Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF DEMONSTRATION AND LECTURE TEACHING METHODS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to determine the effect of Demonstration and lecture teaching methods on academic performance of secondary school students in Financial Accounting in Adamawa State. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, specifically, the pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group. 725 students offering Financial Accounting in senior Secondary schools in Yola metropolis, Adamawa State formed the population of the study. From the population of the study, 105 students were selected as sample using purposive sampling technique. Three senior secondary schools were purposively selected and randomly assigned to experimental groups and control group. Government Day Secondary, Yola Town (experimental group) was taught using Socratic Method and Government Day Secondary School Doubeli (control group) was taught using conventional Lecture method. The data collection period lasted for four (4) weeks Using instructional package for Financial Accounting (IPFA) which comprised well planned lesson plans on the selected topics based on the two methods of teaching. The instrument for data collection was a 50-item ‘Financial Accounting Achievement Test’ (FAAT) validated by three experts from Kwara State University, Malete. A pilot test of the instrument was conducted at Government Day Secondary School Muhammad Nya, Jalingo, Taraba State onforty (40) senior secondary school (SS II) Students offering Financial Accounting in the school. Using Kuder Richardson 20 (K-R20) formulae, a reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypothesis was tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study revealed that Demonstration method had significant effect on students’ performance than lecture method. Among the recommendations made was that, efforts should be intensified by teachers to aggressively adopt Socratic Method in teaching Financial Accounting.
Autoantibody profile in the experimental model of scleroderma induced by type V human collagen

The aim of this study is to evaluate the humoral autoimmune response in the experimental model of systemic sclerosis (SSc) induced by human type V collagen (huCol V). New Zealand rabbits were immunized with huCol V in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) and boosted twice with 15 days intervals with huCol V in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Control groups included animals injected only with FCA or bovine serum albumin. Bleeding was done at days 0, 30, 75 and 120. Tissue specimens were obtained for histopathological investigation. Serological analysis included detection of antibodies against huCol V and anti‐topoisomerase I (Anti‐Scl70) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence, and rheumatoid factor (RF) by a latex agglutination test. Target antigens were characterized by immunoblot. Histological analysis revealed extracellular matrix remodeling with fibrosis and vasculitis. Anti‐Scl70 and ANA were detected as early as 30 days in all huCol V animals. The universal ANA staining pattern was Golgi‐like. This serum reactivity was not abolished by previous absorption with huCol V. Characterization of the target antigen by immunoblot revealed two major protein fractions of 175 000 and 220 000 MW. Similarly to ANA, there was a gradual increase of reactivity throughout the immunization and also it was not abolished by preincubation of serum samples with huCol V. RF testing was negative in hyperimmune sera. Conclusion: The production of autoantibodies, including anti‐Scl70, a serological marker for SSc associated with histopathological alterations, validates huCol V induced‐experimental model and brings out its potential for understanding the pathophysiology of SSc.
Model-based investigation on MIMO channel capacity in main street of urban microcells

We have studied the influence of environmental parameters and of antenna array height and inter-element spacing on MIMO channel capacity. Vertical polarization (VP) and horizontal polarization (HP) have been considered. In general, VP results in more MIMO channel capacity. The results could be useful in designing systems to provide high data. rate services.
Motor cortex plasticity induced by paired associative stimulation is enhanced in physically active individuals

Recent evidence indicates that regular physical activity enhances brain plasticity (i.e. the ability to reorganise neural connections) and improves neurocognitive function. However, the effect of regular physical activity on human motor cortex function is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine motor cortex plasticity for a small hand muscle in highly active and sedentary individuals. Electromyographic recordings were obtained from the left abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of 14 active and 14 sedentary subjects (aged 18–38 yrs). The extent of physical activity was assessed by questionnaire, where the physically active subjects performed >150 min per day moderate‐to‐vigorous aerobic activity on at least 5 days per week, whereas the sedentary group performed <20 min per day of physical activity on no more than 3 days per week. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the right hemisphere was used to assess changes in APB motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs), input–output curve (IO curve), short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and cortical silent period (CSP). Neuroplastic changes were induced using paired‐associative stimulation (PAS), which consisted of 90 paired stimuli (0.05 Hz for 30 min) of median nerve electrical stimulation at the wrist followed 25 ms later by TMS to the hand area of motor cortex. The IO curve slope was 35% steeper in individuals with increased physical activity (combined before and after PAS, P < 0.05), suggesting increased motor cortex excitability, although there was no difference in SICI or CSP between groups. PAS induced an increase in MEP amplitude in the physically active subjects (54% increase compared with before, P < 0.01), but no significant facilitation in the sedentary subjects. We conclude that participation in regular physical activity may offer global benefits to motor cortex function that enhances neuroplasticity, which could improve motor learning and neurorehabilitation in physically active individuals.
A Fourth KLK4 Mutation Is Associated with Enamel Hypomineralisation and Structural Abnormalities

“Amelogenesis imperfecta” (AI) describes a group of genetic conditions that result in defects in tooth enamel formation. Mutations in many genes are known to cause AI, including the gene encoding the serine protease, kallikrein related peptidase 4 (KLK4), expressed during the maturation stage of amelogenesis. In this study we report the fourth KLK4 mutation to be identified in autosomal recessively-inherited hypomaturation type AI, c.632delT, p.(L211Rfs*37) (NM_004917.4, NP_004908.4). This homozygous variant was identified in five Pakistani AI families and is predicted to result in a transcript with a premature stop codon that escapes nonsense mediated decay. However, the protein may misfold, as three of six disulphide bonds would be disrupted, and may be degraded or non-functional as a result. Primary teeth were obtained from one affected individual. The enamel phenotype was characterized using high-resolution computerized X-ray tomography (CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and microhardness testing (MH). Enamel from the affected individual (referred to as KLK4 enamel) was hypomineralised in comparison with matched control enamel. Furthermore, KLK4 inner enamel was hypomineralised compared with KLK4 outer enamel. SEM showed a clear structural demarcation between KLK4 inner and outer enamel, although enamel structure was similar to control tissue overall. EDX showed that KLK4 inner enamel contained less calcium and phosphorus and more nitrogen than control inner enamel and KLK4 outer enamel. MH testing showed that KLK4 inner enamel was significantly softer than KLK4 outer enamel (p < 0.001). However, the hardness of control inner enamel was not significantly different to that of control outer enamel. Overall, these findings suggest that the KLK4 c.632delT mutation may be a common cause of autosomal recessive AI in the Pakistani population. The phenotype data obtained mirror findings in the Klk4−/− mouse and suggest that KLK4 is required for the hardening and mineralization of the inner enamel layer but is less essential for hardening and mineralization of the outer enamel layer.
The involvement of phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and MYPT1 isoform expression in NO/cGMP mediated differential vasoregulation of cerebral arteries compared to systemic arteries

Constitutive release of NO blunts intrinsic and stimulated contractile activity in cerebral arteries (CA). Here, we explored whether phosphorylation and expression levels of the PKG‐sensitive, leucine zipper positive (LZ+) splice variants of the regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase (MYPT1) are involved and whether its expression is associated with higher cGMP sensitivity.
Survival of porcine delipated oocytes and embryos after cryopreservation by freezing or vitrification

The present study examined whether delipated porcine oocytes and embryos at various stages of development can be cryopreserved by conventional slow cooling or vitrification. Most (93%) of the 27 delipated morulae developed to blastocysts after freezing with 1.5 M propanediol + 0.1 M sucrose. Late morulae and early blastocysts delipated at 2-4 cell stage and cultured in vitro survived freezing either with 1.5 M glycerol + 0.25 M sucrose (10/18, 56%) or 1.8 M ethylene glycol + 0.25 M sucrose (14/19, 74%). Delipated 2-4 cell stage embryos and oocytes could be cryopreserved by vitrification with 40% ethylene glycol, 1 M sucrose and 20% fetal calf serum. Half (7/14) of the vitrified, delipated embryos developed to blastocysts after thawing. Of 48 delipated oocytes, 27 (56%) maintained an intact outline of the ooplasm after vitrification and underwent subzonal sperm injection. Fertilization was confirmed in 12 (25%) of these oocytes and 3 (6%) developed to morula stage. This study also aimed at developing a non-invasive method for cryopreserving porcine embryos after reducing their cytoplasmic lipid content without micromanipulation. Morulae and early blastocysts were centrifuged in the presence of cytochalasin B and cryoprotectants and then frozen immediately. More than half (14/24, 58%) of the centrifuged morulae developed to blastocycts after freezing with 1.5 M propanediol + 0.1 M sucrose. Greater than 70% of centrifuged early blastocysts survived freezing either with 1.5 M propanediol (30/31, 97%), 1.5 M glycerol (22/29, 76%) or 1.8 M ethylene glycol (21/29, 72%). These results demonstrated that delipation (lipid removal) from porcine oocytes and embryos at various stages enables their cryopreservation. A new insight into the development of a non-invasive method for cryopreserving porcine embryos was also provided.
Craniofacial malformation in R-spondin2 knockout mice

脊椎動物において、頭蓋顔面の形態形成は別の胚葉から独立に派生した多数の小さな 要素の相乗的相互作用によって達成される。 その複雑さのため、例えばWnt/カテニン経 路などの一つのシグナルカスケードの不均衡により容易く頭蓋顔面奇形となり、ヒトで も最も多い先天性異常の一つである。 近年新たに同定されたWnt/カテニンシグナル賦活因子であるR-spondin2(Rspo2)の 発生過程における役割を調べるために、本論文ではRspo2ノックアウトマウスを作製し、 その表現型解析を行った。 Rspo2-/-マウスはメンデル則に従って出生したが、新生仔には 口蓋裂、下顎骨突起の無形成、気管軟骨の異形成などの軽度かつ複数の顔面および頭部 周辺に骨格異常が認められた。 口蓋裂は全てのRspo2-/-マウスで観察され、一部の個体で は口唇裂も認められた。 Rspo2-/-マウスは頭部のみならず肢部末端の欠損も呈しており、 その形成不全は非対称性だった。 更にRspo2-/-マウスでは肺の明らかな低形成が認めら れ、胎内および体外摘出直後は生存した状態だったが、チアノーゼ様症状を呈したまま 速やかに死亡したことから、肺呼吸では生存出来ない程度まで肺の機能が障害されてい ることが確認された。 Rspo2がWnt/カテニンシグナル経路を介してこれらの器官形成に寄与しているかどう かを調べるためにTOPGAL:Rspo2-/-マウスを作成したところ、鰓弓と外胚葉性頂堤では Wnt/カテニンシグナル活性の著明な減少が観察されたことから、上述の発見はRspo2が 発生期に顔面中央、肢部、そして肺の形態形成をRspo2がWnt/カテニンシグナルを通じ て調節することを示唆している。 山 田 稚 子
Mouse Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Increases Brain Tryptophan Concentrations and Norepinephrine Metabolism While Activating the HPA Axis in Mice

Endotoxin (LPS) administration has been shown to activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and increase cerebral catecholamine and indolamine metabolism and tryptophan concentrations. LPS stimulates the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as well as interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. We have investigated the role of TNF-α in the LPS-induced neurochemical and neuroendocrine changes. When recombinant mouse TNF-α (mTNF-α) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into mice, plasma corticosterone concentrations were elevated reaching a peak at 30 min. Two hours after injection, cerebral tryptophan concentrations were also elevated in several brain regions, as well as the ratio of brain 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) to norepinephrine (NE) in the hypothalamus. An intravenous (i.v.) injection of mTNF-α also increased cerebral tryptophan concentrations and MHPG/NE ratios at 2 h and caused a rapid and prolonged elevation of plasma corticosterone concentrations lasting for at least 2 h. We observed no significant changes in dopamine or its catabolites, or in 5-hydroxytryptamine or its major catabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, after either i.p. or i.v. injections. These results suggest that TNF-α may contribute to the HPA, neurochemical and behavioral responses to LPS and other stimulators of the immune system.
The value of different resistance parameters in distinguishing biopsy-proved dysfunction of renal allografts.

The data concerning the value of duplex sonography in diagnosing parenchymatous renal allograft dysfunction are controversial. Most early studies did not take into consideration the many factors influencing resistance parameters. We therefore performed a prospective, biopsy-controlled study with exclusion of all known sources of error regarding resistance parameters. Furthermore we investigated the value of a new resistance parameter, the systolic deceleration percentage. Forty-seven duplex sonographic studies were performed on 43 patients (30 male, 13 female, median age 47 years, range 7-70). Fourteen studies were done on normally functioning grafts (control group) an average of 33 days after transplantation. Thirty-three studies were performed on dysfunctional grafts immediately prior to biopsy. Grafts which had been transplanted more than a year previously or with vascular findings or any other clinical or sonographic pathology probably explaining function deterioration were excluded. In all patients, the resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and systolic deceleration percentage (DP) were calculated in the main renal artery and in the interlobar artery. Of the 33 grafts with dysfunction, nine had vascular rejection (VR), 11 interstitial rejection (IR), 11 cyclosporin A toxicity (CAT) and two other histologies (OR). The mean RI in normal grafts (NO) was 0.71 +/- 0.06 in the main artery and 0.68 +/- 0.06 in the interlobar artery, in VR 0.86 +/- 0.12 and 0.80 +/- 0.18, in IR 0.72 +/- 0.05 and 0.70 +/- 0.07, in CAT 0.67 +/- 0.06 and 0.65 +/- 0.07 and in OR 0.64 +/- 0.07 and 0.60 +/- 0.01. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Serotonin-induced inhibition of locomotor rhythm of the rat isolated spinal cord is mediated by the 5–HT1 receptor class

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5–HT) induces rhythmic motor patterns (fictive locomotion) of the neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro; this is a useful experimental model to study the generation of a motor programme at exclusively spinal level. Nevertheless, 5–HT slows down the fictive locomotion typically elicited by activation of NMDA glutamate receptors, suggesting a complex action of this monoamine. By means of electrophysiological recordings from multiple ventral roots we demonstrated that the decrease caused by 5–HT in NMDA–induced periodicity was dose–dependent, enhanced after pharmacological blocking of 5–HT2 excitatory receptors, and imitated by pharmacological agonists of the 5–HT1 receptor family. Selective blockers of the 5–HT1A or 5–HT1B/D receptor classes, either alone or in combination, largely (but not completely) attenuated this inhibitory action of 5–HT. It is concluded that the principal inhibitory action of 5–HT on the spinal locomotor network was mediated by certain subtypes of the 5–HT1 receptor class, which tends to oppose the 5–HT2 receptor–mediated excitation of the same network.
Does surgical technique influence the postoperative hemodynamic disturbances and neurological outcomes in carotid endarterectomy?

Abstract Introduction: The carotid endarterectomy is already well established in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in postoperative blood pressure changes, stroke rate and postoperative complications following eversion carotid endarterectomy (E-CEA) and conventional carotid endarterectomy (C-CEA). Methods: From 1 January 2010 to 31 March 2017 consecutive patients admitted to our department with symptomatic or asymptomatic ICA stenosis were included in this retrospective study. During the 7-year period, 175 CEAs were performed in 166 consecutive patients (25 females, 141 males; mean age 70.6 ± 14.4 years; range 47 to 92 years). Results: The mean operative and cross-clamping time were shorter for E-CEA (72 ± 14.3 minutes vs. 115 ± 17.4 minutes, p < .001), (22 ± 7.7 vs 34 ± 6.3, p < .001) respectively. No significant difference was noted between the groups for the occurrence of perioperative stroke (p = .501). No significant difference was noted for postoperative blood pressure difference on the 6th hour and the 24th hour after surgery between E-CEA and C-CEA (p = .130). Conclusions: E-CEA was associated with significant reduction in operative time and cross-clamping time however, increases postoperative bleeding. No difference was noted for postoperative stroke and blood pressure distortion between E-CEA and C-CEA.
Estimating energy expenditure by heart-rate monitoring without individual calibration.

UNLABELLED Heart rate monitoring has been shown to be a valid method for measuring free-living energy expenditure at the group level, but its use in large-scale studies is limited by the need for an individual calibration of the relationship between heart rate and energy expenditure. PURPOSE To determine whether energy expenditure can be estimated from heart rate monitoring without individual calibration in epidemiological studies. METHODS Our previously validated heart rate monitoring method relies on measuring individual calibration parameters obtained from resting energy expenditure and the regression line between energy expenditure and heart rate during exercise. We developed prediction equations for these parameters using easily measured variables in a population-based study of 789 individuals. The predictive ability of these parameters was tested in a separate population-based sample (N = 97). RESULTS Physical activity level (PAL = total energy expenditure/basal metabolic rate) using the four estimated parameters was correlated with PAL using the measured parameters (r = 0.82, P < 0.01). Comparison of measured and estimated PAL showed that 97.9% of the scores were placed in the same or adjacent quartile. CONCLUSION A combination of simple measurements and heart rate monitoring produces estimates of energy expenditure that are highly correlated with those obtained using full individual calibration. This simplification of the heart rate monitoring method could extend its use in ranking individuals in epidemiological studies.
Pseudophase Model in Microemulsions

Financial support from Xunta de Galicia is gratefully acknowledged. Astray G. would like to give his warm thanks to Xunta de Galicia, Conselleria de Cultura, Educacion e Ordenacion Universitaria for the post-doctoral grant B, POS-B/2016/001, which he received from them. Cid A acknowledges the post-doctoral grant SFRH/BD/78849/2011 granted to Requimte and UID/MULTI/04378/2013 granted to Unidade de Ciencias Biomoleculares Aplicadas (UCIBIO), both from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.
Th1 Cytokine Responses Fail to Effectively Control Chlamydia Lung Infection in ICOS Ligand Knockout Mice

ICOS ligand (ICOSL) plays an important role in controlling specific aspects of T cell activation, differentiation, and function. Th1-type immune responses have been shown to be critical in host defense against chlamydial infections. To assess the role of ICOSL–ICOS interaction in host defense against chlamydial infection, we compared the immune responses and pathological reactions in ICOSL gene knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice following Chlamydia muridarum lung infection. The results showed that ICOSL KO mice exhibited greater body weight loss, higher pathogen burden, and more severe histopathology in their lung than did WT mice. Cytokine analysis revealed that ICOSL KO mice produced lower levels of Th2 (IL-4 and IL-5) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β1 and IL-10) cytokines, but higher Th1-related (IFN-γ and IL-12p40/IL-23) and proinflammatory (IL-6 and TNF-α) cytokines. ICOSL KO mice also showed reduced Chlamydia-specific Ab levels in their sera and lung homogenates. In addition, ICOSL KO mice demonstrated significantly lower ICOS expression in T cells and lower Th17 responses than did WT mice. Finally, we showed that ICOS–ICOSL interaction and cell–cell contact are essential for CD4+ T cells to inhibit chlamydial growth in the cultured lung fibroblasts. The data suggest that ICOSL plays a significant role in immunoregulation and protective immunity against Chlamydia infections and that the Th1 skew in cytokine responses per se is not sufficient for effective control of Chlamydia infections.
A Generalized Modality for Recursion

Nakano's later modality allows types to express that the output of a function does not immediately depend on its input, and thus that computing its fixpoint is safe. This idea, guarded recursion, has proved useful in various contexts, from functional programming with infinite data structures to formulations of step-indexing internal to type theory. Categorical models have revealed that the later modality corresponds in essence to a simple reindexing of the discrete time scale. Unfortunately, existing guarded type theories suffer from significant limitations for programming purposes. These limitations stem from the fact that the later modality is not expressive enough to capture precise input-output dependencies of functions. As a consequence, guarded type theories reject many productive definitions. Combining insights from guarded type theories and synchronous programming languages, we propose a new modality for guarded recursion. This modality can apply any well-behaved reindexing of the time scale to a type. We call such reindexings time warps. Several modalities from the literature, including later, correspond to fixed time warps, and thus arise as special cases of ours.