Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"An Idea Whose Time Has Come." Analysis of an Act Equalizing the Financial Support of School Units.

After tracing the historical development of the Maine system of school finance, the document describes the major prov.sions of a 1973 legislative act that equalizes the financial support of school units. Under the act, 60 percent of the cost of public school programs will come fiom State tax sources and 40 percent will come from a uniform property tax being applied equally to all administrative units -in the State. The document considers such topics as raising local and State school revenues, local taxes for current operation and for capita] outlay, State supervision of local property tax administration, other State aid programs, the effect of the legislation on selected districts, and the legal implications of the act. The entire legislative act and a suggested procedure for the implementatioli of the act are included in the appendixes. (Author/DN) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY . "AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME" ANALYSIS OF AN ACT EQUALIZING THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF . SCHOOL UNITS Enacted by The 106th Maine Legislature June 22, 1973
Effects of Genetic Hyperinsulinaemia on Vascular Reactivity, Blood Pressure, and Renal Structure in the Zucker Rat

The association between insulin resistance, obesity, and hypertension is well recognised. We examined the hypothesis that hypertension in the obese Zucker rat is related to changes in vascular reactivity. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) in conscious Zucker rats was significantly greater in obese as compared with lean animals (157 +/- 9 and 117 +/- 8 mm Hg). Obese animals also had marked proteinuria and reduced urinary creatinine excretion in 24 h as compared with their lean counterparts. The reactivity of isolated aorta to phenylephrine (PE) and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) was modestly (twofold) increased in obese animals (EC50 13.8 nM as compared with 29.4 nM in lean animals and 0.19 nM as compared with 0.46 nM in lean animals, respectively). In the perfused mesenteric vascular bed, basal perfusion pressure was the same in both phenotypes, as was the pressor response to PE and depressor response to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In the isolated aorta, from obese animals, insulin attenuated the contractile response to PE but markedly enhanced the vasoconstrictor potency of 5-HT. It had no significant effect on pressor or depressor responses in the perfused mesenteric bed. The data suggest that increased reactivity of central arteries to spasmogenic agents may be involved in the development of systolic hypertension in the hyperinsulinaemic Zucker rat.
Chimeric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Virions That Contain the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus nef Gene Are Cyclosporin A Resistant

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions which have their own nef gene deleted and are trans complemented to contain HIV-2 or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Nef become resistant to treatment with cyclosporin A. To expand and confirm these studies, we have tested an HIV-1 isolate in which the HIV-1 nef gene has been replaced by the nef gene from SIV in a multiround infectivity assay using more physiologically relevant cell types. Our results confirm that HIV-1 virions that contain SIV nef can replicate in a cyclophilin-independent fashion.
Does entrepreneurship pay for women and immigrants? A 30 year assessment of the socio-economic impact of entrepreneurial activity in Germany

Abstract Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel from 1984 to 2012, we explore income effects of self-employment for females and migrants. Controlling for the selection into self-employment, we differentiate the overall earnings differential between the self-employed and the wage-employed into an endowment effect (they are equipped with characteristics that positively affect earnings in either occupation) and a treatment effect (the income effect solely due to the decision for self-employment). We find that women exhibit both a lower treatment effect and a lower endowment effect than men. Migrants benefit much more from entrepreneurial activities than Germans, having a significantly higher treatment effect. Among the countries of origin, Turkish migrants benefit the most from their self-employment decision, while southern Europeans exhibit the lowest income relevant skills.
Vandetanib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer: a randomized, double-blind phase III trial.

PURPOSE There is no effective therapy for patients with advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Vandetanib, a once-daily oral inhibitor of RET kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, has previously shown antitumor activity in a phase II study of patients with advanced hereditary MTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced MTC were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive vandetanib 300 mg/d or placebo. On objective disease progression, patients could elect to receive open-label vandetanib. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), determined by independent central Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) assessments. RESULTS Between December 2006 and November 2007, 331 patients (mean age, 52 years; 90% sporadic; 95% metastatic) were randomly assigned to receive vandetanib (231) or placebo (100). At data cutoff (July 2009; median follow-up, 24 months), 37% of patients had progressed and 15% had died. The study met its primary objective of PFS prolongation with vandetanib versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.69; P < .001). Statistically significant advantages for vandetanib were also seen for objective response rate (P < .001), disease control rate (P = .001), and biochemical response (P < .001). Overall survival data were immature at data cutoff (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.48 to 1.65). A final survival analysis will take place when 50% of the patients have died. Common adverse events (any grade) occurred more frequently with vandetanib compared with placebo, including diarrhea (56% v 26%), rash (45% v 11%), nausea (33% v 16%), hypertension (32% v 5%), and headache (26% v 9%). CONCLUSION Vandetanib demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a phase III trial of patients with advanced MTC (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00410761).
A pediatric, practice-based, randomized trial of drinking and smoking prevention and bicycle helmet, gun, and seatbelt safety promotion.

OBJECTIVE To prevent early adolescent health risk behaviors and to maintain or improve safety behaviors, we compared the effects of 2 interventions, delivered through pediatric primary care practices. The interventions, based on an office systems' approach, sought to prevent early drinking and smoking or to influence bicycle helmet use, gun storage, and seatbelt safety for children who were followed from fifth/sixth grades through eighth/ninth grades. DESIGN Settings and Participants. Twelve pediatric practices in New England were paired according to practice size and assigned randomly within pairs to deliver the multicomponent interventions, which built on pediatric primary care clinicians performing as counselors and role models during health supervision visits and other office encounters. INTERVENTION One intervention arm focused on alcohol and tobacco use. The other intervention arm focused on gun safety, bicycle helmet, and seatbelt use. Office systems provided infrastructure that supported the clinician's role. Clinician messages encouraged family communication and rule setting about the issues of the middle school years. The intervention was initiated during a health supervision visit and continued for 36 months. Both child and parent received quarterly newsletters to reinforce the clinician messages. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were ever drinking alcohol, ever smoking, ever using smokeless tobacco, using a bicycle helmet in the previous year, using a seatbelt in the previous 30 days, and guns in the child's home in locked storage. RESULTS The pediatric practices recruited 85% (N = 3525) of the practices' fifth/sixth grade children and their responding parents. We obtained 36 months' follow-up data on 2183 child-parent pairs. Chart audit verified that the intervention was implemented. Additional data from interviews and surveys showed that parents, children, and pediatric clinicians found the intervention useful. Despite this, comparisons between the 2 study arms show no significant intervention effects in the prevention of alcohol and tobacco use or gun storage or seatbelt safety. There was a negative effect in the alcohol arm. Only bicycle helmet use showed a positive outcome. CONCLUSION With rigorous evaluation, 2 office interventions failed to produce desired outcomes. Coordinated multiple settings for prevention interventions are probably necessary.
Correlation of Immune Activation during Late Pregnancy and Early Postpartum with Increases in Plasma HIV RNA, CD4/CD8 T Cells, and Serum Activation Markers

ABSTRACT A previously observed rise in the plasma viral load postpartum in both treated and untreated HIV-positive women remains unexplained. Virological and immunological markers were evaluated in HIV-negative controls and HIV-positive pregnant women with and without antiretroviral treatment. Plasma HIV RNA, CD4/CD8 T cells, and serum activation markers were sequentially measured during the third trimester, at delivery, and 2 to 8 weeks postpartum in a cohort of HIV-positive pregnant women (n = 96) enrolled in a maternal-fetal HIV transmission study and a control group of HIV-negative pregnant women (n = 28). Mean plasma HIV RNA (P = 0.003) increased from delivery to postpartum, and mean CD4 T cells (P = 0.002) and serum β2-microglobulin (P < 0.0001) increased from the third trimester through postpartum among the HIV-positive women. Mean CD8 T cells increased from the third trimester through postpartum in women receiving zidovudine (ZDV) and in those not treated (P < 0.05) but remained stable in those on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the HIV-negative controls. Increases in serum β2-microglobulin were correlated with increases in HIV RNA (P = 0.01). HIV-positive pregnant women showed postpartum increases in plasma HIV RNA, CD4 T cells, and serum β2-microglobulin regardless of the treatment regimen. The rise in CD4 T cells and β2-microglobulin was also observed in HIV-negative pregnant women, suggesting hormonal changes and/or labor-induced cytokines may contribute to immune activation. Immune activation correlated with increased plasma HIV RNA in postpartum women despite treatment, although HAART appeared to blunt the effect. The observed rise in plasma HIV RNA postpartum, which correlated with markers of immune activation, may have implications for enhanced transmission to infants through early breast-feeding and to sexual partners.
The Human Microbiome: Getting Personal Eachofusharborsauniquemicrobiome,anditscharacteristicsplayanimportant roleindifferentiatingusfromoneanother

SUMMARY ➤ The human microbiome can be far more personalized, that is more different between individuals than within an individual, than the human genome. While the human genome is mostly stable over our lives, our microbiome changes on a daily basis. ➤ Features of the microbiome that differ across individuals include its taxonomic composition and structure, in other words, which taxa are present and at what abundances, and the rate at which the composition and structure change over time. ➤ Our personalized microbiomes reflect our lives. Some features are inherited, with incomplete penetrance, via our genomes; other features develop stochastically due to the timing of our exposure to particular organisms; and still others result from personal choices such as diet or environmental exposures.
Falls prevention over 2 years: a randomized controlled trial in women 80 years and older.

BACKGROUND after 1 year, a home-based programme of strength and balance retraining exercises was effective in reducing falls and injuries in women aged 80 years and older. The exercise programme had been individually prescribed by a physiotherapist during the first 2 months of a randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE we aimed to assess the effectiveness of the programme over 2 years. SUBJECTS women from both the control group and the exercise group completing a 1-year trial (213 out of the original 233) were invited to continue for a further year. METHODS falls and compliance to the exercise programme were monitored for 2 years. RESULTS 81 (74%) in the control group and 71 (69%) in the exercise group agreed to continue in the study. After 2 years, the rate of falls remained significantly lower in the exercise group than in the control group. The relative hazard for all falls for the exercise group was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.49-0.97). The relative hazard for a fall resulting in a moderate or severe injury was 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.42-0.95). Those complying with the exercise programme at 2 years had a higher level of physical activity at baseline, were more likely to have reported falling in the year before the study and had remained more confident in the first year about not falling compared with the rest of the exercise group. CONCLUSIONS falls and injuries can be reduced by an individually tailored exercise programme in the home. For those who keep exercising, the benefit continues over a 2-year period.
Mutans Streptococci Dose Response to Xylitol Chewing Gum

Xylitol is promoted in caries-preventive strategies, yet its effective dose range is unclear. This study determined the dose-response of mutans streptococci in plaque and unstimulated saliva to xylitol gum. Participants (n = 132) were randomized: controls (G1) (sorbitol/maltitol), or combinations giving xylitol 3.44 g/day (G2), 6.88 g/day (G3), or 10.32 g/day (G4). Groups chewed 3 pellets/4 times/d. Samples were taken at baseline, 5 wks, and 6 mos, and were cultured on modified Mitis Salivarius agar for mutans streptococci and on blood agar for total culturable flora. At 5 wks, mutans streptococci levels in plaque were 10x lower than baseline in G3 and G4 (P = 0.007/0.003). There were no differences in saliva. At 6 mos, mutans streptococci in plaque for G3 and G4 remained 10x lower than baseline (P = 0.007/0.04). Saliva for G3 and G4 was lower than baseline by 8 to 9x (P = 0.011/0.038). Xylitol at 6.44 g/day and 10.32 g/day reduces mutans streptococci in plaque at 5 wks, and in plaque and unstimulated saliva at 6 mos. A plateau effect is suggested between 6.44 g and 10.32 g xylitol/day.
Efficient encoding for dual-diagonal structured LDPC codes based on parity bit prediction and correction

In this paper, an efficient encoding scheme for dual-diagonal structured LDPC codes is proposed. Our encoding algorithm employs parity bit prediction and correction to break up the data dependency within the encoding process. The encoder can achieve higher level of parallelism and better hardware utilization. The number of required clock cycles for encoding one codeword can be reduced to achieve higher throughput performance. The proposed scheme can be directly applied to IEEE 802.11n and 802.16e dual-diagonal codes without any matrix modification. A low-complexity encoder architecture is proposed and implemented to verify these characteristics. Results show that the proposed architecture outperforms conventional works in terms of throughput and throughput/area ratio.
Extracellular Lipid Droplets in Idiosepius notoides, the Southern Pygmy Squid

Cephalopod metabolism typically involves carbohydrates and proteins, so that the lipid content of the mantle and all internal organs except the digestive gland is very low. Despite clear evidence of nonlipoid metabolic trends in cephalopods, we observed extracellular spheres, or droplets, in the cecum and digestive gland of newly collected juvenile, male, and female individuals of Idiosepius notoides, the southern pygmy squid. Prior to staining, the droplets were various shades of yellow and were often large enough to detect at 7× magnification. The droplets were less dense than water, hydrophobic, and sudanophilic, staining positively with Sudan III, Sudan IV, and Sudan Black B. We conclude that these spheres are lipid and that they derive from the squid’s normal field diet. When newly collected squid were starved in the laboratory, the droplets disappeared in 7–8 d and then reappeared in the cecum about 3 h after feeding.
Induction of platelet refractoriness after myeloablative unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant from HLA‐sensitized female donor

enterocolitis: a meta-analysis of observational data. Pediatrics 2012;129:529-40. 3. American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Hyperbilirubinemia. Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation. Pediatrics 2004;114:297-316. 4. van Imhoff DE, Dijk PH, Hulzebos CV; BARTrial study group, Netherlands Neonatal Research Network. Uniform treatment thresholds for hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants: background and synopsis of a national guideline. Early Hum Dev 2011;87:521-5.
Metaphase protein phosphorylation in Xenopus laevis eggs

Cytoplasmic extracts of metaphase (M-phase)-arrested Xenopus laevis eggs support nuclear envelope breakdown and chromosome condensation in vitro. Induction of nuclear breakdown is inhibited by AMPP(NH)P, a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, but not by ATP or gamma-S-ATP, a hydrolyzable ATP analog, suggesting that protein phosphorylation may be required for M-phase nuclear events in vitro. By addition of [gamma-32P]ATP, we have identified in cytoplasmic extracts and in intact eggs at least six phosphoproteins that are present during M-phase but absent in G1/S-phase. These phosphoproteins also appear in response to partially purified preparations of maturation-promoting factor. A subset of these proteins are thiophosphorylated by gamma-S-ATP under conditions that promote nuclear envelope breakdown and chromosome condensation. Each of these proteins is phosphorylated on serine and threonine, and one, a 42-kilodalton protein, is also phosphorylated on tyrosine both in extracts and in intact eggs. These results indicate that activation of protein kinases accounts for at least part of the increased phosphorylation in M-phase and that both protein-serine-threonine kinases and protein-tyrosine kinases may play a role in controlling M-phase nuclear behavior.
Positioning and scene analysis from visual motion cues within water column

Over the last dozen or more years, many applications of vision-based positioning and navigation near the sea bottom and surface have been explored. Mid-water operations have primarily relied on traditional positioning systems, namely INS, DVL, gyros, etc. This paper investigates the application of a vision system for mid-water operations by exploiting stationary features within the water column. The unique nature of these environment - namely, the abundance of randomly distributed targets over a wide field of view and range of depth - are ideal for the application of well-known motion vision methods for 3-D motion estimation and scene analysis. We demonstrate through experiments with water tank and ocean data how various visual motion cues may be used for passive navigation, environmental assessment and target/habitat classification based on visual motion behavior.
Persistent ascites and low serum sodium identify patients with cirrhosis and low MELD scores who are at high risk for early death

Despite the adoption of “sickest first” liver transplantation, pretransplant death remains common, and many early deaths occur despite initially low Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. From 1997–2003, we studied 507 cirrhotic United States veterans referred for consideration of liver transplantation to identify additional predictors of early mortality. Most of the patients were male (98%) with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C and/or alcohol (88%). Data for 296 patients referred prior to February 27, 2002 (training group), were analyzed; findings were validated in 211 patients referred subsequently (validation group). In the training group, 61 patients (21%) died within 180 days without transplantation; their median initial MELD score was 21. MELD score, persistent ascites, and low serum sodium (<135 meq/L) were independent predictors of early mortality. In patients with a MELD score of less than 21, only low serum sodium and persistent ascites were independent predictors of mortality; for MELD scores above 21, only MELD was independently predictive. Prognostic significance of persistent ascites and low serum sodium for low MELD score patients was confirmed in the validation group. Risk varied continuously with worsening hyponatremia. Modifying MELD, by including points for persistent ascites and low serum sodium, improved prediction of early pretransplant mortality in low MELD score patients. In conclusion, persistent ascites and low serum sodium identify patients with cirrhosis with high mortality risk despite low MELD scores. Ascites, hyponatremia, and other findings indicative of hemodynamic decompensation merit further prospective study as prognostic indicators in patients awaiting liver transplantation, and should be considered in setting minimal listing criteria. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGYwebsite (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270‐9139/suppmat/index.html). (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:802–810.)
VLSI Analog Circuit Fault Diagnostic Correlation Coefficient Analytical Method

In the paper, an approach based on digital signal processing for VLSI analog circuit fault diagnosis is presented. We firstly filtered the test response by cosine modulation filter banks, then computed energy and correlation of all the sub-band filtering sequence to distill digital character of analog response. The experiment based on international benchmark circuit showed that computing correlation of sub-band filtering sequence suited to diagnose hard fault and soft fault.
Mitotic silencing of human rRNA synthesis: inactivation of the promoter selectivity factor SL1 by cdc2/cyclin B‐mediated phosphorylation

We have used a reconstituted cell‐free transcription system to investigate the molecular basis of mitotic repression of RNA polymerase I (pol I) transcription. We demonstrate that SL1, the TBP‐containing promoter‐binding factor, is inactivated by cdc2/cyclin B‐directed phosphorylation, and reactivated by dephosphorylation. Transcriptional inactivation in vitro is accompanied by phosphorylation of two subunits, e.g. TBP and hTAFI110. To distinguish whether transcriptional repression is due to phosphorylation of TBP, hTAFI110 or both, SL1 was purified from two HeLa cell lines that express either full‐length or the core domain of TBP only. Both TBP‐TAFI complexes exhibit similar activity and both are repressed at mitosis, indicating that the variable N‐terminal domain which contains multiple target sites for cdc2/cyclin B phosphorylation is dispensable for mitotic repression. Protein–protein interaction studies reveal that mitotic phosphorylation impairs the interaction of SL1 with UBF. The results suggest that phosphorylation of SL1 is used as a molecular switch to prevent pre‐initiation complex formation and to shut down rDNA transcription at mitosis.