Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of ‘massed’ task repetitions on complexity, accuracy and fluency: does it transfer to a new task?

To date, research results suggest that task repetition positively affects oral task performance. However, researchers have not yet shown the extension of the benefits of repeating the same task to performance of a new task. This article first provides an overview of the currently available research findings on task repetition and then presents the results of a six-month study which aimed to find out whether or not the effects of massed repetitions of the same task carry over to performance of a new task. Thirty intermediate EFL learners from two intact classes participated in this study. Participants in the experimental group were required to engage in a dialogic narrative task on Occasions 1 to 11 and then an interview task on Occasion 12, each occasion being two weeks apart. Participants in the control group, meanwhile, were only required to perform the oral narrative task at Time 1 and to engage in the interview task at Time 12. Results revealed that massed repetitions of the same task assisted subjects in the experimental group to outperform those in the control group in terms of complexity and fluency but not accuracy. In conclusion, it is claimed that the benefits of massed repetitions of the same task transfer to performance of a new task but not necessarily in all areas of performance.
A Late Triassic Impact Ejecta Layer in Southwestern Britain

Despite the 160 or so known terrestrial impact craters of Phanerozoic age, equivalent ejecta deposits within distal sedimentary successions are rare. We report a Triassic deposit in southwestern Britain that contains spherules and shocked quartz, characteristic of an impact ejecta layer. Inter- and intragranular potassium feldspar from the deposit yields an argon-argon age of 214 ± 2.5 million years old. This is within the age range of several known Triassic impact craters, the two closest of which, both in age and location, are Manicouagan in northeastern Canada and Rochechouart in central France. The ejecta deposit provides an important sedimentary record of an extraterrestrial impact in the Mesozoic that will help to decipher the number and effect of impact events, the source and dynamics of the event that left this distinctive sedimentary marker, and the relation of this ejecta layer to the timing of extinctions in the fossil record.
The Malthus Effect: population and the liberal government of life

Abstract This paper identifies and elucidates what it calls the Malthus Effect from two perspectives: a genealogical-theoretical one and an empirical-diagnostic one. The first concerns its implications for Michel Foucault's genealogy and conceptions of modern governmentality. The second suggests that Malthusian concerns have an enduring presence in recent and contemporary politics. In them we find a government of life that tethers the question of poverty to that of population, as both a national and international concern, links biopolitics to questions of national security and is a key source of the modern environmental movement. It remains present in areas such as welfare reform and immigration policy, notions of sustainability and in the global public health and environmental movements. It takes the form of a genopolitics, a politics of the reproductive capacity of human populations and the human species.
Fast Tracks to Narrative Empathy: Anthropomorphism and Dehumanization in Graphic Narratives

Fast tracks for human emotional responses precede cognitive processes, according to the neuroscientific investigation of emotions such as anger and empathy1 and the psychology of “mind-reading,” via fast, unconscious recognition of facial expressions.2 Even simplified line drawings of facial expressions3 activate the “quick and dirty”4 subcortical bases of emotions that are followed by slightly slower cognitive responses routed through the neocortex. In comics and graphic narratives, illustrations of faces and bodily postures may capitalize on the availability of visual coding for human emotions, eliciting readers’ feelings before they even read the accompanying text.5 Little is known, however, about the relationship between the emotional responses evoked by visual artists’ strategies of anthropomorphizing animal faces or dehumanizing people’s faces and bodies, on the one hand, and the invitations to narrative empathy proffered by graphic storytelling, on the other hand. Drawing on my previous work on empathy vis-à-vis print narratives (see Keen, Empathy and “Strategic Empathizing”), the current essay explores the opportunities and challenges that graphic narratives pose for research in this domain. Specifically, I seek to open a conversation about the impact of emotionally charged sequences of word-image combinations used in the service of what I term ambassadorial strategic empathy. At issue are graphic narratives that reach popular audiences (including teenaged readers) with appeals for recognition and justice and ambitions to form citizens’ sense of responsibility for suffering others. I focus on two case studies that highlight how questions of medium specificity need to be taken into account in research on narrative empathy. J. P. Stassen’s (2000, trans. 2006) Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda, a graphic narrative about a boy caught up as an unwilling participant in the Rwandan civil war and genocide, renders dehumanization vividly: the boy turns into an animal in four stark frames of transformation. Brian K. Vaughan’s 2006 Pride of Baghdad (art by Niko Henrichon) employs more traditional anthropomorphism to depict the perspectives of a group of lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during the invasion of Iraq. Both narratives employ what I have theorized as ambassadorial strategic empathy
Testing the Effect of Person-Environment Fit on Employee Perceptions of Organizational Goal Ambiguity

Reducing the ambiguity of employees' perceptions of organizational goals is an effective strategy for improving their work-related attitudes and organizational performance, but our understanding of how this can be accomplished is limited. This article focuses on the perceived level of person-environment fit and examines its relationship to individual perceptions of organizational goals. Statistical analysis of survey questionnaire responses from public and nonprofit organizations shows that employees who see themselves as compatible with coworkers and job requirements perceive lower goal ambiguity in organizations even after controlling for other individual characteristics, such as employees' reported level of role ambiguity, affective organizational commitment, and public service motivation.
Religiosity among the citizens of Russia and Europe

The authors compare the levels of religiosity of the citizens of Russia and citizens of European countries. The level of religiosity in Russia suggests that the percentage of believers in the total population is in the middle of the list of European countries, but it is the country with the highest proportion of Muslims among its believers. In general, the research has shown that Russia remains a secular country and confessional-self identification is manifested rather as identification with a particular cultural tradition than as a genuine expression of deep religiosity. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 179049: Politike drustvenog pamcenja i nacionalnog identiteta - regionalni i evropski aspekt].
Acute Effects of Static and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching on Muscle Strength and Power Output.

Context: Stretching is commonly used as a technique for injury prevention in the clinical setting. Our findings may improve the understanding of the neuromuscular responses to stretching and help clinicians make decisions for rehabilitation progression and return to play.Objective: To examine the short-term effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on peak torque (PT), mean power output (MP), active range of motion (AROM), passive range of motion (PROM), electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, and mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles during voluntary maximal concentric isokinetic leg extensions at 60 and 300 degrees . s.Design: A randomized, counterbalanced, cross-sectional, repeated-measures design.Setting: A university human research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Ten female (age, 23 +/- 3 years) and 9 male (age, 21 +/- 3 years) apparently healthy and recreationally active volunteers.Intervention(s): Four static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching exercises to stretch the leg extensor muscles of the dominant limb during 2 separate, randomly ordered laboratory visits.Main Outcome Measure(s): The PT and MP were measured at 60 and 300 degrees . s, EMG and MMG signals were recorded, and AROM and PROM were measured at the knee joint before and after the stretching exercises.Results: Static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching reduced PT (P = .051), MP (P = .041), and EMG amplitude (P = .013) from prestretching to poststretching at 60 and 300 degrees . s (P < .05). The AROM (P < .001) and PROM (P = .001) increased as a result of the static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching. The MMG amplitude increased in the rectus femoris muscle in response to the static stretching at 60 degrees . s (P = .031), but no other changes in MMG amplitude were observed (P > .05). Conclusions: Both static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching caused similar deficits in strength, power output, and muscle activation at both slow (60 degrees .s) and fast (300 degrees .s) velocities. The effect sizes, however, corresponding to these stretching-induced changes were small, which suggests the need for practitioners to consider a risk-to-benefit ratio when incorporating static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching.
Cyclic stretch enhances bone morphogenetic protein-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation through the inhibition of Hey1

Substantial evidence has indicated that osteoblastic differentiation may be regulated by mechanical loads or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). BMP-2-induced in vivo osteogenesis can be significantly enhanced in the presence of mechanical stimuli, revealing the therapeutic potential of the combined application of BMP-2 and mechanical loads in clinical bone diseases (e.g., bone fractures and osteoporosis); however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we found that cyclic stretch or BMP-2 alone increased the expression of osteoblastic differentiation markers, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), as shown by RT-qPCR, western blot analysis and ALP activity test. Furthermore, our results revealed that cyclic mechanical stretch with 10% elongation at 0.1 Hz significantly enhanced the BMP-2-induced upregulation of ALP and Runx2 expression in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Cyclic stretch also inhibited the BMP-2-induced upregulation of Hes-related family bHLH transcription factor with YRPW motif 1 (Hey1, measured by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining), a potent negative regulator of osteogenesis. Moreover, the transient transfection of a Hey1 expression plasmid (pcDNA3.1-Hey1) significantly reversed the effects of cyclic stretch on the BMP-2-induced upregulation of differentiation markers in the MC3T3-E1 cells. This revealed the importance of Hey1 in modulating BMP-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation in response to cyclic stretch. Taken together, our results demonstrated that cyclic stretch enhanced the BMP-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation through the inhibition of Hey1. The present study broadens our fundamental knowledge of osteoblastic mechanotransduction and also sheds new insight into the mechanisms through which the combined application of BMP-2 and mechanical load promotes osteogenesis.
Characterizing Load Imbalance in Real-World Networked Caches

Modern Web services rely extensively upon a tier of in-memory caches to reduce request latencies and alleviate load on backend servers. Within a given cache, items are typically partitioned across cache servers via consistent hashing, with the goal of balancing the number of items maintained by each cache server. Effects of consistent hashing vary by associated hashing function and partitioning ratio. Most real-world workloads are also skewed, with some items significantly more popular than others. Inefficiency in addressing both issues can create an imbalance in cache-server loads. We analyze the degree of observed load imbalance, focusing on read-only traffic against Facebook's graph cache tier in TAO. We investigate the principal causes of load imbalance, including data co-location, non-ideal hashing scenarios, and hot-spot temporal effects. We also employ trace-drive analytics to study the benefits and limitations of current load-balancing methods, suggesting areas for future research.
Quantitative dual‐probe microdialysis: evaluation of [3H]mannitol diffusion in agar and rat striatum

Dual‐probe microdialysis was used to study interstitial diffusion in the rat brain. A radiolabelled tracer, [3H]mannitol, was continuously infused at different concentrations via a probe acutely implanted into the striatum of an anaesthetized male rat or into a dilute agar gel. Samples were collected by a second probe placed 1 mm away from the first, and the recovered [3H]mannitol was measured by liquid scintillation counting. In the striatum, the delivery of [3H]mannitol was counteracted by its removal from the extracellular space by passive uptake into cells and clearance into the microcirculation, causing the diffusion profile to approach quasi steady‐state levels within 2 h. Diffusion data from brain and agar were analysed using a mathematical model. The apparent (effective) diffusion coefficient for [3H]mannitol was D* = 2.9 × 10−6 cm2/s, the effective volume fraction α* = 0.30 and the clearance rate constant κ = 2.3 × 10−5/s. A tortuosity, λ = 1.81, and penetration distance Γ = 4.2 mm, were calculated. We conclude that, using dual‐probe microdialysis, parameters reflecting geometric and dynamic tissue properties may be obtained using appropriate mathematical analysis. Quantitative dual‐probe microdialysis will be valuable in characterizing interstitial diffusion and the clearance processes underpinning volume transmission in the brain.
Compensating for Failure through Social Comparison

Three studies tested the hypothesis that the motive to compensate—to cast favorable light on the self after a threat to self-esteem—can lead people to seek social comparisons. Participants were high self-esteem undergraduates. In Experiment 1, participants who had failed sought more comparisons when they were allowed to compare on their strongest attributes than when they were allowed to compare on their weakest attributes. In Experiment 2, participants had a choice between comparing on a coparticipant’s “superior” or “average” dimension. Success participants selected the other’s strength for comparison, whereas failure participants selected the other’s relative weakness. In Experiment 3, failure participants were less likely to seek comparisons if they had already compensated via a self-affirmation task. These studies employed novel or rarely used measures of social comparison, and the results have implications for both the social comparison and self-esteem literatures.
Creative Economy Report 2013 Special Edition: widening local development pathways

Copyright and reuse: The Warwick Research Archive Portal (WRAP) makes this work by researchers of the University of Warwick available open access under the following conditions. Copyright © and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable the material made available in WRAP has been checked for eligibility before being made available.
An Efficient Synchronous Machine Model for Electromagnetic Transients

This paper proposes a new synchronous machine model based on the application of Park's transformation to the discretized equations of the phase-domain model. The proposed approach maintains the precision of the phase-domain model and eliminates its computational inefficiencies through a constant admittance matrix. The model includes magnetic saturation. Precision analysis is performed within the accuracy constraints of the surrounding network.
Vascular Health and Risk Management Dovepress Vasodilatory Effects of Cinnamaldehyde and Its Mechanism of Action in the Rat Aorta

The vasodilatory effect of cinnamaldehyde was investigated for its mechanism of action using isolated rings of rat aorta. Cinnamaldehyde relaxed aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine in a dose-dependent manner, was not affected by either the presence or removal of the endothelium. Pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one could not block vasodilation by cinnamaldehyde, indicating that nitric oxide signaling is not involved. Potassium channel blockers, such as glibenclamide, tetraethylam-monium, and BaCl 2 , had no effect on the relaxation produced by cinnamaldehyde. In addition, treatment with either indomethacin or propranolol did not affect cinnamaldehyde-induced vasodilatation. On the other hand, pretreatment of endothelium-denuded rings with cinna-maldehyde significantly inhibited vasoconstriction induced by endogenous vasoconstrictors, including angiotensin II, 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, endothelin-1, and phenylephrine. In a Ca 2+-free experimental setting, this natural vasodilator not only blocked Ca 2+ influx-dependent vasoconstriction by either phenylephrine or KCl, but also inhibited phenylephrine-induced tonic contraction, which relies on intracellular Ca 2+ release. This study shows that endothelium-independent, Ca 2+ influx and/or an inhibitory release mechanism contributes to the vasodilatory effect of cinnamaldehyde.
Reduced albumin-cobalt binding with transient myocardial ischemia after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: a preliminary comparison to creatine kinase-MB, myoglobin, and troponin I.

BACKGROUND Previous reports suggest that ischemic conditions rapidly reduce the capacity of human albumin to bind exogenous cobalt. A new assay based on human albumin-cobalt binding (ACB) may help detect early myocardial ischemia. We investigated altered ACB during the first 24 hours after transient ischemia induced during elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We then compared ACB assay results with creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), myoglobin, and cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) values after PTCA. METHODS AND RESULTS In 41 patients undergoing elective PTCA, plasma samples were tested for the ACB assay, CK-MB, myoglobin, and cTn-I before, immediately after, and 6 and 24 hours after PTCA. Thirteen additional patients served as a control group with albumin-cobalt assays performed before and after diagnostic coronary catheterization without angioplasty. ACB assay results demonstrated a significant mean percent difference (10.1%) immediately after PTCA compared with baseline (P < .000001) and returned to baseline by 6 hours after PTCA. ACB assay differences immediately after PTCA were significantly greater than in the control group (10.1% vs -0.9%, P < .001). Mean CK-MB, myoglobin, and cTn-I values were not elevated above baseline immediately after PTCA but were significantly elevated above baseline 6 and 24 hours after PTCA. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that human albumin undergoes a significant reduction in its capacity to bind exogenous cobalt soon after transient coronary occlusion during human PTCA and before significant elevations of CK-MB, myoglobin, or cTn-I. Further confirmatory investigations are warranted to determine if the ACB assay is a useful diagnostic test for early myocardial ischemia.
Gender and Roll Call Voting in the New York State Assembly

Abstract Does descriptive representation based on gender translate into the substantive representation of women? By examining roll call votes for the New York State Assembly for the 1993 legislative session, this article investigates whether female state legislators actually are more supportive of women's issues than are their male colleagues. Findings reveal that female legislators are no more likely than males to view women as a specific constituency when voting on issues regarding women, children, and the family. Instead, both female and male legislators included in this study are responding to cues provided from their political party and their electoral constituency when voting on women's issues.
Molecular determinants of the aggregation behavior of α‐ and β‐synuclein

α‐ and β‐synuclein are closely related proteins, the first of which is associated with deposits formed in neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease while the second appears to have no relationship to any such disorders. The aggregation behavior of α‐ and β‐synuclein as well as a series of chimeric variants were compared by exploring the structural transitions that occur in the presence of a widely used lipid mimetic, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). We found that the aggregation rates of all these protein variants are significantly enhanced by low concentrations of SDS. In particular, we inserted the 11‐residue sequence of mainly hydrophobic residues from the non‐amyloid‐β‐component (NAC) region of α‐synuclein into β‐synuclein and show that the fibril formation rate of this chimeric protein is only weakly altered from that of β‐synuclein. These intrinsic propensities to aggregate are rationalized to a very high degree of accuracy by analysis of the sequences in terms of their associated physicochemical properties. The results begin to reveal that the differences in behavior are primarily associated with a delicate balance between the positions of a range of charged and hydrophobic residues rather than the commonly assumed presence or absence of the highly aggregation‐prone region of the NAC region of α‐synuclein. This conclusion provides new insights into the role of α‐synuclein in disease and into the factors that regulate the balance between solubility and aggregation of a natively unfolded protein.
Secretion of testosterone and epidermal growth factor in mice with oligozoospermia caused by doxorubicin hydrochloride

Summary. Oligozoospermia was induced experimentally by treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride, an anticancer drug, in mice. In the testes, almost all germ cells disappeared, but Leydig cells appeared to be unchanged. The secretion of testosterone and epidermal growth factor (EGF), both of which are involved in spermatogenesis, was not influenced by the treatment. These results suggest that doxorubicin hydrochloride does not act indirectly by affecting testosterone and EGF, but produces oligozoospermia by effecting directly germ cells.
Supporting students with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) at secondary school: a parent and student perspective

This paper describes a small‐scale research project undertaken in July 2007, which focused on a group of students with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) currently attending a mainstream secondary school. Three focus groups were held with students in Years 9 and 11 and with their parents in order to explore current practice on additional support at secondary school for students with ASD. Several aspects of support at school were positively evaluated by the participants. It also examines how support could be provided in the future to address perceived additional needs. It concludes with several implications for planning for support in the future.