Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teacher Preparation: Perceptions of Preparedness for High-Needs Urban Schools A Qualitative Study

This study examined the dynamics that exists between the perceptions urban teachers’ hold of their preparedness for high-needs urban schools, and the realities of such. This study focused on explicit, personal experiences of a select group of novice teachers who work in high-needs urban schools within the City of Albany, NY. The study concluded that teachers are not being effectively prepared for the highneeds urban context. Teacher participants all identified various gaps that existed within their preparation with many being uniform to all teacher participants. It is recommended that teacher preparation programs refine program curriculum as outlined to include consideration of the high-needs urban context that so many of its teachers will undoubtedly serve in. It is recommended that reparation programs adopt a residency model to their programs. Accurate experiences for teacher candidates is necessary before entering the profession. It is recommended that elementary and secondary schools make considerations to include a variety of topics in their professional development sessions for new hires and all others. An understanding of the context encompassing what it means to be high-needs, working with children in poverty, and an understanding of social emotional intelligence are deemed most prevalent as teachers need to understand where they are working, understand the students they are working with, and understand themselves and the role they play in student development. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Theresa Pulos Second Supervisor C. Michael Robinson Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/354 Teacher Preparation: Perceptions of Preparedness for High-Needs Urban Schools A Qualitative Study
Umbilical artery concentrations of androstenedione increase in early labour in the leading twin fetus

Summary. Umbilical artery concentrations of androstenedione, progesterone, pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulphate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate were measured at birth in twin pairs, born by caesarean section. In the group born before the onset of labour, there were no significant differences in concentration of any of the steroids between the leading twin (twin I) and the second twin (twin II). In the group born during the latent phase of labour, levels of umbilical artery progesterone were significantly less in twin I (mean 501, SE 112 nmol/1) than in twin II (mean 887, SE 131) (P < 0.05), while concentrations of androstenedione were increased in twin I [9.9 (SE 1.7) vs 4.7 (SE 0.7) nmol/1, P < 0.01]. In patients delivered during active labour, androstenedione levels were consistently increased in twin I compared with twin II [11.7 (SE3.4) vs 4.3 (SE 0.7) nmol/1, P < 0.01]. It is suggested that the rise in umbilical artery levels of androstenedione is derived from the fetal adrenal gland and may have an important role in the onset of labour.
Identification of frequent chromosomal aberrations in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)

Despite the continuous progress in molecular methodology, the genetic events involved in the initiation and progression of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas remain largely unknown. In this study, 33 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were screened for genomic alterations by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). To date, most CGH studies of pancreatic cancer have been based on cell lines. To emphasize genetic imbalances that are involved in the in vivo development and progression of pancreatic carcinoma only fresh‐frozen or paraffin‐embedded tumour samples were analysed in the present study. Twenty‐two tumours (67%) showed genomic alterations involving up to three (12%) or more (55%) chromosomal regions. The number and nature of the genetic imbalances did not, however, correlate with tumour stage or grade. Chromosome 18 was preferentially altered in the tumours analysed. Frequent chromosomal losses were found at 18q, 10q, 8p, and 13q. Commonly gained regions were located on 8q and 3q. Moreover, high copy number amplifications of the chromosomal regions 5p, 8q22‐ter, 12p12‐cen, 19q12–13.2, and 20q were identified. These data provide evidence for the occurrence of characteristic genomic alterations which are of biological relevance for the genesis of pancreatic cancer. The identified altered chromosomal regions may harbour tumour genes which involved in the multistep process of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ontogeny and the possible function of a novel epidermal growth factor‐like repeat domain‐containing protein, NELL2, in the rat brain

In this study we investigated the mRNA expression of NELL2, a neural tissue‐specific epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐like repeat domain‐containing protein, in the developing and adult rat CNS using in situ hybridization histochemistry and northern blot analysis. The possible candidates that interact with or be regulated by NELL2 were screened with a cDNA expression array in antisense (AS) NELL2 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)‐injected rat hypothalami. NELL2 mRNA was detected as early as embryonic day 10, and was predominant in the CNS throughout the pre‐natal stages. Its expression gradually increased during embryonic development and its strong expression was observed throughout the CNS until embryonic day 20. It was detected in the ventricular zone of the spinal cord, medulla and pons in 12‐day‐old‐embryos, suggesting that NELL2 plays a role in the neurogenesis of these areas. After birth its expression gradually decreased, but high levels of expression could be observed in the tenia tecta, piriform cortex, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, cerebellar cortex, ambiguus nucleus, and inferior olivary nucleus of adult rat brains. The analysis of cDNA expression arrays revealed that the administration of AS NELL2 ODN markedly decreased the expression of several Ca2+‐binding proteins and those involved in the transport and release of vesicles such as EF‐hand Ca2+‐binding protein p22 and rab7. This finding was confirmed by relative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. The effect of NELL2 on synaptic vesicle content in median eminence (ME) nerve terminals was determined with synaptophysin levels as a marker protein in the AS NELL2 ODN‐injected rat. It was significantly decreased by the AS ODN. These data suggest that NELL2 may play an important role in the development of the CNS as well as maintenance of neural functions, by regulating the intracellular machinery involving Ca2+ signaling, synaptic transport and/or release of vesicles.
A Note on Cournot Competition in Differentiated Oligopolies

Abstract In this paper, we study a Cournot competition where there are a group of firms producing a homogeneous product and another group producing a differentiated product. We find that, fixing the total number of firms in the market, each firm’s profit is U-shaped and convex in the number of firms producing the same product when the degree of substitution is large, and each firm’s profit is U-shaped in the cross-price effect parameter when the number of firms producing the same product is large.
Relationship between Spatio-Temporal travel patterns derived from smart-card data and local environmental characteristics of Seoul, Korea

With the incorporation of an automated fare-collection system into the management of public transportation, not only can the quality of transportation services be improved but also that of the data collected from users when coupled with smart-card technology. The data collected from smart cards provide opportunities for researchers to analyze big data sets and draw meaningful information out of them. This study aims to identify the relationship between travel patterns derived from smart-card data and urban characteristics. Using seven-day transit smart-card data from the public-transportation system in Seoul, the capital city of the Republic of Korea, we investigated the temporal and spatial boarding and alighting patterns of the users. The major travel patterns, classified into five clusters, were identified by utilizing the K-Spectral Centroid clustering method. We found that the temporal pattern of urban mobility reflects daily activities in the urban area and that the spatial pattern of the five clusters classified by travel patterns was closely related to urban structure and urban function; that is, local environmental characteristics extracted from land-use and census data. This study confirmed that the travel patterns at the citywide level can be used to understand the dynamics of the urban population and the urban spatial structure. We believe that this study will provide valuable information about general patterns, which represent the possibility of finding travel patterns from individuals and urban spatial traits.
Transcript Profiling by 3′-Untranslated Region Sequencing Resolves Expression of Gene Families1[W][OA]

Differences in gene expression underlie central questions in plant biology extending from gene function to evolutionary mechanisms and quantitative traits. However, resolving expression of closely related genes (e.g. alleles and gene family members) is challenging on a genome-wide scale due to extensive sequence similarity and frequently incomplete genome sequence data. We present a new expression-profiling strategy that utilizes long-read, high-throughput sequencing to capture the information-rich 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Resulting sequences resolve gene-specific transcripts independent of a sequenced genome. Analysis of approximately 229,000 3′-anchored sequences from maize (Zea mays) ovaries identified 14,822 unique transcripts represented by at least two sequence reads. Total RNA from ovaries of drought-stressed wild-type and viviparous-1 mutant plants was used to construct a multiplex cDNA library. Each sample was labeled by incorporating one of 16 unique three-base key codes into the 3′-cDNA fragments, and combined samples were sequenced using a GS 20 454 instrument. Transcript abundance was quantified by frequency of sequences identifying each unique mRNA. At least 202 unique transcripts showed highly significant differences in abundance between wild-type and mutant samples. For a subset of mRNAs, quantitative differences were validated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The 3′-UTR profile resolved 12 unique cellulose synthase (CesA) transcripts in maize ovaries and identified previously uncharacterized members of a histone H1 gene family. In addition, this method resolved nearly identical paralogs, as illustrated by two auxin-repressed, dormancy-associated (Arda) transcripts, which showed reciprocal mRNA abundance in wild-type and mutant samples. Our results demonstrate the potential of 3′-UTR profiling for resolving gene- and allele-specific transcripts.
[Burn out among French general practitioners].

OBJECTIVE Assess the extent of burn out among the general practitioners of the Loire region (France). METHODS A questionnaire in 3 parts was sent to 480 general practitioners: the first concerned the socio-demographical variables such as the age of the practitioners, their marital status, time when the installed their practice, type of practice and quantification of their professional activity; the second corresponded to the French version of the Maslach Burn out Inventory (MBI) and the third part foresaw the eventual consequences of burn out, such as the wish for retraining, use of psychotropics or suicidal thoughts. RESULTS 306 practitioners replied (response rate 64%). Mean scores on the three dimensions of burn out (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, low personal accomplishment) were similar to those of other studies using the same instrument. Five per cent of the practitioners had high scores of burn out on the 3 subscales, but professional accomplishment remained high for a majority of physicians. More than 1 practitioner out of 2 had thought of retraining, 5.5% declared excessive drinking, 30% had taken psychotropics, and 13% have envisaged suicide. Emotional exhaustion was statistically associated with female sex, heavy workload, wish to retrain, drinking, psychotropics and suicidal ideation. The causes of burn out expressed by the practitioners were organizational and administrative (high workload, administrative demands, conflicts with social welfare organizations) but also relational (demands considered as excessive from their patients and families). DISCUSSION Burn out among general practitioners is a reality. The quality of life of practitioners suffering from burn out appears significantly impaired, and published literature indicates that it may lead to deleterious consequences on the care provided to their patients.
Targeted Facebook Advertising is a Novel and Effective Method of Recruiting Participants into a Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Effectiveness Study

Background Targeted advertising using social networking sites (SNS) as a recruitment strategy in health research is in its infancy. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of targeted Facebook advertisements to increase recruitment of unvaccinated women into a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness study. Methods Between September 2011 and November 2013, females aged 18 to 25 years, residing in Victoria, Australia, were recruited through Facebook advertisements relating to general women’s health. From November 2013 to June 2015, targeted advertising campaigns were implemented to specifically recruit women who had not received the HPV vaccine. Consenting participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire and those who had ever had sexual intercourse were asked to provide a self-collected vaginal swab. The HPV vaccination status of participants was confirmed from the National HPV Vaccination Program Register (NHVPR). Results The campaign comprised 10 advertisements shown between September 2011 and June 2015 which generated 55,381,637 impressions, yielding 23,714 clicks, at an overall cost of AUD $22,078.85. A total of 919 participants were recruited. A greater proportion of unvaccinated women (50.4%, 131/260) were recruited into the study following targeted advertising, compared with those recruited (19.3%, 127/659) prior to showing the modified advertisement (P<.001). A greater proportion of the total sample completed tertiary education and resided in inner regional Victoria, compared with National population census data (P<.001), but was otherwise representative of the general population. Conclusions Targeted Facebook advertising is a rapid and cost-effective way of recruiting young unvaccinated women into a HPV vaccine effectiveness study.
Corporate Multinationality and Acquirer Returns

This paper provides evidence on how corporate multinationality from the perspective of acquiring firms relates to M&A returns. Using multivariate regressions and a large dataset of over 6,000 M&As (both cross-border and domestic) by UK firms during 1987 to 2014, the paper finds multinationality to be associated with significantly higher short-run announcement returns and long-run operating performance. While the multinationality premium (higher M&A returns for multinationals) persists over time, it seems to be restricted to firms with superior resource/managerial capabilities and minimal agency problems. Finally, the multinationality premium appears to be driven by foreign acquisitions into advanced economies. The results are robust to correcting for sample selection bias and controlling for several firm and deal characteristics, as well as accounting for firm-, industry-, and year-fixed effects. Collectively, the findings imply that multinationality could be a source of value creation for acquiring firms, particularly in foreign acquisitions, which tend to be complex, and thereby, require superior managerial capabilities to succeed.
PTF1a Activity in Enriched Posterior Foregut Endoderm, but Not Definitive Endoderm, Leads to Enhanced Pancreatic Differentiation in an In Vitro Mouse ESC-Based Model

Transcription factors are tools repetitively used by the embryo to generate a variety of lineages. Hence, their context of activation is an important determinant of their ability to specifically trigger certain cell fates, but not others. The context is also consequential when considering directing differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In this study, we sought to assess the context of pancreatic transcription factor 1a (PTF1a) activation in reference to its propancreatic effects in mouse ESCs (mESCs). We hypothesized that an enriched endodermal population would respond to PTF1a and trigger the pancreatic program more effectively than a spontaneously differentiated population. Using an in vitro model of pancreas development that we recently established, we found that inducing PTF1a in highly enriched definitive endoderm did not promote pancreatic differentiation but induction in more differentiated endoderm, specifically posterior foregut endoderm, did form pancreatic progenitors. These progenitors never underwent terminal differentiation to endocrine or acinar phenotype. However, a short 3D culture period, prior to PTF1a induction, led to the generation of monohormonal insulin+ cells and amylase-expressing cells. Our findings suggest that enriched posterior foregut endoderm is competent to respond to PTF1a's propancreatic activity; but a 3D culture environment is essential for terminal differentiation of pancreatic progenitors.
Imbalance of expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in human pancreatic carcinoma

Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential step in tumour invasion and metastasis. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) each have different substrate specificities within the ECM and are important in its degradation. MMP activity is dependent on the levels of activated MMP and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The expression of MMPs and TIMPs in pancreatic carcinoma, normal pancreas, and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines has been determined by Northern analysis. The transcripts have been localized by in situ hybridization and the MMP2 protein by immunohistochemistry. Expression of MMP2, ‐7, and ‐11 was greater in pancreatic carcinoma than in normal pancreas (P<0·01). MMP7 expression in normal pancreas and MMP7 and ‐11 expression in tumours was always seen with TIMP1 expression. TIMP2 was expressed in only half of the tumours and a previously undescribed transcript size is reported for TIMP2. MTMMP was expressed concurrently with MMP2 in 64 per cent of tumours, but concurrent MMP2 and TIMP2 expression occurred in only half. MMP2 mRNA was found more often in the tumour stroma than with the other MMPs or TIMPs (P<0·02). It is concluded that while overexpression of MMP7 and ‐11 may be countered by TIMP1, the aggressive phenotype of pancreatic carcinoma may occur because of overexpression of MMP2, activated by MTMMP and associated with a reduced expression of TIMP2. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elasticity of CO2 emissions with Respect to Income, Population, and Energy Use: Time Series Evidence from African Countries

This study examines the CO2 emissions elasticity of income, population and Energy because it has become imperative for Africa to follow cleaner development pathways. The specified models, guided by the STIRPAT, EKC and EEO framework, are estimated by applying a dynamic regression technique. To minimise data attrition, different sample periods, between 1971 and 2013, are adopted for each 26 sampled African countries. The findings support the literature that environmental quality is a normal good in economies but do not support the neoclassical view that it is a luxury one. Economies in which a cleaner environment is found to be an inferior good are of higher threat to Africa’s environment than economies where a cleaner environment is a normal good. African countries with positive population elasticity depict a threat to having a cleaner CO2 environment in Africa. The study finds the EKC for 15 countries, the U-shaped relationship for six countries and a linear relationship for five countries. It, also, discovers that energy consumption, followed by affluence, is the primary driver of human-induced CO2 emissions in African countries while the population is a lower impact-factor than affluence and recommended that CO2 mitigation should relentlessly be made a regional, national and local focal issue.
Fatty Acids Mediate the Acute Extrahepatic Effects of Insulin on Hepatic Glucose Production in Humans

We have shown previously in humans that insulin partly suppresses hepatic glucose production (HGP) by an extrahepatic (indirect) mechanism. In the present study, we investigated the role of free fatty acids (FFAs) in mediating the extrahepatic effects of insulin in humans and determined the extent to which insulin can regulate HGP by a non–FFA-mediated effect. Sixteen healthy men received an intravenous tolbutamide infusion for 3 h, and pancreatic insulin secretion was calculated by deconvolution of peripheral C-peptide levels. On a subsequent occasion, equimolar exogenous insulin was infused by peripheral vein. In both studies, glucose was clamped at euglycemia. We have previously validated this method and shown no independent insulin-like activity of tolbutamide. During the clamp, 9 of the 16 subjects received a low dose of heparin and Intralipid to prevent the insulin-induced suppression of FFAs, while 7 subjects received a high dose of heparin and Intralipid to raise FFAs ∼2.5-fold. In both the highand low-dose groups, peripheral insulin was higher and calculated portal insulin lower with peripheral versus portal insulin delivery. In the low-dose group, HGP decreased by 68.3 ±2.1% with portal insulin delivery and 64.7 ± 3.7% with peripheral insulin delivery (NS). In the high-dose group, HGP decreased by 58.0 ± 4.5% with portal insulin and 48.3 ± 5.0% with peripheral insulin (P < 0.05). Four individuals who participated in the high-dose group underwent an additional peripheral insulin study in which the same dose of exogenous insulin was infused as in the high-dose group but in the absence of heparin and Intralipid. During this latter study, FFA levels declined by ∼90% during hyperinsulinemia, and HGP was suppressed by 71.8 ± 5.6%, which was a much greater suppression (P < 0.01) than when FFA levels were raised in these subjects during the equivalent rate insulin infusion. In summary, the previously observed greater suppression of HGP with equimolar peripheral versus portal insulin is eliminated or reversed, depending on plasma FFA levels, if FFAs are prevented from decreasing, suggesting an important role of FFAs in mediating the extrahepatic effects of insulin on HGP. However, the effect of FFA clamping is relatively small with a significant degree of suppression of HGP (by ∼50%), which remains evenwhen FFAs are elevated above basal levels, suggesting that in the physiological range FFAs only partially influence the suppression of HGP in humans. This suggests that other mechanisms, most likely hepatic, dominate the acute insulin-induced suppression of glucose production.