Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two orders of magnitude enhancement in oxygen evolution reactivity on amorphous Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ nanofilms with tunable oxidation state

A novel strategy to tweak the oxygen evolution activity of nanofilms by exploiting the film-substrate redox interaction. Perovskite oxides exhibit potential for use as electrocatalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, their low specific surface area is the main obstacle to realizing a high mass-specific activity that is required to be competitive against the state-of-the-art precious metal–based catalysts. We report the enhanced performance of Ba0.5Sr0. 5Co0.8Fe0. 2O3−δ (BSCF) for the OER with intrinsic activity that is significantly higher than that of the benchmark IrO2, and this result was achieved via fabrication of an amorphous BSCF nanofilm on a surface-oxidized nickel substrate by magnetron sputtering. The surface nickel oxide layer of the Ni substrate and the thickness of the BSCF film were further used to tune the intrinsic OER activity and stability of the BSCF catalyst by optimizing the electronic configuration of the transition metal cations in BSCF via the interaction between the nanofilm and the surface nickel oxide, which enables up to 315-fold enhanced mass-specific activity compared to the crystalline BSCF bulk phase. Moreover, the amorphous BSCF–Ni foam anode coupled with the Pt–Ni foam cathode demonstrated an attractive small overpotential of 0.34 V at 10 mA cm−2 for water electrolysis, with a BSCF loading as low as 154.8 μg cm−2.
Somebody'S Daughter: The Domestic Trafficking of Girls for the Commercial Sex Industry and the Power of Love

In recent years, there has been much media attention and increased law reform efforts to address the phenomenon of the international trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation. In contrast to international trafficking, however, we know very little about, and have done almost nothing to address, domestic trafficking since the passage of the Mann Act in 1910. This article explores the domestic trafficking of girls for the commercial sex industry. It argues that the motives as to why girls end up in the sex industry is often misunderstood. The domestic trafficking of girls is symptomatic of a much larger problem in American life and politics. Much of the feminist-inspired literature on children and the sex industry has been enormously helpful in identifying the many ways in which girls, and increasingly boys, are exploited. But it also has had the tendency to ignore the fact that path leading from bad boyfriend to self-medication, to addiction, to turning tricks, and, in some cases, to death, is paved with hope that she will one day find love in a good man.
Development of a Population-based Questionnaire to Explore Psychosocial Determinants of Screening for Memory Loss and Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease research has focused on detecting the earliest signs of cognitive decline and efforts are ongoing to develop biomarkers and cognitive measures that reliably distinguish between nondemented and demented individuals. However, little is known about factors that may directly or indirectly influence screening behavior of older community-dwelling adults. We describe an iterative process for the development and formative evaluation of a questionnaire about dementia knowledge and screening behaviors in older adults to understand the psychosocial factors underlying intention to obtain dementia screening to profile individuals manifesting intention to undergo dementia screening compared to those who will not. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used as a conceptual framework for a questionnaire with constructs from the Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action and Self-Efficacy. After pretesting, we used a random dialing strategy to test our questionnaire on a final sample of 1024 older Missourians. Internal consistency and construct validity were examined. Pretesting identified several potential problems that were improved with rewording. Cronbach α was greater than 0.6 (range 0.62 to 0.92) in all but one construct testing dementia knowledge, suggesting good to excellent internal consistency. Convergent (construct) validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. All constructs but 3 demonstrated good validity. Addressing these issues will allow researchers to identify unique characteristics based on age, race, sex, socioeconomic differences and geographic location, and characterize barriers to screening programs to more effectively develop targeted community-based interventions.
Production of Sonali chicken in selected areas of Gazipur district - an economic study

This study attempts to conduct an economic analysis and resource use efficiency for Sonali chicken production covering five villages of Sadar Upazila under Gazipur district. Primary data were collected from 60 purposively selected Sonali chicken rearers for this study. Descriptive and functional analysis were employed to achieve the objectives of the study. The major findings of the study are that total cost for 1000 birds were estimated at Tk. 120613 per batch. Average gross margin and average net returns for 1000 birds was calculated at Tk. 57240 and Tk. 52059 per batch. An average gross return for 1000 birds was estimated at Tk. 172672 per batch. Benefit cost ratio was found 1.4 for Sonali chicken production. Labour, veterinary and medicine and electricity cost had positive and significant impact on Sonali chicken production. Resource use efficiency was calculated by the ratio of marginal value product and marginal factor cost. Finally, the study also identified some of the major problems associated with Sonali chicken farming and suggested some possible steps for overcoming these problems. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjas.v43i1. 19386 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (1): 56-61
The Need for a More Serious Effort to Rescue a Few Fragments of Vanishing Nature

N these days of anxiety and suffering, when large populaI tions are on the verge of starvation, and revolution threatens us within our own gates, it might not seem especially opportune to urge the claims of any movement not immediately concerned with the welfare and safety of mankind. This is perhaps particularly true of any proposal to render unavailable for human consumption considerable fragments of what we are wont to term our "natural resources. " Indeed, the most plausible objection on the part of those who are engaged in the commercialistic exploitation of these resources, would be this one, that everything in the world must be made of some " use " to humanity. Such talk seems to breathe of the spirit of altruism, and it also harmonizes very well with the dominant utilitarianism of the day. And so it comes about that most of the "conservation" which is being preached in these days is the conservation of our resources, of our coal and our lumber and our water-power and our fisheries and what not. Heaven knows that all these belated reforms are necessary enough. But there is another sort of conservation which has thus far received utterly inadequate attention. I refer to the conservation of nature-nature as a source of scientific knowledge and of the highest esthetTh enjoyment of mankind. Some of you will think at once of our National Parks and our National Forests, of our Audubon Societies and our gamelaws, and will conclude that the needs which I speak of have already been sufficiently well provided for. I have little doubt that a large proportion of even that small minority who have any real interest in the preservation of nature and of wild life soothe themselves with this reflection that the existing agencies are quite adequate for the purpose. We can not give too high praise to those individuals and
The Intergovernmental Regime and Public Policy in Hartford, Connecticut

Regime theorists have not included state government as a member of urban governing coalitions even though governors and state legislatures have the constitutional authority and fiscal resources that can facilitate local governance. In this research, I analyze economic development and education policies in Hartford, Connecticut to illustrate that the governor is a leader of Hartford’s regime. Like other regime actors, the governor provides selective inducements to other coalition members to gain support for his policies. The Hartford regime came to include the governor because the city lost much of its business and political leadership, and management and accountability problems crippled public policy. Because governors have the capacity to act as a powerful regime partner, it is important to study the effect they have on urban governance.
Microball bearing technology for MEMS devices and integrated microsystems

This paper presents a comprehensive review of microball bearing technology over the past eleven years. The design considerations and performance results of devices utilizing this type of microfabricated bearings are presented. Investigations on bearing tribology are also reported, specifically discussing the adhesion-dominated friction and wear regimes observed in rotary micromachines. As microsystem engineering progresses towards more heterogeneous and hybrid structures, microball bearing technology is expected to have a pivotal impact in broad transducing and packaging applications.
Efficiency Wage Models of the Labor Market

One of the more troubling aspects of the ferment in macroeconomics that followed the demise of the Keynesian dominance in the late 1960s has been the inability of many of the new ideas to account for unemployment remains unexplained because equilibrium in most economic models occurs with supply equal to demand: if this equality holds in the labor market, there is no involuntary unemployment. Efficiency Wage Models of the Labor Market explores the reasons why there are labor market equilibria with employers preferring to pay wages in excess of the market-clearing wage and thereby explains involuntary unemployment. This volume brings together a number of the important articles on efficiency wage theory. The collection is preceded by a strong, integrative introduction, written by the editors, in which the hypothesis is set out and the variations, as described in subsequent chapters, are discussed.
Water Markets and Decentralized Water Resources Management: International Problems and Opportunities

: Because of its importance and the perceived inability of private sector sources to meet water demands, many countries have depended on the public sector to provide water services for their populations. Yet this has resulted in many inefficient public water projects and in inadequate supplies of good quality and reliable water. Decentralization of water management, including the use of water markets, cannot solve all of these water problems, but it can improve the efficiency of water allocation. When given adequate responsibility and authority, water user associations have effectively taken over water management activities at a savings to tax payers. Moreover, water markets add the potential benefit of improving water efficiency within a sector as well as providing a mechanism for reallocating water among sectors. The key question involves developing innovative mechanisms for reducing the transaction costs of organizing water users and of making water trades. Water rights need to be established which are recorded, tradable, enforceable, and separate from land if markets are to operate effectively. Also, institutions are needed that effectively resolve conflicts over water rights, including third party impacts and water quality concerns.
Effects of vitamin D in lung, stomach, esophagus and testis tissues following administration of urethane in balb/c mice.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the role of vitamin D in the histopathological alterations process and K-ras gene mutation exon 1 of tissues including lung, stomach, esophagus, and testis, by the administration of urethane. METHODS An experimental study in inbred balb/c mice aged 9-11 weeks was designed. This investigation was performed from 2003 to 2005 in the Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. The samples were classified into 3 groups: the urethane group was characterized by intraperitoneal injection of 3 times urethane (600 mg/kg/day at 48 hour intervals). The second group U+D was given 3.5 mg/kg (6.3 mg/1000 ml) vitamin D in the drinking water for 4 weeks following the same intake of urethane as the first group, and the third one was the control group. All mice were sacrificed after 20 weeks, tissues were removed and examined for histopathological changes and mutations in the exon 1 of the K-ras gene. RESULTS Thirty mice were studied. The formation of lung tumor was, significantly, increased in the urethane group as compared with the control group (p<0.005), however, such a difference was not found in the U+D and control groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between all groups in other examined tissues. There was no mutation in the exon 1 of K-ras gene of the lung adenomas, adenocarcinomas, and stomach metaplasia. CONCLUSION Our results showed the anti-tumorigenic effect of vitamin D3 in lung tumors induced by urethane. Vitamin D may reduce the risks of a tumorigenic diet that includes high fermented foods and beverages that produce urethane in their process.
Higher Order Moments of Error Rates of Digital Modulations

Statistics of the conditional error rates of digital modulations over fading channels are considered. The probability density function and the higher order moments of the conditional error rates are obtained using the Prony approximation. For a Ricean distributed channel fading amplitude at the detector input, non-monotonic behavior of the moments of the conditional bit error rates versus some channel model parameters is observed. Furthermore, the Bollinger bands for the first order non-central moment of the conditional bit error rate are obtained as an application of the second order moment of the conditional bit error rate. Our results indicate that, in line-of-sight communications links, smaller transmission powers can be used to reduce the average bit error rate as well as to reduce the variance of the conditional bit error rate.
Risk management and regulations for lower limb medical exoskeletons: a review

Gait disability is a major health care problem worldwide. Powered exoskeletons have recently emerged as devices that can enable users with gait disabilities to ambulate in an upright posture, and potentially bring other clinical benefits. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration approved marketing of the ReWalk™ Personal Exoskeleton as a class II medical device with special controls. Since then, Indego™ and Ekso™ have also received regulatory approval. With similar trends worldwide, this industry is likely to grow rapidly. On the other hand, the regulatory science of powered exoskeletons is still developing. The type and extent of probable risks of these devices are yet to be understood, and industry standards are yet to be developed. To address this gap, Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience, Clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed databases were searched for reports of adverse events and inclusion and exclusion criteria involving the use of lower limb powered exoskeletons. Current inclusion and exclusion criteria, which can determine probable risks, were found to be diverse. Reported adverse events and identified risks of current devices are also wide-ranging. In light of these findings, current regulations, standards, and regulatory procedures for medical device applications in the USA, Europe, and Japan were also compared. There is a need to raise awareness of probable risks associated with the use of powered exoskeletons and to develop adequate countermeasures, standards, and regulations for these human-machine systems. With appropriate risk mitigation strategies, adequate standards, comprehensive reporting of adverse events, and regulatory oversight, powered exoskeletons may one day allow individuals with gait disabilities to safely and independently ambulate.
Generation and Maturation of Dendritic Cells for Clinical Application Under Serum-Free Conditions

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) in clinical use for cancer immunotherapy are ideally generated in serum-free medium (SFM) with inclusion of a suitable maturation factor toward the end of the incubation period. Three good manfacturing practice (GMP) grade SFMs (AIM-V, X-VIVO 15, and X-VIVO 20) were compared with RPMI-1640, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum or 10% human serum. DCs generated for 7 days in SFM were less mature and secreted less interleukin (IL) 12p70 and IL-10 than DCs generated in 10% serum. DC yield was comparable in SFMs, and a greater proportion of cells was viable after maturation. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands were compared for their ability to induce cytokine secretion under serum-free conditions in the presence of interferon (IFN) γ. With the exception of Poly I:C, TLR ligands stimulated high levels of IL-10 secretion. High levels of IL-12p70 were induced by two TLR4-mediated stimuli, lipopolysaccharide and Ribomunyl, a clinical-grade bacterial extract. When T-cell responses were compared in allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction, DCs stimulated with Ribomunyl induced higher levels of IFNγ than DCs stimulated with the cytokine cocktail: tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2. In the presence of IL-10 neutralizing antibodies, DC IL-12p70 production and T-cell IFNγ were increased in vitro. Similarly, DCs stimulated with Ribomunyl, IFNγ, and anti-IL-10 induced high levels of tetanus toxoid-specific T-cell proliferation and IFNγ secretion. Thus, MoDCs generated in SFM efficiently stimulate T-cell IFNγ production after maturation in the presence of a clinical-grade TLR4 agonist and IL-10 neutralization.
CONSISTENT USE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE HIGHLY MAGNIFIED BY GALAXY CLUSTERS TO CONSTRAIN THE COSMOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

We discuss how Type Ia supernovae (SNe) strongly magnified by foreground galaxy clusters should be self-consistently treated when used in samples fitted for the cosmological parameters. While the cluster lens magnification of a SN can be well constrained from sets of multiple images of various background galaxies with measured redshifts, its value is typically dependent on the fiducial set of cosmological parameters used to construct the mass model. In such cases, one should not naively demagnify the observed SN luminosity by the model magnification into the expected Hubble diagram, which would create a bias, but instead take into account the cosmological parameters a priori chosen to construct the mass model. We quantify the effect and find that a systematic error of typically a few percent, up to a few dozen percent per magnified SN may be propagated onto a cosmological parameter fit unless the cosmology assumed for the mass model is taken into account (the bias can be even larger if the SN is lying very near the critical curves). We also simulate how such a bias propagates onto the cosmological parameter fit using the Union2.1 sample supplemented with strongly magnified SNe. The resulting bias on the deduced cosmological parameters is generally at the few percent level, if only few biased SNe are included, and increases with the number of lensed SNe and their redshift. Samples containing magnified Type Ia SNe, e.g., from ongoing cluster surveys, should readily account for this possible bias.
The Ardipithecus ramidus Skull and Its Implications for Hominid Origins

The highly fragmented and distorted skull of the adult skeleton ARA-VP-6/500 includes most of the dentition and preserves substantial parts of the face, vault, and base. Anatomical comparisons and micro–computed tomography–based analysis of this and other remains reveal pre-Australopithecus hominid craniofacial morphology and structure. The Ardipithecus ramidus skull exhibits a small endocranial capacity (300 to 350 cubic centimeters), small cranial size relative to body size, considerable midfacial projection, and a lack of modern African ape–like extreme lower facial prognathism. Its short posterior cranial base differs from that of both Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus. Ar. ramidus lacks the broad, anteriorly situated zygomaxillary facial skeleton developed in later Australopithecus. This combination of features is apparently shared by Sahelanthropus, showing that the Mio-Pliocene hominid cranium differed substantially from those of both extant apes and Australopithecus.
Peers and adolescent smoking.

There is a considerable body of empirical research that has identified adolescent peer relationships as a primary factor involved in adolescent cigarette smoking. Despite this large research base, many questions remain unanswered about the mechanisms by which peers affect youths' smoking behavior. Understanding these processes of influence is key to the development of prevention and intervention programs designed to address adolescent smoking as a significant public health concern. In this paper, theoretical frameworks and empirical findings are reviewed critically which inform the current state of knowledge regarding peer influences on teenage smoking. Specifically, social learning theory, primary socialization theory, social identity theory and social network theory are discussed. Empirical findings regarding peer influence and selection, as well as multiple reference points in adolescent friendships, including best friendships, romantic relationships, peer groups and social crowds, are also reviewed. Review of this work reveals the contribution that peers have in adolescents' use of tobacco, in some cases promoting use, and in other cases deterring it. This review also suggests that peer influences on smoking are more subtle than commonly thought and need to be examined more carefully, including consideration of larger social contexts, e.g. the family, neighborhood, and media. Recommendations for future investigations are made, as well as suggestions for specific methodological approaches that offer promise for advancing our knowledge of the contribution of peers on adolescent tobacco use.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the second commonest form of heart muscle disease affecting children and adolescents and is a leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. The aetiology of HCM is heterogeneous in the paediatric population, and includes inborn errors of metabolism, neuromuscular disorders and malformation syndromes. However, most cases of apparently idiopathic HCM in childhood are caused by mutations in cardiac sarcomere protein genes. Patients with metabolic or syndromic HCM usually present in infancy or early childhood, whereas those with neuromuscular disorders are more frequently diagnosed in adolescence. The diagnosis of HCM in infants is often made during evaluation for a heart murmur or congestive heart failure. Older children are usually referred for evaluation of symptoms, electrocardiographic abnormalities or heart murmur, or for family screening following the diagnosis of HCM in a relative. Risk stratification in the paediatric population remains a challenge. As most cases of HCM are familial, evaluation of first-degree relatives and other family members at risk of inheriting the disease should be a routine component of clinical management.