Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Head of Departments’ Instructional Supervisory Role and Teachers’ Job Performance: Teachers’ Perceptions

This study examines the effect of instructional supervisory role of the Head of Departments on teachers’ job performance. More specifically, the study was conducted to obtain an understanding on how the Head of Department supervisory role is perceived, and how it affects the instructional development and job performance of private secondary school teachers in private secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data for this quantitative research was collected via the distribution of a questionnaire among 100 teachers from private secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. The 5-Likert-scale questionnaire was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study indicate that there is a significant relationship between teacher’s perception on the instructional supervision role of the Head of Department and improving teachers’ job performance from various aspects including teaching practices, professional competencies and motivation. All the findings have signify positive relationship on how the good qualities and roles of the Head of Department will instill difference towards better changes in achieving better job performance among teachers in the schools. In short, this study reveals that it is important for the Head of Departments in schools to play the role of instructional leader as it possesses good characteristics in enhancing better teaching and learning for both leaders and the subordinates. In this regard, both the Head of Departments and the teachers are able to develop and create a platform for teaching and learning, and this will also indirectly develop the teachers’ teaching practices, competency and motivation. As a result, good leaders influence their subordinates and encourage them towards better job performance.
177Lu-AMBA Biodistribution, Radiotherapeutic Efficacy, Imaging, and Autoradiography in Prostate Cancer Models with Low GRP-R Expression

177Lu-DO3A-CH2CO-G-4-aminobenzoyl-Q-W-A-V-G-H-L-M-NH2 (177Lu-AMBA) is a radiolabeled bombesin derivative that is bound and internalized by cells expressing the G-protein–coupled gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) and is currently in phase I clinical trials. In previous radiotherapy studies with PC-3 xenografted mice, 177Lu-AMBA treatment significantly increased survival and reduced tumor growth rates. The PC-3 tumor cell line has an elevated expression of GRP-Rs (2.5 × 105/cell), whereas LNCaP—a prostate cancer metastatic cell line representing the early androgen-sensitive stage of prostate cancer—and DU145—an androgen-insensitive metastatic line—express lower receptor numbers (5.9 × 103 and 1.2 × 104/cell, respectively). Because of tumor heterogeneity, the high number of receptors in the PC-3 line may not represent the clinical situation, and little definitive work on the GRP-R status of primary prostate tumors and metastases exists. We sought to evaluate the tumor binding and imaging potential of 177Lu-AMBA in low GRP-R models of prostate cancer and determine how reduced expression affects 177Lu-AMBA radiotherapy efficacy. Methods: The LNCaP and DU145 cell lines were used to determine the binding (Kd), retention, and efflux of 177Lu-AMBA. Biodistribution radiotherapy, imaging, and autoradiography studies were performed in LNCaP, DU145, or PC-3 tumor–bearing male nude mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the proliferative state in LNCaP and DU145 models and the vascular phenotype of LNCaP radiotherapy tumors. Results: 177Lu-AMBA binds to GRP-R in these cell lines with high affinity (Kd of LNCaP, 0.65 ± 0.2 nM; Kd of DU145, 0.53 ± 0.1 nM). The uptake of 177Lu-AMBA is at least 10-fold less in LNCaP and DU145 cell lines than it is in the PC-3 cell line. Autoradiography identifies activity concentrated in areas of viable tumor tissue, and γ-images of 177Lu-AMBA identify tumors in vivo. Despite having lower uptake, 177Lu-AMBA demonstrated radiotherapeutic efficacy and decreased proliferation in the LNCaP and DU145 xenografts; in the LNCaP model, 177Lu-AMBA normalized the phenotype of microvasculature, reducing tumoral blood pooling. Conclusion: 177Lu-AMBA is a single radiolabeled agent that combines targeted radiotherapy after imaging dosimetry with the potential for single-agent or multimodality therapy for prostate cancer.
Prevalência de alterações posturais em escolares do ensino médio em uma cidade no Sul do Brasil

OBJETIVOS: Estimar a prevalencia de alteracoes posturais laterais e ântero-posteriores em adolescentes do sexo feminino e verificar se determinados fatores socioeconomicos, demograficos, antropometricos e comportamentais estao associados a essas alteracoes posturais. METODOS: Inquerito epidemiologico com amostra representativa de 495 estudantes do ensino medio regular diurno, com idade de 14 a 18 anos na Cidade de Sao Leopoldo, Brasil. As estudantes foram avaliadas nos meses de outubro e novembro de 2004. As alteracoes posturais foram definidas como alteracoes nas curvas fisiologicas da coluna vertebral, identificadas atraves de avaliacao postural nao-invasiva. RESULTADOS: Observou-se uma prevalencia de 66% (IC95%: 61,5 a 70,0) para as alteracoes laterais e de 70% (IC95%: 65,2 a 73,5) para as alteracoes ântero-posteriores. As alteracoes laterais foram mais prevalentes nas alunas com indice de massa corporal normal (razao de prevalencia, ou RP = 1,32; IC95%: 1,09 a 1,59) e nas que assistiam a televisao por mais de 10 horas semanais (RP = 1,16; IC95%: 1,02 a 1,32). A prevalencia de alteracoes ântero-posteriores foi maior nas alunas cujos responsaveis estudaram ate o nivel fundamental (responsaveis femininos, RP = 1,30; IC95%: 1,09 a 1,55; e responsaveis masculinos, RP = 1,20; IC95%: 1,02 a 1,40) e nas alunas com sobrepeso ou obesidade (RP = 1,33; IC95%: 1,19 a 1,48). CONCLUSOES: Preocupa a alta prevalencia de alteracoes na postura das adolescentes, uma vez que essas alteracoes podem gerar problemas na coluna vertebral a medio e longo prazo. E importante que profissionais da area da saude, inclusive professores de educacao fisica, estejam aptos a realizar avaliacoes posturais, e que esse procedimento seja realizado rotineiramente nas escolas.
Bagging different instead of similar models for regression and classification problems

Even though many ensemble techniques have been proposed, there is as yet no clear picture of which method is best. In this study, we propose a technique that uses different subsets of the same training dataset with the concurrent usage of a voting (for classification problems) or averaging methodology (for regression problems) for combining different learners instead of similar learners. We performed a comparison of the proposed ensemble with other well known ensembles that use the same base learners and the proposed technique had better accuracy in most cases.
Efficacy of Systemic Radionuclide Therapy with p-131I-Iodo-l-Phenylalanine Combined with External Beam Photon Irradiation in Treating Malignant Gliomas

p-131I-iodo-l-phenylalanine (131I-IPA) is a tumor-specific amino acid derivative that demonstrated antiproliferative and tumoricidal effects on experimental gliomas. This study tested the efficacy of 131I-IPA combined with external beam photon radiotherapy as a new therapeutic approach against gliomas. Methods: Glioma cells derived from the rat F98 glioma or human Tx3868 or A1207 glioblastoma cell lines were stereotactically inoculated into the brains of Fischer 344 rats or RNU rats. Tumor formation was verified radiologically. On day 8, groups of glioma-bearing rats of each tumor model underwent whole-brain radiotherapy with 8 Gy, an intravenous administration of 131I-IPA (30 MBq), or combined treatment, aiming for a total of 12 rats per group. Another 12 animals were treated with physiologic saline and served as control. Results: Control rats had a combined median survival (±SD) of 21 ± 6 d. All revealed metabolically and histologically large tumor masses. Efficacy of radiotherapy alone or a monotherapy with 30 MBq of 131I-IPA was statistically insignificant on the syngeneic Fischer–F98 model (P ≥ 0.45 and P = 0.10, respectively). In contrast, a subset of long-term survivors (>120 d) was observed in RNU rats bearing Tx3868 and A1207 glioblastoma xenografts (18%−25% and 35%−45% for radiotherapy and 131I-IPA, respectively). Combined 131I-IPA and radiotherapy treatment significantly prolonged median survival for the syngeneic Fischer–F98 glioma model (P < 0.01) and human glioblastoma–bearing RNU rats alike (P < 0.05). On day 120 after monotherapy with 131I-IPA, 45% of the RNU rats were still alive, but after 8 Gy of photon radiotherapy only 18%−25% of the RNU and none of the Fischer rats survived. In comparison, 55%−75% survival rates were registered after combined treatment on day 120 for all animal models. Conclusion: These data convincingly demonstrated that systemic radionuclide therapy with 131I-IPA combined with external photon radiotherapy is a safe and highly effective treatment for experimental gliomas, which may merit a clinical trial to ascertain its potential in patients with gliomas. Because only a low 131I-IPA activity and low radiotherapy doses were applied, further optimizations including higher radiation doses and conventional fractionated radiotherapy are warranted.
Autocontouring and Manual Contouring: Which Is the Better Method for Target Delineation Using 18F-FDG PET/CT in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Previously, we showed that a CT window and level setting of 1,600 and –300 Hounsfield units, respectively, and autocontouring using an 18F-FDG PET 50% intensity level correlated best with pathologic results. The aim of this study was to compare this autocontouring with manual contouring, to determine which method is better. Methods: Seventeen patients with non–small cell lung cancer underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before surgery. The maximum diameter on pathologic examination was determined. Seven sets of gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were defined. The first set (GTVCT) was contoured manually using only CT information. The second set (GTVAuto) was autocontoured using a 50% intensity level for 18F-FDG PET images. The third set (GTVManual) was manually contoured using a visual method on PET images. The other 4 sets combined CT and 18F-FDG PET images fused to one another to become composite volumes: GTVCT+Auto, GTVCT+Manual, GTVCT−Auto, and GTVCT–Manual. To quantitate the degree to which CT and 18F-FDG PET defined the same region of interest, a matching index was calculated for each case. The maximum diameter of GTV was compared with the maximum diameter on pathologic examination. Results: The median GTVCT, GTVAuto, GTVManual, GTVCT+Auto, GTVCT+Manual, GTVCT–Auto, and GTVCT–Manual were 6.96, 2.42, 4.37, 7.46, 10.17, 2.21, and 3.38 cm3, respectively. The median matching indexes of GTVCT versus GTVCT+Auto, GTVAuto versus GTVCT+Auto, GTVCT versus GTVCT+Manual, and GTVManual versus GTVCT+Manual were 0.86, 0.65, 0.88, and 0.81, respectively. Compared with the maximum diameter on pathologic examination, the correlations of GTVCT, GTVAuto, GTVManual, GTVCT+Auto, and GTVCT+Manual were 0.87, 0.83, 0.93, 0.86, and 0.94, respectively. Conclusion: The matching index was higher for manual contouring than for autocontouring using a 50% intensity level on 18F-FDG PET images. When using a 50% intensity level to contour the target of non–small cell lung cancer, one should also consider using manual contouring of 18F-FDG PET to check for any missed disease.
Transport of Selected PET Radiotracers by Human P-Glycoprotein (ABCB1) and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2): An In Vitro Screening

Radiolabeled compounds used for brain imaging with PET must readily cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to reach their target. Efflux transporters at the BBB—P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)—could limit their uptake by the brain. Methods: We developed and validated an in vitro model using MDCKII cells transfected with human multidrug resistance (MDR1) or BCRP genes and assessed the transport of selected PET ligands by the concentration equilibrium technique. The tested compounds included befloxatone, (R,S)-CGP-12177, clorgyline, R-(−)-deprenyl, diprenorphine, DPA-714, fallypride, flumazenil, 2-fluoro-A-85380, LBT-999, loperamide, p-MPPF, PE2I, Pittsburgh compound B (PIB), (R,S)-PK11195, raclopride, R-(+)-verapamil, and WAY-100635. The assays were performed using the nonradioactive form of each compound (ultraviolet high-performance liquid chromatography analysis) and, when available, the 18F-labeled analogs (γ-counting). Results: Befloxatone appeared to be transported solely by BCRP. Loperamide, verapamil, and diprenorphine were the only P-gp substrates. Other ligands were transported by neither P-gp nor BCRP. Conclusion: The present method can readily be used to screen new-compound transport by P-gp or BCRP, even before any radiolabeling. Compounds that were previously thought to be transported by P-gp in rodents, such as p-MPPF, WAY-100635, and flumazenil, cannot be considered substrates of human P-gp. The impact of BCRP and P-gp at the BBB on the transport of befloxatone and diprenorphine in vivo remains to be evaluated with PET.
The Value of 99mTc-Tetrofosmin Brain SPECT in Predicting Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme

99mTc-tetrofosmin brain SPECT has been reported as a useful tool for the evaluation of glioma proliferation. In the present study, we set out to investigate the prognostic value of 99mTc-tetrofosmin brain SPECT in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Methods: We prospectively studied 18 patients (13 men, 5 women; mean age ± SD, 60.8 ± 7.79 y) who were operated on for glioblastoma multiforme. All patients underwent preoperative 99mTc-tetrofosmin brain SPECT, and surgical excision was performed within a week after SPECT. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Results: By calculating the lesion-to-normal (L/N) 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake ratio, we found that patients with an L/N ratio of more than 4.7 had significantly worse survival than did patients with an L/N ratio of 4.7 or less. Furthermore, patients with a Karnofsky Performance Score more than 90 had a significantly better survival rate. Although patients with near-total tumor resection who were younger than 60 y survived longer, the difference did not reach statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake and Karnofsky Performance Score were identified as factors with independent prognostic power. Conclusion: 99mTc-tetrofosmin brain SPECT may be an independent prognostic factor in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Further larger studies are needed to verify these results.
Sir (Michael) James Lighthill. 23 January 1924 – 17 July 1998

Michael James Lighthill was born in Paris on 23 January 1924, son of Ernest Balzar Lighthill (‘Bal’), a mining engineer who retired and returned to England in 1927 at the age of 59. James's mother, Marjorie, daughter of a Yorkshire engineer, L.W. Holmes, was 18 years younger than her husband; James had a brother, Olaf, 17 years older than himself, and a sister, Patricia, nine years older, who survives him. Bal had changed the family name from Lichtenberg (originally of Alsatian origin) in 1917.
A Pilot Study to Evaluate 3′-Deoxy-3′-18F-Fluorothymidine PET for Initial and Early Response Imaging in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Proliferation activity is considered an important prognostic marker. Immunohistochemical analysis from core biopsy or lymph node may not represent the proliferation rate. We investigated the in vivo proliferation marker 3′-deoxy-3′-18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) to characterize MCL. Methods: Eight untreated MCL patients were recruited prospectively. 18F-FLT PET/CT was performed 45 min after injection of 18F-FLT. 18F-FDG PET/CT served as reference. Mean 18F-FLT standardized uptake values were assessed per lesion and compared with respective 18F-FDG uptake. Correlation of mean 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG uptake in the hottest lesion to Ki67 immunostaining was performed. Five patients underwent repetitive early 18F-FLT PET. Results: All lymphoma lesions identified by 18F-FDG PET/CT showed increased 18F-FLT uptake. Semiquantitative analysis revealed a high mean 18F-FLT standardized uptake value of 9.9 (range, 5.5–15.9). Mean 18F-FLT uptake and Ki67 expressions showed a strong positive correlation. Conclusion: PET using 18F-FLT as a biomarker for proliferative activity showed a high sensitivity for MCL. 18F-FLT uptake shows a correlation with proliferation. Our results warrant further analysis of 18F-FLT PET in MCL.
Cardiac Mortality Assessment Improved by Evaluation of Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Combination with Hemoglobin and Kidney Function in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

We examined prognostic interactions among cardiac autonomic function assessed by 123I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) activity, hemoglobin, and kidney function in chronic heart failure patients. Anemia, chronic kidney disease, and impairment of cardiac sympathetic function have been shown as determinants of prognosis in heart failure patients, but there has been little information on their synergistic correlations with cardiac mortality. Methods: After evaluations of hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), 468 heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% underwent cardiac 123I-MIBG imaging before discharge and were then followed up for a mean interval of 60.5 mo with a primary endpoint of cardiac death. Cardiac 123I-MIBG activity was quantified using heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) and washout rate. Results: For 89 fatal cardiac events documented (19.0%), besides New York Heart Association class, multivariate Cox analysis revealed HMR, hemoglobin, and estimated GFR as significant independent determinants, with hazard ratios of 0.215 (P = 0.0129; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.064–0.718), 0.821 (P = 0.0062; 95% CI, 0.708–0.946), and 0.984 (P = 0.0243; 95% CI, 0.970–0.998), respectively. Receiver-operating-characteristic analysis determined the thresholds for identifying patients at increased risk for cardiac death to be 1.57 for HMR, 11.9 g/dL for hemoglobin, and 46.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 for estimated GFR. Combining the 4 independent predictors incrementally (P < 0.05) improved prognostic powers maximally up to a global χ2 value of 97.3 compared with sole or other combinations. Conclusion: Hemoglobin, kidney function, and alterations of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity are independently and synergistically associated with increased cardiac mortality in chronic heart failure patients, together with New York Heart Association functional class.
Accurate Differentiation of Recurrent Gliomas from Radiation Injury by Kinetic Analysis of α-11C-Methyl-l-Tryptophan PET

PET of amino acid transport and metabolism may be more accurate than conventional neuroimaging in differentiating recurrent gliomas from radiation-induced tissue changes. α-11C-methyl-l-tryptophan (11C-AMT) is an amino acid PET tracer that is not incorporated into proteins but accumulates in gliomas, mainly because of tumoral transport and metabolism via the immunomodulatory kynurenine pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 11C-AMT PET supplemented by tracer kinetic analysis for distinguishing recurrent gliomas from radiation injury. Methods: Twenty-two 11C-AMT PET scans were obtained in adult patients who presented with a lesion suggestive of tumor recurrence on conventional MRI 1–6 y (mean, 3 y) after resection and postsurgical radiation of a World Health Organization grade II–IV glioma. Lesional standardized uptake values were calculated, as well as lesion-to-contralateral cortex ratios and 2 kinetic 11C-AMT PET parameters (volume of distribution [VD], characterizing tracer transport, and unidirectional uptake rate [K]). Tumor was differentiated from radiation-injured tissue by histopathology (n = 13) or 1-y clinical and MRI follow-up (n = 9). Accuracy of tumor detection by PET variables was assessed by receiver-operating-characteristic analysis. Results: All 11C-AMT PET parameters were higher in tumors (n = 12) than in radiation injury (n = 10) (P ≤ 0.012 in all comparisons). The lesion-to-cortex K-ratio most accurately identified tumor recurrence, with highly significant differences both in the whole group (P < 0.0001) and in lesions with histologic verification (P = 0.006); the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve was 0.99. A lesion-to-cortex K-ratio threshold of 1.39 (i.e., a 39% increase) correctly differentiated tumors from radiation injury in all but 1 case (100% sensitivity and 91% specificity). In tumors that were high-grade initially (n = 15), a higher lesion-to-cortex K-ratio threshold completely separated recurrent tumors (all K-ratios ≥ 1.70) from radiation injury (all K-ratios < 1.50) (100% sensitivity and specificity). Conclusion: Kinetic analysis of dynamic 11C-AMT PET images may accurately differentiate between recurrent World Health Organization grade II–IV infiltrating gliomas and radiation injury. Separation of unidirectional uptake rates from transport can enhance the differentiating accuracy of 11C-AMT PET. Applying the same approach to other amino acid PET tracers might also improve their ability to differentiate recurrent gliomas from radiation injury.
Measuring the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea in a group of Western Australian hospitals

Abstract Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhoea (CDAD) is a well known healthcare-associated infection, increasing in incidence and severity in much of the developed world. Recommendations for surveillance of CDAD have been published, and CDAD incidence monitoring is increasingly recommended internationally, but unlike many other healthcare-associated infections, there is little comparative data available about CDAD rates in hospitalised patients in Australia. Nine hospitals in Western Australian used standardised definitions and methods to calculate CDAD incidence rates over a 6-month period in 2006, and tested the feasibility of using these protocols in a local context. The overall incidence rate of healthcare-associated CDAD was 1.2 per 10 000 occupied bed days (range 0–3.3 per 10 000 occupied bed days). Calculated rates and hospital rankings varied markedly if separations were used in place of occupied bed days. Each data collection form took a median of 10min to complete. The short study period and marked variation in laboratory diagnostic practices are limitations to direct comparison of rates between hospitals, but this is a useful and practical method of monitoring CDAD that can be easily incorporated in Australian infection control practice.