Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘I don’t want to go to a crummy little university’: social class, higher education choice and the paradox of widening participation

Whilst there has been growing attention paid to the imbalance of Higher Education (HE) applications according to social class, insufficient attention has been paid to the successful minority of working-class young people who do secure places in some of the UK’s leading HE institutions. In particular, the influence and nature of pre-university interventions on such students’ choice of institution has been under-explored. Data from an ESRC-funded PhD study of 16 young people who participated in a Sutton Trust Summer School are used to illustrate how the effects of a school-based institutional habitus and directed intervention programmes can be instrumental in guiding student choices and decisions relating to participation in Higher Education.
Thermal Aspects and High-Level Explorations of 3D Stacked DRAMs

DRAMs are very sensitive to temperature changes as they use capacitors as volatile and leaky bit storage elements. 3D stacking of heterogenous dies provokes more and more challenges, such as high power densities and thermal dissipation, and has a much stronger impact on the retention time of 3D stacked WIDE I/O DRAMs that are placed on top of an MPSoC. Consequently, it is very important to study the temperature behavior of WIDE I/O DRAMs and explore on high-level with advanced modeling how the thermal issues can be mitigated. In this paper, we demonstrate thermal modeling of 3D integrated ICs and we further provide detailed measurements on temperature-dependent bit error rates of WIDE I/O DRAMs based on real silicon (WIOMING chip) and high-level explorations with advanced modeling and tools, such as gem5 (full system-simulator), DRAMSys and DOCEAs Ace Thermal ModelerTM (ATM), to obtain mitigation paths for thermal problems in 3D stacked DRAMs.
Antecedents of causal uncertainty and perceived control: a prospective study

Perceptions of lack of control have been thought to be closely related to causal uncertainty, or uncertainty about the causes of events (Weary and Edwards, 1994). A 6‐week prospective study tested the notion that perceived lack of control results in higher levels of later causal uncertainty. This prediction was confirmed. It also was found that time 1 causal uncertainty was associated with higher levels of time 2 perceptions of lack of control. Feelings of lack of control, causal uncertainty, and levels of depressive symptomatology were concurrently related at both time periods. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Lines-of-Defense Model for Managing Health Threats: A Review

As older individuals face challenges of progressive disease and increasing disability and approach the end of their lives, their capacity for controlling their environment and own health and functioning declines. The Lines-of-Defense Model is based on the Motivational Theory of Life-Span Development and proposes that individuals can adjust their control striving to the progressive physical decline in distinctly organized cycles of goal engagement and goal disengagement that reflect sequentially organized lines of defense. This organized process allows individuals to hold onto and defend still feasible levels of physical health and functioning in activities of daily living, while adjusting to increasing impairments. As physical constraints become more severe towards the end of life, avoiding psychological suffering becomes the focus of individuals' strivings for control. The Lines-of-Defense Model can also be applied to the inverse process of growth in functioning during recovery and rehabilitation.
Multiplexed fragaria chloroplast genome sequencing

A method to sequence multiple chloroplast genomes using ultra high throughput sequencing technologies was recently described. Complete chloroplast genome sequences can resolve phylogenetic relationships at low taxonomic levels and identify informative point mutations and indels. The objective of this research was to sequence multiple Fragaria chloroplast genomes using the Illumina Genome Analyzer. Sixty-three PCR fragments from 22 species were sequenced in four multiplex sequencing runs. Plastome sequences were assembled using a combination of de novo and reference guided assembly with F. vesca 'Hawaii 4' providing the reference. De novo assembly resulted in plastome coverage of 43-74%, and reference guided assembly increased the plastome coverage to 76-82%. The alignment of sequenced chloroplast genomes was 96,438 bp and contained 319 parsimony-informative sites which will be useful in identifying chloroplast genome regions of high sequence variation for testing evolutionary relationships.
A Longitudinal Examination of the Reciprocal Relations Between Perceived Parenting and Adolescents' Substance Use and Externalizing Behaviors

Although studies have found an association between adolescent problem behavior and deficits in parental support and control, questions remain concerning the causal nature of these relations. Using longitudinal data, this study explored prospective reciprocal relations between perceived parenting and adolescents' substance use and externalizing symptoms. A community sample of adolescents and their parents (N = 441) was studied, within which half of the adolescents were at risk for problem behavior because of parental alcoholism. Covariance structural modeling revealed full reciprocal relations between adolescent substance use and levels of parental support and control. Furthermore, although adolescent externalizing behaviors prospectively predicted parental control and support, parenting was not prospectively related to externalizing symptoms. The findings support the reciprocal effects model of socialization
Egg Case Silk Gene Sequences from Argiope Spiders: Evidence for Multiple Loci and a Loss of Function Between Paralogs

Spiders swath their eggs with silk to protect developing embryos and hatchlings. Egg case silks, like other fibrous spider silks, are primarily composed of proteins called spidroins (spidroin = spider-fibroin). Silks, and thus spidroins, are important throughout the lives of spiders, yet the evolution of spidroin genes has been relatively understudied. Spidroin genes are notoriously difficult to sequence because they are typically very long (≥ 10 kb of coding sequence) and highly repetitive. Here, we investigate the evolution of spider silk genes through long-read sequencing of Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clones. We demonstrate that the silver garden spider Argiope argentata has multiple egg case spidroin loci with a loss of function at one locus. We also use degenerate PCR primers to search the genomic DNA of congeneric species and find evidence for multiple egg case spidroin loci in other Argiope spiders. Comparative analyses show that these multiple loci are more similar at the nucleotide level within a species than between species. This pattern is consistent with concerted evolution homogenizing gene copies within a genome. More complicated explanations include convergent evolution or recent independent gene duplications within each species.
Male Adolescent Sexual Assaulters

Clinical assessments of 49 male adolescent sexual offenders who had sexually assaulted females their age or older showed that the majority were recidivists, had a history of antisocial behavior predating and coinciding with their sexual offenses, and came from a disturbed family background. Thirty-three percent of the offenders had a history of physical abuse in childhood, but, surprisingly, a history of sexual abuse could be confirmed in only two cases. The assaulters were less likely to be socially isolated than a comparison group of child molesters and more likely to socialize with older peers than a comparison group of delinquents. There was known sexual pathology in about 25% of the parents. Alcohol and drugs were not found to play a prominent role in the sexual assaults. Sexually deviant impulses and antisocial traits were found to be motivating factors for the majority of the assaults.
Risk factors for superficial digital flexor tendinopathy in Thoroughbred racehorses in hurdle starts in the UK (2001-2009).

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendinopathy is a common injury in Thoroughbred horses racing over hurdles. Identification of risk factors may allow the introduction of measures to minimise the incidence of this injury. OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for SDF tendinopathy in Thoroughbred horses in hurdle races in the UK. METHODS Potential risk factors for SDF tendinopathy were studied between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2009 using a retrospective cohort study design with 1031 case starts and 168,637 control starts. Potential risk factors were screened using univariable logistic regression prior to multivariable model building. RESULTS IN the final multivariable model, 20 statistically significant risk factors were identified. Variables found to be associated with increased odds of SDF tendinopathy included: firmer going; increased horse age at first race; having had a previous SDFT injury; and racing in the summer compared to other seasons. Variables found to be associated with decreased odds included: being trained by a more successful trainer; and having raced more frequently in the preceding 9-12 months. CONCLUSIONS This study identified multiple risk factors associated with SDF tendinopathy, some of which are difficult to explain with the current data source. Factors resulting in increased cumulative horse and tendon fatigue (increased years in racing; carrying increased weight; and racing over longer distances), firm ground, and the presence of previous tendon injury should be considered when attempting to reduce the likelihood of sustaining SDF tendinopathy. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The results will facilitate the development of strategies to improve the overall safety of horses in hurdle racing in the UK.
Cost-effectiveness of screening for HIV in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND The costs, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in health care settings during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have not been determined. METHODS We developed a Markov model of costs, quality of life, and survival associated with an HIV-screening program as compared with current practice. In both strategies, symptomatic patients were identified through symptom-based case finding. Identified patients started treatment when their CD4 count dropped to 350 cells per cubic millimeter. Disease progression was defined on the basis of CD4 levels and viral load. The likelihood of sexual transmission was based on viral load, knowledge of HIV status, and efficacy of counseling. RESULTS Given a 1 percent prevalence of unidentified HIV infection, screening increased life expectancy by 5.48 days, or 4.70 quality-adjusted days, at an estimated cost of 194 dollars per screened patient, for a cost-effectiveness ratio of 15,078 dollars per quality-adjusted life-year. Screening cost less than 50,000 dollars per quality-adjusted life-year if the prevalence of unidentified HIV infection exceeded 0.05 percent. Excluding HIV transmission, the cost-effectiveness of screening was 41,736 dollars per quality-adjusted life-year. Screening every five years, as compared with a one-time screening program, cost 57,138 dollars per quality-adjusted life-year, but was more attractive in settings with a high incidence of infection. Our results were sensitive to the efficacy of behavior modification, the benefit of early identification and therapy, and the prevalence and incidence of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS The cost-effectiveness of routine HIV screening in health care settings, even in relatively low-prevalence populations, is similar to that of commonly accepted interventions, and such programs should be expanded.
Adenovirus-Mediated CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig Gene Transfer Delays Pancreatic Islet Rejection in a Rat-to-Mouse Xenotransplantation Model after Systemic but Not Local Expression

Transient costimulation signal blockade of either CD28/CD80–86 interactions and/or CD40/CD154 interactions can prevent islet rejection in some models of both allo- and xenotransplantation. We have used adenoviruses coding for CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig and compared the efficacy of genetic modification of islets to systemic production through either intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) injection of these vectors in a rat-to-mouse islet transplantation model. When gene transfer was performed into islets, a high level of primary nonfunction was induced. Furthermore, transduced functional grafts were rejected with the same kinetics as nontransduced islets. In contrast, IM AdCTLA4Ig and IV AdCD40Ig significantly delayed rejection (mean survival time of 54 ± 26.9 and 67.6 ± 44.9 days, respectively, vs. 24.3 ± 9.7 days for unmodified islets, p < 0.05). Combination of ex vivo AdCTLA4Ig islet transduction and IV AdCD40Ig did not improve graft survival further. In conclusion, islet graft transduction with adenoviruses coding for costimulation inhibitors resulted in local expression with low serum concentrations of CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig and was unable to protect islet xenografts from rejection. In contrast, IM or IV gene transfer resulted in high serum concentrations of these molecules and was highly efficient in prolonging xenograft survival. These results contrast with the efficacy of AdCTLA4Ig we observed in a rat islet allotransplantation model and suggest that islet xenograft rejection might be more difficult to control.
PIAS1 SUMO ligase regulates the self‐renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells

The selective and temporal DNA methylation plays an important role in the self‐renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but the molecular mechanism that controls the dynamics of DNA methylation is not understood. Here, we report that the PIAS1 epigenetic pathway plays an important role in regulating HSC self‐renewal and differentiation. PIAS1 is required for maintaining the quiescence of dormant HSCs and the long‐term repopulating capacity of HSC. Pias1 disruption caused the abnormal expression of lineage‐associated genes. Bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed the premature promoter demethylation of Gata1, a key myeloerythroid transcription factor and a PIAS1‐target gene, in Pias1−/− HSCs. As a result, Pias1 disruption caused the inappropriate induction of Gata1 in HSCs and common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). The expression of other myeloerythroid genes was also enhanced in CLPs and lineage‐negative progenitors, with a concurrent repression of B cell‐specific genes. Consistently, Pias1 disruption caused enhanced myeloerythroid, but reduced B lymphoid lineage differentiation. These results identify a novel role of PIAS1 in maintaining the quiescence of dormant HSCs and in the epigenetic repression of the myeloerythroid program.
It’s Simple and I Know It!

When negative events occur (e.g., a mass shooting, product failure, breakup), individuals naturally ask themselves why such things happen. Indeed, the search for explanations appears to be a fundamental aspect of humanity. The present research explores the role that more abstract, higher level construals play in individuals’ feelings of causal uncertainty. Specifically, we demonstrate that participants who were led to construe a negative event in a more abstract manner felt less uncertain about why that event happened (Experiments 1 and 2). Further, we demonstrate that participants who were led to construe a negative event more abstractly exhibited a more simplified understanding of the event (Experiment 3a) and that adopting a more simplified understanding of an event decreased participants’ causal uncertainty about the event (Experiment 3b). Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Hemispheric asymmetry for components of visual information processing.

The left and right cerebral hemispheres of humans do not handle all aspects of visual information processing with equal ability. Instead, each hemisphere is better able than its partner to handle certain components of processing. Although there continues to be uncertainly surrounding exactly what the relevant components are, it has proved useful to decompose tasks into those processing components that have been hypothesized by contemporary models of perception, cognition, and action. In this chapter, I review some of what this componential approach has revealed about hemispheric asymmetry for visual information processing. In keeping with the general theme of the book, this review considers relationships among various models of visual laterality, the major questions that remain to be answered before we have a truly comprehensive model of hemispheric asymmetry for components of visual processing and the methodologic implications for the study of perceptual asymmetry. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of what I call a componential approach to the study of hemispheric asymmetry. This is followed by a review of research that demonstrates hemispheric asymmetry for each of three processing distinctions that come from contemporary theories of visual information processing: (I) global vs. local processing, (2) low vs. high visuospatial frequencies, and (3) coordinate vs. categorical spatial relationships. I then discuss how these three processing distinctions may be related to one another and consider the possibility that hemispheric asymmetries of all three types may be different manifestations of the same thing. This is followed by a discussion of certain parallels between hemispheric asymmetry for components of visual processing and hemispheric asymmetry for components of auditory processing and for certain aspects of motor activity. Much of the research presented here involves the study of perceptual asymmetries in neu-rologically intact persons. This being the case, the chapter ends with a brief discussion of the methodologic implications of the research on hemispheric asymmetry for components of visual processing. A COMPONENTLAL APPROACH Cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience are characterized by what has come to be known as the information-processing or componential approach. review recent studies using three such distinctions: (I) global vs. local aspects of visual stimuli, (2) low vs. high visuospatial frequencies, and (3) coordinate vs. categorical spatial relationships. In each case, the left and right hemispheres seem biased toward efficient processing of different aspects of visual input. Visual stimuli contain many levels of embedded structure, with smaller (local) patterns or parts contained …
Article Commentary: Extending the Socioemotional Wealth Perspective: A Look at the Dark Side

We extend the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective by arguing that SEW can be negatively associated with proactive stakeholder engagement (PSE). We further suggest that the SEW dimensions can be associated with positive or negative valence. Lastly, we propose that negatively valenced SEW dimensions lead to family–centric behavior, which negatively affects PSE. This multifaceted conceptualization of SEW allows us to explain how family firms can partake in harmful stakeholder behaviors despite having seemingly strong SEW. Our paper suggests that SEW can be either an affective endowment or burden for family firms and their constituents.
Cultural proximity in TV entertainment: An eight-country study on the relationship of nationality and the evaluation of U.S. prime-time fiction

Abstract In previous research, cultural proximity has been operationalized by ‘hard facts’ such as geographical distance, the exchange of goods or persons (tourists and immigrants) and the similarity of political systems. This article will try to complement current work in the field by suggesting a new operationalization derived from Hofstede's (1991) cultural dimensions. A survey was conducted in eight countries with a student sample (N = 325) to find out if international audiences which resemble each other in terms of Hofstede's (1991) cultural dimensions have similar attitudes towards U.S. prime-time fictional programming. The results show that Hofstede's four cultural dimensions significantly differentiate between the U.S.A. , Asian and European countries in a student population. However, operationalizations based on geographical distance allow a better differentiation between nation-states in terms of how they evaluate U.S. fiction. It will be discussed whether cultural dimensions in general are able to measure cultural proximity.
Dynamic input allocation for uncertain linear over-actuated systems

In this paper, linear over-actuated systems are considered, i.e., systems with more control inputs than regulated outputs. For these systems, an entire family of input functions and/or state trajectories is compatible with a prescribed reference for the output. The possibility of dynamically selecting on-line the most suitable of these trajectories according to certain performance criteria, leads to the so-called dynamic input allocation problem. In this paper we present, within the general framework of the robust output regulation problem, the design of dynamic input allocators for linear uncertain system, on the basis of two selected performance criteria of practical interest. Specifically, we aim at on-line minimization of the weighted energy and the amplitude of the control input, criteria that are especially suitable for input energy optimization and to deal with saturation limits. Stability and robustness of the ensuing closed-loop system are proved. An example is provided in support of the methodological findings.
Human Placenta-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Involved in Placental Angiogenesis via the PDGF-BB and STAT3 Pathways1

ABSTRACT We studied the smooth muscle cell differentiation capability of human placental multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hPMSCs) and identified how endothelial cells recruit hPMSCs participating in vessel formation. hPMSCs from term placentas were induced to differentiate into smooth muscle cells under induction conditions and different matrix substrates. We assessed endothelial cells from umbilical veins for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB expression and to induce hPMSC PDGFR-beta and STAT3 activation. Endothelial cells were co-cultured with hPMSCs for in vitro angiogenesis. Cell differentiation ability was then further assessed by mouse placenta transplantation assay. hPMSCs can differentiate into smooth muscle cells; collagen type I and IV or laminin support this differentiation. Endothelial cells expressed significant levels of PDGF-BB and activated STAT3 transcriptional activity in hPMSCs. Endothelial cell-conditioned medium induced hPMSC migration, which was inhibited by STAT3 small interfering RNA transfection or by pretreatement with PDGFR-beta–blocking antibody but not by PDGFR-alpha–blocking antibody or isotype immunoglobulin G (IgG; P < 0.001). hPMSCs can incorporate into endothelial cells with tube formation and promote endothelial cells, forming capillary-like networks than endothelial cells alone (tube lengths: 12 024.1 ± 960.1 vs. 9404.2 ± 584.7 pixels; P < 0.001). Capillary-like networks were significantly reduced by hPMSCs pretreated with PDGFR-beta-blocking antibody but not by PDGFR-alpha–blocking antibody or isotype IgG (P < 0.001). Transplantation of hPMSCs into mouse placentas revealed incorporation of the hPMSCs into vessel walls, which expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin, calponin, and smooth muscle myosin (heavy chain) in vivo. In conclusion, endothelial cell–hPMSC interactions occur during vessel development of placenta. Placental endothelial cell-derived PDGF-BB recruits hPMSCs involved in vascular development via PDGFR-beta/STAT3 activation.