Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Good outcome in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus and factors indicating poor prognosis.

OBJECT The authors set out to describe the outcome in a subgroup of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in whom prognostic factors were poor. This subgroup of patients who had received shunts was selected according to strict criteria. METHODS From a cohort of 56 patients with NPH in whom shunts were placed, the authors selected a subgroup with four of the factors traditionally considered to indicate poor prognosis: idiopathic type, cortical atrophy, longstanding symptoms, and presence of dementia in addition to old age. Twelve patients met the inclusion criteria. After receiving shunts, 92% of the patients showed clinical improvement on the NPH scale; gait improved in 100% of patients, sphincter control in 90%, and dementia in 33%. Improvement was significant for gait and sphincter control, general NPH score, and most daily life activity scales. No significant differences regarding clinical, cognitive, or functional changes following surgery were found in comparison with the rest of patients (the good prognosis subgroup). CONCLUSIONS The clinical condition of patients with NPH who present with traditionally accepted markers of poor prognosis can improve after surgery, especially as regards gait and sphincter control. The authors assert that the presence of these markers should not be considered to be an absolute criterion for ruling out shunt surgery in cases of NPH syndrome.
Effectiveness of two flavored topical anesthetic agents in reducing injection pain in children: a comparative study.

UNLABELLED Topical anesthesia is widely advocated in pediatric dentistry practice to reduce pain and anxiety produced by administration of local anesthesia. There are different combinations of topical anesthetic agents that are marketed worldwide. However, sparse literature reports exist regarding clinical efficacy of these agents. AIM To compare the clinical effectiveness of two strawberry flavored topical anesthetics viz. Precaine (8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine) and Precaine B (20% Benzocaine) in children before intra oral local anesthetic injections and for extraction of mobile primary teeth. STUDY DESIGN This triple blind clinical study included sixty children divided equally under three techniques--palatal injections, inferior alveolar nerve block and extraction of mobile primary teeth. Both the products were used alternately using split mouth design in two visits and the child's pain response was assessed using VAS and SEM pain scale. The scores obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS Precaine has shown lower mean scores in all the techniques under both the pain scales, but were statistically insignificant. Gender wise comparison has also shown lower mean scores for Precaine for both males and females, however these were statistically insignificant. On visit wise comparison, Precaine B reported significant lower scores (p < 0.05) in visit 2 compared to visit 1 for inferior alveolar nerve block and extraction of mobile primary teeth under SEM pain scale. CONCLUSION Precaine (8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine) can be used as effectively as Precaine B (20% Benzocaine).
Choreography-based vs orchestration-based service composition in opportunistic networks

Pervasive networks formed spontaneously by wireless mobile devices capable of ad hoc communication make it possible to get services from these devices, and to compose them dynamically so as to provide people with new and more sophisticated application services. Discovering, invoking and composing services in such networks are challenging tasks, due to the numerous and unpredictable connectivity disruptions caused by mobility and the short radio range of wireless interfaces. By implementing the “store, carry and forward” principle, opportunistic networking and computing can help tolerate connectivity disruptions and support communication in such intermittently-connected networks. In this paper, we present a system we have designed to discover, to select, to invoke and to compose REST services dynamically in opportunistic networks. This system implements both orchestration-based and choreography-based composition strategies. In this paper, we compare these two techniques in two different scenarios: one involving nomadic people roaming in an open area, and another one involving people attending a sport event.
Formal fault injection vulnerability detection in binaries : a software process and hardware validation. (Détection formelle de vulnérabilité créée par injection de faute au niveau binaire : un processus logiciel et une validation matérielle)

Fault injection is a well known method to test the robustness and security vulnerabilities of systems. Detecting fault injection vulnerabilities has been approached with a variety of different but limited methods. Software-based and hardware-based approaches have both been used to detect fault injection vulnerabilities. Software-based approaches can provide broad and rapid coverage, but may not correlate with genuine hardware vulnerabilities. Hardware-based approaches are indisputable in their results, but rely upon expensive expert knowledge, manual testing, and can not confirm what fault model represent the created effect. First, this thesis focuses on the software-based approach and proposes a general process that uses model checking to detect fault injection vulnerabilities in binaries. The efficacy and scalability of this process is demonstrated by detecting vulnerabilities in different cryptographic real-world implementations. Then, this thesis bridges software-based and hardware-based fault injection vulnerability detection by contrasting results of the two approaches. This demonstrates that: not all software-based vulnerabilities can be reproduced in hardware; prior conjectures on the fault model for electromagnetic pulse attacks may not be accurate; and that there is a relationship between software-based and hardware-based approaches. Further, combining both software-based and hardware-based approaches can yield a vastly more accurate and efficient approach to detect genuine fault injection vulnerabilities.
Establishing Learning Communities among Science Teachers through Lesson Study.

The fundamental philosophy embedded in lesson study is the collaborative practice of teachers working together to plan, teach, observe, reflect and refine lessons. It has been well established that collaboration strengthens teacher collegial relationships and enhances pedagogical content knowledge. While teacher collaboration seems to be a norm in Japan and some other parts of the world, a similar teacher practice in lesson study is uncommon in Malaysia. This paper aims to provide an experiential narrative of the science lesson study project initiated by SEAMEO RECSAM highlighting the practical means of establishing learning communities among 17 science teachers from two primary schools and three secondary schools in Penang. The research team members were diverse: eight science educators comprising of four Malaysians, three Filipinos and a Japanese, together with the school science teachers which reflected a Malaysian multi-ethnic composition. The research enterprise attempted to address two questions, namely; (1) What is the nature of collaboration shared by the members of the science lesson study team? (2) How does teacher collaboration help improve classroom teaching and learning? In describing the collaborative features, three core components of teacher collaboration in a community or group identified by Wenger (1998) joint enterprise, mutual engagement, and shared repertoire were used as a framework. Hence, this paper intends to share its success story in establishing learning communities among science teachers in Penang through participation in the lesson study work. By engaging in their respective communities, members strengthen their bond and develop a habit of improving their practice by working and discussing with their colleagues.
The International Network of R&D Partnerships 1989-2002: Revisiting the Question of its Macro-Level Structure

In recent years, the number of research and development (R&D) partnerships between firms has substantially increased. From the perspective of the individual firm, these partnerships are formed in order to share the risks and benefits of R&D. At the macro level, they result in a global spanning network that can be a valuable source of international knowledge spillovers. We study the structure and dynamics of the network on an international and cross-industry scale using longitudinal data for 1989-2002. Our article contributes to a literature that attributes the patterns and changes in this network to major political and technological developments, but which omits the sizes of the underlying firm populations. Two often made claims are that R&D collaboration is an important activity in the recently fierce competitive environment, but that the importance of international partnerships has declined over time. We integrate data on public firms and their R&D partnerships and confront both hypotheses with our data and a set of methods, which enables us to correct for the structure and dynamics in the firm population.
Biochemical analyses of the AF10 protein: the extended LAP/PHD-finger mediates oligomerisation.

Leukaemogenesis correlates with alterations in chromatin structure brought about by the gain or loss of interactive domains from regulatory factors that are disrupted by chromosomal translocations. The gene MLL, a target of such translocation events, forms chimaeric fusion products with a variety of partner genes. While MLL appears to be involved in chromatin-mediated gene regulation, the functions of its partner genes are largely speculative. We report the biochemical analysis of the MLL partner gene AF10 and its possible role in leukaemogenesis. AF10 has been reported to be re-arranged with genes other than MLL leading to the same phenotype, a myeloid leukaemia. We have identified a novel protein-protein interaction motif in the AF10 protein comprising the extended LAP/PHD-finger. This domain mediates homo-oligomerisation of recombinant AF10 and is conserved in several proteins, including MLL itself. AF10 binds cruciform DNA via a specific interaction with an AT-hook motif and is localised to the nucleus by a defined bipartite nuclear localisation signal in the N-terminal region.
Social Media Usage by Library Staff in Academic Libraries: The Case of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, Nigeria

The significance of social media in an academic library cannot be overemphasized. The advancement and application of information technology to academic libraries has brought about change in users attitudes and needs, changes in library services and changes in library staff job functions. The objective of the study was to ascertain the awareness and use of social media by library staff of Yaba College of technology, Lagos, Nigeria. The descriptive survey method was employed for the study. The sample for this study comprised of 60 library staff. The questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Findings of the study revealed that Facebook and WhatsApp are the most commonly used social media tools by library staff in promoting library and information resources and services. However, major constraints to social media usage include poor internet access, irregular power supply and lack of social media tools, hence, recommendations were made; these include the provision of internet facilities in all offices in the library and uninterrupted power supply for library staff amongst others. Keywords : Social media, Library staff, Academic libraries, Yaba College of technology, Nigeria
Early development of the circumferential axonal pathway in mouse and chick spinal cord

The early development of the circumferential axonal pathway in the brachial and lumbar spinal cord of mouse and chick embryos was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The cellular processes which comprise this pathway grow in the transverse plane and along the lateral margin of the marginal zone (i.e., circumferentially oriented), as typified by the early embryonic commissural axons. The first formative event observed was in the ventrolateral margin of the primitive spinal cord ventricular zone. Cellular processes were found near the external limiting membrane that appeared to grow a variable distance either dorsally or ventrally. Later in development, presumptive motor column neurons migrated into the ventrolateral region, distal to these early circumferentially oriented processes. Concurrently, other circumferentially oriented perikarya and processes appeared along the dorsolateral margin. Due to their aligned sites of origin and parallel growth, the circumferential processes formed a more or less continuous line or pathway, which in about 10% of the scanned specimens could be followed along the entire lateral margin of the embryonic spinal cord. Several specimens later in development had two sets of aligned circumferential processes in the ventral region. Large numbers of circumferential axons were then found to follow the preformed pathway by fasciculation, after the primitive motor column had become established. Since the earliest circumferential processes appeared to differentiate into axons and were found nearly 24 hours prior to growth of most circumferential axons, their role in guidance as pioneering axons was suggested.
Role of Extracellular Domain Dimerization in Agonist-Induced Activation of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor A

Natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR) A is composed of an extracellular domain (ECD) with a ligand binding site, a single transmembrane region, a kinase homology domain, and a guanylyl cyclase domain. The natural agonists atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) bind and activate NPRA, leading to cyclic GMP production, which is responsible for their role in cardiovascular homeostasis. Previous studies suggested that stabilization of a dimeric form of NPRA by agonist is essential for receptor activation. However, ligand specificity and sequential steps of this dimerization process have not been investigated. We used radioligand binding, fluorescence resonance energy transfer homoquenching, and molecular modeling to characterize the interaction of human NPRA-ECD with ANP, BNP, the superagonist (Arg10,Leu12,Ser17,Leu18)-rANP-(1-28), the minimized analog mini-ANP and the antagonist (Arg6,β-cyclohexyl-Ala8,d-Tic16,Arg17,Cys18)-rANP-(6-18)-amide (A71915). ANP binds to preformed ECD dimers and spontaneous dimerization is the rate-limiting step of the ligand binding process. All the studied peptides, including A71915 antagonist, induce a dose-dependent fluorescence homoquenching, specific to dimerization, with potencies highly correlated with their binding affinities. A71915 induced more quenching than other peptides, suggesting stabilization by the antagonist of ECD dimer in a distinct inactive conformation. In summary, these results indicate that the ligand-induced dimerization process of NPRA is different from that for cytokine receptor model. Agonists or antagonists bind to preformed dimeric ECD, leading to dimer stabilization in an active or inactive conformation, respectively. Furthermore, the highly sensitive fluorescence assay designed to assess dimerization could serve as a powerful tool for further detailing the kinetic steps involved in natriuretic peptide receptor binding and activation.
The balance of the impact of quality and recovery on satisfaction: the case of e-travel

The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of a service failure on customer satisfaction in the online context. Specifically, the objectives are to examine the impact of e-service quality and recovery on satisfaction, and to analyse the impact of satisfaction on loyalty in the services of e-travel agencies. A questionnaire conducted by telephone was used to study the services offered by online travel agencies in Spain. A total of 1201 valid responses were obtained and 91 participants declared that they had experienced quality failures during a particular service. The findings show that providing e-quality has a greater influence on satisfaction (and, therefore, on loyalty) than responding well when a failure has occurred (recovery), thus confirming that providing quality service the first time around is a better strategy than applying recovery strategies. E-retailers should take into account this finding in order to improve the service offered and gain loyal customers.
Atherogenic diets exacerbate colitis in mice deficient in glutathione peroxidase

Background: The proinflammatory effect of high‐fat diet has been observed beyond the cardiovascular system, but there is little evidence to support its role in triggering inflammatory bowel disease. GPx1/2‐double‐knockout (DKO) mice deficient in 2 intracellular glutathione peroxidases, GPx1 and GPx2, on a C57BL/6 (B6) background, have mild ileocolitis on a conventional chow. Methods: We fed B6 DKO mice 2 atherogenic diets to test the dietary effect on atherosclerosis and ileocolitis. Both atherogenic diets have high cholesterol—the Chol+/CA diet has cholic acid (CA), and the Chol+ diet has no CA. Results: The Chol+/CA diet induced severe colitis, but not ileitis, in the DKO mice compared with the Chol+ and the Chol− control diet. On the Chol+/CA diet, the wild‐type (WT) mice had levels of aortic lesions and hypercholesterolemia similar to those of DKO mice but had no intestinal pathology. The diet‐associated inflammatory responses in the DKO mice included increased colonic proinflammatory serum amyloid A3 expression, plasma lipopolysaccharide, and TNF‐&agr; levels. The Chol+/CA diet lowered the expression of the unfolded protein response genes ATF6, CHOP, unspliced XbpU, and Grp78/Bip, in WT and DKO mice compared with mice on the Chol− diet. Conclusions: We concluded that a cholesterol diet weakens the colon unfolded protein response, which can aggravate spontaneous colitis, leading to gut barrier breakdown. GPx has no impact on atherosclerosis without ultrahypercholesterolemia. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010
Attitudes to and knowledge about elderly people: a comparative analysis of students of Medicine, English and Computer Science and their teachers

Attitudes to and knowledge about elderly people were assessed in 1091 students and lecturers from the London Hospital Medical College (LHMC), London, UK and the English and Computer Science departments of Queen Mary and Westfield College (QMW), London, UK. General knowledge about elderly people was measured by the Palmore ‘Facts about Aging Quiz 1’. Attitudes towards elderly people were measured by the Rosencranz and McNevin Semantic Differential scale.
FERM Domain Interaction Promotes FAK Signaling

ABSTRACT From the results of deletion analyses, the FERM domain of FAK has been proposed to inhibit enzymatic activity and repress FAK signaling. We have identified a sequence in the FERM domain that is important for FAK signaling in vivo. Point mutations in this sequence had little effect upon catalytic activity in vitro. However, the mutant exhibits reduced tyrosine phosphorylation and dramatically reduced Src family kinase binding. Further, the abilities of the mutant to transduce biochemical signals and to promote cell migration were severely impaired. The results implicate a FERM domain interaction in cell adhesion-dependent activation of FAK and downstream signaling. We also show that the purified FERM domain of FAK interacts with full-length FAK in vitro, and mutation of this sequence disrupts the interaction. These findings are discussed in the context of models of FAK regulation by its FERM domain.
Validity and reliability of a calcium checklist in early elementary-school children

Abstract Objective To create, validate and assess the reliability of a checklist to measure calcium intake in children. Design Calcium intakes from a checklist and parent-assisted 24-h dietary recall were compared. Checklist reliability was assessed separately. Setting After-school programmes in the United States. Subjects Forty-two children (18 males, 24 females, age = 8.0 ± 0.9 years) participated in the validation analysis and 49 children (28 males, 21 females, age = 7.5 ± 0.9 years) in the reliability analysis. Results No differences in mean calcium intakes were found by method or gender. The checklist correlated well with recall among girls (r = 0.65, P = 0.01) but not boys (r = −0.33, P = 0.19). Agreement over time was above 80% for most foods. Conclusion The calcium checklist is useful for assessing calcium intake among groups of 6–10-year-old children in settings that preclude parental assistance. More research is needed to improve accuracy among boys.
Hemodynamic Effects of Octreotide in Patients With Autonomic Neuropathy

BackgroundThe somatostatin analogue, octreotide, is being used to treat postprandial hypotension in patients with autonomic neuropathy. Although the therapeutic effect of the drug is presumably secondary to a splanchnic vasoconstrictor action, its effect on splanchnic hemodynamics has never been characterized in patients with autonomic neuropathy. Moreover, is unknown whether octreotide acts on other vascular beds in this group of patients or whether it affects cardiac output. We, therefore, measured splanchnic, forearm, and systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output before and after administering octreotide (0.4 μg/kg s.c.) to patients with idiopathic autonomic neuropathy and diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Methods and ResultsSplanchnic blood flow was determined from the clearance of indocyanine green in seven patients. We observed that octreotide decreased splanchnic blood flow (from 850±77 to 664±48 ml/min, p < 0.005), increased mean blood pressure (from 97±6 to 115±3 mm Hg, p < 0.005), and increased splanchnic vascular resistance (from 0.118±0.012 to 0.18 ±0.018 mm Hg/ml/min, p < 00.005). Forearm blood flow was measured by plethysmography in 13 patients. Octreotide increased forearm vascular resistance in patients with idiopathic autonomic neuropathy (n =8) from 19.1 ± 1.0 to 27.2±3.8 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml forearm volume (p < 0.01) and from 25.2±3.9 to 41.0±6.8 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml (p < 0.01) in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (n =5). Cardiac output was measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. Octreotide administration increased cardiac output in five of six patients with idiopathic autonomic neuropathy (from 4.4 0.4 to 5.0 ± 0.5 1/min, p < 0.02) and five of five patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (from 3.8 ± 0.4 to 5.1 ± 0.4 1/min, p < 0.02). Systemic vascular resistance increased in patients with idiopathic autonomic neuropathy from 21.2±2 to 24.9±2.6 (p < 0.05) but did not change in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy. ConclusionsThe pressor effect of octreotide in patients with autonomic neuropathy is associated with increased splanchnic and forearm vascular resistance and with increased cardiac output. (Circulation 1991;84:168–176)