Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Review Internet and Literacy in the Developing World: Delivering the Teacher with the Text

In developing world training and education, cheap Internet resources may be able to replace many elements of expensive infrastructure. For example, with a growing proportion of the world’s supply of scholarly writing now available online, it is probably unnecessary for universities to maintain up-todate libraries. The savings to be realized, however, may not in all cases be automatic. The universe of online text comes mainly in universal languages such as English or French, at a level that may be challenging to learners for whom these are second or third languages, so that the cost of libraries is merely shifted to the cost of literacy training. A way to avoid this is to link Internet-based texts to Internet-based learning resources (electronic dictionaries, text-to-speech pronunciations, self-quizzes, etc.). This research and development case study proposes a free, reliable, and publicly accessible technology for doing this, a context and a reason for doing it, and an estimate of the pace and scale of literacy development that can potentially be achieved at low or no cost.
Melanocytic Nevi, Nevus Genes, and Melanoma Risk in a Large Case-Control Study in the United Kingdom

Background: Increased number of melanocytic nevi is a potent melanoma risk factor. We have carried out a large population-based case-control study to explore the environmental and genetic determinants of nevi and the relationship with melanoma risk. Methods: We report nevus phenotype in relation to differing patterns of sun exposure, inherited variation at loci shown in recent genome-wide association studies to be nevus genes, and risk. Results: Increased numbers of nevi were associated with holiday sun exposure, particularly on intermittently sun-exposed body sites (test for Ptrend < 0.0001). Large nevi were also associated with holiday sun exposure (P = 0.002). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on chromosomes 9 and 22 were associated with increased numbers of nevi (P = 0.04 and P = 0.002 respectively) and larger nevi (P = 0.03 and P = 0.002), whereas that on chromosome 6 was associated only with large nevi (P = 0.01). Melanoma risk was associated with increased nevus count, large nevi, and atypical nevi for tumors in all body sites (including rare sites) irrespective of age. The risk persisted when adjusted for inheritance of nevus SNPs. Conclusions: The at-risk nevus phenotype is associated with behaviors known to increase melanoma risk (holiday sun exposure). Although SNPs on chromosomes 6, 9, and 22 were shown to be nevus genes, they explained only a small proportion of melanoma risk and nevus phenotype; therefore, several nevus genes likely remain to be identified. Impact: This article confirms the importance of nevi in melanoma pathogenesis and increases understanding of their genetic determinants. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(8); 2043–54. ©2010 AACR.
Lapatinib: the evidence for its therapeutic value in metastatic breast cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. Many patients ultimately progress to metastatic disease and optimal management of this disease remains a significant therapeutic challenge. Lapatinib, a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is in clinical development for treatment of this disease. Aims: The objective of this article is to review the published evidence for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with lapatinib, and assess its therapeutic potential. Evidence review: Most evidence has appeared in meeting abstract reports of phase I and II studies in healthy volunteers and cancer patients. Four studies have included patients with exclusively breast cancer. Complete and partial responses and stable disease has been reported in some patients. Emerging evidence indicates that complete and partial responses can be achieved in some patients with metastatic breast cancer. Lapatinib appears to be well tolerated in cancer patients and the maximum tolerated dose is in the region of 1800 mg/day. In addition, it has been used in combination with other cancer treatments. Five ongoing or planned phase II monotherapy and three phase III combination-therapy studies with lapatinib have been identified. Outcomes summary: The phase I and II studies reported to date have provided safety data and preliminary indications regarding efficacy. There is preliminary evidence that lapatinib can achieve objective response rates of 10–38% in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients with tumors overexpressing ErbB1 and/or ErbB2 are likely to benefit from lapatinib treatment.
A Mammalian Conserved Element Derived from SINE Displays Enhancer Properties Recapitulating Satb2 Expression in Early-Born Callosal Projection Neurons

Short interspersed repetitive elements (SINEs) are highly repeated sequences that account for a significant proportion of many eukaryotic genomes and are usually considered “junk DNA”. However, we previously discovered that many AmnSINE1 loci are evolutionarily conserved across mammalian genomes, suggesting that they may have acquired significant functions involved in controlling mammalian-specific traits. Notably, we identified the AS021 SINE locus, located 390 kbp upstream of Satb2. Using transgenic mice, we showed that this SINE displays specific enhancer activity in the developing cerebral cortex. The transcription factor Satb2 is expressed by cortical neurons extending axons through the corpus callosum and is a determinant of callosal versus subcortical projection. Mouse mutants reveal a crucial function for Sabt2 in corpus callosum formation. In this study, we compared the enhancer activity of the AS021 locus with Satb2 expression during telencephalic development in the mouse. First, we showed that the AS021 enhancer is specifically activated in early-born Satb2+ neurons. Second, we demonstrated that the activity of the AS021 enhancer recapitulates the expression of Satb2 at later embryonic and postnatal stages in deep-layer but not superficial-layer neurons, suggesting the possibility that the expression of Satb2 in these two subpopulations of cortical neurons is under genetically distinct transcriptional control. Third, we showed that the AS021 enhancer is activated in neurons projecting through the corpus callosum, as described for Satb2+ neurons. Notably, AS021 drives specific expression in axons crossing through the ventral (TAG1−/NPY+) portion of the corpus callosum, confirming that it is active in a subpopulation of callosal neurons. These data suggest that exaptation of the AS021 SINE locus might be involved in enhancement of Satb2 expression, leading to the establishment of interhemispheric communication via the corpus callosum, a eutherian-specific brain structure.
The Impact of Minimum Wage Policy on Wages and Employment in Developing Countries: The Case of Indonesia

Since the late 1980s, minimum wage have become an important plank of the Indonesian government's labour policy. Minimum wages have increased faster than average wages and GDP. As a result, minimum wages have become binding for the majority of workers. This study finds that minimum wages have a positive but statistically insignificant impact on average wages. On the other hand, minimum wages have a negative and statistically significant impact on employment. In particular, the disemployment impact is greatest for women, youth, and less educated workers. However, the employment prospects of white-collar workers are enhanced by increases in minimum wages.
Bonding in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Terms of the Electron Density and of Electron Delocalization

We show that the delocalization indices calculated within the framework of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules provide an excellent basis for the definition of a bond order in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We show that the two-electron information contained within the delocalization index can be estimated from the electron density at the bond critical point, a mapping that has no a priori reason to exist. The mapping between the bond order and the electron density at the bond critical point can be exploited to provide a fast estimate of bond orders from theoretical or experimental electron densities. Bond orders in these molecules are shown to be associated to other one-electron properties. We provide evidence to the strong coupling of the σ and π contributions to the electron density at the bond critical point, a nonseparability by virtue of which the electron density at the bond critical point reflects both contributions. Another remarkable finding is that the delocalization indices between bon.
Glucose and Auxin Signaling Interaction in Controlling Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings Root Growth and Development

Background Plant root growth and development is highly plastic and can adapt to many environmental conditions. Sugar signaling has been shown to affect root growth and development by interacting with phytohormones such as gibberellins, cytokinin and abscisic acid. Auxin signaling and transport has been earlier shown to be controlling plant root length, number of lateral roots, root hair and root growth direction. Principal Findings Increasing concentration of glucose not only controls root length, root hair and number of lateral roots but can also modulate root growth direction. Since root growth and development is also controlled by auxin, whole genome transcript profiling was done to find out the extent of interaction between glucose and auxin response pathways. Glucose alone could transcriptionally regulate 376 (62%) genes out of 604 genes affected by IAA. Presence of glucose could also modulate the extent of regulation 2 fold or more of almost 63% genes induced or repressed by IAA. Interestingly, glucose could affect induction or repression of IAA affected genes (35%) even if glucose alone had no significant effect on the transcription of these genes itself. Glucose could affect auxin biosynthetic YUCCA genes family members, auxin transporter PIN proteins, receptor TIR1 and members of a number of gene families including AUX/IAA, GH3 and SAUR involved in auxin signaling. Arabidopsis auxin receptor tir1 and response mutants, axr2, axr3 and slr1 not only display a defect in glucose induced change in root length, root hair elongation and lateral root production but also accentuate glucose induced increase in root growth randomization from vertical suggesting glucose effects on plant root growth and development are mediated by auxin signaling components. Conclusion Our findings implicate an important role of the glucose interacting with auxin signaling and transport machinery to control seedling root growth and development in changing nutrient conditions.
Modelling cellular systems with PySCeS

UNLABELLED The Python Simulator for Cellular Systems (PySCeS) is an extendable research tool for the numerical analysis and investigation of cellular systems. AVAILABILITY PySCeS is distributed as Open Source Software under the GNU General Public Licence and is available for download from http://pysces.sourceforge. net CONTACT bgoli@sun.ac. za.
Does the Open Limit Order Book Reveal Information About Short-run Stock Price Movements?

This paper empirically tests whether an open limit order book contains information about future short-run stock price movements. To account for the discrete nature of price changes, the integer-valued autoregressive model of order one is utilized. A model transformation has an advantage over conventional count data approaches since it handles negative integer-valued price changes. The empirical results reveal that measures capturing offered quantities of a share at the best bid- and ask-price reveal more information about future short-run price movements than measures capturing the quantities offered at prices below and above. Imbalance and changes in offered quantities at prices below and above the best bid- and ask-price do, however, have a small and significant effect on future price changes. The results also indicate that the value of order book information is short-term.
Still Caught in the Middle: Nuba Political Struggle and Failure of Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan

This chapter traces the latest trajectory of the Sudanese state in order to explain the conflict dynamics between the two Sudans. Given the complexity of the conflict, it concentrates on the political resistance of the Nuba peoples, which best represents the struggle of the marginalized peoples on the peripheries of the Sudanese state. Highlighting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) period (2005-2010), the chapter contends that despite generating hopes for increased self-determination the CPA failed to address the political and security concerns and grievances of the Nuba. Instead, the implementation of the CPA and the resulting secession of South Sudan (2011) fell short of remedying the perpetual marginalization of the Nuba and other peripheral peoples in the Sudanese political system, and led to the re-deterioration of the security situation. A renewed armed struggle ensued in the South SudanSudan borderlands and continues to undermine relations between the two states.
Extended prospect theory: Findings on choice behaviour from economics and the behavioural sciences and their relevance for travel behaviour

In Transport Sciences different implementations of Utility Theory are commonly used for the description and prediction of human choice behaviour. Almost 30 years ago Kahneman and Tversky proposed an alternative behavioural-economic model of choice behaviour called Prospect Theory. In contrast to Utility Theory they assumed that preference orders depend on the choice context. The most important differences between Extended Prospect Theory and Utility Theory are: preferences for one alternative over another are not stable but may change with the circumstances; people frame alternatives as changes compared to a reference state; they adapt that reference state almost immediately once a choice is made; and they attach a much higher value to a loss of, for example, ten minutes leisure time compared to an increase of the same size. This book demonstrates that in many occasions an Extended Prospect Theory explains the choice behaviour of people better than Utility Theory for the whole range of travel choice contexts. It also proposes a mathematical model based on Extended Prospect Theory that, compared to a similar Utility Theory-model, appeared to offer a better prediction of the responses of car owners in Singapore to the introduction and changes in the road pricing fares from 1975 to 2005.
Plant Dependence on Rhizobia for Nitrogen Influences Induced Plant Defenses and Herbivore Performance

Symbiotic rhizobia induce many changes in legumes that could affect aboveground interactions with herbivores. We explored how changing the intensity of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, as modulated by soil nitrogen (N) levels, influenced the interaction between soybean (Glycine max) and herbivores of different feeding guilds. When we employed a range of fertilizer applications to manipulate soil N, plants primarily dependent on rhizobia for N exhibited increased root nodulation and higher levels of foliar ureides than plants given N fertilizer; yet all treatments maintained similar total N levels. Soybean podworm (Helicoverpa zea) larvae grew best on plants with the highest levels of rhizobia but, somewhat surprisingly, preferred to feed on high-N-fertilized plants when given a choice. Induction of the defense signaling compound jasmonic acid (JA) by H. zea feeding damage was highest in plants primarily dependent on rhizobia. Differences in rhizobial dependency on soybean did not appear to affect interactions with the phloem-feeding soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). Overall, our results suggest that rhizobia association can affect plant nutritional quality and the induction of defense signaling pathways and that these effects may influence herbivore feeding preferences and performance—though such effects may vary considerably for different classes of herbivores.
Information in the Term Structure of Libor Interest Rates

Using Eurodollar futures prices to assess information in the term structure of interest rates we find that Eurodollar futures rates have power to forecast period profits in the Eurodollar futures market (based on LIBOR). The more interesting discovery is that short-term implied futures rates have very little power in forecasting future changes in spot rates in the Eurodollar futures market. Instead, evidence in our regressions suggests that information in the term structure of LIBOR is contained in the longer maturity Eurodollar futures contracts.
Performance Pay, Union Bargaining and Within‐Firm Wage Inequality

Theory predicts that performance pay boosts wage dispersion. Workers retain a share of individual productivity shocks and high-efficiency workers receive compensation for greater effort. Collective bargaining can mitigate the effect of performance pay on wage inequality by easing monitoring of common effort standards and group-based pay schemes. Analyses of longitudinal employer–employee data show that the introduction of performance-related pay raises wage inequality in non-union firms, but not in firms with high union density. Although performance-related pay appears to be on the rise, the overall impact on wage dispersion is likely to be small, particularly in European countries with influential unions.
Protein structure alignment using a genetic algorithm

We have developed a novel, fully automatic method for aligning the three‐dimensional structures of two proteins. The basic approach is to first align the proteins' secondary structure elements and then extend the alignment to include any equivalent residues found in loops or turns. The initial secondary structure element alignment is determined by a genetic algorithm. After refinement of the secondary structure element alignment, the protein backbones are superposed and a search is performed to identify any additional equivalent residues in a convergent process. Alignments are evaluated using intramolecular distance matrices. Alignments can be performed with or without sequential connectivity constraints. We have applied the method to proteins from several well‐studied families: globins, immunoglobulins, serine proteases, dihydrofolate reductases, and DNA methyltransferases. Agreement with manually curated alignments is excellent. A web‐based server and additional supporting information are available at http://engpub1.bu. edu/∼josephs. Proteins 2000;38:428–440. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Income poverty and material deprivation in European countries

Since 2009, the European Union (EU) portfolio of commonly agreed social in-dicators includes measures of material deprivation. The rationale for this inclu-sion is that if purely income-based indicators of poverty and inequality are es-sential, they are nevertheless not sufficient to satisfactorily reflect the diversity of living conditions in the EU, especially since the 2004 and 2007 enlarge-ments. The paper analyses the relationship between income poverty and mate-rial deprivation in 25 European countries (24 EU Member States plus Norway) and aims at identifying the most important factors that determine the risk of being income poor and/or materially deprived. It is based on the 2007 cross-sectional data of the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) users? data base.
Detecting shift and pure contagion in East Asian equity markets : A Unified Approach

We test for contagion between pairs of East Asian equity markets over the period 1990-2007. We develop an econometric methodology that allows us to test for both ‘shift’ and ‘pure’ contagion within a unified framework. Using both Hong Kong and Thailand as potential shock sources, we find strong evidence of both types of contagion. Therefore during episodes of high-volatility, equity returns are influenced by changes in the transmission of common shocks and additionally by the diffusion of idiosyncratic shocks through linkages which do not exist during normal times.
Polymodal conceptual processing of human biological actions in the left inferior frontal lobe

Apart from being increasingly implicated in higher motor control, Broca's area is considered to play an important role in action understanding by coding the motor goal of an action. Moreover, recent findings suggest that parts of Broca's area may be able to code action content in a more abstract fashion, independent of modality, specific movement parameters or effector used. We performed functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether in humans processing object‐directed hand actions presented either visually as video clips or verbally as spoken sentences relies on the same neural substrates. To control for action specificity, we included videos and sentences depicting inanimate motion events. In order to induce conceptual processing, we asked participants to make judgements about the acceptability of the stimuli. Results show that processing object‐directed hand actions presented both visually and verbally leads to common activation of areas in parietal and frontal regions, most prominently in the pars opercularis of Broca's region. We conclude that the pars opercularis of Broca's area is endowed with polymodal capabilities, allowing the processing of higher‐level conceptual aspects of action understanding.
The influence of Confucian values: students’ understandings of classroom behaviours and learning practices in a university in Central China

xi Chapter 1 From Confucian household to higher education 1 My family and my upbringing 1 My interest in the topic 2 My learning and teaching in China 3 Postgraduate study in New Zealand 6 Doctoral research journey 7 The focus of this study 9 Development of research methodology 11 The significance of the study 13 Boundaries and limitations 16 The structure of the thesis 17 Chapter 2 Confucianism at work today and contemporary issues concerning learning 19 Confucianism as a historical event 20 Confucius and Confucianism 20 Confucianism and other Chinese traditional thoughts 22
A Specific Synaptic Pathway Activates a Conditional Plateau Potential Underlying Protraction Phase in the Aplysia Feeding Central Pattern Generator

A common feature in the architecture of neuronal networks is a high degree of seemingly redundant synaptic connectivity. In many cases, the synaptic inputs converging on any particular neuron all use the same neurotransmitter and appear to be fundamentally equivalent. Here, we analyze a striking counterexample in which such inputs are not equivalent and, as a result, play very different roles in the generation of the pattern of activity produced by the network. In the feeding central pattern generator of Aplysia, the pattern-initiating neuron B50 elicits motor programs by exciting the plateauing neuron B31/B32 in two ways: directly and indirectly through neuron B63. All of the synaptic connections use ACh. Despite the direct input of B50 to B31/B32, the indirect pathway of exciting B31/B32 through B63 is required for B50 to elicit the B31/B32 plateau potential and the motor program. We dissect this requirement using the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist pirenzepine. Pirenzepine blocks the B50-elicited motor program, the plateau potential in B31/B32, and, notably, a slow component of the EPSP elicited in B31/B32 by B63 but not that elicited by B50. The muscarinic agonist oxotremorine restores the plateau potential in B31/B32 and eliminates the necessity for B63 in B50-elicited motor programs. Together, our analysis shows that the plateau potential in B31/B32 is not endogenous but conditional, furthermore conditional on one particular synaptic input, that from B63. Thus, among several inputs to B31/B32 that use the same transmitter, the input from B63 is functionally distinct in its preferential access to the plateau potential that represents the committed step toward the initiation of a motor program.