Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of hydrogen on the electronic states of olivine: Implications for electrical conductivity

The influence of hydrogen on the electronic states in olivine was investigated by the first‐principle calculations combined with the models of the mobility of electrons. We find that the dissolution of hydrogen modifies the electronic states when hydrogen is dissolved as charged defects but there is little modifications to the electronic structure when hydrogen is dissolved as a neutral defect such as two protons at M‐site. In the former case an impurity state is created just above the valence band providing a mechanism of impurity conduction. The electrical conductivity calculated from this model using a model of the mobility appropriate for “polaron” mechanism of conduction shows a good agreement with the experimental observations on hydrated olivine. We conclude that the enhanced electrical conductivity in olivine by the dissolution of hydrogen may partly due to the enhancement of electronic conduction. Possible implications for high‐temperature creep are also discussed.
Contrapositive Symmetry of Distributive Fuzzy Implications

Recently, we have examined the solutions of the system of the functional equations I(x, T(y,z)) = T(I(x,y), I(x,z)), I(x, I(y,z)) = I(T(x,y),z), where T: [0,1]2 → [0,1] is a strict t-norm and I : [0,1]2 → [0,1] is a non-continuous fuzzy implication. In this paper we continue these investigations for contrapositive implications, i.e. functions which satisfy the functional equation I(x, y) = I(N(y), N(x)), with a strong negation N : [0,1] → [0,1]. We show also the bounds for two classes of fuzzy implications which are connected with our investigations.
Oral fibrinogen‐depleting agent lumbrokinase for secondary ischemic stroke prevention: results from a multicenter, randomized, parallel‐group and controlled clinical trial

Background Elevated fibrinogen (Fg) level is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke. There are few clinical trials on oral fibrinogen‐depleting therapies for secondary ischemic stroke prevention. We aimed to assess the effects of one‐year therapy with oral lumbrokinase enteric‐coated capsules on secondary ischemic stroke prevention. Methods This is a multicenter, randomized, parallel group and controlled study that began treatment in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke and continued for 12 months. Patients were randomized to either the control group that received the standard stroke treatment or the fibrinogen‐depleting group that received the standard stroke treatment plus enteric‐coated lumbrokinase capsules. The NIH Stroke Scale scores (NIHSSs) and plasma Fg level were recorded. The carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT) and status of plaques were examined through carotid ultrasound examination. Primary outcomes included all‐cause mortality, any event of recurrent ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction and angina, and other noncerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis and the Long‐rank test were used to compare total vascular end point incidence between the two groups. Comparison of median values between two groups was done by the Student t test, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or non‐parametric rank sum test. Results A total of 310 patients were enrolled, 192 patients in the treatment group and 118 patients in the control group. Compared to the control group, the treatment group showed favorable outcomes in the Fg level, carotid IMT, the detection rate of vulnerable plaques, the volume of carotid plaques, NIHSS scores, and incidence of total vascular (6.78% and 2.08%, respectively) and cerebral vascular events (5.93% and 1.04%, respectively) (P <0.05). In the treatment group, the volume of carotid plaques was significantly related to the carotid IMT, the plaque diameter, width and number (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.022; F=13.51, 2.52, 11.33, −3.29, but there was a weak correlation with the Fg level (P=0.056). After 1‐year therapy, the incidence of overall vascular end points was reduced by 4.7%. Conclusion Long‐term oral fibrinogen‐depleting therapy may be beneficial for secondary ischemic stroke prevention.
Use of Cognitive Enhancement Medication Among Northern Italian University Students

This study assesses the use of cognitive enhancement medication among university students in Northern Italy. It was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis on the basis of a paper-and-pencil survey of 77 undergraduate students attending courses in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Milan, Milano, Italy. Although the share of students who have taken cognitive enhancement medication themselves in the past is still small (16%), the use of these drugs is rather common and freely communicated in some social circles. Enhancing the ability to study outside of the class was students' primary motive for use. Students who think that there is no or an acceptable risk involved in cognitive enhancement medication are more likely to take drugs and dietary supplements than those who perceive the risk as high.
Further Evidence of Reliability and Validity for the Driving Anger Expression Inventory

This study provided evidence of reliability and validity for the four scales of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory. Alpha reliabilities for scales ranged from . 84 to . 89. Measures of aggressive anger expression while driving (Verbal Aggressive Expression, Personal Physical Aggressive Expression, and Use of the Vehicle to Express Anger scales) correlated positively with each other and negatively with the Adaptive/Constructive Expression scale. Scores on the three aggressive forms of anger expression correlated positively with trait anger and measures of driving-related anger, aggression, and risky behavior, whereas scores on the Adaptive/Constructive Expression scale correlated negatively with these variables. Reports of aggressive and risky behavior correlated most strongly with the Use of the Vehicle to Express Anger scale. Forms of anger expression were minimally or uncorrelated with rated trait anxiety and reports of moving violations, close calls, and accidents. Findings replicated earlier findings and provided further evidence for the reliability and validity of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory.
Blocking c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) Translocation to the Mitochondria Prevents 6-Hydroxydopamine-induced Toxicity in Vitro and in Vivo*

Background: Little is known about the role for JNK mitochondrial signaling in neuronal cell death. Results: Global and mitochondrial inhibition of JNK protects against 6-OHDA-induced neuronal loss in the SNpc. Conclusion: Blocking JNK mitochondrial translocation or JNK inhibition may be an effective treatment for neuronal death in Parkinson disease. Significance: These findings suggest a new molecular target for JNK inhibition. Because oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are well known contributors to Parkinson disease (PD), we set out to investigate the role mitochondrial JNK plays in the etiology of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced (6-OHDA) oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurotoxicity in SHSY5Y cells and neuroprotection and motor behavioral protection in vivo. To do this, we utilized a cell-permeable peptide of the outer mitochondrial membrane protein, Sab (SH3BP5), as an inhibitor of JNK mitochondrial translocation. In vitro studies showed that 6-OHDA induced JNK translocation to the mitochondria and that inhibition of mitochondrial JNK signaling by Tat-SabKIM1 protected against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurotoxicity. Administration of Tat-SabKIM1 via an intracerebral injection into the mid-forebrain bundle increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta by 2-fold (p < 0.05) in animals lesioned with 6-OHDA, compared with animals treated only with 6-OHDA into the nigrostriatal pathway. In addition, Tat-SabKIM1 decreased the d-amphetamine-induced unilateral rotations associated with the lesion by 30% (p < 0.05). Steady-state brain levels of Tat-SabKIM1 at day 7 were 750 nm, which was ∼3.4-fold higher than the IC50 for this peptide versus Sab protein. Collectively, these data suggest that 6-OHDA induced JNK translocation to the mitochondria and that blocking this translocation reduced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the data suggest that inhibitors that block association of JNKs with the mitochondria may be useful neuroprotective agents for the treatment of Parkinson disease.
1 Empirically Probing the Quantity-Quality Model Emla

This paper tests whether family size has a causal effect on girls’ education in Mexico. It exploits son preference as the main source of random variation in the propensity to have more children, and estimates causal effects using instrumental variables. Overall, it finds no evidence of family size having an adverse effect on education, once the endogeneity of family size is accounted for. Results are robust to another commonly used instrument in this literature, the occurrence of twin births. A divisive concern throughout this literature is that the instruments are invalid, so that inferences including policy recommendations may be misleading. An important contribution of this paper is to allow for the possibility that the instruments are invalid and to provide an answer to the question of just how much the assumption of instrument exogeneity drives findings. It concludes that the assumption of exogeneity does not affect the results that much, and the effects of family size on girls’ schooling remain extremely modest at most.
Hemoconcentration: an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis? a critical appraisal

OBJECTIVE:A study was designed to reevaluate hemoconcentration as an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis and compare it against contrast-enhanced CT, the gold standard to diagnose acute necrotizing pancreatitis.METHODS:This prospective study covers the years 1988–1999 for 316 patients (202 male, 114 female) with a first attack of acute pancreatitis. The role of the hematocrit as an early marker of severe and/or necrotizing pancreatitis has been retrospectively evaluated against the prospectively obtained data. They all underwent a CT within 72 h after admission. In addition to the CT-controlled diagnosis of interstitial/necrotizing pancreatitis, the following variables were used to assess severity: initial organ failure according to the Atlanta classification; indication for artificial ventilation and/or dialysis; Ranson score adjusted for etiology; Imrie score; Balthazar score; length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU); total hospital stay; development of pancreatic pseudocysts; indication for operation (necrosectomy); and mortality. Hemoconcentration on admission was defined as a hematocrit level >43.0% for male and >39.6% for female patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the correlation between hemoconcentration and the severity of variables.RESULTS:Hematocrit, as a single parameter measured on admission, had the same sensitivity and negative predictive value as the more complicated Ranson and Imrie scores obtained only after 48 h. However, its specificity, positive predictive value, and total accuracy were lower. Hemoconcentration significantly correlated with the Balthazar score (differential diagnosis between interstitial and necrotizing pancreatitis), stay in ICU, and total hospital stay. Sensitivity and specificity of the hematocrit cut-off level of 43.0% for male and 39.6% for female patients to detect necrotizing pancreatitis were 74% and 45%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 24% and the negative predictive value 88%. Receiver operation characteristics (ROC) curve values for several cut-offs did not result in more ideal levels.CONCLUSION:Hemoconcentration does not significantly correlate with important clinical outcome variables of acute pancreatitis including organ failure and mortality rate. Its prognostic value is comparable to the more complicated Ranson and Imrie scores obtained only after 48 h. The major value of this single easily obtainable and cheap parameter on admission lies in its high negative predictive value. In the absence of hemoconcentration, contrast-enhanced CT may be unnecessary on admission unless the patient does not improve.
Exploring concurrent auditory icon recognition

This poster explores and deepens existing studies into the identification of concurrently presented auditory icons. The motivation for this work was to gain a better understanding of auditory icons where several are played together simultaneously. A set of descriptors for everyday sounds were collected from participants and classified into action and object categories. The exploration considered the hypothesis that when auditory icons did not have the same object or action descriptors that the identifications of the auditory icons would improve. This was studied in conditions where three, six, and nine sounds were simultaneously presented. These conditions had two distinct sub-categories, the first category used a prior classification of sounds to ensure no sound pair in the condition had the same action or object properties. The second subcategory used random selection of the sounds meaning that similar sound could exist within the particular condition. A onset-to-onset gap of 300 ms between sounds being presented was used. The results supports earlier findings and showed that distinguishing between object and action properties of auditory icons did improve their identification accuracy. It was found that prior classification allows listeners to achieve close to a 10% identification improvement in accuracy.
Cystic lesions of the maxillomandibular region: MR imaging distinction of odontogenic keratocysts and ameloblastomas from other cysts.

OBJECTIVE Differentiating odontogenic keratocysts and ameloblastomas from other cystic lesions in the maxillomandibular region is important because of their high recurrence rates. Conventional radiography, CT, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy are limited for differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to review the MR findings in patients with odontogenic keratocysts, ameloblastomas, and other maxillomandibular cysts to determine the value of MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of these lesions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS MR images were obtained in 38 patients with 43 cystic lesions of the maxillomandibular region. All the lesions (19 odontogenic keratocysts, 11 ameloblastomas, five primordial cysts, five radicular cysts, and three cysts of other types) were pathologically confirmed by surgery or biopsy. Contrast-enhanced MR studies were performed in 34 patients. Images were reviewed to determine various imaging parameters: locularity, solid or cystic pattern, thickness and contrast enhancement of the walls, and homogeneity and signal intensities of the fluids. T2 relaxation times of cystic components were calculated in 31 lesions. RESULTS MR images of odontogenic keratocysts showed that the cyst were unilocular in 10 lesions and multilocular in nine. In 10 lesions the cysts wall was uniformly thin and had poor contrast enhancement. Seven cysts had thick walls and two had no definite walls. In 17 lesions, the cystic contents showed heterogeneous signal intensity on T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images, or both. Eight cysts had predominantly intermediate or high T1-weighted signal intensity, and six cysts had predominantly intermediate T2-weighted signal intensity. MR findings in ameloblastomas were different from those in odontogenic keratocysts: a mixed solid and cystic pattern (11 lesions), irregularly thick walls (11 lesions), papillary projections (seven lesions), and strong enhancement of solid components (nine lesions). T2 relaxation times of cystic components were significantly shorter in odontogenic keratocysts than in ameloblastomas, with no overlap. All other cysts showed a unilocular, purely cystic pattern, with homogeneous fluids, although the T2 relaxation times of four lesions overlapped those of odontogenic keratocysts. CONCLUSION From the MR findings of the walls, solid components, and the fluid contents, odontogenic keratocysts could be differentiated from ameloblastomas in all cases, although some other cysts showed MR findings similar to those of odontogenic keratocysts.
False belief understanding in Cantonese-speaking children

The present study investigates the performance of 96 Cantonese-speaking three- to five-year-old preschoolers on three false belief tasks – a deceptive object, a change of location, and an unexpected contents task encompassing a variety of task factors. Most importantly, the research examines the possibility that false belief performance depends on specific linguistic factors such as the type of verb used in the test question – an explicitly false vs. a neutral belief verb. Cantonese was chosen as particularly useful for examining this question because it explicitly codes belief status as either neutral (nam5) or false (ji5wai4), and because it offers additional linguistic and cultural contrasts to research conducted on false belief with children learning English and other Indo-European languages. As expected, a strong age effect was found, as well as a significant advantage for children who received the explicit false belief (ji5wai4) wording and for those who were asked to explain rather than predict the protagonist's actions. Interestingly, there was also a strong task difference with children performing better on the deceptive object task than on the other two false belief tasks. We argue that these results point both to universal trajectories in theory of mind development and to interesting, but localized, effects of language and culture on children's false belief understanding.
Cloning, expression and characterization of a family 48 exocellulase, Cel48A, from Thermobifida fusca.

The gene for a 104-kDa exocellulase, Cel48A, formerly E6, was cloned from Thermobifida fusca into Escherichia coli and Streptomyces lividans. The DNA sequence revealed a type II cellulose-binding domain at the N-terminus, followed by a FNIII-like domain and ending with a glycosyl hydrolase Family 48 catalytic domain. The enzyme and catalytic domain alone were each expressed in and purified from S. lividans and had very low catalytic activity on swollen cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, bacterial microcrystalline cellulose and filter paper. However, in synergistic assays on filter paper, the addition of Cel48A to a balanced mixture of T. fusca endocellulase and exocellulase increased the specific activity from 7.9 to 11.7 micromol cellobiose.min-1.mL-1, more than 15-fold higher than any single enzyme alone. Cel48A retained > 50% of its maximum activity from pH 5 to 9 and from 40 to 60 degrees C. Using SWISSMODEL, the amino-acid sequence of the Cel48Acd was modeled to the known structure of Clostridium cellulolyticum CelF. Family 48 enzymes are remarkably homologous at 35% identity for all their catalytic domains and some of the properties of the 10 members are discussed.
Associations with Intraocular pressure in the Barbados Eye Study

Objective: To evaluate the demographic, medical, ocular, familial, and other factors possibly associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) in a black population, after excluding persons with any type of glaucoma. Design: The Barbados Eye Study was a populationbased study of a random sample of residents of Barbados, West Indies, aged 40 to 84 years. Participants: A subset of the Barbados Eye Study population consisting of 3752 black Barbados Eye Study participants without glaucoma. Data Collection: A standardized protocol included applanation tonometry and other ocular data, blood pressure measurements, anthropometry, complexion pigmentation gradings, and a comprehensive interview. Main Outcome Measure: Intraocular pressure was based on the average of 3 measurements at the Barbados Eye Study visit. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate factors associated with IOP. Results: Systolic blood pressure (or hypertension), diabetes history, and age were the major factors positively associated with IOP ( P Conclusions: By identifying risk factors, these results define specific subgroups most likely to have an elevated IOP. The high IOP in this population may be linked to the high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Aside from age and a family history of glaucoma, none of the risk factors for high IOP evaluated in this study was similar to those associated with open-angle glaucoma.
Water disinfection with the hydrogen peroxide-ascorbic acid-copper (II) system

Treatment of secondary effluents with hydrogen peroxide (10 mg/liter)-ascorbic acid (10 mg/liter)-Cu2+ (0.5 mg/liter) for 60 min resulted in around 99% reduction of the initial plate count. Hydrogen peroxide could be replaced by other peroxygen compounds; ascorbic acid could be replaced by other reducing agents, of which sodium sulfite and ethanol were the most effective. Cu2+, however, could not be replaced by other metal ions without loss of bactericidal efficiency of the ternary combination. Enterobacteriaceae, total and fecal coliforms, staphylococci, and micrococci were reduced by 99.0 to 99.9%. Group D streptococci aerobic spores were reduced by 80 and 15%, respectively. Clostridium perfringens, yeasts, and molds were not killed by the disinfectant combinations. The effect of pH was only minor in the range from 6 to 7.5. At a higher pH value the bactericidal effects tended to decrease. The hydrogen peroxide-ascorbic acid-Cu2+ combination made it possible to obtain 99% reduction within 30 min. When using the hydrogen peroxide-sodium sulfite-Cu2+ or the hydrogen peroxide-ethanol-Cu2+ combinations, 60 min of contact time was necessary to obtain 99% reduction of the initial plate count. Cu2+ combined to an intermediate product of the ascorbic acid autoxidation is the toxic agent, and its penetration into the cell is promoted by hydrogen peroxide.
Breakdown and surface discharge involving PE/SiO2 nanocomposites

This work presents some electrical characterisation performed on nanocomposite materials. These compounds were obtained by the dispersion of inorganic nanoparticles into a matrix of High and Low Density Polyethylene (PE). The nanocomposites have been prepared by melt compounding using a twin screw extruder. The dielectric breakdown strength of the nanocomposites was investigated using AC progressive-stress tests at a rate of voltage increase of 500 V/s. Specimens were subjected to ageing under corona discharges using the standard electrode configuration of the CIGRE method II. The breakdown and the resistance to surface discharges in PE/SiO2 nanocomposites were studied.