Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Noncompliance with Juvenile Court Supervision

Determination of whether a youth is compliant with the conditions of probation and, if not, how to ensure future compliance is an important intermediate stage in juvenile court decision making. Yet, little is known about the conditions under which noncompliance is or is not documented in the youth's file, what happens to noncompliant youth, and whether documentation of noncompliance is influenced by race and class. Probation officers necessarily make recommendations based on incomplete knowledge, the very circumstances under which research has demonstrated that racial biases are most likely to surface. The authors analyze juvenile court data to examine whether and how documentation of noncompliance is affected by race, ethnicity, and class. Logistic regression demonstrates that black youth and youth from poorer neighborhoods are especially likely to have noncompliance documented. Content analysis of court social files clarifies further how race, class, family structure, and family circumstances affect officials' assessments of youth.
The role of the gut in insect chilling injury: cold-induced disruption of osmoregulation in the fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus

SUMMARY To predict the effects of changing climates on insect distribution and abundance, a clear understanding of the mechanisms that underlie critical thermal limits is required. In insects, the loss of muscle function and onset of cold-induced injury has previously been correlated with a loss of muscle resting potential. To determine the cause of this loss of function, we measured the effects of cold exposure on ion and water homeostasis in muscle tissue, hemolymph and the alimentary canal of the fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, during an exposure to 0°C that caused chilling injury and death. Low temperature exposure had little effect on muscle osmotic balance but it dissipated muscle ion equilibrium potentials through interactions between the hemolymph and gut. Hemolymph volume declined by 84% during cold exposure whereas gut water content rose in a comparable manner. This rise in water content was driven by a failure to maintain osmotic equilibrium across the gut wall, which resulted in considerable migration of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ into the alimentary canal during cold exposure. This loss of homeostasis is likely to be a primary mechanism driving the cold-induced loss of muscle excitability and progression of chilling injury in chill-susceptible insect species.
Structure-based design of mutant Methanococcus jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase for incorporation of O-methyl-l-tyrosine

Although incorporation of amino acid analogs provides a powerful means of producing new protein structures with interesting functions, many amino acid analogs cannot be incorporated easily by using the wild-type aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS). To be able to incorporate specific amino acid analogs site-specifically, it is useful to build a mutant aaRS that preferentially activates the analog compared with the natural amino acids. Experimental combinatorial studies to find such mutant aaRSs have been successful but can easily become costly and time-consuming. In this article, we describe the clash opportunity progressive (COP) computational method for designing a mutant aaRS to preferentially take up the analog compared with the natural amino acids. To illustrate this COP procedure, we apply it to the design of mutant Methanococcus jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (M.jann-TyrRS). Because the three-dimensional structure for M.jann-TyrRS was not available, we used the STRUCTFAST homology modeling procedure plus molecular dynamics with continuum solvent forces to predict the structure of wild-type M.jann-TyrRS. We validate this structure by predicting the binding site for tyrosine and calculating the binding energies of the 20 natural amino acids, which shows that tyrosine binds the strongest. With the COP design algorithm we then designed a mutant tyrosyl tRNA synthetase to activate O-methyl-l-tyrosine preferentially compared with l-tyrosine. This mutant [Y32Q, D158A] is similar to the mutant designed with combinatorial experiments, [Y32Q, D158A, E107T, L162P], by Wang et al. [Wang, L. , Brock, A. , Herberich, B. & Schultz, P. G. (2001) Science 292, 498–500]. We predict that the new one will have much greater activity while retaining significant discrimination between O-methyl-l-tyrosine and tyrosine.
The politics of ESOL (English for speakers of other languages): implications for citizenship and social justice

A number of countries in Europe, including the UK, have adopted language and citizenship tests or courses as a requirement for granting citizenship to immigrants. To acquire citizenship, immigrants to the UK must pass a test on British society and culture, or demonstrate progress in the English language. For those with an insufficient command of the language, there is the option in the UK of taking an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) with citizenship course. These language and citizenship tests and courses are seen by governments as a way of encouraging immigrants to develop the competences believed necessary for social integration. Equally, these are seen as a means for immigrants to demonstrate their willingness to integrate. However, two types of criticisms have been made against compulsory tests and language programmes. The first questions the need for these. The second focuses on whether they are a genuine contribution to preparation for citizenship or whether these, in effect, constitute a gatekeeping mechanism, or otherwise lead to social injustice; related to this is the question of whether the emphasis on language as defining of nationhood and citizenship is a move away from multiculturalism towards a policy of assimilation. In addition, there are issues relating to funding. This paper presents the results of a study of a ‘skills for life’ ESOL course at a community college in London that is specifically intended to help immigrants seeking to qualify for British citizenship. An interview was carried out with staff involved in ESOL at the college, and a focus group discussion was conducted with a student group. The aim of the paper is to provide an account of the experiences of the students in the light of the criticisms that have made against compulsory tests and language programmes. We also examine the impact of policy changes, including funding cuts, on the college and students. Although we found the language and citizenship class to be a positive experience, we note inconsistencies and contradictions in policies and discourses around language.
A Non-uniform Quantizing Approach to Protect Biometric Templates

In this paper, a novel methodology to achieve the security of the biometric templates in biometric systems is proposed. An adaptive non-uniform quantization (ANUQ) algorithm is introduced to eliminate the contradiction between the fuzziness of the biometric information and the sensitive of the Hash function. The ANUQ algorithm maps different biometric feature vectors from the same individual to a unique quantized feature vector. Then the quantized feature vector can be saved and identified by its hash. A biometric template protection scheme is designed which avoids the storage of users¿ biometric templates, and further reduce the risk of losing of users¿ sensitive information. Simulations on an iris recognition algorithm show the feasibility of this method.
Viewpoint Paper: Who are the Informaticians? What We Know and Should Know

The beginning of the 21st century has seen a surge in interest and enthusiasm for health care information technology based on its ability to demonstrate improvements in the quality, safety, and cost-efficiency of health care. One question, however, for which we have fewer answers is "who will be the individuals that develop, implement, and evaluate these systems? " In particular, while most attention has been paid to the exemplar leaders in health information technology, less has been focused on the issue of the workforce necessary to sustain the systems to achieve their vision. The discipline of medical informatics must pay sufficient attention to the professional workforce that will deploy systems outside the informatics research setting so their benefits may more widely accrue.
AN ANOMALOUS HYBRID ZONE IN DROSOPHILA

Abstract Despite the genetic tractability of many of Drosophila species, the genus has few examples of the “classic” type of hybrid zone, in which the ranges of two species overlap with a gradual transition from one species to another through an area where hybrids are produced. Here we describe a classic hybrid zone in Drosophila that involves two sister species, Drosophila yakuba and D. santomea, on the island of São Tomé. Our transect of this zone has yielded several surprising and anomalous findings. First, we detected the presence of an additional hybrid zone largely outside the range of both parental species. This phenomenon is, to our knowledge, unique among animals. Second, the genetic analysis using diagnostic molecular markers of the flies collected in this anomalous hybrid zone indicates that nearly all hybrid males are F1s that carry the D. santomea X chromosome. This F1 genotype is much more difficult to produce in the laboratory compared to the genotype from the reciprocal cross, showing that sexual isolation as seen in the laboratory is insufficient to explain the genotypes of hybrids found in the wild. Third, there is a puzzling absence of hybrid females. We suggest several tentative explanations for the anomalies associated with this hybrid zone, but for the present they remain a mystery.
Performances analysis of a coupled differential oscillators network using the contour graph approach

The beamforming allowing the angle control for transmitted and received signals, is one of the most important challenge for the next generation of radio communication systems. Indeed a key point for the development of radio communication systems is to propose an electronic system associated with an antenna array architecture able to orientate the communications in the best direction. For this, magnitude and phase ponderations have to be applied on each antenna to assume the beamforming. Among the different solutions we find multi antenna arrays, which can be controlled by using oscillator arrays. In this context, this paper presents performances analysis in terms of sensitivity of the phase shift for different components of differential oscillators using the contour graph approach.
The impact of online music services on the demand for stars in the music industry

The music industry's business model is to produce stars. In order to do so, musicians producing music that fits into well defined clusters of factors explaining the demand of the majority of music consumers are disproportionately promoted. This leads to a limitation of available diversity and therefore of a limitation of the end user's benefit from listening to music. This paper analyses online music consumer's needs and preferences. These factors are used in order to explain the demand for stars and the impact of different online music services on promoting a more diverse music market.
Two cases of non-haematological cause of fetal hydrops in at-risk pregnancies for homozygous α0-thalassemia

In recent years, sonography has been successfully used as an alternative method for prenatal detection of Hb Bart's disease in areas with high prevalence of α-thalassemia. We present two cases in which the fetuses demonstrated signs of Hb Bart's disease by sonography, however, invasive procedures could not confirm it. We recommend that, in prenatal diagnosis of Hb Bart's disease by sonography, the diagnosis should always be confirmed with definitive methods to exclude false-positive findings.
Novel Mitogenic Effect of Adenosine on Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells: Role for the A1 Adenosine Receptor

Adenosine is a vascular endothelial cell mitogen, but anti-mitogenic for aortic smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts when acting via the A2B adenosine receptor. However, we show that adenosine increases porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cell (CASMC) number, cellular DNA content, protein synthesis, and PCNA staining. RT-PCR analysis indicates that porcine CASMC express A1, A2A, A3, and barely detectable levels of A2B receptor mRNAs. The mitogenic effect of adenosine is mimicked by NECA, CCPA, and R-PIA, but not by CGS21680 and 2-Cl-IB-MECA, and is inhibited by DPCPX, indicating a prominent role for the A1 receptor. This interpretation is supported by the finding that adenosine- and CCPA-induced DNA synthesis is significantly inhibited by pertussis toxin, but substantially potentiated by PD81723, an allosteric enhancer of the A1 receptor. When a cDNA encoding the porcine A1 receptor was cloned and expressed in COS-1 cells, A1 receptor pharmacology is confirmed. Anti-sense oligonucleotides to the cloned sequence dramatically suppress the mitogenic effect of adenosine and CCPA. Conversely, over-expression of the cloned A1 receptor in CASMC increases adenosine- and CCPA-induced DNA synthesis. Furthermore, stimulation with adenosine or CCPA of intact coronary arteries in an organ culture model of vascular disease increases cellular DNA synthesis, which was abolished by DPCPX. We conclude that adenosine acts as a novel mitogen in porcine CASMC that express the A1 adenosine receptor, possibly contributing to the development of coronary artery disease.
Volume visualization for out-of-core 3D images based on semi-adaptive partitioning

Volume rendering techniques have been used widely for high quality visualization of 3D datasets, especially 3D images. However, when rendering very large (out-of-core) datasets, some traditional in-core volume rendering algorithms do not work due to the impossibility of fitting the entire input data in the main memory of a computer. Their simple out-of-core versions do not perform well either because of the slow speed external memory access overhead. In order to solve this problem, a semi-adaptive partitioning strategy and an efficient out-of-core volume rendering method based on it are proposed in this paper. By this new partitioning strategy, the out-of-core dataset is divided into small sub-blocks in different sizes, which are organized by a BSP tree. Each sub-block can be loaded into the fast texture memory of the graphics hardware and be rendered by certain volume rendering algorithm based on 3D texture. Then the final result is obtained by composing the projection images of all the sub-blocks from back to front after traveling the BSP tree according to the viewpoint position. The experimental results indicate that the new method is effective and efficient for the volume visualization of out-of-core 3D images.
Characterization of Four Lectin-Like Receptor Kinases Expressed in Roots of Medicago truncatula. Structure, Location, Regulation of Expression, and Potential Role in the Symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti1

To study the role of LecRK (lectin-like receptor kinase) genes in the legumerhizobia symbiosis, we have characterized the four Medicago truncatula Gaernt. LecRK genes that are most highly expressed in roots. Three of these genes, MtLecRK7;1, MtLecRK7;2, and MtLecRK7;3, encode proteins most closely related to the Class A LecRKs of Arabidopsis, whereas the protein encoded by the fourth gene, MtLecRK1;1, is most similar to a Class B Arabidopsis LecRK. All four genes show a strongly enhanced root expression, and detailed studies on MtLecRK1;1 and MtLecRK7;2 revealed that the levels of their mRNAs are increased by nitrogen starvation and transiently repressed after either rhizobial inoculation or addition of lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factors. Studies of the MtLecRK1;1 and MtLecRK7;2 proteins, using green fluorescent protein fusions in transgenic M. truncatula roots, revealed that they are located in the plasma membrane and that their central transmembrane-spanning helix is required for correct sorting. Moreover, their lectin-like domains appear to be highly glycosylated. Of the four proteins, only MtLecRK1;1 shows a high conservation of key residues implicated in monosaccharide binding, and molecular modeling revealed that this protein may be capable of interacting with Nod factors. However, no increase in Nod factor binding was found in roots overexpressing a fusion in which the kinase domain of this protein had been replaced with green fluorescent protein. Roots expressing this fusion protein however showed an increase in nodule number, suggesting that expression of MtLecRK1;1 influences nodulation. The potential role of LecRKs in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is discussed.
On the action of oxygen at low and high pressure upon the corneal endothelium

A PAPER published by me some years ago' dealt with a series of observations made on the effects of oxygen at low pressure on the endothelium of the cornea In another paper shortly to be published in the Journal de Physiologie et de Path. g6n. is described a second series of observations on the effects, on the same tissue, of oxvygen at high pressure. In the present paper I desire to indicate a relation which might exist between these two series, and to propose an interpretation for it. Concerning the effects of oxygen at low pressure the following facts were observed: (1) If the entire enucleated eyeball of the rabbit, with its epithelium scraped off, is placed in an atmosphere of moist air at 350 C. it is observed that, after 15 hours, the endothelium which covers the posterior surface of the cornea is still living over the entire surface2 (Fig. 1). (2) If, instead of being exposed to ordinary air, the eyeball is placed in a mixture of 1 part air and 14 parts hydrogen, which is equivalent to air rarefied to -6, the endothelium, after the same length of time, is seen to be dead over the entire surface (Fig. 4). The same result is obtained with pure hydrogen.
Comparison of stroke features and disability in daily life in patients with ischemic stroke aged 55 to 70 and 71 to 85 years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study compared stroke features and poststroke disability in two age groups of patients with ischemic stroke: younger (55 to 70 years) and older (71 to 85 years). Stroke has an impact on daily living in many areas, but whether risk factors, stroke features, and poststroke disability differ between young and old patients with stroke is not so well established. METHODS A cohort of 486 ischemic stroke patients aged 55 to 85 years admitted consecutively to the Helsinki University Central Hospital (Finland) between December 1, 1993, and March 31, 1995, were examined 3 months after the index stroke. Structured medical, neurological, and radiological (MRI or CT) examinations, mental status, and emotional examination and interview of a close informant were done. Prestroke and poststroke activities of daily living were assessed with five scales: the Index of ADL, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Functional Activities Questionnaire, Blessed Functional Activities Scale, and Barthel Index. RESULTS History of cardiac failure (P < .001), atrial fibrillation (P < .001), and cardioembolic stroke (P = .011) was more frequent in the older age group, whereas stroke due to large-artery atherosclerosis (P = .048) was more common in the younger age group. The older patients more often had major dominant stroke syndrome (P = .018). Comparison of activities of daily living before and after stroke showed that the older age group deteriorated significantly more than the younger age group after adjustment for sex, education, and living conditions (Barthel Index, P = .005; other scales, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS The stroke patients in young and old age groups had different risk profiles and stroke features. The older stroke patients were more dependent and disabled beforehand, and after stroke they were relatively even more dependent than the patients in the younger age group. Because older patients already constitute the majority of stroke victims, the importance of early active diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and guidance is stressed.
Perceived competency towards preventive dentistry among dental graduates: the need for curriculum change

Background A previous study has shown that dental practitioners in Benghazi believed that the less prevention-oriented education system is one of the barriers to applying preventive dentistry. Objective To assess attitudes and perceived competence of the dental graduates in Benghazi towards prevention and early management of dental caries. Methods A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among internship students attending the Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry in Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi, Libya. The participants were asked to provide demographic information, to respond to statements about their attitudes towards preventive dentistry, and to answer questions regarding their perceived competence in applying preventive dentistry procedures. Results Data from 108 Libyan dental graduates were analysed for this study, of which 64% of them were females and 42.1% of them passed their final year with grade: acceptable. The most acknowledged aspects of preventive dentistry were being useful and essential to the community (95.4 and 90.8%, respectively). The percentage of participants expressing a proficiency in providing oral hygiene instructions was the highest (95.4%). There were differences between study subgroups in their perceived competence of preventive dental practices by gender and academic performance (p≤0.05). Conclusion This study highlighted that the currently implemented undergraduate education programme in Benghazi dental school does not provide dentists with the required attitude and skills to fulfil their role in providing preventive-oriented health services.
Online State Elimination in Accelerated reinforcement Learning

Most successes in accelerating RL incorporated internal knowledge or human intervention into the learning system such as reward shaping, transfer learning, parameter tuning, and even heuristics. These approaches could be no longer solutions to RL acceleration when internal knowledge is not available. Since the learning convergence is determined by the size of the state space where the larger the state space the slower learning might become, reducing the state space by eliminating the insignificant ones can lead to faster learning. In this paper a novel algorithm called Online State Elimination in Accelerated Reinforcement Learning (OSE-ARL) is introduced. This algorithm accelerates the RL learning performance by distinguishing insignificant states from the significant one and then eliminating them from the state space in early learning episodes. Applying OSE-ARL in grid world robot navigation shows 1.46 times faster in achieving learning convergence. This algorithm is generally applicable for other robotic task challenges or general robotics learning with large scale state space.
Comprometimento e lealdade : dois conceitos ou duas dimensões de um único conceito? Uma resposta a Prado e Santos (2003)

Alguns pesquisadores utilizam os conceitos de lealdade e comprometimento como construtos distintos em seus modelos. Outros, como Prado e Santos (2003), argumentam que eles sao de fato um unico conceito. A literatura a respeito de tal distincao por vezes e confusa. Nesse contexto, este trabalho visa analisar a relacao entre comprometimento e lealdade no ambiente virtual, especificamente no processo de compra pela Internet. Os resultados indicaram que ambos os construtos convergem fortemente para um mesmo conceito. Adicionalmente, a validade discriminante sugerida por Fornell e Larcker (1981) foi realizada e os resultados demonstraram que nao existe distincao entre ambos os conceitos. Consideracoes finais e limitacoes da pesquisa finalizam o artigo.