pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Associations between alcohol consumption and sleep-disordered breathing among Japanese women

SummaryBackgroundThe associations between alcohol consumption and sleep-disordered breathing in women are uncertain.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 3113 women aged 30–69 years. The 3% oxygen desaturation index (3%ODI), based on overnight pulse oximetry findings, was selected as an indicator of sleep-disordered breathing.Results3%ODI frequencies of ≥5 were higher for drinking women with ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d than for never drinkers: the respective multivariable odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals was 1.8(1.0–3.4). The corresponding odds ratio was 3.0(1.6–5.8) for habitual snoring. The associations of ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d with 3%ODI ≥ 5 was more evident among women with BMI <23.0 kg/m2 (median) than those with higher BMI but did not vary by habitual snoring. The multivariable odds ratios of 3%ODI ≥ 5 for women with ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d versus never drinkers were 2.7(1.0–6.7) for lower BMI and 1.5(0.6–3.3) for higher BMI and the corresponding odds ratio were 2.8(1.6–7.2) and 3.2(1.3–7.9) for habitual snoring, respectively.ConclusionAlcohol consumption was associated with higher prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing among Japanese women
Indium stability on InGaAs during atomic H surface cleaning

Atomic H exposure of a GaAs surface at 390 °C is a relatively simple method for removing the native oxides without altering the surface stoichiometry. In-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction and angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to show that this procedure applied to In0.2Ga0.8As effectively removes the native oxides resulting in an atomically clean surface. However, the bulk InGaAs stoichiometry is not preserved from this treatment. The In:Ga ratio from the substrate is found to decrease by 33%. The implications for high-mobility channel applications are discussed as the carrier mobility increases nearly linearly with the In content
Instability of the steady states of some Ginzburg–Landau-like equations with real coefficients

The instability of the steady states with nonconstant amplitude is analysed for a nonlocal Ginzburg–Landau equation with real coefficients and quasiperiodic boundary conditions. The results are obtained in terms of easily recognized, qualitative properties of the steady states. Some of the results are new, even for the standard (local) Ginzburg–Landau equation with real coefficients. A related Ginzburg–Landau equation coupled to a mean field is also considered that appears in the analyses of counter-propagating waves in extended systems, nonoscillatory instabilities with a conservation law, and viscous Faraday waves in large aspect ratio containers
The Servitization of European Manufacturing Industries

This paper provides new evidence for the servitization of European manufacturing – the trend that manufacturing firms increasingly offer services along with their physical products. We employ input-output data as well as data from a company survey to give a comprehensive picture of servitization across countries and industries.

The share of services in the output of manufacturing industries increased in the large majority of European countries between 1995 and 2005 and between 2000 and 2005. Service output of manu-facturing, however, is still small compared to the output of physical products. The highest service shares are found in small countries with a high degree of openness and R&D intensity. EU-12 Member States have lower shares of service output compared to the EU-15.

There is a strong link between servitization and technological innovation at different levels. Countries with the highest shares of services on manufacturing output have also the highest R&D intensities at the aggregate level. The service output of these countries consists predominantly of knowledge-intensive services. Highly innovative sectors reveal also the highest share of firms that offer services and the highest turnover generated with services. Examples are electrical and optical equipment, machinery, or the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. 

At the firm level, we find a U-shaped relationship between firm size and service output, which indicates that small, but also large manufacturing firms have advantages in servitization. Producers of complex, customized products tend to have a higher share of services in output than producers of simple, mass-produced goods. Moreover, firms which have launched products new to the market during the last two years are more likely to realize higher shares of turnover from services compared to companies which launched no products new to the market.
Towards Targeted MRI: New MRI Contrast Agents for Sialic Acid Detection

The detection of sialic acid in living systems is of importance for the diagnosis of several types of malignancy. We have designed and synthesized two new lanthanide ion ligands (L1 and L2) that are capable of molecular recognition of sialic acid residues. The basic structure of these ligands consists of a DTPA-bisamide (DTPA, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) whose amide moieties each bear both a boronic function for interaction with the diol groups in the side chain of sialic acid, and a functional group that is positively charged at physiologic pH values and is designed to interact with the carboxylate anion of sialic acid. The relaxometric properties of the Gd3+ complexes of these two ligands were evaluated. The relaxivity of the GdL1 complex has a significant second-sphere contribution at pH values above the pKa of its phenylboronic acid moiety. The interaction of the Gd3+ complexes of L1 and L2 with each of several saccharides was investigated by means of a competitive fluorescent assay. The results show that both complexes recognize sialic acid with good selectivity in the presence of other sugars. The adduct formed by GdL2 with sialic acid has the higher conditional formation constant (50.43±4.61 M-1 at pH 7.4). The ability of such complexes to recognize sialic acid was confirmed by the results of a study on the interaction of corresponding radiolabeled complexes (153SmL1 and 153SmL2) with C6 glioma rat cells. 153SmL2 in particular is retained on the cell surface in significant amounts.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.20040036
Efficient algorithms for pairing-based cryptosystems

We describe fast new algorithms to implement recent cryptosystems based on the Tate pairing. In particular, our techniques improve pairing evaluation speed by a factor of about 55 compared to previously known methods in characteristic 3, and attain performance comparable\ud
to that of RSA in larger characteristics.We also propose faster algorithms for scalar multiplication in characteristic 3 and square root extraction\ud
over Fpm, the latter technique being also useful in contexts other than that of pairing-based cryptography
Resonant Raman-active localized vibrational modes in AlyGa{1-y}NxAs{1-x} alloys: Experiment and firstprinciples calculations

The localized vibrational modes associated with substitutional aluminium and nitrogen atoms in AlyGa1−yNxAs1−x have been studied within first-principles density functional theory using a supercell approach. Localized vibrational modes related to N-AlmGa4−m (1≤m≥4) complexes have been identified, which reveal the formation of N-Al4 units well above random abundance, in qualitative agreement with a large calculated value (391 meV) of the Al-N bond formation energy. We determine the resonant Raman-active modes from the selection rule obtained by calculating the electron-phonon coupling strength and optical transition matrix elements and compare them with resonant Raman spectroscopy measurements. The localized modes from Raman scattering measurements with frequencies around 325, 385, 400, 450, 500, and 540 cm−1 are found to be in good agreement with the calculated modes (326, 364, 384, 410, 456, 507, and 556 cm−1). The modes are classified as follows: the two modes at 326 and 556 cm−1 belong to the N-AlGa3 configuration; there are three modes which belong to N-Al2Ga2 with frequencies at 326, 364, and 507 cm−1; the N-Al3Ga configuration gives rise to modes whose frequencies are 384 and 456 cm−1; and the mode at a frequency of 410 cm−1 belongs to the N-Al4 complex. The comparison of line intensities from samples before and after rapid thermal annealing allows us to experimentally distinguish vibrational modes associated with different clusters, in agreement with the theoretical assignments
Quantifying pulsed laser induced damage to grapheme

As an emerging optical material, graphene’s ultrafast dynamics are often probed using pulsed lasers yet the region in which optical damage takes place is largely uncharted. Here, femtosecond laser pulses induced localized damage in single-layer graphene on sapphire. Raman spatial mapping, SEM, and AFM microscopy quantified the damage. The resulting size of the damaged area has a linear correlation with the optical fluence. These results demonstrate local modification of sp2-carbon bonding structures with optical pulse fluences as low as 14 mJ/cm2, an order-of-magnitude lower than measured and theoretical ablation thresholds
Wind tunnel study on the influence of different parapets on the roof pressure distribution of low-rise buildings

High suction loads appear on roofs of low-height buildings. The use of parapets with appropriate height at the roof edges alleviates these loads. The performance of six parapet configurations to decrease the suction loads induced on roofs by oblique winds has been studied in a low speed wind tunnel. The studied parapet configurations include vertical wall parapets, either solid or porous, and cantilevered parapets formed by a small horizontal roof close to the building roof. Low-height parapets with a medium porosity and cantilevered parapets are more efficient than solid parapets to reduce the wind suctions generated on the roofs by conical vortices
Improving robustness of rolling stock circulations in rapid\ud
transit networks

The rolling stock circulation depends on two different problems: the rolling stock assignment and the train routing problems, which up to now have been solved sequentially. We propose a new approach to obtain better and more robust circulations of the rolling stock train units, solving the rolling stock assignment while accounting for the train routing problem. Here robustness means that difficult shunting operations are selectively penalized and propagated delays together with the need for human resources are minimized. This new integrated approach provides a huge model. Then, we solve the integrated model using Benders decomposition, where the main decision is the rolling stock assignment and the train routing is in the second level. For computational reasons we propose a heuristic based on Benders decomposition. Computational experiments show how the current solution operated by RENFE (the main Spanish train operator) can be improved: more robust and efficient solutions are obtaine
A simple cost-effective and eco-friendly wet chemical process for the fabrication of superhydrophobic cotton fabrics

Superhydrophobic surfaces were created on hydrophilic cotton fabrics by a simple wet chemical process. The fabric was immersed in a colloidal suspension of zinc hydroxide followed by subsequent hydrophobization with stearic acid. The wettability of the modified cotton fabric sample was studied by water contact angle (WCA) and water shedding angle (WSA) measurements. The modified cotton fabrics exhibited superhydrophobicity with a WCA of 151° for 8 μL water droplet and a WSA of 5 to 10° for 40 μL water droplet. The superhydrophobic cotton sample was also characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The method is simple, eco-friendly and cost-effective and can be applied to large area of cotton fabric materials. It was shown that superhydrophobicity of the fabric was due to the combined effect of surface roughness imparted by zinc hydroxide and the low surface energy of stearic acid
Experimental laboratory design of lime based grouts for masonry consolidation

Conservation and strengthening of historic masonry buildings should preserve their significance and ensure their structural stability. The condition of a structure and the extent of the damage determine the type of actions needed. It is important that the selected strategy maintains the existing aesthetic value of the masonry, as well as its structural integrity and the function of components, both during and after any intervention. Grouting is a well-known technique, which can be durable and mechanically efficient, whilst preserving the historic value. The selection of a grout for repair is based on the physical and chemical properties of the existing masonry. Compatibility between the existing and the injection material is a major factor in the success of the intervention. Parameters such as rheology, fluidity, and stability of the mix should be considered to ensure the effectiveness of grout injection. Many commercial ready-mix grouts are available but the use of lime-based grouts formulated in laboratory, with the addition of materials like fly ashes, silica fume, bentonite, hydraulic lime, or metakaolin, have been proposed by different researchers. This article addresses the development of ternary grouts, which show satisfactory mechanical and physical properties, and are viable low-cost alternatives to the commercial grouts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Complex emergence and the living organization: an epistemological framework for biology

In this article an epistemological framework is proposed in order to integrate\ud
the emergentist thought with systemic studies on biological autonomy, which\ud
are focused on the role of organization. Particular attention will be paid to the role\ud
of the observer’s activity, especially: (a) the different operations he performs in order\ud
to identify the pertinent elements at each descriptive level, and (b) the relationships\ud
between the different models he builds from them. According to the approach sustained\ud
here, organization will be considered as the result of a specific operation of identifi-\ud
cation of the relational properties of the functional components of a system, which\ud
do not necessarily coincide with the intrinsic properties of its structural constituents.\ud
Also, an epistemological notion of emergence—that of “complex emergence”—will\ud
be introduced, which can be defined as the insufficiency, even in principle, of a single\ud
descriptive modality to provide a complete description of certain classes of systems.\ud
This integrative framework will allow us to deal with two issues in biological and\ud
emergentist studies: (1) distinguishing the autonomy proper of living systems from\ud
some physical processes like those of structural stability and pattern generation, and\ud
(2) reconsidering the notion of downward causation not as a direct or indirect influence\ud
of the whole on its parts, but instead as an epistemological problem of interaction\ud
between descriptive domains in which the concept of organization proposed and the\ud
observational operations related to it play a crucial role
Non-causal understanding with economic models: the case of general equilibrium

How can we use models to understand real phenomena if models misrepresent the very phenomena we seek to understand? Some accounts suggest that models may afford understanding by providing causal knowledge about phenomena via how-possibly explanations. However, general equilibrium models, for example, pose a challenge to this solution since their contribution appears to be purely mathematical results. Despite this, practitioners widely acknowledge that it improves our understanding of the world. I argue that the Arrow–Debreu model provides a mathematical how-possibly explanation which establishes claims of mathematical dependence. The account developed reveals how mathematical knowledge can inform claims about the world, allow ‘what-if-things-had-been-different’ inferences, and thus improve our understanding
Exclusive neuronal expression of SUCLA2 in the human brain

SUCLA2 encodes the ATP-forming subunit (A-SUCL-) of succinyl-CoA ligase, an enzyme of the citric acid cycle. Mutations in SUCLA2 lead to a mitochondrial disorder manifesting as encephalomyopathy with dystonia, deafness and lesions in the basal ganglia. Despite the distinct brain pathology associated with SUCLA2 mutations, the precise localization of SUCLA2 protein has never been investigated. Here we show that immunoreactivity of A-SUCL- in surgical human cortical tissue samples was present exclusively in neurons, identified by their morphology and visualized by double labeling with a fluorescent Nissl dye. A-SUCL- immunoreactivity co-localized >99% with that of the d subunit of the mitochondrial F0-F1 ATP synthase. Specificity of the anti-A-SUCL- antiserum was verified by the absence of labeling in fibroblasts from a patient with a complete deletion of SUCLA2. A-SUCL- immunoreactivity was absent in glial cells, identified by antibodies directed against the glial markers GFAP and S100. Furthermore, in situ hybridization histochemistry demonstrated that SUCLA2 mRNA was present in Nissl-labeled neurons but not glial cells labeled with S100. Immunoreactivity of the GTP-forming subunit (G-SUCL-) encoded by SUCLG2, or in situ hybridization histochemistry for SUCLG2 mRNA could not be demonstrated in either neurons or astrocytes. Western blotting of post mortem brain samples revealed minor G-SUCL- immunoreactivity that was however, not upregulated in samples obtained from diabetic versus non-diabetic patients, as has been described for murine brain. Our work establishes that SUCLA2 is expressed exclusively in neurons in the human cerebral cortex
Biocatalyzed Generation of Molecular Diversity: Selective Modification of the Saponin Asiaticoside

An array of different derivatives of the complex ursane-type triterpene glycoside asiaticoside (1), a saponin component isolated from the perennial herb Centella asiatica, was generated by exploiting the stereo-, regio- and site-selectivity of four groups of enzymes (glycosidases, glycosyltransferases, lipases and laccases). A library of extracellular alpha-L-rhamnosidases (31 different items) was obtained by screening 16 different fungal strains under different cultivation conditions, and several of these preparations catalyzed the derhamnosylation of asiaticoside. Specifically, the enzymes produced by Fusarium oxysporum were selected for the synthesis of derhamno-degluco-asiaticoside (2) and also of derhamno-asiaticoside (3), by in situ glucose-inhibition of contaminating beta-D-glucosidases. beta-1,4-Galactosyltransferase from bovine milk was subsequently used for the galactosylation of the two asiaticoside derivatives 2 and 3, using 20% v/v DMSO as a cosolvent in order to increase substrate solubility. Finally, new acylated and oxidized derivatives of asiaticoside were also prepared by exploiting the lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) and the laccase from Trametes pubescens, respectively.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adsc.20050504
Mitochondrial apoptotic cell death and moderate superoxide generation upon selective activation of non-desensitizing AMPA receptors in hippocampal cultures

In the present work we investigated the effect of selective stimulation of non-desensitizing 03B1-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors in the intracellular processes leading to hippocampal neuronal death and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Activation of AMPA receptors in the presence of cyclothiazide (CYZ), a blocker of AMPA receptor desensitization, resulted in the death of approximately 25% of neurones, which was prevented by 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo(f)quinoxaline (NBQX), an AMPA-preferring receptor antagonist. (+)-5-Methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801) protected the neurones from necrotic death induced by AMPA or NMDA receptor activation. Neurodegeneration caused by selective activation of non-desensitizing AMPA receptors, in the presence of AMPA, CYZ and MK-801, significantly decreased the number of Co2+-positive neurones, used as a cytochemical marker of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors, but maintained intracellular ATP/ADP. The AMPA-mediated apoptotic cell death involved mitochondrial cytochrome c release and the activation of caspases-1 and -3, which was prevented by NBQX. Interestingly, although selective activation of AMPA receptors was not associated with production of intracellular peroxides, a moderate increase in superoxide production was observed upon exposure to antimycin A (AA). Furthermore, increased activity of Mn- superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed on selective activation of non-desensitizing AMPA receptors. Taken together, these data make important contributions to the elucidation of the downstream pathways activated in AMPA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity in cultured rat hippocampal neurones.http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01898.
Paediatric community-acquired septic shock: Results from the REPEM network study

Introduction and purpose of the study With this study we aimed to describe a "true world" picture of severe pae-diatric 'community-acquired' septic shock and establish the feasibility of a future prospective trial on early goal-directed therapy in children. During a 6-month to 1-year retrospective screening period in 16 emergency departments (ED) in 12 different countries, all children with severe sepsis and signs of decreased perfusion were included. Results A 270,461 paediatric ED consultations were screened, and 176 cases were identified. Significant comorbidity was present in 35.8 % of these cases. Intensive care admission was deemed necessary in 65.7 %, mechanical ventilation in 25.9 % and vasoactive medications in 42.9 %. The median amount of fluid given in the first 6 h was 30 ml/kg. The overall mortality in this sample was 4.5 %. Only 1.2 % of the survivors showed a substantial decrease in Paediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC). 'Severe' outcome (death or a decrease ≥2 in POPC) was significantly related (p0.01) to: any desaturation below 90 %, the amount of fluid given in the first 6 h, the need for and length of mechanical ventilation or vasoactive support, the use of dobutamine and a higher lactate or lower base excess but not to any variables of predisposition, infection or host response (as in the PIRO (Predisposition, Infection, Response, Organ dysfunction) concept). Conclusion The outcome in our samplewas very good.Many children received treatment early in their disease course, so avoiding subsequent intensive care. While certain variables predispose children to become septic and shocked, in our sample, only measures of organ dysfunction and concomitant treatment proved to be significantly related with outcome. We argue why future studies should rather be large multinational prospective observational trials and not necessarily randomised controlled trials