Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dose-Related Color Vision Impairment in Toluene-Exposed Workers

Abstract Occupational exposure to various neurotoxic chemicals can impair color vision. We evaluated this possibility in toluene-exposed workers. Thirty-three rubber workers and 16 referents were studied. We estimated toluene exposure by measuring urinary excretion of the unmodified form of the solvent (i.e., TolU). Color vision was tested with the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel, and the outcomes were expressed quantitatively with the Color Confusion Index and the Total Confusion Index. Toluene-exposed workers had a subclinical reduction in color vision, compared with referents. We related this effect to solvent cumulative exposure—estimated as the product of urinary excretion of unmodified toluene by previous toluene exposure duration. This approach supports the hypothesis that impairment progresses as exposure continues. In the examined group of workers, toluene exposure was within the occupational limit proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The observed loss in color vision raises doubts on the real protection afforded by this limit—at least for effects of the solvent on the eyes. Finally, the Total Confusion Index was a more sensitive index than the Color Confusion Index in the evaluation of toluene-related color-vision impairment, suggesting that this index should be adopted in future studies of the effects of chemicals on color perception.
Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Short PET Fiber-Waste Polyethylene Composites

Plastics used in the packaging industry, especially in the form of carry bags and pouches, manifest a formidable threat to the environment because of their non-biodegradable nature. Addition of both natural and synthetic fibers to these materials improves their performance, replacing the conventional materials like wood, metal, and ceramics in the majority of industrial applications. Short polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber-reinforced composites from waste high density polyethylene (WPE) such as carry bags/pouches collected from municipal solid waste and neat high density polyethylene (HDPE) were prepared in a Brabender Plasticorder using melt-mixing technique under optimum processing conditions. Physico-mechanical properties of these short PET fiber-reinforced WPE and neat HDPE composites were determined using standard procedures. It is observed that the mechanical strength is enhanced by increasing the fiber-loading up to 50% by weight. Maleic anhydride (MAH) grafting was done onto the WPE matrix and the resulting composites were evaluated for their mechanical properties. The thermal stability of the WPE-PET fiber composites also improves significantly with fiber-loading as well as upon grafting the WPE with MAH. Flexural strength exhibited an increase of 59% from 25.4 to 40.5 MPa, proving MAH-grafted WPE (MAH-g-WPE) to have good compatibilizing ability.
Relationships between various aspects of lifestyle and dental health behaviors in a rural population in Japan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine associations of lifestyle with dental health behaviors such as tooth brushing frequency, use of extra cleaning devices, and regular dental visits to a dentist. Methods: Data were collected from 1,182 dentate residents 18 years of age or older who resided in a typical farming village. The data included data on the demographic factors, dental health behavior, and various aspects of lifestyle, i.e, mental condition, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, physical activity, social activity, dietary habits, and presence of systemic diseases. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects in a younger group (18-39 years old) and subjects who had never smoked brushed their teeth more frequently. Experience of social volunteer work and presence of systemic disease were correlated with use of extra cleaning devices. Associations of female gender with frequency of tooth brushing and use of extra cleaning devices were weakly positive. The subjects who considered dietary combination carefully and those who lived alone were predisposed to visit a dentist regularly. Conclusions: The results indicate that dental health behavior is associated with lifestyle as well as demographic factors.
Mechanical Property Evaluation Using the Small Punch Test

The small punch (SP) test technique is an attractive method for evaluating mechanical behavior in materials where only small volumes of materials are available. An SP-test machine was developed where miniature disc specimens 5 and 3 mm in diameter and with thickness ranging between 50 to 400 µm can be investigated. For two materials, a 1Cr-0.5Mo low alloy steel and an 18Cr-9Ni austenitic stainless steel, the stress-strain flow curve was assessed and compared with that in tensile tests. The yield strength was determined from the SP-test by analyzing the initial elastic deformation with help of classical plate bending theory. The effective flow properties in the biaxial stress state were evaluated through analytical modelling of the stretching deformation. Good agreement between the uniaxial and biaxial flow properties was found for the 1Cr-0.5Mo steel and acceptable agreement for the 18Cr-9Ni steel.
Experimental characterization of SET seasoning on Phase Change Memory arrays

In this work we have investigated the seasoning effect in SET state occurring during cycling of multimegabit Phase Change Memory arrays. The impact of the erasing waveform on this phenomenon has been experimentally evaluated. The physical nature of the phenomenon has been discussed in relation to the electro-thermal characteristics of the active material. The study of such phenomenon is also important to comprehend the transition dynamics of the GST material towards its crystalline state and to develop accurate models allowing an estimate of the PCM cells behavior as a function of the operative cycles.
Effect of woody-plant encroachment on livestock production in North and South America

Significance Grasslands all over the world are undergoing a rapid shift from herbaceous to woody-plant dominance, a phenomenon known as woody-plant encroachment. The impact of this global phenomenon on livestock production (LP), the main ecosystem service provided by grasslands, remains largely unexplored. We quantified, for the first time, the impact of woody-plant encroachment on LP at a large scale, finding a reduction of between 0.6 and 1.6 reproductive cows per square kilometer for each 1% increase in tree cover. By comparing the largest rangelands of the Americas (United States and Argentina), we also showed how the impact of woody-plant encroachment is mediated by social–economic factors. Our paper represents a significant advance in our understanding of grasslands as complex social–ecological systems. A large fraction of the world grasslands and savannas are undergoing a rapid shift from herbaceous to woody-plant dominance. This land-cover change is expected to lead to a loss in livestock production (LP), but the impacts of woody-plant encroachment on this crucial ecosystem service have not been assessed. We evaluate how tree cover (TC) has affected LP at large spatial scales in rangelands of contrasting social–economic characteristics in the United States and Argentina. Our models indicate that in areas of high productivity, a 1% increase in TC results in a reduction in LP ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 reproductive cows (Rc) per km2. Mean LP in the United States is 27 Rc per km2, so a 1% increase in TC results in a 2.5% decrease in mean LP. This effect is large considering that woody-plant cover has been described as increasing at 0.5% to 2% per y. On the contrary, in areas of low productivity, increased TC had a positive effect on LP. Our results also show that ecological factors account for a larger fraction of LP variability in Argentinean than in US rangelands. Differences in the relative importance of ecological versus nonecological drivers of LP in Argentina and the United States suggest that the valuation of ecosystem services between these two rangelands might be different. Current management strategies in Argentina are likely designed to maximize LP for various reasons we are unable to explore in this effort, whereas land managers in the United States may be optimizing multiple ecosystem services, including conservation or recreation, alongside LP.
Porphyromonas gingivalis FimA Fimbriae: Fimbrial Assembly by fimA Alone in the fim Gene Cluster and Differential Antigenicity among fimA Genotypes

The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis colonizes largely through FimA fimbriae, composed of polymerized FimA encoded by fimA. fimA exists as a single copy within the fim gene cluster (fim cluster), which consists of seven genes: fimX, pgmA and fimA-E. Using an expression vector, fimA alone was inserted into a mutant from which the whole fim cluster was deleted, and the resultant complement exhibited a fimbrial structure. Thus, the genes of the fim cluster other than fimA were not essential for the assembly of FimA fimbriae, although they were reported to influence FimA protein expression. It is known that there are various genotypes for fimA, and it was indicated that the genotype was related to the morphological features of FimA fimbriae, especially the length, and to the pathogenicity of the bacterium. We next complemented the fim cluster-deletion mutant with fimA genes cloned from P. gingivalis strains including genotypes I to V. All genotypes showed a long fimbrial structure, indicating that FimA itself had nothing to do with regulation of the fimbrial length. In FimA fimbriae purified from the complemented strains, types I, II, and III showed slightly higher thermostability than types IV and V. Antisera of mice immunized with each purified fimbria principally recognized the polymeric, structural conformation of the fimbriae, and showed low cross-reactivity among genotypes, indicating that FimA fimbriae of each genotype were antigenically different. Additionally, the activity of a macrophage cell line stimulated with the purified fimbriae was much lower than that induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide.
Are we ignoring diabetic disability: a cross sectional study of diabetic myopathy.

BACKGROUND The complications associated with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may cause functional impairment in older people. Recently it has been proved that motor dysfunction in the form of skeletal muscle dysfunction does occur in type II DM. However very few studies have assessed the upper limb skeletal muscle dysfunction. OBJECTIVES The study was aimed to assess the hand grip strength, endurance in type 2 DM patients and compare the same with age matched healthy controls. We also correlated glycosylated Hb and duration of illness with the hand grip strength and endurance in the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hand grip dynamometer was used to measure the hand grip strength and endurance in sixty diagnosed patients of type II DM. Similar tests were performed in age matched healthy controls. Blood samples were collected for blood glucose fasting, postprandial levels and Hb1AC in both the groups. Comparisons between patients and controls, and correlations were done by applying suitable tests. RESULTS The hand grip muscle strength and endurance in type II DM patients were significantly lower as compared to the normal controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between the hand grip muscle strength and endurance with HbA1c and the duration of the disease in the patients of type II DM (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that type II DM patients suffer from skeletal muscle dysfunction in the form of reduced hand grip strength and endurance. Hence the treating Physician should not be ignorant about these disabilities. In addition to the strict measures to control the blood glucose levels, interventions to improve the muscle mass and strength in these patients should be undertaken.
Immunoglobulin heavy/light chain analysis enhances the detection of residual disease and monitoring of multiple myeloma patients

Aim To evaluate the clinical utility of incorporating a novel heavy/light chain immunoassay (HLC) into the existing methods for the assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods Convenience sera samples from 90 previously treated IgG and IgA MM patients in different disease stages were analyzed. The study was conducted in Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb between 2011 and 2013. The collected sera were analyzed by standard laboratory techniques (serum protein electrophoresis, quantification of total immunoglobulins, serum immunofixation, serum free light chain [FLC] assay) and HLC assay. Results HLC ratios outside the normal range were found in 58 of 90 patients, including 28 out of 61 patients with total immunoglobulin measurements within the normal range and 5 out of 23 patients in complete response. Both elevated HLC isotype level and abnormal HLC ratio correlated with the parameters of tumor burden, including percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and an abnormal serum FLC ratio (for both P < 0.001). In addition, abnormal HLC isotype level correlated with serum beta-2-microglobulin level (P = 0.038). In terms of prognosis, abnormal HLC isotype level and abnormal HLC ratio were significantly associated with shorter overall survival (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Interestingly, suppression of the uninvolved (polyclonal) isotype pair, but not other non-myeloma immunoglobulin isotypes, was also associated with a shorter overall survival (P = 0.021). In a multivariate analysis, an abnormal HLC ratio and β2-microglobulin level >3.5mg/L were independent risk factors for survival. Conclusion The new HLC assay has greater sensitivity in detecting monoclonal protein, correlates with tumor burden markers, and affects patients' outcome.
Survey of Wireless Based Indoor Localization Technologies

The market of localization based service (LBS) is expanding. The acquisition of physical location is the fundamental basis for LBS. GPS, the de facto standard for outdoor localization, does not work well in indoor environment due to the blocking of signals by walls and ceiling. To acquire high accurate localization in indoor environment, many techniques have been developed. The vision based localization involves camera and computer vision technologies which increase the cost. Accelerometer based localization will accumulate the error made by each localization prediction. Wireless based indoor localization can achieve low cost and high accuracy at the same time. In this paper, a systematic analysis of the wireless based indoor localization is conducted. Firstly, we compare the wireless technologies that have been used for localization in recent literatures. The wireless technologies are divided by the distance of coverage. They vary in frequency band and popularity which determine their unique characteristics when used for indoor localization. After that, we explain the mathematical techniqes are used in wireless based localization. Proximity based method can only provide approximate location based on link or connect information. Triangulation can be used to determine angle or distance information retrieve from the received signals from three or more beacon stations to obtain user location. Fingerprint assumes the signal property in each point is different, the location can be found by comparing with pre-built radio-maps. In the end of the paper, we have summarized four trends in the researches in wireless based indoor localization. The use of multiple wireless technologies and cooperation with other technologies can help cover the defect in one technology. Incorporating multiple mathematical methods can reduce the error and increase the accuracy. The advent of mobile phones also provides a ideal device as user device for indoor localization.
Development of the FDA Tobacco Credibility Scale (FDA-TCS).

OBJECTIVES Messages from organizations with high, compared to low, credibility may be more persuasive. Whereas the tobacco industry has long recognized the importance of credibility in promoting its messages and public image, the source credibility of key tobacco control organizations has gone largely unmeasured. To assess credibility of a key tobacco regulator, we developed a scale of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tobacco-related credibility. METHODS We developed and tested 30 items reflective of the dimensions of source credibility (trust, expertise, and public interest) and FDA's tobacco regulatory roles in a sample of 1353 US adults and assessed reliability and validity. RESULTS Factor analysis identified 3 dimensions of the FDA Tobacco Credibility Scale (FDA-TCS): public interest, trust, and expertise. The 3 subscales showed evidence of reliability and convergent validity; all subscales were correlated with general FDA credibility and trust in government. Those who knew that the FDA regulates tobacco scored higher on the trust and expertise subscales. The subscales were also associated with support for potential regulations, suggesting criterion-related validity. CONCLUSIONS The FDA-TCS allows for an understanding of the impact of credibility on responses to the FDA's tobacco control communications and regulatory efforts.
BEEHAVE: a systems model of honeybee colony dynamics and foraging to explore multifactorial causes of colony failure

Summary A notable increase in failure of managed European honeybee Apis mellifera L. colonies has been reported in various regions in recent years. Although the underlying causes remain unclear, it is likely that a combination of stressors act together, particularly varroa mites and other pathogens, forage availability and potentially pesticides. It is experimentally challenging to address causality at the colony scale when multiple factors interact. In silico experiments offer a fast and cost‐effective way to begin to address these challenges and inform experiments. However, none of the published bee models combine colony dynamics with foraging patterns and varroa dynamics. We have developed a honeybee model, BEEHAVE, which integrates colony dynamics, population dynamics of the varroa mite, epidemiology of varroa‐transmitted viruses and allows foragers in an agent‐based foraging model to collect food from a representation of a spatially explicit landscape. We describe the model, which is freely available online (www.beehave-model.net). Extensive sensitivity analyses and tests illustrate the model's robustness and realism. Simulation experiments with various combinations of stressors demonstrate, in simplified landscape settings, the model's potential: predicting colony dynamics and potential losses with and without varroa mites under different foraging conditions and under pesticide application. We also show how mitigation measures can be tested. Synthesis and applications. BEEHAVE offers a valuable tool for researchers to design and focus field experiments, for regulators to explore the relative importance of stressors to devise management and policy advice and for beekeepers to understand and predict varroa dynamics and effects of management interventions. We expect that scientists and stakeholders will find a variety of applications for BEEHAVE, stimulating further model development and the possible inclusion of other stressors of potential importance to honeybee colony dynamics.
A comparison of wear rate of direct and indirect resin composites: A two-body wear abrasion test

Purpose The objective of this in vitro study was to investigate and compare two-body wear of hybrid, microhybrid, and nanohybrid direct and indirect composite resins. Materials and methods A pin-on-disc wear device was used to study the effects of the water on two-body wear rate of two microhybrid composites (Solidex® and Dialog®), a nanohybrid composite (Grandio®SO), and three direct composite resins: a hybrid composite (Herculite Classic™), a submicron hybrid composite (Charisma®), and a nanohybrid composite (Tetric® N-Ceram). For testing, 12 specimens of each material with 6.5 mm diameter and 4 mm height were made and half of the specimens were stored in the distilled water for 1 week at 37℃. In order to evaluate the wear rate of samples, a normal load of 15 N was applied to specimen’s surface. The 6.5 mm diameter composite sample held to pin holder and AISI 316 L stainless steel was employed as the disc. The following experimental parameters were kept constant for all tests: sliding velocity = 0.6 m/s, temperature 25 ± 3℃, 1.2 Hz, and 10,000 cycles. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey’s test were performed to compare the wear rate of resin composites. Results Ranking of wear rate (most to least) without water exposure was as follows: Dialog>Solidex>Charisma>GrandioSO>Tetric Ceram=Herculite. No significant difference in wear was observed between GrandioSO, Tetric N-Ceram, and Herculite Classic, with and without water exposure (p > .05, respectively). Conclusions The nanohybrid resins—regardless of indirect or direct use—showed significantly less abrasive wear than the microhybrid resins.
Effect of Cigarette Smoking on the Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Healthy Subjects

Background and Purpose:Cigarette smoking has been associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Even though the molecular mechanism(s) are not clear, the pathology has been related to oxygen free radicals present in cigarette smoke. Thus, the main objective of this study was to establish the changes in the oxidation/antioxidation balance induced by cigarette smoking. Methods:Thirty healthy subjects (15 smokers and 15 nonsmokers) of both sexes were studied. The smokers group had smoked a mean of 14 cigarettes per day for an average of 4.5 years. Fasting serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and vitamin C (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids) were measured. Results:Fasting NO concentration was significantly higher in smokers (51.3 ± 5.3 μM) than in nonsmokers (35.2 ± 4.8 μM, P < 0.05). The smokers had significantly higher serum dehydroascorbic acid levels (2.4 ± 0.5 mg/dL, P < 0.03) than the nonsmokers (1.08 ± 0.08 mg/dL). No significant differences were observed in the levels of ascorbic acid, MDA, and GSH between the smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Our results suggest that exposure to cigarette smoke increases NO synthesis, such that NO may act in a compensatory way as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. Smoking also activates other antioxidative mechanisms such as involving vitamin C. These protective mechanisms appear to be enough in preventing accumulation of oxidative products such as MDA and avoiding oxidative damage.
Mutations affecting the indirect flight muscles of Drosophila melanogaster.

The development of the indirect flight muscles of Drosophila melanogaster was studied by analysing mutations that cause flightlessness. Twenty-five mutations on the X-chromosome and two on the third chromosome were examined. The X-chromosomal mutations form ten complementation units. The ten loci were assigned preliminary map positions by meiotic recombination and deficiencies and duplications. The two autosomal mutations represent two genes. Gynandromorph analyses suggest that many of these mutations have their primary effect in the presumptive thoracic muscle region of the embryo. The mutations cause a variety of characteristic defects, such as absence of the bulk of the thoracic muscle mass, or absence of only one of the two fibrillar muscle groups. Electronmicroscopic studies of sixteen mutants representing all twelve loci reveal abnormal myofibrillar organization in some of these mutants, e.g. aberrant or missing Z-bands, or absence of the thin filaments. Mutant protein patterns, obtained by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, show the following differences from wild type: ten mutants are characterized by absence of reduction of the 54 K protein, and most mutants exhibit a reduction and modification of the 80 and 90 K proteins. The absence of reduction of the 54 K protein was strongly correlated with aberrant Z-bands.