Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Rational Educational Explanation" or Politics as Usual? Evaluating the Outcome of Educational Finance Litigation in Kansas.

system of school finance currently in use in Kansas came about as a result of lawsuits filed in 1990 and 1991 by school districts dissatisfied with the previous system. These lawsuits, while never actually tried, produced a ruling by a state district court that the state has a constitutional duty, owed directly to each child, to provide the child with "equal educational opportunity. "1 The current system represents the Kansas legislature's attempt to satisfy this constitutional mandate. Hailed by commentators as a "dramatic success,"2 both legally and practically, in providing equity in funding the state's schools, the system places great reliance on the state as opposed to the local level for both the acquisition and the distribution of funds. While the new system has succeeded in transferring most of the responsibility for funding education to the state, the question of whether it has satisfied the equal-educational-opportunity requirement remains open. This article addresses this question by comparing the requirements set forth by a Kansas court with both the theory and practice of the current finance system. It begins by describing the unusual judicial and political processes that resulted in replacing the former,
Application of Reed-Solomon codes with erasure decoding to type-II hybrid ARQ transmission

Hybrid ARQ protocols are capable of improving the robustness and throughput of a mobile wireless communication system when a feedback channel is available. In this paper a type-II hybrid ARQ protocol is implemented with a punctured Reed-Solomon (RS) code to result in a rate-compatible system. It is proposed to use side-information provided by pilot symbols to flag symbol erasures, and perform erasure decoding of rate-compatible RS codes. Throughput simulation results show that when using errors-only decoding, rate-compatible punctured RS codes outperform their constituent punctured RS codes. When comparing errors-only decoding to erasure decoding of the rate-compatible RS codes, a power savings is observed when erasure decoding is employed. The specific gain achieved however, is dependant on the average signal-to-noise ratio and constituent set of punctured RS codes.
Importance of acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in children with wheezing.

In order to evaluate the role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in reactive airway disease, 71 children aged 2-14 yrs with an acute episode of wheezing and 80 age-matched healthy children were studied. Sera for the determination of specific antibody levels and nasopharyngeal aspirates for the detection of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae deoxyribonucleic acid were obtained on admission and after 4-6 weeks. All children with wheezing received a standard therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators for 5-7 days; when antibiotic was added on the basis of the judgement of the paediatrician in charge, clarithromycin 15 mg.kg body weight(-1). day(-1) for 10 days was used. Acute M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections were detected significantly more often in children with wheezing than in controls. In patients infected with one of the two pathogens, a history of recurrent wheezing was significantly more frequent than in those without either infection. During a 3-month follow-up period, among nonantibiotic-treated children, those with acute M. pneumoniae and/or C. pneumoniae infection showed a significantly higher recurrence of wheezing than those without acute M. pneumoniae and/or C. pneumoniae infection (p=0.03). These results highlight the apparently significant relationship of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae with wheezing in children, particularly in subjects with a history of recurrent episodes, and the possible improvement in the course of reactive airway disease within paediatric patients with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae and/or Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
Business Cycles and the Propagation of Shocks in the Input-Output Network

This paper studies the relative importance of aggregate and industry-specific shocks in generating business cycle fluctuations. We assess the role of demand and supply side shocks at the aggregate and the industry level. We build a highly disaggregated multi-industry DSGE model with an input-output network structure. In the model, fluctuations in measured total factor productivity can arise as an endogenous response to demand shocks. The model is estimated by the simulated method of moments using U.S. industry data from 1960 to 2005. We show that aggregate technology shocks play a small role in explaining business cycles. Instead, aggregate demand shocks together with industry-specific technology shocks are important drivers of fluctuations of output and productivity. Demand shocks explain 60% of the variance of GDP and more than 10% of measured aggregate productivity. Industry-specific technology shocks are transmitted via input-output linkages and affect output and measured productivity in connected industries. They alone explain 50% of the variance of aggregate productivity and more than 20% of the variance in GDP. The presence of the input-output network is crucial for the results. The linkages between industries decrease the share of aggregate fluctuations explained by aggregate technology shock by 40 percentage points.
p72syk protein tyrosine kinase: an early transducer of sIgG-triggered apoptotic signalling in human follicular lymphoma cells.

Cross-linking of B cell antigen receptor (sIg) elicits different biological responses, including cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, anergy and cell death depending on the maturational stage of the cell. We established the tumor cell lines HF-1.3. 4 and HF-4-9 from two patients with follicular lymphoma. Both cell lines carry the characteristic t(14;18) chromosomal translocation and display constitutively overexpressed Bcl-2. HF-1.3. 4 represents a mature B cell with sIgG and several somatic hypermutations in its Ig genes, while HF-4-9 is a less mature B cell, expressing sIgM and only a few mutations in its Ig genes. Cross-linking of sIg with antibodies leads to apoptosis in HF-1.3. 4 cells but not in HF-4-9 cells. Triggering of sIg induced, within seconds, identical tyrosine phosphorylation of p53/56lyn protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and p55blk PTK in both of the cell lines; however, a prominent tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of p72syk PTK only in HF-1.3. 4 cells. We conclude that p72syk PTK is of importance in relaying apoptotic signalling upon sIg cross-linking in the HF-1.3. 4 cell line. Given the mature phenotype of the HF-1.3. 4 cell line it serves as a model for the late negative selection during B cell ontogeny. Moreover, our results question the current concept that a constitutive overexpression of BcI-2 confers resistance to sIg ligation-induced apoptosis in lymphoma cells.
Use of the harmonic mean to the determination of dissociation constants of stereoisomeric mixtures of biologically active compounds

Abstract Herein we introduce the derivation of a mathematical expression to evaluate the dissociation constant of a mixture of stereoisomers in equal amounts (KdMIX), when the corresponding dissociation constants (Kd) or medium response (MR50) of the pure stereoisomers are known; the final equation takes the form of the harmonic mean. In order to validate the equation, we carried out a bibliographic search of experimental data of enantiomeric molecules with biological activity, considering the Kd’s or MR50’s of the isolated enantiomers as well as that of the racemate. The comparisons between the experimental dissociation constants of the mixtures (KdEXP or MR50EXP) and the calculated values (KdMIX or MR50MIX) were consistent; the similarity between these values is supported through statistical analyses of group comparison and simple linear correlation. The equation we obtained, which corresponds to the harmonic mean, was used to predict the values of KdMIX (or MR50MIX) or Kd (or MR50) in systems when only two of the experimental values are known: either the dissociation constants of both enantiomers or the Kd (or MR50) of one of the enantiomers and dissociation constant of the racemate.
COPD and the microbiome

Traditional culture techniques confirm that bacteria have an important role in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In individuals with COPD, acquisition of novel bacterial strains is associated with onset of acute exacerbation of COPD, which leads to further lung dysfunction and enormous health‐care costs. Recent study of the human microbiome, the total composite of the bacteria on the human body, posited the microbiome as the last human organ studied, as the microbiome performs a multitude of metabolic functions absent in the human genome. The largest project to study the human microbiome was the National Institutes of Health (NIH) human microbiome project (HMP) started in 2007 to understand the ‘normal’ microbiome. However due to the presumption that the healthy human lung was sterile, the respiratory tract was not included in that study. The advent of next‐generation sequencing technologies has allowed the investigation of the human respiratory microbiome, which revealed that the healthy lung does have a robust microbiome. Subsequent studies in individuals with COPD revealed that the microbiome composition fluctuates with severity of COPD, composition of the individual aero‐digestive tract microbiomes, age, during an acute exacerbation of COPD and with the use of steroids and/or antibiotics. Understanding the impact of the microbiome on COPD progression and risk of exacerbation will lead to directed therapies for prevention of COPD progression and exacerbation.
Control of Electron Transfer in Nitric-oxide Synthases

To clarify the role of the autoinhibitory insert in the endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) nitric-oxide synthases, the insert was excised from nNOS and chimeras with its reductase domain; the eNOS and nNOS inserts were swapped and put into the normally insertless inducible (iNOS) isoform and chimeras with the iNOS reductase domain; and an RRKRK sequence in the insert suggested by earlier peptide studies to be important (Salerno, J. C., Harris, D. E., Irizarry, K., Patel, B., Morales, A. J., Smith, S. M., Martasek, P., Roman, L. J., Masters, B. S., Jones, C. L., Weissman, B. A., Lane, P., Liu, Q., and Gross, S. S. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 29769–29777) was mutated. Insertless nNOS required calmodulin (CaM) for normal NOS activity, but the Ca2+ requirement for this activity was relaxed. Furthermore, insert deletion enhanced CaM-free electron transfer within nNOS and chimeras with the nNOS reductase, emphasizing the involvement of the insert in modulating electron transfer. Swapping the nNOS and eNOS inserts gave proteins with normal NOS activities, and the nNOS insert acted normally in raising the Ca2+ dependence when placed in eNOS. Insertion of the eNOS insert into iNOS and chimeras with the iNOS reductase domain significantly lowered NOS activity, consistent with inhibition of electron transfer by the insert. Mutation of the eNOS RRKRK to an AAAAA sequence did not alter the eNOS Ca2+ dependence but marginally inhibited electron transfer. The salt dependence suggests that the insert modulates electron transfer within the reductase domain prior to the heme/reductase interface. The results clarify the role of the reductase insert in modulating the Ca2+ requirement, electron transfer rate, and overall activity of nNOS and eNOS.
The usage of safe haven currencies in mitigating portfolio risk during market turmoil periods

Paper examines the capability of currencies to reduce portfolio risk during market turmoil periods by comparÂ­ing the effect of active and naA¯ve portfolio management strategies. NaA¯ve strategy outperforms active in all casÂ­es, while diversification to CAD and GBP produce the lowest value at risk (VaR) and expected shortfall (ES).
Radical prostatectomy versus high-dose irradiation in localized/locally advanced prostate cancer: A Swedish multicenter randomized trial with patient-reported outcomes

Abstract Background. Treatment of localized prostate cancer (PC) is controversial. This is the first randomized study comparing an open surgery procedure (radical prostatectomy) with a combination of high-dose rate brachytherapy (2 × 10 Gy) and external beam radiotherapy (25 × 2 Gy) in PC patients in Sweden 1996–2001. The two randomization arms were compared regarding differences in patients-reported outcomes, such as complications and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Material and methods. The patients had localized/locally advanced PC, clinical category T1b–T3a, N0, M0 and PSA ≤ 50 ng/ml. All underwent total androgen blockade (six months). Self-reported HRQoL and symptoms including urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects were investigated prospectively before randomization and 12 and 24 months after randomization. A total of 89 patients were randomized and completed the EORTC QLQ C-33 and EORTC PR-25 questionnaires. Results. Over the study period, there were no discernible differences in HRQoL, or complications between the two groups. Emotional functioning, however, improved statistically significantly over time, whereas Social functioning decreased, and financial difficulties increased. No statistically significant differences in group-by-time interactions were found. The survival rate was 76%. Only eight patients (9%) died of PC. Conclusion. Open radical prostatectomy and the combined high-dose rate brachytherapy with external beam radiation appeared to be comparable in the measured outcomes. It was not possible to draw any conclusion on the efficacy of the two treatments due to insufficient power of the study.
Segmented Assimilation: A Comparison of the Factors Related to the Adjustment of Domestic and International Muslim Migrants to Bangkok

This paper uses segmented migration theory to consider differences in demographic characteristics, adjustment and concerns between domestic and international Muslim migrants to Bangkok. Face-to-face individual interviews were conducted with 183 international and 104 domestic male and female migrants. Both the domestic and international migrants adjusted reasonably well to life in Bangkok. Most were employed at the time of the survey and were at least moderately satisfied with their lives in Bangkok. The domestic male migrants were on average younger than the international migrants and most had migrated to Bangkok when they were young adults. Many of the migrants had university education (52% male domestic, 60% female domestic, 40% male international, and 29% female international). The migrants also reported concerns about their future lives and difficulty with language. The Islamic faith and Islamic education were important factors in the adjustment of the migrants to Bangkok.
Individual Rotavirus-like Particles Containing 120 Molecules of Fluorescent Protein Are Visible in Living Cells* 210

Rotaviruses are large, complex icosahedral particles consisting of three concentric capsid layers. When the innermost capsid protein VP2 is expressed in the baculovirus-insect cell system it assembles as core-like particles. The amino terminus region of VP2 is dispensable for assembly of virus-like particles (VLP). Coexpression of VP2 and VP6 produces double layered VLP. We hypothesized that the amino end of VP2 could be extended without altering the auto assembly properties of VP2. Using the green fluorescent protein (GFP) or the DsRed protein as model inserts we have shown that the chimeric protein GFP (or DsRed)-VP2 auto assembles perfectly well and forms fluorescent VLP (GFP-VLP2/6 or DsRed-VLP2/6) when coexpressed with VP6. The presence of GFP inside the core does not prevent the assembly of the outer capsid layer proteins VP7 and VP4 to give VLP2/6/7/4. Cryo-electron microscopy of purified GFP-VLP2/6 showed that GFP molecules are located at the 5-fold vertices of the core. It is possible to visualize a single fluorescent VLP in living cells by confocal fluorescent microscopy. In vitro VLP2/6 did not enter into permissive cells or in dendritic cells. In contrast, fluorescent VLP2/6/7/4 entered the cells and then the fluorescence signal disappear rapidly. Presented data indicate that fluorescent VLP are interesting tools to follow in real time the entry process of rotavirus and that chimeric VLP could be envisaged as “nanoboxes” carrying macromolecules to living cells.
Estimating voluntary and involuntary childlessness in the developing countries

Summary This paper examines rates of marital childlessness in the developing countries of the world and separates them into voluntary, involuntary and related components through a decision-tree model based on fecundity, contraceptive behaviour, pregnancy status, age, years married, and other variables. The principal data are taken from World Fertility Surveys. The conclusion is reached that virtually all of the permanent childlessness in the developing countries examined is involuntary.
Crystal structure of haloalkane dehalogenase: an enzyme to detoxify halogenated alkanes.

Haloalkane dehalogenase from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 converts 1‐haloalkanes to the corresponding alcohols and halide ions with water as the sole cosubstrate and without any need for oxygen or cofactors. The three‐dimensional structure has been determined by multiple isomorphous replacement techniques using three heavy atom derivatives. The structure has been refined at 2.4 A resolution to an R‐factor of 17.9%. The monomeric enzyme is a spherical molecule and is composed to two domains: domain I has an alpha/beta type structure with a central eight‐stranded mainly parallel beta‐sheet. Domain II lies like a cap on top of domain I and consists of alpha‐helices connected by loops. Except for the cap domain the structure resembles that of the dienelactone hydrolase in spite of any significant sequence homology. The putative active site is completely buried in an internal hydrophobic cavity which is located between the two domains. From the analysis of the structure it is suggested that Asp124 is the nucleophilic residue essential for the catalysis. It interacts with His289 which is hydrogen‐bonded to Asp260.
Multiple joints reference for robot finger control in robot hand teleoperation

The multi-fingered robot hand has much attention in various fields. Many robot hands have been proposed so far. However, the robot hand cannot execute any tasks autonomously because the robot hand does not have enough motion and sensing ability to task complexities. Therefore, we have developed a robot hand teleoperation system with the motion capture data glove CyberGlove. Here, each joint of the robot hand is controlled according to the corresponding joint of the human hand. In this paper, we develop the teleoperation method that the robot hand joint is controlled to the multiple human hand joints. The positional error of the fingertips can be decrease by using the multiple joints reference. We show the effectiveness of the developed method through some experiments.
Cyclooxygenase inhibition in cancer prevention and treatment

Several lines of evidence suggest that the cyclooxygenase enzymes (specifically COX-2) might be an important molecular target for the intervention of cancer at both early and late stages of some cancers, providing an opportunity for both cancer prevention and therapy. COX-2 is overexpressed during carcinogenesis, and appears to have a role in both tumour initiation and promotion and is amenable to intervention. This review discusses the importance of COX modulation via non-specific, as well as COX-2 specific COX inhibitors (NSAIDs and COX-2 selective inhibitors [COXIB]). A brief discussion on the pharmacoeconomic considerations of NSAID and COXIB use and safety issues that have recently been the focus of debate, will be presented.
The Social Progress Protocol of the ETUC: A suggestion for its future development

The Social Progress Protocol is a proposal formulated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). It is a response to judicial decisions of the European Court of Justice on the relationship between fundamental freedoms and collective social rights. The proposal essentially demands a supplementing of European primary law in a way that gives precedence to fundamental social rights in the event of a conflict of laws. This paper underscores the justification of the goals pursued by the Social Progress Protocol and makes suggestions on how it can be developed further. The suggestion consists of two parts. The first part suggests that it is the ambit of European fundamental freedoms that should be focused on rather than the general prioritizing of collective social rights. The second part recommends that the proposal for an activation of European legislation in matters involving collective bargaining rights be dispensed with.
Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions on Focus discussion Groups as a Model of Context-based learning Primary Teacher education. A case of Meru and Egoji Teachers colleges

Research and policy documents in Kenya and in many other African countries have decried low quality primary education which they attribute to low quality teacher education (Government of Kenya-GoK- (2012) , GoK (2005), the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme document of 2005-2010(2005), Feiman-Nemser (2001), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-UNESCO (2005) Dembele and Miaro-II (2003) and Wanzare (2002). This inhibits the vision of provision of an all-inclusive relevant and quality education particularly in Kenya as envisioned by the Vision 2030 and the MoEST (2015) National Education Sector Plan 2013-2018. Low quality teacher education as pointed out by Dembele and Miaro-II (2003), MoEST (2003) and GoK (2012) is mainly due to the use of the traditional content-based pedagogical primary teacher education model that lacks adequate learner involvement, splits learning into separate subjects and has little connection between theory and practice. This study sought to identify the experiences and perceptions of pre-service teachers on focus discussions groups as a model of context-based learning. A quasi experimental research design in form of pre-test/post test longitudinal panel control group was used. This involved a stratified random sample of 80 first year pre-service teachers from Meru and Egoji colleges (40 for experimental and 40 for control groups). The experimental group was sub-divided into groups of ten of equal gender proportions that held discussions under the facilitation of the researcher once per week during teaching practice sessions. A focus group discussion schedule, a reflective diary and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The findings obtained revealed that the experimental group that used the focus discussion groups as a component of context-based learning model performed better than the control group. The findings also showed that pre-service teachers found focus discussion groups (Cooperative learning) useful in their professional career development though they felt the discussion groups needed more time and fewer members. Key Words: Context-based Learning, Focus Discussion Groups, Cooperative Learning Reflective Practice, School-based Learning, Traditional Concurrent Content-based Pedagogical Teacher Education Model.