Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-frequency vibration in flagellar axonemes with amplitudes reflecting the size of tubulin

Flagellar axonemes of sea urchin sperm display high-frequency (approximately 300 Hz) vibration with nanometer-scale amplitudes in the presence of ATP (Kamimura, S., and R. Kamiya. 1989. Nature (Lond.). 340:476-478). The vibration appears to represent normal mechanochemical interaction between dynein and microtubules because the dependence of the frequency on MgATP concentration is similar to that of the axonemal motility, and because it is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of vanadate. In this study a two-dimensional photo-sensor was used to characterize this phenomenon in detail. Several new features were revealed. First, the vibration was found to be due to a back-and-forth movement of the doublet microtubules along the axonemal length. Two beads attached to different parts of the same axoneme vibrated in unison, i.e., synchronized exactly in phase. This suggested that the outer doublet can be regarded as a stiff rod in vibrating axonemes. Second, evidence was obtained that the amplitude of the vibration reflected the number of active dynein arms. Third, under certain conditions, the vibration amplitude took stepwise values of 8 x N + 4 nm (N = 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4), indicating that the amplitude of microtubule sliding was limited by the size of tubulin dimer (8 nm) or monomer (4 nm). To explain this phenomenon, a model is presented based on an assumption that the force production by dynein is turned off when dynein is subjected to tensile force; i.e., dynein is assumed to be equipped with a feedback mechanism necessary for oscillation.
Reading Habits and Library Use Among Young Adults

This study investigates the reading and library habits among teenagers in Oslo, Norway using qualitative interviews and a survey. Interviews with four girls demonstrate individual variation in their literary tastes and in the roles of reading they take on. The survey gives an overview of teenagers' library use and their literature preferences, and detects that girls and boys differ in preferences of reading media. Differences in literary tastes are also shown as gender-based. The survey indicates different patterns in reading frequency and reading materials in the sense that students from the schools with the closest connection to the public library read more, as well as in a broader range of reading materials than students from schools with no such connection.
Hypospadias in Washington State: Maternal Risk Factors and Prevalence Trends

Objective. Maternal risk factors for hypospadias are poorly defined, and there is debate about temporal trends in hypospadias prevalence. We examined select maternal characteristics as possible risk factors for hypospadias among male offspring and evaluated yearly prevalence rates in Washington State. Methods. We performed a population-based, case-control study using linked birth-hospital discharge data from Washington State for 1987–1997 and prevalence data for 1987–2002. All cases of hypospadias were identified on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes from the birth hospitalization (N = 2155). Five control subjects were randomly selected for each case subject from the remaining singleton births, frequency matched according to year of birth (N = 10775). Maternal and infant characteristics were ascertained from the birth certificate. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Yearly prevalence was determined by dividing the total number of hypospadias cases by the number of male singleton live births for each year. Results. The risk of delivering an affected male infant increased with advancing maternal age; relative to women <20 years of age, those >40 years of age were at greatest risk (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.17–2.48). Infants of nonwhite women were generally at decreased risk. Infants born to women with preexisting diabetes mellitus were at greater risk than those born to women without diabetes (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.03–4.60); however, this was not observed for infants born to women with gestational diabetes. The birth prevalence of hypospadias in 2002 was 5.0 cases per 1000 male births, not significantly different from that in 1987. Conclusion. Older maternal age, white race, and preexisting diabetes were associated with increased risk of hypospadias among male offspring. The prevalence of hypospadias in Washington State did not increase significantly between 1987 and 2002.
Proteomic analysis of cardiac response to thermal acclimation in the eurythermal goby fish Gillichthys mirabilis

ABSTRACT Cardiac function is thought to play a central role in determining thermal optima and tolerance limits in teleost fishes. Investigating proteomic responses to temperature in cardiac tissues may provide insights into mechanisms supporting the thermal plasticity of cardiac function. Here, we utilized a global proteomic analysis to investigate changes in cardiac protein abundance in response to temperature acclimation (transfer from 13°C to 9, 19 and 26°C) in a eurythermal goby, Gillichthys mirabilis. Proteomic data revealed 122 differentially expressed proteins across acclimation groups, 37 of which were identified using tandem mass-spectrometry. These 37 proteins are involved in energy metabolism, mitochondrial regulation, iron homeostasis, cytoprotection against hypoxia, and cytoskeletal organization. Compared with the 9 and 26°C groups, proteins involved in energy metabolism increased in 19°C-acclimated fish, indicating an overall increase in the capacity for ATP production. Creatine kinase abundance increased in 9°C-acclimated fish, suggesting an important role for the phosphocreatine energy shuttle in cold-acclimated hearts. Both 9 and 26°C fish also increased abundance of hexosaminidase, a protein directly involved in post-hypoxia stress cytoprotection of cardiac tissues. Cytoskeletal restructuring appears to occur in all acclimation groups; however, the most prominent effect was detected in 26°C-acclimated fish, which exhibited significantly increased actin levels. Overall, proteomic analysis of cardiac tissue suggests that the capacity to adjust ATP-generating processes is crucial to the thermal plasticity of cardiac function. Furthermore, G. mirabilis may optimize cellular functions at temperatures near 19°C, which lies within the species' preferred temperature range. Highlighted Article: Proteomic analysis of eurythermic fish Gillichthys mirabilis hearts shows significant metabolic reorganization with temperature acclimation, suggesting that the capacity to adjust ATP-generating processes is crucial to the thermal plasticity of cardiac function.
Jump

We present Jump, a practical system for capturing high resolution, omnidirectional stereo (ODS) video suitable for wide scale consumption in currently available virtual reality (VR) headsets. Our system consists of a video camera built using off-the-shelf components and a fully automatic stitching pipeline capable of capturing video content in the ODS format. We have discovered and analyzed the distortions inherent to ODS when used for VR display as well as those introduced by our capture method and show that they are small enough to make this approach suitable for capturing a wide variety of scenes. Our stitching algorithm produces robust results by reducing the problem to one of pairwise image interpolation followed by compositing. We introduce novel optical flow and compositing methods designed specifically for this task. Our algorithm is temporally coherent and efficient, is currently running at scale on a distributed computing platform, and is capable of processing hours of footage each day.
Melatonin, cortisol, EEG, ECG and subjective comfort in healthy humans: Impact of two fluorescent lamp types at two light intensities

This study has focused on the impact of fluorescent light on endocrine, neurophysiological, and subjective indices of wellbeing and stress. Results from two types of fluorescent lamps, 'daylight' and 'warm-white', were compared, each at two different levels of illuminance. Exposure lasted one day for each of the four combinations. The condition involving 'daylight' lamps with a high illuminance evoked a negative response pattern. The social evaluation of the office space went down, and at the same time the visual discomfort increased. The EEG contained less delta rhythm under the high illuminance conditions. During the day of light exposure the alpha rhythm became attenuated under the 1700 lux 'daylight' lamps. The results warrant the conclusion that fluorescent light of high illuminance may arouse the central nervous system and that this arousal will become accentuated if the lamps are of the 'daylight' type. The practical implication may be that people should not be exposed to fluorescent light of high illuminance for a prolonged period of time.
Group-based psychosocial intervention for bipolar disorder: randomised controlled trial

Background Psychosocial interventions have the potential to enhance relapse prevention in bipolar disorder. Aims To evaluate a manualised group-based intervention for people with bipolar disorder in a naturalistic setting. Method Eighty-four participants were randomised to receive the group-based intervention (a 12-week programme plus three booster sessions) or treatment as usual, and followed up with monthly telephone interviews (for 9 months post-intervention) and face-to-face interviews (at baseline, 3 months and 12 months). Results Participants who received the group-based intervention were significantly less likely to have a relapse of any type and spent less time unwell. There was a reduced rate of relapse in the treatment group for pooled relapses of any type (hazard ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.20–0.95; t 343 = −2.09, P = 0.04). Conclusions This study suggests that the group-based intervention reduces relapse risk in bipolar disorder.
Dopamine D1‐like receptor‐mediated presynaptic inhibition of excitatory transmission onto rat magnocellular basal forebrain neurones.

1. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) following focal afferent stimulation were recorded from patch‐clamped magnocellular neurones in a thin‐slice preparation of the rat basal forebrain. Evoked EPSCs had a mean decay time constant of 3.81 +/‐ 0.09 ms and were reversibly blocked by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX, 5 microM). 2. Bath‐applied dopamine (DA) reduced evoked EPSC amplitude by up to 54.2 +/‐ 2.3% with an IC50 of 19.9 microM in normal Krebs solution (2.5 mM Ca2+, 1.2 mM Mg2+) without effect on postsynaptic holding current. 3. DA (30 microM) reduced the mean frequency of spontaneous miniature EPSCs recorded in 0.5 microM tetrodotoxin without affecting their mean amplitude, rise time or decay time constant. This effect was diminished by 100 microM Cd2+. 4. The effect of DA on evoked EPSCs was mimicked by the D1‐like receptor agonist, SKF 81297 (IC50 25.6 microM), but not by the D2‐like receptor agonist R(‐)‐TNPA (30 microM) or (‐)‐quinpirole (30 microM), and was antagonized by the D1‐like receptor antagonist R(+)‐SCH 23390 (estimated dissociation constant KB = 1.7 microM) but not by the D2‐like receptor antagonist S(‐)‐eticlopride (10 microM). 5. Forskolin (10 microM) reduced evoked EPSCs to approximately 60% of the control amplitude, and occluded the effect of subsequent application of DA. 6. These results suggest that glutamatergic afferents to magnocellular basal forebrain neurones possess presynaptic D1‐like DA receptors, and that activation of these receptors reduces excitatory glutamatergic transmission, probably via an adenylyl cyclase‐dependent pathway.
Knowledge and perceived social norm predict parents’ attitudes towards inclusive education

Parents are key stakeholders in education and their support is pivotal to policy implementation. Through a large-scale survey, the present study investigated the validity of a structural model describing the relationship between attitude, knowledge, and perceived social norm among parents of children with special needs. Results revealed that knowledge and perceived social norm were powerful predictors of parents’ attitudes towards inclusion and the two predictors were intercorrelated. Exploratory analyses on the effect of demographic variables on parents’ attitudes demonstrated that male parents exhibited more positive attitudes towards inclusion than female parents; and parents of children at a higher grade level indicated less positive attitudes. Cultural issues of parents’ concerns about inclusive practice are discussed.
Removing the barriers? A study of the conditions affecting teaching innovation1

In this paper I present my view of effective academic work as creating the conditions for effective teaching and learning and I explore the barriers to this faced by one university lecturer when he adopted a student-focused approach to his teaching. I compare the lecturer's perception of the teaching situation to the Teaching Environment Inventory factors, and discuss how institutional policies and practices designed to improve standards and efficiency within the case study institution inhibited those designed to improve student learning. In this respect academic leaders were often perceived to create rather than remove barriers to effective academic work. Finally I consider what can be done to improve standards and efficiency as well as student learning.
Financial Series Prediction: Comparison Between Precision of Time Series Models and Machine Learning Methods

Precise financial series predicting has long been a difficult problem because of unstableness and many noises within the series. Although Traditional time series models like ARIMA and GARCH have been researched and proved to be effective in predicting, their performances are still far from satisfying. Machine Learning, as an emerging research field in recent years, has brought about many incredible improvements in tasks such as regressing and classifying, and it's also promising to exploit the methodology in financial time series predicting. In this paper, the predicting precision of financial time series between traditional time series models and mainstream machine learning models including some state-of-the-art ones of deep learning are compared through experiment using real stock index data from history. The result shows that machine learning as a modern method far surpasses traditional models in precision.
Determinants and pattern of health care services utilisation in post graduate students.

BACKGROUND The health care utilisation of a population is dependent on their health seeking behaviour which is determined by their physical, political, socio-economic and socio-cultural aspects. OBJECTIVES This particular study is conducted to identify the determinants and the patterns of health services utilisation by the postgraduate students of Allama Iqbal Open University in Pakistan. It was a cross-sectional study and conducted from December 2008 to April 2009 in Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. METHODS A non-probability convenience sampling was done in post graduate students who were enrolled for Masters Degree at Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. Data was collected on a self administered, pre-tested questionnaire to identify the pattern of utilisation of health care services by this educated class. Data was labelled and entered in SPSS version 16. Chi-square test is applied as a test of significance with fixing the p value at 0.05 as significant. RESULTS Only 129 students 32 males, 97 females) out of 250 responded to the questionnaire with the response rate of only 51.6%. The sociodemographic profile of the participants shows that 71 (55%) belong to age group 20-29 years, followed by 43 (33.3%) in age group 30-39 years. The marital status of the participants had a significant association with selection of health care services (p = 0.04). Twenty-four (75%) of the males and 67 (65%) of the females were using private sector facilities. Age, marital status and income of the study subjects had significant association with selection of the provider with p values of 0.000, 0.047 and 0.051 respectively. CONCLUSION The health care system in Pakistan comprises the public as well as private health facilities. In Pakistan vast majority of doctors resides in urban area and attracts the educated class towards private sector. Utilisation of public health care facility is not the main priority of the educated class of the country. Government officials should pay attention to make it more convenient for general public.
An ATS/ERS report: 100 key questions and needs in occupational asthma

The second Jack Pepys Workshop on Occupational Asthma was held in Toronto, Canada, in May 2004. The present report summarises key questions and research needs as identified by the international participants. The audiotapes from the workshop discussions were summarised by the organising chairs of the Symposium and the resulting document was circulated for input from all invited workshop participants. In total, 100 key questions and research needs were identified. Identified needs included: provision of different definitions depending on the use of data; explanations for differences in frequency studies; and better characterisation of genetic and environmental determinants of occupational asthma. The role of irritants and the pathogenesis of various forms of work-related asthma need further research, and there are also questions and research needs for diagnosis, prevention and understanding of persistence and airway remodelling. In conclusion, although advances have been made in the understanding of occupational asthma and other work-related asthma, further key issues remain that need addressing.
Variational assimilation of slant-path wet delay measurements from a hypothetical ground-based GPS network. Part I: Comparison with precipitable water assimilation

Abstract With the recent advance in Global Positioning System (GPS) atmospheric sensing technology, slant wet delay along each ray path can be measured with a few millimeters accuracy. In this study, the impact of slant wet delay is assessed on the short-range prediction of a squall line. Since the current GPS observation network in the central United States is not of high enough density to capture the mesoscale variation of moisture in time and space, a set of observing system simulation experiments is performed to assimilate slant wet delay data from a hypothetical network of ground-based GPS receivers using the four-dimensional variational data assimilation technique. In the assimilation of slant wet delay data, significant changes in moisture, temperature, and wind fields within the boundary layer were found. These changes lead to a stronger surface cold front and stronger convective instability ahead of the front. Consequently, the assimilation of slant wet delay produces a considerably improved 6-h .
Parents' In-School Values and Post-School Expectations for Transition-Aged Youth with Disabilities

A survey was conducted with 234 parents of secondary-level students with high- and low-incidence disabilities in two urban school systems about the importance of secondary instructional domains and transition planning and their post-school expectations for their son or daughter. Significant differences were found between parents of students with high- and low-incidence disabilities in the values they placed on instructional domains and transition planning areas, their desired independent living situations, and their post-school expectations for education and employment for their son or daughter. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Simulation of Water Wave Transformation Using Higher Order Mild-Slope Equation

A higher-order mild-slope equation (HOMSE) was developed using classical Galerkin method in which the depth function is expanded to the third-order. Wave nonlinearity and bottom slope parameters are involved in the depth function solved on the bases of the multiple-scale perturbation method. The equation is solved subject to the radiation boundary conditions by means of the procedure of parabolic formulation. Good agreement between numerical results and experimental data has been observed for wave propagation over a submerged obstacle and a sloping beach.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Examining the dynamics of networked e-learning groups and communities

The organisation of students into groups (or communities) for learning purposes is an established pedagogic method in higher education. Teachers are now using group methods in networked e‐learning contexts, albeit without a full understanding of the dynamics of group work in these settings. This is a new and evolving arena in higher education. In this article, the learning dynamics of three collaborative, networked e‐learning groups are examined in an attempt to understand how students work in them. A detailed ethnography indicates that two of the groups worked harmoniously, and successfully produced a collective end product. The other group exhibited extreme anxiety and division, and required extra resources from its members in order to sustain itself and produce its collective end product. Anxiety became a major focus for this group, which had the effect of diverting it from effective collective production. The ethnography shows that the place of identity, control, ontological security and guilt in collaborative e‐learning groups can be central to the effective work of the groups. The difference between the groups with respect to these categories is used as a point of departure in order to show how an understanding of the dynamics of networked learning groups and communities may be of benefit to teachers and students working in these new environments.
Considerations in organizational career advancement: what really matters

Purpose – This study attempts to expand the literature on organizational career advancement (career mobility and promotion prospects) by examining work factors (withdrawal behaviors, contextual performance and job performance) that managers consider when making decisions regarding their employees' career mobility and promotion prospects.Design/methodology/approach – The research population consists of employees working in both service and non‐service organizations in Israel. Data were collected from three sources: employees, managers and organizational records. Regression analyses were used to assess the research hypotheses.Findings – The results show that career mobility is significantly associated with withdrawal behaviors (lateness and absenteeism), overtime dedication and job performance. Interestingly, however, the results did not show a significant relationship between organizational career advancement and the two dimensions of contextual performance (altruism and compliance). We also found that job.
Weighted Local Polynomial Regression, Weighted Additive Models and Local Scoring

This article describes the asymptotic properties of local polynomial regression estimators for univariate and additive models when observation weights are included. The implications of these ndings are discussed for local scoring estimators, a widely used class of estimators for generalized additive models described in Hastie and Tibshirani (1990).