Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional improvement in cerebral palsy patients treated with botulinum toxin A injections – preliminary results

Authors report the preliminary results of an open‐label, prospective study to evaluate a functional benefit of botulinum toxin type A injections in diparetic cerebral palsy patients, using gross motor function measure (GMFM) score. In a group of 14 children (mean age 3.9 years, range 2–6) treated with Dysport 30 IU/kg, a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05) was noticed in both simple measurements (Modified Ashworth Scale, Selective Motor Control, Passive Range of Movements, Physician Rating Scale and parental Clinical Global Impression) and complex functions (GMFM dimensions D and E) after 1 and 3 months. However, the simple measurement scores decreased (but not to the baseline) after 3 months; surprisingly, GMFM scores were still increasing (7.7% change after 3 months and 11.3% change after 6 months in nine patients). These results are in concordance with a few other data published to date. The study may support the concept of persistent functional gain in long‐term treatment of spasticity caused by cerebral palsy with botulinum toxin type A.
Evaluation of lidocaine and mepivacaine for inferior third molar surgery.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare 2% lidocaine and 2% mepivacaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine for postoperative pain control. STUDY DESIGN A group of 35 patients, both genders were recruited, whose had ages ranged from 13 to 27 years-old and had two inferior third molars in similar positions to be extracted. The cartridges were distributed to the patients according to a randomised pattern, where lidocaine was in the control group and mepivacaine in the experimental group. RESULTS Results showed no significant association between the anesthetics and postoperative pain, pulp sensibility after one hour, gender, tooth position and duration of the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS It was shown that lidocaine and mepivacaine have similar time of anesthesia, they are adequate for surgical procedures that last one hour, and there was no difference between the two anesthetics in relation to the severety of post-operative pain.
Social fear and expressive reactions to social stimuli

This study explored whether subjects high as compared to low in social fear react with a more negative emotional response, measured as facial electromyographic (EMG) activity, when exposed to social stimuli (pictures of angry and happy facial expressions). It was found that subjects who rated themselves as relatively high in public speaking fear gave larger negative facial EMG responses (Corrugator supercilii muscle activity) to angry faces than did the low fear subjects. Low fear subjects, on the other hand, gave larger positive facial EMG responses (Zygomatic major muscle activity) to happy faces than did the high fear subjects. It was further found that happy stimuli were rated as more hostile and less friendly and happy by the high fear group. Consistent with earlier findings, it was concluded that the facial EMG technique is sensitive to detecting different reactions among subjects relatively high and low in social fear.
A Subunit of Yeast TFIIIC Participates in the Recruitment of TATA-Binding Protein

ABSTRACT TFIIIC plays a key role in nucleating the assembly of the initiation factor TFIIIB on class III genes. We have characterized an essential gene, TFC8, encoding the 60-kDa polypeptide, τ60, present in affinity-purified TFIIIC. Hemagglutinin-tagged variants of τ60 were found to be part of TFIIIC-tDNA complexes and to reside at least in part in the downstream DNA-binding domain τB. Unexpectedly, the thermosensitive phenotype of N-terminally tagged τ60 was suppressed by overexpression of τ95, which belongs to the τA domain, and by two TFIIIB components, TATA-binding protein (TBP) and B"/TFIIIB90 (but not by TFIIIB70). Mutant TFIIIC was deficient in the activation of certain tRNA genes in vitro, and the transcription defect was selectively alleviated by increasing TBP concentration. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments support a direct interaction between TBP and τ60. It is suggested that τ60 links τA and τB domains and participates in TFIIIB assembly via its interaction with TBP.
A Comparison of Internet and Face-to-Face (FTF) Qualitative Methods in Studying the Relationships of Gay Men

ABSTRACT Although the Internet increasingly is part of our daily interactions, it remains largely unexplored as a qualitative research medium. Because most research on the relationships of gay men uses homogeneous samples, which are often difficult to locate, the Internet provides a methodological opportunity to obtain a more diverse set of perspectives of the lived experiences of participants. Our primary interests here are to discuss the processes and ethics of using Internet focus groups and in-depth interviews compared to traditional face-to-face (FTF) methods and to discuss the trustworthiness and quality of data garnered from the use of Internet methods. Using previous literature and our own experiences conducting Internet-based and FTF qualitative research that explored the relationships of gay men as well as data from this study, we suggest that using the Internet as a qualitative research medium can enhance sample recruitment and result in data that is trustworthy. Additionally, we offer suggestions for online moderating.
Stephen Colbert's Civics Lesson: How Colbert Super PAC Taught Viewers About Campaign Finance

This study tests whether exposure to The Colbert Report influenced knowledge of super PACs and 501(c)(4) groups, and ascertains how having such knowledge influenced viewers' perceptions about the role of money in politics. Our analysis of a national random sample of adults interviewed after the 2012 presidential election found that viewing The Colbert Report both increased peoples' perception of how knowledgeable they were about super PACs and 501(c)(4) groups and increased actual knowledge of campaign finance regulation regarding these independent expenditure groups. Findings suggest that the political satirist was more successful in informing his viewers about super PACs and 501(c)(4) groups than were other types of news media. Viewing The Colbert Report also indirectly influenced how useful his audience perceived money to be in politics.
Students' achievement goals in relation to academic motivation, competence expectancy, and classroom environment perceptions

The present study aimed at investigating elementary students' academic motivation (intrinsic motivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and amotivation), achievement goals (mastery approach goals, mastery avoidance goals, performance approach goals, performance avoidance goals), competence expectancies, and classroom environment perceptions in terms of challenge and threat. Self-report instruments were administered to 482 elementary students to assess variables of the study. Results showed that elementary students have significantly higher levels of identified regulation compared to all other types of motivation. The students also appeared to adopt approach goals more than avoidance goals. Both mastery approach goals and performance approach goals were found to be positively linked to intrinsic motivation. Moreover, findings revealed that perceived classroom threat was positively associated with mastery avoidance goals and negatively with performance approach goals. Additionally, it was found that classroom challenge perceptions were positively related to external regulation, introjected regulation, and identified regulation.
Novel Mechanisms of Sildenafil in Pulmonary Hypertension Involving Cytokines/Chemokines, MAP Kinases and Akt

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is associated with high mortality due to right ventricular failure and hypoxia, therefore to understand the mechanism by which pulmonary vascular remodeling initiates these processes is very important. We used a well-characterized monocrotaline (MCT)-induced rat PH model, and analyzed lung morphology, expression of cytokines, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt (PI-3k-Akt) pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which sildenafil's protective effect in PH is exerted. Besides its protective effect on lung morphology, sildenafil suppressed multiple cytokines involved in neutrophil and mononuclear cells recruitment including cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, CINC-2α/β, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, interleukin (IL)-1α, lipopolysaccharide induced CXC chemokine (LIX), monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, and MIP-3α. NF-κB activation and phosphorylation were also attenuated by sildenafil. Furthermore, sildenafil reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 MAPK activation while enhanced activation of the cytoprotective Akt pathway in PH. These data suggest a beneficial effect of sildenafil on inflammatory and kinase signaling mechanisms that substantially contribute to its protective effects, and may have potential implications in designing future therapeutic strategies in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Mobile Children: Small Captives of Large Structures?

All over Europe more parents are living apart and children increasingly commute between two homes. This article explores children’s mobility. Two questions are raised. First, do children with ‘modern’ (consensual unions) family background, commute more? Second, can mobility between parental homes impinge on children’s everyday welfare? In conclusion, the article discusses whether commuting is solely in the child’s best interest. Could it be argued that children’s welfare is sacrificed for parent’s interests, and even ‘captives’ of a globalised society in need of people ‘lighter on their feet’? The case of Norway is used to illustrate a general developmental pattern.
Genome‐derived minimal metabolic models for Escherichia coli MG1655 with estimated in vivo respiratory ATP stoichiometry

Metabolic network models describing growth of Escherichia coli on glucose, glycerol and acetate were derived from a genome scale model of E. coli. One of the uncertainties in the metabolic networks is the exact stoichiometry of energy generating and consuming processes. Accurate estimation of biomass and product yields requires correct information on the ATP stoichiometry. The unknown ATP stoichiometry parameters of the constructed E. coli network were estimated from experimental data of eight different aerobic chemostat experiments carried out with E. coli MG1655, grown at different dilution rates (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 h−1) and on different carbon substrates (glucose, glycerol, and acetate). Proper estimation of the ATP stoichiometry requires proper information on the biomass composition of the organism as well as accurate assessment of net conversion rates under well‐defined conditions. For this purpose a growth rate dependent biomass composition was derived, based on measurements and literature data. After incorporation of the growth rate dependent biomass composition in a metabolic network model, an effective P/O ratio of 1.49 ± 0.26 mol of ATP/mol of O, KX (growth dependent maintenance) of 0.46 ± 0.27 mol of ATP/C‐mol of biomass and mATP (growth independent maintenance) of 0.075 ± 0.015 mol of ATP/C‐mol of biomass/h were estimated using a newly developed Comprehensive Data Reconciliation (CDR) method, assuming that the three energetic parameters were independent of the growth rate and the used substrate. The resulting metabolic network model only requires the specific rate of growth, µ, as an input in order to accurately predict all other fluxes and yields. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 369–381. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Apoptosis-Regulated Low-Avidity Cancer-Specific CD8+ T Cells Can Be Rescued to Eliminate HER2/neu–Expressing Tumors by Costimulatory Agonists in Tolerized Mice

Black and colleagues identify, for the first time, that low-avidity antitumor T cells are ineffective due to increased expression of proapoptotic proteins promoting activation-induced T-cell death, which can be overcome by TNFR agonists, implicating their use in cancer immunotherapy. A major barrier to vaccines in cancer treatment is their failure to activate and maintain a complete cancer-specific CD8+ effector T-cell repertoire. Low-avidity T cells are more likely to escape clonal deletion in the thymus when compared with high-avidity T cells, and therefore comprise the major population of effector T cells available for activation in patients with cancer. However, low-avidity T cells fail to traffic into the tumor microenvironment and function in eradicating tumor under optimal vaccination conditions as opposed to high-avidity T cells that escape clonal deletion and function in tumor killing. We used high- and low-avidity T-cell receptor transgenic CD8+ T cells specific for the immunodominant epitope HER2/neu (RNEU420–429) to identify signaling pathways responsible for the inferior activity of the low-avidity T cells. Adoptive transfer of these cells into tumor-bearing vaccinated mice identified the members of apoptosis pathways that are upregulated in low-avidity T cells. The increased expression of proapoptotic proteins by low-avidity T cells promoted their own cell death and also that of other tumor-specific CD8+ T cells within their local environment. Importantly, we show that this proapoptotic effect can be overcome by using a strong costimulatory signal that prevents the activation-induced cell death and enables the low-avidity T cells to traffic into the tumor and assist in tumor clearance. These findings identify new therapeutic opportunities for activating the most potent anticancer T-cell responses. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(4); 307–19. ©2014 AACR.
Who Teaches Information Literacy Competencies? Report of a Study of Faculty

Information literacy is recognized as an essential competency for educational success. It relates to all disciplines but is not a separate discipline, so it is not clear who takes responsibility for teaching this competency to undergraduates. This is a report of a survey conducted to better understand the extent to which teaching information literacy concepts by faculty occurred in a research university. The results indicated that faculty in the disciplines generally teach information literacy competencies to undergraduate students without collaborating with others on their campus. Many faculty also had the expectation that students know how to avoid plagiarism, find articles and books, and define topics for their projects before students take their courses. There were disciplinary differences in providing instruction in critical evaluation and avoiding plagiarism. Tenured faculty tended to provide instruction in defining a topic; finding articles and books; and synthesizing information. Non-tenured faculty tended to teach students to avoid plagiarism.
Justice-based opposition to social policies : Is it genuine ?

Three studies examined whether the concern for justice can be a genuine determinant of attitudes toward affirmative action (AA) or whether justice-based opposition merely masks prejudice. In line with the hypothesis of justice as a cause, we found that, independent of their level of prejudice, people were opposed to AA programs that violate distributive and procedural justice norms, as a result of genuine beliefs in the principles of fairness that the programs violate. Nevertheless, in line with the hypothesis of justice as a rationalization, we also found that people's prejudice level was positively associated with opposition to AA programs that were not explicitly justice violating; moreover, the effect of prejudice was mediated through the tendency to construe these programs as justice violating. The present research has implications for understanding attitudes toward social policies where it is possible that justice concerns could be a genuine source of opposition or a rationalization of prejudice.
Oxygenation during High‐Frequency Ventilation Compared with Conventional Mechanical Ventilation in Two Models of Lung Injury

Oxygenation and mean lung volume were investigated during high frequency oscillation (HFO) and conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in two models of lung disease and related to the lung mechanics of the lesions. Oleic acid (n = 10) or lung lavage (n = 12) pulmonary injury was induced in a series of rabbits. Each animal was alternately ventilated with HFO (15 Hz sinusoidal wave form) and CMV (flow generator I:E, 1:2; f, 30 breaths/min; VT, 10 to 15 ml/kg) at matched mean airway pressure. PaO2 was measured 5 minutes after onset of ventilation. In the lung lavage model PaO2 was significantly greater during HFO than CMV (Pao2 228 ± 116 torr vs 71 ± 42 torr) provided that mean airway pressure was greater than the distinct opening pressure characteristic of this lesion. In the oleic acid model Oxygenation was again superior during HFO (PaO2 269 ± 116 torr vs 110 ± 83 torr), but only if HFO was preceded by a sustained inflation. Plethysmography in a subset of six rabbits from each group revealed that the improvements in Oxygenation were associated with significantly higher mean lung volumes during HFO than CMV (58 ± 30 ml vs 29 ± 14 ml lung lavage model, 45 ± 15 ml vs 30.9 ± 13 ml on the oleic acid model). The importance of a sustained inflation in rapidly optimizing gas exchange during HFO but not CMV was demonstrated. A sustained inflation resulted in immediate and sustained increases in PaO2 (from 134 ± 102 torr to 274 ± 124 torr in the oleic acid model; from 115 ± 105 torr to 291 ± 143 torr in the lung lavage model) and mean lung volume (41.8 ± 11 to 53.8 ± 9.7 ml in the oleic acid model, 30.9 ± 7.7 ml to 42.8 ± 5 ml in the lung lavage model). It is suggested that in these two particular models of lung disease, HFO, when combined with a sustained inflation (to provide opening forces), can more fully exploit the pressure volume hysteresis of unstable lung units than CMV, thereby resulting in the larger mean lung volumes and better Oxygenation observed during HFO.
Reviewing 25 Years of Professional Practice: Homework Assignments and Length of Therapy

This exploratory review of 25 years of part-time professional practice with individuals, couples, and families, evaluated the number of face-to-face psychotherapy sessions with and without written homework assignments. Contrary to predictions from the literature, administration of a workbook lengthened significantly the number of face-to-face psychotherapy sessions for all groups. The exploratory nature of this review and its inability to deal with a host of uncontrolled variables made it impossible to deal with the issue of effectiveness. These results, nonetheless, raise questions about the claimed cost-effectiveness of written homework assignments. Future research will need to concentrate on variables that could not be controlled in this review.
Salmonella: A Common Contaminant of Chicken Shawarma in RasBeirut Restaurants

Samples of the popular chicken shawarma sandwiches from ten reputed restaurants in the Hamra region of Ras Beirut, were tested for contamination with Salmonella. The sandwiches tested were those regularly offered to customers, but were of two categories, with and without a garlic spread that is usually added to this type of Sandwiches. Salmonellawas isolated from sandwiches taken from 3 different restaurants (30%). Two of the three were isolated from part not containing garlic while the third was isolated from a sample that contained the garlic spread. The isolation of Aeromonashydrophila and Escherichia coli, two other major causes of gastroenteritis in man, from sandwiches from two other restaurants, is a clear indication that this type of sandwich tends to be easily contaminated due to many reasons discussed in this study. It is recommended that strict measures be taken by the health care authorities to ensure the safety of the numerous consumers of this commonly favored type of food.
Health‐Related Quality of Life in Patients 7 Months After a Myocardial Infarction: Factors Affecting the Short Form‐12

We assessed patients' health‐related quality of life after myocardial infarction and identified related variables. Clinical data were obtained retrospectively from medical records of consecutive patients admitted to a Midwestern university‐affiliated medical center with diagnosis of myocardial infarction from July 1999–July 2000. Telephone interviews 7 months after discharge were made to administer the Short Form‐12 (SF‐12) and obtain patient, disease, drug, and intervention data. Complete information was obtained from 200 patients (mean age 63.4 ± 13.1 yrs, 68% men). The mean Physical Component Summary (PCS)‐12 score was 40.6 ± 12.0, and the mean Mental Component Summary (MCS)‐12 score was 52.1 ± 10.0. Based on univariate analyses, low PCS‐12 scores were associated with women; non‐Q‐wave infarctions; greater number of illnesses; history of myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure (CHF), transient ischemic attack (TIA), renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); rehospitalization during the interim period; and unscheduled PCI since index myocardial infarction. Low MCS‐12 scores were associated with age below 65 years, low overall self‐reported drug therapy compliance, low self‐reported compliance with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and lipid‐lowering therapy, no history of coronary artery bypass graft, and no stress test since index myocardial infarction. A multivariate regression model for PCS‐12 kept the following variables: greater number of illnesses, history of CHF or TIA, and rehospitalization since index myocardial infarction. The MCS‐12 model contained age below 65 years, low overall compliance, and low compliance with lipid‐lowering therapy. Further work is necessary to determine noncardiovascular predictors of quality of life and whether interventions for these patients will result in improved quality of life.