Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Open Burning of Rice Straw on Concentrations of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Central Taiwan

Abstract The sizes and concentrations of 21 atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at Jhu-Shan (a rural site) and Sin-Gang (a town site) in central Taiwan in October and December 2005. Air samples were collected using semi-volatile sampling trains (PS-1 sampler) over 16 days for rice-straw burning and nonburning periods. These samples were then analyzed using a gas chromatograph with a flame-ionization detector (GC/FID). Particle-size distributions in the particulate phase show a bimode, peaking at 0.32–0.56 μm and 3.2–5.6 μm at the two sites during the nonburning period. During the burning period, peaks also appeared at 0.32–0.56 μm and 3.2–5.6 μm at Jhu-Shan, with the accumulation mode (particle size between 0.1 and 3.2 μm) accounting for approximately 74.1% of total particle mass. The peaks at 0.18–0.32 μm and 1.8–3.2 μm at Shin-Gang had an accumulation mode accounting for approximately 70.1% of total particle mass. The mass median diameter (MMD) of 3.99–4.35 μm in the particulate phase suggested that rice-straw burning generated increased numbers of coarse particles. The concentrations of total PAHs (sum of 21 gases + particles) at the Jhu-Shan site (Sin-Gang site) were 522.9 ± 111.4 ng/mł (572.0 ± 91.0 ng/mł) and 330.1 ± 17.0 ng/mł (or 427.5 ± 108.0 ng/mł) during burning and nonburning periods, respectively, accounting for a roughly 58% (or 34%) increase in the concentrations of total PAHs due to rice-straw burning. On average, low-weight PAHs (about 87.0%) represent the largest proportion of total PAHs, followed by medium-weight PAHs (7.1%), and high-weight PAHs (5.9%). Combustion-related PAHs during burning periods were 1.54–2.57 times higher than those during nonburning periods. The results of principal component analysis (PCA)/absolute principal component scores (APCS) suggest that the primary pollution sources at the two sites are similar and include vehicle exhaust, coal/wood combustion, incense burning, and incineration emissions. Open burning of rice straw was estimated to contribute approximately 5.0–33.5% to the total atmospheric PAHs at the two sites.
Male gender identity in an XX individual with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In spite of significant changes in the management policies of intersexuality clinical evidence show that not all pubertal or adult individuals live according to the assigned sex during infancy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical management of an individual diagnosed as a female pseudohermaphrodite with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) simple virilizing form four decades ago but who currently lives as a monogamous heterosexual male. We studied the clinical files spanning from 1965 to 1991 of an intersex individual. In addition we conducted a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the abdominoplevic cavity and a series of interviews using the oral history method. Our analysis is based on the clinical evidence that led to the CAH diagnosis in the 1960s in light of recent clinical testing to confirm such diagnosis. Analysis of reported values for 17-ketosteroids 17-hydroxycorticosteroids from 24-hour urine samples during an 8-year period showed poor adrenal suppression inspite of adherence to treatment. A recent MRI study confirmed the presence of hyperplastic adrenal glands as well as the presence of a prepubertal uterus. Semistructured interviews with the individual confirmed a life history consistent with a male gender identity. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that XX intersex individuals with CAH should be assigned to the female sex this practice harms some individuals as they may self-identify as males. In the absence of comorbid psychiatric factors the discrepancy between infant sex assignment and gender identity later in life underlines the need for a reexamination of current standards of care for individuals diagnosed with CAH. (authors)
Profile of Special Needs Patients Assisted at a Private Higher Education Institution

Objetivo: Tracar o perfil dos pacientes com necessidades especiais que receberam tratamento odontologico em uma Instituicao de Ensino Superior Privada. Metodo: Foi realizado estudo descritivo e retrospectivo com a analise dos 628 prontuarios de Pacientes com Necessidades Especiais atendidos de no periodo de 2001 a 2008 na disciplina de Odontologia para Pacientes Especiais da UNICSUL, Sao Paulo/SP. Foram registrados os dados relativos ao sexo, idade, diagnostico medico da condicao incapacitante, motivo da consulta, uso continuo de drogas psicotropicas, tomadas radiograficas e tratamentos odontologicos realizados e o tempo de permanencia em tratamento na disciplina. Os dados foram analisados por meio da estatistica descritiva e inferencial (Teste do Qui-quadrado), com nivel de significância de 5%. Todas as analises foram feitas com o programa SPSS, versao 15.0. Resultados: Observou-se diferenca significante entre os sexos e as condicoes deficiencia fisica (p=0,020) e transtornos convulsivos (p=0,001), com maiores porcentagens para o sexo feminino; e para as condicoes cardiopatias (p=0,001), hipertensao arterial sistemica (p=0,023), e diabete melito (p=0,001) maiores porcentagens para o sexo masculino. Com relacao a idade observou-se que o grupo dos individuos com deficiencia fisica recebeu tratamento em todas as faixas etarias e os individuos com doencas sistemicas cronicas apresentam idade superior a 40 anos. A busca por tratamento odontologico foi o motivo responsavel pela maior procura por atendimento. Dos individuos com transtornos psiquiatricos 88,6% e dos individuos com transtornos convulsivos 87,5% faziam uso de drogas psicotropicas. Os tratamentos restauradores corresponderam em 54,1%, os periodontais 42,2%, os cirurgicos 33,1% e os endodonticos com 16,6%. O tempo medio de tratamento foi inferior a tres meses em 46,5% da amostra. Receberam alta do tratamento odontologico 46,7% dos individuos Conclusao: As mulheres com deficiencia fisica de todas as idades e os homens com doencas sistemicas cronicas e idade superior a 40 anos foram os que mais buscaram e receberam tratamento odontologico restaurador.
Lowering the dietary calcium to total phosphorus ratio increases phosphorus utilization in low-phosphorus corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with microbial phytase for growing-finishing pigs.

Crossbred growing-finishing pigs (n = 120) were used to investigate the effect of three dietary Ca:total P (tP) ratios (1.5:1, 1.3:1, or 1.0:1) on P utilization in low-P corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with microbial phytase at 500 phytase units/kg. The basal grower (23 to 54 kg BW) diet contained . 39% tP including . 07% added inorganic P (iP), and the basal finisher (54 to 123 kg BW) diet contained . 32% tP without added iP. An adequate-P positive control diet without phytase supplementation contained . 60% Ca and . 50% tP during the growing phase and . 50% Ca and . 40% tP during the finishing phase. Lowering the Ca:tP ratio linearly increased ADG during the growing phase (P < .03) and overall (P < .08), gain:feed ratio during the growing phase (P < .001), and P absorption during the finishing phase (P < .04). Lowering the Ca:tP ratio linearly increased BW at slaughter (P < .02), carcass weight (P < .04), bone breaking strength (P < .04), and bone ash weight (P < .06), whereas dressing percentage and backfat depth remained unchanged. In conclusion, pig performance and P utilization were increased by lowering the Ca:tP ratio from 1.5:1 to 1.0:1 in low-P corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with microbial phytase.
Some emerging issues in medical admission pattern in the tropics.

BACKGROUND There is a changing pattern in terms of medical admissions worldwide with an alarming increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, especially in the tropics over the last decade. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of medical admission and highlight emerging issues of noncommunicable diseases in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of medical admission at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, South Western Nigeria, over a 3 years period (January 2005 to December 2007). Data were retrieved from the medical records of all medical admission over the study period. RESULTS During the study period, 1786 patients were admitted into the medical wards. This consisted of 1089 males (61.0%) and 697 females (39.0%). Their ages ranged from 14 to 96 years with mean ages of 51 ± 16.89 years. Subjects ≥60 years of age accounted for 27.3% and 29.8% of total males and female admissions which were the largest age group. Noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 47.99% of total medical admissions. The indications for admission in order of frequency include cerebrovascular accidents 239 (13.4%), diabetes mellitus 194 (10.9%), tuberculosis 151 (8.5%), and chronic kidney disease 116 (6.5%). Hypertension was the underlying risk factor in majority of patients with CVD and CKD. CONCLUSION Noncommunicable disease accounted for a significant number of admissions over 3 year duration. The elderly accounted for a major age group admitted for medical diseases. Therefore, preventive strategies against noncommunicable disease and effective geriatric care are advocated.
Conversion to Parkinson Disease in the PARS Hyposmic and Dopamine Transporter–Deficit Prodromal Cohort

Importance Detecting individuals at risk for Parkinson disease (PD) during the prodromal phase could clarify disease mechanisms and allow for treatment earlier in the disease process to possibly slow or prevent the onset of motor PD. Objective To determine if the combination of smell identification testing followed by dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging can accurately and efficiently identify individuals from the general population at risk for conversion to a clinical diagnosis of PD. Design, Setting, and Participants Participants were identified from the community by olfactory testing assessed longitudinally with DAT imaging 2 and 4 years after baseline and by annual clinical follow-up to determine whether they had clinical evidence to establish a PD diagnosis. Participants were contacted by mail and completed olfactory testing at home. Longitudinal follow-up of clinical measures and DAT imaging occurred at specialty centers. There were 203 hyposmic and 100 normosmic participants. A total of 185 hyposmic and 95 normosmic individuals had at least 1 follow-up visit, and 152 hyposmic participants (82.2%) were either observed for 4 years or converted to PD during follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures Percentage of individuals with hyposmia and a DAT deficit that converted to PD and the change in PD clinical scale scores (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale) and DAT imaging during 4-year follow-up. Results Of 280 total participants, 140 (50.0%) were male, and the mean (SD) age of the cohort was 63 (8.7) years. Among 21 participants with hyposmia and a DAT deficit (65% or less of age-expected lowest putamen binding ratio) at baseline, 14 (67%) converted to PD at 4 years compared with 2 of 22 participants (9%) with a DAT in an indeterminate range (greater than 65%-80%) and 3 of 109 participants (2.8%) with no DAT deficit (greater than 80%) at baseline. Individuals with a baseline DAT deficit experienced a 4-year decline in DAT binding of 20.23% (SD, 15.04%) compared with 3.68% (SD, 18.36%) and 5.45% (SD, 13.58%) for participants with an indeterminate and no DAT deficit, respectively (P = .002). The relative risk of conversion to a diagnosis of PD in hyposmic individuals with a DAT deficit was 17.47 (95% CI, 7.02-43.45) compared with individuals with either indeterminate or no DAT deficit. Conclusions and Relevance The combination of hyposmia and DAT deficit was highly predictive of conversion to PD within 4 years of clinical follow-up. Individuals with hyposmia and a DAT deficit had a 5% reduction in DAT binding annually, similar to early PD. These results provide a framework for planning disease prevention studies in PD.
Highly anisotropic resistivities in the double-exchange model for strained manganites

The highly anisotropic resistivities in strained manganites are theoretically studied using the two-orbital double-exchange model. At the nanoscale, the anisotropic double-exchange and Jahn-Teller distortions are found to be responsible for the robust anisotropic resistivities observed here via Monte Carlo simulations. An unbalance in the population of orbitals caused by strain is responsible for these effects. In contrast, the anisotropic superexchange is found to be irrelevant to explain our results. Our model study suggests that highly anisotropic resistivities could be present in a wide range of strained manganites, even without submicrometerscale phase separation. In addition, our calculations also confirm the formation of anisotropic clusters in phase-separated manganites, which magnifies the anisotropic resistivities.
Classical And Novel Risk Measures For A Stock Index On A Developed Market

In the present article we conduct an inquiry into several different risk measures, illustrating their advantages and disadvantages, regulatory aspects and apply them on a stock index on a developed market: the DAX index. Specifically we are talking about Value at Risk (VaR), which is now considered a classical measure, its improved version, the Expected Shortfall (ES) and the very novel Entropic Value at Risk (EvaR). The applied computation methods are historic simulation, Monte Carlo simulation and the resampling method, which are all non-parametric methods, yielding robust results. The obtained values are put into the context of the relevant literature, and pertinent conclusions are formulated, especially regarding regulatory applications.
Early Impact of the US Tdap vaccination program on pertussis trends.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of the adolescent Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine) vaccination program on pertussis trends in the United States. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of nationally reported pertussis cases, January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2009. SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS Confirmed and probable pertussis cases. Intervention The US Tdap vaccination program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Rate ratios of reported pertussis incidence (defined as incidence among 11- to 18-year-olds divided by the combined incidence in all other age groups) modeled through segmented regression analysis and age-specific trends in reported pertussis incidence over time. RESULTS A total of 200 401 pertussis cases were reported in the United States from 1990 to 2009. Overall incidence ranged from 1.0 to 8.8 per 100,000 persons (1991 and 2004, respectively). Slope coefficients (estimated annual rate of change in rate ratios) from segmented regression showed a steady increase in pertussis incidence among adolescents 11 to 18 years old compared with all other age groups before Tdap introduction (slope = 0.22; P < .001), and a steep decreasing trend post introduction (slope = -0.48; P < .001), suggesting a direct impact of vaccination among adolescents. Indirect effects of adolescent vaccination were not observed among infants younger than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Changes in pertussis incidence in the United States from 2005 to 2009 revealed a divergence between 11- to 18-year-olds and other age groups, suggesting that targeted use of Tdap among adolescents reduced disease preferentially in this age group. Increased Tdap coverage in adolescents and adults is needed to realize the full direct and indirect benefits of vaccination.
CALL FOR PAPERS Integrative and Translational Physiology: Integrative Aspects of Energy Homeostasis and Metabolic Diseases Central adenosine receptor signaling is necessary for daily torpor in mice

Iliff BW, Swoap SJ. Central adenosine receptor signaling is necessary for daily torpor in mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 303: R477–R484, 2012. First published July 11, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00081. 2012. —When calorically restricted at cool ambient temperatures, mice conserve energy by entering torpor, during which metabolic rate (MR), body temperature (Tb), heart rate (HR), and locomotor activity (LMA) decrease. Treatment with exogenous adenosine produces a similar hypometabolic state. In this study, we conducted a series of experiments using the nonspecific adenosine receptor antagonists aminophylline and 8-sulfophenyltheophylline (8SPT) to test the hypothesis that adenosine signaling is necessary for torpor in fasted mice. In the first experiment, mice were subcutaneously infused with aminophylline while Tb, HR, and LMA were continuously monitored using implanted radiotelemeters. During a 23-h fast, saline-treated mice were torpid for 518 43 min, whereas aminophylline-treated mice were torpid for significantly less time (54 20 min). In a second experiment, aminophylline was infused subcutaneously into torpid mice to test the role of adenosine in the maintenance of torpor. Aminophylline reversed the hypometabolism, hypothermia, bradycardia, and hypoactivity of torpor, whereas saline did not. In the third and fourth experiments, the polar adenosine antagonist 8-SPT, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, was infused either subcutaneously or intracerebroventricularly to test the hypothesis that both peripheral and central adenosine receptor signaling are necessary for the maintenance of torpor. Intracerebroventricular, but not subcutaneous, infusion of 8-SPT causes a return to euthermia. These findings support the hypothesis that adenosine is necessary for torpor in mice and further suggest that whereas peripheral adenosine signaling is not necessary for the maintenance of torpor, antagonism of central adenosine is sufficient to disrupt torpor.
Construction workers' perceptions of management safety practices: a qualitative investigation.

BACKGROUND AND GOALS The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of management safety practices from the viewpoint of union and nonunion construction workers. A complementary investigation was conducted with construction managers. METHODS A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit information from 64 workers (95% male) in ten focus groups. Questions were designed to elicit information about management practices that facilitate or discourage safe working conditions, including communication style, attitude, expectations, and unspoken messages. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS Workers identified management commitment to safety, concern for workers, congruence between spoken messages and practice, professionalism, and communication skills as key qualities in successful managers. Workers provided vivid examples of excellent and poor management strategies. CONCLUSIONS Construction managers play a pivotal role in the definition and implementation of safety practices in the workplace and workers look to them for guidance and modeling. Given the high rates of injury in construction, deeply imbedded protective policies that rely on input from a broad range of stakeholders, including construction workers, should be developed.
Personalized tumor response assessment in the era of molecular medicine: cancer-specific and therapy-specific response criteria to complement pitfalls of RECIST.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review cancer- and therapy-specific tumor response assessment criteria used in clinical trials and in practice, with illustrative case examples, and to discuss future directions toward "personalized" tumor response assessment. CONCLUSION Although Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors will remain as the primary generalized criteria for response assessment, newer cancer- and therapy-specific criteria will play an important role in providing state-of-the-art response assessment of tumor following molecular targeted therapy and will contribute to personalized cancer care in the era of molecular medicine.
Hemagglutinins in the Serum of Mice of Low and High Mammary Tumor Strains.

Summary Heteroagglutinins for sheep erythrocytes were studied in the serum of 4 inbred mouse strains. Antisheep agglutinins were present much more frequently and in significantly higher titers in C57 black than in C3H, dba, and Marsh-albino strains. Some properties of the sheep agglutinins were studied. No such differences were found in the distribution of heteroagglutinins for human red cells in the different strains. The possible significance of these findings was discussed.
Fast charging technique for Li-Ion battery charger

In this paper, the compensation of internal resistance of the Li-Ion battery is proposed. The requirement of fast and steady charger becomes the most important issue for power management ICs. Refer to the characteristics of the battery, how to charge the battery with adequate current and fasten the time of charging is critical to the devisers. Due to the impedance of battery pack, the energy of charger charged to cell is consumed in it partly. As a result, the efficiency of charger is reduced inevitably. The previous design has proposed a dynamic circuit for reducing time [1]. However the technique demands the external device to compensate the defeat. Thus, this paper extends the period of the CC mode to charge the battery with a faster speed. Owing to the shifting voltage on the reference voltage, the charger can delay the time that the operation mode from CC mode to CV mode. That is a fast-charging charger can be achieved by a large constant current stored in the battery during a long constant current period. Simulation results verify the success of the fast-charging technique due to the internal resistance compensation.
Perceptions of participation and predictors of perceived problems with participation in persons with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE To describe how persons with spinal cord injury perceived their participation in life situations and to determine the relationship between their participation and perceived problems therewith. The purpose was also to evaluate the influence of age, sex, level of injury, time since injury, marital status and access to social support on perceived problems with participation. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SUBJECTS One hundred sixty-one persons with spinal cord injury. METHODS A postal questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics and a Swedish version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire. RESULTS A majority of the respondents perceived their participation as sufficient in most activities addressed. Still, a majority of the respondents perceived one or more severe problems with their participation. Access to social support was the most influencing variable in predicting perceived severe problems with participation as compared with certain personal and health-related factors. CONCLUSION The results suggest that it is important to consider access to social support along with other factors in the person-environment interaction and their influence on severe problems with participation in enhancing clients' participation in rehabilitation.