Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A rationale for direct instruction to teach summary writing following expository text reading

Abstract Based on a review of the literature, the premise is developed that summary writing is an extremely complex task that is not appreciably enhanced through trial and error methods. Rather, the position is taken that some direct instruction is necessary to enable students to develop summaries that are brief, but yet contain a significant amount of meaningful information. A specific summary writing strategy is then advocated that integrates five steps from a model for direct instruction with six basic rules that have been identified for summarizing text. Finally, since summary writing can be a challenging and arduous task for some students, motivational considerations are discussed.
Human and organizational factors in Chinese hazardous chemical accidents: a case study of the ‘8.12’ Tianjin Port fire and explosion using the HFACS-HC

Human and organizational factors have been proven to be the prime causes of Chinese hazardous chemical accidents (HCAs). A modified version of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), namely the HFACS-Hazardous Chemicals (HC), was developed to identify the human factors involved in Chinese HCAs. The ‘8.12’ Tianjin Port fire and explosion, the costliest HCA in recent years, was reanalyzed using this framework, and the results were compared with the official accident inquiry report to determine their differences related to the identification of human and organizational factors. The study revealed that interacting human factors from different levels in Ruihai Company led to this catastrophe, and the inquiry report had limitations in the identification of human factors and the guidance for similar accident prevention. This study showed the applicability of the HFACS-HC in HCA analyses as well as the necessity to recommend this approach for future HCA investigations.
A Necessary Condition for Dynamic Equivalence

If two control systems on manifolds of the same dimension are dynamic equivalent, we prove that either they are static equivalent, i.e., equivalent via a classical diffeomorphism, or they are both ruled; for systems of different dimensions, the one of higher dimension must be ruled. A ruled system is one whose equations define at each point in the state manifold a ruled submanifold of the tangent space. Dynamic equivalence is also known as equivalence by endogenous dynamic feedback or by a Lie-Backlund transformation when control systems are viewed as underdetermined systems of ordinary differential equations; it is very close to absolute equivalence for Pfaffian systems. It was already known that a differentially flat system must be ruled; this was a particular case of the present result, in which one of the systems was assumed to be “trivial” (or linear controllable).
Treatment of COPD: the sooner the better?

Classical belief is that only smoking cessation, and not pharmacotherapy, beneficially affect disease progression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In recent years, new data on pharmacotherapy of COPD became available that shed new light on this question. The present paper reviews these data critically in an attempt to put them in a proper perspective. The most impressive new data are subgroup analyses of two large-scale long-term trials. With these new data it is now clear that patients in GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) stage II benefit as much from pharmacotherapy as patients in the later stages of the disease. Effects on prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), health-related quality of life, exacerbations and hospitalisations appear at least as pronounced in GOLD stage II as in the other GOLD stages. In addition, evidence suggestive of an effect on disease progression is available in the sense of an effect on rate of decline of FEV1, and trends for reductions in mortality. Finally, good evidence is available that, in contrast to conventional thinking, decline of FEV1 occurs at a considerably faster rate in the early stages of the disease. These data together with the high prevalence of co-morbidities from early in the disease onwards provide us with strong suggestive evidence for early intensive intervention in COPD. New trials, particularly demonstrating the detrimental effects of delaying treatment until later in the course of the disease, are required to render the evidence for early intensive intervention irrefutable.
Progression of Glomerular Filtration Rate Reduction Determined in Conscious Dahl Salt-Sensitive Hypertensive Rats

Sequential changes in glomerular filtration rate during development of hypertension in the conscious Dahl salt-sensitive rats were determined using a new method for measurement. Using a miniaturized device, disappearance curves of fluorescein isothiocyanate–sinistrin were measured by transcutaneous excitation and real-time detection of the emitted light through the skin. Rats with implanted femoral venous catheters (dye injection and sampling) and carotid catheters (mean arterial pressure by telemetry) were studied, while maintained on a 0.4% NaCl diet and on days 2, 5, 7, 14, and 21 after switching to 4.0% (high-salt [HS]) diet. A separate group of rats were maintained on 0.4% for 21 days as a time control. Mean arterial pressure rose progressively from the last day of 0.4% (130±2 mm Hg) reaching significance by day 5 of HS and averaged 162±7 mm Hg by day 21. Urine albumin excretion was significantly elevated (×3) by day 7 of HS in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Glomerular filtration rate reduced on day 14 of HS falling from 1.53±0.06 mL/min per 100 g body weight to 1.27±0.04. By day 21, glomerular filtration rate had fallen 28% to 1.1±0.04 mL/min per 100 g (t1/2 28.4±1.1 minute.) No significant reductions of creatinine clearance were observed throughout the study in response to HS demonstrating the insensitivity of creatinine clearance measurements even with creatinine measured using mass spectrometry. We conclude that the observed reduction of glomerular filtration rate was a consequence and not a cause of the hypertension and that this noninvasive approach could be used in these conscious Dahl salt-sensitive rats for a longitudinal assessment of renal function.
Social Media Content Analysis in the Higher Education Sector: From Content to Strategy

Social media has become one of the most prolific fields for interchange of multidisciplinary expertise. In this paper, computer science, communication and management are brought together for the development of a sound strategic content analysis, in the Higher Education Sector. The authors present a study comprised of two stages: analysis of SM content and corresponding audience engagement according to a weighted scale, and a classification of content strategies, which builds on different noticeable articulations of editorial areas among organizations. Their approach is based on an automatic classification of content according to a pre-defined editorial model. The proposed methodology and research results offer academic and practical findings for organizations striving on social media.
Auditory versus Audio-Visual Intelligibility Measurements of Alaryngeal Speech: A Preliminary Report

This investigation supports the notion that audio-visual presentations of esophageal speech to 32 university student judges yield a relative increase in rated intelligibility in contrast with esophageal speech presented auditorily. Implications suggest that to construct realistic therapeutic goals of an esophageal speaker more effectively, the audio-visual component should be included in the clinical assessment.
Differential expression of microRNAs in myometrium and leiomyomas and regulation by ovarian steroids

Given the emerging roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) as key regulator of mRNA stability we assessed their expression profile in paired myometrium and leiomyoma, their isolated smooth muscle cells (MSMC and LSMC), a spontaneously transformed leiomyoma smooth muscle cells (T‐LSMC) and SK‐LMS‐1, a leiomyosarcoma cell line using microarray and real time PCR.Based on global normalization of expression values of 385 miRNAs and statistical analysis (anova), 91 miRNAs were expressed above the threshold levels in myometrium, with a progressive decline in numbers in leiomyomas, MSMC, LSMC, T‐LSMC and SK‐LMS‐1 (P<0.05). We selected and validated the expression of miR‐20a, miR‐21, miR‐26a, miR‐18a, miR‐206, miR‐181a and miR‐142–5p and found their differential expression in tissue and cell‐specific manners (P<0.05). Treatments of MSMC and LSMC with 17β estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate (10−8M), or ICI‐182780 and RU‐486 (10−6M) resulted in differential regulation of these miRNAs (P<0.05). In conclusion, the expression of a number of miRNAs in myometrium and leiomyoma with their progressive aberrant from normal MSMC into LSMC, transformed and cancerous stage, suggests that miRNAs and their regulation by ovarian steroids play a key role in pathogenesis of leiomyoma through gene expression stability.
The prevalence and nature of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI) identifi ed using different cognitive testing methodologies

This poster is fi nancially supported by Bracket. Poster presentation at the 10th Anniversary International Society of Clinical Trials Methodology (ISCTM) Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, 18-20 February 2014 Keith A. Wesnes, PhD1,2,3 and Peter Annas, PhD4 1Bracket, Goring-on-Thames, UK; 2Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia; 3Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK; 4Bracket, Wayne, PA, USA keith.wesnes@bracketglobal.com
SpanDex: Secure Password Tracking for Android

This paper presents SpanDex, a set of extensions to Android's Dalvik virtual machine that ensures apps do not leak users' passwords. The primary technical challenge addressed by SpanDex is precise, sound, and efficient handling of implicit information flows (e.g., information transferred by a program's control flow). SpanDex handles implicit flows by borrowing techniques from symbolic execution to precisely quantify the amount of information a process' control flow reveals about a secret. To apply these techniques at runtime without sacrificing performance, SpanDex runs untrusted code in a data-flow sensitive sandbox, which limits the mix of operations that an app can perform on sensitive data. Experiments with a SpanDex prototype using 50 popular Android apps and an analysis of a large list of leaked passwords predicts that for 90% of users, an attacker would need over 80 login attempts to guess their password. Today the same attacker would need only one attempt for all users.
Simultaneous deconvolution and phase retrieval from noisy data

In this work we present a new method for image reconstruction from the magnitude of its Fourier transform assuming availability of a blurred (low-resolution) version of the sought image. The method is based on convex optimization techniques that were previously considered impractical for the phase retrieval problem. However, experiments demonstrate that in case of noisy measurements, our method significantly outperforms classical method both in terms of reconstruction quality and number of iterations required. c © 2010
Arterial Elasticity, Strength, Fatigue, and Endurance in Older Women

Arterial health may influence muscle function in older adults. Study purpose was to determine whether arterial elasticity is related to strength, central and peripheral fatigue, fatigue at rest, and treadmill endurance. Subjects were 91 healthy women aged >60. Treadmill endurance and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) were measured. Peripheral and central fatigue for the knee extensors were evaluated using two isometric fatigue tests (one voluntary and one adding electrical stimulation). Arterial elasticity was determined using radial artery pulse wave analysis. Linear multiple regression was used in statistical analysis. Large artery elasticity was associated with central fatigue (P < 0.01) and treadmill endurance (P < 0.02) after adjusting for VO2 max and knee extension strength. Subjective fatigue at rest was related to large artery elasticity after adjusting for ethnic origin (<0.02). Strength was significantly related to small artery elasticity after adjusting for ethnic origin, leg lean tissue, age, and blood pressure. Arterial elasticity is independently related to strength and fatigue in older women, especially in the central nervous system where arterial elasticity is independently related to perceptions of fatigue at rest and central fatigue. These results suggest that arterial health may be involved with the ability of the central nervous system to activate muscle in older women.
Keep on Truckin’ or Stay the Course? Exploring Grit Dimensions as Differential Predictors of Educational Achievement, Satisfaction, and Intentions

In an ongoing effort to identify predictors of educational success and achievement, grit has emerged as a seemingly useful disposition. Grit is conceived as the combination of perseverance of effort and consistency of interest over time, but the predictive utility of these two dimensions has rarely been explored separately, and the limited research available has considered a small number of outcomes. This article draws upon three samples at two universities to examine the relationships between grit dimensions and various student outcomes. Multiple regression results indicated that perseverance of effort predicted greater academic adjustment, college grade point average, college satisfaction, sense of belonging, faculty–student interactions, and intent to persist, while it was inversely related to intent to change majors. Consistency of interest was associated with less intent to change majors and careers, but it was not significantly associated with any other outcome in the expected direction when controlling for other variables.
Association between offspring birth weight and atherosclerosis in middle aged men and women: British Regional Heart Study

L ow birth weight is associated with cardiovascular disease in adulthood, but the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear.1 One possibility is that poor intra-uterine nutrition “programmes” adult disease.1 An alternative hypothesis is that specific polymorphisms with pleiotrophic effects result in both small birth size and cardiovascular disease risk.2 Epidemiological evidence for a genetic role in the association comes from the recent finding that offspring birth weight predicts parental cardiovascular disease risk.3,4 As an infant’s low birth weight cannot determine its own parents’ risk of cardiovascular disease through intrauterine programming, a plausible explanation for these trans-generational associations is that of a common genetic link. In this paper we investigate the associations between offspring birth weight and parental carotid intima media thickness, an indicator of pre-clinical disease. Data were used from the Dewsbury and Maidstone cohort of the British Regional Heart Study. B-mode ultrasound measurements of carotid arteries, together with a detailed physical examination, blood tests, and research nurse interview were undertaken on 375 women and 425 men, aged 56–75 years. Full details of all measurements have been …
Every Minute Counts: Studying the Likelihood of Volunteering 1

The purpose of the present research was to explore the effectiveness of the phrase “every minute helps” on volunteering among college students. Over 150 students were surveyed as to whether they would volunteer for an on-campus activity promoting school spirit. Two versions of the survey were randomly distributed to students that included one of two phrases requesting volunteers; one used the key phrase “Every minute helps” and the other phrase was “Your contribution helps. ” Analysis showed that more minutes were donated when the key phrase was present in the survey. It was concluded that organizations interested in trying to increase volunteerism should look carefully at how they make their requests.
Measuring user acceptance of emerging information technologies: an assessment of possible method biases

The measurement scales for the perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use constructs introduced by F.D. Davis (1989) become widely used for forecasting user acceptance of emerging information technologies. An experiment was conducted to examine whether grouping of items caused artifactual inflation of reliability and validity measures. We found support for our hypothesis that the reliability and validity stemmed not from item grouping but from the constructs of perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use being clearly defined, and the items used to measure each of these constructs clearly capturing the essence of the construct. <<ETX>>
Why Do States Adopt Liberal Immigration Policies? The Policymaking Dynamics of Skilled Visa Reform in Australia

The question of why states actively choose to relax skilled immigration controls given the potential political risks involved remains largely unaddressed in the non-European context. Using a systematic process analysis of recent policy change in Australia, this paper asks whether comparative political economy frameworks, which have been conceived mainly with reference to European states with corporatist policy-making traditions, can explain the reasons for liberal skilled visa reform in states where governments have greater autonomy from the ‘social partners’. Consistent with the assumptions of these frameworks, labour market demands generated by a predominant liberal production regime strongly conditioned the policy preferences of key actors and institutions in the Australian case, which in turn influenced skilled visa reform. The findings suggest that while the comparative political economy frameworks have considerable utility in explaining skilled immigration policy change in non-European cases, they cannot fully account for the autonomy and distinct motivations of the state and the influence of ‘non-market’ factors over policy preferences and actor behaviour.
The Bradykinin B2-Receptor in Human Decidua

Bacterial infection of the amniotic cavity is one of the most frequent causes of preterm delivery. Bacterial products activate a network of autocrine and paracrine mediators in fetal membranes and decidua, with prostaglandins finally inducing contractions of the myometrium. Bradykinin and its B2-receptor (B2R) seem to be part of this network. In cultured decidua-derived cells, bradykinin stimulates the release of arachidonic acid, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). These effects are prevented by the specific B2R antagonist Hoe 140. Using a pooled antiserum against peptide sequences of the B2R protein, the receptor can be visualized immunocytochemically. The cells contain mRNA for the B2R, as shown by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Binding studies reveal specific and saturable binding sites for bradykinin with characteristics of the B2R. Binding of bradykinin to the cells is enhanced by the inflammatory mediator interleukin-1beta. In summary, human decidua-derived cells express the B2R, its expression is upregulated in response to interleukin-1beta, and bradykinin stimulates the secretion of further mediators by these cells. Thus, bradykinin and the B2R could play a central role in decidual activation. If so, B2R antagonists would add to established tocolytic therapies that are applied together with antibiotics in cases of chorioamnionitis at low gestational age.
Subtypes of major depression in substance dependence.

AIMS This study evaluated features that differentiate subtypes of major depressive episode (MDE) in the context of substance dependence (SD). Design Secondary data analysis using pooled data from family-based and case-control genetic studies of SD. SETTING Community recruitment through academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1929 unrelated subjects with alcohol and/or drug dependence. MEASUREMENTS Demographics, diagnostic criteria for psychiatric and substance use disorders and related clinical features were obtained using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism. We compared four groups: no life-time MDE (no MDE), independent MDE only (I-MDE), substance-induced MDE only (SI-MDE) and both types of MDE. FINDINGS Psychiatric measures were better predictors of MDE subtype than substance-related or socio-demographic ones. Subjects with both types of MDE reported more life-time depressive symptoms and comorbid anxiety disorders and were more likely to have attempted suicide than subjects with I-MDE or SI-MDE. Subjects with both types of MDE, like those with I-MDE, were also more likely than subjects with SI-MDE to be alcohol-dependent only than either drug-dependent only or both alcohol- and drug-dependent. CONCLUSIONS SD individuals with both types of MDE have greater psychiatric severity than those with I-MDE only or SI-MDE only. These and other features that distinguish among the MDE subtypes have important diagnostic and potential therapeutic implications.
Effets cumulés des activités forestières sur la sélection d'habitat du loup gris (Canis lupus) en forêt boréale aménagée

o The purpose of this study was to assess the cumulative effects of logging activities on habitat selection by gray wolf (Canis lupus). We used resource selection functions to evaluate 0 whether the use of anthropogenic features, such as roads and cutblocks, varied according to their abundance in the landscape. During the dennirig period, the probability of wolf occurrence on roads increased with roads density, while the selection of cutblocks decreased as their local abundance increased. During the rendez-vous period, the selection of roads and regenerating cutblocks (5 -15 years) decreased in areas of the landscape where these anthropogenic features were abundant. Finally, during the nomadic period, the selection of recent cutblocks «5 years) decreased as their local abundance increased in the landscape. We conclude that cumulative effects of logging activities can have profound effects on landscape use by wolves, thereby influencing predator-prey spatial dynamics.
Adenosine A 1 receptor-mediated inhibition of in vitro prolactin secretion from the rat anterior pituitary

In previous studies, we demonstrated biphasic purinergic effects on prolactin (PRL) secretion stimulated by an adenosine A2 agonist. In the present study, we investigated the role of the activation of adenosine A1 receptors by (R)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA) at the pituitary level in in vitro PRL secretion. Hemipituitaries (one per cuvette in five replicates) from adult male rats were incubated. Administration of R-PIA (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μM) induced a reduction of PRL secretion into the medium in a U-shaped doseresponse curve. The maximal reduction was obtained with 0.1 μM RPIA (mean ± SEM, 36.01 ± 5.53 ng/mg tissue weight (t.w.)) treatment compared to control (264.56 ± 15.46 ng/mg t.w.). R-PIA inhibition (0.01 μM = 141.97 ± 15.79 vs control = 244.77 ± 13.79 ng/mg t.w.) of PRL release was blocked by 1 μM cyclopentyltheophylline, a specific A1 receptor antagonist (1 μM = 212.360 ± 26.560 ng/mg t.w.), whereas cyclopentyltheophylline alone (0.01, 0.1, 1 μM) had no effect. R-PIA (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 μM) produced inhibition of PRL secretion stimulated by both phospholipase C (0.5 IU/mL; 977.44 ± 76.17 ng/mg t.w.) and dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM; 415.93 ± 37.66 ng/mg t.w.) with nadir established at the dose of 0.1 μM (225.55 ± 71.42 and 201.9 ± 19.08 ng/mg t.w., respectively). Similarly, R-PIA (0.01 μM) decreased (242.00 ± 24.00 ng/mg t.w.) the PRL secretion stimulated by cholera toxin (0.5 mg/mL; 1050.00 ± 70.00 ng/mg t.w.). In contrast, R-PIA had no effect (468.00 ± 34.00 ng/mg t.w.) on PRL secretion stimulation by pertussis toxin (0.5 mg/mL; 430.00 ± 26.00 ng/mg t.w.). These results suggest that inhibition of PRL secretion after A1 receptor activation by R-PIA is mediated by a Gi proteindependent mechanism. Correspondence J. Antunes-Rodrigues Departamento de Fisiologia