Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
31P NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma: determination and quantification of phospholipid classes in patients with renal cell carcinoma

Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has a poor prognosis and is characterized by an unpredictable clinical course. The aim of this study was to assess the systemic phospholipid distribution as a possible marker of tumor stage and tumor spread beyond the kidney. To this end, the effect of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on phospholipid concentrations in blood plasma using 31P NMR spectroscopy was studied in: (a) 29 patients with RCC prior to nephrectomy; (b) 19 healthy volunteers; (c) three patients with other renal tumors (renal metastases of bronchial carcinoma and of renal pelvic carcinoma, and a benign renal tumor). Furthermore, the phospholipid concentrations of eight patients of group (a) were determined 6 months after nephrectomy, when they were in remission. We found considerable deviations in the concentrations of the lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC1, LPC2) in both male and female patients with RCC compared to healthy volunteers (male—LPC1 0.217 ± 0.062 vs 0.297 ± 0.049 mmol/l, LPC2 0.036 ± 0.014 vs 0.068 ± 0.024 mmol/l; female—LPC1 0.195 ± 0.071 vs 0.296 ± 0.044 mmol/l, LPC2 0.037 ± 0.027 vs 0.044 ± 0.014 mmol/l). In addition, female patients with RCC showed lower concentrations of phosphatidylcholines (PC; 1.409 ± 0.268 vs 1.947 ± 0.259 mmol/l). The low phospholipid concentrations normalized for patients in remission. Phospholipid concentrations were found to depend on tumor stage and metastatic spread. The deviations in phospholipid concentrations (LPC1, LPC2, PC) observed may be attributable to systemic effects caused by the tumor as well as changes in enzyme activities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Convex Programs for Temporal Verification of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

A methodology for safety verification of continuous and hybrid systems using barrier certificates has been proposed recently. Conditions that must be satisfied by a barrier certificate can be formulated as a convex program, and the feasibility of the program implies system safety in the sense that there is no trajectory starting from a given set of initial states that reaches a given unsafe region. The dual of this problem, i.e., the reachability problem, concerns proving the existence of a trajectory starting from the initial set that reaches another given set. Using insights from the linear programming duality appearing in the discrete shortest path problem, we show in this paper that reachability of continuous systems can also be verified through convex programming. Several convex programs for verifying safety and reachability, as well as other temporal properties such as eventuality, avoidance, and their combinations, are formulated. Some examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed methods. Finally, we exploit the convexity of our methods to derive a converse theorem for safety verification using barrier certificates.
In vivo study indicating loss of intracortical inhibition in tumor‐associated epilepsy

Transcranial magnetic stimulation was performed in 2 patients with focal motor seizures in the right hand caused by a circumscribed tumor process affecting the left precentral gyrus. In both cases, paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation showed a loss of intracortical inhibition for interstimulus intervals of 2 to 4msec that was replaced by an enormous facilitation in the lesioned hand motor cortex. The uniform impairment of inhibitory mechanisms in epileptogenic tumors with different histologies suggests a common, nonspecific cause of tumor‐related epileptogenesis.
Educational heterogamy

Socio-demographic heterogamy is commonly believed to lead to lower relationship stability due to the presence of cultural differences between partners. This explanation lacks empirical support, as psychology studies have not confirmed the link between heterogamy and cultural differences, whereas sociological studies have been characterized by problems related to the choice and measurement of cultural differences. Progressing from previous research, this article examines the specific link between educational heterogamy and cultural differences in the domain of child-rearing. Results partly confirm the alternative hypotheses of child-rearing values and behaviors being subject to gender differences and processes of selection between partners. Nonetheless, they also indicate a positive link between educational heterogamy and differences in child-rearing values and behaviors between partners.
Compliant in a moment: a commentary on nevin.

Nevin's scholarly and timely discussion attempts to maintain the precarious union of the experimentally derived theory of behavioral momentum with applications of the behavioral momentum construct to human subjects in applied settings. Nevin's discussion adds much-needed clarification to a process that at times has proven to be awkward for applied researchers. In this commentary, we will address three general questions: (a) Can the applications of behavioral momentum be derived from the theory as conceptualized by Nevin? (b) Could those applications have been developed had the theory not been formulated? (c) Does behavioral momentum theory add significantly to the compliance literature?
Genome-Wide Comparative Analysis of Flowering-Related Genes in Arabidopsis, Wheat, and Barley

Early flowering is an important trait influencing grain yield and quality in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in short-season cropping regions. However, due to large and complex genomes of these species, direct identification of flowering genes and their molecular characterization remain challenging. Here, we used a bioinformatic approach to predict flowering-related genes in wheat and barley from 190 known Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. ) flowering genes. We identified 900 and 275 putative orthologs in wheat and barley, respectively. The annotated flowering-related genes were clustered into 144 orthologous groups with one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many orthology relationships. Our approach was further validated by domain and phylogenetic analyses of flowering-related proteins and comparative analysis of publicly available microarray data sets for in silico expression profiling of flowering-related genes in 13 different developmental stages of wheat and barley. These further analyses showed that orthologous gene pairs in three critical flowering gene families (PEBP, MADS, and BBX) exhibited similar expression patterns among 13 developmental stages in wheat and barley, suggesting similar functions among the orthologous genes with sequence and expression similarities. The predicted candidate flowering genes can be confirmed and incorporated into molecular breeding for early flowering wheat and barley in short-season cropping regions.
Grades and Test Scores: Accounting for Observed Differences

Why do grades and test scores often differ? A framework of possible differences is proposed in this article. An approximation of the framework was tested with data on 8,454 high school seniors from the National Education Longitudinal Study. Individual and group differences in grade versus test performance were substantially reduced by focusing the two measures on similar academic subjects, correcting for grading variations and unreliability, and adding teacher ratings and other information about students. Concurrent prediction of high school average was thus increased from 0.62 to 0.90; differential prediction in eight subgroups was reduced to 0.02 letter-grades. Grading variation was a major source of discrepancy between grades and test scores. Other major sources were teacher ratings and Scholastic Engagement, a promising organizing principle for understanding student achievement. Engagement was defined by three types of observable behavior: employing school skills, demonstrating initiative, and avoiding competing activities. While groups varied in average achievement, group performance was generally similar on grades and tests. Major factors in achievement were similarly constituted and similarly related from group to group. Differences between grades and tests give these measures complementary strengths in high-stakes assessment. If artifactual differences between the two measures are not corrected, common statistical estimates of validity and fairness are unduly conservative.
Much More Than Model Fitting? Evidence for the Heritability of Method Effect Associated With Positively Worded Items of the Life Orientation Test Revised

When a self-report instrument includes a balanced number of positively and negatively worded items, factor analysts often use method effect factors to aid model fitting. One of the most widely investigated sources of method effects stems from the respondent tendencies to agree with an item regardless of its content. The nature of these effects, often referred to as acquiescence, is still debated. This study provides a unique contribution to the understanding of the substantive nature of these factors. The revised Life Orientation Test was administered to 653 twins (40% males) to unravel the genetic and the environmental components of method effect associated with positively worded items. Biometric modeling revealed significant heritability for the method effect factor along with strong unique environmental influences. This provides a substantive interpretation of method effects as a stable individual tendency. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Behavioral dimensions of public relations leadership in organizations

Purpose – The evolution of public relations into a management function has brought the importance of leadership to the forefront of professional discussion. This study aims to identify and develop a measure of behavioral dimensions critical to effective public relations for organization‐wide public relations leadership.Design/methodology/approach – Using a national survey of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) members (n=159), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on the seven theoretically‐driven leadership behaviors: upward influence, coordinating, internal monitoring, networking, representing, providing vision, and acting as a change agent.Findings – The results suggest that the measurement model had a good internal and global fit. CFA results supported the seven‐factor model over the one‐factor model, suggesting that public relations leadership is multi‐dimensional. Among the behaviors, “providing vision” and “acting as a change agent” were those most strongly associated with the v.
A Bio-Inspired Pattern Recognition System for Tin-Oxide Gas Sensor Applications

In this paper, a bio-inspired pattern recognition system for tin-oxide gas sensor applications is proposed. To mimic the biological olfactory system, temperature modulation is first used to virtually increase the number of sensors by periodically sampling the sensors' response at different temperatures. A convex microhotplate is used in order to improve the thermal properties of the structure enabling efficient temperature modulation process to be carried out. Temperature modulation is shown to increase the number of effective sensors from 16 physically available sensors (integrated on a single chip) to 12 000 virtual sensors (VSs). This enables the emulation of a very large number of sensors typically found in biological systems. The response of each sensor is seen as a fingerprint map, which is further processed using various image processing techniques. Self organized maps (SOMs) algorithm is used to create a 2D map for each gas and to combine the huge number of VSs in order to reduce the dimensionality. Image moments are used as a feature enabling to characterize the spatial distribution within the image lattice and to retrieve the brighter regions in the SOM' nodes exhibiting high activity to the input gas. Experiments on real sensors data show improved performance (96%) as compared with standard gas discrimination algorithms.
Job insecurity, recovery and well-being at work: Recovery experiences as moderators

In the present study, the moderating role of recovery experiences in the job insecurity— occupational well-being relationship was examined. Recovery experiences refer to psychological mechanisms (psychological detachment from work, relaxation, mastery and control during off-job time) facilitating recovery. Altogether 527 employees from a variety of different jobs participated in the questionnaire study. The moderated regression analyses revealed that in an insecure job situation, relaxation buffered against increased need for recovery from work, and psychological detachment impaired vigour at work. The results suggest that recovery experiences can to some extent be a buffer against strain related to job insecurity.
Coming Out Through Art: A Review of Art Therapy With LGBT Clients

This paper examines sexual identity development and the integration of art therapy in counseling with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) clients. Especially during the coming out process for LGBT clients, research has shown that levels of emotional and physical well-being decrease considerably. However, there is growing evidence in support of a relationship between personal creative expression and sexual identity, as well as between expressiveness and physical and emotional health. This paper argues that the use of art therapy during the coming out process increases wellbeing in the LGBT population.
Schools or Neighborhoods or Both?: Race and Ethnic Segregation and Educational Attainment

Whites, blacks and Latinos in the United States tend to live in different neighborhoods and attend different schools. Does this segregation influence youth in the long run? This study used longitudinal data from the NELS to see whether neighborhoods’ or schools’ proportion black and/or Latino during the high school years influences educational attainment through age 26. The analyses indicate that concentrations of blacks and Latinos in schools, but not zip code areas, associates with lower attainment in the long run. Students in predominantly black and Latino schools are less likely to earn a high school diploma or equivalent and to earn a bachelor’s degree or more than similar students in predominantly white schools.
Motivation in Accounting Decisions: The Effects of Rewards and Environment on Decision Performance and Knowledge Acquisition

The present study investigated the effects of reward structure and environmental conditions (i.e., context) on integrated motivation for an accounting task using 101 undergraduate accounting students. A computer-simulated task in which students were asked to estimate allowance for doubtful accounts was used to create and manipulate reward structure (i.e., performance-contingent vs. task-contingent) and context (i.e., selfdetermined vs. controlled). It was hypothesized that a self-determined context would create greater motivation than a controlled context when motivation was measured by response intensity, response persistence, integrated response intensity, and integrated response persistence. An ordinal interaction was also hypothesized such that in a selfdetermined context, performance-contingent rewards would create more motivation than task-contingent rewards, and in a controlled context, performance-contingent rewards would create less motivation than task-contingent rewards. Results indicated that response intensity, as measured by time on task, did not support the hypothesized main effect or the ordinal interaction; however, when selfreported effort was used as a measure of response intensity, support for both hypotheses was found. Similarly, when response persistence was measured by time on task, support for the hypotheses was not found; however, when number of problems worked during the free choice period was used to assess response persistence, hypothesized effects were supported. For integrated response intensity and persistence, support for the hypotheses was not found.
Static Stretching Does Not Impair Performance in Active Middle-Aged Adults

Handrakis, JP, Southard, VN, Abreu, JM, Aloisa, M, Doyen, MR, Echevarria, LM, Hwang, H, Samuels, C, Venegas, SA, and Douris, PC. Static stretching does not impair performance in active middle-aged adults. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 825-830, 2010-Recent investigations with young, healthy adult subjects suggest that static stretching before activity decreases performance and should, therefore, be avoided. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an acute static stretching protocol on balance and jump/hop performance in active middle-aged adults. Ten subjects (6 men and 4 women aged 40-60 yr) from a martial arts school volunteered to take part in this research study. This was a repeated measures design. Subjects who stretched for 10 minutes using a 30-second hold during 1 session sat quietly for 10 minutes during the alternate session. Sessions were randomly assigned. The following dependent variables were compared: Dynamic Stability Index (DSI) for single-leg dynamic balance (smaller DSI = improved balance); distances for broad jump, single hop, triple hop, and crossover hop; elapsed time for a 6-m timed hop. Group means for balance were significantly different between the stretch and no-stretch conditions (3.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.4 DSI, respectively; p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the group means of the stretch and no-stretch conditions for the dependent measures of broad jump, single hop, triple hop, crossover hop, and 6-m timed hop performance. Ten minutes of acute static stretching enhances dynamic balance and does not affect jump/hop performance in active middle-aged adults. Static stretching should be included before competition and before exercise in fitness programs of active middle-aged adults.
The Apoptotic Effect of 1’S-1’-Acetoxychavicol Acetate from Alpinia Conchigera on Human Cancer Cells

1’-(S)-1’-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) isolated from the Malaysian ethno-medicinal plant Alpinia conchigera Griff. was investigated for its potential as an anticancer drug. In this communication, we describe the cytotoxic and apoptotic properties of ACA on five human tumour cell lines. Data from MTT cell viability assays indicated that ACA induced both time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity on all tumour cell lines tested and had no adverse cytotoxic effects on normal cells. Total mortality of the entire tumour cell population was achieved within 30 hrs when treated with ACA at 40.0 µM concentration. Flow cytometric analysis for annexin-V and PI dual staining demonstrated that cell death occurred via apoptosis, followed by secondary necrosis. The apoptotic effects of ACA were confirmed via the DNA fragmentation assay, in which consistent laddering of genomic DNA was observed for all tumour cell lines after a 24 hrs post-treatment period at the IC50 concentration of ACA. A cell cycle analysis using PI staining also demonstrated that ACA induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, corresponding to oral tumour cell lines. In conclusion, ACA exhibits enormous potential for future development as a chemotherapeutic drug against various malignancies.
Nonendosomal cellular uptake of ligand‐free, positively charged gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have interesting optical properties, such as exceptionally high quantum yields and virtually limitless photostability. Therefore, they show the potential for applications as biomarkers especially suitable for in vivo and long‐term studies. The generation of GNPs using pulsed laser light rather than chemical means provides nanoparticles, which are remarkably stable in a variety of media without the need of stabilizing agents or ligands. This stabilization is achieved by partial oxidation of the gold surface resulting in positively charged GNPs. However, little is known about cellular uptake of such ligand‐free nanoparticles, their intracellular fate, or cell viability after nanoparticle contact. The current work is aimed to explore the response of a bovine cell line to GNP exposure mainly using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) supported by other techniques. Cultured bovine immortalized cells (GM7373) were coincubated with GNP (average diameter 15 nm, 50 μM Au) for 2, 24, and 48 h. The detection of GNP‐associated light scattering by the LSCM facilitated a clear distinction between GNP‐containing cells and the negative controls. After 48 h, 75% of cells had visibly incorporated nanoparticles. No colocalization was detected with either Rab5a or Lamp1‐positive structures, i.e., endosomes or lysosomes, respectivley. However, transmission electron microscope analysis of GNP‐coincubated cells indicated the nanoparticles to be positioned within electron‐dense structures. Coincubation at 4°C did not inhibit nanoparticle uptake, suggesting diffusion as possible entrance mechanism. Although the assessment of cell morphology, membrane integrity, and apoptosis revealed no GNP‐related loss of cell viability at a gold concentration of 25 μM or below, a cytotoxic effect was observed in a proliferation assay after exposing low cell numbers to 50 μM Au and above. In conclusion, this study confirmed the cellular uptake of ligand‐free gold nanoparticles during coincubation apparently without using endocytic pathways. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Making use of qualitative tools: towards a fuller understanding of the voluntary sector’s engagement with public service delivery

Qualitative tools are potentially powerful to gain understandings of the voluntary sector’s (VS) engagement with public service delivery. This is because of the strengths associated with qualitative methods to gain specific information on an area as diverse as the VS and the ability to carry out comparative analyses. Despite this, research on the VS is dominated by work that uses quantitative tools. Using a case study of research conducted on VS’ engagement with the government’s welfare‐to‐work programme, the New Deal for Young People, I discuss three advantages commonly associated with qualitative tools. These are the flexibility of open‐endedness and the importance of understanding processes and staff’s perspectives. I conclude that if the government wants to keep the VS engaged in the delivery of public services, they need to understand what keeps the VS involved and that qualitative tools can make a substantial contribution towards understanding this.
The Region in Political Economy

A decade ago regions were the hot topic in political economy. Convinced by accounts of how regions were competitive economic territories per excellence and crucial sites for promoting a plural society, the ‘new regionalism’ ascended to a position of orthodoxy in political economy. Today the memory of these halcyon days is but a distant one with the past decade seeing regions be the site for a number of topical debates which appear at first sight to challenge the regional concept: the collapse of the new regionalist orthodoxy; the theoretical ascendancy of relational approaches to conceptualising spatiality; and, the political ascendancy of the ‘city-region’ concept. All of which suggests that the regional concept may be under threat in contemporary political economy. But it also prompts the need to confront searching questions as to whether we are in fact witnessing the awakening of a new geography of the region. This paper emphasises the latter, arguing that what we are witnessing is the emergence of a new era of ‘relational regionalism’ in political economy.