Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of a new hairpin DNAzyme: The activity controlled by TMPyP 4

A new 10-23 hairpin DNAzyme with a G-quadruplex structure stem was designed. The formation and stability of the G-quadruplex structure as the DNAzyme stem in the absence or the presence of TMPyP 4 were investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods, respectively. The results showed that the stability of this DNAzyme can be enhanced greatly due to the interaction between TMPyP 4 and the DNAzyme. The relationship between structural stability and activity of the DNAzyme was studied by in vitro catalytic reaction. The activity of this DNAzyme was regulated by the stability of DNAzyme when TMPyP 4 was intercalated into Gquadruplex structure stem. The catalytic activity of the 10-23 hairpin DNAzyme decreased and even inactivated due to the enhanced stability of G-quadruplex structure by TMPyP 4 molecules. This DNAzyme is controllable to cleavage substrate and has some potential significance in gene therapy. Key words: 10-23 DNAzyme, hairpin DNAzyme, G-quadruplex structure, TMPyP 4 .
Cognitive Diagnostic Models and Computerized Adaptive Testing: Two New Item-Selection Methods That Incorporate Response Times

A recent paper proposed an item-selection approach for computerized adaptive testing (CAT) in which the psychometric information per time unit is maximized. The current research extended this methodology to adaptive tests combined with use of a cognitive diagnostic model (CDM). Two new item-selection methods are introduced for the combination of CDMs and CAT: posterior-weighted Kullback-Leibler information per-time-unit, and mutual information per-time-unit. These methods were compared with standard procedures in which the amount of time required to complete an item is not considered. Simulation conditions with and without attribute-balancing constraints indicated that, on average, the new methods required more items but took less time than the standard procedures, while achieving comparable classification accuracy.
A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL OF RESILIENCY IN ADOLESCENCE

ii Acknowledgements vi List of Tables iv List of Figures v Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Self-determination Theory 2 Social-cognitive Theory 3 Diathesis-stress Models 3 Outcome Variables 4 Purpose of the Study 4 Hypotheses 5 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature 10 Self-determination Theory 10 Social-Cognitive Theory 13 Diathesis Stress Models 15 Value of Education 18 Models Combining the Theoretical Constructs 19 Conclusions 22 Chapter 3: Methodology 25 Dataset 25 Participants 25 Procedure 25 Instruments 26 Data Preparation and Analysis 28 Chapter 4: Results 29 Measurement Model 29 Validity Study 42 Structural Equation Models 45 Chapter 5: Discussion 53 References 60 Appendixes 65
Women Empowerment in India

Women empowerment has been the subject matter of concern for decades in all countries of the world. India with specific reference has been subject to greater inequality with women empowerment being a distant dream even today in certain parts of the country. The paper is an attempt to highlight the significance of women empowerment for a nation. The current scenario prevalent with regard to women empowerment on various spheres in the country has been highlighted with various measures and the challenges for the same have been noted. The paper concludes that more micro-level assessment of women empowerment has to be done in India to make the various measures and schemes of the government more meaningful and help achieve gender equality.
Assessment of Calcium Quantification In Presence Of motion With A Novel Temporal Enhanced Reconstruction Technique.

Poster: "ECR 2016 / C-1084 / Assessment of Calcium Quantification In Presence Of motion With A Novel Temporal Enhanced Reconstruction Technique. " by: "J. Y. Jung1, M. Sun1, S. W. Yoo1, J. Yi1, J. Choi1, D. Lee1, K. Lee1, S. Dutta2; 1Suwon-si/KR, 2Celebration/US"
Gender, Competition and Performance: Evidence from Real Tournaments

There is a growing literature looking at how men and women respond differently to competition. We contribute to this literature by studying gender differences in performance in a high-stakes and male dominated competitive environment, expert chess tournaments. Our findings show that women underperform compared to men of the same ability and that the gender composition of games drives this effect. Using within player variation in the conditionally random gender of their opponent, we find that women earn significantly worse outcomes against male opponents. We examine the mechanisms through which this effect operates by using a unique measure of within game quality of play. We find that the gender composition effect is driven by women playing worse against men, rather than by men playing better against women. The gender of the opponent does not affect a male player’s quality of play. We also find that men persist longer against women before resigning. These results suggest that the gender composition of competitions affects the behavior of both men and women in ways that are detrimental to the performance of women. Lastly, we study the effect of competitive pressure and find that players’ quality of play deteriorates when stakes increase, though we find no differential effect over the gender composition of games.
Decrease in tropospheric O 3 levels in the Northern Hemisphere observed by IASI

Abstract. In this study, we describe the recent changes in the tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) columns measured by the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), onboard the Metop satellite, during the first 9 years of operation (January 2008 to May 2017). Using appropriate multivariate regression methods, we differentiate significant linear trends from other sources of O 3 variations captured by IASI. The geographical patterns of the adjusted O 3 trends are provided and discussed on the global scale. Given the large contribution of the natural variability in comparison with that of the trend (25–85 % vs. 15–50 %, respectively) to the total O 3 variations, we estimate that additional years of IASI measurements are generally required to detect the estimated O 3 trends with high precision. Globally, additional 6 months to 6 years of measurements, depending on the regions and the seasons, are needed to detect a trend of | 5 | DU decade −1 . An exception is interestingly found during summer at mid- and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (NH; ∼ 40 to ∼ 75 ∘ N), where the large absolute fitted trend values ( ∼ | 0.5 | DU yr −1 on average) combined with the small model residuals ( ∼ 10 %) allow for detection of a band-like pattern of significant negative trends. Despite no consensus in terms of tropospheric O 3 trends having been reached from the available independent datasets (UV or IR satellites, O 3 sondes, aircrafts, ground-based measurements, etc.) for the reasons that are discussed in the text, this finding is consistent with the reported decrease in O 3 precursor emissions in recent years, especially in Europe and USA. The influence of continental pollution on that latitudinal band is further investigated and supported by the analysis of the O 3 –CO relationship (in terms of correlation coefficient, regression slope and covariance) that we found to be the strongest at northern midlatitudes in summer.
Opinions and behavior of students in social aspects of Internet use in Serbia and Slovenia

Rapid involvement of Internet infrastructure and services brought a lot of new products based on information and communication technologies. In the focus of world's social interest at this time are social networks and WikiLeaks and their abuse. In this paper authors analyze opinions and behaviour of students at Novi Sad Business School, Serbia, and Faculty of Organizational Sciences in Kranj, Slovenia. This research focuses on different kinds of abuse of social networks and WikiLeaks. Results are presented and analyzed according to the place where examinees study. Conclusions about the differences found between the above-mentioned two groups are compared to the social states and events in these 2 countries which officially separated 25 years ago.
SkillQuests: Bringing real life to the classroom with a collaborative computer-based instructional tool

This paper explores the development and implementation of a structured computer-based learning tool, named a "SkillQuest", for undergraduate students studying introductory project management at Bond University. This SkillQuest, "Making sense of all the dollars" was developed as an alternative to a lecture on project budgeting. Students are placed in a real-life working environment via a project scenario relevant to their chosen degree. In alignment with the theories of Gestalt, Constructivism and Experiential Learning, the SkillQuest provides a collaborative, student-centred approach where the lecturer acts a facilitator to the learning process. Student survey responses indicate the SkillQuest was a useful learning tool, interesting and a pleasant change from lectures. Statistical analyses of exam results support the use of the SkillQuest as a teaching tool. Use of the SkillQuest to actively engage students in the learning process was deemed a success. It is the belief of the authors that this type of computer-based, collaborative learning can allow students to learn more interactively and in an environment that more closely aligns with their learning preferences. Such a tool can be used in any university discipline in place of the traditional lecture-style approach or as a complement. SkillQuests can be undertaken with the instructor present in a classroom setting or as homework, making them also useful for online studies. This was a small pilot study in a single application. The authors hope that others will adapt this tool for use in their classrooms.
Influence of rail pad stiffness on track stressing, life-cycle and noise emission

In this paper the results for the influence of the rail pad stiffness on the Railway Track stressing and its Life-Cycle is presented, as derived from a research program performed in Greece due to the appearance of extended cracking (over 60 % of the sleepers on track) in twin-block concrete sleepers during the 1980’s. This implies either inadequate design and/or insufficient strength of the concrete sleepers. The existing theories for the calculation of the design loads could not justify the appearance of these cracks since the calculated actions on sleepers were much lower than the limit values. An innovative method predicting the extended cracking was developed. The adoption of very soft pads reduced the track’s stressing and led to a significant prolongation of the Life Cycle of the track elements. The results of the study are presented and an approach to the noise emission as crucial sustainable parameter in railways.
Impacts of Trade on Wage Inequality in Los Angeles: Analysis Using Matched Employer–Employee Data

Over the last thirty years wage inequality has accelerated markedly in the United States, reversing the trend of the previous half-century. The growth in inequality parallels the rapid rise in U.S. imports, particularly from developing economies. Standard trade theory suggests that the wages of unskilled workers relative to skilled workers will decline in developed economies as a result of greater competition from developing economies that have abundant reserves of unskilled labor; however, repeated empirical studies have not found a strong link between trade and inequality. We argue that this failure results from the use of aggregate data and poor proxies for the skill level of workers. A matched employer–employee database for the Los Angeles consolidated metropolitan statistical area in 1990 and 2000, combining individual returns from the Decennial Household Census and manufacturing plant-level data, shows the relationship between the growth of trade and the relative wages of workers with different levels of education. Wage inequality resulted from trade as well as skill-biased technological change in 1990. In 2000, skill-biased technological change has no significant impact on inequality, and the influence of trade has become much stronger. Over the ten years studied, the impact of trade climbs the education and skill ladder. Trade depressed the relative wages of workers with less than a high school diploma in 1990, but by 2000 trade also significantly reduced the relative wages of high school graduates.
Capital outflow and unemployment: evidence from panel data

The effect of moving capital abroad on the domestic labour market is ambiguous. We examine the relation between capital outflow and unemployment with the use of panel data techniques. The result shows that in developing countries, the outward direct investment is beneficial to employment and the effect of portfolio investment abroad on domestic employment is negative. However, the association between outward investment and employment is insignificant in industrial countries.
Sea-Temperature, Breeding and Distribution in Marine Animals

Breeding in marine animals has long been recognised in a vague way as being in some degree dependent upon sea-temperature. This attitude is well shown in Lo Bianco's last valuable contribution to our knowledge of the breeding periods of practically the whole fauna of the Gulf of Naples. In the Introduction to this work Lo Bianco (1, p. 531) gives tables of temperature observations for a number of years, but does not attempt to correlate them with the breeding periods observed. There are in the literature some observations of reproduction in particular animals being dependent upon particular temperatures, notably by Schmidt (2); but no attempt has been made, so far as I know, to show in a general way the connexion between breeding and temperature in marine animals. It is clear, however, from the writings of Appellöf that this naturalist had anticipated in his mind some of the results obtained from the experimental observations described briefly in the following pages and of the deductions made therefrom. It is believed that these experimental observations have afforded a clue which gives an insight into the way in which breeding may be correlated with temperature in a large number of marine animals, but owing to the inadequacies of breeding records and of observations on physical conditions in the sea only a brief survey has been attempted here, and a fuller discussion of the phenomena is reserved for a later work. In the following pages the extrusion of ripe ova, or the fertilisability of eggs with subsequent development, is taken as the criterion of breeding.
An observational study of delivered and received aggression , gender , and social-psychological adjustment in preschool : Abstract "

A semi-structured observational study investigated gender differences in delivered and received relational, physical, verbal, and nonverbal aggression in a young preschool sample (N = 60). Findings revealed that gender differences in subtypes of aggression may be apparent as early as 3 years of age. Specifically, girls were found to deliver and receive more relational aggression than males, whereas boys tended, although not significantly, to deliver and significantly received more physical aggression than females. Relational and physical subtypes of delivered and received aggression were differentially associated with preschoolers' social-psychological adjustment.
Efficient Competition Through Cheap Talk: Competing Auctions and Competitive Search Without Ex Ante Price Commitment

We consider a frictional two-sided matching market in which one side uses public cheap-talk announcements so as to attract the other side. We show that if the first-price auction is adopted as the trading protocol, then cheap talk can be perfectly informative, and the resulting market outcome is efficient, constrained only by search frictions. We also show that the performance of an alternative trading protocol in the cheap-talk environment depends on the level of price dispersion generated by the protocol: If a trading protocol compresses (spreads) the distribution of prices relative to the first-price auction, then an efficient fully revealing equilibrium always (never) exists. Our results identify the settings in which cheap talk can serve as an efficient competitive instrument, in the sense that the central insights from the literature on competing auctions and competitive search continue to hold unaltered even without ex ante price commitment.
Studies on standardization of fig fruit (Ficus carica L.) powder enriched cookies and its composition

In this study, it is aimed to develop the processing technology for preparation of powder from fresh Fig (Ficus carica L.) fruits and the prepared fig powder was subsequently utilized in cookies. Fig fruits of Dinkar variety were dried in the form of small shreds in a cabinet drier at 60+5oC temperature for 20-24 hrs and powder was obtained by grinding of dried shreds in a grinder. The prepared fig powder was incorporated in cookies preparation at different levels like 0, 6, 12 and 18 %. The proximate composition of fig powder and cookies was evaluated for nutritional and sensory properties. Results of study showed that fig powder enriched cookies containing 12 % fig powder have good nutritional value with acceptable organoleptic qualities. Fig cookies contained 3.1 % dietary fiber, 6.9 % protein, 1.1 % potassium and its reducing and non-reducing sugar content was 53.1 % and 22.9 % respectively.
OBSERVATION OF METOPROLOL TARTARATE RELEASE FROM BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERIC IMPLANTS

Objective: Implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS) are developed to optimize the therapeutic properties of the drug and to transmit the drug and fluid into the bloodstream without the repeated insertion of needles. Due to the fat rich area, with poor haemoperfusion and nerve area of areolar connective tissue, subcutaneous implantation became an ideal route of drug delivery. In this investigation, Metoprolol Tartarate, a cardioselective beta1 adrenoceptor blocking agent, widely used to treat hypertension, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, has been chosen to develop a gelatin-sodium alginate biodegradable implant. Methods: Implants were prepared by heating and congealing methods in different ratios of gelatinsodium alginate (70:30, 80:20 and 90:10), hardened for cross linking with formaldehyde for 3 hrs, 6 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs. Glycerin was used as a plasticizer and water as vehicle. At ambient temperature, the prepared Metoprolol Tartarate implants were evaluated for weight variation, thickness and in-vitro drug release. The drug release kinetics of the implants was obtained and fitted to different kinetics models. To ensure absence of formaldehyde, free formaldehyde test was carried out. Results: Implants containing 70:30 % w/w Gelatin-Sodium Alginate and hardened with formaldehyde for 24 hrs were found to produce most satisfactory drug release over a period of 6 days (144 hours). The release pattern mostly followed the Higuchi kinetic model. Good correlations were also found with Korsmeyer-Peppas suggesting drug release from the biodegradable implants by diffusion.
Pliocene small mammals (Mammalia, Lipotyphla, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) from Muselievo (North Bulgaria)

The micromammals from the sediment filling of an ancient cave located near the village of Muselievo (Pleven district) are studied. At least 35 species representing 28 genera from 15 families are identified. The lipotyphlans are represented by scarce remains of five species: Blarinoides mariae, Deinsdorfia kordosi, Mafia cf. csarnotensis, Asoriculus gibberodon, and Talpa minor. The main part of bones belongs to bats: Rhinolophus wenzensis, Rh. mehelyi birzebbugensis, Rh. ex gr. euryale, Myotis blythii longicaninus n. ssp. , Myotis cf. bechsteinii, Myotis sp. , and Miniopterus cf approximatus. The four lagomorphs (Ochotonoma csarnotanus, Hypolagus beremendensis, Trischizolagus dumitrescuae, and Pliopentalagus dietrichi) are among the most numerous components of the assemblage. Most of the species belong to the rodents, dominated quantitatively by the voles: Dolomys occitanus, Dolomys cf. nehringi, Propliomys cf. hungaricus, Bjornkurtenia canterranensis. The other rodents are represented by sciurids (Pliopetaurista dehneli, Sciurus sp., Tamias orlovi, ? Spermophilus sp.), glirids (Myomimus complicidentatus n. sp., Dryomimus eliomyoides, Glis minor), mice (Rhagapodemus cf. hautimagnensis, Rhagapodemus sp., Sylvaemus dominans), cricetids (Allocricetus bursae, A. ehiki, Trilophomys depereti), a mole rat (Pliospalax cf. macoveii), and a porcupine (Hystrix sp.). The presence of Dolomys occitanus, slightly more advanced than the population from the type locality (Sete, France) speaks for the late Ruscinian age (MN15b-zone). According to the biogeographical comparative analyses and the appearance of the bat assemblage, it can be supposed that the climate was similar to the recent one. The assemblage points to a complex landscape, composed probably of savanna-steppes on the plain, shrubs on the slopes, and tall forests along the rivers.
Numerical Simulations of Multiphase Winds and Fountains from Star-forming Galactic Disks. I. Solar Neighborhood TIGRESS Model

Gas blown away from galactic disks by supernova (SN) feedback plays a key role in galaxy evolution. We investigate outflows utilizing the solar neighborhood model of our high-resolution, local galactic disk simulation suite, TIGRESS. In our numerical implementation, star formation and SN feedback are self-consistently treated and well resolved in the multiphase, turbulent, magnetized interstellar medium. Bursts of star formation produce spatially and temporally correlated SNe that drive strong outflows, consisting of hot ( ) winds and warm ( ) fountains. The hot gas at distance from the midplane has mass and energy fluxes nearly constant with d. The hot flow escapes our local Cartesian box barely affected by gravity, and is expected to accelerate up to terminal velocity of . The mean mass and energy loading factors of the hot wind are 0.1 and 0.02, respectively. For warm gas, the mean outward mass flux through is comparable to the mean star formation rate, but only a small fraction of this gas is at velocity . Thus, the warm outflows eventually fall back as inflows. The warm fountain flows are created by expanding hot superbubbles at at larger d neither ram pressure acceleration nor cooling transfers significant momentum or energy flux from the hot wind to the warm outflow. The velocity distribution at launching near is a better representation of warm outflows than a single mass loading factor, potentially enabling development of subgrid models for warm galactic winds in arbitrary large-scale galactic potentials.
Morphological and Genetic Variation in Mexican Wild Populations of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Abstract We analyzed the morphological and genetic variation of the Asian citrus psyllid nymphal ectoparasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in 2 regions of Mexico, in the northeast (represented by the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas) and the west (represented by the states of Colima and Michoacán). We found that the morphological variation of the specimens lay mainly in body color traits. The morphometric study indicated that in comparison with females, males presented heterogeneity, and it was concentrated in the state of Colima. Despite the morphological variation found in the species, it was not exclusively associated with any of the geographical regions. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of 2 haplotypes (H1 and H2), which were the same found in previous research among strains introduced to Florida. Haplotype H2 was found in both studied regions and more frequently than haplotype H1, which was collected only in the northeast (Tamaulipas state), suggesting possible points of gene flow between Mexico and the USA. Our results have implications for the extensive use of T. radiata in biological control programs of the Asian citrus psyllid.