Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Historical Perspectives and Methodologies: Their Relevance for Housing Studies?

Though there has been a willingness by housing researchers to embrace new methodologies such as discourse analysis and social constructionist perspectives in their efforts to make sense of contemporary policy developments, there has been, with notable exceptions, only passing references to historical methodologies and their utility for housing research. Very often where historical methods are used these are implicit with little discussion of the methodological challenges that arise. The first part of the paper discusses some of the general arguments for using historical methods in the social sciences as well as specific matters of relevance to the study of housing policy. It reviews the contribution historical scholarship has made to the study of housing policy. The second part of the paper discusses how specific historical methodologies can be utilised by housing researchers - for example: - oral history; textual analysis; archival research; visual studies; and statistical analysis. The conclusion argues that though there are pitfalls that need to be overcome, historical methodologies provides housing researchers with the techniques to sharpen their conceptual framework and provide a more contextualised reading of the policy process than has hitherto been the case.
Discriminatively-learned global image representation using CNN as a local feature extractor for image retrieval

This work introduces an image retrieval framework based on using deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) as a local feature extractor. Motivated by the great success of CNN in recognition tasks, one may be tempted to simply adopt the output of CNN as a global image representation for retrieval. This straightforward approach, however, has proved deficient, because it can be vulnerable to various image transformation attacks. To address this issue, we propose to treat CNN as a local feature extractor, and a local image patch selection mechanism is developed to extract discriminative patches by observing their objectness responses, aspect ratios, relative scales, and locations in the image. The criterion is given by a learned posterior probability indicating how likely the image patch in question will find a correspondence in another similar image. In addition, the CNN's weight parameters are specifically adapted by a contrastive loss function to suit retrieval tasks. Extensive experiments on typical retrieval datasets confirm the superiority of the proposed scheme over the state-of-the-art methods.
Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) of Adhesion Complexes

Key to understanding a protein's biological function is the accurate determination of its spatial distribution inside a cell. Although fluorescent protein markers allow the targeting of specific proteins with molecular precision, much of this information is lost when the resultant fusion proteins are imaged with conventional, diffraction‐limited optics. In response, several imaging modalities that are capable of resolution below the diffraction limit (∼200 nm) have emerged. Here, both single‐ and dual‐color superresolution imaging of biological structures using photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) are described. The examples discussed focus on adhesion complexes: dense, protein‐filled assemblies that form at the interface between cells and their substrata. A particular emphasis is placed on the instrumentation and photoactivatable fluorescent protein (PA‐FP) tags necessary to achieve PALM images at ∼20 nm resolution in 5 to 30 min in fixed cells. Curr. Protoc. Cell Biol. 41:4.21. 1‐4.21. 27. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients have elevated antibodies to cross-reactive and non cross-reactive antigens from Proteus microbes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Although a large number of independent studies have shown a paramount role for Proteus mirabilis in the aetiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this hypothesis is still controversial among rheumatologists. The main obstacle to its acceptance is the impression that increased Proteus antibodies in RA patients is a secondary phenomenon, occurring as the result of cross-reactivity between bacterial and self-antigens. To shed light on this problem, we examined the link between antibodies to various cross-reactive and non cross-reactive antigenic peptides from P. mirabilis and analysed the relationship between these antibodies and disease severity in patients with RA. METHODS Using the ELISA method, serum samples from 70 RA patients and 20 healthy controls were screened for total and class-specific antibodies against three human cross-reactive and non-crossreactive synthetic peptides from P. mirabilis haemolysin, urease C and urease F enzymes. An antibody index, which comprised the total concentration of antibodies against these peptides in each sample, was correlated with the biochemical parameters of disease activity and/or severity, such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factors (RF). Furthermore, anti-peptide antibody indices were evaluated among RA patients with different levels of disease activity as defined by ESR and CRP. RESULTS Significantly elevated levels of total and class-specific IgG antibodies against the 3 Proteus peptides were observed among RA patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Active RA patients had elevated IgM antibodies against all peptides compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). However, no such elevation was observed in IgA anti-peptide antibodies in RA patients. A positive correlation was observed between the antibody indices and ESR (p < 0.001) and CRP (p < 0.01) concentrations, but not the RF status or disease duration. Furthermore, more than 90% of active RA patients showed positive values for the Proteus anti-peptide indices. CONCLUSION The elevated levels of antibodies against Proteus antigenic epitopes (which are cross-reactive or non cross-reactive with human tissue antigens) observed indicates that this enhanced bacterial immune response in RA patients is specifically triggered by Proteus microbes. Furthermore, the correlation of anti-peptide antibody indices with the biochemical markers of disease activity indicates that these antibodies exert damaging cytotoxic effects on joint tissues during the course of the disease.
Efficient Infection of a Human B Cell Line with Cell-Free Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causatively linked to two B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, multicentric Castleman's disease and primary effusion lymphoma. Latently infected B cells are a major KSHV reservoir, and virus activation from tonsillar B cells can result in salivary shedding and virus transmission. Paradoxically, human B cells (primary and continuous) are notoriously refractory to infection, thus posing a major obstacle to the study of KSHV in this cell type. By performing a strategic search of human B cell lymphoma lines, we found that MC116 cells were efficiently infected by cell-free KSHV. Upon exposure to recombinant KSHV.219, enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter expression was detected in 17 to 20% of MC116 cells. Latent-phase transcription and protein synthesis were detected by reverse transcription-PCR and detection of latency-associated nuclear antigen expression, respectively, in cell lysates and individual cells. Selection based on the puromycin resistance gene in KSHV.219 yielded cultures with all cells infected. After repeated passaging of the selected KSHV-infected cells without puromycin, latent KSHV was maintained in a small fraction of cells. Infected MC116 cells could be induced into lytic phase with histone deacetylase inhibitors, as is known for latently infected non-B cell lines, and also selectively by the B cell-specific pathway involving B cell receptor cross-linking. Lytic-phase transition was documented by red fluorescent protein reporter expression, late structural glycoprotein (K8.1A, gH) detection, and infectious KSHV production. MC116 cells were CD27−/CD10+, characteristic of transitional B cells. These findings represent an important step in the establishment of an efficient continuous B cell line model to study the biologically relevant steps of KSHV infection. IMPORTANCE Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) causes two serious pathologies of B cells, the antibody-producing cells of the immune system. B cells are a major reservoir for KSHV persistence in the body. Paradoxically, in the laboratory, B cells are extremely difficult to infect with KSHV; this problem greatly hinders scientific analysis of B cell infection. We describe our search for and successful identification of a stable human B cell line that can be efficiently infected by KSHV. Upon infection of these cells, the virus goes into a quiet latent phase, a characteristic feature of many herpesvirus infections. The virus can be triggered to enter an active lytic phase by treatments known to stimulate normal B cell functions. These findings suggest that the new B cell line will be a valuable model in which to study KSHV infection of this major target cell type.
Mental Qualities and Employed Mental Techniques of Young Elite Team Sport Athletes

Research on the psychological characteristics of elite performers has primarily focused on Olympic and World champions; however, the mental attributes of young developing and talented athletes have received less attention. Addressing this, the current study had two aims: (a) to examine the perceptions held by youth athletes regarding the mental qualities they need to facilitate their development and (b) to investigate the mental techniques used by these athletes. Forty-three male youth rugby players participated in a series of focus groups. Inductive content analysis revealed 11 categories of psychological qualities, including enjoyment, responsibility, adaptability, squad spirit, self-aware learner, determination, confidence, optimal performance state, game sense, attentional focus, and mental toughness. Techniques employed included personal performance strategies, refection on action, taking advantage of a supportive climate, and team-based strategies. Findings are discussed in relation to their implica.
Arabidopsis JAGGED LATERAL ORGANS Acts with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 to Coordinate KNOX and PIN Expression in Shoot and Root Meristems[C][W]

This study analyzes the genetic and protein interactions between the two LOB domain proteins JLO and AS2. Both proteins physically interact with each other but are also able to build homomeric complexes. Genetically, functions were identified that are seemingly common to JLO and AS2 in the regulation of KNOX and PIN expression. JLO depends for some of these functions on AS2. Organ initiation requires the specification of a group of founder cells at the flanks of the shoot apical meristem and the creation of a functional boundary that separates the incipient primordia from the remainder of the meristem. Organ development is closely linked to the downregulation of class I KNOTTED1 LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) genes and accumulation of auxin at sites of primordia initiation. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana JAGGED LATERAL ORGANS (JLO), a member of the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN (LBD) gene family, is required for coordinated organ development in shoot and floral meristems. Loss of JLO function results in ectopic expression of the KNOX genes SHOOT MERISTEMLESS and BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP), indicating that JLO acts to restrict KNOX expression. JLO acts in a trimeric protein complex with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2), another LBD protein, and AS1 to suppress BP expression in lateral organs. In addition to its role in KNOX regulation, we identified a role for AS2 in regulating PINFORMED (PIN) expression and auxin transport from embryogenesis onwards together with JLO. We propose that different JLO and AS2 protein complexes, possibly also comprising other LBD proteins, coordinate auxin distribution and meristem function through the regulation of KNOX and PIN expression during Arabidopsis development.
Pim Kinases Promote Migration and Metastatic Growth of Prostate Cancer Xenografts

Background and methods Pim family proteins are oncogenic kinases implicated in several types of cancer and involved in regulation of cell proliferation, survival as well as motility. Here we have investigated the ability of Pim kinases to promote metastatic growth of prostate cancer cells in two xenograft models for human prostate cancer. We have also evaluated the efficacy of Pim-selective inhibitors to antagonize these effects. Results We show here that tumorigenic growth of both subcutaneously and orthotopically inoculated prostate cancer xenografts is enhanced by stable overexpression of either Pim-1 or Pim-3. Moreover, Pim-overexpressing orthotopic prostate tumors are highly invasive and able to migrate not only to the nearby prostate-draining lymph nodes, but also into the lungs to form metastases. When the xenografted mice are daily treated with the Pim-selective inhibitor DHPCC-9, both the volumes as well as the metastatic capacity of the tumors are drastically decreased. Interestingly, the Pim-promoted metastatic growth of the orthotopic xenografts is associated with enhanced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, forced Pim expression also increases phosphorylation of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor, which may enable the tumor cells to migrate towards tissues such as the lungs that express the CXCL12 chemokine ligand. Conclusions Our results indicate that Pim overexpression enhances the invasive properties of prostate cancer cells in vivo. These effects can be reduced by the Pim-selective inhibitor DHPCC-9, which can reach tumor tissues without serious side effects. Thus, Pim-targeting therapies with DHPCC-9-like compounds may help to prevent progression of local prostate carcinomas to fatally metastatic malignancies.
A Novel Thyristor-Based CSI Topology With Multilevel Current Waveform for Improved Drive Performance

Load-commutated inverters (LCIs), combined with wound-field synchronous machines (WFSMs), can be an excellent solution for high power drives, but their present technology suffers from important drawbacks related to low power factor, large torque pulsations, and poor starting performance. This paper presents a new LCI design intended to overcome the mentioned limitations. An SCR-based forced-commutation circuit is added to the common inverter topology to obtain a five-level waveform for the stator current. This leads to significantly reduced current harmonics and torque pulsations, in addition to bringing benefits in terms of lower additional losses. As a further advantage, the proposed design allows for a significant power factor enhancement. Finally, it enables the WFSM to be started with a much smoother torque compared to the traditional pulsed operating mode of conventional LCI drives. Simulation studies are conducted on a high-power drive scheme to show the aforementioned improvements. Also, a reduced-scale laboratory prototype of a WFSM drive system is tested to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter.
Unilateral Pediatric “Do Not Attempt Resuscitation” Orders: The Pros, the Cons, and a Proposed Approach

A unilateral do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) order is written by a physician without permission or assent from the patient or the patient’s surrogate decision-maker. Potential justifications for the use of DNAR orders in pediatrics include the belief that attempted resuscitation offers no benefit to the patient or that the burdens would far outweigh the potential benefits. Another consideration is the patient’s right to mercy, not to be made to undergo potentially painful interventions very unlikely to benefit the patient, and the physician’s parallel obligation not to perform such interventions. Unilateral DNAR orders might be motivated in part by the moral distress caregivers sometimes experience when feeling forced by parents to participate in interventions that they believe are useless or cruel. Furthermore, some physicians believe that making these decisions without parental approval could spare parents needless additional emotional pain or a sense of guilt from making such a decision, particularly when imminent death is unavoidable. There are, however, several risks inherent in unilateral DNAR orders, such as overestimating one’s ability to prognosticate or giving undue weight to the physician’s values over those of parents, particularly with regard to predicted disability and quality of life. The law on the question of unilateral DNAR varies among states, and readers are encouraged to learn the law where they practice. Arguments in favor of, and opposed to, the use of unilateral DNAR orders are presented. In some settings, particularly when death is imminent regardless of whether resuscitation is attempted, unilateral DNAR orders should be viewed as an ethically permissible approach.
Strategic “Alcohol” Use: Drinking to Self-Handicap

An investigation of the self-handicapping theory of alcohol and drug use (Jones & Berglas, 1978) was conducted to control for methodological problems that have clouded interpretation of previous findings. Seventy-two male heavy social drinkers were assigned to either noncontingent success, noncontingent failure, contingent success, contingent failure, no-feedback, or low-stress conditions. All but low-stress subjects worked on solvable concept-formation problems and received feedback appropriate to their conditions. In anticipation of a similar retest, subjects consumed an “alcoholic” beverage (actually a placebo). Noncontingent success subjects drank more than contingent success, contingent failure, and low-stress subjects. Noncontingent failure subjects drank more than contingent success subjects. These results correspond to previous findings, but due to improved controls, nonhandicapping interpretations of the results for noncontingent success subjects were effectively eliminated. Self-handicapping was.
Creating cooperative classrooms: effects of a two‐year staff development program

In this study, the implementation effects of a staff development program on cooperative learning (CL) for Dutch elementary school teachers were studied. A pre‐test–post‐test non‐equivalent control group design was used to investigate program effects on the instructional behaviours of teachers. Based on observations of teacher behaviour during cooperative lessons, a statistically significant treatment effect was found for the following instructional behaviours: structuring positive interdependence, individual accountability, social skills and evaluation of the group process. Training effects were also found for the combination of CL with the model of direct instruction and the activation of prior knowledge of social skills. Moreover, teachers in the experimental group scored statistically significantly higher than the teachers in the control group on the activation of prior academic knowledge.
An ecological analysis of peer influence on adolescent grade point average and drug use.

The interactive effects of peer behavior and adolescents' perceptions of authoritative parenting on grade point average (GPA) and drug use were examined. Two samples of 500 9th through 11th graders participated in a 1-year longitudinal study, and they and their friends provided reports of respective school grades and substance use. Changes in GPA and drug use are predicted by friend's grades and drug use. However, this effect is moderated by the adolescent's report of authoritative parenting. The positive impact of having a high-achieving friend is stronger among adolescents whose parents are relatively more authoritative. The deleterious impact of having a drug-using friend is stronger among adolescents whose parents are relatively less authoritative.
Emotional Availability, Parental Self-Efficacy Beliefs, and Child Development in Caregiver-Child Relationships with Buprenorphine-Exposed 3-year-olds

SYNOPSIS Objective . The purpose was to compare emotional availability, maternal self-efficacy beliefs, and child developmental status in caregiver–child relationships with prenatally buprenorphine-exposed and nonexposed 3-year-old children. Design. We compared prenatally buprenorphine-exposed children living either with the biological mother (n = 7) or in foster care (n = 14) to nonexposed participants (n = 13). Emotional availability was coded from videotaped parent-child free-play interactions. Results. After controlling for covariates, buprenorphine-exposed children scored lower on maternal Sensitivity and Nonhostility and child Responsiveness and Involvement as well as lower on the Bayley Cognitive and Language scales than did nonexposed children. As compared to foster mothers, biological mothers scored lower on Sensitivity and Nonhostility and self-efficacy beliefs, and their children scored lower on Responsiveness and the Bayley Cognitive Scale. Regardless of group status, the parenting variables were meaningfully related to child socioemotional variables. Conclusions . Buprenorphine-exposed children experienced more environmental risks in emotional availability and parental self-efficacy and performed worse on the Bayley as compared to nonexposed children.
DOM based content extraction via text density

In addition to the main content, most web pages also contain navigation panels, advertisements and copyright and disclaimer notices. This additional content, which is also known as noise, is typically not related to the main subject and may hamper the performance of web data mining, and hence needs to be removed properly. In this paper, we present Content Extraction via Text Density (CETD) a fast, accurate and general method for extracting content from diverse web pages, and using DOM (Document Object Model) node text density to preserve the original structure. For this purpose, we introduce two concepts to measure the importance of nodes: Text Density and Composite Text Density. In order to extract content intact, we propose a technique called DensitySum to replace Data Smoothing. The approach was evaluated with the CleanEval benchmark and with randomly selected pages from well-known websites, where various web domains and styles are tested. The average F1-scores with our method were 8.79% higher than the best scores among several alternative methods.
Nuclear Versus Coal plus CCS: a Comparison of Two Competitive Base-Load Climate Control Options

In this paper, we analyze the relative importance and mutual behavior of two competing base-load electricity generation options that each are capable of contributing significantly to the abatement of global CO2 emissions: nuclear energy and coal-based power production complemented with CO2 capture and storage (CCS). We also investigate how, in scenarios developed with an integrated assessment model that simulates the economics of a climate-constrained world, the prospects for nuclear energy would change if exogenous limitations on the spread of nuclear technology were relaxed. Using the climate change economics model World Induced Technical Change Hybrid, we find that until 2050 the growth rates of nuclear electricity generation capacity would become comparable to historical rates observed during the 1980s. Given that nuclear energy continues to face serious challenges and contention, we inspect how extensive the improvements of coal-based power equipped with CCS technology would need to be if our economic optimization model is to significantly scale down the construction of new nuclear power plants.