Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Competitive Ethos and Democratic Education

Young children and even infants work hard at mastering various kills and show spontaneous pleasure at their own accomplishment. John Nicholls explores the conditions that cause students to lose their unselfconscious involvement in a game or task and become concerned with how they are stacking up against others. Charting the development of children s concepts of luck, effort, and ability, he argues that with age they are increasingly prone to take superiority over others as the definition of success. An emphasis on interpersonal competition, which permeates Western society, exacerbates this egotistical tendency and results in diminished accomplishment and alienation from school.To overcome these problems, Nicholls argues, we must become as little children for whom absorption in exploration and accomplishment come naturally, even when those around them are more competent. This ideal is unlikely to be promoted through technical approaches to education, or by the current emphasis on the role of education in economic development. Instead, Nicholls calls for a progressive approach to education. Difficult though it is to implement, this approach is most likely to increase equality of motivation for intellectual development, substantial accomplishment, satisfaction in work, and more productive relations with others. These are important ideas for anyone interested in achievement motivation, for those professionally involved in education, and for nonspecialists interested in, or worried about, how we educate our children. "
[ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO RADIO FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS].

BACKGROUND European Union Directive 2013/35/UE provides for the implementation of EU regulations into national legislation. Our aim is to assess actual health hazards from radiofrequency eldctromagnetic field (RF EMF) (range: 100 kHz - 300 GHz) and indicate workplaces with the highest risk to employee health. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from measurements of RF EMF performed by the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Hazards in Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (Łódź, Poland) were analyzed. The analysis covered the results of electric field intensity (E) for over 450 selected items. The ranges of protection zones and the extent to which maximum admissible intensity (MAI) values were also analyzed. The determinations and'measurements of EMF in the work environment met the requirements of Polish Standard, while Polish regulations on the MAI values were used as the criterion for the assessment of the exposure. RESULTS The highest values of E field intensity at workplaces were measured for: electrosurgery, to 400 V/m, and short-wave diathermy units, to 220 V/m, dielectric welders to 240 V/m, within the FM radio antenna systems, to 180 V/m. The widest protection zones were noted for prototype research instruments, short-wave diathermy units, and dielectric welders. The most excessive (up to 12-fold MAI) values were recorded for dielectric welders, short-wave diathermy units (up to 11-fold) and microwave diathermy units (up to 8-fold). CONCLUSIONS Our results have confirmed the high RF EMF values for physiotherapists, operators of dielectric welders, and mast maintenance workers in radio com munication facilities (especially radio and TV broadcasting stations).
The Relevance of Malthus for the Study of Mortality Today: Long-Run Influences on Health, Mortality, Labor Force Participation, and Population Growth

This paper argues that the secular decline in mortality, which began during the eighteenth century, is still in progress and will probably continue for another century or more. The evolutionary perspective presented in this paper focuses not only on the environment, which from the standpoint of human health and prosperity has become much more favorable than it was in Malthus's time, but also on changes in human physiology over the past three centuries which affect both economic and biomedical processes. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the interconnectedness of events and process over the life cycle and, by implication, between generations.
Towards Mobile Recognition and Verification of Holograms Using Orthogonal Sampling

Although holograms provide a reasonable level of security, for lay-people, the inspection is difficult due to the inherent lack of knowledge. Mobile AR setups using off-the-shelf smartphones can provide this information and support the verification process. However, current approaches lack in accuracy or are difficult to instruct to the user. We propose a series of designs for holograms suitable for mobile verification. They support the orthogonal sampling of elements within a constrained space along with an assessment of the capture conditions. We evaluated these designs regarding their verification performance and task completion time. The associated study revealed encouraging results for robust and efficient hologram verification on mobiles using a specially designed security element.
The eEF1A Proteins: At the Crossroads of Oncogenesis, Apoptosis, and Viral Infections

Eukaryotic translation elongation factors 1 alpha, eEF1A1 and eEF1A2, are not only translation factors but also pleiotropic proteins that are highly expressed in human tumors, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. eEF1A1 modulates cytoskeleton, exhibits chaperone-like activity and also controls cell proliferation and cell death. In contrast, eEF1A2 protein favors oncogenesis as shown by the fact that overexpression of eEF1A2 leads to cellular transformation and gives rise to tumors in nude mice. The eEF1A2 protein stimulates the phospholipid signaling and activates the Akt-dependent cell migration and actin remodeling that ultimately favors tumorigenesis. In contrast, inactivation of eEF1A proteins leads to immunodeficiency, neural and muscular defects, and favors apoptosis. Finally, eEF1A proteins interact with several viral proteins resulting in enhanced viral replication, decreased apoptosis, and increased cellular transformation. This review summarizes the recent findings on eEF1A proteins indicating that eEF1A proteins play a critical role in numerous human diseases through enhancement of oncogenesis, blockade of apoptosis, and increased viral pathogenesis.
Cardiometabolic results from an armband-based weight loss trial

Purpose: This report examines the blood chemistry and blood pressure (BP) results from the Lifestyle Education for Activity and Nutrition (LEAN) study, a randomized weight loss trial. A primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of real-time self-monitoring of energy balance (using the SenseWear™ Armband, BodyMedia, Inc Pittsburgh, PA) on these health factors. Methods: 164 sedentary overweight or obese adults (46.8 ± 10.8 years; BMI 33.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2; 80% women) took part in the 9-month study. Participants were randomized into 4 conditions: a standard care condition with an evidence-based weight loss manual (n = 40), a group-based behavioral weight loss program (n = 44), an armband alone condition (n = 41), and a group plus armband (n = 39) condition. BP, fasting blood lipids and glucose were measured at baseline and 9 months. Results: 99 participants (60%) completed both baseline and follow-up measurements for BP and blood chemistry analysis. Missing data were handled by baseline carried forward. None of the intervention groups had significant changes in blood lipids or BP when compared to standard care after adjustment for covariates, though within-group lowering was found for systolic BP in group and group + armband conditions, a rise in total cholesterol and LDL were found in standard care and group conditions, and a lowering of triglycerides was found in the two armband conditions. Compared with the standard care condition, fasting glucose decreased significantly for participants in the group, armband, and group + armband conditions (all P < 0.05), respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that using an armband program is an effective strategy to decrease fasting blood glucose. This indicates that devices, such as the armband, can be a successful way to disseminate programs that can improve health risk factors. This can be accomplished without group-based behavioral programs, thereby potentially reducing costs.
The action of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the placental and foetal circulations in the rabbit and guinea‐pig

The observations were made on rabbits, 28-31 days pregnant, and guinea-pigs, 40-63 days pregnant. Light anaesthesia was maintained with urethane 1-5 g/kg body weight, injected intravenously. The guinea-pigs were lightly anaesthetized with ether while a vein was exposed for the injection. A maternal jugular vein was cannulated with fine polythene tubing for the infusion or injection of drugs. The maternal arterial blood pressure was recorded with a capacitance manometer from a carotid artery which was also cannulated with fine polythene tubing. The abdominal wall was opened by a mid-line incision under saline at 380 C. The uterus was cut longitudinally from rump to crown of a single foetus and that foetus was then delivered into the saline and supported throughout the experiment on a gauze sling. The foetal arterial blood pressure was recorded with a capacitance manometer from one carotid artery which was cannulated with a no. 19 record needle. Intrafoetal injections were made into the jugular vein or, in the guinea-pig, into the vitelline vein, towards the foetus.
Understanding brand equity for successful brand extension

The turbulent 1990s typified by increased product development and marketing costs as well as increasing international competition, focussed marketing managers on cost‐saving tactics to increase competitiveness. One of the most important effects was to make brand extensions more compelling and frequent. While leveraging the brand equity of a successful brand promises to make introduction of a new entry less costly, success depends on the underlying brand knowledge and image among consumers. Explores the consumer dimensions of brand equity, the benefits and dangers of brand extension, and culminates in a series of implications and recommendations for successful brand extensions.
Use-Dependent and Error-Based Learning of Motor Behaviors

Human motor behavior is constantly adapted through the process of error-based learning. When the motor system encounters an error, its estimate about the body and environment will change, and the next movement will be immediately modified to counteract the underlying perturbation. Here, we show that a second mechanism, use-dependent learning, simultaneously changes movements to become more similar to the last movement. In three experiments, participants made reaching movements toward a horizontally elongated target, such that errors in the initial movement direction did not have to be corrected. Along this task-redundant dimension, we were able to induce use-dependent learning by passively guiding movements in a direction angled by 8° from the previous direction. In a second study, we show that error-based and use-dependent learning can change motor behavior simultaneously in opposing directions by physically constraining the direction of active movements. After removal of the constraint, participants briefly exhibit an error-based aftereffect against the direction of the constraint, followed by a longer-lasting use-dependent aftereffect in the direction of the constraint. In the third experiment, we show that these two learning mechanisms together determine the solution the motor system adopts when learning a motor task.
Gender Differences in Student Attitudes toward Computers

Abstract This study reports the development of a student computer attitude survey. The instrument highlighted gender differences in computer attitudes of 462 middle and high school students. The principal components analysis confirmed five expected factors: confidence, perception of computers as male domain, positive teacher attitudes, negative teacher attitudes, and perceived usefulness of computers. The main gender differences related to greater confidence among males and the perception of computers as a male domain supported by males and rejected by females. Male students reported high levels of negative interactions with teachers, though this did not affect their confidence or skill level.
Tracking displacements of intracellular organelles in response to nanomechanical forces

The living cell is under constant influence of mechanical forces from its environment. These forces affect many aspects of the cell's behaviour, including morphology, growth, cell differentiation, protein synthesis and cell death. In this study we show how mechanical stress perturbs the intracellular structures of the cell and induces mechanical responses. In order to correlate mechanical perturbations to cellular responses, we used a combined fluorescence-atomic force microscope (AFM) to produce nanomechanical perturbations while simultaneously tracking the real-time motion of fluorescently labelled mitochondria in live cells. Feature point tracking was then used to analyze and quantify the structural displacements. Following indentation from the AFM tip, the average mitochondrial displacement showed an increase of -40% in comparison to the natural movement. These results show how mitochondrial structures that are far away from the point of force (up to ~40 mum) are instantaneously affected by extracellular perturbations.
Inflammatory response in acute traumatic brain injury: a double-edged sword

Inflammation is an important part of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury. Although the central nervous system differs from the other organs because of the almost complete isolation from the blood stream mediated by the blood–brain barrier, the main steps characterizing the immune activation within the brain follow a scenario similar to that in other organs. The key players in these processes are the numerous immune mediators released within minutes of the primary injury. They guide a sequence of events including expression of adhesion molecules, cellular infiltration, and additional secretion of inflammatory molecules and growth factors, resulting in either regeneration or cell death. The question is this: to what extent is inflammation beneficial for the injured brain tissue, and how does it contribute to secondary brain damage and progressive neuronal loss? This review briefly reports recent evidence supporting the dual, the beneficial, or the deleterious role of neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury.
Tumor-Associated Lymphatic Vessels Upregulate PDL1 to Inhibit T-Cell Activation

Tumor-associated lymphatic vessels (LVs) play multiple roles during tumor progression, including promotion of metastasis and regulation of antitumor immune responses by delivering antigen from the tumor bed to draining lymph nodes (LNs). Under steady-state conditions, LN resident lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) have been found to maintain peripheral tolerance by directly inhibiting autoreactive T-cells. Similarly, tumor-associated lymphatic endothelium has been suggested to reduce antitumor T-cell responses, but the mechanisms that mediate this effect have not been clarified. Using two distinct experimental tumor models, we found that tumor-associated LVs gain expression of the T-cell inhibitory molecule PDL1, similar to LN resident LECs, whereas tumor-associated blood vessels downregulate PDL1. The observed lymphatic upregulation of PDL1 was likely due to IFN-g released by stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we found that blocking PDL1 results in increased T-cell stimulation by antigen-presenting LECs in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest that peripheral, tumor-associated lymphatic endothelium contributes to T-cell inhibition, by a mechanism similar to peripheral tolerance maintenance described for LN resident LECs. These findings may have clinical implications for cancer therapy, as lymphatic expression of PDL1 could represent a new biomarker to select patients for immunotherapy with PD1 or PDL1 inhibitors.
Reading to write an argumentation: the role of epistemological, reading and writing beliefs

The general aim of this study was to examine the relations among epistemological, reading and writing beliefs held by psychology undergraduates and the role played by these three types of belief in influencing the degree of perspectivism manifested in a written argumentation task based on reading two texts presenting conflicting perspectives on the same topic. A total of 118 fourth-year psychology students took part. Only 76 students performed the written argumentation task. The three types of belief were assessed using different questionnaires. The results show that the different types of belief do not occur in isolation, but have an internal coherence. They also indicate that only reading beliefs, together with the degree of perspectivism shown in a prior argumentation task, help to predict the degree of perspectivism in the written task following the reading of the texts.
Illusory Vowels Resulting from Perceptual Continuity: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the neural processing of vowels whose perception depends on the continuity illusion. Participants heard sequences of two-formant vowels under a number of listening conditions. In the vowel conditions, both formants were always present simultaneously and the stimuli were perceived as speech-like. Contrasted with a range of nonspeech sounds, these vowels elicited activity in the posterior middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and superior temporal sulcus (STS). When the two formants alternated in time, the speech-likeness of the sounds was reduced. It could be partially restored by filling the silent gaps in each formant with bands of noise (the Illusion condition) because the noise induced an illusion of continuity in each formant region, causing the two formants to be perceived as simultaneous. However, this manipulation was only effective at low formant-to-noise ratios (FNRs). When the FNR was increased, the illusion broke down (the illusion-break condition). Activation in vowel-sensitive regions of the MTG was greater in the illusion than in the illusion-break condition, consistent with the perception of Illusion stimuli as vowels. Activity in Heschl's gyri (HG), the approximate location of the primary auditory cortex, showed the opposite pattern, and may depend instead on the number of perceptual onsets in a sound. Our results demonstrate that speech-sensitive regions of the MTG are sensitive not to the physical characteristics of the stimulus but to the perception of the stimulus as speech, and also provide an anatomically distinct, objective physiological correlate of the continuity illusion in human listeners.
Redesign of a fixture mount to be used as an impression coping and a provisional abutment as well

Purpose: An integrated fixture mount/impression coping/ temporary abutment can provide many advantages for immediate loading of dental implants, such as simpler procedure, less chair time, cost reduction, and comfort for the patients. Materials and Methods: A newly designed dental implant fixture mount (DIFMA) can be used as an impression coping for taking an immediate impression. An immediate load provisional prosthesis can then be fabricated shortly after implant placement to immediately load the implants. This fixture mount can also serve as a temporary abutment for immediate chair-side fabrication of provisional prosthesis. Two clinical cases are presented. Results: A clinical case utilizing the fixture mount abutment (DIFMA)/implant assembly is presented. The precision of fitting between the impression copings and implants is secured with this system. The chair time for taking an immediate impression is greatly reduced. Less cost for the restoration is provided and patient comfort is delivered. Conclusions: More patient satisfaction can be conferred by employing the fixture mount in the process of immediate impression taking and as an immediate provisional abutment.
Tuberculosis and HIV Coinfection

Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic has amplified the global burden of tuberculosis (TB), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where 82% of the world's TB/HIV coinfection exists. HIV infection significantly increases the risk of developing and dying from TB and was associated with 350,000 TB deaths in 2010. The diagnosis of HIV-associated TB is often challenging due to atypical clinical and radiographic manifestations, more frequent extrapulmonary disease, and higher rates of smear-negative pulmonary TB. Nucleic acid amplification tests, including the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA), improve our ability to rapidly diagnose both smear-negative and extrapulmonary TB. The standard 6-month anti-TB regimen is usually adequate for HIV coinfected persons, but intermittent dosing in the intensive phase should be avoided because of an increased risk of relapse with acquired rifamycin resistance. The comanagement of HIV and TB is challenging due to drug–drug interactions, overlapping drug toxicities, concerns about adherence, and the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. However, the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the course of TB treatment is necessary to improve survival, and the appropriate timing of ART is dependent on the level of immune suppression. Therefore, the management of TB must be well coordinated with HIV resources, prepared to rapidly diagnose HIV, assess immune status, and correctly treat both infections.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Avian Paramyxovirus (APMV-13) Isolated from a Wild Bird in Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT A novel avian paramyxovirus was identified during annual viral surveillance of wild bird populations in Kazakhstan in 2013. The virus was isolated from a white fronted goose (Anser albifrons) in northern Kazakhstan. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the isolate, which we suggest should constitute a novel serotype.
Small-deformation theory for a surfactant-covered drop in linear flows

A small-deformation perturbation analysis is developed to study the effect of surfactant on drop dynamics in viscous flows. The surfactant is assumed to be insoluble in the bulk-phase fluids; the viscosity ratio and surfactant elasticity parameters are arbitrary. Under small-deformation conditions, the drop dynamics are described by a system of ordinary differential equations; the governing equations are given explicitly for the case of axisymmetric and two-dimensional imposed flows. Analytical results accurate to third order in the flow-strength parameter (capillary number) are derived (i) for the stationary drop shape and surfactant distribution in simple shear and axisymmetric straining flows, and (ii) for the rheology of a dilute emulsion in shear flow which include a shear-thinning viscosity and non-zero normal stresses. For drops with clean interfaces, the small-deformation theory presented here improves the results of Barthès-Biesel & Acrivos (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 61, 1973, p. 1). Boundary integral simulations are used to test our theory and explore large-deformation conditions.
Assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients

Seventy‐five consecutive patients were selected to evaluate a disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaire (UW QOL). The new test was compared to two established equality of life evaluation tools, the Karnofsky scale and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Each test was administered on three separate occasions: (1) several days preoperatively; (2) immediately postoperatively; and (3) 3 months postoperatively.