Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMMUNOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF SUBPOPULATIONS OF MONONUCLEAR CELLS IN SARCOID GRANULOMAS *

The quantity of both circulating B and T lymphocytes in patients with sarcoidosis is diminished, although the relative percentage of each cell type appears normal. Immunocompetent cells comprising B and T lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes have been recognized in the sarcoid granuloma and the implications of these findings have been discussed.
Allocation Problems in Ride-sharing Platforms

Bipartite-matching markets pair agents on one side of a market with agents, items, or contracts on the opposing side. Prior work addresses online bipartite-matching markets, where agents arrive over time and are dynamically matched to a known set of disposable resources. In this article, we propose a new model, Online Matching with (offline) Reusable Resources under Known Adversarial Distributions (OM-RR-KAD), in which resources on the offline side are reusable instead of disposable; that is, once matched, resources become available again at some point in the future. We show that our model is tractable by presenting an LP-based non-adaptive algorithm that achieves an online competitive ratio of ½-ϵ for any given constant ϵ > 0. We also show that no adaptive algorithm can achieve a ratio of ½ + o(1) based on the same benchmark LP. Through a data-driven analysis on a massive openly available dataset, we show our model is robust enough to capture the application of taxi dispatching services and ride-sharing systems. We also present heuristics that perform well in practice.
Engineering lecturers’ views on CLIL and EMI

ABSTRACT The present study aims to shed some light on how engineering lecturers teaching in English at a Spanish university view their work (teaching goals) within the current European internationalisation trend of offering courses and master programmes in English. A questionnaire where content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and English-medium instruction (EMI) were differentiated and with questions on their self-attributed duties, training preferences, assessment and internationalisation issues, among others, was prepared. The 41 lecturers who participated were asked to identify the modality they were following and their views related to the key factors in their courses. Findings point to the fact that EMI is the modality they follow and that they do not want to shift to CLIL because they refuse to teach language. To gain qualitative information about their beliefs, six lecturers were later interviewed. These interviews suggested that lecturers attach no importance to language integration. More specifically, they do not usually reflect on their lecturing, they welcome the idea of distinguishing both modalities in higher education (HE), they regard English proficiency as a key factor for all stakeholders and finally they think CLIL better suits less proficient students in HE.
Estimation of Continuous-Time Stochastic Signals From Sample Covariances

The problem of estimating the parameters in stochastic continuous-time signals, represented as continuous-time autoregressive moving average (ARMA) processes, from discrete-time data is considered. The proposed solution is to fit the covariance function of the process, parameterized by the unknown parameters, to sample covariances. It is shown that the method is consistent, and an expression for the approximate covariance matrix of the estimated parameter vector is derived. The derived variances are compared with empirical variances from a Monte Carlo simulation, and with the Cramer-Rao bound. It turns out that the variances are close to the Cramer-Rao bound for certain choices of the sampling interval and the number of covariance elements used in the criterion function.
An Agent-Based Approach for Modelling Peer to Peer Networks

A promising modelling and simulation tool is Agent-based Modelling (ABM) that has proved to be an effective and powerful tool across a wide range of fields. However, its exploitation within the Peer to Peer (P2P) paradigm has only recently attracted attention. This paper shows that the use of ABM tools such as Net Logo can provide many advantages over classical P2P simulation tools. This has been demonstrated through an initial case study involving implementation and evaluation of a well-known, powerful unstructured P2P protocol, named Gia. Preliminary simulation results show that Net logo can provide the user with a wide range of comparative benefits, such as ease of implementation, visualization, and real-time analysis. Moreover, it can be used in educational applications for understanding the complexity of P2P networks. In addition, Net Logo is shown to have the potential to provide more insightful performance measures and serve as a future 'participatory' e-learning or educational tool for studying various aspects of the complex Gia model. Finally, we present some preliminary results for a Net Logo-based implementation of a recently reported, modified Gnutella-like (M-Gia) protocol, which considers additional parameters to improve consistency in mobile P2P networks.
Linking Cyclicality and Product Quality

This paper examines the impact of architectural decisions on the level of defects in a product. We view products as collections of components linked together to work as an integrated whole. Previous work has established modularity how decoupled a component is from other product components as a critical determinant of defects, and we confirm its importance. Yet our study also provides empirical evidence for a relationship between product quality and cyclicality the extent to which a component depends on itself via other product components. We find cyclicality to be a determinant of quality that is distinct from, and no less important than, modularity. Extending this main result, we show how the cyclicality--quality relationship is affected by the centrality of a component in a cycle and the distribution of a cycle across product modules. These findings, which are based on an analysis of open source software development projects, have implications for the study and design of complex systems.
A Brazilian Portuguese survey of school climate: Evidence of validity and reliability

This study presents evidence of the validity and reliability of scores for the newly developed Brazilian Portuguese version of the Delaware School Climate Survey–Student (Brazilian DSCS-S). The sample consisted of 378 students, grades 5 through 9, attending four private and three public schools in southern Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported both a bifactor model and a six-factor model, but support was stronger for the latter. Most scores across factors correlated significantly with students’ self-reported cognitive-behavioral and emotional engagement in school. As discussed, the Brazilian DSCS-S provides schools with a useful tool for conducting needs assessments and evaluating programs in Brazilian schools.
Silymarin attenuates paraquat‐induced lung injury via Nrf2‐mediated pathway in vivo and in vitro

The present study aims to investigate the impacts and mechanisms of silymarin on paraquat (PQ)‐induced lung injury in vivo and in vitro. In in vivo experiments, a total of 32 male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups. The rats were killed on day 3. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were examined using HE and Masson's trichrome staining. Biomarkers of neutrophil activation, pulmonary oedema, pulmonary fibrosis, lung permeability and oxidative stress were detected. Several proinflammatory mediators and antioxidant related proteins were measured. In in vitro experiments, A549 cells were transfected with Nrf2 special siRNA to investigate the roles of Nrf2. The results show that silymarin administration abated PQ‐induced lung histopathologic changes, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and lung wet weight/dry weight (W/D) ratio, suppressed myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and nitric oxide (NO)/inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) expression, downregulated hydroxyproline (HYP) levels, reduced total protein concentration and proinflammatory mediator release, and improved oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA; superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione peroxidase, GSH‐Px) in lung tissue and serum. Meanwhile, treatment with silymarin upregulated the levels of nuclear factor‐erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase‐1(NQO1). However, the addition of Nrf2 siRNA reduced the expression of Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant protein HO‐1 and thus reversed the protective effects of silymarin against oxidative stress and inflammatory response. These results suggest that silymarin may exert protective effects against PQ‐induced lung injury. Its mechanisms were associated with the Nrf2‐mediated pathway. Therefore, silymarin may be a potential therapeutic drug for lung injury.
Introducing Sport Psychology Interventions: Self-Control Implications

Evidence from sequential-task studies demonstrate that if the first task requires self-control, then performance on the second task is compromised (Hagger, Wood, Stiff, & Chatzisarantis, 2010). In a novel extension of previous sequential-task research, the first self-control task in the current study was a sport psychology intervention, paradoxically proposed to be associated with improved performance. Eighteen participants (9 males, 9 females; mean age = 21.6 years, SD = 1.6), none of whom had previously performed the experimental task or motor imagery, were randomly assigned to an imagery condition or a control condition. After the collection of pretest data, participants completed the same 5-week physical training program designed to enhance swimming tumble-turn performance. Results indicated that performance improved significantly among participants from both conditions with no significant intervention effect. Hence, in contrast to expected findings from application of the imagery literature, there wa.
Phylogeography of the common ivy (Hedera sp.) in Europe: genetic differentiation through space and time

We studied the phylogeography of ivy (Hedera sp.), a liana widespread in Europe, throughout its natural range. The populations sampled belong to four closely related species differing by ploidy levels and morphological characters. Chloroplast (cp) markers were used and 13 haplotypes were detected, usually shared across species, contrary to ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) variants. We demonstrated the existence of a strong overall cpDNA phylogeographical structure. Several methods of data analysis were conducted to describe how this structure and the genetic diversity change through space and time. Southern populations, especially those from Spain, are the most divergent. Pairwise estimates of differentiation point to isolation by distance, and the existence of a latitudinal gradient of divergence was demonstrated using a regression procedure. Similarly, latitudinal differences in haplotype richness and diversity exist, as shown by population permutations (‘differentiation through space’). Finally, we measured differentiation by taking into account successive levels of divergence between haplotypes (‘differentiation through time’). Genetic differentiation turns out to be much greater when differences between closely related haplotypes are not considered. Further, these results indicate that the phylogeographical structure is essentially due to the relative distribution of the most similar haplotypes. Diversity decreases from south to north, whereas haplotype frequencies change longitudinally. It appears that Hedera survived in Spanish and Balkan refugia during the last ice age. A third refugium must have been present in the Alps or in Italy. During the northward expansion, the decrease in overall diversity was attenuated by some mixing of lineages at intermediate latitudes, resulting in comparatively higher levels of differentiation in the south.
Tetracycline antibiotics and resistance mechanisms

Abstract The ribosome and protein synthesis are major targets within the cell for inhibition by antibiotics, such as the tetracyclines. The tetracycline family of antibiotics represent a large and diverse group of compounds, ranging from the naturally produced chlortetracycline, introduced into medical usage in the 1940s, to second and third generation semi-synthetic derivatives of tetracycline, such as doxycycline, minocycline and more recently the glycylcycline tigecycline. Here we describe the mode of interaction of tetracyclines with the ribosome and mechanism of action of this class of antibiotics to inhibit translation. Additionally, we provide an overview of the diverse mechanisms by which bacteria obtain resistance to tetracyclines, ranging from efflux, drug modification, target mutation and the employment of specialized ribosome protection proteins.
Revisiting Jewson and Mason: The Politics of Gender Equality in UK Local Government in a Cold Climate

This paper revisits Jewson and Mason's seminal theoretical framework on liberal and radical approaches to equal opportunity policy and practice by applying it to our research on the implementation of the Gender Equality Duty in UK local government. Conducted at the height of Thatcherism, Jewson and Mason's research offers a useful platform for assessing equality initiatives in local government during periods of political hostility to equality underpinned by cuts to public services, which in more recent time is ascribed to austerity. Drawing on qualitative research in five case study local authorities, this paper assesses strategies for protecting and promoting gender equality practices and policies in the face of change within public services. We analyse three types of politics of equality (political philosophy, organizational politics and party politics) that feature in Jewson and Mason's analysis. In line with recent feminist research, our data indicate that equality specialists continue to use both liberal and radical discourses in instrumental ways to promote equality and resist change as described by Jewson and Mason, but these were more clearly framed within business case arguments influenced by the modernization agenda of the 1990s. Our data indicate that even business case arguments have been unable to protect equality initiatives from the 2010 coalition government's austerity and cuts agenda.
Coping with Verbal and Social Bullying in Middle School.

Becoming a victim of verbal and social bullying in middle school can lead to illness, psychological stress, and maladjustment. The coping strategies that students utilize when they are bullied may influence the likelihood and s everity of these negative effects. In this study, we examined the predictions made by stu dents in two middle schools about the ways that they would cope with becoming a victi m of verbal and social bullying. We also analyzed influences for coping strategies and student willingness to seek help with bullying at school. The results show that middle sc hool students generally expect that they will utilize adaptive approach strategies in t rying to solve the problem or obtain support from others, but those who had been victimi zed in the last month were more likely than those not involved in bullying, to pred ict that they would engage in maladaptive avoidance coping strategies if victimiz ed in the future. Willingness to seek help was found to be enhanced by approach coping strategies, less aggressive attitudes, and lower perceptions of school bullying. Policy im plications for efforts to encourage approach coping strategies in middle school student s through educational interventions and school counseling are discussed.
A new algorithm for detection of epileptic seizures based on HRV signal

Epilepsy is one of the most frequent neurological disorders. In a significant number of cases, skilled professionals carry out the detection of the epileptic seizures manually. This necessitates automated epileptic seizure detection. Many researchers have presented computational methods for detecting epileptic seizures based on electroencephalogram signals. In this article, we propose a novel and efficient algorithm for detecting the presence of epileptic seizures in heart rate variability (HRV). This algorithm includes feature extraction and classification. Ten features include time and frequency domain analysis and nonlinear features extracted from one-lead electrocardiogram signal of epileptic patients. Extracted features were used as the input of an artificial neural network, which provides the final classification of the HRV segments (existence of epileptic seizure or not). Multilayer perceptron neural networks with different number of hidden layers and five training algorithms were designed. The results show sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 88.66%, 90% and 88.33%, respectively, in secondary generalised and 83.33%, 86.11% and 84.72%, respectively, in complex partial seizures. The experimental results portray that the proposed algorithm efficiently detects the presence of epileptic seizure in HRV signals and showed a reasonable accuracy in detection.
Comparison of Early Surgery Versus Conventional Treatment in Asymptomatic Severe Mitral Regurgitation

Background— The optimal timing of surgical intervention in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation is unclear. We therefore compared the long-term results of early surgery with a conventional treatment strategy. Methods and Results— From 1996 to 2005, 447 consecutive asymptomatic patients (253 men, age 50±15 years) with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular function were evaluated prospectively. The end point was defined as the composite of operative mortality, cardiac death, repeat mitral valve surgery, and urgent admission due to congestive heart failure during follow-up. Early surgery was performed on 161 patients (operated group), and the conventional treatment strategy was used for 286 patients (conventional treatment group). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age, gender, euroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), or ejection fraction. During a median follow-up of 1988 days, there were 2 repeat surgeries and no cardiac deaths or operative mortality in the operated group compared with 12 cardiac deaths, 1 repeat surgery, and 22 admissions for congestive heart failure in the conventional treatment group. The estimated actuarial 7-year cardiac mortality rate was 0% in the operated group and 5±2% in the conventional treatment group (P=0.008), and for 127 propensity score–matched pairs, the estimated actuarial 7-year event-free survival rate was significantly higher in the operated than in the conventional treatment group (99±1% versus 85±4%, P=0.007). In the conventional treatment group, baseline grade of pulmonary hypertension (hazard ratio 1.87, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.87, P=0.003), age (hazard ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04, P=0.005), and effective regurgitant orifice area (hazard ratio 2.06, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.82, P=0.02) were independent variables that predicted late development of surgical indications or congestive heart failure on Cox multivariate analysis. Conclusions— Compared with conservative management, the strategy of early surgery was associated with an improved long-term event rate by decreasing cardiac mortality and congestive heart failure hospitalization more effectively in patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation. Early surgery may therefore further improve clinical outcomes in asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation with preserved left ventricular systolic function and a high likelihood of mitral valve repair.
Personality styles of adolescents previously diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

This thesis tests the hypothesis proposed by Liemkuhler (1994) relating to the development of a cluster of personality styles among ADHD adolescents. Liemkuhler suggests that it is a neurobiological dysfunction, through its interaction with psychodynamic and cognitive processes that predisposes the ADHD adolescent to the development of certain personality styles. An absence ofappropriate intervention and support increases the risk of these personality styles developing into clinical syndromes . To determine whether differences in personality styles do exist between ADHD adolescents and adolescents without ADHD, the NED Five Factor Inventory (NED FFI) was group administered to a sample of 25 adolescents who were previously diagnosed as having ADHD (referred to as the ' research group') and 25 controls (referred to as the ' control group') who were matched for age and educational level. Five testable hypotheses were formulated for each of the five personality scales. A comparison of each of the five scales between the research group and the control group yielded no significant result to support Liemkuhler's hypothesis. However, a comparison of the five scales within each group (either the research group or the control group) produced several significant differences. Significant correlations were also found between scales for each group. On the basis of these results it is suggested that specific differences in the facets (traits) that are measured by each of the five personality scales may exist for each group, as opposed to overall group differences in personality styles. It is further proposed that the facets that are tapped may be explained on the basis of assumed differences in the neurobiological and cognitive functioning of both groups. It is tentatively concluded that the results may provide partial support for Liemkuhler's hypothesis. However, it is acknowledged that the complexity of Liemkulher's argument warrants further and more detailed research.
Economic Development and Civic Engagement in Latin America

Whereas research on civic engagement with a European or North American focus usually assumes that a culture of participation thrives in healthy political and economic surroundings, the validity of this proposition has been questioned in the Latin American context. Instead, existing literature suggests that disadvantageous political and economic conditions spur participation in Latin America. In contrast to previous studies that investigate development and engagement with a focus on a specific local or national context in Latin America, this article takes a broad comparative perspective to test whether this—at first glance—counterintuitive result holds for the whole region. Multilevel analysis of 21 Central and South American countries corroborates the inverse association between development and engagement previously observed in selected countries. Further insights show that particularly affluent individuals and those who are rather comfortable with national and local politics are civically engaged in economically adverse contexts.