Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Individual exposure to particulate air pollution and its relevance to thresholds for health effects: a study of traffic wardens.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the differences between measurements of personal exposure to particulate air pollution and static area measurements in a group of people working close to traffic and to determine whether such differences might obscure any threshold for health effects in epidemiological studies. METHODS--Personal air sampling was carried out on two groups of eight traffic wardens for four days on two consecutive weeks in November 1994. These measurements were compared with standard environmental static sampling data that were obtained for the same period. A simulation with log normal distributions of personal exposures was produced, and an arbitrary risk calculated for each exposure, assuming a threshold of 50 micrograms/m3, and an exposure-response curve was calculated. RESULTS--The median concentration for personal samplers in week 1 was 123 micrograms/m3 and 41 micrograms/m3 in week 2. Corresponding area concentrations were 10 micrograms/m3 and 7.5 micrograms/m3. The differences between the personal and area results were significant, as were the differences for personal sampling between weeks 1 and 2. The simulation showed that the variation in individual exposures around an area sampler obscured the threshold. CONCLUSIONS--Area sampling data may be of limited value in the investigation of the biological effects of exposure to pollution and their use may result in real thresholds being obscured. Personal exposure assessment may be crucial in determination of the health effects attributable to different concentrations of air pollutants.
The binding mechanism, multiple binding modes, and allosteric regulation of Staphylococcus aureus Sortase A probed by molecular dynamics simulations

Sortase enzymes are vitally important for the virulence of gram‐positive bacteria as they play a key role in the attachment of surface proteins to the cell wall. These enzymes recognize a specific sorting sequence in proteins destined to be displayed on the surface of the bacteria and catalyze the transpeptidation reaction that links it to a cell wall precursor molecule. Because of their role in establishing pathogenicity, and in light of the recent rise of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains, sortase enzymes are novel drug targets. Here, we present a study of the prototypical sortase protein Staphylococcus aureus Sortase A (SrtA). Both conventional and accelerated molecular dynamics simulations of S. aureus SrtA in its apo state and when bound to an LPATG sorting signal (SS) were performed. Results support a binding mechanism that may be characterized as conformational selection followed by induced fit. Additionally, the SS was found to adopt multiple metastable states, thus resolving discrepancies between binding conformations in previously reported experimental structures. Finally, correlation analysis reveals that the SS actively affects allosteric pathways throughout the protein that connect the first and the second substrate binding sites, which are proposed to be located on opposing faces of the protein. Overall, these calculations shed new light on the role of dynamics in the binding mechanism and function of sortase enzymes.
Markers of endothelial damage in patients on hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to assess whether renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the form of hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF) affects hemostasis and endothelial function in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-five hemodialyzed patients and 14 HDF patients were evaluated regarding hemostatic parameters, serum lipids and endothelial cell injury markers. RESULTS HD patients did not differ significantly in regard to serum lipids, complete blood count, hemostasis, and dialysis adequacy as measured by Kt/V when compared to HDF patients. Only the markers of endothelial cell injury thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor were significantly higher in HD when compared to HDF. CONCLUSIONS Patients on HD showed evidence of a higher degree of endothelial dysfunction than HDF patients. HDF seems to ameliorate endothelial dysfunction in comparison with HD. Therefore, hemostatic abnormalities in ESRF might be affected to some extent by the choice of RRT.
New Bi-Mode Gate-Commutated Thyristor Design Concept for High-Current Controllability and Low ON-State Voltage Drop

A new design approach for bi-mode gate-commutated thyristors (BGCTs) is proposed for high-current controllability and low ON-state voltage drop. Using a complex multi-cell mixed-mode simulation model which can capture the maximum controllable current (MCC) of large area devices, a failure analysis was performed to demonstrate that the new design concept can increase the MCC by about 27% at room temperature and by about 17% at 400 K while minimizing the ON-state voltage drop. The simulations depict that the improvement comes from the new approach to terminate the GCT part in the BGCT way of intertwining GCT and diode regions for reverse conducting operation.
Joint space width measures cartilage thickness in osteoarthritis of the knee: high resolution plain film and double contrast macroradiographic investigation.

OBJECTIVE--To test reliability of joint space width (JSW) measurements as a predictor of cartilage thickness in knees of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), using high definition microfocal radiography. METHOD--JSW was measured from weight bearing plain film macroradiographs taken in the tunnel view and compared with the sum of femoral and tibial cartilage thicknesses measured from double contrast macroarthrograms of the same regions of the same knees obtained in the non-weight bearing lateral position. RESULTS--All knees had medial compartment OA. Comparison of the JSW with the sum of the tibial and femoral cartilage thicknesses revealed a highly significant correlation (p < 0.0001) between the two measurements in the medial but not the lateral compartment. In the middle region of both compartments, JSW was smaller than the cartilage thickness, indicating that, on standing, the curvature of the femoral condyles compressed the cartilage in this region. CONCLUSIONS--JSW reliably measured cartilage thickness in the medial but not the lateral compartment of knees with medial compartment OA. Depending upon the stage of OA disease, JSW reliably reflects cartilage thinning and compression.
Perspective and form ratio as determinants of relative slant judgments

Judgments of relative slant were elicited by a paired-comparison method from 24 S"s in each of three experiments. The stimuli were computergenerated slides representing regular dot patterns (Exp. I), regular line patterns (Exp. II), or random dot patterns (Exp. Ill) rotated about a horizontal axis. The ratio of horizontal to vertical separations (form ratio) and perspective were independently varied in Exp. I and II. Perspective clearly dominated slant judgments when in conflict with form ratio as an indicator of degree of slant. Perspective alone was varied in Exp. Ill and was found to be less effective in determining slant judgments for random dot patterns. The equivalence of perspective and optical theta as explanations of slant perception is discussed. The retinal image of a slanted surface pro- The form ratio, however, is independent of vides at least two potential sources of veridical slant information. The first is the proximal stimulus form, relative to an assumed original form. For a surface rotated about a horizontal axis, form is defined as the ratio of a vertical distance between identifiable features of the surface to a horizontal distance between identifiable features. The vertical distance is measured from the axis of rotation along a line perpendicular to that axis to a horizontal contour line or other identifiable surface feature. The horizontal distance is measured at that vertical distance along a line parallel to the axis of rotation. Then viewing distance when its components are computed in the manner specified. The second source of slant information may be expressed in several ways. Flock's (1962) optical theta is one such expression:
Early Antiretroviral Therapy During Primary HIV-1 Infection Results in a Transient Reduction of the Viral Setpoint upon Treatment Interruption

Background Long-term benefits of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation during primary HIV-1 infection are debated. Methods The evolution of plasma HIV-RNA (432 measurements) and cell-associated HIV-DNA (325 measurements) after cessation of cART (median exposure 18 months) was described for 33 participants from the Zurich Primary HIV Infection Study using linear regression and compared with 545 measurements from 79 untreated controls with clinically diagnosed primary HIV infection, respectively a known date for seroconversion. Results On average, early treated individuals were followed for 37 months (median) after cART cessation; controls had 34 months of pre-cART follow-up. HIV-RNA levels one year after cART interruption were −0.8 log10 copies/mL [95% confidence interval −1.2;−0.4] lower in early treated patients compared with controls, but this difference was no longer statistically significant by year three of follow-up (−0.3 [−0.9; 0.3]). Mean HIV-DNA levels rebounded from 2 log10 copies [1.8; 2.3] on cART to a stable plateau of 2.7 log10 copies [2.5; 3.0] attained 1 year after therapy stop, which was not significantly different from cross-sectional measurements of 9 untreated members of the control group (2.8 log10 copies [2.5; 3.1]). Conclusions The rebound dynamics of viral markers after therapy cessation suggest that early cART may indeed limit reservoir size of latently infected cells, but that much of the initial benefits are only transient. Owing to the non-randomized study design the observed treatment effects must be interpreted with caution.
Commemorating alternative organizations and marginalized spaces: The case of forgotten Finntowns

Alternative organizations have become increasingly of interest in organizational theory. Previously understudied, these organizations have also been ignored or forgotten in the dominant narratives and spaces of commemoration. This further limits what we know about the past and the potential of alternative organizations. To illustrate this problem, we offer a specific case study of the forgotten alternative organizations and marginalized space of a former Finntown alongside the commemorative narratives and practices of capitalist entrepreneur heritage spaces. Extending organization theory on memory and forgetting, we detail how commemoration not only tends to legitimate capitalist forms of organizing, but also excludes alternatives. Finntowns, with their emphasis on cooperative organizations and community, provide a unique opportunity for organization studies to explore commemoration and forgetting in terms of power relations, time, and space. These marginalized spaces contained alternative organizations coexisting and contrasting with dominant capitalist organizations. Remembering their contributions means taking alternative organizations seriously, acknowledging their historic importance as well as their ability to be models for contemporary organizations.
Qualities of Single Electrode Stimulation as a Function of Rate and Place of Stimulation with a Cochlear Implant

Objectives: Although it has been shown previously that changes in temporal coding produce changes in pitch in all cochlear regions, research has suggested that temporal coding might be best encoded in relatively apical locations. The authors hypothesized that although temporal coding may provide useable information at any cochlear location, low rates of stimulation might provide better sound quality in apical regions that are more likely to encode temporal information in the normal ear. In the present study, sound qualities of single electrode pulse trains were scaled to provide insight into the combined effects of cochlear location and stimulation rate on sound quality. Design: Ten long-term users of MED-EL cochlear implants with 31-mm electrode arrays (Standard or FLEXSOFT) were asked to scale the sound quality of single electrode pulse trains in terms of how “Clean,” “Noisy,” “High,” and “Annoying” they sounded. Pulse trains were presented on most electrodes between 1 and 12 representing the entire range of the long electrode array at stimulation rates of 100, 150, 200, 400, or 1500 pulses per second. Results: Although high rates of stimulation are scaled as having a Clean sound quality across the entire array, only the most apical electrodes (typically 1 through 3) were considered Clean at low rates. Low rates on electrodes 6 through 12 were not rated as Clean, whereas the low-rate quality of electrodes 4 and 5 were typically in between. Scaling of Noisy responses provided an approximately inverse pattern as Clean responses. High responses show the trade-off between rate and place of stimulation on pitch. Because High responses did not correlate with Clean responses, subjects were not rating sound quality based on pitch. Conclusions: If explicit temporal coding is to be provided in a cochlear implant, it is likely to sound better when provided apically. In addition, the finding that low rates sound clean only at apical places of stimulation is consistent with previous findings that a change in rate of stimulation corresponds to an equivalent change in perceived pitch at apical locations. Collectively, the data strongly suggest that temporal coding with a cochlear implant is optimally provided by electrodes placed well into the second cochlear turn.
Krylov subspace method for fuzzy eigenvalue problem

The eigenvalue problem arises in many application areas and in the fuzzy setting, focus has always been geared towards the finding of solution for the whole set of eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors. This paper introduces the computation of a few eigenpairs of a matrix with triangular fuzzy numbers as elements, where the modal matrix is assumed to be sparse and real symmetric. A two-step procedure is developed for the solution of this type of fuzzy eigenvalue problem. The first step solves the 1-cut of the problem, where the well-known Krylov subspace method, implicitly restarted Lanczos algorithm, is employed to approximate part of the spectrum with respect to either smallest or largest eigenvalues. The second step assigns unknown symmetric linear spreads to the approximate eigenpairs. Numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed scheme for determining fuzzy symmetric eigenpairs of a fuzzy matrix.
Secondary Stigma for Professionals who work with Marginalized Groups: Experiences of Sex Offender Counselors

Catherine Stein, Advisor Although research has been done on social stigma and its effects on individuals in marginalized groups, relatively little is known about the effects of secondary stigma for those people who are associated with stigmatized individuals, such as mental health professionals. Using a sample of 196 mental health professionals who work with sexual offenders (64 sexual offender counselors), serious mental illness (64 case managers), and college students (68 college counselors), the present research examined mental health professionals' experience of secondary stigma, personal growth, professional burnout, and job choice regret as a function of working with clients. The mixed-method research design includes a qualitative analysis of mental health professionals’ descriptions of secondary stigma and the impact of their work on their professional and personal lives. The psychometric properties of the newly developed measure, the Mental Health Professionals Secondary Stigma Scale (MHPSSS) were also evaluated. Findings suggest that sex offender counselors reported experiencing more secondary stigma and depersonalization than case managers and college counselors. Case managers reported higher levels of personal growth followed by college counselors and sexual offender counselors. All three samples of mental health professionals identified positive and negative aspects of their work. Implications of findings for research and clinical practice are discussed.
Estimating and Explaining the Financial Performance of Property and Casualty Insurers: A Two-Stage Analysis

The purpose of this study is to estimate and explain the performance of non-life (i.e., property and casualty) insurers. The analysis consists of two stages. First, we propose the use of a multicriteria method to assess the condition of insurers while considering simultaneously a set of conflicting financial criteria. Then, we use regression analysis to examine the influence of firm-specific and country-specific attributes on the overall measure of performance obtained during the first stage. Macroeconomic conditions such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, and income inequality are the most robust predictors of performance. However, other country-specific characteristics that relate to the institutional environment and financial or economic freedom do not appear to matter.
An Investigation of Factors Associated with Suicidal Attempts among Male Military Personnel

Objective: There is no predictive model for risk factors that are associated with suicidal attempts by young adult servicemen in Taiwan. This study was aimed to determine the characteristics of male servicemen who attempted suicide in a military setting, and to examine the differences between suicide attempters and control subjects who did not have a history of suicide attempts during their military service. Methods: Suicide attempters (n = 73) and control subjects (n = 149) were questioned about information of personal demographic characteristics, personal and family background, and stressful events in their lives. Those two groups were then compared for the risk factors using Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Risk factors such as poor parental relationships (p ＜ 0.05), a family history of suicide (p ＜ 0.05), previous suicide attempts (p ＜ 0.05), relational problems with authorities (p ＜ 0.01), maladjustment to the military environment (p = 0.001), being far away from family members (p ＜ 0.05), failed intimate relationships with a girlfriend or wife (p ＜ 0.05), and stress of personal health problems (p ＜ 0.05) showed significant associations with suicide attempts among male service personnel. Conclusion: It is important to establish a warning system and data bank of military trainees who have previous suicide attempts, poor parental relationships, and a family history of suicide. Referral for psychiatric intervention is necessary when soldiers are facing severe stress in the army.
Comparison of different caries diagnostic thresholds under epidemiological and clinical settings among 7-15 year old school children from Bangalore city

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the different caries diagnostic thresholds under epidemiological and clinical settings among 7-15 year old school children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 7-15 years old school children of Bangalore city. Total 738 children were enrolled in the study. General information was collected regarding oral hygiene practice and personal habits of the schoolchildren. Subsequently, examination was done under both the settings to record Decayed, missing and filled surfaces index for permanent teeth (DMFS) and Decayed, missing and filled surfaces index for deciduous teeth (dmfs) using the World Health Organization (WHO) and WHO + IL criteria. Results: The present study showed that both the settings (clinical and epidemiological) and diagnostic thresholds (WHO and WHO + IL), could influence the detection of carious lesions. Mean Ds under WHO + Initial lesions (IL) criteria (3.92 + 3.49) was nearly double of WHO criteria (1.88 + 2.73,) and the influence observed was more in 14 years of age, where mean Ds under WHO + IL criteria (5.43 + 2.5) which was more than double of WHO criteria (2.02 + 1.9). Conclusion: The choice of a diagnostic threshold (WHO and WHO + IL) and the conditions of examination (epidemiological and clinical) are important for the detection of caries.
Inhibition of return is no hallmark of exogenous capture by unconscious cues

Inhibition of irrelevant information and response tendencies is a central characteristic of conscious control and executive functions. However, recent theories in vision considered Inhibition of Return (IOR: slower responses to attended than unattended positions) to be a hallmark of automatic exogenous capture of visual attention by unconscious cues. In the present study, we show that an unconscious cue that exogenously captures attention does not lead to IOR. First of all, subliminal cues with a contrast different from a searched-for target contrast capture attention independently of their match of contrast polarity to the search criteria. This is found with a short cue-target interval (Exp. 1). However, the same cues do not lead to IOR with a long cue-target interval. The lack of IOR is also verified for several intermediate intervals (Exp. 2), for high-contrast cues and low-contrast targets (Exp. 3), and with lower luminance cues presented on a CRT screen (Exp. 4). Finally, no capture effect but IOR is found for consciously perceived anti-predictive cues (Exp. 5). Together the results support the notion of a double dissociation between IOR and exogenous capture and are in line with a decisive role of consciousness for inhibition.