Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Principals' perception of leadership in the process of transforming the school culture : the case of introducing a new "Preventing violence and creating safe climate intervention process" in Israeli secondary schools

This thesis describes and analyses the principals’ perception of leadership in the process of transforming the school culture as reflected by their experience in introducing a new government initiative “Preventing Violence and Creating Safe Climate Intervention Process” in Israel’s secondary schools. Since the study’s aim was to investigate the principals’ perception of their leadership the interpretive research paradigm and inductive analysis were chosen as the study’s methods. The data were collected primarily from semi-structured in-depth interviews. Furthermore, the research findings were enriched by the findings obtained from a self-completion questionnaire, used in the initial phase, which preceded the qualitative research as well as by documents collected at school. The sample population of the present study consists of fifteen secondary school principals who participated in the new initiative and agreed to participate in the present study. Analysis of the findings shows that the principals perceived three factors as enabling them to transform the school culture. Those factors were the principals’ impact, school processes and external support. However, the finding shows that the principals perceived their impact as the most meaningful factor enabling them to lead the transformation in their school culture. Their impact was composed of four main components: mindscape, values, modeling as well as personal involvement. Those components reflected their worldview and guided them in the transformation process. The findings indicate that the Israeli secondary school principals who participated in this study, perceived their leadership as being a transformational-strategic leadership having social mission. Two central aspects of this perceived leadership were prominent in the present study: a moral aspect and a pedagogical aspect. These aspects differentiated between the principals as expressed in their different approaches, which affected their transformation of the school culture. Whereas the principals who stressed moral aspects of their leadership viewed the school role extended beyond the school context, based its moral purpose on ethical values and led the transformation collaboratively with their staff and parents, the principals who shared pedagogical aspects based their leadership on intraorganizational practical values and led the transformation by means of various mechanisms ranging from collegiality up to authoritative style both with their staff and parents.
The phosphorelay signal transduction pathway in the initiation of Bacillus subtilis sporulation

The formation of spores in Bacillus subtilis is a developmental process under genetic control. The decision to either divide or sporulate is regulated by the state of phosphorylation of the Spo0A transcription factor. Phosphorylated Spo0A (Spo0A ∼ P) is both a repressor and an activator of transcription depending on the promoter it is affecting. Spo0A ∼ P is the end product of the phosphorelay, a signal transduction system linking environmental information to the activation of sporulation. Activation or deinhibition of two ATP‐dependent kinases, KinA and KinB, to phosphorylate the Spo0F secondary messenger initiates the phosphorelay. Spo0F ∼ P is the substrate for the Spo0B protein, a phosphoprotein phosphotransferase which transfers the phosphate group to Spo0A. The Spo0A ∼ P formed from this pathway orchestrates transcription events during the initial stage of spore development through direct effects on a variety of promoters and through the use of other transcription factors, termed transition state regulators, whose activity it controls. Because commitment to sporulation has serious cellular programming consequences and is not undertaken capriciously, the phosphorelay is subject to a variety of complex controls on the flow of phosphate through its components. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lock-in effect in the Russian–Libyan economic relations in the post-Arab Spring period

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of Libya’s regime change in the post-Arab Spring period on its economic relations with Russia. It shows the usefulness of path dependence theory as an instrument to explain the rapprochement between the two countries and renewal of their joint projects after the Arab Spring. The paper argues that path-dependent factors related to pre-revolution contracts signed between Russia and the Gaddafi regime in the gas and oil industries, the military sphere, and transportation constrained the ability of Libya’s new political elites to significantly decrease Russia’s economic presence in the country. The major implication that can be drawn from the analysis of the impact of Libya’s regime change on its bilateral ties with Russia is that path dependence plays a significant role in the formation of foreign policy.
Regulation of Seed Germination and the Role of Aquaporins under Abiotic Stress

Aquaporins play a major role in governing the movement of water between neighboring cells during seed germination and are major players in response to abiotic stress conditions that affect water availability. Seeds of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Arkel) were used for studying cell growth, expression and function of aquaporins during seed imbibition, radicle emergence and growth.Water channel functioning checked by inhibitory test with mercuric chloride showed closed water channels prior to growth initiation. Addition of mercury scavenging agents dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol along with the HgCl2 overcame the observed inhibitory effects in terms of moisture content. The presence of aquaporin inhibitors (HgCl2 and ZnCl2) and NaCl reduced seedling growth. Here we studied expression of a plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PsPIP1;2) and a tonoplast intrinsic protein (PsTIP1;1) by using the semi quantitative RT-PCR in the germinated seedlings exposed to different abiotic stresses. Treatment with NaCl, HgCl2 and ZnCl2 differentially regulated gene expression in radicle, cotyledon and plumule. NaCl and Hg, upregulated expression of PsPIP1;2 and PsTIP1;1 in radicle and expression of PsTIP1;1 was significantly upregulated in radicle and suppressed in cotyledon by Zn. A possible role for aquaporins in germinating seeds and seedling response to abiotic stresses is discussed.
Which MR-derived perfusion parameters are the best predictors of infarct growth in hyperacute stroke? Comparative study between relative and quantitative measurements.

PURPOSE To compare predictors of infarct growth in hyperacute stroke from a retrospective review of various relative and quantitative parameters calculated at perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed within 6 hours after ictus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion- and perfusion-weighted images were obtained in 66 patients. The initial infarct was delineated on diffusion-weighted images; the hemodynamic disturbance, on apparent mean transit time (MTT) maps; and the final infarct, on follow-up fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Relative (without and with deconvolution) and quantitative values of the bolus arrival time, time to peak (TTP), apparent MTT or MTT, cerebral blood volume (CBV), peak height, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) index or CBF were calculated for initial infarct, infarct growth (final minus initial infarct contour), viable hemodynamic disturbance (apparent MTT minus final infarct contour), and contralateral mirror regions. Univariate and multivariate analyses (receiver operating characteristic curves and discriminant analysis) were performed to compare the diagnostic performance of these parameters for predicting infarct growth. RESULTS At univariate analysis, relative peak height and quantitative CBF were the best predictors of infarct growth; at multivariate analysis, a function of peak height and TTP for relative measurements and CBF alone for quantitative measurements. Quantitative and relative measurements (without or with deconvolution) worked equally well. A combined relative peak height or TTP threshold (<54% or >5.2 seconds, respectively) had a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 98%. A quantitative CBF threshold (<35 mL/min/100 g) had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 85%. CONCLUSION A combination of relative peak height and TTP measurements allowed the best prediction of infarct growth, which obviates more complex quantitative calculation.
Future implications of urban intensification on residential water demand

Over recent decades Auckland, New Zealand, metropolitan area has vastly expanded as a result of rapid population growth and low-density housing developments. In order to manage the uncontrolled low-density urban sprawl, Auckland Council proposed a compact city model through promoting higher density housing developments. In order to understand the implications of this transition on future residential water demand, this study first evaluated water consumption in three major housing types in Auckland including single houses, low-rise and high-rise apartments. Using the geographic information system, the water consumption information, estimated from a large sample of 60,000 dwellings across Auckland, was subsequently integrated with the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan outlining the future housing composition over different areas in Auckland. Through developing different growth scenarios, the study showed that the housing transition from single houses to more intensified multi-unit houses cannot considerably affect the average per capita water consumption in Auckland.
New energy-aware evaluation metric for compression circuits

Counter and compressor circuits are key building blocks in digital processing. Much effort has been spent on optimization of individual compression circuits based on traditional performance evaluation metrics, such as compression ratio (Cr). More recently used Cr/Gate-Delay metric reflects compression capability and performance of compression blocks simultaneously, but it does not give an insight into power consumption, which is a vital parameter in contemporary systems with prevailing battery life and power efficiency constraints. This paper proposes a new evaluation measure that incorporates energy consumption: Cr/PDP. This metric is then used to evaluate compression circuits based on simulated power delay product or PDP. Proposed Cr/PDP metric showed that (2,3,3) counter is not as efficient as 4:2 and 5:2 compressor. Similarly, (6,3) and (12,4) are not as efficient as (7,3) and (13,4) respectively when PDP is considered. These properties cannot be detected using the previous Cr/Gate-Delay metric.
A qualitative exploratory study of African American men's experiences and/or perceptions of class or racial discrimination in relation to their social and economic status, education job opportunity and employment

Research shows that African-American men occupy inferi or social and economic status when compared with their Anglo-male counterpart. Many research studies have been conducted regarding African-American men to determine the underlining cause for these disparities. This qualitative exploratory study, however, explored with African-American men their social and economic experiences, and their under standing of these experiences, thus gaining novel, fresh, and innovative information regarding this population. The intent"of this study is to focus on beginning where individ uals are, thereby allowing African-American men to identify what they see and experience as the social and economic problems and their causes. The results of this study showed that the majority of respondents experienced some form of racial discrimination on numerous occasions, and generally experienced racial and class discrimination synonymously. Though most of the respondents struggled with various as pects of racial discrimination during some portions of their lives, a large number reported having managed to establish social and economic stability. Implications for social workers are indicated on both micro and macro levels.
The anglerfish and uremic toxins

In 1960, Belding Scribner introduced hemodialysis as a treatment for chronic renal failure. Now, 50 years later, it has become quite clear that while some features of uremia (acidosis, hyperkalemia, neurologic abnormalities, and uremia-related bone disease) are corrected or improved by hemodialysis, several important features of chronic renal failure (namely the greatly increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and the inexorable progression of renal scarring and loss of function) do not seem to be affected by hemodialysis. Perhaps the time has come to reexamine what we have learned about uremia during this half century. The ability to sustain life in patients with little or no renal function was a very great achievement, both technical and (with the recognition by Congress that the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure was a condition that could only be achieved with the financial support of the U.S. government), social (1). This legislation resulted in an explosion of biotechnology in this country. The development of new and better dialyzers and dialysis membranes with different qualities in regard to porosity and biologic reactivity became a major industry and was paralleled by the appearance and rapid proliferation of a new category of physicians—dialysis physicians joined the small ranks of Ode to the anglerfish
Green fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression and cell biology of mycobacterial interactions with macrophages

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) of the jellyfish Aequorea victoria offers certain advantages over other bioluminescence systems because no exogenously added substrate or co‐factors are necessary, and fluorescence can be elicited by irradiation with blue light without exposing the cells producing GFP to invasive treatments. A mycobacterial shuttle‐plasmid vector carrying gfp cDNA was constructed and used to generate transcriptional fusions with promoters of interest and to examine their expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG grown in macrophages or on laboratory media. The promoters studied were: (i) ahpC from Mycoosis and Mycobacterium leprae, a gene encoding alkyl hydroperoxide reductase which, along with the divergently transcribed regulator oxyR, are homologues of corresponding stress‐response systems in enteric bacteria and play a role in isoniazid sensitivity; (ii) mtrA, an M. tuberculosis response regulator belonging to the superfamily of bacterial two‐component signal‐transduction systems; (iii) hsp60, a previously characterized heat‐shock gene from M. bovis; and (iv) tbprc3, a newly isolated promoter from M. tuberculosis. Expression of these promoters in mycobacteria was analysed using epifluorescence microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and flow cytometry. These approaches permitted assessment of fluorescence prior to and after macrophage infection, and analyses of promoter expression in individual mycobacteria and its distribution within populations of bacterial cells. Bacteria expressing GFP from a strong promoter could be separated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting from cells harbouring the vector used to construct the fusion. In addition, the stable expression of mtrA‐gfp fusion in M. bovis BCG facilitated localization and isolation of phagocytic vesicles containing mycobacteria. The experiments presented here suggest that GFP will be a useful tool for analysis of mycobacterial gene expression and a convenient cell biology marker to study mycobacterial interactions with macrophages.
Power Trading Mode in Multi-Microgrids with Controllable Distributed Generation: A Game-Theoretic Approach

This paper proposed a non-cooperative game-theoretic method to study power trading modes and strategies in multi-microgrids system (MS) including controllable distributed generation (DG). Considering the influence of DG on MS trading strategy decisions, a strategic game-theoretic model was put forward under the system trading rules. The effects of the distribution system (DS) on microgrids trading were regarded as service charges. The existence of Nash Equilibrium (NE) and the feasibility of the proposed trading method among MS were validated mathematically. A three-microgrid case was introduced to verify the practical significance of NE and the simulation results have demonstrated that the power generation cost of DG will not effect the system equilibrium.
Active opsin loci adopt intrachromosomal loops that depend on the photoreceptor transcription factor network

Rod and cone opsin genes are expressed in a mutually exclusive manner in their respective photoreceptor subtypes in the mammalian retina. Previous transgenic mouse studies showed that functional interactions between the distal enhancer and proximal promoter of rhodopsin and long/medium-wavelength (L/M) opsin genes are essential for regulating their cell-type–specific transcription. We have used chromosomal conformation capture assays in mouse retinas to investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for this interaction. Here we show that each opsin gene forms intrachromosomal loops in the appropriate photoreceptor subtype, while maintaining a linear configuration in other cell types where it is silent. The enhancer forms physical contacts not only with the promoter but also with the coding regions of each opsin locus. ChIP assays showed that cell-type–specific target binding by three key photoreceptor transcription factors—cone–rod homeobox (CRX), neural retina leucine zipper (NRL), and nuclear receptor subfamily 2, group E, member 3 (NR2E3)—is required for the appropriate local chromosomal organization and transcription of rod and cone opsins. Similar correlations between chromosomal loops and active transcription of opsin genes were also observed in human photoreceptors. Furthermore, quantitative chromosomal conformation capture on human retinas from two male donors showed that the L/M enhancer locus control region (LCR) loops with either the L or M promoter in a near 3:1 ratio, supporting distance-dependent competition between L and M for LCR. Altogether, our results suggest that the photoreceptor transcription factor network cooperatively regulates the chromosomal organization of target genes to precisely control photoreceptor subtype-specific gene expression.
Nonlinear automotive actuator analysis based on sum of squares programming

The paper analyses the maximum Controlled Invariant Sets of vehicle actuators. In the calculation of the shape of the sets a nonlinear polynomial Sum-of-Squares (SOS) programming method is applied. The aim of the analysis is to identify the similarities and differences between the different actuator interventions and provide a theoretical basis for their coordination. The maximum Controlled Invariant Sets of the steering and the brake control systems are analyzed at various velocities and road conditions. In the analysis the nonlinear characteristics of the lateral tire force are considered with a polynomial approximation. The results of the analysis are illustrated through a simulation example.
Implementation of a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mentoring Program to Improve Treatment Services

Three years ago the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) charged the National Center for PTSD(NCPTSD) to develop a mentoring program to train directors of specialized PTSD clinical programs ineffective management skills. There were three reasons for this. First, the number of veterans from theAfghanistan and Iraq conflicts coming to the VA for PTSD treatment was rapidly increasing. Second, amajor augmentation in mental health staffing had brought many new clinicians to the VA who wereunfamiliar with war-zonerelated PTSD and with the VA system of care at a time of changingadministrative requirements. Third, the clinical complexity of these veterans required additional men-toring because their PTSD was often associated with depression, mild traumatic brain injury, substanceuse, chronic pain, aggressive behavior, and/or insomnia. The resulting PTSD Mentoring Program createda national network of program directors to disseminate and implement best management practices bysupporting local experts in their mentoring of other VA PTSD program directors. This article describesthe implementation of the PTSD Mentoring Program and examines methods of how other programs cansuccessfully use and adapt the mentoring model. A description of what is working and where obstaclesstill exist for the program is provided. Our experience with the program supports the use of peermentoring as a method to offer educational training on trauma in different settings and using differentmodalities.Keywords: posttraumatic stress disorder, mentoring, implementation, best management practice
The response to second-line induction with bortezomib and dexamethasone is predictive of long-term outcomes prior to high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and predictive factors for the treatment outcomes of bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BD) as second-line induction therapy prior to high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. METHODS Sixty-six transplant eligible MM patients treated by the Kyoto Clinical Hematology Study Group between 2006 and 2011 were investigated. Conventional induction chemotherapy, including vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) and high-dose dexamethasone (HDD), was used as first-line induction therapy in all patients, seven (10.6%) of whom attained a very good partial response (VGPR). Of the 59 patients who did not attain VGPR with VAD or HDD, 33 were given BD as second-line induction therapy prior to HDT/ASCT. RESULTS Patients not treated with BD induction showed an overall response rate (ORR, i.e., better than partial response) of 85.3% after induction therapy, while the ORR of patients treated with BD induction improved from 42.4% after conventional induction therapy to 84.8% after BD. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients not treated with BD induction were not significantly influenced by the response to induction therapy. Among the patients treated with BD, failure in attaining VGPR prior to ASCT was associated with a significantly shorter PFS and it also tended to show a shorter OS, while the disease stage and achievement of a complete response after HDT/ASCT had no impact on OS or PFS. CONCLUSION The achievement of at least VGPR with second-line BD induction therapy is a prerequisite for attaining longer OS and PFS after HDT/ASCT.
Nicotinic receptor-mediated effects on appetite and food intake.

It is well known, although not well understood, that smoking and eating just do not go together. Smoking is associated with decreased food intake and lower body weight. Nicotine, administered either by smoking or by smokeless routes, is considered the major appetite-suppressing component of tobacco. Perhaps the most renowned example of nicotine's influence on appetite and feeding behavior is the significant weight gain associated with smoking cessation. This article presents an overview of the literature at, or near, the interface of nicotinic receptors and appetite regulation. We first consider some of the possible sites of nicotine's action along the complex network of neural and non-neural regulators of feeding. We then present the hypothesis that the lateral hypothalamus is a particularly important locus of the anorectic effects of nicotine. Finally, we discuss the potential role of endogenous cholinergic systems in motivational feeding, focusing on cholinergic pathways in the lateral hypothalamus.