Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Narrative Approach to Understanding the Development and Retention of Digital Skills Over Time in Former Middle School Students, a Decade After Having Used One-to-One Laptop Computers

Abstract Although there is a common result in recent research and practice that digital skills are important for every educated citizen, little is known of how these skills are evolving over a long period of time. Our study looks into the development and use of digital skills in former middle school students who had an individual access to the laptops a decade ago and are now entering the workforce. Using a qualitative approach, we look at results from an earlier study on one-to-one laptop use in middle school students, as well as results from follow-up interviews with three students from that cohort. More specifically, we present narrative stories offering a rich description of the personal experience of digital skill acquisition through information and communication technology (ICT)-assisted learning and the sustainability of these skills later in adulthood. Our findings indicate three specific types of digital skills, namely, technological resourcefulness, digital self-efficacy or empowerment, and open-mindedness toward technology, that emerge as key elements of the participants' perception of postsecondary academic and eventual further career success. The results of this study can be used to better understand how ICT skills are acquired and how they evolve over time in young people who grew up (or are growing up) in a digital world and how this process can be enhanced by educational institutions and workplaces. (Keywords: digital literacy, ICT, middle school, one-to-one laptop programs)
Increased stem cell proliferation in the spinal cord of adult amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice

Harnessing the regenerative potential of the central nervous system to repopulate depleted cellular populations from endogenous stem cells would be a novel approach for the treatment of neurological diseases resulting from cell death. Consequently, understanding if and how the central nervous system is capable of such regeneration would determine if such an approach is feasible. In this report, we provide evidence of widespread regenerative response in the spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice. However, this regenerative response appears to be largely unproductive. We demonstrate that there is significantly increased gliogenesis, but an absence of convincing neurogenesis. The fact that the neurodegenerative process stimulates a regenerative response suggests that the adult spinal cord has at least limited ability for regeneration. Further studies will determine if this endogenous regenerative process can be enhanced and directed so as to slow or even reverse the natural progression of this devastating disease.
Increased risk for falling associated with obesity: mathematical modeling of postural control

Recent epidemiological studies report that obesity is positively related to fracture incidence. In the present experiment, a model of postural control was used to examine the impact of an abnormal distribution of body fat in the abdominal area upon postural stability. Obese and lightweight humanoids were destabilized by imposing a small initial angular speed from a neutral standing position. To avoid a loss of stability yielding a stepping reaction or a fall, an ankle torque is necessary to counteract the perturbation. Three torque parameters-ankle torque onset, time to peak torque, and muscular ankle torque-were entered in a program to simulate the intrinsic variability of the human postural control system. A loss of stability was detected when the center of pressure exceeded stability margins. The most striking observation is the nonlinear increase of torque needed to stabilize the humanoid when the motor response was chararterized by delayed temporal parameters. The effect was more pronounced when an anterior position of the center of mass was included in the simulations. This suggests that, when submitted to daily postural stresses and perturbations, obese persons (particularly those with an abnormal distribution of body fat in the abdominal area) may be at higher risk of falling than lightweight individuals.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS IN A FRONTIER MARKET

This paper focuses on identifying the major financial indicators or ratios that play a crucial role in determining the prices of the securities. Also the volatility of the prices of securities on the basis of previous performance of the companies will help us to understand the applicability of efficient market hypothesis in our emerging financial market. The scope of this paper is to investigate the weak form of market efficiency in the Karachi stock exchange. This paper will help the investors in making transaction in the securities after careful technical and fundamental analysis if the volatility pattern exists in the securities return and is consistent with the previous year’s return and available financial information.
Icepick‐like pain

The incidence and clinical characteristics of sharp, jabbing pain about the head were studied in 100 migraineurs and 100 control subjects. Among the controls, 3% had experienced paroxysmal sharp cranial pain, whereas 4% of the migraineurs had made this observation (p ≤ 0.001) and half of them experienced it more often than monthly. The pain was usually (45%) unifocal at the temple or orbit, was described as icepick-like by 52% of the patients, and was often (6%) experienced concurrently with headache. Icepick-like pain appears to be a manifestation of migraine and should be distinguished from trigeminal neuralgia.
Is the gender difference in LDL size explained by the metabolic complications of visceral obesity?

Background Several studies have reported a significant gender difference in low‐denstiy lipoprotein (LDL) size, with men being characterized by smaller, denser LDL particles than women, and it has been suggested that the contribution of the greater accumulation of visceral adipose tissue in men compared with women may be a factor potentially contributing to the gender difference in LDL heterogeneity.
Detection of Allergen-Specific IgE Antibody Responses

Allergen-specific IgE production is the central event in the pathogenesis of atopic disorders and increases in specific IgE serum antibodies are an indicator of immediate hypersensitivity responses in humans and in animal models of allergy. Consequently, accurate and user-friendly methods are needed to measure serum levels of allergen-specific IgE. This review examines historical and recent developments in in vivo and in vitro methods for the detection of allergen-specific IgE in humans and in animal models. Routinely, in vitro methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays or radioallergosorbant tests and in vivo methods such as the skin prick test (SPT) for humans and the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay (PCA) used in animals are utilized to detect allergen-specific IgE. While in vivo assays are usually more accurate than in vitro assays since they provide a functional readout of IgE activity, they are relatively costly and require considerable expertise. On the other hand in vitro assays are limited by the fact that the amount of allergen-specific serum IgG exceeds IgE antibody by several orders of magnitude, resulting in competition for allergen binding. Consequently, methods that use allergen as a direct capture step are limited by the availability of free allergen binding sites for IgE. In order to circumvent this problem, in vitro methods usually require prior depletion of IgG or use high amounts of allergen in order to facilitate availability of free binding sites for IgE detection. Clearly, these approaches are limited for small sample volumes and allergens that are in short supply. New methods such as protein microarray could potentially overcome this problem by providing high allergen concentrations in a relatively small reaction volume. Currently, in vitro methods are rarely used in isolation for prognosis but are used primarily to complement the information obtained from in vivo assays. With the emergence of new technologies it is conceivable that in vitro assays may in the future replace in vivo assays, however until then in vivo assays remain the gold standard of allergen-specific IgE detection.
Empirical analysis of the effect of phosphorus limitation on algal food quality for freshwater zooplankton

Herbivorous zooplankton production is often constrained by algal food quality, and variation in algal food quality has been attributed to its phosphorus (P) content. To test the hypothesis that mineral P limitation is an important constraint on freshwater herbivorous zooplankton production, we conducted a quantitative analysis of published data on lake seston carbon to phosphorus (C:P) ratios and daphnid growth responses to P‐limited algal diets. Our summary of 276 observations of mean lake seston C:P ratios showed 38% exceeded a critical threshold of 300, above which daphnid production is often predicted to be limited by algal P content. Our analysis of 91 observations of daphnid growth responses to nutrient‐limited algal diets indicates the true daphnid critical threshold lies within the range of 225–375. Algal food quality is consistently reduced at algal C:P ratios above 300; however, the predicted reduction in algal food quality with P limitation is greater than the observed reduction at critical thresholds <390. Mineral P limitation of Daphnia production may be quite strong in some lakes; however, the production of most zooplankton taxa would not be expected to be limited by mineral P in a large proportion of lakes. After correcting for the algal C:P ratio, large differences in food quality were found between the major algal taxa, with diatoms and cryptophytes high food quality, chlorophytes intermediate food quality, and small ingestible cyanophytes very low food quality. A Monte Carlo simulation indicated that shifts in algal community composition similar to those seen during seasonal succession or across lake trophic state gradients explained four times more variability in daphnid growth rates across a range of seston C:P ratios representative of natural lakes. Overall these results tend to support the mineral P limitation hypothesis for daphnids, but they also suggest other factors will be the primary determinants of algal food quality for most zooplankters in most lakes.
High local endometrial effect of vaginal progesterone gel

Our objective was to investigate the first-pass effect to the uterus of progesterone gel administered vaginally. This was a prospective, randomized study of 32 postmenopausal women, attending our menopause clinic. All women used transdermal estradiol (50 μg/day, a patch each week) for 2 weeks. They used either vaginal progesterone gel or intramuscular progesterone in oil 50 mg after 24 h to oppose the transdermal estradiol. Serum progesterone levels and endometrial tissue progesterone levels were determined. Serum progesterone levels were higher in women who used the intramuscular rather than the vaginal route. Although serum progesterone levels in the vaginal group were lower than in the intramuscular group, the endometrial tissue concentration of progesterone was higher. It is concluded that progesterone gel, used vaginally, has a high local effect on the endometrium, without any systemic side-effects due to high plasma progesterone levels.
The effect of posture on central blood volume in patients with preascitic cirrhosis on a sodium‐restricted diet

The status of the central blood volume in cirrhosis is controversial. A combination of sodium restriction and upright posture, which redistributes intravascular volume to dependent parts of the body should further aggravate a contracted central blood volume reduction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of upright posture and sodium restriction on central blood volume (CBV) in preascitic cirrhotic patients, compared with controls. Eight male, preascitic, alcoholic cirrhotic subjects and eight healthy male controls were studied while on a 20‐mmol/d sodium diet. Measurements of CBV by radionuclide angiography, and neurohumoral factors were performed on day 7 in both supine and erect positions and cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was calculated. Sodium restriction resulted in less weight loss in the cirrhotic patients (P = .03), with significantly lower plasma renin activity (P = .001). Similar central blood volumes and systemic hemodynamics were observed in both groups in the supine posture. In contrast to the cirrhotic patients, in the control subjects, upright posture resulted in a significant reduction in cardiac output (P = .002) and increase in SVR (P = .005), associated with a decrease in all blood volumes which were significantly less than in the cirrhotic patients. Mean arterial pressure was maintained in both groups in both postures. In conclusion, with sodium restriction, preascitic cirrhotic patients have less intravascular volume contraction than control patients. Erect posture results in redistribution of this relatively expanded intravascular volume to the CBV. Therefore, a low‐sodium diet can be safely administered in preascitic cirrhotic patients.
Prevalence, Long-term Development, and Predictors of Psychosocial Consequences of False-Positive Mammography among Women Attending Population-Based Screening

Background: Cancer screening aims to detect cancer at an asymptomatic stage, although side effects from screening also occur. We investigated the prevalence, longitudinal development, and predictors of psychosocial consequences of false-positive breast cancer screening. Methods: Three hundred ninety-nine women with false-positive screening mammography responded to the Consequences of Screening–Breast Cancer (COS-BC) questionnaire immediately after a negative diagnosis (free from breast cancer) following recall examination(s) (baseline), and 6 and 12 months later. Age-matched controls (n = 499) with a negative mammogram responded to the COS-BC at the same occasions. Five COS-BC scales (Sense of dejection, Anxiety, Behavioral, Sleep, and Existential values) were used as outcome measures. Results: Women with false-positive mammography had consistently higher prevalence of all five consequences compared with controls (P < 0.001). The prevalences decreased between baseline and 6 months (P < 0.001) but were stable between 6 and 12 months (P ≥ 0.136). Early recall profoundly predicted long-term consequences for all five outcomes (OR, 3.05–10.31), along with dissatisfaction with information at recall (OR, 2.28–2.56), being foreign-born (OR, 2.35–3.71), and lack of social support (OR, 1.13–1.25). Conclusion: This 1-year longitudinal study shows that women experience psychosocial consequences of false-positive screening mammography. Early recall should be performed cautiously, and provision of information as well as social support may reduce psychosocial consequences. Impact: Although delivery of population-based screening reduces breast cancer mortality, it also raises the issue of its impact on the psychosocial well-being of healthy women. Our findings identify predictors that can be targeted in future efforts to reduce the side effects of mammographic screening. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(9); 1388–97. ©2015 AACR.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy)

Purpose of reviewNephrogenic systemic fibrosis, also known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, was first documented in 1997 as a scleroderma-like fibrosing entity of the skin in association with renal insufficiency. Rheumatologists, along with other specialists, may be the first to encounter these patients; and both a familiarity with the disorder and vigilance for its cardinal features is in order. This review provides an update and highlights recent theories, achievements and ongoing research in understanding this emerging and enigmatic disorder. Recent findingsClinical reports support the evidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis as a systemic disease and emphasize an increase in its recognition in the United States, Europe and Asia. The most recent work supports a model whereby circulating fibrocytes together with fibrogenic factors lead to the evolution of this disabling and sometimes fatal disorder. SummaryWhile a specific cause of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis remains to be established, the pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial, with the postulated involvement of the circulating fibrocytes. Recent published data including information from the Yale University NSF Registry has shed light on the clinical spectrum, cause, pathogenesis and treatment options. Clinical awareness of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is still emerging and future studies are warranted to clarify its etiopathogenesis and effective therapies.
Validation of optical coherence tomography in vivo using cryostat histology

We aimed to validate for the first time optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of epidermal thickness (ET) using cryopreparation for histology. OCT assessments of ET were performed on healthy skin using the algorithms as follows: first, peak-to-valley analysis of the A-scan (ET-OCT-V), second, line-traced image analysis of the B-scan (ET-OCT-IA). Histology was performed using cryostat sections which were also evaluated using the image analysis (ET-Histo). We selected 114 samples, including B-scans and corresponding histology, for method comparison between ET-OCT-IA and ET-Histo. Forty-two A-scans were available for method comparison between ET-OCT-V and ET-Histo. Bland and Altman plots revealed a marked bias with wide 95% limits of agreement for ET-OCT-V versus ET-Histo. Comparison of ET-OCT-IA versus ET-Histo revealed only a slight bias and narrow 95% limits of agreement. A-scan analysis for ET determination is linked to significant limitations and lacks agreement with histology. By contrast, we observed satisfactory agreement between ET-OCT-IA and ET-Histo indicating that both methods can be utilized interchangeably. OCT using the line-traced image analysis of the B-scan appears to be a valid and relatively practicable method for the determination of ET in vivo. Furthermore, the comparisons with the in vivo OCT profiles demonstrate that cryostat sectioning provides a better preservation of relative and absolute dimensions of skin layers than paraffin embedding.
When Class Trumps Sex: The Social Democratic Intra-Party Struggle Over Extending Parental Leave Quotas in Sweden

Abstract:One challenge within gender and politics literature is understanding the circumstances under which gender equality policies are adopted. This article analyzes a “failed” case of adoption in a gender-progressive setting: the Swedish Social Democrats’ failure in 2005 to reform parental leave legislation by extending the quota for each parent. The analysis builds on interviews with high-ranking party representatives—both advocates and opponents of the reform. We identify tensions between proponents’ gender concerns and opponents’ class-based interests and suggest that left-oriented parties are unlikely to adopt gender equality policies when competing class interests coincide with veto players’ short-term electoral goals.
A Sustained Outbreak of Clostridium difficile in a General Hospital: Persistance of a Toxigenic Clone in Four Units

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the endemicity and epidemiology of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in a sustained outbreak of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Setting: University-affiliated, 465-bed tertiary care teaching hospital with adjacent cancer clinic in Hamilton, Ontario. Design: From August 8, 1991, through August 31, 1993, a total of 187 cases were investigated for epidemiologic analysis of toxigenic C difficile from stool cultures, to identify the endemic clone(s). To assess the nature of contamination, cultures of inanimate surfaces in the patient environment from the four most affected units (medical teaching, nonteaching medical, hematologic oncology, and the intensive care unit) were processed for C difficile. The 229 clinical strains and 24 environmental strains isolated were typed by numerical analysis of SDS-PAGE protein patterns. Results: A majority (81%) of cases in the epidemiologic analysis were associated with a toxigenic electrophoretic (EP) type 1 C difficile that was identical to the strain first isolated from an index case that occurred 18 months before the start of this study. Culture and typing of the C difficile strains from the inanimate surfaces in the four most affected units showed that the patient environment was contaminated with the toxigenic EP type 1 organism. Six other strains that occurred infrequently among cases also were found in the environment. Conclusions: A single predominant toxigenic clone has been implicated in a sustained outbreak of antibiotic-associated diarrhea that affected elderly patients. The “endemic” clone transmitted for the 25-month study period was linked to an index case shedding a toxigenic EP type 1 strain that occurred 21 months prior to the initial outbreak on the medical teaching unit. The patient environment in the affected units was found to be contaminated with the same clone, possibly due to shedding of organisms by fecally incontinent symptomatic patients. The extrinsic factors contributing to the endemic transmission of this one clone still are not well understood
SIMULTANEOUS SELECTION ON TWO FITNESS‐RELATED TRAITS IN THE BUTTERFLY BICYCLUS ANYNANA

Abstract. Theory about the role of constraints in evolution is abundant, but few empirical data exist to describe the consequences a bias in phenotypic variation has for micro evolution. Responses to natural selection can be severely hampered by a genetic correlation among a suite of traits. Constraints can be studied using antagonistic selection experiments, that is, two‐trait selection in opposition to this correlation. The two traits studied here were development time and wing pattern (eyespot size) in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana, both of which have a clear adaptive significance. Rates of response were higher for eyespot size than for development time, but were independent of the concurrent selection (either in the same direction as the correlation or perpendicular to it). Regimes differed in both traits in all directions after 11 generations of selection. The uncoupling lines had higher relative responses than the synergistic lines in development time and equal relative responses in eyespot size. The patterns for eyespot size (reaction norms) were consistent across different rearing temperatures. Differences in lines selected for fast and slow development time were more pronounced at lower temperatures, irrespective of the direction of joint wing pattern selection. Furthermore, correlated responses in pupal weight and growth rate were observed; lines selected for a slower development had higher pupal weights, especially at lower temperatures. The response of the uncoupling lines was not hampered by a lack of selectable genetic variation, and the relative response in the development time was larger than expected based on response in the coupled direction and quantitative genetic predictions. This suggests that the structure of the genetic architecture does not constrain the short‐term, independent evolution of both wing pattern and development time.