Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Cooperative Learning Method to Enhance Speaking Skills Among School Students

One of the current challenges in English Language education is to produce learners who can speak confidently, fluently, accurately and to carry out presentations without anxiety or feeling nervous. The aim of this study was to investigate how cooperative learning could assist and guide students in speaking skills. This paper reports the effectiveness of cooperative learning method to enhance speaking skills among school students. This study used cooperative learning together with the Interaction Theory as well as group work. The target group consists of 36 Form One students. They were interviewed using structured questions to find out the methods that they used while completing their tasks. The finding proved that through cooperative learning, learners had social interaction among themselves through groupwork such as discussions, rephrasing, pronunciation, explanations, elaborations and motivating peers before the actual speaking or presentation session. The findings proved that students enjoyed cooperative learning and carried out presentations without feeling nervous. The findings further showed that students learnt to depend on each other to complete the task which is also one of the main principles of cooperative learning. The students also said that cooperative learning was a fun way of learning English language as it was student centered with less teacher intervention.
The Spread F Experiment (SpreadFEx): Overview and Summary of the Spread F Experiment (SpreadFEx)

The Spread F Experiment, or SpreadFEx, was performed from September to November 2005 to define the potential role of neutral atmosphere dynamics, primarily gravity waves propagating upward from the lower atmosphere, in seeding equatorial spread F (ESF) and plasma bubbles extending to higher altitudes. A description of the SpreadFEx campaign motivations, goals, instrumentation, and structure, and an overview of the results presented in this special issue, are provided by Fritts et al. (2008a). The various analyses of neutral atmosphere and ionosphere dynamics and structure described in this special issue provide enticing evidence of gravity waves arising from deep convection in plasma bubble seeding at the bottomside F layer. Our purpose here is to employ these results to estimate gravity wave characteristics at the bottomside F layer, and to assess their possible contributions to optimal seeding conditions for ESF and plasma instability growth rates. We also assess expected tidal influences on the environment in which plasma bubble seeding occurs, given their apparent large wind and temperature amplitudes at these altitudes. We conclude 1) that gravity waves can achieve large amplitudes at the bottomside F layer, 2) that tidal winds likely control the orientations of the gravity waves that attain the highest altitudes and have the greatest effects, 3) that the favored gravity wave orientations enhance most or all of the parameters influencing plasma instability growth rates, and 4) that gravity wave and tidal structures acting together have an even greater potential impact on plasma instability growth rates and plasma bubble seeding. Correspondence to: D. C. Fritts (dave@cora.nwra.com)
Steroids are a risk factor for Kaposi's sarcoma-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and mortality in HIV infection

Objectives:To investigate the association between Kaposi's sarcoma-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (KS-IRIS) and mortality, with the use of glucocorticoids in HIV-infected individuals. Design:Case–control study. Methods:We reviewed the medical records of 145 individuals with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma receiving antiretroviral therapy. The association of different variables with KS-IRIS and Kaposi's sarcoma-related mortality was explored by univariate and multivariate analyses. The main exposure of interest was the use of glucocorticoids. We also compared the time to KS-IRIS and the time to death of individuals treated with glucocorticoids vs. those nontreated with glucocorticoids, and the time to death of individuals with KS-IRIS vs. those without KS-IRIS by hazards regression. Results:Sixty of 145 individuals received glucocorticoids (41.4%) for the management or suspicion of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Fifty individuals had KS-IRIS (37%). The use of glucocorticoids was more frequent in individuals with KS-IRIS than in those without KS-IRIS (54.9 vs. 36.47%, P = 0.047). Kaposi's sarcoma-related mortality occurred in 17 cases (11.7%), and glucocorticoid use was more frequent in this group (76.47 vs. 36.7%, P = 0.003). Glucocorticoid use was a risk factor for mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 4.719, 95% confidence interval = 1.383–16.103, P = 0.0132), and was associated with shorter periods to KS-IRIS (P = 0.03) and death (P = 0.0073). KS-IRIS was a risk factor for mortality (P = 0.049). Conclusion:In HIV-infected individuals, the use of glucocorticoids is a risk factor for KS-IRIS and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated mortality. In addition, KS-IRIS is a risk factor for mortality. Therefore, glucocorticoid administration in this population requires careful consideration based on individualized risk–benefit analysis.
Towards a geometrical interpretation of quantum-information compression

Let S be the von Neumann entropy of a finite ensemble E of pure quantum states. We show that S may be naturally viewed as a function of a set of geometrical volumes in Hilbert space defined by the states and that S is monotonically increasing in each of these variables. Since S is the Schumacher compression limit of E, this monotonicity property suggests a geometrical interpretation of the quantum redundancy involved in the compression process. It provides clarification of previous work in which it was shown that S may be increased while increasing the overlap of each pair of states in the ensemble. As a by-product, our mathematical techniques also provide an interpretation of the subentropy of E.
Human Papillomavirus Detection by Penile Site in Young Men From Kenya

Background: Limited data are available on whether sampling from the penile shaft or urethra increases detection of penile HPV infection in men beyond that found in the glans and coronal sulcus. Methods: Within a randomized clinical trial, a validation study of penile sampling was conducted in Kisumu, Kenya. Young men (18–24 years) were invited to provide penile exfoliated cells using prewetted Dacron swabs to determine the best site for HPV detection. β-Globin gene PCR and HPV DNA type GP5+/6+ PCR status were ascertained from 3 anatomical sites. Results: A total of 98 young HIV-seronegative, uncircumcised men participated. Penile HPV prevalence varied by anatomical site: 50% in penile exfoliated cells from the glans, coronal sulcus, and inner foreskin tissue; 43% in the shaft and external foreskin tissue; and 18% in the urethra (P <0.0001). For each anatomical site, over 87% of samples were β-globin positive. Beyond that found in the glans/coronal sulcus, urethral sampling resulted in no increase in HPV positivity and shaft sampling resulted in an additional 7.3% of overall HPV positivity. The prevalence of high-risk HPV positivity varied by anatomical site: 39% in glans/coronal sulcus, 31% in shaft, and 13% in the urethra (P <0.0001). HPV 16 was the most common type identified. Discussion: Penile HPV prevalence was approximately 50% among young men in Kisumu, Kenya. Urethral sampling for HPV detection in men added no sensitivity for HPV detection over that found from sampling the glans/coronal sulcus and penile shaft. These data will help inform studies on HPV transmission dynamics, and on the efficacy of HPV prophylactic vaccines on penile HPV carriage in men.
Assessing 21 st Century Skills : Integrating Research Findings National Council on Measurement in Education

This paper synthesizes research evidence pertaining to several so-called 21st century skills: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, metacognition, and motivation. We provide a rationale for focusing on these five skills and explain their importance as educational outcomes. We then summarize peer-reviewed research published in education and psychology in order to answer several questions about these skills: (1) how do researchers define them; (2) how are they related to one another both theoretically and empirically; and (3) how do researchers traditionally measure them. We use the answers to these questions to make several recommendations regarding how best to assess these skills. Briefly, research suggests these skills are inter-related in complex ways. Researchers have used a number of approaches to measuring these skills, including (1) self-reports, (2) global rating scales, (3) standardized assessments, both multiplechoice and performance-based, and (4) observational measures. We recommend several practices for assessing 21st century skills: incorporating multiple measures to permit triangulation of inferences; designing complex and/or challenging tasks; including open-ended and/or illstructured tasks; using tasks that employ meaningful or authentic, real-world problem contexts; making student thinking and reasoning visible; and exploring innovative approaches that utilize new technology and psychometric models.
Exemplar-Based Object Removal in Video Using GMM

This paper presents an exemplar-based video inpainting mechanism that restores the area of the removal object, and this mechanism can be further employed to extract the background of videos. The region to be inpainted in video is still in background and moving in foreground. Our method consists of a simple preprocessing stage and video inpainting step. The preprocessing stage consists in constructing Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) for both background and foreground separately, then make use of GMMs to distinguish background and foreground of the entire video. That saves the time for calculating the optical flow mosaics as many video inpainting algorithms do in the preprocessing step. As for video inpainting, we firstly fill the gap as much as possible by copying information from other frames pixel by pixel, and then inpaint the remaining holes in the background by extending the exemplar-based image inpainting algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate that our method for object removal in video is feasible and effective.
Constraints on the Circumstellar Disk Masses in the IC 348 Cluster

A 5. ′2 × 5. ′2 region toward the young cluster IC 348 has been imaged in the millimeter continuum at 4. ″0 × 4. ″9 resolution with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory interferometer to a rms noise level of 0.75 mJy beam-1 at 98 GHz. The data are used to constrain the circumstellar disk masses in a cluster environment at an age of ∼2 Myr. The mosaic encompasses 95 known members of the IC 348 cluster, with a stellar mass distribution that peaks at 0.2–0.5 M⊙. None of the stars are detected in the millimeter continuum at an intensity level of 3 σ or greater. The mean observed flux for the ensemble of 95 stars is 0.22 ± 0.08 mJy. Assuming a dust temperature of 20 K, a mass opacity coefficient of κo = 0.02 cm2 g-1 at 1300 μm, and a power-law index of β = 1 for the particle emissivity, these observations imply that the 3 σ upper limit to the disk mass around any individual star is 0.025 M⊙ and that the average disk mass is 0.002 ± 0.001 M⊙. The absence of disks with masses in excess of 0.025 M⊙ in IC 348 is different at the ∼3 σ confidence level from Taurus, where ∼14% of the stars in an optically selected sample have such disk masses. Compared with the minimum mass needed to form the planets in our solar system (∼0.01 M⊙), the lack of massive disks and the low mean disk mass in IC 348 suggest either that planets more massive than a few Jupiter masses will form infrequently around 0.2–0.5 M⊙ stars in IC 348 or that the process to form such planets has significantly depleted the disk of small dust grains on timescales less than the cluster age of ∼2 Myr.
Differences in Surface Expression of NspA amongNeisseria meningitidis Group B Strains

ABSTRACT NspA is a highly conserved membrane protein that is reported to elicit protective antibody responses against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B and C in mice (D. Martin, N. Cadieux, J. Hanel, and B. R. Brodeur, J. Exp. Med. 185:1173–1183, 1997). To investigate the vaccine potential of NspA, we produced mouse anti-recombinant NspA (rNspA) antisera, which were used to evaluate the accessibility of NspA epitopes on the surface of different serogroup B strains by an immunofluorescence flow cytometric assay and by susceptibility to antibody-dependent, complement-mediated bacteriolysis. Among 17 genetically diverse strains tested, 11 (65%) were positive for NspA cell surface epitopes and 6 (35%) were negative. All six negative strains also were resistant to bactericidal activity induced by the anti-rNspA antiserum. In contrast, of the 11 NspA surface-positive strains, 8 (73%; P < 0.05) were killed by the antiserum and complement. In infant rats challenged with one of these eight strains, the anti-rNspA antiserum conferred protection against bacteremia, whereas the antiserum failed to protect rats challenged by one of the six NspA cell surface-negative strains. Neither NspA expression nor protein sequence accounted for differences in NspA surface accessibility, since all six negative strains expressed NspA in outer membrane preparations and since their predicted NspA amino acid sequences were 99 to 100% identical to those of three representative positive strains. However, the six NspA cell surface-negative strains produced, on average, larger amounts of group B polysaccharide than did the 11 positive strains (reciprocal geometric mean titers, 676 and 224, respectively; P < 0.05), which suggests that the capsule may limit the accessibility of NspA surface epitopes. Given these strain differences in NspA surface accessibility, an rNspA-based meningococcal B vaccine may have to be supplemented by additional antigens.
Implications for Quintessence Models from MAXIMA-1 and BOOMERANG-98

Prompted by the recent MAXIMA-1 and BOOMERANG-98 measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy power spectrum and motivated by the results from the observation of high-redshift Type Ia supernovae, we investigate CMB anisotropies in quintessence models in order to characterize the nature of the dark energy today. We perform a Bayesian likelihood analysis, using the MAXIMA-1 and BOOMERANG-98 published band powers, in combination with the COBE/Differential Microwave Radiometer, to explore the space of quintessence parameters: the quintessence energy density Ωϕ and equation of state wϕ. We restrict our analysis to flat, scale-invariant, inflationary adiabatic models. We find that this simple class of inflationary models, with a quintessence component Ωϕ ≲ 0.7, -1 ≤ wϕ ≲ -0.5, is in good agreement with the data. Within the assumptions of our analysis, pure quintessence models seem to be slightly favored, although the simple cosmological constant scenario is consistent with the data.
THE SECOND FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF INVARIANT THEORY FOR THE ORTHOSYMPLECTIC SUPERGROUP

The first fundamental theorem of invariant theory for the orthosymplectic supergroup scheme $\text{OSp}(m|2n)$ states that there is a full functor from the Brauer category with parameter $m-2n$ to the category of tensor representations of $\text{OSp}(m|2n)$. This has recently been proved using algebraic supergeometry to relate the problem to the invariant theory of the general linear supergroup. In this work, we use the same circle of ideas to prove the second fundamental theorem for the orthosymplectic supergroup. Specifically, we give a linear description of the kernel of the surjective homomorphism from the Brauer algebra to endomorphisms of tensor space, which commute with the orthosymplectic supergroup. The main result has a clear and succinct formulation in terms of Brauer diagrams. Our proof includes, as special cases, new proofs of the corresponding second fundamental theorems for the classical orthogonal and symplectic groups, as well as their quantum analogues, which are independent of the Capelli identities. The results of this paper have led to the result that the map from the Brauer algebra ${\mathcal{B}}_{r}(m-2n)$ to endomorphisms of $V^{\otimes r}$ is an isomorphism if and only if $r<(m+1)(n+1)$.
Prosodic and segmental factors in foreign-accent conversion

We propose a signal processing method that transforms foreign-accented speech to resemble its native-accented counterpart. The problem is closely related to voice conversion, except that our method seeks to preserve the organic properties of the foreign speaker’s voice; i.e., only those features which cue foreign-accentedness are to be transformed. Our method operates at two levels: prosodic and segmental. Prosodic transformation is performed by means of time and pitch scaling. Segmental transformation is performed by convolving the foreign speaker’s excitation with the warped spectral envelope of the native speaker. Perceptual results indicate that our model is able to provide a 63% reduction in foreign-accentedness. Multidimensional scaling also shows that the segmental transformation causes the perception of a new speaker to emerge, though the identity of this new speaker is three times closer to the foreign speaker than to the native speaker.
CYP96T1 of Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus Catalyzes Formation of the Para-Para' C-C Phenol Couple in the Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are a family of amino acid derived alkaloids with many biological activities; examples include haemanthamine, haemanthidine, galanthamine, lycorine, and maritidine. Central to the biosynthesis of the majority of these alkaloids is a C-C phenol-coupling reaction that can have para-para', para-ortho', or ortho-para' regiospecificity. Through comparative transcriptomics of Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus, Galanthus sp. , and Galanthus elwesii we have identified a para-para' C-C phenol coupling cytochrome P450, CYP96T1, capable of forming the products (10bR,4aS)-noroxomaritidine and (10bS,4aR)-noroxomaritidine from 4′-O-methylnorbelladine. CYP96T1 was also shown to catalyzed formation of the para-ortho' phenol coupled product, N-demethylnarwedine, as less than 1% of the total product. CYP96T1 co-expresses with the previously characterized norbelladine 4′-O-methyltransferase. The discovery of CYP96T1 is of special interest because it catalyzes the first major branch in Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis. CYP96T1 is also the first phenol-coupling enzyme characterized from a monocot.
The Effect of Group Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Consciousness Yoga Program on Quality of Life and Fatigue Severity in Patients with MS

Introduction: The chronic nature of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), have can leave devastating effects on quality of life and fatigue. The present research aimed to study the effect of group Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and conscious yoga program on the quality of life and fatigue severity among patients with MS. Methods: This study was quasi-experimental with intervention and control groups. The statistical population included all members to MS Society of Tehran Province, 24 of whom diagnosed with MS were selected as the sample based on the inclusion criteria. The subjects were randomly assigned into the test group (12 patients) and the control group (12 patients). MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used for data collection. Subjects in the test group underwent a MBSR and conscious yoga program in 8 two-hour sessions. The data were analyzed using the SPSS ver.13 software. Results: The study findings showed that there was a significant difference between subjects in the experimental and control groups in terms of mean score of some subscales of quality of life including physical health, role limitations due to physical and emotional problems, energy, emotional well-being, health distress, health perception, and satisfaction with sexual function, overall quality of life, and fatigue severity. Conclusion: The results show that the program is effective in reduction of fatigue severity and improving some subscales of quality of life in MS patients. Hence, this supportive method can be used as an effective way for improving quality of life and relieving fatigue in MS patients.
Interleukin 10 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Pregnancy: Aspects of Interest in Clinical Obstetrics

The purpose of this study was to review the literature regarding the action of the cytokines interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in pregnancy and to emphasize the factors that are of interest to clinical obstetrics. The literature highlights several actions of IL-10 and TNF-α during pregnancy. The actions of these cytokines seem to be antagonistic and dependent on the balance between them, which is orchestrated by the specific immunosuppressive action of IL-10. TNF-α has a characteristic inflammatory action, and it is an additional diabetogenic factor in pregnancy. The loss of the control of the production of these cytokines, with increase of TNF-α, is related to the risk for developing obstetric complications, particularly recurrent fetal loss, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive syndromes, and fetal growth restriction. However, study results are controversial and are not clearly defined. These issues are attributed to the heterogeneity of the studies, particularly regarding their sample sizes and sources, the evaluation methods, and the multiplicity of factors and conditions that influence cytokine production. These questions are fundamental and should be addressed in future investigations to obtain more consistent results that can be applied to obstetric practice.
A regulatory network controls nephrocan expression and midgut patterning

Although many regulatory networks involved in defining definitive endoderm have been identified, the mechanisms through which these networks interact to pattern the endoderm are less well understood. To explore the mechanisms involved in midgut patterning, we dissected the transcriptional regulatory elements of nephrocan (Nepn), the earliest known midgut specific gene in mice. We observed that Nepn expression is dramatically reduced in Sox17−/− and Raldh2−/− embryos compared with wild-type embryos. We further show that Nepn is directly regulated by Sox17 and the retinoic acid (RA) receptor via two enhancer elements located upstream of the gene. Moreover, Nepn expression is modulated by Activin signaling, with high levels inhibiting and low levels enhancing RA-dependent expression. In Foxh1−/− embryos in which Nodal signaling is reduced, the Nepn expression domain is expanded into the anterior gut region, confirming that Nodal signaling can modulate its expression in vivo. Together, Sox17 is required for Nepn expression in the definitive endoderm, while RA signaling restricts expression to the midgut region. A balance of Nodal/Activin signaling regulates the anterior boundary of the midgut expression domain.