Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutional Repository An investigation of multitasking on the web : key ndings

Introduction. This paper presents key findings from a study exploring how multitasking information behaviour is affected by people’s working memory capacity and the flow they experience during the searching process. Method. The research is exploratory using a pragmatic, mixed method approach. 30 study participants, 10 psychologists, 10 accountants and 10 mechanical engineers, conducted Web searches on four information topics. The data collection tools used were: pre and post questionnaires, pre interviews, working memory test, the flow state scale of Jackson and Marsh (1996), audio-visual data, web search logs, think aloud data, observation, and the critical decision method. Results. The results suggested that people with high working memory, high flow and mechanical engineers generated more cognitive coordination and cognitive state shifts than people with low working memory, low flow, accountants and psychologists. The most frequent cognitive state and coordination shift for all groups was from strategy to information topic. Low working memory participants rated task complexity at the end of the procedure more highly for tasks without prior knowledge compared to tasks with prior knowledge. Participants with high flow levels experienced a greater change of knowledge for information tasks without prior knowledge compared to participants with low flow. The degree of change of knowledge for participants with high flow was higher for tasks without prior knowledge rather than for tasks with prior knowledge.
Red Fish Blue Fish: Reexamining Student Understanding of the Computing Disciplines

This paper updates the findings of a multi-year study that is surveying major and non-major students' understanding of the different computing disciplines. This study is a continuation of work first presented by Uzoka et al in 2013 [11], which in turn was an expansion of work originally conducted by Courte and Bishop-Clark from 2009 [5]. In the current study, data was collected from 668 students from four universities from three different countries. Results show that students in general were able to correctly match computing tasks with specific disciplines, but were not as certain as the faculty about the degree of fit. Differences in accuracy between student groups were, however, discovered. Software engineering and computer science students had statistically significant lower accuracy scores than students from other computing disciplines. Consequences and recommendations for advising and career counselling are discussed.
The "new" quantitative history: social science or old wine in new bottles?

Much has been written and said in recent years of the emergence of a variety of "new" histories1. To the casual observer the diversity of the new histories may seem bewildering and even convey the impression of pretentious craving for the appearance, but not the substance, of innovation. And, indeed, the new histories have provoked substantial controversy and criticism on exactly those grounds. Yet even the most cursory examination of the recent literature suggests numerous departures from the preoccupations of traditional historiography. New themes are explored, new methods employed, new sources exploited and neglected social institutions examined in new ways. Some of the elitist bias that has long been a dominant characteristic of historical research and writing has dissipated as historians have attempted to use new sources to examine the conditions and behavior of the ordinary people of the past. Above all, perhaps, a growing number, but still a minority, of historians have made increased use of quantitative methods and tools. If there is a common denominator that cuts across the varieties of the new histories, it is quantification, and it is possible to speak with accuracy of the recent emergence of a quantitative form of historical inquiry. These new scholarly interests and endeavors have been marked by their fair share of false starts and mistaken directions. A cadre of curmudgeonly critics among historians, and even including a few practitioners of the other social sciences, have decleared all such efforts barren, not history, and fated only to do violence of the literary values and the humane traditions of conventional historiography. It is certainly true that claims for the new histories have sometimes been unduly exalted and that the new approaches to the study of the past have not yet produced the revolutionary new knowledge that their more optimistic and aggressive proponents sometimes promised. Yet it is also true that these new efforts have already enriched historical studies. The purpose here, however, is not to detail or celebrate the characteristics, accomplishments and failures of each of the new histories. To do so would require a treatise of tiresome length. In any event, numerous "state of the art" essays concerned in one way or the other with these new approaches to historical inquiry have appeared in recent years2. These essays, and the numerous works which they refer-
A Teacher's Handbook of Death

1. Children's understanding of death. 2. Death: A definition. 3. Sudden death. 4. Dying - the process. 5. After death. 6. Social aspects. 7. Funerals. 8. Cross-cultural issues. 9. Death across the curriculum. 10. Grief and mourning. Resources. References. Index.
BF2.649 [1-{3-[3-(4-Chlorophenyl)propoxy]propyl}piperidine, Hydrochloride], a Nonimidazole Inverse Agonist/Antagonist at the Human Histamine H3 Receptor: Preclinical Pharmacology

Histamine H3 receptor inverse agonists are known to enhance the activity of histaminergic neurons in brain and thereby promote vigilance and cognition. 1-{3-[3-(4-Chlorophenyl)propoxy]propyl}piperidine, hydrochloride (BF2.649) is a novel, potent, and selective nonimidazole inverse agonist at the recombinant human H3 receptor. On the stimulation of guanosine 5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate binding to this receptor, BF2.649 behaved as a competitive antagonist with a Ki value of 0.16 nM and as an inverse agonist with an EC50 value of 1.5 nM and an intrinsic activity ∼50% higher than that of ciproxifan. Its in vitro potency was ∼6 times lower at the rodent receptor. In mice, the oral bioavailability coefficient, i.e., the ratio of plasma areas under the curve after oral and i.v. administrations, respectively, was 84%. BF2.649 dose dependently enhanced tele-methylhistamine levels in mouse brain, an index of histaminergic neuron activity, with an ED50 value of 1.6 mg/kg p.o. , a response that persisted after repeated administrations for 17 days. In rats, the drug enhanced dopamine and acetylcholine levels in microdialysates of the prefrontal cortex. In cats, it markedly enhanced wakefulness at the expense of sleep states and also enhanced fast cortical rhythms of the electroencephalogram, known to be associated with improved vigilance. On the two-trial object recognition test in mice, a promnesiant effect was shown regarding either scopolamine-induced or natural forgetting. These preclinical data suggest that BF2.649 is a valuable drug candidate to be developed in wakefulness or memory deficits and other cognitive disorders.
Host-cell-determined methylation of specific Epstein-Barr virus promoters regulates the choice between distinct viral latency programs

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is capable of adopting three distinct forms of latency: the type III latency program, in which six EBV-encoded nuclear antigens (EBNAs) are expressed, and the type I and type II latency programs, in which only a single viral nuclear protein, EBNA1, is produced. Several groups have reported heavy CpG methylation of the EBV genome in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines which maintain type I latency, and loss of viral genome methylation in tumor cell lines has been correlated with a switch to type III latency. Here, evidence that the type III latency program must be inactivated by methylation to allow EBV to enter the type I or type II restricted latency program is provided. The data demonstrates that the EBNA1 gene promoter, Qp, active in types I and II latency, is encompassed by a CpG island which is protected from methylation. CpG methylation inactivates the type III latency program and consequently allows the type I or II latency program to operate by alleviating EBNA1-mediated repression of Qp. Methylation of the type III latency EBNA gene promoter, Cp, appears to be essential to prevent type III latency, since EBNA1 is expressed in all latently infected cells and, as shown here, is the only viral antigen required for activation of Cp. EBV is thus a pathogen which subverts host-cell-determined methylation to regulate distinct genetic programs.
Identification of Neural Crest and Glial Enhancers at the Mouse Sox10 Locus through Transgenesis in Zebrafish

Sox10 is a dynamically regulated transcription factor gene that is essential for the development of neural crest–derived and oligodendroglial populations. Developmental genes often require multiple regulatory sequences that integrate discrete and overlapping functions to coordinate their expression. To identify Sox10 cis-regulatory elements, we integrated multiple model systems, including cell-based screens and transposon-mediated transgensis in zebrafish, to scrutinize mammalian conserved, noncoding genomic segments at the mouse Sox10 locus. We demonstrate that eight of 11 Sox10 genomic elements direct reporter gene expression in transgenic zebrafish similar to patterns observed in transgenic mice, despite an absence of observable sequence conservation between mice and zebrafish. Multiple segments direct expression in overlapping populations of neural crest derivatives and glial cells, ranging from pan-Sox10 and pan-neural crest regulatory control to the modulation of expression in subpopulations of Sox10-expressing cells, including developing melanocytes and Schwann cells. Several sequences demonstrate overlapping spatial control, yet direct expression in incompletely overlapping developmental intervals. We were able to partially explain neural crest expression patterns by the presence of head to head SoxE family binding sites within two of the elements. Moreover, we were able to use this transcription factor binding site signature to identify the corresponding zebrafish enhancers in the absence of overall sequence homology. We demonstrate the utility of zebrafish transgenesis as a high-fidelity surrogate in the dissection of mammalian gene regulation, especially those with dynamically controlled developmental expression.
A Novel Big Data Modeling Method for Improving Driving Range Estimation of EVs

In this paper, we address a big-data analysis method for estimating the driving range of an electric vehicle (EV), allowing drivers to overcome range anxiety. First, we present an estimating approach to project the life of battery pack for 1600 cycles (i.e., 8 years/160 000 km) based on the data collected from a cycle-life test. This approach has the merit of simplicity. In addition, it considers several critical issues that occur inside battery packs, such as the dependence of internal resistance and the state-of-health. Subsequently, we describe our work on driving pattern analysis of an EV, using a machine-learning approach, namely growing hierarchical self-organizing maps, to cluster the collected EV big data. This paper contains the analysis of energy consumption and driving range estimation for EVs, including powertrain simulation and driving behavior analysis. The experimental results, including both simulating battery degradation and analysis of driving behaviors, demonstrate a feasible solution for improving driving range estimation by the EV big data.
T cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma

For patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) undergoing blood or bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the use of autologous grafts has often been preferred to that of allogeneic stem cells because of a significantly lower incidence of non-relapse mortality. If complications associated with allo-BMT could be minimized without compromising efficacy, then it might become a preferred strategy for certain subsets of patients. In this report, we describe the toxicity and long-term efficacy of T cell-depleted allogeneic BMT using anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody and complement alone to reduce the risk of GVHD and its sequelae. Twenty-two patients, aged 18–60 years, with high ( n = 10), intermediate (n = 9), or low (n = 3) grade NHL underwent HLA-identical allogeneic BMT from siblings. Patients had either relapsed after at least one remission or never achieved a full remission with chemotherapy. Twenty patients had a history of marrow involvement. Bone marrow was depleted of CD6 +
Eicosanoid modulation in advanced lung cancer: cyclooxygenase-2 expression is a positive predictive factor for celecoxib + chemotherapy--Cancer and Leukemia Group B Trial 30203.

PURPOSE Increased expression of eicosanoids in cancer has been associated with adverse prognosis. We performed a randomized phase II trial to test the hypothesis that inhibitors of two eicosanoid pathways (cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], celecoxib and 5-lipoxygenase [5-LOX], zileuton) added to chemotherapy would improve outcome in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced NSCLC, a performance status of 0 to 2, and no prior therapy were eligible. All patients received carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5.5 mg/mL x min day 1 + gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) days 1 and 8. Patients were randomly assigned to: (a) zileuton 600 mg PO qid, (b) celecoxib 400 mg PO bid, or (c) celecoxib and zileuton at the same doses. Immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 and 5-LOX was performed without knowledge of outcomes. RESULTS One hundred forty patients were entered and 134 were eligible and treated. There was no survival difference between the arms. COX-2 expression was a negative prognostic marker for overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.51, P = .019 for index >or= 4; HR = 4.16, P = .005 for index = 9) for patients not receiving celecoxib. Patients with increased COX-2 expression (index >or= 4), receiving celecoxib had better survival than did COX-2-expressing patients not receiving drug (HR = .342, P = .005 for OS; HR = .294, P = .002 for failure-free survival). Multivariate analysis confirmed the interaction of COX-2 and celecoxib on survival. 5-LOX expression was neither prognostic nor predictive. CONCLUSION This study failed to demonstrate the value of dual eicosanoid inhibition or benefit from either agent alone in addition to chemotherapy. However, a prospectively defined subset analysis suggests an advantage for celecoxib and chemotherapy for patients with moderate to high COX-2 expression.
Dictyostelium discoideum mutants with temperature-sensitive defects in endocytosis

We have isolated and characterized temperature-sensitive endocytosis mutants in Dictyostelium discoideum. Dictyostelium is an attractive model for genetic studies of endocytosis because of its high rates of endocytosis, its reliance on endocytosis for nutrient uptake, and tractable molecular genetics. Endocytosis-defective mutants were isolated by a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) as cells unable to take up a fluorescent marker. One temperature-sensitive mutant (indy1) was characterized in detail and found to exhibit a complete block in fluid phase endocytosis at the restrictive temperature, but normal rates of endocytosis at the permissive temperature. Likewise, a potential cell surface receptor that was rapidly internalized in wild-type cells and indy1 cells at the permissive temperature was poorly internalized in indy1 under restrictive conditions. Growth was also completely arrested at the restrictive temperature. The endocytosis block was rapidly induced upon shift to the restrictive temperature and reversed upon return to normal conditions. Inhibition of endocytosis was also specific, as other membrane-trafficking events such as phagocytosis, secretion of lysosomal enzymes, and contractile vacuole function were unaffected at the restrictive temperature. Because recycling and transport to late endocytic compartments were not affected, the site of the defect's action is probably at an early step in the endocytic pathway. Additionally, indy1 cells were unable to proceed through the normal development program at the restrictive temperature. Given the tight functional and growth phenotypes, the indy1 mutant provides an opportunity to isolate genes responsible for endocytosis in Dictyostelium by complementation cloning.
Risk factors for the increasing caesarean section rate in Southeast Brazil: a comparison of two birth cohorts, 1978-1979 and 1994.

BACKGROUND Brazil has the highest caesarean section (CS) rate in the world (36.4% in 1996). METHODS Risk factors for increasing CS rate were studied in two population-based cohorts of singleton live births in families residing in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, State of Saõ Paulo, Southeast Brazil. The first comprised births from June 1978 to May 1979 (6750 births-one-year survey) and the second births from May to August 1994 (2846 births-4-month survey). Multiple unconditional logistic regression modelling was used to control for confounding. RESULTS The CS rate rose from 30.3% in 1978-1979 to 50.8% in 1994. In 1978-1979, socioeconomic, reproductive and demographic variables, and health service factors were associated with CS rate. In 1994, only reproductive, demographic and health service factors remained associated, e.g. hour of delivery (from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.), attendance by the same physician for prenatal care and delivery, > or =4 prenatal visits, maternal age > or =30 years, 1-3 previous live births and birthweight 3500-3999 g. CONCLUSION Caesarean section in Brazil is widely performed for non-medical reasons in which physician convenience plays an important role. There is an urgent need for public health interventions to reduce the CS rate in Brazil, mainly directed towards cultural beliefs and physician behaviour.
Variations in faecal bacterial enzyme activities and associations with bowel function and diet in elderly subjects

Daily and inter‐individual variations of faecal bacterial β‐glucuronidase and β‐glucosidase activities and their associations with parameters of bowel function were studied in 10 residents of an old people’s home during two 1‐week periods 2 weeks apart. The effect of sampling method (a spot sample vs an aliquot of the homogenized sample from a total daily collection) on the activities of these enzymes and that of urease was also assessed. Intestinal transit time was determined using the radio‐opaque Sitzmark®; capsules, and questionnaires on bowel function and intakes of fluids and fibre‐containing foods were completed. The mean (95% confidence interval) β‐glucuronidase and β‐glucosidase levels were 3·08 (2·75–3·41) and 11·53 (10·79–12·26) nmol min−1 mg protein−1. Daily variations in enzyme activities within individuals were not significant (P = 0·277 and 0·990, respectively), whilst those between individuals were highly significant (P = 0·000). Faecal frequency correlated negatively with β‐glucuronidase and urease, but no other associations of the enzymic activities with parameters of bowel function and diet were observed. β‐Glucuronidase and β‐glucosidase were not affected by the sampling method, while significantly higher urease was obtained by spot sampling as compared with the aliquot representing the total daily collection. Large inter‐individual variations in faecal enzyme activities should be taken into consideration when planning experiments and interpreting results on these faecal parameters.
Understanding pre-service teachers' computer attitudes: applying and extending the technology acceptance model

Computers are increasingly widespread, influencing many aspects of our social and work lives. As we move into a technology-based society, it is important that classroom experiences with computers are made available for all students. The purpose of this study is to examine pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards computers. This study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) framework, with subjective norm and facilitating conditions acting as external variables. Results shows that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and subjective norm were significant determinants of pre-service computer attitudes. Facilitating conditions did not influence computer attitude directly but through perceived ease of use. These findings demonstrate that social norm and facilitating conditions are potential variables that may be used to extend the TAM for research on computer attitudes.
SimGrid: A Generic Framework for Large-Scale Distributed Experiments

Distributed computing is a very broad and active research area comprising fields such as cluster computing, computational grids, desktop grids and peer-to-peer (P2P) systems. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to obtain theoretical or analytical results to compare the performance of algorithms targeting such systems. One possibility is to conduct large numbers of back-to-back experiments on real platforms. While this is possible on tightly-coupled platforms, it is infeasible on modern distributed platforms as experiments are labor-intensive and results typically not reproducible. Consequently, one must resort to simulations, which enable reproducible results and also make it possible to explore wide ranges of platform and application scenarios. In this paper we describe the SimGrid framework, a simulation-based framework for evaluating cluster, grid and P2P algorithms and heuristics. This paper focuses on SimGrid v3, which greatly improves on previous versions thanks to a novel and validated modular simulation engine that achieves higher simulation speed without hindering simulation accuracy. Also, two new user interfaces were added to broaden the targeted research community. After surveying existing tools and methodologies we describe the key features and benefits of SimGrid.
Ultra-Wideband GaN MMIC Chip Set and High Power Amplifier Module for Multi-Function Defense AESA Applications

This paper presents measurement results of a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chip set and of an ultra-wideband high power amplifier (HPA) transmit module for multi-functional next-generation active electronically scanned antenna radar/electronic warfare/communication applications targeting the frequency range from 6 to 18 GHz. The reported chip set consists of a driver amplifier (DA) MMIC and an HPA MMIC on a high-power gallium-nitride process with high electronic-mobility transistors. The DA reaches a power gain of 11 dB and maximum output power of 2 W, which is sufficient to drive a final stage in a balanced configuration. The HPA reaches a typical output power of 12.5 and 10.6 W in pulsed and continuous wave (CW) operation, respectively. Measurements on the module level indicate 18.5-W typical output power in both pulsed and CW operation.
Distributed indexing of web scale datasets for the cloud

In this paper, we present a distributed architecture for indexing and serving large and diverse datasets. It incorporates and extends the functionality of Hadoop, the open source MapReduce framework, and of HBase, a distributed, sparse, NoSQL database, to create a fully parallel indexing system. Experiments with structured, semi-structured and unstructured data of various sizes demonstrate the flexibility, speed and robustness of our implementation and contrast it with similarly oriented projects. Our 11 node cluster prototype managed to keep full-text indexing time of 150GB raw content in less than 3 hours, whereas the system's response time under sustained query load of more than 1000 queries/sec was kept in the order of milliseconds.
The reciprocal effects of induced mood and interpretation biases in high and low trait anxious participants performing a cognitive task

xvii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of the Chapter and Study Aims 1 1.2 What is Anxiety? 2 1.3 Why Study Anxiety? 5 1.4 Theories Regarding the Regulation of Mood 6 1.4. 1 The ‘Hedonistic’ Model 7 1.4. 1.1 Critical review of the evidence for the ‘hedonistic’ model 8