Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bioapplications of RAFT polymerization.

A living radical polymerization (LRP) is a free radical polymerization that aims at displaying living character, (i.e., does not terminate or transfer and is able to continue polymerization once the initial feed is exhausted by addition of more monomer). However, termination reactions are inherent to a radical process, and modern LRP techniques seek to minimize such reactions, therefore providing control over the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of a polymeric material. In addition, the better LRP techniques incorporate many of the desirable features of traditional free radical polymerization, such as compatibility with a wide range of monomers, tolerance of many functionalities, and facile reaction conditions. The control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution has enabled access to complex architectures and site specific functionality that were previously impossible to achieve via traditional free radical polymerizations. These LRPs are classified in three different subgroups: (1) stable free-radical polymerization such as nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP),1,2 (2) degenerative transfer polymerization, such as iodine transfer polymerization (ITP and RITP),3,4 single electron transfer-degenerative transfer living radical polymerization(SET-DTLRP),5,6reversibleaddition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT),7,8 and macromolecular design via the interchange of xanthates (MADIX)9,10 polymerization, and (3) metal mediated catalyzed polymerization, such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP),11-14 single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP),15 and organotellurium mediated living radical polymrization16-19 Among the existing LRP techniques, RAFT and MADIX are probably the most versatile processes, as they are tolerant * E-mail: T.P.D. , T.Davis@UNSW.edu.au; S.P., S.Perrier@ chem.usyd. edu.au. † Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Sciences & Engineering, UNSW. ‡ Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW. § The University of Sydney. Chem. Rev. 2009, 109, 5402–5436 5402
The parathyroids, calcium and gastric secretion in man and the dog

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS The possible relationship between hyperparathyroidism and peptic ulcer has stimulated renewed interest in the relationship between calcium and gastric secretion. This study shows that in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism the basal secretion of acid was raised but the augmented histamine secretion was essentially normal. The basal secretion was lowered by parathyroidectomy. Studies in dogs shows a different pattern of gastric secretory response.
The NAD(P)H Oxidase Inhibitor Apocynin Improves Endothelial NO/Superoxide Balance and Lowers Effectively Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Comparison to Calcium Channel Blockade

The vascular NAD(P)H oxidase contributes to endothelial dysfunction and high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by enhancing superoxide production. We investigated the effects of apocynin, a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, on blood pressure and vascular radical and nitric oxide formation in SHR and compared its effects to the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. Apocynin (over four weeks) lowered systolic blood pressure significantly and as effectively as nifedipine. Both apocynin and nifedipine significantly reduced superoxide production. In parallel, vascular nitric oxide production and ecNOS activity was significantly increased by apocynin treatment. Therefore, apocynin may be an effective antihypertensive drug in essential hypertension.
Enabled backchannel: conference Twitter use by digital humanists

Purpose – To date, few studies have been undertaken to make explicit how microblogging technologies are used by and can benefit scholars. This paper aims to investigate the use of Twitter by an academic community in various conference settings, and to pose the following questions: Does the use of a Twitter‐enabled backchannel enhance the conference experience, collaboration and the co‐construction of knowledge? and How is microblogging used within academic conferences, and can one articulate the benefits it may bring to a discipline? Design/methodology/approach – This paper considers the use of Twitter as a digital backchannel by the Digital Humanities (DH) community, taking as its focus postings to Twitter during three different international 2009 conferences. The resulting archive of 4,574 “Tweets” was analysed using various quantitative and qualitative methods, including a qualitative categorisation of Twitter posts by open coded analysis, a quantitative examination of user conventions, and text analysi.
Hearing Two Things at Once: Neurophysiological Indices of Speech Segregation and Identification

The discrimination of concurrent sounds is paramount to speech perception. During social gatherings, listeners must extract information from a composite acoustic wave, which sums multiple individual voices that are simultaneously active. The observers' ability to identify two simultaneously presented vowels improves with increasing separation between the fundamental frequencies (f0) of the two vowels. Event-related potentials to stimuli presented during attend and ignore conditions revealed activity between 130 and 170 msec after sound onset that reflected the f0 differences between the two vowels. Another, more posterior and right-lateralized, negative wave maximal at 250 msec, and a central-parietal slow negativity were observed only during vowel identification and may index stimulus categorization. This sequence of neural events supports a multistage model of auditory scene analysis in which the spectral pattern of each vowel constituent is automatically extracted and then matched against representations of those vowels in working memory.
Effect of a Nutritional Supplementation on Bone Health in Chilean Elderly Subjects with Femoral Osteoporosis

Objective: To study the effects of a special nutritional supplement on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in Chilean elderly subjects with femoral osteoporosis. Setting: Public primary health care clinics in Chile. Subjects: Free living elderly subjects with femoral osteoporosis. Interventions: Subjects were randomized to receive the usual nutritional supplement provided by the Chilean Ministry of Health or a special nutritional supplement providing, among other nutrients, 90 mg isoflavones, 800 mg calcium, 400 IU vitamin D, 60 ug vitamin K and 31 g proteins per day. Measures of Outcome: At baseline, and after six and twelve months of supplementation, body composition, bone mineral density, serum 25 OH vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteocalcin, decarboxylated osteocalcin, urinary aminoterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX), deoxypyridoline cross links (Dpd) and equol were measured. Every month, urinary daidzein was measured in a morning urine sample. Results: No differences between treatment groups were observed in body composition or bone mineral density changes. The group receiving the special supplement had a significant increase in serum 25 OH vitamin D and a significant decrease in serum iPTH and decarboxylated osteocalcin. No association between daidzein or equol excretion and changes in bone mineralization was observed. Conclusions: A special supplement delivered to elderly subjects with osteoporosis improved serum vitamin D and reduced serum iPTH and undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels but did not affect BMD.
Synaptic connections of amacrine cells containing vesicular glutamate transporter 3 in baboon retinas

Abstract The goals of these experiments were to describe the morphology and synaptic connections of amacrine cells in the baboon retina that contain immunoreactive vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (vGluT3). These amacrine cells had the morphology characteristic of knotty bistratified type 1 cells, and their dendrites formed two plexuses on either side of the center of the inner plexiform layer. The primary dendrites received large synapses from amacrine cells, and the higher-order dendrites were both pre- and postsynaptic to other amacrine cells. Based on light microscopic immunolabeling results, these include AII cells and starburst cells, but not the polyaxonal amacrine cells tracer-coupled to ON parasol ganglion cells. The vGluT3 cells received input from ON bipolar cells at ribbon synapses and made synapses onto OFF bipolar cells, including the diffuse DB3a type. Many synapses from vGluT3 cells onto retinal ganglion cells were observed in both plexuses. At synapses where vGluT3 cells were presynaptic, two types of postsynaptic densities were observed; there were relatively thin ones characteristic of inhibitory synapses and relatively thick ones characteristic of excitatory synapses. In the light microscopic experiments with Neurobiotin-injected ganglion cells, vGluT3 cells made contacts with midget and parasol ganglion cells, including both ON and OFF types. Puncta containing immunoreactive gephyrin, an inhibitory synapse marker, were found at appositions between vGluT3 cells and each of the four types of labeled ganglion cells. The vGluT3 cells did not have detectable levels of immunoreactive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or immunoreactive glycine transporter 1. Thus, the vGluT3 cells would be expected to have ON responses to light and make synapses onto neurons in both the ON and the OFF pathways. Taken with previous results, these findings suggest that vGluT3 cells release glycine at some of their output synapses and glutamate at others.
Template-free pseudomorphic synthesis of tungsten carbide nanorods.

A unique nanorod-structured tungsten carbide material with high specific surface area of 198 m(2) g(-1) is successfully synthesized for the first time by pseudomorphic transformation of chemically synthesized WO(3) nanorods through a high-temperature method. An electrocatalyst composed of Pt nanoparticles supported on WC nanorods demonstrates higher electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation, better tolerance to CO poisoning, and superior performance for cathodic electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution than a Pt/C catalyst. This work provides a novel method to synthesize high-surface-area nanorod-structured WC materials by preparing oxide precursors with the desired external morphology, thus offering great potential for a broad range of applications of these materials in related reaction systems.
Molecular consequences of altered neuronal cholesterol biosynthesis

The first dedicated step in de novo cholesterol biosynthesis begins with formation of squalene and ends with the reduction of 7‐dehydrocholesterol by 7‐dehydrocholesterol reductase (Dhcr7) into cholesterol, which is an essential structural and signaling molecule. Mutations in the Dhcr7 gene lead to Smith‐Lemli‐Opitz syndrome (SLOS), which is characterized by developmental deformities, incomplete myelination, and mental retardation. To understand better the molecular consequences of Dhcr7 deficiency in neuronal tissue, we analyzed the effect of cholesterol deficiency on the transcriptome in Neuro2a cells. Transient down‐regulation of Dhcr7 by siRNA led to altered expression of multiple molecules that play critical roles in intracellular signaling or vesicular transport or are inserted into membrane rafts (e.g. Egr1, Snx, and Adam19). A similar down‐regulation was also observed in stable Dhrc7‐shRNA‐transfected cell lines, and the findings were verified by qPCR. Furthermore, we investigated the Dhcr7‐deficient and control cells for the expression of several critical genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. Among these, fatty acid synthase, sterol‐regulatory element binding protein 2, SREBF chaperone, site‐1 protease, and squalene synthase showed a significant down‐regulation, suggesting that, in a neuronal cell line, Dhcr7 is a potent regulator of lipid biosynthesis. Importantly, the gene expression changes were present in both lipid‐containing and cholesterol‐deficient media, suggesting that intrinsic cholesterol biosynthesis is necessary for normal neuronal function and cannot be supplemented from extrinsic sources. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Claves para el trabajo con la Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales

Desde el ano 2005 la comunidad cientifica cuenta con una nueva fuente de informacion anual para el estudio de las dinamicas del mercado de trabajo y del sistema de prevision social de caracter contributivo en Espana. Sus microdatos, que reciben el nombre de Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales (MCVL), proceden de tres registros administrativos: la Seguridad Social, el Padron Continuo Municipal y la Agencia Tributaria. En este trabajo se exponen sus caracteristicas fundamentales, al tiempo que se plantean algunas pautas basicas para afrontar las dificultades en el manejo de sus datos. Entre ellas destacan las peculiaridades de su estructura panel; el tratamiento del pluriempleo y las situaciones simultaneas; el modo en que se computa una relacion laboral; y los problemas para la identificacion de la estructura familiar.
DISCLOSURE OF LABILE MONOAMINE FRACTIONS IN BRAIN AND THEIR CORRELATION TO BEHAVIOUR.

The recovery rates of brain monoainines after disruption of long-term treatment of rabbits with reserpine (0.2 mg/kg/day) and after single doses of the drug (0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg) have been compared. No clearcut difference in recovery rates between the two types of treatment could be detected. In both cases normal values were reached only after several weeks. From the 3rd to 4th day the animals showed a normal gross behaviour in spite of low monoamine levels. Brain monoamines and behaviour were studied in chronically treated rabbits during the 24 hours following the daily injection. A temporal correlation between the changes in the remaining low monoamine levels and behaviour was demonstrated, which is in contrast to observations made in animals receiving a single dose for the first time. It appears that chronic reserpine treatment results in removal of large physiologically inert monoamine fractions, thus disclosing small, labile, functionally essential fractions.
Being satisfied at work does affect burnout among psychiatrists: A national follow-up study from New Zealand

Background: Burnout and job satisfaction in psychiatrists has been an area of considerable interest. Longitudinal studies on the subject are lacking, rendering it difficult to establish whether burnout changes with time or whether low job satisfaction may predict high burnout with time in psychiatrists. Aims: This longitudinal study of burnout and job satisfaction in a cohort of New Zealand psychiatrists was conducted to examine if initial scores on the Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) predicted scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) three years later and vice versa. Methods: Three questionnaires (a socio-demographic questionnaire, the JDS and the MBI) were sent to all registered psychiatrists in 2008, which included all those who had participated in a study three years earlier. Scores on these three questionnaires were compared for those who had participated in both studies. Results: The overall number of psychiatrists reporting a high level of emotional exhaustion (EE) did not change across the two phases. The number of psychiatrists reporting high levels of depersonalization (DP) increased from 31 (13%) to 45 (20.2%); the mean DP score for the cohort significantly increased by 17.5% (p < .01). Those reporting reduced personal accomplishment (PA) increased from 90 (37.7%) to 98 (43.9%); the mean PA score for the cohort significantly reduced by 14.5% (p < .001). Low scores on skill variety, task Identity, and feedback of the JDS were significantly correlated with high EE scores three years later, whereas low scores on skill variety were significantly correlated with high scores on DP, and low scores on task significance and feedback were correlated with low scores on PA three years later. Conclusions: Paying attention to aspects of job satisfaction may assist us in developing specific interventions for psychiatrists who may score high on different dimensions of burnout.
Competition in hospital and health insurance markets: a review and research agenda.

OBJECTIVES To review the empirical literature on the effects of selective contracting and hospital competition on hospital prices, travel distance, services, and quality; to review the effects of managed care penetration and competition on health insurance premiums; and to identify areas for further research. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Selective contracting has allowed managed care plans to obtain lower prices from hospitals. This finding is generalizable beyond California and is stronger when there is more competition in the hospital market. Travel distances to hospitals of admission have not increased as a result of managed care. Evidence on the diffusion of technology in hospitals and the extent to which hospitals have specialized as a result of managed care is mixed. Little research on the effects on quality has been undertaken, but preliminary evidence suggests that hospital quality has not declined and may have improved. Actual mergers in the hospital market have not affected hospital prices. Much less research has been focused on managed care markets. Greater market penetration and greater competition among managed care plans are associated with lower managed care premiums. Greater HMO penetration appears to be much more effective than PPO penetration in leading to lower premiums. While workers are willing to change plans when faced with higher out-of-pocket premiums, there is little evidence of the willingness of employers to switch plan offerings. Preliminary evidence suggests that greater managed care penetration has led to lower overall employer premiums, but the results differ substantially between employers with and without a self-insured plan. CONCLUSIONS Much more research is needed to examine all aspects of managed care markets. In hospital markets, particular attention should be focused on the effects on quality and technology diffusion.
Treatment duration (persistence) of basal insulin supported oral therapy (BOT) in Type-2 diabetic patients: comparison of insulin glargine with NPH insulin.

OBJECTIVE To compare the persistence (treatment duration) of basal insulin supported oral therapy (BOT) using insulin glargine (GLA) or NPH insulin (NPH) in Type-2 diabetic patients. METHODS This retrospective cohort study reports results from an analysis of claims data from prescriptions for ambulatory patients within the German Statutory Health Insurance scheme. The study is based on claims data from more than 80% of German community pharmacies. Treatment duration until switching to a basal bolus treatment regimen (intensified conventional insulin therapy: ICT) was determined in insulin-naïve patients who began treatment with BOT using GLA or NPH between 01/2003 and 12/2006. RESULTS A total of 97,998 patients (61,070 GLA and 36,928 NPH) were included. Within the observation period, 23.5% of GLA patients and 28.0% of NPH patients switched from BOT to ICT. The upper quartile of probability of continuation of therapy (the 75th percentile) was reached after 769 days in GLA patients and after 517 days in NPH patients. Therefore, the risk of switching to ICT was significantly higher with NPH compared to GLA: hazard ratios were 1.34 (99% CI: 1.29-1.38; unadjusted) and 1.22 (99% CI: 1.18-1.27) after adjustment for predefined covariates. Various sensitivity analyses using modified inclusion criteria and endpoint definitions were applied and these confirmed the initial results. CONCLUSION Type-2 diabetic patients under BOT with GLA stayed significantly longer on the initial therapy before switching to ICT than patients on BOT using NPH.
Oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 in immunocompetent persons.

BACKGROUND Reactivation of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) can result in recurrent herpes labialis lesions (RHL) and in oral shedding of virus. This study utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to document the frequency and quantity of such shedding. METHODS Thirty adults with greater than three RHL episodes per year were followed through one recurrence. They collected swabs for PCR every 12 h starting at prodrome and for 10 days thereafter. Shedding was analyzed with regard to frequency, timing and quantity. RESULTS HSV-1 was detectable in 87% of participants for a mean of 4 days. Shedding occurred most frequently during the vesicle/ulcer stage (91% of subjects), but was common in both clinical and subclinical stages (50% vs. 23%, average log DNA copy number/ml(2) 2.6 vs. 1.4). CONCLUSION The majority of RHL patients shed viral DNA. Shedding occurred before and after the appearance of clinical lesions. Such findings may be useful in designing methods to reduce viral shedding and prevent transmission.
Zur geologie des coppename-und nickerietales in Surinam (Holländisch-Guyana)

Die geologischen Verhaltnisse von Hollandisch-Guyana sind bisher nur in grossen allgemeinen Zugen bekannt. Man weiss, dass der Kern des Landes von Gliedern der archaischen Schieferformation gebildet wird und dass zahlreiche Eruptivmassen, besonders Granit und „Grunstein”, diese Schiefer durchbrechen. In neuerer Zeit und genauer wurden nur kleine Teile des 160 000 qkm umfassenden Gebietes untersucht. Wegen der schweren Zuganglichkeit des Landes mussten sich alle Forschungsreisen an die Flusslaufe halten. Von den im grossen und ganzen nordwarts gerichteten Flussen, dem Maroni (Marowyne) im Osten, dem Commewyne, Surinam, Saramacca, Coppename, Nickerie und endlich dem Corantijn im Westen sind neuerdings der Surinam durch MARTIN, der Surinam und Maroni teilweise durch Du Bois beschrieben worden, wahrend fur die ubrigen Taler die luckenhafte Kenntniss weiter zuruckreicht. Das Material zu den folgenden Untersuchungen stammt aus den Flusslaufen des Coppename und des Nickerie. Am Coppename sammelte es Herr W. L. LOTH, Geometer in Paramaribo, im Jahre 1894, am Nickerie Herr C. VAN DRIMMELEN, Distriktskommissar von Nickerie, im Jahre 1897, und Herr C. VAN CAPPELLE stellte diese Proben aus dem Nickerietal freundlichst zur Verfugung. Da beide Taler auch in geologischer Beziehung noch zu den wenig bekannten gehoren, muss das vorliegende Material trotz seines verhaltnismassig geringen Umfanges willkommen geheissen werden. Ja es ist reichlich genug zu zeigen, dass die geologischen Verhaltnisse Surinams doch nicht so einfach sind, wie es bisher den Anschein hatte, reichlich genug, um die geologischen und petrographischen Kenntnisse des Landes betrachtlich zu erweitern und den geologischen Zusammenhang mit den benachbarten Gebieten enger zu knupfen.