Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Synthetic Congener Modeled on a Microbicidal Domain of Thrombin- Induced Platelet Microbicidal Protein 1 Recapitulates Staphylocidal Mechanisms of the Native Molecule

ABSTRACT Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein 1 (tPMP-1) is a staphylocidal peptide released by activated platelets. This peptide initiates its microbicidal activity by membrane permeabilization, with ensuing inhibition of intracellular macromolecular synthesis. RP-1 is a synthetic congener modeled on the C-terminal microbicidal α-helix of tPMP-1. This study compared the staphylocidal mechanisms of RP-1 with those of tPMP-1, focusing on isogenic tPMP-1-susceptible (ISP479C) and -resistant (ISP479R) Staphylococcus aureus strains for the following quantitative evaluations: staphylocidal efficacy; comparative MIC; membrane permeabilization (MP) and depolarization; and DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Although the proteins had similar MICs, RP-1 caused significant killing of ISP479C (<50% survival), correlating with extensive MP (>95%) and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis (>90%), versus substantially reduced killing of ISP479R (>80% survival), with less MP (55%) and less inhibition of DNA or RNA synthesis (70 to 80%). Interestingly, RP-1-induced protein synthesis inhibition was equivalent in both strains. RP-1 did not depolarize the cell membrane and caused a relatively short postexposure growth inhibition. These data closely parallel those previously reported for tPMP-1 against this strain set and exemplify how synthetic molecules can be engineered to reflect structure-activity relationships of functional domains in native host defense effector molecules.
Interrogating recuperative masculinity politics in schooling

This article focuses on the continuing impact of recuperative masculinity politics in the schooling of economically advantaged boys (elite and middle class); yet, it also indicates resistance to this politics. An understanding that the gender order is unstable and that variants of hegemonic masculinity continue to morph in the context of globalisation is also exemplified. Two case studies are analysed, both focused on remaking masculinities: Balfour, an elite all boys' school in Scotland and Springtown Religious School, a middle-class, coeducational Australian school. The cases show that the remaking of masculinities is shaped by social class politics and confirm the diversities within the categories of ‘boys’. At Balfour, the remaking of elite masculinities was framed by the perceived needs of the globalised labour market (especially in finance) and the changing practices of professional, elite femininities. At Springtown, a school known for rejecting competitive sport and for their commitment to gender equity, girls and some staff resisted changes to the outdoor education programme framed by recuperative mythopoetic discourses. The article illustrates the production and reproduction of privilege and advantage and the remaking of elite and middle-class masculinities within an ever-changing gender order, an important insight for those working towards socially just gender policy and praxis.
Hydrodynamical simulations of cluster formation with central AGN heating

We analyse the effects of central AGN heating on the formation of galaxy clusters by means of hydrodynamical simulations. Besides self-gravity of dark matter and baryons, our approach includes radiative cooling and heating processes of the gas component and a multiphase model for a self-consistent treatment of star formation and SNe feedback [1]. Additionally, we incorporate a periodic feedback mechanism in the form of hot buoyant bubbles, injected into the ICM during the active phases of accreting central AGN. We find that AGN heating can substantially affect the properties of the stellar and gaseous components, in particular reducing the mass deposition rate onto the central cD galaxy, thereby offering an energetically plausible solution to the cooling flow problem.
Exploring Children's Perceptions of Cheetahs through Storytelling: Implications for Cheetah Conservation

Namibia's cheetah population has predominantly been threatened by human conflict related to livestock farming and habitat loss. Cheetahs have been indiscriminately persecuted as a mortal threat to livestock, as well as suffered from human-caused land use change. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Otjiwarongo, Namibia conducts cheetah research and provides educational programs for school-aged children throughout the country, both on-site and in schools. CCF aims to increase awareness and understanding of the plight of the cheetah to encourage conservation. Through drawn, written, and verbal storytelling, I explored the perceptions school-aged children held for cheetahs. Analysis revealed three themes, suggesting children perceived cheetahs to be important in Namibia based on their aesthetic qualities, their role as a tourist attraction, and their role as a predator.
Bioactive calcium phosphate–based glasses and ceramics and their biomedical applications: A review

An overview of the formation of calcium phosphate under in vitro environment on the surface of a range of bioactive materials (e.g. from silicate, borate, and phosphate glasses, glass-ceramics, bioceramics to metals) based on recent literature is presented in this review. The mechanism of bone-like calcium phosphate (i.e. hydroxyapatite) formation and the test protocols that are either already in use or currently being investigated for the evaluation of the bioactivity of biomaterials are discussed. This review also highlights the effect of chemical composition and surface charge of materials, types of medium (e.g. simulated body fluid, phosphate-buffered saline and cell culture medium) and test parameters on their bioactivity performance. Finally, a brief summary of the biomedical applications of these newly formed calcium phosphate (either in the form of amorphous or apatite) is presented.
The Arabidopsis thaliana Homolog of the Helicase RTEL1 Plays Multiple Roles in Preserving Genome Stability[C][W]

A helicase is required to preserve genome stability in plants, which is likely due to its role in destabilizing various types of DNA loop recombination intermediates. In humans, mutations in the DNA helicase Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase1 (RTEL1) lead to Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, a severe, multisystem disorder. Here, we demonstrate that the RTEL1 homolog in Arabidopsis thaliana plays multiple roles in preserving genome stability. RTEL1 suppresses homologous recombination in a pathway parallel to that of the DNA translocase FANCM. Cytological analyses of root meristems indicate that RTEL1 is involved in processing DNA replication intermediates independently from FANCM and the nuclease MUS81. Moreover, RTEL1 is involved in interstrand and intrastrand DNA cross-link repair independently from FANCM and (in intrastrand cross-link repair) parallel to MUS81. RTEL1 contributes to telomere homeostasis; the concurrent loss of RTEL1 and the telomerase TERT leads to rapid, severe telomere shortening, which occurs much more rapidly than it does in the single-mutant line tert, resulting in developmental arrest after four generations. The double mutant rtel1-1 recq4A-4 exhibits massive growth defects, indicating that this RecQ family helicase, which is also involved in the suppression of homologous recombination and the repair of DNA lesions, can partially replace RTEL1 in the processing of DNA intermediates. The requirement for RTEL1 in multiple pathways to preserve genome stability in plants can be explained by its putative role in the destabilization of DNA loop structures, such as D-loops and T-loops.
Crater‐associated dark diffuse features on Venus: Properties of surficial deposits and their evolution

[1] In order to assess the nature of crater-associated radar-dark diffuse features (DDFs) on Venus and to understand their formation and evolution, we analyzed Magellan radar roughness, emissivity, and reflectivity data in the vicinity of craters accompanied by these features. Following others, we assumed that DDFs are deposits (mantles) of ejected material emplaced during formation of the impact crater. The majority of radar-dark parabolas (the youngest DDFs) are characterized by a smooth mantle-atmosphere interface having low root-mean-square (rms) slopes on scales of 1–100 m, as derived from Magellan altimeter data. Older DDFs also often have areas with low rms slopes, suggesting that the mantle rms slopes can be preserved for geologically long periods of time. Some parabolas and older DDFs have asymmetric small-scale (decimeter-scale) relief that is interpreted to be dunes that formed as a result of eolian processes. This implies that the mantle material is mobile and can saltate under the influence of wind action. On average, aging of these features is accompanied by a decrease of mantle material dielectric permittivity. The most efficient mechanism for parabola degradation seems to be the removal of mantle material from the site of initial deposition by subsequent winds. We found a few examples of features that could be interpreted to be the result of in situ modification of the primary mantle.
Economic behavior and institutions

An important research programme has developed in economics that extends neo-classical economic theory in order to examine the effects of institutions on economic behaviour. The body of work emerging from this line of inquiry includes contributions from various branches of economic theory, such as the economics of property rights, the theory of the firm, cliometrics and law and economics. This book is a comprehensive survey of this research programme which the author terms 'neoinstitutional economics'. The author proposes a unified approach to this research, integrating the work of various contributors and emphasising the common principles of inquiry that tie the work together. The theoretical discussion is accompanied by empirical studies dealing with a range of institutions and economic systems. This book will serve as the primary resource for economists and students who want to learn about this important branch of economic theory.
A New Unconstrained Differentiable Merit Function for Box Constrained Variational Inequality Problems and a Damped Gauss-Newton Method

In this paper we propose a new unconstrained differentiable merit function f for box constrained variational inequality problems VIP(l,u,F). We study various desirable properties of this new merit function f and propose a Gauss--Newton method in which each step requires only the solution of a system of linear equations. Global and superlinear convergence results for VIP(l,u,F) are obtained. Key results are the boundedness of the level sets of the merit function for any uniform P-function and the superlinear convergence of the algorithm without a nondegeneracy assumption. Numerical experiments confirm the good theoretical properties of the method.
Psychological consequences of collective violence in childhood: the case of Monterrey, Mexico / Consecuencias psicológicas de la violencia colectiva en la niñez: el caso de Monterrey, México

Abstract During the last years, different types of violence have severely damaged Mexico. In this paper we examine the consequences that violence could have in children, one of the most vulnerable segments of society. In short, we predict that exposure to any type of violence will lead to higher depression and that this could be explained through the effects of violence on childhood well-being. Our hypothesis was supported in two studies, showing that exposure to street violence (Study 1, N = 607) and exposure to collective violence (Study 2, N = 172) can increase childhood depression. Moreover, in both studies, this effect was explained by the decrease of childhood well-being caused by violence exposure. The implications of these results are discussed.
Urbanization of Capital or Capitalization on Urban Land? Land Development and Local Public Finance in Urbanizing China

This study examines the relationship between urban land development and municipal finance in a Chinese regional economy undergoing rapid urbanization. Drawing upon insights from the perspective of political economy, this study analyzes how municipalities in coastal Jiangsu Province have engaged in the land-dominated urbanization process, and the developmental landscape that has emerged from the new approach toward local public finance. Land development has not functioned simply as a passive outcome of urbanization, but has been actively pursued by local governments as a means of revenue generation to finance local economic growth. An inverse correlation is found between the growth of land conveyance income and the level of the regional economies in China's administrative hierarchy. We call for greater attention to be directed to the interrelationship between land development, local public finance, and urbanization in the ongoing transformation of the Chinese political economy.
Personality Characteristics of Volunteers in a Companion for Children Program

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the MMPI and other personal factors in predicting both the length of time the volunteer would be in the program and the quality of performance of the volunteer in a Companions for Children program. The MMPI scores of 67 volunteers, over a 2-yr. period, were evaluated. There were some significant correlations between longevity in program, specifically occupation, education, and scores on the Hysteria scale of the MMPI were negatively correlated. The staff-rated quality of the volunteers, education, and occupation were significantly correlated, as well as scores on the Psychasthenia scale of the MMPI. A forward stepwise regression, performed for longevity and rated quality, showed education, scores on the F scale, Hysteria scale, and Psychasthenia scale were the four best indicators of longevity. The best four indicators for rated quality were the F scale, Hypochondriasis scale, Schizophrenia scale, and the Social introversion-extroversion scale. Although the MMPI was a good screening device, it was not an adequate predictor of eventual longevity or quality in the program.
Mentoring and preferences: a diagnostic survey for equal mentoring opportunity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine mentoring experiences and preferences aimed at creating equal mentoring opportunity for male and female employees in the Nigerian work setting.Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained from 140 randomly selected managers (70 males and 70 females). Findings – Results revealed that mentoring occurrence is entirely informal and more males compared to females served as mentors. Respondents commonly reported and preferred career‐related benefits of mentoring. An examination of preferred mentor gender indicated a significant relationship between gender of respondent and that of preferred mentor and protege. Concern for positive interaction reflects frequently mentioned reasons for this preference among men and women. The preferred qualities of a mentor often cited by respondents were those which enable a mentor to deliver career functions while reverence was the most mentioned protege quality. The distribution of male and female respondents differed on som.
Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Violence Risk Scale in a paroled offender sample: a seven-year prospective study

The predictive validity of the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) has been demonstrated in a number of institutionalised offender samples but not in a community sample. The present study assessed prospectively, in a seven-year follow-up, the validity of the VRS ratings in predicting recidivism in a sample of 60 federal offenders residing in the community after they were released under conditional orders. Six recidivism outcomes were used: any and violent reconvictions, days until any and violent reconvictions, frequency and severity of any new reconvictions. Pearson correlations, Receiver Operating Characteristic and survival analyses were used, among others, to assess the predictive validity of VRS ratings. The VRS ratings significantly predicted all six recidivism outcomes. The results also suggest that release decision makers correctly identified offenders with lower than average risk and recidivism rate for release. However, for release decision making, it is suggested that more attention should be paid to the results of risk assessments using validated structured risk assessment tools.
Verbal aggression detection in complex social environments

The paper presents a knowledge-based system designed to detect evidence of aggression by means of audio analysis. The detection is based on the way sounds are analyzed and how they attract attention in the human auditory system. The performance achieved is comparable to human performance in complex social environments. The SIgard system has been deployed in a number of different real-life situations and was tested extensively in the inner city of Groningen. Experienced police observers have annotated ~1400 recordings with various degrees of shouting, which were used for optimization. All essential events and a small number of nonessential aggressive events were detected. The system produces only a few false alarms (non-shouts) per microphone per year and misses no incidents. This makes it the first successful detection system for a non-trivial target in an unconstrained environment.
Performance of Low-Dark-Current 4H-SiC Avalanche Photodiodes With Thin Multiplication Layer

The authors report on the fabrication and performance of low-dark-current 4H-SiC avalanche photodiodes with a thin 180-nm-thick p - multiplication layer. At a photocurrent gain M of 1000, the dark current of a 100-mum-diameter device was 35 pA (0.44 muA/cm2). The peak unity-gain responsivity was 100 mA/W (external quantum efficiency=46%) at lambda=268 nm, and at high gain, a responsivity greater than 107 A/W was achieved. The excess noise factor corresponds to k=0.12. Time-domain pulse measurements indicate an RC-limited unity-gain bandwidth of 300 MHz
Mission Accomplishment as Philanthropic Organization Effectiveness: Key Findings from the Excellence in Philanthropy Project

Philanthropic organizations make a significant impact on the lives of Americans, and the effectiveness of these organizations is of great interest. The Excellence in Philanthropy Project is intended to contribute to the development of theory for designing philanthropic organizations for producing increased levels of effectiveness. The findings reviewed here are based on questionnaires collected from 101 philanthropic organizations in Franklin County (Columbus), Ohio. This article reports on the ways mission statements are expressed-as an intention to affect the world outside the organization, the organization itself, or both-and also on whether organizations 'performance measures assess mission accomplishment.
Current and future therapies for treating chronic spontaneous urticaria

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a disabling condition that causes deterioration of quality of life. Areas covered: The international EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines have provided a stepwise treatment algorithm for CSU management. Second-generation H1-antihistamines are the first-line treatment, and the second step is the up-dosing of the same drugs. In refractory patients, the guidelines recommend the addition of omalizumab, ciclosporin A or montelukast. Systemic corticosteroids can be used as a short course during acute exacerbations. A plethora of alternative treatments has been evaluated, although the overall level of evidence for such treatments is low. Future treatment options may include inhibitors of skin mast cells and antagonists to mast cell-activating signals that are relevant for the induction of CSU signs and symptoms. Expert opinion: The only licensed options included in the guidelines algorithm are standard-dosed second-generation H1-antihistamines and omalizumab. High-quality evidence has documented a rapid and strong symptomatic effect of omalizumab in CSU, although the optimal long-term regimens should be further investigated. The role of alternative drugs deserves additional studies. The potential of the existing treatments for inducing remission of CSU is unknown, and this is an important area of research, as is the evaluation of predictors of response, prognostic factors, and pathomechanisms.
The Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on the Educational Attainment of Girls at Chorkor, a Suburb of Accra

Recently, the incidence of teenage pregnancy has been very high in Ghana. The study therefore was designed to explore the effects of teenage pregnancy on the educational attainment of the girl-child at Chorkor. A total sample size of fifty-five (55) respondents was used for the study. Questionnaire, in-depth interview, focus group discussions and observation were used to collect data for the study. With respect to factors that lead to teenage pregnancy, it was evident that poor parenting, poverty and peer influence are the major causes of teenage pregnancy. The study also revealed that most of the teenage mothers drop out of school. The study therefore recommended that teenage mothers should be helped in their psychosocial development and job skills development. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013. v4n3p53
The future of cognitive ^ behavioural therapy for psychosis : not a quasi-neuroleptic

Some 20 trials of cognitive ^ Some 20 trials of cognitive ^ behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis have re-established psychotherapy as a have re-established psychotherapy as a credible treatment for psychosis. credible treatment for psychosis. However, it is not without its detractors However, it is not without its detractors and problems, including uncertainty about and problems, including uncertainty about the nature of its active ingredients.We the nature of its active ingredients.We believe thatthe way forwardis to abandon believe thatthe way forwardis to abandon the neuroleptic metaphor of CBT for the neuroleptic metaphor of CBT for psychosis and to develop targeted psychosis and to develop targeted interventions that are informed by the interventions that are informed by the growing understanding of the interface growing understanding of the interface between emotion and psychosis. between emotion and psychosis. How times have changed! It was not long How times have changed! It was not long ago that talking to people about their ago that talking to people about their psychotic beliefs was deemed impossible psychotic beliefs was deemed impossible or harmful. Yet cognitive–behavioural or harmful. Yet cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis is now therapy (CBT) for psychosis is now recommended by the National Institute recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2002) to 'reduce for Clinical Excellence (2002) to 'reduce psychotic symptoms, increase insight and psychotic symptoms, increase insight and promote medication adherence'. This promote medication adherence'. This mainly British innovation has been based mainly British innovation has been based on some 20 randomised controlled trials on some 20 randomised controlled trials (Tarrier & Wykes, 2004) using predomi-(Tarrier & Wykes, 2004) using predominantly standard psychosis outcomes (Posi-nantly standard psychosis outcomes (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and tive and Negative Syndrome Scale and relapse). CBT for psychosis has mirrored relapse). CBT for psychosis has mirrored the evaluation of neuroleptics to re-the evaluation of neuroleptics to re-establish psychotherapy as a credible treat-establish psychotherapy as a credible treatment for psychosis, and it has succeeded. ment for psychosis, and it has succeeded. But was this the right approach and are But was this the right approach and are we moving in the right direction? The de-we moving in the right direction? The development and evaluation of CBT for psy-velopment and evaluation of CBT for psy-chosis have tended to follow the drug chosis have tended to follow the drug metaphor in the way …