Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent Chemical Exposures and Blood Volatile Organic Compound Levels in a Large Population-Based Sample

Abstract Little is known about factors that influence blood levels of volatile organic compounds in nonoccupationally exposed populations. The authors examined the possible relationship between recent self-reported chemical exposures and elevated blood volatile organic compound levels among 982 adult participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A strong dose-response effect was indicated (p < .001) for increasing lifetime pack-years of cigarettes smoked for elevated levels of toluene, styrene, and benzene. A positive dose-response effect was indicated for daily alcohol consumption with respect to elevated blood levels of 2-butanone and acetone. For volatile organic compounds typically found in 10-75% of the population, the establishment of a link with specific environmental exposures is relatively easy because there is less effect of confounding in this group. Some volatile organic compounds, however, are seen in less than 10% of the general population; finding these compounds at any level may warrant a search for a particular exposure.
Generation Y Employees: An Examination of Work Attitude Differences

The service sector confronts a plethora of demographic realities. This paper hones in on one of these, that of generational challenges, to inform owners and managers of approaches to improve the attraction, motivation and retention of Gen Y employees. This paper provides an introductory overview of a large-scale study into generational differences in employee attitudes and reports on the preliminary data analysis of a survey of over 900 hospitality employees in Australia. A thorough literature review informed a survey which sought employee opinions on a range of attitudinal measures. A key finding from the data analysis is that Gen Y employees score lower on those measures where higher scores are seen more favorably (e.g., job satisfaction, engagement, commitment), while conversely, Gen Y employees display higher scores on the constructs that an organization would hope would be lower (e.g., turnover intentions). The paper concludes with eight specific workplace practice suggestions to managers regarding Gen Y and suggestions for future research.
Analysis of the Split Ring Resonator (SRR) Antenna Applied to Passive UHF-RFID Tag Design

An electrically small planar passive UHF-RFID tag based on an edge-coupled split ring resonator (EC-SRR) antenna is presented in this work. In order to explore the potentiality and limitations of the SRR antenna and to aid the tag design, an analytical study of the SRR radiation properties at its fundamental resonance is presented for the first time. Radiation resistance, efficiency, polarization, bandwidth, and impedance matching with the radio-frequency identification (RFID) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) are treated in the study. Based on such analysis, the tag design process is presented, and a tag prototype of size 30 mm × 30 mm (λ0/11 × λ0/11) is designed to operate in the North-American UHF-RFID band (902-928 MHz) and manufactured. The measured read range is in good agreement with the simulation and reaches 9.3 m at 911 MHz. The tag also features a mitigation of the blind spots, providing a minimum measured read range of 4.2 m.
Perceptual view inconsistency: An objective evaluation framework for online game quality of experience (QoE)

The ultimate goal of both game developers and network engineers is to provide a satisfactory quality of experience (QoE) for players. Most past works resort the subjective approaches to assess QoE which have serious limitations. But because of the interdependency of the quality metrics on game playability and the involvement of many players' subjective factors, defining an objective evaluation methodology for QoE faces some challenges. This paper presents an objective evaluation framework for QoE which based on our insights into the causal relationships between network delay, system consistency and QoE. First we breakdown QoE into three basic properties, then we propose to link a player's perception of quality to a novel definition of inconsistency that can then be matched with the three basic properties. Corresponding metrics are created to quantify the inconsistencies. Taking these objective inconsistencies as input, and the subjective QoE properties as output, a mapping function is derived. After aggregating the QoE properties that capture the quality of a single game scenario, we sum the weighted QoE of all the game scenarios to obtain a final overall objective playability evaluation of a game.
Specific gravity of bovine colostrum immunoglobulins as affected by temperature and colostrum components.

The effects of temperature and colostrum components on specific gravity in bovine colostrum were investigated. Thirty-nine first milking colostrum samples were collected from Holstein cows. The samples were assayed for alpha-tocopherol, fat, protein, total solids, and IgG. The concentrations of total solids, total protein, total IgG, and fat in colostrum were 26.6, 12.5, 3.7, and 9.4 g/100 g, respectively. A range of 1.8 to 24.7 micrograms/ml for alpha-tocopherol was measured in the colostrum samples. Specific gravity of the colostrum was measured using a hydrometer in increments of 5 degrees C from 0 to 40 degrees C. Specific gravity explained 76% of the variation in colostral total IgG at a colostrum temperature of 20 degrees C. The regression model was improved only slightly with the addition of protein, fat, and total solids. The model for samples at 20 degrees C was IgG (milligrams per milliliter) = 958 x (specific gravity) - 969. Measurement of specific gravity at variable temperatures necessitated inclusion of temperature in the model for estimation of IgG. Inclusion of the other components of colostrum into the model slightly improved the fit. The regression model for samples at variable temperatures was as follows: IgG (milligrams per milliliter) = 853 x (specific gravity) + . 4 x temperature (Celsius degrees) - 866.
Diversification of Ig Heavy Chain Genes in Human Preterm Neonates Prematurely Exposed to Environmental Antigens1

Preterm neonates are exposed to extrauterine environmental Ags during the time period that corresponds to the last trimester of normal intrauterine development. To study whether this precocious exposure to Ags accelerates the Ig repertoire diversification, we compared IgH chain genes of preterm neonates (gestational age, 25–29 wk) during their first postnatal months with those of term neonates. Preterm infants approaching their expected date of delivery after 8–13 wk of extrauterine life used a similar VH, DH, and JH gene segment repertoire as term neonates born after intrauterine development. Furthermore, the length increase of the NDN region between VH and JH by 0.25 nt per gestational week (r = 0.556, p < 0.0001) was not accelerated. Thus, the generation of the VH region gene repertoire is developmentally controlled and independent of environmental influences. However, exposure to extrauterine Ags induced class switch and somatic mutations in IgH chain genes within 2 wk after premature birth and IgG transcript diversity and mutational frequency increased with the duration of extrauterine life. Three-month-old preterm infants expressed a heterogeneous IgG repertoire at their expected date of delivery with VH region genes carrying significant numbers of somatic mutations with evidence for Ag selection. Term neonates, however, had no such IgG repertoire. We conclude that restrictions in the neonatal Ig VH region gene repertoire persist until term despite exposure to environmental Ags. Yet, many weeks before term the immune system of the preterm neonate can already support germinal center reactions in response to environmental Ags.
Oldest cingulate skulls provide congruence between morphological and molecular scenarios of armadillo evolution

The cingulates of the mammalian order Xenarthra present a typical case of disagreement between molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies. We report here the discovery of two new skulls from the Late Oligocene Salla Beds of Bolivia (approx. 26 Ma), which are the oldest known well-preserved cranial remains of the group. A new taxon is described: Kuntinaru boliviensis gen. et sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis clusters K. boliviensis together with the armadillo subfamily Tolypeutinae. These skulls document an early spotty occurrence for the Tolypeutinae at 26 Ma, in agreement with the temporal predictions of previous molecular studies. The fossil record of tolypeutines is now characterized by a unique occurrence in the Late Oligocene, and a subsequent 12 Myr lack in the fossil record. It is noteworthy that the tolypeutines remain decidedly marginal in the Late Palaeogene and Early Neogene deposits, whereas other cingulate groups diversify. Also, the anatomical phylogenetic analysis herein, which includes K. boliviensis, is congruent with recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Kuntinaru boliviensis is the oldest confident calibration point available for the whole Cingulata.
Conditional Beta Pricing Models: A Nonparametric Approach

We propose a two-stage procedure to estimate conditional beta pricing models that allows for flexibility in the dynamics of asset betas and market prices of risk (MPR). First, conditional betas are estimated nonparametrically for each asset and period using the time-series of previous data. Then, time-varying MPR are estimated from the cross-section of returns and betas. We prove the consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimators. We also perform Monte Carlo simulations for the conditional version of the three-factor model of Fama and French (1993) and show that nonparametrically estimated betas outperform rolling betas under different specifications of beta dynamics. Using return data on the 25 size and book-to-market sorted portfolios, we find that the nonparametric procedure produces a better fit of the three-factor model to the data, less biased estimates of MPR and lower pricing errors than the Fama–MacBeth procedure with betas estimated under several alternative parametric specifications.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Is Neither Required for Hypoxic Stabilization of HIF-1α nor Sufficient for HIF-1-dependent Target Gene Transcription*

The serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB and the oxygen-responsive transcription factor HIF-1 share the ability to induce such processes as angiogenesis, glucose uptake, and glycolysis. Akt activity and HIF-1 are both essential for development and implicated in tumor growth. Upon activation by products of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt phosphorylates downstream targets that stimulate growth and inhibit apoptosis. Previous reports suggest that Akt may achieve its effects on angiogenesis and glucose metabolism by stimulating HIF-1 activity. We report here that, whereas serum stimulation can induce a slight accumulation of HIF-1α protein in a PI3K/Akt pathway-dependent fashion, hypoxia induces much higher levels of HIF-1α protein and HIF-1 DNA binding activity independently of PI3K and mTOR activity. In addition, we find the effects of constitutively active Akt on HIF-1 activity are cell-type specific. High levels of Akt signaling can modestly increase HIF-1α protein, but this increase does not affect HIF-1 target gene expression. Therefore, the PI3K/Akt pathway is not necessary for hypoxic induction of HIF-1 subunits or activity, and constitutively active Akt is not itself sufficient to induce HIF-1 activity.
Regional distribution of anchorless prion protein, PrP226*, in the human brain

It was shown previously that truncated molecules of prion protein can be found in brains of patients with some types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. One such molecule, PrP226*, is a fragment of prion protein, truncated at Tyr226. It was found to be present in aggregates, from which it can be released using chaotropic salts. In this study we investigated the distribution of PrP226* in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease affected human brain, employing the mAb V5B2, specifically recognizing this fragment. The results show that PrP226* is not evenly distributed among different regions of human brain. Among brain regions analyzed, the fragment was found most likely to be accumulated in the cerebellum. Its distribution correlates with the distribution of PrPSc.
Class II malocclusion division 1: a new classification method by cephalometric analysis.

AIM The purpose of this study was to analyse the craniofacial and dentofacial skeletal characteristics in untreated subjects with Class II, division 1 malocclusion by mandibular retrusion and to identify different types and their prevalence. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 152 subjects with Class II, division 1 malocclusion by mandibular retrusion, the differences were determined by lateral cephalograms analysis of variance and chi-square test, respectively. P<0.05 was considered significant. Seven types of mandibular retrusion were identified: three pure, dimensional, rotational and positional, and four mixed. RESULTS All patients showed significant inter-group differences with P between 0.005 and 0.001. The dimensional type was the most common (28.9%) and the rotational-positional type was the rarest (5.9%). The pure dimensional type had the shortest mandibular body; the pure rotational type had larger SN/GoMe and the lowest AOBO; the pure positional type presented the flattest cranial base, high AOBO. In the mixed types, dento-skeletal features changed depending on how the main types assorted. CONCLUSIONS Identifying the type of mandibular retrusion is important for differential diagnosis in clinical practice and research.
Antigenic and Genetic Variability of Human Metapneumoviruses

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a member of the subfamily Pneumovirinae within the family Paramyxoviridae. Other members of this subfamily, respiratory syncytial virus and avian pneumovirus, can be divided into subgroups based on genetic or antigenic differences or both. For HMPV, the existence of different genetic lineages has been described on the basis of variation in a limited set of available sequences. We address the antigenic relationship between genetic lineages in virus neutralization assays. In addition, we analyzed the genetic diversity of HMPV by phylogenetic analysis of sequences obtained for part of the fusion protein (n = 84) and the complete attachment protein open reading frames (n = 35). On the basis of sequence diversity between attachment protein genes and the differences in virus neutralization titers, two HMPV serotypes were defined. Each serotype could be divided into two genetic lineages, but these did not reflect major antigenic differences.
Hypothermia is associated with improved outcomes in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock.

BACKGROUND : Hypothermia after trauma is, in current medical practice, both avoided and aggressively treated. However, the effects of environmental hypothermia during early resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock have been only poorly characterized. METHODS : The objective of our study was to compare normothermia versus mild and severe levels of hypothermia in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock. In a prospective survival study, we anesthetized 19 juvenile male pigs (Yorkshire-Landrace, 15-25 kg) and caused them to hemorrhage until their systolic blood pressure was 45 mm Hg to 55 mm Hg for a duration of 45 minutes. Then, we randomized them into three groups (all of which underwent an 8-hour limited resuscitation period) as follows: normothermic (39 degrees C), mildly hypothermic (36 degrees C), and severely hypothermic (33 degrees C). We used ice packs to achieve surface cooling that mimicked environmental hypothermia. After 8 hours, we rewarmed the pigs and fully resuscitated them for 16 hours. We extubated the survivors and observed them for an additional 24 hours, before killing them. RESULTS : Surface cooling resulted in significant reduction in core body temperature. The mortality rate was significantly higher in the normothermic group (60%) than in the two hypothermic groups combined (7%) (p = 0.015) or in the severely hypothermic group (0%) (p = 0.023). Hypothermic animals had significantly lower levels of creatinine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and lactate in addition to a lower base deficit after shock. However, severely hypothermic animals required greater volumes of colloid infusion and whole blood transfusion to maintain our target systolic blood pressure and hemoglobin levels when compared with normothermic animals. We saw a strong trend toward decreased oxygen consumption with hypothermia. CONCLUSIONS : In our porcine model, we found that simulating mild and severe levels of environmental hypothermia during early resuscitation after hemorrhage was associated with a significantly decreased mortality rate. Furthermore, markers of cellular stress and organ dysfunction, including lactate levels and the base deficit, were lower in hypothermic animals. Decreasing oxygen consumption with hypothermia may, in part, explain the protective effects observed with hypothermia.
Application of Fourier Descriptors and Pearson Correlation for fault detection in Sucker Rod Pumping System

This paper presents a study of a new proposal for down-hole dynamometer cards patterns for the automatic fault diagnosis of Sucker Rod Pumping System. The accuracy and quick identification of down-hole problems is essential to the risk decrease and production improvement of the petroleum industry. The main idea is a card recognition through a digital image processing (Fourier Descriptors) and statistical (Pearson Correlation) tools. Successful results were reached when this proposal was applied in simulated cards and PETROBRAS real cards.
Fast reconstruction of 3D time-of-flight PET data by axial rebinning and transverse mashing

Faster scintillators like LaBr3 and LSO have sparked renewed interest in PET scanners with time-of-flight (TOF) information. The TOF information adds another dimension to the data set compared to conventional three-dimensional (3D) PET with the size of the projection data being multiplied by the number of TOF bins. Here we show by simulations and analytical reconstruction that angular sampling for two-dimensional (2D) TOF PET can be reduced significantly compared to what is required for conventional 2D PET. Fully 3D TOF PET data, however, have a wide range of oblique and transverse angles. To make use of the smaller necessary angular sampling we reduce the 3D data to a set of 2D histoprojections. This is done by rebinning the 3D data to 2D data and by mashing these 2D data into a limited number of angles. Both methods are based on the most likely point given by the TOF measurement. It is shown that the axial resolution loss associated with rebinning reduces with improved timing resolution and becomes less than 1 mm for a TOF resolution below 300 ps. The amount of angular mashing that can be applied without tangential resolution loss increases with improved TOF resolution. Even quite coarse angular mashing (18 angles out of 324 measured angles for 424 ps) does not significantly reduce image quality in terms of the contrast or noise. The advantages of the proposed methods are threefold. Data storage is reduced to a limited number of 2D histoprojections with TOF information. Compared to listmode format we have the advantage of a predetermined storage space and faster reconstruction. The method does not require the normalization of projections prior to rebinning and can be applied directly to measured listmode data.
The Evolution of Massive Stars. I

The evolution of stars with mass 15.6 times the solar mass is considered in their early stage. Our model star consists of three regions; a convective core consuming hydrogen, a radiative envelope, and an intermediate zone of continuously varying composition. Radiation pressure is taken into account throughout the three regions. The hydrogen content in the core ranges from 90 per cent to 6.3 per cent by weight. It is found that the convective core retreats as its hydrogen content decreases, setting up the intermediate zone of continuously varying composition and a thin convective unstable region between the radiative envelope and the intermediate zone. The evolutionary track in the FI - R diagram is compared with the stars of the h + X Persei clusters.
Hypothalamic origin of reproductive failure in chronic experimental toxoplasmosis.

Laboratory bred female mice were used to study the effect of chronic toxoplasmosis on reproductive performance. The animals were infected with small dose (3 x 10(3)) tachyzoites of Toxoplasma parasites. The female mice were mixed with normal males for one week, then separated to monitor their reproductive performance one and two months post infection (p.i). Mice bred one month p.i. showed reproductive failure with one of twenty females delivered two sick newborns. The others did not complete pregnancy and faetal wastage occurred. Mice bred two months p.i. were infertile. Histopathological examination of the ovaries revealed impaired folliculogenesis and atropic degeneration. Coronal sections of cerebrum showed widespread vasculitis, focal disruption of the ependymal cells lining both the lateral and third ventricles. The supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei were deformed and showed pyknotic neurons. Immunoperoxidase staining was used to detect IgG and IgM deposits in brain tissue. IgG deposits were found on the vicinity of Toxoplasma cysts and focally in the paraventricular zone. So, the reproductive failure of infected mice was due to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism secondary to hypothalamic dysfunction as a result of chronic toxoplasmosis.
Knowledge sharing in distributed agile projects: Techniques, strategies and challenges

Knowledge management (KM) is essential for success in global software development. Software organizations are now managing knowledge in innovative ways to increase productivity. In agile software development, collaboration and coordination depend on the communication, which is the key to success. To maintain effective collaboration and coordination in distributed agile projects, practitioners need to adopt different types of knowledge sharing techniques and strategies. There are also few studies that focus on knowledge sharing in distributed agile projects. This research identified the knowledge sharing techniques and strategies applied by the practitioners in distributed agile projects. Challenges faced by the practitioners during knowledge sharing in distributed agile projects are also identified and discussed.
Maori origins, Y‐chromosome haplotypes and implications for human history in the Pacific

An assessment of 28 pertinent binary genetic markers on the non‐recombining portion of the Y chromosome (NRY) in New Zealand Maori and other relevant populations has revealed a diverse genetic paternal heritage of extant Maori. A maximum parsimony phylogeny was constructed in which nine of the 25 possible binary haplotypes were observed. Although ∼40% of the samples have haplotypes of unequivocal European origin, an equivalent number of samples have a single binary haplotype that is also observed in Indonesia and New Guinea, indicative of common indigenous Melanesian ancestry. The balance of the lineages has either typical East Asian signatures or alternative compositions consistent with their affinity to Melanesia or New Guinea. Molecular analysis of mtDNA variation confirms the presence of a single predominant characteristic Southeast Asian (9‐bp deletion in the Region V) lineage. The Y‐chromosome results support a pattern of complex interrelationships between Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, in contrast to mtDNA and linguistic data, which uphold a rapid and homogeneous Austronesian expansion. The Y‐chromosome data highlight a distinctive gender‐modulated pattern of differential gene flow in the history of Polynesia. Hum Mutat 17:271–280, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.