Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Home Literacy Practices of Arabic-English Bilingual Families: Case Study of One Libyan American Preschooler and One Syrian American Preschooler

HOME LITERACY PRACTICES OF ARABIC-ENGLISH BILINGUAL FAMILIES: CASE STUDY OF ONE LIBYAN AMERICAN PRESCHOOLER AND ONE SYRIAN AMERICAN PRESCHOOLER by Azusa Callaway Individual differences in early literacy skills can be attributed to children’s previous history of emergent literacy experiences during their preschool years. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn about the emergent literacy experiences of one Libyan American preschooler and one Syrian American preschooler and how their families support these experiences in their bilingual homes. Through the lens of social theory of learning (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998) and sociocultural theory (Rogoff, 1990; Vygotsky, 1978), this multi-case study was designed to explore family literacy practices with a preschooler in a naturalistic setting. The questions guiding this study were: (1) How did the texts, tools, and technologies available in two bilingual home settings impact the emergent literacy practices of a Libyan American child and a Syrian American child? (2) What support did family members provide for these two children as they developed emergent literacy practices in their bilingual home settings? Data sources included a demographic questionnaire, digital-recordings of family literacy practices with a preschooler, audio-recorded in-depth interviews with the parents, home visits, the preschoolers’ writing samples, and photographs of literacy activities, materials, and the home environment. The recorded family literacy practices and interviews were transcribed and analyzed to identify emerging themes. Both within-case analysis and cross-case analysis were conducted. Findings revealed that the preschoolers in both families use a multimodal process such as talking, drawing, singing, chanting, recitation, technologies, and sociodramatic play in their daily literacy experiences. The parents are not concerned with teaching their children specific literacy skills; but they naturally use techniques for keeping them on task and questioning skills to enhance oral language and comprehension development. These families’ home literacy practices are Americanized by living in the mainstream social group, and English is frequently used among the family members. However, their bilingualism and religious literacy practices enrich and vary their children’s emergent literacy experiences and their family literacy practices. The significance of this study resides in the importance of getting to know individual families’ backgrounds to better understand and respect the cultural practices of family literacy. HOME LITERACY PRACTICES OF ARABIC-ENGLISH BILINGUAL FAMILIES: CASE STUDY OF ONE LIBYAN AMERICAN PRESCHOOLER AND ONE SYRIAN AMERICAN PRESCHOOLER by Azusa Callaway
A self-recording electronic osmometer for quick, direct measurement of colloid osmotic pressure in small samples.

A self-recording electronic osmometer for clinico-physiological use is described. It is a further development of an osmometer described earlier by the author. It is based on the passive counter-pressure principle and as such representing a return to the principle that was first applied in osmotic pressure measurements. The general principles for the measuring of osmotic pressure and the special requirements to be fulfilled if quick performance is to be obtained are discussed. The importance of the diffusion phenomena in this context has been emphasized and experimentally elucidated. The sample of plasma or serum which is required, is from 0.02 to 0.1 ml. Ten to 15 measurements can be performed per hour. The confidence limits for one measurement are ± 0.5 mm Hg. at the 5% level. Commercially available cellulose membranes are used. No stopcocks are employed. Stainless steel is used for all parts in contact with membrane and sample. The possible usefulness of the osmometer for investigation of the reflection coefficient of permeating particles and for testing membranes is pointed out. Also the possible use in investigations of active trans port problems in connection with organic membranes is hinted at. Finally it is mentioned that the red blood cells under certain circumstances will influence the osmotic pressure.
The Anti-Hypercholesterolemic Effect of Low p53 Expression Protects Vascular Endothelial Function in Mice

Aims To demonstrate that p53 modulates endothelial function and the stress response to a high-fat western diet (WD). Methods and Results Three-month old p53+/+ wild type (WT) and p53+/− male mice were fed a regular or WD for 3 months. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol were significantly elevated (p<0.05) in WD-fed WT (from 2.1±0.2 mmol/L to 3.1±0.2, and from 0.64±0.09 mmol/L to 1.25±0.11, respectively) but not in p53+/− mice. The lack of cholesterol accumulation in WD-fed p53+/− mice was ass–ociated with high bile acid plasma concentrations (p53+/− = 4.7±0.9 vs. WT = 3.3±0.2 μmol/L, p<0.05) concomitant with an increased hepatic 7-alpha-hydroxylase mRNA expression. While the WD did not affect aortic endothelial relaxant function in p53+/− mice (WD = 83±5 and RD = 82±4% relaxation), it increased the maximal response to acetylcholine in WT mice (WD = 87±2 vs. RD = 62±5% relaxation, p<0.05) to levels of p53+/−. In WT mice, the rise in TC associated with higher (p<0.05) plasma levels of pro-inflammatory keratinocyte-derived chemokine, and an over-activation (p<0.05) of the relaxant non-nitric oxide/non-prostacyclin endothelial pathway. It is likely that in WT mice, activations of these pathways are adaptive and contributed to maintain endothelial function, while the WD neither promoted inflammation nor affected endothelial function in p53+/− mice. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that low endogenous p53 expression prevents the rise in circulating levels of cholesterol when fed a WD. Consequently, the endothelial stress of hypercholesterolemia is absent in young p53+/− mice as evidenced by the absence of endothelial adaptive pathway over-activation to minimize stress-related damage.
Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study of invasion and differentiation in spinal cord lesion of neural stem cells grafted through cerebrospinal fluid in rat

Neurospheres were obtained by culturing hippocampal cells from transgenic rat fetuses (E16) expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). The neurosphere cells were injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the 4th ventricle of young rats (4 weeks old) that had been given a contusion injury at T8–9 of the spinal cord. The injected neural stem cells were transported through the CSF to the spinal cord, attached to the pial surface at the lesion, and invaded extensively into the spinal cord tissue as well as into the nerve roots. The grafted stem cells survived well in the host spinal cord for as long as 8 months after transplantation. Immunohistochemical study showed that many grafted stem cells had differentiated into astrocytes at 1–4 months, and some into oligodendrocytes at 8 months postoperatively. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the grafted stem cells were well integrated into the host tissue, extending their processes around nerve fibers in the same manner as astrocytes. In addition, grafted stem cells within nerve roots closely surrounded myelinated fibers or were integrated into unmyelinated fiber bundles; those associated with myelinated fibers formed basal laminae on their free surface, whereas those associated with unmyelinated fibers were directly attached to axons and Schwann cells, indicating that grafted stem cells behaved like Schwann cells in the nerve roots. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Usefulness of 64-Slice Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography for Diagnosing Acute Coronary Syndromes and Predicting Clinical Outcome in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain of Uncertain Origin

Background— Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has high diagnostic value for detecting or excluding coronary artery stenosis. We examined performance characteristics of MDCT for diagnosing or excluding an acute coronary syndrome in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with possible ischemic chest pain and examined relation to clinical outcome during a 15-month follow-up period. Methods and Results— We prospectively studied 58 patients (56±10 years of age, 36% female) with chest pain possibly ischemic in origin and no new ECG changes or elevated biomarkers. The patients underwent 64-slice contrast-enhanced MDCT, which showed normal coronary vessels (no or trivial atheroma) in 15 patients, nonobstructive plaque in 20 (MDCT-negative patients), and obstructive coronary disease (≥50% luminal narrowing) in 23 (MDCT-positive group). By further investigation (new elevation of cardiac biomarkers, abnormal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and/or invasive angiography), acute coronary syndrome was diagnosed in 20 of the 23 MDCT-positive patients (ED MDCT sensitivity 100% [20/20], specificity 92% [35/38], positive predictive value 87% [20/23], negative predictive value 100% [35/35]). During a 15-month follow-up period, no deaths or myocardial infarctions occurred in the 35 patients discharged from the ED after initial triage and MDCT findings. One patient underwent late percutaneous coronary intervention (late major adverse cardiovascular events rate, 2.8%). Overall, ED MDCT sensitivity for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization) during hospitalization and follow-up was 92% (12/13), specificity was 76% (34/45), positive predictive value was 52% (12/23), and negative predictive value was 97% (34/35). Conclusions— We found that 64-slice cardiac MDCT is a potentially valuable diagnostic tool in ED patients with chest pain of uncertain origin, providing early direct noninvasive visualization of coronary anatomy. ED MDCT had high positive predictive value for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome, whereas a negative MDCT study predicted a low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events and favorable outcome during follow-up.
ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF JURASSIC (CALLOVIAN) MOLLUSKS FROM THE CHRISTIAN MALFORD LAGERSTÄTTE (UK): IMPLICATIONS FOR OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURE ESTIMATES BASED ON BELEMNOIDS

Abstract Isotopic data (C and O) derived from Callovian (Middle Jurassic) mollusks (bivalves, ammonites and belemnoids, including true belemnites and Belemnotheutis) are presented from a narrow stratigraphic interval in the Christian Malford Lagerstätte, UK. The exceptionally well-preserved mollusks include aragonite-calcite pairs precipitated by individual belemnite animals that enable an assessment of possible “vital” effects and the reliability of using belemnite calcite to determine ocean water compositions. The oxygen isotope data derived from the calcitic rostra of the belemnites (Cylindroteuthis) show modest variability, ranging from −1.2 to 0.9‰ (V-PDB), while their accompanying aragonitic phragmocones range from −1.4 to 0.0‰. Data derived from the ammonite Kosmoceras show some scatter, with oxygen isotope values varying from −3.6 to −0.2‰. The aragonite data from Cylindroteuthis, Kosmoceras and Belemnotheutis all overlap, suggesting they inhabited similar (surface) water depths. However, the corresponding data from the calcitic rostra of the Cylindroteuthis specimens suggest temperatures ~ 5°C cooler. As we have analyzed aragonite-calcite pairs, the discrepancy cannot be explained by environmental effects. Though clearly a vital effect, it is difficult to resolve whether the temperatures derived from the aragonite (phragmocone) are too warm or from the calcite (rostrum) are too cool. Consequently, the applicability of standard paleotemperature equations to Cylindroteuthid belemnite rostra remains unproven. Sequentially sampled ontogenetic isotope data derived from Belemnotheutis phragmocones reveal only modest δ18O variation, consistent with limited movement between warmer (shallower) and cooler (deeper) waters. A coincidental systematic pattern of δ13C enrichment may signal changes in metabolic activity associated with a shift in ecology or feeding with age.
Henry Giroux on Democracy Unsettled: From Critical Pedagogy to the War on Youth — An Interview

This interview conducted with Henry Giroux begins by probing Henry's childhood, upbringing and undergraduate years to discover where his sense of social justice took hold. It also questions Henry about his working-class background and the major influences on his thought, including his relationships with Paulo Freire and Howard Zinn. The interview follows an autobiographical path to trace career highlights and contemporary interests.
Reliability and validity of the emergency severity index for pediatric triage.

OBJECTIVES The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage algorithm is a five-level triage acuity tool used by emergency department (ED) triage nurses to rate patients from Level 1 (most acute) to Level 5 (least acute). ESI has established reliability and validity in an all-age population, but has not been well studied for pediatric triage. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the ESI for pediatric triage at five sites. METHODS Interrater reliability was measured with weighted kappa for 40 written pediatric case scenarios and 100 actual patient triages at each of five research sites (independently rated by both a triage nurse and a research nurse). Validity was evaluated with a sample of 200 patients per site. The ESI ratings were compared with outcomes, including hospital admission, resource consumption, and ED length of stay. RESULTS Interrater reliability was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 0.78) for the scenarios (n = 155 nurses) and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.52 to 0.62) for actual patients (n = 498 patients). Inconsistencies in triage were noted for the most acute and least acute patients, as well as those less than 1 year of age and those with medical (rather than trauma) chief complaints. For the validity cohort (n = 1,173 patients), outcomes differed by ESI level, including hospital admission, which went from 83% for Level 1 patients to 0% for Level 5 (chi-square, p < 0.0001). Nurses from dedicated pediatric EDs were 31% less likely to undertriage patients than nurses in general EDs (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.67). CONCLUSIONS Reliability of the ESI for pediatric triage is moderate. The ESI provides a valid stratification of pediatric patients into five distinct groups. We found several areas in which nurses have difficulty triaging pediatric patients consistently. The study results are being used to develop pediatric-specific ESI educational materials to strengthen reliability and validity for pediatric triage.
Parallel Recurrent Neural Network Architectures for Feature-rich Session-based Recommendations

Real-life recommender systems often face the daunting task of providing recommendations based only on the clicks of a user session. Methods that rely on user profiles -- such as matrix factorization -- perform very poorly in this setting, thus item-to-item recommendations are used most of the time. However the items typically have rich feature representations such as pictures and text descriptions that can be used to model the sessions. Here we investigate how these features can be exploited in Recurrent Neural Network based session models using deep learning. We show that obvious approaches do not leverage these data sources. We thus introduce a number of parallel RNN (p-RNN) architectures to model sessions based on the clicks and the features (images and text) of the clicked items. We also propose alternative training strategies for p-RNNs that suit them better than standard training. We show that p-RNN architectures with proper training have significant performance improvements over feature-less session models while all session-based models outperform the item-to-item type baseline.
The Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The present article reports on the development and validation of a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PTDS), that yields both a PTSD diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994; DSM-IV) criteria and a measure of PTSD symptom severity. Two-hundred forty-eight participants who had experienced a wide variety of traumas (e.g., accident, fire, natural disaster, assault, combat) were administered the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID; Spitzer, Williams, Gibbons, & First, 1990), the PTDS, and scales measuring trauma-related psychopathology. The PTDS demonstrated high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, high diagnostic agreement with SCID, and good sensitivity and specificity. The satisfactory validity of the PTDS was further supported by its high correlations with other measures of trauma-related psychopathology. Therefore, the PTDS appears to be a useful tool for screening and assessing current PTSD in clinical and research settings.
Piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV) in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar.

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) is a severe cardiac disease of sea-farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. , but CMS-like lesions have also been found in wild Atlantic salmon. In 2010 a double-stranded RNA virus of the Totiviridae family, provisionally named piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), was described as the causative agent of CMS. In the present paper we report the first detection of PMCV in wild Atlantic salmon. The study is based on screening of 797 wild Atlantic salmon by real-time RT-PCR. The samples were collected from 35 different rivers along the coast of Norway, and all individuals included in the study were classified as wild, based on visual appearance and scale reading. Two samples tested positive during PCR analysis, and the results were confirmed by sequencing.
Moralizing international relations : called to account

Introduction PART I: A MORAL BREAK? The 1990s Is There any Shame in Being Cynically Realist? PART II: MORALITY IN ACTION The Re-enchanted Critique of Capitalism What Justice for Economic Sanctions? Can Reparation be Made for Historical Injustices? The Fear of Accountability and Calculating the Incalculable PART III: THE TWO CHALLENGES Shared Responsibility Does Cosmopolitanism Have a Future? Conclusion: Pragmatic Revolutionism
Creating an Opportunity for Self-Empowerment of Immigrant Latina Survivors of Domestic Violence: A Leadership Intervention

Latina survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience IPV at similar rates as other ethnic groups. However, the intersection of multiple cultural factors, including acculturation, can greatly influence a woman’s experience of IPV. For example, research suggests that Latinas experience unique forms of control and unique barriers to service in addition to positive coping. Nevertheless, a scarcity of culturally relevant interventions plagues the IPV field. Moreover, evaluations of such programs are remarkably scarce in the research literature. The current study evaluates an innovative peer leadership intervention, the Lideres program, which is grounded in a selfempowerment framework. The Lideres program is a peer education leadership initiative that taps into the natural leadership skills of Latinas. Although the effectiveness of similar peer leadership models addressing public and occupational health concerns, education outcomes, and nursing leadership can be found in the literature, this is the first documented attempt to include survivors of IPV as participants in such a program. The study used a mixed methods design. The quantitative component included a multiple baseline research design including nine participants. The survey measured variables related to leadership development and a facilitator rating was utilized to measure behavioral change. The qualitative component included analysis of journals written by the participants documenting their experience of the program. Results revealed that the Lideres curriculum was effective in influencing the selfempowerment of participants across the intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral domains of leadership. The qualitative results supported this finding and provided evidence for the important role of a supportive environment for this change to occur. The Lideres training program is the first training program for Latina community leaders who are also survivors of IPV. This study highlights the advantages of a peerintervention training program as a way to develop existing strengths among Latina
SYSTEMS : APPLICATION OF CEN / TC 251 ENV 13606

Everyday, more and more, the healthcare sector requires the exchange of healthcare information between professionals from different disciplines and institutions. To support co-operative work among health professionals and institutions it is necessary to share healthcare information about patients in a meaningful way. But, nowadays, in most hospitals the heath data is distributed across several heterogeneous and autonomous information systems whose interconnection is difficult to achieve. Integration of such system may bring about many advantages such as consistent patient health records or interdepartmental workflows. In this paper, an overview of a computing system prototype, currently under development using CORBA and Java, is presented. It allows healthcare professionals to access patient information stored in heterogeneous autonomous information systems through a set of formal aggregates of health data based on the healthcare record architecture ENV13606 from CEN/TC251. Keywordssystems integration, medical records, electronic healthcare record architecture, CORBA.
iCrowd: An Adaptive Crowdsourcing Framework

Crowdsourcing is widely accepted as a means for resolving tasks that machines are not good at. Unfortunately, Crowdsourcing may yield relatively low-quality results if there is no proper quality control. Although previous studies attempt to eliminate "bad" workers by using qualification tests, the accuracies estimated from qualifications may not be accurate, because workers have diverse accuracies across tasks. Thus, the quality of the results could be further improved by selectively assigning tasks to the workers who are well acquainted with the tasks. To this end, we propose an adaptive crowdsourcing framework, called iCrowd. iCrowd on-the-fly estimates accuracies of a worker by evaluating her performance on the completed tasks, and predicts which tasks the worker is well acquainted with. When a worker requests for a task, iCrowd assigns her a task, to which the worker has the highest estimated accuracy among all online workers. Once a worker submits an answer to a task, iCrowd analyzes her answer and adjusts estimation of her accuracies to improve subsequent task assignments. This paper studies the challenges that arise in iCrowd. The first is how to estimate diverse accuracies of a worker based on her completed tasks. The second is instant task assignment. We deploy iCrowd on Amazon Mechanical Turk, and conduct extensive experiments on real datasets. Experimental results show that iCrowd achieves higher quality than existing approaches.