Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical properties of the LaGaO3 perovskite-type oxide used as negative electrode in Ni/MH accumulators

In this work, we studied the hydrogen storage properties of the LaGaO3 perovskite-type oxide used as negative electrode in nickel-metal hydride batteries. The LaGaO3 perovskite-type oxide is synthesized by conventional sol-gel method and their phase structure and electrochemical properties are investigated systematically. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that LaGaO3 perovskite-type oxide consist of single phase and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma. The electrochemical properties of the LaGaO3 electrode are studied at 55°C using different electrochemical techniques (chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, voltamétrie cyclique). The corrosion properties of the LaGaO3 electrode also are evaluated at different state of charge at 55°C.
Breastfeeding Women’s Experience of Expressing: A Descriptive Study

There is an increasing trend in Australia and elsewhere for mothers to express breast milk. The purpose of this study was to explore breastfeeding women’s experiences of expressing breast milk. An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to Victorian members of the Australian Breastfeeding Association via an e-mail link. Response fraction was 903 of 3024 (29.9%). The most common reason for expressing milk was to “store extra breast milk” (57%, 479/836). The most important reason was “not enough milk”/“to make more milk” (15%, 118/771). The majority of women (65%, 666/843) used an electric breast pump, and this method of expressing was preferred by 59% (454/769) of women. Adverse effects of pumps were pain (17%, 126/737) and damage to nipples (11%, 86/737). Breast pumps may have a role in enabling women to extend the duration of breast milk feeding, but further research is needed. J Hum Lact. 26(3):258-265.
Rate and factors affecting non-exclusive breastfeeding among Thai women under the breastfeeding promotion program

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the rate of non-exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among Thai women under the Breastfeeding Promotion Program. Methods This was a prospective descriptive study that involved term postpartum women who attended the Breastfeeding Clinic at Srinagarind Hospital in Thailand, from April to December 2016. Abstracted data included baseline characteristics, obstetric history, breastfeeding history, problems in breastfeeding at day 3 and 2 weeks, and feeding status at 12 weeks postpartum. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to determine significant factors predicting non-exclusive breastfeeding. Results Of the 500 postpartum women enrolled in this study, follow-up data at 12 weeks postpartum were available for 368 women (73.6%). The rate of non-exclusive breastfeeding assessed at 12 weeks postpartum was 26.4% (95% CI 21.9%–31.2%). Nipple problems and pain during the first 3 days postpartum and milk storage problems at 2 weeks postpartum were the major reasons for non-exclusive breastfeeding (69.4% and 59.1%, respectively). The significant independent factors that predicted these included patients not having confidence in their ability to breastfeed exclusively or not having any intention to do so (OR 7.22; 95% CI 3.26–14.24), no rooming-in (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.04–5.12), and low milk quantity at 2 weeks postpartum (OR 3.75; 95% CI 1.70–8.29). Conclusion The rate of non-exclusive breastfeeding in this study was ~26%, and significant associated factors included having lack of confidence/intention, no rooming-in, and low milk quantity reported at 2 weeks postpartum.
Biochemical Effects of Cultivated and Wild Jute Species on Life Stages of the Broad Mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae)

Abstract We studied the life cycle of the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae), on 2 cultivated jute species (Corchorus olitorius L. and Corchorus capsularis L.; Malvales: Malvaceae) and 5 wild species (Corchorus aestuans L., Corchorus pseudo-olitorius Islam & Zaid, Corchorus fascicularis Lamarck, Corchorus tridens L., and Corchorus trilocularis L.) under laboratory conditions. Results showed that the egg incubation period, larval and nymphal durations, and adult male and female longevities of P. latus varied significantly on different jute species. The larval period (mean ± SD) was significantly shorter (57.00 ± 2.07 h) on C. olitorius than on C. fascicularis, C. aestuans, and C. tridens (68.00 ± 1.58 to 72.00 ± 1.30 h). The phenol content was greatest in C. trilocularis (61.92 ± 1.91 μg/g), and it was 16.26 ± 1.34 μg/g and 20.45 ± 1.43 μg/g in C. olitorius and C. capsularis, respectively. The polyphenol oxidase content was smallest in C. capsularis (0.99 ± 0.10 μg/mL) as compared with 2.38 ± 0.15 μg/mL in C. fascicularis. The protein content in the wild species was significantly less than in the cultivated species. In the wild species, the peroxidase content varied from 3.93 ± 0.17 to 7.08 ± 0.16 μg/mL, and it was 3.23 ± 0.12 to 3.70 ± 0.14 μg/mL in the cultivated species. The leaf biochemical constituents of jute species were correlated with mite life stages and incidence. The larval period and adult female longevity had significantly negative correlations with polyphenol oxidase content and positive correlations with protein content. The greatest mite population was observed on C. olitorius, and the smallest mite population was observed on C. trilocularis, at 50 d after sowing. The mite populations increased on all the jute species except C. trilocularis at 50 d after sowing. Based on the duration of life stages, the present study showed that among the 7 species of jute, the cultivated C. olitorius was the most suitable host for broad mites. It is evident that biochemical leaf constituents have an important role in the growth and buildup of mite pests in these crops. On the basis of the relative resistance and susceptibility of the jute species, appropriate interspecific crosses may provide a platform for developing resistant varieties for broad mite management.
A comparison of echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheterization for evaluation of pulmonary artery pressures in pregnant patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to compare the accuracy of echocardiography versus pulmonary artery catheterization to estimate pulmonary artery pressures in pregnant women with suspected pulmonary hypertension. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review was performed between January 1990 and February 2000 for all pregnant patients with cardiac disease. Patients with pulmonary artery pressure values estimated by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography during pregnancy were included. Pulmonary hypertension is defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure >30 mm Hg. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients were included in the study. There was a significant overestimation of the mean pulmonary artery pressure with echocardiography compared with catheterization (55.4 vs 51.1 mm Hg; P <.005). Of the 20 patients, pulmonary artery pressure was significantly greater when estimated by echocardiography than when measured by catheterization (59.6 vs 54.8 mm Hg; P <.004). Thirty-two percent (8/25) of the patients had pulmonary hypertension when estimated by echocardiography but had normal pulmonary artery pressures on subsequent catheterization. CONCLUSION Echocardiography significantly overestimated pulmonary artery pressures compared with catheterization in pregnant patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension. Patients with structural cardiac defects appear to have a significantly greater difference in pulmonary artery pressures. Thirty-two percent of pregnant patients with normal pulmonary artery pressures may be misclassified as having pulmonary artery hypertension when measured by echocardiography alone.
Comparison of in vitro activities of levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam against aerobic bacterial pathogens from patients with nosocomial infections.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is a rapid worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, especially in nosocomial isolates. This study compared the in vitro activities of levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam against 208 aerobic bacterial pathogens that caused 197 nosocomial infections in 184 patients. METHODS Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by E test in accordance with the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULTS Most (140/208, 67%) of the isolates were facultative Gram-negative bacilli. Levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective (22/22, 100%) against oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. None of the antibiotics tested were found to be effective (0/25) against oxacillin-resistant S. aureus. Of the 11 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii that were not pandrug-resistant (PDR), only 9 isolates (9/11, 81%) were sensitive to imipenem and 5 isolates (5/11, 45%) were sensitive to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime. Another 22 isolates of A. baumannii that were PDR were completely resistant to all 6 antibiotics. The majority of isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to these 6 antimicrobial agents with 10/11 (91%) sensitive to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, 9/11 (83%) sensitive to ceftazidime, cefepime and piperacillin-tazobactam, and 8/11 (75%) sensitive to imipenem. CONCLUSIONS The majority of the bacterial isolates causing nosocomial infections were found to be sensitive to the 6 antibiotics tested. Bacterial isolates of nosocomial infections that were completely resistant to these 6 antibiotics were PDR A. baumannii, PDR P. aeruginosa, and oxacillin-resistant S. aureus. More potent antimicrobial agents are needed to treat infections caused by PDR A. baumannii and PDR P. aeruginosa.
An Empirical Examination of Users' Information Hiding in a Crowdfunding Context

Online privacy remains an ongoing source of debate in society. Sensitive to this, many web platforms are offering users greater, more granular control over how and when their information is revealed. However, recent research suggests that information control mechanisms of this sort are not necessarily of economic benefit to the parties involved. We examine the use of these mechanisms and their economic consequences, leveraging data from one of the world's largest global crowdfunding platforms, where contributors can conceal their identity or contribution amounts from public display. We find that information hiding is more likely when contributors are under greater scrutiny or exhibiting “undesirable” behavior. We also identify an anchoring effect from prior contributions, which is eliminated when earlier contributors conceal their amounts. Subsequent analyses indicate that a nuanced approach to the design and provision of information control mechanisms, such as varying default settings based on contribution amounts, can help promote larger contributions.
Resistance of chimpanzee T cells to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat-enhanced oxidative stress and apoptosis

CD4+ T-cell depletion in AIDS patients involves induction of apoptosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and noninfected T cells. The HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-transactivating protein Tat enhances apoptosis and activation-induced cell death (AICD) of human T cells. This effect is mediated by the CD95 (APO-1/Fas) receptor-CD95 ligand (CD95L) system and may be linked to the induction of oxidative stress by Tat. Here we show that HIV-1 Tat-induced oxidative stress is necessary for sensitized AICD in T cells caused by CD95L expression. Tat-enhanced apoptosis and CD95L expression in T cells are inhibited by neutralizing anti-Tat antibodies, antioxidants, and the Tat inhibitor Ro24-7429. Chimpanzees infected with HIV-1 show viral replication resembling early infection in humans but do not show T-cell depletion or progression towards AIDS. The cause for this discrepancy is unknown. Here we show that unlike Tat-treated T cells in humans, Tat-treated chimpanzee T cells do not show downregulation of manganese superoxide dismutase or signs of oxidative stress. Chimpanzee T cells are also resistant to Tat-enhanced apoptosis, AICD, and CD95L upregulation.
Non‐melanoma skin cancer among caucasians in four areas of the United States

A survey of the incidence of non‐melanoma skin cancer was undertaken in four areas which included about ten million people. Complete reporting of all newly diagnosed cases of skin cancer which occurred during the survey period of September 1, 1971 to February 29, 1972 was obtained by canvassing dermatologists, radiotherapists, pathologists, and other physicians seeing and treating skin cancer. Rates among Caucasians were found two to three times higher than any ever reported before in these area. An estimate of 300,000 new cases of skin cancer per year would amount to about one‐half the total for all other forms of cancer combined in the United States. In all areas, there was an excess liability in males of about 2 to 1. Highest rates were observed in the Dallas‐Ft. Worth area, where increased solar radiation is suspected as a carcinogenic agent.
COLONIC DIVERTICULOSIS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR PERITONITIS IN CHINESE PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENTS

♦ Objectives: The risk of development of enteric peritonitis in Chinese peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with colonic diverticulosis is not known. There have been no reports on whether colonic diverticulosis may affect peritonitis outcomes. The objectives of this study were to examine whether colonic diverticulosis is a risk factor for the development of enteric peritonitis and to study its influence on the outcome of enteric peritonitis. ♦ Patients and Methods: All continuous ambulatory PD patients that had barium enema and colonoscopic examinations performed between January 1994 and January 2006 were included. They were divided into 2 groups: patients with diverticulosis and patients without diverticulosis. Their demographic and clinical characteristics, colonic examination findings, and peritonitis data were compared and analyzed. ♦ Results: 104 Chinese patients received 110 colonoscopies and 51 barium enema examinations. 25 patients (24.0%) had colonic diverticulosis. Patients with diverticulosis were older (65.4 ± 14.7 vs 58.4 ± 14.0 years, p = 0.033). The most common site of involvement of diverticulosis was the ascending colon (56%). 128 episodes of enteric peritonitis were recorded in 49 patients. Compared with patients without enteric peritonitis, more patients in the enteric peritonitis group had diverticulosis (38.8% vs 10.9%, p = 0.001) and diverticulosis most often involved the ascending colon (20.4% vs 7.3%, p = 0.082). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of diverticulosis (hazard ratio 5.17, 95% confidence interval 1.86 – 14.40; p = 0.002) and diverticulosis involving the ascending colon (hazard ratio 6.89, 95% confidence interval 1.43 – 33.32, p = 0.016) were independent risk factors for the development of enteric peritonitis. Enteric peritonitis in patients with diverticulosis had a higher but nonsignificant treatment failure rate (26.9% vs 18.4%, p = 0.282). ♦ Conclusion: In this selected cohort of PD patients with indications of colonic examinations, diverticulosis, especially involving the ascending colon, may be a risk factor for the development of enteric peritonitis. Colonic diverticulosis does not appear to affect the outcome of enteric peritonitis. Further studies are warranted to determine ways to prevent enteric peritonitis in PD patients with diverticulosis.
The Mental Treatment Act 1945 in Ireland: an historical enquiry

The Mental Treatment Act 1945 had a decisive influence on the provision and development of psychiatric services in Ireland. This paper examines: (a) the historical and psychiatric backgrounds to the introduction of the Mental Treatment Act 1945; (b) the main provisions of the Act; and (c) the international context of the Act, especially in relation to institutional and legislative trends in other jurisdictions.
EFFECT OF SPACING ON SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NARROW LEAVED ASH (Fraxinus angustifolia) WOOD

In this study, conducted to test the effect of spacing on wood quality; the effect of four different spacing types, applied in Adapazari Suleymaniye plantation (Region 1; 3x2 m; Region 2; 3x2,5 m; Region 3; 3,75x3,75 m; Region 4; 4x4 m), on some mechanical properties of narrow leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) have been studied. In the present study, some mechanical properties such as the compression strength parallel to grain, tensile stress perpendicular to grain, bending strength, impact bending strength and modulus of elasticity were determined. As a result, the ash wood, grown in region 4 with a wide range of planting, has high mechanical properties. However, when analyzed in terms of wood quality characteristics, it has been found that spacing in region 1 (2x3 m) is more suitable for applications of ash plantations.
Estrogenic endocrine disruptive components interfere with calcium handling and differentiation of human trophoblast cells

During development, calcium (Ca) is actively transported by placental trophoblasts to meet fetal nutritional and the skeletal mineralization needs. Maternal exposure to estrogenic pesticides, such as 1,1‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trichloroethane (DDT) and methoxychlor (MTC), has been shown to result in reproductive disorders and/or abnormal fetal development. In this study, we have examined the effects of exposure of trophoblastic cells to MTC and DTT, in comparison to 17β‐estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), to test the hypothesis that cellular Ca handling is a target for these endocrine disruptive components. Treatment with DDT, MTC, DES, or E2 increased cellular Ca uptake, and the expression of trophoblast‐specific human Ca binding protein (HCaBP) was down‐regulated by both MTC and DDT. Treatment with MTC, DDT, and DES inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed expression of several trophoblast differentiation marker genes. These effects were reversed by overexpression of metallothionein IIa, a gene highly responsive to cadmium and other metals. These results strongly suggest that trophoblast Ca handling functions are endocrinally modulated, and that their alteration by candidate endocrine disruptors, such as MTC and DDT, constitutes a possible pathway of the harmful effects of these components on fetal development. J. Cell. Biochem. 89: 755–770, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Four dimensions of neighbourhood form related to children's walks to school

The disciplines of town planning and public health have investigated the connection between walking and neighbourhood form (e.g., Frank et al. 2003; Frumkin et al., 2004). In particular, Terri Pikora and her colleagues (2003) created a schema to classify a range of potential elements that may influence an adult’s decision to walk. By reviewing the health, urban planning and transport-related literature, they created a socio-ecological framework to classify a range of potential elements that may influence an adult’s decision to walk. This framework identifies four dimensions of neighbourhood form related to walking: functionality, safety, destinations and aesthetics. Functionality relates to the efficiency of movement provided by the layout of the streets and footpaths for its pedestrian users. Safety relates to those features that affect personal safety and traffic safety. Destinations relate to the availability and accessibility of neighbourhood facilities. Aesthetics describe the features that create “interesting and pleasing physical environments” (Pikora et al., 2003, p. 1696). Collectively, these four dimensions “collate all potentially relevant factors” (ibid, p. 1697) and provide a framework that could be applied to school travel research to assist in the understanding of the physical factors that affect walking. The applicability of these dimensions have been tested in studies and have been found to affect the likelihood of adults walking for transport or recreation (e.g., Hoehner et al., 2005; Pikora et al., 2006; Badland et al., 2009). These four dimensions, however, have yet to be applied to children’s school travels on foot.
Persistent skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis: relationship to clinical and immunological parameters

Background Staphylococcus aureus has important implications for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). In some patients S. aureus can be eradicated from the skin during anti‐inflammatory treatment, while in others bacterial colonization is persistent. Potential mechanisms and features of these two distinct groups of patients are not known.
Reading Achievement, Mastery, and Performance Goal Structures Among Students With Learning Disabilities

The purpose of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that a nonlinear relationship exists between a performance-classroom climate and the reading achievement of adolescent students with learning disabilities (LD). Participants were 62 students with LD (Grades 5–9) from public elementary schools in northern Greece. Classroom climate was assessed using the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Styles. Achievement in reading was assessed using a normative reading assessment. Data were analyzed by means of catastrophe theory in which the behavior is predicted as a function of two control variables, the asymmetry factor and the bifurcation factor. Reading achievement (word identification) was predicted by students’ ability to decode pseudowords (asymmetry variable) and by a mastery or performance motivational discourse (bifurcation factor). Results indicated that in classrooms with a performance goal structure, the cusp model fit the data and accounted for 54% of the variance in real word identification. In this condition, the association between pseudoword reading and real word reading was nonlinear. When a mastery climate was tested as a bifurcation variable, results indicated that its effect was nonsignificant and that instead the linear model fitted the data more adequately. Thus, increases in a classroom’s performance motivational discourse are associated with sudden, unpredictable, and discontinued changes in students’ reading performance.
ESTIMATING NETWORK MEMBERSHIPS BY SIMPLEX VERTICES HUNTING By

Consider an undirected mixed membership network with n nodes and K communities. For each node i, 1 ≤ i ≤ n, we model the membership by a Probability Mass Function (PMF) πi = (πi(1), πi(2), . , πi(K)) ′, where πi(k) is the probability that node i belongs to community k, 1 ≤ k ≤ K. We call node i “pure” if πi is degenerate and “mixed” otherwise. The primary interest is to estimate πi, 1 ≤ i ≤ n. We model the adjacency matrix A with a Degree Corrected Mixed Membership (DCMM) model. Let ξ̂1, ξ̂2, . , ξ̂K be the eigenvectors of A associated with the K largest (in magnitude) eigenvalues. We define a matrix R̂ ∈ Rn,K−1 by R̂(i, k) = ξ̂k+1(i)/ξ̂1(i), 1 ≤ k ≤ K−1, 1 ≤ i ≤ n. The matrix can be viewed as a distorted version of its nonstochastic counterpart R ∈ Rn,K−1, which is unknown but contains all information we need for the memberships. We reveal an interesting insight: there is a simplex S in RK−1 such that row i of R corresponds to a vertex of S if node i is pure, and corresponds to an interior point of S otherwise. Vertices Hunting (i.e., estimating the vertices of S) is therefore the key to our problem. We propose a new approach Mixed-SCORE to estimating the memberships, at the heart of which is an easy-to-use Vertices Hunting algorithm. The approach is successfully applied to 4 network data sets (a coauthorship and a citee network for statisticians, a political book network, and a football network) with encouraging results. We analyze Mixed-SCORE and derive its rate of convergence, using delicate Random Matrix Theory. The work is closely related to Jin [22] but it deals with a different problem in a more complicated setting and contains several innovations in methods and theory.