Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Voting Have Upstream and Downstream Consequences? Evidence from Compulsory Voting in Brazil

Economists, political scientists, policy-makers, and practitioners have long examined voting: paying a great deal of attention to questions like, “who votes? ”, “why do people vote? ”, and “how can we get more people to vote? ” However, few have considered whether getting people to vote changes their broader attitudes and non-voting behaviors. In this paper, we use Brazil’s compulsory voting system to consider the effect of a large exogenous increase in voting on young citizens’ political interest, associational memberships, social awareness, and political knowledge in the lead up to the first compulsory voting experience (“upstream”) and in the months after (“downstream”). Using a unique, large dataset and a quasi-experimental strategy based on an exact-date-of-birth discontinuity design, we show that voting has little to no upstream or downstream effects on measurable attitudes, values and non-voting behaviors. These results suggest that while voting may be an important behavior in its own right, it may have much smaller transformative effects over the average individual than previously thought.
Inequalities in Students' Choice of STEM Subjects: An Exploration of Intersectional Relationships. CLS Working Paper 2015/6.

The for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Resource Centre based at the UCL Institution of Education (IOE). It manages four internationally-renowned cohort studies: the 1958 National Child Development Study, the 1970 British Cohort Study, Next Steps, and the Millennium Cohort Study. For more information, visit www.cls. ioe.ac. uk. The views expressed in this work are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CLS, the IOE or the ESRC. All errors and omissions remain those of the author. Abstract: The relative lack of students studying post-compulsory STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects is a key policy concern. A particular issue is the disparities in uptake by students’ family background, gender and ethnicity. It remains unclear whether the effects of family background can be explained by academic disparities, and prior research has only considered student characteristics as having additive effects, and has not yet considered whether these characteristics interact in determining choices. Using data from more than 4,000 students in England from the ‘Next Steps’, I use logistic regression methods to consider these questions. Disparities by students’ ethnicity are shown to increase when considering prior attainment. Parents’ education and social class are differentially related to uptake for male and female students. Disparities in degree choice by parents’ education persist when conditioning on prior attainment suggesting a leak in the pipeline’, particularly for young women from less educated families. Disparities in uptake by gender are only observed for low and middle Socio-Economic Position (SEP) families. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Agglomerative joint clustering of metabolic data with spike at zero: A Bayesian perspective

In many biological applications, for example high‐dimensional metabolic data, the measurements consist of several continuous measurements of subjects or tissues over multiple attributes or metabolites. Measurement values are put in a matrix with subjects in rows and attributes in columns. The analysis of such data requires grouping subjects and attributes to provide a primitive guide toward data modeling. A common approach is to group subjects and attributes separately, and construct a two‐dimensional dendrogram tree, once on rows and then on columns. This simple approach provides a grouping visualization through two separate trees, which is difficult to interpret jointly. When a joint grouping of rows and columns is of interest, it is more natural to partition the data matrix directly. Our suggestion is to build a dendrogram on the matrix directly, thus generalizing the two‐dimensional dendrogram tree to a three‐dimensional forest. The contribution of this research to the statistical analysis of metabolic data is threefold. First, a novel spike‐and‐slab model in various hierarchies is proposed to identify discriminant rows and columns. Second, an agglomerative approach is suggested to organize joint clusters. Third, a new visualization tool is invented to demonstrate the collection of joint clusters. The new method is motivated over gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) metabolic data, but can be applied to other continuous measurements with spike at zero property.
Translocation and Stability of Replicative DNA Helicases upon Encountering DNA-Protein Cross-links*

Background: DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are formed by DNA-damaging agents. Results: DPCs on the translocating strand but not on the nontranslocating strand block hexameric replicative helicases in a size-dependent manner. Stalled helicases dissociate from DNA with a half-life of 15–36 min. Conclusion: DPCs on the translocating and nontranslocating strands constitute helicase and polymerase blocks, respectively. Significance: Reversible and irreversible protein roadblocks may have distinct effects on replisomes. DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are formed when cells are exposed to various DNA-damaging agents. Because DPCs are extremely large, steric hindrance conferred by DPCs is likely to affect many aspects of DNA transactions. In DNA replication, DPCs are first encountered by the replicative helicase that moves at the head of the replisome. However, little is known about how replicative helicases respond to covalently immobilized protein roadblocks. In the present study we elucidated the effect of DPCs on the DNA unwinding reaction of hexameric replicative helicases in vitro using defined DPC substrates. DPCs on the translocating strand but not on the nontranslocating strand impeded the progression of the helicases including the phage T7 gene 4 protein, simian virus 40 large T antigen, Escherichia coli DnaB protein, and human minichromosome maintenance Mcm467 subcomplex. The impediment varied with the size of the cross-linked proteins, with a threshold size for clearance of 5.0–14.1 kDa. These results indicate that the central channel of the dynamically translocating hexameric ring helicases can accommodate only small proteins and that all of the helicases tested use the steric exclusion mechanism to unwind duplex DNA. These results further suggest that DPCs on the translocating and nontranslocating strands constitute helicase and polymerase blocks, respectively. The helicases stalled by DPC had limited stability and dissociated from DNA with a half-life of 15–36 min. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the distinct stabilities of replisomes that encounter tight but reversible DNA-protein complexes and irreversible DPC roadblocks.
Niclosamide Overcomes Acquired Resistance to Erlotinib through Suppression of STAT3 in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

The emergence of resistance to EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy is a major clinical problem for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The mechanisms underlying tumor resistance to inhibitors of the kinase activity of EGFR are not fully understood. Here, we found that inhibition of EGFR by erlotinib induces STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 in association with increased Bcl2/Bcl-XL at both mRNA and protein levels in various human lung cancer cells. PTPMeg2 is a physiologic STAT3 phosphatase that can directly dephosphorylate STAT3 at the Tyr705 site. Intriguingly, treatment of cells with erlotinib results in downregulation of PTPMeg2 without activation of STAT3 kinases [i.e., Janus-activated kinase (JAK2) or c-Src], suggesting that erlotinib-enhanced phosphorylation of STAT3 may occur, at least in part, from suppression of PTPMeg2 expression. Because elevated levels of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), Bcl2, and Bcl-XL were observed in erlotinib-resistant lung cancer (HCC827/ER) cells as compared with erlotinib-sensitive parental HCC827 cells, we postulate that the erlotinib-activated STAT3/Bcl2/Bcl-XL survival pathway may contribute to acquired resistance to erlotinib. Both blockage of Tyr705 phosphorylation of STAT3 by niclosamide and depletion of STAT3 by RNA interference in HCC827/ER cells reverse erlotinib resistance. Niclosamide in combination with erlotinib potently represses erlotinib-resistant lung cancer xenografts in association with increased apoptosis in tumor tissues, suggesting that niclosamide can restore sensitivity to erlotinib. These findings uncover a novel mechanism of erlotinib resistance and provide a novel approach to overcome resistance by blocking the STAT3/Bcl2/Bcl-XL survival signaling pathway in human lung cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(10); 2200–12. ©2013 AACR.
Cell Cycle-Dependent Expression of Phosphorylated Histone H2AX: Reduced Expression in Unirradiated but not X-Irradiated G1-Phase Cells

Abstract MacPhail, S. H. , Banáth, J. P., Yu, Y. T. , Chu, E. and Olive, P. L. Cell Cycle-Dependent Expression of Phosphorylated Histone H2AX: Reduced Expression in Unirradiated but not X-Irradiated G1-Phase Cells. Radiat. Res. 159, 759–767 (2003). Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation causes phosphorylation of histone H2AX at sites flanking DNA double-strand breaks. Detection of phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) by antibody binding has been used as a method to identify double-strand breaks. Although generally performed by observing microscopic foci within cells, flow cytometry offers the advantage of measuring changes in γH2AX intensity in relation to cell cycle position. The importance of cell cycle position on the levels of endogenous and radiation-induced γH2AX was examined in cell lines that varied in DNA content, cell cycle distribution, and kinase activity. Bivariate analysis of γH2AX expression relative to DNA content and synchronization by centrifugal elutriation were used to measure cell cycle-specific expression of γH2AX. With the exception of xrs5 cells, γH2AX level was approximately 3 times lower in unirradiated G1-phase cells than S- and G2-phase cells, and the slope of the G1-phase dose–response curve was 2.8 times larger than the slope for S-phase cells. Cell cycle differences were confirmed using immunoblotting, indicating that reduced antibody accessibility in intact cells was not responsible for the reduced antibody binding in G1-phase cells. Early apoptotic cells could be easily identified on flow histograms as a population with 5–10-fold higher levels of γH2AX, although high expression was not maintained in apoptotic cells by 24 h. We conclude that expression of γH2AX is associated with DNA replication in unirradiated cells and that this reduces the sensitivity for detecting radiation-induced double-strand breaks in S- and G2-phase cells.
Self-reported questionnaire for surveillance of periodontitis in Chinese patients from a prosthodontic clinic: a validation study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Periodontal maintenance is critical for the long-term success of prosthodontic treatment. This study investigates the validity of questionnaires/models in monitoring periodontitis for Chinese prosthodontic patients. METHODS In total, 114 patients completed the questionnaire. The chi-squared test and classification and regression trees were used to screen for predictive items. Predictive models developed by Yamamoto et al. and Dietrich et al. were validated using ROC curves and calibration plots. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that demographic features (age, gender, smoking history, education history and number of remaining teeth), symptoms(tooth mobility without injury, painful gums), dental recommendations ("need periodontal or gum treatment? ") and treatment history (scaling and root planing) were predictive of periodontitis. The AUC values of the Yamamoto model and Dietrich's model-a and model-b were 0.67, 0.89, and 0.89 for moderate/severe periodontitis and 0.78, 0.93, and 0.93 for severe periodontitis, respectively. The calibration plot showed that Dietrich's model-a and model-b accurately predicted the actual probability of moderate/severe and severe periodontitis, respectively. CONCLUSION Questionnaires may be an efficient approach to monitor periodontal health in China. Dietrich's models, with age, smoking and self-reported mobility as predictors, can be used to monitor periodontal health for Chinese prosthodontic patients.
Bluetongue vaccines: the past, present and future

Bluetongue (BT) is a noncontagious and arboviral disease of both domestic and wild ruminants. The disease is enzootic in areas where reservoirs (cattle and wild ruminants) and vectors exist for the BT virus (BTV). A total of 24 BTV serotypes have been recognized worldwide. The major control measures include restriction of animal movement, vector control applying insecticides, slaughter of infected animals and vaccination. Prophylactic immunization of sheep against BT is the most practical and effective control measure to combat BT infection. At present, attenuated vaccines are used in the Republic of South Africa, the USA and other countries. However, EU countries were using attenuated vaccines, only recently shifting to inactivated vaccines owing to their safety and efficacy. In India, inactivated vaccines are in experimental stages and are expected to be on the market shortly. Inactivated vaccines generate serotype-specific long-lasting protective immunity after two injections, and may help in controlling epidemics. Differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) is theoretically possible with inactivated vaccines but has not yet been developed, whereas the attenuated live vaccines are not candidates for DIVA. Attenuated live vaccines are efficacious but safety issues are of great concern. New-generation vaccines (subunit, virus-like particles, core-like particles and vectored) can be employed for DIVA. Recombinant vaccines, which generate cross-protection against multiple BTV serotypes, have great potential in BT vaccine regimens. Furthermore, new-generation vaccines are safe and efficacious experimentally, but large-scale field trials are warranted. Alternative areas, such as antivirals, siRNA, interferon and nanotechnology, may be of future use in the control of BT. We give an overview of BT vaccines, starting from conventional to recent developments, and their feasibility in controlling BT infection.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I and II Polymorphism in Iranian Healthy Population from Yazd Province.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are the most polymorphic loci in the human genome and have been widely studied in various populations and ethnic groups. Investigations into the HLA genes and proteins have been useful tool for anthropological, transplantation and disease association studies. The polymorphism of the HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DRB1, DQA1, DQB1) genes were investigated in 90 unrelated Iranian individuals from Yazd province located in the center of Iran using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Allele and haplotype frequencies, expected/observed heterozygosity, unbiased expected heterozygosity, number of effective alleles, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg (HW) equilibrium and genetic diversity were computed. A total of 23, 48, 23, 24, 13 and 16 alleles for HLA-A, -B,-C, -DRB1, -DQA and -DQB loci were determined, respectively in the population study. The most frequent allele identified in this study were A*02:01 (18.889%), HLA-B* 51:01 (12.778%), HLA-C* 12:03 (17.033%), HLA-DRB* 11 (24.4%), HLA-DQA* 05:05 (20.55%) and HLA-DQB*03:01 (22.8%). Furthermore, the most frequent 3-locus haplotypes were DRB*11-DQA*05:01-DQB*03:01 (21.1%), HLA-A*02:01- B *50:01- DRB*07:01 (4.9%) and A*26:01 -B* 38:01 -C*12:03(5%). The most 4-locus haplotype were A*11:01 -B* 52:01 -C*12:03 -DRB! *15(2.5%) and A*02:01 -B* 50:01 -DRB1*07:01 -DQB1*02:01(4.5%). The heterozygosity of the study population was confirmed the expected value and not deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for all loci (p>0.05). Our study shows a close relatedness between Yazd population and other ethnic group of Iran despite some differences, which may be due to admixture of each one of these groups with each other or foreigner subpopulations during centuries. Moreover, the results of this study suggest that the Iranian population from Yazd province is in close vicinity with the Caucasians populations and far from the Korean and Japanese populations.
Korteweg-de Vries soliton excitation in Bénard-Marangoni convection.

For a two-dimensional shallow liquid layer open to air and subjected to a thermal gradient (B\'enard problem), the threshold condition is given for the onset of a Korteweg\char21{}de Vries soliton as the result of an instability triggered by the Marangoni effect, i.e., by the variation of the interfacial tension with temperature or concentration of a surfactant. In the absence of buoyancy, in contrast with B\'enard convection, the heating for standard liquids must be done from the air side. However, for liquids exhibiting a minimum in surface tension with temperature the heating can also be done from the liquid side when operating past the minimum where the surface-tension coefficient increases with temperature.
Intangible Assets and Value Creation

List of Interviews. Foreword. Foreward to the German edition. About the Author. Introduction. PART 1. NEW CORPORATE VALUES. Intangible Assets: The Foundation of a New Economy. New Corporate Success Factors. PART 2. THE NEW ENTERPRISE. Openness and Transparency as Success Factors. Value Creation through Structural Capital. PART 3. NEW MANAGEMENT. New Value Drivers Require a New Management Approach. Architecture and Elements of the New Management System. The New Performance Measurement and Accounting System. New Management Processes and Concepts for the New Management System. Implementing the New Management System New Roles for Managers. PART 4. EPILOGUE. Intangible Assets and the Wealth of Nations. Bibliography. Index.
An efficient fringe integral equation method for optimizing the antenna location on complex bodies

The radiation pattern of an antenna mounted nearby, or directly on, a complex three-dimensional (3D) structure can be significantly influenced by this structure. Integral equations combined with the method of moments (MoM) provide an accurate means for calculating the scattering from the structures in such applications. The structure is then modelled by triangular or rectangular surface patches with corresponding surface current expansion functions. A MoM matrix which is independent of the antenna location can be obtained by modelling the antenna as an impressed electric or magnetic source, e.g., a slot antenna can be modelled by a magnetic Hertzian dipole. For flush-mounted antennas, or antennas mounted in close vicinity of the scattering structure, the nearby impressed source induces a highly peaked surface current on the scattering structure. For the low-order basis functions usually applied in conventional integral equation solvers, a peaked current poses a challenging problem since it necessitates a large number of unknowns and excessive computation times. A fringe dual-surface magnetic field integral equation (F-DMFIE) that eliminates the problem of peaked currents and fields, even for impressed sources located arbitrarily close to the surface of the structure, was presented by Jorgensen, Meincke and Breinbjerg (see Proc. of the Applied Computational Electromagnetic Symp., Monterey, CA,. March 2001). In this formulation, the surface current on the structure is obtained by evaluating a number of line integrals and performing a single matrix-vector multiplication for each antenna location. This paper reviews the F-DMFIE formulation and applies it to a more complicated geometry than that of Jorgensen et al. In addition, efficient solution methods for multiple antenna locations, including parallel implementations, are discussed.
What do organizational leaders need from lean graduate programming

Purpose This paper aims to assess the needs for a lean continuous improvement professional certificate and/or lean leadership cognate for a Doctorate of Education in leadership focused in three main research questions: “What do organizational leaders need from a Lean graduate programming? ”; “What are the preferable methods of delivery for Lean teaching/learning? ” and “What are the main learner outcomes and do how these impact organizational and continuous improvement outcomes? ” Design/methodology/approach A survey to 37 organizational leaders in a North-American state was conducted via telephone and email that were returned to the researcher. The survey was designed to target a solid cross-section of organizational decision makers in regard to the need for and type of lean training desired, if at all, for employees. Using a mixed methods approach, the survey was designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative information. Findings Respondents indicated that lean continuous improvement thinking and lean process-project management were most the desirable content options. The method of delivery was not as clear with on-ground and online relying on job-embedded, project-based methods as most desirable approaches. Learner outcomes of mastery of lean content along with the ability to impact organizational and continuous improvement outcomes were favored. Originality/value Lean leadership education is valued learning by organizational leaders. As so, higher education institutions must be aware of matching better organizational needs with learning experiences. This paper presents a survey that intended to do this in an original way.
Colloïdes magnétiques: auto-organisation et applications biologiques

Ce manuscrit pr´esente l'´etude de latex magn´etiques auto-organis´es. Dans un premier temps, l'obtention de filaments magn´etiques, compos´es d'assemblages lin´eaires et permanents de particules magn´etiques, est pr´esent´ee. Ces objets nouveaux introduisent une m´ethode originale pour sonder la flexibilit´e `a l'´echelle mol´eculaire. Sous champ, ils adoptent une configuration m´etastable : ils se plient en forme d'´epingle`a cheveux. A partir de la mesure macroscopique de leur rayon de courbure, corr´el´ee `a la mesure par diusion de la lumi`ere de la longueur du lien, la rigidit´e de flexion de ce dernier peut ˆetre d´eduite. La mod´elisation de ce ph´enom`ene est aussi d´ecrite. Enfin, l'organisation de ces filaments, dans des microcanaux, constitue une nouvelle matrice de s´eparation que l'on a cherch´e `a appliquer, ici, au tri cellulaire. L'obtention d'un r´eseau de pas contrˆol´e, l'accrochage des filaments `a la paroi, leur d´ecoration par des anticorps sp´ecifiques sont d´etaill´es. Enfin la possibilit´e de proc´eder `a une chromatographie des cellules est introduite. Ces nouveaux objets ouvrent un champ d'applications dans le domaine des laboratoires sur puce.