Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Racial Incidents in the Classroom: A Qualitative Study on Preschool Teachers Perceptions

This dissertation examines the extent to which 35 early childhood educators’ training and experiences influence their perception of and subsequent teaching strategies racial incidents that occur in a preschool classroom. The study used focus groups to explore the implications of a teacher’s ability to a) perceive the racial situation; and b) act or intervene through curriculum or other choices to turn the situation into a “teachable moment”. Using the theories of social learning, intergroup contact, perspectives on ethnic/race identity formation and foundations of multicultural education, the study addresses what role early educators and their strategies could play in reducing the formation of prejudices and negative stereotypes in preschool-aged children. The findings suggest early educators are not only reluctant to “label” children as being racist or discriminatory, but also largely believe children are incapable of these types of thoughts; young children are blameless in their actions. Furthermore, participants routinely asserted that external influences, namely parents, are to blame for children’s thoughts and actions around race and gender. Participants also felt their teacher training around multicultural education was inadequate, making it difficult to know how to intervene in racial incidents in their classroom. Following teaching strategies were limited to books and songs or parent focused conversations. Implications for future study include assessing teacher perceptions of racial events when children are of the same race or gender and using videos of real-life examples or using ethnographic methods. Limitations are discussed including small sample size, and subject selection. Racial Incidents in the Classroom: A Qualitative Study on Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions by Melinda Day BA, Tufts University, 2002 MPH, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Child and Family Studies Syracuse University August, 2016 COPYRIGHT NOTICE © 2016 Melinda Day ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Acidocalcisomes of Trypanosoma brucei have an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor that is required for growth and infectivity

Acidocalcisomes are acidic calcium stores rich in polyphosphate and found in a diverse range of organisms. The mechanism of Ca2+ release from these organelles was unknown. Here we present evidence that Trypanosoma brucei acidocalcisomes possess an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (TbIP3R) for Ca2+ release. Localization studies in cell lines expressing TbIP3R in its endogenous locus fused to an epitope tag revealed its partial colocalization with the vacuolar proton pyrophosphatase, a marker of acidocalcisomes. IP3 was able to stimulate Ca2+ release from a chicken B-lymphocyte cell line in which the genes for all three vertebrate IP3Rs have been stably ablated (DT40-3KO) and that were stably expressing TbIP3R, providing evidence of its function. IP3 was also able to release Ca2+ from permeabilized trypanosomes or isolated acidocalcisomes and photolytic release of IP3 in intact trypanosomes loaded with Fluo-4 elicited a transient Ca2+ increase in their cytosol. Ablation of TbIP3R by RNA interference caused a significant reduction of IP3-mediated Ca2+ release in trypanosomes and resulted in defects in growth in culture and infectivity in mice. Taken together, the data provide evidence of the presence of a functional IP3R as a Ca2+ release channel in acidocalcisomes of trypanosomes and suggest that a Ca2+ signaling pathway that involves acidocalcisomes is required for growth and establishment of infection.
JAK2 in Myeloproliferative Disorders Is Not Just Another Kinase

Myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) represent a subcategory of hematological malignancies and are characterized by a stem cell-derived clonal proliferation of myeloid cells including erythrocytes, platelets, and leucocytes. Traditionally, the term ‘MPD’ included chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). At present, these four disorders are referred to as ‘classic’ MPD and are distinguished from a spectrum of other MPD-like clinico-pathologic entities that are operationally classified as ‘atypical’ MPD. The oncogenic mutations(s) in classic MPD are unknown except for CML, which is associated with an activating mutation (Bcr/Abl) of the gene encoding for the Abl cytoplasmic protein kinase (PTK). In the last 3 months, a somatic point mutation of JAK2 (JAK2V617F), the gene encoding for another cytoplasmic PTK was reported in the majority of patients with PV and approximately half of those with either ET or MMM. The same mutation was also found in a small number of patients with either atypical MPD or the myelodysplastic syndrome but not in normal controls, germline tissue including T lymphocytes, and patients with secondary erythrocytosis. In vitro, JAK2V617F was associated with constitutive phosphorylation of JAK2 and its downstream effectors as well as induction of erythropoietin hypersensitivity in cell lines. In vivo, murine bone marrow transduced with a retrovirus containing JAK2V617F induced erythrocytosis in the transplanted mice. Taken together, these observations suggest that JAK2V617F is an acquired myeloid lineage-specific mutation that engenders a pathogenetic relevance for the PV phenotype in MPD.
LEAD-LAG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISE 30 SPOT AND FUTURES MARKETS

The lead-lag relationship between spot and futures markets indicates which market leads to the other. Determining the direction of this casual relationship between spot and futures market carries important information for traders since leading of one market to another enables an arbitrage opportunity. This paper investigates the lead-lag relationship between spot and futures markets in Turkey. The most liquid stock index futures contracts traded in Turkish Derivatives Exchange (TurkDEX) are Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) 30 index futures contracts, because of this reason, the lead-lag relationship between ISE 30 index and ISE 30 index futures is examined by using daily observations for sample period February 2005 – March 2011. The results indicate that spot market plays a price discovery role for futures market, implying that spot prices contain useful information about future prices for ISE 30 index. These findings are helpful to financial managers and traders dealing with Turkish stock index futures.
Balanced X chromosome inactivation patterns in the Rett syndrome brain.

In Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked disorder essentially limited to females, neurological development goes awry. Causing this disarray in neuronal function is a mutated form of a protein known as methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Because the MECP2 gene is subject to X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in females, a number of studies have addressed whether the percentage of cells inactivating the normal vs. mutant chromosome in heterozygous females influences the phenotypic outcome of MECP2 mutations. Because most of these studies measured XCI in peripheral blood, however, interpretation of the results requires the assumption that XCI patterns in blood are representative of those in the brain, the primarily affected tissue. Here, we have analyzed the MECP2 sequence and XCI status in 13 brains of RTT patients. Mutations were identified in nine of the cases, with eight of these representing C to T transitions at CpG dinucleotides, and one being a novel frameshift mutation (765delA). Patterns of XCI were balanced in 10 of 10 cases for which the assay was informative. As previous studies have shown that a majority of RTT patients have balanced XCI patterns in peripheral blood, our results suggest that the pattern in blood is an accurate indicator of XCI patterns in the brain for a majority of cases, but there are some notable exceptions that this study may help explain. Given the correlation between balanced XCI and classic RTT, these results suggest that a certain percentage of neurons expressing the mutant MECP2 gene may be required for RTT to become manifest.
Molecular typing of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia by DNA macrorestriction analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant, nosocomial pathogen for which optimal typing methods in epidemiologic investigations of nosocomial outbreaks have not been defined. We compared DNA macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis by arbitrarily primed PCR for molecular typing of 109 multidrug-resistant strains of S. maltophilia from multiple outbreaks at our institution over a 10-month period in 1993. PFGE after digestion with restriction endonuclease DraI revealed 62 unique DNA restriction profiles among the 109 strains, with 23, 11, 6, 6, and 3 strains having concordant profiles in each of five types. There were four concordant profiles among 8 strains (2 strains with each profile), while unique profiles were present in each of the remaining 52 strains. Further RAPD analysis with a decanucleotide primer showed the same number of distinct strain types as PFGE but more subtype diversity within each clonal type. We concluded that DNA macrorestriction analysis and RAPD analysis are sufficiently discriminatory and useful for differentiation of S. maltophilia strains in epidemiologic investigations of nosocomial outbreaks. However, RAPD analysis by arbitrarily primed PCR is faster and less laborious method of molecular typing.
Intraoperative Infusion of 0.6–0.9 µg · kg−1 · min−1 Remifentanil Induces Acute Tolerance in Young Children after Laparoscopic Ureteroneocystostomy

Background:Intraoperative infusion of opioids has been associated with increased postoperative pain and analgesic requirements, but the development of tolerance in young children is less clear. This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was designed to test the hypothesis that the intraoperative administration of remifentanil results in postoperative opioid tolerance in a dose-related manner in young children. Methods:We enrolled 60 children (aged 1–5 yr) who were undergoing elective laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy. Patients were randomized and received an intraoperative infusion of 0, 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil. Postoperative pain was managed by a parent/nurse-controlled analgesia pump using fentanyl. The primary outcome included the total fentanyl consumptions at 24 and 48 h postsurgery. Secondary outcomes were the postoperative pain scores and adverse effects. Results:The children who received 0.6 and 0.9 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil required more postoperative fentanyl than the children who received saline or 0.3 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil (all P < 0.001) for 24 h after surgery. The children who received 0.3–0.9 µg·kg−1·min−1 intraoperative remifentanil reported higher pain scores at 1 h after surgery than the children who received saline (P = 0.002, P = 0.023, and P = 0.006, respectively). No significant intergroup differences in recovery variables were observed, but vomiting was more frequent in the 0.9 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil group than in the other groups (P = 0.027). Conclusions:The intraoperative use of 0.3 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil for approximately 3 h (range: 140–265 min) did not induce acute tolerance, but the administration of 0.6 and 0.9 µg·kg−1·min−1 remifentanil to young children resulted in acute tolerance for 24 h after surgery in an apparently dose-related manner.
Correlation between human seizure-related gene 6 variants and idiopathic generalized epilepsy in a Southern Chinese Han population

This study sought to analyze the genotype and gene mutations of human seizure-related gene 6 in 98 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (non-febrile seizures), who were selected from three generations of the Chinese Han population living in Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, Wuxi of Jiangsu Province, and Jiangxi Province of Southern China. Twenty-six patients’ parents were available as a first-degree relatives group and 100 biologically unrelated healthy controls were collected as the control group. Based on the age of onset and seizure type, the patients were divided into six subgroups. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA direct sequencing analysis showed that the most frequent mutations c.1249dupC (p.Gly418Argfx31) and c.1636A > G (p.Thr546Ala) were detected in some idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients and their asymptomatic first-degree relatives (30.6% vs. 19.2% and 11.2% vs. 26.9%). A novel mutation c.1807G > A (p.Val603Met) was found in a patient with late-onset idiopathic generalized epilepsy. There was no significant difference in the incidence of these three mutations among the different subgroups of idiopathic generalized epilepsy and controls. Thus, further analysis of a larger population is needed to confirm the assumption that human seizure-related gene 6 is a susceptibility gene for idiopathic generalized epilepsy with various sub-syndromes.
Principles-based learning design for an online postgraduate psychiatric pharmacy course.

OBJECTIVES To implement an interactive, Web-based postgraduate course aimed at improving the knowledge, skills, and confidence of health care practitioners with interest in providing pharmaceutical care to people with mental disorders. DESIGN The Web-based course was created in which authentic tasks and multiple modes of presentation and problem-solving were used to develop understanding of core concepts. Participants formulated pharmaceutical care plans for authentic case scenarios and cases selected from practice. Participants developed management plans using audiovisual lectures, videotaped demonstration patient interviews, and links to mental health practice tools and the literature. A combination of online discussion, collaborative and individual preparation of care plans, and peer and instructor feedback were used. ASSESSMENT Responses on postcourse surveys showed that participants' comfort levels with providing pharmaceutical care for common mental disorders increased moderately. Three-quarters of respondents indicated that the course had deepened their understanding and enhanced their mental health practice. SUMMARY A Web-based postgraduate course in pharmaceutical care for patients with mental disorders was successfully implemented and resulted in a template which can be used in the development of similar postgraduate courses.
Unilateral Environmental Policy Choices

This paper demonstrates that the notion of environmental policy as a secondary trade barrier needs substantial modification when production pollution and consumption pollution coexist. The paper first focuses on local pollution and unilateral tax adjustments, showing that, under certain conditions, jointly increasing production taxes and consumption taxes to neutralize terms of trade effects raises welfare by more than consumption tax hikes alone in pursuit of terms of trade gains. Relatedly, this paper shows that production tax hikes alone resulting in terms of trade deterioration can increase welfare by more than that of the above policy mix. I then extend the analysis to the case where pollution emissions are global, showing that environmental policy as a secondary trade barrier can prevent emissions leakages and is therefore mutually welfare-improving. The main message of this paper is that regardless of whether pollution emissions are local or global, unilateral environmental policy is less harmful than previously thought, and a two-pronged policy approach relying on consumption taxes and production taxes is a good candidate for both unilateral and cooperative mitigation actions.
Effect of heat dissipation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic field on three human cancer cell lines in magnetic fluid hyperthermia

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose a method for constructing the software setup required for investigating thermal effect of superparamagnetic nanoparticles on three human cell lines. This article aimed to examine the required nanoparticle dose, frequency, field intensity and the exposure time. Materials and methods: In the present study, first some general details were given about design and construction of the setup required for generating a safe magnetic field in order to examine the thermal effect of superparamagnetic nanoparticles on three human cancer cell lines, cultured under laboratory conditions. Next, a series of experimental tests were conducted to study the effect of magnetic field, on the cells. Finally, by applying three types of iron-based nanoparticles with mean diameters of 8, 15 and 20 nm, for 30 min, the temperature rise and specific absorption rate (SAR) were calculated. Results: By conducting experimental tests, the maximum temperature rise at the resonance frequency of the coil was reported to be 80 kHz, and it was observed that all the cells died when temperature of the cells reached 42°C/30 min. Based on the experiments, it was observed that magnetic field with intensity of 8 kA/m within the frequency range of 80–180 kHz did not have any effect on the cells. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be concluded that the nanoparticle dose of 80 µg/ml with diameter of 8 nm at the resonance frequency of coil for 30 min was sufficient to destroy all the cancerous cells in the flask.
Sevoflurane Causes Greater QTc Interval Prolongation in Elderly Patients than in Younger Patients

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane and droperidol prolong the QT interval, and advancing age is not only associated with a prolongation of the QT interval but is also a risk factor for drug-induced QT interval prolongation. In this study, we compared the effect of sevoflurane and droperidol on the corrected QT (QTc) interval and the dispersion of ventricular repolarization (time interval from the peak to the end of the T wave [Tp-e]) in elderly patients with those in younger patients. METHODS: Under sevoflurane anesthesia (1.5%–2.5%) with an antiemetic dose of droperidol (1.25 mg), the QT interval and the Tp-e interval, which indicates transmural dispersion of repolarization across the myocardial wall, were measured in 30 elderly patients (70 years and older) and in 30 younger patients (20–69 years) for 2 hours. The QT interval was normalized for heart rate (QTc) using 3 different formulas: Bazett, Matsunaga, and Van de Water. Data are presented as mean ± sd. RESULTS: The elderly group was 24.4 years older (P < 0.05) than the younger group. The QTc intervals in the 2 groups before anesthesia were not significantly different. Using all 3 formulas, the QTc interval in the elderly patient group was significantly prolonged by sevoflurane (the QTc intervals at preanesthesia and 60, 75, 90, and 120 minutes after sevoflurane exposure were 0.434 ± 0.028 seconds, 0.450 ± 0.037 seconds, 0.463 ± 0.037 seconds, 0.461 ± 0.037 seconds, and 0.461 ± 0.038 seconds, respectively, with the Bazett formula). The sevoflurane-induced QTc interval prolongation in the elderly patient group was significantly greater than that in the younger patient group (0.450 ± 0.037 seconds vs 0.432 ± 0.034 seconds, 60 minutes after sevoflurane exposure; 0.463 ± 0.037 seconds vs 0.441 ± 0.037 seconds, 75 minutes after sevoflurane exposure; and 0.461 ± 0.038 seconds vs 0.436 ± 0.030 seconds, 120 minutes after sevoflurane exposure with the Bazett formula), but the sevoflurane-induced QTc interval prolongation was neither further enhanced with time nor by droperidol. The Tp-e interval was not affected in either group. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane causes greater QTc interval prolongation in elderly patients than in younger patients. Although sevoflurane does not affect the transmural dispersion of repolarization and sevoflurane-induced QTc prolongation does not advance with time and by droperidol administration, QT interval prolongation and its associated arrhythmias should be carefully monitored during sevoflurane anesthesia in elderly patients.
Oculocutaneous albinism in southern Africa: Population structure, health and genetic care

Background: People with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) have reduced levels of melanin in their hair, skin and eyes, with associated visual impairment and extreme sun sensitivity requiring lifelong monitoring. This genetic condition is surrounded by myth, superstition and fear in Africa, where affected individuals and their families may be rejected, shunned and excluded from their community. Objective: This review reports population studies in southern Africa to determine the distribution of people with OCA in this predominantly rural and relatively impoverished area—crucial information for health and education providers. Health and genetic care studies document the range of eye and skin problems experienced and suggest effective and sustainable ways to manage these needs in a low resource setting. Conclusion: Innovative genetic care programmes in northern South Africa facilitate low-cost management of albinism, raise self-esteem and promote community awareness, helping to improve the long-term health prospects and social integration of those affected. This holistic approach of dealing with albinism from both a medical and a sociological perspective could be applied in other areas of Africa where this condition is prevalent.
Contribution of CDKAL1 rs7756992 and IGF2BP2 rs4402960 polymorphisms in type 2 diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity risk and hypertension in the Tunisian population 在突尼斯人群中，CDKAL1 rs7756992与IGF2BP2 rs4402960的多态性对2型糖尿病、糖尿病并发症、肥胖风险以及高血压的影响

The insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA‐binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) and the cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit‐associated protein 1‐like 1 (CDKAL1) identified through genome‐wide association (GWA) studies have been shown to be associated with Type 2 diabetes in various ethnic groups. In this study, we investigated the association of the rs7756992 of CDKAL1 and the rs4402960 of IGF2BP2 with Type 2 diabetes, diabetic complications (nephropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease), obesity and hypertension in a Tunisian population.
Composition of the early intestinal microbiota

The colonization, development and maturation of the newborn gastrointestinal tract that begins immediately at birth and continues for two years, is modulated by numerous factors including mode of delivery, feeding regime, maternal diet/weight, probiotic and prebiotic use and antibiotic exposure pre-, peri- and post-natally. While in the past, culture-based approaches were used to assess the impact of these factors on the gut microbiota, these have now largely been replaced by culture-independent DNA-based approaches and most recently, high-throughput sequencing-based forms thereof. The aim of this review is to summarize recent research into the modulatory factors that impact on the acquisition and development of the infant gut microbiota, to outline the knowledge recently gained through the use of culture-independent techniques and, in particular, highlight advances in high-throughput sequencing and how these technologies have, and will continue to, fill gaps in our knowledge with respect to the human intestinal microbiota.
Strong formulations for a capacitated multi-vehicle production-distribution problem

We consider a supply chain management problem which integrates both production and distribution decisions. The supply chain is composed of one supplier production facility and several customers. The supplier is responsible for the inventory of customers and has to decide about the quantities to be delivered to these customers and which vehicles to be used. The demand of customers is deterministic over a limited planning horizon. The objective is to minimize a total cost composed of production, transportation and inventory holding costs. Tow mixed integer linear programming formulations are proposed and valid inequalities are added to strengthen these formulations. The numerical results show that the valid inequalities considerably improve the quality of the formulations.