Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Boffin: a stereotype of scientists in post-war British films (1945-1970)

The period between 1945 and 1970 was critical for the public reputation of British science. It was also a golden age for British cinema. Feature films of this period are used in this paper as a tool for investigating the public image of the scientist. Three main stereotypes are identified, but one of these, which I have called `the Boffin' forms the main focus of the paper. `Boffins' are scientists working with the government and/or armed forces in wartime. An analysis of the portrayal of Barnes Wallis in The Dam Busters provides the main characteristics of the stereotype, and fictional Boffins from other films are compared with this. The origins of the stereotype are traced to the actual situation of scientists in the British war effort, and to class and cultural divisions in post-war Britain. The persistence of the stereotype is also discussed. The implications of this analysis for our understanding of public attitudes to scientists during this period are considered.
Oleic acid is a potent inhibitor of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in C6 glioma cells Published, JLR Papers in Press, June 13, 2007.

Glial cells play a pivotal role in brain fatty acid metabolism and membrane biogenesis. However, the potential regulation of lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis by fatty acids in glial cells has been barely investigated. Here, we show that physiologically relevant concentrations of various saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly reduce [1-14C]acetate incorporation into fatty acids and cholesterol in C6 cells. Oleic acid was the most effective at depressing lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis; a decreased label incorporation into cellular palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids was detected, suggesting that an enzymatic step(s) of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis was affected. To clarify this issue, the activities of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) and FAS were determined with an in situ digitonin-permeabilized cell assay after incubation of C6 cells with fatty acids. ACC activity was strongly reduced (∼80%) by oleic acid, whereas no significant change in FAS activity was observed. Oleic acid also reduced the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). The inhibition of ACC and HMGCR activities is corroborated by the decreases in ACC and HMGCR mRNA abundance and protein levels. The downregulation of ACC and HMGCR activities and expression by oleic acid could contribute to the reduced lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis.
Children's participation rights in early childhood education and care: the case of early literacy learning and pedagogy

Abstract This position article argues that educators' knowledge of young children's perspectives on aspects of early learning, including literacy learning, and subsequent interpretations of the ways that these perspectives can inform and shape pedagogy are key to promoting children's participation rights in early childhood education and care. Drawing on ideas such as guided participation and Bruner's notion of a pedagogy of mutuality, it is argued that pedagogy, as it is now understood, implies that children's participation is central to the task of teaching. It is also argued that explicit articulation of the concept of joint participation in relation to literacy curricula and pedagogy in early childhood is warranted. The latter part of the article raises the issue of the diversity of children's perspectives of literacy learning and pedagogy. There follows a discussion of some of the issues related to working with young children's perspectives on literacy.
The Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre: its origins, conception and initial accomplishments

Background. The Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre was established by the Medical Research Council, in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, in 1994. Method and Results. The paper describes the origins of the Centre; the reasons why a new initiative was needed in the early 1990s; the thinking that led to the proposal for a major interdisciplinary research centre that integrated social, genetic and developmental research perspectives; the approach to international recruitment of world leaders; and the initial research accomplishments with respect to the basic goal of understanding nature-nurture interplay. Conclusions. The structure and interdisciplinary approach of the Centre have proved a success and the initial accomplishments have begun to meet the objectives of showing how nature-nurture interplay is involved in the development of psychiatric disorders.
Multi-Media Educational Tool Increases Knowledge of Clinical Trials in Uganda.

BACKGROUND Informed consent is premised on the participants' understanding the scope of the research and the associated risks and benefits. The objective was to evaluate the improvement in knowledge in a population unfamiliar with clinical trial concepts about "what it means to be part of a clinical trial" using an innovative educational tool called the 'Speaking Book'. METHODS This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at a research site in Uganda. 201 participants were randomized to: 1) clinical trials information session control arm, or 2) clinical trials information session followed by instruction in the use of the Speaking Book with a take-home copy (intervention arm). After the session, participants of both groups completed a 22-item multiple-choice test on the rights and responsibilities of participants. Participants returned after one week to complete the same test to assess knowledge retention. The mean pre- and post-test score difference was assessed according to trial arm using an unpaired t-test of proportions. RESULTS Ninety-one (90%) participants completed both the initial and follow-up tests in the control arm and 100 (100%) in the intervention arm. The average age of participants was 38 years, 53% were female and 67% were employed; 20% had previously been invited to participate in a clinical trial; of these, 19% had participated. The mean difference in proportion of correct responses from test 1 to test 2 was 2.7% (95%CI 0.3%-5.0%) for the control arm and 11.6% (95%CI 9.3%-13.7%) for the intervention arm (t-score= -5.3, p-value<0.0001). CONCLUSION Participants who had instruction in the use of the Speaking Book had a larger increase in knowledge than those who had no access to this tool. To better engage patients unfamiliar with clinical trial concepts, innovative educational techniques can assist to increase knowledge to make an informed decision about participation in a clinical trial.
Mean-Variance Spanning Tests for Menu Simplification in 401(k) Plans

We use regression-based tests for mean-variance spanning to justify a systematic implementation of efficient and prudent default fund selections in 401(k) plans. Though our approach ultimately rests on recommending two funds, it differs from the classical two-fund theorem, as the funds are not required to be efficient. In essence, our results illustrate the difference between, on one hand, theoretical mean-variance efficiency, and on the other, empirical mean-variance spanning. Furthermore, we address collinearity and the preponderance of numerical instability in regression-based testing for mean-variance spanning. Finally, we show that published statistical hypotheses for mean-variance testing of 401(k) plans are incorrectly specified.
Vectorizing an In Situ Query Engine

Database systems serve a wide range of use cases efficiently, but require data to be loaded and adapted to the system's execution engine. This pre-processing step is a bottleneck to the analysis of the increasingly large and heterogeneous datasets. Therefore, numerous research efforts advocate for querying each dataset in situ,i.e., without pre-loading it in a DBMS. On the other hand, performing analysis over raw data entails numerous overheads because of the potentially inefficient data representations. In this paper, we investigate the effect of vector processing on raw data querying. We enhance the operators of a query engine to use SIMD operations. Specifically, we examine the effect of SIMD on two different cases: the scan operators that perform the CPU-intensive task of input parsing, and the part of the query pipeline that performs a selection and computes an aggregate. We show that a vectorized approach has a lot of potential to improve performance, which nevertheless comes with trade-offs.
Genetic Studies on Microbial Cross Resistance to Toxic Agents

It has been shown in previous studies with gram negative (Escherichia coli), gram positive (Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus), and acid-fast (Mycobacterium ranae) bacteria, that strains selected for resistance to a given toxic agent may, as a result, acquire several new properties (Szybalski, 1953b; Szybalski and Bryson, 1952, 1954). They may change their sensitivity to other agents to which they have never before been exposed. Thus, sensitivity may be increased (collateral sensitivity), decreased (cross resistance), or remain unchanged. The following investigation employs Bacillus megaterium, a spore-forming bacillus representing a bacterial type hitherto not included in our analyses of cross resistance. This species is characterized by high sensitivity to many antibacterial agents, simple growth requirements, fast growth, formation of large cells suitable for cytological studies (DeLamater, 1951) and easy isolation of the resistant mutants. It was also planned to select several mutant strains having clear, independent and neutral markers. These genetic markers would be useful for testing the possibility that B. megaterium undergoes genetic recombination similar to Escherichia coli strain K-12. The search for recombination was motivated by cytological studies of DeLamater and Hunter (1953), who observed formation of "fusion tubes" between cells of B. megaterium, suggesting a sexual process. This type of study affords opportunity for the selection of some mutants which are not related by cross resistance. In addition, it permits the allocation of the antibiotics of undetermined structure to established groups of biologically similar or identical substances.
The effects of long‐term infusion of salbutamol, diltiazem and nifedipine on uterine contractions in the ovariectomized, post‐partum rat

1 The sensitivity of the uterus to the inhibition of contractions by salbutamol, diltiazem or nifedipine was assessed in the ovariectomized, post‐partum rat by dose‐response curves following bolus intravenous (i.v.) administration. These tests were performed before (day 1), immediately after a 20 h i.v. infusion of salbutamol, diltiazem, nifedipine or appropriate control infusate (day 2) and after a further 20 h infusion of saline (day 3). In a further group of animals sensitivity to nifedipine was assessed before and after a 20 h infusion of salbutamol. Uterine contractions were monitored throughout infusions. 2 Infusion of salbutamol (2 μg kg−1 min−1) produced an initial marked inhibition of uterine contractions, an effect which was not maintained despite continued infusion. Contractions reappeared after 2 h of infusion and reached pre‐infusion levels by 5 h. The dose‐response curve to salbutamol on day 2 was shifted more than 100 fold to the right compared with that on day 1. Sensitivity of the uterus on day 3 did not differ from that on day 1. 3 Nifedipine (25 μg kg−1 min−1) produced sustained inhibition of uterine contractions throughout the 20 h of infusion. Sensitivity of the uterus to nifedipine could not, therefore, be tested on day 2; sensitivity on day 3 did not differ from that on day 1. In addition, there was no change in sensitivity of the uterus to nifedipine after a 20 h infusion of salbutamol. 4 Diltiazem (200 μg kg−1 min−1) produced a marked initial inhibition of uterine contractions, with a partial return of contractions during continued infusion in 7 out of 12 animals so that mean integral values reached 40% of those pre‐infusion. The dose‐response curve to diltiazem on day 2 showed a 25 fold shift to the right compared with that on day 1 in 4 out of 12 animals where the test could be performed. Sensitivity of the uterus on day 3 did not differ from that on day 1. 5 These findings suggest that marked but reversible tolerance to the inhibitory actions of salbutamol on uterine contractions occurs during long‐term infusion. There was no evidence of tolerance to the uterine actions of nifedipine, but there was evidence of tolerance to diltiazem in some animals.1
Estrogen restores cellular immunity in injured male mice via suppression of interleukin‐6 production

This study examined whether estrogen treatment can improve immunity in male mice after combined ethanol and burn injuries. 17β‐Estradiol [estrogen, given subcutaneously (s.c.)] or oil (control) was administered at 30 min and 24 h postinjury. At 48 h postinjury, ethanol/burn‐injured mice demonstrated significant suppression of cellular immunity. Estrogen treatment restored the delayed‐type hypersensitivity (P<0.01) and splenocyte‐proliferative (P<0.05) responses, reduced macrophage interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) (P<0.05), and increased survival after bacterial challenge (P<0.01). In vitro neutralization of IL‐6, combined with macrophage supernatant experiments, confirmed that the beneficial effects of estrogen treatment were mediated through modulation of macrophage IL‐6 production. Moreover, estrogen treatment resulted in a decrease in splenic nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation in injured mice. There were no changes in cellular NF‐κB or IκBα protein expression or IκBα phosphorylation at serine 32. Taken together, these studies suggest that estrogen treatment of injured male mice improves cellular immunity through direct modulation of NF‐κB activation.
50 th Anniversary of Aldosterone

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Simpson and Tait’s isolation of electrocortin (aldosterone) (Fig. 1). Five decades of research have yielded extensive insight into the biological actions mediated through this once elusive molecule, in particular, areas of sodium and potassium metabolism and the kidney. The history of discovery surrounding the mechanisms of regulation and action of aldosterone in the 1960s and 1970s provides a unique view of the birth of molecular biology and its consequent impact on the field of genomic research in the 1980s, 1990s, and the 21st century. Interestingly, recent areas of study have focused on the nongenomic effects of aldosterone and its involvement in inflammation and fibrosis in cardiovascular diseases. This has taken what might have at one time been considered a steroid hormone with a narrow pathological consequence into the realm of influencing widely prevalent diseases such as nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and vasculopathy. Here, we provide a historic review of the discovery of aldosterone, emphasizing its widely expanding involvement in human disease. We begin describing the early years of aldosterone discovery including mention of its involvement in fibrosis by Selye. Next, we explore how molecular biology and genetics yield novel mechanisms of action and regulation. Finally, we revisit the area of nonclassical effects and the expanding involvement of aldosterone in common cardiovascular diseases.
Konrad-zuse-zentrum Für Informationstechnik Berlin Large-scale Hierarchical Networks: How to Compute an Optimal Architecture? Large-scale Hierarchical Networks: How to Compute an Optimal Architecture? *

In this article, we present a mathematical model and an algorithm to support one of the central strategic planning decisions of network operators: How to organize a large number of locations into a hierarchical network? We propose a solution approach that is based on mixed-integer programming and Lagrangian relaxation techniques. As major advantage, our approach provides not only solutions but also worst-case quality guarantees. Real-world scenarios with more than 750 locations have been solved within 30 minutes to less than 1% off optimality.
Reliability of child diagnosis in a Hispanic sample.

Abstract This study presents data on test-retest diagnostic reliability between two child psychiatrists. Independent ratings were obtained on both community and clinical subjects on a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of Puerto Rican children. Reliability was better at the higher rank of major categories than at the level of specific diagnoses. Age or time lapse between the interviews did not affect diagnostic reliability. Agreement was significantly better on either the referred severe cases or the nonreferred, noncases. Issues related to the taxonomy of childhood disorders are discussed.
Network Evolution: The Origins of Structural Holes

We develop and test a theory of the origins of network structures, specifically of structural holes, building and testing a theoretical framework proposing that network structures emerge from the interplay of two complementary forces: structural constraints and network opportunities. We analyze data on a co-membership network among 501 production teams in the Italian TV production industry tracked over a period of 12 years, explicitly accounting for endogeneity. We find that structural holes spanned by teams originate from the prior status and centrality of teams that members were part of in the past, in addition to structural holes spanned in the past. But a focal team spans fewer structural holes if its members were part of cohesive teams earlier and if the past teams they were connected to produced similar artistic content. We also demonstrate that spanning structural holes is associated with superior team performance in terms of greater viewership. The results support both opportunity exploitation and structural constraint explanations, although we find that homogeneity rather than diversity influences performance across structural holes.
A set of critical heuristics for value sensitive designers and users of persuasive systems

This paper proposes a set of critical questions to guide reflections on persuasive systems. The questions are mainly based on value-based practical reasoning as suggested in argumentation research. Value based reasoning is involved in any persuasive design discourse to assess the purposiveness, goodness or rightness of system actions to be designed. In this approach, the critical questions are structured according to practical discourses suggested by Habermas (1993) in order to help focusing on, and guiding, pragmatic, ethical, and moral discourses of persuasive system design and use. This paper contributes to the current research by enriching reflective methods with a set of concrete questions which can in particular be employed for a value sensitive participatory design of persuasive systems. This article is conceptual-theoretical by its nature. It illustrates the applicability of the approach by employing it to analyze a commercial webbased persuasive system.
X1908+075: A Pulsar Orbiting in the Stellar Wind of a Massive Companion

We have observed the persistent but optically unidentified X-ray source X1908+075 with the Proportional Counter Array and High-Energy X-Ray Timing Experiment instruments on the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The binary nature of this source was recently established by Wen et al., who found a 4.4 day orbital period in results from the RXTE All-Sky Monitor. We report the discovery of 605 s pulsations in the X-ray flux. The Doppler delay curve is measured and provides a mass function of 6.1 M☉, which is a lower limit to the mass of the binary companion of the neutron star. The degree of attenuation of the low-energy end of the spectrum is found to be a strong function of orbital phase. A simple model of absorption in a stellar wind from the companion star fits the orbital phase dependence reasonably well and limits the orbital inclination angle to the range 38°-72°. These measured parameters lead to an orbital separation of ~60-80 lt-s, a mass for the companion star in the range 9-31 M☉, and an upper limit to the size of the companion of ~22 R☉. From our analysis, we also infer a wind mass-loss rate from the companion star of ≳1.3 × 10-6 M☉ yr-1 and, when the properties of the companion star and the effects of photoionization are considered, likely ≳4 × 10-6 M☉ yr-1. Such a high rate is inconsistent with the allowed masses and radii that we find for a main-sequence or modestly evolved star unless the mass-loss rate is enhanced in the binary system relative to that of an isolated star. We discuss the possibility that the companion might be a Wolf-Rayet star that could evolve to become a black hole in 104 to 105 yr. If so, this would be the first identified progenitor of a neutron star-black hole binary.
The Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft Study: Expanding the Cleft Phenotype. Background and Justification

The Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft study was begun in 1993 with the primary goal of identifying genes involved in nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in a variety of populations worldwide. Based on the results from a number of pilot studies and preliminary genetic analyses, a new research focus was added to the Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft study in 1999: to elucidate the role that associated phenotypic features play in the familial transmission patterns of orofacial clefts in order to expand the definition of the nonsyndromic cleft phenotype. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of phenotypic features associated with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts. These features include fluctuating and directional asymmetry, non–right-handedness, dermatoglyphic patterns, craniofacial morphology, orbicularis oris muscle defects, dental anomalies, structural brain and vertebral anomalies, minor physical anomalies, and velopharyngeal incompetence.
Epigenetic control of tissue-type plasminogen activator synthesis in human endothelial cells.

AIMS Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is produced by endothelial cells (EC) and is responsible for the removal of intravascular fibrin deposits. We investigated whether expression of t-PA by EC is under epigenetic control. METHODS AND RESULTS Methylation analysis of the proximal t-PA promoter revealed a stretch of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides from position -121 to +59, while upstream CpG dinucleotides were all methylated. In contrast, in human primary hepatocytes, which express t-PA at much lower levels than EC, the proximal promoter was partially methylated. Treatment of EC with the non-specific histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors butyrate and trichostatin and with MS275, a specific inhibitor of class I HDAC, resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in t-PA expression. Garcinol and anacardic acid, inhibitors of the histone acetyl transferases CBP/p300 and PCAF, reduced basal and HDAC inhibitor-induced t-PA expression, whereas curcumin, an inhibitor of CBP/p300 only, had no effect. We performed chromosome immunoprecipitation analysis of the t-PA promoter using antibodies specific for acetylated histone H3 or H4 and observed an increase in H3 acetylation of 10 ± 3 and 44 ± 14-fold in EC treated with trichostatin or MS275, respectively, and in H4 acetylation of 7.7 ± 1.4 and 16 ± 3-fold, respectively. CONCLUSION The proximal t-PA promoter is unmethylated in human EC and partially methylated in human primary hepatocytes. Expression of t-PA by EC is repressed by HDACs in a mechanism that involves de-acetylation of histone H3 and H4.
Does Retailer Power Lead to Exclusion

This paper examines whether retailer bargaining power and upfront slotting allowances prevent small manufacturers (who have no bargaining power) from obtaining adequate distribution. In contrast to the findings of Marx and Shaffer (2007), who showed that all equilibria involve limited distribution (i.e., exclusion of a retailer), we show that there is always an equilibrium in which full distribution is obtained, provided that full distribution is the industry profit-maximizing outcome. The key feature leading to this differing result is that we do not restrict each retailer to offering the manufacturer a single tariff.