Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Major Determinants and Long-Term Outcomes of Successful Balloon Dilatation for the Pediatric Patients with Isolated Native Valvular Pulmonary Stenosis: A 10-Year Institutional Experience

PURPOSE We report herein major determinants and long-term outcomes of balloon dilatation (BD) for 27 pediatric patients with isolated native valvular pulmonary stenosis (VPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS From May 1997 to May 2003, 27 pediatric patients with VPS (pressure gradients >or= 40 mmHg) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Single-balloon maneuver was applied in 26 patients, and double-balloon maneuver in 1. After BD, the pressure gradients were documented simultaneously by pullback maneuver by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography within 24 hours, at 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, and 4-to-10-year follow-ups. RESULTS Before BD, the echocardiographic gradients ranged from 40 to 101 mmHg (61+/-19, 55), and from 40 to 144 mmHg (69+/-32, 60) by pressure recordings. After BD, the gradients ranged from 12 to 70 mmHg (29+/-13, 27) by pressure recording (p<0.001), and from 11 to 64 mmHg (27+/-12, 26) by echocardiography within 24 hrs (p<0.001). The ratios of the systolic pressure of the right ventricle to those of the left ventricle were 55 to 157% (89+/-28, 79%) before BD, and 30 to 79% (47 +/- 13, 42%) after BD (p<0.001). Follow-up (7.7+/-5.7, 4.5 years) echocardiographic gradients ranged from 11 to 61 mmHg (25+/-11, 24). Two patients did not have immediate success owing to infundibular spasm. Improved right ventricular compliance could be accounted for the ultimate success in these 2 patients. The ultimate successful rate was 100%. CONCLUSION BD can achieve excellent long-term outcomes in the pediatric patients with isolated native VPS.
Exposure to hexahydrophthalic and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydrides--dose-response for sensitization and airway effects.

OBJECTIVES This study clarified the exposure-response relationships for the organic acid anhydrides (OAA) hexahydrophthalic (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic (MHHPA) anhydrides and the development of specific immunoglobulin (IG) E and G antibodies and work-related symptoms. METHODS In an epoxy resin-using factory, air levels of OAA were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Occupational, smoking, and medical histories (questionnaire) were obtained for 154 exposed workers and 57 referents. Work-related symptoms of the eyes and airways were recorded, and OAA metabolites were analyzed in urine. A skin-prick test with common allergens and conjugates of OAA were performed. Specific IgE (radioallergosorbent test) and IgG (enzyme-linked immumosorbent assay) antibodies were determined in serum, and spirometry was performed. RESULTS Air levels of the OAA were low (HHPA < 1 to 94, MHHPA < 3 to 77 microg/m3) and associated with the concentrations of the OAA metabolites in urine. Furthermore, for the exposed workers, there were high prevalences of sensitization (IgE 22%, IgG 21%), which correlated with the exposure. Neither atopy nor smoking increased this risk significantly. Furthermore, work-related symptoms were more prevalent among the exposed workers than among the referents (eyes 23% versus 14%, nose 28% versus 16%, nose bleeding 8% versus 0%, lower airways 10% versus 4%), and they were related to the exposure (adjusted prevalence odds ratios (POR) in the highest group 7.7, 3.6 and 17, respectively) and the IgE levels (POR 4.9, 3.1 and 5.6, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In spite of the very low OAA levels in the air and metabolites in the urine, there were high and exposure-related risks of specific IgE and IgG sensitization and of work-related symptoms for the eyes, nose (especially bleeding), and lower airways.
Threat of Punishment Motivates Memory Encoding via Amygdala, Not Midbrain, Interactions with the Medial Temporal Lobe

Neural circuits associated with motivated declarative encoding and active threat avoidance have both been described, but the relative contribution of these systems to punishment-motivated encoding remains unknown. The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging in humans to examine mechanisms of declarative memory enhancement when subjects were motivated to avoid punishments that were contingent on forgetting. A motivational cue on each trial informed participants whether they would be punished or not for forgetting an upcoming scene image. Items associated with the threat of shock were better recognized 24 h later. Punishment-motivated enhancements in subsequent memory were associated with anticipatory activation of right amygdala and increases in its functional connectivity with parahippocampal and orbitofrontal cortices. On a trial-by-trial basis, right amygdala activation during the motivational cue predicted hippocampal activation during encoding of the subsequent scene; across participants, the strength of this interaction predicted memory advantages due to motivation. Of note, punishment-motivated learning was not associated with activation of dopaminergic midbrain, as would be predicted by valence-independent models of motivation to learn. These data are consistent with the view that motivation by punishment activates the amygdala, which in turn prepares the medial temporal lobe for memory formation. The findings further suggest a brain system for declarative learning motivated by punishment that is distinct from that for learning motivated by reward.
Coordinated Multi-Microgrids Optimal Control Algorithm for Smart Distribution Management System

This paper focuses on the decentralized optimal control algorithm for distribution management system by considering distribution network as coupled microgrids. Based on the autonomous control model of each single microgrid, coordinated information and strategies among different microgrids are used to decrease the operating cost of distributed generation, improve the efficiency of the distributed storages utilization, and reduce the complexity of distribution network operation. The optimal control problem of microgrids is modeled as a decentralized partially-observable Markov decision process (DEC-POMDP), and a coordinated dynamic programming algorithm is used to solve the problem by introducing a look-head dual multiplier mechanism as decentralized control signals from centralized information. The performances of this algorithm and the impacts of different coordinated information are discussed by some study cases in the end of this paper.
Involvement of c-FLIP and survivin down-regulation in flexible heteroarotinoid-induced apoptosis and enhancement of TRAIL-initiated apoptosis in lung cancer cells

The flexible heteroarotinoid, SHetA2, is a novel compound with apoptosis-inducing and anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. Our previous research showed that up-regulation of death receptor 5 plays a critical role in the mechanism of SHetA2-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. The hypothesis of this study was that the mechanism of SHetA2-induced apoptosis requires modulation of additional proteins critical for regulation of apoptosis, including cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), survivin, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bax, and Bim. Western blot analysis showed that c-FLIP and survivin were substantially reduced in all of the tested cell lines exposed to SHetA2 compared with other proteins that were reduced only in a subset of the cell lines tested. Strikingly, overexpression of c-FLIP, but not survivin, protected cells from SHetA2-induced apoptosis and enhancement of TRAIL-initiated apoptosis, although knockdown of endogenous survivin did slightly sensitize cells to SHetA2-induced apoptosis. Consistent with these results, small interfering RNA-mediated reduction of c-FLIP was more effective than survivin down-regulation in triggering apoptosis in these cell lines. SHetA2 increased ubiquitination of c-FLIP and the consequent degradation was abrogated by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Although SHetA2 treatment led to increased c-Jun phosphorylation, the JNK inhibitor SP600125 did not prevent c-FLIP down-regulation by SHetA2. Thus, it appears that SHetA2 down-regulates c-FLIP levels by facilitating its ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation independent of JNK activation. Collectively, the present study indicates that, in addition to death receptor 5 up-regulation, c-FLIP down-regulation is another important component of flexible heteroarotinoid (SHetA2)-induced apoptosis as well as enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(11):1–10] [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(11):3556–65]
Social Foundations of Thought and Action

bandura a 1986 social foundation of thought and, presents a comprehensive theory of human motivation and action from a social cognitive perspective this insightful text addresses the prominent roles played by cognitive vicarious self regulatory and self reflective processes in psychosocial functioning emphasizes reciprocal causation through the interplay of cognitive behavioral and environmental factors and systematically applies the, presents a comprehensive theory of human motivation and action from a social cognitive perspective this insightful text addresses the prominent roles played by cognitive vicarious self regulatory and self reflective processes in psychosocial functioning emphasizes reciprocal causation through the interplay of cognitive behavioral and environmental factors and systematically applies the,
Auto-inhibitory role of the EF-SAM domain of STIM proteins in store-operated calcium entry

Stromal interaction molecules (STIM)s function as endoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca2+) sensors that differentially regulate plasma membrane Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ channels in various cells. To probe the structural basis for the functional differences between STIM1 and STIM2 we engineered a series of EF-hand and sterile α motif (SAM) domain (EF-SAM) chimeras, demonstrating that the STIM1 Ca2+-binding EF-hand and the STIM2 SAM domain are major contributors to the autoinhibition of oligomerization in each respective isoform. Our nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) derived STIM2 EF-SAM structure provides a rationale for an augmented stability, which involves a 54° pivot in the EF-hand:SAM domain orientation permissible by an expanded nonpolar cleft, ionic interactions, and an enhanced hydrophobic SAM core, unique to STIM2. Live cells expressing “super-unstable” or “super-stable” STIM1/STIM2 EF-SAM chimeras in the full-length context show a remarkable correlation with the in vitro data. Together, our data suggest that divergent Ca2+- and SAM-dependent stabilization of the EF-SAM fold contributes to the disparate regulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry by STIM1 and STIM2.
WMAP constraints on low redshift evolution of dark energy

The conceptual difficulties associated with a cosmological constant have led to the investigation of alternative models in which the equation of state parameter, w=p/ρ, of the dark energy evolves with time. We show that combining the supernova type Ia observations with the constraints from WMAP observations restricts large variation of ρ(z) at low redshifts. The combination of these two observational constraints is stronger than either one. The results are completely consistent with the cosmological constant as the source of dark energy.
The social inclusion of learners with visual impairment in a mainstream secondary school in Namibia

According to Hatlen (2004), most learners with disabilities in an inclusive educational setting are socially isolated. This statement contributed to the research question of this study, how do learners with visual impairment experience the social aspects of their inclusion in a Namibian mainstream secondary school? The aim of this study was to design a case study to analyse and describe data collected from learners with visual impairment and other participants to determine how they are socially included in a mainstream setting. A qualitative research methodology was used, which included purposive sampling to select participants. The researcher functioned in an interpretive/constructivist paradigm. It was found that the learners with disabilities and the able-bodied learners do not truly mix, however, the learners with disabilities are content in the mainstream school and they prefer it.
Cold‐water immersion decreases cerebral oxygenation but improves recovery after intermittent‐sprint exercise in the heat

This study examined the effects of post‐exercise cooling on recovery of neuromuscular, physiological, and cerebral hemodynamic responses after intermittent‐sprint exercise in the heat. Nine participants underwent three post‐exercise recovery trials, including a control (CONT), mixed‐method cooling (MIX), and cold‐water immersion (10 °C; CWI). Voluntary force and activation were assessed simultaneously with cerebral oxygenation (near‐infrared spectroscopy) pre‐ and post‐exercise, post‐intervention, and 1‐h and 24‐h post‐exercise. Measures of heart rate, core temperature, skin temperature, muscle damage, and inflammation were also collected. Both cooling interventions reduced heart rate, core, and skin temperature post‐intervention (P < 0.05). CWI hastened the recovery of voluntary force by 12.7 ± 11.7% (mean ± SD) and 16.3 ± 10.5% 1‐h post‐exercise compared to MIX and CONT, respectively (P < 0.01). Voluntary force remained elevated by 16.1 ± 20.5% 24‐h post‐exercise after CWI compared to CONT (P < 0.05). Central activation was increased post‐intervention and 1‐h post‐exercise with CWI compared to CONT (P < 0.05), without differences between conditions 24‐h post‐exercise (P > 0.05). CWI reduced cerebral oxygenation compared to MIX and CONT post‐intervention (P < 0.01). Furthermore, cooling interventions reduced cortisol 1‐h post‐exercise (P < 0.01), although only CWI blunted creatine kinase 24‐h post‐exercise compared to CONT (P < 0.05). Accordingly, improvements in neuromuscular recovery after post‐exercise cooling appear to be disassociated with cerebral oxygenation, rather reflecting reductions in thermoregulatory demands to sustain force production.
Variables associated with intent to use learning style preference information by undergraduate nursing students

conceptualization (AC) and (b) active experimentations (AE) or reflective observation (RO). Using this model, students were classified into one of four types based on how they perceived information (CE/AC) and how they learn information (AE/RO). This theory stated that students used any of the four styles some of the time by claiming that the classification was a preferred method, not an exclusive one. Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory (LSI) categorized students according to this model (Willcoxson &
GENDER, OCCUPATIONAL CLASS AND WORK–LIFE CONFLICT

Although people from different countries may report similar scores on measures of work–life conflict, the factors which give rise to conflict may in fact be very different. Full-time working respondents to the 2002 Family module International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) in both Portugal and Britain were assessed for country, gender and occupational class differences in work–life conflict, focusing on both work and domestic spheres. Two distinct groups emerged as having very high levels of work–life conflict: routine and manual women in Portugal and professional and managerial women in Britain. It is suggested that very long hours of domestic work, combined with worries over unsatisfactory childcare arrangements and a lack of support from partners and informal networks, contribute to the high levels of conflict experienced by women working in routine and manual occupations in Portugal. The pressures of very long working hours, combined with a perception of increasing work demands, as well as additional domestic work, contribute to the high levels of work–life conflict for women working in professional and managerial occupations in Britain.
The Effects Of A Sustained, Job-Embedded Professional Development On Elementary Teachers' Math Teaching Self-Efficacy And The Resulting Effects On Their Students' Achievement

OF DISSERTATION Krista Louise Althauser College of Education Eastern Kentucky University 2010 THE EFFECTS OF A SUSTAINED, JOB-EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ MATH TEACHING SELFEFFICACY AND THE RESULTING EFFECTS ON THEIR STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATIONOF DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University By Krista Louise Althauser Richmond, Kentucky
Longer Years of Practice and Higher Education Levels Promote Infection Control in Iranian Dental Practitioners

Backgrounds Infection control is one of the primary responsibilities of dental health care personnel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the infection control practices of Iranian dentists and dental nurses working in governmental dental health care centers were influenced by their educational level and years of practice. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was completed in 2009, and it included 63 Iranian dental practitioners. Infection control knowledge was evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire, and infection control practices were evaluated with a checklist of questions by observation with one researcher. Results The dental practitioners in Mashad had a low level of infection control knowledge. Dental personnel with a higher educational level had significantly greater knowledge than those with less education. Additionally, dental personnel who had more years of practice had a greater knowledge of infection control. Conclusion Since dental practitioners working in Mashad governmental dental health care centers with fewer years of practice and less educational level had a low level of infection control knowledge, we recommend a continuing educational program for this group and dental nurses.
The Impact of Prior Entrepreneurial Exposure on Perceptions of New Venture Feasibility and Desirability*

Shapero (1975, 1982) proposed an Intentionality-based process model of the entrepreneurial event. Entrepreneurial intentions should derive from feasibility and desirability perceptions plus a propensity to act on opportunities. Prior entrepreneurship-related experiences should influence entrepreneurial intentions indirectly through these perceptions. Path analyses found that feasibility and desirability perceptions and propensity to act each proved significant antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions. Perceived feasibility was significantly associated with the breadth of prior exposure. Perceived desirability was significantly associated with the positiveness of that prior exposure. Strong support was found for Shapero's model, arguing for further application of intentions-based process models of entrepreneurial activity.
Surveying Moths Using Light Traps: Effects of Weather and Time of Year

Light trapping is an ideal method for surveying nocturnal moths, but in the absence of standardised survey methods effects of confounding factors may impede interpretation of the acquired data. We explored the influence of weather, time of year, and light source on nightly catches of macro moths in light traps, and compared four strategies for sampling by estimating observed species richness using rarefaction. We operated two traps with different light sources for 225 consecutive nights from mid-March to the end of October in eastern Germany in 2011. In total, 49 472 individuals of 372 species were recorded. Species richness and abundance per night were mainly influenced by night temperature, humidity and lamp type. With a limited sample size (<10 nights) it was slightly better to concentrate sampling on the warmest summer nights, but with more sampling nights it was slightly better to sample during the warmest nights in each month (March to October). By exploiting the higher moth activity during warm nights and an understanding of the species' phenology, it is possible to increase the number of species caught and reduce effects of confounding abiotic factors.
Surgical outcome of posterior fixation, including fractured vertebra, for thoracolumbar fractures

Objective: To evaluate the role of posterior fixation including the fractured vertebra (PFFV) for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. Methods: Sixty-seven patients that sustained a single-level thoracolumbar fracture were included in this retrospective study carried out in the Wuxi People’s Hospital, Wuxi, China between August 2010 and June 2013. Thirty-two cases were treated with PFFV, and 35 cases were treated with traditional short-segment fixation (TSSF). All patients were periodically followed-up with clinical and radiologic evaluation. Cobb’s angle and vertebral body height were analyzed and compared, and the operational time, intra-operational blood loss, and the Denis pain scale scores were also compared. Results: Compared with preoperative angles, the Cobb’s angles were reduced and the vertebral body height of the fractured vertebra was increased after operation at a statistically significant level. Twelve months post-operative, the loss of Cobb’s angle and vertebral body height in the PFFV group was significantly less than that in the TSSF group. There was no statistical significance in the Denis pain scale score 12 months post-operatively between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Selective adoption of PFFV is helpful not only for stabilization of fractures and restoration of anatomy, but also maintaining the effectiveness of the restoration with good functional outcome.
Wnt5A/CaMKII Signaling Contributes to the Inflammatory Response of Macrophages and Is a Target for the Antiinflammatory Action of Activated Protein C and Interleukin-10

Objective—Sepsis is a major cause of death for intensive care patients. High concentrations of inflammatory cytokines are characteristic of severe systemic inflammation and activated monocytes are their predominant cellular source. To identify targets for antiinflammatory intervention, we investigated the response of human macrophages to inflammatory and antiinflammatory mediators. Methods and Results—We profiled gene expression in human macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-γ in the presence or absence of recombinant activated protein C (APC) or IL-10 and identified Wnt5A as one of the transcripts most highly induced by LPS/IFN-γ and suppressed by APC and IL-10. We confirmed regulation of Wnt5A protein in macrophages and detected it in sera and bone marrow macrophages of patients with severe sepsis. We established that a functional Wnt5A/frizzled-5/CaMKII signaling pathway was essential for macrophage inflammatory activation. To prove the essential contribution of Wnt5A we measured inflammatory cytokines after stimulation with Wnt5A, silenced Wnt5A by siRNA, and blocked receptor binding with soluble Frizzled–related peptide-1 (sFRP1). Conclusion—Wnt5A is critically involved in inflammatory macrophage signaling in sepsis and is a target for antiinflammatory mediators like APC or antagonists like sFRP1.
Expected Returns, Yield Spreads, and Asset Pricing Tests

We construct firm-specific measures of expected equity returns using corporate bond yields, and replace standard ex postaverage returns with our expected-return measures in asset pricing tests. We find that the market beta is significantly priced in the cross section of expected returns. The expected size and value premiums are positive and countercyclical, but there is no evidence of positive expected momentum profits.