Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Correlates of Circadian Clocks in Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Populations Exhibiting early and late Emergence Chronotypes

Although association of circadian clock properties with the timing of rhythmic behaviors (chronotype) has been extensively documented over several decades, recent studies on mice and Drosophila have failed to observe such associations. In addition, studies on human populations that examined effects of clock gene mutations/polymorphisms on chronotypes have revealed disparate and often contradictory results, thereby highlighting the need for a suitable model organism to study circadian clocks’ role in chronotype regulation, the lack of which has hindered exploration of the underlying molecular-genetic bases. We used a laboratory selection approach to raise populations of Drosophila melanogaster that emerge in the morning (early) or in the evening (late), and over 14 years of continued selection, we report clear divergence of their circadian phenotypes. We also assessed the molecular correlates of early and late emergence chronotypes and report significant divergence in transcriptional regulation, including the mean phase, amplitude and levels of period (per), timeless (tim), clock (clk) and vrille (vri) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Corroborating some of the previously reported light-sensitivity and oscillator network coupling differences between the early and the late populations, we also report differences in mRNA expression of the circadian photoreceptor cryptochrome (cry) and in the mean phase, amplitude and levels of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF). These results provide the first-ever direct evidence for divergent evolution of molecular circadian clocks in response to selection imposed on an overt rhythmic behavior and highlight early and late populations as potential models for chronotype studies by providing a preliminary groundwork for further exploration of molecular-genetic correlates underlying circadian clock-chronotype association.
Transformational learning experiences of female UAE college students

Purpose – To begin understanding how best to develop and train Emirati women so they can become more influential in business, government, and the community, research was conducted that explores the backgrounds and experiences of these women in learning environments. The purpose of this paper is to explore how college students are transformed through their learning experiences, and this paper reports on two categories: backgrounds (i.e. confidence, learning environment, lack of previous opportunities, and family support) and personal and professional development (i.e. confidence, personal responsibility for learning, and skills and competency development). Design/methodology/approach – In‐depth qualitative interviews (using the phenomenological methodology) were conducted with Emirati students at a women's college in Abu Dhabi.Findings – This paper presents findings related to four of the ten stages in Mezirow's perspective transformation process: disorienting dilemma, critical assessment of assumptions, ac.
‘To educate you to be smart’: disaffected students and the purpose of school in the (not so clever) ‘lucky country’

This paper contributes to conversations about school, post-compulsory and further education policy by reporting findings from a three-year study with disaffected students who have been referred to special ‘behaviour’ schools. Contrary to popular opinion, our research finds that these ‘ignorant yobs’ do value education and know what it is for. They also have aspirations for a secure, productive and fulfilled life, although it may not involve university-level study. Importantly, we found that students who responded negatively with regard to the importance of schooling tended to envision future lives and occupations for which they believed school knowledge was unnecessary. The implications of this research for school, post-compulsory and further education policy are discussed.
Transition in cardiac contractile sensitivity to calcium during the in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell types including spontaneously contracting cardiac myocytes. We have utilized the ES cell differentiation culture system to study the development of the cardiac contractile apparatus in vitro. Difficulties associated with the cellular and developmental heterogeneity of this system have been overcome by establishing attached cultures of differentiating ES cells, and by the micro-dissection of the contracting cardiac myocytes from culture. The time of onset and duration of continuous contractile activity of the individual contracting myocytes was determined by daily visual inspection of the cultures. A functional assay was used to directly measure force production in ES cell-derived cardiac myocyte preparations. The forces produced during spontaneous contractions in the membrane intact preparation, and during activation by Ca2+ subsequent to chemical permeabilization of the surface membranes were determined in the same preparation. Results showed a transition in contractile sensitivity to Ca2+ in ES cell-derived cardiac myocytes during development in vitro. Cardiac preparations isolated from culture following the initiation of spontaneous contractile activity showed marked sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to activation by Ca2+. However, the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development was significantly decreased in preparations isolated from culture following prolonged continuous contractile activity in vitro. The alteration in Ca2+ sensitivity obtained in vitro paralleled that observed during murine cardiac myocyte development in vivo. This provides functional evidence that ES cell-derived cardiac myocytes recapitulate cardiogenesis in vitro. Alterations in Ca2+ sensitivity could be important in optimizing the cardiac contractile response to variations in the myoplasmic Ca2+ transient during embryogenesis. The potential to stably transfect ES cells with cardiac regulatory genes, together with the availability of a functional assay using control and genetically modified ES cell- derived cardiac myocytes, will permit determination of the functional significance of altered cardiac gene expression during cardiogenesis in vitro.
Low-frequency ac-dc voltage transfer standards with new high sensitivity and low power coefficient thin-film Multijunction Thermal Converters

New Planar Multijunction Thermal Converters (PMJTC) with low power coefficient and high dynamic range using CuNi44/BiSbTe-thermocouples were developed. Together with carefully evaluated range resistors for voltages up to 1000 V they resulted in ac-dc transfer standards with negligible ac-dc voltage transfer difference at low frequencies. The measuring system was improved with a new highly stable low frequency voltage source.
Source effects in the micro-mobilization of collective action via social media

Research has shown that micro-mobilization efforts that invoke social media rely heavily on the influence of personal networks to motivate collective action participation. This study examines whether this trend applies (a) to networks of different levels of personalness, (b) to causes and organizations which people are either unaware of or not affiliated with, and (c) how personal networks affect people's willingness to participate in online versus offline forms of collective action, when personal dispositional factors (activism- and issue involvement, perceived self-, technological-, and group efficacies) are considered. An experiment (N = 315) tested whether calls-to-action by different sources via social media (close personal networks v. distant social networks v. organization officials) influence individuals’ willingness to publicly express support online through social media-based collective activities (e.g. commenting, hyperlinking, ‘Liking’, etc.) and offline activities (e.g. demonstrations, donning campaign materials, etc.). Findings are leveraged to provide practical insight and to inform theoretical development in these domains.
Factors predicting functional outcomes of cochlear implants in children

Abstract This article reports the relationships between a large number of child- and family-related factors and children's functional outcomes, according to parental report, in the domains of spoken language communication, social skills and participation, academic achievement, and independence and identity, through a series of stepwise regression analyses. Parents of 247 children who had received cochlear implants in three eastern states of Australia completed a survey on their expectations and experiences of their children's outcomes with cochlear implants. A number of the independent variables were found to be associated, either positively or negatively, with children's outcomes. Implications for cochlear implant professionals, early intervention programmes, and educational authorities are discussed.
Retinyl Ester Hydrolysis and Retinol Efflux from BFC-1β Adipocytes*

Adipose tissue is an important storage depot for retinol, but there are no data regarding retinol mobilization from adipose stores. To address this, dibutyryl cAMP was provided to murine BFC-1β adipocytes and its effects on retinol efflux assessed. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of retinol and retinyl esters in adipocytes and media indicated that cAMP stimulated, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, retinol accumulation in the culture media and decreased cellular retinyl ester concentrations. Study of adipocyte retinol-binding protein synthesis and secretion indicated that cAMP-stimulated retinol efflux into the media did not result from increased retinol-retinol-binding protein secretion but was dependent on the presence of fetal bovine serum in the culture media. Since our data suggested that retinyl esters can be hydrolyzed by a cAMP-dependent enzyme like hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), in separate studies, we purified a HSL-containing fraction from BFC-1β adipocytes and demonstrated that it catalyzed retinyl palmitate hydrolysis. Homogenates of Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing HSL catalyzed retinyl palmitate hydrolysis in a time-, protein-, and substrate-dependent manner, with an apparentK m for retinyl palmitate of 161 μm, whereas homogenates from control Chinese hamster ovary cells did not.
Students' questions and discursive interaction: Their impact on argumentation during collaborative group discussions in science

This study investigated the potential of students' written and oral questions both as an epistemic probe and heuristic for initiating collaborative argumentation in science. Four classes of students, aged 12–14 years from two countries, were asked to discuss which of two graphs best represented the change in temperature as ice was heated to steam. The discussion was initiated by asking questions about the phenomenon. Working in groups (with members who had differing viewpoints) and guided by a set of question prompts, an argument sheet, and an argument diagram, students discussed contrasting arguments. One group of students from each class was audiotaped. The number of questions written, the concepts addressed, and the quality of written arguments were then scored. A positive correlation between these factors was found. Discourse analysis showed that the initial focus on questions prompted students to articulate their puzzlement; make explicit their claims and (mis)conceptions; identify and relate relevant key concepts; construct explanations; and consider alternative propositions when their ideas were challenged. Productive argumentation was characterized by students' questions which focused on key ideas of inquiry, a variety of scientific concepts, and which made explicit reference to the structural components of an argument. These findings suggest that supporting students in productive discourse is aided by scaffolding student questioning, teaching the criteria for a good argument, and providing a structure that helps them to organize and verbalize their arguments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47:883–908, 2010
Comparison of palatal and alveolar cysts of the newborn in premature and full-term infants.

PURPOSE The frequency of cysts has been reported to be high in newborns, but they are rarely seen after three months of age. There has been a lack of studies describing the clinical prevalence in the premature infant after 22 weeks and less than 37 weeks gestation. The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe the clinical prevalence of palatal and alveolar cysts in premature infants as compared to full term infants. METHODS Sixty premature infants, born at less than 37 weeks gestation, and 60 term infants, born greater than 37 weeks gestation, were examined in the first few days after birth for the presence of palatal and alveolar cysts. Alveolar cysts were further classified according to location as either maxillary or mandibular, and anterior or posterior. Information regarding birth weight, race, sex, and maternal health during pregnancy was also collected. RESULTS The prevalence of palatal cysts in the premature infant (9%) is less than the prevalence in term infants (30%), to a statistically significant level (P < 0.004, by the Fisher's exact test). Differences between preterm and term infants were also noted in the prevalence of maxillary anterior alveolar cysts, (preterm having 27% and term 58%, P < 0.0005) and maxillary posterior alveolar cysts (preterm 2% and term 10%, P < 0.06). The prevalence of palatal and maxillary alveolar cysts was demonstrated to increase with increasing gestational age, increasing postnatal age, and increasing birth weight (by plots of cumulative percent). No significant differences were found for gender or for race. CONCLUSION The prevalence of palatal and alveolar cysts in the premature infant is less than the prevalence in the full term infant to a statistically significant level. Palatal and maxillary alveolar cysts increase with increasing gestational age, post-natal age, and birth weight.
Association of eNOS Gene Polymorphisms G894T and T-786C with Risk of Hepatorenal Syndrome

Background. There are no studies investigating the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Aim. The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether eNOS gene polymorphisms (G894T and T-786C) play a role in the development of type-2 HRS. Methods. This study was carried out in a group of 92 patients with cirrhosis (44 patients with type-2 HRS and 48 without HRS) and 50 healthy controls. Polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and melting curve analysis. Results. We did not find any significant difference in allele and genotype distributions of the eNOS -T-786C polymorphism among the groups (p = 0.440). However, the frequency of GT (40.9%) and TT (13.6%) genotypes and mutant allele T (34.1%) for the eNOS G894T polymorphism were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, resp.) in the HRS group than in both the stable cirrhosis (14.6%, 4.2%, and 11.5%, resp.) and the control (22.0%, 2.0%, and 13.0%, resp.) groups. Conclusion. The occurrence of mutant genotypes (GT/TT) and mutant allele T in eNOS -G894T polymorphisms should be considered as a potential risk factor in cirrhotic patients with HRS.
Genetics of renal mechanisms of primary hypertension: the role of adducin

Purpose To summarize data concerning the identification of adducin as a ‘candidate’ gene in the Milan hypertensive strain of rats (MHS), a genetic model of essential hypertension, and in human essential hypertension. Results The sequence of events from renal function to cell membrane ion transports and finally to the molecular defect has been established in MHS rats. This led to the identification of polymorphisms in the cytoskeletal protein adducin. These polymorphisms are involved in blood pressure regulation in these rats. A linkage and an association study on Caucasian populations support the involvement of adducin in human hypertension also. A polymorphism of α-adducin gene is significantly associated with human hypertension. In particular, both in humans and in rats, adducin polymorphisms affect kidney function by modulating the overall capacity of tubular epithelial cells to transport ions. Conclusions Adducin polymorphisms account for only a portion of hypertension both in humans and rats. Therefore additive or epistatic interactions with other genes involved in renal sodium handling need to be studied.
Measuring trust in teams: Development and validation of a multifaceted measure of formative and reflective indicators of team trust

This article describes the development and validation of a multidimensional instrument designed to measure trust within teams. Trust is conceptualized as a latent variable resulting from distinct but related (formative) indicators, i.e., propensity to trust and perceived trustworthiness, which lead to (reflective) indicators, i.e., behaviours cooperation and monitoring between team members. The instrument was tested in two different samples. The first sample included 98 hospital professionals (14 teams) and provided data for the exploratory factor analysis of this instrument (Study 1). The second sample included responses from 112 teams (395 individuals) from three social-care institutions and was used to apply confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2). Data attesting to the underlying factor structure, internal homogeneity, construct validity, and consensual power of agreement within teams and discriminant power across teams of the instrument are presented. The final 21-item, four-factor version of this measure demonstrates good psychometric properties, with acceptable levels of reliability and validity. We conclude that the scales form a parsimonious, valid, and efficient instrument to assess trust in teams. Potential applications of this measure in research and practice are described and the implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
5 The Perception of Speech Under Adverse Conditions

Speech is the primary vehicle of human social interaction. In everyday life, speech communication occurs under an enormous range of different environmental conditions. The demands placed on the process of speech communication are great, but nonetheless it is generally successful. Powerful selection pressures have operated to maximize its effectiveness. The adaptability of speech is illustrated most clearly in its resistance to distortion. In transit from speaker to listener, speech signals are often altered by background noise and other interfering signals, such as reverberation, as well as by imperfections of the frequency or temporal response of the communication channel. Adaptations for robust speech transmission include adjustments in articulation to offset the deleterious effects of noise and interference (Lombard 1911; Lane and Tranel 1971); efficient acousticphonetic coupling, which allows evidence of linguistic units to be conveyed in parallel (Hockett 1955; Liberman et al. 1967; Greenberg 1996; see Diehl and Lindblom, Chapter 3); and specializations of auditory perception and selective attention (Darwin and Carlyon 1995). Speech is a highly efficient and robust medium for conveying information under adverse conditions because it combines strategic forms of redundancy to minimize the loss of information. Coker and Umeda (1974, p. 349) define redundancy as “any characteristic of the language that forces spoken messages to have, on average, more basic elements per message, or more cues per basic element, than the barest minimum [necessary for conveying the linguistic message]. ” This definition does not address the function of redundancy in speech communication, however. Coker and Umeda note that “redundancy can be used effectively; or it can be squandered on uneven repetition of certain data, leaving other crucial items very vulnerable to noise. But more likely, if a redundancy is a property of a language and has to be learned, then it has a purpose. ” Coker and Umeda conclude that the purpose of redundancy in speech communication is to provide a basis for error correction and resistance to noise.
Persistence of change: fume hood campaign lessons

Purpose – Sustainability initiatives typically operate for a limited time period, but it is often unclear whether they have lasting effects. The purpose of this paper is to examine a laboratory fume hood campaign, in order to identify factors that might contribute or detract from long‐term change persistence.Design/methodology/approach – The University of Toronto Sustainability Office ran a fume hood sash‐closing campaign in one building for a four‐month period. The campaign had two components: awareness‐raising, where the safety and energy benefits of sash‐closing were explained through posters, presentations, and a website; and a competition where participants received raffle tickets when their sashes were in compliance during unannounced inspections. Sash heights were recorded six and a half months before the campaign, throughout the campaign itself, and eight months after the campaign. Surveys and focus groups were used to assess participant attitudes and experiences.Findings – The campaign was effect.
The Revised 28-Item Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (R28REMS): Examining the Factorial Structure for Black, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian Young Adults

ABSTRACT Racial and ethnic discrimination has adverse effects on the health and mental health outcomes of people of color. Evidence indicates that modern discriminatory behavior is often a product of brief, commonplace, and often subtle acts that convey derogatory messages to people of color, known as racial and ethnic microaggressions. Accurately measuring microaggression is essential to understanding and preventing behaviors that are consistent with this complex construct. The current study examines evidence for the reliability and validity of the Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS). Data from a sample of 286 randomly selected Black, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian young adults (ages 18–35 years old) were used to examine the REMS. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the REMS across racial and ethnic groups. Findings support the reliability of the instrument but also suggest that a shorter 5-factor model offers a promising alternative to the original 6-factor instrument. Results also reveal differences between how members of different racial and ethnic groups conceptualize microaggression. Recommendations for using a revised version of the instrument (the Revised 28-Item REMS) and for future research aimed at optimally measuring microaggression are identified.
On the association between connectionism and data: Are a few words necessary?

Parallel distributed processing models represent a new and exciting approach to the study of visual word recognition in reading. Seidenberg and McClelland's (1989) model is examined because the strongest and widest claims for the viability of a connectionist account of visual word recognition have been made on the basis of their model.