Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of Heavy Metals in the Dust Fall around Assiut Fertilizer Plant

A study of an environmental assessment of dust fall and the associated heavy metal contents was conducted during the period from the first of March 2011 to the end of February 2012 at adjoining area of a phosphate fertilizer plant. Around the industrial area 8 dust fall stations were established and one of them was built upwind far from pollution activities to be taken as a control sample. Dust fall samples collected monthly weighed and then prepared to be analyzed through Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to obtain heavy metal concentration. Meteorological parameters influencing the distribution of dust fall such as wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain fall and pressure were determined. Results showed that deposition flow rates were 38.2. 47.5, 57.7, 44.3, 39.4, 38.2, 42.7 and 5.9 g/m2·month for the sites No., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively, and were compared with the findings of other investigators of like industrial areas worldwide. Levels of heavy metal As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Hg in the deposited dust fall were 3.30, 26.46, 22.33, 235.00, 4.53 and 3.80 μg/g respectively. Enrichment coefficients of the heavy metals in the dust fall were found to be significant and reached the values 1.81, 0.90, 0.85, 0.65, 0.41 and 0.35 for zinc, lead, cadmium, copper, mercury and arsenic respectively. The paper ends with results and recommendations suggesting a methodology to remediate the investigated area polluted with heavy metals and control measures for the fertilizer plant to reduce pollution into the surrounding environment.
Behavioral evidence for a differential modulation of semantic processing and lexical production by aging: a full linear mixed-effects modeling approach

ABSTRACT The effect of normal aging on lexical production and semantic processing was evaluated in 72 healthy participants. Four tasks were used, picture naming (PN), picture categorization (PC), numerical judgment (NJ), and color judgment (CJ). The dependence of reaction time (RT) and correct responses with age was accounted by mixed-effects models. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing for verbal, executive, and memory functions. The RTs increase significantly with age for all tasks. After parceling out the non-specific cognitive decline, as reflected by the NJ task, the RT for the PN task decreases with age. Behavioral data were interpreted in relation with neuropsychological scores. Our results suggest that (a) naming becomes more automatic and semantic processing slightly more difficult with age, and (b) a non-specific general slowdown of cognitive processing occurs with age. Lexical production remained unaltered, based on compensatory automatic processes. This study also suggests a possible slowdown of semantic processing, even in normal aging.
Carrier Mobility Enhancement by Applying Back-Gate Bias in Ge-on-Insulator MOSFETs

In this letter, we comprehensively study the carriers’ mobility and the effect of back-gate bias (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) in Ge-on-insulator (GeOI) MOSFETs with various working modes, including accumulation mode (AM) nMOSFET, inversion mode (IM) nMOSFET, AM pMOSFET, and IM pMOSFET. The results show that the AM nMOSFETs and pMOSFETs have higher drain currents and carriers’ mobility. The electron mobility increases under positive <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and decreases under negative <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. While the hole mobility has the opposite <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> dependence. The carriers’ mobility of AM MOSFETs is proved to benefit more from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> due to the increase of carriers’ densities. The peak mobility enhancements of more than 100% for holes and 35% for electrons are achieved in GeOI MOSFETs by applying <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V} _{\textsf {bg}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
Anticancer effects of liriodenine on the cell growth and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through the upregulation of p53 expression

Liriodenine has wide pharmacological functions in phytochemistry, pharmacology and antitumor activities. The anticancer effects of liriodenine on the cell growth and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and the underlying mechanisms, are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the anticancer effects of liriodenine on the cell growth and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. We used MTT assay to measure cell growth, and flow cytometer and DAPI staining was used to analyze cell apoptosis. Then, Western blot analysis was executed to measure B-cell lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2), cyclin D1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and p53 protein expression. The effect of liriodenine induced significant apoptosis and suppression of cell growth of the MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the potential mechanism underlying its antitumor effect on MCF-7 cells may result from activation of caspase-3 activity, Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and VEGF, and promotion of p53 protein expression in MCF-7 cells. Therefore, the present results indicated that the anticancer effects of liriodenine suppress cell growth and induce the apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through inhibition of Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and VEGF expression, and upregulation of p53 expression. Therefore, liriodenine may be a potential therapy for the treatment of human breast cancer.
Achievable information rates, and the coding-spreading tradeoff in finite-sized synchronous CDMA systems

We compute achievable rates for synchronous code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems and study the associated coding-spreading tradeoff problem using these results. We assume random spreading sequences and the computed achievable rates are averaged over ensembles of spreading sequences. Unlike most prior work, which analyzed the spectral efficiency of large CDMA systems under Gaussianity assumptions (inputs and multiple access interference), we make no such assumptions. In order to display the coding-spreading tradeoff, we plot the required minimum SNR for reliable transmission as a function of information rate. It is shown that the coding-spreading tradeoff favors all coding (i.e., no spreading) when the optimal multiuser detector (MUD) is employed, whereas for systems with suboptimal MUDs and single-user decoding, there generally exist optimal code rates. We also provide simulation results on the performance of LDPC-coded synchronous CDMA systems which approach the information-theoretic limits we have computed.
Pathophysiology of ischemic acute renal failure.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a syndrome characterized by an abrupt and reversible kidney dysfunction. The spectrum of inciting factors is broad: from ischemic and nephrotoxic agents to a variety of endotoxemic states and syndrome of multiple organ failure. The pathophysiology of ARF includes vascular, glomerular and tubular dysfunction which, depending on the actual offending stimulus, vary in the severity and time of appearance. Hemodynamic compromise prevails in cases when noxious stimuli are related to hypotension and septicemia, leading to renal hypoperfusion with secondary tubular changes (described in Chapter 13). Nephrotoxic offenders usually result in primary tubular epithelial cell injury, though endothelial cell dysfunction can also occur, leading to the eventual cessation of glomerular filtration. This latter effect is a consequence of the combined action of tubular obstruction and activation of tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism. In the following pages we shall review the existing concepts on the phenomenology of ARF including the mechanisms of decreased renal perfusion and failure of glomerular filtration, vasoconstriction of renal arterioles, how formed elements gain access to the renal parenchyma, and what the sequelae are of such an invasion by primed leukocytes. Michael S. Goligorsky Wilfred Lieberthal
The Cholestyramine-induced Decrease of PYY Postprandial Response is Negatively Correlated with Fat Mass in Obese Women

Abstract Obese patients have decreased fasting and postprandial levels of peptide YY (PYY), an anorexigenic peptide produced by the L cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Fatty nutrients are the most powerful stimulus for PYY release. Cholestyramine, an anion exchanger which adsorbs bile salts, reduces digestion of lipids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cholestyramine or placebo on PYY secretion in obese women administered a high-fat meal [n=8; age: 30.9±2.7 years; BMI: 47.3±3.3 kg/m2]. Postprandial PYY levels in obese women given placebo significantly increased in plasma at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after meal ingestion. Cholestyramine administration significantly reduced postprandial PYY response at 15, 30, and 60 min. Percent fat mass (FM%) was negatively correlated with the percent increment of plasma PYY concentrations induced by meal administration at 30 min; conversely, there was a positive correlation between FM% and the percent decrement of plasma PYY concentrations induced by cholestyramine at the same time interval. These correlations failed to reach statistical significance when related to BMI. This study implies that in the obese state the altered PYY response to food consumption is a consequence of a dysfunction of L cells, which become less sensitive to the positive feedback effect of lipids.
Partial scan test for asynchronous circuits illustrated on a DCC error corrector

We present a design-for-testability method for asynchronous circuits based on partial scan. More specifically, we investigate how the partial scan principles from the synchronous test world can be adapted to asynchronous circuits, and we show that asynchronous partial scan design can be approached as a high-level design activity. The method is demonstrated on an asynchronous error corrector for the DCC player. It has been used effectually in the production and application-mode tests of this 155 k transistor chip-set. In particular, it has led to high 99.9% stuck-at output fault coverage in short 64 msec test time at the expense of less than 3% additional area.
Measuring Ambiguity Aversion: A Systematic Experimental Approach

This paper provides a systematic analysis of individual attitudes towards ambiguity, based on laboratory experiments. The design of the analysis allows to capture individual behavior across various levels of ambiguity, ranging from low to high. Attitudes towards risk and attitudes towards ambiguity are disentangled, providing pure measures of ambiguity aversion. Ambiguity aversion is captured in several ways, i.e. as a discount factor net of a risk premium, and as an estimated parameter in a generalized utility function. We find that ambiguity aversion varies across individuals, and with the level of ambiguity, being most prominent for intermediate levels. Around one third of subjects show no aversion, one third show maximum aversion, and one third show intermediate levels of ambiguity aversion, while there is almost no ambiguity seeking. While most theoretical work on ambiguity builds on maxmin expected utility, our results provide evidence that MEU does not adequately capture individual attitudes towards ambiguity for the majority of individuals. Instead, our results support models that allow for intermediate levels of ambiguity aversion. Moreover, we find risk aversion to be statistically unrelated to ambiguity aversion on average. Taken together, the results support the view that ambiguity is an important and distinct argument in decision making under uncertainty.
Acute Dyspnea as Perceived by Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Like pain, dyspnea, or difficulty in breathing, is a strong subjective experience of physiological distress. Using a model developed by DeVito, this study focused on the emotional aspects of the acute experience of dyspnea in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on a medical unit and explored nursing activities that eased the intensity of the symptoms. The study was descriptive in design and used a semistructured interview format with four open-ended questions and a numerical self-assessment of dyspnea using the Modified 0-10 Borg Scale (MBS). The sample included 41 hospitalized patients with COPD between the ages of 43 and 89 years who had experienced episodes of acute dyspnea both prior to and during their current inpatient stays. This article provides descriptions of the experience of dyspnea, identifies themes from the participants' responses, notes the patients' perceptions of the efficacy of nursing actions, and extends the use of the MBS to an inpatient population.
Intraarticular lidocaine versus intravenous procedural sedation with narcotics and benzodiazepines for reduction of the dislocated shoulder: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Anterior shoulder dislocations commonly present to the emergency department (ED). The time associated with procedural sedation for the reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations can be lengthy and may require use of additional personnel. Complications associated with intravenous (IV) medications for procedural sedation are well documented. OBJECTIVES The aim was to determine if intraarticular lidocaine (IAL) injection is as effective as IV procedural sedation with narcotics and benzodiazepines for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations. METHODS This was a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The authors performed a PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database search using key words: "shoulder dislocation" and "reduction" and retrieved every RCT published that compared the use of IV sedation to IAL as medication for reduction. Each manuscript was reviewed and the results of each was compared regarding medications used, success of reduction, complications, pain perceived, ease of reduction, and time spent in the ED. RESULTS Six Level 1 RCTs were identified. No studies showed a statistically significant difference in success rate between IAL versus IV sedation. The complication rate was significantly higher in the IV sedation groups (p < 0.001), and the total time spent in the ED was longer for the IV sedation group. CONCLUSIONS The use of IAL for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations should be strongly considered as a first line therapy because it is effective and safe and may potentially reduce time spent in the ED.
Neuropsychological characterization and detection of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the nature of the neuropsychological deficits associated with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. DESIGN Prospective study comparing the performance of patients with liver disease and carefully matched normal controls on a short but comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. SETTING A university medical center. PARTICIPANTS Twenty patients with cirrhosis (10 alcoholic and 10 nonalcoholic) and 20 controls carefully matched on the basis of age, sex, education, and alcohol history. RESULTS The cirrhotic patients exhibited relatively selective deficits in complex attentional and fine motor skills, with preservation of general intellectual ability, memory, language and visuospatial perception. CONCLUSIONS This pattern of neuropsychological deficits suggests a subcortical pathophysiology, possibly reflecting involvement of the basal ganglia. These neuropsychological findings are consistent with recent neuroradiological, electrophysiological, and neurophysiological research implicating basal ganglia involvement in cirrhosis.
Endothelial function and hemorheological parameters modulate coronary blood flow in patients without significant coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Coronary (micro)vascular resistance is regulated by the complex interplay of several factors. Two potentially important determinants include endothelial function and the rheological properties of blood. However, their impact on the control of the coronary resistance vasculature is poorly understood. METHODS The corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count (TIMIfc, an index of coronary flow velocity), conduit artery endothelial function, intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and complete blood counts were measured in 145 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. Patients with obstructive coronary artery disease or systemic conditions thought to be associated with microvascular disease were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS There was a strong correlation between the TIMIfc measured in the three main coronary artery distributions (R values between 0.71 and 0.85, P < 0.00001). The TIMIfc was higher in males (P < 0.05), but there was no association with traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease (all P > 0.1). There was a correlation between TIMIfc and L-FMC, a parameter of resting endothelial function (R = 0.33, P < 0.0005). TIMIfc also correlated with mean platelet volume (a marker of platelet activation, R = 0.33, P < 0.001), and hematocrit (R = 0.33, P = 0.0002). There was no correlation between TIMIfc and carotid intima-media thickness and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. Logistic regression analysis showed that L-FMC and hemorheological variables may explain as much as 19% of the variability in TIMIfc. CONCLUSIONS Resting peripheral endothelial function, as well as parameters of platelet function, correlate with coronary TIMIfc. These data emphasize the existence of an association between endothelial function, hemorheological variables and coronary blood flow velocity.
Curative radiotherapy for early cancers of the lip, buccal mucosa, and nose--a simple interstitial brachytherapy technique employing angiocatheters as carriers for Iridium-192 wire implants.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate treatment outcomes following interstitial brachytherapy for cancers of the lip, buccal mucosa, or nose. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS A cohort of 13 patients treated uniformly by a simple interstitial brachytherapy technique employing plastic angiocatheters as carriers for Iridium-192 wires: all but one patient had T1 or T2 tumours and all but one had N0 disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Local and loco-regional control rates. RESULTS Six of the 13 patients received external radiotherapy prior to interstitial brachytherapy. A median brachytherapy dose of 70 Gy was delivered to those treated with brachytherapy alone, while 35 Gy was delivered after a median external radiotherapy dose of 50 Gy to those receiving combined treatment. The 3-year actuarial local control rate was 75%. No significant late complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS Employing a simple brachytherapy technique using angiocatheters and Iridium-192 wires, in conjunction with external radiotherapy when appropriate, produces good outcomes for patients with early lip, nasal vestibule, and buccal mucosa cancers.
I'll See You in Court…Again: Psychopathology and Hyperlitigious Litigants.

Persistent litigation is a problem in many legal jurisdictions and is costly at individual and systemic levels. This phenomenon is referred to as "querulous" behavior in psychiatric literature, whereas legal discourse refers to it as "vexatious litigation. " We refer to this phenomenon as "hyperlitigious behavior" and those who engage in these actions as "hyperlitigious litigants. " Hyperlitigious litigants and hyperlitigious behavior were once the focus of a considerable amount of psychiatric literature, but research devoted to these topics has declined over the past half century. A review of the published literature on hyperlitigious behavior in European and English-speaking countries highlights geographic differences in the conceptualization and management of this behavior. We provide an alternative framework to consider the motivation to engage in hyperlitigious behavior and suggest three strategies for mental health professionals who interact with these individuals. Finally, we call for a revival of discussions and research within the English-speaking psychiatric community to facilitate more informed decisions regarding the management and treatment of hyperlitigious behavior.
Verbalizations Affect Visuomotor Control in Hitting Objects to Distant Targets

There is a long-standing proposal for the existence of two neuroanatomically and functionally separate visual systems; one supported by the dorsal pathway to control action and the second supported by the ventral pathway to handle explicit perceptual judgments. The dorsal pathway requires fast access to egocentric information, while the ventral pathway primarily requires allocentric information. Despite the evidence for functionally distinct systems, researchers have posited important interactions. This paper examines evidence to what degree the interaction becomes more important when target-identity, the perception of which is supported by the ventral stream, is verbalized during the execution of a target-directed far-aiming movement. In the experiment reported here participants hit balls toward distant targets while concurrently making explicit perceptual judgments of target properties. The endpoint of a shaft served as the target, with conditions including illusory arrow fins at the endpoint. Participants verbalized the location of the target by comparing it to a reference line and calling out “closer” or “further” while propelling the ball to the target. The impact velocity at ball contact was compared for hits toward three shafts of lengths, 94, 100, and 106 cm, with and without verbalizations and delays. It was observed that the meaning of the expressed words modulated movement execution when the verbalizations were consistent with the action characteristics. This effect of semantic content was evident regardless of target visibility during movement execution, demonstrating it was not restricted to movements that rely on visual memory. In addition to a direct effect of semantic content we anticipated an indirect effect of verbalization to result in action shifting toward the use of context-dependent allocentric information. This would result in an illusion bias on the impact velocity when the target is embedded in a Müller-Lyer configuration. We observed an ubiquitous effect of illusory context on movement execution, and not only when verbalizations were made. We suggest that the current experimental design with a far-aiming task where most conditions required reporting or retaining spatial characteristics of targets for action over time may have elicited a strong reliance on allocentric information to guide action.