Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Validity of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale: Applications for Use as an Epidemiologic Screener

A screening instrument’s ability to provide clinicians with consistent and reproducible information is crucial to intervention. Despite widespread acceptance and clinical use of the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) in orthopedics and sports medicine, few studies have reported on its reliability and no such studies have concentrated on child or adolescent samples exclusively, segments of the population for which this instrument is often used. The purpose of the current study was to describe and report on the reliability and validity of the AKPS for use with high school female athletes participating in interscholastic athletics. The study was a secondary analysis of prospective epidemiologic data using established scale validation methods. The records of 414 female athletes 11.0 to 18.1 years of age (Mean 13.9 yrs, SD = 1.7 yrs) were used for analysis. Four different approaches to scoring and scale reduction of the AKPS were evaluated, including the original, ordinal 13-item form, a modified, ordinal 6-item form, a modified, dichotomous 13-item form, and a modified, dichotomous 6-item form. Three different types of reliability (internal consistency, equivalence across forms, standard error of measurement) and one type of validity (criterion-related) were estimated for the AKPS in the current sample. The four scoring formats of the AKPS scale were found to have high internal consistency (αcoef = 0.83 to 0.91), equivalence across the short and long forms (r = 0.98), acceptable standard errors of measurement (0.82 to 3.00), and moderate to high criterion related validity—as determined by physican’s diagnosis: 0.92 (13-item form), 0.90 (6-item form). The Kujala AKPS is a valid and reliable measure of anterior knee pain and appropriate for use as an epidemiologic screening tool with adolescent female athletes.
Great Moderation debate: should we be worry about using approximated policy functions?

Is the evidence favouring a change in the monetary policy rule during the early 80’s biased by the omission of relevant terms in the approximated policy function? Can we use Bayesian estimation of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models to provide evidence supporting the “good luck” or “good policy” hypotheses as competing explanations of the Great Moderation? In this paper I shed light on the magnitude of the bias generated by the omission of second order terms in the approximated policy functions used in Bayesian econometrics. The results of this study show that this bias is not important for high volatility periods such as the one experimented between the 60’s and 70’s.
A Prey-Predator Model with a Reserved Area

In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed and analysed to study the dynamics of a prey-predator model. It is assumed that the habitat is divided into two zones, namely free zone and reserved zone. Predators are not allowed to enter into the reserved zone. Criteria for the coexistence of predator-prey are obtained. The role of reserved zone is investigated and it is shown that the reserve zone has a stabilizing effect on predator-prey interactions.
Constraints on the non-linear coupling parameter fnl with the Archeops data

Aims. We present a Gaussianity analysis of the Archeops Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperature anisotropies data maps at high resolution to constrain the non-linear coupling parameter fnl characterising well motivated non-Gaussian CMB models. We used the data collected by the most sensitive Archeops bolometer at 143 GHz to perform this analysis. For this purpose, the instrumental noise was carefully characterised for this bolometer, and for another Archeops bolometer at 143 GHz used for comparison. Angular scales from 27 arcmin to 1.8 degrees and a large fraction of the sky, 21%, covering both hemispheres (avoiding pixels with Galactic latitude |b| < 15 degrees) were considered. Methods. The three Minkowski functionals on the sphere evaluated at different thresholds were used to construct a � 2 statistics for both the Gaussian as well as for the non-Gaussian CMB models. The Archeops maps were produced with the Mirage optimal map-making procedure from processed time ordered data. The analysis is based on simulations of signal (Gaussian and non-Gaussian fnl CMB models) and noise which were processed in the time domain using the Archeops pipeline and projected on the sky using the Mirage optimal map-making procedure. Results. The Archeops data were found to be compatible with Gaussianity after removal of highly noisy pixels at high resolution. The non-linear coupling parameter was constrained to fnl = 70 +590 400 at 68% CL and fnl = 70 +1075 920 at 95% CL, for realistic non-Gaussian CMB simulations.
Turbulent energy dissipation rates observed by Doppler MST Radar and by rocket-borne instruments during the MIDAS/MaCWAVE campaign 2002

During the MIDAS/MaCWAVE campaign in sum- mer 2002 we have observed turbulence using Doppler beam steering measurements obtained from the ALWIN VHF radar at Andoya/Northern Norway. This radar was operated in the Doppler beam steering mode for turbulence investigations during the campaign, as well as in spaced antenna mode, for continuously measuring the background wind field. The real-time data analysis of the Doppler radar backscattering provided the launch conditions for the sounding rockets. The spectral width data observed during the occurrence of PMSE were corrected for beam and shear broadening caused by the background wind field to obtain the turbulent part of the spectral width. The turbulent energy dissipation rates deter- mined from the turbulent spectral width vary between 5 and 100 mWkg 1 in the altitude range of 80 92 km and increase with altitude. These estimations agree well with the in-situ measurements using the CONE sensor which was launched on 3 sounding rockets during the campaign. dynamics of the summer mesopause structure and variability (Goldberg et al., 2004). The ALWIN VHF radar was used to observe polar meso- spheric summer echoes (PMSE) during summer 2002. It was running continuously throughout the whole summer period and with a special program during the campaign. The ob- servation during the campaign provides a long-term data set covering Doppler spectral width for turbulence investigations and spaced antenna wind measurements. The analysis of the strong radar echoes (PMSE) can be used to estimate turbu- lence parameters in the upper mesosphere and lower thermo- sphere by estimating the turbulent part of the Doppler spec- tral width. During the special program the Doppler observa- tion sequence was optimized to obtain Doppler echoes in a high temporal resolution for determinig suitable launch con- ditions and for turbulence investigations. Mesospheric summer echoes (MSE) were reported for the first time by Czechowsky et al. (1979) for mid-latitudes in the Harz mountains (52 N, 10 E) and by Ecklund and Balsley (1981) for polar latitudes at Poker Flat (65 N, 145 E). From this time, lots of work has been done for a better understand- ing of these strong radar echoes; a recent review summarizes the most important results of these investigations ( Rapp and L¨
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRANIAN LEARNING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL) AND TEACHERS' AWARENESS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE (ICC)

ASATRACT In this work, we have investigated the relationship between Iranian learning English as a Foreign Language teachers’ intercultural competence and their teaching efficacy regarding their experience, gender, and their education level. The research method including participants and sampling procedure, the research instruments, the data collection procedure, and the data analysis are described. The results indicate that, there is no significant relationship between Iranian learning English language as a Forein Language, EFL, teachers' intercultural communicative competence and their teaching efficacy with regards to their level of experience, their level of education is concerned, their gender, teachers’ intercultural communicative competence awareness. Our approaches in this study are in agreement with the previously reports.
What matters to children with CFS/ME? A conceptual model as the first stage in developing a PROM

Background Paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is relatively common and disabling. Research is hampered because current patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) do not capture outcomes that are important to children with CFS/ME. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the aspects of life and health outcomes that matter to children with CFS/ME. Methods Twenty-five children with CFS/ME were interviewed (11 males, 14 females; mean age 12.9 years (SD 2.2), range 8–17). Twelve were trial participants interviewed during the trial and 13 were recruited as part of a follow-up qualitative study. Parents were present in 19 interviews with their children. Three mothers participated in a focus group. All the interviews and the focus group were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed thematically using techniques of constant comparison. NVivo was used to structure and categorise data in a systematic way. Results Children identified four key themes (health outcome domains): ‘symptoms’ that fluctuated, which caused an unpredictable reduction in both ‘physical activity’ and ‘social participation’ all of which impacted on ‘emotional well-being’. These domains were influenced by both ‘management’ and ‘contextual factors’, which could be positive and negative. The relationship between healthcare and school was considered pivotal. Conclusions Children's descriptions helped to inform a conceptual model that is necessary to develop a new paediatric CFS/ME PROM. Doctors need to be aware of how children conceptualise CFS/ME; the relationship between healthcare and school is fundamental to ameliorate the impact of CFS/ME. Trial registration number ISRCTN81456207.
Technology does not always teach distance learners,but effective distance teachers do…

It has been said and accepted that teaching produces learning. This view is acclaimed in both the traditional, as well as in open distance learning (ODL). However, when we use technology for teaching distance courses, can we also assume that technology can produce effective distance learning? This may be true in some instances, and may not be true in other ODL circumstances;certainly generalising the first instances to be the case all the time will not be academically correct.This paper looks at distance learning as described by the learners - it is their story, their experience, and their perspective. In particular, this paper looks at the use of technology in distance learning at the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), an issue that arose from discussions with the students, rather than being preordained by the research design. An important formidable task facing the UUM as an ODL provider is how to accommodate distance learners with different levels of preparedness. The gap between the most prepared and the least prepared learners in terms of using the technology in their learning are wide and growing. Persistent frustrations and learning setbacks were observed among the learners in this study. Evidently, technology does not always enhance students learning at a distance, but effective distance teachers who promote interaction, and provide sufficient learning support can make a different to distance learners. This article will also highlight the role of technology, learner support and the interactions in providing a better ODL learning outcomes.
Spatial Prediction of N2O Emissions in Pasture: A Bayesian Model Averaging Analysis

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the greenhouse gases that can contribute to global warming. Spatial variability of N2O can lead to large uncertainties in prediction. However, previous studies have often ignored the spatial dependency to quantify the N2O – environmental factors relationships. Few researches have examined the impacts of various spatial correlation structures (e.g. independence, distance-based and neighbourhood based) on spatial prediction of N2O emissions. This study aimed to assess the impact of three spatial correlation structures on spatial predictions and calibrate the spatial prediction using Bayesian model averaging (BMA) based on replicated, irregular point-referenced data. The data were measured in 17 chambers randomly placed across a 271 m2 field between October 2007 and September 2008 in the southeast of Australia. We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and a Bayesian spatial conditional autoregressive (CAR) model to investigate and accommodate spatial dependency, and to estimate the effects of environmental variables on N2O emissions across the study site. We compared these with a Bayesian regression model with independent errors. The three approaches resulted in different derived maps of spatial prediction of N2O emissions. We found that incorporating spatial dependency in the model not only substantially improved predictions of N2O emission from soil, but also better quantified uncertainties of soil parameters in the study. The hybrid model structure obtained by BMA improved the accuracy of spatial prediction of N2O emissions across this study region.
Natural killer (NK) cell stimulatory factor increases the cytotoxic activity of NK cells from both healthy donors and human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF), or interleukin 12 (IL- 12), is a heterodimeric lymphokine produced by B cells that has multiple effects on T and NK cell functions. NKSF at concentrations as low as 0.4 pM enhances the spontaneous cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) against a variety of tumor-derived target cell lines and virus-infected target cells. The combined treatment of PBL with NKSF and IL-2 results in a less than additive enhancement of cytotoxicity. NKSF enhances the cytotoxic activity of spontaneously cytotoxic CD16+CD5- NK cells and does not confer cytotoxic activity to CD16-CD5+ T cells. PBL from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have significantly lower cytotoxic activity against tumor-derived target cells and virus-infected target cells than PBL from control healthy donors. Treatment of PBL from HIV- infected patients with NKSF and/or IL-2 results in an increase of NK cell cytotoxicity against both types of target cells to levels similar to or higher than those of untreated PBL from healthy donors. PBL from HIV-infected patients produce interferon gamma in response to NKSF and/or IL-2, although at levels 5- or 10-fold lower than those produced by PBL from healthy donors. The multiple biological effects of NKSF, its activity at very low molar concentrations, and its ability to synergize with other physiological stimuli suggest that NKSF/IL-12 is a lymphokine likely to have physiological importance and considerable therapeutic potential.
Multimodal Bacteriochlorophyll Theranostic Agent

The complimentary ability of different noninvasive imaging technologies with therapeutic modalities can be used in tandem providing high-resolution and highly sensitive imaging of events at the molecular and cellular level providing a means for image-guided therapy. There is increasing interest in using porphyrin-based photosensitizers as theranostics to take advantages of their near-infrared fluorescent properties for imaging and their strong singlet oxygen generation abilities for photodynamic therapy. Here we report a targeted multimodal bacteriochlorophyll theranostic probe. This probe consists of a bacteriochlorophyll derivative, a pharmacokinetics modification peptide linker and folate for targeted delivery to folate receptor expressing cancer cells. We demonstrate its multimodal theranostic capability, its folate receptor targeting ability and its utility for both NIR fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy purposes both in vitro and in vivo.
Evolutionary quantitative genetics of behavioral responses to handling in a wild passerine

Behavioral differences between individuals that are consistent over time characterize animal personality. The existence of such consistency contrasts to the expectation based on classical behavioral theory that facultative behavior maximizes individual fitness. Here, we study two personality traits (aggression and breath rate during handling) in a wild population of blue tits during 2007–2012. Handling aggression and breath rate were moderately heritable (h2 = 0.35 and 0.20, respectively) and not genetically correlated (rA = 0.06) in adult blue tits, which permits them to evolve independently. Reciprocal cross-fostering (2007–2010) showed that offspring reared by more aggressive males have a higher probability to recruit. In addition, offspring reared by pairs mated assortatively for handling aggression had a higher recruitment probability, which is the first evidence that both parents' personalities influence their reproductive success in the wild in a manner independent of their genetic effects. Handling aggression was not subjected to survival selection in either sex, but slow-breathing females had a higher annual probability of survival as revealed by capture–mark–recapture analysis. We find no evidence for temporal fluctuations in selection, and thus conclude that directional selection (via different fitness components) acts on these two heritable personality traits. Our findings show that blue tit personality has predictable fitness consequences, but that facultative adjustment of an individual's personality to match the fitness maximum is likely constrained by the genetic architecture of personality. In the face of directional selection, the presence of heritable variation in personality suggests the existence of a trade-off that we have not identified yet.
Community Detection in Social Networks Using Information Diffusion

Discovering communities in popular social networks like Facebook has been receiving significant attentions recently. In this paper, inspired from real life, we have addressed the community detection problem by a framework based on Information Diffusion Model and Game Theory. In this approach, we consider each node of the social network as a selfish agent which has interactions with its neighbors and tries to maximize its total utility (i.e. received information). Finally community structure of the graph reveals after reaching to the local Nash equilibrium of the game. Experimental results on the benchmark social media datasets, synthetic and real world graphs demonstrate that our method is superior compared with the other state-of-the-art methods.
Association of Vitamin D Receptor BsmI Gene Polymorphism with BMD Z-Score in Iranian Children and Adolescents (9 - 18 Years Old)

Background The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variants are known as the main risk factor for low bone mass. Objectives In this study, the association of vitamin D receptor genetic variants, BsmI (rs1544410) and FokI (rs2228570), with bone mass in Iranian children and adolescents, was evaluated. Methods The study population comprised of children and adolescents aged between 9 to 18 years (FokI: 123 boys and 120 girls, BsmI: 108 boys and 110 girls). Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol (TC), High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were assayed. Bone mineral density and body composition parameters were measured by the Hologic system DXA. BMD Z-score ≤ -2 was considered as low bone density for chronologic age. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was done for genotyping of BsmI and FokI polymorphisms. The association between VDR variants and bone mineral density was investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results No significant differences in body composition and biochemical parameters were detected among the evaluated VDR genotypes. For VDR BsmI, the mean values for Z-score of the lumbar spine, neck, inter and total femur was greater in the bb genotype compared to BB and Bb genotypes. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between femoral neck Z-score and VDR BsmI genotypes in an additive genetic model (unadjusted model (P = 0.035; Bb vs. bb), model 1 (adjusted for age and sex, P = 0.021; Bb vs. bb), model 2 (adjusted for age, sex and BMI, P = 0.013; Bb vs. bb) and model 3 (adjusted for age, sex, BMI and puberty, P = 0.011; Bb vs. bb, P = 0.049; BB vs. bb)) and dominant genetic model ((unadjusted model, P = 0.033; BB+Bb vs. bb), model 1 (adjusted for age and sex, P = 0.023; BB+Bb vs. bb), model 2 (adjusted for age, sex and BMI, P = 0.012; BB+Bb vs. bb and model 3 (adjusted for age, sex, BMI and puberty, P = 0.012; BB+Bb vs. bb)). Conclusions This investigation indicated that VDR BsmI polymorphism may be associated with BMD Z-score of the femoral neck but not the lumbar spine, in Iranian children and adolescents.
Blockade of Paracrine Supply of Insulin-Like Growth Factors Using Neutralizing Antibodies Suppresses the Liver Metastasis of Human Colorectal Cancers

Environmental stimuli, such as organ-specific growth factors, can influence the metastatic potential of a tumor. The liver is the main source of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). The importance of IGF signal in hepatic metastasis has been clarified mainly by IGF-I receptor targeting strategies. This study aims to confirm these precedent reports by novel tool, neutralizing antibodies against IGFs and to show that IGFs are promising therapeutic targets for hepatic metastasis in vivo. Hepatic metastasis was induced by intrasplenic injection of human colorectal cancer cell line, HT29. The antimetastatic effects of three antibodies (anti-mouse IGF-I, anti-mouse IGF-II, and anti-human/mouse IGF-II designated KM1468) were tested singly or in combination in the early phase of metastasis. The dose escalation effect of KM1468 and its survival benefit were examined in the early and late phases of metastasis. The mechanism of IGF neutralization was investigated with immunohistochemistry. Dual neutralization of paracrine IGF-I and IGF-II showed modest additive antimetastatic effects than single neutralization of IGF-I or IGF-II. In any phase of metastasis, neutralization led to significant tumor growth inhibition and longer survival. Dose escalation of KM1468 influenced survival only in the late phase of metastasis. Apoptosis increased significantly in the antibody-treated group compared with the control group (P = 0.0025) In conclusion, IGFs are promising therapeutic targets for hepatic metastases of colorectal cancers. However, the IGF dependency is probably variable in the metastatic process.