Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuronal Intrinsic Physiology Changes During Development of a Learned Behavior

Visual Abstract Juvenile male zebra finches learn their songs over distinct auditory and sensorimotor stages, the former requiring exposure to an adult tutor song pattern. The cortical premotor nucleus HVC (acronym is name) plays a necessary role in both learning stages, as well as the production of adult song. Consistent with neural network models where synaptic plasticity mediates developmental forms of learning, exposure to tutor song drives changes in the turnover, density, and morphology of HVC synapses during vocal development. A network’s output, however, is also influenced by the intrinsic properties (e.g., ion channels) of the component neurons, which could change over development. Here, we use patch clamp recordings to show cell-type-specific changes in the intrinsic physiology of HVC projection neurons as a function of vocal development. Developmental changes in HVC neurons that project to the basal ganglia include an increased voltage sag response to hyperpolarizing currents and an increased rebound depolarization following hyperpolarization. Developmental changes in HVC neurons that project to vocal-motor cortex include a decreased resting membrane potential and an increased spike amplitude. HVC interneurons, however, show a relatively stable range of intrinsic features across vocal development. We used mathematical models to deduce possible changes in ionic currents that underlie the physiological changes and to show that the magnitude of the observed changes could alter HVC circuit function. The results demonstrate developmental plasticity in the intrinsic physiology of HVC projection neurons and suggest that intrinsic plasticity may have a role in the process of song learning.
Malaysian SMEs Perspective on Factors Affecting ERP System Adoption

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vary in many aspects such as size and operation. The adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system must be regarded as it occurs in a different environment within which the SMEs operates and should not be equated to a larger organization's business routine. An ERP system holds promising future if it is well implemented regardless the size of the organization. This research focused on the view point of the Malaysian SMEs towards the adoption of ERP system. Grounded from the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the findings are categorized qualitatively as a benchmark for technology adoption studies. Unstructured interview in six SMEs with a case study in two selected SMEs were done in two types of SMEs industry. A thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data. This paper reports on the analysis result and reveals some isolated issues of factors affecting ERP adoption among SMEs in Malaysia. The results also provides an indication on what should be the strategy for determining the right specification in adopting an ERP system successfully especially in Malaysian SMEs.
Comparing Language Learning Attitudes in England, Germany and the Netherlands: Some Methodological Considerations

The following article examines the methodological considerations involved in carrying out a trinational comparative survey of pupils' attitudes to learning French, German and English (as foreign languages) at comprehensive schools in England, Germany and the Netherlands. The research was conducted as part of a Ph.D. study aiming to describe the nature of the pupils' attitudes and to examine and compare the pupils' perceptions of educational and socio-cultural influences in the different contexts. A discussion of the broader theoretical framework in which the study is located is followed by an analysis of research design and decision-making. This includes a detailed review of country, sample and instrument selection, along with an examination of the practicalities of access, piloting and analysis. Finally, a number of ethical issues are considered.
The Fine Structure of Streptomyces coelicolor

Colonies and spore suspensions of Streptomyces coelicolor were fixed by the method of Kellenberger, Ryter, and Séchaud (1958) and embedded in methacrylate or araldite. Thin sections were cut with an A. F. Huxley microtome and examined in a Siemens' Elmiskop I. At all stages of development the hyphae of Streptomyces coelicolor have an extensive membranous component in the cytoplasm. The membranes are continuous with the plasma membrane and have a variety of configurations at different places in the hyphae. Tubular structures, vesicles, and parallel stacks of membranes are seen. In some areas concentric layers of membranes form whorled structures which are particularly frequent in the region of developing cross-walls and within maturing spores. In the spores membranous structures often lie embedded in the nuclear material. In disintegrating hyphae the intracytoplasmic membranes round off into small vesicles and remain when the rest of the cytoplasmic structure has gone. In the absence of typical mitochondria and other cytoplasmic membranous structures it is possible that the membranous component of the cytoplasm of Streptomyces coelicolor may perform the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum and/or the mitochondria of higher cells.
Defunctionalization at work

Reynolds's defunctionalization technique is a whole-program transformation from higher-order to first-order functional programs. We study practical applications of this transformation and uncover new connections between seemingly unrelated higher-order and first-order specifications and between their correctness proofs. Defunctionalization therefore appearsboth as a springboard for rev ealing new connections and as a bridge for transferring existing results between the first-order world and the higher-order world.
A Case of Rearrangement of Genes in Drosophila.

Seven mutant genes of Drosophila simulans have been shown to be allelomorphic to previously known mutant genes of D. melanogaster. Five of these lie in the X-chromosome, and a study of their linkage relations was shown to indicate that the sequence of the five loci concerned is the same in both species, and that the percentages of crossing over in comparable regions, while not indentical, is still not very different. The other two allelomorphic mutant genes, scarlet and peach, lie about 3 units apart in the third chromosome of melanogaster; in simulans they lie in the same chromosome (which is thus identified as the third one), but they were found to be at least 45 units apart.
Nonuniversal gaugino and scalar masses, hadronically quiet trileptons, and the Large Hadron Collider

We investigate the parameter space of the minimal supersymmetric standard model where the gluino and squark masses are much above 1 TeV but the remaining part of the sparticle spectrum is accessible to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. After pointing out that such a scenario may constitute an important benchmark of gaugino/scalar nonuniversality, we find that hadronically quiet trileptons are rather useful signals for it. Regions of the parameter space, where the signal is likely to be appreciable, are identified through a detailed scan. The advantage of hadronically quiet trileptons over other types of signals is demonstrated.
EGFR Mutation Testing in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Real-World Practice in an East Asian Tertiary Hospital

Introduction Guidelines for management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) strongly recommend EGFR mutation testing. These recommendations are particularly relevant in Asians that have higher EGFR mutation prevalence. This study aims to explore current testing practices, logistics of testing, types of EGFR mutation, and prevalence of EGFR mutations in patients with advanced NSCLC in a large comprehensive cancer center in Korea. Methods Our retrospective cohort included 1,503 NSCLC patients aged ≥18 years, with stage IIIB/IV disease, who attended the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, from January 2007 through July 2010. Trained oncology nurses reviewed and abstracted data from electronic medical records. Results This cohort had a mean age (SD) of 59.6 (11.1) years, 62.7% were males, and 52.9% never-smokers. The most common NSCLC histological types were adenocarcinoma (70.5%) and squamous cell carcinoma (18.0%). Overall, 39.5% of patients were tested for EGFR mutations. The proportion of patients undergoing EGFR testing during January 2007 through July 2008, August 2008 through September 2009, and October 2009 through July 2010 were 23.3%, 38.3%, and 63.5%, respectively (P<0.001). The median time elapsed between cancer diagnoses and receiving EGFR testing results was 21 days. EGFR testing was most frequently ordered by oncologists (57.7%), pulmonologists (31.9%), and thoracic surgeons (6.6%). EGFR testing was more commonly requested for women, younger patients, stage IV disease, non-smokers, and adenocarcinoma histology. Of 586 cases successfully tested for EGFR mutations, 209 (35.7%) were positive, including 118 cases with exon 19 deletions and 62 with L858R mutations. EGFR mutation positive patients were more likely to be female, never-smokers, never-drinkers and to have adenocarcinoma. Conclusions In a large cancer center in Korea, the proportion of EGFR testing increased from 2007 through 2010. The high frequency of EGFR mutation positive cases warrants the need for generalized testing in Asian NSCLC patients.
Neutrophil elastase as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancers

Neutrophil elastase (NE), a serine protease secreted by neutrophils, contributes to the progression of cancers to enhance tumor invasion and metastasis. It has been well reported that the regions surrounding the colorectal cancerous tissues usually are decorated with increased accumulation or aggregation of neutrophils coupled with a higher deposition/expression of NE. Therefore, we hypothesized that an increased expressional level of NE in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may represent as one of putative biomarkers for CRC. The aim of this study was to evaluate and assure our hypothesis by measurements of the expressional level of NE in the sera and tissues from CRC patients. Moreover, we also proposed a potential therapeutic strategy by blocking enzymatic activity of NE using sivelestat to inhibit the progression of tumor developments. The infiltrated numbers of neutrophils from specimen tissues of CRC patients, and the secreted forms of NE in the sera were quantitatively measured and compared. To evaluate the serum NE as one of putative biomarkers of CRC patients, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was made to determine the cut-off value of NE in sera for assurance of CRC diagnosis. To evaluate NE as therapeutic target for CRC, sivelestat, a NE inhibitor, was used and administrated into the CRC xenografts. NE expression level coupled with tumor volume were measured and compared between the control and sivelestat-treated xenografts. We found that more infiltrated neutrophils and an increased NE expression were detected in the cancerous tissues compared to the normal tissues. The serum NE concentration in CRC patients was statistically higher than that in the healthy controls (0.56±0.08 μg/ml vs. 0.22±0.03ug/ml) (p<0.05), indicating that serum NE can potentially be a putative marker of CRC. To characterize the role of NE in tumorigenesis, the NE avtivity was detected in HCT-15-xenografts using in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Compare to normal mice, the amounts of active NE in xenografts are significantly higher than normal control animals. In the therapeutic characterizing studies, we found that sivelestat can inhibit tumor growth in the HCT-15-induced xenografts. This study suggests that NE is not only as a putative diagnostic biomarker of CRC, but also a potential therapeutic target for patients suffered with CRC.
What to Do about Missing Values in Time‐Series Cross‐Section Data

Applications of modern methods for analyzing data with missing values, based primarily on multiple imputation, have in the last half‐decade become common in American politics and political behavior. Scholars in this subset of political science have thus increasingly avoided the biases and inefficiencies caused by ad hoc methods like listwise deletion and best guess imputation. However, researchers in much of comparative politics and international relations, and others with similar data, have been unable to do the same because the best available imputation methods work poorly with the time‐series cross‐section data structures common in these fields. We attempt to rectify this situation with three related developments. First, we build a multiple imputation model that allows smooth time trends, shifts across cross‐sectional units, and correlations over time and space, resulting in far more accurate imputations. Second, we enable analysts to incorporate knowledge from area studies experts via priors on individual missing cell values, rather than on difficult‐to‐interpret model parameters. Third, because these tasks could not be accomplished within existing imputation algorithms, in that they cannot handle as many variables as needed even in the simpler cross‐sectional data for which they were designed, we also develop a new algorithm that substantially expands the range of computationally feasible data types and sizes for which multiple imputation can be used. These developments also make it possible to implement the methods introduced here in freely available open source software that is considerably more reliable than existing algorithms.
A Meta -Analyze on Mathematical Beliefs and Mathematical Performance of Iranian Students

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychological and societal factors on students’ mathematical performance and beliefs. A sample 440 girl' students of 9th grade were assessed on a questionnaire with 32 questions. The results indicate that psychological and societal factors such as parents’ degrees, jobs, income, attitudes towards mathematics and students’ attitudes toward mathematics, attention on mathematical lessons, beliefs about teachers' role on their mathematical understanding, beliefs about the effect of their try on mathematical performance had significant correlation with students’ mathematical performance and beliefs. These findings could help provide some practical implications for improving students’ mathematical performance
Mapping DSP applications on processor/coarse-grain reconfigurable array architectures

Results from mapping five real-world DSP applications on a system-on-chip that incorporates coarse-grain reconfigurable hardware with an instruction-set processor is presented. The reconfigurable logic is realized by a 2-dimensional array of processing elements. A mapping method for improving application's performance by accelerating critical software parts, called kernels, on the coarse-grain reconfigurable array is proposed. For mapping the detected kernels on the reconfigurable logic a priority-based mapping algorithm has been developed. Important overall application speedups, due to the kernels' acceleration, have been reported for the five applications. These overall performance improvements range from 1.27 to 3.07, with an average value of 2.16, relative to an all-software execution
Anticipating Experimental Risks Using Surveys

We introduce a survey instrument for anticipating otherwise-unforeseen risks resulting from research experiments. We present experiments hypothetically, then ask: \If someone you cared about were a candidate participant for this experiment, would you want that person to be included as a participant? " (Q1) and \Do you believe the researchers should be allowed to proceed with this experiment? " (Q2). Having honed this approach over multiple studies, and multiple years, we have aborted proposed studies due to survey respondents’ concerns. In this paper, we test this instrument by presenting ve past (real) experiments, posed as hypotheticals, to 3,539 workers on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. These experiments include Indiana University’s social phishing study, University of California’s ‘spamalytics’ study, and Facebook’s emotional contagion experiment. We reveal what researchers behind controversial experiments might have foreseen had our instrument been available to them prior to conducting their experiments.
A Canonical Space-Time State Space Model: State and Parameter Estimation

The maximum likelihood estimation of a dynamic spatiotemporal model is introduced, centred around the inclusion of a prior arbitrary spatiotemporal neighborhood description. The neighborhood description defines a specific parameterization of the state transition matrix, chosen on the basis of prior knowledge about the system. The model used is inspired by the spatiotemporal ARMA (STARMA) model, but the representation used is based on the standard state-space model. The inclusion of the neighborhood into an expectation-maximization based joint state and parameter estimation algorithm allows for accurate characterization of the spatiotemporal model. The process of including the neighborhood, and the effect it has on the maximum likelihood parameter estimate is described and demonstrated in this paper.
Why is there interethnic variation in the gender wage gap

A tape dispenser for applying paper lined electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive tape or foil on a flat surface for forming a part of an electrical alarm system. The dispenser includes a housing having a tape storage chamber in which is rotatably mounted a roll of paper lined pressure sensitive adhesive foil. The housing has an extension on the front side thereof through which the tape is dispensed. A pressure member is mounted on the housing extension over the point at which the tape is discharged from the housing extension, for use in pressing the tape on a flat surface as it is discharged from the dispenser. The dispenser includes means for stripping the paper liner from the foil as the foil is fed from the roll in the dispenser.
A global hierarchical Z space algorithm for cluster parallel graphics architectures

In this paper we present a new global hierarchical Z-space sort-last algorithm for cluster parallel graphics architectures that improves upon algorithms used so far for high performance super-graphics. The new algorithm bypasses limitations of sort-last tile based parallelization paradigms, and solves some known Z-space parallelization inefficiencies. The algorithm is implemented as a global hierarchical-Z system which allows GPUs to perform high frequency global intra-frame Z-culling and distributed final frame Z-determination. The new algorithm allows for full one-to-one process-GPU coupling with minimal inter-process and inter-GPU communications. This enables maximal input bandwidth, maximum GPU utilization levels, near optimal load balances and improved efficiency when scaled to larger configurations.
The Decline of Class Voting in Britain: Problems of Analysis and Interpretation

Social class has long been recognized as being the preeminent influence upon electoral choice in Britain, but recent studies provide support for the argument that it has become a weakened force. These studies differ only in the interpretation that they place on its decline. Through the simultaneous estimation of the effects on voting choice of class measured by occupation, and other variables, this article shows how one of the recent studies implied an overestimate of the declining importance of occupational class. Further it shows that when the indirect effects of class on party choice are taken into account, by means of causal modeling techniques, its preeminent position in determining voting choice in Britain can still be seen. The article seeks to clarify the nature of class-based voting behavior during a period of dramatic decline in this phenomenon, terminating at the last point at which traditional measures can reasonably be used.
Context Data Learner Model for Classroom and Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Nowadays technological advancement enables multiple education scenarios, like online learning and technology enhanced classroom learning. Both of these scenarios share a common level of knowledge about the learner and his or her learning preferences. This knowledge is limited and in most scenarios gathered via a learner survey. This situation limits system capability on delivering individualised learning experience as the learner sometimes is not able to define his or her learning style, actual preferences and other aspects. Learning session and learner context data enable more advanced adaptation in intelligent tutoring scenarios and deliver new analytical capabilities to the trainer in classroom learning. Learning context data can be captured via various means and from multiple data sources, like education institution systems and physical sensors. This paper proposes the learner context data model attributes identifies the data sources to fill this model and identifies possible techniques to enable this process automation.
Involvement of Protein Kinase Cδ/Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase/Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) Signaling Pathway in Histamine-induced Up-regulation of Histamine H1 Receptor Gene Expression in HeLa Cells*

The histamine H1 receptor (H1R) gene is up-regulated in patients with allergic rhinitis. However, the mechanism and reason underlying this up-regulation are still unknown. Recently, we reported that the H1R expression level is strongly correlated with the severity of allergic symptoms. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of this up-regulation will help to develop new anti-allergic drugs targeted for H1R gene expression. Here we studied the molecular mechanism of H1R up-regulation in HeLa cells that express H1R endogenously in response to histamine and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). In HeLa cells, histamine stimulation caused up-regulation of H1R gene expression. Rottlerin, a PKCδ-selective inhibitor, inhibited up-regulation of H1R gene expression, but Go6976, an inhibitor of Ca2+-dependent PKCs, did not. Histamine or PMA stimulation resulted in PKCδ phosphorylation at Tyr311 and Thr505. Activation of PKCδ by H2O2 resulted in H1R mRNA up-regulation. Overexpression of PKCδ enhanced up-regulation of H1R gene expression, and knockdown of the PKCδ gene suppressed this up-regulation. Histamine or PMA caused translocation PKCδ from the cytosol to the Golgi. U0126, an MEK inhibitor, and DPQ, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor, suppressed PMA-induced up-regulation of H1R gene expression. These results were confirmed by a luciferase assay using the H1R promoter. Phosphorylation of ERK and Raf-1 in response to PMA was also observed. However, real-time PCR analysis showed no inhibition of H1R mRNA up-regulation by a Raf-1 inhibitor. These results suggest the involvement of the PKCδ/ERK/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 signaling pathway in histamine- or PMA-induced up-regulation of H1R gene expression in HeLa cells.