Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Come engage with me: The role of behavioural and attitudinal cohort effects on academic's levels of engagement with industry

Stars in Their Eyes: the Impact of Group, Institutional and Discipline Norms on Academic Researchers Collaboration with Industry The decision to engage with industry remains an area of discretion for most academics: however, university researchers face strong group, institutional and disciplinebased norms to behave in a way which is consistent with their environment. These pressures come from different levels from their immediate peers, from their university, and from colleagues in their wider epistemic community. They also differ in nature. Group pressures arise from the desire to conform to norms and standards held in high regard within a group. Institutional pressures arise from the desire or obligation to conform to formal policies in order to ensure career advancement and sustainability, whereas pressure from the epistemic community is related to the need to share common values and attitudes towards the generation and distribution of knowledge. Moreover, the presence in the department of a star scientist with industrial collaboration activities may increase the likelihood of other researchers in the same department to also collaborate with private firms: stars can be seen as norm-givers and therefore they are able to shape their department s attitudes and hiring behaviours. To explore the impact of these different levels of pressure on academics collaboration activities with industrial partners, information is drawn from a rich dataset which includes two large-scale overlapping surveys of UK academics. The first round of the survey has been conducted in 2004 by D Este and Patel, while the second round of the survey has been conducted in the second half of 2009: 773 individuals answered both questionnaires. Each respondent has been linked to information gathered from additional datasets: Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) 2008 scores, data on universities funding sources collected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), data on grants awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the last 10 years (including grants awarded in partnership with private companies), ISIHighlyCited.com and data on scientific prizes and affiliation with prestigious societies, such as the Royal Society. Groups have been constructed based on the department affiliation, while epistemic communities comprise individuals listed in the same units of assessment of the RAE. Stars scientists have been identified as highly funded scientists (in the top 90th percentile of funding received), highly cited researchers (listed in ISIHighlyCited. com), recipients of scientific prizes (such as the Nobel Prize) or members of prestigious scientific societies. Data on collaboration activities have been extracted from the questionnaire: interactions are divided into several categories and respondents provided the frequency of engagement in each category of interaction during the
STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF RECOVERY IN PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA

The phagocytosis which occurs in the lungs of rats receiving sulfonamide is due neither to an opsonizing action of the sulfonamides nor to type-specific antibody. The evidence presented indicates that the destruction of the pneumococci is brought about by a phagocytic mechanism independent of both opsonization and capsular injury.
A Candidate Gene-Based Association Study of Tocopherol Content and Composition in Rapeseed (Brassica napus)

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is the most important oil crop of temperate climates. Rapeseed oil contains tocopherols, also known as vitamin E, which is an indispensable nutrient for humans and animals due to its antioxidant and radical scavenging abilities. Moreover, tocopherols are also important for the oxidative stability of vegetable oils. Therefore, seed oil with increased tocopherol content or altered tocopherol composition is a target for breeding. We investigated the role of nucleotide variations within candidate genes from the tocopherol biosynthesis pathway. Field trials were carried out with 229 accessions from a worldwide B. napus collection which was divided into two panels of 96 and 133 accessions. Seed tocopherol content and composition were measured by HPLC. High heritabilities were found for both traits, ranging from 0.62 to 0.94. We identified polymorphisms by sequencing selected regions of the tocopherol genes from the 96 accession panel. Subsequently, we determined the population structure (Q) and relative kinship (K) as detected by genotyping with genome-wide distributed SSR markers. Association studies were performed using two models, the structure-based GLM + Q and the PK-mixed model. Between 26 and 12 polymorphisms within two genes (BnaX.VTE3.a, BnaA.PDS1.c) were significantly associated with tocopherol traits. The SNPs explained up to 16.93% of the genetic variance for tocopherol composition and up to 10.48% for total tocopherol content. Based on the sequence information we designed CAPS markers for genotyping the 133 accessions from the second panel. Significant associations with various tocopherol traits confirmed the results from the first experiment. We demonstrate that the polymorphisms within the tocopherol genes clearly impact tocopherol content and composition in B. napus seeds. We suggest that these nucleotide variations may be used as selectable markers for breeding rapeseed with enhanced tocopherol quality.
Microscopy compared to culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in induced sputum samples: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Resource-limited settings rely on sputum examination using microscopy to diagnose tuberculosis (TB); however, the sensitivity of the test is poor and case detection rates are low. Sputum induction is proposed as a way to improve sample collection and enhance test sensitivity. OBJECTIVE To undertake a systematic review of studies comparing microscopy and culture sensitivity in induced sputum samples. METHODS We ran duplicate searches of databases (up to August 2011) and searchable websites of major human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and TB conferences (up to November 2010) to identify studies comparing the performance of microscopy compared to culture on induced sputum samples, with culture as the reference standard. RESULTS A total of 23 studies met our inclusion criteria. The overall success of the induction was high, ranging from 76.4% (95%CI 68.5-83.2) to 100% (95%CI 98.5-100), while adverse events associated with sputum induction were infrequent and mild. The sensitivity of microscopy compared to culture ranged from 0% to 100%; only eight studies reported on the species of mycobacterium isolated in culture. Yield was generally higher for sputum induction compared to nasopharyngeal aspiration and gastric lavage, and compared equally well to bronchoalveolar lavage and physiotherapy. DISCUSSION Sputum induction increases TB case detection and is useful for people who are negative on spontaneous smear microscopy or unable to expectorate spontaneously. It is well-tolerated by children and adults, irrespective of HIV status, and can be used where culture is not available. The use of induced sputum samples with molecular tests, such as Xpert(®) MTB/RIF, warrants further investigation.
Considerations for Implementing Precision Therapeutics for Children

Improving the utilization of pharmacologic agents in the pediatric population yields significant, perhaps life‐long, benefits. Genetic factors related to the disposition of a medication or an alteration at the target receptor site contributes to the observed variability of exposure and response between individuals. An additional source of this variability specific to the pediatric population is ontogeny, where age‐specific changes during development may require dose adjustments to obtain the same levels of drug exposure and response. With significant improvements in characterizing both the ontogeny and genetic contributions of drug metabolizing enzymes, the time is right to begin placing more emphasis on response rather than only the dose‐exposure relationship. The amount of drug target receptors and the relative affinity for binding at that target site may require different levels of systemic exposure to achieve a desired response. Concentration‐controlled studies can identify the needed exposure for a response at the drug target, the level of expression of the target site in an individual patient, and the tools required to individualize response. Although pediatrics represents a large spectrum of growth and development, developing tools to improve drug delivery for each individual patient across the spectrum of the ages treated by clinicians remains valuable.
Obtaining Actionable Inferences from Epidemiologic Actions.

Epidemiology is the science of population health. But what makes any discipline a science? Two key characteristics are often invoked to distinguish science from non-science: observation and experimentation. Scientific observation consists of carefully collecting data on features of the world and evaluating their relations. In contrast, experimentation involves active intervention and manipulation of these features to acquire knowledge of the world under well-controlled situations. At its best, science proceeds when both observation and experimentation are used in tandem. But this is not always possible, a fact which has long led to debate about their relative roles in generating scientific knowledge. Aspects of this debate have recently appeared in epidemiology, with questions about the causal status of exposures that are not subject to experimentation. Examples of “nonmanipulable exposures” include race, education, cholesterol (lowand high-density lipoproteins), and body mass and related measures (e.g., changes in body weight, body mass index, or obesity status). In this issue, Hutcheon et al re-evaluate the relation between pregnancy weight gain and fetal size. As is common, their fundamental question is whether this relation is “causal. ” To answer this question, they conduct a matched sibling comparison study, which offers the advantage of being able to control for potential confounders that remain constant between one pregnancy and the next. On the merits of this control, the authors suggest that their results “provide robust evidence that pregnancy weight gain has an effect on fetal growth . ”. Here, I articulate the challenges involved in determining whether the association between pregnancy weight gain and fetal size is “causal. ” Several issues can be clarified by framing the analysis as an ideal (hypothetical) randomized trial. Others can be clarified by highlighting practical consequences of our inability to change exposures that cannot be manipulated. I argue that, for an exposure that cannot (even in theory) be experimentally altered, confounding is a comparatively minor threat to the validity of a causal effect estimate. Ultimately, studying practical decisions we can make to optimize weight gain during
Analysis of Sex Determination in Some Cycads Using Methylation- Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP)

This is the first report on the analysis of sex determination in cycads using MSAP technique. Prior works using cytogenetic techniques, molecular markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) did not clearly identify sex in cycads. This modified AFLP technique using isochizomer enzyme (MspI and HpaII) called methylationsensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) was carried out to assess the pattern of cytosine methylation in both sexes of Cycas and Zamia. Using seven pairs of primers, 364 bands some of which showing sex-specific were produced and classified into three groups. The first group was non-polymorphic markers, whereas the second group was chosen from the results of differentation ability of MspI and HpaII to cut the methylated sequences, but sex-different markers were not obtained. Markers in the third group were methylation-sensitive and they also showed some polymorphic patterns between the two sexes. We suggested that sex in cycads may be associated with DNA methylation, but further study is required to reach a conclusive result.
Effects of Feeding Palm Kernel Cake with Crude Enzyme Supplementation on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chicken

Ingredients used in monogastric diet contain certain quantity of anti-nutritional factors, such as high fiber content in PKC, and complex carbohydrate in corn and soybean meal which cannot be degraded easily by poultry. Exogenous enzyme can be used to supplement enzymes available in the digestive tract of the birds to a certain level that is effective, or to provide hydrolytic capacity that is totally absent. The objective of this study was to study the effects of feeding Palm kernel cake with crude enzymes on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chicken. Four days solid state fermentation was conducted using Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus DSMZ 10248 as cellulolytic bacteria and palm kernel cake PKC as substrate, at different moisture ratio to produce enzymes. The enzymes produce were administered at different inclusion level into a broiler diet. A total of 252 male broilers were raised in a battery cage from day old to 42 days; 6 birds/cage. The birds were divided into 7 groups all the diet contains 15% PKC+corn and soybean meal. The dietary treatment consisted of: (i) Diet without enzyme (ii) Diet+0.1% commercial enzyme (iii) Diet+0.2% crude enzyme (iv) Diet+0.4% crude enzyme (v) Diet+0.6% crude enzyme (vi) Diet+0.8% crude enzyme (vii) Diet+1% crude enzyme. The result showed that higher body weight and feed intake were observed in group fed diet+1% crude enzyme, while lower body weight and feed intake were recorded in the control group. The findings of this research had showed that crude enzyme utilization on broiler diet improved growth performance of broiler chicken with little effects on meat quality, specifically pH, texture and color.
Magnetic Graphene Oxide Composites are the Solutions for Sustainable Remediation of Ecosystems

Heavy metals are one of the primary contaminants in the environment [1]. Exposure to heavy metals, even at trace levels, is believed to be a high health risk for humans [2,3]. Heavy metals are naturally occurring throughout the earth’s crust [4]. But most of the environmental contamination results from the anthropogenic activities such as mining and smelting operations, industry, and domestic and agricultural use of metals and metalcontaining compounds. Migration of these contaminants into non-contaminated areas as dust or leachates through the soil and spreading of heavy metals containing sewage sludge are a few examples of events contributing towards contamination of the ecosystems [5]. Hence, water is the one of the major routes through which heavy metals and radionuclides may enter the human body [6,7]. The sources of water pollution are shown in Figure 1. The conventional wastewater purification techniques including chemical coagulation, photo degradation, precipitation, flocculation, activated sludge, membrane separation and ion exchange are limited to the removal of heavy metals at trace levels [7-9]. However, adsorption is one of the best methods for the purification of water, owing to its low cost and easy handling of materials [7,10-12]. Moreover, adsorption approaches using commercial activated carbon, micro-filtration and membrane techniques are effective, but their use is limited by the complicated installation process involved coupled with the high maintenance costs of the systems [7,13]. Hence, these drawbacks have necessitated the search for an alternative method which is inexpensive, renewable and cost-effective for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Many scientific groups have prepared graphene or graphene oxide (GO) based hybrid nanocomposites for various potential applications [14-17]. The study of literature survey and stability of the GO-based nanocomposites prompted us to survey on graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide-based inverse spinel nickel ferrite nanocomposites for the removal of heavy metals and radionuclides from water with the purpose of reducing their environmental impact.
On-line learning of robot inverse kinematic transformations

Because of the learning and adaptive features, the computational, normally feedforward (static) neural networks have been used in robotics, particularly to obtain solutions to inverse kinematics problems. The procedure, in general, employs two modes of operation. The first mode is to train the network off-line, while the second mode achieves the tracking to a desired position within the task-space based on the trained data. However, the objective of this paper is to propose an online learning and adaptive scheme using a dynamic neural network. It is demonstrated in this paper that the proposed scheme, taking the desired Cartesian coordinates as the inputs, determines the robot joint angles and makes the robot reach the desired position, thereby achieving learning and performing actions together. The computer simulations are presented by approximating the human leg as a two-linked robot to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
OSACA: Découverte d'attributs symboliques ordinaux

Les bases de donnees dites heterogenes contiennent des donnees decrites par des attributsa la fois symboliques et numeriques. Cet article propose une methode, appelee OSACA, pour identifier, parmi les attributs symboliques, les attributs ordinaux, en exploitant les informations fournies par les attributs numeriques. Pour ce faire, OSACA procede en trois etapes : des motifs graduels sont d'abord extraits des attributs numeriques. Des filtres morphologiques sont ensuite appliques aux attributs symboliques pour determiner des ordres sur les valeurs categoriellesa partir de l'ordre induit par les motifs graduels. Enfin, une mesure d'entropie d'ordre per-met d'evaluer la pertinence des ordres candidats.
A MODIFIED APPROACH TO LOW POWER DIGITAL MODELING OF RECURSIVE FILTERS FOR ANALOG SIGNAL

The focus of this paper is towards the developing an application specific design methodology for low power solutions in recursive coding system in which filtration process is performed by using MAC approach. For the realization of this MAC operation a recursive multiplication and addition operation is carried out. The conventional recursion results in multiple accumulation operation in successive clocks of duration amounting to that of an addition-time, so that the accumulation of �� successive input words are performed in �� clock cycles. For large values of ��, a computational latency of ��addition-time over head and high power consumption and accumulation process to obtain an accumulated output could be too high to meet the timing requirement in real-time application. So in order to overcome this problem in this paper a new scalable Repetitive multiply accumulates (MACs) is proposed. From the simulation results the proposed MAC has less delay complexity and low power consumption when compared to the conventional approaches.
Myopic Loss Aversion, Asymmetric Correlations, and the Home Bias

Myopic loss aversion has been used to explain why a high equity premium might be consistent with plausible levels of risk aversion. The intuition is that it plays the role of high risk aversion in portfolio choice. But if so, should these agents not perceive larger gains from international diversification than standard preference agents with realistic levels of risk aversion? They might not because stock market returns are asymmetrically correlated. We analyze the portfolio problem of a myopic loss averse investor who has to choose between home and foreign equities in the presence of asymmetrically correlated returns. Perhaps surprisingly, depending on the horizon, this investor behaves similarly to one with standard preferences in the context of the home bias puzzle
Sae2/CtIP prevents R-loop accumulation in eukaryotic cells

The Sae2/CtIP protein is required for efficient processing of DNA double-strand breaks that initiate homologous recombination in eukaryotic cells. Sae2/CtIP is also important for survival of single-stranded Top1-induced lesions and CtIP is known to associate directly with transcription-associated complexes in mammalian cells. Here we investigate the role of Sae2/CtIP at single-strand lesions in budding yeast and in human cells and find that depletion of Sae2/CtIP promotes the accumulation of stalled RNA polymerase and RNA-DNA hybrids at sites of highly expressed genes. Overexpression of the RNA-DNA helicase Senataxin suppresses DNA damage sensitivity and R-loop accumulation in Sae2/CtIP-deficient cells, and a catalytic mutant of CtIP fails to complement this sensitivity, indicating a role for CtIP nuclease activity in the repair process. Based on this evidence, we propose that R-loop processing by 5’ flap endonucleases is a necessary step in the stabilization and removal of nascent R-loop initiating structures in eukaryotic cells.
Microwave to near-infrared conversion with a millimeter-scale wireless laser for activating molecular transducers

Light-activated molecular transducers enable precise manipulation of biological processes and are thus powerful tools for studying or treating disease. Their use in vivo, however, is currently limited by the low penetration of light through biological tissue. While electromagnetic fields at microwave frequencies can penetrate thick tissue, they do not provide direct control over molecular transducers. Here, we describe a miniaturized, wirelessly powered laser capable of delivering high intensity near-infrared light in tissue. The device is about 2.5 mm in the largest dimension, weighs less than 30 mg, and can be wirelessly powered through >1 cm of tissue. This device could be used in emerging bioelectronics-based treatments that combine the precision of light with the penetration depth of microwaves.
Disseminated Prostate Cancer Cells Can Instruct Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells to Regulate Bone Phenotype

Prostate cancer metastases and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) frequently home to the bone marrow, where they compete to occupy the same HSC niche. We have also shown that under conditions of hematopoietic stress, HSCs secrete the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 and BMP-6 that drives osteoblastic differentiation from mesenchymal precursors. As it is not known, we examined whether metastatic prostate cancer cells can alter regulation of normal bone formation by HSCs and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). HSC/HPCs isolated from mice bearing nonmetastatic and metastatic tumor cells were isolated and their ability to influence osteoblastic and osteoclastic differentiation was evaluated. When the animals were inoculated with the LNCaP C4-2B cell line, which produces mixed osteoblastic and osteolytic lesions in bone, HPCs, but not HSCs, were able to induced stromal cells to differentiate down an osteoblastic phenotype. Part of the mechanism responsible for this activity was the production of BMP-2. On the other hand, when the animals were implanted with PC3 cells that exhibits predominantly osteolytic lesions in bone, HSCs derived from these animals were capable of directly differentiating into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts through an interleukin-6–mediated pathway. These studies for the first time identify HSC/HPCs as novel targets for future therapy involved in the bone abnormalities of prostate cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 10(3); 282–92. ©2012 AACR.