Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motivated by visions: a tale of a rural learner of English

ABSTRACT This paper documents the identity negotiation and strategic language efforts of a female postgraduate learner of English from a rural Arab background. She needed to obtain a high score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam as a prerequisite to getting an unconditional offer from a UK university. The narrative inquiry reported here used a series of individual semi-structured interviews as the main data, with a variety of means, including written narrative and email exchanges. It is guided by Dörnyei [(2009). The L2 motivational self system. In Motivation, Language Identity and the L2 Self, ed. Z. Dörnyei and E. Ushioda, 9–42. Bristol: Multilingual Matters] concept of ‘possible selves’, and Norton [(2000). Identity and Language Learning: Gender, Ethnicity and Educational Change. Harlow: Longman/Pearson Education] notion of investment in language learning and the distinction between compulsory (i.e. largely regulated by cultural beliefs) and voluntary (i.e. basically internalised within the self) strategies. The data suggest that Noura's language strategic efforts were significantly constrained by her social networks, which limited her personal investment in language learning. Nonetheless, after receiving a Master's grant, Noura acted agentively to accomplish her ultimate vision of being the first women in her village to complete her postgraduate studies abroad, and participate in benefiting her country (i.e. individual and national interest). She did so through building a strong relationship with a Canadian colleague in her workplace, together with adopting other strategies. From this case study, pedagogical implications as well as areas for ongoing research are suggested.
Determination of the speciation and bioavailability of samarium to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in the presence of natural organic matter

As technological interest and environmental emissions of the rare earth elements increase, it is becoming more important to assess their potential environmental impact. Samarium (Sm) is a lanthanide of intermediate molar mass that is used in numerous high‐technology applications including wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. The present study relates the speciation of Sm determined in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) to its bioavailability to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The free ion concentration was determined using a cation exchange resin (ion exchange technique) in dynamic mode and compared with thermodynamic modeling. Short‐term biouptake experiments were performed in the presence of 4 types of NOM: Suwannee River fulvic acids, Pahokee Peat fulvic acids, Suwannee River humic acids, and a Luther Marsh dissolved organic matter isolate (90–95% humic acids). It was clearly shown that even a small amount of NOM (0.5 mg C L−1) resulted in a significant decrease (10 times) in the Sm internalization fluxes. Furthermore, complexation with humic acids (and the corresponding reduction in Sm bioavailability) was stronger than that with fulvic acids. The results showed that the experimentally measured (free) Sm was a better predictor of Sm internalization than either the total concentrations or the free ion concentrations obtained using thermodynamic modeling. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1623–1631. © 2018 SETAC
Transferring Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for the Scene Classification of High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery

Learning efficient image representations is at the core of the scene classification task of remote sensing imagery. The existing methods for solving the scene classification task, based on either feature coding approaches with low-level hand-engineered features or unsupervised feature learning, can only generate mid-level image features with limited representative ability, which essentially prevents them from achieving better performance. Recently, the deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which are hierarchical architectures trained on large-scale datasets, have shown astounding performance in object recognition and detection. However, it is still not clear how to use these deep convolutional neural networks for high-resolution remote sensing (HRRS) scene classification. In this paper, we investigate how to transfer features from these successfully pre-trained CNNs for HRRS scene classification. We propose two scenarios for generating image features via extracting CNN features from different layers. In the first scenario, the activation vectors extracted from fully-connected layers are regarded as the final image features; in the second scenario, we extract dense features from the last convolutional layer at multiple scales and then encode the dense features into global image features through commonly used feature coding approaches. Extensive experiments on two public scene classification datasets demonstrate that the image features obtained by the two proposed scenarios, even with a simple linear classifier, can result in remarkable performance and improve the state-of-the-art by a significant margin. The results reveal that the features from pre-trained CNNs generalize well to HRRS datasets and are more expressive than the low- and mid-level features. Moreover, we tentatively combine features extracted from different CNN models for better performance.
A Single-Phase Cascaded Multilevel Inverter Based on a New Basic Unit With Reduced Number of Power Switches

In this paper, a new single-phase cascaded multilevel inverter is proposed. This inverter is comprised of a series connection of the proposed basic unit and is able to only generate positive levels at the output. Therefore, an H-bridge is added to the proposed inverter. This inverter is called the developed cascaded multilevel inverter. In order to generate all voltage levels (even and odd) at the output, four different algorithms are proposed to determine the magnitude of dc voltage sources. Reduction in the number of power switches, driver circuits, and dc voltage sources is the advantage of the developed single-phase cascaded multilevel inverter. As a result, the installation space and cost of the inverter are reduced. These features are obtained by the comparison of the conventional cascaded multilevel inverters with the proposed cascaded topology. The ability of the proposed inverter to generate all voltage levels (even and odd) is reconfirmed by using the experimental results of a 15-level inverter.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials on Chemomechanical Caries Removal.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to assess the methodologies used in previously published prospective randomized clinical trials on chemomechanical caries removal and to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the differences in the excavation time between chemomechanical and conventional caries removal methods. METHODS An electronic search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO host, and Cochrane Library databases. The following categories were excluded during the assessment process: non-English studies published before 2000, animal studies, review articles, laboratory studies, case reports, and nonrandomized or retrospective clinical trials. The methodologies of the selected clinical trials were assessed. Furthermore, the reviewed clinical trials were subjected to meta-analysis for quantifying the differences in excavation time between the chemomechanical and the conventional caries removal techniques. RESULTS Only 19 randomized clinical trials fit the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. None of the 19 reviewed trials completely fulfilled Delphi's ideal criteria for quality assessment of randomized clinical trials. The meta-analysis results revealed that the shortest mean excavation time was recorded for rotary caries excavation (2.99±0.001 minutes), followed by the enzyme-based chemomechanical caries removal method (6.36±0.08 minutes) and the the hand excavation method (atraumatic restorative technique; 6.98±0.17 minutes). The longest caries excavation time was recorded for the sodium hypochlorite-based chemomechanical caries removal method (8.12±0.02 minutes). CONCLUSIONS It was found that none of the current reviewed trials fulfilled all the ideal requirements of clinical trials. Furthermore, the current scientific evidence shows that the sodium hypochlorite-based (Carisolv) chemomechanical caries removal method was more time consuming when compared to the enzyme-based (Papacarie) chemomechanical and the conventional caries removal methods. Further prospective randomized controlled clinical trials evaluating the long-term follow-up of papain-treated permanent teeth are needed.
A Novel Hydroxyproline-Deficient Arabinogalactan Protein Secreted by Suspension-Cultured Cells of Daucus carota (Purification and Partial Characterization)

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are secreted or membrane-associated glycoproteins that have been operationally defined as binding to [beta]-glucosyl Yariv artificial antigen, being rich in arabinose and galactose, and containing high levels of alanine, serine, and hydroxyproline. Using an anti-AGP monoclonal antibody (MAC 207) bound to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose 4B, we have purified by immunoaffinity chromatography an extracellular AGP from the culture medium of suspension-cultured cells of carrot (Daucus carota). The apparent molecular mass of this highly glycosylated proteoglycan is 70 to 100 kD as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Although its sugar analysis, [beta]-glucosyl Yariv binding, and high alanine, serine, and proline content are consistent with it being an AGP, the amino acid composition unexpectedly revealed this molecule to have no detectable hydroxyproline. This suggests that this glycoprotein is not a “classical” AGP, but represents the first example of a new class of hydroxyproline-poor AGPs. Deglycosylation of the AGP with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride revealed that the purified proteoglycan contains probably a single core protein with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kD. Direct visualization of the native AGP in the electron microscope showed ellipsoidal putative AGP monomers, approximately 25 nm by 15 nm, that showed a strong tendency to self assemble into higher-order structures. Upon desiccation, the glycosylated AGP formed paracrystalline arrays visible in the light microscope. Polarized Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy of these arrays demonstrated a high degree of polarization of the sugar moieties under these conditions. These results put possible constraints on current models of AGP structure; a putative role for these novel AGPs as pectin-binding proteins is discussed.
People's Beliefs about the Internet: Surveying the Positive and Negative Aspects

The explosion of the Internet – and the World Wide Web (WWW) in particular – has led to the distribution of information to a much more diverse and unspecified audience. Human factors professionals have a stake in the design of these Internet-based tools and the delivery of information over them. An initial survey distributed to a large diverse population asked respondents to provide positive and negative aspects about the WWW and related Internet communication technologies. The responses (n = 380) were grouped according to general positive and negative categories. Most of the categories paralleled each other on the negative and positive side. Access to information and security dominated both the positive and negative. A second survey had respondents rate 26 positive and negative items based on aspects identified in the first survey. The responses (n = 219) supported the larger categories identified in the first survey and revealed differences in attitude towards the Internet based on age, gender, and student status. These issues, plus others mentioned in the responses, are ones that human factors professionals are in a position to address.
Goal-Side Selection in Soccer Penalty Kicking When Viewing Natural Scenes

The present study investigates the influence of goalkeeper displacement on goal-side selection in soccer penalty kicking. Facing a penalty situation, participants viewed photo-realistic images of a goalkeeper and a soccer goal. In the action selection task, they were asked to kick to the greater goal-side, and in the perception task, they indicated the position of the goalkeeper on the goal line. To this end, the goalkeeper was depicted in a regular goalkeeping posture, standing either in the exact middle of the goal or being displaced at different distances to the left or right of the goal’s center. Results showed that the goalkeeper’s position on the goal line systematically affected goal-side selection, even when participants were not aware of the displacement. These findings provide further support for the notion that the implicit processing of the stimulus layout in natural scenes can effect action selection in complex environments, such in soccer penalty shooting.
Health promotion during midlife: The influence of internal health locus of control and future time perspective

Health Promotion during Midlife: The Influence of Internal Health Locus of Control and Future Time Perspective Sarah T. Stahl Health promoting behaviors are typically categorized as behaviors that move individuals towards optimal health while concurrently decreasing one’s susceptibility to disease and illness (Becker & Arnold, 2004; Breslow, 1999). When compared to other developmental age periods, less is known about health promotion in midlife (Merrill & Verbrugge, 1999). Thus, the present study examined the relations among demographic variables, future time perspective, internal health locus of control, and middle-aged adults’ engagement in health promotion. Data from 109 middle-aged adults between the ages of 40 and 66 were collected via an online survey. Results indicated that the data fit the model poorly χ2 (df = 6;N = 109) = 13.791 p < . 05), CFI = . 867, TLI = . 667, RMSEA = . 110. Despite the poor fit, the path model accounted for a substantial amount of variance in health promotion (R = .30). The model indicated that future time perspective and internal health locus of control were associated with engagement in health promotion. In addition, both age and adults’ perceptions of the severity of their chronic health conditions were associated with future time perspective. Findings from this study may help inform the design of health interventions. Specifically, results suggest that interventions should consider integrating future time perspective into a theoretical framework in understanding why middle-aged adults choose to engage in health promotion.
Celastrol Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Rheumatoid Fibroblast-Like Synoviocyte Invasion through Suppression of TLR4/NF-κB-Mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression

Invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) is critical in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The metalloproteinases (MMPs) and activator of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway play a critical role in RA-FLS invasion induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The present study aimed to explore the anti-invasive activity of celastrol on LPS-stimulated human RA-FLSs, and to elucidate the mechanism involved. We investigated the effect of celastrol on LPS-induced FLS migration and invasion as well as MMP expression and explored the upstream signal transduction. Results showed that celastrol suppressed LPS-stimulated FLS migration and invasion by inhibiting MMP-9 expression and activity. Furthermore, our results revealed that celastrol inhibited the transcriptional activity of MMP-9 by suppressing the binding activity of NF-κB in the MMP-9 promoter, and suppressed the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Administration of celastrol (0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) daily for 3 weeks in a collagen-induced arthritis rat model markedly alleviated the clinical signs, synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration of joints. In conclusion, celastrol might inhibit FLS migration and invasion induced by LPS by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 expression, providing a theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of RA with celastrol.
Herpes simplex virus-induced stromal keratitis: role of T-lymphocyte subsets in immunopathology

Herpetic stromal keratitis (SK), a frequent cause of visual impairment, is considered to represent an immune-mediated inflammatory response to persistent herpes simplex virus virions or subcomponents within the corneal stroma. The experimental disease in mice involves the essential participation of T lymphocytes, but the role of T-lymphocyte subsets in either mediating or controlling the disease is uncertain. In this report, rat monoclonal antibodies were used to selectively deplete mice in vivo of CD4+ (helper-inducer) and CD8+ (cytotoxic-suppressor) T-cell populations and the effect on herpetic SK was evaluated. As measured by flow cytometry, mice treated with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (GK 1.5) were greater than 95% depleted of CD4+ T lymphocytes and mice treated with anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody (2.43) were 90% depleted of CD8+ T lymphocytes. Depleted and nonspecific mouse ascites-treated control mice were infected topically on the corneas with herpes simplex virus type 1, and the induction of various immune parameters during the acute infection was evaluated. CD4+-depleted mice failed to produce either a significant antiviral antibody or delayed-type hypersensitivity response but were capable of producing normal cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. In contrast, CD8+-depleted mice produced antiviral antibody and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses comparable with those in control animals, but cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses were markedly reduced. Clinical observations of the corneas revealed that SK in CD4+-depleted mice was significantly reduced, whereas in CD8+-depleted mice SK developed more rapidly, was more severe, and involved a greater percentage of mice. These observations implicate the CD4+ T-lymphocyte subset as the principal mediators of SK and CD8+ T lymphocytes as possible regulators that control the severity of SK.
Deregulated c-myc expression abrogates the interferon- and interleukin 6-mediated G0/G1 cell cycle arrest but not other inhibitory responses in M1 myeloblastic cells.

The proliferation of M1 myeloblastic cells can be specifically restricted at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle by exposure to alpha- and beta-interferons or to interleukin 6. The latter cytokine also induces the morphological and functional differentiation of these myeloblasts toward monocytes. Each of these two different cytokines suppresses the expression of the c-myc nuclear oncogene, and the selective reduction in c-myc mRNA and protein precedes the cell cycle changes. In order to investigate whether one or more of the growth-suppressive effects of interferon and interleukin 6 are mediated by c-myc reduction, M1 cells were transfected with SV40-driven c-myc plasmid, whose expression fails to be turned off by these two cytokines. A detailed analysis of the responses to interferon and to interleukin 6 revealed that all of the myc-transfected clones have lost the cytokine-mediated G0/G1 type of growth arrest. However, not all of the growth responses to these cytokines were rescued by this specific genetic manipulation, and the cytokine-treated transfected cells stopped to proliferate in a new fashion which was not cell cycle specific. In addition, the myc-transfected cells developed the differentiated phenotype in response to interleukin 6, as determined by the morphological change, expression of Fc receptors, and cytochemical analysis, suggesting that these molecular events can occur in the monocyte cell lineage in spite of the abnormal constitutive expression of c-myc. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Voila: Visual Anomaly Detection and Monitoring with Streaming Spatiotemporal Data

The increasing availability of spatiotemporal data continuously collected from various sources provides new opportunities for a timely understanding of the data in their spatial and temporal context. Finding abnormal patterns in such data poses significant challenges. Given that there is often no clear boundary between normal and abnormal patterns, existing solutions are limited in their capacity of identifying anomalies in large, dynamic and heterogeneous data, interpreting anomalies in their multifaceted, spatiotemporal context, and allowing users to provide feedback in the analysis loop. In this work, we introduce a unified visual interactive system and framework, Voila, for interactively detecting anomalies in spatiotemporal data collected from a streaming data source. The system is designed to meet two requirements in real-world applications, i.e., online monitoring and interactivity. We propose a novel tensor-based anomaly analysis algorithm with visualization and interaction design that dynamically produces contextualized, interpretable data summaries and allows for interactively ranking anomalous patterns based on user input. Using the “smart city” as an example scenario, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework through quantitative evaluation and qualitative case studies.
Query Expansion for IR using Knowledge-Based Relatedness

The limitations of keyword-only approaches to information retrieval were recognized since the early days, specially in cases where different but closely-related words are used in the query and the relevant document. Query expansion techniques like pseudo-relevance feedback rely on the target document set in order to bridge the gap between those words, but they might suffer from topic drift. This paper explores the use of knowledge-based semantic relatedness in order to bridge the gap between query and documents. We performed query expansion, with positive effects over some language modeling baselines.
Regional population dynamics define the local genetic structure in Sorbus torminalis

Recent changes in sylvicultural practices in Central Europe have created forests with closed canopies, and tree species preferring open and sunny forests have declined in area and abundance. This led to increased isolation of populations of many rare insect‐pollinated, fleshy‐fruited species with a naturally scattered distribution. To gain insight into the regional population dynamics of such species, we investigated the consequences of spatial isolation, population size and density on the genetic structure of Sorbus torminalis and simultaneously considered the relationship between fecundity and habitat quality. Genotype data for biparentally (ISSRs) and maternally inherited (cpDNA PCR‐RFLPs) molecular markers were generated for 26 Swiss populations of S. torminalis. We applied analyses of molecular variance (amova) to both marker types and separated the relative contributions of pollen and seed dispersal to historical gene flow. amova detected significant differentiation among populations (ΦST ISSR = 0.107; ΦST cpDNA = 0.370) in both marker types. The relative rate of pollen to seed gene flow was low (r = 2.919) and significantly different from equality. Isolation by distance was weak within Eastern and Western Switzerland, although populations were substantially differentiated. Within‐population molecular variance was not explained by population size, whereas habitat quality (openness) positively influenced the percentage of fruiting trees and the degree of fruiting per tree, indicating that more open forests enhance sexual reproduction. Our findings of significant genetic differentiation in the absence of clear geographical structuring can be explained by the distinct ecology of S. torminalis and nondirectional colonization events in metapopulation‐like dynamics.