Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms Underlying Modulation of Neuronal KCNQ2/KCNQ3 Potassium Channels by Extracellular Protons

Changes in extracellular pH occur during both physiological neuronal activity and pathological conditions such as epilepsy and stroke. Such pH changes are known to exert profound effects on neuronal activity and survival. Heteromeric KCNQ2/3 potassium channels constitute a potential target for modulation by H+ ions as they are expressed widely within the CNS and have been proposed to underlie the M-current, an important determinant of excitability in neuronal cells. Whole-cell and single-channel recordings demonstrated a modulation of heterologously expressed KCNQ2/3 channels by extracellular H+ ions. KCNQ2/3 current was inhibited by H+ ions with an IC50 of 52 nM (pH 7.3) at −60 mV, rising to 2 μM (pH 5.7) at −10 mV. Neuronal M-current exhibited a similar sensitivity. Extracellular H+ ions affected two distinct properties of KCNQ2/3 current: the maximum current attainable upon depolarization (Imax) and the voltage dependence of steady-state activation. Reduction of Imax was antagonized by extracellular K+ ions and affected by mutations within the outer-pore turret, indicating an outer-pore based process. This reduction of Imax was shown to be due primarily to a decrease in the maximum open-probability of single KCNQ2/3 channels. Single-channel open times were shortened by acidosis (pH 5.9), while closed times were increased. Acidosis also recruited a longer-lasting closed state, and caused a switch of single-channel activity from the full-conductance state (∼8 pS) to a subconductance state (∼5 pS). A depolarizing shift in the activation curve of macroscopic KCNQ2/3 currents and single KCNQ2/3 channels was caused by acidosis, while alkalosis caused a hyperpolarizing shift. Activation and deactivation kinetics were slowed by acidosis, indicating specific effects of H+ ions on elements involved in gating. Contrasting modulation of homomeric KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 currents revealed that high sensitivity to H+ ions was conferred by the KCNQ3 subunit.
Adverse childhood experiences: retrospective study to determine their impact on adult health behaviours and health outcomes in a UK population.

BACKGROUND Studies suggest strong links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor adult health and social outcomes. However, the use of such studies in non-US populations is relatively scarce. METHODS Retrospective cross-sectional survey of 1500 residents and 67 substance users aged 18-70 years in a relatively deprived and ethnically diverse UK population. RESULTS Increasing ACEs were strongly related to adverse behavioural, health and social outcomes. Compared with those with 0 ACEs, individuals with 4+ ACEs had adjusted odds ratios of the following: 3.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.74-5.73] for smoking; 3.72 (95% CI: 2.37-5.85) for heavy drinking; 8.83 (95% CI: 4.42-17.62) for incarceration and 3.02 (95% CI: 1.38-6.62) for morbid obesity. They also had greater risk of poor educational and employment outcomes; low mental wellbeing and life satisfaction; recent violence involvement; recent inpatient hospital care and chronic health conditions. Higher ACEs were also associated with having caused/been unintentionally pregnant aged <18 years and having been born to a mother aged <20 years. CONCLUSIONS ACEs contribute to poor life-course health and social outcomes in a UK population. That ACEs are linked to involvement in violence, early unplanned pregnancy, incarceration, and unemployment suggests a cyclic effect where those with higher ACE counts have higher risks of exposing their own children to ACEs.
Nanomodified Peek Dental Implants: Bioactive Composites and Surface Modification—A Review

Purpose. The aim of this review is to summarize and evaluate the relevant literature regarding the different ways how polyetheretherketone (PEEK) can be modified to overcome its limited bioactivity, and thereby making it suitable as a dental implant material. Study Selection. An electronic literature search was conducted via the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the keywords “PEEK dental implants,” “nano,” “osseointegration,” “surface treatment,” and “modification. ” A total of 16 in vivo and in vitro studies were found suitable to be included in this review. Results. There are many viable methods to increase the bioactivity of PEEK. Most methods focus on increasing the surface roughness, increasing the hydrophilicity and coating osseoconductive materials. Conclusion. There are many ways in which PEEK can be modified at a nanometer level to overcome its limited bioactivity. Melt-blending with bioactive nanoparticles can be used to produce bioactive nanocomposites, while spin-coating, gas plasma etching, electron beam, and plasma-ion immersion implantation can be used to modify the surface of PEEK implants in order to make them more bioactive. However, more animal studies are needed before these implants can be deemed suitable to be used as dental implants.
Thermal, chemical and imaging analysis of Polyurethane / Cecabase modified bitumen

In this study, a 60/70 penetration grade bitumen was modified with polyurethane (PU) added with a Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) additive, i.e. Cecabase, in the amount of 0.5 wt % with respect to bitumen. The thermal characterization was done using the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) while the chemical analysis was done using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Raman Spectroscopy was used to characterize the asphaltic materials in the bitumen, namely the D (Defect) and G (Graphite) bands. Test results showed that adding PU and Cecabase to the bitumen slightly shifted the Tg and Tm peaks of the thermal behaviour. The result of FTIR showed that there was no shift in the carbonyl and sulfoxide peaks, which indicate that no chemical interaction occurred in the unmodified and modified bitumen. Furthermore, the Raman Spectroscopy investigation revealed that PU and Cecabase reduced the wax content and decreased the bee-structure of the bitumen samples. However, the order structures of unmodified and modified bitumen were still within the boundary limit of the D and G bands of the Raman spectra. In conclusion, the use of PU and Cecabase as bitumen modifier are promising for alternative source for bitumen.
Junctional Adhesion Molecule (JAM)-C Deficient C57BL/6 Mice Develop a Severe Hydrocephalus

The junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-C is a widely expressed adhesion molecule regulating cell adhesion, cell polarity and inflammation. JAM-C expression and function in the central nervous system (CNS) has been poorly characterized to date. Here we show that JAM-C−/− mice backcrossed onto the C57BL/6 genetic background developed a severe hydrocephalus. An in depth immunohistochemical study revealed specific immunostaining for JAM-C in vascular endothelial cells in the CNS parenchyma, the meninges and in the choroid plexus of healthy C57BL/6 mice. Additional JAM-C immunostaining was detected on ependymal cells lining the ventricles and on choroid plexus epithelial cells. Despite the presence of hemorrhages in the brains of JAM-C−/− mice, our study demonstrates that development of the hydrocephalus was not due to a vascular function of JAM-C as endothelial re-expression of JAM-C failed to rescue the hydrocephalus phenotype of JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice. Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation within the ventricular system of JAM-C−/− mice excluded occlusion of the cerebral aqueduct as the cause of hydrocephalus development but showed the acquisition of a block or reduction of CSF drainage from the lateral to the 3rd ventricle in JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, our study suggests that JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice model the important role for JAM-C in brain development and CSF homeostasis as recently observed in humans with a loss-of-function mutation in JAM-C.
Speech Emotion Verification System (SEVS) based on MFCC for real time applications

Human recognizes speech emotions by extracting features from the speech signals received through the cochlea and later passed the information for processing. In this paper we propose the use of Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) to extract the speech emotion information to provide both the frequency and time domain information for analysis. Since features extracted using the MFCC simulates the function of the human cochlea, neural network (NN) and fuzzy neural network algorithm namely; multi layer perceptron (MLP), adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and generic self-organizing fuzzy neural network (GenSoFNN) were used to verify the different emotions. Experimental results show potential of using these techniques to detect and distinguish three basic emotions from speech for real-time applications based on features extracted using MFCC.
It Takes a Village: The Role of Emic and Etic Adaptive Strengths in the Persistence of Black Men in Engineering Graduate Programs

Black men, underrepresented in engineering, constitute a missing segment of the population who could contribute to the global knowledge economy. To address this national concern, stakeholders need additional research on strategies that aid in Black men’s persistence. This study explores the experiences of 30 Black men in engineering graduate programs. Three factors are identified as helping them persist from year to year, and in many cases through completion of the doctorate: the role of family, spirituality and faith-based community, and undergraduate mentors. The article concludes with implications for future research and professional practice that may improve the experiences of Black men in engineering graduate programs, which may also increase the chances that they will remain in the engineering workforce.
Equilibrium, Evolutionary stability and Gradient Dynamics

Considered here are equilibria, notably those that solve noncooperative games. Focus is on connections between evolutionary stability, concavity and monotonicity. It is shown that evolutionary stable points are local attractors under gradient dynamics. Such dynamics, while reflecting search for individual improvement, can incorporate myopia, imperfect knowledge and bounded rationality/competence.
Psychological Contract Violation: Impacts on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment Among Australian Senior Public Servants

In a world of ongoing organisational transformation, the psychological contract between the employer and the employee is open to violation. It is imperative that senior managers, as change agents, have a good understanding of the psychological contract and how it influences employee behaviour and attitudes towards their job and their organisation. This paper explains the concept of psychological contract violation and presents the results of a survey of executive management personnel from the Australian Public Sector. The results of the survey revealed a negative relationship between psychological contract violation and both job satisfaction (r = -.77) and organisational commitment (r = -.67). Recommendations are given on how an organisation can minimise perceptions of violation through human resource strategies, policies and procedures that foster open communication and are reflective of distributive, procedural and interactional justice.
Intimate Partner Homicide: Themes in Judges’ Sentencing Remarks

The aim of this study was to analyse judges’ sentencing remarks in cases of intimate partner homicide. Grounded theory methodology was used to undertake a qualitative analysis of the remarks, and the emanating data identified four key themes, as discussed in this article. These themes are: the sentencing of Aboriginal offenders; offender violence; the use of alcohol and/or drugs; and provocation. Broadly speaking, the data reflect that judges’ sentencing remarks echo themes of offenders’ denial of responsibility, thereby minimising harm and justifying violence against females. Also, judges fail to attribute a sufficient degree of responsibility to offenders for their voluntary consumption of alcohol or drugs and their subsequent violent behaviour. The study also found that, as a defence, provocation continues to favour males as the main beneficiaries. The study provides quantitative data which show that Aboriginal males are sanctioned less harshly than non-Aboriginal males.
Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Journal of Banking and Finance Manuscript Draft Title: Bank Involvement with Smes: beyond Relationship Lending Bank Involvement with Smes: beyond Relationship Lending

The "conventional wisdom" in academic and policy circles argues that, while large and foreign banks are generally not interested in serving SMEs, small and niche banks have an advantage because they can overcome SME opaqueness through relationship lending. This paper shows that there is a gap between this view and what banks actually do. Banks perceive SMEs as a core and strategic business and seem well-positioned to expand their links with SMEs. The intensification of bank involvement with SMEs in various emerging markets is neither led by small or niche banks nor highly dependent on relationship lending. Moreover, it has not been derailed by the 2007-09 crisis. Rather, all types of banks are catering to SMEs and large, multiple-service banks have a comparative advantage in offering a wide range of products and services on a large scale, through the use of new technologies, business models, and risk management systems. Abstract The " conventional wisdom " in academic and policy circles argues that, while large and foreign banks are generally not interested in serving SMEs, small and niche banks have an advantage because they can overcome SME opaqueness through relationship lending. This paper shows that there is a gap between this view and what banks actually do. Banks perceive SMEs as a core and strategic business and seem well-positioned to expand their links with SMEs. The intensification of bank involvement with SMEs in various emerging markets is neither led by small or niche banks nor highly dependent on relationship lending. Moreover, it has not been derailed by the 2007-09 crisis. Rather, all types of banks are catering to SMEs and large, multiple-service banks have a comparative advantage in offering a wide range of products and services on a large scale, through the use of new technologies, business models, and risk management systems.
Subgroups in Cognitive Development: Distribution of Brazilian Students Aged 7–14 Years

This study explored subgroups with similar patterns of cognitive functioning throughout normal development. The sample consisted of 350 healthy students of both genders, aged 7–14 years old, from low-income Brazilian families. Instruments included the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, Stroop test, letter and semantic verbal fluency, and the Rey auditory-verbal learning test. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used as an exploratory method, and a nonhierarchical cluster analysis was used as a confirmatory method to classify the subjects in different groups according to their global functioning, organization, memory, and attention profiles. The ages and performance levels of each group were compared using ANOVAs. Post hoc procedures tested inter- and intragroup differences. A classification model was proposed, examining which factors contribute to the peculiarities found in each cognitive profile. A 4-group division demonstrated to be the best solution to classify cognitive profiles in this sample. It was found a significant effect of group for age, with the older adolescents systematically outperforming younger children in terms of global functioning. Secondarily to the global classification, the performance on organization scores is the bigger distinguishing factor between groups. Memory and attention variables appear to cause subtler and less relevant changes to overall functioning. Additionally, attentional ability was more useful in distinguishing the cognitive profiles of younger children, which have accentuated lower performance in this ability. These results are consistent with neuropsychological literature, which indicates a large range of variability in cognitive profiles during development, even to subjects in the same age group.
Flexible Stabilisation of the Degenerative Lumbar Spine Using PEEK Rods

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion using cages, titanium rods, and pedicle screws is considered today as the gold standard of surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disease and has produced satisfying long-term fusion rates. However this rigid material could change the physiological distribution of load at the instrumental and adjacent segments, a main cause of implant failure and adjacent segment disease, responsible for a high rate of further surgery in the following years. More recently, semirigid instrumentation systems using rods made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have been introduced. This clinical study of 21 patients focuses on the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with lumbar degenerative disease treated with Initial VEOS PEEK®-Optima system (Innov'Spine, France) composed of rods made from PEEK-OPTIMA® polymer (Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, UK) without arthrodesis. With an average follow-up of 2 years and half, the chances of reoperation were significantly reduced (4.8%), quality of life was improved (ODI = 16%), and the adjacent disc was preserved in more than 70% of cases. Based on these results, combined with the biomechanical and clinical data already published, PEEK rods systems can be considered as a safe and effective alternative solution to rigid ones.
A graph-based approach to detect unreachable methods in Java software

In this paper, we have defined a static approach named DUM (Detecting Unreachable Methods) that works on Java byte-code and detects unreachable methods by traversing a graph-based representation of the software to be analyzed. To assess the validity of our approach, we have implemented it in a prototype software system. Both our approach and prototype have been validated on four open-source software. Results have shown the correctness, the completeness, and the accuracy of the methods that our solution detected as unreachable. We have also compared our solution with: JTombstone and Google CodePro AnalytiX. This comparison suggested that DUM outperforms baselines.
Reporting in Latin America: Issues and Perspectives on Investigative Journalism in the Region

This study investigates challenges faced by investigative journalists in Latin America, one of the most dangerous places in the world for reporters. Guided by the hierarchy of influences model, we analyzed answers from 1,543 journalists, journalism educators, and journalism students in the region. We identified both single and multilevel constraints impeding investigative reporting in Latin America. Single-level influences are those that are better analyzed by focusing on one level of the hierarchical model. These included individual (lack of training), routine (relationships with sources), organizational (media ownership), and institutional influences (censorship). However, results also suggest there are certain types of influences that are better suited for analysis combining all levels. Despite two decades of media liberalization, crime and corruption, state violence against the press, and the lack of a free-speech culture cut across all layers, posing severe constraints to investigative reporting in Latin America.
Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and cardiovascular changes induced by stanozolol in rats exposed to swimming exercise.

OBJECTIVE Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are nominated for clinical use to promote protein synthesis in many therapeutic conditions. However, the indiscriminate use of AAS is related to hazardous cardiac disturbances and oxidative stress. We designed a study to investigate whether prolonged treatment with high doses of stanozolol modifies the activities of some antioxidant enzymes in the heart in sedentary and trained rats and whether this treatment causes alterations of cardiovascular parameters. In addition, the effectiveness of melatonin as an antioxidant and as a modulator of the cardiovascular side effects of stanozolol (STA) treatment was analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups: sedentary (S), stanozolol sedentary (SS), stanozolol-melatonin sedentary (SMS), trained (T), stanozolol trained (ST) and stanozolol-melatonin trained (SMT). The stanozolol-treatment rats received 5 mg.kg(-1) by subcutaneous injection before each exercise session (5 d.wk(-1), i.e., 25 mg.kg(-1). wk(-1)), while control groups received only saline solution injection. The melatonin-treatment groups received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin (10 mg.kg(-1)), 5 d.wk(-1) for 6 wk. Electrocardiography, blood pressure and antioxidant enzyme activity measurements were performed at the end of the experimental period for cardiac function and molecular assessment. RESULTS This is the first time that the in vivo effects of melatonin treatment on stanozolol-induced cardiovascular side effects have been studied. Stanozolol induced bradycardia and significantly increased cardiac superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Trained stanozolol-treated rats experienced an increase in blood pressure and relative heart weight, and they developed left cardiac axis deviation. Although melatonin did not prevent cardiac hypertrophy in exercised stanozolol-treated animals, it maintained blood pressure and cardiac catalase activity, and it prevented stanozolol-induced cardiac electrical axis deviation. CONCLUSION In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, chronic stanozolol administration induced mild cardiovascular side effects that were partly attenuated by melatonin treatment. However, these results showed that the combination of melatonin and exercise could minimize the stanozolol side effects in the cardiovascular system.
Vigorous Activity Usage of Self-Identified Leaders: A Descriptive Quantitative Analysis

The aim of the study was to conduct original research to better understand the relationship between participation in vigorous physical activity and the frequency in use of five servant leadership characteristics. The relationship between vigorous physical activity participation and self-reported servant leadership characteristics was evaluated in 162 women and men with a median age of 36 ± 9 years. Participants’ self-reported vigorous physical activity participation was evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and self-reported servant leadership characteristics were evaluated using the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (SLQ). Vigorous physical activity participation was not statistically related to self-reported servant leadership characteristics. Participants in this study on average participated in approximately 43 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day of the week. These participants had much higher vigorous physical activity participation rates than the national average. Participants’ perception of their servant leadership characteristics was also high. Findings suggest that the exclusive use of servant leadership philosophy to promote vigorous physical activity participation is not needed, leaving open the possibility that any type of leadership approach could be used to promote physical activity participation.