Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detrimental Health Effects of Benzene Exposure in Adults After a Flaring Disaster at the BP Refinery Plant in Texas City

Abstract Objective To examine the adverse effects of benzene exposure in adults from a prolonged flaring disaster at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. Methods Adults aged 18 years and older who had been exposed and unexposed to benzene were included. We reviewed medical charts and compared measures of white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in exposed and unexposed adults. Results Records from 2213 adults (benzene exposed, n=1826; unexposed, n=387) were reviewed. Benzene-exposed subjects had significantly higher WBC counts (7.9±2.3 vs 6.8±1.6×103 per µL, P=0.0000) and platelet counts (270.8±60.9 vs 242.5±53.7×103 per µL, P=0.0000) than did the unexposed subjects. Serum creatinine levels were also significantly higher in the exposed group than in the unexposed group (1.0±0.2 vs 0.8±0.2 mg/dL, P=0.000). Serum levels of ALP were significantly higher in the exposed subjects than in the unexposed subjects (82.1±15.6 vs 71.8±8.2 IU/L, P=0.000). Similarly, benzene-exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of AST (26.2±6.4 vs 19.7±5.3 IU/L, P=0.000) and ALT (30.6±10.8 vs 20.9±9.6 IU/L, P=0.000) than in those unexposed to benzene. Conclusion Benzene exposure resulted in significant alterations in hematologic and liver profiles in adults. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:233–239)
Foveal Hypoplasia in Oculocutaneous Albinism and the Role of OCT

We describe a case of a 16 year old girl with Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) who presented to us with photophobia and blurring of vision. She showed typical features of OCA, blonde hair, refractive error, iris transillumination and foveal hypoplasia. Our report highlights the role of macular OCT in diagnosis of foveal hypoplasia which is an essential feature of OCA.
PRIMIR: A Developmental Framework of Infant Speech Processing

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing emphasis on studying the link between infant speech perception and later language acquisition. This research has yielded some seemingly contradictory findings: In some studies infants appear to use phonetic and indexical detail that they fail to use in other studies. In this article we present a new, unified framework for accounting for these divergent findings. PRIMIR (a developmental framework for Processing Rich Information from Multidimensional Interactive Representations) assumes there is rich information available in the speech input and that the child picks up and organizes this information along a number of multidimensional interactive planes. Use of this rich information depends on the joint activity of 3 dynamic filters. These filters-the initial biases, the developmental level of the child, and requirements of the specific language task the child is facing-work together to differentially direct attention to 1 (or more) plane. In this article we outline the contradictory data that need to be explained, elucidate PRIMIR, including its underlying assumptions and overall architecture, and compare it to existing frameworks. We conclude by presenting core predictions of PRIMIR.
Online Collaborative Learning: Relating Theory to Practice

Educational institutions have rushed to provide online courses; however, too often schools have discovered the difficulty in transferring effective teaching strategies in the classroom to an online environment. A unique aspect of quality online courses is how they rely heavily on effective collaboration to create a meaningful learning environment. Unfortunately, online instruction is not as simple as replicating the community atmosphere that is found in the traditional brick and mortar classroom. New strategies are demanded for the successful transfer of knowledge utilizing the Web. Investigating the pedagogical strategies of a program that promotes dialogue and collective intellect in a community model could benefit faculty designing courses. We will present a detailed case study using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods (including observation, focus groups, transcripts from synchronous and asynchronous discussions, surveys, and interviews) collected over a two-year span to identify perceptions of effective online collaboration and performance. Community formation, support, and sustainability are also explored. Examples are included that not only describe what participants perceive as enabling aspects of the support system but also ways in which educators can enhance program development by learning from other pioneers in this area.
Early Life Ozone Exposure Induces Adult Murine Airway Hyperresponsiveness Through 1 Effects on Airway Permeability 2 3

Early life exposure to environmentally relevant ozone (O 3 ) may have long term consequences for asthma susceptibility. Earlier studies showed that mice exposed to intermittent, repeated O 3 during early life (1 ppm x 3h/day, 3 days/week x 4 weeks) demonstrated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to inhaled methacholine challenge compared with filtered air controls at adult age (4 wk), and after an additional 4 wk recovery period (age 8wk). To determine the mechanism, we exposed mice to filtered air or O 3 as described above beginning at birth. After two weeks recovery in air, we measured ex vivo tracheal smooth muscle mechanics in response to acetylcholine and electrical field stimulation. We found significant but relatively modest impairment of relaxation in ozone exposed mice. In vivo measurements of respiratory system mechanics using forced oscillometry in response to nebulized methacholine showed persistence of O 3 -exposure induced AHR that was substantially ablated in mice that had undergone: 1) pre-treatment with muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine, or 2) bilateral cervical vagotomy, just before undergoing forced oscillometry. Separate treatment groups that received intravenous acetylcholine in place of nebulized methacholine showed no O 3 effect on AHR. Bronchoalveolar lavage of mice after two or four weeks recovery following air or O 3 exposure showed elevations of serum albumin, a marker of airway epithelial permeability in excess of total protein. We conclude that O 3 exposure in early life induces AHR to nebulized methacholine that is largely dependent on vagal innervation and increased airway epithelial permeability, and to a lesser extent on impaired smooth muscle relaxation.
Participation in work: a source of wellness for people with psychiatric disability.

BACKGROUND Not enough is known about the relationship between work and health, particularly for people with psychiatric disability. A review of research investigating variables that predict success at work showed inconsistent and contradicting results. The voice of people with psychiatric disability was found to be largely missing from literature. A study was therefore undertaken to explore the influences that impacted on the work-lives of people with psychiatric disability. This paper elucidates the importance of participation in work as an essential ingredient in the promotion of occupational justice, in identity construction and in the process of recovery for persons with psychiatric disability. METHOD Interpretive biography was utilised to explore the experiences of people with psychiatric disability in the Western Cape, South Africa. Seventeen participants were identified using maximum variation sampling. Life story narratives were elicited during an average of three individual interviews per participant. Processes of analysis and interpretation were informed by a combination of paradigmatic narrative analysis and narrative analysis strategies. FINDINGS A complex interplay of influences that shaped the identities of participants in ways that can assist or hinder their participation in work was revealed. Participation in work was perceived to be a means of recovery and a source of wellness for participants. CONCLUSIONS More conscious effort is needed to promote the use of work as source of support and resource for health for persons who live with psychiatric impairment.
THE EMERGENCE OF CP

© 2009 by the English Linguistic Society of Japan * Part of the present paper was presented at a symposium entitled “The Emergence of Functional Categories from a Cross-linguistic Perspective” at the 26th Conference of the English Linguistic Society of Japan held at University of Tsukuba on November 15–16, 2008. I am grateful to the audience for their helpful comments. I am also indebted to anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments and suggestions. Needless to say, all remaining errors and inadequacies are my own.
Graphical and formal knowledge specification with KARL

The paper discusses an approach which allows the specification of a knowledge-based system (KBS) at several levels. The Knowledge Acquisition and Representation Language KARL combines a description of a KBS at the conceptual level supported by graphical modelling primitives with a description at a formal and executable level. Therefore, a KARL-specification can be used as a means for communication between expert and knowledge engineer as well as an intermediate representation, closing the conceptual gap between an informal specification and an implementation of a KBS. In the paper, KARL is mainly discussed as a graphical modelling language. <<ETX>>
Caching Web objects using Zipf's law

We assume that Zipf's law governs the accesses in the Web. Based on this assumption, we show that caching Web objects can lead to very high hit rates. Furthermore, we can calculate the size of the cache that is required to achieve a given hit ratio. Assuming that Zipf's law continually applies to accesses of Internet objects, we argue that a cache replacement policy based on the concept or the Least Frequently Used object suffices to obtain the theoretically achievable results, assuming a large enough cache. Using this theory, we show how results available in the literature can be explained. We also show how a designer can make decisions and develop caching architectures for networks based on the profiles of average users. We propose clip- based caching of video objects rather than caching of complete objects. Clips are disseminated in video library and browsing environments and are small enough to be properly managed by a cache scheme based on Zipf's law.
Performance, design and control of a series-parallel (CL/sup 2/-type) resonant DC/DC converter

The three-element resonant network has various topological alternatives, one of which, a prospective compound topology, is investigated in detail. The converter uses one capacitor (C) and two inductors (L2), to form a compound type CL2 network. Various advantages and limitations of the converter are detailed, and a new design procedure for such converters is also introduced. The converter may be controlled by varying the switching frequency or by pulse-width modulation. An experimental prototype has been produced and an excellent performance in the lagging power-factor mode has been confirmed.
Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Diabetes Mellitus in End-Stage Renal Disease: Evidence of a Negative Association

Epidemiological studies have implicated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) both in the population as a whole and after solid organ transplantation. Whether this association exists in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between HCV and DM in a large group (n = 742) of patients with ESRD from Europe and North America. The presence of diabetes was ascertained by using American Diabetes Association guidelines based on fasting glucose measurement and medication history. Presence of HCV infection was assessed by serum testing for anti-HCV antibodies. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody positive patients was 15% (112/742); the frequency of DM was higher among anti-HCV positive than -HCV negative patients but the difference did not approach statistical significance, 32% (36/112) vs 29.5% (186/630). The frequency of patients with diabetic nephropathy was not higher in anti-HCV positive than -negative patients; 21.4% (24/112) vs 23.3% (147/630), NS. Logistic regression model showed an independent and significant link between anti-HCV seropositive status and raised GPT (P = 0.032), male gender (P = 0.0462), positive history of prior renal transplant (P = 0.0006), and longer time on dialysis (P = 0.00001). In summary, no link between anti-HCV antibody and DM occurred in this ESRD population; there was no association between rate of anti-HCV antibody and diabetic nephropathy.
Experimental comparison of all-optical methods of chromatic dispersion compensation in long haul transmission at speeds of 10 Gbit/s

Feature Issue on Transmission in Optically Transparent Core NetworksDifferent techniques and scenarios of all-optical chromatic are compared experimentally. Chromatic dispersion was compensated both conventionally by dispersion compensating fibers and unconventionally using both channelized and broadband fiber Bragg gratings and Gires-Tournois etalons. Results are compared experimentally at a transmission speed of 10 Gbit/s. Emphasis was also given to tunability and broadband characteristics of elements.
Hebrew Idioms: The Organization of the Lexical Component

The paper argues that the empirical domain of idioms can shed light on the architecture of the mental lexicon and the nature of its building blocks whether roots or words. A corpus-based study of the distribution of various diatheses in verb phrase idioms in Hebrew was conducted. Its results reveal an intriguing discrepancy between the behavior of unaccusatives, transitives and adjectival passives on the one hand and verbal passives one the other. The findings are straightforwardly accounted for if the lexicon includes actual verbs – words not merely roots – under which verb phrase idioms are stored as sub-entries.
The use of child safety seats: A survey on levels of knowledge and attitudes of university employees Çocuk koltuğu kullanimi: Üniversite çalişanlarinin bilgi düzeyleri ile ilgili bir anket çalişmasi

Objectives: Child safety seats are the best practice for protecting child occupants. In western world, a significant reduction of child deaths in motor vehicle crashes has occurred over the past years. However, the use of child safety seats will be obligatory in Turkey from 2010 onwards. We aimed to determine the prevalence of safety seat use and survey the opinions of parents about children safety seat use in traffic. Materials and methods: A survey was conducted in Kars province of Turkey. A questionnaire was handed out to parents who were employees in a university. The first part of questionnaire was concerned with the personal properties of participants. The second part was designed to evaluate the level of parents’ knowledge on child safety seat. Results: Of the 600 questionnaires distributed, 516 (86%) were returned and included in the final analysis. This study showed that 266 participants were having children and automobile. The ownership of child safety seat was only 13.5% among them. The parents reported that the lack of knowledge about child safety seats was the main reason for not having safety seats. Majority of parents stated that they would be more careful in the future about child safety in traffic. Conclusion: This study showed that most parents were uninformed about the necessity of child safety seats. The authorities have to develop new strategies to increase the rate of child safety seat use. J Clin Exp Invest 2011;2(2):15760
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Occurrence in Workers: A Review

After carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is the 2 nd most frequent upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder resulting from ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow. Insurance companies often deny that this condition results from exposure at work labeling it idiopathic despite numerous studies that support a causal relation between high repetitions and force the occurrence and CuTS. Odds Ratios for work-related CuTS are significantly higher than would be expected if there were no work factors associated with the condition. Reviews of the literature by several noteworthy scientific organizations support workrelatedness of CuTS. While additional study of the work-relatedness of CuTS is frequently suggested, significant support for this relation already exists.
The Labor Market Effects of California's Minimum Nurse Staffing Law Preliminary: Please do not cite or circulate without permission.

In 2004, California became the first state to implement statewide minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. This paper examines the effects of this legislation on labor market outcomes for registered nurses (RNs). Using annual financial data from California hospitals, I find that nurse-to-patient ratios in California hospitals increased substantially following the staffing mandate. However, individuallevel survey data indicate that the law had no effect on the aggregate number of RNs or the hours they worked in California hospitals, and at most a modest effect on wages. My findings indicate that the aggregate change in nurses hired as a result of staffing expansions as well as changes in management and supervision staffing within hospitals roughly equal the drop in nurse staffing due to hospital closures. This suggests that offsetting changes in employment may have mitigated employment effects of the mandated minimum staffing legislation.
Association between amputation, arthritis and osteopenia in British male war veterans with major lower limb amputations

Objectives: To investigate the association between amputation, osteoarthritis and osteopenia in male war veterans with major lower limb amputations. Specific questions were to determine whether lower limb amputees following trauma are at subsequent risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis of the hip on both the amputated and nonamputated sides. Design: Retrospective cohort study in British Male Second World War veterans with major unilateral lower limb amputations. Subjects: Seventy-five male Second World War veterans with major lower limb amputations known to be alive were invited to participate from a subregional rehabilitation centre. After exclusions, 44 agreed to attend for examination and radiological screening. Methods: The presence of hip OA was determined from a single anterior posterior pelvic X-ray using two approaches: minimum joint space and the Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) scoring system. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and prosthetic rehabilitation outcome measures were recorded. Results: Twenty-seven (61%) hips on the amputated side and 10 (23%) on the nonamputated side were positive for OA (based on Kellgren and Lawrence grade of >2). Using a minimum joint space threshold of below 2.5 mm, 24 (55%) hips on the amputation side and 8 (18%) on the nonamputated side were also positive for OA. There was a threefold increased risk of OA for those with above-knee compared to a below-knee amputation. By contrast, from published general population surveys only 4 (11%) cases of hip OA would have been expected on both the amputated and nonamputated hips. There was a significant decrease in femoral neck BMD in the amputated side (p <0.0001) and significantly lower BMD in above-knee amputees than in below-knee amputees (p = 0.0027) as compared to normal age and sexmatched population.
The relationship of input and output phonological processing: An evaluation of models and evidence to support them

In this paper, we review studies of the relationship between input and output phonological processing and discuss the means by which an interactive activation model that assumes a single phonological network or functionally connected input and output phonological networks could account for apparent dissociations of these two pathways. Following this, we report data from 24 aphasic subjects with word processing deficits that indicate associations between input and output phonological processing. Input phonological measures correlated with output phonological measures, but not with output lexical-semantic measures. Input lexical-semantic measures did not significantly correlate with any of the output measures. We identified one subject, EF, who did not show this overall pattern. She performed well on two measures of phonological input processing (discrimination and rhyme judgements), but produced a high rate of phonological errors in picture naming. On an auditory lexical decision task, however, EF produced a high rate of false alarm errors (misperception of nonwords as words). False alarm errors have been attributed to a disturbance in input phonological processing. Consistent with this hypothesis, the rates of false alarm errors made by this group of subjects on the same auditory lexical decision task correlated with (1) input tasks that require maintaining activation of phonological representations and (2) a measure of output phonological processing (rates of phonologically related nonword errors in picture naming). These results are discussed with reference to current approaches to the study of input and output phonological processing and possible future investigations of this question.
Mid-Term Results with the Porous-Coated Anatomic Hip Prosthesis with 28mm Head. An Eight to Twelve Year Follow-up of 39 Hips

In the 1980s, uncemented prostheses were considered advantageous in younger patients. One of the prostheses used in Denmark was the Porous Coated Anatomic (PCA) prosthesis. Follow-up results from Aarhus University Hospital (AaUH) showed progressive osteolysis along the stem at five to seven years, and use of the prosthesis was no longer recommended. We used the PCA prosthesis with a modular 28mm head, and so far our results with patients operated on between 1989 and 1993 do not confirm the negative results published. Thirty-nine consecutive cases were followed prospectively with clinical and radiographic assessment. At the 8–12 year follow-up four patients had undergone revision. Three revisions were for aseptic loosening of the cup at 5, 10 and 12 years, and one was because of thigh pain without radiological signs of loosening at revision. The cumulative survival rate was 95% at five years, 92% at ten years and 85% at twelve years. If we include radiologically loose components, five cups were re-operated or radiographically loose (12.8%) and 4 stems were re-operated or radiographically loose (10.2%). Thus the survival rate at 12 years was 85% and 90% for cup and stem respectively. So far we have not experienced progressive radiographic changes. The difference in results may stem from the fact that we used 28mm heads (versus 32mm heads in the Aarhus series), which allows a more adequate polyethylene thickness and thereby lesser creep of the polyethylene and less polyethylene debris production.
Some factors affecting attrition and performance in a distance education course at the University of Papua New Guinea

The 1979 intake to the matriculation studies programme, run by the Department of Extension Studies of the University of Papua New Guinea, has been used as a population for a study on attrition and performance. The study has examined the relationship between two success criteria and several factors with a possible bearing on attrition rates. The factors which turned out to be most important were age, number of children, housing conditions, sex, sponsorship and region of residence.