Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some thoughts on DIY materials design

Introduction The 1980s will probably go down in the history of English language teaching as the decade of world expansion and greater specialization. Attendance at international and national conferences has rocketed, and with this increase in participation has come the formation of SIGs (Special Interest Groups) in everything from video to teacher development. Thus, more teachers than ever are coming together more often with more to say about what most interests them. And, whereas fifteen years ago a teacher might well complain about the unavailability of materials to practise this or that structure or this or that vocabulary field, today, with the plethora of language-teaching materials on the market, the problem often seems to be one of knowing what to choose in a veritable land of plenty.
Sensitivity and Attachment: A Meta‐Analysis on Parental Antecedents of Infant Attachment

This meta-analysis included 66 studies (N = 4,176) on parental antecedents of attachment security. The question addressed was whether maternal sensitivity is associated with infant attachment security, and what the strength of this relation is. It was hypothesized that studies more similar to Ainsworth's Baltimore study (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) would show stronger associations than studies diverging from this pioneering study. To create conceptually homogeneous sets of studies, experts divided the studies into 9 groups with similar constructs and measures of parenting. For each domain, a meta-analysis was performed to describe the central tendency, variability, and relevant moderators. After correction for attenuation, the 21 studies (N = 1,099) in which the Strange Situation procedure in nonclinical samples was used, as well as preceding or concurrent observational sensitivity measures, showed a combined effect size of r(1,097) = . 24. According to Cohen's (1988) conventional criteria, the association is moderately strong. It is concluded that in normal settings sensitivity is an important but not exclusive condition of attachment security. Several other dimensions of parenting are identified as playing an equally important role. In attachment theory, a move to the contextual level is required to interpret the complex transactions between context and sensitivity in less stable and more stressful settings, and to pay more attention to nonshared environmental influences.
Theoretical foundations for enhancing social connectedness in online learning environments

Group social structure provides a comfortable and predictable context for interaction in learning environments. Students in face‐to‐face learning environments process social information about others in order to assess traits, predict behaviors, and determine qualifications for assuming particular responsibilities within a group. In online learning environments, however, negotiating social information and maintaining social connectedness can pose challenges for participants. Nonverbal strategies one typically uses for enhancing communication and overcoming ambiguity – such as an approving smile or a questioning brow – must be approached differently while learning online where fewer sensory communication channels are typically available. We present the theoretical foundation for how social information processing and group structure theories may be combined to assist instructional designers in further examining the social system perceived by the online learner. We propose a framework for thinking more systematically about the development of group social structure in online learning environments.
Solid phase microextraction of volatile organic compounds released from leaves, roots and gum of Astragalus microcephalus Willd., followed by GC and GC/MS analysis

A solid phase microextraction sampling method using homemade pencil-lead fibre coupled with gas chromatography was developed as a fast, easy and reliable monitoring technique to recognise the organic volatile compounds of the roots, leaves and gum of Astragalus microcephalus. The efficiency and reliability of different fibres such as homemade pencil-lead and commercial polydimethylsiloxan, as well as polyacrylate, were evaluated and the most effective fibre for recognition of these compounds was selected. Some effective experimental parameters, such as extraction time and chromatographic conditions, were examined and optimised. Under the optimised conditions, various volatile compounds such as 2-hexyn-1-ol, pentanal 3-methyl, caryophyllene, octadecane and some chlorinated components were identified in different parts of A. microcephalus. The results obtained showed that in distinct parts of A. microcephalus, the nature and level of the volatiles were varied.
Design and Implementation and On-Chip High-Speed Test of SFQ Half-Precision Floating-Point Adders

We are developing a large-scale reconfigurable data-path (LSRDP) based on single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuits to establish a fundamental technology for future high-performance computing systems. In the LSRDP, an SFQ floating-point adder (FPA) is one of the main and most complicated circuit blocks. In this paper, we designed and implemented an SFQ half-precision FPA and carried out on-chip high-speed tests. The data format of the half-precision FPA obeys the IEEE standard, in which two input data streams, an 11-bit significand and a 6-bit sign/exponent, are processed bit-serially. The floating-point addition is performed by three steps: (1) alignment and rounding of significands, (2) addition/subtraction of the significands, and (3) normalization of the result. We implemented an SFQ half-precision FPA using the SRL 2.5 kA/cm2 niobium standard process. The size, power consumption and total junction number are 5.86 mm times 5.72 mm, 3.5 mW and 10224, respectively. The simulated DC bias margin is plusmn20% at 20 GHz operation, which corresponds to the performance of 1 GFLOPS. We successfully confirmed the correct operation of the FPA except a read-out circuit for the significand at 24 GHz by on-chip high-speed tests.
Insights on Structural Characteristics and Ligand Binding Mechanisms of CDK2

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a crucial regulator of the eukaryotic cell cycle. However it is well established that monomeric CDK2 lacks regulatory activity, which needs to be aroused by its positive regulators, cyclins E and A, or be phosphorylated on the catalytic segment. Interestingly, these activation steps bring some dynamic changes on the 3D-structure of the kinase, especially the activation segment. Until now, in the monomeric CDK2 structure, three binding sites have been reported, including the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding site (Site I) and two non-competitive binding sites (Site II and III). In addition, when the kinase is subjected to the cyclin binding process, the resulting structural changes give rise to a variation of the ATP binding site, thus generating an allosteric binding site (Site IV). All the four sites are demonstrated as being targeted by corresponding inhibitors, as is illustrated by the allosteric binding one which is targeted by inhibitor ANS (fluorophore 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate). In the present work, the binding mechanisms and their fluctuations during the activation process attract our attention. Therefore, we carry out corresponding studies on the structural characterization of CDK2, which are expected to facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of kinase proteins. Besides, the binding mechanisms of CDK2 with its relevant inhibitors, as well as the changes of binding mechanisms following conformational variations of CDK2, are summarized and compared. The summary of the conformational characteristics and ligand binding mechanisms of CDK2 in the present work will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the bioactivities of CDK2.
Relative Entropy Inverse Reinforcement Learning

We consider the problem of imitation learning where the examples, demonstrated by an expert, cover only a small part of a large state space. Inverse Reinforcement Learning (IRL) provides an ecient tool for generalizing the demonstration, based on the assumption that the expert is optimally acting in a Markov Decision Process (MDP). Most of the past work on IRL requires that a (near)optimal policy can be computed for dierent reward functions. However, this requirement can hardly be satised in systems with a large, or continuous, state space. In this paper, we propose a model-free IRL algorithm, where the relative entropy between the empirical distribution of the state-action trajectories under a baseline policy and their distribution under the learned policy is minimized by stochastic gradient descent. We compare this new approach to well-known IRL algorithms using learned MDP models. Empirical results on simulated car racing, gridworld and ball-in-a-cup problems show that our approach is able to learn good policies from a small number of demonstrations.
Types of prehension in children with Williams–Beuren syndrome: A pilot study

As part of a more extensive research program investigating cognitive, linguistic and motor skills in children with Williams – Beuren syndrome (WBS) we made some preliminary observations of prehension movements. Eight children, in a restricted age range (9 – 11 years), took part in the pilot study. We individuated and classified three types of prehension in two different tasks: the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) for assessing perceptual and motor skills, and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) for assessing manual dexterity. Sixteen typically developing children, individually matched with WBS children, were also assessed, resulting in two different comparison groups: 8 children were matched for mental age and 8 for chronological age. A peculiar type of prehension (referred to as the “lateral grip”) was used by all children with WBS, but was only rarely observed in the comparison groups. These findings can contribute to a better description of motor development in children with WBS and to a better understanding of their visuospatial difficulties.
Bioremediation of an Iron-Rich Mine Effluent by Lemna minor

Contamination of water resources by mine effluents is a serious environmental problem. In a old coal mine, in the north of Portugal (São Pedro da Cova, Gondomar), forty years after the activity has ended, a neutral mine drainage, rich in iron (FE) it stills being produced and it is continuously released in local streams (Ribeiro de Murta e Rio Ferreira) and in surrounding lands.The species Lemna minor has been shown to be a good model for ecotoxicological studies and it also has the capacity to bioaccumulate metals.The work aimed test the potential of the species L. minor to remediate this mine effluent, through the bioaccumulation of Fe, under greenhouse experiments and, at the same time, evaluate the time required to the maximum removal of Fe. The results have shown that L. minor was able to grow and develop in the Fe-rich effluent and bioaccumulating this element. Throughout the 21 days of testing it was found that there was a meaningful increase in the biomass of L. minor both in the contaminated and in the non-contaminated waters. It was also found that bioaccumulation of Fe (iron) occurred mainly during the first 7 days of testing. It was found that L. minor has potential for the bioremediation of effluents rich in iron.
Hydrologic and Water Quality Models: Documentation and Reporting Procedures for Calibration, Validation, and Use

The increasing use of hydrologic and water quality (H/WQ) models for technical, policy, and legal decision making calls for greater transparency in communicating the methods used and decisions made when using H/WQ models. The objectives of this article are to: (1) provide guidelines to properly document H/WQ model calibration, validation, and use, and (2) raise issues about how to improve model documentation and reproducibility, and encourage open discussion of these topics in the H/WQ modeling community. First, eight recommended elements of model documentation and reporting are identified and described, and good examples are provided for each. Next, steps to move the H/WQ modeling community toward a culture of full model reproducibility are discussed. The use by model practitioners of the consistent and comprehensive elements described herein for documentation and reporting of H/WQ model calibration, validation, and use will allow better interpretation of published modeling studies, improve the utility of modeling studies, and allow more systematic advancement of H/WQ models.
Landy Is Correct: Stereotyping Can Be Moderated by Individuating the Out-Group and by Being Accountable

Landy’s (2008) focal article strikingly illustrates the possibility for someone with substantial expertise about stereotyping to engage in stereotyping. Landy may be no more aware that he is stereotyping an outgroup (social cognition researchers who study stereotyping) than are many highly trained corporate managers aware of their own stereotyping of racial minorities and women in hiring, promotion, or performance appraisal decisions. Nonrecognition of one’s own stereotyping is consistent with a portion of the work that Landy criticizes and is expected among people who have no intention to stereotype and who are unaware that they possess associative knowledge that can produce stereotyping that is both unintended and avoidable.
Toking and driving: Characteristics of Canadian university students who drive after cannabis use—an exploratory pilot study

Cannabis use is increasingly prevalent among young adults in Canada. Due to cannabis’ impairment effects, driving under the influence of cannabis has recently developed into a traffic-safety concern, yet little is known about the specific circumstances and factors characterizing this behavior among young people. In this study, we interviewed a sample of university students (n = 45; age 18–28 years) in Toronto who had driven a car after cannabis use in the past year. The study collected information on respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, cannabis and other drug use, cannabis use and driving (CUD) experiences, law enforcement and accident exposure, perceptions of cannabis and alcohol impairment effects as well as future anticipated substance use and driving behaviors. Results indicated that: CUD originated primarily from social settings; that impairment risks from cannabis were perceived to be low; and that the level of anticipated future CUD was high. Furthermore, high frequency of CUD in the past year was associated with high frequency of cannabis use. Interventions aiming at CUD among young people need to be anchored in the specific sociocultural settings of this behavior; targeted information needs to address cannabis’ impairment potential for driving; possibilities for harm-reduction measures for CUD need to be considered.
Physicians' perception of guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein target values: characteristics of misclassified patients.

AIMS The present study investigated the awareness of primary care physicians for patient characteristics relevant for designation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) target values. METHODS AND RESULTS Physicians (n = 907) were asked to estimate guideline-recommended LDL target value for 30 of their patients with hyperlipidaemia. In total, 25 250 patients were allocated on that basis in three different groups (LDL target <100, <130, and <160 mg/dL), in which by guideline criteria 68.0, 21.9, and 10.1% of patients, respectively, were allocated. We analysed (by logistic regression) whether physicians utilized risk factors and co-morbidities appropriately for assignment of correct LDL target values. Overall, physicians estimated recommended LDL target values correctly in 55.1% of male vs. 49.1% of female patients (P < 0.001). In the group with LDL targets of <100 mg/dL, correct assignment was most often given to male patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI; 77.1%). In comparison with this group, increasing probabilities for incorrect assignment were found in patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) without a history of MI [odds ratio (OR): 2.08, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.87-2.33], CAD-equivalent conditions (OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 2.08-2.55), and a 10-year risk >20% based on calculated risk scores (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 2.40-3.02). Next, physicians were grouped, based on the number of correct assignments they gave to their patients, in quartiles of guideline knowledge. In patients from physicians of the top performing quartile (>90% of correct assignments), LDL levels were significantly lower than in the second, third, and fourth quartiles (LDL 134.3, 138.8, 145.5, 151.4 mg/dL, P < 0.001 between all groups). CONCLUSION In primary care, about half of high-risk patients receive correct assignment of guideline-recommended LDL targets by their physicians. Perception of correct LDL target values varied largely depending on patients' gender and co-morbid conditions. Poor perception of risk resulted in lower rates of objective LDL target achievement.
Views of Specially-trained Child Welfare Social Workers

This study explores the similarities and differences between those who choose to remain in public child welfare (stayers) and those who leave (leavers) in a sample of Title IV-E MSW graduates. Interview transcripts from a self-selected sample of 386 specially-trained, MSW-level child welfare workers were thematically coded to compare and contrast the motivations, perceptions and experiences of 304 stayers and 82 leavers over a 10-year data collection period. Results showed that dedication to children and families and social work values does not differ between stayers and leavers. Overall, respondents raised a central issue of disconnection between educational experiences and agency realities. While all participants acknowledged workload and stress as job challenges, stayers illustrated experiences that buffered job pressures, particularly encounters with supportive supervisors. Leavers tended not to experience these buffers, and expressed more difficulty in balancing their professional and personal lives.
Are the Predictive Regression Tests Overrejecting ?

This paper presents a source of statistical distortions induced by present value models that may significantly affect statistical inference in the predictive regression both in finite samples and asymptotically. We show both analytically and by simulation that the regression-based tests including optimal robust tests such as Jansson and Moreira’s conditional test and Campbell and Yogo’s Q-test may suffer from lack of power in the local-to-unity models of the regressor persistence and the discount factor. We also analyze a nonparametric unbiasedness test based on the variance ratio of excess returns that is immune to persistence distortions as well as to some power limitations inherent in regression tests. We provide empirical evidence that supports our assumptions and predictions: (i) the nonparametric unbiasedness test tends to reject more often than the regression-based tests for the unbiased hypothesis of forward exchange rates; (ii) it is not uncommon to observe statistically insignificant negative estimates in the predictive regression when the unbiased hypothesis of foreign exchange rates is not rejected. Then we can conclude that an statistical phenomenon cannot be the main reason for predictable excess returns in foreign exchange markets.
Attentional bias in anxiety: A defective inhibition hypothesis

Abstract Three experiments are reported which examine attentional bias in high trait-anxious, low trait-anxious, and repressor subjects. Measures of interference did not provide consistent results. However, negative priming effects suggested that high trait-anxious subjects had difficulty inhibiting threat-related information, as well as nonthreat-related distracting information under conditions of attentional search. There was some evidence that individuals with a repressive coping style were particularly efficient in inhibiting threat-related information. It is suggested that defective inhibition of distracting information may be an important mechanism in understanding the cognitive basis of anxiety.
Quetiapine Treatment in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Open Trial of Adjunctive Therapy

In this 6-week, open-label trial, combat veterans meeting DSM-IV criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were treated with the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine. The starting dose was 25 mg at bedtime with subsequent titration based on tolerability and clinical response. Primary outcome was measured using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Secondary assessments of efficacy included the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. Safety and tolerability evaluations included neurologic ratings, vital signs, and assessment of treatment-emergent side effects. Eighteen of 20 patients enrolled in the study completed 6 weeks of open-label treatment. The dose range of quetiapine was 25 to 300 mg daily, with an average of 100±70 mg/d. There was significant improvement in CAPS scores, from 89.8±15.7 to 67.5±21.0 (t=4.863, df=18, P <0.005), and composite PANSS ratings from baseline to endpoint. General psychopathology (PANSS) and depressive symptoms (HRSD) were also reduced at the 6-week end point. There were no serious adverse events and no clinically significant changes in vital signs or neurologic ratings. This preliminary open trial suggests that quetiapine is well tolerated and may have efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms in patients who have not had an adequate response other medications. Studies utilizing a randomized, controlled trial design and larger sample sizes are needed to better define the potential role of quetiapine and other atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of PTSD.
Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme: Implication of Nonenhancing Lesions on Bevacizumab Treatment

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumors, accounting for 15-20% of all intracranial tumors. It is one of the most lethal tumors of the central nervous system with a median survival from diagnosis on the order of 6 to 18 months. Despite aggressive resection and chemoradiation, the tumor always recurs. Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is an essential component in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and following response. However, the imaging features of recurrent GBM may be challenging, particularly in patients undertaking novel antiangiogenic therapy. We present such a case treated with repeated surgeries, combined chemoradiation, and bevacizumab. The patient benefited from the regimen with a 6-month progression-free survival, evidenced on both stable clinical condition and MR imaging findings. However, despite chemotherapy, a fulminant progression developed with growth multiple tumors in different locations and variable imaging characteristics, ranging from typical enhancing nodules to nonenhancing signal changes. The lesions of different imaging features were biopsy-proved to be recurrent GBM. We discuss the use of MR imaging in the evaluation of GBM treated with bevacizumab and emphasize the implication of signal abnormality on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images for early evidence of recurrence.