Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Different Types of Patch Materials During Carotid Endarterectomy: An Updated Systematic Review

Graeme J. Hankey, MD, FRCP, FRACP Section Editor: Patch angioplasty performed during carotid endarterectomy may reduce the risk of restenosis and, hence, the long-term risk of recurrent stroke. However, there is uncertainty regarding the optimal patch material.1 We sought to determine whether any particular patch material was associated with a lower risk of perioperative or long-term complications. Two reviewers independently searched MEDLINE (1996–November 2008), EMBASE (1980–November 2008), and Index to Scientific and Technical Proceedings (1980–2008). 2 We also searched the Stroke Group trials register (August 2009) and hand-searched relevant journals, conference proceedings, and reference lists, and contacted experts in the field. We sought to identify all randomized trials in which 1 …
Synaptic activity controls localization and function of CtBP1 via binding to Bassoon and Piccolo

Persistent experience‐driven adaptation of brain function is associated with alterations in gene expression patterns, resulting in structural and functional neuronal remodeling. How synaptic activity—in particular presynaptic performance—is coupled to gene expression in nucleus remains incompletely understood. Here, we report on a role of CtBP1, a transcriptional co‐repressor enriched in presynapses and nuclei, in the activity‐driven reconfiguration of gene expression in neurons. We demonstrate that presynaptic and nuclear pools of CtBP1 are interconnected and that both synaptic retention and shuttling of CtBP1 between cytoplasm and nucleus are co‐regulated by neuronal activity. Finally, we show that CtBP1 is targeted and/or anchored to presynapses by direct interaction with the active zone scaffolding proteins Bassoon and Piccolo. This association is regulated by neuronal activity via modulation of cellular NAD/NADH levels and restrains the size of the CtBP1 pool available for nuclear import, thus contributing to the control of activity‐dependent gene expression. Our combined results reveal a mechanism for coupling activity‐induced molecular rearrangements in the presynapse with reconfiguration of neuronal gene expression.
Attitudes of Children toward Singing and Choir Participation and Assessed Singing Skill

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of elementary music students toward singing and choir participation in relation to grade level and gender, classroom singing activities, previous and current out-of-school singing experiences, and degree of singing skill, both self-perceived and assessed. Data were obtained from 542 third- through sixth-grade children from responses to a questionnaire and from taped singing performances. Cross-tabulations of response data showed that most subjects indicated a positive attitude toward singing, but less than half were interested in choral singing. Girls, younger students, those who liked to sing, and those who wanted to sing in a choir generally responded more positively to most questionnaire items. Fourth and fifth graders had higher scores on one aspect of singing accuracy, but no other significant differences were found between singing skill and other variables in the study.
Choices and decisions: perspectives of young males on withdrawing from business certificate courses in technical and further education

Abstract This article reports research concerned with understanding the factors that influence the decision of young males to withdraw from their studies in certificate courses at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) College in Western Australia. The research focused on males aged between 17 and 21 years and their reasons for either dropping out of or persisting in entry-level business courses with the School of Management and Business at Central TAFE. The findings from this qualitative casestudy project led to the development of theoretical positions that provide a basis for further research, important in the study of the relationships between a specific programme' practices and student development and success.
Assessing the safety of del Nido cardioplegia solution in adult congenital cases

Purpose: del Nido cardioplegia solution (CPS) has been successfully used for myocardial protection in the pediatric population. We propose this solution can be used safely in adult congenital patients. The proposed benefit of this solution is the avoidance of the need for repetitive interruption of the operation to administer multiple doses of standard cardioplegia. Methods: As part of a quality improvement initiative, 47 consecutive adult patients (mean age 40.9 years, range 18–71) undergoing congenital heart surgery were given del Nido CPS. Cardiac function was assessed pre- and post-operatively by echocardiography (ECHO). Inotrope use, troponin levels and restoration of cardiac rhythm were also evaluated. Results: The average duration of the longest ischemic time was 52.5 minutes ± 15.57 minutes. In patients receiving a single dose (40%, n=19) of CPS, the average ischemic time was 49.8 minutes ± 18.8 minutes. No patients demonstrated any ventricular electrical activity while the aorta was cross-clamped. Post-operative ECHO showed that 94% (n=44) had no change in ejection fraction from the pre-operative ECHO. Patients requiring inotropic support at the time of leaving the operating room (OR) was 43% (n=20). The percentage of patients requiring inotropic support twenty-four hours post-operatively was 17% (n=8). Spontaneous restoration of cardiac rhythm (without the need for defibrillation) after cross-clamp removal occurred in 91% (n=43) of patients. The average troponin T level post-op was 1.86 ± 2.9 µg/L. Conclusions: del Nido CPS can be used for myocardial protection during adult congenital cardiac surgery without any apparent adverse effects. In addition, we were able to change our re-dosing protocol to 45 minutes with del Nido CPS compared to 20 minutes with our adult 4:1 blood CPS.
Outcomes in AAC: evaluating the effectiveness of a parent training program

The purpose of the paper is to report the outcome of the parent training program of Camp Chatterbox '95 that was combined with an intervention program for the children. Sixteen parents participated in the training program. Each of these parents completed questionnaires at three intervals describing (a) their skills in device operation and management, (b) their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interaction skills, and (c) their children's AAC device performance. Results demonstrate that parents perceived a positive change in their device operation, management, and interaction skills. They also perceived positive changes in their children's AAC device performance.
Human Pathogens Abundant in the Bacterial Metagenome of Cigarettes

Background Many studies have evaluated chemical, heavy metal, and other abiotic substances present in cigarettes and their roles in the development of lung cancer and other diseases, yet no studies have comprehensively evaluated bacterial diversity of cigarettes and the possible impacts of these microbes on respiratory illnesses in smokers and exposed nonsmokers. Objectives The goal of this study was to explore the bacterial metagenomes of commercially available cigarettes. Methods A 16S rRNA-based taxonomic microarray and cloning and sequencing were used to evaluate total bacterial diversity of four brands of cigarettes. Normalized microarray data were compared using principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis to evaluate potential differences in microbial diversity across cigarette brands. Results Fifteen different classes of bacteria and a broad range of potentially pathogenic organisms were detected in all cigarette samples. Most notably, we detected Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Clostridium, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia in ≥ 90% of all cigarette samples. Other pathogenic bacteria detected included Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Proteus, and Staphylococcus. No significant variability in bacterial diversity was observed across the four different cigarette brands. Conclusions Previous studies have shown that smoking is associated with colonization by pathogenic bacteria and an increased risk of lung infections. However, this is the first study to show that cigarettes themselves could be the direct source of exposure to a wide array of potentially pathogenic microbes among smokers and other people exposed to secondhand smoke. The overall public health implications of these findings are unclear at this time, and future studies are necessary to determine whether bacteria in cigarettes could play important roles in the development of both infectious and chronic respiratory diseases.
School breakfast clubs, children and family support†

School breakfast clubs are a form of before school provision serving breakfast to children who arrive early. This paper explores their potential to provide support for families at risk of social exclusion. A national evaluation of a Department of Health pilot initiative suggests that their provision can afford valued support to families coping with varying degrees of difficulty in their material, environmental, relational and social circumstances. Many parents regarded clubs as successful in encouraging children to eat breakfast, reducing pressures in the morning and providing an additional source of affordable, trusted child care to those in work, studying or seeking employment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of the School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy Scale

Purpose – Efficacy has been broadly analyzed and explored in depth in various fields. However, in the field of educational leadership, empirical studies and research evidence are weak. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a new School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy Scale (SLSES). Design/methodology/approach – Two studies were undertaken. In the first study, the extant literature was critiqued and an initial form of the SLSES was developed; it was then administered to 233 school leaders in Cyprus. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to identify the structure of the scale. The second study aimed at validating the proposed model by employing confirmatory factor analysis. For this purpose, a revised SLSES was administered for a second time to 289 school leaders. Findings – EFA suggested an eight-factor structure, namely: Creating an appropriate organizational structure, Leading and managing the learning organization, School Self-Evaluation for School Improvement, Developing a positive clima.
When Psychopaths go to Work: A Case Study of an Industrial Psychopath

La plupart des recherches sur les psychopathes ont ete conduites dans les hopitaux et les prisons. L'article ci-dessous propose l'analyse d'un psycho-pathe en milieu industriel. La Check List Psychopathique: Version sur Ecran (PCL:SV) fut utilisee pour evaluer la psychopathie en observant et en codant les comportements dans une situation d'emploi. Tandis que les precedentes recherches sur des populations psychopathiques dans des milieux cliniques ou carceraux demontrent qu'elles menent des vies ratees, cette etude de cas presente un psychopathe industriel ayant atteint la reussite. Les psychopathes industriels possedent les caracteristiques des personnalites psychopathes mais pas du tout la progression caracterisee du developpement de comportement anti-social et de style de vie deviant. Un modele suggere que dans le contexte d'un changement chaotique et “souterrain”, ils utilisent leurs talents manipulateurs pour manoeuvrer avec succes les points-de-vues contra-dictoires d'allies et de deracteurs et deboucher sur des mouvements de carriere positifs. Most research on psychopaths has been conducted in hospitals or prisons. The present paper presents an analysis of a psychopath in an industrial setting. The Psychopath Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) was used to assess psychopathy by observing and coding behaviours observed in an employment situation. Although previous research on psychopathic populations in clinical and penal settings suggests that they lead unsuccessful lives, a case study is presented as an example of a successful industrial psychopath. Industrial psychopaths display psychopathic personality characteristics but do not display the typical progression of increasing antisocial behaviour and deviant lifestyle. A model is presented which suggests that in the context of an organisation undergoing chaotic change they use their manipulation skills to effectively manage the discrepant views of supporters and detractors, resulting in successful career movement.
Why is there so Little Strategic Voting in Canadian Plurality Rule Elections?

Using the 1988 Canadian Election Study I examine why there was only restricted strategic voting in single-member district plurality elections. In that election 19 percent of Canadian voters preferred the party that actually finished third in their constituency, but among these third party supporters only one in eight decided to vote strategically for one of the top two contenders. Strategic voting was relatively rare for two key reasons. First, many third party supporters had a strong preference for their party over all others and were therefore reluctant to rally to either of the top two contenders. Second, many overestimated their party's chance of winning and as a consequence did not feel that their vote would be wasted.
Regulation of cytoplasmic dynein function in vivo by the Drosophila Glued complex

The Drosophila Glued gene product shares sequence homology with the p150 component of vertebrate dynactin. Dynactin is a multiprotein complex that stimulates cytoplasmic dynein-mediated vesicle motility in vitro. In this report, we present biochemical, cytological, and genetic evidence that demonstrates a functional similarity between the Drosophila Glued complex and vertebrate dynactin. We show that, similar to the vertebrate homologues in dynactin, the Glued polypeptides are components of a 20S complex. Our biochemical studies further reveal differential expression of the Glued polypeptides, all of which copurify as microtubule-associated proteins. In our analysis of the Glued polypeptides encoded by the dominant mutation, Glued, we identify a truncated polypeptide that fails to assemble into the wild-type 20S complex, but retains the ability to copurify with microtubules. The spatial and temporal distribution of the Glued complex during oogenesis is shown by immunocytochemistry methods to be identical to the pattern previously described for cytoplasmic dynein. Significantly, the pattern of Glued distribution in oogenesis is dependent on dynein function, as well as several other gene products known to be required for proper dynein localization. In genetic complementation studies, we find that certain mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain gene Dhc64C act as dominant suppressors or enhancers of the rough eye phenotype of the dominant Glued mutation. Furthermore, we show that a mutation that was previously isolated as a suppressor of the Glued mutation is an allele of Dhc64C. Together with the observed dependency of Glued localization on dynein function, these genetic interactions demonstrate a functional association between the Drosophila dynein motor and Glued complexes.
Intergenerational Mapping and the Cultural Politics of Memory

A key objective of the paper is to rejuvenate our understanding of time. The focus is on how the knowledge and memories of times past are transmitted collectively and intergenerationally, and why this is important for children's political formation. The objective is pursued through a short philosophical discussion of time, memory and forgetting, drawing primarily on the work of Bernard Stiegler and others investigating these questions with an emphasis on contemporary technologies. The study and philosophical framing also engage a larger geo-economic and historical context in which all subjects, including children, are faced with critical challenges related to the recent development of new technologies of control; these formulate drives and/or a temporal consciousness of 'hyper' attention that renders deep attention and the formation of long-term desire increasingly difficult. In the face of this historical moment, the paper calls attention to the importance of thinking about time holistically as well as historically in terms of the intergenerational transfer and transformation of collective memory. Using material from two years of research with children, the claim is made that intergenerational education, involving the technics of mapping and writing and drawing on the archives of the past, can enable a critical relearning of history, thus laying the groundwork for imaginings of alternative futures.
ANALYSING INTERGENERATIONAL INFLUENCES ON INCOME POVERTY AND ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY WITH EU-SILC

ABSTRACT The European Union Statistics of Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) 2005 wave includes a special module on inter-generational transmission of poverty. In addition to the standard data relating to income and material deprivation, information relating to parental background and childhood circumstances was collected for all household members aged over 24 and less than 66 at the end of the income reference period. In principle, the module provides an unprecedented opportunity to apply a welfare regime perspective to a comparative European analysis of the relationship between poverty and social exclusion and parental characteristics and childhood economic circumstances. In this paper, we seek to exploit such potential. In pursuing this objective, it is necessary to take into account some of the limitations of the data. We do by restricting our attention to a set of countries where data issues seem less extreme. Finally, we compare findings from one dimensional and multidimensional approaches to poverty and social exclusion in order to provide an assessment of the extent to which our analysis of welfare regime variation provides a coherent account of the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage.
Hedgehog Signaling in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos fibers, which accumulate in the pleural space, damage tissue and stimulate regeneration. Hedgehog signaling is a pathway important during embryonic mesothelium development and is inactivated in adult mesothelium. The pathway is reactivated in some MPM patients with poor clinical outcome, mainly mediated by the expression of the ligands. Nevertheless, mutations in components of the pathway have been observed in a few cases. Data from different MPM animal models and primary culture suggest that both autocrine and paracrine Hedgehog signaling are important to maintain tumor growth. Drugs inhibiting the pathway at the level of the smoothened receptor (Smo) or glioma-associated protein transcription factors (Gli) have been used mostly in experimental models. For clinical development, biomarkers are necessary for the selection of patients who can benefit from Hedgehog signaling inhibition.
A physiological model to measure effects of age on lenticular accommodation and spherical aberration in chickens.

PURPOSE To assess physiological accommodative function of intact intraocular lenses, as measured by focal length changes, in chickens of various ages. METHODS Eyes of white leghorn chickens, aged 0 days (hatchlings), 7 days, 14 days, 6 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years, were enucleated and the backs of the globes, except for the ciliary nerve and ganglion, were removed. The ciliary nerve and ganglion were suctioned into the tip of a suction electrode, and lenses were optically scanned before, during, and after accommodation. Accommodation was elicited by delivery of 30-Hz electrical pulses. RESULTS For all age groups, lenticular focal lengths for stimulated eyes were significantly shorter than for relaxed eyes, indicating that accommodation had been induced. Lenticular accommodative amplitudes decreased significantly with age, with reduced function occurring between 0 and 7 days and again between 14 days and 1 year. Although accommodation was associated with an increased spherical aberration in all age groups, the increase was significant only in some age groups. CONCLUSIONS Results showing reduction of lenticular accommodation concomitant with increasing age suggest that in spite of major differences in anatomy and physiology of the accommodative mechanism, chickens may become presbyopic. Results showing high amounts of nonmonotonic spherical aberration in hatchling lenses suggest inherently poor optics in these birds.
Spousal Communication During Military Deployments

Military deployments are stressful for service members and partners. Communication is an important factor in trying to maintain a relationship during these separations. This article presents a brief overview of communication in long-distance relationships for context, then reviews articles on communication during military deployments. This review reveals that emerging technology has resulted in an increase in the ability to communicate during deployment, although some studies suggest that access to such technology may vary. The few empirical studies that examine new communication technologies have found that different media (e.g., video calling vs. letters) may serve different functions in communication during deployment (e.g., facilitating problem discussion vs. providing tangible reminders of the partner). Military specific concerns, such as restrictions on communication and the potential for communication to distract service members from their mission, also appear to be important factors. The article concludes with clinical and research recommendations.
Antileukaemia effect of rapamycin alone or in combination with daunorubicin on ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line

The translocation (9;22) (q34;q11), known as the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome and bcr‐abl fusion gene, is the common cytogenetic abnormality and an unfavourable prognosis in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Although chemotherapeutic treatment produced high rates of complete response in approximately 70%–80% of newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL, the onset of resistance and clinical relapse is rapid. Therefore, the efficacy of treatment in Ph+ ALL is still to be determined. In this study, we aimed to assess the antileukemic activity of rapamycin (RAPA) (Sigma‐Aldrich Corporation, MO, USA), a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, alone and in combination with daunorubicin (DNR) (Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, Germany) in a Ph+ acute lymphoblastic cell line SUP‐B15 and a primary Ph+ ALL sample in vitro. Here, we demonstrated that 50 nmol/L of RAPA significantly intensified the inhibition induced by DNR on both Ph+ ALL cell line and a primary Ph+ ALL sample. Notably, we reported that the consequence of DNR treatment induced the over expression of the componets of mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway, whereas RAPA effectively eliminated this deleterious side effect of DNR, which might enhance DNR's ability to kill drug‐resistant cancer. The synergistic effect was also associated with the increase in autophagy, blockage of cell cycle progression in the G1 phase. Altogether, our results suggest that DNR in combination with RAPA is more effective in the treatment of Ph+ ALL compared with DNR alone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.