Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Moisture on Powder Flow Properties of Theophylline

Powder flow is influenced by environmental factors, such as moisture and static electricity, as well as powder related factors, such as morphology, size, size distribution, density, and surface area. Pharmaceutical solids may be exposed to water during storage in an atmosphere containing water vapor, or in a dosage form consisting of materials (e.g., excipients) that contain water and are capable of transferring in to other ingredients. The effect of moisture on powder flowability depends on the amount of water and its distribution. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of humidity on the flow properties of theophylline using information derived from solid-state analysis of the systems investigated.
The Never-Ending Story: Structural Dilemmas and Changing Solutions in the Communication Field

This article examines the idiosyncratic development of Israel's communication field against the backdrop of the field's main structural dilemmas: (a) emphasis on research orientation versus on professional journalistic training and (b) firm boundaries for the field based on its mother disciplines (humanities or social sciences) versus open boundaries adopting different disciplines' research topics/methods that touch on communication phenomena. The article suggests a theoretical framework based on criteria anchored in the sociology of science and then applies these criteria to an analysis of the institutionalization and development of the Communication Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from its foundation in 1964 through the 1990s. The study is based on documents from the university archive and the Guttman Institute for Applied Social Research, curricula and catalogs of communication departments in Israel, and interviews with senior researchers in the field.
A Longitudinal, Mixed Method Evaluation of Self-Awareness Training in the Workplace.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate whether self-awareness, which is associated with general well-being and positive life outcomes, is also of specific benefit in the workplace. The authors tested the relationship between self-awareness and job-related well-being, and evaluated two different interventions designed to improve dispositional self-awareness at work. Design/methodology/approach – Full-time employees took part in these training interventions and completed questionnaires using a switching-replications design. Questionnaires measured dispositional self-attentiveness (reflection and rumination) and job well-being (satisfaction, enthusiasm and contentment) at three time points over a period of six weeks. Statistical analyses were complemented with qualitative analysis of reported impacts. Findings – Self-awareness was positively associated with job-related well-being and was improved by training. Employees reported gaining a greater appreciation of diversity, improved communicatio.
“Behind every great man…”: the male marriage wage premium examined qualitatively

Studies across diverse national contexts reliably show that married men earn more than unmarried men, but the mechanisms responsible for this are still disputed. This article explores the male marriage wage premium from a new perspective, using longitudinal qualitative data from Russia (N = 94). Qualitative research is particularly suited to identifying underlying processes and, by analyzing men's accounts of the influence of their marital trajectories on their work, the authors were able to reexamine existing hypotheses and develop new ones. They propose 4 mechanisms that they hypothesize can influence men's work motivation and performance: premarital planning, 2 distinct “breadwinner” effects using expectancy and self determination theory, and monitoring by wives. They integrate these mechanisms within gender theory, arguing that the treatment aspect of the male marriage wage premium is an outcome of the “coproduction” of masculinity within marriage. Their recontextualization of existing theory also enables them to reveal weaknesses in the specialization hypothesis.
In vitro splenocyte proliferation responses of BALB/c mice to salivary gland extracts of three ixodid tick species (Acari: Ixodidae)

In vitro proliferation and cytokine production were investigated in BALB/c mice splenic cell cultures that were stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and simultaneously exposed to salivary gland extracts (SGE) of unfed and partially fed adult ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma variegatum). Generally, tick SGE enhanced proliferation of unstimulated splenocytes and SGE of unfed ticks suppressed mitogen induced proliferation. Partially fed R. appendiculatus and A. variegatum suppressed ConA responses, while partially fed I. ricinus stimulated both ConA and LPS induced proliferation. A. variegatum and R. appendiculatus females slightly enhanced LPS responses 2 days after attachment but suppressed them at the end of the slow feeding phase. In 72 h ConA induced cell cultures, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production was suppressed by SGE of all ticks, interleukin (IL)-10 production was enhanced by unfed I. ricinus and partially fed A. variegatum males and IL-5 production was enhanced by feeding R. appendiculatus females and A. variegatum males. The study revealed variability in the responsiveness of murine splenocytes to SGE of different ixodid tick species, whereby patterns of host immunomodulation within one tick species differed between sexes and changed during feeding.
Fourier and wavelet spectral analysis of EMG signals in isometric and dynamic maximal effort exercise

Frequency domain analyses of changes in electromyographic (EMG) signals over time are frequently used to assess muscle fatigue. Fourier based approaches are typically used in these analyses, yet Fourier analysis assumes signal stationarity, which is unlikely during dynamic contractions. Wavelet based methods of signal analysis do not assume stationarity and may be more appropriate for joint time-frequency domain analysis. The purpose of this study was to compare Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) in assessing muscle fatigue in isometric and dynamic exercise. The results of this study indicate that CWT and STFT analyses give similar fatigue estimates (slope of median frequency) in isometric and dynamic exercise (P>0.05). However, the results of the variance was lower for both types of exercise in CWT compared to STFT (P<0.05) indicating more variability in the EMG signal analysis using STFT. Thus, the stationarity assumption may not be the sole factor responsible for affecting the Fourier based estimates.
Phytochemical Analysis of Pfaffia glomerata Inflorescences by LC-ESI-MS/MS

Pfaffia glomerata contains high levels of β-ecdysone, which has shown a range of beneficial pharmacological effects. The present study demonstrated that inflorescences of P. glomerata contain other important bioactive compounds in addition to β-ecdysone. The identification of compounds from inflorescences using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was performed for the first time. The eight compounds identified were β-ecdysone, flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-(6-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins such as ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin IV, in addition to oleanonic acid and gluconic acid. This study provided information on the phytochemicals contained in P. glomerata inflorescences revealing the potential application of this plant part as raw material for the phytotherapeutic and cosmetic industries.
Markers of inflammation are heritable and associated with subcutaneous and ectopic skeletal muscle adiposity in African ancestry families.

UNLABELLED Abstract Background: Skeletal muscle adipose tissue (AT) infiltration, or myosteatosis, appears to be greater in African compared with European ancestry individuals and may play a role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a disease that disproportionally affects African ancestry populations. Inflammation is one mechanism that may link myosteatosis with increased T2DM risk, but studies examining the relationship between inflammation and myosteatosis are lacking. METHODS To examine these associations, we measured skeletal muscle subcutaneous AT, intermuscular AT, and skeletal muscle density using quantitative computed tomography and serum markers of inflammation in 471 individuals from 8 Afro-Caribbean multigenerational families [mean family size 67; mean age 43 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 28 kg/m(2)]. RESULTS After removing the variation attributable to significant covariates, heritabilities of inflammation markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] ranged from 33% (TNFα) to 40% (CRP); all P<0.01. Higher CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α were associated with lower subcutaneous AT around skeletal muscle (r=-0.13 to -0.19, P<0.05). Higher CRP was additionally associated with lower skeletal muscle density, indicative of greater intramuscular AT (r=-0.10, P<0.05), hyperinsulinemia (r=0.12, P<0.05), and increased homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r=0.17, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that heredity may play a significant role in the determination of several markers of inflammation in African ancestry individuals. Higher concentrations of CRP appear to be associated with greater skeletal muscle AT infiltration, lower subcutaneous AT, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. Longitudinal studies are needed to further evaluate the relationship between inflammation with changes in skeletal muscle AT distribution with aging and the incidence of T2DM.
A machine learning enabled network planning tool

In the coming years, planning future mobile networks will be infinitely more complex than nowadays. Future networks are expected to present multiple Network Management (NM) challenges to operators, such as managing network complexity in terms of densification of scenarios, heterogeneous nodes, applications, Radio Access Technologies (RAT), among others. In this context, the exploitation of past information gathered by the network is highly relevant when planning future deployments. In this paper we present a network planning tool based on Machine Learning (ML). In particular, we propose an approach which allows to predict Quality of Service (QoS) offered to end-users, based on data collected by the Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) function. As a QoS indicator, we focus on Physical Resource Block (PRB) per Megabit (Mb) in an arbitrary point of the network. Minimizing this metric allows serving users with the same QoS by consuming less resources, and therefore, being more cost-effective. The proposed network planning tool considers a Genetic Algorithm (GA), which tries to reach the operator targets. The network parameters we desire to optimise are set as the input to the algorithm. Then, we predict the QoS of the network by means of ML techniques. By integrating these techniques in a network planning tool, operators would be able to find the most appropriate deployment layout, by minimizing the resources (i.e., the cost) they need to deploy to offer a given QoS in a newly planned deployment.
(Dis)connected in Today's College Classroom? What Faculty Say and Do About Mixed-Age Classes

Abstract The historically distinct fields of adult and higher education are converging in a dramatic demographic shift from undergraduate classrooms occupied primarily by traditional-age college students to ever-increasing numbers of adults within baccalaureate programs. This study found that while higher education faculty acknowledged that adult students differ from their traditional-age counterparts and enhance the overall educational environment in mixed-age undergraduate classes, they perceived no need to adapt their instructional approach to accommodate this growing postsecondary demographic. These findings reveal a lack of understanding by the professoriate regarding adult learners and adult education methodologies, and they provide valuable insight into an emerging crisis in America's college classrooms where faculty members are increasingly unable to meet the needs of today's learners. Amid the clamor for accountability in higher education, the results and context of this study provide direction for future discussions and implications for adult higher education praxis.
Point mutations in the herpes simplex virus type 1 Vmw110 RING finger helix affect activation of gene expression, viral growth, and interaction with PML-containing nuclear structures

Herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early protein Vmw110 (also known as ICP0) has been implicated in the control of the balance between the lytic and latent states, but the precise mechanisms by which it exerts its effects are unknown. Vmw110 includes a characteristic zinc binding domain, termed the C3HC4 domain or RING finger, which is essential for its function. The solution structure of a related herpesvirus RING finger domain suggested that an amphipathic alpha helix might be an important functional component of the RING finger. In this paper, we show that the equivalent region of Vmw110 is important for virus growth in tissue culture and for the normal interaction of Vmw110 with nuclear structures which include the PML protein.
A Construct Study of the Eight Symptoms of Severe Parental Alienation Syndrome

Abstract A survey study was conducted of adults who self-reported having children who were severely alienated from them. The primary research questions addressed were: (1) To what extent were the eight symptoms of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)-as identified by the construct's originator, Dr. Richard Gardnerreported to be manifested by the alienated children? And (2) holding severity constant, to what degree did the frequency of symptoms vary? Sixty-eight parents reported that the relationship with their children was severely damaged due to the attitudes and actions of the other parent. One question was asked about each of Gardner's eight symptoms (campaign of denigration, frivolous, weak or absurd rationale for the alienation, lack of ambivalence towards the alienating, lack of guilt or remorse about the alienation, borrowed scenarios, independent thinker phenomenon, taking the alienating parent's side in the conflict, and spread of alienation to the extended family of the targeted parent). Additional questions were surveyed to determine whether despite the severity of the alienation, were there moments in which the child was less than completely rejecting and committed to the alienation. Results revealed general support for the presence of the eight symptoms of PAS as well as insight into windows of opportunity when even the most severely alienated child demonstrates some “cracks in the armor,” raising hope for clinical intervention and eventual reunification.
CS Unplugged and Middle-School Students’ Views, Attitudes, and Intentions Regarding CS

Many students hold incorrect ideas and negative attitudes about computer science (CS). In order to address these difficulties, a series of learning activities called Computer Science Unplugged was developed by Tim Bell and his colleagues. These activities expose young people to central concepts in CS in an entertaining way without requiring a computer. The CS Unplugged activities have become more and more popular among CS educators and several activities are recommended in the ACM K-12 curriculum for elementary schools. CS Unplugged is used worldwide and has been translated into many languages. We examined the effect of the CS Unplugged activities on middle-school students’ ideas about CS and their desire to consider and study it in high school. The results indicate that following the activities the ideas of the students on what CS is about were partially improved, but their desire to study CS lessened. In order to provide possible explanations to these results, we analyzed the CS Unplugged activities to determine to what extent the objectives of CS Unplugged were addressed in the activities. In addition, we checked whether the activities were designed according to constructivist principles and whether they were explicitly linked to central concepts in CS. We found that only some of the objectives were addressed in the activities, that the activities do not engage with the students’ prior knowledge and that most of the activities are not explicitly linked to central concepts in CS. We offer suggestions for modifying the CS Unplugged activities so that they will be more likely to achieve their objectives.
Evidence That Bank Vole PrP Is a Universal Acceptor for Prions

Bank voles are uniquely susceptible to a wide range of prion strains isolated from many different species. To determine if this enhanced susceptibility to interspecies prion transmission is encoded within the sequence of the bank vole prion protein (BVPrP), we inoculated Tg(M109) and Tg(I109) mice, which express BVPrP containing either methionine or isoleucine at polymorphic codon 109, with 16 prion isolates from 8 different species: humans, cattle, elk, sheep, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and meadow voles. Efficient disease transmission was observed in both Tg(M109) and Tg(I109) mice. For instance, inoculation of the most common human prion strain, sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) subtype MM1, into Tg(M109) mice gave incubation periods of ∼200 days that were shortened slightly on second passage. Chronic wasting disease prions exhibited an incubation time of ∼250 days, which shortened to ∼150 days upon second passage in Tg(M109) mice. Unexpectedly, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant CJD prions caused rapid neurological dysfunction in Tg(M109) mice upon second passage, with incubation periods of 64 and 40 days, respectively. Despite the rapid incubation periods, other strain-specified properties of many prion isolates—including the size of proteinase K–resistant PrPSc, the pattern of cerebral PrPSc deposition, and the conformational stability—were remarkably conserved upon serial passage in Tg(M109) mice. Our results demonstrate that expression of BVPrP is sufficient to engender enhanced susceptibility to a diverse range of prion isolates, suggesting that BVPrP may be a universal acceptor for prions.
Overdoses, suicidal behaviour and clinical characteristics in heavy drug users. Studies in the Criminal Justice System.

Background: Substance use disorders and complications, such as drug overdose (OD) and suicide attempt (SA), are common among criminal justice clients. Methods: Since 2001, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service has assessed substance-using clients with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), a semi-structured instrument widely used to examine substance-related problems in different domains of life. This data material is based on 7,085 clients, interviewed mainly in prison (72 %) or while on probation (17 %). Compared to the entire criminal justice system, these subjects represent an oversampling of prisoners and drug users, and a slight oversampling of women (12 %). Logistic regression technique was used in the four studies for the analysis of factors associated with drug OD, SA and repeated SA, and for the analysis of primary amphetamine use compared to heroin and cocaine use. Results: Primary and current amphetamine use was markedly more common (n=1,396) than heroin use (n=392) and cocaine use (n=119) in this population. Amphetamine users were markedly older, and more likely to be born in the Nordic countries. Compared to heroin users, amphetamine users were more likely to have heredity of alcohol problems, and more likely to report cognitive problems. The overlap in use of the three different drugs was limited. Among recent opioid users (n=1,096), OD history was reported by 55 percent. OD clients were more likely to report a history of injecting, heroin use, and use of tranquillisers, or to report SA or difficulty controlling violent behaviour. In the present data material (n=6,836), 21 percent reported a SA, which was associated with several variables: female gender, several different psychiatric symptoms, history of being abused, heredity, physical disease, alcohol misuse and severe drug use complications. 55 percent of attempters reported two or more SAs, and these clients were more likely to report physical disease, opioid (analgesic) use, delirium tremens, cognitive problems and violent behaviour, while gender and depression were not related to repeated SA. Conclusions: Abuse of amphetamine, historically the predominating drug among heavy drug users in Sweden, is a substance use pattern relatively separated from other drugs. Drug OD, common in this setting, may possibly have a link to impulse control disturbances, in addition to known substance-related risk factors. SA, also common in this setting, appears to be associated with a large set of variables, including severe substance use complications and adverse life events. (Less)
Cost Analysis of Premixed Multichamber Bags versus Compounded Parenteral Nutrition: Breakeven Point

Background Industrially premixed multichamber bags or hospital-manufactured compounded products can be used for parenteral nutrition. The aim of this study was to compare the cost of these 2 approaches. Materials and Methods Costs of compounded parenteral nutrition bags in an university hospital were calculated. A total of 600 bags that were administered during 34 days between December 10, 2009 and February 17, 2010 were included in the analysis. For quality control, specific gravity evaluation of the filled bags was performed. Results It was calculated that the variable cost of a hospital compounded bag was $26.15. If we take the annual fixed costs into consideration, the production cost reaches $36.09 for each unit. It was estimated that the cost for the corresponding multichamber bag was $37.79. Taking the fixed and the variable costs into account, the breakeven point of the hospital compounded and the premixed multichamber bags was seen at 5,404 units per year. In specific gravity evaluation, it was observed that the mean and interval values were inside the upper and lower control margins. Conclusion In this analysis, usage of hospital-compounded parenteral nutrition bags showed a cost advantage in hospitals that treat more than 15 patients per day. In small volume hospitals, premixed multichamber bags may be more beneficial.
Functional role of diverse changes in sympathetic nerve activity in regulating arterial pressure during REM sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate whether REM sleep evoked diverse changes in sympathetic outflows and, if so, to elucidate why REM sleep evokes diverse changes in sympathetic outflows. MEASUREMENTS Male Wistar rats were chronically implanted with electrodes to measure renal (RSNA) and lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA), electroencephalogram, electromyogram, and electrocardiogram, and catheters to measure systemic arterial and central venous pressure; these parameters were measured simultaneously and continuously during the sleep-awake cycle in the same rat. RESULTS REM sleep resulted in a step reduction in RNSA by 36.1% ± 2.7% (P < 0.05), while LSNA increased in a step manner by 15.3% ± 2% (P < 0.05) relative to the NREM level. Systemic arterial pressure increased gradually (P < 0.05), while heart rate decreased in a step manner (P < 0.05) during REM sleep. In contrast to REM sleep, RSNA, LSNA, systemic arterial pressure, and heart rate increased in a unidirectional manner associated with increases in physical activity levels in the order from NREM sleep, quiet awake, moving, and grooming state. Thus, the relationship between RSNA vs. LSNA and systemic arterial pressure vs. heart rate observed during REM sleep was dissociated compared with that obtained during the other behavioral states. CONCLUSIONS It is suggested that the diverse changes in sympathetic outflows during REM sleep may be needed to increase systemic arterial pressure by balancing vascular resistance between muscles and vegetative organs without depending on the heart.