Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Static and Dynamic Influences on Inmate Violence Levels

Inmate misconduct creates problems for other inmates as well as correctional staff. Most empirical assessments of the correlates of inmate misconduct have been conducted at the individual level; however, a facility's level of misconduct may be of equal importance to prison management and state officials because these numbers can reflect order, or lack thereof, within an institution. Prior prison research also has typically been cross-sectional and conducted at one time point. In this study, the relative contributions of facility-and state-level predictors of misconduct, considered elements of the social organization of a prison, are examined across two time points for 512 state-operated prisons housing adult men. Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings reveal that predictors such as the racial composition of the inmates and staff, measures of administrative control, and state-level factors have both static and dynamic effects on levels of violent misconduct.
β-Catenin Balances Immunity

Dendritic cells can limit responses to self antigens by activating the Wnt signaling pathway. The human immune system ensures protective responses against pathogen-associated antigens while ignoring the individual's own proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. This balance of tolerance to “self ” against immunity to “non-self ” is crucial because its failure can lead to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders when tolerance is insufficient, or to unresolved chronic infections and possibly cancer when tolerance is too robust. On page 849 in this issue, Manicassamy et al. (1) demonstrate that β-catenin signaling, well known for its role in development, is key to balancing tolerance and immunity through the control of dendritic cell (DC) function.
Premature senescence of cardiac fibroblasts and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation

Premature senescence is associated with atrial fibrosis and has an antifibrotic effect in mice. However, the role of senescence in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the association of premature senescence with fibrosis and also determined the role of senescence in the recurrence of AF after surgery ablation. Western blot, Sirius red staining, SA-β-gal staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the degree of atrial fibrosis ,the expression of TGF-β and collagens, and also the senescence markers in 72 tissue specimens of left atrial appendage in this study. Then the patients undergoing successful surgical ablation were followed up for 12 months. The expression of collagens and TGF-β was paralleled by a high level of atrial fibrosis and were increased in AF group, especially in the persistent AF group. Western blotting of P16 and SA-β-gal staining showed an increased premature senescence in the sinus rhythm, paroxysmal AF and persistent AF groups. In addition, positive area of senescence markers, SA-β-gal and P16, was correlated positively with fibrotic lesions. We also found a lower ratio of P16/TGF-β in patients with recurrence of AF than in patients without recurrent AF. In conclusion, premature senescence is associated with atrial fibrosis in AF, and may have an antifibrotic role in AF.
Using case studies in teaching accounting: a quasi-experimental study

The purpose of this study was to assess the advantages associated with using a case study in addition to traditional teaching techniques of accounting. The control group (n = 23) consisted of students who were taught process cost accounting using the traditional textbook approach. The experimental group (n = 38) was taught process cost accounting using the traditional textbook and the case study approach. One instructor taught both groups under essentially identical conditions two mornings per week. Additionally, there were no systematic biasing factors in terms of group characteristics. The results indicate that the experimental group demonstrated significant pre- to post-test improvement in essay exam performance compared to the control group. Both groups exhibited similar pre- to post-test performance on the problem and multiple choice questions.
Genome-wide characterization of RNA editing in chicken: lack of evidence for non-A-to-I events

RNA editing corresponds to a post-transcriptional nucleotide change in the RNA sequence, creating an alternative nucleotide, not present in the DNA sequence. This leads to a diversification of transcription products with potential functional consequences. Two nucleotide substitutions are mainly described in animals, from adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) and from cytidine to uridine (C-to-U). This phenomenon is more and more described in mammals, notably since the availability of next generation sequencing technologies allowing a whole genome screening of RNA-DNA differences. The number of studies recording RNA editing in other vertebrates like chicken are still limited. We chose to use high throughput sequencing technologies to search for RNA editing in chicken, to understand to what extent this phenomenon is conserved in vertebrates. We performed RNA and DNA sequencing from 8 embryos. Being aware of common pitfalls inherent to sequence analyses leading to false positive discovery, we stringently filtered our datasets and found less than 40 reliable candidates. Conservation of particular sites of RNA editing was attested by the presence of 3 edited sites previously detected in mammals. We then characterized editing levels for selected candidates in several tissues and at different time points, from 4.5 days of embryonic development to adults, and observed a clear tissue-specificity and a gradual editing level increase with time. By characterizing the RNA editing landscape in chicken, our results highlight the extent of evolutionary conservation of this phenomenon within vertebrates, and provide support of an absence of non A-to-I events from the chicken transcriptome.
Learner pregnancy – perceptions on its prevalence and the Child Support Grant (CSG) being the possible cause in South African secondary schools

Learner pregnancy has recently become a thorn in the flesh for most schools in South Africa, and documentary evidence shows that its prevalence is greater amongst Black public schools than White schools. Within its discourse, more often than not, the Child Support Grant (CSG) has featured prominently in the perceived increase in the pregnancy rate among learners. It is therefore essential for research to find an answer to the question: Are girl learners falling pregnant and having children in order to receive a CSG? A sample of 302 secondary school principals and 225 Grade 12 learners was used in this study. The study found that peer pressure, poverty and substance abuse are perceived as the primary causes of learner pregnancy. The study also reveals that the majority of school principals (62%) bemoan a lack of support and cooperation from both authorities and parents in dealing with this challenge. The majority of Grade 12 learners (92%) identified, among others, a lack of family support/love, substance abuse and promiscuity as the three key issues that require urgent attention. It is clear from the findings of this study that learner pregnancy is not linked to the CSG.
Prefrontal cortical up states are synchronized with ventral tegmental area activity

The innervation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has an important role in incentive‐motivation and cognitive functions. Although this projection has been extensively studied, the precise actions of its transmitters, dopamine (DA) and GABA, on PFC pyramidal neurons remain to be determined. We have recently shown that VTA stimulation elicits a sustained depolarization in PFC pyramidal neurons resembling the periodic depolarizations (up states) these neurons exhibit. This response was shortened by a D1 antagonist, suggesting that DA may sustain depolarized up states in PFC neurons. Here, we tested whether spontaneous PFC up states in vivo require spontaneous VTA activity. Intracellular recordings from PFC neurons conducted simultaneously with VTA local field potentials (LFPs) revealed PFC membrane potential fluctuations occurring synchronously with VTA field potential transitions. Extracellular PFC recordings performed simultaneously with VTA LFPs also indicated a high coherence between these two regions, with VTA oscillations trailing PFC oscillations by a few milliseconds. Furthermore, blockade of VTA activity with lidocaine transiently eliminated PFC LFPs, but not PFC cell up states; instead, up states became irregular during intra‐VTA lidocaine administration. These results suggest that baseline levels of VTA activity are necessary for synchronizing PFC pyramidal neurons in the up–down oscillations observed in the anesthetized preparation, allowing the emergence of slow EEG components. Synapse 52:143–152, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prescription OxyContin abuse among patients entering addiction treatment.

OBJECTIVE OxyContin and other pharmaceutical opioids have been given special attention in the media, who frequently describe problematic users of the drug as previously drug-naive individuals who become addicted following legitimate prescriptions for medical reasons. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature and origins of pharmaceutical opioid addiction among patients presenting at substance abuse treatment programs. METHOD The authors evaluated the prevalence and correlates of OxyContin use and abuse among a population of 27,816 subjects admitted to 157 addiction treatment programs in the United States from 2001-2004. The data collected included the lifetime and past 30-day use of OxyContin and other drugs prior to admission to addiction treatment, source of drug supply, and prior treatment history. RESULTS Approximately 5% of all subjects who were admitted to the 157 addiction treatment programs reported prior use of OxyContin. Of those subjects, 4.5% reported using the drug on a regular basis for at least 1 year, and 2% reported use of the drug during the 30 days prior to admission. Seventy-eight percent of subjects who reported OxyContin use also reported that the drug had not been prescribed to them for any medical reason, 86% reported use of the drug to "get high or get a buzz," and 78% reported receiving prior treatment for a substance use disorder. CONCLUSIONS The patients in this sample did not include individuals from private therapists or pain clinics. However, among treatment-seeking individuals who use OxyContin, the drug is most frequently obtained from nonmedical sources as part of a broader and longer-term pattern of multiple substance abuse.
VisageWeb: visualizing WWW data in Visage

VisageWeb is an information-centric user interface to the World Wide Web built within the Visage data visualization environment. This paper traces the development of the VisageWeb project, using it to motivate an exploration of how an information-centric architecture copes with new visualization challenges. We conclude with a presentation of the VisageWeb prototype itself.
Ablation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Abolishes Endothelin-Induced Increases in Afferent Renal Nerve Activity: Mechanisms and Functional Significance

Endothelin 1 (ET-1) and its receptors, ETA and ETB, play important roles in regulating renal function and blood pressure, and these components are expressed in sensory nerves. Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channels expressed in sensory nerves innervating the renal pelvis enhances afferent renal nerve activity (ARNA), diuresis, and natriuresis. We tested the hypothesis that ET-1 increases ARNA via activation of ETB, whereas ETA counterbalances ETB in wild-type (WT) but not TRPV1–null mutant mice. ET-1 alone or with BQ123, an ETA antagonist, perfused into the left renal pelvis increased ipsilateral ARNA in WT but not in TRPV1–null mutant mice, and ARNA increases were greater in the latter. [Ala1, 3,11,15]-endothelin 1, an ETB agonist, increased ARNA that was greater than that induced by ET-1 in WT mice only. [Ala1, 3,11,15]-endothelin 1–induced increases in ARNA were abolished by chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, but not by H89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. Chelerythrine, H89, and BQ788, an ETB antagonist, did not affect ARNA triggered by capsaicin in WT mice. Substance P release from the renal pelvis was increased by [Ala1, 3,11,15]-endothelin 1 in WT mice only, and the increase was abolished by chelerythrine but not by H89. Chelerythrine, H89, and BQ788 did not affect capsaicin-induced substance P release. Our data show that ET1 increases ARNA via activation of ETB, whereas ETA counterbalances ETB in WT but not in TRPV1-null mutant mice, suggesting that TRPV1 mediates ETB-dependent increases in ARNA, diuresis, and natriuresis possibly via the protein kinase C pathway.
Feature lifecycles as they spread, migrate, remain, and die in App Stores

We introduce a theoretical characterisation of feature lifecycles in app stores, to help app developers to identify trends and to find undiscovered requirements. To illustrate and motivate app feature lifecycle analysis, we use our theory to empirically analyse the migratory and non-migratory behaviours of 4,053 non-free features from two App Stores (Samsung and BlackBerry). The results reveal that, in both stores, intransitive features (those that neither migrate nor die out) exhibit significantly different behaviours with regard to important properties, such as their price. Further correlation analysis also highlights differences between trends relating price, rating, and popularity. Our results indicate that feature lifecycle analysis can yield insights that may also help developers to understand feature behaviours and attribute relationships.
Auto-evaluación previa a las prácticas de laboratorio químico: introducción al auto-aprendizaje

In this work a strategy to improve learning outcomes of laboratory sessions of a Chemistry subject of the Bachelor’s Degree in Rural and Agrifood Engineering is shown. In this experience the e-learning platform PoliformaT was used to propose timed pre-lab questionnaires to allow self-assessment of students before laboratory sessions, this allowed an increase in the preparation and the interest of the student on the performance of the laboratory session. The effectiveness of this strategy was established from the analysis of data collected during its application and also by means of an opinion call. It is noteworthy that these questionnaires have induced change of attitude among students, encouraging an active posture (and positive) towards the laboratory session.
Function and Regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ENA Sodium ATPase System

Despite the fact that sodium ions are necessary to assist in the function of specific macromolecules (65), for most eukaryotic cells an elevated intracellular concentration of sodium ions is deleterious, probably because they interfere with the correct functioning of certain cellular targets (83). Because of the abundance of sodium ions in natural environments, yeasts and many other eukaryotic cells have developed mechanisms to maintain a relatively low intracellular concentration of this cation and/or to sequester it into organelles. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model organism used very often for cation tolerance studies. In this organism, maintenance of intracellular low sodium when sodium is present in excess in the external medium relies heavily on the capacity to extrude the cation. This is achieved by two main extrusion mechanisms. The first one is an H/Na antiporter encoded by the NHA1 gene, which is able to extrude Na ,L i, and even K cations by exchange with protons, gaining biological significance at rather acidic external pHs (8, 73). The second is based on a P-type ATPase pump encoded by the ENA system, which is the subject of this review. Although both mechanisms are complementary, comparison of the phenotypes of strains lacking functional antiporter or ATPase genes suggests that under standard growth conditions, the ENA system is the major determinant for sodium detoxification. The importance of this efflux system is highlighted by the observation that it seems to be present in all fungi as well as in certain nonflowering plants, such as bryophytes. In addition, active research with S. cerevisiae has revealed a complex and sophisticated system of transcriptional regulation in response to specific environmental changes, which is the major issue of this review.
Race/Ethnicity, Nativity, and Infant Mortality in the United States

The overall purpose of this article is to examine population differences in the risk of infant mortality by race/ethnicity, with special attention given to the influence of nativity. Data are taken from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) linked birth! infant death files for 1989-91. Thesefiles cover virtually the entire nation, provide highly reliable data for relatively small racial/ethnic subpopulations, and have recently been updated to include new variables of interest. Results show that there is wide variation in the risk of infant death across racial/ethnic groups, with infants born to black women suffering the highest risks and infants oflapanese women experiencing the lowest risks. It is also clear that nativity has a crucial impact on racial/ethnic differentials in infant mortality. In fact, the favorable infant survival rates of many racial/ethnic gro ups are largely attributable to a high percentage of births to immigrant women, who are characterized by overall lower infant mortality than native-born women. Both the racial! ethnic differentials in mortality and the effect of nativity, in turn, are due to several sets offactors, the importance of which varies by race/ethnicity. Models of infant mortality estimated separately by race/ethnicity also revealed that the direction of effects for mortality riskfactors tends to be the same across groups, although the magnitudes vary. Thus, it is reasonable to assume thatgeneral efforts to lower infant mortality will have a beneficial impactfor all groups.
The Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder of complex etiology and is amongst the most heritable of neuropsychiatric disorders while sharing genetic liability with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability (ID). Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are defined more broadly and include autism, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition Revised (DSM-IVTR), these disorders are grouped together with Rett syndrome (“Rett’s disorder”) as pervasive developmental disorders. However, Rett syndrome has a reportedly distinct pathophysiology, clinical course, and diagnostic strategy (Levy & Schultz, 2009) and will likely be removed in the impending publication of DSM-V (APA, 2010). The new diagnostic manual will formally adopt the single diagnostic category “ASDs”, which is used here. Reported prevalence rates for ASDs range from 20 (Newschaffer et al. 2007) to 116 (Baird et al., 2006) per 10,000 children, and vary in accordance with diagnostic, sampling, and screening criteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that in the United States, the prevalence of ASDs is 1 in 110 (1/70 in boys and 1/315 in girls) (ADDM, 2009). The three primary characteristics of ASDs are communication impairments, social impairments, and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. The DSM-IVTR, ICD-10, and many other diagnostic instruments require impairment in each of these domains for a diagnosis of autistic disorder. Within the last decade, a number of major technological developments have transformed our understanding of the genetic causes of autism, and the field continues to evolve rapidly. In this chapter, we will review three approaches to identifying genetic factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of ASDs: 1) common variants and genome-wide association studies (GWAS); 2) rare variants and copy number variation (CNV) studies, and 3) familial forms of autism and the role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods. Data from all three approaches underscores the conclusion that autism is a highly complex and heterogeneous disorder, involving a multifactorial etiology. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly apparent that autism is not a unitary disorder, and that the spectrum may consist of any number of different autisms that share similar symptoms or phenotypes. This conclusion has important implications for evaluation and treatment, which are discussed in the conclusion.
Review article: Instructed second language vocabulary learning

This article overviews current research on second language vocabulary learning. It concludes that a large vocabulary is necessary to function in English: 8000—9000 word families for reading, and perhaps as many as 5000—7000 families for oral discourse. In addition, a number of word knowledge aspects need to be learned about each lexical item. Taken together, this amounts to a substantial lexical learning challenge, one which many/most learners fail to meet. To facilitate adequate vocabulary learning, four vocabulary learning partners (students, teachers, materials writers, and researchers) need to contribute to the learning process. Vocabulary learning programs need to include both an explicit, intentional learning component and a component based around maximizing exposure and incidental learning. The four learning strands (meaning-focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning, and fluency development) suggested by Nation (2001) provide a structure by which to integrate intentional and incidental vocabulary learning. The overriding principle for maximizing vocabulary learning is to increase the amount of engagement learners have with lexical items. All four learning partners need to acknowledge the incremental nature of vocabulary learning, and to develop learning programs which are principled, long-term, and which recognize the richness and scope of the lexical knowledge that needs to be mastered.
Necessary conditions for determining a robust time threshold in standard INFOSEC alert clustering algorithms

The standard INFOSEC alert clustering algorithms use a predetermined fixed time threshold for specifying the maximum duration over which new INFOSEC alerts can be added to existing alert clusters. Since these alert clusters are the basis of further alert correlation processing, an important question is can this time threshold be set robustly, in the sense that an optimal value can be found that is independent of the attackers' actions. In this work the necessary conditions for such a robust threshold to be determined are derived. That these conditions cannot be assumed to hold for operational real world deployments of alert clustering systems in large scale networks is then discussed.
Frugal energy innovations for developing countries – a framework

Frugal innovations have recently emerged to feature low‐cost technologies and business innovations to serve consumers in emerging markets and improve their quality of life. Although the concept of frugality is well known, the present literature on frugal energy innovations, or energy frugality, is scarce, which could lead to overlooking its true characteristics. Therefore, we propose a framework for defining energy frugality based on a detailed analysis of several low‐cost sustainable energy technologies. The five‐criteria assessment method developed will help to identify potential frugal energy innovations and will increase the adoption of these technologies through better matching to local needs. Fuel‐efficient biomass cooking stoves, small‐scale photovoltaic systems, and pico‐grids are examples of such frugal energy technologies.