Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nanostructured TiO2/carbon nanosheet hybrid electrode for high-rate thin-film lithium-ion batteries

Heterogeneous nanostructured electrodes using carbon nanosheets (CNS) and TiO2 exhibit high electronic and ionic conductivity. In order to realize the chip level power sources, it is necessary to employ microelectronic compatible techniques for the fabrication and characterization of TiO2-CNS thin-film electrodes. To achieve this, vertically standing CNS grown through a catalytic free approach on a TiN/SiO2/Si substrate by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) was used. The substrate-attached CNS is responsible for the sufficient electronic conduction and increased surface-to-volume ratio due to its unique morphology. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of nanostructured amorphous TiO2 on CNS provides enhanced Li storage capacity, high rate performance and stable cycling. The amount of deposited TiO2 masks the underlying CNS, thereby controlling the accessibility of CNS, which gets reflected in the total electrochemical performance, as revealed by the cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge measurements. TiO2 thin-films deposited with 300, 400 and 500 ALD cycles on CNS have been studied to understand the kinetics of Li insertion/extraction. A large potential window of operation (3-0.01 V); the excellent cyclic stability, with a capacity retention of 98% of the initial value; and the remarkable rate capability (up to 100 C) are the highlights of TiO2/CNS thin-film anode structures. CNS with an optimum amount of TiO2 coating is proposed as a promising approach for the fabrication of electrodes for chip compatible thin-film Li-ion batteries.
Pentoxifylline inhibits human peritoneal mesothelial cell growth and collagen synthesis: effects on TGF-beta.

BACKGROUND Prevention or treatment of peritoneal fibrosing syndrome has become an important issue in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Recent evidence has suggested that mesothelial stem cell proliferation and matrix over-production predispose the development of peritoneal fibrosis. We investigated whether pentoxifylline (PTX) affects human peritoneal mesothelial cell (HPMC) growth and collagen synthesis. METHODS HPMC was cultured from human omentum by an enzymic disaggregation method. Cell proliferation was assayed using a methyltetrazolium uptake method. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Collagen synthesis was measured by 3H-proline incorporation into pepsin-resistant, salt-precipitated collagen. Prostaglandins and cAMP were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Northern blot analysis was used to determine mRNA expression. RESULTS Our data show that PTX inhibited serum-stimulated HPMC growth and collagen synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis showed that PTX arrested the HPMCs in the G1 phase. PTX decreased the procollagen alpha1 (I) mRNA expression either stimulated by serum or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). PTX did not alter prostaglandins synthesis but dose-dependently increased intracellular cAMP level. PTX, the same as 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, could potentiate prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) increased cAMP levels of HPMC. The antimitogenic and antifibrogenic effects of PTX on HPMC were reversed by N-[2]-((p-Bromocinnamyl)amino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89). Therefore, the mechanism of these effects may be due to the phospodiesterase inhibitory property of PTX. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that PTX may have a role in treating peritoneal fibrosing syndrome.
Risk factors for cytogenetically normal holoprosencephaly in California: a population-based case-control study.

Holoprosencephaly is a developmental field defect manifested by a spectrum of abnormalities of the forebrain and midface. Approximately 50% of holoprosencephaly cases are associated with a cytogenetic abnormality or a monogenic syndrome. Suggested risk factors for the remaining 50% of cases have been described in case reports, but have not been confirmed in systematically conducted studies. We report the results of a population-based case-control study of holoprosencephaly. Live births, fetal deaths, and terminations with a diagnosis of cytogenetically normal holoprosencephaly were identified by the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program. Telephone interviews were conducted with the mothers of 58 cases and 107 live born, nonmalformed controls. Women were questioned about their health and reproductive histories, family demographics, and exposures occurring during their pregnancies. Among nonsyndromic cases, increased risks were observed for females (OR=1.8, 95% C.I. 0.9-3.9), foreign-born vs. U.S. or Mexico-born women (OR=3.1, 95% C.I. 1.1-8.6), and women with early menarche (OR=2.3, 95% C.I. 0.9-5.7). Maternal periconceptional exposures associated with increased risks for nonsyndromic holoprosencephaly included alcohol consumption (OR=2.0, 95% C.I. 0.9-4.5), cigarette smoking (OR=4.1, 95% C.I. 1.4-12.0), and combined alcohol and smoking (OR=5.4, 95% C.I. 1.4-20.0), insulin-dependent diabetes (OR=10.2, 95% C.I. 1.9-39.4), medications for respiratory illnesses (OR=2.3, 95% C.I. 0.9-6.0), and salicylate-containing medications (OR=2.5, 95% C.I. 0.8-7.9). These findings are consistent with risk factors identified in some previous reports, and identify several new potential risk factors that require confirmation in future studies.
A molecular switch underlies a human telomerase disease

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) required for maintenance of telomeres. Although up-regulated telomerase activity is closely linked to the cellular immortality characteristic of late stage carcinogenesis, recently, mutations in the telomerase RNA gene in humans have been associated with dyskeratosis congenita and aplastic anemia, both typified by impaired haemopoietic function. These mutations include base changes in a highly conserved putative telomerase RNA pseudoknot. Here, by using in vitro telomerase assays, NMR, and UV absorbance melting analyses of model oligonucleotides designed to form a “trans-pseudoknot,” we describe functional, structural, and energetic properties of this structure. We demonstrate that the pseudoknot domain exists in two alternative states of nearly equal stability in solution: one is the previously proposed pseudoknot formed by pairing P3 with the loop domain of P2b, and the other is a structured P2b loop alone. We show that the two-base mutation (GC107/8 → AG) present in one gene copy in a family with dyskeratosis congenita abrogates telomerase activity. This mutation hyperstabilizes the P2b intraloop structure, blocking pseudoknot formation. Conversely, when the P3 pseudoknot pairing is hyperstabilized by deleting a conserved bulge in P3, telomerase activity also decreases. We propose that the P2b/P3 pseudoknot domain acts as a molecular switch, and interconversion between its two states is important for telomerase function. Phylogenetic covariation in the P2b and P3 sequences of 35 species provides a compelling set of “natural” compensatory base pairing changes supporting the existence of the crucial molecular switch.
Measuring Institutional Quality in Head and Neck Surgery Using Hospital-Level Data: Negative Margin Rates and Neck Dissection Yield

Importance Negative margins and lymph node yields (LNY) of 18 or more from neck dissections in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have been associated with improved patient survival. It is unclear whether these metrics can be used to identify hospitals with improved outcomes. Objective To determine whether 2 patient-level metrics would predict outcomes at the hospital level. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective review of records from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify patients who underwent primary surgery and concurrent neck dissection for HNSCC between 2004 and 2013. The percentage of patients at each hospital with negative margins on primary resection and an LNY 18 or more from a neck dissection was quantified. Cox proportional hazard models were used to define the association between hospital performance on these metrics and overall survival. Main Outcomes and Measures Margin status and lymph node yield at hospital level. Overall survival (OS). Results We identified 1008 hospitals in the NCDB where 64 738 patients met inclusion criteria. Of the 64 738 participants, 45 170 (69.8%) were men and 19 568 (30.2%) were women. The mean SD age of included patients was 60.5 (12.0) years. Patients treated at hospitals attaining the combined metric of a 90% or higher negative margin rate and 80% or more of cases with LNYs of 18 or more experienced a significant reduction in mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98). This benefit in survival was independent of the patient-level improvement associated with negative margins (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.71-0.76) and LNY of 18 or more (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.83-0.88). Including these metrics in the model neutralized the association of traditional measures of hospital quality (volume and teaching status). Conclusions and Relevance Treatment at hospitals that attain a high rate of negative margins and LNY of 18 or more is associated with improved survival in patients undergoing surgery for HNSCC. These surgical outcome measures predicted outcomes independent of traditional, but generally nonmodifiable characteristics. Tracking of these metrics may help identify high-quality centers and provide guidance for institution-level quality improvement.
NotI‐MseI methylation‐sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism for DNA methylation analysis of human cancers

We have applied a methylation‐sensitive restriction endonuclease, NotI, to the existing amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method and developed NotI‐MseI methylation‐sensitive‐AFLP (MS‐AFLP). NotI‐MseI MS‐AFLP allows the analysis of DNA methylation alterations at the NotI sites scattered over the genome. Hypermethylation and hypomethylation are visualized by the decrease and increase in the band intensity of DNA fingerprints. Identification of consistent changes can be facilitated through parallel electrophoresis of multiple samples. DNA fragments exhibiting alterations can be cloned from fingerprint bands by amplification of gel‐eluted DNA with the same pair of primers used for radioactive fingerprint presentation. Fluorescent NotI‐MseI MS‐AFLP offers a safer method of studying the alterations in DNA methylation, and may be applied to the hybridization of DNA microarrays in the future. Using NotI‐MseI MS‐AFLP, we observed frequent hypomethylation of a satellite DNA repeat sequence in a majority of breast tumors.
Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior

For many individuals, the media function as a primary source of information about preventative measures to combat COVID-19. However, a considerable number of citizens believe that the media coverage about pandemics is exaggerated. Although the perception of media exaggeration may be highly consequential for individual health behaviors, we lack research on the drivers and consequences of this perception. In a two-wave panel study, we examined associations between trust in science, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19, and social distancing behavior during the lockdown in Austria (NT2 = 416). Results showed that trust in science at T1 led to less perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T2. Furthermore, consistent with the theory of psychological reactance, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T1 caused less social distancing behavior at T2. Thus, findings suggest that trust in science may positively affect individuals' social distancing behavior by decreasing perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 over time. Implications for research on media effects in times of COVID-19 and conclusions for journalists are discussed.
Obliterating creative capital? Urban governance of creative industries in post-socialist Budapest

One of the disguises of the entrepreneurial city reaching Eastern Europe is what is called the creativity thesis. The author first points out that the idea of the creative city / creative capital has arrived in Hungary withoutany critical voices heard. He then goes on to evaluate some of the recent urban developments in Budapest linked to the idea of creativity. The paper argues that the idea of creative capital has been translated into developmentpractices differently in the Hungarian context, which has also resulted in the obliteration of creative capital. Finally, the author underlines the importance of new perspectives in counteracting the hegemony of the creativecapital thesis.
On the behaviour of the functional components ofgovernment expenditures during fiscal consolidations

This paper analyses how the functional components and sub-components of government expenditures are affected by fiscal consolidations. A fixed-effects estimator is employed over a panel of 15 European Union countries during the period 1990-2012. The results show that spending on public services increases during fiscal consolidations, while spending on defence, public order, health, education and social protection is significantly cut. A more disaggregated analysis proves that fiscal consolidations are harmful for important social public expenditures, undermining citizens' safety, health assistance, investment in human capital and social protection. Public services are likely to be increased due to a rise in public debt transactions observed during periods of fiscal consolidation. All this evidence has proved to be stronger in a particular group of countries, known in the literature as PIIGS.
Long-term survival following induction chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

HYPOTHESIS Long-term survival is rare in patients treated for esophageal carcinoma. Several clinical trials suggest the possibility of prolonged survival in patients who undergo induction chemoradiotherapy plus esophagectomy. DESIGN Prospective uncontrolled study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four patients with carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction were prospectively entered into a phase II trial of preoperative 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and interferon alfa with concurrent external beam radiotherapy before esophagectomy. Curative resection was performed on 36 of 41 patients who completed the induction chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS Of the 44 patients, 17 are alive at a median follow-up of 50 months. Of these 17 patients, 15 show no evidence of recurrent disease. Of the 14 patients with long-term survival (> or =3 years), 1 patient died of disease, and another patient is alive with disease. The remaining 12 patients are alive and disease-free (median follow-up, 54 months). Six patients have survived longer than 4 years and 3 patients longer than 5 years. Subsequent primary tumors have developed in 2 patients. One patient had a recurrence at 11 months following initiation of treatment and remains disease-free 43 months postresection of a single brain metastasis. Standard clinicopathologic parameters (age, sex, histologic findings, chemoradiotherapy regimen, and clinical and pathologic stages) were not significantly associated with a survival time of 3 years or longer (Fisher exact test, 2-tailed). Although not significant, p 53 mutational status suggested long-term survival. In 11 of 14 patients who are alive with no history of recurrence, p53 genotyping demonstrated no point mutations in 10 patients. Median survival time for the long-term survivors has not been reached. CONCLUSIONS Long-term survival can be achieved in patients with esophageal carcinoma who undergo induction chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy. Recurrence is unlikely in patients who survive for 3 years or longer after undergoing this multimodality treatment.
Clément Juglar and Algeria: three pillars of modern anti-colonial criticism

Abstract The objective of this paper is to recall the forgotten opposition of Clément Juglar to the colonization of Algeria, the originality of this position, and his contributions to the genesis of analysing colonial institutions. Juglar was not a theoretician of colonialism, but a liberal economist who rejected the process of colonization on economic grounds. This paper provides evidence that conventional wisdom on French colonialism is indebted to his work. The issues of capital returns in the colonies, French colonialism as mercantilism and protectionism, and the role of colonial institutions in economic development were all addressed by Juglar. He identified property rights and colonial institutions as central issues in his explanation of the predictable failure of colonialism, and in doing so he can be regarded as a forerunner of neo-institutionalist analysis of colonialism.
Isolation and characterization of coaggregation-defective mutants of Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus sanguis

Spontaneously occurring coaggregation-defective (COG-) mutants of oral actinomycetes and streptococci were isolated and used to study interactions between cells of these two kinds of bacteria. COG- mutants of each kind of bacteria were isolated by a simple enrichment scheme. Parent strains were mixed with a coaggregating partner strain, coaggregated cells were removed by low-speed centrifugation, and non-coaggregated cells were recycled by the addition of more partner strain cells. COG- mutants constituted up to 10% of the parent strain cell type in the final enriched cell suspension. Unlike their respective parent strains, COG- mutants of Actinomyces viscosus T14V and Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 12104, and A. naeslundii I exhibited no lactose-reversible coaggregation with certain oral Streptococcus sanguis strains. However, these COG- mutants were not altered in their coaggregations with another S. sanguis strain, H1, a member of a streptococcal coaggregation group that exhibits only lactose-nonreversible coaggregations with oral actinomycetes. Although all coaggregations between S. sanguis H1 and these actinomycetes appear to be alike, examination of a COG- mutant of S. sanguis H1 revealed that, like its parent, it coaggregated with A. viscosus T14V and its COG- mutants, but unlike its parent, it did not coaggregate with the two A. naeslundii strains or their COG- mutants. Thus, it was concluded that at least two types of surface components are important in mediating coaggregation between S. sanguis H1 and actinomycetes. The COG- mutant of S. sanguis allowed detection of these components, which were indistinguishable in previous studies.
Correctness of speculative optimizations with dynamic deoptimization

High-performance dynamic language implementations make heavy use of speculative optimizations to achieve speeds close to statically compiled languages. These optimizations are typically performed by a just-in-time compiler that generates code under a set of assumptions about the state of the program and its environment. In certain cases, a program may execute code compiled under assumptions that are no longer valid. The implementation must then deoptimize the program on-the-fly; this entails finding semantically equivalent code that does not rely on invalid assumptions, translating program state to that expected by the target code, and transferring control. This paper looks at the interaction between optimization and deoptimization, and shows that reasoning about speculation is surprisingly easy when assumptions are made explicit in the program representation. This insight is demonstrated on a compiler intermediate representation, named sourir, modeled after the high-level representation for a dynamic language. Traditional compiler optimizations such as constant folding, unreachable code elimination, and function inlining are shown to be correct in the presence of assumptions. Furthermore, the paper establishes the correctness of compiler transformations specific to deoptimization: namely unrestricted deoptimization, predicate hoisting, and assume composition.
Explanatory models for oral health expressed as number of remaining teeth in an adult population.

OBJECTIVE To develop explanatory models for oral health expressed as the number of remaining teeth. METHOD Socio-economic attributes, health factors, dental attitudes and behaviours were used as explanatory variables in a logistic regression. Cross-sectional validated questionnaire data from all 50-year-old residents in two Swedish counties were collected from 8,888 persons, a response rate of 71.4% (n = 6,343). Adjusted number of teeth and three dichotomies of edentulousness and remaining teeth in various combinations were used as the dependent variables. RESULTS Social class was unrelated to edentulousness, while individual and health factors were covariants. Individuals with < or = 8 teeth had a social class and education gradient, while those with > or = 25 teeth had class and education gradients as well as a relation to dental care utilisation. There were only three variables showing a consistent and stable relation to the various dependent variables, these were use of tobacco, having only junior high school education and satisfaction with dental care. The multiple and logistic regression models revealed different results. CONCLUSIONS The main conclusions from this study were, first, that there were different mechanisms for different states of the dentition, interpreted as signs of disease and signs of health, corresponding to the ideas of patho- and salutogenesis, and secondly, that number of teeth present is not usable as a continuous variable, since it does not reflect the same mechanisms across the whole scale.
The risk of cancer among patients with cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer Study Group.

BACKGROUND Anecdotal reports suggest an increased frequency of certain cancers in patients with cystic fibrosis, the commonest genetic disorder of whites. One third of patients with cystic fibrosis now reach adulthood, when cancer is more frequent, implying that cancer rates in these patients will increase over time. We investigated the relation between cystic fibrosis and cancer in North American and European patients with cystic fibrosis. Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the occurrence of cancer in 28,511 patients with cystic fibrosis from 1985 through 1992 in the United States and Canada. The number of cases observed was compared with the number expected, calculated from population-based data on the incidence of cancer. We also analyzed proportional incidence ratios to assess the association between specific cancers and cystic fibrosis in Europe. RESULTS Thirty-seven cancers were observed in the North American cohort during 164,764 person-years of follow-up, as compared with an expected number of 45.6, yielding a ratio of observed to expected cancers of 0.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.1). Thirteen digestive tract tumors were observed, as compared with an expected number of two, for a ratio of observed to expected cancers of 6.5 (95 percent confidence interval, 3.5 to 11.1). In Europe, 11 of 39 cancers originated in the digestive tract, yielding a positive association between digestive tract tumors and cystic fibrosis (odds ratio, 6.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.9 to 14.0). CONCLUSIONS Although the overall risk of cancer in patients with cystic fibrosis is similar to that of the general population, there is an increased risk of digestive tract cancers. Persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients should be carefully investigated.