Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of School Choice on Students ’ Mobility : Evidence from Madrid ∗

Endowing families with school choice might promote equality of opportunity, facilitating access to better schools to all students regardless the neighborhoods where they reside. Nevertheless, family mobility may be driven by their socioeconomic characteristics and by the features of the center. Thus, school choice could have a negative impact by exacerbating differences across students from distinct backgrounds and intensifying segregation. After the implementation of the inter-district school choice in the Community of Madrid, there has been a decrease in the segregation of the educational system. Families from the lowest socioeconomic status are those who respond the most when facing an increase in the level of school choice. The largest increase in within-school heterogeneity is experienced by the best schools. This evidence suggest that school choice does promote equality of opportunity.
17-06 From Fossil Fuels to Renewables : The Role of Electricity Storage Itziar

Electricity storage represents a solution to curb emissions by enabling more use of intermittent renewable energy. Our goal is to empirically analyze the determinants of innovation in electricity storage and its role in fostering technological innovations in renewable and conventional electricity generation. Using a global firm-level data set of electricity patents from 1963 to 2011, we find that better electricity storage promotes innovation not only in renewable energy but also in conventional technologies. Specifically, our estimates show that an additional storage patent increases the probability to apply for patents in renewable energy and efficiencyimproving fossil fuel technologies two years from now by 1.11% and 0.66%, respectively. This implies that improved electricity storage technologies can boost the energy efficiency of conventional, fossil fuel-fired power plants as well as increase the use of renewable electricity. Thus, the ability of electricity storage to curb carbon emissions depends on: the competitiveness of renewable energy against conventional electricity generation, and conventional power generation mix as storage increases fossil-fuel efficiency and reduces ramping costs.
Microblological Quality Assessment of Meat Samples Sold in Kaura Namoda

The study is focused on the Microbiological Quality Assessment of meat samples sold in kaura Namoda (Danbu nama, Kilishi, Balangu, Tukuyan, Tsire) that are commonly eaten in the Northern part of Nigeria. A major focus has been given to the isolation and identification of fungi and some bacteria. Six samples were taken each week within a period of one year. The microbial investigation was aimed at the deter¬mination of total plate counts, the number of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, the presence of Salmonella spp. , and the number of moulds present in these meats. The highest level of microbial contamination (total plate count, counts of coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus) was observed in fresh meat during dry season. The presence of Salmonella was not found in any sample. The highest number of microscopic filamentous fungi was found in samples of kilishi in rainy season. Toxicogenic genera (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Fusarium spp.) have also been identified. Keywords—Meat products, microbial contamination,
Evaluation Of Hepatoprotective And Hepatotherapeutic Activity Of Alhagimaurorum ( Camel Thorn ) Alcoholic Extract

The study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective and hepatotherapeutic (treatment) activity of 70 %alcoholwhole plant extract of Alhagimaurorum (A.maurorum) against injured liver induced by paracetamolin experimental mice. Phytochemical screening of the extract was also carried out and indicated the presence of flavonoids and tannins. Alcohol extract of A.maurorum at dose of 1g /kg body was administered and compared with 100 mg/kg silymarine as hepatoprotectivefor 7 daysand 7 days treatment inparacetamol (2 gm/ kg) intoxicated mice. Biochemical parameters including Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT),Total protein (T.P)and total B.rubin (TB) levels were measured to determine the degree of improvement in conditions of damaged mice liver. The liver was taken and preserved in 10 % formol salinefor histological studies. The extract pretreatment with the extract as hepatoprotective at doses of 1g/kg has exhibited reduction in biochemical parameters (ALP, T.P, ALT, AST, and T.B). The extract administration as pre-treatment (7days) and treatment (7 days) in hepatic intoxicated mice showed histological improve the damaged liver tissues. Hepatic cellular changes were recorded in paracetamol treated animals and these cellular changes were improved and/or prevented by administration of A. maurorum alcoholic extract. In Our results clarified that A.maurorum alcoholic extract have a hepatoprotective and hepatic therabutic(treatment) effect against paracetamol hepatotoxicity in mice.
Learning cost-sensitive Bayesian networks via direct and indirect methods

Cost-Sensitive learning has become an increasingly important area that recognizes that real world classification problems need to take the costs of misclassification and accuracy into account. Much work has been done on cost-sensitive decision tree learning, but very little has been done on cost-sensitive Bayesian networks. Although there has been significant research on Bayesian networks there has been relatively little research on learning cost-sensitive Bayesian networks. Hence, this paper explores whether it is possible to develop algorithms that learn cost-sensitive Bayesian networks by taking (i) an indirect approach that changes the data distribution to reflect the costs of misclassification; and (ii) a direct approach that amends an existing accuracy based algorithm for learning Bayesian networks. An empirical comparison of the new approaches is carried out with cost-sensitive decision tree learning algorithms on 33 data sets, and the results show that the new algorithms perform better in terms of misclassification cost and maintaining accuracy.
A randomized controlled prospective study to assess the role of subconjunctival bevacizumab in primary pterygium surgery in Indian patients

Background: Pterygium is an ocular surface disorder with prevalence rates ranges from 0.3% to 29% in different parts of the world. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been detected in increased amounts in pterygium epithelium, compared with normal conjunctiva. Bevacizumab is a recombinant, humanized anti-VEGF antibody suggested as a possible adjunctive therapy for pterygium excision that appears to have a role in prevention of recurrence. We conducted this study to evaluate the role of subconjunctival bevacizumab in primary pterygium surgery in Indian patients. Methods: In this randomized prospective clinical study, the patients were randomized into two groups of 30 patients each. Study group received 1.25 mg/0.05 ml subconjunctival bevacizumab 1 week before pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft. Control group received 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) subconjunctival normal saline 1 week prior to pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft. Patients were followed up at day 1, day 7, 1 month and 3 months. The main outcome measures were morphology of pterygium after injection, intra-operative ease, recurrence of pterygia, and any complications. Results: After giving bevacizumab, there was statistically significant improvement in grade, color intensity, size of pterygium, and symptoms of patients. Intra-operatively, less bleeding was observed by the surgeon. No statistically significant difference regarding reduction in astigmatism, improvement of visual acuity, and complications were observed in two groups. Recurrence was noted in five patients (8.33%) in total study population at the end of 3 months. It was present in two patients (6.67%) in Group A and three patients (10%) in Group B. Conclusion: Single preoperative administration of subconjunctival injection bevacizumab given 1 week before the pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft decreases the vascularity of newly formed blood vessels, hence may decrease recurrence rate though not in our study.
Ultrastructure of the D-haustoria of Coleosporium spp . ( rust fungi , Uredinales ) *

Berndt, R. (1996). Ultrastructure of the D-haustoria of Coleosporium spp. (rust fungi, Uredinales). Sydowia 48(2): 263-272. The ultrastructure of D-haustoria of seven Coleosporium species was investigated. The species were selected to represent host plants of different systematic positions. D-haustoria were similar in all species investigated. Haustoria each had a ± bulb-shaped haustorial body and were morphologically similar to D-haustoria of many other rust fungi. They differed, however, from typical D-haustoria by the ultrastructure of the haustorial neck. The neck was wrapped by a fold of the extrahaustorial membrane (velopedunculate type of D-haustorium). The importance of haustorial ultrastructure for the systematics of Coleosporium and Melampsoraceae s. 1. is discussed.
Saliva-Promoted Adhesion of Streptococcus mutans MT8148 Associates with Dental Plaque and Caries Experience

Colonization of enamel surfaces by Streptococcus mutans is thought to be initiated by the attachment of bacteria to a saliva-derived conditioning film (acquired pellicle). However, the clinical relevance of the contribution of saliva-promoted S. mutans adhesion in biofilm formation has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to correlate saliva-promoted S. mutans adhesion with biofilm formation in humans. We correlated all measurements of salivary factors and dental plaque formation in 70 healthy subjects. Dental plaque development after thorough professional teeth cleaning correlated positively with S. mutans adhesion onto saliva-coated hydroxyapatite pellets and the glycoprotein content of either parotid or whole saliva. Saliva-promoted S. mutans adhesion and glycoprotein content were also positively correlated with each other in parotid and whole saliva. By contrast, neither salivary mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus nor Candida correlated with biofilm formation. Parotid saliva-mediated S. mutans adhesion was significantly higher in 12 caries-experienced (CE) subjects than in 9 caries-inexperienced (CI) subjects. Salivary S. mutans adhesion was significantly less (p < 0.01) in the CI group than in the CE group. In conclusion, the present findings suggest the initial S. mutans adhesion, modulated by salivary protein adsorption onto the enamel surface, as a possible correlate of susceptibility to dental plaque and caries.
Alcohol-Related Offending in Male Special Hospital Patients

In a sample of 61 male Special Hospital patients, 11 (18%) were identified as having alcohol-related problems prior to admission. Ten of these alcohol-abusers were interviewed to gather further information about their drinking, offending, and the relationship between the two. Alcohol abusers showed more serious criminality than non-abusers, having significantly more previous convictions and being responsible for a disproportionately high number of offences of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol-related problems appear to have developed quickly in adolescence culminating in the index offence at around 30 years of age. At this time, the mean self-reported weekly alcohol consumption was 240 units (one unit = 8.5gm alcohol). All but one man admitted to a relationship between alcohol and crime, and most showed motivation to change their future drinking behaviour.
Understanding the relationship between vegetation greenness and productivity across dryland ecosystems through the integration of PhenoCam , satellite , and eddy covariance data

Drylands account for approximately 40% of the global land surface and play a dominant role in the trend and variability of terrestrial carbon uptake and storage. Gross ecosystem photosynthesis – termed gross primary productivity (GPP) – is a critical driver of terrestrial carbon uptake and remains challenging to be observed directly. Currently, vegetation indices that largely capture changes in greenness are the most commonly used datasets in satellite-based GPP modeling. However, there remains significant uncertainty in the spatiotemporal relationship between greenness indices and GPP, especially for relatively heterogeneous dryland ecosystems. In this paper, we compared vegetation greenness indices from PhenoCam and satellite (Landsat and MODIS) observations against GPP estimates from the eddy covariance technique, across three representative ecosystem types of the southwestern United States. We systematically evaluated the changes in the relationship between vegetation greenness indices and GPP: i) across spatial scales of canopy-level, 30-meter, and 500-meter resolution; and ii) across temporal scale of daily, 8-day, 16-day, and monthly resolution. We found that greennessGPP relationships were independent of spatial scales as long as land cover type and composition remained relatively constant. We also found that the greenness-GPP relationships became stronger as the time interval increased, with the strongest relationships observed at the monthly resolution. We posit that the greenness-GPP relationship breaks down at short timescales because greenness changes more slowly than plant physiological function, which responds rapidly to changes in key biophysical drivers. These findings provide insights into the potential for and limitations of modeling GPP using remotely sensed greenness indices across dryland ecosystem
DEVELOPMENT OF PIGEON PEA INOCULATED WITH RHIZOBIUM ISOLATED FROM COWPEA TRAP HOST PLANTS

Pigeon pea is an important protein source grown in several tropical and sub-tropical countries, and is considered a multi-purpose plant that is resistant to the conditions of the Brazilian Cerrado. Among the possible uses for cowpea, its use as a green manure, increasing soil nitrogen content through the association with diazotrophic bacteria, generically known as rhizobia, is noteworthy. The present work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Rhizobium strains isolated from cowpea plants in the development of pigeon peas cultured in Red Latosol. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replications. Treatments consisted of inoculation with four Rhizobium strains (MT8, MT15, MT16, and MT23) and one commercial inoculant comprising Bradyrhizobium spp. strains BR 2801 and BR 2003. There were two controls, one absolute (without inoculation or nitrogen fertilization) and the other with nitrogen fertilization. Each experimental plot consisted of an 8-dm3 vase containing three plants. Analyzed variables included plant height, SPAD index, number and dry weight of nodules, and shoot and root dry masses. Pigeon peas responded significantly to inoculation treatment, since all the plants inoculated with Rhizobium strains isolated from cowpea strains showed results similar to plants in the nitrogen control and commercial inoculant treatments. This demonstrates a favorable plant–bacteria interaction, which can be utilized as an alternative nitrogen source for pigeon peas.
MicroRNA miR-124 Controls the Choice between Neuronal and Astrocyte Differentiation by Fine-tuning Ezh2 Expression*

Background: Molecular mechanisms underlying reduced expression of Ezh2 during neural differentiation are poorly understood. Results: miR-124 directly down-regulates Ezh2 expression to promote neuronal differentiation. Conclusion: Ezh2 is an important target of miR-124 in the context of neuronal differentiation. Significance: Our report represents a significant advance in understanding the contribution of a microRNA/epigenetic regulatory circuitry to cell fate determination in the neural lineage. Polycomb group protein Ezh2 is a histone H3 Lys-27 histone methyltransferase orchestrating an extensive epigenetic regulatory program. Several nervous system-specific genes are known to be repressed by Ezh2 in stem cells and derepressed during neuronal differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation remain poorly understood. Here we show that Ezh2 levels are dampened during neuronal differentiation by brain-enriched microRNA miR-124. Expression of miR-124 in a neuroblastoma cells line was sufficient to up-regulate a significant fraction of nervous system-specific Ezh2 target genes. On the other hand, naturally elevated expression of miR-124 in embryonic carcinoma cells undergoing neuronal differentiation correlated with down-regulation of Ezh2 levels. Importantly, overexpression of Ezh2 mRNA with a 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) lacking a functional miR-124 binding site, but not with the wild-type Ezh2 3′-UTR, hampered neuronal and promoted astrocyte-specific differentiation in P19 and embryonic mouse neural stem cells. Overall, our results uncover a molecular mechanism that allows miR-124 to balance the choice between alternative differentiation possibilities through fine-tuning the expression of a critical epigenetic regulator.
Nanoscale cues regulate the structure and function of macroscopic cardiac tissue constructs

Heart tissue possesses complex structural organization on multiple scales, from macro- to nano-, but nanoscale control of cardiac function has not been extensively analyzed. Inspired by ultrastructural analysis of the native tissue, we constructed a scalable, nanotopographically controlled model of myocardium mimicking the in vivo ventricular organization. Guided by nanoscale mechanical cues provided by the underlying hydrogel, the tissue constructs displayed anisotropic action potential propagation and contractility characteristic of the native tissue. Surprisingly, cell geometry, action potential conduction velocity, and the expression of a cell–cell coupling protein were exquisitely sensitive to differences in the substratum nanoscale features of the surrounding extracellular matrix. We propose that controlling cell–material interactions on the nanoscale can stipulate structure and function on the tissue level and yield novel insights into in vivo tissue physiology, while providing materials for tissue repair.
Motor response to acute dopaminergic challenge with apomorphine and levodopa in Parkinson's disease: implications for the pathogenesis of the on-off phenomenon.

OBJECTIVES--To evaluate the contribution of postsynaptic changes to motor fluctuations, three groups of parkinsonian patients with differing responses to treatment were acutely challenged with two dopaminergic drugs-apomorphine and levodopa-having different mechanisms of action. METHODS--Forty two patients with Parkinson's disease (14 untreated, eight with a stable response to levodopa, and 20 with levodopa induced motor fluctuations) were challenged on two consecutive days with apomorphine and levodopa. The latency, duration, and magnitude of motor response was measured. RESULTS--A progressive shortening of mean latency after levodopa challenge was found passing from the untreated to the stable and fluctuating groups; the difference between untreated and fluctuating patients was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Response duration after levodopa challenge was similar in untreated and stable patients, whereas it showed a significant shortening in patients with motor fluctuations (P < 0.05 v both untreated and stable patients). When subcutaneous apomorphine was given, untreated patients had a longer response duration than those who had developed motor fluctuations (P < 0.05). Although baseline disability was significantly greater in the fluctuating patients than in the untreated and stable patients, the severity of residual parkinsonian signs after both apomorphine and levodopa challenge was similar for all three groups; as a result, the degree of improvement in parkinsonian signs after dopaminergic stimulation was substantially greater in more advanced than in early cases. Linear regression analysis also indicated that latency and duration after apomorphine challenge did not significantly correlate with those after levodopa challenge, whereas magnitude of response to apomorphine showed a strong positive correlation with that after levodopa challenge (r = 0.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION--The progressive shortening of motor response after both apomorphine and levodopa suggests that pharmacodynamic factors play an important part in determining the duration of motor response and argue against altered central pharmacokinetics of levodopa being principally responsible for the on-off effect. The widening response amplitude and increasing off phase disability occurring during disease progression are also critical factors in determining the appearance of motor fluctuations.
Socioeconomic Determinants of Healthcare Quality and Outcomes in U . S . States

As healthcare becomes a more fundamental and increasingly discussed political issue, healthcare quality lies at the foundation of creating an ideal healthcare system. What socioeconomic factors influence the quality of healthcare and efficacy of treatments in U.S. states? This paper uses a linear regression in an attempt to uncover determinants of a lower colorectal cancer mortality rate and improved healthcare outcomes in U.S. states from 2004 and 2014. Our regression results indicate that, contrary to this paper’s hypothesis, the uninsured rate and real GDP per capita were not statistically significant indicators of colorectal cancer mortality and healthcare outcomes. Despite this, the results support the hypothesis that both higher educational attainment and a higher urban share of counties would be associated with a lower colorectal cancer mortality rate, ultimately concurring with the findings of the studies by Ross et al. (1995) and Aboagye et al. (2014) cited within this paper. Overall, in addition to educational attainment and urbanization, the linear regressions indicate that the colorectal cancer mortality rate is heavily influenced by initial conditions and factors that affect the incidence rate such as diet, racial breakdown, and medical advancements of the time period. Lorenzo M. Waguespack 2
Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic gastritis in gastric cancer.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Serum IgG antibodies for H pylori were determined in 54 consecutive patients with gastric carcinoma. The prevalence of H pylori in gastric mucosa was also examined histologically (modified Giemsa) in 32 patients from whom adequate biopsy specimens of the antrum and corpus were available. Thirty five patients with gastrointestinal tumours outside the stomach and 48 with non-gastrointestinal malignancies served as controls. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients, 38 (70%) had H pylori antibodies (IgG) in their serum (three additional patients had H pylori antibodies IgA, class specific but not IgG specific). This prevalence was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than that (49%) in the 35 controls. No differences in prevalence of H pylori antibodies were found between gastric cancer cases of intestinal (IGCA) or diffuse (DGCA) type, both these types showing H pylori antibodies (IgG) in 71% of the patients. In the subgroup of 32 subjects, five patients had normal gastric mucosa and four showed corpus limited atrophy ("pernicious anaemia type" atrophy of type A). All of these nine patients had no evidence of current or previous H pylori infection in serum (no IgG antibodies) or in tissue sections (negative Giemsa staining). The remaining 23 patients had antral or pangastritis, and all had evidence of current or previous H pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: H pylori associated chronic gastritis was the associated disease in 75% of the patients with gastric cancer occurring equally often in both IGCA and DGCA groups. About 25% of cases seem to have a normal stomach or severe corpus limited atrophy, neither of which showed evidence of concomitant H pylori infection.