Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of CCI-779, an Inhibitor of mTOR, in Cancer Patients.

CCI-779 is an ester of rapamycin and inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) currently in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of patients with cancer. CCI-779 interacts with mTOR and inhibits its kinase activity, resulting in inhibition of the mTOR-regulated translational controllers p70(s6) kinase and 4E-BP1. Ultimately, CCI-779 decreases the translation of mRNAs involved in the control of the cell cycle, resulting in cell cycle arrest. The objective of this study was to develop a method to determine the pharmacodynamic effects of CCI-779 suitable for use in clinical trials. Exposure of Raji lymphoblastoid cells to increasing concentrations of rapamycin resulted in a linear concentration-dependent inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity, suggesting that p70(s6) kinase activity could be an appropriate marker for mTOR-interacting agents. In subsequent experiments, treatment of nude mice bearing the CCI-779 susceptible breast cancer cell line MDA-468 with a single dose of 10 mg/kg CCI-779 resulted in a >80% inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) 72 h after treatment. Importantly, the degree of p70(s6) kinase inhibition was identical in PBMCs and simultaneously collected tumor tissue, suggesting that the PBMCs are an adequate surrogate tissue for p70(s6) kinase activity in vivo. The intrasubject coefficient of variation of p70(s6) kinase activity measured in PBMCs collected from five healthy volunteers on days 1, 4, and 8 was 14%, indicating that p70(s6) kinase activity in PBMCs remains relatively stable over time. Finally, p70(s6) kinase activity was measured in PBMCs from nine patients with renal cell cancer treated with a single dose of 25, 75, or 250 mg of CCI-779 i.v. (three patients each). PBMCs were collected on days 2, 4, and 8 after CCI-779 treatment. In this small data set, eight of the nine patients had evidence of p70(s6) kinase activity inhibition after treatment that was independent of the administered dose. There was a significant linear association between time to disease progression and inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity 24 h after treatment. In conclusion, these results indicate that the pharmacodynamic effects of CCI-779 can be determined using a p70(s6) kinase assay in PBMCs. This assay is currently being incorporated in Phase I and II studies with CCI-779 to determine its relationship with dose and plasma concentration of the agent and its value as a predictor of treatment efficacy.
Validation of a non-line-of-sight path-loss model for V2V communications at street intersections

In this paper a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) path-loss and fading model developed for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication at 5.9 GHz is validated with independent and realistic measurement data. The reference NLOS model is claimed to be flexible and of low complexity, and incorporates specific geometric aspects in a closed-form expression. We validated the accuracy of the model with the help of realistic channel measurements performed in selected street intersections in the city of Lund and Malmö, Sweden. The model fits well, with a few exceptions, to the measurements. Those are in turn made in different intersections having variable geometries and scattering environments. It is found that the model can be made more general if an intersection dependent parameter, that depends on the property and number of available scatterers in that particular intersection, is included in the model.
Association between obesity and periodontal disease in young adults: a population-based birth cohort

Aim To evaluate the association between obesity and periodontal disease and the mediating effect of oral hygiene, systemic inflammation and carbohydrate intake. Material and methods Subjects born in 1982 in Pelotas, Brazil (n = 5,914), have been followed for several times. Oral health was assessed in a representative sample of 720 individuals at 24 years. Obesity, waist circumference and number of episodes with obesity between 15 and 23 years of age were the main exposures. Mediating effect of oral hygiene, C-reactive protein level and carbohydrate consumption was also assessed. Results Obese individuals were more likely to have ≥2 teeth with gingival bleeding. However, after adjusting for confounders, the association was not statistically significant [OR (obese × 2 or more teeth) 1.72 (95% CI: 0.95, 3.11)] and adjustment for potential mediators decreased the OR (OR = 1.38). The risk of presenting calculus in obese subjects was 10% higher [PR 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.18)]. The number of episodes of obesity between 15 and 23 years was associated with dental calculus. Periodontal pockets were not associated with obesity. Conclusion Systemic inflammation and oral hygiene may be mediating the association between obesity and gingivitis. Obesity was not associated with periodontal pockets in young adults in this cohort.
Estimating within-group interrater reliability with and without response bias.

Abstract : This article presents methods for assessing agreement among the judgments made by a single group of judges on a single variable in regard to a single target. For example, the group of judges could be editorial consultants, members of an assessment center, or members of a team. The single target could be a manuscript, a lower-level manager, or a team. The variable on which the target is judged could be overall publishability in the case of the manuscript, managerial potential for the lower-level manager, or team cooperativeness for the team. The methods presented are based on new procedures for estimating interrater reliability. For situations such as the above, these procedures are shown to furnish more accurate and interpretable estimates of agreement than estimates provided by procedures commonly used to estimate agreement, consistency, or interrater reliability. In addition, the proposed methods include processes for controlling for the spurious influences of response biases (e.g., positive leniency, social desirability) on estimates of interrater reliability. (Author)
Measuring Connectivity in Linear Multivariate Processes: Definitions, Interpretation, and Practical Analysis

This tutorial paper introduces a common framework for the evaluation of widely used frequency-domain measures of coupling (coherence, partial coherence) and causality (directed coherence, partial directed coherence) from the parametric representation of linear multivariate (MV) processes. After providing a comprehensive time-domain definition of the various forms of connectivity observed in MV processes, we particularize them to MV autoregressive (MVAR) processes and derive the corresponding frequency-domain measures. Then, we discuss the theoretical interpretation of these MVAR-based connectivity measures, showing that each of them reflects a specific time-domain connectivity definition and how this results in the description of peculiar aspects of the information transfer in MV processes. Furthermore, issues related to the practical utilization of these measures on real-time series are pointed out, including MVAR model estimation and significance assessment. Finally, limitations and pitfalls arising from model mis-specification are discussed, indicating possible solutions and providing practical recommendations for a safe computation of the connectivity measures. An example of estimation of the presented measures from multiple EEG signals recorded during a combined visuomotor task is also reported, showing how evaluation of coupling and causality in the frequency domain may help describing specific neurophysiological mechanisms.
Predictive Validity and Classification Accuracy of ActiGraph Energy Expenditure Equations and Cut-Points in Young Children

Objectives Evaluate the predictive validity of ActiGraph energy expenditure equations and the classification accuracy of physical activity intensity cut-points in preschoolers. Methods Forty children aged 4–6 years (5.3±1.0 years) completed a ∼150-min room calorimeter protocol involving age-appropriate sedentary, light and moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities. Children wore an ActiGraph GT3X on the right mid-axillary line of the hip. Energy expenditure measured by room calorimetry and physical activity intensity classified using direct observation were the criterion methods. Energy expenditure was predicted using Pate and Puyau equations. Physical activity intensity was classified using Evenson, Sirard, Van Cauwenberghe, Pate, Puyau, and Reilly, ActiGraph cut-points. Results The Pate equation significantly overestimated VO2 during sedentary behaviors, light physical activities and total VO2 (P<0.001). No difference was found between measured and predicted VO2 during moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities (P = 0.072). The Puyau equation significantly underestimated activity energy expenditure during moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities, light-intensity physical activities and total activity energy expenditure (P<0.0125). However, no overestimation of activity energy expenditure during sedentary behavior was found. The Evenson cut-point demonstrated significantly higher accuracy for classifying sedentary behaviors and light-intensity physical activities than others. Classification accuracy for moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities was significantly higher for Pate than others. Conclusion Available ActiGraph equations do not provide accurate estimates of energy expenditure across physical activity intensities in preschoolers. Cut-points of ≤25counts⋅15 s−1 and ≥420 counts⋅15 s−1 for classifying sedentary behaviors and moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities, respectively, are recommended.
Ergative and nominative in English

Consider the following two sentences: (i) a. This man cut the bread b. This man fell In both cases, many traditional accounts (e.g. Zandvoort, 1961: 236–240; Scheurweghs, 1959: 1–19; Chomsky, 1962: 138–140, 1965: 63–64; etc.) would say that we have a single clause (or sentence) which consists of two parts, a subject and a predicate. And the two examples differ in the constitution of the predicate. This distinction between the two is usually described as having to do with transitivity. In (i.a) the verb is said to take an object, and is therefore transitive; in (i.b) this is not the case, and the verb is intransitive.
Representation of the QBO in the Tropical Stratospheric Wind by Nonlinear Principal Component Analysis

The zonal winds at several levels between 70 and 10 hPa (roughly 20-30 km) measured at near-equatorial stations during 1956-2000 were analyzed to produce a one-dimensional approximation. The neural network-based technique applied was the circular nonlinear principal component analysis (NLPCA.cir) designed to characterize quasi-periodic phenomena. The reconstructed height-time series of wind based on the one-dimensional NLPCA.cir captures many of the characteristic features of the observed quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). The nonlinear results were evaluated relative to comparable linear principal component analysis and found to produce a superior one-dimensional representation of the data. The NLPCA.cir analysis produces a single time series of QBO phase based on data at all levels. This phase was then applied to demonstrate a strong correlation of the state of the tropical QBO and boreal winter high-latitude stratospheric temperatures.
Solubilization Behavior of Polyene Antibiotics in Nanomicellar System: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Amphotericin B and Nystatin Interactions with Polysorbate 80

Amphotericin B (AmB) and Nystatin (Nys) are the drugs of choice for treatment of systemic and superficial mycotic infections, respectively, with their full clinical potential unrealized due to the lack of high therapeutic index formulations for their solubilized delivery. In the present study, using a coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach, we investigated the interaction of AmB and Nys with Polysorbate 80 (P80) to gain insight into the behavior of these polyene antibiotics (PAs) in nanomicellar solution and derive potential implications for their formulation development. While the encapsulation process was predominantly governed by hydrophobic forces, the dynamics, hydration, localization, orientation, and solvation of PAs in the micelle were largely controlled by hydrophilic interactions. Simulation results rationalized the experimentally observed capability of P80 in solubilizing PAs by indicating (i) the dominant kinetics of drugs encapsulation over self-association; (ii) significantly lower hydration of the drugs at encapsulated state compared with aggregated state; (iii) monomeric solubilization of the drugs; (iv) contribution of drug-micelle interactions to the solubilization; (v) suppressed diffusivity of the encapsulated drugs; (vi) high loading capacity of the micelle; and (vii) the structural robustness of the micelle against drug loading. Supported from the experimental data, our simulations determined the preferred location of PAs to be the core-shell interface at the relatively shallow depth of 75% of micelle radius. Deeper penetration of PAs was impeded by the synergistic effects of (i) limited diffusion of water; and (ii) perpendicular orientation of these drug molecules with respect to the micelle radius. PAs were solvated almost exclusively in the aqueous poly-oxyethylene (POE) medium due to the distance-related lack of interaction with the core, explaining the documented insensitivity of Nys solubilization to drug-core compatibility in detergent micelles. Based on the obtained results, the dearth of water at interior sites of micelle and the large lateral occupation space of PAs lead to shallow insertion, broad radial distribution, and lack of core interactions of the amphiphilic drugs. Hence, controlled promotion of micelle permeability and optimization of chain crowding in palisade layer may help to achieve more efficient solubilization of the PAs.
La violencia en parejas jóvenes

Violence among young partners. This study examines the relationship among the following variables: a) the level of violence among young partners, b) several indica tors r elated with the f amily conte xt (witnessing marital violence, physical punishment, affection, and justice a ttributed to parents), and c) the preference to some partner’ s characteristics (attr active, communicative, and able to def end his/her opinions). A sample of 1146 students w as surveyed. The results showed significant differences between f athers and mothers on marital behaviour, b ut not among y oung partners. T he lineal regression analyses reveal the factors that predict violence in young partners.
Stability in Mother–Child Interactions From Infancy Through Adolescence

Objective. This study examined homotypic stability in mother–child interactions, applying similar rating scales of mother–child interactions at 1 and 4.5 years, and heterotypic stability from 1 to 13 years and 4.5 to 13 years, using conceptually similar but not identical rating scales at age 13. Design. The authors coded videotaped mother–child interactions in 202 families when children were 1, 4.5, and 13 years of age during age-appropriate and developmentally salient structured tasks for relationship quality. Results. Multiple regression analyses controlled for the effects of child birth order and gender as well as maternal age and education. Maternal and dyadic, but not child, interaction qualities at 1 year significantly predicted similar or equivalent constructs at 4.5 and 13 years. Heterotypic stability from 1 to 13 years was partially or fully mediated by the same constructs at 4.5 years. Conclusions. Maternal behaviors showed a pattern of homotypic and heterotypic stability, whereas dyadic behaviors were somewhat less stable. Child behaviors showed evidence of homotypic and heterotypic instability.
SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE USE OF THE NATIVE LANGUAGE IN ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE TEACHING

Whether or not, or to what extent, the native language of the learner should be used in the foreign language class is a perennial problem of discussion among language teachers. Some language teachers-especially those who believe in the so-called “direct method”-make the exclusive use of the foreign language the main feature of their teaching and condemn use of the native language quite categorically. Most linguists concerned with language teaching have generally been less categorical in condemning the use of the native language and have admitted it for certain purposes.1 What are then the possible uses of the native language, and what are the main dangers connected with the use of the native language? This short article does not pretend either to exhaust the subject or to present the views of “linguistics” on that subject: it merely gives the reflections of one linguist, who has for some years been concerned with foreign language teaching in general, and more specifically with the teaching of French to native speake r s of English. I and probably most language teachers, linguist or nonlinguist, believe that the foreign language class should afford a maximum of active practice in the foreign language. Those of us who are linguists have come to the conclusion that this practice should be directed toward acquiring specific sentence patterns in the foreign language, and should concentrate systematically on the points of difficulty: those sounds, vocabulary problems o r structures in which the foreign language clashes with the native language of the learner2 As a general rule I believe that the native language is used to advantage if it frees additional classroom time for that type of practice. Some of the major reasons for the use of the native language are there1 fore the following: 1. Certain phases of classroom instruction can be accomplished more economically in the native language. Two possible uses of the native language come to my mind under this heading of economy:
Structural Correlates of Apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Apathy is the most common noncognitive symptom inAlzheimer’s disease (AD). The structural correlates of apathy in AD have not yet been described. Methods: We analyzed magnetic resonance imaging data of 35 AD patients with and without apathy. Results: There was a significant linear association between apathy severity and cortical gray matter atrophy in the bilateral anterior cingulate [Brodmann area (BA) 24; r = 0.39–0.42, p = 0.01] and left medial frontal cortex (BA 8 and 9; r = 0.4, p < 0.02). Left mean cingulate cortical thinning predicted the presence/absence of apathy at the trend level of significance. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a strong association between apathy and the integrity of medial frontal regions in AD.
Antioxidant Effects of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Supplementation in Hyperlipidemic Rats

Increased consumption of fresh vegetables that are high in polyphenols has been associated with a reduced risk of oxidative stress-induced disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of spinach in vitro and in vivo in hyperlipidemic rats. For measurement of in vitro antioxidant activity, spinach was subjected to hot water extraction (WE) or ethanol extraction (EE) and examined for total polyphenol content (TPC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), and antigenotoxic activity. The in vivo antioxidant activity of spinach was assessed using blood and liver lipid profiles and antioxidant status in rats fed a high fat-cholesterol diet (HFCD) for 6 weeks. The TPC of WE and EE were shown as 1.5±0.0 and 0.5±0.0 mg GAE/g, respectively. Increasing the concentration of the extracts resulted in increased ORAC value, CAA, and antigenotoxic activity for all extracts tested. HFCD-fed rats displayed hyperlipidemia and increased oxidative stress, as indicated by a significant rise in blood and liver lipid profiles, an increase in plasma conjugated diene concentration, an increase in liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, and a significant decrease in manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity compared with rats fed normal diet. However, administration of 5% spinach showed a beneficial effect in HFCD rats, as indicated by decreased liver TBARS level and DNA damage in leukocyte and increased plasma conjugated dienes and Mn-SOD activity. Thus, the antioxidant activity of spinach may be an effective way to ameliorate high fat and cholesterol diet-induced oxidative stress.
Violence in Television Advertising: Content Analysis and Audience Attitudes

This article features a cross-cultural examination of the presentation of violence in advertising and a description of public opinion trends concerning the appearance of this material in mainstream TV commercials. A content analysis of 1,785 American ads and 1,467 Israeli ads maps the representation of violence in TV advertising in the two countries and finds it present in 2.5% of the American advertisements and in 1.5% of the Israeli advertisements. The most frequently depicted conduct in the two countries is bare-handed assault. Sexual violence is not presented at all. A public opinion survey shows that concerns over the appearance of violence in advertising are correlated with an exaggerated estimation of its prevalence, and, specifically, an overestimation of the frequency of vandalism and assaults that use a cold weapon.
African American and Hispanic Student Engagement at Minority Serving and Predominantly White Institutions

Although scholars have examined historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in terms of their educational effectiveness for African American students compared to predominantly white institutions (PWIs), there is a lack of similar research on Hispanic students at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and PWIs. This study uses data from the 2003 administration of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to investigate whether HSIs appear to serve Hispanic students in similar ways that HBCUs serve African American students. The results suggest that the average Hispanic senior at an HSI looks quite similar to the average Hispanic senior at a PWI in terms of engagement, satisfaction with college, and gains in overall development, in contrast to the results for African American seniors who are more engaged at HBCUs than PWIs.
The effect of honey‐coated bandages compared with silver‐coated bandages on treatment of malignant wounds—a randomized study

Malignant wounds (MWs) occur in 5–10% of all cancer patients. Malodor and exudation are the most common side effects. The aim was to determine the influence of honey‐coated compared with silver‐coated bandages on treatment of MWs. Patients were randomly selected to enter either group A (honey‐coated bandages) or group B (silver‐coated bandages). Parameters were the following: wound size, cleanliness, malodor, exudation, and wound pain. Digital photographs, visual analog scales (VAS), and wound morphology registration were used for measurement at baseline and following the 4‐week intervention. Sixty‐nine patients with MWs and advanced cancer, aged 47–90 (median 65.6), were included. No statistically significant difference was noted between the groups with respect to wound size, degree of cleanliness, exudation, malodor, and wound pain. There was a median decrease in wound size of 15 cm2 and 8 cm2 in group A and B, respectively (p = 0.63). Based on post‐intervention pooled data from the groups, improvement was seen in 62% of the participants with respect to wound size and in 58% (n = 69) with respect to cleanliness. The VAS score for malodor (p = 0.007) and exudation (p < 0.0001) improved significantly post‐intervention.