Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Separation and Preconcentration of Gallium(III), Indium(III), and Thallium(III) Using New Hydrazone-modified Resin

Ga(III), In(III) and Tl(III) ions in the presence of different sulfate salts have been successfully separated using 1-(3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde)-2-acetylpyridiniumchloride hydrazone (DAPCH) loaded on Duolite C20 in batch and column modes. The obtained modified resin as well as the metal complexes was characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectra. The extraction isotherms were determined at different pH values. Ga(III) and In(III) are sorbed from aqueous solution at pH 2.5 - 3.0 while Tl(III) is sorbed at 2.0. The stripping of the adsorbed ions can be carried out using different concentrations of HCl as eluent. The saturation sorption capacities of Ga(III), In(III) and Tl(III) were 0.82, 0.96 and 0.44 mmol g^-1, where the preconcentration factors are 150, 150 and 100, respectively. The metal(III):Duolite C20-DAPCH ratio was 1:2 for Tl(III) and 1:1 for In(III) and Ga(III). The loaded resin can be regenerated for at least 50 cycles. The utility of the modified resin was tested in aqueous samples and the results show an RSD value of < 5% reflecting their accuracy and reproducibility.
Enhancing learning algorithms by an effective structure-based dissimilarity measuring approach

Many unsupervised and supervised learning algorithms are based on how well measuring the dissimilarity between objects is performed. Existing dissimilarity measures such as Euclidean and dynamic time warping distances often treat all measurements describing an object equally. This consideration might not be appropriate for the objects described by features at two different levels of abstraction. In order to distinguish such objects from each other and enhance distance-based learning algorithms, we propose a simple but effective structure-based dissimilarity measuring approach. The proposed approach is additive to enable the key features at the first level to contribute to the measure equally and independently. For the second level, it preserves the properties of any employed measure to compute the dissimilarity between the objects based on the detailed components of each key feature. Experiments on real and standardized data sets show that our approach can make several popular distance-based learning algorithms more effective.
The Simulation of Surge Corona on Transmission Lines

The prediction of surge attenuation and distortion by corona on overhead lines is relevant to both insulation design and overvoltage protection. The authors describe a computational procedure to obtain the corona capacitance from the line geometry, thus avoiding the need to impulse-test full-scale line models. The simulation of surge corona loss by a switched capacitor with constant and voltage-dependent capacitance representations is discussed. Surge attenuation and distortion for positive and negative impulse voltages applied to transmission lines are computed and compared with published measured voltage waveshapes, with satisfactory results. >
Diabetes and periodontal disease: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND Periodontitis is often associated with diabetes and might be considered one of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, both in Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 (T2DM). This case-control study was designed to evaluate the possible association between non-insulin-dependent diabetes (T2DM) and clinical and microbiological periodontal disease among adult Sardinians. METHODS A total of 212 individuals participated in this study: 71 T2DM patients aged 61.0 +/- 11.0 years and 141 non-diabetic controls in good general health aged 59.1 +/- 9.2 years. All subjects were given a clinical periodontal examination for probing depth, attachment level, presence of calculus, bleeding on probing, and assessment of plaque. Subgingival plaque samples were obtained, and P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and T. forsythensis were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS T2DM patients showed a significantly lower number of teeth present (P = 0.002); a significant increase in number of probing depths >4 mm, and percent of pocket depths >4 mm (P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively); periodontitis (P = 0.046); bleeding on probing (P = 0.02); and plaque index (P = 0.01). A significant association with diabetes was detected for plaque (X2= 4.46; P <0.05) and bleeding on probing (X2= 3.60; P <0.05). Concerning bacteria prevalence, a positive association was detected for P. gingivalis (X2= 2.80; P <0.05) and T. forsythensis (X2= 3.87; P <0.05). Presence of plaque was positively associated with case status (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 3.6) and with prevalence of P. gingivalis and T. forsythensis (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.3, 2.2; and 1.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.8, respectively). CONCLUSION Patients with T2DM undoubtedly have a susceptibility for more severe periodontal disease.
Assessment of fatigue in the management of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

BACKGROUND Pain, stiffness, functional impairment, range of motion and quality of life are the main conventional domains used in studies evaluating ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, fatigue has been reported as the major complaint of AS patients. OBJECTIVES To evaluate fatigue as a potential independent domain in comparison with the 'conventional' ones and to evaluate the sensitivity to change after non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. METHODS Patients were classified as having painful AS (modified New York criteria). The following variables were recorded at baseline and after 6 weeks of therapy (either placebo or NSAIDs): pain (VAS), function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), patient's global assessment (VAS), inflammation (night pain), morning stiffness, metrology (Schober test, finger-to-floor) and fatigue using 0-100 VAS scale. Analysis consisted of (i) the prevalence of fatigue (VAS value of at least 50 mm), (ii) the independence of the information evaluated using a regression model, and (iii) the sensitivity to change, by calculating the standardized response mean (mean change/s.d. change) (SRM) between placebo and NSAID group. RESULTS Fatigue was considered important in 401 patients (out of 639: 63%). The information provided by the variables 'pain', 'function' and 'global assessment' explained only 44% of the variability of the variable 'fatigue' (similar analyses considering 'pain' on the one hand and 'function' on the other hand as the dependent variables showed an R2 value of 34 and 60%, respectively). The NSAID treatment effect (SRM) was higher for the variables 'pain' and 'function' (0.76 and 0.71, respectively) than for the variable 'fatigue' (0.34). CONCLUSION This study strongly suggests that fatigue should be considered as an independent domain to be systematically evaluated in AS patients and that conventional therapy such as NSAIDs have a lower effect on this domain than on pain or functional impairment.
Nonurgent emergency department patient characteristics and barriers to primary care.

OBJECTIVE Nonurgent (NU) emergency department (ED) use is at the forefront of medico-political agendas, and diversion of NU patients has been entertained as a management strategy. Before policy changes are implemented, this population should be better understood with respect to their characteristics and reasons for not presenting to primary care providers (PCPs) instead of EDs. This study compares NU with urgent and semiurgent (USU) patients and describes the NU patients' reasons for not seeking care with a PCP before presenting to the ED. METHODS This was a secondary analysis from a cross-sectional study with sequential sampling in the EDs of five Quebec tertiary care hospitals (October 19, 1999, to May 26, 2000). Data on medical history, social support, awareness and utilization of health care, ED visits, referrals, activities of daily living, and sociodemographics were obtained. The NU group included patients with triage code 5 and the USU group included patients with triage codes 2, 3, and 4 using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale. Patient characteristics were structured into the Andersen behavioral model for health care utilization. RESULTS Of 2,348 patients approached, 1,783 patients (77%) were eligible and agreed to participate. NU patients (n = 454) were younger than USU patients (n = 1,329) (mean age, 43 [SD +/- 18.1] vs. 49 [SD +/- 20.1] years). Patients in the NU group had better health (number of prior conditions, 3.1 vs. 3.9), were less likely to arrive by ambulance (5% vs. 22%), and were less often admitted from the ED (4% vs. 24%). While 70% of NU compared with 75% of USU patients were followed up by a PCP, only 22% of NU and 27% of USU patients sought PCP care before presenting to the ED. The reasons given by NU patients for not seeking PCP care were accessibility (32%), perception of need (22%), referral/follow-up to the ED (20%), familiarity with the ED (11%), trust of the ED (7%), and no reason (7%). CONCLUSIONS NU ED patients are different from USU patients and have multiple reasons for not seeking primary care before going to the ED. This may help explain why various diversion strategies have been unsuccessful and indicate that a multifaceted approach may be better suited to this group of patients. The design of new interventions, however, will benefit from further research that clarifies the impact of NU patients on the health care system.
Frégoli delusion and erotomania.

Defective perception of music due to an altered capacity to discriminate the elementary components of musical stimuli (rhythm, pitch, timbre, intensity and duration) produces an alteration in the aesthetic enjoyment of and the emotional involvement in music. ' To our knowledge, there is no previous evidence of the existence of a condition in which the primary disruption is to the capacity to process the musical stimulus as a whole. We report a case of a young musician who, as a result of a right temporo-parietal lesion, presented with loss of the gestalt capacity to process music, with the consequent loss of aesthetic pleasure. Our patient was a 24 year old male, who was an amateur musician and a skilful gui-
2‐Oxoacids Regulate Kynurenic Acid Production in the Rat Brain

Abstract : This study was designed to examine the role of 2‐oxoacids in the enzymatic transamination of L‐kynurenine to the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist, kynurenate, in the rat brain. In brain tissue slices incubated in Krebs‐Ringer buffer with a physiological concentration of L‐kynurenine, pyruvate, and several other straight‐ and branched‐chain 2‐oxoacids, substantially restored basal kynurenate production in a dose‐dependent manner without increasing the intracellular concentration of L‐kynurenine. All 2‐oxoacids tested also reversed or attenuated the hypoglycemia‐induced decrease in kynurenate synthesis, but only pyruvate and oxaloacetate also substantially restored intracellular L‐kynurenine accumulation. Thus, 2‐oxoacids increase kynurenate formation in the brain primarily by functioning as co‐substrates of the transamination reaction. This was supported further by the fact that the nonspecific kynurenine aminotransferase inhibitors (aminooxy)acetic acid and dichlorovinylcysteine prevented the effect of pyruvate on kynurenate production in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, all 2‐oxoacids tested attenuated or prevented the effects of veratridine, quisqualate, or L‐α‐aminoadipate, which reduce the transamination of L‐kynurenine to kynurenate. Finally, dose‐dependent increases in extracellular kynurenate levels in response to an intracerebral perfusion with pyruvate or α‐ketoisocaproate were demonstrated by in vivo microdialysis. Taken together, these data show that 2‐oxoacids can directly augment the de novo production of kynurenate in several areas of the rat brain. 2‐Oxoacids may therefore provide a novel pharmacological approach for the manipulation of excitatory amino acid receptor function and dysfunction.
Finishing systems on the final surface roughness of composites.

AIM This study evaluated differences in surface roughness of a microhybrid (Gradia Direct, GC America) and a nanofil (Filtek Supreme, 3M ESPE) composite using four polishing systems: PoGo/Enhance (DENTSPLY/Caulk), Sof-Lex (3M ESPE), Astropol (Ivoclar Vivadent), and Optidisc (KerrHawe). METHODS AND MATERIALS An aluminum mold was used to prepare 2 X 60 composite disks (10 mm X 2 mm). Composite was packed into the mold, placed between two glass slabs, and polymerized for 40 seconds from the top and bottom surfaces. Specimens were finished to a standard rough surface using Moore's disks with six brushing strokes. Specimens were rinsed and stored in artificial saliva in individual plastic bags at 36 degrees C for 24 hours prior to testing. Specimens were randomly assigned to one of the four polishing systems and were polished for 30 seconds (10 seconds per grit) with brushing strokes according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mean surface roughness (Ra) was recorded with a surface-analyzer 24 hours after storage in artificial saliva, both before and after polishing. Means were analyzed using two-way and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparison tests at p < 0.05. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference for baseline measures between Filtek and Gradia (p=0.0338). For Filtek, Sof-Lex provided a significantly smoother surface (Ra=0.80 +/- 0.21) than Optidisc (Ra=0.93 +/- 0.28), Astropol (Ra=1.15 +/- 0.24), and Pogo/Enhance (Ra=1.39 +/- 0.39). For Gradia, Sof-Lex provided a significantly smoother surface (Ra=0.47 +/- 0.09) and Astropol provided a significantly rougher surface (Ra=1.39 +/- 0.19) than Pogo/Enhance (Ra=1.11 +/- 0.20) and Optidisc (Ra=1.15 +/- 0.18). There was no significant difference in roughness between composites for individual polishing systems (p=0.3991). CONCLUSION Filtek specimens were smoother than Gradia specimens after baseline roughening. Sof-Lex provided the smoothest final surface when used with either composite. Astropol provided a rough surface for Gradia specimens.
Communication-in-use: customer-integrated marketing communication

Purpose This conceptual paper aims at developing a customer-centric marketing communications approach that takes the starting point in the customer ecosystem. Design/methodology/approach After a critical analysis of existing marketing communications and integrated marketing communication (IMC) approaches, a customer-driven view of marketing communications is developed using recent developments in relationship communication, customer-dominant logic and the notion of customer value formation as value-in-use. Findings A customer-integrated marketing communication (CIMC) approach centred on a communication-in-use concept is conceptually developed and introduced. The analysis results in a CIMC model, where a customer in his or her individual ecosystem, based on integration of a set of messages from different sources, makes sense of the many messages he or she is exposed to. Research limitations/implications The paper presents a customer-driven perspective on marketing communication and IMC. The analysis is conceptual and should trigger future empirical grounding. It indicates the need for a change in mindset in research. Practical implications CIMC requires a turnaround in the mindset that steers how companies and their marketers communicate with customers. The CIMC model provides guidelines for planning marketing communication. Originality/value The customer-driven communication-in-use concept and the CIMC model challenge traditional inside-out approaches to planning and implementing marketing communication.
How Should Rural Financial Cooperatives Be Best Organized? Evidence from Ethiopia

What is the optimal size and composition of Rural Financial Cooperatives (RFCs)? With this broad question in mind, we characterize alternative formation of RFCs and their implications in improving the access of rural households to financial services, including savings, credit, and insurance services. We find that some features of RFCs have varying implications for delivering various financial services. The size of RFCs is found to have a nonlinear relationship with the various financial services RFCs provide. We also show that compositional heterogeneity among members, including diversity in wealth, is associated with higher access to credit services, while this has little implication on households’ savings behavior. Similarly, social cohesion among members is strongly associated with higher access to financial services. These empirical descriptions suggest that the optimal size and composition of RFCs may vary across the domains of financial services they are designed to facilitate. This evidence provides suggestive insights on how to ensure financial inclusion among smallholders, a pressing agenda and priority of policy makers in developing countries, including Ethiopia. The results also provide some insights into rural microfinance operations which are striving to satisfy members’ demand for financial services.
Constructions of certificate-based signature secure against key replacement attacks

In Eurocrypt 2003, Gentry introduced the notion of certificate-based encryption. The merit of certificate-based encryption lies in the following features: (1) providing more efficient public-key infrastructure (PKI) that requires less infrastructure, (2) solving the certificate revocation problem, and (3) eliminating third-party queries in the traditional PKI. Additionally, it also offers the solution to the inherent key escrow problem in the identity-based cryptography. The contributions of this paper are threefold. Firstly, we introduce a new attack called the “Key Replacement Attack” into the certificate-based signature system and refine the security model of certificate-based signature. Secondly, we show that the certificate-based signature scheme presented by Kang, Park and Hahn in CT-RSA 2004 is insecure against key replacement attacks. Thirdly, we present two new certificate-based signature schemes secure against key replacement attacks. Our first scheme is existentially unforgeable against adaptive chosen message attacks under the computational Diffie-Hellman assumption in the random oracle model. Compared with the certificate-based signature scheme in CT-RSA 2004, our first scheme enjoys shorter signature length and less operation cost. Our second scheme is inspired by Waters signature and is the first construction of certificate-based signature secure against key replacement attacks in the standard model.
One-Stage Combined Posterior and Anterior Approaches for Excising Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Tumors: Surgical and Oncological Outcomes

Study Design. Retrospective clinical and radiologic evaluation. Objective. To investigate the feasibility of a 1-stage combined posterior and anterior approaches for excising thoracolumbar and lumbar tumors with the patient lying in the lateral position. Summary of Background Data. Traditional anteroposterior approaches for total spondylectomy require a 2-stage operation or changing the patient's position, with secondary sterilization in the one stage. So the surgical time, cost and trauma, as well as blood loss, would be increased. One-stage en bloc spondylectomy with the patient lying in the lateral position may be a good way for improving it. Methods. This study retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar spinal tumors who underwent spondylectomy. All patients were observed up, and their status was evaluated by clinical and imaging studies. Results. Total en bloc spondylectomy was performed successfully in 15 patients, and 3 patients underwent bulk vertebrectomy. All patients were observed up for 18 months to 3 years (mean, 2 years). Posterior pedicle screw fixation and anterior intervertebral titanium mesh placement were stable in all patients, with satisfactory positions. Two patients with preoperative neurologic deficits recovered less than 3 weeks after surgery. One patient with thyroid metastasis underwent artificial joint replacement 5 months after surgery. Two patients with metastatic tumor died 6 months and 8 months, respectively, after surgery. Ten months after surgery, local tumor recurred in one patient with chondrosarcoma. One patient with Ewing's sarcoma died due to distal metastasis 1 year after surgery. Conclusion. The 1-stage combined posterior and anterior approaches with the patient lying in the lateral position, used to excise thoracolumbar and lumbar spinal tumors, is feasible and permits sufficient exposure, reduces the risk of neurovascular injury and blood loss during surgery, facilitates total en bloc spondylectomy and spinal reconstruction, and reduces the surgical time of a 2-stage procedure and repositioning the patient. This method can be used effectively for excising spinal tumors.
Axonal arborization in the developing chick retinotectal system

The growth and arborization of chicken retinal ganglion cell axons have been investigated by means of an intraaxonally transported fluorescent marker in the developing retinotectal system. The fluorescent dye D282 or diI from the carbocyanine group of dyes is taken up by ganglion cells and labels the axon as well as the axonal growth cones and the terminal arborizations on the tectum.
A compensatory rest break system for VDT operators

Short rest breaks at 10 or 15-min intervals are being proposed as a means to moderate health problems and discomfort associated with continuous VDT use. This laboratory study evaluated an alternative to administering frequent breaks on a regimented schedule; short breaks were not administered unless the operator's spontaneous rest pauses were insufficient. Undergraduate volunteer typists (N=38) were assigned to one of two conditions: regimented (20-sec breaks every 5 min), or compensatory (20-sec breaks every 5 min only if the spontaneous pauses did not total 20 sec). Participants entered lines of randomized upper and lower-case characters that appeared on their VDT during a 48-min work period. Mood and musculoskeletal discomfort were assessed before and after the work period, followed by a questionnaire about the break system. Performance measures included keystroke output, error rate, and correction rate (backspace use). Large pre-to-post work period differences in both mood and musculoskeletal discomfort were found. Both the number and length of computer-administered breaks decreased in the compensatory condition. Back discomfort was lower in the compensatory condition, however, no differences in performance, mood, nor acceptance of the break system were found. These results indicate that rest breaks administered on a compensatory basis during repetitive computer work can eliminate unnecessary breaks and improve well-being without being any more disruptive to work than regimented breaks.
The Oncogenic Serine/Threonine Kinase Pim-1 Phosphorylates and Inhibits the Activity of Cdc25C-associated Kinase 1 (C-TAK1)

The Pim-1 oncogene encodes a serine-threonine kinase that relays signals from cytokine receptors and contributes to the formation of lymphoid tumors when expressed at high levels. Here we show that the protein kinase Cdc25 C-associated kinase 1 (C-TAK1) is a binding partner and a substrate of Pim-1. A physical interaction of Pim-1 and C-TAK1 could be shown biochemically and in yeast two-hybrid assays. Immunofluorescence experiments suggested that Pim-1·C-TAK1 complexes are predominantly cytoplasmic. When transiently transfected, Pim-1 was also found in the nucleus and could recruit C-TAK1 to this compartment. Both Pim-1 and C-TAK1 underwent autophosphorylation, but only Pim-1 was able to phosphorylate C-TAK1 but not vice versa. Mass spectrometry analysis of C-TAK1 suggested that the sites of autophosphorylation and Pim-1-mediated phosphorylation are distinct and not overlapping. Phosphorylation by Pim-1 decreased C-TAK1 kinase activity significantly, in particular its ability to phosphorylate and inactivate Cdc25C, a protein that actively promotes cell cycle progression at the G2/M phase. Hence our findings directly suggest a novel role for Pim-1 as a positive regulator at the G2/M transition of the cell cycle.