Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Control the Angiogenic Switch in Mouse Lung Metastasis

Angiogenesis-mediated progression of micrometastasis to lethal macrometastasis is the major cause of death in cancer patients. Here, using mouse models of pulmonary metastasis, we identify bone marrow (BM)–derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as critical regulators of this angiogenic switch. We show that tumors induce expression of the transcription factor Id1 in the EPCs and that suppression of Id1 after metastatic colonization blocked EPC mobilization, caused angiogenesis inhibition, impaired pulmonary macrometastases, and increased survival of tumor-bearing animals. These findings establish the role of EPCs in metastatic progression in preclinical models and suggest that selective targeting of EPCs may merit investigation as a therapy for cancer patients with lung metastases.
Evaluation of Medicare Health Support Chronic Disease Pilot Program

The Medicare Program is conducting a randomized trial of care management services among fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries called the Medicare Health Support (MHS) pilot program. Eight disease management (DM) companies have contracted with CMS to improve clinical quality, increase beneficiary and provider satisfaction, and achieve targeted savings for chronically ill Medicare FFS beneficiaries. In this article, we present 6-month intervention results on beneficiary selection and participation rates, mortality rates, trends in hospitalizations, and success in achieving Medicare cost savings. Results to date indicate limited success in achieving Medicare cost savings or reducing acute care utilization.
Case Studies from the New Entrant Classroom: Children's Developing Repertoires of Participation

Two studies investigated the role of teaching practice that may 'transform' the participation of new entrant children in the classroom. This process is seen as developing social participation, negotiated in the classroom between teacher and child and peers (Dyson, 1997). Analysis of the systematic observations of the enacted curriculum in the second study highlights the importance of the teacher structuring activities to maximize participation and engagement with learning. The analysis may also contribute to a clearer understanding of each child's developing participation strategies, as well as how the teacher can extend children's repertoires and build on the social practices of the classroom and school. The relative absence of studies that describe the relationship between curriculum process and social development in facilitating a successful adjustment to school highlights the need for further empirical study.
Adipose Tissue &agr;-Linolenic Acid and Nonfatal Acute Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rica

Background—&agr;-Linolenic acid may protect against cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between adipose tissue &agr;-linolenic acid and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (MI) in a population-based case-control study in Costa Rica. Methods and Results—The 482 case patients with a first nonfatal acute MI and 482 population control subjects were matched by age, sex, and area of residence. Fatty acids were assessed by gas-liquid chromatography in adipose tissue samples collected from all subjects. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated from multivariate conditional logistic regression models. Subjects in the top quintiles of adipose tissue &agr;-linolenic acid had a lower risk of MI than those in the lowest quintile: OR (95% CI), 1.00; 0.80 (0.52 to 1.24); 0.53 (0.34 to 0.82); 0.44 (0.28 to 0.67); and 0.37 (0.24 to 0.59); test for trend, P <0.0001. This association was strengthened after adjustment for established MI risk factors, including smoking, physical activity, income, and adipose tissue linoleic acid and trans fatty acids (OR for the top versus lowest quintile, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.50; test for trend, P <0.0001). Further adjustment for the intake of saturated fat, fiber, alcohol, and vitamin E did not change this association (OR for the top versus lowest quintile, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.55; test for trend, P <0.0001). Conclusions—The inverse association observed between &agr;-linolenic acid and nonfatal acute MI suggests that consumption of vegetable oils rich in &agr;-linolenic acid confers important protection against cardiovascular disease.
Symmetry properties of positive solutions of parabolic equations: A survey

This survey is concerned with positive solutions of nonlinear parabolic equations. Assuming that the underlying domain and the equation have certain reflectional symmetries, the presented results show how positive solutions reflect the symmetries. Depending on the class of solutions considered, the symmetries for all times or asymptotic symmetries are established. Several classes of problems, including fully nonlinear equations on bounded domains, quasilinear equations on R , asymptotically symmetric equations, and cooperative parabolic systems, are examined from this point of view. Applications of the symmetry results in the study of asymptotic temporal behavior of solutions are also shown.
Color Doppler Sonographic Evaluation of Collateral Circulation in Patients with Cerebral Aneurysms and the Occlusion of the Brachiocephalic Vessels

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the collateral circulation and blood flow velocity in arteries forming collateral circulation in patients with cerebral aneurysms and the occlusion of the brachiocephalic vessels. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2004 we examined a group of seven consecutive patients with diagnosed cerebral aneurysm and occlusion of the extracranial artery by means of cerebral angiography, transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) and color Doppler sonography of extracranial arteries. The Doppler examination results achieved in this group were compared with the Doppler results of 40 healthy subjects from a control group. RESULTS: Three patients were diagnosed with an occluded innominate artery. In four other cases an occlusion of the extracranial segment of the internal carotid artery was found. The aneurysms were located on intracranial arteries of collateral flow. The innominate artery occlusion resulted in a hemodynamic effect which was a complete vertebral steal and systolic deceleration (in one case) or alternating flow (in two cases) in the right common carotid artery. An additional route of collateral circulation in all these cases led from extracranial carotid branches through the right external carotid artery to the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. In all seven patients, 13 intracranial collateral pathways were examined. In eight of them, including four cases with cerebral aneurysms, an increase in blood flow velocity was observed. In the remaining five cases, including three cases with cerebral aneurysms, the mean blood velocity was within the normal range. The anterior communicating artery (AComA) formed the main intracranial collateral pathway which was found in seven patients, including three patients with diagnosed AComA aneurysm. Blood flow velocity in ipsilateral (on the obstructed side) and contralateral (on the unobstructed side) anterior cerebral artery, as well as pulsatility and resistance indexes in contralateral anterior cerebral and middle cerebral arteries were higher compared with healthy control subjects. In the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery a relative, insignificant decrease of pulsatility and resistance indexes was detected. Ipsilateral and contralateral middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities were lower compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Occlusion of the brachiocephalic vessels leads to formation of collateral circulation through the circle of Willis and the extracranial collaterals connecting the external and internal carotid arteries. An increase in blood flow velocity is commonly observed in intracranial arteries forming a collateral pathways. In some cases, not excluding arteries with a cerebral aneurysm, the increase in blood flow velocity is insignificant or none at all. This study shows that formation of a cerebral aneurysm is not always related to an increase in the flow velocity of collateral arteries.
Comparison of hemodynamic changes between phenylephrine and combined phenylephrine and glycopyrrolate groups after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery

Background Hypotension remains a common clinical problem of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery and phenylephrine is used as a vasopressor to address this. However, phenylephrine reduces maternal cardiac output (CO) due to reflex bradycardia. Glycopyrrolate is safe for the fetus, and increases heart rate (HR). Using a noninvasive measure of CO, we compared maternal hemodynamic changes between the phenylephrine only group (group P) and the phenylephrine plus glycopyrrolate group (group PG). Methods In this randomized study, 60 women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were allocated to group P (n = 30) or group PG (n = 30). In both groups, phenylephrine was infused at 50 µg/min. This infusions stopped if systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher than the baseline value, and phenylephrine 100 µg was injected if SBP was lower than 80% of the baseline value from spinal anesthesia to delivery. In group PG, glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was injected intravenously after spinal anesthesia. Hemodynamic parameters, such as SBP, heart rate (HR), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI) were measured before and until 15 min after spinal anesthesia. Results There were no significant differences in SBP and SVI compared to the baseline value in each group and between the two groups. HR and CI reduced significantly from 8 min to 15 min in group P compared to the baseline value as well as group PG for each time-point. However, HR and CI were maintained in group PG. Conclusions The use of glycopyrrolate added to phenylephrine infusion to prevent hypotension by spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery was effective in maintaining HR and CI.
U.S. Elite and Public Views on Anti-Terrorist Military Action: Are Women Less Militaristic?

Die Bewertung anti-terroristischer Militaraktionen durch Eliten und Bevolkerung in den USA: Sind Frauen weniger militaristisch? « Increasing numbers of U.S. women in elite positions lead us to ask if women and men share the same anti- terrorist policy attitudes, or whether elite (and non-elite) women are less militaristic. Using data from four surveys of elites and masses from 1986 to 2004, we examine men's and women's attitudes towards the use of three types of force against terrorists and how these have changed over time. Elite and non-elite women are typically less supportive than their men counter- parts of military action against terrorists, but after the September 11, 2001 at- tacks the gender gap decreased and large majorities favoured such action. Among elites, but not the public, gender differences diminish among those with similar demographic and political positions. With negligible gender dif- ferences among similarly placed elites, and high levels of militarism among the masses, we conclude that U.S. elites have broad latitude in setting anti-terrorist policies.
Social and Economic Exchange: Construct Development and Validation.

This study examined the economic and social exchanges between employee and employer within a model in which perceived organizational support and affective and continuance commitment served as predictors and performance, altruism citizenship behavior, absence, and lateness served as outcomes. Two samples were used. 384 master of business administration students participated in Study 1, and Study 2 consisted of 181 aerospace employees and their managers, working for a single organization. Both studies supported the distinctiveness between economic and social exchanges. Study 2 showed the overall fit of the proposed model was adequate, though only social exchange, and not economic exchange, directly predicted the performance outcomes. These results suggest the importance of perceived exchanges between employee and employer.
The Influence of Background Music on the Visitor Museum Experience: A Case Study of the Laiho Memorial Museum, Taiwan

ABSTRACT The uses and functions of music within the museum environment are of both practical and theoretical interest. This article investigates the impact of background music on the museum visitor experience using information collected from 20 in-depth interviews with visitors to the Laiho Memorial Museum in Taiwan. Each participant heard either a piece of light music or a historical recording of a 1930s song while visiting Laiho's personal study exhibited in the museum. These two types of background music have comparable information loads, although they fit the exhibit to different degrees. Qualitative analysis of interview data indicates that background music played in museums has both emotional and cognitive influences on the visitor experience. This study showed that light music evoked warm and relaxed feelings in participants, whereas a 1930s song evoked feelings of nostalgia and curiosity to learn more about the song. The results are discussed in terms of the diverse needs, behaviors, and attitudes of museum visitors.
Once-daily sustained-release matrix tablets of nicorandil: Formulation and in vitro evaluation

The objective of the present study was to develop once-daily sustained-release matrix tablets of nicorandil, a novel potassium channel opener used in cardiovascular diseases. The tablets were prepared by the wet granulation method. Ethanolic solutions of ethylcellulose (EC), Eudragit RL-100, Eudragit RS-100, and polyvinylpyrrolidone were used as granulating agents along with hydrophilic matrix materials like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and sodium alginate. The granules were evaluated for angle of repose, bulk density, compressibility index, total porosity, and drug content. The tablets were subjected to thickness, diameter, weight variation test, drug content, hardness, friability, and in vitro release studies. The granules showed satisfactory flow properties, compressibility, and drug content. All the tablet formulations showed acceptable pharmacotechnical properties and complied with in-house specifications for tested parameters. According to the theoretical release profile calculation, a oncedaily sustained-release formulation should release 5.92 mg of nicorandil in 1 hour, like conventional tablets, and 3.21 mg per hour up to 24 hours. The results of dissolution studies indicated that formulation F-I (drug-to-HPMC, 1∶4; ethanol as granulating agent) could extend the drug release up to 24 hours. In the further formulation development process, F-IX (drug-to-HPMC, 1∶4; EC 4% wt/vol as granulating agent), the most successful formulation of the study, exhibited satisfactory drug release in the initial hours, and the total release pattern was very close to the theoretical release profile. All the formulations (except F-IX) exhibited diffusion-dominated drug release. The mechanism of drug release from F-IX was diffusion coupled with erosion.
The role of L1 and L2 working memory in literal and inferential comprehension in L2 reading

Reading span as a measure of L1 or L2 working memory capacity is shown to be related to L2 reading comprehension. Albeit limited, there is research on the relationship between both L1 and L2 reading spans and their roles in L2 reading comprehension, yet these studies take reading as a global construct rather than delving into its multi-level representational architecture. This study differentiates itself from previous research in that it investigates the relationship of both L1 and L2 reading spans to L2 reading comprehension, while taking into account two reading dimensions, namely, literal understanding and inferential comprehension. Findings reveal no significant difference between L1 and L2 storage capacities, although task processing in L1 is more accurate compared to that in L2. Generally, L1 and L2 processing tasks correlate positively as do L1 and L2 stoarge tasks. Finally, only L2 reading span has a meaningful relationship with L2 inferential comprehension.
Learning style versus time spent studying and career choice: Which is associated with success in a combined undergraduate anatomy and physiology course?

The VARK learning style is a pedagogical focus in health care education. This study examines relationships of course performance vs. VARK learning preference, study time, and career plan among students enrolled in an undergraduate anatomy and physiology course at a large urban university. Students (n = 492) from the fall semester course completed a survey consisting of the VARK questionnaire, gender, academic year, career plans, and estimated hours spent per week in combined classroom and study time. Seventy‐eight percent of students reported spending 15 or fewer hours per week studying. Study time and overall course score correlated significantly for the class as a whole (r = 0.111, P = 0.013), which was mainly due to lecture (r = 0.118, P = 0.009) performance. No significant differences were found among students grouped by learning styles. When corrected for academic year, overall course scores (mean ± SEM) for students planning to enter dentistry, medicine, optometry or pharmacy (79.89 ± 0.88%) were significantly higher than those of students planning to enter physical or occupational therapies (74.53 ± 1.15%; P = 0.033), as well as nurse/physician assistant programs (73.60 ± 1.3%; P = 0.040). Time spent studying was not significantly associated with either learning style or career choice. Our findings suggest that specific career goals and study time, not learning preferences, are associated with better performance among a diverse group of students in an undergraduate anatomy and physiology course. However, the extent to which prior academic preparation, cultural norms, and socioeconomic factors influenced these results requires further investigation. Anat Sci Educ 9: 121–131. © 2015 American Association of Anatomists.
Differences in the Form of Presentation between Papillary Microcarcinomas and Papillary Carcinomas of Larger Size

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) with a diameter ≤1 cm are referred to as papillary microcarcinomas (PTMCs). The prognostic factors for PTMCs have not been defined. Different clinical and histopathologic variables were studied in 152 PTCs, including 74 PTMCs and 78 PTCs of larger size. We found that PTMCs are associated with less multifocality (P = .046) and bilaterality (P = .003), fewer lymphadenectomies (P < .001), and a higher rate of incidental tumours (P < .001). Moreover, patients with a low aggressive profile were significantly older than the remaining patients (54 ± 13.7 years versus 45.8 ± 13.1 years; P = .001). In conclusion PTMCs show significant differences compared to PTCs of larger size in the form of presentation. Furthermore, it is possible that the classic risk factors, which are well validated in PTCs, such as age, must be cautiously interpreted in the current increasing subgroup of PTMCs.
Patient perspectives on fluid management in chronic hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE We sought to describe the perspectives and experiences of chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients regarding self-care and adherence to fluid restrictions. DESIGN Semistructured focus groups. SETTING Two outpatient hemodialysis centers. PARTICIPANTS Nineteen patients on chronic hemodialysis. INTERVENTION Patients were asked a series of open-ended questions to encourage discussion about the management of fluid restriction within the broad categories of general knowledge, knowledge sources or barriers, beliefs and attitudes, self-efficacy, emotion, and self-care skills. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE We analyzed session transcripts using the theoretical framework of content analysis to identify themes generated by the patients. RESULTS Patients discussed both facilitators and barriers to fluid restriction, which we categorized into six themes: knowledge, self-assessment, psychological factors, social, physical, and environmental. Psychological factors were the most common barriers to fluid restriction adherence, predominantly involving lack of motivation. Knowledge was the most discussed facilitator with accurate self-assessment, positive psychological factors, and supportive social contacts also playing a role. Dialysis providers were most commonly described as the source of dialysis information (54%), but learning through personal experience was also frequently noted (28%). CONCLUSION Interventions to improve fluid restriction adherence of chronic hemodialysis patients should target motivational issues, assess and improve patient knowledge, augment social support, and facilitate accurate self-assessment of fluid status.
Interpreting change as controllable: The role of network centrality and self-efficacy

Interpreting organizational change initiatives as controllable can mean the difference between achieving positive or negative outcomes. However, little is known about the factors that underpin such interpretations. This study examines how interpretations of controllability are influenced by individual centrality in social networks and change-related self-efficacy. Drawing on a sample of 148 US public school teachers facing a significant organizational transformation, our analysis reveals that change-related self-efficacy fully mediates relationships between centrality within instrumental and expressive organizational social networks and individual interpretations of change controllability. Network centrality, and the associated access to information and social support that accompany it, are theorized to provide the confidence necessary to interpret change as within one’s control. Drawing upon social network theory, we provide insights into how change is interpreted as controllable, and how the nature of change may dictate which types of centrality are most important for such interpretations. Implications for the broader understanding of change are also discussed.
Economic Conditions and Ideologies of Crime in the Media: A Content Analysis of Crime News

This study explores the relationship between media portrayal of crime and conditions in the political economy. Based on a content analysis of articles about crime appearing in Time magazine during the post-World War II period, it is argued that news about crime is ideological, that is, it gives an inadequate and distorted picture of the contradictory reality of crime in the context of the capitalist political economy in the United States.
Outtweeting the Twitterers - Predicting Information Cascades in Microblogs

Microblogging sites are a unique and dynamic Web 2.0 communication medium. Understanding the information flow in these systems can not only provide better insights into the underlying sociology, but is also crucial for applications such as content ranking, recommendation and filtering, spam detection and viral marketing. In this paper, we characterize the propagation of URLs in the social network of Twitter, a popular microblogging site. We track 15 million URLs exchanged among 2.7 million users over a 300 hour period. Data analysis uncovers several statistical regularities in the user activity, the social graph, the structure of the URL cascades and the communication dynamics. Based on these results we propose a propagation model that predicts which users are likely to mention which URLs. The model correctly accounts for more than half of the URL mentions in our data set, while maintaining a false positive rate lower than 15%.
Commitments and Constraints to Intimacy for African American Couples at Midlife

This study focuses on the contributors and detractors to intimate relationships for African American couples at midlife. Qualitative analysis revealed that commitment to faith provided a foundation for familial and intimate relationships and mediated the constraints of aging and racism. African American couples were devoted to their families and to their spiritual beliefs. Midlife was a time of change and stability for couples with the competing demands of work and family. Implications for research and practice are discussed.