Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) act as stop and go signals to modulate postnatal ocular growth in the chick.

Occlusion of the eye (form deprivation) during post-natal development leads to ocular enlargement and myopia. The chick model of form deprivation myopia (FDM) has been used to identify candidate factors that underly the control of ocular growth. The major biochemical change associated with eye enlargement is an increase in scleral cartilage proteoglycan production (Rada et al., 1991) which is reduced in recovering eyes. Thus increasing evidence suggests that in the chicken eye, two different signals are involved, one for stop (occluder off) and one for go (occluder on). Because transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are known to act in a push-pull manner in regulating extracellular matrix, their possible roles in FDM were tested. Chicks were occluded monocularly for 8 days, after which axial dimensions were assessed using A-scan ultrasonography, and refractive errors using streak retinoscopy. Under light halothane anesthesia, the control group received daily vehicle injections into both eyes whereas the experimental groups were treated with growth factors in the occluded eye and vehicle in the unoccluded eye. It was shown that: (1) bFGF reduced FDM in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% effective dose (ED50) of 1.05 and 1.67 ng for subconjunctival and intravitreal delivery, respectively. Both axial eye length and refraction were similarly affected. The effects were mainly confined to a decrease in vitreous chamber depth. The anterior chamber was less deep but only after intravitreal injections, whereas lens thickness was not affected at all. At maximum effect, after subconjunctival applications the bFGF-treated occluded eyes were only 0.09 +/- 0.16 mm longer than controls, which corresponded to a refractive error of -0.67 +/- 0.82 diopters (D), whereas after intravitreal applications the difference in axial eye length was -0.07 +/- 0.19 mm, corresponding to -0.3 +/- 0.52 D. (2) This effect could be mimicked by aFGF, but with a potency approximately 160 times less than that of bFGF. The aFGF rescue effect could only be demonstrated for subconjunctival delivery; high intravitreal doses (> or = 300 ng per injection) induced retinal detachment and photoreceptor degeneration, while doses of aFGF close to the ED50 for bFGF (3 ng per injection) were completely ineffective. (3) TGF-beta 1 was not found to induce myopia in unoccluded eyes, or to increase myopia in occluded eyes. It was, however, a potent inhibitor of the bFGF rescue effect, if administered together with bFGF in the subconjunctival space. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Islet-1 promotes the cardiac-specific differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through the regulation of histone acetylation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Islet-1 on the process of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation into cardiomyocyte-like cells and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved. Lentiviral vectors expressing Islet-1 (Lenti-Islet-1) were constructed and used for C3H10T1/2 cell transfection. Cell morphology was observed. Cardiac-related genes and proteins were detected by qPCR and western blot analysis. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was used as an inhibitor of acetylated histone H3 (AcH3). AcH3 was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Cells overexpressing Islet-1 tended to change into fibroblast-like cells and were arranged in the same direction. The enhanced expression of GATA binding protein 4 (Gata4), NK2 homeobox 5 (Nkx2.5), myocyte enhancer factor 2C (Mef2c) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was observed in the cells overexpressing Islet-1 following transfection with Lenti-Islet-1. However, the expression of hepatocyte-, bone- and neuronal-specific markers was not affected by Islet-1. The AcH3 relative amount increased following transfection with Lenti-Islet-1, which was associated with the enhanced expression of Gata4, Nkx2.5 and Mef2c in these cells. The expression of Gata4, Nkx2.5 and Mef2c in the C3H10T1/2 cells transfected with Lenti-Islet-1 and treated with EGCG was reduced following treatment with EGCG. The data presented in this study indicate that Islet-1 specifically induces the differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells, and one of the mechanisms involved is the regulation of histone acetylation.
Quantitative Reevaluation of the Redox Active Sites of Crystalline Bovine Heart Cytochrome c Oxidase*

Approximately 30% of the iron contained in a bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase preparation was removed by crystallization, giving a molecular extinction coefficient 1.25–1.4 times higher than those reported thus far. Six electron equivalents provided by dithionite were required for complete reduction of the crystalline cytochrome c oxidase preparation. The fully reduced enzyme was oxidized with 4 oxidation equivalents provided by molecular oxygen, giving an absorption spectrum slightly, but significantly, different from that of the original fully oxidized form. Four electron equivalents were required for complete reduction of the O2-oxidized enzyme. The O2-oxidized form, when exposed to excess amounts of O2, was converted to the original oxidized form which required 6 electrons for complete reduction. A slow reduction of the O2-oxidized form without any external reductant added indicates the existence of internal electron donors for heme irons in the enzyme. These results suggest that the 2 extra oxidation equivalents in the original oxidized form, compared with the O2-oxidized form, are due to a bound peroxide produced by O2 and electrons from the internal donors, consistently with a peroxide at the O2 reduction site in the crystal structure of the enzyme (Yoshikawa, S., Shinzawa-Itoh, K., Nakashima, R., Yaono, R., Yamashita, E., Inoue, N., Yao, M., Fei, M. J., Peters Libeu, C., Mizushima, T., Yamaguchi, H., Tomizaki, T., and Tsukihara, T. (1998)Science 280, 1723–1729).
Teaching under the new Taylorism: high‐stakes testing and the standardization of the 21st century curriculum

The application of the principles of scientific management within the structure, organization, and curriculum of public schools in the US became dominant during the early 1900s. Based upon research evidence from the modern day era of high‐stakes testing in US public education, the fundamental logics guiding scientific management have resurfaced 100 years later, as teachers’ classroom practises are increasingly standardized by high‐stakes testing and scripted curriculum. As such, this paper offers a critical analysis of the changes made to teaching in modern times and argues that public school teachers in the US are teaching under what might be considered the ‘New Taylorism’, where their labour is controlled vis‐à‐vis high‐stakes testing and pre‐packaged, corporate curricula aimed specifically at teaching to the tests.
Motricité, fonctions manducatrices et réflexes de la mâchoire (1ère partie)

Les fonctions de l’appareil manducateur et cervicales connexes integrent les activites reflexes (de nature segmentaire), automatiques (par exemple, mastication et deglutition commandees par les generateurs centraux de rythme – de nature segmentaire – et le cerveau), et volontaires/motivees (d’origine corticale). De plus, il existe des coordinations intersegmentaires qui a priori recourent a des interneurones internucleaires. Les regulations sensorimotrices sont de type soit retroactive (feed-back) soit anticipatoire (feed-forward). Dans les conditions physiologiques, deux strategies motrices sont possibles : soit l’inhibition reciproque, soit la co-activation agoniste/antagoniste. Dans les troubles musculo-squelettiques, la co-activation agoniste/antagoniste predomine et les regulations semblent peu efficaces. Au niveau de l’appareil manducateur, on connait trois reflexes fondamentaux : le reflexe de fermeture de la bouche (homologue du reflexe myotatique des extenseurs locomoteurs), le reflexe d’ouverture de la bouche (homologue du reflexe de flexion des membres) et le reflexe de decharge de la mâchoire. Le reflexe myotatique inverse trigeminal existe peut-etre, mais ses circuits centraux sont inconnus. La modulation des reflexes signifie qu’ils ne sont pas stereotypes et que leur gain varie au cours de la tâche. Ils sont modules par des controles segmentaires et/ou suprasegmentaires. Ainsi, en presence de douleurs orofaciales chroniques, le reflexe myotatique masseterin est inhibe ou inchange.
Increasing protein stability by altering long‐range coulombic interactions

It is difficult to increase protein stability by adding hydrogen bonds or burying nonpolar surface. The results described here show that reversing the charge on a side chain on the surface of a protein is a useful way of increasing stability. Ribonuclease T1 is an acidic protein with a pI ≈︁ 3.5 and a net charge of ≈︁ –6 at pH 7. The side chain of Asp49 is hyperexposed, not hydrogen bonded, and 8 Å from the nearest charged group. The stability of Asp49Ala is 0.5 kcal/mol greater than wild‐type at pH 7 and 0.4 kcal/mol less at pH 2.5. The stability of Asp49His is 1.1 kcal/mol greater than wild‐type at pH 6, where the histidine 49 side chain (pKa = 7.2) is positively charged. Similar results were obtained with ribonuclease Sa where Asp25Lys is 0.9 kcal/mol and Glu74Lys is 1.1 kcal/mol more stable than the wild‐type enzyme. These results suggest that protein stability can be increased by improving the coulombic interactions among charged groups on the protein surface. In addition, the stability of RNase T1 decreases as more hydrophobic aromatic residues are substituted for Ala49, indicating a reverse hydrophobic effect.
COURTSHIP BY SUBORDINATE MALE SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH, BETTA SPLENDENS: THEIR RESPONSE TO EAVESDROPPING AND NAÏVE FEMALES

[In a social environment, a communication signal may provide information to individuals other than those interacting with the signaler. Eavesdropping is gathering information without being directly involved in the communication interaction. Female Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens , choose the winner of male-male aggressive interactions based upon information she extracts from eavesdropping. Naive females, those that have not witnessed the interaction, show no consistent preference for either male. This suggests that losers would be more successful in courting a naive female. We conducted two sets of trials: one set tested the losers' courting preference of eavesdropping females or naive females whereas the other tested the winners' courting preference. We found that losers displayed gill cover erection, a courting behaviour, significantly more towards the naive female than towards the eavesdropping female whereas the winner showed no preference. These results suggest that male B. splendens can moderate their response to an audience in ways more complex than previously appreciated. Our data support the suggestion that communication can serve as a network that reaches beyond the immediate signaler and receiver. Understanding the complexity of communication networks will enable us to broaden our ideas about the mechanisms of sexual selection. , In a social environment, a communication signal may provide information to individuals other than those interacting with the signaler. Eavesdropping is gathering information without being directly involved in the communication interaction. Female Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens , choose the winner of male-male aggressive interactions based upon information she extracts from eavesdropping. Naive females, those that have not witnessed the interaction, show no consistent preference for either male. This suggests that losers would be more successful in courting a naive female. We conducted two sets of trials: one set tested the losers' courting preference of eavesdropping females or naive females whereas the other tested the winners' courting preference. We found that losers displayed gill cover erection, a courting behaviour, significantly more towards the naive female than towards the eavesdropping female whereas the winner showed no preference. These results suggest that male B. splendens can moderate their response to an audience in ways more complex than previously appreciated. Our data support the suggestion that communication can serve as a network that reaches beyond the immediate signaler and receiver. Understanding the complexity of communication networks will enable us to broaden our ideas about the mechanisms of sexual selection. ]
The case for smartwatch-based diet monitoring

We explore the use of gesture recognition on a wrist-worn smartwatch as an enabler of an automated eating activity (and diet monitoring) system. We show, using small-scale user studies, how it is possible to use the accelerometer and gyroscope data from a smartwatch to accurately separate eating episodes from similar non-eating activities, and to additionally identify the mode of eating (i.e., using a spoon, bare hands or chopsticks). Additionally, we investigate the likelihood of automatically triggering the smartwatch's camera to capture clear images of the food being consumed, for possible offline analysis to identify what (and how much) the user is eating. Our results show both the promise and challenges of this vision: while opportune moments for capturing such useful images almost always exist in an eating episode, significant further work is needed to both (a) correctly identify the appropriate instant when the camera should be triggered and (b) reliably identify the type of food via automated analyses of such images.
Synthesis of Guanidinopyrimidine Derivatives and Their Biological Activities

Present paper deals with the synthesis of guanidinopyrimidine derivatives from substituted-biguanides, and with thier biological activities. 2-Arylguanidino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine derivatives had stronger herbicidal activity than 2-alkylguanidines. Espec ia l ly , 2-phenethylguanidino-4,6_dimethylpyrimidine inhib i ted a lmost the growth of radish roots at the concentration of 50 ppm, while at the concentration of 10 ppm it stimulated the growth of radish roots remarkably. For the molting of housefly there were no strikingly effective compounds. However, 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine derivatives made the pupation delay, e x c e p t 2-morpholinoguanidino-4,6_dimethylpyrimidine. O n the other hand, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-derivatives seemed to accelerate it.
What we know about men who download child abuse images

Purpose – This review aims to focus on men who access, download, and circulate child abuse images across the internet as the most frequently occurring type of internet sex offender.Design/methodology/approach – Some of the misconceptions associated with this behaviour are outlined and the extent to which internet offenders display some of the criminogenic factors thought to be associated with the multi‐factorial theories of sexual offending are reviewed.Findings – One conclusion from this is paper is the general impression that internet offenders show many of the characteristics of paedophiles. Their theoretical importance is that they appear to be “desisters” from acting out their sexual interest in children by hands‐on offending.Originality/value – It is argued that there is a need for more research to stimulate our understanding of this type of offender. Furthermore, what of those who both download material and offend directly against children? They present a dilemma for the literature as some research.
The Effects of Maternal Welfare Receipt on Children’s Development

Over the past 25 years, welfare and other public policies for families living below the poverty line have developed a primary objective of promoting parents’ self-sufficiency. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), passed in 1996, was a milestone in this effort, limiting the number of years that families can receive federal cash welfare assistance and requiring most of them to participate in work-related activities to be eligible for such assistance. This new emphasis on work was one of the main reasons for the dramatic decline in welfare dependency during the late 1990s. The new legislation, however, also prompted an extensive debate over the effects of welfare reform on the cognitive development and well-being of children. [excerpt]
Living up to the past? Ideological sensemaking in organizational transition

This article builds upon archival and oral-history research on organizational change at Procter & Gamble from 1930 to 2000, focusing on periods of transition. It examines historical narrative as a vehicle for ideological sensemaking by top managers. Our empirical analysis sheds light on continuities in the narratives they offer, through which the past emerges as a recurrent lever of strategic manoeuvres and re-orientations. This reveals that while organizational history is sometimes regarded as a strategic asset or intrinsic part of collective memory, it is also re-enacted as a shared heritage, implying responsibilities. Executives (re)interpret the past and author the future, maintaining the historical narrative while using interpellation to ensure ideological consistency over time. The interpellative power of rhetorical narrative helps to recast organizational members as participants in an ongoing drama. In this way executives claim their legitimate right to initiate and manage organizational transition.
(1, T) policy for a Two-echelon Inventory System with Perishable- on-the-Shelf Items

This paper deals with an inventory system with one central warehouse and a number of identical retailers. We consider perishable-on-theshelf items; that is, all items have a fixed shelf life and start to age on their arrival at the retailers. Each retailer faces Poisson demand and employs (1, T) inventory policy. Although demand not met at a retailer is lost, the unsatisfied demand at the central warehouse is backordered. In this study, the long-run system total cost rate is derived. Moreover, a proposition is proved to define a domain for the optimal solution. Also, a search algorithm is presented to obtain this solution. Further, we extend the existent paper of the well-known (S-1, S) policy to cope with our considered model. Finally, in a numerical study, we compare (1, T) policy with (S-1, S) policy in terms of system total cost. The results reveal that when transportation time from the central warehouse to the retailers is long, the (1, T) policy outperforms the (S-1, S) policy.
From notions of charity to social justice in service-learning: The complex experience of communities

Due to increasing popularity and widespread adoption service-learning is in danger of becoming a technical practice with a ‘charity’ oriented form of engagement with communities. The purpose of the current study was to explore a more ‘justice’ oriented approach to researching the effect of service-learning on the communities that serve as sites for this form of curriculum. This was attempted through, firstly, developing an understanding of how two communities (learners and schools) experienced a service learning programme run as a psychology module at the University of KwaZulu Natal, and secondly, exploring what the use of participatory techniques might be in service-learning research. The results revealed that participatory approaches to research with communities may be more suited to the complex context of service-learning than traditional nonparticipatory approaches. The effect of service-learning on the communities involved in the research revealed that practitioners need to move beyond notions of ‘be.
An analysis of County Sports Partnerships in England: the fragility, challenges and complexity of partnership working in sports development

The management, use and reliance upon multi-agency partnerships in the field of public sector sports development became increasingly important following the election of the ‘New’ Labour government in 1997. In this study one example of a multi-agency partnership – County Sports Partnership (CSP) – will be examined through a case study analysis of four CSPs in the East Midlands region of England. A review of the theoretical and conceptual literature around partnership working will inform an appraisal of the impact of CSP arrangements in this region. The theoretical framework of partnership dynamics is utilized to explore the reality of partnership working in sports development in conjunction with the findings of four in-depth interviews that were conducted with Chief Executive Officers and senior managers in each of the CSP regions. In particular, consideration will be given to the potential implications and issues of ‘working in partnership’ for public sector sports development officers and managers who negotiate the complex and challenging policy environment surrounding multi-agency working in sport. The key findings of the research include the extent to which there appears to be a misunderstanding of the CSP role amongst some CSP partner agencies; the fragility of partnership working; the importance of relationship management; and the complex shifting politics of sports development policy.
Tyre effective radius and vehicle velocity estimation: A variable structure observer solution

This paper proposes an application of a variable structure observer for wheel effective radius and velocity of automotive vehicles. This observer is based on high order sliding approach allowing robustness and finite time convergence. Its originality consists in assuming a nonlinear relation between the slip ratio and the friction coefficient and providing an estimation of both variables, wheel radius and vehicle velocity, from measurement of wheel angular velocity and torque. These signals being available on major modern vehicle CAN (Controller Area Network) buses, this system does not require additional sensors. A simulation example is given to illustrate the relevance of this approach.
Structure and Physical Behavior of Thermotropic Polybutadiene-diols with Mesogenic Groups in the Side Chains

Liquid-crystalline polybutadiene-diols (LCPBD's) with the comb-like architecture were synthesized by reaction of the LC thiol with the double bonds of the telechelic OH-terminated polybutadiene (PBD). LCPBD's with various initial molar ratios of thiol to double bonds of PBD (or monomers in PBD), R0, in the range from 0.15 to 1, were prepared by the radical reaction at temperature 60 °C for 48 h. The experimentally obtained degree of modification, Re, after the reaction and purification, was determined from elemental analysis - from the amount of sulfur bounded in LCPBD's. The physical properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. With increasing Re ratio the glass transition temperature of LCPBD's, Tg, increases from -44 °C (neat PBD) to 15 °C (Re ∼0.5). LC transition starts at Re ∼0.25 (the transition temperature Tm ∼29 °C). With increasing Re temperature Tm increases and for Re∼0.5 reaches the value Tm ∼58 °C; at the same time also the change in enthalpy at LC transition increases. The LC transitions could be detected also by dynamic mechanical spectroscopy.