Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and DNA Damage in Taiwanese Traffic Conductors

Background: Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals, has been associated with the etiology and prognosis of many illnesses. However, the specific causal agents and underlying mechanisms for different health outcomes remain unclear. The aims of this study were to assess the relations between urinary biomarkers of exposure to PAHs (1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide, 1-OHPG) and heavy metals (cadmium, Cd; nickel, Ni; arsenic, As; lead, Pb; and copper, Cu) and the effect of their interaction on DNA damage (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-guanine, 8-oxodG). Methods: We recruited 91 traffic conductors and 53 indoor office workers between May 2009 and June 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan. Postshift urine samples from 2 consecutive days were analyzed for 1-OHPG, Cd, Ni, As, Pb, Cu, and 8-oxodG. To estimate the effects from PAHs and metals on DNA damage, we constructed a linear mixed model adjusted for confounding variables. Results: We found that urinary 1-OHPG and Cd levels were independent predictors of urinary 8-oxodG levels (β = 0.112; P = 0.015 for 1-OHPG; β = 0.138; P = 0.031 for urinary Cd). The joint effect of urinary 1-OHPG and Cd levels was associated with urinary 8-oxodG levels (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Co-exposure to environmental PAHs and Cd could cause oxidative DNA damage. Impact: These findings suggest that the additive interaction between exposure to environmental PAHs and Cd could enhance the burden of oxidative stress. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(1); 102–8. ©2012 AACR.
[Effects of monaural and binaural stimulation on middle latency auditory evoked responses].

INTRODUCTION Middle latency evoked potentials include a series of evoked responses which encompass/include myogenic potentials (which translate the existence of sonomotor reflexes), and others which are clearly of neurogenic origin. The latter are the most useful from the clinical point of view. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of monoaural (MA) and binaural (BA) stimulation on middle latency auditory evoked potentials. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 15 healthy people, aged between 18 and 52 years, in whom Cz recording electrodes had been fitted to both short-circuited external ears with Fpz as earth. The stimuli used were alternate clicks of condensation and rarefication of 90 dBHL, first BA and them MA. The auditory evoked response from the brain stem was also recorded. RESULTS We found more stability of most of the components evaluated during biauricular stimulation. All subjects had Pa waves and 93% had Pb waves. Statistically significant differences were only found for the amplitude of Po and Pa (BA against RE) (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The use of BA stimulation to obtain middle latency evoked potentials is more useful for study of the more rostral parts of the auditory path, since its components are more stable.
Review of the Ordovician stratigraphy and fauna of the Anarak Region in Central Iran

The Ordovician sedimentary succession of the Pol-e Khavand area, situated on the northern margin of the Yazd block, has important differences from those in other parts of Central Iran. It has been established that the presumably terminal Cambrian to Lower Ordovician volcano-sedimentary Polekhavand Formation, exposed in the Pol-e Khavand area, has non-conformable contact with greenschists of the Doshakh Metamorphic Complex. he succeeding, mainly siliciclastic Chahgonbad Formation contains low to moderately diverse faunal assemblages, including brachiopods, cephalopods, trilobites and tentaculitids. The Darriwilian age of the lower part of the formation is well established by the co-occurrence of brachiopod genera Camerella , Phragmorthis , Tritoechia and Yangtzeella . The associated rich cephalopod fauna is different from the Darriwilian cephalopod associations of the Alborz terrane and may show some affinity with warm water faunas of North China and South Korea. It is likely that the Mid Ordovician fauna recovered from the lower part of the Chahgonbad Formation settled in the area sometime during a warming episode in the late Darriwilian. By contrast the low diversity mid Katian brachiopod association includes only three taxa, which occur together with the trilobite Vietnamia cf. teichmulleri and abundant, but poorly preserved tentaculitids questionably assigned to the genus Costatulites . This faunal association bears clear signatures linking it to the contemporaneous cold water faunas of the Arabian, Mediterranean and North African segments of Gondwana. Four brachiopod species recovered from the Chahgonbad Formation, including Hibernodonta lakhensis , Hindella prima , Lomatorthis ? multilamellosa and Yangtzeella chupananica are new to science.
Building IT capabilities: learning by doing

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are ubiquitous in much of the developed world. With the growing interest in business process outsourcing, further deployment of these technologies in developing countries is a valuable economic development tool. Unfortunately, digital inequity, stemming from shortcomings in National Information Infrastructure as well as lack of IT skills, language barriers, and illiteracy often constrain ICT adoption and use in developing countries. The case study presented here focuses on an e-learning initiative within Sri Lanka. A key government ministry selected 150 of its employees for inclusion in a hybrid learning post-graduate diploma program in public administration. While this program does not focus on teaching information technology skills, its hybrid context provides the added benefit of developing technology skills among participants. We followed the participants of the program from start to finish. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, we found that over the course of the program, participants became more aware of Internet availability and female participants displayed improvements in computer self-efficacy. These results suggest hybrid learning programs, such as the one studied may indeed serve to simultaneously deliver content and improve IT skills and awareness.
Long Survival (Cure) to Cisplatin/Infusional 5-Flurouracil in Metastatic Squamous Cell Anal Cancer with Extensive Liver and Lung Metastases

Background: Metastatic anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a relatively uncommon malignancy that is usually treated with palliative platinum based chemotherapy. Response rates are modest and complete responses are rare. Case Report: Here we report on a case of advanced SCC with the extensive visceral metastatic disease that has possibly been cured with chemotherapy alone. The patient has received 6 cycles of Cisplatin and 5FU and has remained in complete remission for over 7 years. Conclusion: This is the first report of a case of metastatic anal SCC that has been cured with chemotherapy and highlights the need to remain optimistic when treating patients with “palliative” chemotherapy.
Scattering of electromagnetic waves by rough dielectric surfaces.

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by rough dielectric surfaces is studied using the extinction theorem and the Rayleigh hypothesis. Using a perturbative treatment, an explicit solution to all orders (in terms of a surface roughness parameter) is obtained for any state of polarization. Alternatively, an iterative procedure is introduced to obtain the scattered fields.
Practitioner Review: Current best practice in the use of parent training and other behavioural interventions in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND Behavioural interventions are recommended for use with children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, specific guidance for their implementation based on the best available evidence is currently lacking. METHODS This review used an explicit question and answer format to address issues of clinical concern, based on expert interpretation of the evidence with precedence given to meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials. RESULTS On the basis of current evidence that takes into account whether outcomes are blinded, behavioural intervention cannot be supported as a front-line treatment for core ADHD symptoms. There is, however, evidence from measures that are probably blinded that these interventions benefit parenting practices and improve conduct problems which commonly co-occur with ADHD, and are often the main reason for referral. Initial positive results have also been found in relation to parental knowledge, children's emotional, social and academic functioning - although most studies have not used blinded outcomes. Generic and specialised ADHD parent training approaches - delivered either individually or in groups - have reported beneficial effects. High-quality training, supervision of therapists and practice with the child, may improve outcomes but further evidence is required. Evidence for who benefits the most from behavioural interventions is scant. There is no evidence to limit behavioural treatments to parents with parenting difficulties or children with conduct problems. There are positive effects of additive school-based intervention for the inattentive subtype. Targeting parental depression may enhance the effects of behavioural interventions. CONCLUSIONS Parent training is an important part of the multimodal treatment of children with ADHD, which improves parenting, reduces levels of oppositional and noncompliant behaviours and may improve other aspects of functioning. However, blinded evidence does not support it as a specific treatment for core ADHD symptoms. More research is required to understand how to optimise treatment effectiveness either in general or for individual patients and explore potential barriers to treatment uptake and engagement. In terms of selecting which intervention formats to use, it seems important to acknowledge and respond to parental treatment preferences.
Strength Asymmetry and Landing Mechanics at Return to Sport after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE Evidence-based quadriceps femoris muscle (QF) strength guidelines for return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are lacking. This study investigated the effect of QF strength asymmetry on knee landing biomechanics at the time of return to sport after ACL reconstruction. METHODS Seventy-seven individuals (17.4 yr) at the time of return to sport after primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR group) and 47 uninjured control individuals (17.0 yr; CTRL group) participated. QF strength was assessed and quadriceps index was calculated (QI = [involved strength / uninvolved strength] × 100%). The ACLR group was subdivided based on QI: high quadriceps (HQ, QI ≥ 90%) and low quadriceps (LQ, QI < 85%). Knee kinematic and kinetic variables were collected during a drop vertical jump maneuver. Limb symmetry during landing and discrete variables were compared among the groups using multivariate analysis of variance and linear regression analyses. RESULTS The LQ group demonstrated worse asymmetry in all kinetic and ground reaction force variables compared to the HQ and CTRL groups, including reduced involved limb peak knee external flexion moments (P < 0.001), reduced involved limb (P = 0.003) and increased uninvolved limb (P = 0.005) peak vertical ground reaction forces and higher uninvolved limb peak loading rates (P < 0.004). There were no differences in the landing patterns between the HQ and CTRL groups on any variable (P > 0.05). In the ACLR group, QF strength estimated limb symmetry during landing after controlling for graft type, meniscus injury, knee pain, and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS At the time of return to sport, individuals after ACL reconstruction with weaker QF demonstrate altered landing patterns. Conversely, those with nearly symmetrical QF strength demonstrate landing patterns similar to uninjured individuals. Consideration of an objective QF strength measure may aid clinical decision making to optimize sports participation after ACL reconstruction.
A Comprehensive Approach to Mapping the Interacting Surfaces of Murine Amphotropic and Feline Subgroup B Leukemia Viruses with Their Cell Surface Receptors

ABSTRACT Because mutations in envelope glycoproteins of retroviruses or in their cell surface receptors can eliminate function by multiple mechanisms, it has been difficult to unambiguously identify sites for their interactions by site-directed mutagenesis. Recently, we developed a gain-of-function approach to overcome this problem. Our strategy relies on the fact that feline leukemia virus subgroup B (FeLV-B) and amphotropic murine leukemia virus (A-MLV) have closely related gp70 surface envelope glycoproteins and use related Na+-dependent phosphate symporters, Pit1 and Pit2, respectively, as their receptors. We previously observed that FeLV-B/A-MLV envelope glycoprotein chimeras spliced between the variable regions VRA and VRB were unable to use Pit1 or Pit2 as a receptor but could efficiently use specific Pit1/Pit2 chimeras. The latter study suggested that the VRA of A-MLV and FeLV-B functionally interact with the presumptive extracellular loops 4 and 5 (ECL4 and -5) of their respective receptors, whereas VRB interacts with ECL2. We also found that FeLV-B gp70 residues F60 and P61 and A-MLV residues Y60 and V61 in the first disulfide-bonded loop of VRA were important for functional interaction with the receptor's ECL4 or -5. We have now extended this approach to identify additional VRA and VRB residues that are involved in receptor recognition. Our studies imply that FeLV-B VRA residues F60 and P61 interact with the Pit1 ECL5 region, whereas VRA residues 66 to 78 interact with Pit1 ECL4. Correspondingly, A-MLV VRA residues Y60 and V61 interact with the Pit2 ECL5 region, whereas residues 66 to 78 interact with Pit2 ECL4. Similar studies that focused on the gp70 VRB implicated residues 129 to 139 as contributing to specific interactions with the receptor ECL2. These results identify three regions of gp70 that interact in a specific manner with distinct portions of their receptors, thereby providing a map of the functionally interacting surfaces.
GROWTH RATES OF NITRIFYING CHEMOAUTOTROPHS IN SOIL

The accurate measurement of growth-rate constants for bacteria in natural environments is generally found to be quite difficult. Estimation of growth rates for the chemoautotrophs concerned with nitrate production, however, may be made. Advantage is taken of the facts that chemoautotrophs are the major, if not the sole, agents concerned with nitrate production in nature, and that the oxidation of ammonium and nitrite compounds is growth-linked. Hence, by measuring the quantity of ammoniumor nitrite-nitrogen oxidized, the rate of growth of the respective bacteria can be ascertained. This was verified using pure cultures of Nitrosomonas europaea by Engel and Alexander (Nature 181:136, 1958). A perfusion system (modified after Lees and Quastel, Biochem. J. 40:803, 1946) was used to determine the growth-rate constants for the nitrifying bacteria in soils. In natural environments, nitrite-oxidizing chemoautotrophs, presumably Nitrobacter spp. , are dependent upon Nitrosomonas spp. for substrate (i.e., nitrite). Therefore, the growth rate of the former may be controlled by the activity of the latter. It has been noted that the rate of disappearance of nitrite in a soil that accumulates nitrite early in the nitrification pattern generally exceeds the maximal rate of nitrite formation. Thus it appears possible to adequately characterize the potential growth rate of Nitrobacter spp. only when nitrite is supplied as the energy source. For these experiments, 100-g samples of soil were perfused in triplicate with 400 ml of a solution containing 70 ,ug of either ammoniumor nitrite-nitrogen per ml. With rare exceptions, sluggish nitrifying activity was evidenced when the soil pH was below 5.5 and the responsible chemoautotrophs were found to be present in very small numbers (measured by the most probable number method). Yet these same soils usually showed rapid rates of nitrification after they were adjusted to pH 7.0 or above. Of the measurable environmental factors in soils, only pH, or factors such as calcium, iron, and aluminum which are directly related to pH, was of significance. When growth-rate constants of 116 soils with pH values ranging from 4.4 to 8.8 were correlated with soil pH, the correlation coefficient obtained was 0.768. When pH, calcium
Potential impact of chemical prophylaxis on the incidence of gonorrhoea.

This paper presents a stochastic statistical model to evaluate the potential impact on the incidence of gonorrhea of a prophylactic intravaginal compound. The model predicts the change in the national incidence of gonorrhea in the US at various hypothetical levels of effectiveness of the topical prophylactic and of population usage. Factors analyzed in calculating the expected number of cases of gonorrhea under different conditions included the average risk of an uninfected person acquiring gonorrhea during a generation (incubation + average time to next sex act), the overall rate of loss of infectiousness whether by treatment or spontaneous cure during a generation, the proportion of at risk individuals prevented from acquiring a gonococcal infection in a generation by a prophylactic compound, and the proportion of the population at risk using the compound before each act of coitus. This model indicates that, with no changes in venereal disease prevention and treatment programs, the number of cases of gonorrhea will increase by 17% from 577,486 in 1970 to 674,804 in 1971. However, if only 30% of the population at risk used a prophylactic product that is 70% effective, gonorrhea could be almost completely eliminated within 5 years. Even a 50% effective prohylactic used by only 25% of the at risk population could produce dramatic decreases in the incidence of gonorrhea in a short time. Prophylactic programs will be most effective if incorporated into existing treatment and education programs.
Three-Dimensional Surface Displacements From InSAR and GPS Measurements With Variance Component Estimation

Previous approaches that integrate interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and GPS measurements for 3-D surface displacement mapping require statistically estimating the variances of the measurements to yield optimal results. We present a variance component estimation approach to weigh the InSAR and GPS measurements in deriving 3-D surface displacements. The approach exploits the observations themselves for determining the weighting scheme, and therefore the a priori information on the stochastic model of the observations is not required. This is of great importance as accurate knowledge on the stochastic model is often unavailable. The performance of the proposed method is validated with both simulated and real datasets.
Experimentelle und numerische Untersuchungen zum Tragverhalten von Rüttelstopfsäulengruppen

Mit der vorliegenden Arbeit wird eine Kenntnislucke in Bezug auf die Anwendung des Ruttelstopfverfahrens zur Baugrundverbesserung unterhalb von raumlich begrenzten Lastflachen, beispielsweise Einzelfundamenten zur Grundung von Stutzen oder Pfeilern, geschlossen. Im Rahmen der Untersuchungen wurden die Ergebnisse kleinmasstablicher Modellversuche dazu verwendet, Erkenntnisse uber die Verteilung der vertikalen Belastung innerhalb einer Gruppe von Saulen zu gewinnen. Zur Ermittlung des Einflusses der Saulenherstellung auf den Spannungszustand und die Verformungseigenschaften im umgebenden Boden wurden Feldmessungen wahrend der Herstellung von Ruttelstopfsaulen durchgefuhrt. Auf der Basis der Finiten Element Methode wurde ein Berechnungsmodell erstellt, welches das Lastabtragungsverhalten von Ruttelstopfsaulengruppen zutreffend beschreibt. Ein grosmasstablicher und umfangreich instrumentierter in situ Versuch dient der Uberprufung der Modelle zur Berechnung des Tragverhaltens von Ruttelstopfsaulengruppen. Mit Hilfe des numerischen Modells wurden umfangreiche Parameterstudien zur Ermittlung des Last-Verformungsverhaltens von Ruttelstopfsaulengruppen unter vertikaler Belastung durchgefuhrt. Auf der Grundlage der Parameterstudien wurden Bemessungsdiagramme entwickelt, welche die Setzungsverbesserung durch den Einsatz der Baugrundverbesserung zeigen. Aus den Untersuchungen wurden Empfehlungen fur die Dimensionierung von Ruttelstopfsaulengruppen abgeleitet. Mit Hilfe des numerischen Modells kann eine Optimierung der Saulenanordnung im Hinblick auf eine wirtschaftliche Grundung von Einzelfundamenten auf Ruttelstopfsaulen erfolgen.
The Effect of Donor Age and Low-Dose Gamma Irradiation on the Initial Biomechanical Properties of Human Tibialis Tendon Allografts

Background Most tissue banks recover and irradiate tibialis tendon allografts from donors aged up to 65 years. It is unknown whether donor age and low-dose gamma irradiation affect the initial biomechanical properties of tibialis allografts. Hypothesis Donor age up to 65 years and low-dose gamma irradiation do not significantly affect the initial biomechanical properties of tibialis allografts. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods One hundred twenty-six tibialis tendon allografts (63 pairs, 37 human donors) were divided into 3 age groups: young (<45 years), middle (46-55 years), and old (56-65 years). Within each age group, half of the paired tendons underwent tensile testing as single-strand grafts and the other half as double-strand grafts. One tendon from each donor pair was randomly assigned to undergo terminal sterilization with an absorbed dose of 1.46 to 1.80 Mrad (14.6-18.0 kGy) gamma irradiation, whereas the other tendon received no irradiation. All tendon grafts were preconditioned with a cyclic load and tested to failure in tension. Results Irradiated single-strand tendons in the old age group had a longer displacement at failure compared to the middle but not the young age group. Nonirradiated double-strand tendons in the old age group had a lower failure stress. Single-strand irradiated old tendons had a lower stiffness, and all irradiated young tendons and old double-strand tendons had a higher failure stress compared to nonirradiated tendons. Conclusion Donor age up to 65 years does not significantly affect the initial failure load, stiffness, or displacement at failure of tibialis allografts. An age-related decrease in failure stress was observed among nonirradiated tendons but not in tendons subjected to irradiation. Clinical Relevance The results provide biomechanical evidence for use of tibialis allografts from donors up to 65 years of age. Low-dose gamma irradiation does not negatively influence the initial biomechanical properties of tibialis allografts. Further studies examining age and irradiation effects after submaximal cyclic loading conditions are recommended.