Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enantioselective separation and online affinity chromatographic characterization of R,R- and S,S-fenoterol.

BACKGROUND rac-Fenoterol is a beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (beta2-AR) used in the treatment of asthma. It has two chiral centers and is marketed as a racemic mixture of R,R'- and S,S'-fenoterol (R-F and S-F). Here we report the separation of the R-F and S-F enantiomers and the evaluation of their binding to and activation of the beta2-AR. METHODS R-F and S-F were separated from the enantiomeric mixture by chiral chromatography and absolute configuration determined by circular dichroism. Beta2-AR binding was evaluated using frontal affinity chromatography with a stationary phase containing immobilized membranes from HEK-293 cells that express human beta2-AR and standard membrane binding studies using the same membranes. The effect of R-F and S-F on cardiomyocyte contractility was also investigated using freshly isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes. RESULTS Chiral chromatography of rac-fenoterol yielded separated peaks with an enantioselectivity factor of 1.21. The less retained peak was assigned the absolute configuration of S-F and the more retained peak R-F. Frontal chromatography using membrane-bound beta2-AR as the stationary phase and rac-3H-fenoterol as a marker ligand showed that addition of increasing concentrations of R-F to the mobile phase produced concentration-dependent decreases in rac-3H-fenoterol retention, while similar addition of S-F produced no change in rac-3H-fenoterol retention. The calculated dissociation constant of R-F was 472 nM and the number of available binding sites 176 pmol/column, which was consistent with the results from the membrane binding study 460 +/- 55 nM (R-F) and 109,000 +/- 10,400 nM (S-F). In the cardiomyocytes, R-F increased maximum contractile response from (265 +/- 11.6)% to (306 +/- 11.8)% of resting cell length (P < 0.05) and reduced EC50 from -7.0 +/- 0.270 to -7.1 +/- 0.2 log[M] (P < 0.05), while S-F had no significant effect. DISCUSSION Previous studies have shown that rac-fenoterol acts as an apparent beta2-AR/G(s) selective agonist and fully restores diminished beta2-AR contractile response in cardiomyocytes from failing hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Here we report the separation of the enantiomers of rac-fenoterol and that R-F is the active component of rac-fenoterol. Further evaluation of R-F will determine if it has enhanced selectivity and specificity for beta2-AR/G(s) activation and if it can be used in the treatment of congestive heart failure.
Visualization of a Ran-GTP Gradient in Interphase and Mitotic Xenopus Egg Extracts

The small guanosine triphosphatase Ran is loaded with guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by the chromatin-bound guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1 and releases import cargoes in the nucleus during interphase. In mitosis, Ran-GTP promotes spindle assembly around chromosomes by locally discharging cargoes that regulate microtubule dynamics and organization. We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer–based biosensors to visualize gradients of Ran-GTP and liberated cargoes around chromosomes in mitoticXenopus egg extracts. Both gradients were required to assemble and maintain spindle structure. During interphase, Ran-GTP was highly enriched in the nucleoplasm, and a steep concentration difference between nuclear and cytoplasmic Ran-GTP was established, providing evidence for a Ran-GTP gradient surrounding chromosomes throughout the cell cycle.
When Political Parties Want to Be Ambiguous But They Can't

We present a Downsian model of political competition in which parties have a taste for ambiguous strategies. We show that office-seeking incentives discard those equilibria with ambiguous strategies even when ambiguity is attractive for the parties. Equilibrium fails to exist when ambiguity is highly rewarding and, in every other case, parties converge to the median voter position. Our result pinpoints to the uncertainty about voters' preferences or to voters' risk-acceptance attitudes as key factors to induce ambiguous strategies.
Word recognition and nonword repetition in children with language disorders: the effects of neighborhood density, lexical frequency, and phonotactic probability.

PURPOSE The effects of neighborhood density (ND) and lexical frequency on word recognition and the effects of phonotactic probability (PP) on nonword repetition (NWR) were examined to gain insight into processing at the lexical and sublexical levels in typically developing (TD) children and children with developmental language problems. METHOD Tasks measuring NWR and word recognition were administered to 5 groups of children: 2 groups of TD children (5 and 8 years old), children with specific language impairment (SLI), children with reading impairment (RI), and children with SLI+RI (all 7-8 years old). RESULTS High ND had a negative effect on word recognition in the older TD children and in the children with RI only. There was no ND effect in the younger children or in the children with SLI, who all had lower receptive vocabulary scores than the age-matched TD children and the RI groups. For all groups, NWR items with low PP were more difficult to repeat than items with high PP. This effect was especially pronounced in children with RI. CONCLUSION Both the stage of vocabulary development and the type of language impairment (SLI or RI) impact the way ND and PP affect word recognition and NWR.
Mother Tongue Education： Lessons for Botswana

Mother tongue education is a cause for concern in many places of the world, including Botswana. This paper paints a picture of what is happening in Botswana with regard to mother tongue education and other places in the world and what Botswana can emulate, adopt, or adapt. This is important to enable Botswana to set the ball rolling in the right direction regarding the teaching of minority languages in schools and their inclusion in socio-economic and political spheres of life. The Botswana Government recognizes the existence of mother tongue languages and agrees that they should be taught in schools, yet mother tongue education has become a mere talk and only Setswana (national language) and English (official language) are taught in schools. We advocate and reiterate the urgent need for a comprehensive language reform in education policy in Botswana to cater for diversity and multiculturalism.
The Effects Of Time Pressure And Audit Program Structure On Audit Performance

This paper addresses three questions. First, in auditing tests of details, do effectiveness and efficiency increase as time pressure is imposed? Second, does adding structure increase effectiveness, efficiency, and consistency? Third, are the effects of structure on audit effectiveness and efficiency constant across increasing time pressure? While psychology research relates to the independent performance effects of time pressure and program structure, both pressure and structure are imposed, for legal and economic reasons, in the audit environment (Cushing and Loebbecke [1986]). Therefore, this research attempts to determine whether and how the joint imposition of program structure and time constraints affects auditors' performance. One hundred seventy-nine staff auditors from a national public accounting firm participated in an experiment that involved implementing a partial year-end audit program testing details of inventory, a task which is an analogue of those normally performed by auditors under time pressure. Four levels of time pressure and two types of audit programs (structured and unstructured) were manipulated between subjects. Re-
High School Students’ Perceptions of Motivations for Cyberbullying: An Exploratory Study

Objectives: Internet usage has increased in recent years resulting in a growing number of documented reports of cyberbullying. Despite the rise in cyberbullying incidents, there is a dearth of research regarding high school students’ motivations for cyberbullying. The purpose of this study was to investigate high school students’ perceptions of the motivations for cyberbullying. Method: We undertook an exploratory qualitative study with 20 high school students, conducting individual interviews using a semi-structured interview protocol. Data were analyzed using Grounded Theory. Results: The developed coding hierarchy provides a framework to conceptualize motivations, which can be used to facilitate future research about motivations and to develop preventive interventions designed to thwart the negative effects of cyberbullying. The findings revealed that high school students more often identified internally motivated reasons for cyberbullying (e.g., redirect feelings) than externally motivated (no consequences, non-confrontational, target was different). Conclusion: Uncovering the motivations for cyberbullying should promote greater understanding of this phenomenon and potentially reduce the interpersonal violence that can result from it. By providing a framework that begins to clarify the internal and external factors motivating the behavior, there is enhanced potential to develop effective preventive interventions to prevent cyberbullying and its negative effects.
Low-cost fault tolerance on the ALU in simple pipelined processors

For security issues in portable applications such as smart card, various proposed techniques can be applied to harden the ALU against fault attacks. Among others, time redundancy is a good candidate to offer a low hardware cost. The main disadvantage of this scheme is high extra time due to the recomputation. However, this impact can be considerably reduced by exploiting idle hardware in the ALU. In this paper, we will show that applying this scheme in a simple processor-based smart card can reduce down to 30%–20% of extra time and requires a reasonable hardware overhead about 20.4%.
Institutions and Creative Destruction in CEECs: Determinants of Inefficient Use of Assets

We analyze the relationship between institutional quality and firm efficiency. Using rich data on firms in the European Union between 2005 and 2012, we show that high institutional quality lowers the share of persistently inefficiently used assets. The adverse effect of low institutional quality may be one of the narrow channels through which institutions affect income per capita in the long-run. Our approach combines institutional economics and Schumpeterian creative destruction. In addition, we observe similarities between inefficiently used assets by European firms and the phenomenon of zombie lending in Japan during the last decades.
New larval agar-based diet for laboratory rearing of Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae)

Five larval diets for laboratory rearing of Ceratitis capitata were tested. These diets were based on wheat bran, microcellulose, potato starch and agar. To evaluate the quality of diet, pupal rearing efficacy and pupal weight were checked. The best results were obtained with an agar based diet used for Manduca sexta laboratory rearing. To simplify the preparation and to reduce the cost of this diet, a new formulation was developed. Larvae reared on the new agar-based diet achieved higher pupal rearing efficacy than larvae reared on bran diet recently used in medfly mass rearing facilities. Heat treated medflies reared on the new agar-based diet achieved similar pupal rearing efficacy with heat treated medflies reared on bran diet. When testing population density, higher pupal rearing efficacy was again achieved on new diet. The highest pupal rearing efficacy was achieved with 100 eggs per 25 g of diet, lowest with 500 eggs per 25 g of diet. Concerning pupal weight, there was no difference in results achieved on Petri dishes with different larval population densities. Larvae reared on new agar-based diet reached better results than larvae reared on bran diet. The preparation of the new diet is simple and the cost is low, so it is good for laboratory tests and rearing.
Effects of ketamine, xylazine, and a combination of ketamine and xylazine in Pekin ducks.

Effects of ketamine, xylazine, and a combination of ketamine and xylazine were studied in 12 male Pekin ducks (7 to 12 weeks old; mean [+/- SD] body weight, 3.1 +/- 0.3 kg). After venous and arterial catheterization and fixation of a temperature probe in the cloaca, each awake duck was confined, but not restrained, in an open box in a dimly lit room. Blood pressure and lead-II ECG were recorded. Three arterial blood samples were collected every 15 minutes over a 45-minute period (control period) and were analyzed for pHa, PaCO2 and PaO2. After the control period, each duck was assigned at random to 1 of 3 drug groups: (1) ketamine (KET; 20 mg/kg of body weight, IV), (2) xylazine (XYL; 1 mg/kg, IV), and (3) KET + XYL (KET 20 mg/kg and XYL, 1 mg/kg; IV). Measurements were made at 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes after drug administration. All ducks survived the drug study. Cloacal temperature was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased above control cloacal temperature at 90 minutes after the administration of ketamine, and from 10 through 90 minutes after administration of ketamine plus xylazine. In ducks of the KET group, pHa, PaCO2, and PaO2, remained unchanged after administration of the drug. In ducks of the XYL group, pHa and PaO2 decreased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) from control values for all time points up to and including 15 minutes after drug administration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluation of the pilot introduction of education for Local and Global Citizenship into the revised Northern Ireland curriculum.

Provision for Education for Local and Global Citizenship became a statutory component for all post-primary schools from September 2007. It is a key element within the overall curriculum framework and an explicit strand of learning within Learning for Life and Work.In preparation for the introduction of this new curriculum area the Department of Education (DE) supported a pilot initiative between 2002 and 2007, offering schools the opportunity to avail of significant in-service training for teachers on an opt-in basis. This evaluation explored the implementation and initial impact of the pilot initiative on pupils, teachers and schools in terms of pupils' knowledge, attitdudes and values; teacher confidence and pedagogy; and school ethos, management and curriculum provision.
Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcomes of Parotid Gland Cancer

Objective To investigate the treatment outcomes of parotid gland cancer at a single center over a 10-year period and to evaluate the prognostic significance of maximum standardized uptake value. Study Design Retrospective case series with chart review. Setting Academic care center. Subjects and Methods Ninety-eight patients with primary parotid gland cancer who were surgically treated at Yonsei University Head & Neck Cancer Clinic between January 1999 and December 2008 were analyzed. Patient data were collected retrospectively from medical charts. The investigators analyzed the association of clinicopathological factors and maximum standardized uptake value on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography scan with disease-specific survival. Results Mean patient age was 49.7 years. Mean follow-up was 48.8 months. Thirty-three, 40, 30, and 23 patients had stage I, II, III, and IVA disease, respectively. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common histologic type (34.7%), followed by acinic cell carcinoma (27.6%). Eighteen patients (18.4%) experienced recurrences (mean recurrence gap, 20.6 months; range, 2-87 months). Five- and 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 93.6% and 81.8%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, pathologic T stage, pathologic lymph node status, resection margin, external parenchymal extension, and maximum standardized uptake value were significantly associated with disease-specific survival. Pathologic lymph node status and maximum standardized uptake value were independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion Our single-center experience with parotid gland cancer treatment is consistent with the literature. Cervical lymph node metastasis and high maximum standardized uptake value are associated with poor survival in parotid gland cancer.
Common genetic, clinical, demographic and psychosocial predictors of response to pharmacotherapy in mood and anxiety disorders

The aim of this study is to summarize available knowledge about common genetic, clinical, demographic and psychosocial predictors of response to pharmacotherapy in mood and anxiety disorders. A literature search was carried out by using MEDLINE and references of selected articles. The search included articles published up to March 2008. The main genetic finding concerns the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphisms, the long variant of which seems to be related to a positive response to therapy in mood disorders and could also have a role in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Among other predictors, the main factors common to both classes of disorder are comorbid axis II disorders and early onset of illness, which are related to a worse response to therapy and concomitant good physical conditions, absence of earlier treatments, early administration and response to therapies, and higher self- directedness, which is related to a better outcome. Many common predictors have been identified and these seem to be related to features covering the totality of patients that go beyond specific characteristics of single disorders. Possible limitations and suggestions for future research based on a more integrated vision of human complexity are discussed.
Essays in Labour Economics and Economics of Education

The dissertation consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the returns to education in Hungary and Germany in 2000. The study develops a system for comparison of the German and Hungarian education systems, which can be used in the empirical analysis to compare the returns to education across the two countries in a meaningful way. In the empirical analysis, Mincer earnings equation are estimated using ordinary least squers regression and quantile regression – in order to analyse both within- and between-education-group earnings differentials – using the “Hungarian National Labour Center’s Wage Survey” and the “German Socio-economic Panel”. Furthermore, the returns to different fields of study are estimated for the two countries. It is the analysis of the private-public sector earnings gap in Hungary for the decade of 1994 – 2003 which Chapter 2 of the dissertation proceeds with. This time period is particularly interesting not only from the perspective of transition but also given the minimum wage and public sector wage reforms in the early 2000s. The data is drawn from the “Hungarian National Labour Center’s Wage Survey” in order to examine the evolution of the private-public earnings gap for four groups of full-time male employees distinguished by education and the evolution of the returns to education in the private and public sectors separately. Chapter 3 focuses on the effect of school starting age and socio-economic factors on academic performance for Hungarian grade four students. The data for the empirical analysis is drawn from the “Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study” and the “Trends in Mathematics and Science Study”. In addition to OLS regressions, the study uses the control function approach, proposed by Garen (1984) and Heckman and Robb (1985), exploiting the exogenous variation in school starting age driven by the children’s month of birth and the cut-off date regulation for enrolment.
Association between DNA repair gene polymorphisms and risk of glioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Association studies of germline DNA repair single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and glioma risk have yielded inconclusive results. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating this association. METHODS We identified 27 eligible studies investigating 105 SNPs in 42 DNA repair genes. Of these, 10 SNPs in 7 genes were analyzed in at least 4 studies and were therefore included in our meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed for homozygote comparison, heterozygote comparison, and dominant and recessive models by applying a fixed- or random-effects model. The funnel and forest plots were created using RevMan software. RESULTS We found that SNPs rs3212986 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.35 (1.08-1.68), P = . 008), rs13181 (OR = 1.18 (1.06-1.31), P = . 002), and rs25487 (OR = 1.12 (1.03-1.22), P = . 007) in DNA repair genes ERCC1, ERCC2 (XPD), and XRCC1 may increase the risk of glioma, while polymorphisms rs1136410 (OR = 0.78 (0.68-0.89), P = . 0004) and rs12917 (OR = 0.84 (0.73-0.96), P = . 01) in PARP1(ADPRT) and MGMT are associated with decreased susceptibility to glioma. No evidence of significant associations between ERCC2 rs1799793, OGG1 rs1052133, XRCC1 rs25489, XRCC1 rs1799782, or XRCC3 rs861539 and risk of glioma was observed. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that DNA repair genes ERCC1, ERCC2, and XRCC1 might be low-penetrance glioma-risk genes, while MGMT and PARP1 polymorphisms may confer protection against glioma.
Association of olfactory dysfunction with incidental Lewy bodies

Olfactory dysfunction is found in early Parkinson's disease (PD) and in asymptomatic relatives of PD patients. Incidental Lewy bodies (ILB), the presence of Lewy bodies in the brains of deceased individuals without a history of PD or dementia during life, are thought to represent a presymptomatic stage of PD. If olfactory dysfunction were associated with the presence of ILB, this would suggest that olfactory deficits may precede clinical PD. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of olfactory dysfunction during late life with ILB in the substantia nigra or locus ceruleus. Olfaction was assessed during the 1991–1994 and 1994–1996 examinations of elderly Japanese–American men participating in the longitudinal Honolulu–Asia Aging Study. Among those who later died and underwent a standardized postmortem examination, brains were examined for Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra and the locus ceruleus with hematoxylin and eosin stain. Lewy bodies in the brains of individuals without clinical PD or dementia were classified as ILB. There were 164 autopsied men without clinical PD or dementia who had olfaction testing during one of the examinations. Seventeen had ILB. The age‐adjusted percent of brains with ILB increased from 1.8% in the highest tertile of odor identification to 11.9% in the mid‐tertile to 17.4% in the lowest tertile (P = 0.019 in test for trend). Age‐adjusted relative odds of ILB for the lowest versus the highest tertile was 11.0 (P = 0.02). Olfactory dysfunction is associated with ILB. If incidental Lewy bodies represent presymptomatic stage of PD, olfactory testing may be a useful screening tool to identify those at high risk for developing PD. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Isolation of lipid‐ and polysaccharide‐degrading micro‐organisms from subtropical forest soil, and analysis of lipolytic strain Bacillus sp. CR‐179

Aims: To isolate the micro‐organisms from three soil samples obtained from a subtropical forest of Puerto Iguazú (Argentina), to analyse them for detection of the biotechnologically interesting enzymatic activities lipase, esterase, cellulase, xylanase and pectinase, and to identify the most active strain.