Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting research published internationally in English: An ethnographic account of a team of Finance Spanish scholars' struggles

Intercultural text-based research has shown remarkable differences in the rhetorical structure and devices of research articles (RAs) in different linguistic/cultural contexts of publication, including the Spanish local context and the English international context. However, not much attention has been paid to the research article (RA) writing process, which can throw light into the publication practices of second language (L2) scholars in particular disciplinary fields and which can help unveil their main writing difficulties. In this paper I focus on the �text histories� of a team of Spanish researchers in the field of Finance who struggle to get their research articles published internationally in English. These text histories correspond to 24 papers drafted and (re)submitted over the past 5-6 years. The analysis focuses on the extent to which they aim to publish their RAs in English, how they cope with writing their texts in English, their success in such a task and the kind of negative comments included in the referee reports they receive. Results show that this team of L2 scholars almost exclusively write their RAs in English and aim at publishing them in Englishmedium international journals; for this demanding task, they draw on a number of strategies. They are partially successful in that they have managed to publish half of their RAs in the first site where they were submitted. Their manuscripts received a lot of negative comments; especially relevant is the inclusion of a high number of unspecific negative comments related to language or style in major revision reports. Looking into the writing process can be of great help to provide L2 scholars with useful guidelines on drafting their RAs in English for international publication and to gain an insight into the forces driving international publication in this context.
Utility of self-reported diagnosis and electrocardiogram Q-waves for estimating myocardial infarction prevalence: an international comparison study

Objective Self-report of physician diagnosis and ECG ‘Q’ waves are common survey measures of prior myocardial infarction (MI) prevalence. We sought to assess relative prevalence of self-reported prior MI and ECG Q-waves (ECG-MI) in populations and population subgroups with varying MI prevalence. Design A secondary analysis of seven population-based cross-sectional surveys of prevalent MI selected from a systematic review of ischaemic heart disease epidemiology. Setting Men and women aged 45–74 years in population-based Belgian surveys (1978–-1998, n=29 419) and US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1976–1994, n=11 107). Comparison of the US and Belgian surveys with surveys in seven other nations (United Kingdom, Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, India, Turkey and Ghana). Main outcome measures Prevalence of prior MI measured by self-report or resting ECG Q-waves (ECG-MI; Minnesota ECG codes 1.1 and 1.2). Results Self-reported prior MI prevalence was 1.5–2.6 times higher than ECG-MI in Belgian and US men aged 45–74 years and women 55–74 years. ECG-MI was more prevalent than self-reported MI in women <55 years old, and self-reported MI relatively low in US African–American men compared with US Caucasian men. In the overall nine-nation comparison, there was no consistent relationship between self-reported MI and ECG-MI. ECG-MI was higher relative to self-report in nations with lower prevalence of ischaemic heart disease. Conclusions Self-reported MI and ECG-MI prevalence may only be reliable in higher ischaemic heart disease incidence groups. Self-report and ECG-MI have limited accuracy, and ECG Q-waves likely capture fewer prior MIs in the 21st century. The limitations of current survey prevalence measures of MI should be taken into account when measuring the burden of ischaemic heart disease in populations.
Cross-talk among flesh-eating Aeromonas hydrophila strains in mixed infection leading to necrotizing fasciitis

Significance Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressing fatal skin and muscle tissue lesion. We studied a human case of NF and found that the infection was caused by multiple strains of A. hydrophila (NF1–NF4). The latter three strains constitute a clonal group, whereas NF1 is phylogenetically distinct. We tested these strains individually in a mouse intramuscular model of infection and observed NF1 to be less virulent than NF2. However, when NF1 and NF2 were mixed, NF1 exhibited more virulence and it decreased NF2 virulence. The cross-talk between NF1 and NF2 was due to the presence of ExoA toxin in NF2, ability of NF1 and NF2 to differentially modulate innate immune mechanism(s), and direct killing of NF2 by NF1. Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) caused by flesh-eating bacteria is associated with high case fatality. In an earlier study, we reported infection of an immunocompetent individual with multiple strains of Aeromonas hydrophila (NF1–NF4), the latter three constituted a clonal group whereas NF1 was phylogenetically distinct. To understand the complex interactions of these strains in NF pathophysiology, a mouse model was used, whereby either single or mixed A. hydrophila strains were injected intramuscularly. NF2, which harbors exotoxin A (exoA) gene, was highly virulent when injected alone, but its virulence was attenuated in the presence of NF1 (exoA-minus). NF1 alone, although not lethal to animals, became highly virulent when combined with NF2, its virulence augmented by cis-exoA expression when injected alone in mice. Based on metagenomics and microbiological analyses, it was found that, in mixed infection, NF1 selectively disseminated to mouse peripheral organs, whereas the other strains (NF2, NF3, and NF4) were confined to the injection site and eventually cleared. In vitro studies showed NF2 to be more effectively phagocytized and killed by macrophages than NF1. NF1 inhibited growth of NF2 on solid media, but ExoA of NF2 augmented virulence of NF1 and the presence of NF1 facilitated clearance of NF2 from animals either by enhanced priming of host immune system or direct killing via a contact-dependent mechanism.
Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy with Monomeric Allergoid in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread and difficult to treat allergic skin disease and is a tough challenge for healthcare. In this study, we investigated whether allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) with a monomeric allergoid obtained by succinylation of ovalbumin (sOVA) is effective in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. An experimental model of AD was reproduced by epicutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA). ASIT was performed with subcutaneous (SC) administration of increasing doses of OVA or sOVA. The levels of anti-OVA antibodies, as well as cytokines, were detected by ELISA. Skin samples from patch areas were taken for histologic examination. ASIT with either OVA or sOVA resulted in a reduction of both the anti-OVA IgE level and the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Moreover, ASIT with sOVA increased the IFN-γ level in supernatants after splenocyte stimulation with OVA. Histologic analysis of skin samples from the sites of allergen application showed that ASIT improved the histologic picture by decreasing allergic inflammation in comparison with untreated mice. These data suggest that ASIT with a succinylated allergen represents promising approach for the treatment of AD.
[The Effects of Urban Forest-walking Program on Health Promotion Behavior, Physical Health, Depression, and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Office-workers].

PURPOSE This study was performed to determine the physical and psychological effects of an urban forest-walking program for office workers. For many workers, sedentary lifestyles can lead to low levels of physical activity causing various health problems despite an increased interest in health promotion. METHODS Fifty four office workers participated in this study. They were assigned to two groups (experimental group and control group) in random order and the experimental group performed 5 weeks of walking exercise based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills Model. The data were collected from October to November 2014. SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS The results showed that the urban forest walking program had positive effects on the physical activity level (U=65.00, p<.001), health promotion behavior (t=-2.20, p=.033), and quality of life (t=-2.42, p=.020). However, there were no statistical differences in depression, waist size, body mass index, blood pressure, or bone density between the groups. CONCLUSION The current findings of the study suggest the forest-walking program may have positive effects on improving physical activity, health promotion behavior, and quality of life. The program can be used as an effective and efficient strategy for physical and psychological health promotion for office workers.
Berberine Inhibits HIV Protease Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Response by Modulating ER Stress Signaling Pathways in Murine Macrophages

Background HIV protease inhibitor (PI)-induced inflammatory response plays an important role in HIV PI-associated dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications. This study examined the effect of berberine, a traditional herb medicine, on HIV PI-induced inflammatory response and further investigated the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms in macrophages. Methodology and Principal Findings Cultured mouse J774A.1 macrophages and primary mouse macrophages were used in this study. The expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. Activations of ER stress and ERK signaling pathways were determined by Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescent staining was used to determine the intracellular localization of RNA binding protein HuR. RNA-pull down assay was used to determine the association of HuR with endogenous TNF-α and IL-6. Berberine significantly inhibited HIV PI-induced TNF-α and IL-6 expression by modulating ER stress signaling pathways and subsequent ERK activation, in turn preventing the accumulation of the RNA binding protein HuR in cytosol and inhibiting the binding of HuR to the 3′-UTRs of TNF-α and IL-6 in macrophages. Conclusions and Significance Inhibition of ER stress represents a key mechanism by which berberine prevents HIV PI-induced inflammatory response. Our findings provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of berberine and show the potential application of berberine as a complimentary therapeutic agent for HIV infection.
Geophysical and Geodetical Investigation of A Landslide Area (Koyulhisar-Sivas, Turkey)

Abstract. This study includes geophysical studies carried out in the last section in the close south of Koyulhisar (Sivas) landslide site. Additionally, the study area is in the most active location where landslide's displacement amount is the highest. The landslide site basically has been examined geophysics (SRT, GPR) and geodesic (GNSS) methods. According to the geophysical results, within ~ 20 m of investigation depth, layers with the average seismic P-wave velocities (VP) of 0.30, 1.00 and 2.00 km/s have been identified. It has been understood that the thickness of the first two layers of these layers from top to the bottom is approximately 3 and 6.5 m, and the last layer with Vp > 2.0 km/s is the bedrock. Furthermore, it has been understood that the depth of the sliding surface which is the upper limit of the bedrock varies between ~ 7–10 m, there are loose units on the sliding surface, the type of sliding is planar sliding, and the direction of sliding is S–SE, the tilt of the layer has the same direction with topography, is SE-oriented and mostly bigger than 50. It was understood that the deformations in the landslide mass were occured from the geological unit, the layer or topography slope and precipitation and the landslide activity can continue in the study area. Thus, it has proven that precipitation and deformations within the layer are effective in triggering the landslide by the geodetic (IDH) observations, and it is understood that they were compatible with the geophysical results. Therefore, the study area contains the risk and the natural hazards, and these threatens the settlement area and the buldings and other constructions there.
Coping strategies and anxiety sensitivity in Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder, is known to cause considerable distress. The aims of this study were to investigate whether coping strategies would predict the perceived handicap from dizziness, reported discomfort from Meniere's disease and anxiety sensitivity. The relations of anxiety sensitivity to the other above variables were also investigated. Fifty Meniere patients participated in the study, completing three standardized questionnaires: the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Results showed that three coping strategies correlated with perceived functional handicap from dizziness. Escape/Avoidance and Distancing were positively and Self-Controlling negatively related to perceived functional handicap. The coping strategies Accepting Responsibility and Escape/Avoidance were correlated with anxiety sensitivity. Moreover, anxiety sensitivity was correlated with perceived emotional handicap from dizziness and repo.
Discriminative human action recognition using pairwise CSP classifiers

We present a discriminative approach to human action recognition. At the heart of our approach is the use of common spatial patterns (CSP), a spatial filter technique that transforms temporal feature data by using differences in variance between two classes. Such a transformation focusses on differences between classes, rather than on modelling each class individually. As a results, to distinguish between two classes, we can use simple distance metrics in the low-dimensional transformed space. The most likely class is found by pairwise evaluation of all discriminant functions. Our image representations are silhouette boundary gradients, spatially binned into cells. We achieve scores of approximately 96% on a standard action dataset, and show that reasonable results can be obtained when training on only a single subject. Future work is aimed at combining our approach with automatic human detection.
Using Supervised Machine Learning to Code Policy Issues

Content analysis of political communication usually covers large amounts of material and makes the study of dynamics in issue salience a costly enterprise. In this article, we present a supervised machine learning approach for the automatic coding of policy issues, which we apply to news articles and parliamentary questions. Comparing computer-based annotations with human annotations shows that our method approaches the performance of human coders. Furthermore, we investigate the capability of an automatic coding tool, which is based on supervised machine learning, to generalize across contexts. We conclude by highlighting implications for methodological advances and empirical theory testing.
Measurements and Mitigation of Peer-to-Peer-based Botnets: A Case Study on Storm Worm

Botnets, i.e., networks of compromised machines under a common control infrastructure, are commonly controlled by an attacker with the help of a central server: all compromised machines connect to the central server and wait for commands. However, the first botnets that use peer-to-peer (P2P) networks for remote control of the compromised machines appeared in the wild recently. In this paper, we introduce a methodology to analyze and mitigate P2P botnets. In a case study, we examine in detail the Storm Worm botnet, the most wide-spread P2P botnet currently propagating in the wild. We were able to infiltrate and analyze in-depth the botnet, which allows us to estimate the total number of compromised machines. Furthermore, we present two different ways to disrupt the communication channel between controller and compromised machines in order to mitigate the botnet and evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms.
The professoriate in South Africa : potentially risking status inflation

Being appointed or promoted to the position of 'professor' resonates with notions of a relatively high academic standing in the realms of higher education. Or does it? This article poses the question: Is it not true that some South African universities suffer from professorial status inflation on the basis that professorial positions have been, and are being filled by individuals who do not merit the minimum required status? This question is addressed from three viewpoints: firstly, from a view on what the title 'professor' denotes in an international context, secondly, from the assumption that teaching excellence on its own might not be an appropriate or sufficient criterion to promote someone to a professorial position - particularly if an Anglo-European view of the professoriate is maintained - and thirdly, from a proposition that professorial positions have been filled at South African universities on bases other than scholarly merit. The article draws on data generated from a sample of current professors' views on the professorial status at universities in South Africa and concludes that universities in this country might risk losing international academic status and recognition if they are insensitive to scholarly criteria and guidelines when considering staff for promotion or appointment to the academic status of 'professor'.
Cross-cultural validation of the stages of the tobacco acquisition questionnaire and the decisional balance scale.

The first phase in a study of smoking behaviors of 11- to 14-year-old Taiwanese children was designed to ensure the reliability and validity of newly translated instruments. The stages of the tobacco acquisition questionnaire (STAQ) and the decisional balance scale (DBS) were translated into Chinese, then back-translated into English. The DBS was adapted based on input from a focus group with young adolescents, reviewed by a panel of experts and laypersons, and pilot-tested. The next step consisted of administering the instruments to 401 children (ages 11-14 years) for psychometric testing. Factor analysis yielded three components for the STAQ accounting for 57.8% of the total variance, with alphas of the subscales ranging from.85 to.92. The DBS had two components accounting for 59.3% of the total variance, with alphas of.87 and.90 for the subscales. Accuracy of the translated instruments was supported by the psychometric test results.
Learning through computer‐mediated communication: a comparison of Australian and Chinese heritage students

Twelve Australian and 12 Chinese heritage students from a third‐year university computer ethics subject completed a Readiness for Online Learning Questionnaire; and six students from each of these two groups participated in a student‐facilitated problem‐solving discussion through computer‐mediated communication. The questionnaire comparisons showed that the two groups of students were equally willing to self‐manage their own learning, but that Australian students were significantly more comfortable with e‐learning. The analysis of student postings in the CMC component showed that, collectively, Australian students posted more messages than did the Chinese students. Both groups participated equally in socialisation online; although Chinese heritage students posted a higher number of messages associated with organisational matters; and Australian students posted a larger number of message components associated with intellectual contributions to the discussion. These results are interpreted in a theoretical context and implications for practice are drawn.
The Family and Ageing in Korea: A New Concern and Challenge

ABSTRACT Many changes in familial factors under the influence of modernisation have limited the Korean family's function or capability to support and care for elderly members, and are contributing to the problems of ageing. Ageing as a social problem is a new concern in Korea which has never been experienced before, and a new challenge to the family and the state. It requires the state's responsibility to support elderly people and to strengthen the family in its care function by utilising services provided by non-familial persons. The problems of ageing may be categorised into four types: (1) poverty and economic dependence (2) difficulties in health care (3) absence or ambiguity of appropriate roles within the family (4) psychological conflicts and feelings of alienation. Present social welfare provisions are far from sufficient to respond to ageing in Korean society. Problems associated with current policies are discussed and recommendations for future development are made. Ways of promoting the traditional value of filial piety, which has acted as a barrier to the development of social welfare policy for elderly people in Korea, are suggested. For the value to be upheld and developed as one promoting welfare provision for elderly Koreans, the ways of practising the value could be reconstructed so that they may meet the needs of modern Korean life; practising filial piety at a societal level should be emphasised. The roles and responsibilities between the family and the state are also discussed.
Anxiety, panic disorder and coronary artery disease: issues concerning physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy

Psychological factors such as stress and depression have already been established as primary and secondary cardiovascular risk factors. More recently, the role of anxiety in increasing cardiac risk has also been studied. The underlying mechanisms of increased cardiac risk in panic disorder patients seem to reflect the direct and indirect effects of autonomic dysfunction, as well as behavioral risk factors associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Implications of the comorbidity between panic and cardiovascular disease include higher morbidity, functional deficits, increased cardiovascular risk, and poor adherence to cardiac rehabilitation or exercise programs. This article probes the most recent evidence on the association between coronary artery disease, anxiety and panic disorder, and discusses the potential role of incorporating regular physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of this condition.
The HELLAS2XMM survey X. The bolometric output of luminous obscured quasars: The Spitzer perspective

Aims. We aim at estimating the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and the physical parameters related to the black holes harbored in eight high X-ray-to-optical (FX/FR > 10) obscured quasars at z > 0.9 selected in the 2–10 keV band from the HELLAS2XMM survey. Methods. We use IRAC and MIPS 24 µm observations, along with optical and Ks-band photometry, to obtain the SEDs of the sources. The observed SEDs are modeled using a combination of an elliptical template and torus emission (using the phenomenological templates of Silva et al. 2004) for six sources associated with passive galaxies; for two point-like sources, the empirical SEDs of red quasars are adopted. The bolometric luminosities and the MBH − LK relation are used to provide an estimate of the masses and Eddington ratios of the black holes residing in these AGN. Results. All of our sources are detected in the IRAC and MIPS (at 24 µm) bands. The SED modeling described above is in good agreement with the observed near- and mid-infrared data. The derived bolometric luminosities are in the range ≈10 45 −10 47 erg s −1 , and the median 2–10 keV bolometric correction is ≈25, consistent with the widely adopted value derived by Elvis et al. (1994). For the objects with elliptical-like profiles in the Ks band, we derive high stellar masses (0.8−6.2) × 10 11 M� , black hole masses in the range (0.2−2.5) × 10 9 M� , and Eddington ratios L/LEdd < 0.1, suggesting a low-accretion phase.