Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Detroit area study discrimination scale in a community sample of older African American adults: The Pittsburgh healthy heart project

This study examined the construct validity of the Detroit Area Study Discrimination Questionnaire (DAS-DQ) in 49 healthy African American adults, with respect to its association with global measures and daily experiences of psychological demand. Daily experiences of psychological demand were obtained using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods. Everyday Mistreatment, as measured by the DAS-DQ, was significantly related to global reports of perceived stress and depression but was unrelated to measures of hostility and social desirability. Everyday Mistreatment was significantly related to average EMA score measures of Negative Affect and Social Conflict but was unrelated to daily experiences of Task Demand or Decisional Control. Negative Affect mediated the relation between Everyday Mistreatment and global reports of perceived stress. In contrast, Lifetime History of Discrimination, as measured by the DAS-DQ, was unrelated to global measures or daily experiences of stress. Thus, this study lends support to the construct validity of the DAS-DQ.
Recovery of power output and muscle metabolites following 30 s of maximal sprint cycling in man.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 +/‐ 1.2 and 70.5 +/‐ 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 +/‐ 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)‐1 and muscle pH was 6.72 +/‐ 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 +/‐ 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 +/‐ 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 +/‐ 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)‐1 and 6.79 +/‐ 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half‐time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 +/‐ 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71‐0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.
The Impact of Formative Assessment on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Enhancement

vii Chapter One: Introduction . 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem . 3 1.2 Significance of the Study . 3 1.3 Research Questions. 4 1.4 The Structure of the Thesis . 4 Chapter Two: Review of Literature . 6 Introduction . 6 2.1 Historical Overview of Teaching and Learning Vocabulary . 6 2.2 Depth and Bredth of Vocabualry Knowledge . 9 2.3 Approaches to Vocabulary Leanring Process . 9 2.3.1 Explicit Vocabulary Learning . 10 2.3.1 Implicit Vocabualry Learning . 11 2.4 Assessment in Language Teaching and Learning . 14 2.5 Summative vs. Formative Assessment . 17 2.6 The Purpose and Benefits of Formative Assesment . 20 2.7 Elements Involved in Formative Assesment Practice . 28 2.7 The Application of Formative Assesment in Vocabualry Learning . 36 Chapter 3: Methodology. 42 Introduction . 42 3.1 Research Design. 42 3.2 Setting and Participants. 42 3.3 Materials . 44 3.4 Instrumentation . 45
Location of main occluding areas and masticatory ability in patients with reduced occlusal support.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in location of the main occluding area with reduction of occlusal support and to evaluate the subsequent impairment in masticatory ability. METHODS One hundred and two patients were recruited according to the Eichner's index, which is based on the number of occlusal support zones. Each subject was instructed to clench a piece of temporary stopping in the particular occluding area that was preferably used during mastication. The main occluding area was judged by locating the tooth on which the temporary stopping rested. Subjective masticatory ability was self-assessed by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS Group classification depending upon the location of the main occluding area was significantly associated with the category of the Eichner's index. The level of masticatory ability was significantly associated with the category of the Eichner's index. Moreover, masticatory ability was significantly more impaired in subjects with main occluding areas at the premolar regions compared to those at the molar regions. CONCLUSIONS The location of the main occluding area may differ under the influence of the remaining natural teeth. The location of the main occluding area and the masticatory ability are likely to be closely related.
Tolerance to Rat Heart Grafts Induced by Intrathymic Immunomodulation Is Mediated by Indirect Recognition Primed CD4+CD25+ Treg Cells

Background. In a rat model (PVG.R8-to-PVG.1U) disparate for one class I antigen, RT.1Aa, we previously demonstrated that intrathymic immunomodulation with donor antigens resulted in prolonged survival of cardiac allografts that underwent chronic rejection. However, long-term survivors developed a regulatory cell population that prevented both acute and chronic rejection when adoptively transferred into secondary graft recipients. The purpose of this study was to characterize these regulatory cells with particular emphasis on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. Methods. Spleens, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes of secondary tolerant recipients were characterized using antibodies to various T cell markers in flow cytometry. In vitro MLR and in vivo adoptive transfer experiments were conducted to investigate the involvement of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the observed tolerance. The presence of various cytokines in the sera of graft recipients and MLR culture supernatants was tested using ELISA. Results. Tolerant recipients compared with naïve rats had substantially higher percentages of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the spleen (28±3% vs. 11±5%) and blood (23±6% vs. 9±4%). Tolerant animals also had higher levels of serum IL-10 than naïve and rejecting animals. CD4+CD25+ T cells from secondary long-term graft survivors inhibited donor-specific proliferative responses in vitro that was associated with high IL-10 production. Importantly, depletion of CD4+CD25+ T cells from splenocytes of tolerant rats abrogated their ability to transfer tolerance to tertiary graft recipients. Conclusions. Our data demonstrate that cardiac allograft tolerance in this model is mediated by CD4+CD25+ Treg cells primed by indirect recognition and is associated with high levels of IL-10.
Axl Mediates Acquired Resistance of Head and Neck Cancer Cells to the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Erlotinib

Elevated expression and activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with development and progression of head and neck cancer (HNC) and a poor prognosis. Clinical trials with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., erlotinib) have been disappointing in HNC. To investigate the mechanisms mediating resistance to these agents, we developed an HNC cell line (HN5-ER) with acquired erlotinib resistance. In contrast to parental HN5 HNC cells, HN5-ER cells exhibited an epithelial–mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype with increased migratory potential, reduced E-cadherin and epithelial-associated microRNAs (miRNA), and elevated vimentin expression. Phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinase profiling identified Axl activation in HN5-ER cells. Growth and migration of HN5-ER cells were blocked with a specific Axl inhibitor, R428, and R428 resensitized HN5-ER cells to erlotinib. Microarray analysis of HN5-ER cells confirmed the EMT phenotype associated with acquired erlotinib resistance, and identified activation of gene expression associated with cell migration and inflammation pathways. Moreover, increased expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in HN5-ER cells suggested a role for inflammatory cytokine signaling in EMT and erlotinib resistance. Expression of the tumor suppressor miR-34a was reduced in HN5-ER cells and increasing its expression abrogated Axl expression and reversed erlotinib resistance. Finally, analysis of 302 HNC patients revealed that high tumor Axl mRNA expression was associated with poorer survival (HR = 1.66, P = 0.007). In summary, our results identify Axl as a key mediator of acquired erlotinib resistance in HNC and suggest that therapeutic inhibition of Axl by small molecule drugs or specific miRNAs might overcome anti-EGFR therapy resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(11); 2541–58. ©2013 AACR.
[C-reactive protein level and colorectal adenoma].

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recent studies implicated inflammation playing an important role in the occurrence and advancement of colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma as the representative precursor lesion of colorectal cancer has meaningful association with inflammation. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the risk of colorectal adenoma. METHODS This study was undertaken on 5,487 subjects (3,478 men and 2,009 women) who underwent colonoscopy at the Health Promotion Center in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Samsung Medical Center. The subjects were allocated into 3,505 normal control subjects and 1,982 patients with colorectal adenoma. The mean level of CRP was compared between the two groups, and the correlations with other variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Also, the risk of colorectal adenoma according to CRP level and difference of CRP level according to the characteristics of adenomas were analyzed. RESULTS There was no significant difference in serum CRP level between normal and colorectal adenoma group. After adjusting for the clinically significant variables of colorectal adenoma, multiple logistic regression analysis of the risk of colorectal adenoma according to the CRP level (<1, 1-3, >3) and the CRP level according to characteristics of adenomas showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS An inflammatory marker, CRP is not a risk factor for colorectal adenoma development.
Distributional changes in the gender wage gap in the post-apartheid South African labour market

This paper investigates the evolution of the gender wage gap in South Africa, using the 1993â€“2015 Post-Apartheid Labour Market Series data set.The changes in the gap are heterogeneous across the wage distribution. There has been a substantial narrowing of the gap at the bottom of the distribution, attributable to the implementation of the minimum wage in low-paying industries However, the median gender wage gap is substantial at 23â€“35 per cent. This is unexplained by differences in human capital characteristics, and is not declining over time.This implies that wage-employed women in South Africa have better human capital characteristics than men. Contrary to previous literature, the wage gap at the mean narrowed from 40 per cent in 1993 to 16 per cent in 2014. The gap at the 90th percentile declined during 1993â€“2005, but has expanded in recent years. This is due to a continually expanding unexplained component of the wage gap, which is usually associated with discrimination.
Cloning and characterization of livH, the structural gene encoding a component of the leucine transport system in Escherichia coli

The physical location of the genetically defined livH gene was mapped in the 17-kilobase plasmid pOX1 by using transposon Tn5 inactivation mapping and further confirmed by subcloning and complementation analysis. These results indicated that the livH gene maps 3' to livK, the gene encoding the leucine-specific binding protein. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence of the livH gene and its flanking regions was determined. The livH gene is encoded starting 47 base pairs downstream from the livK gene, and it is transcribed in the same direction as the livK gene. The livK-livH intergenic region lacks promoter sequences and contains a GC-rich sequence that could lead to the formation of a stable stem loop structure. The coding sequence of the livH gene, which is 924 base pairs, specifies a very hydrophobic protein of 308 amino acid residues. Expression of livH-containing plasmids in minicells suggested that a poorly expressed protein with an Mr of 30,000 could be the livH gene product.
QT interval, heart rate and arterial pressures using propofol, thiopentone or methohexitone for induction of anaesthesia in children

The effects on corrected QT interval (QTc), heart rate and arterial pressure were studied after induction with propofol 1.5, 2 or 2.5 mg'kg‐1, thiopentone 5 mg‐kg‐1 or methohexitone 2 mg‐kg‐1 in 123 ASA class I or II children undergoing outpatient otolaryngological surgery. Premedication consisted of oral midazolam and atropine. The children were randomly allocated to one of the three propofol groups or to the thiopentone or methohexitone group. After injection of the intravenous anaesthetic, the QTc interval was significantly prolonged after propofol 2.5 mg. kg‐1. Thirty seconds after suxamethonium 1.5 mg kg‐1, a significant prolongation of the QTc interval occurred in the thiopentone and propofol 1.5 and 2 mg‐kg‐1 groups. After intubation, no further prolongation of the QTc interval occurred in any of the groups. Heart rate increased significantly after the barbiturates but not after propofol. Systolic arterial pressure decreased significantly after propofol 1.5 and 2.5 mg kg‐1. In all groups a cardiovascular intubation response occurred. Bradycardia and junctional rhythm occurred in 4% of the children in both barbiturate groups and in 19–29% in the propofol groups. It is concluded that propofol causes prolongation of the QT interval and results in a higher incidence of bradycardia and junctional rhythm than the barbiturates.
Clinical use of enoxaparin in the management of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes

Enoxaparin (Lovenox®; Roule-Poulenc Rorer, Inc.), a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), is commonly used in the management of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) based on clinical trial outcomes. It is one of a group of glycosaminoglycan compounds that accelerate the inactivation of factor Xa by inducing a conformational change in antithrombin. In contrast to unfractionated heparin (UFH), LMWH have greater bioavailability, a more predictable anticoagulant response, longer half-life and a higher proportion of anti-factor Xa to anti-factor IIa activity. As a consequence, laboratory monitoring of the anticoagulant effect is typically unnecessary. Antithrombin therapy with LMWH or UFH has the highest-level recommendation (IA) in the 2002 professional guidelines for the management of unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, where enoxaparin has a IIA recommendation over UFH unless early coronary artery bypass surgery is planned. In a recent systematic overview of > 20,000 patients with NSTE ACS from six clinical trials, including conservative and invasively managed patients, enoxaparin provided a statistically significant reduction in 30-day death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) compared with UFH with no significant excess in transfusions, or major bleeding. These data support the role of enoxaparin as an anti-coagulant in patients with NSTE ACS.
Empowering leadership and innovative work behavior: a moderated mediation examination

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the relationship between empowering leadership and the innovative work behavior of employees. Utilizing a moderated mediation mechanism, the study additionally uncovers the mediating impact of knowledge sharing and the moderating influence of role clarity in the proposed model. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional design was used in the study, and developed questionnaires were administered to 235 supervisor-subordinates dyads working in Indian organizations to test the proposed relationships. SPSS 20 and AMOS 20 were used for statistical analysis. Findings The hypothesized moderated mediation model was supported. Knowledge sharing mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and innovative work behavior. The moderating impact of role clarity between empowering leadership and knowledge sharing was supported. It was also observed that stronger role clarity strengthened the indirect relationship between empowering leadership and innovative work behavior. Overall, the study shows that empowering leaders creates a cultivating climate for innovative work behavior by encouraging knowledge sharing among the members subject to clear identification of employee roles. Research limitations/implications Cross-sectional design of the study limits the authors from drawing definitive generalizations. Self-reported measures used in the study increase the chances of bias. Practical implications Findings of the study can be utilized by leaders for promoting innovative work behavior in the organization, which has been identified as a key to organizational growth and development. Originality/value The study attempts to address the under developed relationship between empowering leadership and innovative work behavior.
A New Rictulariid (Nematoda: Spirurida) in Xenarthrans from Argentina and New Morphological Data of Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) Chaetophracti

Abstract Pterygodermatites is a cosmopolitan genus of nematodes from mammals, and it is frequently encountered in the parasite fauna of armadillos (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata). In this work, a new species, Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) argentinensis, is described, and new morphometric data, new host records, and the geographical distribution of Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) chaetophracti are provided. We examined 109 hosts belonging to Chaetophractus vellerosus, Chaetophractus villosus, Cabassous chacoensis, Dasypus hybridus, Tolypeutes matacus, and Zaedyus pichiy, from several regions of Argentina. Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) argentinensis can be distinguished from P. (P.) chaetophracti by the morphology and size of esophageal teeth of both sexes, by subequal and longer spicules, by having only 1 precloacal cuticular semicircular fan in males, and by a greater number of cuticular processes in females. Cabassous chacoensis and Zaedyus pichiy are new hosts for Pterygodermatites (P.) chaetophracti.
Functional -1562 C-to-T polymorphism in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter is associated with the risk for oral squamous cell carcinoma in younger male areca users.

BACKGROUND Circulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a prognostic factor for gastric cancer and vascular diseases, and has been associated with head and neck cancers. The -1562 C-to-T polymorphism in MMP-9 promoter (abbreviated MMP-9 -1562 C>T polymorphism) leads to differential transcription, and is associated with increased susceptibility to neoplastic and vascular diseases. Thus, our aim was to determine whether a functional MMP-9 polymorphism might also influence the risk or affect the progression of areca-associated oral cancers. METHODS Genomic DNAs were obtained from peripheral blood cells of male subjects with areca-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (n = 192), oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) (n = 73), and non-diseased areca users (n = 191). The PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed for MMP-9 genotyping. RESULTS MMP-9 -1562 C>T polymorphism was not associated with the risk of OSCC or OSF. However, when subjects were stratified by the median age, an association with the risk of OSCC was found in younger patients (P = 0.029). The T allele frequency was significantly higher in the subset of older patients with buccal mucosa OSCC than older patients with OSCC in counterpart locations. The joint MMP-9 -1562 C>T and MMP-3 -1171 5A>6A functional polymorphisms were not associated with OSCC risk or patient survival. CONCLUSION Aberrant MMP-9 expression is closely related to tumor invasiveness and the prognosis of head and neck cancers. However, functional MMP-9 -1562 C>T polymorphism is associated with OSCC risk only in younger areca chewers. The impact of aging or areca-related effect on this functional polymorphism should be elucidated.
A Nonparametric Mixture Model for Cure Rate Estimation

Summary. Nonparametric methods have attracted less attention than their parametric counterparts for cure rate analysis. In this paper, we study a general nonparametric mixture model. The proportional hazards assumption is employed in modeling the effect of covariates on the failure time of patients who are not cured. The EM algorithm, the marginal likelihood approach, and multiple imputations are employed to estimate parameters of interest in the model. This model extends models and improves estimation methods proposed by other researchers. It also extends Cox's proportional hazards regression model by allowing a proportion of event‐free patients and investigating covariate effects on that proportion. The model and its estimation method are investigated by simulations. An application to breast cancer data, including comparisons with previous analyses using a parametric model and an existing nonparametric model by other researchers, confirms the conclusions from the parametric model but not those from the existing nonparametric model.
Quantitative Assessment of Balance Impairment for Fall-Risk Estimation Using Wearable Triaxial Accelerometer

Falls are a major cause of morbidity and long-term hospitalization among growing older population. An automated and accurate fall-risk assessment system is vital to identify high fall-risk population and to prevent falls by early intervention. Therefore, this paper provides an objective, cost-effective, and unsupervised method to obtain functional balance and mobility assessment-based fall-risk of community-dwelling older adults. More specifically, waist-mounted triaxial accelerometer signals acquired from directed routine (supervised control movements) are used to estimate the well-known clinical assessment score-Berg balance scale (BBS). The trunk acceleration signals are used to extract features and to find the optimal subset of features for each training data during repeated tenfold cross validation of the BBS estimation model. The average of two BBS estimates based on test and retest yielded a strong correlation $\rho = 0.86$ with the standard BBS score. Also, high correlation ( $\rho = 0.90$ ) and low root-mean-square error (1.66) was observed between the two estimates of each subject. The proposed method is well suited for the assessment of balance impairment and pre-screening of quantitative fall-risk in an unsupervised setting. It has the potential to act as a surrogate of the standard clinical assessment-BBS.