Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors associated with the prevalence of thyroid nodules in adults in Northeast China: a cross-sectional population-based study

Objectives This study examined the association between anthropometric measurements, lifestyle factors and the prevalence of thyroid nodules among adults in Northeast China. Design We employed a cross-sectional approach involving a questionnaire survey, which focused on participants’ living habits, and a physical examination that included anthropometry and ultrasound imaging. Setting The data were procured during multiple trips by medical teams from the first hospital of China Medical University to towns in Northeast China. Participants Of the 1092 participants, 489 did not have thyroid nodules (mean age: 54.02±11.49 years; 297 females (60.7%)), 99 had single thyroid nodules (mean age: 58.19±10.77 years; 59 females (59.6%)) and 504 had multiple thyroid nodules (mean age: 60.05±10.68 years; 394 females (78.2%)). Inclusion criteria mandated participants be over 20 years old without other medical conditions. We excluded individuals who had undergone surgical resection for thyroid nodules. Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules was significantly associated with being female (OR 2.569, 95% CI 1.937 to 3.405, p<0.001) and increased age (OR 1.054, 95% CI 1.041 to 1.066, p<0.001). This association was more pronounced in those with multiple thyroid nodules. For males under 60, non-smoking was inversely correlated with the prevalence of multiple thyroid nodules (OR 0.321, 95%CI 0.149 to 0.69, p<0.05). For females under 60, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly linked with the prevalence of thyroid nodules (OR 0.978, 95% CI 2.614 to 2.705, p<0.05). Conclusions Besides gender and age, the prevalence of thyroid nodules in Northeast China correlates with smoking habits and DBP.
CHUB: a cartographic human body model

There are several ways of analyzing and modeling the human body and its associated morphological and physiological data. Most of the models, used to analyze, to process and to visualize these data, do not take into account the strong spatial interdependency inherent to human body’s functioning. For instance, a disease in the liver might impact in several other organs. These models usually treat morphological and physiological data in a full independent and isolated way. This happens because they are not “spatially” oriented. The human body can be compared to a map, being composed by different parts and layers of information. The possibility of combining these layers using spatial algebraic operations, introduces a new degree of information insight. Because of these characteristics, it is important to consider and evaluate the development and usage of a cartographic based model to analyze, represent and visualize human body’s data. This is the main goal of the CHUB (Cartographic Human Body) model, which will be introduced in this paper.
SEDIMENTOLOGÍA DE LA FORMACIÓN CARRIZAL (TRIÁSICO) EN EL DEPOCENTRO MARAYES – EL CARRIZAL, PROVINCIA DE SAN JUAN, REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA

Se efectua el analisis sedimentologico de la Formacion Carrizal (Triasico) del Depocentro de Marayes – El Carrizal, ubicado en el sector oriental de la provincia de San Juan. Sobre la base de muy contrastantes caracteristicas faciales y arquitecturales, la Formacion Carrizal es dividida en dos miembros: Arroyo Seco y Rickard. El Miembro Arroyo Seco se caracteriza por el predominio de conglomerados, a los que se asocian areniscas, areniscas conglomeradicas y escasas intercalaciones peliticas. Estos depositos se asignan a un sistema fluvial desarrollado en areas de marcado gradiente y caracterizado por cambios en la disponibilidad de agua y de materiales detriticos, los que fueron esencialmente transportados como carga de lecho. El Miembro Rickard consiste en una sucesion en la que predominan las areniscas y pelitas en litosomas que poseen marcada continuidad lateral, las que aparecen bruscamente cortadas por cuerpos lenticulares de conglomerados medianos. Estas facies permiten definir un sistema fluvial de carga mixta con buen desarrollo de depositos de planicie de inundacion y rellenos de canales compuestos esencialmente por sedimentitas psefiticas. El importante cambio en la arquitectura fluvial que se produce entre los miembros de la Formacion Carrizal se relaciona con una marcada variacion en la acomodacion sedimentaria. El Miembro Arroyo Seco constituye un cortejo de baja acomodacion, mientras que el Miembro Rickard se define como un cortejo de alta acomodacion. La superficie de retrogradacion que limita a ambos miembros senala un cambio importante en el perfil gradado del sistema fluvial, tiene dimension regional y puede ser considerada como un horizonte de valor cronoestratigrafico.
Immune Markers Are Associated With Asymptomatic Intracranial Large Artery Stenosis and Future Vascular Events in NOMAS

BACKGROUND: Inflammation contributes to atherosclerosis but is incompletely characterized in intracranial large artery stenosis (ICAS). We hypothesized that immune markers would be associated with ICAS and modify the risk ICAS confers on future vascular events. METHODS: This study included a subsample of stroke-free participants in the prospective NOMAS (Northern Manhattan Study), who had blood samples analyzed with a 60-plex immunoassay (collected from 1993 to 2001) and ICAS assessment with time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (obtained from 2003 to 2008). We dichotomized ICAS as either ≥50% stenosis or not (including no ICAS). We ascertained post–magnetic resonance imaging vascular events. We used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator procedures to select immune markers independently associated with ICAS. Then, we grouped selected immune markers into a derived composite Z score. Using proportional odds regression, we quantified the association of the composite immune marker Z score, ICAS, and risk of vascular events. RESULTS: Among 1211 participants (mean age, 71±9 years; 59% women; 65% Hispanic participants), 8% had ≥50% ICAS. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, we identified CXCL9 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9), HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), resistin, SCF (stem cell factor), and VEGF-A(vascular endothelial growth factor A) to have the strongest positive relationships with ≥50% ICAS in fully adjusted models. Selected markers were used to derive a composite immune marker Z score. Over an average follow-up of 12 years, we found that each unit increase in immune marker Z scores was associated with an 8% (95% CI, 1.05–1.11), 11% (95% CI, 1.06–1.16), and 5% (95% CI, 1.01–1.09) increased hazard of death, vascular death, and any vascular event, respectively, in adjusted models. We did not find a significant interaction between immune marker Z scores and ICAS in their relationship with any longitudinal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Among a diverse stroke-free population, selected serum immune markers were associated with ICAS and future vascular events. Further study is needed to better understand their role in the pathogenesis of ICAS and as a potential therapeutic target in stroke prevention.
Retroviral hijacking of host transport pathways for genome nuclear export

ABSTRACT Recent advances in the study of virus-cell interactions have improved our understanding of how viruses that replicate their genomes in the nucleus (e.g., retroviruses, hepadnaviruses, herpesviruses, and a subset of RNA viruses) hijack cellular pathways to export these genomes to the cytoplasm where they access virion egress pathways. These findings shed light on novel aspects of viral life cycles relevant to the development of new antiviral strategies and can yield new tractable, virus-based tools for exposing additional secrets of the cell. The goal of this review is to summarize defined and emerging modes of virus-host interactions that drive the transit of viral genomes out of the nucleus across the nuclear envelope barrier, with an emphasis on retroviruses that are most extensively studied. In this context, we prioritize discussion of recent progress in understanding the trafficking and function of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev protein, exemplifying a relatively refined example of stepwise, cooperativity-driven viral subversion of multi-subunit host transport receptor complexes.
An observational, cross-sectional and monocentric study assessing psychological and cognitive features as main predictors of psychological well-being in stroke survivors

Well-being is a relevant outcome after stroke, potentially impacted by mental health difficulties. We addressed the psychological and cognitive predictors of psychological well-being in a sample of 122 stroke survivors (75 males, 97 with ischemic stroke; mean age 64.1, mean NIHSS 2.9, mean distance from the acute event 5.1 years) admitted to the ‘Carlo Besta’ Neurological Institute. Trait anxiety (β = −0.257), state anxiety (β = −0.208) and symptoms of depression (β = −0.484) significantly predicted well-being variation (Adj. R2 = 0.687). These potentially modifiable factors are promising targets for interventions to reduce the burden of illness and enhance the recovery process.
Strong Earthquake Risk Analysis of Xiaojiang Fault Zone and Surrounding Areas

According to historical earthquake data and the moderate-small earthquake records from the regional seismic network in Yunnan,we analyze the characteristics of historical earthquakes on Xiaojiang Fault Zone and surrounding areas,especially the current faulting behaviors in the studied area by segment.Based on b-value and other seismicity parameters,we outline the future potential risk zones of strong earthquake:(1)On the Shiping-Jianshui segment,the recurrent period of M6.8 earthquakes is 88-193 years,it has been quiet for 121 years;on the Yiliang-Songming segment,the recurrent period of M6.8 earthquakes is 108-225 years,it has been quiet for 175 years. (2)The Dongchuan segment of the Xiaojiang fault zone has stress level on the high side and frequent moderate-small earthquakes;the Huaning segment has stress level on the low side and low seismicity;the Tonghai-Eshan segment has medium stress level and frequent moderate-small earthquakes. (3)The Shiping-Jianshui segment and the Yiliang-Songming segment have small b-value,short recurrent period of strong earthquakes,high stress level,and large magnitude,so it should be the potential risk zone of M7 earthquakes.
Learning from Multiple Sources for Video Summarisation

Many visual surveillance tasks, e.g. video summarisation, is conventionally accomplished through analysing imagery-based features. Relying solely on visual cues for public surveillance video understanding is unreliable, since visual observations obtained from public space CCTV video data are often not sufficiently trustworthy and events of interest can be subtle. We believe that non-visual data sources such as weather reports and traffic sensory signals can be exploited to complement visual data for video content analysis and summarisation. In this paper, we present a novel unsupervised framework to learn jointly from both visual and independently-drawn non-visual data sources for discovering meaningful latent structure of surveillance video data. In particular, we investigate ways to cope with discrepant dimension and representation whilst associating these heterogeneous data sources, and derive effective mechanism to tolerate with missing and incomplete data from different sources. We show that the proposed multi-source learning framework not only achieves better video content clustering than state-of-the-art methods, but also is capable of accurately inferring missing non-visual semantics from previouslyunseen videos. In addition, a comprehensive user study is conducted to validate the quality of video summarisation generated using the proposed multi-source model. Xiatian Zhu School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London. E-mail: xiatian.zhu@qmul.ac. uk Chen Change Loy Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. E-mail: ccloy@ie.cuhk. edu.hk Shaogang Gong School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London. E-mail: s.gong@qmul.ac. uk
The (Parlous) State of German Unions

This paper traces the profound decline in German unionism over the course of the last three decades. Today just one in five workers is a union member, and it is now moot whether this degree of penetration is consistent with a corporatist model built on encompassing unions. The decline in union membership and density is attributable to external forces that have confronted unions in many countries (such as globalization and compositional changes in the workforce) and to some specifically German considerations (such as the transition process in post-communist Eastern Germany) and sustained intervals of classic insider behavior on the part of German unions. The 'correctives' have included mergers between unions, decentralization, and wages that are more responsive to unemployment. At issue is the success of these innovations. For instance, the trend toward decentralization in collective bargaining hinges in part on the health of that other pillar of the dual system of industrial relations, the works council. But works council coverage has also declined, leading some observers to equate decentralization with deregulation. While this conclusion is likely too radical, German unions are at the cross roads. It is argued here that if they fail to define what they stand for, are unable to increase their presence at the workplace, and continue to lack convincing strategies to deal with contemporary economic and political trends working against them, then their decline may become a rout.
The International Journal of Business and Management Research

The intended purpose of this study is to provide a generic cross-disciplinary and cross-functional framework to problem solving. This research brings together the experience of the author as consultant and educator, which investigates the most common denominators in people’s approach to problem-solving, and proposes a cross-functional and multi-layered problem solving model “PSM”. This research builds on Peter Drucker’s (2008) process that serves as an approach to decision making. The methodology followed in this study is cross-disciplinary qualitative data collection and analyses. The research started with a descriptive observation of the workplace and various approaches taken over the course of 16 years in seven different countries. Participants consisted of working professionals and graduate level students. The findings of the research shows that the application of “PSM” at the personal and professional levels demonstrated clarity and a systematic methodology to designing, and formulating an approach to dealing with new, repetitive, and complex tasks or situations. This research proposes a generic problem-solving model that incorporates 5WH as core component in each stage of the model.
High-frequency polarization properties of southern Kühr sources

We have observed 250 of the 258 southern sources in the complete 5 GHz 1 Jy sample by Kuhr et al. (1981) using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 18.5 GHz. This paper focuses on the polarization properties of this sample, while other properties will be addressed in a future paper. The analysis subdivides the sample into flat and steep spectrum sources using the classification of Stickel et al. (1994), where spectral indices were measured between 2.7 and 5 GHz. The polarized flux has been measured with a S/N > 5 for 170 sources (114 flat-spectrum and 56 steep-spectrum). Upper limits have been set for additional 27 sources (12 flat-spectrum and 15 steep-spectrum). The median fractional polarization at 18.5 GHz for the flat-spectrum sub-sample is �18.5 ≃ 2.7%, which is about a factor of 2 higher than at 1.4 GHz (�1.4 ≃ 1.4%, based on NVSS data). For flat- spectrum sources we find a weak correlation between �18.5 and the high-frequency (5-18.5 GHz) spectral index. No evidence was found of significant correlations of the fractional polarization with other source properties. The median value of �18.5 for the steep spectrum sources is ≃ 4.8%, but our sample might be biased against extended sources. We find some correlation between �18.5 and both the low-frequency (1.4-5 GHz) and the high-frequency (5-18.5 GHz) spectral indices. An important application of this work is in estimating the contamination of CMB polarization maps by extragalactic radio sources. Our results indicate that such contamination is within that estimated by Mesa et al. (2002).
Response of certain varieties of Vitis vinifera to gibberellin

Two seedless and five seeded grape varieties were treated with the watersoluble potassium salt of gibberellic acid at different stages of the vines’ development. Applications were made by dipping clusters or by spraying shoots or entire vines; concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 1,000 ppm. In all varieties shoot growth was stimulated, and internodes were elongated. Treatment of Black Corinth resulted in an excellent set of large berries, and at the higher concentrations berries were elongated. In Thompson Seedless some treatments hastened flowering and produced more elongated clusters and peduncles, others resulted in increased berry size. Flowering was also hastened in Zinfandel and shoots were elongated. Tokay responded with longer leaves and elongated cluster parts. In Ribier and Red Malaga no beneficial results were obtained by dipping clusters, but spraying often hastened coloration slightly and sometimes produced higher Balling readings. Dipping flower clusters of Muscat of Alexandria failed to increase the percentage of set. Considerable numbers of shot berries resulted from some treatments of Thompson Seedless, Zinfandel, Tokay, and Ribier.
Modelado de Procesos de Negocio para la Gestión de Patentes en Universidades

espanolEl objetivo del trabajo presentado fue elaborar un modelo de procesos de negocios para la gestion de las patentes resultantes de las ideas y proyectos que surgen en las universidades. Para abordar el diseno de este modelo, se realizaron entrevistas, encuestas y visitas a sitios Web de diversas universidades con el fin de determinar el conjunto de actividades desde que surge una idea susceptible de ser patentada hasta que la patente es explotada en el mercado. Esta identificacion de actividades y su analisis fue efectuada mediante el modelo de procesos por regulacion, el que posteriormente fue traducido a un modelo en BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation). Se muestra que el modelo propuesto facilita la gestion de las patentes en las universidades. EnglishThe objective of this paper was the proposal of a business process model for the management of patents resulting from ideas or projects developed in universities. For the design of the model, several actions were developed: surveys, interviews, and analysis of web sites, with the aim of determining the set of activities followed in other institutions from the original idea until patent exploitation. This information and its analysis were done using the process modelling by regulation, later translated into a model in BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation). It is shown that the proposed model facilitates the management of patents in universities.
. Maintenance antipsychotic treatment versus discontinuation strategies following remission from first episode psychosis: a systematic review. BJPsych

Background Understanding the relative risks of maintenance treatment versus discontinuation of antipsychotics following remission in first episode psychosis (FEP) is an important area of practice. Method A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prospective experimental studies including a parallel control group were identified to compare maintenance antipsychotic treatment with total discontinuation or medication discontinuation strategies following remission in FEP. Results Seven studies were included. Relapse rates were higher in the discontinuation group (53%; 95% CIs: 39%, 68%; N = 290) compared with maintenance treatment group (19%; 95% CIs: 0.05%, 37%; N = 230). In subgroup analyses, risk difference of relapse was lower in studies with a longer follow-up period, a targeted discontinuation strategy, a higher relapse threshold, a larger sample size, and samples with patients excluded for drug or alcohol dependency. Insufficient studies included psychosocial functioning outcomes for a meta-analysis.
The European Water Framework Directive and Economic Valuation of Wetlands

This paper concerns the economic valuation within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) of riparian wetlands ecological services, such as the protection of biodiversity. The Directive is an integrated approach to river basin management in Europe and aims at achieving a good water status for both surface and ground water. It introduces economic analysis as a core part of the development of integrated river basin management plans. Among other things, economic analysis should guide decision making on which measures are employed to achieve the good water quality or should justify possible derogation. However, currently the WFD does not clearly state to which extent wetlands should be used for the achievement of environmental objectives, nor which scope the economic analysis should have. While recently a guidance document on the role of wetlands stressed the importance of wetlands in river basin management, our study about the river Elbe shows that riparian wetlands provide significant benefits that should be considered in river basin management decisions. To neglect these benefits would lead to a misguided decision-making process and would result in an inefficient supply of ecological services .
Regional to Global 3D Seismic Wave Effects relevant to EarthScope: Site Effects, Fault Zones, Volcanoes, Subduction Zones, Plumes

Summary. EarthScope will provide the Earth Science c ommunity with a data set with unprecedented spatial resolution, quality, and overall volume. Since many y ears ago there has been a gap between theory and observation particularly in global seismology: the increasing number of excellent broadband recordings contain information which is not routinely used in the imaging process, partly due to limited receiver density, but also because there are no algorithms which allow modelling the complete wavefield in the observed frequency band for global and regional 3D Earth models. Therefore, there are two aspects which - from a seismological point of view - are important t o make EarthScope successful: (1) the data a cquisition part should be accompanied by strong efforts to develop, standardize, and make available 3D modeling and imaging tools with which the vast data volumes can be processed and (2) high-performance computing systems should be dedicated to EarthScope. We will present some results from 3D seismic modelling on supercomputers which indicate that with appropriate data a cquisition configurations s tructural details of f ault zones, subduction zones, etc. may at some point be imaged with resolution not possible with ray-based tomography. 3D Wave Simulation: Local and Regional Scale. Reliable estimation of shaking hazard in seismically active regions necessitates good knowledge of the 3D structure as amplification effects of sedimentary basins strongly depend on lateral gradients of seismic velocities (see Figure 1 for a simulation of an earthquake in the Cologne basin, Germany, where the sediment structure is fairly well known. Reverberations develop in the shallow sediments.). We will soon be able to simulate the frequency band relevant t o engineering seismology (>1 Hz dominant frequency) for local and regional seismicity. Yet, the more we increase the spatial resolution of our simulations, the more difficult it gets to account for r ealistic structures: t he small wavelengths involved will necessitate the dicretization of the near-surface low-velocity structure as well as topography in mountainous regions. This poses great challenges to numerical modelling: it will be important to develop schemes which are practical for models with velocity variations over at least an order of magnitude.