Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary effects of spot welding in automobile assembly.

BACKGROUND Spot welding is a type of resistance welding in which pieces of metals are pressed together and an electric current is passed through them. Spot welders are at risk of contact with some potentially hazardous agents but there are few studies about the respiratory effects of spot welding. AIMS Our objective was to study lung function and respiratory symptoms among spot welders and office workers at an automobile assembly factory in Iran. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 137 male spot welders and 129 office workers. We used a questionnaire to record demographic data, smoking habits, work history and respiratory symptoms. Spirometry was performed to assess lung function status. Metal fume samples from the respiratory zone of spot welders were analysed. RESULTS The concentrations of metal fume were less than the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values. There were significantly lower values for average forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV(1)), FEV(1)/forced vital capacity and 25-75% forced expiratory flow in spot welders compared to controls. There was also a significantly raised prevalence of respiratory symptoms (sputum and dyspnoea) in spot welders. Fifteen per cent of spot welders and 1% of controls had an obstructive pattern in spirometry. CONCLUSIONS Our survey suggests that spot welders are at risk of developing respiratory symptoms and decreasing pulmonary function values despite their exposure to components of welding fume being within ACGIH guidelines.
Primary Imaging Test for Suspected Traumatic Thoracolumbar Spine Injury: 2017 Guidelines by the Korean Society of Radiology and National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency

The Korean Society of Radiology and the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency developed a primary imaging test for suspected traumatic thoracolumbar spine injury. This guideline was developed using an adaptation process involving collaboration between the development committee and the working group. The development committee, consisting of research methodology experts, established the overall plan and provided support on research methodology. The working group, composed of radiologists with expertise in musculoskeletal imaging, wrote the recommendation. The guidelines recommend that thoracolumbar spine computed tomography without intravenous contrast enhancement be the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing traumatic thoracolumbar spine injury in adults.
Siraiki: A Sociolinguistic Study of Language Desertion

The main focus of this thesis is the phenomenon of Siraiki language maintenance language shift in Multan. This is the first study of its kind carried out on any Pakistani language. The study examines the speech practices of rural and urban Siraiki Multanis in the home domain in the light of various demographic, social, political, and affective factors. It highlights the complex relationship of these factors with regard to change in the language use patterns of the Siraikis. The major sources of data for this study comprise of results from a matched-guise test, recorded speech of Siraikis in the home domain, and interviews. Triangulation of data and methods have been used in this research. The findings suggest that the phenomenon of Siraiki language maintenance/shift is differential in rural and urban Multan and no single factor can be held responsible for any changed or changing speech practices of the Siraikis. The conclusion argues that the attitude of the speakers towards their language is equally important in this process. It also brings to light the inadequacy of both the terminology and the so-called universal models that attempt to account for this complex sociolinguistic phenomenon. This research has educational and social implications and makes a theoretical and methodological contribution to the field of sociolinguistics. It is hoped that it will raise the awareness of Pakistanis in general and Siraikis in particular about the fate and the treatment of their mother tongues by themselves and by the general society. This study also hopes to broaden our understanding of the phenomenon of language maintenance/shift.
How Much Do UK Market Interest Rates Respond to Macroeconomic Data News?

Macroeconomic data releases receive considerable attention in financial market commentary, suggesting they are an important source of information that investors use to form their views about the economic outlook. This article quantifies the role played by these data releases in explaining observed changes in market interest rates in the United Kingdom. It looks at which data releases — both domestic and foreign — tend to have most effect on UK interest rates. It also examines how the importance of data releases can change over time and considers the factors that may explain changes in the sensitivity of interest rates to data news.
Leptin deficiency causes pycnotic change in fetal cingulate cortical cells

ABSTRACT Leptin is an obese gene product, and leptin‐deficient ob/ob mice develop hyperphagia and reduced locomotor activity. Leptin is thought to be related to brain development, because leptin receptors are widely expressed in the brain, and because brain weight as well as brain protein and DNA contents were reduced in adult ob/ob mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of leptin on the fetal cingulate cortex, since the leptin receptor is expressed in the neurons of the cingulate cortex, which is involved in emotion as well as in sensory, motor, and cognitive processes. The ob/ob fetuses had more pycnotic cells than wild‐type fetuses in the cingulate cortex at embryonic day (E) 18. Many pycnotic cells were observed in the intermediate zone of the cingulate cortex. Most cells observed in this area were neuronal lineage cells, while few undifferentiated cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells were found. At E18 there was no significant difference in the rostrocaudal length of the corpus callosum, which contains the neuronal projection from the cingulate cortex, between ob/ob and wild‐type fetuses. We also showed that the length of the cerebrum was greater and the width of the cerebrum and cerebellum were lesser in ob/ob fetuses than in wild‐type at E16. These results suggest an increased cell death in neuronal lineage cells in the intermediate zone of the cingulate cortex in leptin‐deficient ob/ob mice. Leptin deficiency may also alter the gross morphology of the brain in development, but not the formation of the corpus callosum.
[Microbiological analysis of late infected hip arthroplasty in 62 cases].

OBJECTIVE To review the type and number of pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity in patients with late infected total joint replacement so as to offer guidance for the choice of antibiotics. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 patients whose suspected specimens were obtained intra-operatively during a total hip arthroplasty since January 2002 to August 2010 at our department. Their demographic data, bacterial species and antibiotic sensitivity profiles were recorded. RESULTS Among 62 cases, the cultures were tested positive in 48 cases; the most common bacteria was Gram-positive bacteria (74%). And coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 62.9% of all bacterial cultures. And the ratio of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus was 41.18%. CONCLUSION The late infection of total hip arthroplasty is mainly caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Antibiotic treatment for late periprosthetic infection should be guided by the findings of drug susceptibility. Vancomycin may be used as a primary agent for the treatment of infected hip arthroplasty.
Who Invests More in Advanced Abatement Technology? Theory and Evidence

We study firm investment in abatement technology under a heterogeneous-firm framework. We find that more-productive firms make more (less) investment in abatement technology if investment and productivity are complements (substitutes). Under linear demand, firms abatement investments exhibit an inverted U-shape with respect to productivity level. This finding is in contrast to results in existing studies. We also find that in response to tightened environmental regulations, more-productive firms raise their respective investments in abatement technology, whereas less-productive firms do the opposite. More-productive firms have lower pollution emission intensity. The key theoretical predictions are confirmed by empirical tests using Chinese data.
Simple Fasting Methods to Assess Insulin Sensitivity in Childhood

The ‘gold standard’ techniques used to measure insulin sensitivity in children are the hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and Bergman’s minimal model. Although precise, these techniques are complex, invasive and time consuming. Alternative indirect measures of insulin sensitivity have been developed that utilize fasting glucose and insulin data in algorithms or computer programs. These methods include homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the glucose to insulin ratio (G:I). Each of these three fasting techniques has been developed and validated in adults, with little or no validation in children. Increasingly, HOMA and QUICKI are being used in childhood studies to assess insulin sensitivity. In a group of 79 pre-pubertal children, we found that the correlation between the minimal model and RHOMA (r = –0.4) was no better than that between the minimal model and fasting insulin (r = 0.4), with an even weaker correlation between the minimal model and QUICKI (r = 0.2). In addition, neither HOMA nor QUICKI were able to detect a reduction in insulin sensitivity with obesity or during growth hormone therapy, unlike the minimal model. In children with normal glucose levels, neither HOMA nor QUICKI was superior to fasting insulin. Validation of the derivation formulae for these methods in children is needed before they are more widely used. The potential benefits of these simple fasting techniques is that they are useful in large field studies. However, if the study groups are small or longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity are sought, more precise techniques such as the clamp or minimal model should be used.
Electromyographic analysis of repeated bouts of eccentric exercise

The repeated bout effect refers to the protective effect provided by a single bout of eccentric exercise against muscle damage from a similar subsequent bout. The aim of this study was to determine if the repeated bout was associated with an increase in motor unit activation relative to force production, an increased recruitment of slow-twitch motor units or increased motor unit synchronization. Surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the hamstring muscles during two bouts of submaximal isokinetic (2.6 rad·s¹) eccentric (11 men, 9 women) or concentric (6 men, 4 women) contractions separated by 2 weeks. The EMG per unit torque and median frequency were analysed. The initial bout of eccentric exercise resulted in strength loss, pain and muscle tenderness, while the repeated eccentric bout resulted in a slight increase in strength, no pain and no muscle tenderness (bout x time effects, P < 0.05). Strength, pain and tenderness were unaffected by either bout of concentric exercise. The EMG per unit torque and median frequency were not different between the initial and repeated bouts of eccentric exercise. The EMG per unit torque and median frequency increased during both bouts of eccentric exercise (P < 0.01) but did not change during either concentric bout. In conclusion, there was no evidence that the repeated bout effect was due to a neural adaptation.
EFFECTS OF EXERCISE-INDUCED FATIGUE WITH AND WITHOUT HYDRATION ON STATIC POSTURAL CONTROL IN ADULT HUMAN SUBJECTS

Postural instability can be the result of various factors, including fatigue. Although it is well known that exercise-induced fatigue may be responsible for a decrease in performance, its effects on postural control, as well as those of hydration, have been relatively little explored. This study evaluated the effects of fatigue, with and without rehydration, on postural control in 10 healthy subjects who regularly practice sports activities. All subjects were submitted to three types of ergocycle exercises: maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max) and submaximal exercises in no-hydrated and hydrated conditions at a power corresponding to approximately 60% of the Vo2max of each subject. Static posturographic tests were performed immediately before (control) and after exercises. The postural control performance decreased from the best to the worst: control, hydration, dehydration, and Vo2max. Fast Fourier transformation of the center of foot pressure showed three patterns of amplitude spectral density, with an increase of spectral amplitude for dehydration, more important for Vo2max conditions. Spectral amplitudes for control and hydration conditions were relatively similar. This hierarchy suggests that fatigue mainly alters muscular effectors and sensory inputs, such as proprioception, resulting in poor postural regulation. Moreover, fluid ingestion could be responsible for the preservation of muscular functions and of sensory afferences accurately regulating postural control.
Mid-Air Tactile Stimulation Using Indirect Laser Radiation

In this paper, we demonstrate that a laser irradiated on a thin light-absorbing elastic medium attached on the skin can elicit a tactile sensation of mechanical tap. First, we present simulation results that show laser irradiation to the elastic medium creates inner elastic waves on the basis of thermoelastic effects and these elastic waves trigger the bending deformation of the medium, which then stimulates the skin. Second, we analyze the physical properties of the associated stimulus by measuring its force profile. Third, we identify the perceptual characteristics of the stimulus in comparison to those of mechanical and electrical stimuli by means of a perceptual experiment employing dissimilarity rating. All the evidence indicates that indirect laser radiation provides a sensation of short mechanical tap. Furthermore, little individual difference was observed in the results of the perceptual experiment. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in reporting the feasibility of indirect laser radiation for mid-air tactile rendering.
Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody C225 inhibits angiogenesis in human transitional cell carcinoma growing orthotopically in nude mice.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates the growth and progression of human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. We have shown that therapy targeting EGFR inhibited the growth of human TCC established orthotopically in nude mice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether EGFR-directed therapy affects angiogenesis associated with the growth and metastasis of human TCC. We determined the cytostatic effect and the effect on production of angiogenic factors after in vitro treatment of the human TCC cell line 253J B-V with MAb C225, a chimerized monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody. The 253J B-V cells were implanted orthotopically into athymic nude mice, and established tumors (4 weeks) were treated with i.p. MAb C225. Expression of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and in situ mRNA hybridization analyses and correlated with microvessel density evaluated after immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD31. In vitro treatment with MAb C225 inhibited mRNA and protein production of VEGF, IL-8, and bFGF by 253J B-V cells in a dose-dependent manner. MAb C225 therapy of nude mice with established TCCs growing orthotopically resulted in inhibition of growth and metastasis compared with controls (P <0.0005). VEGF, IL-8, and bFGF expression was significantly lower in treated tumors than in controls. The down-regulation of these angiogenic factors preceded the involution of blood vessels. These studies indicate that therapy with anti-EGFR MAb C225 has a significant antitumor effect mediated, in part, by inhibition of angiogenesis.
Ileal Interposition with Diverted sleeve gastrectomy for treatment of Type 2 diabetes

Objective: The objective of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the results of laparoscopic ileal interposition (II) with diverted sleeve gastrectomy (DSG) for control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related metabolic abnormalities. Materials and Methods: All patients underwent II +DSG. They had T2DM ≥5 years with poor glycemic control despite adequate dosage of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and/or insulin. The primary outcome was remission of diabetes (HbA1C <6.5% without OHAs/insulin), and secondary outcomes were reduction in antidiabetic agent requirement and components of metabolic syndrome. Results: We report the preliminary postoperative follow-up data of 13.1 ± 5.3 months (range: 3–26 months). There were 32 patients (Male: female = 21:11) with mean age of 48.7 ± 7.8 (range, 34-66 years), duration of diabetes of 13.1 ± 5.8 years (range, 5-30 years), and preoperative body mass index of 29.1 ± 6.9 kg/m2 (range: 22.4-39.5 kg/m2). Sixteen patients (50%) had hypertension, while dyslipidemia and microalbuminuria were present in 12 patients (39%) each. Twenty two patients (70.5%) had diabetes remission. Fifteen/sixteen (93%) patients had remission in hypertension. All participants had weight loss ranging between 15% and 25%. Postoperatively, statistically significant decline was observed in the glycemic and lipid parameters, microalbuminuria at all intervals (P<0.05). Patients with duration of follow up more than 6 months demonstrated to havebetter improvement in terms of reduction in glycemic, lipid parameters, and microalbuminuria. Three patients had vitamin B12 deficiency 1 year after surgery. Conclusion: Ileal interposition combined with DSG addresses both foregut and hindgut theories and brings about remissions in T2DM patients with reasonable safety. Our preliminary observations demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of this novel surgical procedure as a promising option in T2DM.
Venous thromboembolism associated with the management of acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Summary. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not a feature of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), but there has been a recent report of VTE in association with plasma exchange (PEX) treatment for TTP using the solvent detergent (SD) plasma, PLAS+®SD. We reviewed the occurrence of VTE in 68 consecutive patients with TTP (25 men, 43 women). Eight documented VTE events [six deep venous thromboses (DVTs), three pulmonary emboli] were identified in seven patients (all female) during PEX therapy. All six DVTs were associated with central lines at the site of thrombosis. Other known precipitating factors included pregnancy, immobility, obesity and factor V Leiden heterozygosity. VTE occurred at a mean of 53 d following the first PEX. The European SD plasma, Octaplas® was the last plasma to be used in PEX prior to the VTE in 7/8 events. This is the first report of VTE following Octaplas® infusion. VTE is a multifactorial disease and, although several known precipitating factors were present in all patients in this study, the use of large volumes of SD plasma in PEX may be an additional risk factor. We recommend prevention of VTE with graduated elastic compression stockings (class I) at diagnosis and prophylactic low‐molecular‐weight heparin once the platelet count rises above 50 × 109/l.
CMR assessment of right ventricular function in patients with combined pulmonary stenosis and insufficiency after correction of tetralogy of Fallot

Background Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common types of congenital heart disease and requires prompt surgical correction. Post-correction pulmonary insufficiency (PI) often ensues in adulthood. At times, the PI is accompanied by residual pulmonary stenosis (PS). Little is known regarding right ventricular (RV) function in the setting of combined PS and PI. Purpose To compare cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters for the assessment of RV function between patients with combined pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary insufficiency (PSPI) and isolated PI following surgical repair of TOF. Material and Methods Retrospective review of patients with comparable corrected TOF and similar PI was performed. Seventeen patients (median age, 24 years; range, 10–52 years) had combined PSPI and 30 patients (median age, 30 years; range, 6–70 years) had isolated PI. Cine magnetic resonance (MR) images (Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) in the short-axis plane were used to calculate end-systolic, end-diastolic, and stroke volumes (RVESV, RVEDV, RVSV) and to measure RV wall thickness. Velocity-encoded cine MR images were used to measure pulmonary regurgitation fraction (PRF) by calculating the ratio of backward flow and total forward flow, obtained from the main pulmonary flow analysis. Peak pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve was obtained from spectral Doppler echocardiography. Results RVEF was 51 ± 8% in the PSPI patients and 39 ± 11%, in the patients with isolated PI (P = 0.001). Additionally, RV wall thickness was 5.2 ± 0.8 mm in the PSPI patients compared to 2.6 ± 0.9 mm in the isolated PI patients (P = 0.001). RVESVi and RVEDVi were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with combined PSPI (60 ± 21 mL/m2, 121 ± 35 mL/m2, respectively) compared to the patients with isolated PI (95 ± 48 mL/m2, 152 ± 61 mL/m2, respectively). Conclusion RV function is preserved in patients with PSPI when compared to patients with PI following surgical repair of TOF.
Measurements for the development of an enhanced model for wireless channels in industrial environments

Novel wireless systems are often first evaluated by simulation, before prototypes are tested and the concepts are standardized. In order to ensure relevant simulation results, the wireless channel has to be modelled properly and application oriented. Currently, only few considerable industrial channel models are available. The IEEE 802.15. 4a model is the most commonly used. CM 7 applies for LOS modelling and CM 8 for NLOS environments. Both are only applicable for distances up to 8 m. In order to enhance the existing channel models, an extended wide band measurement campaign including seven scenarios at three different industrial locations was performed. From different LOS and NLOS measurement series in a warehouse, a manufacturing shop and a mechanical workshop, values for the path loss exponent, RMS delay spread, coherence bandwidth and fading statistics were obtained, valid for distances up to 40 m. Setup, scenarios and the results of these measurements are presented in this paper. The abundance of metallic reflectors and scatterers leads to a dense multipath environment, which causes Rayleigh distributed small scale fading for both LOS and NLOS scenarios. The path loss exponent is smaller than 2 for LOS scenarios and the PDPs show very small power decay constants due to the rich scattering environment. Moreover, the RMS delay spread was found to increase proportionally to the distance. Corresponding to this, the coherence bandwidth decreases inversely proportional to the distance. The measurement results are compared to the related work and especially with the IEEE 802.15. 4a channel model.