Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Early Literacy Skills for Preschool Children

A quasi-experimental, statewide intervention targeting preschool teachers' enhancement of children's language and early literacy was evaluated. Across 2 years and 20 Head Start sites, 750 teachers participated (500 target, 250 control), with 370 classrooms randomly selected to conduct pre- and posttest assessments (10 randomly selected children per class). The inability to randomize children to classrooms was addressed by examining children's performance for teachers who were control teachers in Year 1 and target teachers in Year 2. We also compared teachers with 2 years of training with teachers with 1 year of training and with control teachers. Greater gains were found for children in target classrooms than for those in control classrooms for all skills, but particularly for language skills, in Year 2, and this varied by program site. The presence of a research-based early literacy curriculum, higher levels of teacher education, and full-day versus half-day programs were significant moderators of intervention effectiveness. The challenges of implementing a statewide initiative across programs that varied in their readiness to implement a cognitively rich experience for preschool children are discussed.
Rickettsial stimulation of endothelial platelet-activating factor synthesis

Endothelial cells (EC) synthesize platelet-activating factor (PAF) when activated by agents such as ATP or thrombin, and PAF production occurs as a consequence of endothelial phospholipase A activity. Because interactions between Rickettsia prowazekii and a variety of host cells result in the expression of phospholipase A activity, we assessed the relative abilities of uninfected and rickettsia-infected EC to synthesize PAF. Endothelial cells were infected with rickettsiae and examined at 24-h intervals for rickettsial multiplication, EC viability, and PAF synthesis. By 24 h postinfection, 80% of the EC were infected with an average of 10.6 rickettsiae per cell; by 72 h, the rickettsiae were too numerous to count and the numbers of viable EC began to decrease. Both rickettsia-infected and sham-treated EC synthesized PAF when stimulated with either thrombin or ATP, but rickettsia-infected EC synthesized about three times as much PAF in response to cell activation as did their uninfected counterparts. Additionally, unlike their uninfected counterparts, rickettsia-infected EC synthesized significant amounts of PAF in the absence of cell activation; rickettsia-infected EC synthesized as much PAF in the absence of activation as did uninfected EC in response to ATP. In each case, essentially all of the newly synthesized PAF remained with the cell pellet. Finally, EC incubated with high numbers of rickettsiae (1,000 rickettsiae per EC) for 30 min synthesized more PAF when activated with ATP than did their sham-treated activated counterparts.
The effects of clonidine on the fear-inhibited light reflex

We have shown previously that pupil diameter increases and the amplitude of the pupillary light reflex is reduced when subjects are under threat of an aversive event (electric shock), and that light reflex amplitude correlates negatively with subjective anxiety. Furthermore, we have shown that the threat-induced reduction in light reflex amplitude is sensitive to the effect of the anxiolytic drug diazepam. We have suggested that the 'fear-inhibited light reflex' paradigm could be used as a laboratory model of human anxiety. In the present study, we examined whether a single oral dose (200 μg) of the sedative-sympatholytic drug clonidine would antagonize the effects of threat on the pupillary light reflex. Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in two sessions separated by seven days in which they ingested clonidine 200 mg or placebo in a double-blind, balanced, cross- over design. Light stimuli (0.43 mW/cm2, 200 msec) were generated by a green (peak wavelength 565 nm) light- emitting diode, and pupil diameter was monitored by computerized binocular infrared television pupillometry in the dark. The light reflex response was recorded during either the anticipation of a shock ('threat' blocks) or periods in which no shocks were anticipated ('safe' blocks). The shock was a single square wave current pulse (1.5 mA, 50 msec) applied to the median nerve at the end of the experiment. Following each 'threat' or 'safe' block, subjects rated their anxiety using visual analogue scales. Two-factor ANOVA (treatment x condition) showed that clonidine treatment antagonized both the threat-induced increase in pupil diameter and the threat- induced reduction in light reflex amplitude. These effects, however, were not threat-specific since clonidine also reduced pupil diameter and enhanced light reflex amplitude in the 'safe' condition. Clonidine also reduced subjective alertness but not subjective anxiety in the 'threat' condition. These findings suggest that the mutual antagonism between clonidine and threat is likely to reflect the opposite effects of the two variables on the central noradrenergic control of pupillary functions, rather than a specific anxiolytic effect.
Donor Corneal Transplantation vs Boston Type 1 Keratoprosthesis in Patients with Previous Graft Failures: A Retrospective Single Center Study (An American Ophthalmological Society Thesis).

PURPOSE To compare short-term outcomes of repeat penetrating keratoplasty (PK) to those of Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro). Our hypothesis was that visual outcomes were superior for KPro compared to PK. METHODS This is a retrospective, nonrandomized, intermediate-term case series. Consecutive adults with one or more failed PKs who underwent either PK or KPro between January 2008 and December 2010 were included. Demographics, indication for the initial PK, comorbidities, concomitant procedures, and complications were considered. Only one procedure in each eye was included. All KPro procedures were retained in the analyses. RESULTS Fifty-three patients underwent PK and 27 received KPro. Mean follow-up was 19.5 months in the PK group and 16.5 months in the KPro group. KPro eyes had worse mean preoperative vision (hand motions vs counting fingers, P=.01) and more comorbidities. In the postoperative period, 35% of PK eyes and 45% of KPro eyes attained best-ever visual acuity of 20/70. Forty-seven percent of PK eyes vs 40% of KPro eyes were able to retain this visual acuity. Two-year rate of failure to retain visual acuity better than the baseline was higher for PK eyes, though not at a statistically significant level (hazard ratio [HR]=1.67; 95% CI, 0.78-3.60; P=.19). Two-year cumulative rate of graft failure (loss of clarity for PK and removal/replacement for KPro) was higher for PK eyes (HR=3.23; 95% CI, 1.12-9.28; P=.03). Retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, and glaucoma rates were similar (P=.6 for all). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate less frequent graft failure, greater visual improvement, and greater likelihood of maintaining the visual improvement in KPro eyes vs PK.
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms are not related to bone turnover, rate of bone loss, and bone mass in postmenopausal women: The OFELY study

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been reported to account for most of the well established genetic influence on bone mineral density (BMD). However, discordant studies have been published and it is still not clear whether VDR genotypes influence bone mass accretion and/or postmenopausal bone loss. In this study, we analyzed VDR gene polymorphisms, i.e., that of BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI restriction enzymes in 268 untreated postmenopausal women 1–26 years postmenopausal. There were 37 BBAA homozygote (absence of BsmI and ApaI restriction sites on both alleles), 55 bbaa homozygote (presence of restriction sites on both alleles), and 176 heterozygotes. At baseline, women between the three genotypes did not differ significantly in age, years since menopause, body mass index (BMI), nor dietary calcium intake. We found no relationship between VDR genotypes and bone turnover assessed by three serum markers of bone formation and three urinary bone resorption markers, nor with BMD measured at the spine, hip, forearm, and whole body by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Rates of bone loss assessed by repeated DXA measurements over 2 years were highly significant (p = 0.02–0.0001) at all skeletal sites except for the lumbar spine but did not differ between genotypes at any sites either before or after adjustment for potential confounding factors such as years since menopause, BMI, calcium intake, serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels, and baseline BMD. When we restricted the analysis to early postmenopausal women, within 10 years of menopause (n = 128), lumbar spine bone loss became significant, but no significant difference between VDR genotypes in the rate of bone loss measured at any site was found. We conclude that VDR genotypes are not predictive of bone turnover, rate of postmenopausal bone loss, and bone mass in either early or late postmenopausal women. In a subgroup of women with a low calcium intake (below 600 mg/day), we also found no significant differences between genotypes in BMD and the rate of bone loss measured at any site, although the sample size (n = 64) may be too small to detect small differences. In conclusion, these data, along with the absence of relationships between VDR gene polymorphisms and peak bone mass that we recently reported, suggest that the determination of VDR genotypes is probably not a useful clinical test for the risk assessment of osteoporosis.
Smoking cessation in patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE To determine patients' smoking status after the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and to identify factors associated with smoking cessation. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey study conducted over a 2-year period. SETTING Head and neck surgery clinic of an academic tertiary care hospital. METHODS Two hundred thirteen consecutive patients diagnosed with SCCHN were interviewed to ascertain patients' smoking status and the incidence of smoking cessation. Information on demographics, tobacco and alcohol history, disease characteristics, and treatment modality was also collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The rate of smoking cessation was evaluated, in which smoking cessation is defined as the use of no cigarettes at least 1 month prior to the interview. Possible predictors of smoking cessation were evaluated. RESULTS One hundred twenty-five patients were found to be smoking at the time of diagnosis. Among these patients, 53.6% stopped smoking after diagnosis or during treatment. In the univariate analyses, tumour site (p = .01), concurrent alcohol use (p = .03), and number of attempts to quit pre- (p = .03) and postdiagnosis (p = .001) were found to be highly predictive of patient smoking cessation. Multivariable modelling showed that gender, tumour site, and number of attempts to quit smoking were significantly and independently related to smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS Although smoking cessation would be presumed to be high after cancer diagnosis, this study has identified patient subgroups in which postdiagnosis smoking cessation intervention programs need to be made more effective.
Neural stimulation does not mediate attenuated vascular response in ACL‐deficient knees: Potential role of local inflammatory mediators

Chronic inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA) alters normal responses and modifies the functionality of the articular vasculature. Altered responsiveness of the vasculature may be due to excessive neural activity associated with chronic pain and inflammation, or from the production of inflammatory mediators which induce vasodilation. Using laser speckle perfusion imaging (LSPI), blood flow to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of adult rabbits was measured in denervated ACL transected knees (n = 6) and compared to unoperated control (n = 6) and 6‐week anterial cruciate ligament (ACL)‐transected knees (n = 6). Phenylephrine and neuropeptide Y were applied to the MCL vasculature in topical boluses of 100 µL (dose range 10−14 to 10−8 mol and 10−14 to 10−9 mol, respectively). Denervation diminished vasoconstrictive responsiveness to phenylephrine compared to both control and ACL‐transected knees. Denervation minimally enhanced vascular responses to neuropeptide Y (NPY) compared to ACL deficiency alone, which nevertheless remained significantly diminished from control responses. To evaluate the potential role of inflammatory dilators in the diminished contractile responses, phenylephrine was coadministered with histamine, substance P, and prostaglandin E2. High‐dose histamine, and low‐dose substance P and PGE2 were able to inhibit contractile responses in the MCL of control knees. Excessive neural input does not mediate diminished vasoconstrictive responses in the ACL transected knee; inflammatory mediators may play a role in the deficient vascular responsiveness of the ACL transected knee. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:83–88, 2010
Load forecasting via manifold regularization

The ability to accurately forecast the load plays an important role in electric power system planning and operating. In this paper, a novel approach was proposed for the electricity load forecasting by applying the manifold regularization learning methodology. Unlike traditional methods for load forecasting, the prediction method based on manifold regularization allows us to effectively exploit the geometric manifold structure of electricity load data in a semi-supervised learning setting. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated through an application to actual load data from the northwest China region.
Hepatitis C Virus Glycoprotein Complex Localization in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Involves a Determinant for Retention and Not Retrieval*

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome encodes two envelope glycoproteins (E1 and E2). These glycoproteins interact to form a noncovalent heterodimeric complex which in the cell accumulates in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-like structures. The transmembrane domain of E2, at least, is involved in HCV glycoprotein complex localization in this compartment. In principle, ER localization of a protein can be the consequence of actual retention in this organelle or of retrieval from the Golgi. To determine which of these two mechanisms is responsible for HCV glycoprotein complex accumulation in the ER, the precise localization of these proteins was studied by immunofluorescence, and the processing of their glycans was analyzed. Immunolocalization of HCV glycoproteins after nocodazole treatment suggested an ER retention. In addition, HCV glycoprotein glycans were not modified by Golgi enzymes, indicating that the ER localization of these proteins is not because of their retrieval from the cis Golgi. Retention of HCV glycoprotein complexes in the ER without retrieval suggests that this compartment plays an important role for the acquisition of the envelope of HCV particles. A true retention in the ER was also observed for E2 expressed in the absence of E1 or for a chimeric protein containing the ectodomain of CD4 in fusion with the transmembrane domain of E2. These data indicate that, in HCV glycoprotein complex, the transmembrane domain of E2, at least, is responsible for true retention in the ER, without recycling through the Golgi.
Insights for Exercise Adherence From a Minimal Planning Intervention to Increase Physical Activity

Objective. To test the impact of a minimal, online planning intervention on physical activity in Australian office workers. Method. Employees were randomized to an implementation intention intervention (n = 124) or health information control group (n = 130). Measures of physical activity, past behavior, and motivation were taken at baseline and 6 weeks. Results. Analysis revealed both groups increased weekly physical activity sessions (intervention M = 1.12, control M = 0.78) at follow-up, but no significant difference was found between groups. Because the sample consisted of experienced exercisers, secondary analyses investigated differential effects for those who had lapsed over the previous year (nonmaintainers) and those who had maintained their previous level of activity (maintainers). For nonmaintainers, both planning and information provision successfully changed behavior, but only planning significantly increased physical activity in maintainers over the study. Conclusion. Different minimal intervention approaches may be useful for preventing long-term relapse and assisting people to improve regular exercise routines. The practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Path-tracking for ground vehicles with bounded steering angle and steering rate — Optimal control approach

Vehicle path tracking control problem is investigated using optimal control technique. Steering angle is subject to two limitations - both its magnitude and rate are bounded. Although, it is the most natural settings from the application point of view - it has been rarely considered. An approach described in this paper utilizes the shortest-time solution for a 3-rd order linear system known for long time and revisited in the nineties to improve its robustness. Main generalization proposed here concerns state limitations resulting from the bounds over steering magnitude. Linear settings is sufficient if the offsets from the desired path are small. The validity of the ”linear”' solution is verified by applying the obtained optimal bang-bang control to a nonlinear system. In case of large lateral and angular offsets from the path the nonlinear analysis is needed. We show that in spite of the low dimension of the system (third) the nonlinear problem presents a variety of challenges, namely, singular optimal trajectory and a Fuller-type phenomena consisting of `chattering' near the junction of non-singular and singular portions of optimal trajectories. Finally, the controller designed using linear technique is tested with nonlinear model in simulation and experimentally.
An Equalizer With Controllable Transfer Function for 6-Gb/s HDMI and 5.4-Gb/s DisplayPort Receivers in 28-nm UTBB-FDSOI

A multistage continuous-time linear equalizer (CTLE) design with a controllable transfer function is presented. The entire frequency range of interest, from dc to gain roll-off frequency, is divided into six regions, and the transfer function in each region is independently matched to be the inverse of the channel transfer function. The equalizer is used for 6-Gb/s data transfer per channel for high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) 2.0 receiver and 5.4-Gb/s data transfer per channel for DisplayPort (DP) receiver designs. Fabricated in a 28-nm ultrathin body and buried oxide fully depleted silicon-on-insulator technology, the 0.06-mm2 CTLE consumes 30 mW to achieve up to 28-dB peaking. The entire receiver channel occupies 0.21 mm2, consumes 55 mW, and achieves a power efficiency of 9.2 pJ/bit at 6 Gb/s. This design achieves a jitter tolerance of 0.7 unit interval (UI) up to 10 MHz for HDMI and 0.42 UI up to 100 MHz for DP, which is better than their respective specifications.
Uncoupling of interleukin‐6 from its signalling pathway by dietary n‐3‐polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation alters sickness behaviour in mice

Sickness behaviour is an adaptive behavioural response to the activation of the innate immune system. It is mediated by brain cytokine production and action, especially interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential fatty acids that are highly incorporated in brain cell membranes and display immunomodulating properties. We hypothesized that a decrease in n‐3 (also known as omega3) PUFA brain level by dietary means impacts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced IL‐6 production and sickness behaviour. Our results show that mice exposed throughout life to a diet containing n‐3 PUFA (n‐3/n‐6 diet) display a decrease in social interaction that does not occur in mice submitted to a diet devoid of n‐3 PUFA (n‐6 diet). LPS induced high IL‐6 plasma levels as well as expression of IL‐6 mRNA in the hippocampus and cFos mRNA in the brainstem of mice fed either diet, indicating intact immune‐to‐brain communication. However, STAT3 and STAT1 activation, a hallmark of the IL‐6 signalling pathway, was lower in the hippocampus of LPS‐treated n‐6 mice than n‐3/n‐6 mice. In addition, LPS did not reduce social interaction in IL‐6‐knockout (IL‐6‐KO) mice and failed to induce STAT3 activation in the brain of IL‐6‐KO mice. Altogether, these findings point to alteration in brain STAT3 as a key mechanism for the lack of effect of LPS on social interaction in mice fed with the n‐6 PUFA diet. The relative deficiency of Western diets in n‐3 PUFA could impact on behavioural aspects of the host response to infection.
Anger expression and ambulatory blood pressure: a comparison of state and trait measures.

OBJECTIVES The goals of this study were (1) to compare trait and state measures of anger expression, (2) to examine associations between situational variables and anger expression, and (3) to examine relationships between trait and state anger expression and ambulatory blood pressure. METHODS One hundred college students completed state and trait versions,of the Spielberger (1) anger expression scale. State measures were completed in response to specific anger-provoking situations as they occurred over a 7-day period. Ambulatory blood pressure was recorded on one of these days. RESULTS Moderate correlations were observed between trait and state anger expression. Significant associations were found between a number of situational variables and state anger expression scales. Neither trait nor state anger expressions scales were related to blood pressure levels. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that trait and state measures of anger expression are not equivalent and that situational factors play an important role in anger expression. Situational variability may be an important factor in determining the health consequences of anger expression.
Hospital arrival times and post-imaging delays in stroke thrombolysis implementation

Background: Rapid alteplase delivery for ischemic stroke patients has been shown to increase the likelihood of disability-free life. Identification of barriers to rapid alteplase delivery and streamlining processes around imaging assessments are important. Our aim was to examine the relationships between hospital arrival time and postimaging processes in stroke thrombolysis. Methods: De-identified data of patients who underwent intravenous alteplase therapy at 20 hospitals in Australia were entered into the Thrombolysis ImPlementation in Stroke (TIPS) audit tool. During the pre-intervention phase, 601 patients who received alteplase ≤ 270 minutes of stroke onset were analysed. Onset-to-door (OTD), door-to-needle (DTN), door-to-imaging (DTI), and imaging-to-needle (ITN) times were assessed using univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: The age was 71.3 ± 13.4years, and the median NIHSS score was 11. The median OTD, DTN, DTI, ITN times were 73, 85, 32, and 46 minutes, respectively. Every minute earlier of OTD resulted in 0.24 minutes slower DTN (p<0.01), 0.06 minutes slower DTI (p=0.02), and 0.17 minutes slower ITN times (p<0.01). Every point decrease of baseline NIHSS score resulted in 0.66 minutes slower DTN (p =0.01) and 0.47 minutes slower DTI (p =0.01), however ITN had no significant association with baseline NIHSS score. Conclusions: Early arrival time was a greater contributor to delayed treatment, in particular post-imaging processes compared with pre-imaging processes, in patients with alteplase therapy for ischemic stroke. Improved processes to reduce post-imaging delays are needed for rapid alteplase treatment.