Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Routine determination of 5' nucleotidase activity of human serum using the LKB 8600 reaction rate analyser.

We have described a method (Ellis, Belfield, and Goldberg, 1970) for assaying the activity of 5'nucleo-tidase (EC 3.1.3.5; 5'-ribonucleotide phospho-hydrolase; SNase) in human serum based upon the following linked reactions:
Impact of Losses in the Bragg Section on the Dynamics of Detuned Loaded DBR Lasers

The dynamics of a distributed Bragg reflector laser with optical losses in the Bragg section is studied in detail. It is found that the modulation response depends not only on the detuning of the lasing wavelength from the Bragg reflectivity peak but also on the magnitude of the waveguide losses in the Bragg section. Depending on the losses, the damping of the relaxation peak can either increase or decrease when the laser is detuned on the long wavelength flank of the Bragg peak. Hence, in order to achieve maximum modulation bandwidth of the laser, the laser needs not only to have the correct detuning but also an optimized waveguide loss in the Bragg section. The physical reason for this dependence is discussed in terms of a modified rate equation model.
Gradual Change in International Organisations: Agency Theory and Historical Institutionalism

This research note discusses limitations of principal-agent (PA) analysis in explaining gradual change in international organisations (IOs). It suggests that historical institutionalism (HI) can fill important gaps left by the PA approach and identifies scope conditions for both approaches. For this purpose, a distinction is made between two sources of state power that PA usually treats as synergistic – namely the formal control of IO decisions and material power resources. While PA analysis is best applicable where reform coalitions of like-minded member states control both formal and material resources, in many contexts there exist frictions between material and formal power in IOs. In these constellations recent HI-inspired works on gradual modes of change such as ‘layering’ and ‘drift’ are of particular relevance. This research avenue is illustrated with empirical examples from a variety of international organisations.
Acquiring synaesthesia: insights from training studies

Synaesthesia denotes a condition of remarkable individual differences in experience characterized by specific additional experiences in response to normal sensory input. Synaesthesia seems to (i) run in families which suggests a genetic component, (ii) is associated with marked structural and functional neural differences, and (iii) is usually reported to exist from early childhood. Hence, synaesthesia is generally regarded as a congenital phenomenon. However, most synaesthetic experiences are triggered by cultural artifacts (e.g., letters, musical sounds). Evidence exists to suggest that synaesthetic experiences are triggered by the conceptual representation of their inducer stimuli. Cases were identified for which the specific synaesthetic associations are related to prior experiences and large scale studies show that grapheme-color associations in synaesthesia are not completely random. Hence, a learning component is inherently involved in the development of specific synaesthetic associations. Researchers have hypothesized that associative learning is the critical mechanism. Recently, it has become of scientific and public interest if synaesthetic experiences may be acquired by means of associative training procedures and whether the gains of these trainings are associated with similar cognitive benefits as genuine synaesthetic experiences. In order to shed light on these issues and inform synaesthesia researchers and the general interested public alike, we provide a comprehensive literature review on developmental aspects of synaesthesia and specific training procedures in non-synaesthetes. Under the light of a clear working definition of synaesthesia, we come to the conclusion that synaesthesia can potentially be learned by the appropriate training.
Synergy of switched-fuzzy and fuzzy-neural nonlinear systems enhances complexity and potential

In this paper we present concepts for synergy of switched fuzzy and fuzzy-neural systems. First, an algorithm/procedure for neural network identification of switched fuzzy models, out of input-output data pairs is given. In order to use the existing stability and stabilization results in the field of switched fuzzy systems to the identified switched fuzzy-neural models, an extension of the switched fuzzy model with levels of structure is presented. The proposed concepts are used for identification of discrete switched fuzzy models. To confirm the proposed algorithm/procedure, and the new extended model, a fuzzy-neural identification of the discrete switched fuzzy model for the nonholonomic WMR vehicle is presented. Based on the identified discrete switched fuzzy model for the WMR vehicle, design of discrete switched fuzzy controller is made. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed concepts.
Equity for boys and girls: Some important issues

Societal trends in Australia include an expansion of the number of women in the workforce. Females seeking employment, however, are often at a disadvantage for their choice of school subjects has not always prepared them for the mathematical and scientific career options available within an increasingly technological society. Thus their career choices have, unfortunately, been narrowed. The current unemployment problem across Australia has exacerbated this situation for females. Schools and the system of schooling have been challenged to review their educational objectives for it is obvious that there are inadequacies in both the system and the practice. What was acceptable practice in the past is not necessarily acceptable now. Parents and educators are questioning current practices more than they have done in the past. Male‐female differences in educational achievement cannot be explained by current understanding of and research into basic sex differences in ability. It has been acknowledged that the te.
Why poor children are more likely to become poor readers: the early years

Gaps in literacy ability between children from different socio-economic backgrounds are evident before formal schooling begins. Low income makes a minor contribution. Socio-economic status exerts its influence on early literacy primarily through its association with other factors. Children from disadvantaged families are less likely to have experiences that encourage the development of fundamental skills for reading acquisition, specifically phonological awareness, vocabulary and oral language. These skills underlie the cognitive processes in the “simple view” of reading – word identification and language comprehension. Low quality early home literacy environments suppress children’s genetic potential, increasing the risk a child will struggle to learn to read. In addition, children from low socio-economic status backgrounds are more likely to have infant health outcomes associated with cognitive impairments, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, and are less likely to attend preschool. The risk factors associated with the failure to develop early literacy skills are cumulative and interactive. This literature review describes a predictive pathway between social disadvantage and poor early literacy.
Tips and Strategies for Co-Teaching at the Secondary Level

resource teacher who has 32 students with mild to moderate disabilities on her caseload. The special education department at Chavez High School (CHS) decided 2 years ago to organize by grade level, so most of the students on Kali’s caseload are in the 10th grade, although she has two in the 9th grade and four in the 11th. At the end of the last school year, CHS teachers discussed at great length how the school was supposed to become more “inclusive” and how the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act might affect secondary special educators. Although Kali was accustomed to teaching resource classes in English and algebra, her principal just informed her that she will be expected to “coteach” so that more of her students could be included in general education classes and have their needs met in those classes. Christien, a general education 10th grade English teacher, also was recently told that he would be co-teaching with Kali. It is only a few days before school begins, and Christien and Kali find themselves meeting and asking the same questions. What exactly is co-teaching? How can it be done at the secondary level? What role will, or even should, Kali have in the general education classroom? Is this the same thing as being a glorified aide? Can co-teaching really help to meet secondary students’ needs?
Application of the Video Head Impulse Test to Detect Vertical Semicircular Canal Dysfunction

Objective The video head impulse test (vHIT) is a useful clinical tool to detect semicircular canal dysfunction. However, so far, vHIT has been limited to measurement of the function of the horizontal semicircular canals. The goal of this study was to determine if vHIT can detect vertical semicircular canal dysfunction. Study Design Horizontal and vertical eye movements were recorded in response to abrupt, passive, unpredictable head turns (head impulses) in the planes of the vertical semicircular canals by high-speed video (250-Hz sampling rate) together with measures of the head movement. Head impulses were delivered diagonally in the plane of the vertical semicircular canals, whereas gaze was directed along the same plane. Patients with known vestibular loss as shown by previous scleral search coil recording were tested to identify if the vHIT testing could detect the loss. Results The results of patients with unilateral, bilateral, and individual semicircular canal dysfunction were compared with the results of a healthy control subject. The patient with bilateral vestibular loss had no compensatory slow eye movements in any direction. The patient with unilateral vestibular loss showed reduced response for head impulses activating the canals in their affected right ear (right anterior, right posterior, and right horizontal head impulses). The patient with isolated canal loss showed reduced response for head impulses activating the affected right posterior canal. Conclusion vHIT detects peripheral deficits of both vertical and horizontal semicircular canal function and is a new tool for measuring dysfunction of individual semicircular canals in vestibular patients.
A role for action-potential activity in the development of neuronal connections in the kitten retinogeniculate pathway

The role of action potentials in the development of proper synaptic connections in the mammalian CNS was studied in the kitten retinogeniculate pathway. Our basic finding is that there is improper segregation of retinal inputs onto LGN cells after prolonged retinal action-potential blockade. Retinal ganglion cell firing was silenced from birth by repeated monocular injections of TTX. The resulting ganglion cell connections in the LGN were studied electrophysiologically after the action-potential blockade was ended. Most cells in the deprived LGN layers received excitatory input from both ON-center and OFF-center type ganglion cells, whereas LGN cells normally receive inputs only from ON-center or OFF-center ganglion cells, but not from both types. Improper segregation of ON and OFF inputs has never been reported after other types of visual deprivation that do not block ganglion cell activity. Control experiments showed that receptive fields in the nondeprived LGN layers were normal, that ganglion cell responses remained normal, and that there was no obvious ganglion cell loss. We also showed that individual LGN cells with ON and OFF excitatory inputs were not present in normal neonatal kittens. Two other types of improper input segregation in response to action- potential blockade were also found in the deprived LGN layers. (1) A greater than normal number of LGN cells received both X- and Y-type ganglion cell input. (2) Almost half of the cells at LGN layer borders were excited binocularly. Recovery of LGN normality was rapid and complete after blockade that lasted for only 3 weeks from birth, but little recovery was seen after about 11 weeks of blockade. The susceptibility to action-potential blockade decreased during the first 3 postnatal weeks. These findings may result from axon-terminal sprouting or from the failure of axon terminals to retract. The results are consistent with the idea that normally synchronous activity of neighboring ganglion cells of like center-type may be used in the refinement of retinogeniculate synaptic connections.
TUNES THAT BIND?

Despite the popularity of social network sites based on common interests, the association between these shared interests and relational development is not well understood. This manuscript reports results of an empirical investigation of interpersonal relationships on Last.fm, a music-based social network site with a multinational user base. In addition to baseline descriptors of relational behavior, the chief goals of this study were to examine the degree to which Last.fm relationships are characterized by homophily (and particularly by shared musical taste), the extent to which communication via Last.fm is associated with other forms of communication (both offline and online), how such communication behavior is associated with demographic and relational characteristics, and whether these variables predict strength of relational development. Results indicate that although Last.fm relational partners exhibit shared musical taste, this shared taste is not associated with relational development. Rather, following media multiplexity theory, relational development is strongly and uniquely associated with communication behavior across almost all forms of communication (including Last.fm). These results suggest that shared interests may foster the creation of weak ties, but conversion of these connections to strong ties is relatively rare.
Qualitative and Quantitative Saponin Contents in Five Sea Cucumbers from the Indian Ocean

To avoid predation, holothuroids produce feeding-deterrent molecules in their body wall and viscera, the so-called saponins. Five tropical sea cucumber species of the family Holothuriidae were investigated in order to study their saponin content in two different organs, the body wall and the Cuvierian tubules. Mass spectrometry techniques (MALDI- and ESI-MS) were used to detect and analyze saponins. The smallest number of saponins was observed in Holothuria atra, which contained a total of four congeners, followed by Holothuria leucospilota, Pearsonothuria graeffei and Actinopyga echinites with six, eight and ten congeners, respectively. Bohadschia subrubra revealed the highest saponin diversity (19 congeners). Saponin mixtures also varied between the two body compartments within a given animal. A semi-quantitative approach completed these results and showed that a high diversity of saponins is not particularly correlated to a high saponin concentration. Although the complexity of the saponin mixtures described makes the elucidation of their respective biological roles difficult, the comparisons between species and between body compartments give some clues about how these molecules may act as predator repellents.
Estimating Dynamic Discrete Choice Models of Product Differentiation: An Application to Medicare Part D with Switching Costs

This paper proposes an algorithm to estimate dynamic discrete choice models using aggregate market share data. The algorithm achieves a computational advantage by decomposing the complicated mapping between market shares and utility ows into two simpler ones. The rst maps observed market shares to mean choice speci c values, and the second then maps to mean utility ows. In the application, we estimate switching costs in the Medicare Part D market. Our results indicate a large switching cost of around $1,700, which implies an average welfare loss of $480 as enrollees choose to remain in sub-optimal plans to avoid switching costs. Department of Economics, Clemson University; dmille7@g.clemson. edu yCorresponding author. School of Economics, Singapore Management University; jwyeo@smu.edu. sg
Dysfunctional dichotomies? Deflating bipolar constructions of curriculum and pedagogy through case studies from music and history

Recent public discussions of curriculum and pedagogy that have accompanied the English National Curriculum review have been structured around clichéd dichotomies that generate more heat than light and that, as Robin Alexander has argued, reduce complex educational debates to oppositional and incompatible slogans. This paper begins by exploring the ways in which these dichotomies have structured recent debates and goes on to critically explore arguments in two contemporary debates, in the fields of history education and music education, assessing how these debates have been framed and the extent to which the debates can be considered fruitful and progressive. In the first case, we seek to show, through a discussion of ‘knowledge’ and ‘skill’ in history, that bipolar thinking is both inadequate and dysfunctional in relation to the matters under discussion. A third term – disciplinary understanding – is advocated and explored. In the second case, we demonstrate that dichotomous thinking about formal and informal music education has generated a debate that has become more sophisticated as various authors have problematised and critiqued informal learning. Analysis of these debates suggests that dichotomous thinking is pernicious when dichotomies are used only as slogans, although dichotomies can be generative when they are used as starting points to open discussion, not to close it. The paper suggests that the difference between the debates might be explained by the varying degrees of political involvement in them.
Classes of Interval Digraphs and 0,1-matrices

We consider a hierarchy of four classes of interval digraphs, or equivalently four classes of 0,1-matrics. We provide forbidden submatrix characterizations separating the successive classes. The largest class is the set of (adjacency matrices of) interval digraphs; the smallest is the set of (adjacency matrices of) unit interval digraphs.
Regulation of the Two-Component Regulator CpxR on Aminoglycosides and β-lactams Resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The two-component signal transduction system CpxAR is especially widespread in Gram-negative bacteria. It has been reported that CpxAR contributes to the multidrug resistance (MDR) in Escherichia coli. CpxR is a response regulator in the two-component CpxAR system. The aim of this study was to explore the role of cpxR in the MDR of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of various antibiotics commonly used in veterinary medicine for strains JS (a multidrug-susceptible standard strain of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium), JSΔcpxR, JSΔcpxR/pcpxR, JSΔcpxR/pcpxR*, JSΔcpxRΔacrB, JSΔcpxRΔacrB/pcpxR, JSΔcpxRΔacrB/pcpxR*, 9 S. enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates (SH1–9), and SH1–9ΔcpxR were determined by the 2-fold broth microdilution method. The relative mRNA expression levels of ompF, ompC, ompW, ompD, tolC, acrB, acrD, acrF, mdtA, marA, and soxS in strains JS, JSΔcpxR, and JSΔcpxR/pcpxR were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed 2- to 4-fold decreases in the MICs of amikacin (AMK), gentamycin (GEN), apramycin (APR), neomycin (NEO), ceftriaxone (CRO), ceftiofur (CEF), and cefquinome (CEQ) for strain JSΔcpxR, as compared to those for the parental strain JS. Likewise, SH1–9ΔcpxR were found to have 2- to 8-fold reduction in resistance to the above antibiotics, except for NEO, as compared to their parental strains SH1–9. Furthermore, 2- to 4-fold further decreases in the MICs of AMK, GEN, APR, and CEF for strain JSΔcpxRΔacrB were observed, as compared to those for strain JSΔacrB. In addition, CpxR overproduction in strain JSΔcpxR led to significant decreases in the mRNA expression levels of ompF, ompC, ompW, ompD, tolC, acrB, marA, and soxS, and significant increases in those of stm3031 and stm1530. Notably, after all strains were induced simultaneously by GEN to the 15th passage at subinhibitory concentrations, strain JSΔcpxR/pcpxR showed significant increases in mRNA expression levels of the efflux pump acrD and mdtA genes, as compared to strain JSΔcpxR. Our results indicate that the two-component regulator CpxR contributes to resistance of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium to aminoglycosides and β-lactams by influencing the expression level of the MDR-related genes.
Life values, family support and psychosocial adaptation among older people in Taiwan: an institutional and community comparison

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial adaptation among elderly persons in institutional and community settings, and to explore factors influencing their adaptation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 165 residents of four institutions (two assisted-living facilities and two nursing homes) and 209 community-dwelling elders served by a primary care centre, all located in middle Taiwan. A structured interview questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: community-dwelling elderly had significantly higher adaptation scores than those in institutional settings. Factors related to adaptation differed between institutional and community settings, with more variables influencing adaptation in the community than in the institution. Physical functional status was the major influence on adaptation of the elderly in institutions. Dietary support from family was negatively associated with adaptation in this group. Influencing factors for community-dwelling elders were more complicated, including perceived family emotional and economic support, personal life values and physical functional status. Implications: greater support from government, including economic resources and assistance in community care are needed to achieve the policy goal of ‘aging in place’. Further investigation of the influence of family interaction on elders' adaptation is needed.
Business-to-Business Branding: A Review and Assessment of the Impact of Non-Attribute-Based Brand Beliefs on Buyer's Attitudinal Loyalty

Business-to-business branding has received increasing attention from researchers in the last few years. Nonetheless, there is no agreement on the relative contribution of a brand versus an offering's functional attributes to the industrial buyer's preferences. Drawing on models from the business-to-consumer context, this paper demonstrates that non-attribute‒based brand beliefs are predictors of hedonic outcomes as measured by industrial buyers' attitudinal loyalty, while attribute-based brand beliefs are not. Moreover, the moderating role of the buyer's level of knowledge for the value-generating process is identified, suggesting that the impact of non-attribute‒based brand beliefs on attitudinal loyalty is greater for buyers with a low level of knowledge.