Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The insect order Tysanoptera: Classification versus systematics

Two widely different classifications of the insect order Thysanoptera are discussed; an essentially phylogenetic system recognizing nine families in two suborders, and an essentially phenetic system recognizing 40 families in two orders. This paper emphasizes the distinction between “classification” and “systematics”, the former stressing the importance of differences, whereas the latter stresses the importance of derived similarities. A phylogenetic (i.e. systematic) classification incorporates predictions concerning evolutionary relationships that are important throughout biological studies, whether in host and parasite associations, biogeography, comparative physiology or development. The available phenetic classification of Thysanoptera serves no such broader purpose in biology. Recent molecular data derived from the gene 18S rDNA are analysed, but although some groups of taxa are well resolved, the deep relationships within the Thysanoptera remain unclear.
Statistical assessment of automotive PLC multipath channel models

This paper addresses the modeling of in-vehicle power line communication channels via multipath parametric representations. The study is based on a set of frequency-domain measurements carried out on a commercial automobile. The proposed procedure for the computation of model parameters from real measured data is briefly summarized and a systematic assessment aimed at collecting some useful statistical information on both the estimated models and the channel features is thoroughly discussed. Specific emphasis is given to the definition of the range of the key parameters that allow characterizing real automotive PLC channels.
Creating Persuasive Technologies for Sustainability – Identifying Barriers Limiting Target Behavior

At an early stage of designing persuasive technolog ies there is the challenge of selecting a target behavior and examin ing variables that prevent it. Within our research we are forming sustainability related persuasive technologies in the context of d omestic energy consumption. In this paper we present different typ es of barriers preventing people from the desired energy efficient behavior. In an explorative field study 48 participants received the task to selfmonitor their energy consumption behavior over one week. A qualitative analysis of daily statements revealed e ight underlying categories of behavioral barriers. The most common observed barriers relate to Lack of Attention followed by Co mfort. On the basis of these results, we formulated four guidelin es for sustainability related persuasive technologies.
Social work, professionalism and the rationality of organisational change

Professionalism, Boundaries and the Workplace is a practical text that examines a range of sensitive issues concerned with managing and maintaining professional boundaries between worker and client. It uses experiences from probation, social work, the NHS, small business and church settings. A number of issues are addressed including: *the relationship between personal and professional values *changing professional-client relationships *definitions of 'being professional' *conflicts arising from different understandings of professionalism.
How Does the Funding Status of Defined Benefit Pension Plans Affect Investment Decisions of Firms in the United States?

We investigate whether the flexibility in making contributions towards defined benefit pension plans sponsored by firms in the United States allows managers to save cash and increase investments. Firms invest more at higher levels of pension deficit, defined as pension benefit obligations less pension assets, and scaled by total assets. At the median level (90th percentile) of pension deficit, investment increase by 6.7 cents (9.4 cents) for every dollar increase in cash. As the pension deficit increases, firms deviate more from the predicted level of investment. These findings suggest that the incremental investments are more likely to represent overinvestment by managers. Our results are robust to alternative model specifications and endogeneity concerns that may arise if investments are jointly determined with the funding policy of pension plans and the firm’s target cash level. We repeat our main analysis for the United Kingdom (UK) and also find for that country that, at a fixed cash level, total investment increases as pension deficit increases.
Spreading behaviour of silicone oil and glycerol drops on coated papers

The effect of physical properties represented by viscosity and surface tension of liquid spreading on coated papers was investigated. Two substrates of different surface roughness were used to study the spreading behaviour of silicon oil and glycerine/water solutions in terms of contact angle, wetted drop base area and drop height as a function of time. The liquid spreading on coated papers was found to vary depending on the liquid physical properties. Liquids with lower surface tension (silicon oil) and viscosity prevailed better wettability and vice versa. High surface roughness reduced the liquid spreading. Despite being traditionally used as a wetting indicator, contact angles were found to be insufficient to evaluate the spreading of liquids on these substrates. Hence, other parameters such as drop base area and drop height should also be considered.
Abciximab Attenuates Coronary Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction After Coronary Stenting

Background—Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade with abciximab decreases ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, the mechanism of this benefit has not been fully elucidated. The present study was designed to assess endothelium-dependent vasomotion after coronary stenting and to determine if abciximab alters this response. Methods and Results—The study group consisted of 48 patients (59±10 years of age) with discrete coronary stenoses who underwent stenting alone (n=28) or stenting plus abciximab (n=20). A control group consisted of 31 additional patients who had vasomotor testing on a non-PCI vessel. Coronary blood flow (CBF) was measured (0.014-inch Doppler wire) 30 minutes after uncomplicated PCI and in response to the intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine (Ach) (10−7, 10−6 mol/L Ach) and adenosine (24 &mgr;g). Ach-mediated increase in CBF was impaired after stent insertion when compared with the control group (41±52% versus 70±48%;P <0.05). The stenting plus abciximab group demonstrated a superior CBF response to Ach compared with the stenting alone group (83±93% versus 41±52%;P <0.05), with no difference between groups in the peak flow or percent change in flow to adenosine. By multivariate analysis, concomitant administration of abciximab was strongly predictive of the change in CBF to Ach (P <0.005). Conclusions—Abciximab preserves the CBF response to Ach after coronary stenting. The preservation of microvascular endothelial function may help explain the beneficial clinical effect of this agent in patients undergoing PCI.
Patient with Tracheostomy Parasitized in Hospital by Larvae of the Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax

Abstract Myiasis is the infestation of living vertebrates by fly larvae that feed for at least part of their development on the host's dead or living tissues, body substances, or ingested food. The occurrences of traumatic myiasis in humans and animals in urban and rural environments represent serious economic and public health concerns. This study reports a 49-year-old tracheostomized man undergoing chemotherapy treatment who was parasitized in the hospital in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by larvae of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the thoracic cavity.
Defining the purity of exosomes required for diagnostic profiling of small RNA suitable for biomarker discovery

ABSTRACT Small non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), including microRNAs (miRNA), enclosed in exosomes are being utilised for biomarker discovery in disease. Two common exosome isolation methods involve differential ultracentrifugation or differential ultracentrifugation coupled with Optiprep gradient fractionation. Generally, the incorporation of an Optiprep gradient provides better separation and increased purity of exosomes. The question of whether increased purity of exosomes is required for small ncRNA profiling, particularly in diagnostic and biomarker purposes, has not been addressed and highly debated. Utilizing an established neuronal cell system, we used next-generation sequencing to comprehensively profile ncRNA in cells and exosomes isolated by these 2 isolation methods. By comparing ncRNA content in exosomes from these two methods, we found that exosomes from both isolation methods were enriched with miRNAs and contained a diverse range of rRNA, small nuclear RNA, small nucleolar RNA and piwi-interacting RNA as compared with their cellular counterparts. Additionally, tRNA fragments (30–55 nucleotides in length) were identified in exosomes and may act as potential modulators for repressing protein translation. Overall, the outcome of this study confirms that ultracentrifugation-based method as a feasible approach to identify ncRNA biomarkers in exosomes.
The Relationship between Principal Leadership and Teacher Morale in the Elementary Schools in a Northwest Georgia School District.

3 DEDICATION 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 LIST OF TABLES 9 LIST OF FIGURES 10 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 11 Background of the Study 14 Problem Statement 15 Purpose Statement 16 Significance of the Study 16 Research Questions and Null Hypotheses 17 Identification of Variables 18 Definition of Terms 18 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 20 Introduction 20 Theoretical Framework 20 Leadership 22 Morale 41 The Effect of Leadership on Teacher Morale 52 The Effect of Leadership on Academic Performance 54
Political Competition and the Limits of Political Compromise

We consider an economy where competing political parties alternate in office. Due to rent-seeking motives, incumbents have an incentive to set public expenditures above the socially optimum level. Parties cannot commit to future policies, but they can forge a political compromise where each party curbs excessive spending when in office if it expects future governments to do the same. We find that if the government cannot manipulate state variables, more intense political competition fosters a compromise that yields better outcomes, potentially even the first best. By contrast, if the government can issue debt, vigorous political competition can render a compromise unsustainable and drive the economy to a low-welfare, high-debt, long-run trap. Our analysis thus suggests a legislative tradeoff between restricting political competition and constraining the ability of governments to issue debt.
Insect-Inspired Mechanical Resilience for Multicopters

The ease of use and versatility of drones has contributed to their deployment in several fields, from entertainment to search and rescue. However, drones remain vulnerable to collisions due to pilot mistakes or various system failures. This letter presents a bioinspired strategy for the design of quadcopters resilient to collisions. Abstracting the biomechanical strategy of collision resilient insects’ wings, the quadcopter has a dual-stiffness frame that rigidly withstands aerodynamic loads within the flight envelope, but can soften and fold during a collision to avoid damage. The dual-stiffness frame works in synergy with specific energy absorbing materials that protect the sensitive components of the drone hosted in the central case. The proposed approach is compared to other state-of-the art collision-tolerance strategies and is validated in a 50-g quadcopter that can withstand high-speed collisions.
ESTABLISHING THE REFERENCE RANGE FOR T LYMPHOCYTES SUBPOPULATIONS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM BRAZIL

SUMMARY In Brazil, the existing reference values for T-lymphocytes subsets are based on data originated in other countries. There is no local information on normal variation for these parameters in Brazilian adults and children. We evaluated the normal variation found in blood donors from five large Brazilian cities, in different regions, and in children living in Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro. All samples were processed by flow cytometry. The results were analyzed according to region, gender, and lifestyle of blood donors. A total of 641 adults (63% males), and 280 children (58% males) were involved in the study. The absolute CD3+, and CD4+ cells count were significantly higher for females (adults and children). Higher CD4+ cell count in adults was associated with smoking, while higher CD8+ count was found among female children. Higher counts, for all T-cells subsets, were detected in blood donors from southeast / south regions while those living in the northern region had the lowest values. Individuals from midwestern and northeastern regions had an intermediate count for all these cells subsets. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance. In Brazil, gender and smoking, were the main determinants of differences in T-lymphocytes reference values.
Collaboration to Explore Teaching: A Case Study Report

The purpose of this study was to analyze the collaborative efforts of two EFL teachers to explore teaching with a view to solving problems in their respective classes. In so doing the study also attempted to investigate whether this process of collaborative reflection would lead to a change in these EFL teachers' instructional practices and attitudes toward teaching. The results of this qualitative research study indicate that during the process of collaboration, the participants formulated their own agenda for developing strategies to cope with their problems and for a possible change in their classroom practice. Moreover, the dialogue between the teachers seemed to affect their perception of an ideal teacher, although there was no change in their beliefs concerning to the extent to which they themselves had these characteristics of an ideal teacher.
Evidence of a causal role of winter virus infection during infancy in early childhood asthma.

RATIONALE Bronchiolitis during infancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Whether winter viral infections cause asthma or are a manifestation of a predisposition to asthma development is unknown. OBJECTIVES To study the relationship of winter virus infection during infancy and the development of childhood asthma. METHODS We studied over 95,000 infants born between 1995 and 2000 and followed through 2005 who were enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program from birth through early childhood to determine whether infant birth in relationship to the winter virus peak alters the risk of developing early childhood asthma. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Among 95,310 children studied during five winter virus seasons from birth through early childhood, the risk of developing asthma tracked with the timing of infant birth in relationship to the winter virus peak. Infant birth approximately 4 months before the winter virus peak carried the highest risk, with a 29% increase in odds of developing asthma compared with birth 12 months before the peak (adjusted odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.40). Infant age at the winter virus peak was comparable to or greater than other known risk factors for asthma. CONCLUSIONS Timing of birth in relationship to winter virus season confers a differential and definable risk of developing early childhood asthma, establishing winter virus seasonality as a causal factor in asthma development. Delay of exposure or prevention of winter viral infection during early infancy could prevent asthma.
Checklists for improving rigour in qualitative research: a case of the tail wagging the dog?

Qualitative research methods are enjoying unprecedented popularity. Although checklists have undoubtedly contributed to the wider acceptance of such methods, these can be counterproductive if used prescriptively. The uncritical adoption of a range of “technical fixes” (such as purposive sampling, grounded theory, multiple coding, triangulation, and respondent validation) does not, in itself, confer rigour. In this article I discuss the limitations of these procedures and argue that there is no substitute for systematic and thorough application of the principles of qualitative research. Technical fixes will achieve little unless they are embedded in a broader understanding of the rationale and assumptions behind qualitative research. #### Summary points Checklists can be useful improving qualitative research methods, but overzealous and uncritical use can be counterproductive Reducing qualitative research to a list of technical procedures (such as purposive sampling, grounded theory, multiple coding, triangulation, and respondent validation) is overly prescriptive and results in “the tail wagging the dog” None of these “technical fixes” in itself confers rigour; they can strengthen the rigour of qualitative research only if embedded in a broader understanding of qualitative research design and data analysis Otherwise we risk compromising the unique contribution that systematic qualitative research can make to health services research In medical research the question is no longer whether qualitative methods are valuable but how rigour can be ensured or enhanced. Checklists have played an important role in conferring respectability on qualitative research and in convincing potential sceptics of its thoroughness.1–3 They have equipped those unfamiliar with this approach to evaluate or review qualitative work (by providing guidance on crucial questions that need to be asked) and in reminding qualitative researchers of the need for a systematic approach (by providing an aide-memoire of the various stages involved in research design and data analysis4). Qualitative researchers stress the …
The Use and Knowledge of Olive Oil and Other Lipids in a Collegiate Student Population

In presenting this thesis as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the library of Georgia State University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote, to copy from, or to publish this thesis may be granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, by the College of Health and Human Sciences director of graduate studies and research, or by me. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this thesis which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without written permission. _____________________________________ Signature of Author III DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to Candice Andrews, who has been always my best friend, my supporter and my listener. You have taught me that even the impossible can be accomplished if I put all my passion and energy into it. Your infinite friendship and laughter always make me enjoy life. This thesis is also dedicated to the most beautiful people, my parents, and my sister Myriam. Parents, you always have given me the energy and emotional support that I need to achieve my goals. Thank you for all your guidance. Myriam, you were always here to listen to me and to give me the best advice in moments of doubt. Thank you for believing in me. Without all of you, I would not have accomplished my objectives. IV ACKOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest gratitude goes to my advisor Dr. Dan Benardot for his kindness, patience, support, and guidance, which were more than valuable for the completion of this thesis and throughout my years spent as Georgia State University. I would also like to thank Dr. for their support and compassion. My gratitude also goes to a fellow graduate student, Desiree Nathanson, who always kept me smiling during all these years. All these deposited in the Georgia State University library must be used in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement. Users of this thesis not regularly enrolled as students at Georgia State University are required to attest acceptance of the preceding stipulation by signing below. Libraries borrowing this thesis for the use of their patrons are required to see that …
Proximal Aortic Stiffness Is Increased in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity in Children and Adolescents

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are prone to premature atherosclerosis and are at risk for the development of cardiovascular disease. Increased arterial stiffness is emerging as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Purpose. To measure proximal aortic stiffness in children and adolescents with SLE. Methods. We studied 16 patients with SLE in activity (mean age 15 ± 2.42 years; 16 females), 14 patients with SLE not in activity (mean age 15.7 ± 1.89 years; 4 males, 10 females), and 16 age- and sex-comparable healthy children and adolescents (15.5 ± 1.71 years; 4 males, 12 females). Disease activity was determined by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). All subjects underwent echocardiography for assessment of proximal aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) [Ao distance/Ao wave transit time in the aortic arch]. Venous blood samples were collected for ESR. Results. Patients in activity had significantly higher PWV values than controls (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between patients not in activity and controls. Conclusions. SLE patients with disease activity demonstrate increased PWV and arterial stiffness of the proximal aorta, while patients without disease activity do not. This suggests that inflammation secondary to SLE activity, and not subclinical atherosclerosis, is the major underlying cause for increased arterial stiffness in this age group.
Towards weak optical PUFs by random spectral mixing

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) were introduced by Pappu et al. [1] for authentication purposes. By making use of coherent multiple scattering from a random medium, a large address space is so available for mapping challenges to responses. However PUFs have mainly found echo in the field of electronic device authentication under the form of weak functions providing internal responses to a small number of challenges, even to a single one. Here the concept of weak optical PUFs is tackled through color mixing in non coherent lighting conditions.
High frequencies of short frameshifts in poly-CA/TG tandem repeats borne by bacteriophage M13 in Escherichia coli K-12

Slipped-strand mispairing (SSM) may play an major role in repetitive DNA sequence evolution by generating large numbers of short frameshift mutations within simple tandem repeats. Here we examine the frequency and size spectrum of frameshifts generated within poly-CA/TG sequences inserted into bacteriophage M13 in Escherichia coli hosts. The frequency of detectable frameshifts within a 40 bp tract of poly-CA/TG is greater than one percent and increases more than linearly with length, being lower by a factor of four in a 22 bp target sequence. The frequency increases more than 13-fold in mutL and mutS host cells, suggesting that a high proportion of frameshift events are normally repaired by methyl-directed mismatch repair. Of the 87 sequenced frameshifts in this study, 96% result from deletion or insertion of only or two 2 bp repeat units. The most frequent events are 2 bp deletions, 2 bp insertions, and 4 bp deletions, the relative frequencies of these events being about 18:6:1.