Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a campus culture of environmental sustainability: Recommendations for a large university

Purpose – The authors led an interdisciplinary team that developed recommendations for building a “culture of environmental sustainability” at the University of Michigan (UM), and the purpose of this paper is to provide guidance on how other institutions might promote pro‐environmental behaviors on their campuses.Design/methodology/approach – The authors synthesize research on fostering environmental behavior, analyze how current campus sustainability efforts align with that research, and describe how they developed research‐based recommendations to increase environmental sustainability on the UM campus.Findings – Analyses of prior research suggest that there are five factors that influence individuals' pro‐environment behaviors: knowledge of issues; knowledge of procedures; social incentives; material incentives; and prompts/reminders. Given these factors, UM should pursue three types of activities to support the development of pro‐environment behaviors: education, engagement, and assessment.Practical im.
A [beta]-Amylase in Potato Tubers Is Induced by Storage at Low Temperature

A new starch-degrading enzyme activity is induced by storage of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers at low temperatures (L. Hill, R. Reimholz, R. Schroder, T.H. Nielsen, M. Stitt [1996] Plant Cell Environ 14: 1223–1237). The cold-induced activity was separated from other amylolytic activities in zymograms based on iodine staining of polyacrylamide gels containing amylopectin. A similar band of activity was detected at normal growth temperatures in leaves, stems, and growing tubers but was present only at low activity in warm-stored tubers. The cold-induced enzyme was separated by ion-exchange chromatography from other amylolytic activities. It has a broad neutral pH optimum. Characterization of its hydrolytic activity with different substrates showed that the cold-induced activity is a [beta]-amylase present at low activity in tubers stored at 20[deg]C and induced progressively when temperatures are decreased to 5 and 3[deg]C. The first clear induction of [beta]-amylase activity was observed within 3 d of storage at 3[deg]C, and the activity increased 4- to 5-fold within 10 d. The possible involvement of the cold-induced [beta]-amylase in sugar accumulation during cold storage is discussed.
A Study on the Accumulation of Proline- An Osmoprotectant Amino Acid under Salt Stress in Some Native Rice Cultivars of North Kerala, India

Salinity is a major yield reducing factor in coastal as well as arid irrigated rice production systems. Salt induced abiotic stress is an acute problem, interrupting the metabolic processes of plants, resulting in reduced growth and productivity. Proline is an amino acid which increases in plants under abiotic stress. Salinity stress affects the metabolism of plants leading to severe crop damage and loss of productivity. Oxidative stress is one consequence of salinity that may be responsible for much of the damage. We inspected the immediate accumulation of proline in salinity induced stress in seven native rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. Among the seven, five namely Orthadian, Chovvarian, Kuttusan, Kuthiru and Orkazhama were collected from a saline rice tract of the region and two namely Kunhutty and Veliyan from a non-saline rice tract of the region. The plants were subjected to different levels of salt stress ranging from 0 to 200 mM of NaCl and the concentration of proline in the leaf samples was inspected. Results showed that proline concentration increased in all the cultivars studied in relation to increase in salt stress and it was progressive along with increase in stress. This property was shown by all the cultivars irrespective of the fact whether they evolved in a saline habitat or a non-saline habitat. However, proline accumulation was higher in the cultivars collected from the saline tract when compared to the cultivars collected from the non-saline tract.
A study of the relationships among self-concept, reading attitude and reading comprehension in second grade readers

This study investigated the relationships among the affective variables of self-concept and reading attitude, and reading achievement in grade two children. Whether gender had any significant effect on these variables was also considered. Strong relationships among these variables would suggest the need for primary teachers to consider the affective needs of their students in their reading programs in order to promote maximum reading achievement. -- Scores obtained from 30 randomly chosen grade two boys and 30 randomly chosen grade two girls on tests measuring self-concept, reading attitude and reading comprehension were correlated. As well, T- tests were performed to compute the influence of gender on self-concept, reading attitude and reading achievement. -- Significant relationships were found between parent relations' self-concept, reading self-concept, general school self-concept, total academic self-concept, and total self concept and reading attitudes, but not for peer relations' self-concept and total nonacademic self-concept and reading attitudes. Only the academic self-concepts (reading self-concept and total academic self-concept) were significantly related to reading comprehension. Reading attitude, however, was not significantly related to reading comprehension. Gender was found to have a significant influence only on reading self-concept and reading attitudes, with the boys having less positive ratings in these areas. -- The results of this study confirm the relationship between academic self-concepts and reading attitudes and imply the need for teachers to design their programs so that these affective behaviours are enhanced. Children with positive perceptions of a subject will be more motivated and put more effort into that subject, possibly leading to improved performance. -- A relationship between reading self-concept and reading comprehension was shown to exist. Although this study did not determine causality between the two, the implication is there to consider the children's self-concepts in the reading program. If children's self-concepts can be enhanced while they are being taught to read, perhaps higher achievement would result. Remedial teachers should also consider remediating self-concepts while remediating reading skills. -- The boys in this study were found to have less positive reading self-concepts and less favourable reading attitudes than the girls. This implies the need for teachers to pay particular attention to the boys in the classroom when designing activities that promote self-concept and attitude enhancement. Teachers should consider what they can do so that the boys find reading a more interesting and rewarding experience. -- In sum, this study supports the importance of affective behaviours in scholastic performance. It suggests that considering the affective needs of children in reading instruction may promote and sustain reading achievement.
Determination of the gram type using the reaction between polymyxin B and lipopolysaccharides of the outer cell wall of whole bacteria.

SUMMARY: The polymyxin B-dependent formation of protrusions (blebs) of lipopolysaccharides on the cell wall of whole bacteria is suggested as a specific reaction for the determination of the Gram type of newly isolated bacteria. A total of 35 different bacterial species from 27 genera were studied as well as the influence of various test parameters. The reaction was specific: all 13 species of the positive Gram type gave a negative reaction, but all bacteria of the negative Gram type gave a distinct positive reaction.
Magnitude of the Benefit of Progression-Free Survival as a Potential Surrogate Marker in Phase 3 Trials Assessing Targeted Agents in Molecularly Selected Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review

Background In evaluation of the clinical benefit of a new targeted agent in a phase 3 trial enrolling molecularly selected patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), overall survival (OS) as an endpoint seems to be of limited use because of a high level of treatment crossover for ethical reasons. A more efficient and useful indicator for assessing efficacy is needed. Methods and Findings We identified 18 phase 3 trials in the literature investigating EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) or ALK-TKIs, now approved for use to treat NSCLC, compared with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy (eight trials were performed in molecularly selected patients and ten using an “all-comer” design). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to identify the best threshold by which to divide the groups. Although trials enrolling molecularly selected patients and all-comer trials had similar OS-hazard ratios (OS-HRs) (0.99 vs. 1.04), the former exhibited greater progression-free survival-hazard ratios (PFS-HR) (mean, 0.40 vs. 1.01; P<0.01). A PFS-HR of 0.60 successfully distinguished between the two types of trials (sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%). The odds ratio for overall response was higher in trials with molecularly selected patients than in all-comer trials (mean: 6.10 vs. 1.64; P<0.01). An odds ratio of 3.40 for response afforded a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 90%. Conclusion The notably enhanced PFS benefit was quite specific to trials with molecularly selected patients. A PFS-HR cutoff of ∼0.6 may help detect clinical benefit of molecular targeted agents in which OS is of limited use, although desired threshold might differ in an individual trial.
Component value selection for analog active filter using particle swarm optimization

In this work, a PSO based component value selection method is proposed for analog active filter. PSO is an efficient intelligent evolutionary algorithm for solving optimization problems. The aim of this work is to minimize the total design error of a 4th order Butterworth low pass active filter that would be realized with component values which are compatible with E12 series. PSO provides a maximally flat response in the pass band and achieves smaller design error compared with previous methods.
The obesity prevalence among students between the ages of 5 and 19 in Kutahya.

AIM To determine the prevalence of obesity among students between the ages of 5 and 19 in Kutahya, and to determine the factors associated with obesity prevalence. MATERIALS AND METHODS The population in the survey was formed of students between the ages of 5 and 19 in the schools of Kutahya. Within the scope of this survey, obesity was evaluated in accordance with the percentile values indicated in a study on the body weight and height, head circumference, and body mass index reference values of Turkish children that was published in 2008. RESULTS It was determined that 6.5% of the students were obese, 7.8% of them were overweight, and 7.8% of them were underweight. When the variables of age, sex, and school district were controlled, it was seen that obesity prevalence among students studying at private schools was 2.03 times higher than among students studying at public schools (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION It is seen that, in the efforts to reduce childhood obesity, private schools should be considered as a risk factor and the obesity prevalence at private schools should be analyzed in further studies.
Nurse job satisfaction and retention: comparing public to private hospitals in Jordan.

AIMS To identify variables of Jordanian nurses' job satisfaction and retention. Comparisons were performed between three public and two private hospitals. BACKGROUND There has been little research on nurse job satisfaction and retention in Jordan. Interest in nurse retention is renewed with each cycle of nursing shortage. METHODS A descriptive design using surveys guided this study through convenience sample of 438 nurses. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS Nurses reported that they were "moderately satisfied" in their jobs with "neutral" opinion about their retention. Nurses who work in private hospitals were more satisfied and intended to retain their jobs more than nurses in public hospitals. CONCLUSION Nurse job satisfaction and retention are related concepts; nurses who are satisfied in their jobs are likely to retain these jobs.
Santa Stories: Children's Inquiry about Race during Picturebook Read-Alouds

The children in Joy Bowman 's first-grade classroom are reading Martin's Big Words (Rappaport, 2001 ); throughout the read-aloud, they have used conversations to make sense of the themes of the story and the realities of their lives, wondering, "Would a bus driver be arrested for sitting and driving a bus if the driver were Black? " and "If it hadn 't been for Martin Luther King, you wouldn 't be our teacher. " When children approach the page where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated, they begin to ponder the segregation of Heaven and Hell. Thomas (a biracial first-grader) muses, "Like, it's like the Black people was down there (pointing down, referencing Hell) and the White people was up there (referencing Heaven). That wouldn't be fair. " Other children participate in the conversation and implore Joy to give them guidance. (Fieldnotes, December 2003)
Cooperation and prosocial behaviour

List of contributors Foreword Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Introduction R. A. Hinde and J. Groebel Part I. Cooperation In Animals and Man: Editorial 1. Help, cooperation and trust in animals A. H. Harcourt 2. Culture and cooperation R. Boyd and P. J. Richerson Part II. The Development of Prosocial Propensities: Editorial 3. The development and socialization of prosocial behaviour P. A. Miller, J. Bernzweig, N. Eisenberg and R. A. Fabies 4. Cross-cultural differences in assertiveness/competition vs. group loyalty/cooperation H. C. Triandis 5. The development of prosocial behaviour in large-scale collective societies: China and Japan H. W. Stevenson 6. The learning of prosocial behaviour in small-scale egalitarian societies: an anthropological view E. Goody Part III. Situational and Personality Determinants of Prosocial Behaviour: Editorial 7. Situational and personality determinants of the quantity and quality of helping J. Fultz and R. B. Cialdini 8. Perceiving the causes of altruism W. C. Swap 9. Altruism J. Heal 10. Complications and complexity in the pursuit of justice S. D. Clayton and M. J. Lerner Part IV. Trust, Commitment and Cooperation: Editorial 11. The dynamics of interpersonal trust: resolving uncertainty in the face of risk S. D. Boon and J. G. Holmes 12. Commitment old and new: social pressure and individual choice in making relationships last M. Lund 13. Cooperation in a microcosm: lessons from laboratory games D. A. Good 14. Determinants of instrumental intra-group cooperation J. M. Rabbie Part V. Cooperation Between Groups: Editorial 15. Changing assumptions about conflict and negotiation J. Z. Rubin 16. Cooperation between groups H. Feger 17. The role of UNESCO in the development of international cooperation F. Mayor 18. US-Soviet cooperation against terrorism: common ground I. Beliaev and J. Marks 19. US policy towards the Soviet Union from Carter to Bush E. -O. Czempiel Name index Subject index.
Influence of Affective Changes on Behavioral and Cognitive Performances After Acute Bout of Exhaustive Exercise

The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of acute, exhaustive, exercise on affective responses (affective valence and activation) and behavioral and cognitive performances in medical students using circumplex model, reaction time (RT), and P300, respectively. Twelve healthy, untrained, male medical students participated in self-controlled, counterbalanced trial conducted over two sessions: baseline and exercise. In the baseline session, recordings of auditory reaction time (ART), visual RT (VRT), and P300 latency and amplitude (using acoustic “oddball” paradigm) were taken at the end of 15 min seated rest. Exercise session comprised of continuous maximal graded incremental exercise until volitional exhaustion, on a computer-based motorized treadmill and recordings done after heart rate returned to within +10% of pre-exercise values. Perceived exertion, affective valence, and activation were assessed pre-exercise, during (30 s before the end of each stage), and post-exercise (immediately, .
Structural Requirements for the Procoagulant Activity of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids, especially extracellular RNA, are exposed following tissue- or vessel damage and have previously been shown to activate the intrinsic blood coagulation pathway in vitro and in vivo. Yet, no information on structural requirements for the procoagulant activity of nucleic acids is available. A comparison of linear and hairpin-forming RNA- and DNA-oligomers revealed that all tested oligomers forming a stable hairpin structure were protected from degradation in human plasma. In contrast to linear nucleic acids, hairpin forming compounds demonstrated highest procoagulant activities based on the analysis of clotting time in human plasma and in a prekallikrein activation assay. Moreover, the procoagulant activities of the DNA-oligomers correlated well with their binding affinity to high molecular weight kininogen, whereas the binding affinity of all tested oligomers to prekallikrein was low. Furthermore, four DNA-aptamers directed against thrombin, activated protein C, vascular endothelial growth factor and nucleolin as well as the naturally occurring small nucleolar RNA U6snRNA were identified as effective cofactors for prekallikrein auto-activation. Together, we conclude that hairpin-forming nucleic acids are most effective in promoting procoagulant activities, largely mediated by their specific binding to kininogen. Thus, in vivo application of therapeutic nucleic acids like aptamers might have undesired prothrombotic or proinflammatory side effects.
Emergence Delirium in Children: Many Questions, Few Answers

The introduction of a new generation of inhaled anesthetics into pediatric clinical practice has been associated with a greater incidence of ED, a short-lived, but troublesome clinical phenomenon of uncertain etiology. A variety of anesthesia-, surgery-, patient-, and adjunct medication-related factors have been suggested to play a potential role in the development of such an event. Restless behavior upon emergence causes not only discomfort to the child, but also makes the caregivers and parents feel unhappy with the quality of recovery from anesthesia. Although the severity of agitation varies, it often requires additional nursing care, as well as treatment with analgesics or sedatives, which may delay discharge from hospital. To reduce the incidence of this adverse event, it is advisable to identify children at risk and take preventive measures, such as reducing preoperative anxiety, removing postoperative pain, and providing a quiet, stress-free environment for postanesthesia recovery. More clinical trials are needed to elucidate the cause as well as provide effective treatment.
Algebraic Clustering of Affine Subspaces

Subspace clustering is an important problem in machine learning with many applications in computer vision and pattern recognition. Prior work has studied this problem using algebraic, iterative, statistical, low-rank and sparse representation techniques. While these methods have been applied to both linear and affine subspaces, theoretical results have only been established in the case of linear subspaces. For example, algebraic subspace clustering (ASC) is guaranteed to provide the correct clustering when the data points are in general position and the union of subspaces is transversal. In this paper we study in a rigorous fashion the properties of ASC in the case of affine subspaces. Using notions from algebraic geometry, we prove that the homogenization trick , which embeds points in a union of affine subspaces into points in a union of linear subspaces, preserves the general position of the points and the transversality of the union of subspaces in the embedded space, thus establishing the correctness of ASC for affine subspaces.
Do We Need Paradigms? A Mixed Methods Perspective

31When the editors of this journal asked me to provide my evaluation of the concept of “paradigms” and provide a commentary on Joseph Maxwell’s article on the subject, I responded positively because I believe that too often im-portant ideas are not clarified, discussed, and debated in the literature. Below, I first define some relevant terms that I have been writing about. Second, I provide some thoughts on the concept of paradigms. Third, I comment on some key themes in Maxwell’s article on paradigms in this issue.
Complete Alanine Scanning of Intersubunit Interfaces in a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Capsid Reveals Critical Contributions of Many Side Chains to Particle Stability and Viral Function*

Spherical virus capsids are large, multimeric protein shells whose assembly and stability depend on the establishment of multiple non-covalent interactions between many polypeptide subunits. In a foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid, 42 amino acid side chains per protomer are involved in noncovalent interactions between pentameric subunits that function as assembly/disassembly intermediates. We have individually truncated to alanine these 42 side chains and assessed their relevance for completion of the virus life cycle and capsid stability. Most mutations provoked a drastic reduction in virus yields. Nearly all of these critical mutations led to virions whose thermal inactivation rates differed from that of the parent virus, and many affected also early steps in the viral cycle. Rapid selection of genotypic revertants or variants with forward or compensatory mutations that restored viability was occasionally detected. The results with this model virus indicate the following. (i) Most of the residues at the interfaces between capsid subunits are critically important for viral function, in part but not exclusively because of their involvement in intersubunit recognition. Each hydrogen bond and salt bridge buried at the subunit interfaces may be important for capsid stability. (ii) New mutations able to restore viability may arise frequently at the subunit interfaces during virus evolution. (iii) A few interfacial side chains are functionally tolerant to truncation and may provide adequate mutation sites for the engineering of a thermostable capsid, potentially useful as an improved vaccine.
Is East-Central Europe Backsliding? Economic Woes and Political Disaffection

Abstract:What explains the recent rise of radical voices—riots, mass demonstrations, the radicalization of centrist parties, and the popularity of illiberal extremist forces—in many East European EU-member states? Under the pressure of compliance with the Maastricht convergence criteria governments implement painful welfare state reforms. Pro-reform elite and middle class groups mobilize around radical neoliberal agendas, while their radical illiberal opponents respond with nationalist, ethnic, xenophobic, and anticommunist fundamentalist programs. In contrast, large groups of citizens have become dissatisfied with democracy and have chosen to refrain from participation in newly established democratic institutions.