Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation and modeling of the residential infiltration of fine particulate matter in Beijing, China

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the residential infiltration factor (Finf) of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and to develop models to predict PM2.5 Finf in Beijing. Eighty-eight paired indoor–outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected by Teflon filters for seven consecutive days during both non-heating and heating seasons (from a total of 55 families between August, 2013 and February, 2014). The mass concentrations of PM2.5 were measured by gravimetric method, and elemental concentrations of sulfur in filter deposits were determined by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometry. PM2.5 Finf was estimated as the indoor/outdoor sulfur ratio. Multiple linear regression was used to construct Finf predicting models. The residential PM2.5 Finf in non-heating season (0.70 ± 0.21, median = 0.78, n = 43) was significantly greater than in heating season (0.54 ± 0.18, median = 0.52, n = 45, p < 0.001). Outdoor temperature, window width, frequency of window opening, and air conditioner use were the most important predictors during non-heating season, which could explain 57% variations across residences, while the outdoor temperature was the only predictor identified in heating season, which could explain 18% variations across residences. The substantial variations of PM2.5 Finf between seasons and among residences found in this study highlight the importance of incorporating Finf into exposure assessment in epidemiological studies of air pollution and human health in Beijing. The Finf predicting models developed in this study hold promise for incorporating PM2.5 Finf into large epidemiology studies, thereby reducing exposure misclassification. Implications: Failure to consider the differences between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 may contribute to exposure misclassification in epidemiological studies estimating exposure from a central site measurement. This study was conducted in Beijing to investigate residential PM2.5 infiltration factor and to develop a localized predictive model in both nonheating and heating seasons. High variations of PM2.5 infiltration factor between the two seasons and across homes within each season were found, highlighting the importance of including infiltration factor in the assessment of exposure to PM2.5 of outdoor origin in epidemiological studies. Localized predictive models for PM2.5 infiltration factor were also developed.
Protective Effects of Rutaecarpine in Cardiac Anaphylactic Injury is Mediated by CGRP

Previous investigations have indicated that rutaecarpine activates the vanilloid receptor to evoke calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release. CGRP has been shown to alleviate cardiac anaphylactic injury. In the present study, the effect of rutaecarpine on cardiac anaphylaxis was examined. Challenge of presensitized guinea-pig hearts with a specific antigen caused marked decreases in coronary flow (CF), left ventricular pressure (LVP) and its derivatives (+/- dp/dt(max)), an increase in heart rate, and prolongation of the P-R interval. Rutaecarpine (0.3 or 1 microM) markedly increased the content of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the coronary effluent and decreased the content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in myocardial tissues concomitantly with a significant improvement of cardiac function and alleviation of the extension of the P-R interval. Rutaecarpine at the concentration of 1 microM also inhibited the sinus tachycardia. The protective effects of rutaecarpine on cardiac anaphylaxis were abolished by CGRP (8-37), a selective CGRP receptor antagonist. These results suggest that the protective effects of rutaecarpine on cardiac anaphylactic injury are related to inhibition of TNF-alpha production by stimulation of CGRP release.
Sex differences of age-dependent changes of insulin sensitivity in Japanese nondiabetic subjects.

Impaired insulin sensitivity is associated with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. This abnormality occurs by various causes such as genetic background, obesity, high-calorie diet, and low physical activity. Sex hormones also influence insulin sensitivity, which might be a cause for sex differences of the development of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis (1, 2). Collectively, however, there is no population-based study of sex differences in insulin sensitivity. Here, we aimed to determine whether there are sex and age differences of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretory activity in middle-aged nondiabetic subjects. Of 1,934 Japanese subjects who visited the Kinki Central …
The use of real-time ultrasound feedback in teaching abdominal hollowing exercises to healthy subjects.

STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVES To determine if supplementing typical clinical instruction with real-time ultrasound feedback facilitates performance and retention of the abdominal hollowing exercise (AHE). BACKGROUND Increasingly clinicians are using real-time ultrasound imaging as a form of feedback when teaching patients trunk stabilization exercises; however, there has been no justification for this practice. METHODS AND MEASURES Forty-eight subjects were divided randomly into 3 groups that received different types of feedback: group 1 received minimal verbal feedback, group 2 received verbal and palpatory feedback, and group 3 received real-time ultrasound, verbal, and palpatory feedback. If the subject performed 3 consecutive correct AHEs during the initial session, she/he returned for a retention test. The performance of 3 consecutive, correct AHEs was the criterion measure; the number of trials to criterion was also recorded during the initial and retention test sessions. RESULTS The ability to perform the AHE differed among groups (P<.001). During the initial session, 12.5% of subjects in group 1, 50.0% of subjects in group 2, and 87.5% of subjects in group 3 were able to perform 3 consecutive AHEs. Group 3 subjects achieved the criterion in fewer trials than the other 2 groups (P = .0006). No differences among groups were found for the retention testing; however, low power due to fewer subjects precluded a strong interpretation of this finding. CONCLUSION Real-time ultrasound feedback can decrease the number of trials needed to consistently perform the AHE; however, the data are inconclusive with regard to retention of this skill.
ResearchIssues in accelerometer methodology : the role of epoch length on estimates of physical activity and relationships with health outcomes in overweight , post-menopausal women

Background: Current accelerometer technology allows for data collection using brief time sampling intervals (i.e., epochs). The study aims were to examine the role of epoch length on physical activity estimates and subsequent relationships with clinically-meaningful health outcomes in post-menopausal women. Methods: Data was obtained from the Woman On the Move through Activity and Nutrition Study (n = 102). Differences in activity estimates presented as 60s and 10s epochs were evaluated using paired t-tests. Relationships with health outcomes were examined using correlational and regression analyses to evaluate differences by epoch
HIV-Related High Risk Sexual Behaviors and Practices Among Women in Bogotá, Colombia

ABSTRACT Determinants associated with high-risk sexual behaviors were investigated in 1,133 sexually active women in Bogotá, Colombia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by two groups of women: 721 representing the general population (GP), and 412 commercial sex workers (CSWs). High-risk sexual behaviors for HIV/AIDS were evident in both groups. Nevertheless, consistent condom use was reported by only 6% of the GP group, as compared to 67% of the CSWs. Failure to recognize high-risk routes for HIV infection was indicated in 69% of the GP women for anal sex, and by the majority of both groups for intercourse during menses (56% GP women and 54% CSWs). Multivariate analysis revealed that education level, actual age, and age of first sex experience were significant predictors of high-risk sexual practices. The necessity for educational programs regarding high-risk sexual practices and risk of HIV/ AIDS is evident for HIV/AIDS prevention.
Verification of WRF rainfall forecasts over India during monsoon 2010: CRA method

The WRF model forecast during monsoon season 2010 has been verified with daily observed gridded rainfall analysis with 0.5° spatial resolution. Firstly, the conventional neighborhood technique has been deployed to calculate common scores like mean error and root mean square error. Along with, widely used two categorical skill scores have been computed for seven different rainfall thresholds. The scores only found the general nature of the model performance and depicted the degradation of forecast accuracy exceeding moderate rainfall category of 7.5 mm. The object oriented Contiguous Rain Area method also has been considered for the verification of rainfall forecasts to gather more information about model performance. The method similarly has endorsed that the performance of the model degrades along with the increase in rainfall amount. But at the same time, the decomposition of mean square error has pointed out that the maximum error occurred due the shifting of rain object or event in the forecast compared to observation. The volume error contributes less as compared to pattern error in 24 hour forecasts irrespective of rainfall thresholds. But in 48 hour forecasts, their values are comparable and change along with rainfall threshold. During whole monsoon season, all contiguous rain areas in model forecasts have been searched over observed rainfall analyses applying best-fit criteria. For contiguous rain areas below 50 mm more than 70 percent match was found.
Uncertainty Measures for Hesitant Fuzzy Information

In this paper, we first review the existing entropy measures for hesitant fuzzy elements (HFEs) and demonstrate that the existing entropy measures for HFEs fail to effectively distinguish some apparently different HFEs in some cases. Then, we propose a new axiomatic framework of entropy measures for HFEs by taking fully into account two facets of uncertainty associated with an HFE (i.e., fuzziness and nonspecificity). We adopt a two‐tuple entropy model to represent the two types of uncertainty associated with an HFE. Additionally, we discuss how to formulate each kind of uncertainty. For each of fuzziness and nonspecificity, some simple methods are provided to construct measures, which can well handle the problems in the existing entropy measures for HFEs. Several examples are given to illustrate each method, and comparisons with the existing entropy measures are also offered.
Diploid Male Frequencies in Colombian Populations of Euglossine Bees

Some studies have recently reported high diploid male frequencies in euglossine bees indicating possible population declines. We estimated the genetic variability and frequency of males that are diploid in five Colombian species of euglossine bees using allozyme markers. Expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.10 to 0.23. Diploid males were found in three species with frequencies ranging from 8 to 32 percent. Our results suggest that some species are more susceptible to environmental changes and anthropogenic pressure.
Investigation of Quantum Effects in Ultra-Thin Body Single- and Double-Gate Devices Submitted to Heavy Ion Irradiation

The response to single-event transient of decananometer SOI MOSFETs is investigated by heavy ion experiment and by 3D quantum simulation. The 50 nm FD Single-Gate SOI devices have been irradiated with heavy ions at GANIL (Caen, France) using a new experimental setup. Three-dimensional numerical simulation is used to get further insights and to extrapolate the experimental results when devices are scaled down. For ultra-thin films new phenomena such as quantum-mechanical confinement have to be carefully considered in the device simulation. These effects are found to have an increasing impact on the operation of future ultra-thin single- and double-gate devices submitted to heavy ion irradiation
Spreading of Liquids on Highly Curved Surfaces

Because of surface tension, liquid films coating fibers or the insides of capillary tubes are usually unstable and break up into a periodic array of droplets. However, if these films are very thin (of thickness in the range of tens of angstroms), they can be stabilized by long-range van der Waals forces. A simple method for making such wetting films consists of slowly drawing the fiber out of a bath of liquid; the thickness of the film is then measured using a method based on gas chromatography. If these liquid films are thick, and are forced to flow, they may then not break up: the instability becomes "saturated. "
Discovery and biochemical characterisation of four novel biomarkers for osteoarthritis

Objective Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous, complex joint pathology of unknown aetiology. Biomarkers have been widely used to investigate OA but currently available biomarkers lack specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed to better understand the pathophysiological processes of OA initiation and progression. Methods Surface enhanced laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight-mass spectrometry proteomic technique was used to analyse protein expression levels in 284 serum samples from patients with knee OA classified according to Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) score (0–4). OA serum samples were also compared to serum samples provided by healthy individuals (negative control subjects; NC; n=36) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (n=25). Proteins that gave similar signal in all K&L groups of OA patients were ignored, whereas proteins with increased or decreased levels of expression were selected for further studies. Results Two proteins were found to be expressed at higher levels in sera of OA patients at all four K&L scores compared to NC and RA, and were identified as V65 vitronectin fragment and C3fpeptide. Of the two remaining proteins, one showed increased expression (unknown protein at m/z of 3762) and the other (identified as connective tissue-activating peptide III protein) was decreased in K&L scores >2 subsets compared to NC, RA and K&L scores 0 or 1 subsets. Conclusion The authors detected four unexpected biomarkers (V65 vitronectin fragment, C3f peptide, CTAP-III and m/z 3762 protein) that could be relevant in the pathophysiological process of OA as having significant correlation with parameters reflecting local inflammation and bone remodelling, as well as decrease in cartilage turnover.
Comparative Analysis of Indian Paneer and Cheese Whey for Electrolyte Whey Drink

The present study was undertaken to make crude comparison between whey obtained from paneer and cheese during manufacturing. Paneer and cheese whey were compared in terms of all the minerals as well as physico- chemical properties indispensable for electrolyte drink. The slight differences attributed, among various parameters can be mainly due the difference in manufacturing process. Our results indicated significantly higher concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride contents in paneer whey than cheese whey. The analysis is important as paneer whey can be utilized more efficiently otherwise creating environmental pollution especially in India.
Structural Analyses of Purified Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Intracellular Reverse Transcription Complexes

ABSTRACT Retroviruses copy their RNA genome into a DNA molecule, but little is known of the structure of the complex mediating reverse transcription in vivo. We used confocal and electron microscopy to study the structure of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) intracellular reverse transcription complexes (RTCs). Cytoplasmic extracts were prepared 3, 4, and 16 h after acute infection by Dounce homogenization in hypotonic buffer. RTCs were purified by velocity sedimentation, followed by density fractionation in linear sucrose gradients and dialysis in a large pore cellulose membrane. RTCs had a sedimentation velocity of approximately 350 S and a density of 1.34 g/ml and were active in an endogenous reverse transcription assay. Double labeling of nucleic acids and viral proteins allowed specific visualization of RTCs by confocal microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed that RTCs are large nucleoprotein structures of variable shape consisting of packed filaments ca. 6 nm thick. Integrase and Vpr are associated with discrete regions of the 6-nm filaments. The nucleic acids within the RTC are coated by small proteins distinct from nucleocapsid and are partially protected from nuclease digestion.
Application of finite-size scaling to the Pink model for lipid bilayers.

We present a Monte Carlo finite-size scaling analysis of the Pink model with the fitted parameters appropriate for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and disteroyl phosphatidylcholine lipid-bilayer systems. The numerical simulations were performed in conjunction with the extrapolation method of Ferrenberg and Swendsen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2635 (1988)] and the finite-size scaling method of Lee and Kosterlitz [Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 137 (1990)]. In contrast to previous work, we found that there is no first-order phase transition and that the abrupt jump in the order parameter and the enhancement of the response functions found by previous numerical simulations are due to the presence of strong lateral density fluctuations which give rise to a large correlation length.
Cochlear Response Telemetry: Intracochlear Electrocochleography via Cochlear Implant Neural Response Telemetry Pilot Study Results

Aim To record cochlear responses to acoustic stimulation (electrocochleography) directly from a cochlear implant (CI) in awake recipients with residual hearing, using an adaptation of Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) that achieves a 10-ms recording window. Background Modern cochlear implants contain circuitry for recording neural responses to electrical stimulation, which is known in Cochlear Ltd systems as NRT. We adapted NRT to achieve an extended recording window long enough to record an acoustic electrocochleogram. This paper reports recordings made with this system in recipients with residual hearing. Methods Subjects were adults with CI422 CIs who retained audiometric thresholds between 75 and 90 dB HL at 500 Hz in their implanted ear. The CI was interfaced to a laptop via a Freedom speech processor connected by USB. Calibrated acoustic stimuli (clicks and tone bursts between 500 and 1,500 Hz) were presented via insert tube phones to the implanted ear. Responses were acquired through the adapted NRT system. Recordings were made from apical, mid-array, and basal electrodes. Electrocochleography responses were compared with audiometric thresholds. Results Electrocochleography could be recorded from all five subjects. The compound action potential, cochlear microphonic, and summating potentials were identified. Good quality recordings were most reliably attained from apical electrodes using 40 to 100 repetitions. Audiometric thresholds were similar to compound action potential thresholds. Conclusions Intracochlear responses to acoustic stimulation can be recorded directly from the CI in awake recipients with residual hearing. This may prove useful for monitoring postoperative hearing and for device fitting.
Premedication for elective Caesarean section

Four coded, but otherwise unidentified, premedicants were prescribed in randomised order for 219 patients who were to undergo elective Caesarean section. Seventy-six (35%) of these patients affirmed at the pre-operative visit that they were not anxious. Diazepam 5 mg and lorazepam 1 mg appeared to be superior to the placebo and to 10-6 ml of 90% alcohol in inducing calmness and/or drowsiness, although the differences were not statistically significant. The incidence of awareness or unpleasant dreams was considerably higher in the placebo and alcohol series (6.2% and 7.5%) than in the diazepam and lorazepam series (nil and 2.1%). There was no remarkable difference in the condition of the immediate newly-born related to the premedicant received by the mother, any small differences being much less impressive than that related to the duration of the U-D interval. No notable differences were observed in the long term conditions between the infants in the placebo, alcohol and diazepam series but the incidence of "reluctance to feed". If relief from preoperative anxiety-and possibly a reduction in the likelihood of awareness-without undue effect upon the infant is considered desirable, diazepam 5 mg is the preferred choice from the four drugs investigated.
In vitro development and analysis of Escherichia coli and Shigella boydii azithromycin-resistant mutants.

The aim of this study was to develop and analyze in vitro azithromycin (AZM)-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli and Shigella boydii. Three clinical isolates of E. coli and one S. boydii isolated from feces samples collected from children under 5 years of age with diarrhea in Lima, Peru were inoculated onto Mueller-Hinton plates containing increasing serial dilutions of AZM ranging from their specific minimal inhibitory concentration (2 or 4 mg/l) to 64 mg/l. From these plates, 16 AZM-resistant mutants were selected to determine the stability of the resistance and the presence of cross resistance with other antibiotics. The role of Phe-Arg-β-Naphthylamide (PAβN)-inhibitible efflux pumps as well as the presence of mutations in the rplV, rplD, and rrlH (23S rRNA) genes and alterations in the outer membrane profiles were determined in these 16 mutants. The rate of mutation ranged from < 2.70×10(-10) to 2.17×10(-7) for E. coli and from < 9.58×10(-10) to 1.05×10(-8) for S. boydii. E. coli mutants showed an increase in the AZM-MIC up to sixfold with one strain achieving a MIC >256 mg/l. In contrast, S. boydii only presented increases of up to twofold in MIC levels. All the strains obtained, but one showed stable AZM resistance. In the presence of PAβN, the AZM MICs decreased to parental levels in Shigella mutants, while no MIC returned to parental levels among the E. coli mutants. No cross resistance to other classes of antibiotics was found. These results show the relevance of PAβN-inhibitible efflux pumps in the basal levels and development of AZM resistance. Further studies to characterize the remaining unidentified mechanisms of AZM resistance are needed.