Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REUSE OF ALUM SLUDGE IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND CONCRETE WORKS : A GENERAL OVERVIEW

One of the global problems that is associated with production of potable water is alum sludge when aluminum sulfate (Al2SO4 .18H2O) is used as a coagulant. The quantities of over 2.0 million tons of water treatment sludge or residue (WTS) is produced annually by the water operators across Malaysia [1]. It is important to realize that the generation of alum sludge may remain unavoidable in the current processing of drinking water treatment technologies. To comply of disposal of waste standards set by the local/federal authority makes researchers looking for alternative construction materials as a substitute to traditional materials likes cement, ceramic, bricks, tiles and aggregates in manner of reducing the impact of these waste on environment. Series of researches aimed to beneficial reuse in an effort to close the gap between enormous amounts of alum sludge and relieve pollution. However, the most common methods of disposal still depend on land application, reuse for agricultural purposes and attempts to reuse it as a coagulant in the primary treatment of sewage. One of the possibilities for the alum sludge is reuse it in the construction sector. The construction sector consumes huge volume of materials every year which gives construction sector potential to reuse alum sludge in making constructional material and concrete works. Thus, there is a need to do more laboratory experiments to determine maximum percentage that could be used as substitution on construction material. Thereby, the growing problem of alum sludge disposal can be alleviated if new disposal options other than of landfill can be found. This paper presents a review of available literature on attempts at beneficial reuses of drinking water treatment sludge as building and construction materials and concrete works and also studied the behavior at fresh and hardened state.
Clinical implications of early caudate dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

Objective Although not typical of Parkinson’s disease (PD), caudate dopaminergic dysfunction can occur in early stages of the disease. However, its frequency and longitudinal implications in large cohorts of recently diagnosed patients remain to be established. We investigated the occurrence of caudate dopaminergic dysfunction in the very early phases of PD (<2 years from diagnosis) using 123I-FP-CIT single photon emission CT and determined whether it was associated with the presence or subsequent development of cognitive impairment, depression, sleep and gait problems. Methods Patients with PD and healthy controls were identified from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database. We defined a clinically significant caudate dysfunction as 123I-FP-CIT binding <–2 SDs compared with the controls’ mean and categorised three groups accordingly (no reduction, unilateral reduction, bilateral reduction). All statistical analyses were adjusted for mean putamen binding. Results At baseline, 51.6% of 397 patients had normal caudate dopamine transporter binding, 26.0% had unilateral caudate involvement, 22.4% had bilaterally impaired caudate. Compared with those with a baseline normal caudate function, at the4-year follow-up patients with a baseline bilateral caudate involvement showed a higher frequency of cognitive impairment (p<0.001) and depression (p<0.001), and worse cognitive (p<0.001), depression (<0.05) and gait (<0.001) ratings. Significant caudate involvement was observed in 83.9% of the population after 4 years (unilateral 22.5%, bilateral 61.4%). Conclusions Early significant caudate dopaminergic denervation was found in half of the cases in the PPMI series. Baseline bilateral caudate involvement was associated with increased risk of developing cognitive impairment, depression and gait problems over the next 4 years.
European Integration and the Postmodern Condition: Governance, Democracy, Identity

1. European integration and the challenge of postmodernity 2. Globalization and Europeanization: parallel processes (parallel puzzles) 3. European identity beyond the state: reading the EU 4. Sovereignty, territoriality and the representation of political space 5. European governance and the pursuit of promiscuous policy making 6. Europe's essential vacuum: democracy and citizenship as political derivatives 7. Europe and/as the other: alterity, enmity and cultural hybridness
Amelioration of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by treatment with the platelet activating factor receptor antagonist WEB 2086 in hamsters.

Therapeutic use of bleomycin, an antineoplastic drug, is complicated by the development of a dose-dependent lung toxicity leading to fibrosis. This study tested the effectiveness of a platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist, WEB 2086, against bleomycin (BLEO)-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters. The animals were assigned to four groups: (1) saline (SA) + SA, (2) WEB 2086 (WEB) + SA, (3) SA + BLEO, and (4) WEB + BLEO. Sterile isotonic saline or WEB 2086 (10 mg/kg IP) was administered daily for the duration of the study starting 2 days prior to intratracheal (IT) instillation of saline or bleomycin (2.5, 2.0, and 1.5 units/kg 5 mL-1) in three consecutive doses at weekly intervals. The animals were killed at 21 days after the last IT instillation and their lungs were processed for various studies. The lung hydroxyproline levels in SA + SA, WEB + SA, SA + BLEO, and WEB + BLEO groups were 932 +/- 31, 943 +/- 48, 1302 +/- 72, and 964 +/- 63 micrograms/lung, respectively. The lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malondialdehyde equivalent, an index of lipid peroxidation, in the corresponding groups were 10 +/- 2, 8 +/- 2, 14 +/- 3, and 5 +/- 1 units/lung and 93 +/- 7, 77 +/- 5, 102 +/- 8, and 75 +/- 6 nmol/lung, respectively. The lung prolyl hydroxylase activity in the WEB + SA, SA + BLEO, and WEB + BLEO groups was 130.1 +/- 7.7, 236.2 +/- 12.8, and 138.1 +/- 7.0% of the SA + SA control group (8.3 x 10(4) dpm/lung 30 min-1), respectively. Daily treatment with WEB 2086 caused significant (p < or = .05) reductions in the BLEO-induced increases in the lung hydroxyproline content, prolyl hydroxylase and MPO activities, lipid peroxidation, and acid phosphatase activity of the BALF supernatant. Although daily treatment with WEB 2086 reduced the bleomycin-induced increases in the BALF total and neutrophil cell counts, BALF supernatant protein, and morphometric estimates of the lesions, these parameters were not significantly different from those of the SA-BLEO group. Histopathologic studies revealed that there were no lesions of alveolar consolidation and fibrosis in the lungs of WEB + BLEO group as compared with the SA + BLEO group. The results suggest that PAF is involved in the BLEO-induced lung fibrosis and that PAF-receptor antagonist may therefore be potentially useful in the attenuation of lung fibrosis caused by bleomycin.
The Production of Quality in Child Care Centers

This paper reports estimates of models of the determinants of quality in day care centers. The analysis examines the sensitivity of the results to specification issues that have not been investigated previously. In the best-fitting models that survive an extensive set of specification tests, group size and child-staff ratio have small impacts on the quality of care provided. The effects of staff education and training are typically small as well. The results raise questions about the knowledge base on which to make policy recommendations concerning the benefits of regulations and subsidies intended to improve the quality of child care.
A Pilot Study Comparing Jejunal Pouch and Jejunal Interposition Reconstruction after Proximal Gastrectomy

Background/Aims: The incidence of proximal gastric cancer is increasing, so proximal gastrectomies are often performed to preserve gastric function, but the optimal reconstruction method after surgery remains controversial. We therefore conducted a prospective pilot study comparing reconstructions using jejunal pouch interposition or jejunal interposition. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with early proximal gastric cancer were included in this study. Equal numbers of patients were randomly assigned for reconstruction using jejunal interposition (the IP group) or jejunal pouch interposition (the PO group). Postoperative morbidity and patient symptoms were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Postoperative morbidity was significantly more frequent in the IP than the PO group (p = 0.036). Moreover, the incidence of gastrointestinal complaints was more frequent in the IP group until 6 months after surgery. By contrast, the caloric intake was more favorable in the PO group until 1 year post-surgery. Conclusion: Short-term and mid-term outcomes were more favorable following jejunal pouch interposition compared with jejunal interposition after proximal gastrectomy.
Aid or Nuisance? Swedish Police Officers' Perceptions of Volunteer Activities

Studies on volunteerism have traditionally focused on the perspective of volunteers in a health sector context. This study aims to contribute to the existing volunteerism literature by exploring paid staff’s perceptions of volunteers. As organizational context is thought to affect staff perceptions, it is deemed important to study a wide range of sectors. In this qualitative study, eight police officers were interviewed. Thematic analysis of interview data showed that perceptions of volunteers and their activities are not shaped in isolation from perceptions of occupational role, implementation process, and organizational culture. To improve police officers’ perceptions of volunteers requires a cultivation of a more change ready organizational culture.
Lack of association between clinical signs and laboratory parameters in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism before and during trilostane treatment.

INTRODUCTION Trilostane therapy, the treatment of choice for pituitary- dependent hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) in dogs, is monitored by assessing resolution of clinical signs and measuring adrenocortical reserve capacity with an ACTH-stimulation test. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate agreement between clinical signs reported by owners and cortisol or ACTH concentrations before and during trilostane therapy (starting dose 1-2 mg/kg once daily). A questionnaire on signs of HAC was used and a clinical score calculated as the sum of the 9 questions. Eighteen questionnaires at diagnosis and 97 during therapy were filled out by owners of 32 dogs. An ACTH-stimulation test was performed at each reevaluation. There were weak correlations between abdominal girth, appetite or weight gain and cortisol concentrations during therapy. However, the clinical score did not correlate with cortisol or cACTH values. In 50% of dogs, trilostane application had to be changed from once daily to twice daily during the study. Clinical signs reported by owners matched poorly with cortisol or cACTH concentrations at any time point. If low-dose trilostane is used, treatment frequency often has to be increased.
Novel delay-dependent H∞ state estimation for static neural networks with time-varying delay

In this paper, the problem of delay-dependent H∞ state estimation for static neural networks with time-varying delay is investigated. By introducing a new double-integral inequality and constructing a more general Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) including a triple integral term, an improved delay-dependent design condition is established so that the error system is globally exponentially stable with a decay rate k and a guaranteed H∞ performance index γ. Moreover, in order to get less conservative results, new activation function conditions are proposed by bringing in an adjustable parameter δ. The desired estimator gain matrix and optimal performance index γ are achieved by solving a convex optimization problem subject to linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and the advantage of the proposed method.
The novel nonapeptide acein targets angiotensin converting enzyme in the brain and induces dopamine release

Using an in‐house bioinformatics programme, we identified and synthesized a novel nonapeptide, H‐Pro‐Pro‐Thr‐Thr‐Thr‐Lys‐Phe‐Ala‐Ala‐OH. Here, we have studied its biological activity, in vitro and in vivo, and have identified its target in the brain.
The Minipig is a Suitable Non-Rodent Model in the Safety Assessment of Single Stranded Oligonucleotides

Non-human primates (NHPs) are currently considered to be the non-rodent species of choice for the preclinical safety assessment of single-stranded oligonucleotide (SSO) drugs. We evaluated minipigs as a potential alternative to NHPs to test the safety of this class of compounds. Four different phosphorothioated locked nucleic acid-based SSOs (3 antisense and 1 anti-miR), all with known safety proﬁles, were administered to minipigs using similar study designs and read-outs as in earlier NHP studies with the same compounds. The studies included toxicokinetic investigations, in-life monitoring, clinical and anatomic pathology. In the minipig, we demonstrated target engagement by the SSOs where relevant, and a similar toxicokinetic behavior in plasma, kidney, and liver when compared with NHPs. Clinical tolerability was similar between minipig and NHPs. For the ﬁrst time, we showed similar and dose-dependent effects on the coagulation and complement cascade after intravenous dosing similar to those observed in NHPs. Similar to NHPs, morphological changes were seen in proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney, Kupffer cells, hepatocytes, and lymph nodes. Minipigs appeared more sensitive to the high-dose kidney toxicity of most of the selected SSOs than NHPs. No new target organ or off-target toxicities were identiﬁed in the minipig. The minipig did not predict the clinical features of human injection site reactions better than the NHPs, but histopathological similarities were observed between minipigs and NHPs. We conclude that there is no impediment, as default, to the use of minipigs as the non-rodent species in SSO candidate non-clinical safety packages. Minimal to mild cytoplasmic staining for PCSK9 was present in hepatocytes of control minipigs and no or only minimal staining was present in minipigs dosed with 20mg/kg RTR5001, confirming target engagement in the minipig. Moderate to marked cytoplasmic staining for APOB was present in control minipigs and minipigs dosed with RTR4955, indicating no effect of the LNA SSO on the APOB mRNA expression. considered a model to predict human cutaneous reactions, no acute or gross clinical observations made in minipig NHPs. Histopathologically, subcutaneous dosing of RTR5001 in minipigs resulted in an increased inflammation in the subcutis, characterized by the presence of macrophages, lymphocytes,
Survival after myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES To determine prospectively the survival of previously known diabetic patients admitted to coronary care unit with confirmed myocardial infarction (MI) over a one-year period and to assess the effects of gender, age, diabetes duration, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and anti-diabetic treatment on survival. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, we followed 59 patients hospitalized with a confirmed myocardial infarction at 3 coronary care units, Peshawar (Pakistan), between May 1, 2000 and April 30, 2001. We analyzed survival using univariate and multivariate Cox Proportional hazards regression models to control for potentially confounding factors. RESULTS A total of 17 (28.8%) subjects (7 male and 10 female) died. Survival was significantly associated with previous history of hypertension and duration of diabetes (HR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.33-9.22, P = 0.001, and HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05-1.45, P = 0.009, by Univariate Cox model, respectively). In multivariate analysis duration of diabetes was significantly associated with survival and Metformin treatment only, and Sulphonylurea & Metformin treatment together (P = 0.003, and 0.026, Multivariate Cox model, respectively). CONCLUSION Our results suggested that diabetes is associated with markedly increased mortality in the presence of hypertension after acute myocardial infarction and support for aggressive treatment of coronary risk factors among diabetic patients.
Transient and dynamic DNA supercoiling potently stimulates the leu-500 promoter in Escherichia coli

The inactive prokaryotic leu-500 promoter (Pleu-500) contains a single A-to-G point mutation in the −10 region of the leucine operon promoter, which causes leucine auxotrophy. This promoter can be activated by (−) DNA supercoiling in Escherichia coli topA strains. However, whether this activation arises from global, permanent, or transient, dynamic supercoiling is still not fully understood. In this article, using a newly established in vivo system carrying a pair of divergently coupled promoters, i.e. an IPTG-inducible promoter and Pleu-500 that control the expression of lacZ and luc (the firefly luciferase gene), respectively, we demonstrate that transient, dynamic (−) DNA supercoiling provided by divergent transcription in both wild-type and topA strains can potently activate Pleu-500. We found that this activation depended on the promoter strength and the length of RNA transcripts, which are functional characteristics of transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling (TCDS) precisely predicted by the twin-supercoiled domain model of transcription in which a (+) supercoiled domain is produced ahead of the RNA polymerase and a (−) supercoiled domain behind it. We also demonstrate that TCDS can be generated on topologically open DNA molecules, i.e. linear DNA molecules, in Escherichia coli, suggesting that topological boundaries or barriers are not required for the production of TCDS in vivo. This work demonstrates that transient, dynamic TCDS by RNA polymerases is a major chromosome remodeling force in E. coli and greatly influences the nearby, coupled promoters/transcription.
Correlates of a Recent History of Disabling Low Back Pain in Community-dwelling Older Persons: The Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study

Objectives: To investigate the correlates of a recent history of disabling low back pain (LBP) in older persons. Materials and Methods: The Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study was derived from the Frailty among Brazilian Older Adults (FIBRA) Network Study. Data were collected through face-to-face/telephone interviews and clinical examination. A series of logistic regressions assessed associations between a recent history of disabling LBP and sociodemographic, physical/lifestyle, and psychological factors. Results: Of the 378 community-dwelling elders included in the study (age±SD, 75.5±6.1), 9.3% experienced LBP that was bad enough to limit or change their daily activities during the past year. Those reporting a recent history of disabling LBP were more likely to be women and under financial strain, to present poor self-rated health, overweight, multimorbidity, low physical activity level, fatigue, depressive symptomatology/diagnosis and fear beliefs, and to report decreased sleep time, prolonged sitting time, chronic pain (in location other than lower back), and frequently recurring LBP. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that overweight (odds ratio [OR], 29.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-391.0), low physical activity level (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4), fatigue (OR, 10.3; 95% CI, 2.4-43.4), depression diagnosis (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 1.3-18.4), and frequently recurring LBP (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.0-20.1) were independently associated with a recent history of disabling LBP. Discussion: Our study supports the link between disabling LBP and other age-related chronic conditions in a middle-income country with a rapidly aging population.
A new multi agent system based on online sequential extreme learning machines and Bayesian Formalism

In this article, a new Multi Agent System based on Online Sequential Extreme Learning Machine (OSELM) neural network and Bayesian Formalism (MAS-OSELM-BF) is introduced. It is an improvement of a single OSELM (single agent) by combined multiple OSELMs (multi agents) with a final decision making module (parent agent). Here, the development of the parent agent is motivated by the Bayesian Formalism. A series of empirical studies to assess the effectiveness of the MAS-OSELM-BF in pattern classification tasks is conducted. The results demonstrated that the MAS-OSELM-BF able to produce good performance as compared with a single OSELM and other method that employed ensemble OSLEM (EOSELM).
Time of neuron origin in the diencephalon of the mouse. An autoradiographic study

Time of origin of neurons of thalamus ventralis, thalamus dorsalis, and epithalamus was determined autoradiographically at three transverse levels in adults which received thymidine‐H3 once during gestation. A ventrodorsal gradient in the entire region demonstrates a wave of neuron origin in the forebrain, probably rostrocaudal originally but revectored by rearrangement of neuromeres I–III. A caudorostral gradient in dorsal thalamus similarly may represent redirection of an earlier ventrodorsal one. A lateromedial gradient in dorsal thalamus and epithalamus (opposite that in cortex) may reflect lateral displacement of neuroblasts (or their nuclei) by younger elements. Large neurons generally arise before small ones, as seen in epithalamus; the two habenular nuclei illustrate programmed origin of large and small neurons and glia consecutively, with progressively restricted potentiality by the primitive ependyma. Phylogenetically, slight differences in duration of proliferation might radically alter the numbers of small neurons. Although dorsal thalamic nuclei “appear” in external germinal and mantle layers, their neuroblasts originate in primitive ependyma; time of origin accords with subsequent recognition of nuclei and appearance of thalamocortical connections. Massive proliferation (from the 10th to 15th days of gestation) and the gradients overshadow nuclear differences and demonstrate a developmental unity in the dorsal thalamus. The findings further validate Herrick's diencephalic zones and suggest some orderly mechanism, probably at the molecular level, underlying generation of the neurons in this complex brain region.
Robust PLS approach for KPI-related prediction and diagnosis against outliers and missing data

In practical industrial applications, the key performance indicator (KPI)-related prediction and diagnosis are quite important for the product quality and economic benefits. To meet these requirements, many advanced prediction and monitoring approaches have been developed which can be classified into model-based or data-driven techniques. Among these approaches, partial least squares (PLS) is one of the most popular data-driven methods due to its simplicity and easy implementation in large-scale industrial process. As PLS is totally based on the measured process data, the characteristics of the process data are critical for the success of PLS. Outliers and missing values are two common characteristics of the measured data which can severely affect the effectiveness of PLS. To ensure the applicability of PLS in practical industrial applications, this paper introduces a robust version of PLS to deal with outliers and missing values, simultaneously. The effectiveness of the proposed method is finally demonstrated by the application results of the KPI-related prediction and diagnosis on an industrial benchmark of Tennessee Eastman process.