Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forty Acres and a Mule: A Critical Audit of California's Williams Legislation Implementation and the Implications for Educational Leaders

This study investigated educational leaders’ critical evaluations of California's landmark contemporary school equity legislation Williams v. the State of California. Qualitative interview analysis indicated that leaders perceived the equity measure to be necessary but insufficient in advancing the larger project of educational justice. Hence, policy directives governed by political expediency ultimately fall short in ushering disruptive change. Renorming the privileged hierarchy of the leadership class was central to fomenting change. Participants argued that leadership practice for educational justice required leaders to transgress normative structures that hurt the children and the communities they serve, whether those norms resided within the school, within themselves, or within the dominant power structure. Critical issues and leadership implications are forwarded.
Association of Genetic Risk Variants With Expression of Proximal Genes Identifies Novel Susceptibility Genes for Cardiovascular Disease

Background—Population-based genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors. Genes in close proximity to these risk-SNPs are often thought to be pathogenetically important based on their location alone. However, the actual connections between SNPs and disease mechanisms remain largely unknown. Methods and Results—To identify novel susceptibility genes, we investigated how 166 SNPs previously found to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and/or predisposing metabolic traits relate to the expression of nearby genes. Gene expression in 577 samples of aorta, liver, mammary artery, and carotid atherosclerotic plaque was measured using expression arrays. For 47 SNPs, the expression levels of proximal genes (located within 200 kb) were affected (P<0.005). More than 20 of these genes had not previously been identified as candidate genes for cardiovascular or related metabolic traits. SNP-associated gene effects were tissue-specific and the tissue specificity was phenotype-dependent. Conclusions—This study demonstrates several instances of association between risk-SNPs and genes immediately adjacent to them. It also demonstrates instances in which the associated gene is not the immediately proximal and obvious candidate gene for disease. This shows the necessity of careful studies of genetic marker data as a first step toward application of genome-wide association studies findings in a clinical setting.
Detection of the covalent intermediate of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase by solution-state and time-resolved solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-NAG) enolpyruvyl transferase from Enterobacter cloacae catalyzes the transfer of an enolpyruvyl moiety from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to the 3-hydroxyl of UDP-NAG to form enolpyruvyl UDP-NAG and inorganic phosphate. Indirect evidence for the involvement of a covalent intermediate, in which the C-2 of O-phosphothioketal moiety is attached to Cys-115, in the reaction catalyzed by UDP-NAG enolpyruvyl transferase has been reported by Wanke and Amrhein [Wanke, C. , & Amrhein, N. (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 218, 861-870]. In the enzyme from Escherichia coli, a noncovalent tetrahedral intermediate in which the C-2 of PEP is attached to the 3-OH of UDP-NAG via an ether linkage has been isolated by Marquardt et al. [Marquardt, J.L. , Brown, E.D. , Walsh, C.T. , & Anderson, K.S. (1993) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115, 10398-10399]. In this study, we provide direct evidence for the formation of a covalent O-phosphothioketal enzyme intermediate from UDP-NAG enolpyruvyl transferase of E. cloacae overexpressed in E. coli. The intermediate was obtained by incubation of the enzyme with [2,3-13C2]PEP and UDP-NAG and was characterized by solution-state 1D 13C and 31P NMR, 13C DEPT NMR, and 1H[13C]2D HMQC NMR spectroscopy. The 13C NMR spectra showed two coupled resonances at 29.3 and 88.7 ppm which were assigned to the C-3 and C-2 of the covalent intermediate, and the 13C DEPT confirmed that C-3 was a methyl group and C-2 was quaternary. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Corneal biomechanical evaluation in healthy thin corneas compared with matched keratoconus cases.

PURPOSE To evaluate and compare corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) in healthy eyes with a central corneal thickness (CCT) < 505 µm with CH and CRF in gender-, age-, and CCT-matched keratoconus cases, and to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters for discriminating between the two groups. METHODS Prospective, comparative case series. In total 46 eyes from 30 healthy patients with CCT < 505 µm, and 42 eyes from 30 CCT-, gender- and age-matched keratoconus cases were enrolled. Biomechanical metrics (CH and CRF) were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and then compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify cut-off points to maximize the sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between the groups. RESULTS The CCT was 485.96 ± 17.61 µm (range, 438 - 505) in healthy thin corneas and 483.64 ± 16.19 µm (range, 452 - 505) in keratoconus; p=0.5225. CH was 8.63 ± 1.23 mmHg (range, 5.95 - 12.2) and 8.07 ± 1.17 mmHg (range, 4.9 - 9.85), respectively; p=0.0312. CRF was 8.43 ± 1.29 mmHg (range, 5.45 - 11.10) and 7.22 ± 1.34 mmHg (range, 4.7 - 9.45), respectively; p<0.001. ROC curve analysis showed a poor overall predictive accuracy of CH (cut-off, 8.95 mmHg; sensitivity, 63%; specificity, 23.8%; test accuracy, 44.30%) and CRF (cut-off, 7.4 mmHg; sensitivity, 28.3%; specificity, 40.5%; test accuracy, 34.12%) for detecting keratoconus in the eyes studied. CONCLUSION CH and CRF were statistically lower in keratoconus than in healthy thin corneas. However, CH and CRF offered very low sensitivity and specificity for discriminating the groups.
Emerging drugs to treat glaucoma: targeting prostaglandin F and E receptors

ABSTRACT Introduction: Commercially available prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) activate the prostaglandin F receptor (FP) reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), thereby stabilizing glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Poor adherence with eye drops and intolerance impact treatment success. Areas covered: We review developments in drug formulation and delivery, including punctal plugs, topical ring inserts, subconjunctival injections and inserts, and intraocular inserts. We also outline research into new fixed dose combinations that include prostaglandin analogues and preservative-free versions of established agents. Expert opinion: Glaucoma is a chronic, usually progressive disease that causes irreversible visual loss. As its prevalence increases exponentially with age, it has significant implications as the population ages. Health resources need to meet increased demand for glaucoma management resources, including monitoring and treating glaucoma suspects and patients and supporting those who have suffered visual disability. Several promising therapies are under investigation. Sustained-release prostaglandin analogues using alternate delivery methods are encouraging. Delivery routes may be more invasive than topical drops. Nanotechnological-release delivery of prostaglandin analogues could lower IOP effectively. Approaches like this would eliminate many of the adherence issues associated with daily topical PGA eye drop use.
The familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy‐associated myosin mutation R403Q accelerates tension generation and relaxation of human cardiac myofibrils

The R403Q mutation in β‐myosin heavy chain was the first mutation to be identified as responsible for familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC). In spite of extensive work on the functional sequelae of this mutation, the mechanism by which the mutant protein causes the disease has not been definitely identified. Here we directly compare contraction and relaxation mechanics of single myofibrils from left ventricular samples of one patient carrying the R403Q mutation to those from a healthy control heart. Tension generation and relaxation following sudden increase and decrease in [Ca2+] were much faster in the R403Q myofibrils with relaxation rates being the most affected parameters. The results show that the R403Q mutation leads to an apparent gain of protein function but a greater energetic cost of tension generation. Increased energy cost of tension generation may be central to the FHC disease process, help explain some unresolved clinical observations, and carry significant therapeutic implications.
Separation of tactile information from multiple sources based on spatial ICA and time series clustering

Tactile sensing is becoming an essential function for robots in daily life for safe and natural human-robot interaction. Tactile sensors for wide detection areas are required so that robots can interact naturally with their surroundings by touch, but they complicate the tactile situations of robots and cause difficulties of tactile information processing. The conventional methods are not able to deal with these difficulties because they only consider tactile interactions which are focused on single target in limited environments. For a better understanding of tactile interactions with one or more surroundings, we propose a framework which explains relations between observed tactile information and the sources so that robots can handle the difficulties of complicated tactile situations. and to interact with the tactile signal sources properly. Based on our proposed framework, the understanding of tactile situations between sources and robots is made possible by the separation of tactile signals into several groups of signals with different statistical properties. In this paper, we focus on a separation method based on spatial ICA and time series clustering so that the robot understands tactile information and properly interacts with the tactile signal sources. results from experiments that analyzed real tactile data confirm the effectiveness of the method by simplifying the mixing conditions of tactile information from multiple sources.
The New Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: Implications for Personality Measurement

In this article, we review recent modifications to Jeffrey Gray's (1973, 1991) reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), and attempt to draw implications for psychometric measurement of personality traits. First, we consider Gray and McNaughton's (2000) functional revisions to the biobehavioral systems of RST. Second, we evaluate recent clarifications relating to interdependent effects that these systems may have on behavior, in addition to or in place of separable effects (e.g., Corr, 2001; Pickering, 1997). Finally, we consider ambiguities regarding the exact trait dimension to which Gray's “reward system” corresponds. From this review, we suggest that future work is needed to distinguish psychometric measures of (a) fear from anxiety and (b) reward-reactivity from trait impulsivity. We also suggest, on the basis of interdependent system views of RST and associated exploration using formal models, that traits that are based upon RST are likely to have substantial intercorrelations. Finally, we advise that more substantive work is required to define relevant constructs and behaviors in RST before we can be confident in our psychometric measures of them.
Investments in renewable energy sources in countries grouped by income level

ABSTRACT In this article, we individuate the drivers promoting the investments in renewable energy sources (RESs) and the divergences on the basis of development stage of the countries, using a heterogeneous panel of countries. To address these issues, we employ a dynamic panel analysis of the renewable investments in a large sample of 60 countries with distinct economic and social structures, in the years between 1980 and 2008. In order to analyze the expected divergences in the drivers of investment in renewable sources we split the sample into three different sub-samples, following the classification proposed by World Bank. Results confirm that key factors promoting investments in RESs vary according to groups of countries considered. Poor countries show a strong interest in renewable energy, specially for the incentives given by the international organizations. Countries with higher income increase investments in renewable sources in order to reduce the dependence on other countries.
Fast Method for OTA Performance Testing of Transmit–Receive Cofrequency Mobile Terminal

This paper provides a novel method for measuring of a wireless user equipment, when the equipment uses the same frequency for both transmitting and receiving. The proposed method is based on the fact that the total radiated power (TRP) and the total isotropic sensitivity patterns are complementary for transmit-receive cofrequency mobile terminals. Thus, the proposed method only requires a full TRP test and an accurate efficient isotropic sensitivity test to complete a total OTA performance measurement, resulting in improved test accuracy and decreased measurement time compared to the traditional test method defined in the OTA testing standard. The proposed method is suitable for OTA testing of transmit-receive cofrequency and single-input single-output radio systems, such as cellular communication, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and Bluetooth.
Genome-Wide Mapping of Cystitis Due to Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli in Mice Identifies a Unique Bladder Transcriptome That Signifies Pathogen-Specific Antimicrobial Defense against Urinary Tract Infection

ABSTRACT The most common causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are Gram-negative pathogens such as Escherichia coli; however, Gram-positive organisms, including Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B streptococcus (GBS), also cause UTI. In GBS infection, UTI progresses to cystitis once the bacteria colonize the bladder, but the host responses triggered in the bladder immediately following infection are largely unknown. Here, we used genome-wide expression profiling to map the bladder transcriptome of GBS UTI in mice infected transurethrally with uropathogenic GBS that was cultured from a 35-year-old women with cystitis. RNA from bladders was applied to Affymetrix Gene-1.0ST microarrays; quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze selected gene responses identified in array data sets. A surprisingly small significant-gene list of 172 genes was identified at 24 h; this compared to 2,507 genes identified in a side-by-side comparison with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). No genes exhibited significantly altered expression at 2 h in GBS-infected mice according to arrays despite high bladder bacterial loads at this early time point. The absence of a marked early host response to GBS juxtaposed with broad-based bladder responses activated by UPEC at 2 h. Bioinformatics analyses, including integrative system-level network mapping, revealed multiple activated biological pathways in the GBS bladder transcriptome that regulate leukocyte activation, inflammation, apoptosis, and cytokine-chemokine biosynthesis. These findings define a novel, minimalistic type of bladder host response triggered by GBS UTI, which comprises collective antimicrobial pathways that differ dramatically from those activated by UPEC. Overall, this study emphasizes the unique nature of bladder immune activation mechanisms triggered by distinct uropathogens.
Mathematical modelling of digesta passage rate, mean retention time and in vivo apparent digestibility of two different lengths of hay and big-bale grass silage in ponies

Welsh-cross pony geldings (about 300kg live weight) were used in a 4×4 Latin square experiment to determine the rate of passage and apparent digestibility of unchopped big-bale grass silage (BBL), chopped big-bale grass silage (BBS), unchopped grass hay (HL) and chopped grass hay (HS) offered at approximately 15g/kg live weight per d. On day 1 of collection weeks, ponies were fed 85g ytterbium chloride hexahydrate-marked feed 1·5h after the morning meal. Total faecal collections commenced 8h later and continued for 168h. Apparent digestibilities of feed DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP, N×6·25), acid-detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) were also determined. Faecal excretion data were subjected to the models of Pond et al. (1988) and digesta mean retention time (MRT) calculated from these models and using the algebraic method of Thielmans et al. (1978). Silage had significantly (P<0·05) higher digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, ADF and NDF than hay; however, chop length had no effect. All the models of Pond et al. (1988) accurately described (R2>0·8) the pattern of faecal marker excretion. MRT of BBL (29·0h)>BBS(27h)>HS and HL (26h). Compartmental analysis using the G3 model of Pond et al. (1988) showed BBL and HS diets had longer MRT in the time-dependent compartment, whereas BBS and HL had longer MRT in the time-independent compartment. Results from this experiment indicate that BBL and BBS are readily accepted and digested by ponies. While Yb is a successful external marker for determining total tract MRT and for modelling faecal excretion curves in horses, the results did not allow any definite conclusions to be drawn on digesta MRT within the different compartments of the equid gut.
Passive adaptation or active engagement? The challenges of Housing First internationally and in the Italian case

Abstract In recent years, a peculiar homelessness policy that goes under the name of ‘Housing First’ has become increasingly popular all over the world. Epitomising a quintessential case of policy-mobility, Housing First can today be considered an heterogeneous assemblage of experiences and approaches that sometimes have little in common with each other. Introducing and commenting upon this heterogeneity, the paper critically analyses why and how Housing First has become a planetary success and what are the issues at stake with its widespread implementation. If recent scholarship published in this journal has granted us a fine understanding of Housing First’s functioning in the US, this paper offers something currently absent from the debate: a nuanced and critical understanding of the ambiguities related to the international success of this policy, with specific references to the challenges associated to its translation in the Italian case.
Comparing the competition of Malaysia Islamic and conventional banks

This study aims to analyse three main questions within the Malaysian banking system: Are Islamic banks more competitive than conventional banks? What are the levels of competition for Islamic and conventional banking sectors pre, during and post the 2007-2009 global financial crisis? Does penetration of Islamic banks affect the competitive structure of conventional banks? ,In measuring a bank competition, the author estimates the Panzar–Rosse H-statistic (PRH) method on 17 Islamic and 21 conventional banks in Malaysia over the period of 2004-2013. This is then followed by ordinary least squares (OLS) robust regression analysis to control Islamic banks’ penetration, bank-specific and macroeconomic factors. ,Results from the PRH method (total revenue) suggest that Malaysian Islamic banks are relatively more competitive than their conventional counterparts. Furthermore, the author observes that the level of competition for both Malaysian Islamic and conventional banks increased tremendously during the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. This suggests the impact of the crisis on the level of competition for both banking systems. Finally, the OLS robust regression suggests that Islamic banks’ penetration has a significantly positive impact on the level of competition for conventional banks. The PRH estimation using total interest income indicates similar results, suggesting the robustness of these results. ,This study reveals whether Islamic banks’ penetration is able to increase the level of competition within the conventional banking sector. Knowledge on this is important to the policymaker. ,To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study using the PRH method in comparing the level of competition for Malaysian Islamic and conventional banks. Furthermore, this is the first study analysing the impact of Malaysian Islamic banks’ penetration on the level of competition for conventional banks.
Neuro-genetic model for crude oil price prediction while considering the impact of uncertainties

The purpose of this research is to propose an alternative framework that can meet the needs of the real-world practical application of crude oil price prediction. This study presents an alternative model based on a neural network and genetic algorithm (neuro-genetic) for the prediction of crude oil price while considering the impact of uncertainties. The model was able to learn patterns from volatile crude oil price datasets that were distorted by the Gulf War, Asian financial crises, Iraq War, Venezuelan unrest and global financial crises. The crude oil price predicted by the neuro-genetic model and the actual price were found to be statistically equal. The results obtained by the neuro-genetic model are significantly better than those of the comparison methods in terms of both accuracy and CPU processing time. The model has the potential for realistic, practical application in the real world. [Received: May 9, 2014; Accepted: January 26, 2015]
A Novel Rabies Vaccine Expressing CXCL13 Enhances Humoral Immunity by Recruiting both T Follicular Helper and Germinal Center B Cells

ABSTRACT Rabies remains a public health threat in most parts of the world, and approximately 99% of the cases are transmitted by dogs. There is an urgent need to develop an efficacious and affordable vaccine to control canine-transmitted rabies in developing countries. Our previous studies demonstrate that overexpression of chemokines/cytokines such as CCL-3 (MIP-1α) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can enhance the immunogenicity of rabies vaccines. In the present study, the chemokine CXCL13 was inserted into the genome of the recombinant rabies virus (rRABV) strain LBNSE, and the effect of the chemokine CXCL13 on the immunogenicity of RABV was investigated. It was found that LBNSE-CXCL13 recruited follicular helper T (Tfh) and germinal center (GC) B cells, promoted the formation of GCs, and increased the population of plasma cells in immunized mice. Further studies showed that mice immunized with LBNSE-CXCL13 produced more rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) and developed better protection than those immunized with the parent virus LBNSE or the GM-CSF-expressing RABV (LBNSE-GM-CSF). Collectively, these findings provide a better understanding of the role of CXCL13 expression in the immunogenicity of the RABV, which may help in designing more-efficacious rabies vaccines. IMPORTANCE Rabies is endemic in most parts of the world, and more effort is needed to develop affordable and effective vaccines to control or eliminate this disease. The chemokine CXCL13 recruits both Tfh and B cells, which is essential for the homing of Tfh cells and the development of B cell follicles. In this study, the effect of the overexpression of CXCL13 on the immunogenicity of the RABV was evaluated in a mouse model. We found that CXCL13 expression promoted humoral immunity by recruiting Tfh and GC B cells, facilitating the formation of GCs, and increasing the number of plasma cells. As expected, the overexpression of CXCL13 resulted in enhanced virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) production and protection against a virulent RABV challenge. These findings provide a better understanding of the role of CXCL13 in RABV-induced immune responses, which will help in designing more efficacious rabies vaccines.