Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Benefits of a Comprehensive Retention Program for African American Students at a Predominately White University

Since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the retention of African American students at predominately White colleges and universities continues to be problematic. Although many of these institutions have implemented retention programs for African American students, few have incorporated a comprehensive program that utilizes multi-program components. Using a qualitative methodology, this study explored how a comprehensive retention program at one predominantly White university impacted the matriculation of African American students. The results revealed that the retention program had a positive influence on the success of African American students, thereby resulting in the students’ receiving several academic, social, and cultural benefits. Also emerging from the study was a comprehensive retention model for supporting the retention of African American students at predominately White institutions.
Relationship between O-antigen chain length and resistance to colicin E2 in Shigella flexneri.

The Shigella flexneri polysaccharide co-polymerase class 1a (PCP1a) protein, WzzBSF, regulates LPS O-antigen (Oag) chain length to confer short (S)-type Oag chains of ~10-17 Oag repeat units (RUs). The S-type Oag chains affect Shigella flexneri virulence as they influence IcsA-mediated actin-based motility. However, they do not confer resistance to complement; this is conferred by the very-long (VL)-type Oag chains determined by WzzB(pHS2). Colicins are bacterial proteins produced by some Escherichia coli strains to kill related strains. While the presence of Oag chains has been shown to shield outer-membrane proteins from colicins, the impact of Oag chain length against colicins is unknown. In this study, initial testing indicated that a Shigella flexneri Y wzz : : kan(r) mutant was more sensitive to colicin E2 compared with the WT strain. Plasmids encoding Wzz mutant and WT PCP1a proteins conferring different Oag modal chain lengths were then expressed in the mutant background, and tested against purified colicin E2. Analysis of swab and spot sensitivity assays showed that strains expressing either S-type or long (L)-type Oag chains (16-28 Oag RUs) conferred greater resistance to colicin E2 compared with strains having very-short-type (2-8 Oag RUs), intermediate-short-type (8-14 Oag RUs) or VL-type (>80 Oag RUs) Oag chains. These results suggest a novel role for LPS Oag chain length control that may have evolved due to selection pressure from colicins in the environment.
Antiphospholipid Antibody-Associated Chorea

Objective To describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of patients with antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-associated chorea. Methods The study cohort consisted of consecutive patients with chorea evaluated between 1990 and 2005 with documented aPL at time of their neurologic diagnosis. Results Eighteen patients were identified, 4 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The 14 non- SLE patients experienced 1.6 vascular thromboses/pregnancy losses per person, while patients with SLE experienced 0.5 events/person. Four non-SLE patients (29%) and no SLE patients met criteria for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). None of these 4 tested positive for IgM anticardiolipin antibody (aCL). In contrast, 10 (71%) non-APS patients tested positive for IgM aCL. Chorea was most often bilateral, mild to moderate, and occurred once with a median age at onset of 44 and 33 years in non-SLE and SLE patients, respectively. Therapy included immunosuppression in 3 (21%) non-SLE patients and in all SLE patients. Antidopaminergic agents were used in 7 (39%). All patients responded to treatment. Five patients received anticoagulation for thrombosis and 2 died of bleeding complications, both non-SLE patients. Conclusion aPL-associated chorea occurs most often in women and severity is mild to moderate. Clinical expression of chorea does not differ between those with and without SLE. Anticoagulation should be reserved for thrombosis treatment and not simply for chorea in the presence of aPL, as 2 patients died of bleeding. The absence of IgM aCL in patients with APS supports prior evidence that IgG aCL and lupus anticoagulant may be the more clinically relevant antibodies for thrombosis. However, IgM aCL may be important in patients with chorea
Convergent evolution of a complex fruit structure in the tribe Brassiceae (Brassicaceae).

PREMISE OF STUDY Many angiosperms have fruit morphologies that result in seeds from the same plant having different dispersal capabilities. A prime example is found in the Brassiceae (Brassicaceae), which has many members with segmented or heteroarthrocarpic fruits. Since only 40% of the genera are heteroarthrocarpic, this tribe provides an opportunity to study the evolution of an ecologically significant novelty and its variants. METHODS We analyzed nuclear (PHYA) and plastid (matK) sequences from 66 accessions using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference approaches. The evolution of heteroarthrocarpy and its variants was evaluated using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood ancestral state reconstructions. KEY RESULTS Although nuclear and plastid phylogenies are incongruent with each other, the following findings are consistent: (1) Cakile, Crambe, Vella, and Zilla lineages are monophyletic; (2) the Nigra lineage is not monophyletic; and (3) within the Cakile clade, Cakile, Didesmus, and Erucaria are paraphyletic. Despite differences in the matK and PHYA topologies at both deep and shallow nodes, similar patterns of morphological evolution emerge. Heteroarthrocarpy, a complex morphological trait, has evolved multiple times across the tribe. Moreover, there are convergent transitions in dehiscence capabilities and fruit disarticulation across the tribe. CONCLUSIONS We present the first explicit analysis of fruit evolution within the Brassiceae, which exemplifies evolutionary lability. The repeated loss and gain of segment dehiscence and disarticulation suggests conservation in the genetic pathway controlling abscission with differential expression across taxa. This study provides a strong foundation for future studies of mechanisms underlying variation in dispersal capabilities of Brassiceae.
Neuronal differentiation and patterning in Xenopus: the role of cdk5 and a novel activator xp35.2.

Cdk5, a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family, has been shown to play an important role in development of the central nervous system in mammals when partnered by its activator p35. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel activator of cdk5 in Xenopus, Xp35.2. Xp35.2 is expressed during development initially in the earliest differentiating primary neurons in the neural plate and then later in differentiating neural tissue of the brain. This is in contrast to the previously described Xenopus cdk5 activator Xp35.1 which is expressed over the entire expanse of the neural plate in both proliferating and differentiating cells. Expression of both Xp35.1 and Xp35.2 and activation of cdk5 kinase occur when terminal neural differentiation is induced by neurogenin and neuro D overexpression but not when only early stages of neural differentiation are induced by noggin. Moreover, blocking cdk5 kinase activity specifically results in disruption and reduction of the embryonic eye where cdk5 and its Xp35 activators are expressed. Thus, cdk5/p35 complexes function in aspects of neural differentiation and patterning in the early embryo and particularly in formation of the eye.
A Conceptual Model for Virtual Organizational Learning

As a trend toward virtual organizations (VOs) emerges in the era of electronic commerce, an understanding of knowledge processing is essential to sustain performance. Active learning is the key to achieving flexibility in a VO; however, few studies have focused on this dimension. In this article we attempt to assemble insights about learning in a VO by developing a conceptual model for virtual organizational learning (VOL). The VOL model is focused on transactive memory, which is composed of knowledge maps, social networks, and mnemonic functions. The initialization of modeling learning in VOs in this article has been erecting the foundation for transactive memory systems in a cyber community. A case study, Smart Creative Teachers Network, is used for demonstrating the transactive memory system for a teacher community to share and create knowledge and form VOs across school boundaries.
Angiographic Anatomy of the Coronary Sinus and Its Tributaries

Permanent left ventricular pacing has been shown to imporve the hemodynamic and clinical status of patients with severe heart failure. To pace the left ventricle, the electrode is implanted in tributaries of the coronary sinus (CS). However, the anatomy of cardiac veins with this purpose in mind has not been described in detail. Methods: One hundred consecutive patients admitted for coronary angiography had a simultaneous coronary venography performed after the injection of 8 to 10 mL of contrast material into the left coronary artery. Cardiac veins were analyzed in antero‐posterior, left anterior oblique 60±, and right anterior oblique 30± views by three different observers. The number, dimension, angulation, and position of the coronary sinus and of its tributaries were studied. Results: Two veins are consistently present: the middle cardiac vein (mean diameter 2.62 ± 1.26 mm) and the great cardiac vein (mean diameter 3.55 ± 1.24 mm). The left posterior vein(s) (LPV) (mean diameter 2.25 ± 1.2 mm) is (are) variable in number (ranging from 0 to 3), size, and angulation. The absence of LPV limits the ability to pace the left ventricle endovenously. The diameter of the vein (< 2 mm) and its angulation may also complicate the insertion of the lead. Conclusion: Angiographic analysis of dimensions, tortuosity, number, and angulation of venous tributaries of the CS seems to allow the insertion of commercially available pacing leads in approximately 85% of cases. An increase in this percentage hinges on the development of new, dedicated leads.
Findings from a National Survey

RESULTS: Of the 5,376 eligible U.S. examinees, 4,999 (93%) completed the survey, provided residency year status, and were included in the analysis. There was a high prevalence of self-identified wellness problems (burnout 51.2%, depression 32.0%, binge drinking 12.6%, eating disorder 4.7%, drug use 1.1%, and suicide attempt 0.4%). First-year residents were most likely to state that wellness was a priority in their program. The number of residents reporting any problem with wellness increases significantly between the first year (49.8%) and second year (63.7%, P,.001), after which it remains elevated throughout training. Residents who responded that wellness was not a priority in their program were more likely to report wellness issues and burnout (P,.001). When asked what single intervention all residency programs should provide, 41.2% (2,059) felt that dedicated time for wellness maintenance was the most important intervention.
Fetal and Neonatal Programming: Epigenetic Modiﬁcation of Phenotype Promoter methylation of Egr-1 site contributes to fetal hypoxia-mediated PKC ε gene repression in the developing heart

Promoter methylation of Egr-1 site contributes to fetal hypoxia-mediated PKC ε gene repression in the developing heart. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp 304: R683–R689, ε (PKC ε ) gene repression in the heart resulting in heightened ischemic injury in male offspring in a sex-dependent manner. The present study tested the hypothesis that heightened methylation of the early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) binding site at PKC ε gene promoter contributes to sex dimorphism of hypoxia-induced programming of PKC ε gene repression in the developing heart. Pregnant rats were divided into normoxic and hypoxic (10.5% O 2 from day 15 to 21 of gestation) groups. Hypoxia selec-tively decreased PKC ε mRNA and protein abundance in the heart of male, but not female, near-term (21 days) fetuses. Methylation of the CpG site at the Egr-1 binding site of PKC ε promoter was signiﬁcantly increased in the male hearts by hypoxia, resulting in decreased Egr-1 binding afﬁnity and reduced Egr-1 binding to the PKC ε promoter. Nuclear Egr-1 levels were not affected by hypoxia. There was signif-icantly higher abundance of estrogen receptor (cid:1) (ER (cid:1) ) and (cid:2) (ER (cid:2) ) isoforms in female than in male fetal hearts, which were not signiﬁcantly altered by hypoxia. Both ER (cid:1) and ER (cid:2) bind to the Egr-1 binding site with signiﬁcant greater levels in the female fetal hearts. The increased methylation with reduced Egr-1 binding and PKC ε gene repression persisted in 3-mo-old adult male hearts in a sex-dependent manner. The results indicate a key role for heightened methylation of the Egr-1 binding site in hypoxia-mediated programming of PKC ε gene repression in the developing heart and suggest a novel protective mechanism of ER by binding to the Egr-1 binding site in epigenetic regulation of PKC ε gene expression patterns in the early developmental stage.
Split dose iodine-123-IMP SPECT: sequential quantitative regional cerebral blood flow change with pharmacological intervention.

UNLABELLED At least two quantitative rCBF measurements are needed to evaluate rCBF changes with pharmacological intervention. We have developed the split dose 123I-IMP SPECT method, which enables measurement of rCBF to be repeated in a short time. METHODS Thirty-one cerebrovascular disease patients were investigated to assess reproducibility and vasoreactivity to acetazolamide. During 44-min dynamic SPECT imaging, 123I-IMP injection and respective arterial sampling were performed twice at an interval of about 25 min. The rCBF values were calculated using a microsphere model in which the washout of 123I-IMP from the brain can be negligible in the first several minutes after injection. For the second rCBF measurement, the remaining activity due to the first 123I-IMP injection was estimated and subtracted from the total brain activity. RESULTS In ten patients, two consecutive resting mean rCBF values in the MCA territory (CBF1 and CBF2) had good correlation (CBF1 = 47.4 +/- 4.0 (ml/min/100 ml: mean +/- s.d.), CBF2 = 45.2 +/- 8.2, CBF2 = 0.900*CBF1 + 2.9, r = 0.915). In 11 patients with occlusive lesions in the unilateral ICA system, mean rCBF in the MCA territory was increased by only 27.7% +/- 14.0% in the affected side by a 1-g intravenous acetazolamide injection, while 44.5% +/- 12.3% increase was found in the nonaffected side. In 10 patients without a major arterial lesion, a 49.7% +/- 17.0% increase of rCBF was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS This split dose method 123I-IMP SPECT can be useful to estimate vascular reserve.
Adjusting plasma ferritin concentrations to remove the effects of subclinical inflammation in the assessment of iron deficiency: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends serum ferritin concentrations as the best indicator of iron deficiency (ID). Unfortunately, ferritin increases with infections; hence, the prevalence of ID is underestimated. OBJECTIVE The objective was to estimate the increase in ferritin in 32 studies of apparently healthy persons by using 2 acute-phase proteins (APPs), C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP), individually and in combination, and to calculate factors to remove the influence of inflammation from ferritin concentrations. DESIGN We estimated the increase in ferritin associated with inflammation (ie, CRP gt 5 mg/L and/or AGP gt 1 g/L). The 32 studies comprised infants (5 studies), children (7 studies), men (4 studies), and women (16 studies) (n = 8796 subjects). In 2-group analyses (either CRP or AGP), we compared the ratios of log ferritin with or without inflammation in 30 studies. In addition, in 22 studies, the data allowed a comparison of ratios of log ferritin between 4 subgroups: reference (no elevated APP), incubation (elevated CRP only), early convalescence (both APP and CRP elevated), and late convalescence (elevated AGP only). RESULTS In the 2-group analysis, inflammation increased ferritin by 49.6% (CRP) or 38.2% (AGP; both P lt 0.001). Elevated AGP was more common than CRP in young persons than in adults. In the 4-group analysis, ferritin was 30%, 90%, and 36% (all P lt 0.001) higher in the incubation, early convalescence, and late convalescence subgroups, respectively, with corresponding correction factors of 0.77, 0.53, and 0.75. Overall, inflammation increased ferritin by ap 30% and was associated with a 14% (CI: 7%, 21%) underestimation of ID. CONCLUSIONS Measures of both APP and CRP are needed to estimate the full effect of inflammation and can be used to correct ferritin concentrations. Few differences were observed between age and sex subgroups.
Household level spillover effects from biofuels: Evidence from Ethiopia

The indirect effects of biofuels are mostly considered negative. In this paper, we argue that there may be a positive indirect effect of biofuels on food security and poverty. Our analysis shows that the introduction of castor production for biofuel in a poor country as Ethiopia can significantly improve food productivity of rural households who produce raw material for biofuel production. This spillover seems particularly linked to enhanced access to inputs and technical assistance which were provided as part of biofuel feedstock production contracts. Our results thus help nuancing the view that biofuels necessarily harm smallholders’ food security.
Object-Oriented Shadow Detection and Removal From Urban High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images

In accordance with the characteristics of urban high-resolution color remote sensing images, we put forward an object-oriented shadow detection and removal method. In this method, shadow features are taken into consideration during image segmentation, and then, according to the statistical features of the images, suspected shadows are extracted. Furthermore, some dark objects which could be mistaken for shadows are ruled out according to object properties and spatial relationship between objects. For shadow removal, inner-outer outline profile line (IOOPL) matching is used. First, the IOOPLs are obtained with respect to the boundary lines of shadows. Shadow removal is then performed according to the homogeneous sections attained through IOOPL similarity matching. Experiments show that the new method can accurately detect shadows from urban high-resolution remote sensing images and can effectively restore shadows with a rate of over 85%.
Mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by Achillea wilhelmsii in rat isolated thoracic aorta

Background: Achillea wilhelmsii (A. wilhelmsii) is used in Iraninan folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension; also, in previous reports, the hypotensive and antihypertensive effects of this plant have been indicated. The aim of the present study is to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of the hydroalcholic extract of A. wilhelmsii and its underlying mechanisms in isolated rat aorta. Materials and Methods: The effect of the hydroalcholic A. wilhelmsii extract was tested on the contractile response of Wistar rat aorta induced by potassium chloride (KCl) and phenylephrine (PE) using a pressure transducer that is connected to the PowerLab. Results: The cumulative concentrations of A. wilhelmsii (0.5-8 mg/ml) induced a vasorelaxation both in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortas precontracted by high K + (6 Χ 10−2 M) or 10−6 M PE. A. wilhelmsii, at a concentration of 4 mg/ml, reduced Ca 2+ -induced contraction (P < 0.001 vs. control) after PE or KCl had generated a stable contraction in the Ca 2+ -free solution. Furthermore, after incubation with diltiazem, the vasorelaxant effect of A. wilhelmsii reduced in the endothelium-denuded aortas precontracted by PE or KCl (P < 0.001 vs. control). In contrast, A. wilhelmsii-induced relaxation was not affected by glibenclamide, BaCl 2 , ruthenium red, methylene blue, or heparin. Conclusions: The results showed that A. wilhelmsii had a vasorelaxation effect, which was not endothelium-dependent. The relaxation was mediated by inhibition of extracellular Ca 2+ influx through voltage- and receptor-operated Ca 2+ channels (VDDCs and ROCCs) in vascular smooth muscle cells.
A Structural Econometric Model of Dynamic Manufacturer Pricing: A Case Study of the Cola Market

We study the pricing decisions of cola manufacturers. The cola market is characterized by demand dynamics that arise on account of consumers being inertial in their brand choices over time. Normative analytical models of oligopolistic pricing account for the fact that in such inertial markets, competing firms have, on the one hand, an incentive to price low in order to invest in building consumer demand for the future, but, on the other hand, an incentive to price high in order to harvest the reduced price-sensitivity of its existing inertial customers. In this study, we estimate a structural econometric model of oligopolistic pricing and, on that basis, explicitly disentangle the relative impacts of the two opposing, i.e., investing versus harvesting, incentives on the pricing decisions of cola manufacturers.We find that the cola category is characterized by significant inertia in demand, with estimated brand-level switching costs of $0.30 and $0.13 for the two consumer segments. Ignoring the investing incentives in manufacturers’ dynamic pricing, leads to a sizable (~29% for Coke, ~40% for Pepsi) overestimation, while additionally ignoring the harvesting incentives leads to a smaller, but still sizeable, overestimation (~19% for both brands), in the estimated profit margins of cola brands. The net impact of the harvesting and investing incentives in our data is that the equilibrium prices of both brands are lower than those in the absence of inertia (by 4.6% and 3.1% of costs, for Coke and Pepsi, respectively). We find that each brand’s profit would decrease by 5% if it were to engage in myopic pricing when its competitor engages in dynamic pricing.A counterfactual simulation reveals that increasing the discount factor from 0 to 1 initially increases, and eventually decreases, the profits of the two brands. Another counterfactual simulation reveals that each brand’s profits increase in its own discount factor and decrease in its competitor’s discount factor. A third counterfactual simulation reveals that profits of both brands increase with increasing levels of inertia, with the investing incentive dominating at low to moderate levels of inertia, and the harvesting incentive dominating at high levels of inertia.