Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to Road Traffic Noise and Behavioral Problems in 7-Year-Old Children: A Cohort Study

Background Exposure to traffic noise has been associated with adverse effects on neuropsychological outcomes in children, but findings with regard to behavioral problems are inconsistent. Objective We investigated whether residential road traffic noise exposure is associated with behavioral problems in 7-year-old children. Methods We identified 46,940 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort with complete information on behavioral problems at 7 years of age and complete address history from conception to 7 years of age. Road traffic noise (Lden) was modeled at all present and historical addresses. Behavioral problems were assessed by the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between pregnancy and childhood exposure to noise and behavioral problems were analyzed by multinomial or logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders. Results A 10-dB increase in average time-weighted road traffic noise exposure from birth to 7 years of age was associated with a 7% increase (95% CI: 1.00, 1.14) in abnormal versus normal total difficulties scores; 5% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.10) and 9% (95% CI: 1.03, 1.18) increases in borderline and abnormal hyperactivity/inattention subscale scores, respectively; and 5% (95% CI: 0.98, 1.14) and 6% (95% CI: 0.99, 1.12) increases in abnormal conduct problem and peer relationship problem subscale scores, respectively. Exposure to road traffic noise during pregnancy was not associated with child behavioral problems at 7 years of age. Conclusions Residential road traffic noise in early childhood may be associated with behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention symptoms. Citation Hjortebjerg D, Andersen AM, Christensen JS, Ketzel M, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Sunyer J, Julvez J, Forns J, Sørensen M. 2016. Exposure to road traffic noise and behavioral problems in 7-year-old children: a cohort study. Environ Health Perspect 124:228–234; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1409430
The Virological Synapse Facilitates Herpes Simplex Virus Entry into T Cells

ABSTRACT The virological synapse (VS) is a specialized molecular structure that facilitates the transfer of certain lymphotropic viruses into uninfected T cells. However, the role of the VS in the transfer of nonlymphotropic viruses into T cells is unknown. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been shown in vitro to infect T cells and modulate T-cell receptor function, thereby suppressing T-cell antiviral function. However, whether such infection of T cells occurs in vivo is unknown. Here, we examined whether T-cell infection could be observed in human HSV disease and investigated the mechanism of HSV entry into T cells. We found that HSV-infected T cells were readily detectable during human disease, suggesting that infection and modulation of T-cell function plays a role in human immunopathology. HSV infection of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells occurred much more efficiently via direct cell-to-cell spread from infected fibroblasts than by cell-free virus. Activation of T cells increased their permissivity to HSV infection. Cell-to-cell spread to T cells did not require HSV glycoproteins E and I (gE and gI), which are critical for cell-to-cell spread between epithelial cells. Transfer of HSV to T cells required gD, and the four known entry receptors appear to be contributing to viral entry, with a dominant role for the herpesvirus entry mediator and nectin-1. VS-like structures enriched in activated lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) were observed at the point of contact between HSV-infected fibroblasts and T cells. Consistent with spread occurring via the VS, transfer of HSV was increased by activation of LFA-1, and cell-to-cell spread could be inhibited by antibodies to LFA-1 or gD. Taken together, these results constitute the first demonstration of VS-dependent cell-to-cell spread for a predominantly nonlymphotropic virus. Furthermore, they support an important role for infection and immunomodulation of T cells in clinical human disease. Targeting of the VS might allow selective immunopotentiation during infections with HSV or other nonlymphotropic viruses.
On High-Frequency Field Oscillations (>100 Hz) and the Spectral Leakage of Spiking Activity

Recent reports converge to the idea that high-frequency oscillations in local field potentials (LFPs) represent multiunit activity. In particular, the amplitude of LFP activity above 100 Hz—commonly referred to as “high-gamma” or “epsilon” band—was found to correlate with firing rate. However, other studies suggest the existence of true LFP oscillations at this frequency range that are different from the well established ripple oscillations. Using multisite recordings of the hippocampus of freely moving rats, we show here that high-frequency LFP oscillations can represent either the spectral leakage of spiking activity or a genuine rhythm, depending on recording location. Both spike-leaked, spurious activity and true fast oscillations couple to theta phase; however, the two phenomena can be clearly distinguished by other key features, such as preferred coupling phase and spectral signatures. Our results argue against the idea that all high-frequency LFP activity stems from spike contamination and suggest avoiding defining brain rhythms solely based on frequency range.
Perceived differences and preferred norms: Dutch physical educators constructing gendered ethnicity

ABSTRACT Many physical education (PE) teachers have been challenged by the shift from teaching in primarily ethnic homogenous contexts to multi-ethnic (ME) classes. Teachers in secondary schools often experience difficulty in class management in such classes. This difficulty may limit their ability to create a positive student–teacher relationship and may result in practices of inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation. The purpose of this paper was to explore how Dutch PE teachers construct their relationship with their students and manage differences in ME classes. Using video stimulation, we interviewed 11 Dutch secondary school PE teachers about their teaching and managing of ME classes. Findings showed that these teachers tended to target a specific group of boys in their teaching and class management. In addition, their class management seemed to be based on an invisible norm about appropriate student behaviour.
Contour tracing by piecewise linear approximations

We present a method for tracing a curve that is represented as the contour of a function in Euclidean space of any dimension. The method proceeds locally by following the intersections of the contour with the facets of a triangulation of space. The algorithm does not fail in the presence of high curvature of the contour; it accumulates essentially no round-off error and has a well-defined integer test for detecting a loop. In developing the algorithm, we explore the nature of a particular class of triangulations of Euclidean space, namely, those generated by reflections.
Identification of the hammerhead ribozyme metal ion binding site responsible for rescue of the deleterious effect of a cleavage site phosphorothioate.

The hammerhead ribozyme crystal structure identified a specific metal ion binding site referred to as the P9/G10.1 site. Although this metal ion binding site is approximately 20 A away from the cleavage site, its disruption is highly deleterious for catalysis. Additional published results have suggested that the pro-R(P) oxygen at the cleavage site is coordinated by a metal ion in the reaction's transition state. Herein, we report a study on Cd(2+) rescue of the deleterious phosphorothioate substitution at the cleavage site. Under all conditions, the Cd(2+) concentration dependence can be accounted for by binding of a single rescuing metal ion. The affinity of the rescuing Cd(2+) is sensitive to perturbations at the P9/G10.1 site but not at the cleavage site or other sites in the conserved core. These observations led to a model in which a metal ion bound at the P9/G10.1 site in the ground state acquires an additional interaction with the cleavage site prior to and in the transition state. A titration experiment ruled out the possibility that a second tight-binding metal ion (< 10 microM) is involved in the rescue, further supporting the single metal ion model. Additionally, weakening Cd(2+) binding at the P9/G10.1 site did not result in the biphasic binding curve predicted from other models involving two metal ions. The large stereospecific thio-effects at the P9/G10.1 and the cleavage site suggest that there are interactions with these oxygen atoms in the normal reaction that are compromised by replacement of oxygen with sulfur. The simplest interpretation of the substantial rescue by Cd(2+) is that these atoms interact with a common metal ion in the normal reaction. Furthermore, base deletions and functional group modifications have similar energetic effects on the transition state in the Cd(2+)-rescued phosphorothioate reaction and the wild-type reaction, further supporting the model that a metal ion bridges the P9/G10.1 and the cleavage site in the normal reaction (i.e., with phosphate linkages rather than phosphorothioate linkages). These results suggest that the hammerhead undergoes a substantial conformational rearrangement to attain its catalytic conformation. Such rearrangements appear to be general features of small functional RNAs, presumably reflecting their structural limitations.
Research on stressful life events and related factors of middle school students in Chengdu

Objective To investigate the origin and related factors of life events that happened in the last 12 months which influenced the middle school students. Method Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List(ASLEC) was employed in the study to test randomly sampled 1 393 students in Chengdu urban area. Results The most common life events involved losing in examinations ( 96.27%) and study load(86.29%). The factors of study stress and interpersonal relations constituted the primary stress.Especially the students in graduate classes,senior high schhol and whose achievements were poor were confronted with greater stress. Conlusions Mental health education should be carried out in middle schools according to the different life events students confronted.
Defective T Memory Cell Differentiation after Varicella Zoster Vaccination in Older Individuals

Vaccination with attenuated live varicella zoster virus (VZV) can prevent zoster reactivation, but protection is incomplete especially in an older population. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying variable vaccine responses, T- and B-cell responses to VZV vaccination were examined in individuals of different ages including identical twin pairs. Contrary to the induction of VZV-specific antibodies, antigen-specific T cell responses were significantly influenced by inherited factors. Diminished generation of long-lived memory T cells in older individuals was mainly caused by increased T cell loss after the peak response while the expansion of antigen-specific T cells was not affected by age. Gene expression in activated CD4 T cells at the time of the peak response identified gene modules related to cell cycle regulation and DNA repair that correlated with the contraction phase of the T cell response and consequently the generation of long-lived memory cells. These data identify cell cycle regulatory mechanisms as targets to reduce T cell attrition in a vaccine response and to improve the generation of antigen-specific T cell memory, in particular in an older population.
Group Dynamics of Impulse Buying: an Extended Social Facilitation Perspective

EXTENDED ABSTRACT While impulsive buying has attracted researchers' attention for more than one and a half centuries (e.g., Mill 1848; Baumeister 2002), most existing theory and research are limited to investigate it at the intrapersonal level. Although the individual level conceptualization of impulse buying is definitely not incorrect, it may be incomplete in that it excludes the potential interpersonal influence at the group level. Given the fact that most consumers shop not alone but with a group of people such as family members or friends, and that a large amount of impulse purchases are decided and made in the presence of friend and/or family groups, it seems rather logic to conceive the potential influence of group situations on one's impulse behavior. More important, according to social facilitation theory in social psychology (Triplett 1897; Zajonc 1965), an individual consumer's learning, motivation, and behavior may be facilitated by the presence of a group of people. In particular, consumers may engage in impulsive buying in a group situation that others are buying for five different reasons; (1) they are facilitated simply due to the mere presence of others, (2) they think others' opinions and behaviors are credible under the informative influence, (3) they may use others' behavior and their purchase as socially approved and desirable in general under the normative influence, (4) they want to compete when others are buying, not missing out on having products that others have, and (5) they may have released the inhibition in buying products they don't need but want to do so, taking others' buying behavior as a reasonable justification. Therefore, this research theorizes that the social presence and interactions with a group of people in shopping may influence the individual's felt impulse and resulting impulsive behavior.
Efficient Edgebreaker for surfaces of arbitrary topology

The typical surface models handled by contemporary computer graphics applications have millions of triangles and numerous connected component, handles and boundaries. Edgebreaker and Spirale Reversi are examples of efficient schemes to compress and decompress their connectivity. A surprisingly simple linear-time implementation has been proposed for triangulated surfaces homeomorphic to a sphere and was subsequently extended to surfaces with handles. Here, we further extend its scope to surfaces with multiple components, handles, and multiple boundaries. The result is a simple and efficient compression/decompression solution for the broad class of orientable manifold surfaces.
Executable Transitive Closures of Finite Relations

We provide a generic work-list algorithm to compute the transitive closure of ﬁnite relations where only successors of newly detected states are generated. This algorithm is then instantiated for lists over arbitrary carriers and red black trees [1] (which are faster but require a linear order on the carrier), respectively. Our formalization was performed as part of the IsaFoR / CeTA project 1 [2], where reﬂexive transitive closures of large tree automata have to be computed.
Strategies for Adopting Talent Management Issues in Software Companies

People are the most important resource of a Software Company. Software companies especially have always had to compete for the best and brightest. Facing growing competition for the talent they need, they work harder and longer at keeping their best, developing skills internally, and always on the lookout to attract the best and brightest. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth look into where retailers are succeeding on the talent front - and where they are coming up short. The research design used in this study is descriptive and conceptual framework of this research is based on theoretical and design principles. This paper draws on a survey of 112 organizations to investigate how talent management strategies affect organizational performance in software companies. The findings from this study are talent management practices with a strong focus on business strategy and its alignment with overall business goals. These practices have statistically highly significant impact on corporate profits; one that is greater than that of any other focus of talent management practices. This research paper suggested that the management and individuals need to establish metrics and communicate the impact of the organization's talent management efforts.
Adaptive Regularization of the NL-Means: Application to Image and Video Denoising

Image denoising is a central problem in image processing and it is often a necessary step prior to higher level analysis such as segmentation, reconstruction, or super-resolution. The nonlocal means (NL-means) perform denoising by exploiting the natural redundancy of patterns inside an image; they perform a weighted average of pixels whose neighborhoods (patches) are close to each other. This reduces significantly the noise while preserving most of the image content. While it performs well on flat areas and textures, it suffers from two opposite drawbacks: it might over-smooth low-contrasted areas or leave a residual noise around edges and singular structures. Denoising can also be performed by total variation minimization-the Rudin, Osher and Fatemi model-which leads to restore regular images, but it is prone to over-smooth textures, staircasing effects, and contrast losses. We introduce in this paper a variational approach that corrects the over-smoothing and reduces the residual noise of the NL-means by adaptively regularizing nonlocal methods with the total variation. The proposed regularized NL-means algorithm combines these methods and reduces both of their respective defaults by minimizing an adaptive total variation with a nonlocal data fidelity term. Besides, this model adapts to different noise statistics and a fast solution can be obtained in the general case of the exponential family. We develop this model for image denoising and we adapt it to video denoising with 3D patches.
An error estimate of Gaussian recursive filter in 3Dvar problem

Computational kernel of the three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3D-Var) problem is a linear system, generally solved by means of an iterative method. The most costly part of each iterative step is a matrix-vector product with a very large covariance matrix having Gaussian correlation structure. This operation may be interpreted as a Gaussian convolution, that is a very expensive numerical kernel. Recursive Filters (RFs) are a well known way to approximate the Gaussian convolution and are intensively applied in the meteorology, in the oceanography and in forecast models. In this paper, we deal with an oceanographic 3D-Var data assimilation scheme, named OceanVar, where the linear system is solved by using the Conjugate Gradient (GC) method by replacing, at each step, the Gaussian convolution with RFs. Here we give theoretical issues on the discrete convolution approximation with a first order (1st-RF) and a third order (3rd-RF) recursive filters. Numerical experiments confirm given error bounds and show the benefits, in terms of accuracy and performance, of the 3-rd RF.
CHARACTERIZATION OF INCONEL 718: USING THE GLEEBLE AND VARESTRAINT TESTING METHODS TO DETERMINE THE WELDABILITY OF INCONEL 718

Nickel based superalloys were developed to withstand the severe thermal and mechanical environment associated with rocket propulsion systems and jet engines. In many alloy systems the strength of a component rapidly deteriorates as the operating temperature increases. Nickel based superalloys, however, retain strength over a range of temperatures which includes the operating range for many propulsion systems. This improved performance is accomplished by a combination of solid-solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening and grain-boundary strengthening. Furthermore, super-alloy systems are designed for ease of fabrication, to include machining, welding and heat treating. Inconel 718 was developed to overcome problems with post-weld cracking that were common in precipitation hardened nickel based superalloys strengthened by γ'. Inconel 718 is strengthened by γ'' and is less sensitive to cracking during post-weld thermal treatment. However, in some cases, compositional changes which improved the behavior of these alloys during stress relief actually led to greater difficulty during the joining process. Many approaches have been used to determine the hot-cracking sensitivity of Inconel 718. Historically, two approaches have been particularly valuable because of their repeatability, their ability to compare different alloy systems and their verisimilitude to actual fabrication. These are the Gleeble hot-ductility test and the Variable-Restraint (Varestraint) weld test. Varestraint samples were prepared as per standard preparation techniques and tested longitudinally with a GTAW. At a predetermined location a strain was applied perpendicular to iv weld direction. The applied strain varied from 0. Inconel 718 yielded a maximum crack length of 0.6 mm with a saturation strain of 2.0%. Both the total crack length and the number of cracks did not have a saturation strain. Gleeble samples were prepared from rod stock and tested with standard methodology to determine the characteristic temperatures: nil ductility, nil strength, and ductility recovery temperature of Inconel 718. The samples were tested at various pull temperatures on-heating until the nil strength temperature then tested on-cooling with the nil strength temperature acting as the peak temperature. The nil strength temperature was 2273°F, nil ductility temperature was 2182°F, and the ductility recovery temperature was 1925°F. Both the Varestraint and Gleeble results were compared with relevant literature to determine the weldability of the Inconel 718. Four criteria were used to determine the weldability of Inconel 718 and in three of the four tests; the Inconel 718 had equal to or greater weldability than the compared materials. In the fourth test, the Inconel 718 demonstrated lower weldability …
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring ALK Rearrangements Detected by FISH, IHC, and RT-PCR

EML4-ALK is a new driver gene of non-small cell lung cancer and a target of crizotinib. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of ALK rearrangements in a large cohort of patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma and to analyze the association of ALK rearrangements with clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes. The roles of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Ventana immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the detection of ALK rearrangements were evaluated. The ALK rearrangement was detected in 430 specimens from individual patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma using FISH and Ventana IHC based on tissue microarrays. The EGFR status was detected in all of the specimens through DNA sequencing. An RT-PCR was performed on 200 of the specimens and confirmed by sequencing. Of the 430 patients, 46 (10.7%) harbored ALK rearrangements. The ALK rearrangements were associated with a younger age and the EGFR wild type in comparison with ALK-negative patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the Ventana IHC were 100% and 98.2%, respectively, and the concordance rate between the FISH and the Ventana IHC was 98.4%. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR were 95.5% and 87.0%, respectively, and the concordance rate between the FISH and the RT-PCR was 89.0%. The Cox analysis indicated that an early stage and EGFR-activating mutations were independently associated with a longer OS. This study demonstrated that ALK rearrangements are associated with a younger age and the EGFR wild type rather than with other clinicopathological factors. Although the FISH and Ventana IHC have better concordance, and RT-PCR is a more sensitive method and can identify different variants or partners, the IHC and RT-PCR need to be further evaluated in clinical trials to identify their roles in guiding patients’ targeted therapy using crizotinib.