Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Outer Scale of Turbulence in the Magnetoionized Galactic Interstellar Medium

We analyze Faraday rotation and depolarization of extragalactic radio point sources in the direction of the inner Galactic plane to determine the outer scale and amplitude of the rotation measure power spectrum. Structure functions of rotation measure show lower amplitudes than expected when extrapolating electron density fluctuations to large scales assuming a Kolmogorov spectral index. This implies an outer scale of those fluctuations on the order of a parsec, much smaller than commonly assumed. Analysis of the partial depolarization of point sources independently indicates a small outer scale of a Kolmogorov power spectrum. In the Galaxy’s spiral arms, no rotation measure fluctuations on scales above a few parsecs are measured. In the interarm regions fluctuations on larger scales than in spiral arms are present, and show power-law behavior with a shallow spectrum. These results suggest that in the spiral arms stellar sources such as stellar winds or protostellar outflows dominate the energy injection for the turbulent energy cascade on parsec scales, while in the interarm regions supernova and superbubble explosions are the main sources of energy on scales on the order of 100 pc.
Perceptions, predictors and consequences of whistleblowing among accounting employees in Barbados

Purpose - Whistleblowing has been receiving increased attention and support in recent times as a means of detecting and correcting wrongdoing in organizations. This study aims to examine perceptions, attitudes and consequences (actions and reactions) of whistleblowing, as well as the predictors of internal and external whistleblowing intentions, by using Graham’s (1986) model of principled organizational dissent in a small emerging and collectivist culture like Barbados. Design/methodology/approach - The study utilized a self-administered survey of 282 accounting employees working in organizations in Barbados. Findings - Results reveal that there is little awareness of whistleblowing legislation. Most respondents perceive whistleblowing as ethical and favor internal over external whistleblowing. Findings show that personal responsibility and personal costs significantly influence internal whistleblowing intentions, while personal costs influence external whistleblowing. Using qualitative data, several themes emerged as influencing whistleblowing: perceived benefits of whistleblowing, actual whistleblowing experiences (handling of reports), personal costs (climate of fear and hostility), perceived lack of anonymity and cultural norms. Research limitations/implications - Future research should control for social desirability bias and use more rigorous qualitative approaches such as face-to-face interviews and focus groups to gain in-depth opinions and feelings on the topic. Practical implications - Whistleblowing can be achieved through such mechanisms as perceived organizational support, strong ethical codes of conduct, rewarding ethical behavior and promoting sound work ethics in organizations. Originality/value - This paper explores whistleblowing in an emerging economy where there has been little research on the topic. Thus, this study supplements the existing research in emerging economies by examining the applicability of Graham’s (1986) model of principled organizational dissent.
Proinsulin C-peptide: Friend or foe in the development of diabetes-associated complications?

The proinsulin connecting peptide, C-peptide, is a cleavage product of insulin synthesis that is co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic β-cells following glucose stimulation. Recombinant insulin, used in the treatment of diabetes, lacks C-peptide and preclinical and clinical studies suggest that lack of C-peptide may exacerbate diabetes-associated complications. In accordance with this, several studies suggest that C-peptide has beneficial effects in a number of diabetes-associated complications. C-peptide has been shown to prevent diabetic neuropathy by improving endoneural blood flow, preventing neuronal apoptosis and by preventing axonal swelling. In the vascular system, C-peptide has been shown to prevent vascular dysfunction in diabetic rats, and to possess anti-proliferative effects on vascular smooth muscle cells, which may prevent atherosclerosis. However, C-peptide depositions have been found in arteriosclerotic lesions of patients with hyperinsulinemic diabetes and C-peptide has been shown to induce pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nuclear factor kappa B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2, indicating that C-peptide treatment could be associated with side-effects that may accelerate the development of diabetes-associated complications. This review provides a brief summary of recent research in the field and discusses potential beneficial and detrimental effects of C-peptide supplementation.
Intravenous Topiramate: Pharmacokinetics in Dogs with Naturally Occurring Epilepsy

Rationale Barriers to developing treatments for human status epilepticus include the inadequacy of experimental animal models. In contrast, naturally occurring canine epilepsy is similar to the human condition and can serve as a platform to translate research from rodents to humans. The objectives of this study were to characterize the pharmacokinetics of an intravenous (IV) dose of topiramate (TPM) in dogs with epilepsy and evaluate its effect on intracranial electroencephalographic (iEEG) features. Methods Five dogs with naturally occurring epilepsy were used for this study. Three were getting at least one antiseizure drug as maintenance therapy including phenobarbital (PB). Four (ID 1–4) were used for the 10 mg/kg IV TPM + PO TPM study, and three (ID 3–5) were used for the 20 mg/kg IV TPM study. IV TPM was infused over 5 min at both doses. The animals were observed for vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, and lethargy. Blood samples were collected at scheduled pre- and post-dose times. Plasma concentrations were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Non-compartmental and population compartmental modeling were performed (Phoenix WinNonLin and NLME) using plasma concentrations from all dogs in the study. iEEG was acquired in one dog. The difference between averaged iEEG energy levels at 15 min pre- and post-dose was assessed using a Kruskal–Wallis test. Results No adverse events were noted. TPM concentration–time profiles were best fit by a two compartment model. PB co-administration was associated with a 5.6-fold greater clearance and a ~4-fold shorter elimination half-life. iEEG data showed that TPM produced a significant energy increase at frequencies >4 Hz across all 16 electrodes within 15 min of dosing. Simulations suggested that dogs on an enzyme inducer would require 25 mg/kg, while dogs on non-inducing drugs would need 20 mg/kg to attain the target concentration (20–30 μg/mL) at 30 min post-dose. Conclusion This study shows that IV TPM has a relatively rapid onset of action, loading doses appear safe, and the presence of PB necessitates a higher dose to attain targeted concentrations. Consequently, it is a good candidate for further evaluation for treatment of seizure emergencies in dogs and people.
Human cardiac telocytes: 3D imaging by FIB-SEM tomography

Telocyte (TC) is a newly identified type of cell in the cardiac interstitium (www.telocytes.com). TCs are described by classical transmission electron microscopy as cells with very thin and long telopodes (Tps; cellular prolongations) having podoms (dilations) and podomers (very thin segments). TCs' three‐dimensional (3D) morphology is still unknown. Cardiac TCs seem to be particularly involved in long and short distance intercellular signalling and, therefore, their 3D architecture is important for understanding their spatial connections. Using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM) we show, for the first time, the whole ultrastructural anatomy of cardiac TCs. 3D reconstruction of cardiac TCs by FIB‐SEM tomography confirms that they have long, narrow but flattened (ribbon‐like) telopodes, with humps generated by the podoms. FIB‐SEM tomography also confirms the network made by TCs in the cardiac interstitium through adherens junctions. This study provides the first FIB‐SEM tomography of a human cell type.
In search of the ‘ sweet spot ’ Borate-based liquid ant baits must have just the right amount of active ingredient to do the trick

B orates are popular insecticides, as evidenced by the number of commercial ant baits that use them as active ingredients. Their popularity is due in large part to their low mammalian toxicity and favorable physical properties that have contributed to the registration of a large number of products. Many consider the products " reduced risk " in residential and agricultural settings. Another advantage is their solubility in water, which has become particularly important in liquid bait formulation for sweet-loving ants. The challenge in developing liquid baits is twofold: 1. Finding an attractive sugar-based solution that ants will readily consume. 2. Finding the optimal dose of borate for that solution so that it will not decrease its consumption, or interfere with ant recruitment and food exchange. If the concentration of active ingredient is too high, the ants will die too quickly to maintain foraging trails to the bait solution. If it's too low, the tox-icant will be diluted out of its effective range when it is passed from one ant to another. Thus, a bait's " sweet spot " is the range of concentrations of the active ingredient where a solution is readily consumed and exhibits delayed toxicity. PROOF OF IMPORTANCE Two types of field tests illustrate the importance of finding this sweet spot. First, choice tests showed significant variation in Argentine ant response to commercial baits as measured by consumption (Table 1). Only one of the five borate baits tested, (A), was consumed as much as the 25% sucrose water. Although several commercial baits have the same concentration of active ingredient, the differences in volume consumed can be attributed to the sugar content, type of sugar and other attractants in the baits. Viscosity is another possible factor. Second, efficacy trials with one of the less-consumed baits (E) provided only 30% reduction in foraging ants (Figure 1, next page). Low consumption was probably the main reason for the marginal performance of this bait. We have had much better results with 0.5% boric acid + 25% sucrose water in a large field trial, which provided about 80% reduction in the number of ants (Klotz et al. 1998). The greater efficacy of the 0.5% boric acid + 25% sucrose water bait compared to commercial bait (E), containing 1% boric acid, can be attributed to the lower palatability of the commercial bait and faster kill of workers. In most studies we have done, the …
Bradykinin Release Avoids High Molecular Weight Kininogen Endocytosis

Human H-kininogen (120 kDa) plays a role in many pathophysiological processes and interacts with the cell surface through protein receptors and proteoglycans, which mediate H-kininogen endocytosis. In the present work we demonstrate that H-kininogen containing bradykinin domain is internalized and different endogenous kininogenases are present in CHO-K1 cells. We used CHO-K1 (wild type) and CHO-745 (mutant deficient in proteoglycans biosynthesis) cell lines. H-kininogen endocytosis was studied using confocal microscopy, and its hydrolysis by cell lysate fraction was determined by immunoblotting. Bradykinin release was also measured by radioimmunoassay. H-kininogen interaction with the cell surface of CHO-745 cells resulted in bradykinin release by serine proteases. In CHO-K1 cells, which produce heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, internalization of H-kininogen through its bradykinin domain can occur on lipid raft domains/caveolae. Nevertheless bradykinin-free H-kininogen was not internalized by CHO-K1 cells. The H-kininogen present in acidic endosomal vesicles in CHO-K1 was approximately 10-fold higher than the levels in CHO-745. CHO-K1 lysate fractions were assayed at pH 5.5 and intact H-kininogen was totally hydrolyzed into a 62 kDa fragment. By contrast, at an assay pH 7.4, the remained fragments were 115 kDa, 83 kDa, 62 kDa and 48 kDa in size. The antipain-Sepharose chromatography separated endogenous kininogenases from CHO-K1 lysate fraction. No difference was detected in the assays at pH 5.5 or 7.4, but the proteins in the fraction bound to the resin released bradykinin from H-kininogen. However, the proteins in the unbound fraction cleaved intact H-kininogen at other sites but did not release bradykinin. H-kininogen can interact with extravascular cells, and is internalized dependent on its bradykinin domain and cell surface proteoglycans. After internalization, H-kininogen is proteolytically processed by intracellular kininogenases. The present data also demonstrates that serine or cysteine proteases in lipid raft domains/caveolae on the CHO cell can hydrolyze H-kininogen, thus releasing kinins.
Fractal dimensions and scaling laws in the interstellar medium: A new field theory approach.

We develop a field theoretical approach to the cold interstellar medium (ISM). We show that a nonrelativistic self-gravitating gas in thermal equilibrium with a variable number of atoms or fragments is exactly equivalent to a field theory of a single scalar field {phi}({ital x{searrow}}) with an exponential self-interaction. We analyze this field theory perturbatively and nonperturbatively through the renormalization group approach. We show a {ital scaling} behavior (critical) for a continuous range of the temperature and of the other physical parameters. We derive in this framework the scaling relation {Delta}{ital M}({ital R}){approximately}{ital R}{sup {ital d}{sub {ital H}}} for the mass on a region of size {ital R}, and {Delta}{ital v}{approx}{ital R{sup q}} for the velocity dispersion where {ital q}=1/2({ital d{sub H}}-1). For the density-density correlations we find a power-law behavior for large distances {approx}{vert_bar}{ital r{searrow}}{sub 1}-{ital r{searrow}}{sub 2}{vert_bar}{sup 2{ital d{sub H}}-6}. The fractal dimension {ital d}{sub {ital H}} turns out to be related with the critical exponent {nu} of the correlation length by {ital d{sub H}}=1/{nu}. The renormalization group approach for a single component scalar field in three dimensions states that the long-distance critical behavior is governed by the (nonperturbative) Ising fixed point. The corresponding values of the scaling exponentsmore » are {nu}=0.631. , {ital d{sub H}}=1.585. , and {ital q}=0.293. Mean field theory yields for the scaling exponents {nu}=1/2, {ital d}{sub {ital H}}=2, and {ital q}=1/2. Both the Ising and the mean field values are compatible with the present ISM observational data: 1.4{le}{ital d}{sub {ital H}}{le}2, 0.3{le}{ital q}{le}0.6. As typical in critical phenomena, the scaling behavior and critical exponents of the ISM can be obtained without dealing with the dynamical (time-dependent) behavior. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }« less
The Role of Gamification in Education - A Literature Review

“Gamification” is a concept which aims to increase user experience and engagement with a system, while education is an area with high prospective for application of this concept. A lot of research is ongoing since it seeks to improve the quality of learning of students. Current situation on research of “Gamification in education” is still at initial stages where all of them aim to improve the effectiveness of education activity using game elements. Several ga ps on the studies
High-Throughput Particle Manipulation Based on Hydrodynamic Effects in Microchannels

Microfluidic techniques are effective tools for precise manipulation of particles and cells, whose enrichment and separation is crucial for a wide range of applications in biology, medicine, and chemistry. Recently, lateral particle migration induced by the intrinsic hydrodynamic effects in microchannels, such as inertia and elasticity, has shown its promise for high-throughput and label-free particle manipulation. The particle migration can be engineered to realize the controllable focusing and separation of particles based on a difference in size. The widespread use of inertial and viscoelastic microfluidics depends on the understanding of hydrodynamic effects on particle motion. This review will summarize the progress in the fundamental mechanisms and key applications of inertial and viscoelastic particle manipulation.
Nest-Site Selection and Nesting Success of Cavity-Nesting Birds in High Elevation Forest Drainages

ABssAcr. -We identified habitat features that characterized successful and unsuccessful nest sites, nest sites vs. random sites, and differences among coexisting species of cavitynesting birds for 356 nests in central Arizona. Live and, more commonly, dead quaking aspens (Populus tremuloides) were used for 88% of all nest sites, but aspens constituted only 12% of all trees in random plots (n = 152). Nest patches (11.3-m-radius circle centered on the nest tree) of most bird species contained significantly more aspens and conifers, which provided foraging substrates for cavity-nesting species, than random plots, but the patches had fewer deciduous trees (except aspens). Thus, more potential nest sites and foraging substrates existed in chosen nest patches than in random plots. Failed nests generally were more concealed by foliage and were closer to conifers. Nest success was lower for species with lower nest height. Reduced nest success at lower and more concealed nests may occur because predators are more successful. Nonexcavator species had lower nesting success than excavator species possibly because they nested lower, had greater nest concealment, used older cavities, and tended to have smaller body mass. Received 21 May 1990, accepted 26 November 1990.
Hypoxia Modulates Fibroblastic Architecture, Adhesion and Migration: A Role for HIF-1α in Cofilin Regulation and Cytoplasmic Actin Distribution

Cells can adapt to hypoxia by various mechanisms. Yet, hypoxia-induced effects on the cytoskeleton-based cell architecture and functions are largely unknown. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of the architecture and function of L929 fibroblasts under hypoxic conditions (1% O2). Cells cultivated in hypoxia showed striking morphological differences as compared to cells cultivated under normoxic conditions (20% O2). These changes include an enlargement of cell area and volume, increased numbers of focal contacts and loss of cell polarization. Furthermore the β- and γ-actin distribution is greatly altered. These hypoxic adjustments are associated with enhanced cell spreading and a decline of cell motility in wound closure and single cell motility assays. As the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is stabilised in hypoxia and plays a pivotal role in the transcriptional response to changes in oxygen availability we used an shRNA-approach to examine the role of HIF-1α in cytoskeleton-related architecture and functions. We show that the observed increase in cell area, actin filament rearrangement, decrease of single cell migration in hypoxia and the maintenance of p-cofilin levels is dependent on HIF-1α stabilisation.
Conducting Precision Medicine Research with African Americans

Importance Precision medicine is an approach to detecting, treating, and managing disease that is based on individual variation in genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Precision medicine is expected to reduce health disparities, but this will be possible only if studies have adequate representation of racial minorities. Objective It is critical to anticipate the rates at which individuals from diverse populations are likely to participate in precision medicine studies as research initiatives are being developed. We evaluated the likelihood of participating in a clinical study for precision medicine. Design, Setting, Participants Observational study conducted between October 2010 and February 2011 in a national sample of African Americans. Main Outcome Measure Intentions to participate in a government sponsored study that involves providing a biospecimen and generates data that could be shared with other researchers to conduct future studies. Results One third of respondents would participate in a clinical study for precision medicine. Only gender had a significant independent association with participation intentions. Men had a 1.86 (95% CI = 1.11, 3.12, p = 0.02) increased likelihood of participating in a precision medicine study compared to women in the model that included overall barriers and facilitators. In the model with specific participation barriers, distrust was associated with a reduced likelihood of participating in the research described in the vignette (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.96, p = 0.04). Conclusion and Relevance African Americans may have low enrollment in PMI research. As PMI research is implemented, extensive efforts will be needed to ensure adequate representation. Additional research is needed to identify optimal ways of ethically describing precision medicine studies to ensure sufficient recruitment of racial minorities.
The experience of gambling problems in British professional footballers: a preliminary qualitative study

Abstract Media reports suggest high rates of gambling amongst professional footballers but little is known about how footballers develop and then seek help for gambling problems. Here, we report the findings of in-depth, qualitative interviews with 11 British professional footballers who had, or who were, being treated for gambling problems at a residential clinic. These individuals experienced gambling as a highly salient feature of life as a professional football player in UK professional leagues. Often gambling began as part of social networks of young players, but then progressed to gambling problematically in isolation. Factors that facilitated this transition included structural aspects of professional football as an occupation (e.g. high salaries, spare time, gambling as a shared leisure pursuit) as well as the competitive and emotional challenges of the game (e.g. loss of form, injury or contract release and their effects upon mood). Seeking help was delayed by a reluctance to disclose problems to peers and club managers, but facilitated by recommendations from other players with similar experiences.
A probabilistic life model for reliability analysis of power cables feeding electric traction systems

A probabilistic life model conceived for estimating the main reliability parameters of power cables operating in distorted regime is here illustrated and applied to feeder cables for power supply systems of city subways. A first key-point of this work is that reliability parameters and functions are derived by simulating the random variability of harmonic pollution according to the probabilistic limits set in EN 50160 Standard. A second key-point is that peak, shape and rms factors, which account for the effects of distorted voltage on cable life, are all considered in the reliability analysis. The application results show that even if harmonic distortion matches EN 50160 limits (in a probabilistic sense), cable life and reliability may be reduced significantly. Furthermore, among the three voltage factors, both peak and shape factors play a non-negligible role for a thorough reliability analysis