Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation between grammatical competence and pragmatic competence among Iranian university EFL learners / Seyedeh Sepideh Mojabi

This study sought to determine the levels of pragmatic competence among Iranian EFL learners and to correlate these levels with their levels of grammatical competence. In order to do this, separate tests were devised. One set of tests was designed to measure pragmatic competence. A second set of tests was devised to test grammatical competence. The difference between their pragmatic competence and grammatical competence was examined for any significant correlation between them. In addition, the effect of learning methods on the pragmatic and grammatical competence was tested. The findings show that there is a weak or no correlation between EFL Iranian university students’ grammatical competence and their pragmatic competence. The findings also show that learning methods do have a significant effect on the Iranian students’ pragmatic and grammar competence. In addition, the study shows a predominance of traditional teaching and learning practices in Iran.
Management of malignant pericardial effusion with instillation of mitomycin C in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of mitomycin C in the local control of malignant pericardial effusion, we carried out a trial of pericardial drainage with local instillation of mitomycin C in eight patients who suffered from cardiac tamponade or symptomatic large pericardial effusion caused by advanced non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS After complete removal of the pericardial effusion by an ultrasound-guided inserted catheter, 2 mg of mitomycin C was instilled into the pericardial space via the catheter. RESULTS The drainage catheter was successfully removed in all patients. The duration of pericardial drainage ranged from 7 to 14 days (median 10.5 days). Six of the eight patients achieved a complete remission of pericardial effusions without any adverse effects. CONCLUSION Intrapericardial instillation of 2 mg of mitomycin C was feasible and demonstrated a promising response against malignant pericardial effusion resulting from non-small cell lung cancer.
Natural Hybridization between Genera That Diverged from Each Other Approximately 60 Million Years Ago

A fern from the French Pyrenees—×Cystocarpium roskamianum—is a recently formed intergeneric hybrid between parental lineages that diverged from each other approximately 60 million years ago (mya; 95% highest posterior density: 40.2–76.2 mya). This is an extraordinarily deep hybridization event, roughly akin to an elephant hybridizing with a manatee or a human with a lemur. In the context of other reported deep hybrids, this finding suggests that populations of ferns, and other plants with abiotically mediated fertilization, may evolve reproductive incompatibilities more slowly, perhaps because they lack many of the premating isolation mechanisms that characterize most other groups of organisms. This conclusion implies that major features of Earth’s biodiversity—such as the relatively small number of species of ferns compared to those of angiosperms—may be, in part, an indirect by-product of this slower “speciation clock” rather than a direct consequence of adaptive innovations by the more diverse lineages.
Cellular Response to Ciprofloxacin in Low-Level Quinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli

Bactericidal activity of quinolones has been related to a combination of DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and programmed cell death (PCD) systems. The underlying molecular systems responsible for reducing bactericidal effect during antimicrobial therapy in low-level quinolone resistance (LLQR) phenotypes need to be clarified. To do this and also define possible new antimicrobial targets, the transcriptome profile of isogenic Escherichia coli harboring quinolone resistance mechanisms in the presence of a clinical relevant concentration of ciprofloxacin was evaluated. A marked differential response to ciprofloxacin of either up- or downregulation was observed in LLQR strains. Multiple genes implicated in ROS modulation (related to the TCA cycle, aerobic respiration and detoxification systems) were upregulated (sdhC up to 63.5-fold) in mutants with LLQR. SOS system components were downregulated (recA up to 30.7-fold). yihE, a protective kinase coding for PCD, was also upregulated (up to 5.2-fold). SdhC inhibition sensitized LLQR phenotypes (up to ΔLog = 2.3 after 24 h). At clinically relevant concentrations of ciprofloxacin, gene expression patterns in critical systems to bacterial survival and mutant development were significantly modified in LLQR phenotypes. Chemical inhibition of SdhC (succinate dehydrogenase) validated modulation of ROS as an interesting target for bacterial sensitization.
Acid Rather Than Nonacid Reflux Burden Is a Predictor of Tooth Erosion

Objectives: The relation between tooth erosion (TE) and gastroesophageal reflux in children has not been clearly established, and there are no studies to determine the relation with refluxate height, nonacid reflux, and erosions. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between TE and acid and nonacid gastroesophageal refluxes measured using combined pH and multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII). Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of children presenting for pH-MII testing. Once informed consent was obtained, patients completed questionnaires about their reflux symptoms and diet, and then underwent pH-MII catheter placement and a dental examination. The Keels-Coffield erosion index was used to score the extent and severity of TE. Reflux parameters of patients with and without TE were compared using Student t test and correlations were performed using Spearman correlations. Results: A total of 27 patients participated in the study, all of whom were on acid suppression at the time of pH-MII testing. Of the 27 patients, 10 (37%) had TE. There were significant positive correlations between acid reflux episodes (r = 0.44, P = 0.02), the percentage of time that acid reflux was present in the distal esophagus (r = 0.44, P = 0.02), and reflux index (r = 0.54, P = 0.004) with the number of TE in a given patient. The percentage of time that acid reflux was present in the proximal esophagus was positively correlated with the number of teeth erosions per patient with borderline significance (r = 0.38, P = 0.05). Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between acid reflux parameters and TE. Acid, rather than nonacid reflux, seems to have a significant role in the pathogenesis of TE.
Recording of movement‐related potentials from the human cortex

A patient with intractable epilepsy secondary to a brain tumor was evaluated with a chronically implanted array of 64 stainless‐steel subdural electrodes covering the perirolandic area. Cortical potentials associated with voluntary, selfpaced middle‐finger extension were recorded simultaneously from subdural and scalp electrodes using a computerassisted method for averaging movement‐related potential (MRP) in relation to electromyographic (EMG) onset. A high‐amplitude negative potential, Bereitschaftspotential/negative slope (BP/NS′), preceding the onset of the EMG activity by more than 1 sec was recorded in an extremely localized fashion exclusively from electrodes placed in the precentral hand motor area as well as in the more medial part of the somatosensory hand area. These results suggest that the hand motor and sensory areas have an essential participation in the generation of MRPs and, therefore, also in the preparation of voluntary finger movements.
Cyclooxygenase, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase MAPK, Rho Kinase, and Src Mediate Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Contraction of Rat Thoracic Aorta and Vena Cava

In hypertension, blood vessels exhibit increased reactive oxygen species production that may alter vascular tone. We previously observed that H2O2 contracted rat thoracic vena cava under resting tone and aorta contracted with KCl. In arteries but not veins, H2O2-induced contraction required extracellular Ca2+ influx. Because of this difference in Ca2+ utilization, we hypothesized that signaling pathways mediating H2O2-induced contraction in vena cava under resting tone differed from those mediating H2O2-induced contraction in aorta contracted with KCl. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2 (indomethacin, 10 μM), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptors [ICI185282 (2RS,4RS,5SR-4-o-hydroxyphenyl-2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl heptenoic acid), 10 μM], p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) [SB203580 (4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-1H-imidazol-4-yl]pyridine), 10 μM], extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) [PD98059 (2′-amino-3′-methoxyflavone), 10 μM], src [PP1 (4-amino-5-(4-methylphenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, 10 μM], and rho kinase [Y27632 (trans-4-[(1R)-1-aminoethyl]-N-4-pyridinylcyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride), 10 μM], significantly reduced H2O2-induced contraction in vena cava under resting tone and aorta after KCl (30 mM) contraction. In contrast, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 20 μM] did not reduce aortic or venous H2O2-induced contraction. p38 MAPK, Erk MAPK, and src inhibition did not reduce aortic or venous contraction to the TXA2 receptor agonist U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9α,11α-methanoepoxy PGF2α, 1 μM), whereas rho kinase inhibition significantly reduced aortic and venous contraction to U46619, and PI3-K inhibition reduced venous contraction to U46619. Our data suggest that, in rat thoracic aorta and vena cava, a COX-derived metabolite is one important mediator of H2O2 contraction, possibly via rho kinase activation, and that H2O2-induced contraction via p38 and Erk MAPK probably occurs independently of TXA2 receptor activation.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Abstract The number of grandparents who are raising grandchildren has risen dramatically as the result of several social trends. Within this article, diversity aspects of this population are explored including characteristics of the grandparents and grandchildren. In addition, support groups, the primary intervention for custodial grandparents, are overviewed with specific attention to models that have relevance for subpopulations of care providers. Finally, child welfare and kinship care policies are examined and critiqued from a diversity perspective.
Enantiomeric specificity of (-)-2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl toward ryanodine receptor types 1 and 2.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with unsymmetrical chlorine substitutions and multiple orthosubstitutions that restrict rotation around the biphenyl bond may exist in two stable enantiomeric forms.Stereospecific binding and functional modification of specific biological signaling targets have not been previously described for PCB atropisomers. We report that (-)-2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl [(-)-PCB 136] enhances the binding of [3H]ryanodine to high-affinity sites on ryanodine receptors type 1(RyR1) and type 2 (RyR2) (EC50 values ~0.95 microM), whereas (+)-PCB 136 is inactive at < or =10 microM. (-)-PCB 136 induces a rapid release of Ca2+ from microsomal vesicles by selective sensitization of RyRs, an effect not antagonized by (+)-PCB 136. (-)-PCB 136 (500nM) enhances the activity of reconstituted RyR1 channels 3-fold by stabilizing the open and destabilizing the closed conformational states. The enantiomeric specificity is also demonstrated in intact HEK 293 cells expressing RyR1 where exposure to (-)-PCB 136 (100 nM; 12 h) sensitizes responses to caffeine, whereas (+)-PCB 136 does not. These data show enantiomeric specificity of (-)-PCB 136 toward a broadly expressed family of microsomal Ca2+ channels that may extend to other chiral noncoplanar PCBs and related structures.Evidence for enantioselective enrichment of PCBs in biological tissues that express RyR1 and RyR2channels may provide new mechanistic leads about their toxicological impacts on human health
Programs, materials, and techniques

High school counselors expend much effort assisting students in planning for their futures. Teachers present career and vocational units, take students on field trips, bring in guest speakers, and provide reading material about various occupations. When the pupil who is considering career planning also has a learning disability, the teacher and counselor must even more carefully plot exploration of possible jobs — in the elementary school curriculum as well as at the secondary level. Part of our efforts should also be directed toward earlier introduction of vocational information into the school curriculum. The last few years have, in fact, seen a move toward earlier introduction of career awareness activities and exploration of the world of work. This development seems a positive step in the direction of lessening the “I graduate in May, what am I going to do now? ” problem. This column does not attempt to address itself to the current issue of whether the major emphasis in secondary programming should be on basic skills, with career education as a subunit, or on a career education as the primary teaching goal. We do feel, however, that career awareness must be at least a part of the total curriculum for the learning disabled student. Further, many varied, and careful opportunities for exploring career possibilities will more likely result in job selections which will minimize the effect of various learning disabilities in individual students. We have included examples of career awareness, career exploration, and planning materials. Materials for young children are reviewed here, as well as materials suitable for secondary programming. We have also included materials in a variety of formats. — C.V. E. , B.W.
Variation of a test’s sensitivity and specificity with disease prevalence

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test may vary with disease prevalence. Our objective was to investigate the associations between disease prevalence and test sensitivity and specificity using studies of diagnostic accuracy. Methods: We used data from 23 meta-analyses, each of which included 10–39 studies (416 total). The median prevalence per review ranged from 1% to 77%. We evaluated the effects of prevalence on sensitivity and specificity using a bivariate random-effects model for each meta-analysis, with prevalence as a covariate. We estimated the overall effect of prevalence by pooling the effects using the inverse variance method. Results: Within a given review, a change in prevalence from the lowest to highest value resulted in a corresponding change in sensitivity or specificity from 0 to 40 percentage points. This effect was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for either sensitivity or specificity in 8 meta-analyses (35%). Overall, specificity tended to be lower with higher disease prevalence; there was no such systematic effect for sensitivity. Interpretation: The sensitivity and specificity of a test often vary with disease prevalence; this effect is likely to be the result of mechanisms, such as patient spectrum, that affect prevalence, sensitivity and specificity. Because it may be difficult to identify such mechanisms, clinicians should use prevalence as a guide when selecting studies that most closely match their situation.
Gauge/gravity duality and warped resolved conifold

We study supergravity backgrounds encoded through the gauge/string correspondence by the SU(N) × SU(N) theory arising on N D3-branes on the conifold. As discussed in hep-th/9905104, the dynamics of this theory describes warped versions of both the singular and the resolved conifolds through different (symmetry breaking) vacua. We construct these supergravity solutions explicitly and match them with the gauge theory with different sets of vacuum expectation values of the bi-fundamental fields A1,A2,B1,B2. For the resolved conifold, we find a non-singular SU(2) × U(1) × U(1) symmetric warped solution produced by a stack of D3-branes localized at a point on the blown-up 2-sphere. It describes a smooth RG flow from AdS5 × T1,1 in the UV to AdS5 × S5 in the IR, produced by giving a VEV to just one field, e.g. B2. The presence of a condensate of baryonic operator detB2 is confirmed using a Euclidean D3-brane wrapping a 4-cycle inside the resolved conifold. The Green's functions on the singular and resolved conifolds are central to our calculations and are discussed in some detail.
The majority of newly diagnosed patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis reach an inactive disease state within the first year of specialised care: data from a German inception cohort

Objective To describe the disease characteristics of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) included in an inception cohort, to analyse how many patients from each JIA category reach an inactive disease state within the first year of specialised care and to determine predictors for attaining inactive disease. Methods Patients with JIA were enrolled in this study at 11 large German paediatric rheumatology units within the first 12 months after diagnosis. Laboratory and clinical parameters such as JIA core criteria and data on the medication used were collected every 3 months. Non-parametric statistical testing was performed for the comparison of the JIA core criteria at follow-up. Generalised linear models were used to analyse differences in the rates at which inactive disease was reached and to determine potential predictors. Results Of the 695 patients with JIA included in this analysis, approximately 75% experienced a period of inactive disease under treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and systemic steroids in most cases with systemic-onset JIA or polyarthritis at least once during the first 12 months in ICON. Significant improvements were observed in all JIA core criteria, in disease activity and in functional status from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Younger age at onset, a shorter duration between symptom onset and diagnosis and a positive antinuclear antibody status increased the probability of attaining an inactive disease state. Conclusions The 12-month outcome of JIA was good under real-life conditions, with half of the patients having attained inactive disease with contemporary treatments. Since a short duration between symptom onset and diagnosis was correlated to a period of inactive disease, children suspected of having JIA should be transferred to specialised care as soon as possible.
High-grade pronator teres tear in a cricket batsman

We present a case of a torn pronator teres muscle of the right forearm that occurred following prolonged batting during recreational cricket. Previous reports of cricket injuries to batsmen describe phalanx fractures due to direct ball impact. However, we could find no prior reports of pronator teres or other upper-extremity muscle injury. Our patient demonstrated a high-grade tear to the pronator teres muscle and no injury to the collateral ligaments. In this case, repetitive use of the pronator and flexor muscles with quick acceleratory movements stressed this muscle group and resulted in injury.
Effects of Responsiveness and Sex of Children on Adult Males' Behavior.

CANTOR, NANCY L. ; WOOD, DAVID D. ; and CELFAND, DONNA M. Effects of Responsiveness and Sex of Children on Adult Males' Behavior. CmLD DEVELOPMENT, 1977, 48, 1426-1430. Child confederates were trained to enact responsive and unresponsive roles in interaction with adult males. In the responsive condition, the child confederates initiated conversation, asked for evaluations of their performance, and smiled when praised. In the unresponsive condition, the same children avoided looking at, smiling at, or talking to the men subjects. Responsive children received more praise, verbal help, and other forms of positive attention than unresponsive children. The adult males also rated responsive children as more likable. The results are contrasted with those obtained in a previous study of the reactions of women subjects.
The Danish cultural world of unbridgeable differences

This article looks at the contestation of foreign presence in Denmark from the perspective of popular consciousness. I infer the cultural world of Danish host and non-Danish guests from a pool of 55 in-depth interviews about multicultural issues. In this culturally figured world the guests are constructed as widely different cultural bearers who refuse to downplay their cultural markers, therefore upsetting the guests. According to this reasoning, the racial outburst of the hosts is caused solely by the unruly guests. Blaming the guests for creating racist responses, I contend, can best be understood as a naturalization of racism. This denial of racism in the popular sphere builds on the same culturalist construction of unbridgeable differences between a ‘we-group’ of ‘alike’ (or invisible) Danes and a visible ‘out group’ that dominates both popular and political understandings of immigrants and refugees in Denmark in the end of the 1990s.
Simple and Cost-Effective Restriction Endonuclease Analysis of Human Adenoviruses

Restriction endonuclease analyses (REAs) constitute the only inexpensive molecular approach capable of typing and characterizing human adenovirus (HAdV) strains based on the entire genome. However, the application of this method is limited by the need for time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures. We herein developed a simple and cost-effective REA for assessing HAdV. The method consists of (1) simple and cost-effective DNA extraction, (2) fast restriction endonuclease (RE) digestion, and (3) speedy mini agarose gel electrophoresis. In this study, DNA was isolated according to the kit-based method and 21.0 to 28.0 μg of viral DNA was extracted from prototypes (HAdV-1, HAdV-3, HAdV-4, and HAdV-37) in each flask. The amount of DNA ranged from 11.4 to 57.0 μg among the HAdV-3 (n = 73) isolates. The obtained viral DNA was found to be applicable to more than 10 types of REAs. Fast-cut restriction endonucleases (REs) were able to digest the DNA within 15 minutes, and restriction fragments were easily separated via horizontal mini agarose gel electrophoresis. The whole procedure for 10 samples can be completed within approximately six hours (the conventional method requires at least two days). These results show that our REA is potentially applicable in many laboratories in which HAdVs are isolated.