Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ferrate(VI): A green chemical for the oxidation of cyanide in aqueous/waste solutions

The higher oxidation state of iron, i.e. Fe(VI), was employed for the oxidation of the important toxic ion cyanide in aqueous/waste waters. Cyanide was oxidized to cyanate, which is 1,000 times less toxic than cyanide, and can often be accepted for its ultimate disposal. It was noted that Fe(VI) is a very powerful oxidizing agent, and can oxidize most of the cyanide within a few minutes, ca 5 minutes, of contact. The extent of the reduction of Fe(VI) was obtained using the UV-Visible measurements. Further, the UV-Visible data was used to explain the reaction kinetics involved in the redox reaction between ferrate(VI) and cyanide. The pseudo–first-order rate constant was calculated by maintaining the cyanide concentration in excess, with the overall second order rate constant values obtained for initial Fe(VI) concentrations of 1.0 and 0.1 mmol/L. The oxidation of cyanide was again confirmed using a cyanide probe. Fe(VI) was further employed for its possible application in the treatment of industrial wastewaters containing cyanide, along with some heavy metals, such as those obtained from electroplating industries.
Development of platform for micro-positioning actuated by piezo-legs

A platform for micro-positioning, actuated by three piezo legs, is described. The legs have no joints and motion is performed by slow bending and quick stretching of the legs. During the quick stretching phase the leg tips slip over the ground surface and the platform moves for a small increment. Repetition of this procedure results in a continuous motion. Although the platform design is very simple, it is possible to achieve various motion speeds, very precise positioning and either translatory or complex planar motion. The prototype has been constructed and tested.
Analysis of the Rectifier Circuit Valid Down to Its Low-Voltage Limit

This paper describes a simple analytical model of the rectifier circuit valid down to very low voltage operation (input voltage below the thermal voltage). Steady-state and transient analyses of the rectifier with the diode described by an exponential I-V characteristic are presented. We provide formulas for the dc output voltage level, the output voltage ripple, and the power conversion efficiency. We also give a compact expression for the charging time of the load capacitor. The models of the rectifier and the voltage doubler for input voltages down to the thermal voltage are verified with simulations and measurements using circuits built with off-the-shelf 1N4148 diodes.
Systematic review of perioperative outcomes following laparoscopic abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Objective To collate information available in the literature regarding perioperative outcomes following elective laparoscopic abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Materials and methods Electronic databases were searched and a systematic review was performed. In total, 1256 abstracts were screened, from which 10 studies were included for analysis. Perioperative and technical outcomes were analysed. Results In the totally laparoscopic repair of infra-renal aneurysms (n = 302), 30-day mortality ranged between 0% and 6% and in the laparoscopic-assisted cases (n = 547) ranged between 0% and 7%. Of the former group, 5–30% of cases were converted to open repair, with 6% reintervention rate, whereas there was a 5–10% conversion and 3% reintervention rate in the latter group. Conclusions The outcomes from selected patients in selected centres demonstrate that elective laparoscopic repair of aortic aneurysms is feasible and comparable in safety to open repair; it remains unclear, however, whether there are substantial advantages of this method compared with open and endovascular repair.
Prevalence of Headache in Swedish Schoolchildren, with a Focus on Tension-Type Headache

To estimate the prevalence of tension-type headache, migraine and other headaches, 1850 schoolchildren, age 7-15 years, from the city of Uppsala, were invited to complete a questionnaire. The response rate was 74.1%. To validate the information from the questionnaires, 131 children and their parents were interviewed. Using the criteria of the International Headache Society, the 1-year prevalence of tension-type headache and migraine was 9.8 and 11.0%, respectively. However, these prevalence rates increased considerably, to 23.0 and 17.0%, respectively, when excluding the criteria defining the number of earlier episodes and duration of headache. The prevalence of headache increased with age, similarly in girls and boys up to 11 years, and thereafter only in girls. The preponderance in teenage girls was even more pronounced for tension-type headache than for migraine. Our results indicate an increase over time in headache prevalence when compared with findings in a study conducted in the same city in 1955.
Marine Boundary Layer Cloud Observations in the Azores

The recent deployment of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Mobile Facility at Graciosa Island, Azores, in the context of the Clouds, Aerosol and Precipitation in the Marine Boundary Layer (CAP-MBL) field campaign added the most extensive (19 months) and comprehensive dataset of marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds to date. Cloud occurrence is high (60%–80%), with a summertime minimum. Liquid precipitation is frequently present (30%–40%), mainly in the form of virga. Boundary layer clouds are themostfrequentlyobservedcloudtype(40%–50%)withamaximumofoccurrenceduringthesummerandfall months under the presence of anticyclonic conditions. Cumulus clouds are the most frequently occurring MBL cloud type (20%) with cumulus under stratocumulus layers (10%–30%) and single-layer stratocumulus (0%–10%) following in frequency of occurrence. A stable transition layer in the subcloud layer is commonly observed (92% of the soundings). Cumulus cloud bases and stratocumulus cloud tops correlate very well with the top of the transition layer and the inversion base, respectively. Drizzling stratocumulus layers are thicker (350–400 m) and have higher liquid water path (75–150 g m 22 ) than their nondrizzling counterparts (100–250 m and 30–75 g m 22 , respectively). The variance of the vertical air motion is maximum near the cloud base and is higher at night. The updraft mass flux is around 0.17 kg m 22 s 21 with 40%–60% explained by coherent updraft structures. Despite a high frequency of stratocumulus clouds in the Azores, the MBL is almost never well mixed and is often cumulus coupled.
Treatment of Dye Effluent by Electrochemical and Biological Processes

Textile dye wastewater is well known to contain strong colour, high pH, temperature, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and biodegradable materials. The electrochemical treatment of wastewater is considered as one of the advanced oxidation processes, potentially a powerful method of pollution control, offering high removal efficiencies the removal of colour of methyl red azo dye is a challenge in textile industry. The following methods have been adopted for the treatment of real textile wastewater: 1) Electro-oxidation (EO) and 2) Bio-treatment (BT). In EO process, reduction of COD and removal of colour were 70% and 81% respectively. The effluent was further treated by BT. BT showed a final reduction of 92% of COD and removal of colour by 95%. Both the combined processes were highly competitive and showed a very good reduction of COD and colour removal. Electrochemical processes generally have lower temperature requirement than those of other equivalent non-electrochemical treatments and there is no need for additional chemicals. These treatment methods may also be employed successfully to treat other industrial effluents.
Impaired Recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Alveolar Macrophages From Diabetic Mice.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased tuberculosis risk and severity. We previously reported that tuberculosis susceptibility in diabetic mice results from a delay in innate immune response to inhaled Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to delayed adaptive immune priming and, consequently, a higher plateau lung bacterial burden and greater immune pathology. METHODS We tested the capacity of alveolar macrophages from diabetic mice to phagocytose M. tuberculosis ex vivo and promote T-cell activation in vivo. RESULTS Alveolar macrophages from diabetic mice had reduced expression of CD14 and macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), which recognize the bacterial cell wall component trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM). Diabetic alveolar macrophages exhibited reduced phagocytosis of M. tuberculosis or TDM-coated latex beads. This alveolar macrophage phenotype was absent in peritoneal and bone marrow-derived macrophages. Transfer of infected alveolar macrophages from diabetic mice into nondiabetic recipients confirmed an intrinsic alveolar macrophage defect that hindered T-cell priming. The diabetic alveolar macrophage phenotype depended in part on expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products. CONCLUSIONS Reduced MARCO and CD14 expression contributes to defective sentinel function of alveolar macrophages, promoting tuberculosis susceptibility in diabetic hosts at a critical early step in the immune response to aerosol infection.
Impulsivity trajectories and gambling in adolescence among urban male youth.

AIM Building on the recent emerging literature on the impulsivity trajectory-gambling association, this study investigated the association between developmental trajectories of teacher-rated impulsivity in early adolescence (ages 11-15 years) and subsequent gambling and gambling problems (i.e. at-risk and problem gambling) by age 19. DESIGN Prospective cohort design. SETTING Urban communities in Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS The sample consists of 310 predominately minority (87%) and low socio-economic status (SES) (70%) males followed from first grade to late adolescence. MEASUREMENTS Impulsivity was measured using teacher ratings of classroom behavior. Self-reported gambling behavior was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA). FINDINGS Results from a conventional growth model suggest that the intercept of the impulsivity development (as measured by the repeated assessments of impulsivity across the entire developmental period) was associated significantly with gambling. Results from a general growth mixture model evidenced two distinct trajectories: a high impulsivity trajectory (41% of the sample) and a low impulsivity trajectory (59% of the sample). Despite its non-significant association with any gambling, heterogeneity in impulsivity development was associated significantly with gambling problems. Specifically, being in the high impulsivity trajectory doubled the odds of meeting criteria for at-risk or problem gambling [odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 4.27)] and tripled the odds of meeting criteria for problem gambling (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.02, 7.91). CONCLUSIONS Development in impulsivity is associated strongly with problem/at-risk gambling in adolescence among urban male youth. Findings highlight the importance of distinguishing gambling problems from any gambling when evaluating programs aimed at reducing youth gambling problems through reducing impulsivity.
EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS TO VISUAL, AUDITORY, AND BIMODAL (COMBINED AUDITORY-VISUAL) STIMULI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the response properties of event related potentials to unimodal and bimodal stimulations. The amplitudes of N1 and P2 were larger during bimodal evoked potentials (BEPs) than auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in the anterior sites and the amplitudes of P1 were larger during BEPs than VEPs especially at the parieto-occipital locations. Responses to bimodal stimulation had longer latencies than responses to unimodal stimulation. The N1 and P2 components were larger in amplitude and longer in latency during the bimodal paradigm and predominantly occurred at the anterior sites. Therefore, the current bimodal paradigm can be used to investigate the involvement and location of specific neural generators that contribute to higher processing of sensory information. Moreover, this paradigm may be a useful tool to investigate the level of sensory dysfunctions in clinical samples.
Does Low‐Dose Acetylsalicylic Acid Prevent Stroke After Carotid Surgery?: A Double‐blind, Placebo‐Controlled Randomized Trial

Background and Purpose The aim of this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate whether neurological deficits could be prevented with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as an adjunct to carotid endarterectomy. Methods A total of 232 patients were randomized to two groups, 75 mg/d ASA starting preoperatively and continued for 6 months (n=117) or placebo (identical tablets) (n=115). The patients were followed up regularly for 1 year. Results The groups were well matched regarding laboratory data and indication for operation. The number of patients with intraoperative or postoperative stroke without complete recovery within 1 week were 0 and 2 at 30 days and 6 months, respectively, in the ASA group, compared with 7 and 11 in the placebo group (P=.01). Including all neurological events within 6 months, this was found in 15 patients in the ASA group compared with 24 in the placebo group (P=.12). Mortality was 0.8% and 3.4% at 30 days and 6 months, respectively, in the ASA group. In the placebo group, the corresponding figures were 4.3% and 6.0%, respectively (P=.12). The intraoperative bleeding did not differ between the groups nor did the number of reoperations due to bleeding or other complications related to pharmacology. Conclusions This study indicates that low-dose ASA (75 mg/d) reduces the number of postoperative strokes without complete recovery within 1 week. Overall neurological events are insignificantly reduced, as also mortality. The use of low-dose ASA (75 mg) seems safe and effective in reducing cerebrovascular events after carotid endarterectomy.
No Association Between Glutathione Peroxidase Pro198Leu Polymorphism and Breast Cancer Risk

Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) is a cytosolic antioxidant enzyme that neutralizes H2O2 to water and oxygen ([1][1]). A GPX1 Pro→Leu polymorphism exists at codon 198, with the variant Leu allele being less responsive than the common Pro allele to the stimulation of enzyme activity
In situ expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors by oligodendrocyte progenitors and oligodendrocytes in adult mouse central nervous system

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induces proliferation and alters differentiation of cultured oligodendrocyte lineage cells. In situ, bFGF is present in normal adult central nervous system (CNS) and upregulated during an early stage of various pathological conditions. We examined the expression of receptors for bFGF (FGFRs) by oligodendrocyte progenitors and oligodendrocytes in situ in normal adult mouse CNS to further understand the potential in situ response to bFGF. We found FGFR immunoreactivity in oligodendrocyte progenitors, identified by expression of NG2 or platelet‐derived growth factor α receptor (PDGFαR), and in oligodendrocytes expressing 2′,3′‐cyclic nucleotide 3′ phosphodiesterase. Particularly interesting is the demonstration that oligodendrocyte progenitors simultaneously expressing receptors for both bFGF and PDGF‐AA are present in normal adult CNS. Since in vitro bFGF and PDGF‐AA in combination induce oligodendrocyte progenitors from normal adult CNS to undergo rapid proliferation and migration, the in situ coexpression of FGFRs and PDGFαR supports the hypothesis that oligodendrocyte progenitors can respond to bFGF and PDGF‐AA in situ, and that both growth factors may be critical for repopulation of demyelinated lesions during remyelination. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:229–237, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Issues and challenges of remote sensing-based local climate zone mapping for high-density cities

The local climate zone (LCZ) classification system provides a standard organizing principle for urban climate studies, such as urban heat island analysis, in which urban structures are classified into 17 standard LCZ classes according to urban land surface properties, such as land use and land coverage. Based on the standard definitions of the LCZ, freely available Landsat satellite data have been used to generate LCZ maps for cities worldwide. This research aims to evaluate the performance of the existing methods for high-density cities and to discuss the main issues, challenges, and possible solutions for further applications. Our experimental results indicate that three main factors, including training samples, input features, and the classifiers used, had a decisive effect on the final mapping result. In particular, low-quality training samples coupled with complex urban scenarios tended to yield low-quality LCZ mapping results. To improve the LCZ mapping results, some practical solutions and suggestions were given for future applications.
Comparative Effects of Chloride Channel Inhibitors on LRRC8/VRAC-Mediated Chloride Conductance

Chloride channels play an essential role in a variety of physiological functions and in human diseases. Historically, the field of chloride channels has long been neglected owing to the lack of powerful selective pharmacological agents that are needed to overcome the technical challenge of characterizing the molecular identities of these channels. Recently, members of the LRRC8 family have been shown to be essential for generating the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) current, a chloride conductance that governs the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) process. The inhibitory effects of six commonly used chloride channel inhibitors on VRAC/LRRC8-mediated chloride transport were tested in wild-type HEK-293 cells expressing LRRC8 proteins and devoid of other types of chloride channels (CFTR and ANO1/2). We explored the effectiveness of the inhibitors using the patch-clamp whole-cell approach and fluorescence-based quantification of cellular volume changes during hypotonic challenge. Both DCPIB and NFA inhibited VRAC current in a whole-cell configuration, with IC50 values of 5 ± 1 μM and 55 ± 2 μM, respectively. Surprisingly, GlyH-101 and PPQ-102, two CFTR inhibitors, also inhibited VRAC conductance at concentrations in the range of their current use, with IC50 values of 10 ± 1 μM and 20 ± 1 μM, respectively. T16Ainh-A01, a so-called specific inhibitor of calcium-activated Cl- conductance, blocked the chloride current triggered by hypo-osmotic challenge, with an IC50 of 6 ± 1 μM. Moreover, RVD following hypotonic challenge was dramatically reduced by these inhibitors. CFTRinh-172 was the only inhibitor that had almost no effect on VRAC/LRRC8-mediated chloride conductance. All inhibitors tested except CFTRinh-172 inhibited VRAC/LRRC8-mediated chloride conductance and cellular volume changes during hypotonic challenge. These results shed light on the apparent lack of chloride channel inhibitors specificity and raise the question of how these inhibitors actually block chloride conductances.
Seasonal rewiring of the songbird brain: an in vivo MRI study

The song control system (SCS) of songbirds displays a remarkable plasticity in species where song output changes seasonally. The mechanisms underlying this plasticity are barely understood and research has primarily been focused on the song nuclei themselves, largely neglecting their interconnections and connections with other brain regions. We investigated seasonal changes in the entire brain, including the song nuclei and their connections, of nine male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). At two times of the year, during the breeding (April) and nonbreeding (July) seasons, we measured in the same subjects cellular attributes of brain regions using in vivo high‐resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 7 T. An increased fractional anisotropy in the HVC–RA pathway that correlates with an increase in axonal density (and myelination) was found during the breeding season, confirming multiple previous histological reports. Other parts of the SCS, namely the occipitomesencephalic axonal pathway, which contains fiber tracts important for song production, showed increased fractional anisotropy due to myelination during the breeding season and the connection between HVC and Area X showed an increase in axonal connectivity. Beyond the SCS we discerned fractional anisotropy changes that correlate with myelination changes in the optic chiasm and axonal organization changes in an interhemispheric connection, the posterior commissure. These results demonstrate an unexpectedly broad plasticity in the connectivity of the avian brain that might be involved in preparing subjects for the competitive and demanding behavioral tasks that are associated with successful reproduction.
An Exploratory Study of the Experience of Ageing with Ankylosing Spondylitis: 'Same Backdrop but a Changing Scene'.

OBJECTIVES People are living longer with a long-term health condition. Our aim was to develop a greater understanding of the experience and needs of people as they age with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS Ethical approval was obtained for six focus groups, with participants over 60 years of age, to explore experiences through peer group discussion. The groups were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded and a thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO 10. RESULTS Four women and 28 men, with an average age of 68 (range 60-83) years, consented to participate. Analysis identified a central organizing concept, 'same backdrop but a changing scene', which conceptualizes the continued impact of AS set against a backdrop of people transitioning into a new phase of their lives and facing differing challenges. Five themes underpin this concept: 'it doesn't go away' (AS remains active with continuing functional and symptomatic challenges); 'wheels fall off after 60' (perceptions of disease progression within the context of 'normal ageing'); 'keep on pushing, keep on doing' (challenges of remaining active and motivated); 'living a fulfilling life' (actively engaging with life) and a 'price to pay' (significant psychological, physical and financial consequences on participants and their families). CONCLUSIONS As people living with AS make the transition into retirement, many aspire to live active lives while facing new challenges in relation to their lifestyles and priorities. There is a need to offer tailored interventions to enable older people to remain active and continue to lead the lives they choose within the context of an active and often debilitating condition. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.