data from the Danish Integrated Database for Labor Market Research compiled by Statistics Denmark. The follow-up period was from 1993 to 2002. Results: Nurses who had poor self-rated health were more likely to join PEW compared with nurses who considered their health as good (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.16— 1.41). Low job influence, high workload, and physical job demands only marginally increased the probability of retiring. Nurses who have relatively low gross incomes had an increased probability of entering PEW compared with nurses with relatively high gross incomes (HR 1.60, CI 1.43—1.79). Having a spouse increased the probability of joining PEW, especially having a spouse who had retired or was unemployed. Conclusions: The retirement age among nurses is influenced by a number of sociodemographic, work-related, and health-related factors. Poor health, low income, living outside the Copenhagen area, being married, having a spouse who is outside the labor force, and working in the daytime are all predictors of early retirement among nurses. Poor working environment only marginally increased the probability of retiring early.
An expert system approach for the control of a bioprocess. I: Knowledge representation and processing

For the control of bioprocesses, a priori knowledge exists which cannot be readily incorporated as a mathematical model but which can be represented by language‐based rules, such as “IF/THEN” conditions. This knowledge is usually implemented via a process operator for the automation of the fermentation. A knowledge‐based system has been developed which can use this kind of knowledge and which is complemented by algorithmic systems, such as statistical analyses and mathematical modeling, for the supervision and control of a bioprocess. In this article, a description of this system is presented. Furthermore, the following features of the system are discussed in detail which are especially important for the development of real‐time, on‐line, knowledge‐based systems: the representation of time‐dependent knowledge; processing of imprecise, uncertain, and incomplete knowledge; the combination of shallow reasoning with model‐based reasoning; informing the bioprocess operator about the inferences and decisions; the demands of the diversity of the knowledge handling; performance; and maintenance and extension of the system.
Noise and Edge Artifacts in Maximum-Likelihood Reconstructions for Emission Tomography

Images produced in emission tomography with the expectation-maximization algorithm have been observed to become more noisy and to have large distortions near edges as iterations proceed and the images converge towards the maximum-likelihood estimate. It is our conclusion that these artifacts are fundamental to reconstructions based on maximum-likelihood estimation as it has been applied usually; they are not due to the use of the expectation-maximization algorithm, which is but one numerical approach for finding the maximum-likelihood estimate. In this paper, we develop a mathematical approach for suppressing both the noise and edge artifacts by modifying the maximum-likelihood approach to include constraints which the estimate must satisfy.
Interactions among ENSO, the Monsoon, and Diurnal Cycle in Rainfall Variability over Java, Indonesia

Abstract Using a high-resolution regional climate model—the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Regional Climate Model version 3 (RegCM3)—and station and satellite observations, the authors have studied the spatial heterogeneity of climate variability over Java Island, Indonesia. Besides the well-known anomalous dry conditions that characterize the dry and transition seasons during an El Nino year, analysis of regional model output reveals a wet mountainous south versus dry northern plains in precipitation anomalies associated with El Nino over Java during the peak rainy season. Modeling experiments indicate that this mountains/plains contrast is caused by the interaction of the El Nino–induced monsoonal wind anomalies and the island/mountain-induced local diurnal cycle of winds and precipitation. During the wet season of El Nino years, anomalous southeasterly winds over the Indonesian region oppose the climatological northwesterly monsoon, thus reducing the strength of the monsoon wi.
Empirical analysis of location choice of foreign direct investment

Japanese FDI in food has increased very rapidly in East Asia after the Plaza Accord in 1985. This paper tries to analyze an empirical study of the factors that influence the location choices of Japanese food foreign direct investment in East Asian countries. We found that wage rate, infrastructure, openness, market size and raw materials index are the determinant factors in deciding the location choice of Japanese food investments in East Asia.
Potential barrier based clamp: A new device structure for low voltage triggering

This paper presents a flexible low voltage trigger structure based on a pinched-off JFET potential barrier. It has low leakage, low trigger voltage that can be controlled by the gate, and does not require high doping levels. In this work, the proposed JFET has been used to trigger a vertical NPN transistor to create a low voltage transient voltage suppressor. The fabricated low voltage TVS has low leakage and low capacitance loading and excellent clamping at high current.
EnBloAES-ALPHA security framework to preserve confidentiality of outsourced data

Cloud computing is an on-demand computing offers unlimited services to the public. One of the main services is cloud storage. However, data security is the biggest challenge in cloud storage. It is observed from various studies, confidentiality of outsourced data is compromised in cloud environment. The aim of this research is to propose EnBloAES-ALPHA framework with three services along with three cryptographic algorithms with the intention of providing a secure cloud environment. The three services namely, Confidentiality as a Service (CaaS), Key generation and management as a Service (Kaas) and Storage as a Service (Saas) are amalgamated in EnBloAES-ALPHA to offer a holistic framework to the cloud users by incorporating data confidentiality in it. The three cryptographic algorithms namely, Enhanced Blowfish Cryptographic Cloud Storage Algorithm (EnBlo CCSA), Enhanced Advanced Encryption Standard Cryptographic Cloud Storage Algorithm (EnAES CCSA) and a hybrid algorithm EnBloAES CCSA are the main components in the proposed framework to reach the goals of the research. The CCSAs help to preserve data confidentiality in cloud. The three services of EnBloAES-ALPHA are functioning independently, so that the data leakage or data loss due to any attackers is mitigated. Subsequently, the key management and other maintenance are offered as a service by the framework, diminishes the users burden.
The global burden of disease due to occupational carcinogens.

BACKGROUND The worldwide mortality and morbidity from lung cancer, leukemia, and malignant mesothelioma arising from occupational exposures to carcinogens are described. Cases reported in the year 2000 that resulted from relevant past and current exposures are assessed. METHODS The proportions of workers exposed to the carcinogens of interest, and their levels of exposure, were estimated using workforce data and the CAREX (CARcinogen EXposure) database. These were combined with relative risk measures (for lung cancer and leukemia) or absolute risk measures (for malignant mesothelioma) to develop estimates of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and attributable fraction (for lung cancer and leukemia). RESULTS There were an estimated 152,000 deaths (lung cancer: 102,000; leukemia: 7,000; and malignant mesothelioma: 43,000) and nearly 1.6 million DALYS (lung cancer: 969,000; leukemia: 101,000; and malignant mesothelioma: 564,000) due to exposure to occupational carcinogens. CONCLUSIONS Occupational carcinogens are an important cause of death and disability worldwide.
Subclinical keratoconus and inflammatory molecules from tears

Background/aims: Tissue degradation in corneal thinning disorders, such as keratoconus (KC), involves the expression of inflammatory mediators. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in tears from both eyes of unilateral keratoconus (KC) patients. Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed as having asymmetrical KC (30 KC eyes, and 30 subclinical KC eyes) and 20 normal control subjects (one eye) were studied in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Keratoconus screening programmes were performed on these participants. Ten microlitres of tears was collected from each eye. The concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) and MMP-9 were measured by ELISA. Results: Mean values for IL-6 levels were similar in KC and subclinical KC samples (5.5 (4.9 to 6.9) vs 5.7 (4.5 to 6.2) pg/ml, p = 0.131), but significantly higher in relation to the control group (2.2 (1.0 to 4.1) pg/ml, p<0.0001). Significant differences were found in TNF-α levels between KC and subclinical KC eyes (5.4 (4.1 to 6.8) vs 4.8 (4.2 to 6.0) pg/ml, p = 0.032) and control group (1.8 (1.5 to 2.3) pg/ml, p<0.0001). Increased values of MMP-9 were found in KC (59.4 (50.6 to 66.1) ng/ml) vs subclinical KC eye (7.0 (4.8 to 8.6) ng/ml) (p<0.0001). MMP-9 levels in the control group (6.1 (3.9 to 8.3) ng/ml) and subclinical KC were similar (p = 0.203). Conclusions: IL-6 and TNF-α are overexpressed in the tears of subclinical and KC eyes. Increased MMP-9 levels were found only in the KC eye. These results indicate that the pathogenesis of KC may involve chronic inflammatory events.