Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of exposure to methylmercury in pregnant Japanese women by FFQ

Abstract Objective To examine whether an FFQ can be used for assessing exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) by estimating MeHg intake from seafood consumption using the FFQ and confirming the accuracy of the estimated value. Design Seafood consumption of pregnant women was assessed using the FFQ. Total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations of maternal red blood cells (RBC) and hair were measured as exposure indices of MeHg. Setting A prospective birth cohort study, the Tohoku Study of Child Development (TSCD), which has been ongoing since 2001. Subjects The subjects were 609 pregnant Japanese women who were enrolled in the TSCD. Results MeHg intake was estimated from seafood consumption determined using the FFQ and the MeHg concentrations in each type of seafood. The accuracy of the estimated value was confirmed by comparison with T-Hg in RBC and hair. Estimated MeHg intake was 42·3 μg/week, and 43·0 % of that was from large predatory fish. Compared with the Japanese tolerable weekly intake, in total 12·5 % of the subjects exceeded it. T-Hg concentrations in RBC and hair were significantly correlated with estimated MeHg intake: r = 0·325 (P < 0·0001) for RBC and r = 0·305 (P < 0·0001) for hair. Conclusions Estimated MeHg intake based on the FFQ was significantly associated with T-Hg concentrations in RBC and hair. Although the estimated value involves uncertainties, the FFQ appears to be a useful tool for assessment of exposure to MeHg.
Religiosity and Achievement: The benefit of religious schooling for religious youth

Parental religious involvement and its effects on child math achievement in Catholic and public settings was examined at various age categories in the National Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten Cohort (NCLS-K). A mother’s attendance at a religious service was found to have a significant , negative impact on student achievement overall, varying by the degree of maternal religious involvement and the religious affiliation of the child’s school. From the data, we conclude that children with very religiously involved mothers are at greatest disadvantage in non-religious schools, and further conclude that children of very religious mothers would benefit most from religious educational environments. Introduction Research concerning the effect of religious belief on student cognitive achievement is mixed and unclear (Mayrl and Oeur 2009), with some studies demonstrating religiosity’s positive impact on student achievement (Mooney 2005, Regnerus 2000, Jeyns 1999, Jeyns 2002) and others demonstrating a significant negative impact (Driessen and Van der Slik 2001, Bryant 2004). Most of the extant Catholic Public Mother's Attendance at a Religious Service in Child’s Fourth Grade and Child Math Scores in 8th Grade 144 146 148 150 152 Mother's Attendance at a Religious Service and Child Math Scores in 8th Grade
Contributions from the European Respiratory Monograph Series "lung Transplantation" Edited Immunosuppressive Therapy after Human Lung Transplantation

Immunosuppressive therapy after human lung transplantation. ABSTRACT: In 2002, equal numbers of lung transplantation (LTx) were performed with or without induction therapy with antilymphocyte antibodies, monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody or anti-interleukin-2-receptor monoclonal antibodies. It remains to be established if induction therapy after LTx is beneficial or deleterious for long-term graft and patient survival. The vast majority of lung transplant recipients receive a triple-drug maintenance regimen including a calcineurin inhibitor, a cell-cycle inhibitor and steroids. Equal proportions receive cyclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac). There is also a trend to prescribe mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) instead of azathioprine (Aza). Steroid withdrawal is uncommon even 5 yrs after transplantation. The superiority of Tac over CsA as a maintenance agent has not been established to date, and the administration of MMF instead of Aza in combination with CsA and steroids did not improve graft or patient survival in a recent international, prospective, randomised, controlled trial. Shift from cyclosporin A to tacrolimus has emerged as the first treatment step of refractory acute rejection followed by high-dose steroids or antilymphocyte agents, total lymphoid irradiation or photopheresis. The treatment of chronic rejection remains deceptive and includes varied strategies such as modification of the maintenance regimen, addition of inhaled immunosuppressants and/or total lymphoid irradiation and photopheresis. During the last two decades lung transplantation (LTx) has become a life-saving intervention for patients presenting with end-stage respiratory disease. A successful lung transplant may result in complete restoration of lung function and normal quality of life in these very ill patients. Unfortunately, medium-and long-term results are less spectacular. Indeed, lung transplant recipients may not consider themselves cured as 5-yr actuarial survival only approximates 50% [1]. The two main causes of death after LTx are bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), which is widely believed to be the expression of chronic rejection of the allograft bronchi/bronchioles, and infections [1]. Both complications are a sign of inadequate immunosup-pression and, clearly, optimisation of the immunosuppressive strategy is of prime importance if medium-and long-term results are to be improved. The discovery of cyclosporin A (CsA) has been a corner stone for the success of clinical LTx. LTx performed before the CsA era invariably failed, notably because the immune suppression provided by high-dose steroids in combination with azathioprine (Aza) resulted in prominent anastomotic complications and was insufficient to control acute rejection. As a result of this unfortunate experience and in line with immunosuppressive strategies then applied in renal and heart …
Quasi-random set systems

There are many properties of mathematical objects that satisfy what is sometimes called a 0-1 law, in the following sense. Under some natural probability measure on the set of objects, the measure of the subset of objects having the given property is either 0 or 1. In the latter case we can say that almost all the objects have the property. Familiar examples of this phenomenon are the following: almost all real numbers are transcendental (or normal to every base), almost all integers are composite, almost all continuous real functions are nondifferentiable, etc. It is often the case that the objects under consideration can be partitioned into a countable number of finite classes Cn, with the probability assigned to an object in Cn being just 1/ICn I. In this case, we say that a property Pn satisfies a 0-1 law if the fraction of the number of objects in Cn that satisfy Pn either tends to 0 or tends to 1 as n -x 0o. For example, almost all graphs on n vertices have maximum cliques and maximum independent sets of size at most 2 log n, almost all Boolean functions with n variables have circuit complexity (1 + o( 1 ))2n and almost all binary codes of length n with at most 2nR codewords (with R less than the binary symmetric channel capacity C) have arbitrarily small error probability (a special case of Shannon's coding theorem; see [S48]). One of the first general results of this type was the theorem of Fagin [F76] and Glebskii et al. [GKLT69], which asserts that every property of graphs that can be expressed in first-order logic satisfies a 0-1 law (see [SS88] for recent striking developments in this topic). One obvious method for finding explicit objects having some property Pn shared by almost all objects in Cn is simply to select one at random. With overwhelming probability (tending to 1 as n -x oc), the selected object will have property Pn. Unfortunately, it may be (and often is) extremely difficult to prove that any particular object does indeed satisfy Pn . It is our purpose in this paper to describe a method that can to a certain extent circumvent this difficulty. We will show that, for a variety of families, it is possible to identify a natural hierarchy of equivalence classes of properties, all of which are shared by almost all objects in the family. Any object satisfying
Osteoid Osteoma of the Spine: A Novel Technique Using Combined Computer-Assisted and Gamma Probe-Guided High-Speed Intralesional Drill Excision

Study Design. A report of five cases of thoracolumbar osteoid osteoma treated with combined computer-assisted and &ggr; probe-guided high-speed drill excision. Objectives. To document the surgical technique consisting of a combination of both computer-assisted and &ggr; probe-guided high-speed drill excision for osteoid osteoma of the spine. Summary of Background Data. Curative treatment of spinal osteoid osteoma is performed by surgical intralesional excision of the nidus, but intraoperative localization of the nidus is often difficult. Although intraoperative &ggr;-probe guidance facilitates accurate localization of the nidus, wide surgical resection of the bony structure is still mandatory to ensure removal of the nidus. Computer-assisted surgery has been proven to facilitate surgical intervention in spinal surgery. However, there is no clinical report regarding the application and usefulness of computer-assisted intralesional excision of the osteoid nidus. Excision of the nidus with a computer-assisted high-speed drill and intraoperative &ggr; probe control may result in complete intralesional excision without sacrificing more bone than necessary. Methods. One day before surgery, patients were injected with radioactive 99mTc-oxidronate. With a computed tomography-based electro-optical navigation system, real-time virtual images of the osteoid osteoma were generated by matching the intraoperative surface with preoperative computed tomography images. The osteoid osteoma was excised with the use of an image-guided high-speed drill, and complete excision was controlled with a &ggr; detection probe. Results. Excision of the nidus was confirmed by relief of symptoms, postexcision computed tomography scans, and histologic evaluation on clinical and radiographic follow-up observation. All five patients reported immediate complete relief of characteristic pain and no evidence of recurrence after 6 to 33 months of follow-up observation. There were no complications. Conclusions. The combination of both computer-assisted surgery and &ggr; probe-guided high-speed drill excision for osteoid osteoma of the spine helps to localize and excise the nidus of the osteoid osteoma with minimal bone resection of the posterior spinal structures.
The migration of dual-worker families: does the wifes job matter?

The broad objective of this study is to bring women into the family migration equation paying particular attention to the contribution of her job-related experiences to the explanation of family geographic mobility. Using data from the [U.S.] National Longitudinal Survey of Mature Women two general conclusions are drawn: (1) Migration is inhibited in families in which the wife is engaged in market work but (2) there is little evidence that specific job attributes of the wife aid in the explanation of family migration differentials. (EXCERPT)
The impact of e-marketing orientation on performance in Asian SMEs: a B2B perspective

ABSTRACT Business-to-business (B2B) organisations are increasingly utilising electronic devices in their business operations in order to succeed in increasingly competitive markets. This trend is prevalent in the growing Asian markets, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector. While prior research has focused on this issue in the context of large business-to-customer (B2C) organisations in Asia, there have hardly been any studies that have shed light on the B2B sector in the SME setting. This study aims to critically explore B2B e-marketing critical success factors (B2B-eM-CSFs) for SMEs operating in the Asian B2B marketplace. A key finding is the development of a theoretical framework for SMEs, emerging from the analysis of 406 companies from various industrial sectors. The study shows that interaction with the B2B-eM-CSFs is an important dimension and has a positive and significant impact on e-business efficiency and marketing improvements for Asian SMEs.
Mechanisms of chromosomal instability in melanoma

A systems biology approach was applied to investigate the mechanisms of chromosomal instability in melanoma cell lines. Chromosomal instability was quantified using array comparative genomic hybridization to identify somatic copy number alterations (deletions and duplications). Primary human melanocytes displayed an average of 8.5 alterations per cell primarily representing known polymorphisms. Melanoma cell lines displayed 25 to 131 alterations per cell, with an average of 68, indicative of chromosomal instability. Copy number alterations included approximately equal numbers of deletions and duplications with greater numbers of hemizygous (−1,+1) alterations than homozygous (−2,+2). Melanoma oncogenes, such as BRAF and MITF, and tumor suppressor genes, such as CDKN2A/B and PTEN, were included in these alterations. Duplications and deletions were functional as there were significant correlations between DNA copy number and mRNA expression for these genes. Spectral karyotype analysis of three lines confirmed extensive chromosomal instability with polyploidy, aneuploidy, deletions, duplications, and chromosome rearrangements. Bioinformatic analysis identified a signature of gene expression that was correlated with chromosomal instability but this signature provided no clues to the mechanisms of instability. The signature failed to generate a significant (P = 0.105) prediction of melanoma progression in a separate dataset. Chromosomal instability was not correlated with elements of DNA damage response (DDR) such as radiosensitivity, nucleotide excision repair, expression of the DDR biomarkers γH2AX and P‐CHEK2, nor G1 or G2 checkpoint function. Chromosomal instability in melanoma cell lines appears to influence gene function but it is not simply explained by alterations in the system of DDR. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:457–471, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fgf10 and Sox9 are essential for the establishment of distal progenitor cells during mouse salivary gland development

Salivary glands are formed by branching morphogenesis with epithelial progenitors forming a network of ducts and acini (secretory cells). During this process, epithelial progenitors specialise into distal (tips of the gland) and proximal (the stalk region) identities that produce the acini and higher order ducts, respectively. Little is known about the factors that regulate progenitor expansion and specialisation in the different parts of the gland. Here, we show that Sox9 is involved in establishing the identity of the distal compartment before the initiation of branching morphogenesis. Sox9 is expressed throughout the gland at the initiation stage before becoming restricted to the distal epithelium from the bud stage and throughout branching morphogenesis. Deletion of Sox9 in the epithelium results in loss of the distal epithelial progenitors, a reduction in proliferation and a subsequent failure in branching. We demonstrate that Sox9 is positively regulated by mesenchymal Fgf10, a process that requires active Erk signalling. These results provide new insights into the factors required for the expansion of salivary gland epithelial progenitors, which can be useful for organ regeneration therapy. Summary: Deletion of Sox9 in the salivary gland epithelium results in loss of the distal epithelial progenitors, a reduction in proliferation and a subsequent failure in branching in mice.
Evaluation of aerosol transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus under controlled field conditions

The aim of this study was to determine whether porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) could be transmitted by aerosol under field conditions. A total of 210 five-month-old PRRSV-negative pigs were housed in a mechanically ventilated finishing facility containing 11 pens. Pen 1 contained 10 pigs (indirect contact controls) and pen 2 remained empty, providing a barrier of 2.5 m from the remaining pigs in pens 3 to 11. Fifteen or 16 of the pigs in each of pens 3 to 11 were infected experimentally with a field isolate of PRRSV and the other six or seven pigs served as direct contact controls. Five days after the pigs were infected, two trailers containing 10 five-week-old PRRSV-naive sentinel pigs were placed along each side of the building; one was placed 1 m from the exhaust fans on one side of the building, and the other was placed 30 m from the fans on the other side, and the sentinel pigs remained in the trailers for 72 hours. They were then moved to separate buildings on the same site, 30 and 80 m, respectively, from the infected barn, and their PRRSV status was monitored for 21 days. The direct and indirect contact control pigs became infected with PRRSV but the sentinel pigs did not.
Large Infection Problems in Small Patients Merit a Renewed Emphasis on Prevention

Advances in neonatal care have improved the survival of immature, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. These infants (< 1,500 g) experience a disproportionate share of healthcare-associated infections (approximately 75%) compared with other newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The number of sepsis episodes increases with decreasing birth weight. Complications related to prematurity and late-onset sepsis are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and higher healthcare costs. These infants have a significantly longer hospital stay (79 vs 60 days; P < .001) and higher mortality rate (18% vs 7%; P < .001) . This issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology contains multiple important articles focusing on infections, their consequences, and/or their prevention among NICU patients. "
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Developmental Changes in the Inferior Frontal Cortex for Selecting Semantic Representations

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine the neural correlates of semantic judgments to Chinese words in a group of 10–15 year old Chinese children. Two semantic tasks were used: visual–visual versus visual–auditory presentation. The first word was visually presented (i.e. character) and the second word was either visually or auditorily presented, and the participant had to determine if these two words were related in meaning. Different from English, Chinese has many homophones in which each spoken word corresponds to many characters. The visual–auditory task, therefore, required greater engagement of cognitive control for the participants to select a semantically appropriate answer for the second homophonic word. Weaker association pairs produced greater activation in the mid-ventral region of left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 45) for both tasks. However , this effect was stronger for the visual–auditory task than for the visual–visual task and this difference was stronger for older compared to younger children. The findings suggest greater involvement of semantic selection mechanisms in the cross-modal task requiring the access of the appropriate meaning of homophonic spoken words, especially for older children.
Visual Learning in Multiple-Object Tracking

Background Tracking moving objects in space is important for the maintenance of spatiotemporal continuity in everyday visual tasks. In the laboratory, this ability is tested using the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) task, where participants track a subset of moving objects with attention over an extended period of time. The ability to track multiple objects with attention is severely limited. Recent research has shown that this ability may improve with extensive practice (e.g., from action videogame playing). However, whether tracking also improves in a short training session with repeated trajectories has rarely been investigated. In this study we examine the role of visual learning in multiple-object tracking and characterize how varieties of attention interact with visual learning. Methodology/Principal Findings Participants first conducted attentive tracking on trials with repeated motion trajectories for a short session. In a transfer phase we used the same motion trajectories but changed the role of tracking targets and nontargets. We found that compared with novel trials, tracking was enhanced only when the target subset was the same as that used during training. Learning did not transfer when the previously trained targets and nontargets switched roles or mixed up. However, learning was not specific to the trained temporal order as it transferred to trials where the motion was played backwards. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest that a demanding task of tracking multiple objects can benefit from learning of repeated motion trajectories. Such learning potentially facilitates tracking in natural vision, although learning is largely confined to the trajectories of attended objects. Furthermore, we showed that learning in attentive tracking relies on relational coding of all target trajectories. Surprisingly, learning was not specific to the trained temporal context, probably because observers have learned motion paths of each trajectory independently of the exact temporal order.
Short Circuits or Superconductors? Examining Factors That Encourage or Undermine Group Learning and Collaboration among High-Ability Students. CSE Technical Report.

Peer-directed small-group collaboration is featured prominently in debates about good classroom instruction and in the promotion of school reform. Although many cooperative learning methods advocate grouping students heterogeneously in order to maximize the diversity of perspectives, skills, and backgrounds, past research shows that while heterogeneous grouping generally benefits low-ability students, it does not necessarily benefit high-ability students. This study investigates the effects of group ability composition (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous) on group processes and outcomes for high-ability students completing science performance assessments. The results show that group ability composition does not have straightforward effects on achievement. While high-ability students working in homogeneous groups uniformly performed well, high-ability students in some heterogeneous groups performed better than high-ability students in other heterogeneous groups. The quality of group functioning served as the strongest predictor of high-ability students’ achievement. High-ability students in groups that were responsive to group members’ need for help and did not engage in debilitating social behavior performed well, whereas high-ability students in groups with poorer functioning did not. Whereas homogeneous groups consistently showed beneficial group functioning, only some heterogeneous groups exhibited these traits. These results show that achievement of high-ability students cannot be predicted from a simple homogeneous-heterogeneous grouping contrast and that the level of group functioning provides the key to understanding group performance. Debates about good classroom instruction and the promotion of school reform prominently feature peer-directed small-group collaboration. Group collaboration can increase learning and achievement, social skills, self-esteem, and attitudes toward classmates and school. Past research demonstrates that lower ability students usually benefit from collaborative learning, at least when working in groups heterogeneous in ability or achievement. In such groups, lower ability students can learn from their more able peers. The benefits of group collaboration