Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of the cultural portfolio project on cultural and EFL learning in Taiwan’s EFL college classes

Learning about foreign language (FL) cultures is becoming an important objective in the FL curricula and national standards of different countries throughout the world. The purposes of the study were to examine the effects of the cultural portfolio project on (1) students’ specific aspects of development of cultural knowledge and change in perception of native English speakers and their cultures; (2) students’ self-awareness, evaluation, and modification of stereotypes toward the target cultures; and (3) students’ change in perception of and attitude toward cultural learning. Data were collected through students’ cultural portfolio projects, pre- and post-questionnaires, classroom observation, and interviews. Results indicated that instead of memorizing cultural facts, students experienced an active process of constructing knowledge. Most students commented that their views toward native-English-speaking cultures and language learning had been changed after completing the cultural portfolio project, for instance by moving from an ethnocentric view to respect cultural differences, becoming more aware of diversity within culture, and understanding that the media presents the surface culture of native-English-speaking countries.
Rapid Detection of West Nile Virus from Human Clinical Specimens, Field-Collected Mosquitoes, and Avian Samples by a TaqMan Reverse Transcriptase-PCR Assay

ABSTRACT The authors report on the development and application of a rapid TaqMan assay for the detection of West Nile (WN) virus in a variety of human clinical specimens and field-collected specimens. Oligonucleotide primers and FAM- and TAMRA-labeled WN virus-specific probes were designed by using the nucleotide sequence of the New York 1999 WN virus isolate. The TaqMan assay was compared to a traditional reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR assay and to virus isolation in Vero cells with a large number (≈500) of specimens obtained from humans (serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain tissue), field-collected mosquitoes, and avian tissue samples. The TaqMan assay was specific for WN virus and demonstrated a greater sensitivity than the traditional RT-PCR method and correctly identified WN virus in 100% of the culture-positive mosquito pools and 98% of the culture-positive avian tissue samples. The assay should be of utility in the diagnostic laboratory to complement existing human diagnostic testing and as a tool to conduct WN virus surveillance in the United States.
Video analysis of blows to the head and face at the 1999 World Taekwondo Championships.

BACKGROUND Limited research has been done on head blows that may result in mild traumatic brain injury in Taekwondo. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fighting conditions under which blows to the head commonly take place, with a view to determining the typical conditions under which injury may occur. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN videotape analysis (retrospective). SETTING the semi-final and final matches (a total of 48 matches) at the 14th World Taekwondo Championships in 1999. PARTICIPANTS 64 athletes (32 females and 32 males) who won elimination-round matches (out of 563 competitors), aged 15 to 38 years. MEASURES frequency, mechanism of head blows, characteristics of situations leading up to and following head blows, frequency of multiple impacts. RESULTS A total of 35 incidents of head blow occurred (365 blows per 1,000 athlete exposures). All of these head blows were associated with a direct head or face contact and frequently involved: a closed sparring stance, shorter athletes, axe or roundhouse type kicks, attacker's offensive kick, and head-blow-receiver's offensive action with absence of a blocking skill. CONCLUSIONS To prevent possible brain injury resulting from direct head blows, updated safety education, a complete understanding of concussion for athletes, coaches, and referees, and a rule change in competition Taekwondo are recommended.
Gated Multimodal Units for Information Fusion

This paper presents a novel model for multimodal learning based on gated neural networks. The Gated Multimodal Unit (GMU) model is intended to be used as an internal unit in a neural network architecture whose purpose is to find an intermediate representation based on a combination of data from different modalities. The GMU learns to decide how modalities influence the activation of the unit using multiplicative gates. It was evaluated on a multilabel scenario for genre classification of movies using the plot and the poster. The GMU improved the macro f-score performance of single-modality approaches and outperformed other fusion strategies, including mixture of experts models. Along with this work, the MM-IMDb dataset is released which, to the best of our knowledge, is the largest publicly available multimodal dataset for genre prediction on movies.
$1/4$ BPS states and non-perturbative couplings in $N = 4$ string theories

We compute certain (2K+ 4)–point, one–loop couplings in the type IIA string compactified on K3 × T 2 , which are related to a topological index on this manifold. Their special feature is that they are sensitive to only short and intermediate BPS multiplets. The couplings derive from underlying prepotentials G
Comparison of urine dipstick and albumin:creatinine ratio for chronic kidney disease screening: A population-based study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is usually diagnosed using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or kidney damage markers. The urine dipstick test is a widely used screening tool for albuminuria, a CKD marker. Although the urine albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) has advantages over the dipstick test in sensitivity and quantification of levels, the two methods have not been compared in the general population. A total of 20,759 adults with urinalysis data in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014 were examined. CKD risk categories were created using a combination of eGFR and albuminuria. Albuminuria was defined using an ACR cutoff of 30 mg/g or 300 mg/g and a urine dipstick cutoff of trace or 1+. The EQ-5D index was used for the health outcome. Prevalence estimates of ACR ≥30 mg/g and >300 mg/g vs dipstick ≥trace and ≥1+ in adults aged ≥20 years were 7.2% and 0.9% vs 9.1% and 1.2%, respectively. For ACR ≥30 mg/g detection, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values of dipstick ≥trace were 43.6%, 93.6%, 34.6%, and 95.5%, respectively. When risk categories created based on dipstick cutoffs were compared with those based on ACR cutoffs, 10.4% of the total population was reclassified to different risk categories, with only 3.9% reclassified to the same CKD category. Akaike information criterion values were lower, and non-fatal disease burdens of CKD were larger, in models predicting EQ-5D index using ACR-based categories compared to those using dipstick-based categories, even after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, the urine dipstick test had poor sensitivity and high false-discovery rates for ACR ≥30 mg/g detection, and classified a large number of individuals into different CKD risk categories compared with ACR-based categories. Therefore, ACR assessments in CKD screening appear beneficial for a more accurate prediction of worse quality of life.
Inhibitory effect of collagen-derived tripeptides on dipeptidylpeptidase-IV activity

Abstract The collagen tripeptide fragments Gly-Ala-Hyp, Gly-Pro-Ala and Gly-Pro-Hyp were generated by hydrolyzing collagen from pig-skin, cattle-skin, fish-scales and chicken-feet, respectively, with Streptomyces collagenase. Collagenase treatment increased the concentration of tripeptides in the hydrolysates by 13–15% (w/w). Of the three peptides, Gly-Pro-Hyp was a true peptidic inhibitor of dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV), because DPP-IV could not hydrolyze the bond between Pro-Hyp. This tripeptide was a moderately competitive inhibitor (Ki = 4.5 mM) of DPP-IV, and its level in the collagen hydrolysates could be greatly increased (4–9% [w/w]) using Streptomyces collagenase.
Should science educators deal with the science/religion issue?

I begin by examining the natures of science and religion before looking at the ways in which they relate to one another. I then look at a number of case studies that centre on the relationships between science and religion, including attempts to find mechanisms for divine action in quantum theory and chaos theory, creationism, genetic engineering and the writings of Richard Dawkins. Finally, I consider some of the pedagogical issues that would need to be considered if the science/religion issue is to be addressed in the classroom. I conclude that there are increasing arguments in favour of science educators teaching about the science/religion issue. The principal reason for this is to help students better to learn science. However, such teaching makes greater demands on science educators than has generally been the case. Certain of these demands are identified and some specific suggestions are made as to how a science educator might deal with the science/religion issue.
The Status and Role of Regional Languages in Higher Education in Pakistan

Pakistan, as a multilingual country, faces numerous problems in language planning in higher education. There are concerns about the limited role of regional languages, lack of required materials in Urdu, and student difficulties in English. The research reported here is a nationwide survey of 2136 students, 121 Subject and English teachers of public and private sector colleges and universities from all capital cities of Pakistan, as well as 63 parents who responded to the questionnaire. The survey examines the students' background, their competency and use of mother tongue/ regional languages, attitudes to languages, the availability and quality of materials, the role of regional languages in education, as well as language and sociocultural outcomes. Results reveal a language shift in the regional speakers who display low competency and use of their mother tongue/regional languages in formal and informal domains. They also display negative attitudes to their own languages as seen in their preference to study in English and Urdu medium at all levels of schooling. The study recommends a language policy in education that promotes cultural pluralism and also provides state support to the minority languages in Pakistan.
Pulmonary tuberculosis: up-to-date imaging and management.

OBJECTIVE Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a common worldwide infection and a medical and social problem causing high mortality and morbidity, especially in developing countries. The traditional imaging concept of primary and reactivation TB has been recently challenged, and radiologic features depend on the level of host immunity rather than the elapsed time after the infection. We aimed to elaborate the new concept of the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB, to review the characteristic imaging findings of various forms of pulmonary TB, and to assess the role of CT in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary TB. CONCLUSION Fast and more accurate TB testing such as bacterial DNA fingerprinting and whole-blood interferon-gamma assay has been developed. Miliary or disseminated primary pattern or atypical manifestations of pulmonary TB are common in patients with impaired immunity. CT plays an important role in the detection of TB in patients in whom the chest radiograph is normal or inconclusive, in the determination of disease activity, in the detection of complication, and in the management of TB by providing a roadmap for surgical treatment planning. PET scans using 18F-FDG or 11C-choline can sometimes help differentiate tuberculous granuloma from lung malignancy.
Use of a novel abdominal aortic tourniquet to reduce or eliminate flow in the common femoral artery in human subjects

BACKGROUND Penetrating injuries of proximal femoral and iliac vessels are a common cause of death on the battlefield. Previous studies have shown that by applying 80 lb to 140 lb of pressure externally over the distal abdominal aorta, flow can be ceased in the common femoral artery (CFA). It has also been demonstrated that in a porcine model, an externally applied pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet (AAT) can occlude the aorta and inferior vena cava for 60 minutes without bowel injury or significant potassium elevations. The objectives of this study were (1) determine if AAT use in humans results in flow cessation in the CFA, (2) measure the pressure required to cease flow in the CFA, and (3) measure discomfort associated with application of the AAT. METHODS Pulse wave Doppler measurements were taken in supine volunteers at the right CFA. The AAT was placed just above the iliac crests over the anterior abdomen. The AAT was inflated using a hand pump with an integrated manometer. Measurements were taken every 30 mm Hg. Discomfort was measured using a 10-point pain scale. RESULTS In all subjects, flow was reduced in the CFA. Flow ceased in seven of nine subjects at a median pressure of 180 mm Hg (150–230 mm Hg). Median discomfort at ceasing of flow was 7 (3–10), returning to 0 after device removal. CONCLUSION The AAT device was effective at reducing flow in the CFA and ceased flow in most of the subjects. Application of the device was associated with discomfort varying from moderate to severe and resolving with device removal.
Process Innovation, Application Compatibility, and Welfare

We analyze a model of cost-reducing R&D and compatibility decisions by two platforms. After an exogenous improvement in the efficiency of R&D, each platform has a heightened incentive to make its software incompatible with the rival’s hardware device to avoid being dominated in the hardware market. This can lead to an inefficient market structure. The increase in the efficiency of R&D not only has a positive direct effect of reducing costs through process innovations but also a negative indirect effect through the change of the compatibility decisions. We show that due to this indirect effect, an increased efficiency of R&D can be harmful to the profit of a large platform and harmful to social welfare.
European guidelines for topical photodynamic therapy part 2: emerging indications – field cancerization, photorejuvenation and inflammatory/infective dermatoses

In addition to established indications in non‐melanoma skin cancer in immunocompetent patients, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been studied for the treatment, and possible prevention, of superficial skin cancers in immunosuppressed patients. As a topical photosensitizer can be applied over large areas, PDT is also increasingly used for field cancerization in photodamaged skin, with evidence of potential to delay the development of actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma, although direct evidence of prevention of invasive squamous cell carcinoma remains limited. PDT has been studied in patch/plaque‐stage cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, with efficacy more likely in unilesional disease. Accumulating evidence supports the use of PDT in acne and several other inflammatory/infective dermatoses including cutaneous leishmaniasis, although protocols are still to be refined. Despite proven efficacy, PDT is not widely used in viral/genital warts, where pain during treatment can be intense. PDT is a therapeutic option for photorejuvenation, with improvement in fine wrinkles, mottled hyperpigmentation, roughness and sallowness reported.
’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Coincidence rotations of the root lattice A

Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online's data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. Abstract. The coincidence site lattices of the root lattice A4 are considered, and the statistics of the corresponding coincidence rotations according to their indices is expressed in terms of a Dirichlet series generating function. This is possible via an embedding of A4 into the icosian ring with its rich arithmetic structure, which recently [6] led to the classification of the similar sublattices of A4.
Course management and students’ expectations: theory‐based considerations

This paper proposes a theoretical, yet practical, framework for managing the formation process of students unrealistic expectations in a college course. Using relational contracting theory, alternative teacher interventions, aimed at effective management of students expectations about the course, are described. Also, the formation of the student entitlement process is examined. Finally, a matrix of remedies for effective management of students' unrealistic expectations is proposed. In conclusion, practical implications of the proposed framework for the advancement of teaching scholarship are outlined.
Apology Isn't Good Enough: An Apology Suppresses an Approach Motivation but Not the Physiological and Psychological Anger

Although studies have emphasized the multiple components of anger, little is known about the physiological and psychological mechanisms of the approach motivational component and the negative emotional component of anger. In the present study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems (e.g., tuition hikes) and received a handwritten, insulting comment about their composition from the experimenter. Half of the participants (apology group) received a simple apologetic sentence at the end of the insulting comment. Half of the participants (no apology group) did not receive one. The physiological responses of the participants were recorded prior to, and after they read the comments. Increases in heart rate and asymmetric frontal brain activity were suppressed only in the apology group. Both groups showed an increase in skin conductance response. Our psychological scales showed that the apology suppressed self reported state anger from an approach-motivational standpoint but not from a negative emotional standpoint. The results suggest that anger is not a unitary process but has multiple components. The apology did provide a different physiological profile but did not dampen down the subjective experience of anger. Thus, providing an apology may not always be effective for alleviating the experience of anger to an insult.
Cram School Students’ Conceptions of Learning and Learning Science in Taiwan

The cram school in Taiwan offers additional after‐school instruction to enhance students’ academic performance, and it provides a unique educational context to investigate students’ perspectives toward learning. The purpose of this study was to explore 45 cram school students’ (around 14 years old) conceptions of learning and learning science. The research data were gathered from interviews with each of the students, and the interview responses were further analyzed by a phenomenographic method. It was found that most of these students conceptualized learning or learning science as memorizing school knowledge, preparing for tests, or practicing tutorial problems and processing calculations. This study also revealed that about 76% of the students expressed coherent views between conceptions of learning in general, and those of learning science in particular. Further analyses of student interview responses suggested that the students held a quantitative view of learning (science) and they tended to atomize school knowledge while learning (science). Their motivation for learning was mainly driven by external factors, such as examination scores, and they probably employed a surface approach to learning. Moreover, their conceptions of learning or learning science might imply a dualist epistemology for the nature of knowing and knowledge. This study also showed some evidence that the special educational context of cram schools might guide students develop certain conceptions of learning, thus leading to particular study and motivational approaches.
Description of the Self-Chord P2P Application

This paper presents the implementation of the “Self-Chord” P2P system. Self-Chord inherits the ability of Chord-like structured systems for the construction and maintenance of an overlay of peers, but features enhanced functionalities deriving from ant-inspired algorithms, such as autonomy behavior, self-organization and capacity to adapt to a changing environment. Self-Chord has three main advantages with respect to classical structured P2P systems, especially in the context of Grid and Cloud Computing: (i) it is possible execute range queries efficiently; (ii) the load balance among peers is improved; (iii) maintenance load is reduced because resources are spontaneously redistributed when peers disconnect or reconnect to the systems, or when resources are added/modified. In this paper, we summarize the main functionalities of the Self-Chord application, and illustrate the configuration and parameter settings, with the help of an example.
Relationship between red cell distribution width and long-term mortality in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be a predictor of cardiac events in coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we hypothesized that RDW level on admission would be predictive of adverse outcomes in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NST-ACS). Methods: In total, 202 patients with NST-ACS (159 males and 43 females) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the 50th percentile of admission RDW levels. A high RDW group (n=100) was defined as those patients having RDW levels of >14.0. The relationship between RDW and primary endpoint (cardiovascular death), secondary endpoints [(reinfarction, repeat target vessel revascularization-percutaneous/surgical)], and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed. The median follow-up time was 18 (13-24) months. Results: The patients in the high RDW group were older (62.9 vs. 57.5, p=0.001). Multivessel disease, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, platelet, CK-MB, troponin I, and RDW were higher (p=0.047, p=0.003, p=0.012, p=0.012, p=0.017, p<0.001, respectively), and gender (male/female), ejection fraction, and hemoglobin levels were lower (p=0.021, p=0.04, p=0.016, respectively) in the high RDW group. Cardiovascular death and MACE were higher in the high RDW group (16% vs. 4.9%, p=0.01, 52% vs. 31.4%, p=0.003, respectively). By multiple regression analysis in 202 patients, age >65 and RDW >14.0% on admission were found to be powerful independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.5-13.1, p=0.005, OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.0-8.9, p=0.039, respectively). Conclusion: A high RDW level on admission is associated with increased long-term mortality in patients with NST-ACS.