Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature dependence of specific contact resistivity

The temperature dependence of specific contact resistivity has been measured over the range 77-380 K for W contact to both B- and P-doped silicon. A range of surface concentrations have been investigated. In general, ρcis slightly more weakly temperature dependent than has been predicted. There appears to be no fundamental barrier to obtaining low-resistance contacts for low-temperature (<100 K) device operation. Contact resistivity to very heavily P-doped surfaces actually decreases with decreasing temperature, in agreement with predictions.
Olfactory primary neurons as a route of entry for toxic agents into the CNS.

Reports in the literature suggest that the primary sensory neurons of the olfactory system may provide a direct route of entry for agents into the central nervous system (CNS). To investigate whether cadmium, a heavy metal which is normally excluded from the CNS by the blood-brain barrier, can enter the CNS via the olfactory system, rats were exposed either intranasally (unilaterally) or ip to 109Cd (1 mumol Cd labeled with 1 microCi 109Cd). Rats were allowed to survive 7 days, at which point they were euthanized and the kidneys, livers, right and left forebrains, right and left olfactory bulbs, and right and left olfactory epithelia were removed. Tissues were placed in scintillation vials and radioactivity counted. In rats exposed by intranasal instillation, Cd levels were significantly elevated in the kidney, liver and ipsilateral olfactory bulb and epithelium, but not in the contralateral bulb and epithelium or forebrain areas. With the ip exposure, Cd levels were only elevated in the kidney and liver. In a second study the protocol was repeated (without ip exposure), but the olfactory bulbs and epithelium were washed in EDTA before counting. Cd was still present in the bulbs after washing, suggesting that the metal was internal and not bound to the external membrane. In the final experiment, both time course and dose effect of this phenomenon were explored. Rats were exposed either intransally to 1 mumol Cd labeled with 109Cd (1 microCi) and then sacrificed after 1, 3, 7, or 14 days or were exposed to 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 mumol Cd labeled with 1 microCi 109Cd and sacrificed after 7 days. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Are You What You Eat? Healthy Behaviour and Risk Preferences

Abstract: We elicit and estimate risk preferences for a pool of young adults in the UK, and explore their links with healthy eating and risky health behaviours. We construct the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) as an overall indicator of nutritional quality, and we use it to complement the body mass index BMI. While for females we find no significant association between the BMI and risk preferences, males with high BMI appear more risk-seeking. However, this association disappears when controlling for the quality of the diet. For males, the HEI is significantly associated with risk preferences. Males smoking status is not associated with risk preferences.
Tropomyosin and actin isoforms modulate the localization of tropomyosin strands on actin filaments.

Tropomyosin is present in virtually all eucaryotic cells, where it functions to modulate actin-myosin interaction and to stabilize actin filament structure. In striated muscle, tropomyosin regulates contractility by sterically blocking myosin-binding sites on actin in the relaxed state. On activation, tropomyosin moves away from these sites in two steps, one induced by Ca(2+) binding to troponin and a second by the binding of myosin to actin. In smooth muscle and non-muscle cells, where troponin is absent, the precise role and structural dynamics of tropomyosin on actin are poorly understood. Here, the location of tropomyosin on F-actin filaments free of troponin and other actin-binding proteins was determined to better understand the structural basis of its functioning in muscle and non-muscle cells. Using electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction, the association of a diverse set of wild-type and mutant actin and tropomyosin isoforms, from both muscle and non-muscle sources, was investigated. Tropomyosin position on actin appeared to be defined by two sets of binding interactions and tropomyosin localized on either the inner or the outer domain of actin, depending on the specific actin or tropomyosin isoform examined. Since these equilibrium positions depended on minor amino acid sequence differences among isoforms, we conclude that the energy barrier between thin filament states is small. Our results imply that, in striated muscles, troponin and myosin serve to stabilize tropomyosin in inhibitory and activating states, respectively. In addition, they are consistent with tropomyosin-dependent cooperative switching on and off of actomyosin-based motility. Finally, the locations of tropomyosin that we have determined suggest the possibility of significant competition between tropomyosin and other cellular actin-binding proteins. Based on these results, we present a general framework for tropomyosin modulation of motility and cytoskeletal modelling.
Emergency department or general practitioner following transient ischaemic attack? A comparison of patient behaviour and speed of assessment in England and Canada

Objective Many patients present late after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). This delays intervention and may partly depend on where patients first present—emergency department (ED) or general practitioner (GP). Studying this behaviour could improve stroke prevention through better targeting of public education and allocation of resources. Methods Patients with TIA or minor stroke referred to neurovascular clinics in the UK and Canada were studied and the delay from onset to first medical presentation, whether at an ED or GP, was measured. Clinical features, timing and place of presentation were compared. Results Of 666 patients (469 in the UK and 197 in Canada), only 42% presented on the day of the TIA. The majority (77%) of patients presenting to an ED presented on the same day compared with only 11% of those who presented to a GP. GP delays were longer at weekends. Motor or speech symptoms and prolonged duration were associated with presenting early and to an ED. High-risk patients (ABCD2 score 6–7) in Canada were also more likely to go to an ED. Overall, 65% of Canadian patients and 40% of UK patients went to an ED. Conclusions Most patients presenting to an ED go urgently, whereas most going to a GP delay, particularly at weekends. Most Canadian patients, particularly those at high risk, go to an ED whereas most UK patients go to a GP. One way to reduce delay, particularly in the UK, would be to direct all patients with TIA to go to an ED rather than to their GP.
Innovation management of internationalised IT companies in Brazil and Portugal

Internationalised companies in innovative industry need to create means to innovate no matter the country they are from, because globe is the competitive arena for all. Thus, internationalised IT companies from both developing and developed economies must carry out similar innovation management. However, studies comparing countries in different stages of development are scarce. Through an exploratory approach, this study compares the process of innovation management of four international IT companies from an emergent economy (Brazil) and a small-developed economy (Portugal). The results suggest some differences: Brazilian firms present a more undeveloped way to manage both intellectual property and their internal structures of R%D, while Portuguese companies implies higher investment in R%D and a faster and earlier process of internationalisation. Thus, this study contributes to a reflection on the traditional innovation model through the perspective of country of origin and of the impact of companies' internationalisation on their innovation process.
Ultrasonographic Anatomy of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Eye

Abstract Bilateral transpalpebral ultrasonography was performed on 53 captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in order to describe the normal ultrasonographic appearance and measurements of the Asian elephant eye. Transpalpebral ultrasonography was performed using a portable ultrasound unit and a 4–7-MHz broadband curvilinear transducer on animals housed at seven institutions in the United Kingdom and in Sri Lanka. Both males and females were included in the study and ages ranged from 14 mo to 65 yr. Ultrasonic examinations were conducted on unsedated animals, without the use of topical or local anesthesia. The ultrasonographic appearance of the globe and intraocular structures of the Asian elephant eye is similar to that in other species. Biometry measurements recorded for adult (n = 41) and juvenile (n = 10) Asian elephants were: axial length, 3.44 ± 0.21 cm and 3.18 ± 0.19 cm (mean ± SD); equatorial diameter, 3.88 ± 0.32 cm and 3.60 ± 0.24 cm; corneal thickness, 0.17 ± 0.02 cm and 0.16 ± 0.02 cm; anterior segment depth, 0.45 ± 0.08 cm and 0.36 ± 0.07 cm; lens diameter, 1.90 ± 0.14 cm and 1.75 ± 0.19 cm; lens depth, 1.01 ± 0.12 cm and 0.94 ± 0.10 cm, and posterior segment depth, 1.82 ± 0.17 cm and 1.72 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between the explanatory variables (age, sex, and height) and the dependent variables (axial length, equatorial diameter, corneal thickness, anterior segment depth, lens diameter, and lens depth). The main finding of this statistical test was that the globe increases in size as the animal ages. Transpalpebral ultrasonography was found to be an effective and practical imaging modality in the evaluation of the Asian elephant eye, without the need for chemical restraint.
The Provision of Orthodontic Care in the General Dental Services of England and Wales: Extraction Patterns, Treatment Duration, Appliance Types and Standards

A systematic sample of 1010 cases was collected by the Dental Practice Board. The commonest type of treatment involved extraction of the first premolars followed by removable appliances. Treatment duration was on average 1·9 years, one-arch fixed appliances were started in an older age group and two-arch fixed appliance treatment took longer to complete than other appliance types. The best standard of treatment was achieved using upper and lower fixed appliances.
Maternal, Delivery, and Perinatal Characteristics Associated with Cryptorchidism: A Population-Based Case-Control Study among Births in Washington State

Background. The etiology of cryptorchidism is largely unknown. To identify maternal, perinatal, and delivery characteristics associated with cryptorchidism at birth, we conducted a population-based case-control study using Washington State birth certificates linked to birth hospitalization records. Methods. We identified 2,395 cases of cryptorchidism among male infants born in Washington State during 1986–1996, and, for comparison, we randomly selected four controls per case (N = 9,580), frequency-matched by year of birth. Results. Infant characteristics associated with cryptorchidism included low birth weight (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.3–1.8), small size for gestational age (OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.6–2.2), and breech presentation (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.4–2.1). In addition to cryptorchidism, cases were more likely to have another type of congenital malformation (OR = 3.7; 95% CI = 3.2–4.2), particularly digestive (OR = 6.8; 95% CI = 3.7–12.7) or genitourinary (OR = 4.1; 95% CI = 3.0–5.6). Maternal and pregnancy characteristics associated with cryptorchidism included nulliparity (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1–1.3), maternal smoking during pregnancy (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), and the following pregnancy complications: oligohydramnios (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.3–2.6), placental abnormality (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.0–1.8), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.4–1.9). Odds ratios were similar when the analysis was restricted to term infants. Conclusions. These findings suggest that factors affecting fetal growth and development may increase the risk of cryptorchidism.
Long-Term Care Preferences Among Older Adults: A Moving Target?

ABSTRACT This study investigates long-term care preferences across three hypothetical scenarios and over one year of time among a sample of disabled older women receiving informal care (n = 420). Unpaid or paid help in one's home was preferred, given scenarios of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and activities of daily living (ADL) needs; nursing home care was most preferred for dementia care. While aggregate preferences for long-term care were relatively stable, there was considerable fluctuation in individuals' preferences over time, with just 52.5%, 44.4%, and 44.6% of participants retaining their initial first choice across IADL, ADL, and dementia scenarios, respectively. Implications of study findings are discussed.
Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma: a review of 17 cases with emphasis on clinical and pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE To identify correlations between clinical presentation, specific histopathologic findings, and subsequent disease course in patients with necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG). DESIGN Retrospective review of medical records and histopathologic examination of fixed tissue samples. SETTING Tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS Seventeen patients with a diagnosis of NXG established between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Description and distribution of clinical lesions, presence of monoclonal gammopathy, multiple myeloma, and correlation with microscopic patterns of skin lesions. RESULTS Eleven patients (65%) showed involvement of the periorbital area, and the trunk was affected in 8 patients (47%). Twelve patients (71%) had a monoclonal gammopathy; of these, 3 (18%) had multiple myeloma. Histopathologic examination of 12 patients showed findings consistent with NXG, including a bandlike pattern of necrobiotic granulomatous inflammation, atypical giant cells, cholesterol clefts, and plasma cells. No correlations were identified between clinical presentation and specific histopathologic findings. Although most patients had a serum monoclonal gammopathy, staining with antibodies to CD3, CD20, kappa light chains, and lambda light chains showed polytypic lymphocytes and plasma cells in all cases. CONCLUSIONS The association between NXG and paraproteinemia is well documented and corroborated by this study. However, the skin lesions in NXG represent reactive inflammation and are not associated with the presence of monoclonal plasma cells or multiple myeloma.
Shifting landscapes: Meeting the staff development needs of the changing academic workforce

The research reported here seeks to investigate the day-to-day realities of those in academic and learning enhancement roles, their motivations and careers, and their staff development needs in relation to promotion, career progression and the balance of teaching, learning support, research and other responsibilities. It follows an earlier Higher Education Academy publication, Shifting academic careers: Implications for enhancing professionalism in teaching and supporting learning (Locke 2014). Building on that context-setting report it provides further evidence and discussion of how the changes in academic work and careers are playing out within different types of higher education institution throughout the UK. - See more at: https://www.heacademy. ac.uk/resource/shifting-landscapes#sthash.lmolDJhg. dpuf
Changes in C‐reactive Protein Plasma Levels During Low‐density Lipoprotein Apheresis

Abstract: C‐reactive protein (CRP) is one of the important risk factors for atherosclerosis, and its serum level is lowered by popular cholesterol‐lowering drugs, statins. This study was undertaken to examine the changes of CRP levels during dextran‐sulfate (DS) low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis. In 15 apheresis sessions in seven patients with severe hypercholesterolemia (four men and three women, aged between 36 and 70 years), changes in CRP levels were examined. The efficiency in adsorption of CRP with DS column was evaluated by measuring CRP levels in both pre‐ and post‐column plasma. In one patient, the effect of repeated apheresis sessions on CRP preapheresis levels was examined. The changes in interleukin (IL)‐6 plasma levels were also examined in six sessions. Although IL‐6 levels after 3000 mL‐plasma treatment rose to 170% of preapheresis levels, CRP levels decreased significantly (from 1.91 ± 0.49 mg/L to 0.89 ± 0.24, P < 0.01). C‐reactive protein was almost completely adsorbed by the DS column and CRP preapheresis levels were decreased gradually by repetition of apheresis. CRP, a novel risk factor of atherosclerosis, was effectively removed by DS‐LDL apheresis. The decrease in CRP plasma levels may be involved in prevention of atherosclerotic vascular diseases due to DS‐LDL apheresis.
Unique Ecophysiology among U(VI)-Reducing Bacteria as Revealed by Evaluation of Oxygen Metabolism in Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans Strain 2CP-C

ABSTRACT Anaeromyxobacter spp. respire soluble hexavalent uranium, U(VI), leading to the formation of insoluble U(IV), and are present at the uranium-contaminated Oak Ridge Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFC) site. Pilot-scale in situ bioreduction of U(VI) has been accomplished in area 3 of the Oak Ridge IFC site following biostimulation, but the susceptibility of the reduced material to oxidants (i.e., oxygen) compromises long-term U immobilization. Following oxygen intrusion, attached Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans cells increased approximately 5-fold from 2.2 × 107 ± 8.6 × 106 to 1.0 × 108 ± 2.2 × 107 cells per g of sediment collected from well FW101-2. In the same samples, the numbers of cells of Geobacter lovleyi, a population native to area 3 and also capable of U(VI) reduction, decreased or did not change. A. dehalogenans cells captured via groundwater sampling (i.e., not attached to sediment) were present in much lower numbers (<1.3 × 104 ± 1.1 × 104 cells per liter) than sediment-associated cells, suggesting that A. dehalogenans cells occur predominantly in association with soil particles. Laboratory studies confirmed aerobic growth of A. dehalogenans strain 2CP-C at initial oxygen partial pressures (pO2) at and below 0.18 atm. A negative linear correlation [μ = (−0.09 × pO2) + 0.051; R2 = 0.923] was observed between the instantaneous specific growth rate μ and pO2, indicating that this organism should be classified as a microaerophile. Quantification of cells during aerobic growth revealed that the fraction of electrons released in electron donor oxidation and used for biomass production (fs) decreased from 0.52 at a pO2 of 0.02 atm to 0.19 at a pO2 of 0.18 atm. Hence, the apparent fraction of electrons utilized for energy generation (i.e., oxygen reduction) (fe) increased from 0.48 to 0.81 with increasing pO2, suggesting that oxygen is consumed in a nonrespiratory process at a high pO2. The ability to tolerate high oxygen concentrations, perform microaerophilic oxygen respiration, and preferentially associate with soil particles represents an ecophysiology that distinguishes A. dehalogenans from other known U(VI)-reducing bacteria in area 3, and these features may play roles for stabilizing immobilized radionuclides in situ.
Pathologic Lesions in Chimpanzees (Pan trogylodytes schweinfurthii) from Gombe National Park, Tanzania, 2004–2010

Abstract: During a population decline or disease outbreak, the true risk of specific diseases to a wild population is often difficult to determine because of a lack of baseline disease information. To better understand the risk of disease in an endangered and scientifically important population of chimpanzees (Pan trogylodytes schweinfurthii), a health monitoring program was initiated in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. As part of this health monitoring program, comprehensive necropsies with histopathology were conducted on chimpanzees (n = 11; 5 male, 6 female), ranging in age from fetal to 44 yr, that were found dead between August 2004 and January 2010. In contrast to previous reports, respiratory disease was not noted as a cause of morbidity or mortality. Trauma was the most common cause of death in these 11 chimpanzees. All of the chimpanzees greater than 1 yr of age had intestinal and mesenteric parasitic granulomas associated with true strongyles consistent with Oesophagostomum spp. The relative numbers of granulomas increased with age and, in some cases, may have been a cause of weight loss and diarrhea. Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)cpz infection was documented in four deceased apes, all of whom exhibited varying amounts of lymphoid depletion including two females with marked CD4+ T cell loss consistent with end-stage SIVmac or human immunodeficiency virus infections. Myocardial megalokaryosis was common in chimpanzees greater than 1 mo of age; yet myocardial interstitial fibrosis, a common lesion in captive chimpanzees, was uncommon and only noted in two aged chimpanzees. These findings provide important information on causes of morbidity and mortality in wild chimpanzees, information that can be used to interpret findings during population declines and lead to better management of this population in the context of disease risk.
MTHFR 677C→T and ACE D/I polymorphisms and migraine attack frequency in women

Data on the association of the MTHFR 677C→T and ACE D/I polymorphisms with migraine severity, measured by attack frequency, are scarce. We performed an association study among 24 961 women participating in the Women's Health Study. Migraine, aura status and attack frequency were self-reported. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the genotype–migraine association. Among the 3186 migraineurs with complete genotype and attack frequency data, 1270 reported migraine with aura (MA) (attack frequency 76 ≥ weekly; 219 monthly; 123 every other month; 852 fewer than six times/year) and 1916 migraine without aura (MoA) (attack frequency: 85 ≥ weekly; 414 monthly; 208 every other month; 1209 fewer than six times/year). The MTHFR 677TT genotype was associated with a reduced risk for MA, which only appeared for attacks fewer than six times/year (age-adjusted odds ratio 0.78; 95% confidence interval 0.61, 0.99). We did not find a specific pattern of association of the ACE D/I polymorphism with attack frequency for MA or MoA.
Regulation of AMP‐activated protein kinase by LKB1 and CaMKK in adipocytes

AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates cellular and whole body energy homeostasis. In adipose tissue, activation of AMPK has been demonstrated in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. However, the upstream kinase that activates AMPK in adipocytes remains elusive. Previous studies have identified LKB1 as a major AMPK kinase in muscle, liver, and other tissues. In certain cell types, Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) has been shown to activate AMPK in response to increases of intracellular Ca2+ levels. Our aim was to investigate if LKB1 and/or CaMKK function as AMPK kinases in adipocytes. We used adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes from mice in which the expression of LKB1 was reduced to 10–20% of that of wild‐type (LKB1 hypomorphic mice). We show that adipocytes from LKB1 hypomorphic mice display a 40% decrease in basal AMPK activity and a decrease of AMPK activity in the presence of the AMPK activator phenformin. We also demonstrate that stimulation of 3T3L1 adipocytes with intracellular [Ca2+]‐raising agents results in an activation of the AMPK pathway. The inhibition of CaMKK isoforms, particularly CaMKKβ, by the inhibitor STO‐609 or by siRNAs, blocked Ca2+‐, but not phenformin‐, AICAR‐, or forskolin‐induced activation of AMPK, indicating that CaMKK activated AMPK in response to Ca2+. Collectively, we show that LKB1 is required to maintain normal AMPK‐signaling in non‐stimulated adipocytes and in the presence of phenformin. In addition, we demonstrate the existence of a Ca2+/CaMKK signaling pathway that can also regulate the activity of AMPK in adipocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1364–1375, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.