Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T-SKIRT: Online Estimation of Student Proficiency in an Adaptive Learning System

We develop T-SKIRT: a temporal, structured-knowledge, IRT-based method for predicting student responses online. By explicitly accounting for student learning and employing a structured, multidimensional representation of student proficiencies, the model outperforms standard IRT-based methods on an online response prediction task when applied to real responses collected from students interacting with diverse pools of educational content.
Noscapine Induced Apoptosis via Downregulation of Survivin in Human Neuroblastoma Cells Having Wild Type or Null p53

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. It accounts for 15% of pediatric cancer deaths. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment in children with advanced neuroblastoma. Noscapine, a nontoxic natural compound, can trigger apoptosis in many cancer types. We now show that p53 is dispensable for Noscapine-induced cell death in neuroblastoma cell lines, proapoptotic response to this promising chemopreventive agent is mediated by suppression of survivin protein expression. The Noscapine treatment increased levels of total and Ser15-phosphorylated p53 protein in SK-SY5Y cells, but the proapoptotic response to this agent was maintained even after knockdown of the p53 protein level. Exposure of SK-SY5Y and LA1-5S cells to Noscapine resulted in a marked decrease in protein and mRNA level of survivin as early as 12 hours after treatment. Ectopic expression of survivin conferred statistically significant protection against Noscapine-mediated cytoplasmic histone-associated apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Also, the Noscapine-induced apoptosis was modestly but statistically significantly augmented by RNA interference of survivin in both cell lines. Furthermore, Noscapine-induced apoptotic cell death was associated with activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. In conclusion, the present study provides novel insight into the molecular circuitry of Noscapine-induced apoptosis to indicate suppression of survivin expression as a critical mediator of this process.
Pickup proton gyrophase ‘ bunching at comet P /

l)uring the Giotto encounter with comet P/Grigg-Skjellerup, the ion mass spectrometer high intensity spectrometer (IMS-HIS) measured fluxes of ions from about 260,000 before to 86,000 km after closest approach to the comet. Cometary pickup protons were measured both far and also relatively near the comet. Because of the encounter geometry and instmmnt look dirm ion, measurements were made in a very narrow range of pitch angles Ilcar' 90°. Strong modulation in the detector' countmte was correlated with modulation in the solar wind flow velocity and magnetic field direction (corresponding to the water group pickup ion cyclotron frequency) during the encounter. ~'his correlation indicates that the pitch angle distribution for the pickup protons was very narrow, Furthermore, time variations within this modulation indicate also tinat the proton distribution was non-gyrotropic. These pickup protons thus appear to be partially trapped in the waves \ generated by the water group pickup ions.
Interferon-Beta Induces Distinct Gene Expression Response Patterns in Human Monocytes versus T cells

Background Monocytes, which are key players in innate immunity, are outnumbered by neutrophils and lymphocytes among peripheral white blood cells. The cytokine interferon-β (IFN-β) is widely used as an immunomodulatory drug for multiple sclerosis and its functional pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) have been previously described. The aim of the present study was to identify novel, cell-specific IFN-β functions and pathways in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-activated monocytes that may have been missed in studies using PBMCs. Methodology/Principal Findings Whole genome gene expression profiles of human monocytes and T cells were compared following in vitro priming to TNF-α and overnight exposure to IFN-β. Statistical analyses of the gene expression data revealed a cell-type-specific change of 699 transcripts, 667 monocyte-specific transcripts, 21 T cell-specific transcripts and 11 transcripts with either a difference in the response direction or a difference in the magnitude of response. RT-PCR revealed a set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), exhibiting responses to IFN-β that are modulated by TNF-α in monocytes, such as RIPK2 and CD83, but not in T cells or PBMCs. Known IFN-β promoter response elements, such as ISRE, were enriched in T cell DEGs but not in monocyte DEGs. The overall directionality of the gene expression regulation by IFN-β was different in T cells and monocytes, with up-regulation more prevalent in T cells, and a similar extent of up and down-regulation recorded in monocytes. Conclusions By focusing on the response of distinct cell types and by evaluating the combined effects of two cytokines with pro and anti-inflammatory activities, we were able to present two new findings First, new IFN-β response pathways and genes, some of which were monocytes specific; second, a cell-specific modulation of the IFN-β response transcriptome by TNF-α.
Inflammation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Interleukin 18 is a primary mediator of the inflammation associated with dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis: blocking interleukin 18 attenuates intestinal damage Background and aims: Persistent inflammation observed in inflammatory bowel disease may be the consequence of an increased or aberrant immune response to normal gut constituents or an overall immune dysregulation and imbalance. Cytokines play an important role in immune regulation and interleukin 18 (IL-18) is one such cytokine that has emerged as being instrumental in driving CD4+ T cell responses towards a Th1-type. IL-18 can also directly mediate inflammation, moderate interleukin 1 activity, and can act on cell types other than T cells. It has been reported recently that IL-18 mRNA and protein are upregulated in gut tissue from IBD patients. The aim of this study was to understand more about the role of IL-18 in contributing to the pathology of IBD and to assess whether blocking IL-18 activity may be of therapeutic benefit as a treatment regimen for IBD. Methods: Mice with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced colitis were treated with recombinant IL-18 binding protein (IL-18bp.Fc), a soluble protein that blocks IL-18 bioactivity. Histopathological analysis was performed and RNA from the large intestine was analysed using the RNase protection assay and gene arrays. Results: IL-18 RNA levels increased very early in the colon during DSS colitis. Treatment of mice with IL-18bp.Fc inhibited IBD associated weight loss and significantly inhibited the intestinal inflammation induced by DSS. IL-18bp.Fc treatment also attenuated mRNA upregulation of multiple proinflammatory cytokine genes, chemokine genes, and matrix metalloprotease genes in the large intestine that are commonly elevated during IBD. Conclusions: IL-18bp treatment attenuated inflammation during DSS induced colitis in mice. Neutral-ising IL-18 activity may therefore be of benefit for ameliorating the inflammation associated with human intestinal diseases.
Intramyocardial Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Transplantation Increases Pericardial Fat with Recovery of Myocardial Function after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Intramyocardial injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) with other cell types in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) animal models has consistently shown promising clinical regenerative capacities. We investigated the effects of intramyocardial injections of mouse ASC (mASC) with mouse endothelial cells (mEC) on left ventricular function and generation of pericardial fat in AMI rats. AMI rat models were created by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery and were randomly assigned into four groups: control (n = 10), mASC (n = 10), mEC (n = 10) and mASC+mEC (n = 10) via direct intramyocardial injections, and each rat received 1x106 cells around three peri-infarct areas. Echocardiography and cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) were compared at baseline and on 28 days after AMI. Changes in left ventricular ejection fraction measured by PET, increased significantly in mASC and mASC+mEC groups compared to mEC and control groups. Furthermore, significant decreases in fibrosis were confirmed after sacrifice on 28 days in mASC and mASC+mEC groups. Successful cell engraftment was confirmed by positive Y-Chromosome staining in the transplantation region. Pericardial fat increased significantly in mASC and mASC+mEC groups compared to control group, and pericardial fat was shown to originate from the AMI rat. mASC group expressed higher adiponectin and lower leptin levels in plasma than control group. In addition, pericardial fat from AMI rats demonstrated increased phospho-AMPK levels and reduced phospho-ACC levels. Intramyocardial mASC transplantation after AMI in rats increased pericardial fat, which might play a protective role in the recovery of myocardial function after ischemic myocardial damage.
On the stability and spectrum of non-supersymmetric AdS 5 solutions of M-theory compactified on Kähler-Einstein spaces

Eleven-dimensional supergravity admits non-supersymmetric solutions of the form AdS5 × M6 where M6 is a positive Kahler-Einstein space. We show that the necessary and sufficient condition for such solutions to be stable against linearized bosonic supergravity perturbations can be expressed as a condition on the spectrum of the Laplacian acting on (1,1)-forms on M6. For M6 = CP3, this condition is satisfied, although there are scalars saturating the Breitenlohner-Freedman bound. If M6 is a product S2 × M4 (where M4 is Kahler-Einstein) then there is an instability if M4 has a continuous isometry. We show that a potential non-perturbative instability due to 5-brane nucleation does not occur. The bosonic Kaluza-Klein spectrum is determined in terms of eigenvalues of operators on M6.
Parenting, childcare, and children’s pre-kindergarten skills: exploring moderation by race and ethnicity

ABSTRACT This study evaluated whether parenting and childcare experience across infancy and toddlerhood were associated with children’s reading, math, and social–behavioural skills prior to kindergarten entry. Analyses also examined whether race or ethnicity moderated associations. A representative sample of Hispanic, Black, and White children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort (N = 4550) was used. Parents’ responsiveness in infancy and supportiveness in toddlerhood, as well as the home learning environment in toddlerhood, related to academic and social–emotional and behavioural readiness. Associations between certain parenting behaviours and child outcomes varied as a function of race. Additionally, compared to parent-only childcare, attendance in centre-based care at two years of age related to higher early math skills. Findings highlight the need for culturally specific early intervention to support parents in shaping early social–emotional skills in children, and suggest that exposure to centre-based childcare in the toddler years may benefit math readiness.
Deka-keV X-ray observations of solar bursts with WATCH/GRANAT: frequency distributions of burst parameters

Solar flare observations in the deka-keV range are performed by the WATCH experiment on board the GRANAT satellite. The WATCH experiment is presented, including the energy calibration as applied in the present work. The creation of the solar burst catalogue covering two years of observation is described and some examples of solar observations are given. The estimated energy releases in the flares presented here are found to extend below the range of hard X-ray flares which were previously studied by ISEE-3 and HXRBS/SMM detectors. The X-ray emitting component cannot be exclusively explained by contributions from a thermal plasma around a few keV. Either a hotter component or a non-thermal population of particles must also be present to produce the observed deka-keV emission. The WATCH data furthermore shows that the relative contri- butions of these components may change during an event or from event to event and that the injection of energy contained in suprathermal electrons may occur throughout an event and not only during the rise phase. For the most energetic WATCH flares simultaneous observations performed by other experiments at higher energies further indicate that non-thermal emission can be observed as low as 10 keV. A statistical study is performed on the total WATCH solar database and frequency distributions are built on measured X-ray flare parameters. It is also investigated how the properties of these frequency distributions behave when subgroups of events defined by different ranges of parameters are considered. No correlation is found between the elapsed time interval between successive flares arising from the same active region and the peak intensity of the flare.
A new model of multi-visceral and bone metastatic prostate cancer with perivascular niche targeting by a novel endothelial specific adenoviral vector

While modern therapies for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) have improved survival they are associated with an increasingly prevalent entity, aggressive variant PCa (AVPCa), lacking androgen receptor (AR) expression, enriched for cancer stem cells (CSCs), and evidencing epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity with a varying extent of neuroendocrine transdifferentiation. Parallel work revealed that endothelial cells (ECs) create a perivascular CSC niche mediated by juxtacrine and membrane tethered signaling. There is increasing interest in pharmacological metastatic niche targeting, however, targeted access has been impossible. Here, we discovered that the Gleason 7 derived, androgen receptor negative, IGR-CaP1 cell line possessed some but not all of the molecular features of AVPCa. Intracardiac injection into NOD/SCID/IL2Rg -/− (NSG) mice produced a completely penetrant bone, liver, adrenal, and brain metastatic phenotype; noninvasively and histologically detectable at 2 weeks, and necessitating sacrifice 4-5 weeks post injection. Bone metastases were osteoblastic, and osteolytic. IGR-CaP1 cells expressed the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin, near equivalent levels of vimentin and e-cadherin, all of the EMT transcription factors, and activation of NOTCH and WNT pathways. In parallel, we created a new triple-targeted adenoviral vector containing a fiber knob RGD peptide, a hexon mutation, and an EC specific ROBO4 promoter (Ad.RGD.H5/3.ROBO4). This vector was expressed in metastatic microvessels tightly juxtaposed to IGR-CaP1 cells in bone and visceral niches. Thus, the combination of IGR-CaP1 cells and NSG mice produces a completely penetrant metastatic PCa model emulating end-stage human disease. In addition, the metastatic niche access provided by our novel Ad vector could be therapeutically leveraged for future disease control or cure.
A spectrum etiquette protocol for efficient coordination of radio devices in unlicensed bands

This paper presents a spectrum etiquette protocol for efficient coordination of radio communication devices in unlicensed (e.g. 2.4 GHz ISM and 5 GHz U-NII) frequency bands. The proposed etiquette method enables spectrum coordination between multiple wireless devices using different radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11. x, 802.15. x, Bluetooth, Hiperlan, etc. The basic idea is to standardize a simple common protocol for announcement of radio and service parameters, called the "common spectrum coordination channel (CSCC)". The CSCC mechanism is based on the low bit-rate mode of the 802.11b physical layer, along with a periodic broadcast protocol at the MAC layer. The CSCC protocol is "policy neutral" in the sense that it provides a general mechanism, which can accommodate a wide range of specific spectrum sharing rules. One possible CSCC protocol implementation is described in terms of the packet formats used and related channel access rules. Proof-of-concept experimental results from a CSCC prototype are presented for an example scenario in which nearby 802.11b and Bluetooth devices contend for 2.4 GHz ISM band access. Results showing file transfer delay with and without CSCC etiquette are given for comparison purposes.
Issues facing postgraduate international students: a view from an international students’ group on a Masters programme in Art Psychotherapy

This paper describes case study research of four years of a support group for self-identified international students on an MA Art Psychotherapy programme. The research sought to understand the role of the group in the processing of international students’ issues, to broaden thinking on the internationalising of curricula. A key finding was that the students’ experiences were dependent on the relationship between them and the whole learning community, and that this was inseparable from a history of post colonialism.
Balancing at the boundaries of organisations : Knowledge co-configuration between experts in an e-Science project

The research reported in this paper engages with ideas from activity theory to conceptualise more rigorously the processes of ‘networked expertise’. Ethnographic methods were used to document the development of the practices of an interorganisational research collaboration in the context of the e-Science Programme in the UK. Engaging with three types of negotiation practices articulation work, collaborative strategising and practice alignment – enabled the actors to construct the practice platform necessary for knowledge co-configuration to occur. Identifying these three practices led to the theorisation of an emergent concept captured as ‘balancing at the boundaries’ between one’s organisation and the new collaborative team, as an essential capacity that needs to be learned by actors to foster expert performance in this setting.
Hands on the future: facilitation of cortico‐spinal hand‐representation when reading the future tense of hand‐related action verbs

Reading action‐related verbs brings about sensorimotor neural activity, suggesting that the linguistic representation of actions impinges upon neural structures largely overlapping with those involved in actual action execution. While studies of direct action observation indicate that motor mirroring is inherently anticipatory, no information is currently available on whether deriving action‐related knowledge from language also takes into account the temporal deployment of actions. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, here we sought to determine whether reading action verbs conjugated in the future induced higher cortico‐spinal activity with respect to when the same verbs were conjugated in the past tense. We recorded motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) from relaxed hand and leg muscles of healthy subjects who were reading silently hand‐ or leg‐related action, sensorial (non‐somatic) and abstract verbs conjugated either in future or past tense. The amplitude of MEPs recorded from the hand was higher during reading hand‐related action verbs conjugated in the future than in the past. No future‐related modulation of leg muscles activity was found during reading leg‐related action verbs. In a similar vein, no future‐related change of hand or leg muscles reactivity was found for abstract or sensorial verbs. These results indicate that the anticipatory mirroring of hand actions may be triggered by linguistic representations and not only by direct action observation.
Role of Family System, Positive Emotions and Resilience in Social Adjustment among Pakistani Adolescents

Abstract The present study explored the role of positive emotions, resilience & family system in social adjustment in Pakistani adolescents. Through convenient sampling, data collected from 150 adolescents (70 boys & 80 girls). In terms of family system 92 were living in nuclear family while 58 injoint family. Urdu version of Modified Differential Emotions Scale, Resilience Scale and Bell`s Adjustment Inventory were used. Statistical analysis revealed the presence of significant positive relationship between positive emotions and resilience (r = .39**) where girls were slightly more resilient (M ± SD = 120.77 ± 24.03) & socially adjusted (M ± SD = 17.41 ± 4.15). Moreover 52 % adolescents reported difficulty in talking with new people. Majority of participants from Joint family reported good social adjustment (38%) and high resilience (17%) as compared to those in nuclear family (21%, 13%). The influence of these demographic variables is important indication to be explored further. Keyword: Family system, Positive emotion, and resilience
Impacts of Stress and Therapy Homework on Momentary Assessments of Positive and Negative

The recurrent nature of major depressive disorder exacts a hefty toll on society. It is thus important to understand what experiences lead to better outcomes post treatment. The present study examined the relationship between individual differences in stress-linked affect regulation and clinical symptoms in remitted depressed patients after the completion of group cognitive behaviour therapy or mindfulness based cognitive therapy. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to capture the daily experience of 47 remitted depressed patients (mean age = 37.40, SD = 10.93; 72% women) over a one-year follow-up. While negative affect was found to significantly predict depressive symptoms over the year, the frequency of formal homework practice reduced the impact of stress on negative affect, providing protective benefit. Additionally, experience of positive affect dampened the amount of dysfunctional thinking activated under high moments of stress. This research indicates the benefits of formal homework practice during prophylactic treatment. HOMEWORK, STRESS AND AFFECT IN REMITTED DEPRESSION iii
Dynamics of alliance networks : development speed and its determinants analyzed for a sample of nanotechnology companies

During the last years, networks of inter-organizational strategic alliances received both managerial and academic attention. Alliance networks are a complex phenomenon that still poses many questions. One of them is how to describe and explain their dynamics. This article discusses results of our research on the dynamics of alliance networks with focus on young technology-driven firms. We built on the literature about alliance formation during the life-cycle of the company. In the past, authors have found a nonlinear pattern of alliance formation during the first years of a company's life and have linked the pattern to a model of development stages. In an exploratory study based on a sample of product driven nanotechnology companies, we analyze the relationship between development stage and firm age and find it to approximate a linear function. Firms differed in the time needed to develop from one stage to the next. In order to describe these differences, we introduced a firm specific variable called development speed, which turned out to be a function of certain firm and industry specific factors. The factors with the strongest impact on development speed were maturity of applied technology and maturity of the target market. Our results add to the understanding of network development and of its business-related drivers.