Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Case of a Self-Contained Elementary Classroom for the Gifted: Student, Teacher, and Parent Perceptions of Existing Versus Desired Teaching–Learning Aspects

This study examined whether a self-contained gifted classroom meets the needs of its learners. Considering the existing and desired aspects, as perceived by students, teachers, and parents, it offers a unique lens forming a holistic in-depth view of the self-contained classroom. Forty-two participants took part in this study: 20 students, 15 parents, and 7 teachers. Data were collected via semistructured interviews focusing on the perceptions of desirable and existing aspects of teaching/learning in this program. Findings demonstrate positive student attitude toward being grouped with similarly able students, level of learning, interest, curiosity, and teachers’ approach. Parents were satisfied with the decision to transfer their children to this special classroom. Teachers were satisfied with the opportunity to work with this unique population. The study concludes that the self-contained classroom still prevails and caters to the needs of gifted students.
Molecular Mechanism of Arenavirus Assembly and Budding

Arenaviruses have a bisegmented negative-strand RNA genome, which encodes four viral proteins: GP and NP by the S segment and L and Z by the L segment. These four viral proteins possess multiple functions in infection, replication and release of progeny viruses from infected cells. The small RING finger protein, Z protein is a matrix protein that plays a central role in viral assembly and budding. Although all arenaviruses encode Z protein, amino acid sequence alignment showed a huge variety among the species, especially at the C-terminus where the L-domain is located. Recent publications have demonstrated the interactions between viral protein and viral protein, and viral protein and host cellular protein, which facilitate transportation and assembly of viral components to sites of virus egress. This review presents a summary of current knowledge regarding arenavirus assembly and budding, in comparison with other enveloped viruses. We also refer to the restriction of arenavirus production by the antiviral cellular factor, Tetherin/BST-2.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Porin Family Highlights a Major Difference in the Outer Membrane of Chlamydial Symbionts and Pathogens

The Chlamydiae constitute an evolutionary well separated group of intracellular bacteria comprising important pathogens of humans as well as symbionts of protozoa. The amoeba symbiont Protochlamydia amoebophila lacks a homologue of the most abundant outer membrane protein of the Chlamydiaceae, the major outer membrane protein MOMP, highlighting a major difference between environmental chlamydiae and their pathogenic counterparts. We recently identified a novel family of putative porins encoded in the genome of P. amoebophila by in silico analysis. Two of these Protochlamydia outer membrane proteins, PomS (pc1489) and PomT (pc1077), are highly abundant in outer membrane preparations of this organism. Here we show that all four members of this putative porin family are toxic when expressed in the heterologous host Escherichia coli. Immunofluorescence analysis using antibodies against heterologously expressed PomT and PomS purified directly from elementary bodies, respectively, demonstrated the location of both proteins in the outer membrane of P. amoebophila. The location of the most abundant protein PomS was further confirmed by immuno-transmission electron microscopy. We could show that pomS is transcribed, and the corresponding protein is present in the outer membrane throughout the complete developmental cycle, suggesting an essential role for P. amoebophila. Lipid bilayer measurements demonstrated that PomS functions as a porin with anion-selectivity and a pore size similar to the Chlamydiaceae MOMP. Taken together, our results suggest that PomS, possibly in concert with PomT and other members of this porin family, is the functional equivalent of MOMP in P. amoebophila. This work contributes to our understanding of the adaptations of symbiotic and pathogenic chlamydiae to their different eukaryotic hosts.
A Sociological Inquiry

Abstract The paper traces recent research of balance training in sport and recovery medicine, and the use of balance training products in commercial gyms, hospitals, and the sport field. Much of the technology is new and improving, the published studies thus far are less than a decade old. Many of these studies are rendered incomplete because the researchers failed to take into account all the variables, such as differences in age, in training, experience, and the amounts of control vs. test groups. Many of these studies also used only younger people, under the age of 30, who were students, thus data from an older, regular population cannot be factored in to compare the data. For more comprehensive understanding of balance training and recovery, there is a need for further research in this field.
A Novel Sequence-Based Feature for the Identification of DNA-Binding Sites in Proteins Using Jensen-Shannon Divergence

The knowledge of protein-DNA interactions is essential to fully understand the molecular activities of life. Many research groups have developed various tools which are either structure- or sequence-based approaches to predict the DNA-binding residues in proteins. The structure-based methods usually achieve good results, but require the knowledge of the 3D structure of protein; while sequence-based methods can be applied to high-throughput of proteins, but require good features. In this study, we present a new information theoretic feature derived from Jensen–Shannon Divergence (JSD) between amino acid distribution of a site and the background distribution of non-binding sites. Our new feature indicates the difference of a certain site from a non-binding site, thus it is informative for detecting binding sites in proteins. We conduct the study with a five-fold cross validation of 263 proteins utilizing the Random Forest classifier. We evaluate the functionality of our new features by combining them with other popular existing features such as position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM), orthogonal binary vector (OBV), and secondary structure (SS). We notice that by adding our features, we can significantly boost the performance of Random Forest classifier, with a clear increment of sensitivity and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC).
Expression of Complement Factor H by Lung Cancer Cells

The complement system is important in immunosurveillance against tumors. However, malignant cells are usually resistant to complement-mediated lysis. In this study, we examine the expression of factor H, an inhibitor of complement activation, and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), its alternatively spliced form, in lung cancer. We also evaluate the potential effect of factor H/FHL-1 in the protection of lung cancer cells against the activation of the complement cascade. By Northern blot analysis we demonstrate a high expression of factor H and FHL-1 in most non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, although neuroendocrine pulmonary tumors (small cell lung carcinoma and carcinoid cell lines) had undetectable levels. Western blot analysis of conditioned medium showed the active secretion of factor H and FHL-1 by cells that were positive by Northern blot. Expression of factor H/FHL-1 mRNA was also shown in a series of non-small cell lung cancer biopsies by in situ hybridization. Interestingly, many cultured lung cancer cells were able to bind fluorescence-labeled factor H to their surfaces. Deposition of C3 fragments from normal human serum on H1264, a lung adenocarcinoma cell line, was more efficient when factor H/FHL-1 activity was blocked by specific antibodies. Blocking factor H/FHL-1 activity also enhanced the release of anaphylatoxin C5a and moderately increased the susceptibility of these cells to complement-mediated cytotoxicity. In summary, we demonstrate the expression of factor H and FHL-1 by some lung cancer cells and analyze the contribution of these proteins to the protection against complement activation.
Effect of immunosuppression on experimental Argentine hemorrhagic fever in guinea pigs

Immunosuppression with cyclosporin A or cyclophosphamide had no apparent effect on the disease course of guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain of Junin virus. Immunosuppression of guinea pigs infected with an attenuated strain of Junin virus led to fulminating Argentine hemorrhagic fever. All immunosuppressed infected animals died. Virus distribution patterns in target organs, as determined by plaque assay and fluorescent antibody procedures, were similar to those from non-immunosuppressed animals infected with a virulent strain. Histopathological lesions in immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with an attenuated strain of virus were similar to those in non-immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain. Histological changes attributable to the immunosuppressive drug(s) were regularly observed. Immunosuppressed animals infected with attenuated Junin virus and non-immunosuppressed animals infected with virulent virus failed to develop antibody or responded at a minimal level. Virus-specific cytotoxic spleen cell activity, previously shown to be antibody dependent, failed to develop in the same animals. The presence of a competent immune response, probably serum antibody, determined whether Argentine hemorrhagic fever infection of the guinea pig was lethal or whether recovery ensued; no evidence for harmful effects of the immune response was obtained.
Virtual computed tomography cystoscopy in bladder pathologies.

OBJECTIVE Assessed the usefulness of virtual cystoscopy performed with multidetector computed tomography (CT) in patients with different urinary bladder pathologies compared to the conventional cystoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen patients with different bladder pathologies, which consisted of 11 tumors, 3 diverticula, 2 trabecular changes and 2 stones, were assessed with conventional cystoscopy and virtual CT cystoscopy. The results of virtual CT cystoscopy were compared with the findings of conventional cystoscopy. We determined the detection rate and positive predictive value of CT imaging based virtual cystoscopy in the diagnosis of urinary bladder lesions. RESULTS CT scanning was well tolerated by all patients, and no complications occurred. Images in 16 (88%) of the 18 virtual cystoscopic examinations were either of excellent or good quality. All tumors except one, 2 trabecular changes and 2 stones were characterized with similar findings in the both of methods. The masses ranged from 0.4 to 7.0 cm in diameter. While conventional cystoscopy could not evaluate interior part of the diverticulum, virtual CT cystoscopy could demonstrate clearly within it. There were no false-positive findings in our series. CONCLUSION Virtual CT cystoscopy is a promising technique to be used in the detection of bladder lesions. It should be considered especially at the evaluation of bladder diverticula. In the future, it may be possible or even advantageous to incorporate into the imaging algorithm for evaluation of bladder lesion.
That sinking feeling: a patient-doctor dialogue about rescuing patients from fibromyalgia culture.

When your fibromyalgia patients arrive, does your heart sink? We want to show you how to understand these patients better, and make the experience of treating them more rewarding. Who are we? I am Baraa Alghalyini, a family physician who wants to pilot an interprofessional approach to fibromyalgia
A biodiversity hotspot for Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in North America: annotated species checklist for Ottawa, Canada

Abstract Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the city of Ottawa and its surroundings (a 50-km radius circle, ~7,800 km2) were studied based on 1,928 specimens collected between 1894 and 2010, and housed in the Canadian National Collection of Insects. A total of 158 species from 21 genera were identified, which is by far the highest number of species ever recorded for a locality in North America. An annotated checklist of species is provided. Choeras parasitellae (Bouché, 1834) and Pholetesor nanus (Reinhard, 1880) are recorded for the first time in the Nearctic (previously only known from the Palearctic region), Cotesia depressa (Viereck, 1912) is recorded for the first time in Canada (previously only known from the United States), and Cotesia hemileucae (Riley, 1881) and Protapanteles phlyctaeniae (Muesebeck, 1929) are recorded for the first time in the province of Ontario. In Ottawa the most diverse genera are Cotesia, Apanteles, Microplitis, Pholetesor, Microgaster, and Dolichogenidea, altogether comprising 77% of the species found in the area. A total of 73 species (46%) were represented by only one or two specimens, suggesting that the inventory for Ottawa is still relatively incomplete. Seasonal distribution showed several peaks of activity, in spring, summer, and early fall. That general pattern varied for individual species, with some showing a single peak of abundance either in the summer or towards the end of the season, others species attaining two peaks, in late spring and late summer, or in early summer and early fall, and yet others attaining up to three different peaks, in spring, summer and fall. At least 72 of the Microgastrinae species from Ottawa have been previously associated with 554 species of Lepidoptera as hosts – but those historical literature records are not always reliable and in many cases are based on data from areas beyond Ottawa. Thus, our knowledge of the associations between the 158 species of microgastrine parasitoids and the caterpillars of the 2,064 species of Lepidoptera recorded from Ottawa is still very incomplete.
Fuzzy calendar algebra and its applications to data mining

Temporal expressions are widely used in our daily life. Calendar algebra has been studied for years to provide a formal specification for constructing temporal expressions. However, temporal requirements specified by human beings tend to be ill-defined or uncertain. To deal with such kind of uncertain information, we propose the fuzzy calendar algebra which allows users to describe desired temporal expressions easily and naturally. The operations provided reflect the way in which people reason about temporal requirements in daily life. By using the fuzzy calendar algebra, users can define complicated calendars with multiple time granularities in which different time intervals can have different weights according to their matching degrees to the specified calendar. This can help users to discover the knowledge in the time intervals that are of interest to them. We show the usefulness of the algebra by incorporating it with an incremental data miner to mine fuzzy temporal association rules from temporal databases.
Stokingham Sixth Form College: Institutional culture and dispositions to learning

Learning is high on the political agenda for post-compulsory education and training in England. Official discourses about learning assume a predominantly individualist stance, despite the development of theoretical models that stress the contextual and situated nature of learning. In a study following 50 young people through further education over 4 years, it became apparent that the institutional culture of the colleges had a significant impact upon students' dispositions towards their learning. In this paper, we explore the nature and significance of this impact in a case-study sixth form college: an under-researched sector of educational provision. This is followed by a brief discussion of the implications of our analysis for issues of access, widening participation and inequality in relation to current proposals to reform age 16-19 educational provision in England. We conclude by identifying some of the questions about the fine-grained nature of that college culture that our data does not permit us to address directly.
Glutamate and astrocytes—Key players in human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?

Approximately one‐third of all patients with epilepsy continue to suffer from seizures even after appropriate treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Medically refractory epilepsies are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and more efficacious therapies against these disorders are clearly needed. However, the discovery of better therapies has been lagging due to an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of epilepsy (epileptogensis) and seizures (ictogenesis) in humans. An increasing number of studies have suggested that an abnormal amplification of glutamatergic activity—often referred to as the “glutamate hypothesis”—is involved in the pathophysiology of seizures and certain types of medically refractory epilepsies. For example, elevated levels of extracellular glutamate in hyperexcitable areas of the brain, up‐regulation of glutamate receptors, and loss of the glutamate‐metabolizing enzyme, glutamine synthetase (GS), have all been reported in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Moreover, it appears that glial cells, particularly the astrocyte, may play a key role in the glutamate overflow in MTLE. Proliferation of astrocytes is a hallmark of the epileptogenic focus in MTLE, and the proliferated cells are characterized by several unique features that are permissive for the excessive accumulation and release of astrocytic glutamate. Here, we assess recent data regarding the glutamate excess in epilepsy, review the role of glutamine synthetase, and discuss the implications of astrocytes in the pathophysiology of MTLE.
Serum YKL-40, a potential new marker of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND YKL-40 is secreted by macrophages and neutrophils and is a growth factor for vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Elevated serum concentrations of YKL-40 are found in patients with diseases characterized by inflammation or ongoing fibrosis. The aim of this study was to seek association between serum YKL-40 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) and clinical disease activity. METHODS One-hundred-and-sixty-four patients with UC and 173 patients with CD were studied. The Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) and the Harvey-Bradshaw (H-B) score were used to assess disease activity. Serum YKL-40 (determined by ELISA) was related to C-reactive protein (CRP) and disease activity. RESULTS In patients with UC, the median serum YKL-40 rose with increasing disease activity, and patients with severe active disease had higher serum YKL-40 (median 59 microg/L (95% CI: 26-258 microg/L), P < 0.001) than patients with inactive UC (33 microg/L (19-163)) and age-matched controls (43 microg/L (20-124)). Patients with severe active CD had higher serum YKL-40 (59 microg/L (21-654), P < 0.001) than age-matched controls, but not higher than inactive CD patients (43 microg/L (17-306)). Serum YKL-40 was elevated in 41% of the patients with severe UC, in 10% with inactive UC, in 46% with severe CD and in 30% with inactive CD. Serum YKL-40 correlated with SCCAI in UC patients but not with H-B score in CD patients. In both patient groups, low correlations were found between serum YKL-40 and CRP, albumin and leucocytes. CONCLUSIONS Serum YKL-40 is elevated in patients with active IBD and may be complementary to inflammatory markers and clinical characteristics in the assessment of disease activity.
An Improved Opposition-Based Learning Particle Swarm Optimization for the Detection of SNP-SNP Interactions

SNP-SNP interactions have been receiving increasing attention in understanding the mechanism underlying susceptibility to complex diseases. Though many works have been done for the detection of SNP-SNP interactions, the algorithmic development is still ongoing. In this study, an improved opposition-based learning particle swarm optimization (IOBLPSO) is proposed for the detection of SNP-SNP interactions. Highlights of IOBLPSO are the introduction of three strategies, namely, opposition-based learning, dynamic inertia weight, and a postprocedure. Opposition-based learning not only enhances the global explorative ability, but also avoids premature convergence. Dynamic inertia weight allows particles to cover a wider search space when the considered SNP is likely to be a random one and converges on promising regions of the search space while capturing a highly suspected SNP. The postprocedure is used to carry out a deep search in highly suspected SNP sets. Experiments of IOBLPSO are performed on both simulation data sets and a real data set of age-related macular degeneration, results of which demonstrate that IOBLPSO is promising in detecting SNP-SNP interactions. IOBLPSO might be an alternative to existing methods for detecting SNP-SNP interactions.
A closer look at the constraint hierarchy: Order, contrast, and geographical scale

Close examination of five constraint hierarchies involved in the vocalization of /l/ in Australian and New Zealand English across five geolinguistic scales (individual, local, regional, national, and supranational) reveals patterns of variation that allow us to distinguish linguistic processes that are universal from those that are particular. Based on 42 goldvarb analyses, we use probability weights to measure the variation in the order and contrast within and across constraint hierarchies. Geolinguistic scale analysis shows that some constraints are scale independent (i.e., they do not vary in order or contrast with changes in geolinguistic scale), whereas others are clearly scale dependent and do vary systematically with changes in geolinguistic scale. We propose a universality continuum in which constraint hierarchies that exhibit near invariance across all geolinguistic scales are at one end of the continuum and constraint hierarchies that vary with geolinguistic scale are at the other end. Scale dependency in constraint hierarchies identifies where social processes can intervene in universal linguistic processes.We would like to thank Sali Tagliamonte for engaging with us in a discussion of the problems associated with comparing goldvarb analyses. We would also like to thank Meriam Meyerhoff for suggesting that we look at the individual scale. In addition, a thoughtful reviewer carefully laid out the potential statistical problems associated with our approach to the comparison of goldvarb analyses. We have attempted to defend the approach taken, but recognize that the discussion of comparative goldvarb analysis warrants further consideration.
Practical Guide to Real Options in Discrete Time

This paper is an extended version of the paper 'Practical Guide to Real Options in Discrete Time' (http://econwpa.wustl.edu:80/eps/fin/papers/0405/0405016.pdf), where a general, computationally simple approach to real options in discrete time was suggested. We explicitly formulate conditions of the general theorems for basic types of real options, and explain our method in detail for the case of transition density given by exponential functions on each half-axis. To demonstrate that the discrete time approach can be more analytically tractable than the continuous time one, we consider timing of investment with lags, and a model of gradual capital expansion. We obtain simple formulas for the expected values of capital stock in every time period; in continuous time models, a much more sophisticated technique is needed.