Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Vision of Home-School Partnership : Three complementary conceptual frameworks Rollande Deslandes

This paper was presented at the ERNAPE Conference 2001and published in the proceedings: “A Bridge to the Future Collaboration between Parents, Schools and Communities” (2001) ed. F. Smit, K. van der Wolf & P. Sleegers. ITS Stichting Katholieke Universiteit to Nijmegen NL – this entire publication is accessible online at http://www.its. kun.nl/web/publikaties/pdf-files/rapporten/aBridgetothefuture.pdf
Diagnostic accuracy of intraarterial and i.v. MR angiography for the detection of stenoses of the infrainguinal arteries.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraarterial (i.a.) and i.v. MR angiography (MRA) of the infrainguinal arteries in comparison with the reference standard selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty consecutive patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) underwent i.v. MRA and i.a. MRA of the infrainguinal arteries and DSA, which served as the reference standard. For i.v. MRA, 27 mL of gadodiamide was injected through a peripheral arm vein; for i.a. MRA, 30 mL of diluted contrast agent (5 mL of gadodiamide in 55 mL of 0.9% saline solution) was twice injected in the superficial femoral artery with a flow rate of 2.5 mL/s through a 5-French sheath that was placed on the occasion of DSA before vascular intervention. A 3D gradient-echo sequence was performed using a dedicated coil system on a 1.5-T MR scanner. Three independent blinded observers localized and quantitatively graded stenoses on i.v. MRA and i.a. MRA. The overall impression of image quality of i.v. MRA and i.a. MRA was documented using a 4-point scale (1, excellent; 4, poor). Interobserver agreement was calculated. RESULTS The mean sensitivity and mean specificity for the detection of stenoses >or= 50% of the upper leg arteries (i.e., superficial femoral artery and popliteal artery) were 85.5% and 83.3% for i.a. MRA and 82.2% and 86.7% for i.v. MRA, respectively. The mean sensitivity and mean specificity for the detection of stenoses >or= 50% of the lower leg arteries (i.e., proximal anterior tibial artery, tibiofibular trunk, proximal posterior tibial artery, and proximal peroneal artery) were 91.7% and 75.0% for i.a. MRA, respectively, and 87.5% each for i.v. MRA. the diagnostic quality of i.a. MRA images and i.v. MRA images was assessed as excellent or good. CONCLUSION i.a. MRA provides sensitivity and specificity for the detection of hemodynamically significant stenoses of the infrainguinal arteries comparable to i.v. MRA and therefore is a good diagnostic tool especially for MR-guided vascular interventions.
Operational State Complexity of Subtree-Free Regular Tree Languages

We introduce subtree-free regular tree languages that often appear in XML schemas and investigate the state complexity of basic operations on subtree-free regular tree languages. The state complexity of an operation for regular tree languages is the number of states that are sufficient and necessary in the worst-case for the minimal deterministic ranked tree automaton that accepts the tree language obtained from the operation. We establish the precise state complexity of (sequential, parallel) concatenation, (bottom-up, top-down) star, intersection and union for subtree-free regular tree languages.
Analgesic Effects of Intraarticular Sufentanil and Sufentanil Plus Methylprednisolone After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

We studied the effect of intraarticular saline, sufentanil, or sufentanil plus methylprednisolone after knee arthroscopic meniscectomy. In a double-blind randomized study, 60 patients undergoing knee arthroscopic meniscectomy were allocated to groups receiving intraarticular saline, intraarticular sufentanil 10 &mgr;g, or sufentanil 10 &mgr;g plus methylprednisolone 40 mg at the end of arthroscopy during general anesthesia. Postoperatively, pain levels at rest and during movement (i.e., active flexion of the knee) were measured by a visual analog scale and were significantly decreased in the sufentanil and sufentanil plus methylprednisolone groups compared with the control group. Moreover, we found that there was a significant reduction in intraarticular sufentanil and sufentanil plus methylprednisolone in the postoperative consumption of analgesics. We also found that the use of intraarticular sufentanil or sufentanil plus methylprednisolone after knee arthroscopic meniscectomy decreases the amount of supplementary analgesic needed for pain relief during the early postoperative period. In addition, we detected that sufentanil provided prolonged pain relief up to 24 h when compared with control, whereas when we combined sufentanil plus methylprednisolone, we found that it further reduced pain and use of analgesics when compared with sufentanil.
Is Lymphoid Neogenesis a Therapeutic Target for Chronic Rejection?

Despite more than a dozen different studies, there is currently no consensus regarding the etiology and the significance of Quilty lesions. In their paper, the authors speculated that Quilty lesions might be ‘beneficial for the allograft outcome’. We rather propose that Quilty lesions are sites of antigen processing and low grade immune stimulation responsible for chronic rejection since we have demonstrated that these lymphoid aggregates are functional ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in which alloantibodies are produced (2). The role of those antibodies produced within the graft on the development of chronic rejection lesions remains to be definitively established.
Cancer Therapy : Clinical Clinicopathologic Features and Long-termOutcomes of NUT Midline Carcinoma

Purpose: NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) is a poorly differentiated squamous cancer characterized by rearrangement of the NUT gene. Research advances have provided opportunities for targeted therapy in NMC, yet the clinical features of this rare disease have not been systematically characterized. We report on a large population of such patients to identify the disease characteristics and treatments, correlate them with outcome, and to consider clinical recommendations. Experimental Design: A clinical database was established using retrospective demographic and outcomes data available on all known cases of NMC. Questionnaires were completed by treating physicians. Pathologic, demographic, and clinical variables were assessed for 63 patients, the largest cohort of patients with NMC studied to date. Outcome data from 54 patients were available for survival analyses. Results: The diagnosis of NMC has increased annually since 2007. Since 2009, there has been an observed increase in the age at diagnosis (P < 0.05). Geographic distribution of patients with NMC has been concentrated in the United States (n 1⁄4 41, 65%). The median overall survival for patients with NMC was 6.7 months. The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 9% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1% to 17% [1-year PFS 15% (5–24%) and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 19%with a 95%CI of 7%–31% (1-year OS: 30% (27–34%)]. Multivariate analysis suggested that extent of surgical resection and initial radiotherapy were independent predictors of PFS and OS. Notably, no chemotherapeutic regimen was associated with improved outcome. Conclusions:NMC portends a poor prognosis among all squamous cell neoplasms and seems to be frequently unrecognized. The finding that conventional chemotherapy has been inadequate indicates a pressing need for the development of targeted therapeutics. Intensive local therapies such as gross total resection and radiotherapy might be associated with enhanced survival. Clin Cancer Res; 18(20);
Reconstitution of Glucocorticoid Receptor-Dependent Transcription In Vivo

ABSTRACT We developed a model system to study glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated chromatin remodeling by the BRG1 complex. Introduction of the BRG1 ATPase into the SW-13 cell line initiates the formation of a functional remodeling complex. This complex is able to induce transcriptional activation from a transiently transfected promoter with wild-type and chromatin-remodeling-deficient BRG1 mutants, suggesting that the complex possesses a coactivator function independent from remodeling. Transactivation from a chromatin template requires the BRG1 remodeling function, which induces regions of hypersensitivity and transcription factor loading onto the integrated MMTV promoter. We report that BRG1 remodeling activity is required for GR-mediated transactivation and that this activity cannot be replaced by other ATP-dependent remodeling proteins. Further characterization of the BRG1-associated factors (BAFs) present in these cells (for example, the expression of BAF250 but not BAF180) reveals that the BAF complex rather than the polybromo-associated BAF complex is the necessary and sufficient chromatin-remodeling component with which the receptor functions in vivo. These results in conjunction with previous findings demonstrate that the GR functions with multiple forms of the SWI/SNF complex in vivo.
Retinoblastoma Protein Disrupts Interactions Required for RNA Polymerase III Transcription

ABSTRACT The retinoblastoma protein (RB) has been shown to suppress RNA polymerase (Pol) III transcription in vivo (R. J. White, D. Trouche, K. Martin, S. P. Jackson, and T. Kouzarides, Nature 382:88–90, 1996). This regulation involves interaction with TFIIIB, a multisubunit factor that is required for the expression of all Pol III templates (C. G. C. Larminie, C. A. Cairns, R. Mital, K. Martin, T. Kouzarides, S. P. Jackson, and R. J. White, EMBO J. 16:2061–2071, 1997; W.-M. Chu, Z. Wang, R. G. Roeder, and C. W. Schmid, J. Biol. Chem. 272:14755–14761, 1997). However, it has not been established why RB binding to TFIIIB results in transcriptional repression. For several Pol II-transcribed genes, RB has been shown to inhibit expression by recruiting histone deacetylases, which are thought to decrease promoter accessibility. We present evidence that histone deacetylases exert a negative effect on Pol III activity in vivo. However, RB remains able to regulate Pol III transcription in the presence of the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Instead, RB represses by disrupting interactions between TFIIIB and other components of the basal Pol III transcription apparatus. Recruitment of TFIIIB to most class III genes requires its binding to TFIIIC2, but this can be blocked by RB. In addition, RB disrupts the interaction between TFIIIB and Pol III that is essential for transcription. The ability of RB to inhibit these key interactions can explain its action as a potent repressor of class III gene expression.
Pathological Study on Beagles after Long-term Oral Administration of Cadmium

Histopathological, histochemical, and electron microscopic examinations were performed on beagles after a long-term oral cadmium (Cd) administration of > 8 years. Although renal atrophy was remarkable in groups receiving doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight/day, bone lesions could not be demonstrated by roent-genological and histopathologic examination. It was noticed that concomitant regeneration or recovery and cell death of the epithelium occurred in the proximal convoluted tubules. The cell death was consistent with apoptosis, a special feature of cell death, which was shown to play a major part in the tubular damage of cadmium by electron microscopic examination. Fatty degeneration of the pars recta tubules was seen to show dose-dependence. The intrarenal cadmium was localized predominantly in the cytoplasm of the proximal tubular epithelium by histochemical and ultraccntrifugal cell fractionation examinations. Although no remarkable changes were found in the other organs, aggregates of siderophages in the liver and focal hemorrhage in the spleen, known as spontaneous lesions, might be related to Cd intoxication. In conclusion, the present study revealed that no bone lesions occur with Cd administration in adult beagles in spite of long-term administration. An excessive cell death to regeneration or recovery in the proximal tubules might result in the renal cortical atrophy. No remarkable changes were seen in the glomeruli and distal nephrons, which were in good agreement with Cd distribution.
The Use of Equity Grants to Manage Optimal Equity Incentive Levels

We predict and find that firms use annual grants of options and restricted stock to CEOs to manage the optimal level of equity incentives. We model optimal equity incentive levels for CEOs, and use the residuals from this model to measure deviations between CEOs’ holdings of equity incentives and optimal levels. We find that grants of new incentives from options and restricted stock are negatively related to these deviations. Overall, our evidence suggests that firms set optimal equity incentive levels and grant new equity incentives in a manner that is consistent with economic theory.
Construction and characterization of CV-1P cell lines which constitutively express the simian virus 40 agnoprotein: alteration of plaquing phenotype of viral agnogene mutants

The simian virus 40 (SV40) agnoprotein is a 61-amino-acid polypeptide encoded in the leader region of some late viral mRNAs. Its function is unclear, although previous investigations suggest that the agnoprotein may function in late transcriptional regulation and virus assembly. To define the specific role(s) of agnoprotein in the SV40 lytic cycle, CV-1P cell lines were constructed in which the agnogene was stably integrated and constitutively expressed under the control of a retroviral long terminal repeat. Two types of cell lines were isolated. One group, typified by the cell line Ag18, produced low levels of agnogene-specific mRNA and agnoprotein. The other type, represented by a single isolate named Ag8, produced high levels of agnogene-specific mRNA and correspondingly high levels of agnoprotein. By indirect immunofluorescence, the agnoprotein was located predominantly in the cytoplasmic and perinuclear region of both cell lines; this is its site of localization in wild-type (WT)-infected CV-1P cells. Viruses that were agnoprotein-minus formed small plaques on normal CV-1P cells, but produced nearly WT-sized plaques on Ag18 cells. Conversely, the plaques formed on Ag8 cells infected with agnoprotein-minus mutants of WT SV40 were markedly smaller than the plaques formed by these viruses when they were grown on control cells. Overall, our results suggest that the agnoprotein is a trans-effector of virus production. The opposite effects on plaquing that were observed with Ag8 and Ag18 cells correlated with the very different levels of agnogene expression in the two cell lines. This suggests that the nature of the effect of the agnoprotein on virus production may vary depending on its intracellular concentration.
The effect of insulin on the transport of sodium and potassium in rat soleus muscle.

1. The action of insulin on the transport and the distribution of Na and K has been studied in rat soleus muscles incubated at 30 degrees C in glucose‐free Krebs‐Ringer bicarbonate buffer. 2. Measurements of the uptake and the wash‐out of 22Na indicate that the muscles contain an intracellular pool of Na available for transport which is confined to the water space not available to sucrose. Ouabain (10(‐4)‐10(‐3)M) inhibited 22Na efflux by 69% (0‐287 micronmole/g tissue wet weight per minute) and 42K‐influx by 40% (0‐196 micronmole/g tissue wet weight per minute). When all extracellular Na was replaced by Li, both 22Na‐efflux adn 42K‐influx were inhibited to about the same extent and ouabain produced very little further inhibition. 2,4‐dinitrophenol decreased the ouabain‐resistant component of 22Na‐efflux by 39%. 3. Insulin (from 0‐1 to 100 mu./ml.) increased the rate coefficient of 22Na‐efflux by from 11 to 46% within 15 min. In the presence of ouabain (10(‐3)M), the same relative increase was obtained, indicating that the hormone stimulates the glycoside‐sensitive and the glycoside‐insensitive Na transport to a similar extent. The effect of insulin on 22Na‐efflux was not abolished by tetracaine (0‐5 X 10(‐3)M), phlorizin (0‐5 X 10(‐2)M) or by the substitution of Na, K, Mg or Ca. In the presence of 2,4‐dinitrophenol (0‐5 X 10(‐4)M) or at temperatures below 15 degrees C, the hormone produced no detectable change in 22Na‐efflux. 4. Insulin increased 42K‐influx from 0‐525 to 0‐664 mumole/g tissue wet weight per minute. This effect was entirely blocked by ouabain but not by tetracaine. Insulin produced a 14% transient decrease in 42K‐efflux. 5. The continued exposure to insulin led to a new steady state, in which the intracellular Na pool was decreased from around 10 to around 5 mumole/g tissue wet weight and the K content increased by an equivalent amount. In the presence of ouabain or at low extracellular concentrations of K, insulin increased the rate of 22Na‐influx by around 35%. This effect was blocked by 2,4‐dinitrophenol but not be tetracaine. 6. It is concluded that insulin stimulates the active coupled transport of Na and K, possibly by increasing the relative Na‐affinity of the system mediating this process.
On Rigorous Transaction Scheduling

The class of transaction scheduling mechanisms in which the transaction serialization order can be determined by controlling their commitment order, is defined. This class of transaction management mechanisms is important, because it simplifies transaction management in a multidatabase system environment. The notion of analogous execution and serialization orders of transactions is defined and the concept of strongly recoverable and rigorous execution schedules is introduced. It is then proven that rigorous schedulers always produce analogous execution and serialization orders. It is shown that the systems using the rigorous scheduling can be naturally incorporated in hierarchical transaction management mechanisms. It is proven that several previously proposed multidatabase transaction management mechanisms guarantee global serializability only if all participating databases systems produce rigorous schedules. >
Effects of Perceived Long-Term Stress on Subjective and Objective Aspects of Memory and Cognitive Functioning in a Middle-Aged Population-Based Sample

ABSTRACT The longitudinal effects of perceived stress on measures of memory and two other cognitive functions (word fluency, visuospatial ability) in a middle-aged sample (40–60 years, M age = 47.1 years, SD = 6.1 years; n = 192) were examined. A group describing themselves as stressed in general at baseline, and at follow-up measurement 5 and 10 years later (n = 96) was compared with a matched (age, sex) low-stress group (n = 96). The results revealed more depressive symptoms over time in the high-stress group. With regard to memory, a dissociation between subjective and objective measures was observed. Specifically, participants in the high-stress group rated their memory as worse over time as compared with controls, and reported a higher frequency of occurrence of everyday memory failures, effects partly independent of depressive symptoms. However, the groups did not differ in terms of objective episodic memory performance, word fluency or block design performance, with stable levels of performance over time regardless of perceived stress. The lack of effects of stress on cognitive performance is discussed in the light of factors such as stress level, age of the participants, and other individual difference factors.
Psychiatric illness and family support in children and adolescents with diabetic ketoacidosis: a controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To compare compliance, psychiatric disorders, and family support in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and clinic controls. METHOD Twenty-five youths hospitalized with DKA and 25 matched outpatient subjects with IDDM with no history of DKA during the preceding year were assessed cross-sectionally, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, measures of general and diabetes-specific family functioning, and measures of self-esteem and social competence. Levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and information about compliance with the treatment regimen were obtained. RESULTS A significantly higher number of psychiatric disorders was observed in the hospitalized children, with 88% meeting criteria for at least one disorder (versus 28% of controls). Self-esteem and social competence were lower in the hospitalized group, and their families scored lower on problem-solving and diabetes-specific "warmth-caring. " CONCLUSIONS Children with recurrent DKA may be at greater risk of associated psychopathology than diabetic controls with no such history. DKA children's reports of noncompliance may be more sensitive than their parents' reports, and their families may lack warm, caring parent-child relationships.
Risk factors of urinary bladder cancer in Peshawar region of Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa.

BACKGROUND Urinary Bladder cancer is a fatal disease. No work about its risk factors has been conducted in northern Pakistan. This case control study was conducted in order to investigate the risk factors of the urinary bladder cancer in that area. METHOD For this study 150 subjects including 50 cases and 100 controls were interviewed from the 2 tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar and the information was collected about the characteristics like gender, age, smoking habits, family history of cancer, etc. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to explain the risk factors of the disease. Odds ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were computed by using logistic regression model. RESULTS The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for chemical exposure are 4.637 and (1.022-21.053), for cigarette smoking 19.526 and (4.688-81.329), for lifestyle 0.171 and (0.031-0.943), for fluid consumption 0.025 and (0.005-0.115), for fried items 5.934 and (1.429-24.648), and for fruits are 0.173 (0.045-0.660), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Chemical exposure, cigarette smoking, and high use of fried items increase the risk of urinary bladder cancer. Moderate lifestyle, high fluid consumption and use of fruits are protective against the disease.
Antibacterial activity of Pterocarpus santalinus

Antibacterial activity of leaf and stem bark of Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabaceae) was investigated. The antibacterial activity was tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Among the two extracts tested, stem bark extract exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against the tested organisms. The stem bark extract showed maximum activity against Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus . The leaf extract showed maximum activity against Escherichia coli, Alcaligenes faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Both extracts exhibited concentration dependent activity.