Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Innovations in the Spanish Science Curriculum: a View of a Systemic Reform.

The general reform of the educational system in Spain was initiated in the mid-1980s. In this systemic reform, three major changes have been taking place at the same time: structural, organizational, andcurricular. Withinthis framework, this paper, basedon case studies, focuses on some of the main outcomes of the evaluation study of the Spanish reform. The study, focused on the science curriculum in the Spanish lower secondary school, shows the complexity of the changes proposed from the perspective of the actors involved.
Concentration of intracellular hepatic apolipoprotein E in Golgi apparatus saccular distensions and endosomes

The intrahepatic distribution of apolipoprotein E has been assessed by immunogold labeling of cryosections as well as by Western blotting of organelles isolated from liver homogenates. Both techniques supported the prior analytical fractionation studies of Wong (1989) who concluded that intrahepatic apoE was largely endosomal. All endosomal components decorated by gold particles indicative of apoE antigenicity in cryosections appeared filled with lipoprotein-like particles thereby accounting for this prominent morphological feature of isolated liver endosomes. The distribution of gold particles about the hepatic Golgi apparatus revealed a high content of apoE in closely apposed endosomes, ca. 400 nm in diameter, double labeled for apoE and internalized HRP. Remarkably, apoE (but not internalized HRP) was also observed within saccular distensions of all saccules of stacked Golgi cisternae but absent from the flattened saccular components as was also observed for apoB. This contrasted with albumin, the major secretory protein, which was uniformly distributed throughout the hepatic Golgi apparatus. These observations support a growing body of evidence for intra-Golgi sorting of secretory material in hepatic Golgi apparatus. The lack of any immunoreactive apoE or albumin in small 70-90 nm vesicles about the Golgi cisternae suggests limits to current models of vesicle-mediated intra-Golgi transport.
THE PROCESSING OF ENGLISH WORDS IGNORED IN JAPANESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The present study aimed to examine to what extent an English word ignored is processed. The subjects were required to name the category of a target word, ignoring a distracting word. Although the English and Japanese words used in the present study were similar in sound, they were different in script. The results showed that inhibition was produced in categorizing a Japanese target word even when an English word was used as a distracting word. This inhibition was not produced in the previous similar study using ordinary words (Ikeda, 1993). The results of the present study suggested an English word ignored is automatically phonetically processed.
Chromosome 9p21 in Ischemic Stroke: Population Structure and Meta-Analysis

Background and Purpose— Sequence variants on chromosome 9p21.3 are implicated in coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, but studies in ischemic stroke have produced inconsistent results. We investigated whether these conflicting findings were due to false-positive studies confounded by population stratification or false-negative studies that failed to account for effects specific to certain stroke subtypes. Methods— After assessing for population stratification at 9p21.3 using genomewide data, we meta-analyzed 8 ischemic stroke studies. This analysis focused on 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs1537378 and rs10757278, because these variants are in strong linkage disequilibrium with most single nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed in prior studies of the region. Results— Principal component analysis of the genomewide data showed no evidence of population stratification at that locus. Meta-analysis confirmed that both rs1537378 and rs10757278 are risk factors for ischemic stroke (ORs, 1.09 [P=0.0014] and 1.11 [P=0.001], respectively). Subtype analysis revealed a substantial increase in the effect of each single nucleotide polymorphism for risk of large artery stroke, achieving an effect size similar to that seen in coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction. Conclusions— Variants on 9p21.3 are associated with ischemic stroke, and restriction of analysis to large artery stroke increases effect size toward that observed in prior association studies of coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction. Previous inconsistent findings are best explained by this subtype specificity rather than any unmeasured confounding by population stratification.
Insight into S-RNase-based self-incompatibility in Petunia: recent findings and future directions

S-RNase-based self-incompatibility in Petunia is a self/non-self recognition system that allows the pistil to reject self-pollen to prevent inbreeding and to accept non-self pollen for outcrossing. Cloning of S-RNase in 1986 marked the beginning of nearly three decades of intensive research into the mechanism of this complex system. S-RNase was shown to be the sole female determinant in 1994, and the first male determinant, S-locus F-box protein1 (SLF1), was identified in 2004. It was discovered in 2010 that additional SLF proteins are involved in pollen specificity, and recently two S-haplotypes of Petunia inflata were found to possess 17 SLF genes based on pollen transcriptome analysis, further increasing the complexity of the system. Here, we first summarize the current understanding of how the interplay between SLF proteins and S-RNase in the pollen tube allows cross-compatible pollination, but results in self-incompatible pollination. We then discuss some of the aspects that are not yet elucidated, including uptake of S-RNase into the pollen tube, nature, and assembly of SLF-containing complexes, the biochemical basis for differential interactions between SLF proteins and S-RNase, and fate of non-self S-RNases in the pollen tube.
Differences in the Motivational Beliefs of Asian American and Non-Asian Students.

This investigation explored differences in motivational beliefs of 154 Asian American and 372 non-Asian 9th graders. Students completed surveys indicating their academic beliefs and later responded to a novel task to assess their achievement behavior. The difference in type of beliefs between the two groups explained, in part, their achievement behavior. Asian American students' fear of the consequence of academic failure best explained their performance. However, this variable least explained the results for non-Asian students. Asian American students reported lower levels of self-efficacy beliefs, yet significantly outperformed their non-Asian counterparts on the task. The fear of academic failure better explained achievement motivation for Asian Americans than did self-efficacy beliefs. A major implication of this investigation is that motivational beliefs elicit different responses in different cultural-ethnic groups.
The Presence of Circulating Clonal CD19+ Cells in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the expansion of mature plasma cells (PC) localized in the bone marrow (BM). Several studies have identified circulating clonotypic CD19+ cells at a differentiation stage preceding the PC. The level of circulating clonotypic CD19+ cells is highly variable but generally low. Circulating clonotypic cells respond well to induction therapy, although a small subset within the CD19 compartment is resistant even to high-dose chemotherapy. The clonal CD19+ cells represent an ongoing differentiating population ranging from memory B-cells to plasmablasts. However, a clonal relationship gives no proof of malignant potential, and whether or not clonotypic precursor cells are involved in the disease process is a subject of intense debate. Translocations involving the immunoglobulin locus (14q32) are an early non-transforming event common to both monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and MM introduced at the memory B-cell level. At the plasmablast stage, a phenotypic transformation occurs with downregulation of CD19 and upregulation of myeloma specific markers such as CD56, CD117 and CD28. Translocations involving the isotype-switch machinery and the introduction of tumor-specific markers at the plasmablast stage suggest that the clonal CD19+ memory B-cells and CD19+ plasmablasts are non-malignant, but immortalized relatives that gave rise to myeloma. A final proof of the malignant potential of CD19+ clonotypic cells might await the identification of the molecular events causing the transformation in myeloma.
Knowledge Creation and Integration: Creative Space and Creative Environments

This paper presents first a review of recent advancements in the theory of knowledge creation, starting with Shinayakana Systems Approach of Sawaragi and Nakamori and The Knowledge Creating Company with SECI Spiral Process of Nonaka and Takeuchi. Later, a method called Creative Space is proposed for integrating diverse approaches to knowledge creation. This method is based on SECI Spiral Process, I^5 System of Nakamori and especially on Rational Theory of Intuition of Wierzbicki. Conclusions concerning comparison and improvements of various methods of knowledge creation and applications to the construction of specific creative environments are outlined.
Financial Innovations and Macroeconomic Volatility

The volatility of US business cycle has declined during the last two decades. During the same period the financial structure of firms has become more volatile. In this paper we develop a model in which financial factors play a key role in generating economic fluctuations. Innovations in financial markets allow for greater financial flexibility and generate a lower volatility of output together with a higher volatile in the financial structure of firms.
Human Well-Being over the Life Cycle: Longitudinal Evidence from a 20-Year Panel

This paper uses longitudinal data from the German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP) to analyze the course of subjective well-being over the life cycle. The long time dimension offers an opportunity to disentangle ageing effects from fixed birth co- hort effects. The paper _finds that the U-shaped pattern of life satisfaction over age is less supported in a longitudinal analysis, and that the observed trajectory can vary across model specifications. Moreover, assets and material well-being seem to play an important role in determining the course of satisfaction over life time. The upsurge of happiness after mid-life seems to be more robust to model specifications, which might imply that the latter is inherent to mankind.
Lingering Identities in Retirement

Older workers were followed through their first two years of retirement in order to explore the lingering effects of preretirement identities on their retirement adjustment and self-esteem. Several interesting findings emerged. Preretirement identities and social background characteristics influenced initial retirement adjustment and later changes in retirement adjustment. In addition, lingering preretirement worker identity and emerging retirement adjustment influenced self-esteem two years into retirement. Further, while there were no overall gender differences, some individual identities and social background characteristics influenced retirement adjustment and self-esteem in a different manner for men and women.
Working with teachers to promote children’s participation through pupil‐led research

Enabling children and young people to act as researchers is increasingly viewed as useful in supporting their increased “participation” within settings where they live, work or receive services. This paper reports upon a project conducted by two educational psychologists (EPs) with two primary school class groups, in which the children and their teachers were provided with direct teaching and guidance to develop and undertake their own school‐based research projects. The work of each class group produced significant developments of educational provision across the whole school, showing that the EPs’ work had directly enabled the children to “make a positive contribution”. In addition, teachers and psychologists observed several social, cognitive and personal benefits to the children brought about by their engagement in the processes of questioning, data gathering, analysis, knowledge generation, and dissemination. The authors emphasise the potentially valuable contribution of EPs in promoting children and young people’s understanding and application of research skills, and in working directly alongside teachers within the classroom. Furthermore, the project represents a successful example of EPs and teachers engaging in joint direct work with children.
The Criminality of Noninstitutionalized Mentally Retarded Persons

This study examines the criminality of noninstitutionalized mentally retarded (NIMR) men and women in a Swedish birth cohort composed of 15,117 participants followed from before birth to age 30. NIMR participants were compared with participants who had never been placed in a special class or in an institution for the mentally retarded or admitted to a psychiatric ward (NMR). NIMR participants were more likely than NMR participants to have been convicted for a criminal offense before age 30 and for a violent offense. NIMR offenders had been convicted, on average, for the same number of offenses as NMR offenders. Among the NIMR offenders, 71% of men and only 43% were first convicted before the age of 18. For both NIMR men and women, childhood conduct problems were found to be associated with adult criminality.
Prevalence and Determinants of Malnutrition Among Reproductive Aged Women of Rural Bangladesh

Malnutrition among the rural Bangladeshi women of reproductive age is still very high. This high prevalence attributes to a range of adverse health consequences on the women and their offspring. A total of 2341 women aged between 20 and 45 years residing in the study area were interviewed in this cross-sectional study. Information on socioeconomic variables, nutritional status, and pregnancy-related history was obtained using interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 34% of the reproductive aged rural women suffer from malnutrition. A multivariate analysis shows association between malnutrition and monthly household income, history of taking oral contraceptive, current pregnancy status, and history of breastfeeding. The final regression model shows a statistically significant decreasing trend in malnutrition status with increasing income (P for trend <.001). The economic and health consequences of malnutrition in this group of women are enormous. National nutritional program should target this women group for any intervention with a special priority.
Leptin fails to blunt the lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in rats

Obesity is a risk factor for sepsis morbidity and mortality, whereas the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis plays a protective role in the body's defence against sepsis. Sepsis induces a profound systemic immune response and cytokines serve as excellent markers for sepsis as they act as mediators of the immune response. Evidence suggests that the adipokine leptin may play a pathogenic role in sepsis. Mouse endotoxaemic models present with elevated leptin levels and exogenously added leptin increased mortality whereas human septic patients have elevated circulating levels of the soluble leptin receptor (Ob-Re). Evidence suggests that leptin can inhibit the regulation of the HPA axis. Thus, leptin may suppress the HPA axis, impairing its protective role in sepsis. We hypothesised that leptin would attenuate the HPA axis response to sepsis. We investigated the direct effects of an i.p. injection of 2 mg/kg leptin on the HPA axis response to intraperitoneally injected 25 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the male Wistar rat. We found that LPS potently activated the HPA axis, as shown by significantly increased plasma stress hormones, ACTH and corticosterone, and increased plasma interleukin 1β (IL1β) levels, 2 h after administration. Pre-treatment with leptin, 2 h before LPS administration, did not influence the HPA axis response to LPS. In turn, LPS did not affect plasma leptin levels. Our findings suggest that leptin does not influence HPA function or IL1β secretion in a rat model of LPS-induced sepsis, and thus that leptin is unlikely to be involved in the acute-phase endocrine response to bacterial infection in rats.
Adverse Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs

Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are considered by patients to be at least as important as repetitive seizures in terms of quality of life. AED toxicity is frequent and contributes to a high proportion of treatment failures. Despite its high prevalence and clinical relevance, screening for adverse reactions to AEDs is not systematically included in everyday clinical practice; therefore it is very likely that it remains underestimated. Because there is little difference among AEDs in terms of efficacy, drug selection is often based on the adverse effects profile. AED toxicity is classified according to different parameters, such as severity, time of occurrence, organ system involvement, and mechanisms of action. Although most toxic reactions to drugs can be predicted from cumulative experience, prevention is not always possible, since multiple mechanisms and individual susceptibility to each drug participate in the final outcome. However, adverse effects can be reduced and appropriate action can be taken in time by means of a high degree of suspicion, knowledge of risk factors, and close follow-up. This article highlights factors to consider for detecting and managing AED adverse effects.
The first Galileo FOC satellites: From useless to essential

In August 2014, the European Global Navigation Satellite System Galileo successfully completes its In-Orbit Validation phase and the first two Full Operational Capability satellites were launched. Currently (February 2015), Galileo consists of four IOV satellites and two FOC ones, but only three IOVs and one FOC are working correctly. The two FOCs were injected in a not nominal orbit; at the time of this study only one of them (specifically FOC-FM1) was shifted into a more circular orbit. However, several studies and analysis were carried out by ESA to monitor the impact on the health status of the FOC satellites in wrong elliptical orbits. This paper investigates the potential improvements on constellation geometry provided by the inclusion of the FOCs and analyzes Galileo single-point positioning performance. Different methods for satellite position are considered due to the lack of navigation messages.
Students’ Perceptions of Factors that Contribute to Risk and Success in Accelerated High School Courses

In this qualitative study, we investigated 15 successful and 15 struggling high school students, perceived stressors, coping strategies, and intrapersonal and environmental factors that students perceive to influence their success in college-level courses. We found that students’ primary sources of stress involved meeting numerous academic demands and seeking a balance between academic goals, social needs, and extracurricular activities. The most frequently described and commonly used coping responses viewed as effective involved time and task management, seeking temporary diversions, and cognitive reappraisal. Students perceived a strong work ethic and high achievement motivation as personal traits aligned with success, and support from a broad network of peers, parents, and teachers as environmental factors that are also related to optimal performance in rigorous accelerated high school programs.
DETERMINATION OF CREEP PROPERTIES FOR P 91 WELDMENT MATERIALS AT 625

The work presented in this paper is related to the determination of the creep properties for a P91 pipe weldment at 625 C, which forms part of a collaborative European project (Weldon). A Kachanov type, one damage variable, multi-axial material behaviour model was used to represent the material creep behaviour. The uniaxial material constants for the parent material and weld metal were determined from conventional uniaxial creep test data, while the tri-axial stress state parameters for parent and weld materials were determined from the notched bar rupture test results. For the heat-affected zone (HAZ) material, the full set of material constants in the material behaviour model were determined from the results of impression creep tests of the HAZ material, in conjunction with the creep damage modelling of creep rupture tests of cross-weld specimens.
Searching for substellar companions of young isolated neutron stars

Context. Only two planetary systems orbiting old ms-pulsars have been discovered. Young radio pulsars and radio-quiet neutron stars cannot be analysed by the usually-applied radio-pulse-timing technique. However, finding substellar companions orbiting these neutron stars would be of significant importance: the companion may have had an exotic formation, its observation may also enable us to study neutron-star physics. Aims. We investigate the closest young neutron stars to Earth to search for orbiting substellar companions. Methods. Young, thus warm substellar companions are visible in the Near infrared, in which the neutron star itself is much fainter. Four young neutron stars are at sufficient speed to enable a common proper-motion search for substellar companions within few years. Results. For Geminga, RX J0720.4-3125, RX J1856.6-3754, and PSR J1932+1059 we found no comoving companion of masses as low as 12, 15, 11, and 42 Jupiter masses, respectively, for assumed ages of 1, 1, 1, and 3.1 Myr, and distances of 250, 361, 167, and 361 pc, respectively. Near infrared limits are presented for these four and five additional neutron stars for which we have observations for only one epoch. Conclusions. We conclude that young, isolated neutron stars rarely have brown-dwarf companions.
The Fewer the Better: Number of Goals and Savings Behavior

This article examines the effect of the number of goals on consumers’ savings behavior. Drawing from research on implementation intention, the authors show that under certain conditions, presenting a single savings goal leads to greater savings intention and actual savings than presenting multiple savings goals. Multiple goals typically evoke trade-offs among competing goals and thus increase the likelihood that people will remain in a deliberative mind-set and defer actions. In contrast, the authors propose and demonstrate that a single goal evokes a stronger implementation intention, which in turn has a greater effect on behavior change. They also show that the advantage of a single goal over multiple goals on saving is attenuated when saving is easier to implement or when the multiple savings goals are integrated rather than competing among themselves. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Oral administration of leaf extracts of Momordica charantia affect reproductive hormones of adult female Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of graded doses of aqueous leaf extracts of Momordica charantia on fertility hormones of female albino rats. METHODS TWENTY ADULT, HEALTHY, FEMALE WISTAR RATS WERE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS: low dose (LD), moderate dose (MD) and high dose (HD) groups which received 12.5 g, 25.0 g, 50.0 g of the leaf extract respectively and control group that was given with water ad libatum. RESULT Estrogen levels reduced by 6.40 nmol/L, 10.80 nmol/L and 28.00 nmol/L in the LD, MD and HD groups respectively while plasma progesterone of rats in the LD, MD and HD groups reduced by 24.20 nmol/L, 40.8 nmol/L and 59.20 nmol/L respectively. CONCLUSION Our study has shown that the antifertility effect of Momordica charantia is achieved in a dose dependent manner. Hence, cautious use of such medication should be advocated especially when managing couples for infertility.