Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Validity of Masking in Electrodiagnostic Research

Haig AJ, Yamakawa K, Kendall R, Miner J, Parres CM, Harris M: Assessment of the validity of masking in electrodiagnostic research. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:475–481. Objectives:Performed by thousands of specialists and researched for >60 yrs, electrodiagnostic testing rates poorly in evidence-based guidelines in part because there are no valid masked research studies. This study assesses whether the electrodiagnostic examination can be adequately masked. Design:Prospective, controlled, masked trial. A total of 150 persons aged 55–80 yrs, thought clinically to be asymptomatic (n = 32), with low back pain (n = 46), or with spinal stenosis (n = 63), underwent needle electromyography and nerve conduction studies by specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation who were not permitted to ask any clinical information or to perform a formal examination. Examiners rated potential bias and recorded clues that might bias the examination. Results:Examiners noted potential for bias in conversation in 17 and due to pain behavior in one. Half of these potential unmaskings pointed away from the correct clinical diagnosis, leaving potential for bias in <6% of the subjects. The clinical diagnosis had no relationship to electrodiagnostician rating of pain behavior in response to testing or repositioning, to limb atrophy, and to arthritis (P > 0.05 all instances). Conclusions:The electrodiagnostic examination can be successfully masked. This information will help future research in electrodiagnostics meet the criteria of evidence-based medicine.
Quantifying the biodiversity value of tropical primary, secondary, and plantation forests

Biodiversity loss from deforestation may be partly offset by the expansion of secondary forests and plantation forestry in the tropics. However, our current knowledge of the value of these habitats for biodiversity conservation is limited to very few taxa, and many studies are severely confounded by methodological shortcomings. We examined the conservation value of tropical primary, secondary, and plantation forests for 15 taxonomic groups using a robust and replicated sample design that minimized edge effects. Different taxa varied markedly in their response to patterns of land use in terms of species richness and the percentage of species restricted to primary forest (varying from 5% to 57%), yet almost all between-forest comparisons showed marked differences in community structure and composition. Cross-taxon congruence in response patterns was very weak when evaluated using abundance or species richness data, but much stronger when using metrics based upon community similarity. Our results show that, whereas the biodiversity indicator group concept may hold some validity for several taxa that are frequently sampled (such as birds and fruit-feeding butterflies), it fails for those exhibiting highly idiosyncratic responses to tropical land-use change (including highly vagile species groups such as bats and orchid bees), highlighting the problems associated with quantifying the biodiversity value of anthropogenic habitats. Finally, although we show that areas of native regeneration and exotic tree plantations can provide complementary conservation services, we also provide clear empirical evidence demonstrating the irreplaceable value of primary forests.
Metacognition: computation, biology and function

Many complex systems maintain a self-referential check and balance. In animals, such reflective monitoring and control processes have been grouped under the rubric of metacognition. In this introductory article to a Theme Issue on metacognition, we review recent and rapidly progressing developments from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, computer science and philosophy of mind. While each of these areas is represented in detail by individual contributions to the volume, we take this opportunity to draw links between disciplines, and highlight areas where further integration is needed. Specifically, we cover the definition, measurement, neurobiology and possible functions of metacognition, and assess the relationship between metacognition and consciousness. We propose a framework in which level of representation, order of behaviour and access consciousness are orthogonal dimensions of the conceptual landscape.
Disruption of estrous behavior in ewes by dexamethasone or management-related stress.

The effect of dexamethasone administration, isolation stress, or transportation stress on the ability of exogenous estradiol to induce estrus in progesterone-primed, ovariectomized ewes was evaluated in this study. Dexamethasone administered twice daily over a 6-d period, or a single injection at either 2 h before estradiol administration or 8 h after estradiol treatment, delayed or blocked the expression of estrous behavior. In those animals in which dexamethasone did not block the onset of estrus, the average length of estrus was reduced. Isolation stress, which induced significant increases in the plasma concentration of corticosteroids, failed to significantly alter the number of ewes expressing estrous behavior, although the expression of estrus was blocked in three of the nine treated animals. These nine animals all expressed estrus during the nonstress phase. In contrast to isolation stress, 8 h of transportation not only increased the average plasma concentration of corticosteroids, but also significantly (P less than .05) blocked the expression of estrus in five of eight ewes and delayed the expression of estrus in one other. During the nonstressed control phase, all eight expressed estrus. These findings indicate that management-related stress can block estrogen from inducing estrous behavior, however, the role of the adrenal axis response to stress in blocking estrus remains to be clarified.
Lithospheric Extension Near Lake Mead, Nevada: A Model for Ductile Flow in the Lower Crust

Small variations in gravity anomalies and topographic elevation observed in areas that have undergone highly variable amounts of upper crustal thinning can be satisfactorily explained by ductile flow of lower crustal material under the proper conditions. In this study we examine the boundary between the unextended Colorado Plateau and a strongly extended domain in the Basin and Range Province in the Lake Mead (Nevada) region. Bouguer gravity and topography data suggest that both present and preextensional variations in crustal thickness between the unextended and extended regions are small. Analytic channel flow models show that viscosities required for ductile flow in a lower crustal channel to reduce discontinuities in crustal thickness associated with variable amounts of extension are highly dependent on the channel thickness and on the length scale of flow required. Finite element modeling of Newtonian flow and power law creep shows that flow over the length scale of the eastern Basin and Range (500 km or more) corresponding to upper crustal extension by a factor of 1.4–3 over 10 m.y. requires effective viscosities less than 10^(18)–10^(20) Pa s for ductile channels 10–25 km thick. Flow over shorter length scales (150 km) may be accommodated with effective viscosities as high as 10^(21) Pa s. Modeling suggests that these effective viscosities may be sustained by lower crustal material deforming at laboratory-derived power law creep rates. The longer-scale flow may require elevated crustal temperatures (more than 700°C), depending on the composition and material properties assumed. Under the boundary conditions assumed in this study the linear viscous flow models yield a satisfactory approximation to deformation by power law creep. This work suggests that flow in the lower crust may be a viable mechanism for producing small variations in total crustal thickness between strongly extended and less extended regions, and thereby explaining the relative uniformity in gravity and topography between such regions.
Identification and Characterization of a New Tubulin-Binding Tetrasubstituted Brominated Pyrrole

We studied the mechanism of action of 3,5-dibromo-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (JG-03-14) and found that it is a potent microtubule depolymerizer. JG-03-14 caused a dose-dependent loss of cellular microtubules, formation of aberrant mitotic spindles, accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and Bcl-2 phosphorylation. These events culminated in the initiation of apoptosis, as evidenced by the caspase 3-dependent cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). JG-03-14 has antiproliferative activity against a wide range of cancer cell lines, with an average IC50 value of 62 nM, and it is a poor substrate for transport by P-glycoprotein. JG-03-14 inhibited the polymerization of purified tubulin in vitro, consistent with a direct interaction between the compound and tubulin. JG-03-14 potently inhibited the binding of [3H]colchicine to tubulin, suggesting that it bound to tubulin at a site overlapping the colchicine site. JG-03-14 had antitumor effects in the PC3 xenograft model, in which it caused greater than 50% reduction in tumor burden after 14 days of treatment. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the dimethoxyphenyl group of JG-03-14 occupies a space similar to that of the trimethoxyphenyl group of colchicine. However, the 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole group, which is connected to the dimethoxyphenyl moiety, interacted with both α and β tubulin in space not shared with colchicine, suggesting significant differences compared with colchicine in the mechanism of binding to tubulin. Our results suggest that this tetransubstituted pyrrole represents a new, biologically active chemotype for the colchicine site on tubulin.
The continuing development of primary sector physical education: Working together to raise quality of provision

This paper sets out to provide further insight as to the reasons why many schools within the primary sector continue to find it difficult to ensure quality provision for physical education (PE) and school sport. It examines why class teachers, including the subject coordinator, possess concerns about teaching PE. It asks the question of who is actually best placed for teaching primary school PE and looks at how working together in partnership can support primary and subsequently secondary school PE curricula. Results from this study reinforce existing research in this area, namely that lack of personal subject knowledge and availability of training opportunities still affect quality of provision. Findings indicate that the majority of class teachers within schools sampled wish to retain a prominent role in providing quality PE experiences. While external specialist support is welcomed many primary sector teachers would resent being placed on the periphery of teaching PE.
The Third Wave Studies of Values in Effective Mathematics Education: Developing Students' Mathematical Autonomy in Classroom Learning

Several decades in the past saw the change of focuses in mathematics education research community from cognitive approaches to affective aspects (the second wave), and then the recent trend (the third wave) on the discursive approach. This project uses qualitative tools to investigate effectiveness in mathematics lessons from both the standpoints of the learners and the teachers. The findings have identified what learners value in effective mathematics learning, and how these findings can help teachers and mathematics educators to develop students' mathematical autonomy in classroom learning.
THE IMPACT OF PERCEIVED VALENCE, PERCEIVED INFORMATION CREDIBILITY AND VALENCE INTENSITY OF ONLINE REVIEWS ON PURCHASE INTENTIONS

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the quality of product recommendations on buying intentions. An online experiment was conducted testing both the effect of the two dimensions of review quality (perceived valence and perceived information credibility) and the influence of valence intensity of the review content on purchase intentions. Both dimensions of the review quality were found to have a significant impact on purchase intentions. This effect holds for books and hotels, which were chosen to serve as research objects to provide information for both search and experience goods. In a subsequent analysis, we compared the effect of moderate and strong valence intensity of the review content. Interestingly, we found no significant difference of the effects of positive versus negative product reviews on purchase intentions in the two groups with moderate valence intensity. Although the present study is rather exploratory in nature, these findings are novel and crucial for both marketing research and practice.
Modeling of metastable phase formation diagrams for sputtered thin films

Abstract A method to model the metastable phase formation in the Cu–W system based on the critical surface diffusion distance has been developed. The driver for the formation of a second phase is the critical diffusion distance which is dependent on the solubility of W in Cu and on the solubility of Cu in W. Based on comparative theoretical and experimental data, we can describe the relationship between the solubilities and the critical diffusion distances in order to model the metastable phase formation. Metastable phase formation diagrams for Cu–W and Cu–V thin films are predicted and validated by combinatorial magnetron sputtering experiments. The correlative experimental and theoretical research strategy adopted here enables us to efficiently describe the relationship between the solubilities and the critical diffusion distances in order to model the metastable phase formation during magnetron sputtering.
Microarray Analysis of Perinatal-Estrogen-Induced Changes in Gene Expression Related to Brain Sexual Differentiation in Mice

Sexual dimorphism of the behaviors or physiological functions in mammals is mainly due to the sex difference of the brain. A number of studies have suggested that the brain is masculinized or defeminized by estradiol converted from testicular androgens in perinatal period in rodents. However, the mechanisms of estrogen action resulting in masculinization/defeminization of the brain have not been clarified yet. The large-scale analysis with microarray in the present study is an attempt to obtain the candidate gene(s) mediating the perinatal estrogen effect causing the brain sexual differentiation. Female mice were injected with estradiol benzoate (EB) or vehicle on the day of birth, and the hypothalamus was collected at either 1, 3, 6, 12, or 24 h after the EB injection. More than one hundred genes down-regulated by the EB treatment in a biphasic manner peaked at 3 h and 12-24 h after the EB treatment, while forty to seventy genes were constantly up-regulated after it. Twelve genes, including Ptgds, Hcrt, Tmed2, Klc1, and Nedd4, whose mRNA expressions were down-regulated by the neonatal EB treatment, were chosen for further examination by semiquantitative RT-PCR in the hypothalamus of perinatal intact male and female mice. We selected the genes based on the known profiles of their potential roles in brain development. mRNA expression levels of Ptgds, Hcrt, Tmed2, and Nedd4 were significantly lower in male mice than females at the day of birth, suggesting that the genes are down-regulated by estrogen converted from testicular androgen in perinatal male mice. Some genes, such as Ptgds encoding prostaglandin D2 production enzyme and Hcrt encording orexin, have been reported to have a role in neuroprotection. Thus, Ptgds and Hcrt could be possible candidate genes, which may mediate the effect of perinatal estrogen responsible for brain sexual differentiation.
Symposium: Approaches to the Study of Public Administration: Unified Knowledge—Competing Approaches—Methodological Pluralism: Introduction to the Symposium

An answer to the ontological question “What is government? ” begets an epistemological challenge: “How can we know government (best)? ” The theories and methods which scholars of public administration have showered upon their material or substantive object of study, i.e., government, are so diverse that the study may come across as eclectic. To some it is an “Israel of academic disciplines. always squabbling over the precise (and priceless) boundary lines that define our identity. ” (Rodgers & Rodgers, 2000, p. 436). That in the study various different ideas float around about what it is and ought to be few will contest, but the implied value judgment in the Rodgers’ observation— that the intellectual diaspora is. (what exactly: petty? , proof of a preparadigmatic study in the Kuhnian sense? , a proto social science? ) a disservice to (I assume) the practitioners, academics, students, and citizens—should make us stop and wonder whether this variety of theories and approaches can be seen as a strength rather than a weakness. In his contribution to this symposium Meier advances that “Poland” is a more appropriate metaphor since the study of public administration is “visited” by scholars from other disciplines and “plagued” (my language) by scholars borrowing concepts too liberally from other studies. Hence, he advocates more attention for developing a specific set of methods for public administration. Reading a recent bird’s eye view of public administration theory (Frederickson & Smith, 2002) one might conclude that the study is hopelessly befuddled by and fragmented across a wide range of “theories,” subject matters, and approaches. Connecting this variety of theories, subject matters and approaches in a manner satisfying to all, calls for a more pedagogical and—perhaps also pragmatic—perspective that assumes that:
Female Violent Offenders: Moral Panics or More Serious Offenders?

Abstract Nearly 40 years ago, in research conducted for the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, Ward and his colleagues, asked ‘Are women more aggressive in committing violent crimes today than in the past? ’ The reason they asked this question, and others have continued to, is the common fear that women, as the putative gatekeepers of social morality, are changing. Using data from the same prison Ward and his colleagues relied on to document the nature of women's violent offences, we examine whether and how the characteristics and crimes of incarcerated female offenders have changed. In so doing, we also seek to explain observed patterns of stability and change over the last third of the 20th century in women's crimes of violence and the moral panics that circumscribe violent criminality by women.
Identification of G Protein α-Subunits in RINm5F Cells and Their Selective Interaction with Galanin Receptor

Galanin, an inhibitor of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, exerts its multiple effects through mechanisms that are sensitive to pertussis toxin (PTX). G proteins have been characterized in RINm5F cells. By ADP ribosylation and immunoblotting, the α-subunits of Gi1, Gi2, Gi3, and two forms of Go were identified, Gi12 being predominant. As expected from a G protein–linked receptor, GTP and its nonhydrolyzable analogue GTP-γ-S decreased tracer galanin binding to cell membranes. This resulted from a change in receptor affinity without any modification in the number of sites. Selective antibodies against the COOH-terminal decapeptide of the α-subunits of the Gi and Go proteins were used to block G protein interaction before we studied galanin binding. Antibody AS, which selectively recognizes Giα1 and Giα2, decreased tracer galanin binding to membranes at concentrations where there were no effects of other antibodies specifically directed against Giα3 or Gαo. These data suggest that Gi1 and/or Gi2 interact with the galanin receptor and probably mediate the effects of galanin in pancreatic β-cells.
PISA 2006 sınavı sonuçlarına göre Türkiye’deki öğrencilerin fen okuryazarlığını etkileyen faktörler

Bu calismanin amaci Uluslararasi Ogrenci Basari DegerlendirmePrograminin verilerine gore Turkiye’de fen okuryazarligi ileduyussalfaktorlerin incelenmesidir. PISA 2006 ogrenci anketinden fenbilimlerine verilen genel deger, fen bilimlerine verilen kisisel deger, fenbilimleri ogrencisi olarak kendini yeterli gorme, fen bilimlerinde ozguven vebilimsel sorulamaya verilen onem degiskenleri belirlenmistir. Belirlenen budegiskenlerin fen bilimleri okuryazarligi uzerindeki etkisi cinsiyet ve okulturune gore arastirilmistir.Belirlenen degiskenlerin fen bilimleri okuryazarligini kestirmeye olankatkisi Yapisal Esitlik Modeli (YEM) ile sinanmistir.Buna gore, ogrencilerin fen bilimleri ogrencisi olarak kendileriniyeterli gormelerinin fen bilimleri okuryazarligi uzerinde dogrudan etkisi vardir.Kendilerini yeterli gordukce fen bilimlerindeki performanslarinda artisgozlenmektedir. Ayrica kendilerini yeterli gordukce bilimsel sorgulamayaonem vermekte, bilimsel sorgulamaya verilen onem arttikca fen bilimleriokuryazarligindaki performanslarinda artis olmaktadir.Fen bilimlerine verilen genel degerin fen bilimleri okuryazarligiperformansi uzerinde dogrudan bir etkisi yoktur. Ancak bilimsel sorgulamayaverilen onemin araci oldugu bir etkiden soz edilebilir. Ogrencilerin fenbilimlerine verdikleri genel deger arttikca bilimsel sorgulamaya verilen onemartmaktadir. Bilimsel sorgulamaya verilen onemin artmasindan dolayi fenbilimlerindeki performansta artis gozlenmektedir. Ayrica tanimlanan bumodelin kiz ve erkek ogrenci gruplari ile devlet ve ozel okullardan gelenogrenci gruplarinda farklilasmadigi saptanmistir. Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the science literacy andperceptional factors in Turkey according to PISA-2006. General value ofscience, personal value of science, self-efficacy in science, self concept inscience and the student’s support for scientific enquiry are the variablesselected from PISA 2006 student survey. The effect of these selectedvariables to the science literacy is investigated according to school type andgender.The contribution of the selected variables to estimate scienceliteracy is tested by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). According to this, student’s self efficacy in science effects directlythe student’s science literacy. An increase in student’s science performanceis observed as they think they are efficacious in science. Also as they thinkthey are efficacious in science ,the student’s support for scientific enquiryincreases and with this increase student’s performance in science literacyincreases.General value of science doesn’t have a direct effect on scienceliteracy performance. However an intermediary effect of the support forscientific enquiry on science literacy can be told about. As the student’sgeneral value of science increases their support for scientific enquiryincreases which in turn increases their performance on science literacy. Inaddition to above factors, the constituted model is independent of student’sgender and the student’s school is state or private.
The changing faces of adult literacy, language and numeracy: literacy policy and implementation in the UK

This article draws upon a research project funded by the ESRC (R000239387) that tracked the development of adult literacy, numeracy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from the 1970s to 2000 in England using life‐history interviews and documentary policy analysis to compare policy, practitioner and learner perspectives. The article discusses the key influences shaping the field. It outlines the Deliberative Policy Analysis framework used to analyse the data. It identifies tensions and gaps that have existed between practice, policy and research. It illustrates the analysis through discussion of key thematic areas that emerged from the study.