Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Briefing: Islam, democracy and public opinion in Africa

HOW DO RELIGIOUS ORIENTATIONS, ESPECIALLY ATTACHMENTS TO ISLAM, affect public support for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa? Reasonable people are divided on this important, timely, and politically loaded question. Some influential observers allege that Islam and democracy are incompatible. For example, Huntington argues that, because the Koran rejects the distinction between religious and political authority, Islamic civilization cannot easily co-exist with democracy.1 And Kedourie holds that mass suffrage, elections, and representation are 'profoundly alien to the Muslim political tradition'. 2 Others disagree. Esposito and Voll stress the diverse spectrum of conservative and progressive tendencies within Islam, including new movements that seek to reconcile religious resurgence and democratization.3 Filali-Ansary goes even further, claiming that values of freedom and accountability, normally identified as Western concepts, can be found in early Islam.4 Recent research on public opinion tests these competing visions against contemporary facts. Rose concludes from survey evidence in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan that 'being a Muslim does not lead a person to reject democracy or endorse dictatorship'. 5 Along similar lines, Tessler finds that the Islamic beliefs of 'the Arab street' in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Palestine (Gaza and West Bank) discourage the emergence of a democratic political culture 'only to a very limited extent'. 6 Data are available from the Afrobarometer a cross-national survey research project, Round 1 of which was conducted between mid-1999 and
Quantitative analysis of limb anomalies in CHARGE syndrome: Correlation with diagnosis and characteristic CHARGE anomalies

CHARGE syndrome was initially not thought to involve the limb. Several subsequent reports have shown that limb anomalies are not uncommon. To date, there have been no quantitative studies of limb anomalies in CHARGE syndrome. This study was designed to answer several questions: Do CHARGE patients with limb anomalies represent a subgroup within CHARGE syndrome? Are there correlations between certain CHARGE syndrome anomalies and limb anomalies? Are there differences between the two genders and associated limb anomalies? Are certain types of limb anomalies seen with increased frequency in CHARGE syndrome? All described patients were categorized utilizing the AI/GEN Model 2 Criteria proposed by Mitchell [1985a: J Med Syst 9:425–435]. Patients with chromosomal anomalies or familial CHARGE were excluded, as were patients with inadequate clinical descriptions, and patients in large series where individual characteristics could not be ascertained. Multivariate analysis was performed. One hundred seventy two patients with definite or probable CHARGE syndrome were analyzed. Sixty‐four (37.2%) of these patients have at least one limb anomaly. Significant positive associations were seen between limb anomalies and ocular coloboma, urinary tract malformations, and genital anomalies. These associations were not significant when the definite or probable patients were analyzed separately, with the exception of genital anomalies in definite CHARGE. Gender differences were also identified. Females with tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia, or genital anomalies were more likely to have limb anomalies, while some female subgroups had positive associations between urinary tract malformations, or choanal atresia and limb anomalies. Negative associations were also seen with sensorineural hearing loss and facial paralysis. In contrast, males showed a positive association between coloboma and limb anomalies, while subgroup analysis identified positive associations with DiGeorge sequence or genital anomalies and limb anomalies. Limb anomalies are present in just over one‐third of CHARGE syndrome patients. Limb anomalies are seen more frequently in association with certain CHARGE anomalies, and these associations show gender differences. There is not a common limb anomaly seen in CHARGE syndrome. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morphological Awareness and Learning to Read: A Cross-Language Perspective

In the past decade, there has been a surge of interest in morphological awareness, which refers to the ability to reflect on and manipulate morphemes and word formation rules in a language. This review provides a critical synthesis of empirical studies on this topic from a broad cross-linguistic perspective. Research with children speaking several languages indicates that knowledge of inflectional morphology is acquired before knowledge of derivational morphology and the morphology of compounds, which continue to develop through the elementary school years. Research establishes that morphological awareness contributes to the decoding of morphologically complex words and contributes to the development of reading comprehension, although the relationship is probably reciprocal rather than unidirectional. Morphological awareness becomes an increasingly important predictor of measures of reading as children grow older. Morphological awareness is intertwined with other aspects of metalinguistic awareness and linguistic competence—notably, phonological awareness, syntactic awareness, and vocabulary knowledge. Lack of satisfactory control of these intertwined elements is one of several shortcomings of the existing literature.
Effects of Insulin and Gastro-Intestinal Hormones on Feeding and Plasma Insulin Levels in Sheep

Infusions of the following hormones were made into the hepatic vein of sheep over periods of three hours: pentagastrin (2.1, 5.0 or 9.9 micrograms/kg), pancreozymin (1.0 units/kg), secretin (2.0 units/kg), insulin (2.1 or 4.3 units/kg). Intake of the concentrate food was depressed by pentagastrin at 9.9 micrograms/kg/3 hr (P < 0.05) and increased by insulin at 4.3 units/kg/3 hr-(P < 0.05) Insulin levels in jugular plasma were unaffected by any of the gut hormone infusions. The liver is suggested as being involved in the control of food intake in sheep.
D'Accord or Discord? New Institutionalism, Concordance, and the European Union Agriculture Council

The Council of Ministers plays a major role in EU governance. However, it has not Received sufficient analytical attention because of the difficulties encountered by researchers in obtaining precise information about its activities. Using the Agriculture Council as our focus, we draw upon detailed interviews conducted with over twenty-five Council officials and representatives from member state Agriculture Ministries over the period 1995–2000. Conceptualising the EU polity in the context of multilevel governance, we apply new institutionalist perspectives from political science to argue that the Agriculture Council's operation is founded upon a search for consensus and concordance. On this basis we scrutinise the Council's decisionmaking structure, the tactical and strategic dimensions of decisionmaking within it, and the attitudinal environment in which this occurs.
The performance evaluation and comparison of TCP-based high-speed transport protocols

With the development of network technology, the high-speed networks with 1Gbps, 10Gbps and even higher bandwidth have emerging. In the traditional IP networks, TCP protocol performs well, However, in fast long distance networks (FLDnet), TCP's slow start and its Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD) congestion control are too conservative to make full use of the abundant bandwidth resource. This paper mainly evaluates the TCP-based improved protocols in the Linux 2.6. 18 kernel by establishing point-to-point and multipoint-to-point test beds. We compare the effect of RTT and packet loss rate to the transmission performance of the TCP-based protocols. We also evaluate the intra-protocol fairness, TCP-friendliness and inter-RTT fairness of these protocols. The results show that: HSTCP, HTCP, STCP, BIC TCP, and CUBIC TCP have relatively better transmission performance. When the number of the parallel flows is less than four, the protocols of TCP Reno, HSTCP, HTCP, and STCP have good intra-protocol fairness. TCP Reno, HSTCP, and HTCP have good TCP-friendliness and inter-RTT fairness, but the overall throughput is not high enough. The TCP-friendliness and inter-RTT fairness of STCP, BIC TCP and CUBIC TCP are not very good, but using these protocols can improve network transmission performance.
Role of Tumor Cell Apoptosis in Tumor Antigen Migration to the Draining Lymph Nodes1

Establishment of an immune response against cancer may depend on the capacity of dendritic cells to transfer tumor Ags into T cell-rich areas. To check this possibility, we used a colon cancer cell variant that yields tumors undergoing complete T cell-dependent rejection when injected into syngeneic rats. We previously demonstrated that immunogenicity of these tumors depended on the early apoptosis of a part of these tumor cells. In this paper we show that fluorescent tumor cell proteins are released from FITC-labeled tumor cells and undergo engulfment by tumor-infiltrating monocytes without a phenotype of mature dendritic cells or macrophages. Fluorescence-labeled mononuclear cells with a phenotype of MHC class II+ dendritic cells are also found in the T cell areas of the draining lymph nodes. Interestingly, no fluorescent cell can be found in lymph nodes after a s.c. injection of Bcl2-transfected apoptosis-resistant tumor cells that yielded progressive tumors. Proliferation of tumor-immune T lymphocytes was induced by dendritic cells isolated from the draining lymph nodes recovered after a s.c. injection of apoptosis-sensitive, but not apoptosis-resistant, tumor cells. These results show that tumor cell apoptosis releases proteins that are engulfed by inflammatory cells in the tumor, then transported to lymph node T cell areas where they can induce a specific immune response leading to tumor rejection.
The Lyapunov spectrum of some parabolic systems

Abstract We study the Hausdorff dimension for Lyapunov exponents for a class of interval maps which includes several non-hyperbolic situations. We also analyze the level sets of points with given lower and upper Lyapunov exponents and, in particular, with zero lower Lyapunov exponent. We prove that the level set of points with zero exponent has full Hausdorff dimension, but carries no topological entropy.
Bridging the gap between Design and Test Engineering for Functional Pattern Development

Historically, functional patterns supplementing structural test methods were derived from simulation data with little communication between design and test/product engineering. These teams are often located in different areas, time zones and working environments. Experience shows, that the functional tester pattern generation process is very tedious, time consuming and error-prone, and involves extensive manual pattern modification. The automation of this process is dedicated to improve this situation with introducing a newly developed `Tester API'. This API enables a highly flexible, and extensible flow for injecting test specific information into a tester pattern. It provides enough information to support simplified initial pattern debug on the ATE and results in final tester pattern generated without any hand modifications. Designed for reusability on product derivatives and retargetability to different ATE platforms the `Tester API' is introduced to bridge the knowledge transfer gap between the verification team creating tester patterns and the team implementing the test execution on the actual tester hardware.
Secondary Physical Science Teachers' Conceptions of Science Teaching in a Context of Change

Pre-service teachers enter initial teacher education programmes with conceptions of teaching gleaned from their own schooling. These conceptions, which include teachers' beliefs, may be resistant to change, which is a challenge in contexts where teacher educators hope that teachers will teach in ways different from their own schooling. Conceptions of teaching found in different cultural and disciplinary contexts have contextual differences but have resonances with the results of research into teacher beliefs. Our sample of eight South African secondary physical science teachers was schooled in a system which encouraged knowledge transmission, but they were prepared in their initial teacher education for a learner-centred approach. After they had taught for a few years, we explored their conceptions of science teaching, using phenomenographic interviews. Four conceptions emerged inductively from the analysis: transferring science knowledge from mind to mind; transferring problematic science knowledge from mind to mind; creating space for learning science knowledge and creating space for learning problematic science knowledge. Internally these conceptions are constituted by three dimensions of variation: the nature of the science knowledge to be learnt, the role of the students and the role of the teacher. Media and practical work play different roles in the external horizon of these conceptions. These conceptions reflect the disciplinary context as well as the emphases of the sample's initial teacher education programme. This suggests that initial teacher education can significantly shape teachers' conceptions of teaching.
A lung sound classification system based on the rational dilation wavelet transform

In this work, a wavelet based classification system that aims to discriminate crackle, normal and wheeze lung sounds is presented. While the previous works related with this problem use constant low Q-factor wavelets, which have limited frequency resolution and can not cope with oscillatory signals, in the proposed system, the Rational Dilation Wavelet Transform, whose Q-factors can be tuned, is employed. Proposed system yields an accuracy of 95 % for crackle, 97 % for wheeze, 93.50 % for normal and 95.17 % for total sound signal types using energy feature subset and proposed approach is superior to conventional low Q-factor wavelet analysis.
Degrees of resilience: profiling psychological resilience and prospective academic achievement in university inductees

University inductees may be increasingly vulnerable to stressors during transition into higher education (HE), requiring psychological resilience to achieve academic success. This study aimed to profile inductees' resilience and to investigate links to prospective end of year academic outcomes. Scores for resilience were based on a validated Connor Davison Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) drawn from 1534 inductees in a single UK university. A four-stage analysis revealed that incremental resilience was more facilitative of females' prospective academic attainment, but less functional and more convoluted for males. This large, distinctive study has implications for student support practices and highlights that the relationship between resilience and academic achievement requires further consideration in HE.
The Dynamic Nature of Goals and Message Production as Revealed in a Sequential Analysis of Conflict Interactions.

Although message-production theories often assume that goals behave dynamically to direct communication behavior, few studies consider the interconnectedness of goals and behavior throughout interactions. Here, the interrelationship of communication goals and tactics was examined through a sequential analysis of 47 conflict interactions between close friends or dating partners. It was posited that for both the initiators and resistors in a conflict, the importance of relational or other-identity goals would be associated with the use of integrative tactics and the importance of instrumental or self-identity goals would be related to the use of distributive tactics. We examined these predictions within and across partners. Analyses indicated that for both conflict initiators and resistors, the importance of a combination self/instrumental goal predicted the use of distributive tactics and the importance of an other-identity goal lead to partner-oriented tactics. For resistors, the importance of an instrumental goal was associated with the use of distributive tactics and the importance of a combination identity/relational goal was aligned with issue-oriented tactics as well. Across partners, several significant patterns between one partner’s use of distributive or integrative tactics and the other partner’s goals were observed. Implications of the results for understanding conflict and message production are discussed.
Mobile technology in inclusive research: tools of empowerment

Inclusive research is an accepted approach when conducting research about individuals with disabilities. No studies have been published to date on using mobile technology to support people with intellectual disabilities as researchers. An inclusive research team of researchers with intellectual disabilities and academic researchers used mobile technology to support research skill acquisition. They conducted 15 joint research training sessions, followed by 10 research meetings. In order to discuss the experience of using iPads to support researchers with intellectual disabilities, the authors used a multiple-case study approach. Findings included the challenges and successes of mobile technology implementation. In conclusion, the iPads enhanced participation opportunities for the researchers with intellectual disabilities not only in the research, but also in other areas of their lives. This also brought to light the vulnerability of women with intellectual disabilities and the lack of control they often experience in their lives.
Genomic structure and in vivo expression of the human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1) gene.

The human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1) plays a key role in the secretion of an array of potentially toxic organic anions including many clinically important drugs. Here we report on the genomic cloning of hOAT1. A human genomic library was used for screening of a PAC (P1 artificial chromosome) clone applying PCR techniques. Sequencing of several restriction subclones and of a PCR-generated clone revealed that the hOAT1 gene spans 8.2 kb and is composed of 10 exons divided by 9 introns. RT-PCR studies in a human kidney specimen led to the detection of two new splice variants, hOAT1-3 and hOAT1-4, showing a 132-bp in-frame deletion. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) we mapped the hOAT1 gene as a single signal to chromosome 11q13.1-q13.2. Additionally, 600 bp of the 5' flanking region was analyzed, illustrating the probable transcription start site at nt -280, a NF-kappaB-site at nt -397 and several putative transcription factor binding sites.
Are Group Leader Knowledge Structures Related to Member Satisfaction With the Leader?

Knowledge structures are people’s ways of organizing the concepts in a domain. Educational effectiveness can be documented by examining changes in novices’ knowledge structures. Studies show that group counseling trainees begin to structure their knowledge of group members and group leader interventions in a manner similar to the knowledge structure of experienced group counselors. This research assumes that trainees with knowledge structures more similar to experienced practitioners will be more effective group leaders. We tested this assumption and found that group members were more satisfied when the trainee’s knowledge structure of group counseling leader interventions converged with the knowledge structure of experienced group therapists.
Ouabain Mimics Low Temperature Rescue of F508del-CFTR in Cystic Fibrosis Epithelial Cells

Most cases of cystic fibrosis (CF) are caused by the deletion of a single phenylalanine residue at position 508 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The mutant F508del-CFTR is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and degraded, but can be induced by low temperature incubation (29°C) to traffic to the plasma membrane where it functions as a chloride channel. Here we show that, cardiac glycosides, at nanomolar concentrations, can partially correct the trafficking of F508del-CFTR in human CF bronchial epithelial cells (CFBE41o-) and in an F508del-CFTR mouse model. Comparison of the transcriptional profiles obtained with polarized CFBE41o-cells after treatment with ouabain and by low temperature has revealed a striking similarity between the two corrector treatments that is not shared with other correctors. In summary, our study shows a novel function of ouabain and its analogs in the regulation of F508del-CFTR trafficking and suggests that compounds that mimic this low temperature correction of trafficking will provide new avenues for the development of therapeutics for CF.
Referral-Based Job Search Networks

This article derives novel testable implications of referral-based job search networks in which employees provide employers with information about potential new hires that they otherwise would not have. Using comprehensive matched employer–employee data covering the entire workforce in one large metropolitan labour market combined with unique survey data linked to administrative records, we provide evidence that workers earn higher wages and are less inclined to leave their firms if they have obtained their job through a referral. These effects are particularly strong at the beginning of the employment relationship and decline with tenure in the firm, suggesting that firms and workers learn about workers' productivity over time. Overall, our findings imply that job search networks help to reduce informational deficiencies in the labour market and lead to productivity gains for workers and firms.
Link Prediction in Complex Networks: A Mutual Information Perspective

Topological properties of networks are widely applied to study the link-prediction problem recently. Common Neighbors, for example, is a natural yet efficient framework. Many variants of Common Neighbors have been thus proposed to further boost the discriminative resolution of candidate links. In this paper, we reexamine the role of network topology in predicting missing links from the perspective of information theory, and present a practical approach based on the mutual information of network structures. It not only can improve the prediction accuracy substantially, but also experiences reasonable computing complexity.
HLA‐DRA is associated with Parkinson's disease in Iranian population

The rs3129882, a noncoding variant in HLA‐DR, was found to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) using several genome‐wide association studies. The aim of this replication study was to explore the relationship between this variant and PD in Iranian population. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and the rs3129882 SNP was genotyped using a PCR‐RFLP method in 520 PD patients and 520 healthy Iranian controls. Significant differences were found in allele frequencies between patients and controls (χ2 = 4.64, P = 0.031). Under additive and dominant models, the association of the SNP with PD risk is significant, where the A allele was observed to be protective. The results suggest that rs3129882 polymorphism may be a risk factor for PD in Iranian. This is the first study reporting such an association in this population. More replication studies are needed to confirm this data.