Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Akt Activation Preserves Cardiac Function and Prevents Injury After Transient Cardiac Ischemia In Vivo

Background—The serine-threonine kinase Akt is activated by several ligand-receptor systems previously shown to be cardioprotective. Akt activation reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis in models of transient ischemia. Its role in cardiac dysfunction or infarction, however, remains unclear. Methods and Results—We examined the effects of a constitutively active Akt mutant (myr-Akt) in a rat model of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. In vivo gene transfer of myr-Akt reduced infarct size by 64% and the number of apoptotic cells by 84% (P <0.005 for each). Ischemia-reperfusion injury decreased regional cardiac wall thickening as well as the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall (+dP/dt and −dP/dt). Akt activation restored regional wall thickening and +dP/dt and −dP/dt to levels seen in sham-operated rats. To better understand this benefit, we examined the effects of myr-Akt on hypoxic cardiomyocyte dysfunction in vitro. myr-Akt prevented hypoxia-induced abnormalities in cardiomyocyte calcium transients and shortening. Akt activation also enhanced sarcolemmal expression of Glut-4 in vivo and increased glucose uptake in vitro to the level seen with insulin treatment. Conclusions—Akt activation exerts a powerful cardioprotective effect after transient ischemia that probably reflects its ability to both inhibit cardiomyocyte death and improve function of surviving cardiomyocytes. Akt may represent an important nodal target for therapy in ischemic and other heart disease.
Gender differences in Norwegian PIRLS 2016 and ePIRLS 2016 results at test mode, text and item format level

Gender differences in reading are a common finding in international assessments with girls usually outperforming boys. This article investigates such gender differences by looking at test modes(paper-based versus digital assessments), reading purpose (literary versus informational), text features (associations between reading scores and how much students like a text) and item formatcharacteristics (multiple choice versus constructed response items). All analyses are based on dataof Norwegian fifth-grade students (n = 3610) from the most recent cycle of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Survey (PIRLS and ePIRLS) 2016. The results point towards a generalmode effect between the paper-based and digital assessment for constructed response items. Thiseffect seems to be less strong in boys, indicating that boys may be motivated to type responses on akeyboard as opposed to writing with a pen on paper. For text features, we found that boys might bedisengaged from reading when the text shows female characteristics such as a female protagonist,leading to boys’ lack of interest and, subsequently, to lower scores. The results are discussed in thelight of the test design of PIRLS and ePIRLS.
Data Quality Goes Social: What Drives Data Currency In Online Social Networks?

Despite the increasing acceptance and usage of Online Social Networks (OSN), particularly the currency of user data has been identified as a crucial success factor for both, users as well as providers. However, while research on Data Quality (DQ) in traditional information systems is considered to be relatively mature, findings from prior research on currency have not yet been confirmed for the context of OSN. Moreover, neither theories taking into account the specific social characteristics of OSN nor real-world evaluations have been applied to learn more about potential factors influencing the currency of user data in OSN. By using publicly available data of the business network XING, we therefore empirically investigate factors influencing the currency of user data. Thus, the paper makes three contributions: First, we confirm factors influencing currency from prior research in the field of DQ for the context of OSN. Second, we find that social characteristics such as social pressure induced by the number of direct contacts and users’ activity have a significant impact on the currency of user data. Third, we show that taking into account these additional factors when estimating currency leads to significantly better results than relying solely on previously known factors.
A 64x64 aer logarithmic temporal derivative silicon retina

Real time artificial vision is traditionally limited to the frame rate. In many scenarios most frames contain information redundant both within and across frames. Here we report on the development of an Address-Event Representation (AER) [1] silicon retina chip `TMPDIFF’ that generates events corresponding to changes in log intensity. The resulting address-events are output asynchronously on a shared digital bus. This chip responds with high temporal and low spatial resolution, analogous to the biological magnocellular pathway. It has 64x64 pixels, each with 2 outputs (ON and OFF), which are communicated off-chip on a 13-bit digital bus. It is fabricated in a 0.35u 4M 2P process and occupies an area of (3.3 mm). Each (40u) pixel has 28 transistors and 3 capacitors and uses a self-clocked switched-capacitor design to limit response FPN. Dynamic operating range is at least 5 decades and minimum scene illumination with f/1.4 lens is less than 10 lux. Chip power consumption is 7mW.
Platelet–lymphocyte ratios: a potential marker for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in COPD patients

Background In recent decades, morbidity and mortality have been found to be significantly increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is an indicator for inflammatory diseases. This study aims to investigate whether PLR could act as a potential marker for patients with COPD complicated with PTB. Methods In this retrospective study, laboratory characteristics of 87 COPD patients complicated with PTB (determined by Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive culture from sputum or bronchial lavage fluid) and 83 COPD patients (as the control group, determined by M. tuberculosis culture negativity from sputum or bronchial lavage fluid) were investigated. Data obtained on the day of admission were analyzed. Results PLR >216.82 was identified as the optimal cutoff value for discriminating COPD patients with PTB (sensitivity 92.4%, specificity 84.5%, positive-predictive value 91.6%, negative-predictive value 86.2%, and area under the curve [AUC] was 0.87) from patients with COPD alone. The AUC of PLR was significantly greater than that of neutrophil–lymphocyte count ratio (AUC, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–0.81; P<0.01). Conclusion PLR could be developed as a valuable maker for identifying tuberculosis infection in COPD patients.
The tight junction proteins claudin-7 and -8 display a different subcellular localization at Henle's loops and collecting ducts of rabbit kidney.

BACKGROUND The tight junction (TJ) regulates the passage of ions and molecules through the paracellular pathway. In multicellular organisms, epithelial sheets function as a barrier between a variety of environments and the internal media. Therefore, TJs are required to control the passage of diverse molecules in different epithelia. The mammalian nephron constitutes a particularly relevant model of this diversity, since the paracellular transport in this organ is significantly different along the various tubular segments. Here, we have analysed the distribution of claudins-7 and -8 in Henle's loops and collecting ducts isolated from rabbit kidneys. METHODS Renal segments were manually isolated from newborn and adult rabbit kidneys and processed for immunofluorescence. The distribution of claudins-7 and -8 was studied by confocal microscopy. RESULTS The localization of claudins-7 and -8 along Henle's loops and collecting ducts is remarkably different. While claudin-8 displays a clear cell border distribution in Henle's segment, claudin-7 shows a non-specific cytosolic staining. Moreover, in the collecting ducts, claudin-8 localizes at the TJ region, while claudin-7 shows a basolateral staining. This pattern is present from the newborn stage. The distribution of claudins along the mammalian kidney has been found to vary in different mammalian species. Accordingly, in the rabbit, we have found the expression of claudin-8 at the descending and ascending thin limbs of Henle, a distribution that differs from that found in the mouse by others. CONCLUSION In the rabbit Henle's loop, claudin-8 is present at the cellular borders of the descending and ascending thin limbs, while claudin-7 displays no specific labelling. Instead, at the collecting duct, both claudins are present but exhibit a different subcellular distribution.
A platform for search-based testing of concurrent software

The paper describes a generic, open-source infrastructure called SearchBestie (or S'Bestie for short) that we propose as a platform for experimenting with search-based techniques and for applying them in the area of software testing. Further, motivated by a lack of work on search-based testing targeted at identifying concurrency-related problems, we instantiate S'Bestie for search-based testing of concurrent programs using the IBM's concurrency testing infrastructure called ConTest. We demonstrate on series of experiments the capabilities of S'Bestie and (despite we have just made our first experiments with S'Bestie) also the fact that using search-based testing in the context of testing concurrent programs can be useful.
Grandparenting in Chinese skipped-generation families: cultural specificity of meanings and coping

ABSTRACT The main aim of this study is to fill a gap in the research on Chinese grandparents who raise their grandchildren in Hong Kong, which has implications for social policy and social welfare services. Grandparenting is embedded in Chinese culture, which emphasizes blood ties and intergenerational relationships and support. However, the meanings ascribed by grandparents who serve as surrogate/substitute parents have been found to be very different to those of grandparents in general, and of grandparents who play a less central role in caregiving. The cultural specificity of the meanings and experiences of grandparenting are examined based on the findings of an exploratory study. Analysis of the findings reveals six main themes: (1) explaining “why” in terms of “abnormality,” (2) a strong sense of shame and misfortune, (3) grandparenting as an expression and an extension of parental responsibility, (4) a lack of social legitimacy, (5) burden and distress, and (6) coping by mobilizing cultural and community resources. Although some of these themes are shared with other cultures and societies, others are found to be culturally specific to Hong Kong. In particular, the Chinese cultural context, in which parenting is culturally constructed as a lifelong responsibility, explains the strong commitment of grandparents to skipped-generation families. However, the difficulties and challenges faced by this group of caregivers should not be overlooked. Increased social support would certainly benefit this group of grandparents.
Does anyone need help? Age and gender effects on children's ability to recognize need-of-help

The exploratory study presented here examines children's ability to recognize another person's need-of-help. This social perception process necessarily precedes the decision to actively help others. Fifty-eight children aged between 5 and 13 completed three experimental paradigms. They were asked to look at black-and-white drawings and to indicate which ones showed somebody in need of help. A control task requiring children to differentiate between pictures of humans and birds measured general categorization abilities. This experimental design enabled us to consider confounding effects of children's developmental status and motivation and to distinguish them from specific need-of-help recognition abilities. As gender and age have been shown to influence social perception as well as helping behavior, we explored whether these factors also have an impact on need-of-help recognition. Children's response accuracies and response times (RTs) were analyzed. We observed clearly higher accuracy rates for younger girls compared to younger boys specifically in the need-of-help recognition tasks. For boys, an age-related performance improvement was found. Younger girls performed at a similarly high level as older girls and boys. No gender differences were observed for children aged over nine. This report provides first evidence that the developmental trajectory of children's ability to recognize another person's need-of-help differs for girls and boys.
Stroke subtype and motor impairment influence contralesional excitability

Objective: The nonlesioned motor cortex (M1NL) is thought to be hyperexcitable in patients with subacute or chronic stroke and offers a promising therapeutic target. However, whether M1NL excitability behaves the same for subcortical and cortical strokes is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cortical, or purely subcortical, strokes have a different effect on M1NL excitability. Methods: We looked for correlations between the Fugl-Meyer (FM) score and M1NL resting motor threshold (RMTNL) in 34 stroke survivors classified according to lesion location (cortico-subcortical or purely subcortical). In addition to the FM, the Wolf Motor Score and motor power were measured. Results: FM correlated with RMTNL for subcortical (r = 0.82; p = 0.001) but not for cortical strokes (r = 0.11; p = 0.62). Likewise, Wolf Motor Score (r = −0.62; p = 0.03) and motor power (r = 0.64; p = 0.023) were correlated with RMTNL for the subcortical group, but not for the cortical group. Conclusion: We show that the impact on M1NL depends on lesion location and conclude that protocols aimed at reducing M1NL cortical excitability may be worth exploring for subcortical but not for cortical stroke.
Free Vibration Analysis of Composite Material Plates "Case of a Typical Functionally Graded FG Plates Ceramic/Metal" with Porosities

This article presents the free vibration analysis of simply supported plate FG porous using a high order shear deformation theory. In is work the material properties of the porous plate FG vary across the thickness. The proposed theory contains four unknowns unlike the other theories which contain five unknowns. This theory has a parabolic shear deformation distribution across the thickness. So it is useless to use the shear correction factors. The Hamilton's principle will be used herein to determine the equations of motion. Since, the plate are simply supported the Navier procedure will be retained. To show the precision of this model, several comparisons have been made between the present results and those of existing theories in the literature for non-porous plates. Effects of the exponent graded and porosity factors are investigated.
Gender assignment and gender agreement in adult bilinguals and second language learners of French

This paper is concerned with gender marking in adult French. Four groups of subjects are compared: German-French simultaneous bilinguals (2L1ers) who grew up in France, German-French 2L1ers who grew up in Germany, advanced second language learners (L2ers) who are resident either in France or in Germany at the time of testing. The major goal of the study is to investigate whether differences in input conditions (acquisition in a minority vs. a majority language context) and differences in age of onset affect gender assignment and gender agreement in the same way or differently. Furthermore, we investigate whether successful acquisition of gender is dependent on influence from German. Two experiments, an acceptability judgment task and an elicited production task, are carried out. Results show successful acquisition of agreement in all groups. By contrast, gender assignment may be mildly affected if French is acquired in a minority language context or as an L2.
Statistical Optimization of Fibrinolytic Enzyme Production Using Agroresidues by Bacillus cereus IND1 and Its Thrombolytic Activity In Vitro

A potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing Bacillus cereus IND1 was isolated from the Indian food, rice. Solid-state fermentation was carried out using agroresidues for the production of fibrinolytic enzyme. Among the substrates, wheat bran supported more enzyme production and has been used for the optimized enzyme production by statistical approach. Two-level full-factorial design demonstrated that moisture, supplementation of beef extract, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate have significantly influenced enzyme production (P < 0.05). A central composite design resulted in the production of 3699 U/mL of enzyme in the presence of 0.3% (w/w) beef extract and 0.05% (w/w) sodium dihydrogen phosphate, at 100% (v/w) moisture after 72 h of fermentation. The enzyme production increased fourfold compared to the original medium. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography, and casein-agarose affinity chromatography and had an apparent molecular mass of 29.5 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the activity of fibrinolytic enzyme were found to be 8.0 and 60°C, respectively. This enzyme was highly stable at wide pH range (7.0–9.0) and showed 27% ± 6% enzyme activity after initial denaturation at 60°C for 1 h. In vitro assays revealed that the enzyme could activate plasminogen and significantly degraded the fibrin net of blood clot, which suggests its potential as an effective thrombolytic agent.
Reassessing Vulnerability to Macroeconomic Volatility: a nonstationary panel approach

The article examines the sensibility of economic growth to macroeconomic volatility, and the impact of financial development on volatility for a sample of 85 countries and OECD countries over two periods covering 1975 to 2006. In that purpose, we implented nonstationary panel techniques that account for cross-section dependence issue. We checked for the existence of a cointegrating relationship between variables. Finally we estimated such relationship using the Augmented mean group (AMG) method. We confirm the Ramey (1995) findings of the negative correlation between output growth and volatility for the full sample and the subsample of OECD countries, however our results are stronger for OECD countries. Moreover accounting for the interaction between volatility and financial development leads to stronger results. Indeed the interaction seems to impact positively on growth, but at the same times, it seems to magnify vulnerability to shocks.
THE EFFECT OF COMPOSITION ON NOVA IGNITIONS

The accretion of hydrogen-rich matter onto C/O and O/Ne white dwarfs (WDs) in binary systems may lead to unstable thermonuclear ignition of the accreted envelope, triggering a convective thermonuclear runaway and a subsequent classical, recurrent, or symbiotic nova. Prompted by uncertainties in the composition at the base of the accreted envelope at the onset of convection, as well as the range of abundances detected in nova ejecta, we examine the effects of varying the composition of the accreted material. For carbon mass fractions <2 × 10−3 and the high accretion rates ⩾10−9 M☉ yr−1 that we consider, we find that carbon, which is usually assumed to trigger the runaway via proton captures, is instead depleted and converted to 14N. Additionally, we quantify the importance of 3He, finding that convection is triggered by 3He+3He reactions for 3He mass fractions >2 × 10−3. These different triggering mechanisms, which occur for critical abundances relevant to many nova systems, alter the amount of mass that is accreted prior to a nova, causing the nova rate to depend on the composition of the material accreted from the companion. Upcoming deep optical surveys such as Pan-STARRS-1, Pan-STARRS-4, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope may allow us to detect the dependence of nova rates on accreted composition. Furthermore, the burning and depletion of 3He with a mass fraction of 10−3, which is lower than necessary for triggering convection, still has an observable effect, resulting in a pre-outburst brightening in disk quiescence to >L☉ and an increase in effective temperature to 6.5 × 104 K for a 1.0 M☉ WD accreting at 10−8 M☉ yr−1.
Relationship between Alternating Attention and Context Use during Sentence Processing in Older and Younger Adults

Cognitive decline in aging is known to yield detrimental effects in syntactic processing and working memory capacity is the most crucial cognitive function in understanding older adults’ sentence processing skills. This study examined how young and older adults utilize contextual information while resolving NP-attached Ps vis word-by-word self-paced reading paradigm. In addition, the study asked which cognitive functions play roles on the use of a NP-supporting context during processing of NP-attached PP. When NP-attached PP was presented in a supporting context, both age groups performed faster than in the null context condition. Among different cognitive functions, alternating attention skills were correlated with the ability utilizing context during syntactic ambiguity resolution and working memory capacity was not found to be crucial for this study. In conclusion, this study suggests that aging does not always affect older adults’ syntactic processing negatively and relevant cognitive function may vary depending on the type of syntactic structure.
The Hidden Order of Art: A Study in the Psychology of Artistic Imagination

Preface BOOK ONE: CONTROLLING THE WORLD Part I: Order in Chaos 1. The Child's Vision of the World 2. The Two Kinds of Attention 3. Unconscious Scanning Part II: Creative Conflict 4. The Fertile Motif and the Happy Accident 5. The Fragmentation of 'Modern Art' 6. The Inner Fabric Part III: Teaching Creativity 7. The Three Phases of Creativity 8. Enveloping Pictorial Space 9. Abstraction 10. Training Spontaneity through the Intellect BOOK TWO: STIRRING THE IMAGINATION Part IV: The Theme of the Dying God 11. The Minimum Content of Art 12. The Self-Creating God 13. The Scattered and Buried God 14. The Devoured and Burned God Part V: Theoretical Conclusions 15. Towards a Revision of Current Theory 16. Ego Dissociation Appendix: Glossary References Index
From Information to Empowerment: Tertiary Students’ Experiences with the Use of Social Media in Learning

The aim of this paper is to examine tertiary students’ learning outcomes, experiences and perceptions of using social media; YouTube to enable a collaborative and participatory learning process. From a survey of literature on tertiary students’ use of social media for experiential and participatory learning, there seems to be very little evidence of detailed examination to gather students’ perceptions and experiences and to determine learning outcomes. Thus, this present study of participatory and collaborative learning supported by scaffolding provides an attractive glimpse of the use of social media, such as YouTube videos created by groups of tertiary students in class. Two groups of tertiary students, adult learners from the University of Social Sciences in Singapore, were the participants as case study of this study. This paper, with a discussion of social-constructivist learning theory, is to determine if the leveraging of social media is able to provide adult learners with a tool to implement a collaborative and participatory process in which students move from being informed to an active learner and self-directed learner of their own, hence an empowerment of learning from information.