Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing Successful Communication Strategies: A Test of an Integrated Framework for Effective Communication1

In studies of advertising, many communication strategies have been formulated, but little research has been carried out on the process of deciding what strategy can be used best in a particular situation. In social psychology, models have been developed that specify a number of behavioral determinants. Though communication practitioners often use these models, scientific proof of the effectiveness of persuasive messages based on these models is largely absent. In this study, knowledge from advertising studies and social psychology is combined in an integrated framework for effective communication. In an experiment on chocolate-bar buying behavior, we prove that by making use of this framework, we can predict which advertising strategy is the most effective.
Distribution-balanced stratified cross-validation for accuracy estimation

Cross-validation has often been applied in machine learning research for estimating the accuracies of classifiers. In this work, we propose an extension to this method, called distribution-balanced stratified cross-validation (DBSCV), which improves the estimation quality by providing balanced intraclass distributions when partitioning a data set into multiple folds. We have tested DBSCV on nine real-world and three artificial domains using the C4.5 decision trees classifier. The results show that DBSCV performs better (has smaller biases) than the regular stratified crossvalidationin most cases, especially when the number of folds is small. The analysis and experiments based on three artificial data sets also reveal that DBSCV is particularly effective when multiple intraclass clusters exist in a data set.
Corsican distanciation strategies: Language purification or misguided attempts to reverse the gallicisation process?

Language planning policies on the French island of Corsica have evolved to the extent that there are now, in ideological terms, two distinct Corsicans. The first is referred to as gallicised Corsican, which is the Italo-Romance dialect of the island with its French elements, resulting from two-hundred-and-fifty years of language contact. The second is known as distanciated Corsican and has emerged following distanciation strategies to relexify the minorised language, aspiring to recreate a genuine or pure Corsican. Such terms as genuine or pure are problematic and this article seeks to examine the motivation for these strategies and their ultimate effectiveness. Moreover, this article analyses the success of the distanciation policies supported by some language activists on the island, based on the results from surveys carried out to evaluate the use of both Corsicans amongst a cross-section of the island's population.
A Simple Harmonic Reduction Method in Multipulse Rectifier Using Passive Devices

This paper proposes a novel and passive harmonic reduction method at dc link of multipulse rectifier (MPR). The proposed method uses a single-phase diode-bridge rectifier to generate circulating current, which can shape the input line current of MPR. The input side of the single-phase diode-bridge rectifier is connected with the secondary winding of interphase reactor (IPR), and its output side is connected with load, which can recycle the harmonic energy and feed to load. The operation mode of the single-phase diode-bridge rectifier is analyzed, and the turn ratio of the IPR is designed optimally. Under ideal condition, the proposed MPR operates as a 24-pulse rectifier, and its total harmonic distortion (THD) of input line current is about 7.6%. Most of all, the proposed method is easy to be used in different 12-pulse rectifier topologies, and its conduction losses are far less than that of the conventional double-tapped IPR. Simulation and experiment results show that the THD of input line current is less than 5%.
Competencies for virtual teamwork: Developmentand validation of a web-based selection tool for members of distributed teams

The development and validation of the Virtual Team Competency Inventory (VTCI), an Internet-based measure for selection and placement of members in virtual teams, is described. Item selection was based on a conceptual model with three main categories (taskwork, teamwork, and telecooperation related KSAs) and 11 subscales. After an exploratory pilot study with 169 undergraduate students, 39 items remained in the final version of the VTCI. In the main study, 258 members of organizational virtual teams completed the VTCI and were concurrently assessed by their team managers. The results showed satisfactory reliability of the VTCI (overall alpha = .92) and good convergent and discriminant validity. The concurrent multiple validity of the VTCI was . 49 for individual team members' performance. Moreover, analyses at the team-level revealed significant correlations between team effectiveness and mean, minimum (but not maximum), and variance aggregations of VTCI predictors within the teams.
Quality of life and everyday activities in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is generally a slowly progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. However, patients with PBC often suffer from a variety of symptoms long before the development of cirrhosis that include issues of daily living that have an impact on their work environment and their individual quality of life. We therefore examined multiple parameters by taking advantage of the database of our cohort of 1032 patients with PBC and 1041 matched controls. The data were obtained from patients from 23 tertiary referral centers throughout the United States and from rigorously matched controls by age, sex, ethnicity, and random‐digit dialing. The data showed that patients with PBC were more likely than controls to have significant articular symptoms, a reduced ability to perform household chores, and the need for help with routine activities. Patients with PBC rated their overall activity similar or superior to that of controls; however, more of them reported limitations in their ability to carry out activities at work or at home and difficulties in everyday activities. PBC cases also more frequently reported limitations in participating in certain sports or exercises and pursuing various hobbies; however, they did not report significant limitations in social activities. In a multivariable analysis, household income, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, limitations in work activities, a reduction in work secondary to disability, and church attendance were independently increased in PBC cases with respect to controls. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the quality of life of patients with PBC in the United States is generally well preserved. Nevertheless, patients with PBC suffer significantly more than controls from a variety of symptoms that are beyond the immediate impact of liver failure and affect their lifestyle, personal relationships, and work activities. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Tradução, cognição e contextualização: triangulando a interface processo-produto no desempenho de tradutores novatos

This article aims at revisiting the literature in the area known as translation process studies and discusses the achievements and shortcomings observed in the last two decades of research. Some criticisms are raised with respect to the use of verbal protocols as a single methodological tool for research purposes and the use of a methodological triangulation technique is suggested incorporating retrospection, TRANSLOG© representations and the use of small corpora for the analyses of the translation process. CORPRAT - corpus on process for the analysis of translations - is introduced as part of the exploratory design. A case study follows the theoretical and applied discussions and informs our reflection upon the performance of novice translators to illustrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. Finally, some considerations are made in favor of extending the scope of research to encompass the performance of expert translators envisaging, by means of correlational analyses within CORPRAT, generalizations about translation-specific phenomena.
Tachykinins Potentiate N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate Responses in Acutely Isolated Neurons from the Dorsal Horn

Abstract: Substance P and neurokinin A both potentiated N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐induced currents recorded in acutely isolated neurons from the dorsal horn of the rat. To elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we measured the effects of tachykinins and glutamate receptor agonists on [Ca2+]i in these cells. Substance P, but not neurokinin A, increased [Ca2+]i in a subpopulation of neurons. The increase in [Ca2+]i was found to be due to Ca2+ influx through voltage‐sensitive Ca2+ channels. Substance P and neurokinin A also potentiated the increase in [Ca2+]i produced by NMDA, but not by α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid, kainate, or 50 mM K+. Phorbol esters enhanced the effects of NMDA and staurosporine inhibited the potentiation of NMDA effects by tachykinins. It is concluded that activation of protein kinase C may mediate the enhancement of NMDA effects by tachykinins in these cells. However, the effects of tachykinins on [Ca2+]i can be dissociated from their effects on NMDA receptors.
Do Item-discrimination Indices Really Help Us to Improve Our Tests?

For tests in which items individually score 0 or 1, the commonly described 'U-L Index' compares, for any one item, the numbers of correct responses given by two groups of examinees, those with the highest and lowest scores. U-L Indices can be very unreliable if not based on large numbers of test results and, being much dependent on the spread of total scores, cannot generally be compared from test to test. Coefficients of correlation between item scores and total scores are more reliable and are nowadays simpler to obtain, but they have similar defects. They are therefore no substitute for careful scrutiny of item wording. Properties of the indices, including the effects of guessing and of question complexity, are explored and illustrated through simple computer-processed models that are advocated as investigative and learning tools.
A Randomised Trial of an Eight-Week, Once Weekly Primaquine Regimen to Prevent Relapse of Plasmodium vivax in Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

Background Vivax malaria remains a major cause of morbidity in the subtropics. To undermine the stability of the disease, drugs are required that prevent relapse and provide reservoir reduction. A 14-day course of primaquine (PQ) is effective but cannot safely be used in routine practice because of its interaction with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency for which testing is seldom available. Safe and effective use of PQ without the need for G6PD testing would be ideal. The efficacy and safety of an 8-week, once weekly PQ regimen was compared with current standard treatment (chloroquine alone) and a 14-day PQ regimen. Methods and Principal Findings 200 microscopically confirmed Plasmodium vivax patients were randomly assigned to either once weekly 8-week PQ (0.75mg/kg/week), once weekly 8-week placebo, or 14-day PQ (0.5mg/kg/day) in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. All patients were treated with a standard chloroquine dose and tested for G6PD deficiency. Deficient patients were assigned to the 8-week PQ group. Failure was defined as any subsequent episode of vivax malaria over 11 months of observation. There were 22/71 (31.0%) failures in the placebo group and 1/55 (1.8%) and 4/75 (5.1%) failures in the 14-day and 8-week PQ groups, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios were: for 8-week PQ vs. placebo-0.05 (95%CI: 0.01-0.2, p<0.001) and for 14-day PQ vs. placebo-0.01 (95%CI: 0.002-0.1, p<0.001). Restricted analysis allowing for a post-treatment prophylactic effect confirmed that the 8-week regimen was superior to current treatment. Only one G6PD deficient patient presented. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions A practical radical treatment for vivax malaria is essential for control and elimination of the disease. The 8-week PQ course is more effective at preventing relapse than current treatment with chloroquine alone. Widespread use of the 8-week regimen could make an important contribution to reservoir reduction or regional elimination where G6PD testing is not available. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00158587
Research in International Business and Finance Hedging Inflation Risk in a Developing Economy: the Case of Brazil

Inflation shocks are one of the pitfalls of developing economies and are usually difficult to hedge. This paper examines the optimal strategic asset allocation for a Brazilian investor seeking to hedge inflation risk at different horizons, ranging from one to 30 years. Using a vector-autoregressive specification to model inter-temporal dependency across variables, we measure the inflation hedging properties of domestic and foreign investments and carry out a portfolio optimisation. Our results show that foreign currencies complement traditional assets very efficiently when hedging a portfolio against inflation: around 70% of the portfolio should be dedicated to domestic assets (equities, inflation-linked (IL) bonds and nominal bonds), whereas 30% should be invested in foreign currencies, especially the US dollar and the euro.
A Comparative Study on the Total Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of Ethanolic Extracts from Various Organ Tissues of Allium spp.

The extracts from different tissues of Allium fistulosum L. and Allium sativum L. were investigated to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. The highest yields of the Allium extracts were prepared from the extraction of 30% ethanol solution. The DPPH scavenging activity was the highest in A. fistulosum L. leaves, which IC50 is 14.61 μg·mL-1. The highest antioxidant activity using TEAC assay and total phenolic content were observed in A. sativum L. stems and A. fistulosum L. stems, where they are determined to be 15.51 mMand 191.04 mg GAE·g-14.59 mMand 182.60 mg GAE·g-1,respectively. Statistic analysis revealed that the DPPH IC50 value was significantly correlated with total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity using TEAC assay. The extracts of A. sativum L. bulbs were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with the MIC and MBC of 0.2 mg·mL-1and 0.4 mg·mL-1, respectively. In addition, the extract of A. fistulosum L. stems was more active against Bacillus subtilis, with an MIC and MBC of 0.2 and 0.4 mg·mL-1, respectively. The inhibitory activity of various Allium extracts against the test bacteria was greater than that of 10 μg·mL-1 allicin. The results indicated that Allium spp. extracts could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.
The Minho Quotation Resource

Direct quotations from business leaders can provide a rich sample of language which is in common use in the world of commerce. This language used by business leaders often uses: metaphors, euphemisms, slang, obscenities and invented words. In addition the business lexicon is dynamic because new words or terms will gain popularity with businessmen whilst obsolete words will exit their common vocabulary. In addition to being a rich source of language direct quotations from business leaders can have ''real world'' consequences. For example, Gerald Ratner nearly bankrupted his company with an infamous candid comment at an Institute of Directors meeting in 1993. Currently, there is no ''direct quotations from business leaders'' resource freely available to the research community. The ''Minho Quotation Resource'' captures the business lexicon with in excess of 500,000 quotations from individuals from the business world. The quotations were captured from October 2009 and April 2011. The resource is available in a searchable Lucene index and will be available for download in May 2012
Boards of Directors and Corporate Financial Performance: A Review and Integrative Model

This article synthesizes empirical researchfindings on the impact of boards of directors on corporate financial performance. An integrative model of board attributes and roles is presented, and research support on their links is discussed. The review identifies critical short-comings of past studies and concludes by offering an agenda for future studies in this promising area of empirical research.
One-Dimensional Magnetotelluric Inversion with Radiation Boundary Conditions

We present an algebraic method of solving the magnetotelluric inverse problem for the case of one-dimensional conductivity profiles in the class D. We show that the typically examined Dirichlet boundary conditions are a limiting case of the radiative boundary conditions introduced by Srnka and Crutchfield. By examining the analogous inverse inhomogeneous string problem studied by Krĕın we demonstrate the usefulness of the conductivity class D. Results of the inversion procedure are presented, as well as a discussion of the continued fraction expansions resulting from the more general boundary conditions. The presentation presupposes no knowledge of magnetotellurics.
Viscoelasticity in Achilles tendonopathy: quantitative assessment by using real-time shear-wave elastography.

PURPOSE To investigate the differences in viscoelastic properties between normal and pathologic Achilles tendons (ATs) by using real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE). MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from 25 symptomatic patients and 80 volunteers. One hundred eighty ultrasonographic (US) and SWE studies of ATs without tendonopathy and 30 studies of the middle portion of the AT in patients with tendonopathy were assessed prospectively. Each study included data sets acquired at B-mode US (tendon morphology and cross-sectional area) and SWE (axial and sagittal mean velocity and relative anisotropic coefficient) for two passively mobilized ankle positions. The presence of AT tears at B-mode US and signal-void areas at SWE were noted. RESULTS Significantly lower mean velocity was shown in tendons with tendonopathy than in normal tendons in the relaxed position at axial SWE (P < .001) and in the stretched position at sagittal (P < .001) and axial (P = .0026) SWE. Tendon softening was a sign of tendonopathy in relaxed ATs when the mean velocity was less than or equal to 4.06 m · sec(-1) at axial SWE (sensitivity, 54.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.8, 74.4; specificity, 91.5%; 95% CI: 86.3, 95.1) and less than or equal to 5.70 m · sec(-1) at sagittal SWE (sensitivity, 41.7%; 95% CI: 22.1, 63.3; specificity, 81.8%; 95% CI: 75.3, 87.2) and in stretched ATs, when the mean velocity was less than or equal to 4.86 m · sec(-1) at axial SWE (sensitivity, 66.7%; 95% CI: 44.7, 84.3; specificity, 75.6%; 95% CI: 68.5, 81.7) and less than or equal to 14.58 m · sec(-1) at sagittal SWE (sensitivity, 58.3%; 95% CI: 36.7, 77.9; specificity, 83.5%; 95% CI: 77.2, 88.7). Anisotropic results were not significantly different between normal and pathologic ATs. Six of six (100%) partial-thickness tears appeared as signal-void areas at SWE. CONCLUSION Whether the AT was relaxed or stretched, SWE helped to confirm and quantify pathologic tendon softening in patients with tendonopathy in the midportion of the AT and did not reveal modifications of viscoelastic anisotropy in the tendon. Tendon softening assessed by using SWE appeared to be highly specific, but sensitivity was relatively low.
Localization of FMRP‐associated mRNA granules and requirement of microtubules for activity‐dependent trafficking in hippocampal neurons

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the absence of the fragile X mental‐retardation protein (FMRP), an mRNA‐binding protein, which may play important roles in the regulation of dendritic mRNA localization and/or synaptic protein synthesis. We have recently applied high‐resolution fluorescence imaging methods to document the presence, motility and activity‐dependent regulation of FMRP granule trafficking in dendrites and spines of cultured hippocampal neurons. In this study, we show that FMRP granules distribute to F‐actin‐rich compartments, including filopodia, spines and growth cones during the staged development of hippocampal neurons in culture. Fragile X mental‐retardation protein granules were shown to colocalize with ribosomes, ribosomal RNA and MAP1B mRNA, a known FMRP target, which encodes a protein important for microtubule and actin stabilization. The levels of FMRP within dendrites were reduced by disruption of microtubule dynamics, but not by disruption of F‐actin. Direct measurements of FMRP transport kinetics using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching in living neurons showed that microtubules were required to induce the mGluR‐dependent translocation into dendrites. This study provides further characterization of the composition and regulated trafficking of FMRP granules in dendrites of hippocampal neurons.
Prosecution of Adult Sexual Assault Cases

Most sexual assaults are never reported to law enforcement, and even among reported cases, most will never be successfully prosecuted. This reality has been a long-standing source of frustration for survivors, victim advocates, as well as members of the criminal justice system. To address this problem, communities throughout the United States have implemented multidisciplinary response interventions to improve post-assault care for victims and increase reporting and prosecution rates. One such model is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, whereby specially trained nurses (rather than hospital emergency department [ED] physicians) provide comprehensive psychological, medical, and forensic services for sexual assault victims. The purpose of this study was to examine whether adult sexual assault cases were more likely to be investigated and prosecuted after the implementation of a SANE program within a large Midwestern county. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare criminal justice system case progression pre-SANE to post-SANE. Results from longitudinal multilevel ordinal regression modeling revealed that case progression through the criminal justice system significantly increased pre- to post-SANE: more cases reached the “final” stages of prosecution (i.e., conviction at trial and/or guilty plea bargains) post-SANE. These findings are robust after accounting for changes in operation at the focal county prosecutors’ office and seasonal variation in rape reporting. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Challenge of effective technology integration into teaching and learning

Abstract South African teachers are faced with challenges in integrating technology effectively into a coherent framework at school level. There seems to be little evidence of technology integration into classroom activities such as systematic planning and implementation of lessons that require learners to think critically, work collaboratively, and use technology in support of learning. A study was undertaken to investigate the challenges faced by senior secondary school teachers and learners in integrating technology effectively into teaching and learning activities. In-depth and group interviews were conducted with curriculum specialists, teachers and learners. Observations and document review were also used to collect qualitative data. Qualitative data analysis strategies were used to analyse data. The findings revealed unavailable technology policy, insufficient technology equipment, a lack of teachers qualified in technology integration, and maintenance and technical problems as the major challenges affecting the effective integration of technology at school level. Integrating technology effectively requires planning, sufficient time, dedication and enough resources.