Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Airborne Metal Pollution near Selected Iron and Steelmaking Industrial Areas in China

ABSTRACT Toxic metals in particulate matter pose a significant health risk to humans via inhalation and dermal exposure. Additionally, airborne pollution has negative impacts on terrestrial and aquatic quality as a result of atmospheric deposition. Iron and steelmaking industry is considered as a major contributor to airborne metal pollution. Given that China has been the largest steel producer and consumer since 1996, a detailed investigation of airborne metal pollution is required to assess the potential risks to both human health and ecosystem quality near iron and steelmaking areas in China. This study applied an environmental impact assessment approach to evaluate the freshwater ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity and human toxicity caused by metal concentrations in PM1.1, PM1.1-2.1 and PM2.1-9.0 fractions. Results showed that heavy metals Cu and Zn associated with steelmaking activities were largely responsible for aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicity. This study also found that As and Pb contamination presented the largest fraction of the impacts on human toxicity. Findings presented in this study showed that more stringent control measures are required to improve the environmental performance of the iron and steelmaking industries in China.
The Effect of Antiplatelet Medications on Innate Immune Activation

Objective - Clinical studies suggest that platelet P2Y12 inhibitors reduce mortality from sepsis, although the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly defined in vivo. We hypothesized that P2Y12 inhibitors may improve survival from sepsis by suppressing systemic inflammation and its prothrombotic effects. We therefore determined whether clopidogrel and the novel, more potent P2Y12 inhibitor, ticagrelor, modify these responses in an experimental human model. Approach and Results - We randomized 30 healthy volunteers to ticagrelor (n=10), clopidogrel (n=10) or no antiplatelet medication (controls; n=10). We examined the effect of P2Y12 inhibition on systemic inflammation, which was induced by intravenous injection of E.coli endotoxin. Both P2Y12 inhibitors significantly reduced platelet-monocyte aggregate formation and peak levels of major pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα, IL-6 and CCL2. In contrast to clopidogrel, ticagrelor also significantly reduced peak levels of IL-8 and G-CSF and increased peak levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, ticagrelor altered leukocyte trafficking. Both P2Y12 inhibitors suppressed D-dimer generation and scanning electron microscopy revealed that ticagrelor also suppressed prothrombotic changes in fibrin clot ultrastructure. Conclusions – Potent inhibition of multiple inflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms by P2Y12 inhibitors demonstrates critical importance of platelets as central orchestrators of systemic inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxin. This provides novel mechanistic insight into the lower mortality associated with P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with sepsis in clinical studies.
A cross-sectional study on interference control: age affects reactive control but not proactive control

Background Working memory updating (WMU), a controlled process to continuously adapt to the changing task demand and environment, is crucial for cognitive executive function. Although previous studies have shown that the elderly were more susceptible to cognitive interference than the youngsters, the picture of age-related deterioration of WMU is incomplete due to lack of study on people at their middle ages. Thus, the present study investigated the impact of age on the WMU among adults by a cross-sectional design to verify whether inefficiency interference control accounts for the aging of WMU. Methods In total, 112 healthy adults were recruited for this study; 28 old adults (21 female) ranging from 60 to 78 years of age; 28 middle-age adults (25 female) ranging from 45 to 59 years of age; 28 adults (11 female) ranging from 26 to 44 years of age; and 28 young adults (26 female) ranging from 18 to 25 years of age. Each participant completed a 1-back task. The inverse efficiency score was calculated in various sequences of three trials in a row to quantify the performance of WMU for adults of various ages. Results Inverse efficiency score of both young groups (young adult and adult) were significantly shorter than the old group in both Repeat-Alternate (RA, including □□○ and ○○□) and Alternate-Alternate (AA, including ○□○ and □○□) sequential patterns and they were additionally better than the middle-age group in AA sequential pattern. Conclusion With the increase of difficulty in the task, the difference in reactive interference control between young and middle age was gradually revealed, while the difference between young and old remained to apparent. The degradation of WMU aging may begin from middle-age and presents selective impairment in that only reactive interference control, but not proactive interference control, shows pronounced age-related decline. The preliminary results can inform future studies to further explore the whole lifespan trajectories of cognitive functions.
Development and characterization of Telmisartan self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for bioavailability enhancement

Telmisartan is a potent, long-lasting, nonpeptide antagonist of the angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) receptor that is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension. It belongs to a class II drug in BCS classification i.e. low solubility and high permeability. One of the major problems with this drug is its low solubility in biological fluids which results into poor bioavailability after oral administration. The objective of present work was to develop a self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble Telmisartan. SMEDDS is a mixture of oil, surfactant, and cosurfactant, which are emulsified in aqueous medium under gentle digestive motility in the gastrointestinal tract. Psuedoternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the efficient self-emulsifying region. A SMEDDS were further evaluated for its percentage transmittance, emulsification time, drug content, phase separation, globule size, zeta potential, pH, refractive index, X-ray diffraction, Differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro dissolution studies. Optimized formulation was also compared with marketed product (Telma 20) in male spraguedawley rats. The pharmacokinetic study exhibited 1.54 fold increase in the oral bioavailability of Telmisartan SMEDDS compared with the Marketed product.
Effect of Foot Reflexology on Constipation in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of conditions that affect control of movement and posture. Gastrointestinal problems in particular have a deteriorating effect on the daily life of affected children. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in children with Cerebral Palsy Aim: was to determine the effect of foot reflexology on constipation in children with cerebral palsy. Settings: The study was conducted at the Outpatient Neurology Clinic at Alexandria University Childrens’ Hospital and Natural Medicine and Rheumatism and Medical Rehabilitation Department at El-Shatby in Alexandria. Subjects: convenience sampling of 70 children with Cerebral Palsy. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection. The first tool was Socio demographic and medical history record of children with Cerebral Palsy. The second tool was Modified Constipation Assessment Scale (MCAS). Results: Findings of the present study revealed that the majority of children with cerebral palsy bowel habits improved after reflexology sessions. The finding also revealed that, the difference was statistically significant among study and control groups. Conclusion: From the results of the study, it was concluded that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology exhibit improvement in their bowel functions.
The Language of Earnings Announcements

This study quantifies and characterizes the information content of earnings announcement language via a statistical model of language that extracts the latent factors most associated with absolute returns around the time earnings announcements are released. The language of earnings announcements explains 11% of the variation in absolute announcement returns out-of-sample. That is comparable to the explanatory power of standard numerical variables. Using the latent factors to recover the features that are important, we show that the information content depends on what is mentioned, how it is mentioned, and where in a document it is mentioned. Findings show that earnings components are more important than bottom line net income. Sentiment and forward-lookingness amplify the information content of all themes, and information content is more concentrated at the beginnings of texts. ∗Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. Email: vitaly.meursault@gmail.com. I thank my advisor, Bryan Routledge for the mentorship, Chester Spatt, Dokyun Lee, and Stephen Karolyi for their advice; and Madeline Scanlon and Eric Lu for their support. All errors are my own. This work used the Bridges system, which is supported by NSF award number ACI-1445606, at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) (Nystrom et al. 2015). I gratefully acknowledge the support by PSC staff members Tom Maiden and Rick Costa.
Integrated Spatially Coupled Lock-in Amplifier Array for Low SNR Imagers

Our work addresses the limiting factors in the very low signal-to-noise (SNR) imaging solutions. The considered systems recognize the extensive importance of the modulated detection and usually degrading optical system characteristics – such as in the field of THz imaging. In this article we analyze the opportunity of improving imaging quality by spatio-temporally coupled lock-in amplifier array with embedded SNR enhancement in physically realizable form.
Investigating methods of pulsar detection in radio continuum surveys using the Australian Square Kilometer Array Path nder

The vast majority of pulsars so far discovered have been found using concentional single-antenna searching techniques. These techniques are often not sensitive to speci c types of pulsar, such as millisecond pulsars or pulsars in fast binaries. An alternative approach is to try detecting pulsars in radio continuum surveys, but with the exception of a few notable cases, the majority of previous attempts using this method have been unsuccesful. However, the few pulsars succesfully detected via this method have been of high scienti c interest, and with the rapid approach of the new and powerful instruments such as the Australian Square Kilometer Array Path nder (ASKAP), which will be conducting new, highly sensitive radio continuum surveys with wide sky coverage, there is reason to pursue methods of pulsar detection in radio continuum. In this thesis, we present an investigation into these methods, presented in two parts. The rst of these details the investigation of a selection of infrared-faint radio sources (IFRS), detected in radio continuum as part of the Australia Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS) as to their possible identity as pulsars, and concludes with a non-detection of any pulsars. The second section investigates in further detail the suitability of the values of spectral index, fractional linear polarisation and fractional circular polarisation as means by which pulsar candidates can be selected from two of the the radio continuum surveys to be performed on ASKAP, EMU and POSSUM. It is concluded that of these candidate criteria, only circular polarisation presents any real prospect for future application in detecting pulsars in radio continuum.
XPS and optical studies of different morphologies of ZnO nanostructures prepared by microwave methods

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures of various morphologies were prepared using a microwave-assisted aqueous solution method. Herein, a comparative study between three different morphologies of ZnO nanostructures, namely nanoparticles (NPs), nanoflowers (NFs) and nanorods (NRs) has been reviewed and presented. The morphologies of the prepared powders have been studied using field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results prove that ZnO nanorods have biggest crystallite size compared with nanoflowers and nanoparticles. The texture coefficient (Tc) of three morphologies has been calculated. The Tc changed with varying morphology. A comparative study of surfaces of NPs, NFs and NRs were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The possible growth mechanisms of ZnO NPs, NFs and NRs have been described. The optical properties of the ZnO nanostructures of various morphologies have been investigated and showed that the biggest crystallite size of ZnO nanostructures has lowest band gap energy. The obtained results are in agreement with experimental and theoretical data of other researchers. Crown Copyright & 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r. l. All rights reserved.
Methods of forming leadership life of young people as a prerequisite for continuous education

In this article the author examines a possibility of motivation of the personality of a young human to continuous education through forming and development of leader qualities. Leader positions of young people are instrumental in bringing a human in the permanent update of knowledges and processing of a large array of information, in fact leadership, as well as professional skills needs permanent self-development for constancy in firmness of the position and dynamics in the practical application of the noted quality. We examine the leading mechanism of acquisition of leader qualities as a pre-condition of continuity of education of young people through the glass of psychological and pedagogical active, creative methods, each of which provides the proper stage of development of high-quality leadership. The author accents attention on continuous education as on the method of maintainance, development of national cultures and also values, common to all mankind. Many problems, appeared in Ukraine, are a result of impudence and indifference of habitants. And unfortunately, today there is a considerable part of young people, indifferent to the events which take place, including through ignorance, without a regard to large possibilities of modern technologies. Such leading methods as: training, creation of hubs, application of workshops, methods «Six hat», «World cafe», «Hamburger», and also: e-learning, m-learning, u-learning, change of workings areas, inverted class, autonomous group are examined; the necessity of creation of youth schools of the innovative character as «Youth schools of social activity» is grounded Except for it, the author accents attention on the importance of creation of the modern public space (platforms) for increasing the general level of educational and social activity of habitants of the correspondent region, on which innovative technologies of social formation and development of an active position of young people are directed in accordance with the European standards through the use and addition of the human capital. In the article there are examined values of forming and development of talents of leadership in a rural locality in particular, taking into account the local features of development of a region, categories of children, their interests and absence or presence of resources for self-realization of our children. A complexity and systematic character of co-operation of such mechanisms allows to get a practical result and provide a high-quality pre-condition to the motivational process of continuous formation of a personality as a basis of safety direction of the country. In the context of continuity of the educational process, the labor potential realization increases, the likelihood of gaining new luck in the professional experience and advanced training increases, that in its turn reduce migration processes. And the author offers the continuity of education through the formation and development of leadership
Employee Performance and Their Organizational Commitment In Relation To HRM Practices: A Literature Review

In today’s competitive and rapidly changing business world, organizations especially in the service industry need to ensure maximum utilization of their resources to their own advantage; a necessity for organizational survival. This has increased the need for organizations to not only improve the way they deliver services but also to examine their practices, organization mission and goals, performance objectives and performance measures. Human resource management practices has the ability to create organizations that are more intelligent, flexible and competent than their rivals through the application of policies and practices that concentrate on recruiting, selecting, training skilled employees and directing their best efforts to cooperate within the resource bundle of the organization. The paper examines previous literature through secondary sources in different organizations.
Bioactivity Behaviour of Osteoblasts on Commercially Pure Titanium with TiO2-ZrO2 Nanocomposite Mixture Coating

This study aims to improve the bioactivity response of osteoblasts attachment and proliferation on commercial pure titanium surface by the mixture of nanocomposite coating material of 70% TiO2 (rutile 10-30 nm, Sky Spring Nanomaterials, USA) and 30% ZrO2 (20-30 nm, Sky Spring Nanomaterials, USA). This may increase the likelihood of developing the modified implant surface by electrophoretic deposition and the dipping methods of nanocomposite mixture to enhance the surface bioactivity and promote bone formation. Three groups of commercially pure titanium: one uncoated group and two coated groups with nanocomposite mixture of different coating techniques; one group for electro photic deposition technique (EPD); and one group for dip technique. The bioactivity evaluation of cell cultures, isolation of osteoblast cells from calvaria and long limbs of 3-4 days neonatal rats to evaluate the attachment and the proliferation assay in 4 and 8 days of incubation periods for each group. However, osteoblast cells attachment and proliferation showed the least attached and proliferated cells in uncoated samples, while the EPD coated sample showed the highest.
Preoperative Fasting Practices Across Three Anesthesia Societies: Survey of Practitioners

Background Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is recognized as a complication of anesthesia. To minimize that risk, anesthesiologists advised fasting for solid foods and liquids for an often prolonged period of time. However, 30 years ago, evidence was promulgated that fasting for clear liquids was unnecessary to ensure an empty stomach. Despite a strong evidence base and the knowledge that fasting may be physiologically harmful and unpleasant for patients, the adoption of society guidelines recommending short fasting periods for clear fluids into clinical practice is uncertain. Objective This study aimed to determine the current practices of anesthetists with respect to fasting guidelines. Methods An electronic internet survey was distributed to anesthetists in Canada (CAN), Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and Europe (EUR) during April 2014 to February 2015. The anesthetists were asked about fasting guidelines, their recommendations to patients for the consumption of clear fluids and solid foods, and the reasons and consequences if these guidelines were not followed. Results A total of 971 anesthetists completed the survey (CAN, n=679; ANZ, n=185; and EUR, n=107). Although 85.0% (818/962) of these participants claimed that their advice to patients followed current society guidelines, approximately 50.4% (476/945) enforced strict fasting and did not allow clear fluids after midnight. The primary reasons given were with regard to problems with a variable operating room schedule (255/476, 53.6%) and safety issues surrounding the implementation of clear fluid drinking guidelines (182/476, 38.2%). Conclusions Many anesthetists continue to follow outdated practices. The current interest in further liberalizing preoperative fluid intake will require more change in anesthesia culture.
University of Birmingham PR3 and elastase alter PAR1 signaling and trigger vWF release via a calcium-independent mechanism from glomerular endothelial cells

Neutrophil proteases, proteinase-3 (PR3) and elastase play key roles in glomerular endothelial cell (GEC) injury during glomerulonephritis. Endothelial protease-activated receptors (PARs) are potential serine protease targets in glomerulonephritis. We investigated whether PAR1/2 are required for alterations in GEC phenotype that are mediated by PR3 or elastase during active glomerulonephritis. Endothelial PARs were assessed by flow cytometry. Thrombin, trypsin and agonist peptides for PAR1 and PAR2, TFLLR-NH2 and SLIGKV-NH2, respectively, were used to assess alterations in PAR activation induced by PR3 or elastase. Endothelial von Willebrand Factor (vWF)release and calcium signaling were used as PAR activation markers. Both PR3 and elastase induced endothelial vWF release, with elastase inducing the highest response. PAR1 peptide induced GEC vWF release to the same extent as PR3. However, knockdown of PARs by small interfering RNA showed that neither PAR1 nor PAR2 activation caused PR3 or elastase-mediated vWF release. Both proteases interacted with and disarmed surface GEC PAR1, but there was no detectable interaction with cellular PAR2. Neither protease induced a calcium response in GEC. Therefore, PAR signaling and serine protease-induced alterations in endothelial function modulate glomerular inflammation via parallel but independent pathways. Citation: Tull SP, Bevins A, Kuravi SJ, Satchell SC, Al-Ani B, et al. (2012) PR3 and Elastase Alter PAR1 Signaling and Trigger vWF Release via a Calcium-Independent Mechanism from Glomerular Endothelial Cells. PLoS ONE 7(8): e43916. doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0043916 Editor: Peter J. Lenting, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, France Received February 7, 2012; Accepted July 27, 2012; Published August 29, 2012 Copyright: 2012 Tull et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This study was supported by external funding from Medical Research Council and Kidney Research UK. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: s.p.tull@bham.ac. uk