Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographies of transition and the separation of lower and higher attaining pupils in the move from primary to secondary school in London

Critics of education reforms in England argue they are socially and academically divisive because some groups of pupils are more able to exercise choice than others. This paper looks at the transitions made by pupils from state-funded primary to secondary schools in London in 2008. It examines the flows from the one to the other, determining which secondary schools recruit from the same feeder primary schools and which may be said to be competing. Using a measure of ‘best in class’, evidence is found of higher and lower attaining pupils separating from each other with the former more likely to be enrolled in selective schools (unsurprisingly given they set entrance examinations) and also some types of faith school (which do not). The separations are evident between locally competing schools but with no evidence they are worsening over the period 2003 to 2008. This apparent inertia suggests the paradox of promoting school choice within a system that imposes geographical constraints upon that choice and may, as a result, simply reinforce existing social divisions.
New functionality of RNAComposer: an application to shape the axis of miR160 precursor structure.

RNAComposer is a fully automated, web-interfaced system for RNA 3D structure prediction, freely available at http://rnacomposer.cs. put.poznan.pl/ and http://rnacomposer.ibch. poznan.pl/. Its main components are: manually curated database of RNA 3D structure elements, highly efficient computational engine and user-friendly web application. In this paper, we demonstrate how the latest additions to the system allow the user to significantly affect the process of 3D model composition on several computational levels. Although in general our method is based on the knowledge of secondary structure topology, currently the RNAComposer offers a choice of six incorporated programs for secondary structure prediction. It also allows to apply a conditional search in the database of 3D structure elements and introduce user-provided elements into the final 3D model. This new functionality contributes to a significant improvement of the predicted 3D model reliability and it facilitates a better model adjustment to the experimental data. This is exemplified based on the RNAComposer application for modelling of the 3D structures of precursors of the miR160 family members.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Is There a Gender Gap in Preschoolers' Competitiveness? an Experiment in the U.s

We experimentally investigate the difference in competitiveness of 3–5 year-old boys and girls in the U.S. 123 children from a preschool are randomly matched into girl–girl, boy–boy, and boy–girl pairs of similar age and participate in a gender-neutral, competitive classroom activity using candy as an incentive. Children participate in a piece rate incentive scheme and a tournament incentive scheme in rounds 1 and 2, and select their preferred incentive scheme for round 3. We find that girls and boys choose to compete at equal rates – with 80% of children choosing to compete overall. We also find that girls' output in the task is significantly lower than that of boys under the tournament scheme, but not different in round 3 for the girls and boys who self-select into the tournament. All children display a remarkable rate of confidence – 84% of children believe they won under the tournament scheme. The gender of the match does not play a significant role.
Thalamic neurodegeneration in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Objective: To define the extent of neuronal injury and loss in thalamic gray matter in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and to characterize how these neuronal pathologic changes are related to disease duration. Methods: The authors studied 14 patients with RRMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score, mean 3.25, range 2.0 to 6.0) and 14 (8 men, 6 women) age-matched healthy controls. Structural MR and MRS studies were performed in a single scanning session using a 3T MR system. Results: N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations (a measure of the apparent neuronal density) were decreased approximately 11% in the thalami of the patients with RRMS relative to controls (p < 0.05). The patients with RRMS also had an almost 25% lower mean normalized thalamic volume than controls (p < 0.005). Decreases in thalamic NAA concentration correlated strongly with thalamic volume loss for individual patients (r = 0.85, p < 0.01). Both the NAA concentration (r = −0.48, p = 0.044) and normalized thalamic volume (r = −0.60, p = 0.01) were correlated inversely with disease duration. There was a trend for a correlation between the thalamic NAA/creatine (Cr) ratio and the NAA/Cr in the frontal normal-appearing white matter (r = 0.56, p < 0.08). Conclusions: The reduction of both NAA concentration and thalamic volume suggests that a neurodegenerative component may contribute to the pathology of MS even in the earlier RR stage. The trend toward a relationship between thalamic NAA/Cr and distant normal-appearing white matter changes implies that there may be a common mechanism for the white matter axonal loss and thalamic neuronal injury.
Liveboard: a large interactive display supporting group meetings, presentations, and remote collaboration

This paper describes the Liveboard, a large interactive display system. With nearly one million pixels and an accurate, multi-state, cordless pen, the Liveboard provides a basis for research on user interfaces for group meetings, presentations and remote collaboration. We describe the underlying hardware and software of the Liveboard, along with several software applications that have been developed. In describing the system, we point out the design rationale that was used to make various choices. We present the results of an informal survey of Liveboard users, and describe some of the improvements that have been made in response to user feedback. We conclude with several general observations about the use of large public interactive displays.
A Possible Mechanism for Evading Temperature Quantum Decoherence in Living Matter by Feshbach Resonance

A new possible scenario for the origin of the molecular collective behaviour associated with the emergence of living matter is presented. We propose that the transition from a non-living to a living cell could be mapped to a quantum transition to a coherent entanglement of condensates, like in a multigap BCS superconductor. Here the decoherence-evading qualities at high temperature are based on the Feshbach resonance that has been recently proposed as the driving mechanism for high Tc superconductors. Finally we discuss how the proximity to a particular critical point is relevant to the emergence of coherence in the living cell.
FIRST-ORDER AND SECOND-ORDER PATTERN PSYCHOPHYSICS

Pattern psychophysics involves intrinsically difficult problems. It is not easy to determine a relevant physical parameter for shapes and forms to be judged. Moreover, stimulus patterns always produce various psychological responses such as regularity, complexity, goodness, beauty, or preference. Therefore, in this study, we tentatively propose two kinds of pattern psychophysics. In first-order pattern psychophysics, functional relationships between variables that describe physical features of patterns and intermediate perceptual or affective dimensions such as regularity or softness are derived by multidimensional analyses. In second-order psychophysics, correspondences between the obtained intermediate dimensions and higher-order perceptual or affective properties such as goodness, beauty, or attractiveness are further examined by appropriate multivariate data analyses. Typical studies in first-order and second-order pattern psychophysics are introduced and their versatile utilities are discussed.
Induction Machine Condition Monitoring Using Neural Network Modeling

Condition monitoring is desirable for increasing machinery availability, reducing consequential damage, and improving operational efficiency. Model-based methods are efficient monitoring systems for providing warning and predicting certain faults at early stages. However, the conventional methods must work with explicit motor models, and cannot be applied effectively for vibration signal diagnosis due to their nonadaptation and the random nature of vibration signal. In this paper, an analytical redundancy method using neural network modeling of the induction motor in vibration spectra is proposed for machine fault detection and diagnosis. The short-time Fourier transform is used to process the quasi-steady vibration signals to continuous spectra for the neural network model training. The faults are detected from changes in the expectation of vibration spectra modeling error. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through experimental results, and it is shown that a robust and automatic induction machine condition monitoring system has been produced
Road curb and lanes detection for autonomous driving on urban scenarios

This paper addresses a framework for road curb and lanes detection in the context of urban autonomous driving, with particular emphasis on unmarked roads. Based on a 3D point cloud, the 3D parameters of several curb models are computed using curvature features and Conditional Random Fields (CRF). Information regarding obstacles is also computed based on the 3D point cloud, including vehicles and urban elements such as lampposts, fences, walls, etc. In addition, a gray-scale image provides the input for computing lane markings whenever they are present and visible in the scene. A high level decision-making system yields accurate information regarding the number and location of drivable lanes, based on curbs, lane markings, and obstacles. Our algorithm can deal with curbs of different curvature and heights, from as low as 3 cm, in a range up to 20 m. The system has been successfully tested on images from the KITTI data-set in real traffic conditions, containing different number of lanes, marked and unmarked roads, as well as curbs of quite different height. Although preliminary results are promising, further research is needed in order to deal with intersection scenes where no curbs are present and lane markings are absent or misleading.
T Effectors + Infiltration of CD 8 Induction of T Suppressor Apoptosis , and Tumor-Associated T Effector / Memory Cells , Intratumoral IL-12 : Activation of Reversing Tumor Immune Suppression with

A single intratumoral injection of IL-12 and GM-CSF-loaded slow-release microspheres induces T cell-dependent eradication of established primary and metastatic tumors in a murine lung tumor model. To determine how the delivery of cytokines directly to the microenvironment of a tumor nodule induces local and systemic antitumor T cell activity, we characterized therapy-induced phenotypic and functional changes in tumor-inﬁltrating T cell populations. Analysis of pretherapy tumors demonstrated that advanced primary tumors were inﬁltrated by CD4 (cid:1) and CD8 (cid:1) T cells with an effector/memory phenotype and CD4 (cid:1) CD25 (cid:1) Foxp3 (cid:1) T suppressor cells. Tumor-associated effector memory CD8 (cid:1) T cells displayed impaired cytotoxic function, whereas CD4 (cid:1) CD25 (cid:1) Foxp3 (cid:1) cells effectively inhibited T cell proliferation demonstrating functional integrity. IL-12/GM-CSF treatment promoted a rapid up-regulation of CD43 and CD69 on CD8 (cid:1) effector/memory T cells, augmented their ability to produce IFN- (cid:2) , and restored granzyme B expression. Importantly, treatment also induced a concomitant and progressive loss of T suppressors from the tumor. Further analysis established that activation of pre-existing effector memory T cells was short-lived and that both the effector/memory and the suppressor T cells became apoptotic within 4 days of treatment. Apoptotic death of pre-existing effector/memory and suppressor T cells was followed by inﬁltration of the tumor with activated, nonapoptotic CD8 (cid:1) effector T lymphocytes on day 7 posttherapy. Both CD8 (cid:1) T cell activation and T suppressor cell purge were mediated primarily by IL-12 and required IFN- (cid:2) . This study provides important insight into how local IL-12 therapy alters the immunosuppressive tumor milieu to one that is immunologically active, ultimately resulting in tumor regression. The Journal of Immunology, 2006, 177: 6962–6973. In situ vaccination with IL-12/GM-CSF microspheres induces T effector/memory activation, T suppressor purge, and CD8 (cid:1) T effector cell inﬁltration
Depot-Specific Differences and Insufficient Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Angiogenesis in Human Obesity

Background— Adipose tissue expands in response to excess caloric intake, but individuals prone to deposit visceral instead of subcutaneous adipose tissue have higher risk of metabolic disease. The role of angiogenesis in the expandability of human adipose tissue depots is unknown. The objective of this study was to measure angiogenesis in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and to establish whether there is a relationship between obesity, metabolic status, and the angiogenic properties of these depots. Methods and Results— Angiogenic capacity was determined by quantifying capillary branch formation from human adipose tissue explants embedded in Matrigel, and capillary density was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Subcutaneous adipose tissue had a greater angiogenic capacity than visceral tissue, even after normalization to its higher initial capillary density. Gene array analyses revealed significant differences in expression of angiogenic genes between depots, including an increased subcutaneous expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4, which is proangiogenic in an adipose tissue context. Subcutaneous capillary density and angiogenic capacity decreased with morbid obesity, and subcutaneous, but not visceral, adipose tissue angiogenic capacity correlated negatively with insulin sensitivity. Conclusions— These data imply that subcutaneous adipose tissue has a higher capacity to expand its capillary network than visceral tissue, but this capacity decreases with morbid obesity. The decrease correlates with insulin resistance, suggesting that impairment of subcutaneous adipose tissue angiogenesis may contribute to metabolic disease pathogenesis.
Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver, markers of obesity, and serum leptin level in young adults

OBJECTIVES:The aim of the present study was to clarify the risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver in young adults.METHODS:One thousand two hundred two students, aged 18–21 yr, received matriculation health examinations, including measurements of body mass index and percent body fat and determination of serum levels of ALT at Nagasaki University in 1998. One hundred twenty-nine were found to have borderline or elevated levels of serum ALT, and 105 of the 129 students (75 men and 30 women) were subjected to further analysis for the presence of fatty liver using ultrasonography, by which both the degree of steatosis and the abdominal wall fat index (AFI) corresponding to the ratio of visceral to s.c. adipose tissue (V/S ratio) were evaluated, in addition to determination of the serum level of leptin.RESULTS:Of 105 students, 74 (70%) had fatty liver. The incidence of moderately to severely fatty liver was significantly higher in men than in women. In parameters related to obesity, the close correlation between body mass index and percent body fat was observed in both sexes. The serum level of leptin correlated well with percent body fat and AFI (V/S ratio) in women, whereas it did not correlate with AFI (V/S ratio) in men. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that AFI (V/S ratio) was the only independent risk factor for fatty liver in both sexes.CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that visceral fat distribution is a key risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver in young adults.
Matching nuts and bolts optimally

The nuts and bolts problem is the following : Given a collection of n nuts of distinct sizes and n bolts of distinct sizes such that for each nut there is exactly one matching bolt, find for each nut its corresponding bolt subject to the restriction that we can only compare nuts to bolts. That is we can neither compare nuts to nuts, nor bolts to bolts. This humble restriction on the comparisons appears to make this problem quite difficult to solve. In this paper, we illustrate the existence of an algorithm for solving the nuts and bolts problem that makes O(n lg n) nutand-bolt comparisons. We show the existence of this algorithm by showing the existence of certain expander-based comparator networks. Our algorithm is asymptotically optimal in terms of the number of nut-and-bolt comparisons it does. Another view of this result is that we show the existence of a decision tree with depth O(n lg n) that solves this problem.
How deeply cells feel: methods for thin gels

Tissue cells lack the ability to see or hear but have evolved mechanisms to feel into their surroundings and sense a collective stiffness. A cell can even sense the effective stiffness of rigid objects that are not in direct cellular contact—like the proverbial princess who feels a pea placed beneath soft mattresses. How deeply a cell feels into a matrix can be measured by assessing cell responses on a controlled series of thin and elastic gels that are affixed to a rigid substrate. Gel elasticity E is readily varied with polymer concentrations of now-standard polyacrylamide hydrogels, but to eliminate wrinkling and detachment of thin gels from an underlying glass coverslip, vinyl groups are bonded to the glass before polymerization. Gel thickness is nominally specified using micron-scale beads that act as spacers, but gels swell after polymerization as measured by z-section, confocal microscopy of fluorescent gels. Atomic force microscopy is used to measure E at gel surfaces, employing stresses and strains that are typically generated by cells and yielding values for E that span a broad range of tissue microenvironments. To illustrate cell sensitivities to a series of thin-to-thick gels, the adhesive spreading of mesenchymal stem cells was measured on gel mimics of a very soft tissue (e.g. brain, E ∼ 1 kPa). Initial results show that cells increasingly respond to the rigidity of an underlying ‘hidden’ surface starting at about 10–20 µm gel thickness with a characteristic tactile length of less than about 5 µm.
An assessment of the surface longwave direct radiative effect of airborne dust in Zhangye, China, during the Asian Monsoon Years field experiment (2008)

[1] In April–June 2008, NASA Goddard's ground-based mobile laboratories (SMART-COMMIT) were deployed to Zhangye China (39.0°N; 101°W) to support the Asian Monsoon Years field experiment and the East Asian Study of Tropospheric Aerosols and Impact on Regional Climate. One of the primary objectives at Zhangye, a semi-arid region located between the Taklimakan and Gobi Deserts, was to capture and characterize dust aerosols near the source and to quantify their direct radiative effects (DRE). A regional dust optical model was constructed by combining previously measured soil mineralogy data at Zhangye with COMMIT's particle microphysical measurements. During a 2-week period of heightened dust activity, retrieved longwave (LW) aerosol optical thickness (τ) from SMART's Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer was used in the Fu-Liou radiative transfer model to derive LW instantaneous DRE (DRELW) at the surface, top of atmosphere, and heating rate profiles for cloud-free conditions. Conservatively, surface instantaneous DRELW and LW forcing efficiency range from about 2–20 Wm−2 and 31–35 Wm−2τ−1 (0 ≤ τ ≤ 0.83), respectively. The significance of DRELWrelative to its shortwave counterpart was estimated to be between 51 and 58%, but of opposite sign, partly compensating shortwave surface cooling. Compared to Saharan dust observed during the NAMMA-2006 field experiment at Cape Verde, dust LW forcing efficiency for this study was found to be a factor of two larger stemming from differences in environmental and surface conditions, aerosol absorption, and Zhangye's close proximity to major desert sources. Relative to observed and modeled ranges in surface DRELW for clouds (∼30–80 Wm−2) and greenhouse gases (∼2 Wm−2), this study's upper range in DRELW represents a significant perturbation to the climate system with important implications for better understanding regional changes in surface temperatures and moisture budgets.
A World of Propensities

This book contains two lectures - given in 1988 and 1989 respectively - which belong to Karl Popper's late work, most of which is still unpublished. The first introduces a new view of causality, based on Popper's interpretation of quantum theory, yet freed of difficulty. It is a new view of the universe - a view that easily merges with the commonsense view that our will is free. The second lecture gives a glimpse of human knowledge as it evolves from animal knowledge. Both lectures have been expanded by Popper for publication.
Staging disease severity in pathologically confirmed cases of frontotemporal dementia

Objective: To devise a staging scheme for addressing the severity of atrophy in patients with pathologically proven frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and determine any relationship with clinical indices. Methods: Twenty-four cases with clinical and pathologic features of FTD were selected using standard inclusion and exclusion criteria from 125 dementia cases collected in Sydney, Australia, over an 8.5-year period. Patterns of gross atrophy were determined in two coronal brain slices. Reproducibility of a four-stage severity scheme was tested. Nonparametric statistics were used to determine relationships between the stage of atrophy and clinical indices (age at death, duration from diagnosis, and clinical severity at death). Results: The FTD cases studied could be reliably grouped (κ = 0.97) into four progressively severe stages of global atrophy. Initial mild atrophy occurred in the orbital and superior medial frontal cortices and hippocampus (stage 1), progressed to involve the other anterior frontal regions, temporal cortices, and basal ganglia (stage 2), then involved all remaining tissue in these coronal slices (stage 3), until very marked atrophy was observed in all areas (stage 4). These stages correlated with disease duration and clinical dementia severity, lending validity to the progressive nature of the staging scheme. Conclusions: The authors have identified a reproducible staging system for the severity of gross atrophy in cases of FTD. This staging scheme provides the required framework to compare different research indices and determine correlates relating to time and disease progression in FTD—information necessary to determine core disease processes and etiologic factors.
Method for identification of sensitive nodes in Boolean models of biological networks

Biological systems are often represented as Boolean networks and analysed to identify sensitive nodes which on perturbation disproportionately change a predefined output. There exist different kinds of perturbation methods: perturbation of function, perturbation of state and perturbation in update scheme. Nodes may have defects in interpretation of the inputs from other nodes and calculation of the node output. To simulate these defects and systematically assess their effect on the system output, two new function perturbations, referred to as ‘not of function’ and ‘function of not’, are introduced. In the former, the inputs are assumed to be correctly interpreted but the output of the update rule is perturbed; and in the latter, each input is perturbed but the correct update rule is applied. These and previously used perturbation methods were applied to two existing Boolean models, namely the human melanogenesis signalling network and the fly segment polarity network. Through mathematical simulations, it was found that these methods successfully identified nodes earlier found to be sensitive using other methods, and were also able to identify sensitive nodes which were previously unreported.