Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Post-$\hbox{HfO}_{2}$ Fluorine Plasma Treatment for Improvement of $\hbox{In}_{0.53}\hbox{Ga}_{0.47} \hbox{As}$ MOSFET Performance

Notable improvements in the HfO<sub>2</sub>/In<sub>0.53</sub> Ga<sub>0.47</sub>As gate stack have been achieved by a post- HfO<sub>2</sub> fluorine plasma treatment, including excellent interface quality of low-equivalent-oxide-thickness HfO<sub>2</sub> (1.4 nm) directly on In<sub>0.53</sub>Ga<sub>0.47</sub>As with no interface passivation layer, over five-times reduction in interface trap density from 2.8 × 10<sup>12</sup> to 4.9 × 10<sup>11</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>·eV<sup>-1</sup>, improved subthreshold swing from 127 to 109 mV/dec, and reduced <i>Id</i>-<i>Vg</i> hysteresis in pulsed <i>Id</i>-<i>Vg</i> measurement. Consequently, improved electrical performances have been achieved in 29% higher effective channel mobility and 29% higher drive current.
The prevalence of depressive symptoms and risk factors among Iowa and Colorado farmers.

BACKGROUND Farmers have been previously reported to have higher rates of depression and suicide compared to other occupations. Comparisons of depressive symptoms and risk factors for states should increase understanding of depression in farmers. METHODS Representative samples of 385 Iowa and 470 Colorado male principal farm operators in the respective state Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance projects were evaluated for depressive symptoms by using the CES-D scale. Risk factors were determined by using weighted multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Iowa farmers were 1.74 times (P < 0.05) more likely to have had depressive symptoms than Colorado farmers. Being unmarried (odds ratio=3.46), having negative life events within the past year [legal problems (4.67), substantial income decline (2.71), loss of something of sentimental value (3.20)], and lower perceived general health status were risk factors (P < 0.05) for depressive symptoms for male Iowa and Colorado farmers. Higher levels of most risk factors for Iowa farmers, almost twice the frequency of substantial income decline, accounted for the majority of the difference in depressive symptoms between Iowa (12.2%) and Colorado (7.4%). CONCLUSIONS Although Iowa farmers had 1.74 times higher level of depression symptoms than Colorado farmers, this difference was not significant after adjusting for the higher levels of most risk factors for Iowa farmers.
A rate‐ and state‐dependent ductile flow law of polycrystalline halite under large shear strain and implications for transition to brittle deformation

We have conducted double‐shear biaxial deformation experiments in layers of NaCl within its fully‐plastic (FP) regime up to large shear strains (γ < 50) with velocity steps. From this, we have empirically formulated a rate‐ and state‐dependent flow law which explains the transient mechanical behavior. The steady state flow stress in the FP regime can be explained by a power‐law with a stress exponent ∼8.5 and an activation enthalpy of ∼1.3 eV, with the instantaneous response having a higher stress exponent (13 ± 8), although there is data scatter. The transition to brittle regime is associated with weakening from the ductile flow law. In FP regime, the mechanical response is characterized by a monotonic decay to a new steady state while in the transitional regime, by a peak‐decay behavior. The transient flow law obtained here is of considerable importance in the study of the brittle‐ductile transition in rocks.
Lipoprotein(a) in alcohol-dependent male patients during a six-month abstinence period.

AIMS The best known and probably most important mechanism of health-protective moderate alcohol drinking is beneficial changes in plasma lipid levels. We determined changes in main plasma lipid levels in alcohol-dependent patients over a 6-month abstinence period. METHODS Fifty-four alcohol-dependent male patients, who were abstinent for less than 14 days, and 20 non-alcoholic males, who had not drunk alcohol for the last month, were studied. In all patients at the study start and after 4 weeks and 6 months observation, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL), LDL cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride concentrations, both fasting and 5 h after a fatty meal, were determined. RESULTS Alcohol-dependent patients had similar mean fasting and post-prandial plasma lipid levels as the control group, both at the study start and after 4 weeks of abstinence. Whereas, in alcohol-dependent patients after 4 weeks of abstinence, a significant decrease in Lp(a) and fasting HDL levels, as well as a significant increase in fasting LDL level and pro-atherogenic indices of plasma lipids [TC/HDL, (TC-HDL)/HDL, LDL/HDL, Lp(a)/HDL] were observed. Post-prandial levels of studied plasma lipids, except HDL, did not change over the 6-month observation period. In patients who did not remain abstinent for the whole observation period (n = 9), in comparison to abstinent patients, significantly higher HDL levels and a tendency to higher values of LDL, LDL/HDL, Lp(a) and Lp(a)/HDL were found. CONCLUSIONS (1) Higher Lp(a) levels soon after alcohol withdrawal may be a factor potentially responsible for the increase of acute cardiac syndromes prevalent in the drinking and early abstinence period, in spite of high HDL concentration; (2) in alcohol-dependent male patients, after a 6-month abstinence period, pro-atherogenic plasma cholesterol fraction changes occurred, expressed by a decrease in HDL level and an increase in LDL concentration.
Is transparency a double-edged sword in citizen satisfaction with public service? Evidence from China’s public healthcare

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain the direct and moderating effects of perceived transparency on citizen satisfaction with public healthcare services. Design/methodology/approach This paper extends the classic framework of service quality, value and satisfaction by adding perceived transparency as an essential component, applies service-dominant logic to develop hypotheses regarding the effects of transparency and empirically tests the extended framework with secondary household survey data on China’s public healthcare. Findings The classic framework of service quality, value and satisfaction that originated from the private sector is robust in public service. Perceived transparency has a positive impact on perceived value and citizen satisfaction, but the positive effects of service quality and perceived value on citizen satisfaction were weakened with the increasing level of perceived transparency. Research limitations/implications Perceived transparency is a double-edged sword regarding citizen satisfaction: although transparency increases perceived value and satisfaction by enhancing citizens’ service co-creation and inspiring citizen confidence, increased transparency raises citizens’ expectations for service products, which subsequently dampens the positive effects of service quality and perceived value on citizen satisfaction. Practical implications In a context with higher transparency, local authorities must learn to manage citizen expectations that influence satisfaction, and increase the probability of satisfaction by avoiding too high citizen expectations. Originality/value This paper highlights the importance of transparency in enhancing public service co-creation, and contributes a novel perspective on the effects of transparency in the formation of citizen satisfaction, which may serve as the starting point for studying the role of transparency in public affairs.
The impact of capital structure and certain firm specific variables on the value of the firm: Empirical evidence from Kuwait

The main objective of this study is to empirically examine the impact of leverage and certain firmcharacteristics that are believed to have significant effects on the decision to use debt and on the value of the firm. The sample is composed of 48 companies listed in the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) representing four different sectors. The study uses actual and historical panel data set obtained from the published annual reports of individual firms in addition to the publications of KSE. The study was accomplished using 8 years of data with a total of 239 observations representing the study period 2006-2013. The study uses descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple-regression analyses to examine the impact of explanatory variables on the value of the firm. The study findings lead to the conclusion that capital structure (leveraging) is the most influential factor on firm’s value. Business risk, previous year’s value (one-year lagged ROA), dividends payout ratio, size, growth opportunities and liquidity of the firm are found to have significant influence on the firm’s value in Model 1 (where ROA is used as a proxy for the value of the firm). In model 2 (i.e., where ROE is used as a proxy of the firm’s value), the findings reveal that capital structure (leveraging); firm’s size, growth opportunities and liquidity of the firm are significant influential of the firm’s value. The study is valuable to academicians, finance managers, policy makers and other stakeholders as it fills the gap of literature by providing up-to-date evidence of the impact of capital structure and other firm specific variables on the value of the firm in Kuwait.
Flap Endonuclease 1 Limits Telomere Fragility on the Leading Strand*

Background: Telomere fragility occurs following replication stress. Results: Leading strand-specific telomere fragility is induced by FEN1 depletion and transcription inhibition and is rescued by ectopic RNase H1 expression. Conclusion: RNA:DNA hybrids contribute to telomere fragility that is limited by FEN1. Significance: This is the first explanation for leading strand-specific telomere fragility and is the first leading strand-specific role for FEN1. The existence of redundant replication and repair systems that ensure genome stability underscores the importance of faithful DNA replication. Nowhere is this complexity more evident than in challenging DNA templates, including highly repetitive or transcribed sequences. Here, we demonstrate that flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), a canonical lagging strand DNA replication protein, is required for normal, complete leading strand replication at telomeres. We find that the loss of FEN1 nuclease activity, but not DNA repair activities, results in leading strand-specific telomere fragility. Furthermore, we show that FEN1 depletion-induced telomere fragility is increased by RNA polymerase II inhibition and is rescued by ectopic RNase H1 expression. These data suggest that FEN1 limits leading strand-specific telomere fragility by processing RNA:DNA hybrid/flap intermediates that arise from co-directional collisions occurring between the replisome and RNA polymerase. Our data reveal the first molecular mechanism for leading strand-specific telomere fragility and the first known role for FEN1 in leading strand DNA replication. Because FEN1 mutations have been identified in human cancers, our findings raise the possibility that unresolved RNA:DNA hybrid structures contribute to the genomic instability associated with cancer.
Factor XII: a novel target for safe prevention of thrombosis and inflammation

Plasma protein factor XII (FXII) activates the procoagulant and proinflammatory contact system that drives both the kallikrein–kinin system and the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. When zymogen FXII comes into contact with negatively charged surfaces, it auto‐activates to the serine proteaseactivated FXII (FXIIa). Recently, various in vivo activators of FXII have been identified including heparin, misfolded protein aggregates, polyphosphate and nucleic acids. Murine models have established a central role of FXII in arterial and venous thrombosis. Despite its central function in thrombosis, deficiency in FXII does not impair haemostasis in animals and humans. In a preclinical cardiopulmonary bypass system in large animals, the FXIIa‐blocking antibody 3F7 prevented thrombosis; however, in contrast to traditional anticoagulants, bleeding was not increased. In addition to its function in thrombosis, FXIIa initiates formation of the inflammatory mediator bradykinin. This mediator increases vascular leak, causes vasodilation, and induces chemotaxis with implications for septic, anaphylactic and allergic disease states. Therefore, targeting FXIIa appears to be a promising strategy for thromboprotection without associated bleeding risks but with anti‐inflammatory properties.
Microcavity Fiber Fabry–Pérot Interferometer With an Embedded Golden Thin Film

We propose an ultracompact microcavity fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (MCFFPI) based on an ultrathin film of gold (Au) embedded in a single-mode fiber endface. The embedded Au thin film splits the input light into two paths for interference. The interference fringes of the proposed configuration with different cavity lengths are observed experimentally, and we verify that the interference patterns are from a combination of the Au-embedded reflector and Fresnel reflection of fiber endface. The MCFFPIs are further applied to measure the external refractive index (RI) of surrounding and for high temperature (T) sensing. Experimental results show that an excellent sensitivity of the RI sensing and a good linearity response of high temperature measurement are achieved.
Differences in response properties of neurons between two delay-tuned areas in the auditory cortex of the mustached bat.

1. The orientation sound (pulse) of the mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii parnellii, consists of four harmonics (H1-4), each containing a long constant-frequency component (CF1-4) followed by a short frequency-modulated component (FM1-4). The auditory cortex of this species contains several "combination-sensitive" areas: FM-FM, dorsal fringe (DF), ventral fringe (VF), CF/CF, and H1-H2. The FM-FM, DF, and VF areas each consist of neurons tuned to particular delays of echo FMn (n = 2, 3, or 4) from pulse FM1, and have an echo-delay (target-range) axis. This delay axis is from 0.4 to approximately 18 ms in the FM-FM area, to approximately 9 ms in the DF area, and to approximately 5 ms in the VF area. Therefore we hypothesized that the VF area was more specialized for the processing of range information in the terminal phase of echolocation than was the FM-FM area. The aim of our present studies was to find differences in response properties between neurons with best delays shorter than 6 ms in the VF and FM-FM areas and thus to test our hypothesis. 2. In the terminal phase of target-directed flight, the rate of pulse emission becomes higher, pulse duration (in particular, CF duration) becomes shorter, echo delay becomes shorter, and echoes (both the CF and FM components) are less Doppler shifted. Therefore, a "temporal-pattern-simulating (TPS)" stimulus was designed to mimic the train of pulse-echo pairs that would be heard by the bat during the terminal phase, and responses of single neurons to the TPS stimulus and other types of stimuli were recorded from the VF and FM-FM areas of the auditory cortex of unanesthetized bats with a tungsten-wire microelectrode. 3. Best delays of the neurons studied range between 0.9 and 5.5 ms (2.64 +/- 0.72 ms, N = 181) for the VF area, and between 0.6 and 6.0 ms (3.64 +/- 1.14, N = 144) for the FM-FM area. More neurons in the VF area than those in the FM-FM area showed no response or a poor response to the TPS stimulus. Therefore VF neurons are less suited than neurons in the FM-FM area for processing target ranges in the terminal phase of target-directed flight. Facilitative delay-tuning curves were commonly sandwiched between inhibitory delay-tuning curves. The lack of response or poor response to the TPS stimulus can be explained by this inhibition. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Antecedents and consequences of trust: an e-tail branding perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents and consequences of trust in online shopping from an e-tail branding perspective. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire was used to collect data online from Indian e-tail shoppers (n=309). A structural equation modelling (CB-SEM approach) was used to analyse the data. Findings – The results found e-tailer awareness, e-tailer associations, and e-tailer perceived quality as antecedents of trust in online shopping. The results also showed online trust positively influences the behavioural intentions, namely, purchase intention, repurchase, and recommendation. Originality/value – This study examines the applicability and branding and brand management principles in an e-tail branding context. Theoretical and managerial implications of these results are further discussed.
Pharmacokinetics of a novel formulation of ivermectin after administration to goats

Objective—To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a novel commercial formulation of ivermectin after administration to goats. Animals—6 healthy adult goats. Procedure—Ivermectin (200 μg/kg) was initially administered IV to each goat, and plasma samples were obtained for 36 days. After a washout period of 3 weeks, each goat received a novel commercial formulation of ivermectin (200 μg/kg) by SC injection. Plasma samples were then obtained for 42 days. Drug concentrations were quantified by use of high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Results—Pharmacokinetics of ivermectin after IV administration were best described by a 2-compartment open model; values for main compartmental variables included volume of distribution at a steady state (9.94 L/kg), clearance (1.54 L/kg/d), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC; 143 [ng•d]/mL). Values for the noncompartmental variables included mean residence time (7.37 days), AUC (153 [ng•d]/mL), and clearance (1.43 L/kg/d). After SC administration, noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted. Values of the variables calculated by use of this method included maximum plasma concentration (Cmax; 21.8 ng/mL), time to reach Cmax (3 days), and bioavailability (F; 91.8%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The commercial formulation used in this study is a good option to consider when administering ivermectin to goats because of the high absorption, which is characterized by high values of F. In addition, the values of Cmax and time to reach Cmax are higher than those reported by other investigators who used other routes of administration.
The waves of Biotechnological Innovation in Medicine : Interfirm Cooperation Effects and a Venture Capital Perspective

markdownabstractAbstract Improving medicine and health is the ultimate purpose of biotechnological innovation, where basic science is used to develop new innovative diagnostics and therapeutics to significantly improve the lives of patients worldwide. Concurrently, for three stakeholder groups, the primary goal is to generate profitable business from biotechnological innovation. These stakeholders are ‘entrepreneurial’ biotech companies, venture capitalists and established pharmaceutical firms. This dissertation evaluates interfirm cooperation and venture capital investments, aiming to better understand how more biotechnological innovation can reach the market and which biotechnologies will revolutionize R&D productivity and global healthcare. The first studies show that alliances between established pharmaceutical firms and biotech companies outperform acquisitions of biotech companies by such firms, as these acquisition negatively affect innovation performance. Furthermore, alliances involve a risk-return trade-off in new product development, for biotech companies as technology suppliers. Moreover, for big pharma, alliances with- and acquisitions of biotech companies are both complementary innovation activities at higher levels of firms’ absorptive capacity. Regarding venture capital, the final studies show that venture capitalists fulfil a crucial role in the biopharmaceutical value chain. By investing in the right technologies and therapeutic areas, venture capitalists build for big pharma as they foresee big pharma’s future innovation demand. Simultaneously, venture capitalists create a technology push as visionary technological gatekeepers. Finally, the dissertation concludes that big pharma’s dominant logic and blockbuster paradigm have been the root cause of underutilized biotechnological innovation. It further proposes transformation towards a new organizational form for sustainable science-based business and effective exploitation of biotechnological innovation.
Microalbuminuria in HIV infection

Objective:Microalbuminuria is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The objective of the study was to evaluate if HIV infection was an independent risk factor for microalbuminuria. Design:Cross sectional. Methods:The relationship between HIV infection and microalbuminuria was assessed using subjects enrolled in the study of Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV Infection, which consists of HIV-positive and control men and women. Participants with proteinuria (dipstick ≥ 1+) were excluded. Results:Microalbuminuria (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, ACR > 30 mg/g) was present in 11% of HIV infected, and 2% of control participants (P < 0.001); a fivefold odds after multivariate adjustment (odds ratio, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.97–13.31; P=0.0008). Several cardiovascular risk factors were associated with higher ACR in HIV participants: insulin resistance (HOMA > 4; 32%, P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (21%, P = 0.01 for 120–140 versus < 120 mmHg, and 43%, P = 0.06 for > 140 versus < 120 mmHg), and family history of hypertension (17%, P = 0.03). Higher CD4 cell count was associated with lower albumin/creatinine ratio (−24%, P = 0.009 for 200–400 versus < 200 cells/ml and −26%, P = 0.005 for > 400 versus < 200 cells/ml). Conclusion:HIV infection had a strong and independent association with microalbuminuria, the severity of which was predicted by markers of insulin resistance, hypertension, and advanced HIV infection. These associations warrant further investigation, as the increased prevalence of microalbuminuria in HIV infection may be a harbinger of future risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
Further Development of Vector Generalized Finite Element Method and Its Hybridization With Boundary Integrals

Recently, vector generalized finite element method (VGFEM) was introduced for the solution of the vector Helmholtz equation, and its applicability was validated for canonical problems. VGFEM uses a local Helmholtz decomposition to construct basis functions in overlapping local domains of some canonical shape. While using a canonical shape for local domains adds flexibility to the method, one needs to provide information regarding boundaries of domains/inhomogeneities. The need for surface information proves to be a bottleneck in using the method for a larger class of problems. This paper is targeted towards overcoming these deficiencies; here, we will introduce the modifications to this method that permit interfacing with arbitrarily shaped local domains (to facilitate interfacing with existing meshing software), integrate this method with boundary integrals and provide a framework for studying dispersion. As will be apparent, the hybridization of the method with boundary integrals is not a simple adaptation of existing methods onto the VGFEM framework. Likewise, dispersion analysis is nontrivial due to the overlapping nature of VGFEM basis functions. A range of practical problems has been analyzed within the presented framework and results are compared either against measurements or existing FEM data to validate the presented methodology.