Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Buckling Analysis of Cold-formed Steel Members with General Boundary Conditions Using CUFSM Conventional and Constrained Finite Strip Methods

The objective of this paper is to provide the theoretical background and illustrative examples for elastic buckling analysis of cold-formed steel members with general boundary conditions as implemented in the forthcoming update to CUFSM. CUFSM is an open source finite strip elastic stability analysis program freely distributed by the senior author. Although the finite strip method presents a general methodology, the conventional implementation (e.g. CUFSM v 3.13 or earlier) employs only simply-supported boundary conditions. In this paper, utilizing specially selected longitudinal shape functions, the conventional finite strip method is extended to general boundary conditions, including the conventional case: simply-simply supported, as well as: clamped-clamped, clamped-simply supported, clamped-free, and clamped-guided. The solution remains semi-analytical as the elastic and geometric stiffness matrices are derived in a general form with only specific integrals depending on the boundary conditions. An example of the stability solution is provided. The selection of longitudinal terms to be included in the analysis is discussed in terms of balancing accuracy with computational efficiency. Also herein, the constrained finite strip method is extended to general boundary conditions. Both modal decomposition and identification can be carried out based on the new bases developed for the constrained finite strip method, and illustrative examples are provided. This extension of CUFSM is intended to aid the implementation of the direct strength method to the case of general boundary conditions.
The frequency of cardiac valvular regurgitation in Parkinson's disease

To investigate the frequency of cardiac valve regurgitation related with low dose dopamine agonists in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), echocardiograms were analyzed in 527 consecutive PD patients (448 patients treated with dopamine agonists, 79 patients never treated with dopamine agonists as age‐matched controls). The frequency of mild or above mild regurgitation of the aortic valve (AR) was significantly higher in the cabergoline group (13.7%, P < 0.05) compared with the controls (2.5%). Odds ratio adjusted by age and sex for AR was significantly higher in the cabergoline group (OR, 6.45; 95% CI, 1.46–28.60; P = 0.01): odds ratio was significantly higher in patients treated with higher daily doses (OR, 14.41; 95% CI, 3.08–67.38; P = 0.0007) and higher cumulative doses (OR, 15.29; 95% CI, 3.19–73.18; P = 0.0006). No statistical difference was identified in the frequency of the tricuspid and mitral regurgitation. None of the other dopamine agonist groups including pergolide gave higher frequency or higher odds ratio compared with the controls. None of our patients showed severe regurgitation or was operated for valvular heart disease. The question as to whether or not longer duration of low dose dopamine agonist treatment would yield the same results needs further studies. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Effect of Hypoglycemic Agents on Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Symptomatic Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of two hypoglycemic drugs on ischemic preconditioning (IPC) patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a prospective study of 96 consecutive patients allocated into two groups: 42 to group repaglinide (R) and 54 to group vildagliptin (V). All patients underwent two consecutive exercise tests (ET1 and ET2) in phase 1 without drugs. In phase 2, 1 day after ET1 and -2, 2 mg repaglinide three times daily or 50 mg vildagliptin twice daily was given orally to patients in the respective group for 6 days. On the seventh day, 60 min after 6 mg repaglinide or 100 mg vildagliptin, all patients underwent two consecutive exercise tests (ET3 and ET4). RESULTS In phase 1, IPC was demonstrated by improvement in the time to 1.0 mm ST-segment depression and rate pressure product (RPP). All patients developed ischemia in ET3; however, 83.3% of patients in group R experienced ischemia earlier in ET4, without significant improvement in RPP, indicating the cessation of IPC (P < 0.0001). In group V, only 28% of patients demonstrated IPC cessation, with 72% still having the protective effect (P < 0.0069). CONCLUSIONS Repaglinide eliminated myocardial IPC, probably by its effect on the KATP channel. Vildagliptin did not damage this protective mechanism in a relevant way in patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD, suggesting a good alternative treatment in this population.
Consequences of Surprising Reward Omissions

A surprising reward omission (SRO) occurs when an appetitive reinforcer is not presented (or it is reduced in magnitude or quality) even though there are signals for its impending presentation. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that SROs produce an aversive emotional reaction with physiological and behavioral consequences is reviewed. SROs are followed by pituitary–adrenal activation; changes in immune function; odor emissions in rodents; distress vocalizations in rodents and primates; and increases in locomotion, aggressive behavior, drinking, and eating. SROs can support the acquisition of new escape responses and invigorate previously acquired responses. The review identifies common aspects of these phenomena and areas in which more research is needed.
Joint covariate selection for grouped classification

We address the problem of recovering a common set of covariates that are relevant simultaneously to several classification problems. We propose a joint measure of complexity for the group of problems that couples covariate selection. By penalizing the sum of `2-norms of the blocks of coefficients associated with each covariate across different classification problems, we encourage similar sparsity patterns in all models. To fit parameters under this regularization, we propose a blockwise boosting scheme that follows the regularization path. As the regularization coefficient decreases, the algorithm maintains and updates concurrently a growing set of covariates that are simultaneously active for all problems. We show empirically that this approach outperforms independent `1-based covariate selection on several data sets, both in accuracy and number of selected covariates.
Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide Adsorption to Soil Organic Matter

Abstract The adsorption and mobility of pyrethrins (Pys), the major insecticidal components obtained from the pyrethrum daisy Tanacetum cinerariifolium, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a pyrethrum synergist, were determined in soil using batch-equilibrium and reverse-phase thin-layer chromatographic techniques. Two soil management practices were used, soil mixed with yard waste compost (COM) at 50 t acre−1 on dry weight basis and no-mulch (NM) bare soil. Adsorption isotherm experiments were carried out using known concentrations of Pys (Py-I and Py-II) and PBO mixed with known amounts of COM or NM soil at constant temperature and pressure until equilibrium was attained. Pys and PBO in soil extracts were purified and concentrated using solid-phase extraction cartridges containing C18-octadecyl bonded silica. Pys and PBO residues were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a UV detector. Adsorption studies showed that compost amended soil adsorbed more Pys and PBO than native (NM) soil. Py-I adsorption was greater than Py-II and PBO. Adsorption of Pys and PBO to humic and fulvic acids was also studied by reverse-phase thin layer chromatography (RPTLC). Results indicated that humic acid, a significant component of organic matter, reduced Pys and PBO mobility. Pys and PBO mobility decreased as the concentration of humic acid in the mobile phase increased.
Oxidative Stress as an Underlying Contributor in the Development of Chronic Complications in Diabetes Mellitus

The high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its increasing incidence worldwide, coupled with several complications observed in its carriers, have become a public health issue of great relevance. Chronic hyperglycemia is the main feature of such a disease, being considered the responsible for the establishment of micro and macrovascular complications observed in diabetes. Several efforts have been directed in order to better comprehend the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the course of this endocrine disease. Recently, numerous authors have suggested that excess generation of highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species is a key component in the development of complications invoked by hyperglycemia. Overproduction and/or insufficient removal of these reactive species result in vascular dysfunction, damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids and nucleic acids, leading different research groups to search for biomarkers which would be capable of a proper and accurate measurement of the oxidative stress (OS) in diabetic patients, especially in the presence of chronic complications. In the face of this scenario, the present review briefly addresses the role of hyperglycemia in OS, considering basic mechanisms and their effects in diabetes mellitus, describes some of the more commonly used biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative damage and includes selected examples of studies which evaluated OS biomarkers in patients with diabetes, pointing to the relevance of such biological components in general oxidative stress status of diabetes mellitus carriers.
Pairwise RNA Pseudoknotted Structure Prediction Based on Stochastic Grammar

RNA secondary structure prediction is one of the major topics in bioinformatics. A prediction method based on a parsing algorithm for formal grammars is a promising approach. Also, it is expected that comparative sequence analysis achieves higher accuracy than the one using a single sequence since the former approach can use evolutionary information that homologous RNAs are likely to conserve a common structure. In this paper, we propose a prediction method using Pair-SMCFG (stochastic multiple context-free grammar) based on comparative sequence analysis and show experimental results on structure prediction by the method.
Do Fraternities and Sororities Inhibit Intercultural Competence?

This study explored the impact of fraternity and sorority affiliation on students’ development of intercultural competence over four years of college at 11 institutions. Prior research admonishes fraternities and sororities for being largely heterogeneous organizations that detract from institutional efforts to create a culturally competent student body. In the present study, fraternity and sorority members did not differ from their unaffiliated peers on their development of intercultural competence during college. Implications for higher education and student affairs practice and intercultural competence among fraternity/sorority communities is discussed.
Long-Term Cholecalciferol Administration in Hemodialysis Patients: A Single-Center Randomized Pilot Study

Background Data on the potent pleiotropic extraskeletal effects of vitamin D have renewed interest in its use in selected populations, including patients with chronic kidney disease, but the available data are still insufficient to make recommendations. This study assessed the long-term effect of small cholecalciferol doses on serum vitamin D, parathormone (PTH), and bone mineral density (BMD) in hemodialysis patients. Material/Methods Nineteen patients with serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL were randomized into cholecalciferol (2000 IU 3×/week) and no-treatment groups, then observed for 1 year. Patients with hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and receiving vitamin D/calcimimetics were excluded. Serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, PTH, and alkaline phosphatase activity were examined every 2 months and BMD was measured before and after the study. Results We observed normalization of serum 25(OH)D with an increase in medians from 11.3 to 44.9 ng/mL (P=0.02) in the cholecalciferol group and no change in the controls (P<0.001). Simultaneously, median serum 1,25(OH)2D increased from 18.2 to 43.1 pmol/L (P=0.02) in the cholecalciferol group and from 10.6 to 21.2 pmol/L (P=0.02) in controls (P=0.013). The treatment was associated with a small increase in serum calcium, but serum phosphate, PTH, alkaline phosphatase, and BMD remained unchanged in both groups. Conclusions Oral cholecalciferol at a dose of 2000 IU/3×/week is an effective and safe way to treat vitamin D deficiency in hemodialysis patients, leading to a significant increase in serum 1,25(OH)2D. However, it was insufficient to suppress the activity of parathyroid glands or to significantly change BMD.
Eigenvalues of an alignment matrix in nonlinear manifold learning

The alignment algorithm of Zhang and Zha is an effective method recently proposed for nonlinear manifold learning (or dimensionality reduction). By first computing local coordinates of a data set, it constructs an alignment matrix from which a global coordinate is obtained from its null space. In practice, the local coordinates can only be constructed approximately and so is the alignment matrix. This together with roundoff errors requires that we compute the the eigenspace associated with a few smallest eigenvalues of an approximate alignment matrix. For this purpose, it is important to know the first nonzero eigenvalue of the alignment matrix or a lower bound in order to computationally separate the null space. This paper bounds the smallest nonzero eigenvalue, which serves as an indicator of how difficult it is to correctlycompute the desired null space of the approximate alignment matrix.
Evaluating a Bilingual Education Program in Spain: The Impact Beyond Foreign Language Learning

We evaluate a program that introduced bilingual education in English and Spanish in primary education in some public schools of the Madrid region in 2004. Under this program students not only study English as a foreign language but also some subjects (at least Science, History and Geography) are taught in English. Spanish and Mathematics are taught only in Spanish. The first class receiving full treatment finished Primary education in June 2010 and they took the standardized test for all 6th grade students in Madrid on the skills considered \indispensable" at that age. This test is our measure of the outcome of primary education to evaluate the program. We have to face a double self-selection problem. One is caused by schools who decide to apply for the program, and a second one caused by students when choosing school. We take several routes to control for these selection problems. The main route to control for selfselected schools is to take advantage of the test being conducted in the same schools before and after the program was implemented in 6th grade. To control for students self-selection we combine the use of several observable characteristics (like parents' education and occupation) with the fact that most students were already enrolled at the different schools before the program was announced. Our results indicate that there is a clear negative effect on learning the subject taught in English for children whose parents have less than upper secondary education, and no clear effect for anyone on mathematical and reading skills, which were taught in Spanish
L-arginine in low concentration improves rat intestinal water and sodium absorption from oral rehydration solutions.

BACKGROUND: The nitric oxide (NO) precursor L-arginine has been shown to produce variable effects on intestinal absorptive function, including ion transport. AIMS: To determine whether there is an optimal concentration of L-arginine, promoting proabsorptive effects from oral rehydration solutions (ORS) with 90 or 60 mM sodium. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In vivo perfusion of rat jejunum with determination of net water absorption, unidirectional fluid exchanges, sodium and calcium transport, and glucose absorption. RESULTS: L-Arginine (1 mM) added to the 90 mM sodium ORS increased intestinal absorption of both sodium and water. Higher concentrations of L-arginine (2 to 10 mM) lacked this stimulatory effect. At 20 mM, L-arginine decreased sodium absorption below baseline. With a 60 mM sodium ORS, 2 mM L-arginine had a maximal fluid and electrolyte proabsorptive effect. At 20 mM L-arginine, net water absorption was indistinguishable from that obtained in the absence of L-arginine, and lower than with 2 mM L-arginine. Sodium absorption remained raised above baseline in perfusions with 10 and 20 mM L-arginine. Morphologically, villi from perfusions with increased absorption showed a large expansion of intercellular and lamina propria intercellular spaces. CONCLUSIONS: Low concentrations of L-arginine seem to stimulate water and electrolyte absorption by the small intestine. This effect is consistent with NO induced vasodilation, may be vaso-constrictive and thereby reverse fluid and electrolyte transport.
On the evaluation of teaching and learning in higher education: a multicultural inquiry

The aim of the study was to develop a model of positive word‐of‐mouth (WoM) intentions in a higher education context. WoM was found to be directly influenced by satisfaction levels and indirectly by antecedents of satisfaction, namely positive and negative emotions and perceptions of performance. The model provided a good fit to the data and explained 58% of the variance in WoM intentions. When the model was tested on samples of domestic and international students, significant differences were noted in that the model explained only 21% of the variance in WoM for international compared to 68% for domestic. Moreover, emotions for the international sample did not significantly influence satisfaction or WoM intentions.
University of Birmingham Evolutionary Market Agents and Heterogeneous Service Providers: Achieving Desired Resource Allocations

—In future massively distributed service-based computational systems, resources will span many locations, organisations and platforms. In such systems, the ability to allocate resources in a desired conﬁguration, in a scalable and robust manner, will be essential. We build upon a previous evolutionary market-based approach to achieving resource allocation in decentralised systems, by considering heterogeneous providers. In such scenarios, providers may be said to value their resources differently.Wedemonstrate how, given such valuations, the outcome allocation may be predicted. Furthermore, we describe how the approach may be used to achieve a stable, uneven load-balance of our choosing. We analyse the system’s expected behaviour, and validate our predictions in simulation. Our approach is fully decentralised; no part of the system is weaker than any other. No cooperation between nodes is assumed; only self-interest is relied upon. A particular desired allocation is achieved transparently to users, as no modiﬁcation to the buyers is required.
Confessions of a Free Woman: telling feminist stories in postfeminist media culture

Since its inception in late 1980s, the notion of postfeminism has been a highly contested term. While today circulating as an established description of “prime time feminism,” a highly visible media discourse of gender and sexuality that foregrounds individualism and consumerist tropes of choice and empowerment, its meanings for feminism as political agenda and cultural criticism nevertheless remain a point of disagreement. Is postfeminist discourse of gender and sexuality to be seen as a sign of second-wave feminism being partially incorporated into mainstream narratives? Or, rather, does it articulate a historical shift within feminist thought and cultural imaginary itself, or even a break-up with or a rejection of feminist historical legacy? In this article, these issues are investigated through a reading of a six-hour documentary Flying—Confessions of a Free Woman 1–6 (Jennifer Fox 2007, Easy Films, Denmark and Zohe Film Productions, USA) as a case of highbrow postfeminist television. Investigating how the documentary constructs an account of “the modern female life” in a global perspective, the article argues that Flying both articulates a sense of historicity and denies it. While never uttering the f-word, in its refiguring domestic ethnography as a mode of autobiographical self-interrogation, the documentary series evokes, albeit implicitly, a number of key tropes of 1960–1970s radical feminism: the notion of personal as political, the investment in consciousness-raising as a form of activism, the emphasis on shared experiences and emotions, and the idea of global sisterhood. As a consequence, it is argued, feminist critique is acknowledged and actualized only as an incitement to communication (sharing) and community-building in an affirmative sense. In this postfeminist story of feminism, hence, dissonant and critical voices are excluded as politics is reduced to an affect.
Interaction in Academic Writing: Learning To Argue with the Reader.

The view of written texts as embodying interaction between the writer and reader is now well established, and underlies many aspects that may be focused on in the training of novice writers of academic text. In this paper, I argue that interaction can draw on both interactive and interactional resources: interactive resources help to guide the reader through the text, while interactional resources involve the reader collaboratively in the development of the text. I use the concept of the 'reader-in-the-text' (Thompson and Thetela 1995) to explore a central form of interactional resource: the inclusion in the text of a voice that is intended to be attributable to the reader. I identify a particular set of discourse contexts in which this happens - where the writer brings in the reader's view in order to contradict it - and outline the lexico-grammatical features which signal the other voice in those contexts; and I place these in a broader perspective on written text as a stage-managed form of dialogue. The impetus for the study comes from working with novice writers; and I discuss a number of examples where written drafts were improved by exploiting the interactional resources described, and argue for the value of raising students' awareness of these resources.
Bioremoval of Phenol from Aqueous Solutions Using Native Caribbean Seaweed

Among several Puerto Rican algae, Sargassum sp. (SG) and Chaetomorpha (CM) showed the highest phenol adsorption capacity from aqueous solutions and were used in optimized adsorption batch experiments at room temperature. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, phenol concentration, salinity and presence of interfering substances were evaluated. Initial solution pH exhibited a strong effect, mainly on the phenol aqueous chemistry; showing the maximum adsorption at pH 10. Sorption isotherm results were modelled according to the Langmuir, Tempkin and Freundlich equations. Isotherm modelling indicated a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 82.10 and 17.7 mg of phenol per gram of SG and CM, respectively. Salinity and presence of detergent in the matrix solution showed a positive effect on the adsorption, suggesting that adsorption of phenol was mostly driven by polar forces and not by ionic exchange. On the other hand, presence of heavy metals like copper, lead and cobalt had a negative effect on the adsorption. According to these results, the potential formation of hydrogen bonds between the algae and phenol is proposed as the main adsorption mechanism. These results provide further insight into the adsorption mechanism of phenol and their use as inexpensive adsorbents for the treatment of phenol-containing wastewaters.