Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Acid Box Is Essential for Interactions with N-Cadherin and All of the Major Isoforms of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule*♦

Interactions between the neural cell adhesion molecules NCAM and N-cadherin with the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) are important for a number of developmental events and have also been implicated in tumor progression. The factors regulating these interactions are not known. We have used co-immunoprecipitation and co-clustering paradigms to show that both adhesion molecules can interact with the 3Ig IIIC isoform of the FGFR1 in a number of cell types. Interestingly, whereas the interaction can be seen over most of the cell surface, it is not seen at points of cell-cell contact where the adhesion molecules accumulate at stable junctions. We also demonstrate for the first time that all of the major isoforms of NCAM can interact with the FGFR. Using deletion mutagenesis we have found that the adhesion molecule/FGFR interaction can withstand the removal of most of any one of the FGFR immunoglobulin-like domains (D1-D3). In contrast, the FGFR interaction with N-cadherin and NCAM (but not FGF) is absolutely dependant on the presence of the acid box motif that can be found in the linker region between D1 and D2. As this motif can be spliced out of all four FGFRs, it suggests that this is one mechanism that can regulate the interaction of the receptor with different ligand classes.
Enhanced delivery of nebulised salbutamol during non‐invasive ventilation

Non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) is used to treat acute respiratory failure. Nebulised drugs can be delivered concurrently with NIV or during breaks from ventilatory support. We hypothesised that the amount of nebulised salbutamol inhaled when delivered via bi‐level ventilation would be no different to the amount available directly from the same nebuliser. A standard bi‐level ventilation circuit was attached to a lung model simulating adult respiration. Drug delivery was compared when salbutamol (5 mg) was nebulised at different positions in the circuit and separately, with no ventilator. The amount of salbutamol contained in various particle size fractions was also determined. Nebuliser position within the NIV circuit was critically important for drug delivery. Optimal delivery of salbutamol occurred with the expiration port between the facemask and nebuliser (647 ± 67 μg). This was significantly better than nebulisation without the ventilator (424 ± 61 μg; P < 0.01). Delivery when the nebuliser was positioned between the facemask and expiration port was 544 ± 85 μg. The amount of salbutamol contained in particles < 5 μm was significantly increased when the nebuliser was used in conjunction with bi‐level ventilation (576 ± 60 μg vs 300 ± 43 μg, P < 0.001). We conclude that nebulised bronchodilator therapy, using a Cirrus jet nebuliser, during bi‐level ventilation increases respirable particles likely to be inhaled when the nebuliser is optimally positioned within the circuit.
A model for preservice teachers’ intentions to use ICT in future lessons†

ABSTRACT This study proposes a model for determining preservice teachers’ intentions to use information and communication technology (ICT) in future lessons. Data were collected from 21 preservice teachers via interview in the first stage of the study and from 2904 preservice teachers from 16 different universities via a designed scale in the second stage of the study. Data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. A model capable of explaining 85% of variance in preservice teachers’ intentions to use ICT in their future lessons was developed. Perceived usefulness (PU) was seen to have the highest influence on their intentions, while facilitating conditions, social influence, and anxiety had a low direct effect. In addition, these factors were found to have a high indirect influence on intention through other factors such as PU, perceived ease-of-use, and efficacy. Abbreviations: ICT: information and communication technology; M: mean; SD: standard deviation; SEM: structural equation modeling
Information Distribution within Firms: Evidence from Stock Option Exercises

We examine the stock option exercise decisions of over 50,000 employees at seven corporations to provide evidence on the distribution of price-relevant non-public information among employees. When option exercise (adjusted for other factors affecting exercise) is low, stock returns in the coming six months are 10% higher than when option exercise is high. The exercise decisions of relatively junior employees contain at least as much price-relevant information as the exercise decisions of more senior employees.
Characterization of Rac and Cdc42 Activation in Chemoattractant-stimulated Human Neutrophils Using a Novel Assay for Active GTPases*

A major function of Rac2 in neutrophils is the regulation of oxidant production important in bacterial killing. Rac and the related GTPase Cdc42 also regulate the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, necessary for leukocyte chemotaxis and phagocytosis of microorganisms. Although these GTPases appear to be critical downstream components of chemoattractant receptor signaling in human neutrophils, the pathways involved in direct control of Rac/Cdc42 activation remain to be determined. We describe an assay that measures the formation of Rac-GTP and Cdc42-GTP based on their specific binding to the p21-binding domain of p21-activated kinase 1. A p21-binding domain glutathione S-transferase fusion protein specifically binds Rac and Cdc42 in their GTP-bound forms both in vitro and in cell samples. Binding is selective for Rac and Cdc42 versusRhoA. Using this assay, we investigated Rac and Cdc42 activation in neutrophils and differentiated HL-60 cells. The chemoattractant fMet-Leu-Phe and the phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate stimulate formation of Rac-GTP and Cdc42-GTP with distinct time courses that parallel cell activation. We also show that the signaling pathways leading to Rac and Cdc42 activation in HL-60 cells involve G proteins sensitive to pertussis toxin, as well as tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities.
Safe regression test suite optimization: A review

Systems are frequently regression tested for frequently occurring changes due to corrective, preventive, adaptive or perfective actions. Regression testing is used to prevent the undesired effect of these changes on the previously tested version. Due to these changes, new test cases become part of the test suite making it huge and inefficient for ‘retest all’ strategy. The ultimate solution of this problem is optimization or reduction of the test suite. Computational intelligence (CI) based approaches like evolutionary computation, fuzzy logic, neural networks and swarm optimization has been used for test suite reduction. Optimization approaches reduce the test suite by compromising its safety. Ideally optimization of test suite must guarantee safe reduction. In this work, we have optimized the test suite using some CI based approaches and then analyzed the test suite for ‘safe reduction’. Safe reduction can be gauged using control flow graphs. Test cases of optimal solutions were traversed on these graphs. We found that these solutions partially cover control flow graph. This showed that optimal solutions returned by CI based approaches except fuzzy logic are not safe and will be inadequate for regression testing.
A Study on Coastline Extraction and Its Trend Based on Remote Sensing Image Data Mining

In this paper, data mining theory is applied to carry out the field of the pretreatment of remote sensing images. These results show that it is an effective method for carrying out the pretreatment of low-precision remote sensing images by multisource image matching algorithm with SIFT operator, geometric correction on satellite images at scarce control points, and other techniques; the result of the coastline extracted by the edge detection method based on a chromatic aberration Canny operator has a height coincident with the actual measured result; we found that the coastline length of China is predicted to increase in the future by using the grey prediction method, with the total length reaching up to 19,471,983 m by 2015.
Family Perceptions of End-of-Life Care in Long-Term Care Facilities

The study examined the utility of the Family Perception of Care Scale (FPCS), which consists of four subscales: resident care, family support, communication, and rooming. This instrument was developed for the purposes of this study. Overall, family members were satisfied with end-of-life care. Satisfaction did not have a statistically significant relationship to family and resident characteristics. Survey questions with the highest number of low satisfaction ratings included staffing levels, updating families and involving them in care planning, and decision making. Family members considered pain control an important priority, followed by comfort care that included caring for a family member with dignity and sensitivity. Family members also valued it when staff were able to inform them that the death of their family member was near. Place of death was significantly associated with satisfaction, family members being more satisfied with end-of-life care when their family member died in the LTC facility as opposed to in hospital.
The Earnings Term Structure of Analyst Forecasts and Return Anomalies

We construct term structures for expected earnings growth by indexing analyst forecasts according to their maturity. Growth stocks, large stocks, and past losers have relatively steep convex earnings term structures in comparison to value stocks, small stocks, and past winners respectively. These initial earnings term structures overestimate (underestimate) the expected earnings growth of growth stocks, large stocks, and past losers (value stocks, small stocks, and past winners) in the future. However, the market appears to account for these systematic biases in expected earnings growth when pricing assets since cross-sectional variation across the earnings term structures cannot produce abnormal trading profits. Instead, cashflow betas derived from earnings term structures are higher for value stocks, small stocks, and past winners than growth stocks, large stocks, and past losers respectively. These differences in cashflow sensitivity are consistent with risk-based explanations for the size and value premium as well as momentum. ∗We thank Michael Brennan, Phil Dybvig, Bing Han, David Hirshliefer, Inmoo Lee, Steve Orpurt, Mungo Wilson, and Tracey Zhang for their helpful comments and suggestions. †University of Notre Dame, 239 Mendoza College of Business, Notre Dame, IN. , 46556, USA. Email: zda@nd.edu ‡Singapore Management University, L.K. C. School of Business, 50 Stamford Road, 178899, Singapore. Email: mitchell@smu.edu. sg
HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SMALL INTESTINE OF UTTARA FOWL

The objective of this study was to investigate the histomorphological development of the small intestine of Uttara fowl and to examine the changes in the number of goblet cells, argentaffin cell granules and lymphatic nodules by using histochemical techniques. The goblet cells were numerous towards the distal part of the intestine whereas the argentaffin cells and lymphocytes were more in number in the duodenal part. The goblet cells and crypts of Lieberkühn have acid and strongly sulphated mucopolysaccharide secretions. The brush borders as well as the goblet cells of the ileum showed high amount of polysaccharide material. Distribution of non-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme was correlated with age by catalytic histochemistry method. The ALP activity in post hatch chicks gradually increased from proximal to distal end of small intestine within the same age group. The activity also increased with the increasing age of the birds.
Risk of fall-related injury in people with lower limb amputations: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To assess fall-related injury risk and risk factors in people with lower limb amputation. DESIGN Prospective longitudinal cohort with follow-up every 6 months for up to 41 months. SUBJECTS Community-dwelling adults with lower limb amputations of any etiology and level recruited from support groups and prosthetic clinics. METHODS Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained by self-reported questionnaire and telephone or in-person follow-up. Fall-related injury incidence requiring medical care per person-month and adjusted hazard ratio of fall-related injury were calculated using multivariable proportional hazards regression modeling. RESULTS A total of 41 subjects, with 782 follow-up person-months in total, had 11 fall-related injury incidents (14.1/1,000 person-months). During follow-up, 56.1% of subjects reported falling and 26.8% reported fall-related injury. Multivariable proportional hazard modeling showed that women were nearly 6 times more likely as men to experience fall-related injury and people of non-white race were 13 times more likely than people of white race to experience fall-related injury. The final predictive model also included vascular amputation and age. CONCLUSION Risk of fall-related injury requiring medical care in people with lower limb amputation appears to be higher than in older adult inpatients. Intervention programs to prevent fall-related injury in people with lower limb amputation should target women and racial minorities.
Complete Follow‐Up Echocardiograms are Needed to Detect Stenosis of Normally Connecting Pulmonary Veins

Reimbursement for limited echocardiograms focusing on known pathology rather than complete studies has recently received widespread attention. Few data are available to determine if these limited examinations provide enough information to adequately evaluate many forms of congenital heart disease. Stenosis of normally connecting pulmonary veins is a congenital or acquired cardiac anomaly that is difficult to diagnose clinically and may be detectable only by echocardiography. To evaluate the yield of complete versus limited echocardiograms for detecting the presence and development of stenosis in pulmonary veins with anatomically normal connections, the cardiology database was searched for all patients with this diagnosis presenting between June 1990 and January 2000. Charts were reviewed for demographic data, associated defects, surgeries, and outcomes. Angiograms and echocardiograms were reviewed for location and severity of pulmonary vein stenosis. A pulsed‐wave Doppler signal of > 1.6 mm/sec with loss of phasic flow was used to define stenosis. Eighteen patients were identified and ranged in age at first evaluation from 1 day to 17 years (median 15 days). All 18 patients had associated cardiac anomalies, and 4 (22%) of 18 had Trisomy 21. Pulmonary vein stenosis was detected on the initial evaluation in 5 patients, detected 8 ± 5 months after the initial echocardiogram in 11 patients, and missed by echocardiography in 2 patients who were diagnosed by cardiac catheterization. The initial echocardiograms were complete, with pulsed‐Doppler sampling of all four pulmonary veins in 17 of 18 patients. Of the 12 patients who had echocardiographic evidence of late stenosis, 10 had 17 limited interim studies prior to eventually having a complete diagnostic follow‐up study. Of the two patients in whom the diagnosis was missed by echocardiography, one initial study was technically inadequate (17‐year‐old) and one had only limited interim studies after the initial echocardiogram. Of the 9 patients in whom repair of the pulmonary vein stenosis was attempted, 3 had no residual obstruction and 6 had progressive stenosis (three deaths). Of the remaining nine patients who had no intervention for their pulmonary venous stenosis, four have died from progressive pulmonary hypertension. Stenosis of normally connecting pulmonary veins is an uncommon lesion that has a significant impact on clinical outcome. The stenoses might be undetectable on limited echocardiograms that focus on evaluating only specified pathology. Complete follow‐up examinations might be warranted to diagnose this lesion. This may be an important consideration when formulating reimbursement policies.
Development Process and Evaluation of the Ontology Visualization Tool Knoocks - A Case Study

Ontologies were becoming popular in various communities and disciplines over the past few years. The reason for their popularity is that they allow to specify concepts and their interconnections of a domain which are understandable by computers and by people. However without visualizations, ontologies especially large ones would be hard to comprehend by users. Visualizations are essential because they make ontologies with their structure more manageable. Furthermore, visualization tools are helpful to analyze the interconnections between concepts. For an effective usage of such visualization tools, it is necessary that the design is easy to understand, provides a good overview about the structure and allows fast access to detail information. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the domain for which the ontology is developed along with its users and their needs. This paper presents the development process of Knoocks – a visualization tool for OWL Lite ontologies – where users were already involved during the process to improve the usability of the tool. Moreover, the presented case study underlines the importance of repeated usability evaluations during the development process to identify weak points of the design and missing features which are relevant for the
Neoplasms of the retinal pigment epithelium: the 1998 Albert Ruedemann, Sr, memorial lecture, Part 2.

BACKGROUND Neoplasms of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are rare, and little is known about their clinical variations, clinical course, and prognosis. Although most are benign, they can simulate choroidal melanoma. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, pathological features, and prognosis of acquired neoplasms of the RPE (adenoma and adenocarcinoma) and to define clinical features that help differentiate them from uveal melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records of patients with acquired tumor of the RPE were reviewed retrospectively, and the clinical features, management, and histopathologic findings were studied. RESULTS Of 13 affected patients, 10 were women and 3 were men. Ten were white and 3 were African American. The mean age at diagnosis was 53 years (range, 28-79 years). All patients were referred with the diagnosis of suspected choroidal melanoma. All tumors were solitary, unilateral, and ranged from a small, asymptomatic lesion measuring 2 x 2 x 1 mm to a massive neoplasm that measured 17 x 17 x 17 mm. There was no predilection for retinal location or laterality. The tumors were dark brown to black in 11 patients and only minimally pigmented in 2. Prominent retinal feeder vessels were visualized in 8 patients, 5 of whom had an exudative retinal detachment. Two patients had recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. Transillumination generally revealed blockage of light by the tumor. Fluorescein angiography showed early hypofluorescence and late minimal hyperfluorescence of the tumor, without visibility of choroidal vessels. Ultrasonography typically demonstrated the tumor to be abruptly elevated and to have medium to high internal reflectivity and acoustic solidity. Results of diagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy, performed on 4 patients, disclosed cells compatible with a pigment epithelial origin. Treatment ultimately included observation in 4 patients, enucleation in 3, local tumor resection in 3, irradiation in 2, and laser therapy in 1. Microscopic verification of the diagnosis was available in 3 eyes after fine needle aspiration biopsy, 3 eyes after local resection, 3 eyes after enucleation, and 1 eye post mortem. The microscopic diagnosis was adenoma in 8 patients and adenocarcinoma in 2. Microscopically, the lesions were composed of a neoplastic proliferation of RPE cells. Tumors arising from the anterior portion of the RPE had a vacuolated pattern, and those in the posterior portion of the RPE had a glandular or tubular configuration. CONCLUSIONS Neoplasms of the RPE show considerable clinical variation. In contrast to melanoma, they generally are darker, more abruptly elevated, and more likely to have retinal feeder vessels and exudative retinal detachment; show early hypofluorescence and mild late hyperfluorescence on angiographic findings; and have high internal reflectivity on ultrasonographic findings. Although most acquired tumors of the RPE are benign cytologically, they can exhibit aggressive clinical behavior.
BIRTH ORDER AND SOCIAL REINFORCER EFFECTIVENESS IN CHILDREN.

The hypothesis was advanced that first-borns are more satiated on social reinforcers than are later-borns. Employing this hypothesis, in conjunction with the Brown-Farber formulation, concerning the motivating effects of frustration, two predictions were made: (a) first-hborns would play a simple satiation-type game for a shorter period of time than would later-borns when the game was played under a support condition, and (b) first-borns playing the game under a nonsupport condition would play for a longer period of time than first-borns playing under a support condition, while the reverse would be true for later-borns. Twenty first-born and 20 later-born children were randomly assigned to play a simple Marble-in-the-Hole game under either a support or nonsupport condition. The findings supported the predictions made.
Fate of deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and their glucoside conjugates from flour to bread: an investigation by high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry

Deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins are mycotoxins frequently occurring in cereals and cereal-based products along with their conjugated forms. In this paper, we provide insights into the fate of deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and their glucoside derivatives during bread making, using naturally contaminated wheat flour. High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to assess the extent of degradation of the three mycotoxins during bread baking and to identify some glucoside conjugates, namely deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 mono-glucosides, detected both in the flour and in the respective breads. Our findings show deoxynivalenol's levels markedly increased upon baking, whereas those of HT-2 and T-2 toxins were decreased in the final bread with special regard to the T-2 toxin.