Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Educating Pakistan’s daughters: girls’ citizenship education and the reproduction of cultural violence in Pakistan

This article draws from a case study exploring the link between girls’ citizenship education and identity-based violence. The research was conducted in a girls’ government secondary school in Islamabad, Pakistan. The data was collected through participant observation, qualitative interviews and a participatory workshop with 23 school staff, as well as focus groups with 33 students. The focus of this paper is on how school practice – the day-to-day activities that happen in and out of the classroom – reproduces a gendered and classed notion of citizenship. Drawing on Galtung’s (1969; 1990) violence triangle, I then link the findings to the implications for violence against women. The findings indicate that for the urban middle-class girls of the case study school, citizenship is entwined with historical constructions of nationalist and religious notions of womanhood. Citizenship education teaches girls that their duty to the state is located in the private sphere of the home, as mothers and wives, while excluding them from the rights associated with citizenship that are located in the male dominated public sphere.These notions of unequal citizenship were evident in the responses from both teachers and students about the roles of women in creating a more peaceful Pakistan. Most of the teachers (all of whom are women) and students indicated that they had limited agency to affect change outside of an ability to influence their children and husbands. I argue that citizenship education in this school serves as a form of gendered cultural violence as it discourages girls from affecting change on the social structures that disempower them.
Slot-Splitting TDD-CDMA for Cellular Wireless Networks

This paper proposes an improved version of time-division duplex (TDD) mode called slot-splitting TDD (SS-TDD), which increases the average achievable capacity of a TDD cellular network by splitting a slot. The improvement results from partial relaxation of the restriction in the former versions of TDD, which requires an integer number of downlink slots. The proposed method can be implemented with no significant increase in computational complexity. In addition, with a few minor modifications, the proposed SS-TDD can be applied to two out of three burst types in UTRA TDD with a single-switching-point configuration. In a multi-cell environment with mixed traffic, our analysis shows that the proposed SS-TDD increases the average cell capacity (in Mbps) by up to 18.5-10.0%, and the Erlang capacity by up to 20.5-44.3%, for targeted SIRs in the range of 5-7dB.
The Right Ventricle in Scleroderma (2013 Grover Conference Series)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) results from severe remodeling of the distal lung vessels leading irremediably to death through right ventricular (RV) failure. PAH (Group 1 of the World Health Organization classification of pulmonary hypertension) can be idiopathic (IPAH) or associated with other disorders, such as connective tissue diseases. Prominent among the latter is systemic sclerosis (SSc), a heterogeneous disorder characterized by endothelium dysfunction, dysregulation of fibroblasts resulting in excessive collagen production, and immune abnormalities. For as-yet-unknown reasons, SSc-associated PAH (SSc-PAH) carries a significantly worse prognosis compared with any other form of PAH in Group 1, including IPAH. We have previously shown that patients with SSc-PAH have a median survival of only 3 years, compared with 8 years for IPAH, despite modern PAH therapy. Because death is principally due to RV failure, we speculated that RV adaptation to PAH differed between the two entities due to disparate pulmonary artery loading, perhaps from vessel stiffening, or intrinsic RV myocardial disease that might limit function and adaptation to high afterload. In SSc, RV function may also be impaired by inflammatory processes, excess fibrosis of the myocardium, or altered angiogenesis, which may all contribute to impaired contractile reserve exacerbating cardiopulmonary impedance mismatch. This is now suggested by recent findings from our group that demonstrate that, although pulmonary vascular load may be similar between patients with IPAH and those with SSc-PAH, the latter display reduced myocardial contractility as assessed by pressure-volume loop measurements. This review focuses on fundamental hemodynamic, structural, and functional differences in RV from patients with SSc-PAH compared with IPAH, which may account for survival discrepancies between the two populations. Possible underlying basic mechanisms are discussed.
Inhibition of neuronal acetylcholine sensitivity by alpha-toxins from Bungarus multicinctus venom.

Bungarus multicinctus venom contains several alpha-toxins in addition to the widely used alpha-bungarotoxin (Bgt 2.2). We have found that two of the alpha-toxins (Bgt 3.1 and 3.3) inhibit neuronal acetylcholine (AcCho) sensitivity when tested on ciliary ganglion neurons in cell culture. Over 90% of the AcCho sensitivity recorded in response to iontophoretic application of AcCho was blocked when the neurons were incubated with either of the toxins at 10(-7) M for 1 hr at 37 degrees C. The blockade could be partially reversed by incubating the neurons for 1-2 hr in medium lacking the toxins. The neurons also had a high-affinity binding site for Bgt 2.2, as indicated by binding studies with rhodamine-labeled Bgt 2.2. Concentrations of Bgt 2.2(10(-7) M) that should be nearly adequate to saturate the high-affinity site, however, had no detectable effect on AcCho sensitivity of the neurons. Higher concentrations of Bgt 2.2(10(-5) M) produced a partial inhibition of AcCho sensitivity, suggesting either that the neurons had two classes of binding sites for Bgt 2.2 (with the low-affinity site affecting AcCho sensitivity) or that the preparation of Bgt 2.2 contained minor components (e.g., Bgt 3.1 or 3.3) that were responsible for the blockade. The mechanisms by which Bgt 3.1 and 3.3 inhibit neuronal AcCho sensitivity remain unknown. If they bind specifically to the AcCho receptor, they will be useful agents for studying the distribution and regulation of this membrane component.
Dialysate flow rate and delivered Kt/Vurea for dialyzers with enhanced dialysate flow distribution.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Previous in vitro and clinical studies showed that the urea mass transfer-area coefficient (K(o)A) increased with increasing dialysate flow rate. This observation led to increased dialysate flow rates in an attempt to maximize the delivered dose of dialysis (Kt/V(urea)). Recently, we showed that urea K(o)A was independent of dialysate flow rate in the range 500 to 800 ml/min for dialyzers incorporating features to enhance dialysate flow distribution, suggesting that increasing the dialysate flow rate with such dialyzers would not significantly increase delivered Kt/V(urea). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We performed a multi-center randomized clinical trial to compare delivered Kt/V(urea) at dialysate flow rates of 600 and 800 ml/min in 42 patients. All other aspects of the dialysis prescription, including treatment time, blood flow rate, and dialyzer, were kept constant for a given patient. Delivered single-pool and equilibrated Kt/V(urea) were calculated from pre- and postdialysis plasma urea concentrations, and ionic Kt/V was determined from serial measurements of ionic dialysance made throughout each treatment. RESULTS Delivered Kt/V(urea) differed between centers; however, the difference in Kt/V(urea) between dialysate flow rates of 800 and 600 ml/min was NS by any measure (95% confidence intervals of -0.064 to 0.024 for single-pool Kt/V(urea), -0.051 to 0.023 for equilibrated Kt/V(urea), and -0.029 to 0.099 for ionic Kt/V). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that increasing the dialysate flow rate beyond 600 ml/min for these dialyzers offers no benefit in terms of delivered Kt/V(urea).
Stable expression and integrated hepatitis B virus genome in a human hepatoma cell line.

HepG2.2. 15 cell is a widely used cell model for studying HBV (hepatitis B virus) in vitro. In these cells, the HBV genome is integrated in several sites of HepG2 cellular DNA. These multiple copies may have some influence on the cellular processes. We constructed a new plasmid, pSEH-Flag-HBV, and transfected it into HepG2 cells, and then screened it with hygromycin. We then used ELISA, PCR, and RT-PCR to detect the expression of HBV in these cell lines. A cell line that stably expressed hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was established. Using Southern blotting analysis, we found that the HBV genome was integrated as a single copy in the cellular DNA. This cell line will be a useful alternative model for HBV studies.
The effect of strength training on the testosterone level in men

Primary objective of this study was to provide the insight into the effects of strength training on the testosterone (TE) level in men, as well as the mechanisms of anabolic effects of testosterone on human muscle apparatus, since it is known that one of the ways to increase muscle strength is through the increase of muscle mass (peripheral factor), and the basis of this process is the effect of TE. The collected data summarize the conclusions of a number of previous studies, out of which larger number of recently, and they relate to the effect of different methods of strength training (H - submaximal effort to failure, S - maximal effort, P - dynamic effort) with equally applied total volume of load, and the effect of different rest periods in strength training on the level of TE in men. The presented results confirmed the claims that the H method is the most effective and reasonably called 'the method for muscle hypertrophy'. When it comes to rest periods, the ones that last for about 90 seconds proved optimal because this period had most influence on the level of lactic acid and catecholamines in blood which are considered to be the key factors for the increased secretion of TE (this hormone was included in a group of stress hormones as well). However, according to many authors, further examinations in this field are necessary in order to determine the causal link with greater certainty.
ISAR while-scan mode for coastal surveillance

This contribution aims at defining and assessing an ISAR while-scan mode for coastal surveillance exploiting the signal transmitted by a coastal surveillance radar system over its successive scans. By processing the signals received by multiple passive (receivers only) devices, properly located near the coast, ISAR images of moving ship targets of interest can be achieved.
Exposure to ELF magnetic field tuned to Zn inhibits growth of cancer cells

The effects of ELF alternating magnetic fields tuned to Zn2+ on the growth of cancer cells with different status of p53 were investigated using a cell proliferation assay. Human cancer cells HeLa (cervix cancer, p53+/+), Saos‐2 and Saos‐2‐His‐273 (osteosarcoma, p53−/− and p53 His‐273 mutant, respectively), H1299tTA and H1299tTA‐His175 (lung carcinoma, p53−/− and p53 His‐175 mutant), and normal human fibroblasts VH‐10 (p53+/+) were used. Exposure parameters were calculated for the first harmonic of Zn2+ based either on the magnetic parametric resonance (MPR) model of Lednev or the ion parametric resonance (IPR) model of Blanchard and Blackman. ELF exposure was for 72 and 96 h. The vertical alternating field was 20 Hz at amplitudes of either 38.7 or 77.4 μT (peaks, IPR or MPR, respectively). The vertical static magnetic field was 43 μT, and the horizontal static magnetic field was zeroed. Treatments of cells with PRIMA‐1 and γ‐rays were used as positive controls. Growth inhibition was observed in cells after exposure to ELF at 38.7 μT. Inhibition of HeLa, VH‐10, and Saos‐2‐His‐273 cells was statistically significant, P = 0.0003, 0.02, and 0.006, respectively. No consistent ELF effects following exposure 77.4 μT were seen. PRIMA‐1 inhibited the growth of all cell lines with the strongest effect in mutant p53‐carrying cell line H1299tTA‐His175. The effects of γ‐rays were relatively weak, suggesting that the cell proliferation assay under conditions employed in this study is not very sensitive to apoptosis. In conclusion, ELF under conditions of exposure tuned to Zn2+ according to the IPR model inhibited the growth of cancer and normal cells. No clear relationship of the observed growth inhibition to p53 status was found. Further experiments, using complementary techniques, are required to test whether p53 reactivation by ELF is feasible. Bioelectromagnetics 26: 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Organization of the LEE1 operon regulatory region of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and activation by GrlA

Expression of the genes in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli is primarily co‐ordinated by expression of the LEE1 operon. GrlA is a LEE‐encoded transcription regulator that has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of expression of the LEE1 operon. We describe a simple plasmid‐based system to investigate the LEE1 operon regulatory region and to study GrlA‐dependent effects. We report that GrlA can activate transcription initiation at the LEE1 P1 promoter by binding to a target located within the 18‐base‐pair spacer between the promoter −10 and −35 elements, which were defined by mutational analysis. Shortening this spacer to 17 base pairs increases P1 promoter activity and short‐circuits GrlA‐dependent activation. Hence, at the P1 promoter, the action of GrlA resembles that of many MerR family transcription activators at their target promoters.
Attendance to a Screening Program for Cervical Cancer in the City of Florence

The study was aimed to assess: a) the proportion of true refusers among non-attenders resulting from residents and screening database matching, b) the typology of refusers compared to attenders, and c) the reasons for non-attendance as stated by refusers. Three hundred and forty-one non-attenders according to computer-produced lists were interviewed: 29 were not evaluable, 148 had had a Pap test, 18 had not attended for valid reasons, and 146 were true refusers; 94 refusers accepted the interview as far a points b) and c) were concerned. Ninety-four attenders, matched by age and residence, were interviewed for comparison. Attendance at private laboratories or incorrect identification of subjects on the screening record accounted for 45 % or 55 % of misclassified cases, respectively. The adjusted true refusal rate in the last 10 years was 18.1 % compared to a computer-assessed non-attendance rate of 40.7 %. Refusal was significantly associated to socioeconomic status (geographic origin, working activity and educational level of both women and husbands), whereas no significant association was observed for sexual history (deliveries, age at first sexual relation, number of partners) or health-related behavior. Attendance and counseling at the gynecologist's office were strongly associated to attendance, and gynecologists should be stimulated to promote opportunistic screening. The belief that screening is useless in the absence of symptoms, the fear of cancer being detected, postponement or laziness were the reasons for non-attendance stated by 80% of refusers. Improving knowledge about the purpose of the Pap test should be the main goal of any action aimed to improve screening attendance.
Sensitivity enhancemenet in SnO2 based gas sensors by surface decoration with platinum nanoparticles

Gas sensitivity and electronic properties of pure SnO2 thin films as well as those surface decorated with platinum nanoparticles were examined in different atmospheres. The SnO2 films were deposited onto SiO2 substrates by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) technique. Then, in a separate process, Pt nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on their surfaces. Metallic contacts were provided by silver paste printing. The sensors were examined in clean air and 500 ppm ethanol (C2H5OH) contaminated atmospheres at different operation temperatures in the 275 to 350 °C range. The Pt/SnO2 sensors proved to be 4 times more sensitive. Moreover, the maximum sensitivity of the Pt-decorated device occurred at a lower operating temperature. These observations are attributed to the catalytic activity of the Pt nanoparticles.
Role of DNA Polymerase η in the UV Mutation Spectrum in Human Cells*

In humans, inactivation of the DNA polymerase η gene (pol η) results in sunlight sensitivity and causes the cancer-prone xeroderma pigmentosum variant syndrome (XP-V). Cells from XP-V individuals have a reduced capacity to replicate UV-damaged DNA and show hypermutability after UV exposure. Biochemical assays have demonstrated the ability of pol η to bypass cis-syn-cyclobutane thymine dimers, the most common lesion generated in DNA by UV. In most cases, this bypass is error-free. To determine the actual requirement of pol η in vivo, XP-V cells (XP30RO) were complemented by the wild type pol η gene. We have used two pol η-corrected clones to study the in vivo characteristics of mutations produced by DNA polymerases during DNA synthesis of UV-irradiated shuttle vectors transfected into human host cells, which had or had not been exposed previously to UV radiation. The functional complementation of XP-V cells by pol η reduced the mutation frequencies both at CG and TA base pairs and restored UV mutagenesis to a normal level. UV irradiation of host cells prior to transfection strongly increased the mutation frequency in undamaged vectors and, in addition, especially in the pol η-deficient XP30RO cells at 5′-TT sites in UV-irradiated plasmids. These results clearly show the protective role of pol η against UV-induced lesions and the activation by UV of pol η-independent mutagenic processes.
Serum ionic calcium levels and hypocalcemia in dengue fever in children and its correlation with its severity: case control study

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is a major health problem, 90% of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) occurring in children <5 years and mortality of 2.5%. Abnormalities like metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia and hypocalcemia can occur in severe dengue especially in dengue shock patients. Alterations in calcium homeostasis, may play a role in the pathogenesis of dengue shock. Objectives is to evaluate serum ionic calcium (Ca2+) levels in children aged 1-18yrs with dengue fever and correlate it with severity and outcomeMethods: The study was prospective hospital based case-control study. Case group had 75 children with dengue fever with equal number of controls. Cases were classified according to WHO classification. Serum Ca2+ levels were estimated within 24 hours of admission.Results: Majority of children with dengue were in the age-group of 6-15 years (71.4%). Out of 75 cases,16% were dengue without warning signs, 54.7% dengue with warning signs and 29.3% were severe dengue cases. Mean Ca2+ level (in mmol/l) was 1.2009 (±0.09) among controls and 1.0911 (±0.10) in dengue cases (p=0.0001). Mean Ca2+ level in dengue without warning signs was 1.0950 mmol/l, dengue with warning signs was 1.1088 mmol/l and severe dengue was 1.0559 mmol/l. Mean Ca2+ level in severe dengue was significantly lower compared to dengue with warning signs (p=0.04). Hypocalcemia was seen in 56% of dengue cases but only 14% among controls. Seven children with severe dengue who died had hypocalemia.Conclusions: Hypocalcemia is common in dengue fever. Lower levels of ionic calcium correlate with severity of dengue illness and may be considered as a prognostic indicator of poor outcome.
An Econometric-Analysis Of The Choice Of Daily Versus Monthly Returns In Tests Of Information-Content

Studies investigating the association between information events and security returns are common in accounting and finance.1 Earlier studies used monthly return data, but the recent availability of daily return data confronts the researcher with a decision on which type of return data is more appropriate. In this paper I examine some econometric issues on the choice between monthly and daily return data. The analysis is easily extended to weekly return data, which has been used in some information event studies. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors affecting the power of statistical tests to investigate the effect of information on security returns based on return data over different units of time. One set of factors affecting the power of the tests pertains to the characteristics of the information event, such as (1) the existence of confounding information events during the same period as the information event of interest, (2) uncertainty about the magnitude of the effect of the information event on security returns, and (3) uncertainty about
Local Deficits and Aggregate Stabilization: Evidence From U.S. States

Using a sample of the 48 mainland U.S. states for the period 1973-2009, we study the ability of states to expand own state employment through the use of state deficit policies. The analysis allows for the facts that U.S. states are part of a wider monetary and economic union with free factor mobility across all states and that state residents and firms may purchase goods from “neighboring” states. Those purchases may generate economic spillovers across neighbors. We test for spillovers using three definition of neighbors: geographic proximity, input-output connections, and common business cycle patterns. We find only limited ability of U.S. states to impact their own or their neighbors’ economies through state deficit policies. The implied cost per job created ranges from $340,000 to over $1 million.
Is plasma symmetric dimethylarginine a suitable marker of renal function in children and adolescents?

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify whether plasma symmetric dimethylarginine (pSDMA) is a useful marker of renal function in children. Material and methods. The study group consisted of 35 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1–5 (median age 11.5 years), classified on the basis of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and divided into three groups: group A, patients with CKD stages 1 and 2; group B, CKD stage 3; and group C, CKD stages 4 and 5. A control group included 42 age-matched healthy children. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to measure pSDMA and serum cystatin C (sCysC) concentrations. Results. The pSDMA and sCysC levels were significantly elevated in all CKD patients in comparison with healthy controls (p < 0.05). The pSDMA level in children was increased in the mild CKD (group A) (p < 0.01). There were also a significant difference in pSDMA concentration between groups A and B (p < 0.01). No differences in pSDMA levels were found between groups B and C. Receiver operating characteristics analyses showed that pSDMA was a better diagnostic tool than sCysC for identifying CKD stage among all the examined children and for detecting patients from group A (eGFR >60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Conclusions. Increased pSDMA and sCysC levels were found in CKD children. Further studies are required to confirm potential applications of pSDMA and CysC as useful biomarkers for the diagnosis and progression of CKD.