Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parvovirus Induced Alterations in Nuclear Architecture and Dynamics

The nucleus of interphase eukaryotic cell is a highly compartmentalized structure containing the three-dimensional network of chromatin and numerous proteinaceous subcompartments. DNA viruses induce profound changes in the intranuclear structures of their host cells. We are applying a combination of confocal imaging including photobleaching microscopy and computational methods to analyze the modifications of nuclear architecture and dynamics in parvovirus infected cells. Upon canine parvovirus infection, expansion of the viral replication compartment is accompanied by chromatin marginalization to the vicinity of the nuclear membrane. Dextran microinjection and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) studies revealed the homogeneity of this compartment. Markedly, in spite of increase in viral DNA content of the nucleus, a significant increase in the protein mobility was observed in infected compared to non-infected cells. Moreover, analyzis of the dynamics of photoactivable capsid protein demonstrated rapid intranuclear dynamics of viral capsids. Finally, quantitative FRAP and cellular modelling were used to determine the duration of viral genome replication. Altogether, our findings indicate that parvoviruses modify the nuclear structure and dynamics extensively. Intranuclear crowding of viral components leads to enlargement of the interchromosomal domain and to chromatin marginalization via depletion attraction. In conclusion, parvoviruses provide a useful model system for understanding the mechanisms of virus-induced intranuclear modifications.
Working at a different level? Curriculum differentiation in Irish lower secondary education

Abstract Young people in Irish schools are required to choose whether to sit secondary exam subjects at higher or ordinary level. This paper draws on a mixed methods longitudinal study of students in 12 case-study schools to trace the factors influencing take-up of higher level subjects within lower secondary education. School organisation and process are found to shape the extent to which young people actually have a ‘choice’. Streaming practices, which are more prevalent in schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged communities, constrain the degree of choice young people have over their subject levels, with those in lower stream classes usually allocated to ordinary level. Even where schools have mixed ability base classes, schools influence access to higher level subjects. In the middle-class and socially mixed schools, teachers are more likely to expect and encourage all students to take higher level. In contrast, in working-class schools there are sharp declines in the proportion taking higher level subjects as they approach the national exam taken at the end of lower secondary education. Early decisions about not pursuing higher level are found to have long-term consequences. The findings contribute to our understanding of how curriculum differentiation reinforces social class differences in educational pathways.
Validation of Wavewatch-III using TOPEX/Poseidon data

A full spectral third-generation ocean wind-wave model, Wavewatch-III has been implemented in the South China Sea (SCS) for investigating the wind wave characteristics. This model was developed at the Ocean Modeling Branch of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The NASA QuickScat data (0.25° resolution) two times daily were used to simulate the wind waves for the whole year in 2000. The significant wave heights from Wavewatch-III are compared to the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) significant wave height data over the satellite crossover points in SCS. The model errors of significant wave height have Gaussian-type distribution with small mean value of 0.02 m (almost no bias). The model errors are comparable to the T/P altimeter accuracy (0.5 m) om the central SCS and smaller than the T/P altimeter accuracy in the northern and southern SCS, which indicates the capability of Wavewatch-III for SCS wave simulation.
The graduate(s): the harvests of Israel’s integrated multicultural bilingual education

Abstract Advocates of integration and cross cultural contact believe schools have a seminal role to play in perpetuating or breaking the cycle of violence and division in conflicted societies. Historically, segregated schools are the norm in such societies. An alternative educational model is provided through integrated schools—schools where children from different national, ethnic, or religious groups are deliberately educated together. Integrated schools are believed to be essential in contributing to the healing of the wounds that afflict conflicted societies, easing the path toward peace, reconciliation, and integration. The present study reports on interviews conducted with the three first cohorts of students which graduated from the only integrated school in Israel running through K12. The interviewees are shown to have been able to successfully negotiate present reigning societal believes in all that regards to the ethos of the conflict and adopt perspectives which help them overcome hatred, fear, and anger while recognizing present sociopolitical complexities and difficulties. All in all the schools? environment and educational practices seem to help counter the socio-psychological infrastructures which evolve in the context of intractable conflicts.
A Classification-Based Polyphonic Piano Transcription Approach Using Learned Feature Representations

Recentlyunsupervisedfeaturelearningmethodshaveshown great promise as a way of extracting features from high dimensional data, such as image or audio. In this paper, we apply deep belief networks to musical data and evaluate the learned feature representations on classification-based polyphonic piano transcription. We also suggest a way of training classifiers jointly for multiple notes to improve training speed and classification performance. Our method is evaluated on three public piano datasets. The results show that the learned features outperform the baseline features, and also our method gives significantly better frame-level accuracy than other state-of-the-art music transcription methods.
Hemodialysis Removes Uremic Toxins That Alter the Biological Actions of Endothelial Cells

Chronic kidney disease is linked to systemic inflammation and to an increased risk of ischemic heart disease and atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction associates with hypertension and vascular disease in the presence of chronic kidney disease but the mechanisms that regulate the activation of the endothelium at the early stages of the disease, before systemic inflammation is established remain obscure. In the present study we investigated the effect of serum derived from patients with chronic kidney disease either before or after hemodialysis on the activation of human endothelial cells in vitro, as an attempt to define the overall effect of uremic toxins at the early stages of endothelial dysfunction. Our results argue that uremic toxins alter the biological actions of endothelial cells and the remodelling of the extracellular matrix before signs of systemic inflammatory responses are observed. This study further elucidates the early events of endothelial dysfunction during toxic uremia conditions allowing more complete understanding of the molecular events as well as their sequence during progressive renal failure.
Transformations in Parent and Friend Faith Support Predicting Adolescents’ Religious Faith

Both parents and peers have been validated by previous research as being important contributors to the development of religious faith. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the contributions of the transmission (e.g., parent church attendance) and transactional (e.g., discussions about faith) models of socialization, as well as explore the possibility that a third model, the transformation model, exists as a meaningful construct contributing to our understanding of social factors and their influence on religious faith. More than 4,000 Christian adolescents (M = 16.2) completed measures of perceived support from parents and friends (e.g., faith modeling, faith dialogue) as well as a measure of religious faith. Results indicated that both parent and friend transmission and transaction variables significantly and positively predicted the measure of religious faith, with friends’ constructs accounting for more variance in religious faith than that of parents. Mediated regression analyses also revealed that perceived faith support from friends mediated the influence of perceived faith support from parents on religious faith. Results are discussed within the framework of the transformation that takes place in parent–friend relationships during adolescent religious faith development.
Evaluation of some anthropometric indices for the diagnosis of obesity in pregnancy in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Obesity in pregnancy is a global health problem which is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The use of weight and height, measured at about ten weeks of gestation, to produce pre-gestational body mass index is recommended for the diagnoses of the condition but limitations abound in under resourced settings. OBJECTIVES To measure anthropometric indices such as mid upper arm circumference, calf circumference, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, for identification of obesity in pregnancy. METHODS Anthropometric measurements were carried out on cohorts of pregnant women from 4 hospitals in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. RESULTS There were no significant difference in the mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) across the trimester groups. The mean values of waist circumferences, hip circumference and waist to hip ratios changed significantly across the trimesters. The 75(th) percentile of MUAC (33 cm) and CC (39 cm) in all trimesters, had sensitivity and specificity of more than 70% for identifying obesity in pregnancy. CONCLUSION MUAC and CC values of 33cm and 39cm respectively might be reliable cut off points for diagnoses of obesity throughout pregnancy in Enugu, Nigeria.
Lymphocyte transformation induced by autologous cells. IV. Human T- lymphocyte proliferation induced by autologous or allogeneic non-T lymphocytes

An autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction was demonstrated between T and non-T lymphocytes. Sheep erythrocyte rosetting was used to separate human lymphocytes into T and non-T lymphoid preparations. Non-T lymphocytes stimulated the proliferation of autologous T lymphocytes. The cell in this preparation that was most stimulatory had the characteristics of a K lymphocyte. The allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction was also shown to reflect the proliferation of T lymphocytes stimulated by allogeneic non-T lymphocytes. Proliferation of T lymphocytes in the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture probably reflects a response to both foreign histocompatibility determinants and determinants present on non-T lymphocytes. It is suggested that the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to autologous non-T lymphocytes may be a step in the process by which T lymphocytes regulate immunity.
Huntingtons Disease Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii Demonstrate Early Kynurenine Pathway Activation, Altered CD8+ T-Cell Responses, and Premature Mortality

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine-repeat expansion in the huntingtin protein. Activation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation is implicated in the pathogenesis of HD. Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes the oxidation of tryptophan to kynurenine, the first step in this pathway. The prevalent, neuroinvasive protozoal pathogen Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) results in clinically silent life-long infection in immune-competent individuals. T. gondii infection results in activation of IDO which provides some protection against the parasite by depleting tryptophan which the parasite cannot synthesize. The kynurenine pathway may therefore represent a point of synergism between HD and T. gondii infection. We show here that IDO activity is elevated at least four-fold in frontal cortex and striata of non-infected N171-82Q HD mice at 14-weeks corresponding to early–advanced HD. T. gondii infection at 5 weeks resulted in elevation of cortical IDO activity in HD mice. HD-infected mice died significantly earlier than wild-type infected and HD control mice. Prior to death, infected HD mice demonstrated decreased CD8+ T-lymphocyte proliferation in brain and spleen compared to wild-type infected mice. We demonstrate for the first time that HD mice have an altered response to an infectious agent that is characterized by premature mortality, altered immune responses and early activation of IDO. Findings are relevant to understanding how T. gondii infection may interact with pathways mediating neurodegeneration in HD.
Fast parametric viewpoint estimation for active object detection

Most current solutions to active perception planning struggle with complex state representations or fast and efficient sensor parameter selection strategies. The goal is to find new viewpoints or optimize sensor parameters for further measurements in order to classify an object and precisely locate its position. This paper presents an exclusively parametric approach for the state estimation and decision making process to achieve very low computational complexity and short calculation times. The proposed approach assumes a realistic, high dimensional and continuous state space for the representation of objects expressing their rotation, translation and class. Its probability distribution is described by multivariate mixtures of Gaussians which allow the representation of arbitrary object hypotheses. In a statistical framework Bayesian state estimation updates the current state probability distribution based on a scene observation which depends on the sensor parameters. These are selected in a decision process which aims on reducing the uncertainty in the state distribution. Approximations of information theoretic measurements are used as evaluation criteria.
Verbally Aggressive Instructors and Machiavellian Students: Is the Socio-Communicative Style an Over-Bridging?

Goals of this research are: 1) to examine the role of gender, 2) to explore the relationship between perceived instructors’ verbal aggressiveness, socio-communicative style and students’ Machiavellian tactics, 3) to investigate the influence of instructors’ verbal aggressiveness on their socio-communicative style and students’ Machiavellian tactics in physical education context and 4) to propose a students’ and instructors’ typology which will be the final over-bridging of verbal aggressiveness and Machiavellianism through communication style. The sample consisted of 269 students (141 males, 128 females) aged 12 - 14 years old (M = 12.6, SD = 0.65) from secondary public schools who completed three types of questionnaires during physical education classes. The results supported the internal consistency of the instruments. According to the results of the study, statistically significant differences were observed in perceived instructors’ verbal aggressiveness, responsiveness, assertiveness and students’ amoral manipulation, desire for control, desire for status, distrust of others between the genders of the students. Correlational analysis indicated that perceived instructors’ verbal aggressiveness was positively related to assertiveness, amoral manipulation, desire for control, desire for status, distrust of others and was negatively related to responsiveness. The results of regression analysis revealed that perceived instructors’ verbal aggressiveness could significantly predict the variables of responsiveness, assertiveness, desire for status and distrust of others. Three behavioral types are revealed: 1) the unrestraint, 2) the responsive, and 3) the distrustful, where verbal aggressiveness appears to be connected with Machiavellianism through communication style in these particular combinations.
Career Imprinting: The Influence of Coworkers in Early Career

This study examines whether individuals' early-career experience influences their subsequent job behavior. I find that sell-side analysts who worked with more optimistic coworkers in their early career issue more strong buy recommendations, more large upgrades, higher earnings forecasts, and higher price targets. Various tests — exploiting the ex post characteristics of early-career experience based on job span and newcomers, using instruments based on the gender composition and network size of early-career coworkers, and implementing a series of falsification and robustness tests — consistently suggest that these systematic patterns are driven by analysts' early-career coworker experience rather than by their self-selection.
Early Numeracy Trajectories: Baseline Performance Levels and Growth Rates in Young Children by Disability Status

Data indicate that children with disabilities typically display lower levels of proficiency in mathematics than their nondisabled peers, with this difference remaining stable over time. Although literature exists regarding school-age children, few studies have examined early numeracy skills of preschoolers and child characteristics associated with performance and growth over time. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the performance and growth over time of preschool-age children who have a disability and those without a disability to determine whether patterns of performance are evident at this age and how patterns may differ between the two groups. Results from a sample of children enrolled in inclusive preschool classrooms (N = 205) indicated differences in initial performance as well as growth over time across measures of oral counting, quantity discrimination, and one-to-one counting; fewer differences were noted for numeral recognition. Results are discussed in the context of early identification and intervention.
A Real-time Network at Home

This paper proposes a home network which integrates both real-time and non-real-time capabilities for one coherent, distributed architecture. Such a network is not yet available. Our network will support inexpensive, small appliances as well as more expensive, large appliances. The network is based on a new type of real-time token protocol that uses scheduling to achieve optimal token-routing through the network. Depending on the scheduling algorithm, bandwidth utilisations of 100 percent are possible. Token management, to prevent token-loss or multiple tokens, is essential to support a dynamic, plug-and-play configuration. Small appliances, like sensors, would contain low-cost, embedded processors with limited computing power, which can handle lightweight network protocols. All other operations can be delegated to other appliances that have sufficient resources. This provides a basis for transparency, as it separates controlling and controlled object. Our network will support this. We will show the proposed architecture of such a network and present experiences with and preliminary research of our design.
The Economics of Two-Sided Payment Card Markets: Pricing, Adoption and Usage

This paper provides a new theory for two-sided payment card markets. Adopting payment cards requires consumers and merchants to pay a fixed cost, but yields a lower marginal cost of making payments. Analyzing adoption and usage externalities among heterogeneous consumers and merchants, our theory derives the equilibrium card adoption and usage pattern consistent with empirical evidence. Our analysis also helps explain the card pricing puzzles, particularly the high and rising merchant (interchange) fees. Based on the theoretical framework, we discuss socially desirable payment card fees as well as the interchange fee cap regulation.
Inspecting compliance to many rules: an agent-based model

Ever increasing scope and complexity of regulations and other rules that govern human society emphasise importance of the inspection of compliance to those rules. Often-used approaches to the inspection of compliance suffer from drawbacks such as overly idealistic assumptions and narrowness of application. Specifically, inspection models are frequently limited to situations where inspected entity has to comply with only one rule. Furthermore, inspection strategies regularly overlook some useful and available information such as varying costs of compliance to different rules. This article presents an agent-based model for inspection of compliance to many rules, which addresses abovementioned drawbacks. In the article, crime economic, game-theoretic and agent-based modelling approaches to inspection are briefly described, as well as their impact on the model. The model is described and simulation of a simplified version of the model is presented. The obtained results demonstrate that inspection strategies which take into account rules' compliance costs perform significantly better than random strategies and better than cycle-based strategies. Additionally, the results encourage further, wider testing and validation of the model.
From Freemasons to the Employee: Organization, History and Subjectivity

This paper uses historical studies as a means to explore the relation of organizations to subjectivity. The first part of the paper illustrates this relation through exploring the work of Elias, Kieser and Brewer. It focuses on the interrelation between 18th-century freemasonry, the emergence of complex financial credit networks and figurational shifts in power relation. The second part of the paper uses the prior analysis in order to engage with recent debate concerning history, organizations and subjectivity. First, the issue of whether we can ascribe continuity, closure and unity to subjectivity is examined. Second, the ‘default’ assumption of historical continuity is debated, drawing on studies by Baert, Jacques, Halttunen and Morgan. In contrasting between ‘traditional’ history and the alternative assumptions contained in post-structural and Foucauldian work, the paper argues for openness rather than rebuttal of particular positions. It suggests that subjectivity, such as that of employees, should be thought of as mobile, yet selectively continuous. It also argues that it is unnecessary to choose between historical positions, such as that which prioritizes historical discontinuity over continuity (or vice versa).
Acculturation and Health Behaviors Among African Americans: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the relationship between acculturation and health behaviors in African Americans. To meet inclusion criteria, studies published in English had to examine the relationship between acculturation and a health behavior among African Americans of any age (including children and adults). Twenty-one studies met criteria for inclusion. Studies assessed the relationship of acculturation to one or more of six different health behaviors: tobacco use, alcohol use, illicit drug use, risky sexual behavior, health-promoting behaviors (e.g., physical activity), and cancer screening. Although some studies found that a traditional African American orientation was associated with unhealthy behaviors, other studies found the opposite or no relationship. Also, for several health behaviors, only one or two studies were available, making it difficult to make definitive conclusions about the relationship of acculturation to these health behaviors. Thus, findings should be considered preliminary. Studies examining the relationship between acculturation and health behaviors among African Americans are needed.