Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ab initio transport properties of nanostructures from maximally localized Wannier functions

We present a comprehensive first-principles study of the ballistic transport properties of low-dimensional nanostructures such as linear chains of atoms (Al, C) and carbon nanotubes in the presence of defects. An approach is introduced where quantum conductance is computed from the combination of accurate plane-wave electronic structure calculations, the evaluation of the corresponding maximally localized Wannier functions, and the calculation of transport properties by a real-space Green's function method based on the Landauer formalism. This approach is computationally very efficient, can be straightforwardly implemented as a post-processing step in a standard electronic-structure calculation, and allows us to directly link the electronic transport properties of a device to the nature of the chemical bonds, providing insight onto the mechanisms that govern electron flow at the nanoscale.
Beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test surveillance identifies clinically significant beryllium disease.

BACKGROUND Workplace surveillance identifies chronic beryllium disease (CBD) but it remains unknown over what time frame mild CBD will progress to a more severe form. METHODS We examined physiology and treatment in 229 beryllium sensitization (BeS) and 171 CBD surveillance-identified cases diagnosed from 1982 to 2002. Never smoking CBD cases (81) were compared to never smoking BeS patients (83) to assess disease progression. We compared CBD machinists to non-machinists to examine effects of exposure. RESULTS At baseline, CBD and BeS cases did not differ significantly in exposure time or physiology. CBD patients were more likely to have machined beryllium. Of CBD cases, 19.3% went on to require oral immunosuppressive therapy. At 30 years from first exposure, measures of gas exchange were significantly worse and total lung capacity was lower for CBD subjects. Machinists had faster disease progression as measured by pulmonary function testing and gas exchange. CONCLUSIONS Medical surveillance for CBD identifies individuals at significant risk of disease progression and impairment with sufficient time since first exposure.
Effect of Dracocephalum argunense on Mast-Cell-Mediated Hypersensitivity

Background: Stimulation of mast cells starts the process of degranulation resulting in release of mediators such as histamine and an array of inflammatory cytokines. In this report, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Dracocephalum argunense Fisch. (Labiatae) (DAAE) on immediate-type hypersensitivity and studied its possible mechanisms of action, focusing on histamine release and proinflammatory cytokine expression in mast cells. Methods: An in vivo model of systemic and local allergic reaction was investigated. Compound 48/80- or IgE-induced histamine release from mast cells was measured. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 was measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The level of intracellular calcium was measured by spectrofluorometry. NF-ĸB activation was measured by Western blot, EMSA and luciferase assay. Results: DAAE inhibited systemic anaphylaxis, local allergic reactions, and serum histamine release in a dose-dependent manner in mice. DAAE dose-dependently reduced histamine release from mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or IgE. The inhibitory effect of DAAE on histamine release was mediated by the modulation of intracellular calcium. In addition, DAAE decreased TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression and production in human mast cells stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187. The inhibitory effect of DAAE on the TNF-α and IL-6 expression was NF-ĸB dependent. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that DAAE inhibits mast-cell-derived immediate-type hypersensitivity. Taken together, the anti-allergic effect of DAAE in vivo and in vitro suggests a possible clinical use of this agent in immediate-type hypersensitivity.
Pathologic Evidence of Degeneration as a Primary Cause of Rotator Cuff Tear

Histopathologic, histochemical, and morphometric studies were done on 80 medial stumps of torn rotator cuff tendons to clarify the cause of tears. A high prevalence and diffuse distribution of degenerative changes were observed in the rotator cuff tendons including thinning and disorientation of collagen fibers, myxoid degeneration, hyaline degeneration, chondroid metaplasia, calcification, vascularproliferation, and fatty infiltration. No distinct inflammatory reaction was observed. Thinning and disorientation of collagen fibers, myxoid degeneration, and hyaline degeneration were seen in all cases. All changes except vascular proliferation and fatty infiltration were more pronounced in the middle to deep layers of the tendons than in the superficial layer. The collagen fibers were disoriented in the deep layer of the tendons, shown by microscopic image analysis. The frequency and distribution of thinning and disorientation of collagen fibers, myxoid degeneration, and hyaline degeneration suggest that these are early degenerative processes. Chondroid metaplasia and calcification may be chronic pathologic changes that occur after tearing regardless of the type of tear. Preexisting degenerative change in the middle and deep layers of the tendon in association with microtrauma seems to be the main cause of rotator cuff tears.
Effect of different concentrations of Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, carcase quality, gut microflora and immune response of broiler chickens

1. An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different Bacillus subtilis concentrations on productivity, carcase quality, immune response and the gut microflora of broiler chickens. 2. There were 5 treatment groups: control, with no added Bacillus subtilis supplementation; and 4 treatment groups receiving feed supplemented with different concentrations of B. subtilis. 3. Weight gain was significantly higher and the feed conversion rate was significantly better in all groups receiving feed supplemented with B. subtilis, regardless of its concentration. The groups given B. subtilis supplementation produced relatively bigger breasts, and smaller carcases and thighs, compared with the control group. 4. The appearance of increased diffuse lymphohistiocytic infiltration and solitary lymphoid follicles in the mucosa, and a stronger response to NDV vaccination, indicate increased immunological responses in chickens fed with the B. subtilis supplemented diet. 5. The higher inclusion rate of B. subtilis did not increase Lactobacillus concentrations in the ileum or in the caecum, but decreased the E. coli population significantly.
17 Dithiocarbamate Toxicity-An Appraisal

Dithiocarbamates (DTC) are organosulfur compounds represented by a general structure (R1R2)N-(C=S)-SX, where R can be substituted by an alkyl, alkylene, aryl, or similar other group, and X usually by a metal ion (Edwards, 1991; Kamrin, 1997; US EPA, 2001). Discovered in the 1930s, the DTC were first introduced as fungicides for commercial applications during World War II (Ware & Whitacre, 2004). Besides their wide use as fungicides for treatment of crops, vegetables, seeds, and ornamental plants, they are also used as accelerators in the rubber industry, animal repellants, and biocides in many household products (Edwards et al., 1991; Kamrin, 1997). Figure 1 shows examples of some common DTC pesticides. Thiram, disulfiram, ziram, and ferbam are analogous dialkyl DTC with differences in their R groups and the later two containing different metal ions between their S atoms. Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a monomeric DTC which contains a five member ring attached to its N atom. It is a metabolic inhibitor used in cell physiological studies (Schreck et al., 1992; Cvek and Dvorak, 2007). In ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamates (EBDTC), the R groups of two DTC molecules form an ethylene bridge. The EBDTC are regarded as polymeric DTC because their metal ions can bind several molecules to form polymeric complexes. Some examples of EBDTC are zineb, maneb, and mancozeb which are used in preharvest agricultural applications. The DTC anions are highly reactive which can conjugate with other molecules containing SH groups and form metal chelates. The multisite interactions of DTC give them advantage to influence the biological activities of different proteins, enzymes, and exert toxic effects. Some of those modes of action of DTC compounds have been exploited for their use in clinical applications (Morrison et al., 2010). However, the extensive use of these chemicals in agriculture has raised concern for their effects as occupational and ecotoxicological hazards. Several reviews on the biological and toxicological effects of DTC summarize many studies in the field (Edwards et al., 1991; US EPA, 2001; Cvek and Dvorak, 2007). The objective of this review is to highlight some of the recent findings on the effects of dialkyl DTC and EBDTC with emphasis on studies of the avian system which has not been a focus of earlier literature.
A Look in the Mirror : The Mastery-Oriented I-O Psychologist

Research on personality, especially using the five-factor model (FFM; McCrae & Costa, 1987), has contributed greatly to industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology. In particular, this is because personality traits, especially Conscientiousness, are found to be valid predictors of job performance (Barrick & Mount, 1991; Hurtz & Donovan, 2000) while having relatively less adverse impact than other selection tools, such as cognitive ability tests (Ployhart & Holtz, 2008). Although the FFM is the most widely used personality model, other traits have been studied in the context of work and have been found to correlate with key variables such as job performance and job satisfaction. Such variables include need for achievement (McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, & Lowell, 1976), core self-evaluations (Judge & Bono, 2001), and goal orientation (Phillips & Gully, 1997). As a result, it is of great interest to organizations to be able to understand the personality of its applicants and its incumbents, and often such an examination of traits goes beyond the FFM. Despite the success of using personality tests to predict job-related outcomes across a variety of occupations, I-O psychologists themselves, including members of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), have historically not been the subjects of these studies. In fact, very limited research exists examining any individual differences between I-O psychologists and other professions. “I-O psychologist” has been rated as the fastest growing job in the United States (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). As a result, it will become increasingly necessary to understand ways in which the I-O personality is distinct from (or similar to) other professions, which can have implications for realistic career previews for prospective I-O psychologists. Thus, the purpose of this paper is a preliminary investigation to compare the personalities of I-O psychologists to a baseline working population, as well as to professionals and nonprofessionals in other occupations across two studies. We hope that this will be the first of many studies that look to understand the I-O personality and that this will spark further research in the area.
Updating the IS curriculum (extended abstract): student perceptions of industry needs

The need for ongoing change and updating has been a cornerstone of IS curriculum concern for the past decade. It was once fhe case that entry level positions were as “programmer” or “programmer/analyst” in medium to large companies where applications were developed internally; expertise in COBOL was the most critical requirement for a f~st job out of college. Today there is a multitude of new job titles in this arena that did not exist ten years ago (e.g., database analysts, telecommunications/networking specialists, EDP secnrify/auditing specialists, user support analysts, and office automation specialists). Entry level jobs now cover a variety of positions and require a variety of dcills (Trauth, et al, 1993; Lombardo & Larsen, 1992). Thou,gh some studies give cordlicting results (Archer, 1993; Knapp, 1993), COBOL proficiency is probably no longer the key to a f~st jolx its relevance at all in the IS curriculum is in question (Hehns & Morrell, 1994). What other topics and skills belong in today’s IS curriculum is an even larger question.
A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Caries– Preventive Efficacy of a Chlorhexidine–Containing Varnish in High–Caries–Risk Adolescents

A professionally applied two–stage chlorhexidine varnish, Chlorzoin®, was developed to achieve sustained release and minimise the problems of staining and bad taste associated with chlorhexidine mouthrinses. The primary aim of this randomised controlled clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of Chlorzoin in reducing the caries increment in high–caries–risk adolescents. Secondary aims included investigating the effect of compliance upon caries increment, the effect of Chlorzoin upon salivary mutans streptococci levels and assessing the benefit of individual dental health advice by dental auxiliaries in a community setting. 1,240 children, initially aged 11–13 years, assessed to be at high caries risk were recruited into the trial. The trial design involved four arms: an observational group, a control group, an active (Chlorzoin) varnish group and a placebo varnish group. All subjects were examined annually by a calibrated examiner who was blind to the group allocation. Three–year caries increments were calculated using clinical, clinical and fibre–optic transillumination, and clinical and bitewing data sets. The results indicated that the use of Chlorzoin had an initial effect on mutans streptococci levels but that no long–term reduction in caries increment or mutans streptococci infection could be detected. One reason for this lack of efficacy may have been the regimen of reduced frequency of varnish applications after the initial period. Children who followed the protocol and, therefore, were seen regularly by dental auxiliaries had a lower caries increment than those who did not. This finding was independent of varnish allocation. In summary, under this regimen, Chlorzoin has been found to be effective in decreasing salivary mutans streptococci but ineffective as a caries–preventive agent in high–risk Scottish children when applied pragmatically in a community setting.
The susceptibility and resilience of corals to thermal stress: adaptation, acclimatization or both?

Coral reefs are threatened with worldwide decline from multiple factors, chief among them climate change ( Hughes et al. 2003 ; Hoegh‐Guldberg et al. 2007 ). The foundation of coral reefs is an endosymbiosis between coral hosts and their resident photosynthetic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) and this partnership (or holobiont) is exquisitely sensitive to temperature stress. The primary response to hyperthermic stress is coral bleaching, which is the loss of symbionts from coral tissues—the collapse of the symbiosis ( Weis 2008 ). Bleaching can result in increased coral mortality which can ultimately lead to severely compromised reef health ( Hoegh‐Guldberg et al. 2007 ). Despite this grim picture of coral bleaching and reef degradation, coral susceptibility to stress and bleaching is highly variable ( Coles & Brown 2003 ). There is enormous interest in discovering the factors that determine susceptibility in order to help us predict if and how corals will survive a period of rapid global warming. In this issue, Barshis et al. (2010) examine the ecophysiological and genetic basis for differential responses to stress in Porites lobata in American Samoa. They combine a reciprocal transplant experimental design between two neighbouring, but very different reef environments with state‐of‐the‐art physiological biomarkers and molecular genetic markers for both partners to tease apart the contribution of environmental and fixed influences on stress susceptibility. Their results suggest the presence of a fixed, rather than environmental effect on expression of ubiquitin conjugates, one key marker for physiological stress response. In addition, the authors show genetic differentiation in host populations between the two sites suggesting strong selection for physiological adaptation to differing environments across small geographic distances. These conclusions point the study of coral resilience and susceptibility in a new direction.
Live cells detection in breast cell-line by FTIR micro-spectrometer

Infrared absorption for living cells in aqueous media has been measured for normal and cancer cells using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) point micro-spectrometer. IR characteristics of live cells were measured under cell culture conditions, while most of previous works were performed with dehydrated or fixed cells. In this paper, the infrared spectra of adhered cells were measured in transmission mode by point microscopy with spot sizes of 200 mum times 200 mum. Some remarkable differences are observed among normal (MCF10A), cancer(MCF7) and invasive cancer (MDAMB231) cells in breast cell line. Peaks at 3621 and 2873 cm-1 appeared except for MCF10A, which shows the distinction between cancer and normal cell. At 3621 cm-1 peak also, appeared in MCF10A after subculture over fifteen times, which seemed to be an evidence that normal cell was being transformed to cancer cell. These results show a potential of spectroscopic methodology instead of image analysis with fluorescence material in cell.
Iron Deficiency in Young Lebanese Children: Association With Elevated Blood Lead Levels

Objective To measure the prevalence of transferrin saturation (TS) <12%, and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in Lebanese children, and their association with dietary habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and blood lead levels. Procedure A cross-sectional study was performed over a period of 2 years. Of 268 children studied, 142 (53%) were boys and 126 (47%) were girls with an age range of 11 to 75 months. Information collected included nutritional status, blood counts, TS, and blood lead levels. Results The total prevalence of TS<12% and IDA were 33.6% and 20.5%, respectively, and were associated with not having received iron supplements. IDA was more prevalent among males (P=0.04). TS<12% and IDA were significantly associated with elevated blood lead levels in the first age group (11 to 23 mo) (P=0.04, odds ratio=3.19) and (P=0.006, odds ratio=4.59), respectively. Conclusions IDA is common in Lebanese children and is associated with increased blood lead levels, lack of iron supplementation, and cultural dietary habits. Remedial measures such as iron fortification of commonly consumed food are needed on the national level. Lead exposure must be controlled and awareness must be raised about the potentially devastating consequences of combined iron deficiency and lead poisoning on young children.
Part recognition using vision and ultrasonic sensor for robotic assembly system

Automatic batch manufacture is one of the most promising future direction in the field of computational robotics with the smart assembly system. In this paper design of improved vision sensing manipulator to recognize desired components in unstructured assembly system is presented. The proposed sensor based intelligent robotic manipulator can be used to solve high-dimensional problems manipulate and grasp objects in unstructured environments. The scheme is composed of an intelligent robotic end-effector control system to proficiently supervise the end-effector towards the object to be manipulated in the same workspace. The proposed scheme is developed with sensors such as vision and ultrasonic sensors, which is installed at the end-effector of the robot to recognize the object. Experimental work on sensor has been carried out to demonstrate the integration robot manipulator for accomplishing the desired industrial tasks.
Review on leptin and adiponectin responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise

Leptin and adiponectin represent two newly discovered adipose tissue derived hormones; that are both associated with health status and glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism. Moreover, acute and chronic exercises affect body composition, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is thus interesting to evaluate the effects of physical exercise and training on leptin and adiponectin levels. It seems that leptin concentration is not modified after short-term exercise (<60 min) or exercise that generates an energy expenditure lower than 800 kcal. Leptin levels decrease after long-term exercise (≥60 min) stimulating FFA release, or after exercise that generates energy expenditure higher than 800 kcal. Adiponectin concentration presents a delayed increase (30 min) after short-term intense exercise (<60 min) performed by trained athletes. For adiponectin, limited data suggest that adiponectin concentration presents a delayed increase (30 min) after short-term intense exercise (<60 min) performed by trained athletes. It seems that adiponectin concentrations do not change in response to long-term exercise (≥60 min). Short-term training (<12 weeks) and long-term training (≥12 weeks) show contrasting results regarding leptin and adiponectin. Most training studies which improve fitness levels and affect body composition could decrease leptin and increase adiponectin concentrations.
What is vestibular papillomatosis? A study of its prevalence, aetiology and natural history.

OBJECTIVES To clarify the prevalence, aetiology, symptoms and natural history of vestibular papillomatosis. DESIGN Study in two parts: 1. prevalence assessed by colposcopic examination of the vulva of unselected patients by one doctor (J.M.W.); 2. patients selected by clinical appearance as having vestibular papillomatosis (by J.M.W. and other doctors) assessed in a research clinic. SETTING Outpatient genitourinary medicine clinic in South London. SUBJECTS Part 1 study: 295 female clinic attenders; part 2 study: 18 women with clinical vestibular papillomatosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Part 1 study: number of unselected patients found to have vestibular papillomatosis. Part 2 study: associated symptoms, histology, DNA hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction on vulval biopsies. Clinical regression of lesions. Cervical cytology and colposcopy. RESULTS Part 1 study: Vestibular papillomatosis was identified by colposcopic examination of the vulva in 3/295 (1%) of women. Part 2 study: 9/18 (50%) women with vestibular papillomatosis were asymptomatic; the other nine had intermittent mild symptoms. Thirteen (72%) had a history of genital warts. Vulval biopsies had features suggestive of wart virus infection on histology in 17/18 (94%) and HPV16 was found by DNA hybridisation studies or polymerase chain reaction in 7/18 (39%). On follow up (mean duration 9 months) the vulval lesions had regressed in 9/12 patients. Ten patients had cervical wart virus infection or intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), or both, and five needed laser treatment for this. CONCLUSIONS In this study vestibular papillomatosis was associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study suggests that vestibular papillomatosis need not be treated, but patients with it may be at increased risk for CIN.