Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The adequacy of response rates to online and paper surveys: what can be done?

This article is about differences between, and the adequacy of, response rates to online and paper‐based course and teaching evaluation surveys. Its aim is to provide practical guidance on these matters. The first part of the article gives an overview of online surveying in general, a review of data relating to survey response rates and practical advice to help boost response rates. The second part of the article discusses when a response rate may be considered large enough for the survey data to provide adequate evidence for accountability and improvement purposes. The article ends with suggestions for improving the effectiveness of evaluation strategy. These suggestions are: to seek to obtain the highest response rates possible to all surveys; to take account of probable effects of survey design and methods on the feedback obtained when interpreting that feedback; and to enhance this action by making use of data derived from multiple methods of gathering feedback.
Efferent Pathways Modulate Hyperactivity in Inferior Colliculus

Animal models have demonstrated that mild hearing loss caused by acoustic trauma results in spontaneous hyperactivity in the central auditory pathways. This hyperactivity has been hypothesized to be involved in the generation of tinnitus, a phantom auditory sensation. We have recently shown that such hyperactivity, recorded in the inferior colliculus, is still dependent on cochlear neural output for some time after recovery (up to 6 weeks). We have now studied the capacity of an intrinsic efferent system, i.e., the olivocochlear system, to alter hyperactivity. This system is known to modulate cochlear neural output. Anesthetized guinea pigs were exposed to a loud sound and after 2 or 3 weeks of recovery, single-neuron recordings in inferior colliculus were made to confirm hyperactivity. Olivocochlear axons were electrically stimulated and effects on cochlear neural output and on highly spontaneous neurons in inferior colliculus were assessed. Olivocochlear stimulation suppressed spontaneous hyperactivity in the inferior colliculus. This result is in agreement with our earlier finding that hyperactivity can be modulated by altering cochlear neural output. Interestingly, the central suppression was generally much larger and longer lasting than reported previously for primary afferents. Blockade of the intracochlear effects of olivocochlear system activation eliminated some but not all of the effects observed on spontaneous activity, suggesting also a central component to the effects of stimulation. More research is needed to investigate whether these central effects of olivocochlear efferent stimulation are due to central intrinsic circuitry or to coactivation of central efferent collaterals to the cochlear nucleus.
Toward Service Innovation: An Investigation of the Business Potential of Mobile Video Services in China

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the business potential of mobile video services in China via the case study of M‐Vzone.com. It answers two research questions: what are the important factors that affect the adoption of mobile video services for individuals and enterprises? How much the value was added along the mobile video service chain and how were the benefits are realized? Design/methodology/approach – Grounded in traditional technology adoption and information diffusion theories, the paper uses an exploratory research approach, including interviews and further analysis from published sources.Findings – The authors' analysis suggests that three key factors contributed to the success of m‐commerce in the Chinese context: stronger customer relationship management; enhanced video/operation performance; and easier access to resources. From post‐investigation of the results, the authors also found that small‐ to mid‐sized Chinese owners showed a shift from an imitative to an incremental inn.
Generation of High-Affinity Antibody against T Cell-Dependent Antigen in the Ganp Gene-Transgenic Mouse1

Generation of high-affinity Ab is impaired in mice lacking germinal center-associated DNA primase (GANP) in B cells. In this study, we examined the effect of its overexpression in ganp transgenic C57BL/6 mice (GanpTg). GanpTg displayed normal phenotype in B cell development, serum Ig levels, and responses against T cell-independent Ag; however, it generated the Ab with much higher affinity against nitrophenyl-chicken gammaglobulin in comparison with C57BL/6. To further examine the affinity increase, we established hybridomas producing high-affinity mAbs and compared their affinities using BIAcore. C57BL/6 generated high-affinity anti-nitrophenyl mAbs (KD ∼ 2.50 × 10−7 M) of IgG1/λ1 and contained the VH186.2 region with W33L mutation. GanpTg generated much higher affinity (KD > 1.57 × 10−9 M) by usage of VH186.2 as well as noncanonical VH7183 regions. GanpTg also generated exceptionally high-affinity anti-HIV-1 (V3 peptide) mAbs (KD > 9.90 × 10−11 M) with neutralizing activity. These results demonstrated that GANP is involved in V region alteration generating high-affinity Ab.
Cash versus Kind, Self-selection, and Efficient Transfers

This paper investigates second-best (transfers in kind) and third-best (subsidies and taxes) Pare to optima in a simple model were government lacks full information ab out consumer types (who is able, who is infirm). These Pareto optima rely on self-selection. The authors show that those second-best Paret o optima which are not also first-best (some do exist) can only be su pported by rationing. They also show that every third-best optimum, o ther than the equal-income Walrasian equilibrium, is Pareto-dominated by some second-best optimum. In addition, standard "willingness-to- pay" cost-benefit tests are inappropriate in this environment. Copyright 1988 by American Economic Association.
The Canada-U.S. Auto Pact of 1965: an Experiment in Selective Trade Liberalization

In this paper we analyse the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact, a selective trade liberalization agreement which created a duty-free North American market for the major U.S. multinational automobile producers, but continued to protect them from offshore producers. The new international trade/I.O. literature predicts that, given the probable unexploited economics of scale and specialization in the tariff-protected small Canadian economy prior to 1965, rationalization leading to large efficiency gains in Canadian production vis a vis U.S. production would occur in a free trade environment. We estimate that the Auto Pact did not induce a substantial improvement in Canadian relative production efficiency. The missing ingredient seems to have been the competition-increasing effects of free trade in an oligopolistic setting that is emphasized by the new trade/I.O. literature. The Auto Pact did not increase the number of rivals in the oligopolistic Canadian industry since the major players in the industry had production facilities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border before 1965, and no significant new entry into Canada occurred. In the 1962-64 period, Canadian automotive production was 27% less efficient than U.S. production. By 1970-72 this deficiency had been reduced to 19%, but was not further reduced by the end of the 1970's. Of the 8 percentage points reduction in the Canadian disadvantage, we attribute only 3 percentage points to the rationalization process induced specifically by the Auto Pact.
Alteration of χ recognition by RecBCD reveals a regulated molecular latch and suggests a channel-bypass mechanism for biological control

The RecBCD enzyme is a complex heterotrimeric helicase/nuclease that initiates recombination at double-stranded DNA breaks. In Escherichia coli, its activities are regulated by the octameric recombination hotspot, χ (5′-GCTGGTGG), which is read as a single-stranded DNA sequence while the enzyme is unwinding DNA at over ∼1,000 bp/s. Previous studies implicated the RecC subunit as the “χ-scanning element” in this process. Site-directed mutagenesis and phenotypic analyses identified residues in RecC responsible for χ recognition [Handa N, et al., (2012) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 10.1073/pnas.1206076109]. The genetic analyses revealed two classes of mutants. Here we use ensemble and single-molecule criteria to biochemically establish that one class of mutants (type 1) has lost the capacity to recognize χ (lost-recognition), whereas the second class (type 2) has a lowered specificity for recognition (relaxed-specificity). The relaxed-specificity mutants still recognize canonical χ, but they have gained the capacity to precociously recognize single-nucleotide variants of χ. Based on the RecBCD structure, these mutant classes define an α-helix responsible for χ recognition that is allosterically coupled to a structural latch. When opened, we propose that the latch permits access to an alternative exit channel for the single-stranded DNA downstream of χ, thereby avoiding degradation by the nuclease domain. These findings provide a unique perspective into the mechanism by which recognition of a single-stranded DNA sequence switches the translocating RecBCD from a destructive nuclease to a constructive component of recombinational DNA repair.
Prevalence of Orthodontic Treatment Need and Occlusal Traits in Schoolchildren

Background. Widespread use of the IOTN along with detailed study of occlusal traits is suitable for planning community dental health resources. Objectives. The aim of current study was to assess the need for orthodontic treatment among school children of Tehran by means of the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and also to evaluate the occlusal traits of the subjects. Methods. 684 (343 boys and 341 girls) school children, 15 to 17 years of age, were selected at random from 12 schools to represent the four main areas of Tehran. The final sample who met the inclusion criteria comprised 643 subjects (322 males and 321 females). Malocclusion was determined with the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. The IOTN grades were statistically compared in the two genders using chi-square test. Results. Orthodontic treatment need, using the DHC, was found in only 9.0 per cent of the children. The prevalence of Angle Class I malocclusion in this study was higher than other malocclusions (65.2 per cent), followed by crowding in 62.7 per cent of the subjects. Conclusion. Orthodontic treatment need for Tehran high school students was relatively lower than that reported in most recent studies in Europe.
Complete Structure of an Epithelial Keratin Dimer: Implications for Intermediate Filament Assembly

Keratins are cytoskeletal proteins that hierarchically arrange into filaments, starting with the dimer sub-unit. They are integral to the structural support of cells, in skin, hair and nails. In skin, keratin is thought to play a critical role in conferring the barrier properties and elasticity of skin. In general, the keratin dimer is broadly described by a tri-domain structure: a head, a central rod and a tail. As yet, no atomistic-scale picture of the entire dimer structure exists; this information is pivotal for establishing molecular-level connections between structure and function in intermediate filament proteins. The roles of the head and tail domains in facilitating keratin filament assembly and function remain as open questions. To address these, we report results of molecular dynamics simulations of the entire epithelial human K1/K10 keratin dimer. Our findings comprise: (1) the first three-dimensional structural models of the complete dimer unit, comprising of the head, rod and tail domains; (2) new insights into the chirality of the rod-domain twist gained from analysis of the full domain structure; (3) evidence for tri-subdomain partitioning in the head and tail domains; and, (4) identification of the residue characteristics that mediate non-covalent contact between the chains in the dimer. Our findings are immediately applicable to other epithelial keratins, such as K8/K18 and K5/K14, and to intermediate filament proteins in general.
PERCEPTIONS OF GLOBAL MINDEDNESS IN THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME: THE RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS

Title of dissertation: Perceptions of global mindedness in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme: The relationship to student academic performance and teacher characteristics Marjorie D. Lope, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Klees, Department of International Education Policy The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate student perceptions of global mindedness between students who participate in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) compared to students who do not participate in the MYP or who are new to the MYP in the 9 th grade. The study further analyzes the relationship between these students’ perceptions of global mindedness and academic performance and course enrollment. It also explores teacher perceptions of global mindedness and relates the findings to specific teacher characteristics. There are mixed findings on student acquisition of global mindedness when comparing MYP students to non-MYP students suggesting that student development of global mindedness could evolve over time and is not significantly impacted by one experience, as previous research also suggests. Teacher and student understanding of global mindedness in the MYP could be underdeveloped and focused on global centrism and cultural pluralism. Findings from this research suggest that students participating in the MYP score highest on the global mindedness subscales of global centrism and cultural pluralism. The MYP could unintentionally be more explicitly focused on academics compared to explicitly teaching, learning, and assessing global mindedness because there was a significant relationship between participation in the MYP and academic performance and course enrollment over time. There are specific teacher characteristics that predict global mindedness and vice versa and these findings are aligned with previous research. The participant sample was from one school district and the survey was done at one point in time, which created certain limitations. The mixed findings of this exploration suggest that more research is needed to better understand the relevance and development of global mindedness on student and teacher perceptions in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. PERCEPTIONS OF GLOBAL MINDEDNESS IN THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME: THE RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS By: Marjorie D. Lope Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2014 Advisory Committee: Professor Klees, Chair Professor Croninger Professor Imig Professor Lin Professor Valli
Meromorphic Lax representations of (1+1)-dimensional multi-Hamiltonian dispersionless systems

Rational Lax hierarchies introduced by Krichever are generalized. A systematic construction of infinite multi-Hamiltonian hierarchies and related conserved quantities is presented. The method is based on the classical R-matrix approach applied to Poisson algebras. A proof that Poisson operators constructed near different points of Laurent expansion of Lax functions are equal is given. All results are illustrated by several examples.
Insulin/IGF-1 and Hypoxia Signaling Act in Concert to Regulate Iron Homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Iron plays an essential role in many biological processes, but also catalyzes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause molecular damage. Iron homeostasis is therefore a critical determinant of fitness. In Caenorhabditis elegans, insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) promotes growth and reproduction but limits stress resistance and lifespan through inactivation of the DAF-16/FoxO transcription factor (TF). We report that long-lived daf-2 insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutants show a daf-16–dependent increase in expression of ftn-1, which encodes the iron storage protein H-ferritin. To better understand the regulation of iron homeostasis, we performed a TF–limited genetic screen for factors influencing ftn-1 gene expression. The screen identified the heat-shock TF hsf-1, the MAD bHLH TF mdl-1, and the putative histone acetyl transferase ada-2 as activators of ftn-1 expression. It also revealed that the HIFα homolog hif-1 and its binding partner aha-1 (HIFβ) are potent repressors of ftn-1 expression. ftn-1 expression is induced by exposure to iron, and we found that hif-1 was required for this induction. In addition, we found that the prolyl hydroxylase EGL-9, which represses HIF-1 via the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor VHL-1, can also act antagonistically to VHL-1 in regulating ftn-1. This suggests a novel mechanism for HIF target gene regulation by these evolutionarily conserved and clinically important hydroxylases. Our findings imply that the IIS and HIF pathways act together to regulate iron homeostasis in C. elegans. We suggest that IIS/DAF-16 regulation of ftn-1 modulates a trade-off between growth and stress resistance, as elevated iron availability supports growth but also increases ROS production.
A Bioactivity-Based Method for Screening, Identification of Lipase Inhibitors, and Clarifying the Effects of Processing Time on Lipase Inhibitory Activity of Polygonum Multiflorum

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of many complex diseases. However, the bioactive components are always undefined. In this study, a bioactivity-based method was developed and validated to screen lipase inhibitors and evaluate the effects of processing on the lipase inhibitory activity of TCM by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and fraction collector (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS-FC). The results showed that both Polygonum multiflorum and processed P. multiflorum extracts had inhibitory effect against lipase with IC50 values of 38.84 μg/mL and 190.6 μg/mL, respectively. Stilbenes, phenolic acid, flavonoids, and anthraquinones were considered to be the potential lipase inhibitors. Eleven potential lipase inhibitors were simultaneously determined by UHPLC. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed in exploring the effects of processing time on lipase inhibitory activity of P. multiflorum. Compared with conventional methods, a bioactivity-based method could quantitatively analyze lipase inhibitory activity of individual constituent and provide the total lipase inhibitory activity of the samples. The results demonstrated that the activity integrated UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS-FC method was an effective and powerful tool for screening and identifying lipase inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines.
A comprehensive data processing approach to the future smart grid

In the future smart grid, a large amount of renewable energy resources will be installed in both utility side and customer side. How to manage the variance of amount of power generation and manage them correctly would be most important issue for the future electric power system and energy management. Information infrastructure will be key factor for resolving the issue for the reason to process a huge amount of data and use them efficiently should be very important role of the system. In this paper, we would like to introduce a comprehensive approach to design data processing scheme and organize necessary functions required in the future smart grid.
CD4-mediated stimulation of human eosinophils: lymphocyte chemoattractant factor and other CD4-binding ligands elicit eosinophil migration

Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) is a tetrameric glycoprotein of 56,000 relative molecular mass produced by activated T lymphocytes. LCF binds to CD4 and has previously been found to stimulate migration of CD4+ lymphocytes and monocytes. Because human eosinophils, like T cells and monocytes, express CD4, we examined functional responses of eosinophils to LCF. Recombinant LCF (rLCF) expressed in COS cells was purified on a CD4 affinity column. Migration of eosinophils was elicited by rLCF at low concentrations: the 50% effective dose (ED50) was 10(-12) to 10(-11) M, concentrations 100- to 1,000-fold lower than the ED50s for the recognized eosinophil chemoattractants C5a and platelet-activating factor. Two other ligands which bound to CD4, human immunodeficiency virus-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and monoclonal antibody OKT4, also stimulated eosinophil migration. Monovalent OKT4 Fab competitively inhibited eosinophil responses to rLCF. rLCF did not influence other functional responses of eosinophils tested, including degranulation, superoxide generation, leukotriene C4 production, in vitro survival, or surface expression of the adherence receptor CR3 (CD11b), human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen DR, or interleukin 2 receptor p55 (CD25). We conclude that CD4 on eosinophils is capable of transducing a migratory stimulus and serves as a receptor for a chemoattractant lymphokine LCF. T cell-derived LCF may contribute to recruitment of eosinophils and CD4+ mononuclear cells concomitantly at inflammatory reactions.
Abnormal coronary reserve and left ventricular wall motion during cold pressor test in patients with previous left ventricular ballooning syndrome.

AIMS To investigate whether and how cold pressor test (CPT) could affect myocardial perfusion and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with previous LV ballooning syndrome (LVBS). METHODS AND RESULTS Cold pressor test (3 min hand immersion in ice-water) was performed in 17 women with previous LVBS and in 7 age- and risk factor-matched women with chest pain and normal coronary arteries. At baseline and peak CPT, global and regional LV function, and myocardial perfusion were quantitatively assessed by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and myocardial contrast (SonoVue, Bracco) 2D echocardiography (MCE), respectively (Philips iE33 machine, X3-1 and S5-1 probes). Data were analysed off-line (QLab 6.0 software). Peripheral venous catecholamines were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Cold pressor test induced similar haemodynamic changes and catecholamine increase in controls and LVBS patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased and transient new mid-ventricular and apical motion abnormalities developed in LVBS patients only (quantitative RT3D analysis), without corresponding perfusion defects (MCE). At peak CPT, coronary blood flow and velocity increased (quantitative MCE analysis) in control subjects only. CONCLUSION Cold pressor test induced LV wall motion abnormalities unmatched to regional coronary flow reduction in LVBS patients only. The reduced coronary reserve in response to CPT suggests microvascular dysfunction in LVBS patients.
Optical character recognition using transfer learning decision forests

In this paper, we present a novel method for transfer learning which uses decision forests, and we apply it to recognize characters. We introduce two extensions into the decision forest framework in order to transfer knowledge from the source tasks to a given target task. We show that both of them are important to achieve higher recognition rates. Our experiments demonstrate improvements over traditional decision forests in the MNIST dataset. They also compare favorably against other state-of-the-art classifiers.