Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of COPD treatments on MRP1-mediated transport in bronchial epithelial cells

Background Smoking is the principle risk factor for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is known to protect against toxic compounds and oxidative stress, and might play a role in protection against smoke-induced disease progression. We questioned whether MRP1-mediated transport is influenced by pulmonary drugs that are commonly prescribed in COPD. Methods The immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o− was used to analyze direct in vitro effects of budesonide, formoterol, ipratropium bromide and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on MRP1-mediated transport. Carboxyfluorescein (CF) was used as a model MRP1 substrate and was measured with functional flow cytometry. Results Formoterol had a minor effect, whereas budesonide concentration-dependently decreased CF transport by MRP1. Remarkably, addition of formoterol to the highest concentration of budesonide increased CF transport. Ipratropium bromide inhibited CF transport at low concentrations and tended to increase CF transport at higher levels. NAC increased CF transport by MRP1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions Our data suggest that, besides their positive effects on respiratory symptoms, budesonide, formoterol, ipratropium bromide, and NAC modulate MRP1 activity in bronchial epithelial cells. Further studies are required to assess whether stimulation of MRP1 activity is beneficial for long-term treatment of COPD.
Spectroscopic Identification of Faint White Dwarf Candidates in the Praesepe Open Star Cluster

We present spectroscopic observations of four previously unidentified candidate white dwarfs (WDs) in Praesepe. All four candidates are quasars with redshifts between 0.8 and 2.8. One quasar, LB 6072, is observed to have a strong metal-line absorption system blueward of the quasar redshift. The lack of additional WDs in Praesepe leaves the total known WD population of the cluster at five, well below the number expected from commonly assumed initial mass functions, although several undiscovered cluster WDs may lie in the outer regions of the cluster. All known Praesepe member WDs are concentrated within 0. °6 of the cluster center, and the radial profile of cluster WDs is quite similar to the profile of massive cluster stars. This profile is mildly inconsistent with that of ∼1 M⊙ cluster stars and suggests that the WDs did not receive a velocity kick during the progenitor star's mass-loss phase. If complete, the observed Praesepe WD population is consistent with a steeper high-end initial mass function than is commonly assumed, although the calculated slopes are inconsistent with the present-day mass function of Praesepe. Searches for WDs outside the core of Praesepe and further study of the WD populations of additional open clusters are necessary to constrain further the underlying cause of the WD deficit.
College readiness in Palm Beach County: A comparison of educational outcomes between charter and traditional public high schools

COLLEGE READINESS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: A COMPhRISON OF EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES BETWEEN CHARTER AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS The purpose of this study was to investigate if charter schools at the high school level and the choice they provide have an impact on educational outcomes in Palm Beach County, FL. The SAT-I scores, Verbal and Math, of students in traditional high schools were compared with students in charter high schools using Hierarchical Linear Modeling to examine how both student characteristics and school level characteristics impacted scores. Two Graduation cohorts of students, 20 10 and 20 1 1, were used totaling over 1 1,000 students. The quantitative results determined that there was no significant difference between traditional public high school Verbal scores and charter high school Verbal scores, in either cohorts of students, when student demographics were controlled for. However, when the comparison was analyzed for Math scores, traditional high school students significantly outscore charter high school students, even when students of the same characteristics and demographics are compared. The study revealed that there is more variation between students within schools than there is variation between school types.
Curriculum innovation through teacher certification : evaluation of a government intervention and its effects on teacher development and English language pedagogy in South Korea

Teacher certification schemes are used in increasing numbers of contexts worldwide, including Korea. Despite their high stakes such as their use in decisions regarding promotion, as well as the related cost, there has been relatively little documentation of their implementation procedures and subsequent impact. This thesis contributes to filling this research gap through documenting the procedure and impact of one such scheme. The aims of the scheme in question, known as the ‘Teaching English in English’ scheme, are developing teachers’ expertise in relation to building students’ communicative competence, promoting English as the medium of instruction, and increasing the quality of English education in Korea. The present research adopts a qualitative interpretive approach and a case study method. The data collected include policy documents and practical documents generated during the certification procedure; interviews with eighteen different stakeholders including the policy makers, teacher assessors, teacher trainers, and English language teachers; and observation of the procedures, including the assessed lessons and teacher training. This study draws on research about language teaching expertise, teacher cognition and development, English language teaching (ELT) innovation, policy enactment and teacher evaluation. The study contributes to understanding of curriculum innovations by establishing a tentative relationship among those factors which were identified as shaping the process and impact of curriculum innovations such as their characteristics, contextual constraints and supports, and the stakeholders’ personal beliefs and identities. It also presents a compexified view of the process and impact of teacher evaluation and teacher development. This study invites all who are involved in education to revisit the meaning of success regarding ELT-policy interventions, draws attention to the need for evaluating their realised process against a well-defined concept of localised ELT expertise, and contributes to our understanding of the requirements underpinning their success and the effect they have on teacher development.
Assessing enablement in clinical practice: a systematic review of available instruments

Rationale, aims and objectives Enablement is an intervention by which the health care provider recognizes, promotes and enhances patients' ability to control their health and life. An abundant health literature suggests that enablement is associated with good outcomes. In this review, we aimed at identifying and comparing instruments that assess enablement in the health care context. Method We conducted a systematic literature review using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Cinahl and PsycINFO databases, 1980 through March 2009, with specific search strategy for each database. Citations were included if they reported: (1) development and/or validation of an instrument; (2) evaluation of enablement in a health care context; and (3) quantitative results following administration of the instrument. The quality of each main retained citation was assessed using a modified version of the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy. Results Of 3135 citations identified, 53 were retrieved for detailed evaluation. Four articles were included. Two instruments were found: the Patient Empowerment Scale (PES) and the Empowering Speech Practices Scale (ESPS). Both instruments assessed enablement in hospital setting, one from the inpatient's perspective (PES) and the other from both perspectives (ESPS). Conclusion Two instruments assess enablement in hospital setting. No instrument is currently available to assess enablement in an ambulatory care context.
Relationship of lycopene intake and consumption of tomato products to incident CVD

Evidence for cardioprotective effects of lycopene is inconsistent. Studies of circulating lycopene generally report inverse associations with CVD risk, but studies based on lycopene intake do not. The failure of dietary studies to support the findings based on biomarkers may be due in part to misclassification of lycopene intakes. To address this potential misclassification, we used repeated measures of intake obtained over 10 years to characterise the relationship between lycopene intake and the incidence of CVD (n 314), CHD (n 171) and stroke (n 99) in the Framingham Offspring Study. Hazard ratios (HR) for incident outcomes were derived from Cox proportional hazards regression models using logarithmically transformed lycopene intake adjusted for CVD risk factors and correlates of lycopene intake. HR were interpreted as the increased risk for a 2·7-fold difference in lycopene intake, a difference approximately equal to its interquartile range. Using an average of three intake measures with a 9-year follow-up, lycopene intake was inversely associated with CVD incidence (HR 0·83, 95 % CI 0·70, 0·98). Using an average of two intake measures and 11 years of follow-up, lycopene intake was inversely associated with CHD incidence (HR 0·74, 95 % CI 0·58, 0·94). Lycopene intake was unrelated to stroke incidence. The present study of lycopene intake and CVD provides supporting evidence for an inverse association between lycopene and CVD risk; however, additional research is needed to determine whether lycopene or other components of tomatoes, the major dietary source of lycopene, are responsible for the observed association.
An Energgy Efficient Self-healing Mechanism for Long Life Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we provide an energy efficient selfhealing mechanism for Wireless Sensor Networks. The proposed solution is based on our probabilistic sentinel scheme. To reduce energy consumption while maintaining good connectivity between sentinel nodes, we compose our solution on two main concepts, node adaptation and link adaptation. The first algorithm uses node adaptation technique and permits to distributively schedule nodes activities and select a minimum subset of active nodes (sentry) to monitor the interest region. And secondly, we introduce a link control algorithm to ensure better connectivity between sentinel nodes while avoiding outliers appearance. Without increasing control messages overhead, performances evaluations show that our solution is scalable with a steady energy consumption. Simulations carried out also show that the proposed mechanism ensures good connectivity between sentry nodes while considerably reducing the total energy spent.
Unions and labour market institutions in Europe

We investigate the evolution of unionisation, considering both economic and institutional factors. While economists typically study the effects of labour market institutions treating unionisation as given and focusing on rent-seeking motivations, in this paper we study how union membership is itself related to the economic environment and, in particular, to labour market institutions. We argue that, if unions provide insurance against income and/or unemployment risks, government policies aimed at increasing worker security can alter workers' incentives to join unions. The empirical analysis focuses on the evolution of union density in 14 European countries over the post-War period. The traditional view of unions as coalitions of workers engaged in rent-seeking activities is analysed and contrasted with the complementary view that unions and labour market institutions provide (second best) protection against uninsurable labour market risks. Results suggest that rent sharing behaviour is weakly related to aggregate unionisation patterns, while economic shocks and labour market institutions appear to be more relevant in explaining cross-country differences in unionisation patterns. Institutions such as employment protection legislation, wage indexation, statutory minimum wages appear to crowd out unions, while institutional features that make it easier for unions to function (such as workplace representation and centralised wage bargaining) are empirically associated with higher unionisation. In the context of the ongoing debate on flexibility-oriented reforms and evolving European institutions - such as the European Monetary Union (EMU), the European Social Charter (ESC) and more generally the system of welfare provisions - the results in this paper offer implications both for the design of European institutions as well as for future of trade unions in Europe.
Temporal emphasis for goal extraction in task demonstration to a humanoid robot by naive users

Goal extraction in learning by demonstration is a complex problem. A novel approach, inspired by developmental psychology and focused on use in experiments with naive users, is presented in this paper. Participants were presenting a simple task, how to stack three boxes, to the humanoid robot iCub. The stationary states of the task - 1 box, 2 boxes stacked, 3 boxes stacked - were defined and the time span of each state was measured. Analysis of the results showed that there is a significant result that users tend to keep the boxes stationary longer upon completion of the end goal than upon completion of the sub-goals. A simple and straightforward learning algorithm was then used on the demonstration data, using only the time spans of the stationary states. The learning algorithm successfully detected the end goal. These temporal differences, functioning as emphasis, could be used as a complementary mechanism for goal extraction in imitation learning. Furthermore, it is suggested that since a simple, straightforward learning algorithm can use these pauses to recognise the goal state, humans may also be able to use this pause as a complementary mechanism for recognising the goal state of a task.
Communication Optimization of Parallel Applications on Network of Workstations Using Key Messages

Network based distributed computing has been gaining popularity over the past decade. Many parallel programming languages and related parallel programming modes are becoming widely accepted. However, the execution of parallel applications on distributed systems has been hampered by the high communication overhead. To reduce the communication overhead and the completion time of a parallel application, we propose a Key Message model for parallel computing on Network of Workstations (NOW). In the Key Message model, all messages generated in a key message path are prioritized. A Key Message path in a task graph is deened as the critical communication in the task graph, which is automatically identiied by the Key Message algorithm. In this paper, we rst describe a queueing system model on which our approach is based, then introduce the algorithm that identiies the key message paths to be prioritized in a parallel application. The cost of the algorithm is also analyzed, and the performance of the algorithm is studied using a simulation. Our preliminary analysis of the algorithm shows improvement over the systems which do not use prioritization scheme.
Propofol attenuates hydrogenperoxide-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via multiple signaling pathways

Background Propofol has been reported to protect vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and examined the possible signaling pathways. Methods HUVECs were pretreated with propofol (1, 5, 25, and 50 µM) for 30 min and then co-incubated with 0.4 mM H2O2 for 4 h. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and evaluated by quantifying caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression levels. The expression levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, cJun-N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated (p)-JNK, Akt and phosphorylated Akt [(p)-Akt] (Ser473) were measured by western blotting. Results H2O2 treatment induced the activation of caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated Bax expression, all of which were dose-dependently attenuated by propofol pretreatment. Furthermore, propofol significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt in HUVECs. Conclusions Propofol can protect HUVECs against H2O2-induced apoptosis via a mechanism that may involve p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt signaling pathways.
Structural Differences in Gray Matter between Glider Pilots and Non-Pilots. A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

Glider flying is a unique skill that requires pilots to control an aircraft at high speeds in three dimensions and amidst frequent full-body rotations. In the present study, we investigated the neural correlates of flying a glider using voxel-based morphometry. The comparison between gray matter densities of 15 glider pilots and a control group of 15 non-pilots exhibited significant gray matter density increases in left ventral premotor cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and the supplementary eye field. We posit that the identified regions might be associated with cognitive and motor processes related to flying, such as joystick control, visuo-vestibular interaction, and oculomotor control.
Clinical Performance of Emergency Surgical Officers in Southern Ethiopia

Background Serious shortage of gynecologists and surgeons for several decades leading to a three-year masters level training was initiated in 2009. However, systematic analysis was not done to assess the graduates' performance. The purpose of this study was to assess improvement in access to emergency surgical and obstetrical care services. Methods Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess the competence of emergency surgical officers (ESOs) in their decision making and surgical skills in eight hospitals between 2012 and 2014. Anesthesia time, post-operative hospital stay and change in hemoglobin level were, among others, used as proxy indicators of their surgical skills. Results A total of 4075 obstetric and surgical operations was performed in the study hospitals. Of which, 93% were done on emergency base. Of the total emergency procedures, 3570(94%) were done by ESOs. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of all the emergency operations were cesarean sections, which were done by ESOs. Out of 239 uterine ruptures, hysterectomy was done for 58%. The proportion of cesarean and instrumental deliveries over the total deliveries were 13% and 0.7%, respectively. Explorative laparotomies and appendectomies were the majority of the non-obstetric emergency operations. Interviewed staff in the respective hospitals stated that ESOs' clinical decision making, surgical skill and commitment to discharge their responsibilities were in the best possible. Conclusions The study showed that deployment of ESOs made the emergency surgery services accessible to the majority, and their clinical decision making and surgical skills were remarkable.
The M31 Globular Cluster Luminosity Function

We combine our compilation of photometry of M31 globular clusters and probable cluster candidates with new near-infrared photometry for 30 objects. Using these data we determine the globular cluster luminosity function (GCLF) in multiple filters for the M31 halo clusters. We find a GCLF peak and dispersion V = 16.84 ± 0.11, σt = 0.93 ± 0.13 (Gaussian σ = 1.20 ± 0.14), consistent with previous results. The halo GCLF peak colors (e.g., B - V) are consistent with the average cluster colors. We also measure V-band GCLF parameters for several other subsamples of the M31 globular cluster population. The inner third of the clusters have a GCLF peak significantly brighter than that of the outer clusters (ΔV0 ≈ 0.5 mag). Dividing the sample by both galactocentric distance and metallicity, we find that the GCLF also varies with metallicity, as the metal-poor clusters are on average 0.36 mag fainter than the metal-rich clusters. Our modeling of the catalog selection effects suggests that they are not the cause of the measured GCLF differences, but a more complete, less contaminated M31 cluster catalog is required for confirmation. Our results imply that dynamical destruction is not the only factor causing variation in the M31 GCLF: metallicity, age, and cluster initial mass function may also be important.
Liquidity Transformation Factors of Islamic Banks: An Empirical Analysis

Islamic banks face restrictions in refinancing due to the guidelines of the Shariah prohibiting financial contracts and transactions ba sed on interest, gambling and speculation as same as due to the lack of liquidity sources such a s an interbank market, a lender of last resort or an asset market. This is the first study with empir ical cross-country results focusing on liquidity transformation of Islamic banks. Over the period fr om 2000 to 2007, we analyze the influence of specific financial system and institutional charact eristics of Islamic banks on liquidity transformation. We include bank data from Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), Southeast Asia and further Brunei, Egypt and Turkey. Our results r eveal that the liquidity transformation of Islamic banks is highly negatively determined by es pecially bank risk-taking and interbank demand compared with a control group of (interest-based) banks which conduct their business according to Western industrial countries.
The CDF Measurement of the Top Quark Charge using the Top Decay Products in Lepton + Jet channel

We report on the measurement of the top quark charge using the decay products of the top quark. There are three main components to this measurement: determining the charge of the W (using the charge of the lepton), pairing the W with the b jet to ensure that they are from the same top decay branch and finally getting the flavor of the b jet using the Jet Charge algorithm. Using 5.6fb of data we found the result to be consistent with the standard model, while excluding an exotic quark hypothesis with 99% confidence.
Regulation of T Cell Differentiation and Alloimmunity by the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18ink4c

Cellular proliferation in response to mitogenic stimuli is negatively regulated by the Cip/Kip and the Ink4 families of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. Several of these proteins are elevated in anergic T cells, suggesting a potential role in the induction or maintenance of tolerance. Our previous studies showed that p27kip1 is required for the induction of T cell anergy and transplantation tolerance by costimulatory blockade, but a role for Ink4 proteins in these processes has not been established. Here we show that CD4+ T cells from mice genetically deficient for p18ink4c divide more rapidly than wild-type cells in response to antigenic, costimulatory and growth factor signals. However, this gain of proliferative function was accompanied by a moderate increase in the rate of cell death, and was accompanied by an overall defect in the generation of alloreactive IFNγ-producing effector cells. Consistent with this, p18ink4c-deficient T cells were unable to induce graft-vs-host disease in vivo, and p18ink4c deficiency cooperated with costimulatory blockade to significantly increase the survival of fully mismatched allografts in a cardiac transplantation model. While both p18ink4c and p27kip1 act to restrict T cell proliferation, p18ink4c exerts an opposite effect from p27kip1 on alloimmunity and organ transplant rejection, most likely by sustaining T cell survival and the development of effector function. Our studies point to additional important links between the cell cycle machinery and the processes of T cell differentiation, survival and tolerance.