Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect of Geranylgeranylacetone on Cisplatin Ototoxicity

Background: Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) has the ability to induce heat shock proteins and to protect cells from apoptotic insults. This study aims to investigate whether GGA has a protective effect on cisplatin (CDDP) ototoxicity. Methods: The auditory threshold was assessed using the auditory brainstem response test. Hsp70 and C-reactive protein expressions were investigated by Western blot analysis. The amount of hair cells was counted under scanning electron microscopy. Results: The auditory threshold and the percentage of missing outer hair cells in the CDDP group were significantly higher than in the GGA + CDDP group. C-reactive protein expression was less in the GGA + CDDP group compared with the CDDP group. Hsp70 expression showed an adverse result. Conclusion: It was suggested that GGA had a protective effect on CDDP ototoxicity.
A SURVEY OF TEACHERS' AND PRINCIPALS' PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN FOSTERING NEW IMMIGRANT PARENT INVOLVEMENT

This research, using questionnaire and interview data, examined practices and challenges of educators in areas of southern Ontario in fostering immigrant parents’ support for their children’s literacy. Results showed that teachers learn about the language and culture of their students, modify homework assigned to their ESL students, and encourage parents to read to their children in their mother tongue. Teachers need to increase their awareness of parents’ perceptions of authority and the role of their first language for success in their children’s English literacy. Teachers also need to understand parents’ role as co‐teachers at home.
Communication topics and strategies in e-mail consultation: Comparison between american and international university students

On today's "wired" college campuses, students avail themselves in increasing numbers of electronic channels, most notably e-mail, as a means to consult with their professors. While some research has investigated the purposes for which university students communicate with their instructors via e-mail, little research has examined differences in e-mail use between American and international students. In the present study, e-mail messages sent by American and international students enrolled in a teacher-preparation program to their professor were collected over the course of one semester. The messages were examined for three major communication topics (facilitative, substantive, relational) and communication strategies (requesting, negotiating, reporting). Results indicate quantitative and qualitative differences in American and international students' e-mail topics and strategies, suggesting, similar to findings for face-to-face academic advising sessions, that American students demonstrate greater initiative and ability to adapt to the spatial and temporal remoteness between interlocutors in e-mail interaction, especially when using e-mail to solicit face-to-face appointments and input on projects. Findings also show that messages from both groups of students contained substantial relational communication, perhaps in an attempt to compensate for the lack of visual and paralinguistic clues in the e-mail medium.
Evaluation of stroke rehabilitation by randomized controlled studies: a review

In all, 22 reports of 20 randomized, controlled rehabilitation studies were evaluated. In 18 of these, the design of the trial was parallel, with a cross‐over format being employed in the remaining 2 instances. Seven studies related to intensive rehabilitation during the early post‐acute period. In six others, specific techniques ‐ sometimes associated with traditional physiotherapy procedures ‐ were compared: biofeedback, perceptual retraining, and amphetamine treatment. Eight experiments evaluated speech therapy in aphasia. Frequently, methodological considerations limited the interpretation of the results. The review showed that: 1) as regards activities of daily life and motor function, differences as between rehabilitation in stroke units on the one hand and non‐rehabilitation or rehabilitation in medical wards on the other, were detected in relatively few quality studies and remained particularly inconclusive insofar as life in the home environment was concerned; 2) rehabilitation for aphasia and perceptual dysfunction proved effective for at least several months after acute stroke; 3) in general, examination of the reports cited revealed no differences in the effects of biofeedback and perceptual retraining vs conventional physiotherapy; 4) rehabilitation, whether administered by specialists or amateur caregivers purpose‐trained by specialists, proved equally effective for aphasia. These conclusions constitute a valuable basis for the development and evaluation of modern rehabilitation programs for stroke patients.
Middle-Class Polish and American Mothers’ Beliefs Regarding Parent-Child Narratives

Variability in reasons for sharing narratives with their preschoolers was examined across samples of middle-class American mothers and Polish mothers. Participants responded to an open-ended interview question and completed a 54-item measure, the Parents’ Beliefs About Storytelling Questionnaire. Several significant differences were found across the samples. The American mothers more strongly endorsed the use of narratives to help their child remember important people in their lives and to teach moral or life lessons. They also indicated stronger beliefs that good narratives include contextual information, have chronological order, and tell a truthful story. Polish mothers more strongly indicated that they talk with their child about past events in order to help the child distinguish good from evil. Content analysis of the mothers’ responses to the open-ended question revealed that more Polish than American mothers reported talking with their child about past events to provide explanations to the child, provide emotional support to the child, and connect present events with past events. A greater proportion of American mothers as compared to Polish mothers indicated that they shared narratives with their child to assess the child’s memory. Many of the Polish mothers discussed a specific context in which they shared narratives with their child (i.e., when looking at photographs together).
Utility of Iiss in Composing Lyapunov Functions for Interconnections

Abstract Decomposition of a system into smaller components sometimes allows us to analyze and design the system effectively based on properties of the components. The notion of input-to-state stability (ISS) has been widely used to characterize components that refuse linear-like properties. It is, however, still restrictive, and it cannot cover a lot of saturation mechanisms which often arise in practical systems. The notion of integral input-to-state stability (iISS) is a way to remove the limitation of ISS. This paper collects and illustrates some recent advances in the framework of iISS that allows us to broaden the class of nonlinearities we can address in analysis and design of interconnected systems by making use of Lyapunov functions.
Determination of possibilities of the use of high-intensive trainings facilities on lessons health aerobics

Annotation. The purpose of experiment was an exposure of reaction of heart rate of students on the increase of rate of musical accompaniment. 89 students of the first course took part in experimental employments. Height of step platform 15-20 centimetre. The large reaction of heart rate is exposed considerably on the increase of height of step platform (on 18,3 %), what at growth of music rate (on 8,5 %). Also appeared, that 14 from 89 students have weak functional preparedness: already at the rate of music of 138-142 shots in a minute and height of step platform 15 centimetre, heart rate for them attained an age-dependent maximum (on the average 207 shots in a minute). It is recommended to utillize in employments the increase of intensity only in the limited volume: increase of music rate to 142-45 shots in a minute or heights of step platform to 20 centimetre.
Mutations of chronic granulomatous disease in Turkish families

Background Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of the innate immune system characterized by impairment of intracellular microbicidal activity of phagocytes. Mutations in one of four known NADPH‐oxidase components preclude generation of superoxide and related antimicrobial oxidants, leading to the phenotype of CGD. Defects in gp91‐phox, encoded by CYBB, lead to X‐linked CGD and have been reported to be responsible for approximately 70% of all CGD cases. The aim of this study was to identify the CGD mutations in a group of Turkish CGD patients and to evaluate the predominance of CGD mutations as X‐linked or autosomal recessive (AR) within the Turkish CGD families with known mutations.
3D-List: A Data Structure for Efficient Video Query Processing

A video query model based on the content of video and iconic indexing is proposed. We extend the notion of two-dimensional strings to three-dimensional strings (3D-Strings) for representing the spatial and temporal relationships among the symbols in both a video and a video query. The problem of video query processing is then transformed into a problem of three-dimensional pattern matching. To efficiently match the 3D-Strings, a data structure, called 3D-List, and its related algorithms are proposed. In this approach, the symbols of a video in the video database are retrieved from the video index and organized as a 3D-List according to the 3D-String of the video query. The related algorithms are then applied on the 3D-List to determine whether this video is an answer to the video query. Based on this approach, we have started a project called Vega. In this project, we have implemented a user friendly interface for specifying video queries, a video index tool for constructing the video index, and a video query processor based on the notion of 3D-List. Some experiments are also performed to show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
A Case Report of Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck's Disease) Treated with CO2 Laser

Focal epithelial hyperplasia or Heck’s disease is a rare benign lesion of oral mucosa caused by human papilloma virus especially subtypes 13 and 32. The disease is predominantly found in children and adolescents with indigenous heritage. This paper reports a unique case of Heck's disease in an 11-year-old Iranian girl with multiple, bilateral and elevated lesions on the buccal and labial mucosa. The lesions had persisted for a year. The disease was diagnosed as focal epithelial hyperplasia through the clinical examination. Considering esthetic and functional problems, CO2 laser (Wavelength: 10600 nm) surgery was determined as a suitable choice of treatment. The patient was followed up over 1 year with no signs of lesion recurrence.
Human Periodontal Stem Cells Release Specialized Proresolving Mediators and Carry Immunomodulatory and Prohealing Properties Regulated by Lipoxins

Unresolved inflammation and tissue destruction are underlying mechanisms of periodontitis, which is linked to dysregulated polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) functions. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a specialized proresolving lipid mediator (SPM) that dampens excessive inflammation, promotes resolution, and protects from leukocyte‐mediated tissue damage. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) represent key players during tissue regeneration and may contribute to resolution of inflammation; thus, they may represent a promising tool in regenerative dentistry. In the present study, we investigated the actions of hPDLSCs on PMN apoptosis and antimicrobial functions, and determined the impact of LXA4 on hPDLSCs. hPDLSCs significantly reduced apoptosis and stimulated microbicidal activity of human PMNs, via both cell‐cell interactions and paracrine mechanisms. Lipid mediator metabololipidomics analysis demonstrated that hPDLSCs biosynthesize SPMs, including resolvin D1, D2, D5, and D6; protectin D1; maresins; and LXB4; as well as prostaglandins D2, E2, and F2α. LXA4 significantly enhanced proliferation, migration, and wound healing capacity of hPDLSCs through the activation of its cognate receptor ALX/FPR2, expressed on hPDLSCs. Together, these results demonstrate that hPDLSCs modulate PMN functions, and provide the first evidence that stem cells generate SPM and that the LXA4‐ALX/FPR2 axis regulates regenerative functions of hPDLSCs by a novel receptor‐mediated mechanism.
Using MODIS imagery to estimate the damage of rainfed rice in northeastern Thailand

Northeastern Thailand is one of the representative rainfed lowland rice agriculture areas in Asia, where rice yield is limited due to unstable rainfall and poor soil. The area of rainfed lowland rice in northeast Thailand is approximately 5.27 million hectares, representing 57% of rice-growing area of the country. Heavy monsoon rainfall over central and northern Thailand began in July 2011 and lasted until October, causing a great impact on national agriculture. Huge tracts of farmland are submerged, threatening the annual rice crop. The objective of this paper is to assess the damage of regional rainfed rice after severe floods by using MODIS Surface Reflectance 8-Day L3 Global 250 m (MOD09Q1) and 500 m (MOD09A1). During the rice flooding period, Land Surface Water Index (LSWI) values are increased and even become higher than vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)). For this reason, the rice flooding period is a crucial indicator to identify the rice. The algorithm for mapping rice paddy uses time-series MODIS retrievals to identify the rice paddy in northeastern Thailand. The result indicates that the MODIS-derived rice evaluations are useful for obtaining spatial distribution maps of rice on a large-scale region.
Quality of Life and Gender Role Behavior in Disorders of Sexual Differentiation in India

OBJECTIVE Culture-specific tools to assess longterm psychosocial outcomes for patients with disorders of sexual differentiation are scant. We conducted a study to develop tools for evaluating gender role behavior and health related quality of life for Indian adolescent patients with intersex disorders. We also studied factors important to parents while deciding sex of rearing for their baby. METHODS A 29-item gender role behavior questionnaire and an 18-item health related quality-of-life questionnaire were administered to 82 healthy controls, 13 patients with intersex disorders and 18 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Internal consistency was checked by Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability using intra-class correlation coefficient. Responses of 28 parents to a questionnaire on factors affecting the decision of sex of rearing were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale in order of importance. RESULTS Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 and 0.75, and intra-class correlation coefficient 0.76 and 0.75, for the gender role behavior and quality-of-life questionnaires respectively, indicating a high degree of internal consistency and stability. The mean composite scores for healthy girls on the gender role behavior questionnaire (82.5 +/- 8.7) differed significantly from that for healthy boys (53.2 +/- 7.1, p <0.001). Factors important to parents while making decisions for sex of rearing were appearance of the genitalia, medical advice, ability to bear children and economic independence. CONCLUSIONS We have created valid tools to study gender role behavior and quality of life in adolescent patients with intersex disorders in India. We have also identified in a quantitative way the factors of greatest importance to parents while deciding sex of rearing. These results have direct utility in the management of patients with intersex disorders in India and other similar cultures.
QoS-oriented packet scheduling for wireless multimedia CDMA communications

In the third-generation (and beyond) wireless communication systems, there will be a mixture of different traffic classes, each having its own transmission rate characteristics and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. In this paper, a QoS-oriented medium access control (MAC) protocol with fair packet loss sharing (FPLS) scheduling is proposed for wireless code-division multiple access (CDMA) communications. The QoS parameters under consideration are the transmission bit error rate (BER), packet loss, and delay requirements. The MAC protocol exploits both time-division and code-division statistical multiplexing. The BER requirements are guaranteed by properly arranging simultaneous packet transmissions and controlling there transmit power levels, whereas the packet loss and delay requirements are guaranteed by proper packet scheduling. The basic idea of FPLS is to schedule the transmission of multimedia packets in such a way that all the users have a fair share of packet loss according to their QoS requirements, which maximizes the number of the served users under the QoS constraints. Simulation results demonstrate effectiveness of the FPLS scheduler, in comparison with other previously proposed scheduling algorithms.
An Efficient Optimal Normal Basis Type II Multiplier

This paper presents a new parallel multiplier for the Galois field GF(2/sup m/) whose elements are represented using the optimal normal basis of type II. The proposed multiplier requires 1.5(m/sup 2/-m) XOR gates, as compared to 2(m/sup 2/-m) XOR gates required by the Massey-Omura multiplier. The time complexities of the proposed and the Massey-Omura multipliers are similar.
Understanding the Role of Glucocorticoids in Obesity: Tissue-Specific Alterations of Corticosterone Metabolism in Obese Zucker Rats1.

The role of glucocorticoids in obesity is poorly understood. Observations in obese men suggest enhanced inactivation of cortisol by 5alpha-reductase and altered reactivation of cortisone to cortisol by 11betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD1). These changes in glucocorticoid metabolism may influence corticosteroid receptor activation and feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). We have compared corticosterone metabolism in vivo and in vitro in male obese and lean Zucker rats, aged 9 weeks (n = 8/group). Steroids were measured in 72-h urine and 0900 h trunk blood samples. 5alpha-Reductase type 1 and 11betaHSD activities were assessed in dissected tissues. Obese animals were hypercorticosteronemic and excreted more total corticosterone metabolites (2264+/-623 vs. 388+/-144 ng/72 h; P = 0.003), with a greater proportion being 5alpha-reduced or 11-oxidized. 11-Dehydrocorticosterone was also elevated in plasma (73+/-9 vs. 18+/-2 nM; P = 0.001) and urine (408+/-111 vs. <28 ng/72 h; P = 0.01). In liver of obese rats, 5alpha-reductase type 1 activity was greater (20.6+/-2.7% vs. 14.1+/-1.5%; P<0.04), but 11betaHSD1 activity (maximum velocity, 3.43+/-0.56 vs. 6.57+/-1.13 nmol/min/mg protein; P = 0.01) and messenger RNA levels (0.56+/-0.08 vs. 1.03+/-0.15; P = 0.02) were lower. In contrast, in obese rats, 11betaHSD1 activity was not different in skeletal muscle and sc fat and was higher in omental fat(36.4+/-6.2 vs. 19.2+/-6.6; P = 0.01), whereas 11betaHSD2 activity was higher in kidney (16.7+/-0.6% vs. 11.3+/-1.5%; p = 0.01). We conclude that greater inactivation of glucocorticoids by 5alpha-reductase in liver and 11betaHSD2 in kidney combined with impaired reactivation of glucocorticoids by 11betaHSD1 in liver may increase the MCR of glucocorticoids and decrease local glucocorticoid concentrations at these sites. By contrast, enhanced 11betaHSD1 in omental adipose tissue may increase local glucocorticoid receptor activation and promote obesity.
Sentence comprehension in autistic children

ABSTRACT Comprehension and strategy use by autistic children were tested in two experiments. Eighteen autistic subjects were compared with thirty normal 3- and 4-year-olds, matched on the PPVT and Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices. In Experiment I subjects were asked to act out active and passive, biased and reversible sentences. The autistic group's overall comprehension was lower than that of the normal controls; although the autistic subjects did use a word-order strategy, they did not generally use a probable-event strategy. These findings were confirmed in Experiment II, in which the same procedure with anomalous three-word items was used. The results are interpreted as evidence that in autism there is a semantic-cognitive deficit in utilizing conceptual knowledge about relational aspects of the environment and that this deficit underlies the comprehension difficulties of autistic persons.
Relationship between culture and responses to biodata employment items.

The relationship between Black-White cultural value differences and responses to biodata employment items was investigated. Black and White college students were found to differ in endorsement of cultural values pertaining to basic human nature, the relationship between the individual and nature, temporal focus, and interpersonal relations. Using the loglinear approach suggested by B. F. Green, C. R. Crone, and V. G. Folk (1989), the researchers found that over one quarter of the biodata employment items they examined exhibited differential item functioning (DIF) between racial subgroups. Although cultural values of the respondent were related to biodata response option selection, only limited evidence was found for the hypothesis that cultural values are associated with the observed differences in Black-White response choices. Recommendations regarding the further investigation of cultural influences on DIF are discussed.
A sleep-awake protocol for information propagation in smart dust networks

Smart dust is a set of a vast number of ultra-small fully autonomous computing and communication devices, with very restricted energy and computing capabilities, that co-operate to quickly and efficiently accomplish a large sensing task. Smart dust can be very useful in practice i.e. in the local detection of a remote crucial event and the propagation of data reporting its realization. In this work we continue our effort towards the research on smart dust from a basic algorithmic point of view. Under a simple but realistic model for smart dust we present an interesting problem, which is how to propagate efficiently information on an event detected locally. Then we present anew smart dust protocol, which we call the "Sleep-Awake" protocol, for information propagation that explicitly uses the energy saving features (i.e. the alteration of sleeping and awake time periods) of the smart dust particles. By using both some simple probabilistic analysis and extensive experiments, we provide some first concrete results for the success probability and the time and energy efficiency of the protocol, in terms of parameters of the smart dust network. We note that the study of the interplay of these parameters allows us to program the smart dust network characteristics accordingly.
Vortical Swirls in Hurricane Eye Clouds

Abstract A collection of images depicting various swirling patterns within low-level cloud decks in hurricane eyes is presented and described. A possible causal mechanism for the presence of these cloud patterns is suggested by comparison of the observed cloud patterns with the evolution of passive tracers in a simple 2D barotropic model. The model is initialized with a barotropically unstable flow field that imitates the observed flows in hurricanes, and numerical integration of this field simulates vigorous mixing between eye and eyewall. During the mixing process, passive tracers initially embedded in the flow form swirling patterns in the eye that are strikingly similar to cloud patterns often observed in the eyes of hurricanes.