Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC READING ON EFL LEARNERS’ READING COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

The present study investigated the effect of collaborative strategic reading on the Iranian EFL students’ achievements in English reading comprehension and vocabulary. To this cause, a true experimental design was utilized to examine the differences in students’ achievements in reading comprehension and vocabulary gain under two different treatments of collaborative strategic reading and traditional instruction. A sample of QPT was conducted to check the general language proficiency of students and save their homogeneity. Forty students were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Two pretests of reading comprehension and vocabulary were also administrated to know their initial levels of the skills. The experimental group received instruction on reading comprehension and vocabulary via collaborative strategic reading. The control group, however, received the usual processes of teaching reading comprehension and vocabulary. Two posttests of reading comprehension and vocabulary were administered to the both groups. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that providing collaborative strategic reading affected the students' reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition in the experimental group. The findings can be beneficial to teachers to favor pair or group work on the grounds that it forces participation and offers more opportunities for language use. Article visualizations:
Duality and the signature of space-time

Versions of M-theory are found in spacetime signatures (9,2) and (6,5), in addition to the usual M-theory in 10+1 dimensions, and these give rise to type IIA string theories in 10-dimensional spacetime signatures (10,0),(9,1),(8,2),(6,4) and (5,5), and to type IIB string theories in signatures (9,1),(7,3) and (5,5). The field theory limits are 10 and 11 dimensional supergravities in these signatures. These theories are all linked by duality transformations which can change the number of time dimensions as well as the number of space dimensions, so that each should be a different limit of the same underlying theory.
Analysis of the frequency response of SAW filters using finite-difference time-domain method

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique was extended to analyze the frequency response of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. In this method, the partial derivatives of quasi-static Maxwell's equations and the equation of motion are discretized to centered finite differences. In addition, the perfectly matched layer boundary condition was applied to reduce spurious reflections. Two structures are considered in this paper. First, the model was applied to analyze the influence of the number of electrodes on the frequency response of a SAW filter fabricated on a zinc oxide (ZnO) substrate. Then, the proposed method was further extended to analyze the frequency response of a ZnO/diamond/Si-layered SAW filter. The simulated results are in a good agreement with the existing experimental data, indicating that the FDTD method was an appropriate approach for modeling SAW devices.
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Secreted by an Animal T \ imor Is Detectable in Urine 1

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2) is abnormally elevated in the serum and urine of patients with many types of cancer. However, the source of the bFGF is unclear. We developed a model that could distin guish between tumor-derived and host-derived bFGF. We gave athymic mice s.c. injections of cells of the murine K1000 tumor, which secretes a bFGF mutein (bFGF CS23) as its dominant angiogenic factor. Controls were given injections of Lewis lung carcinoma or saline. Urine was col lected for 9 weeks, and bFGF was quantitated using two immunoassays which can discriminate between tumor bFGF CS23 and native bFGF. None of the mice had detectable urinary native bFGF, and no control mice had detectable urinary bFGF CS23. In contrast, urine from mice bearing the K1000 tumor revealed detectable bFGF CS23 by 2 weeks, and bFGF CS23 increased with increasing tumor volume throughout the study. Be cause bFGF CS23 is not produced by other cells, the bFGF CS23 in the urine most likely came from the K1000 tumor and not from the host. These results suggest that the source of elevated bFGF in the urine of human cancer patients is, at least in part, the tumor itself.
Validity of serum adenosine deaminase in diagnosis of tuberculosis

Introduction Tuberculosis is one of the most important infectious causes of death worldwide. Ziehl-Neelsen staining of sputum has high specificity in tuberculosis endemic countries, but modest sensitivity which varies among laboratories. This study was set up to investigate the diagnostic value of serum Adenosine deaminase in diagnosis of tuberculosis. Methods In a cross sectional and prospective study Serums of 200 patients of positive sputum smear, negative sputum smear, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and bacterial community acquired pneumonia collected from March 2011 to May 2012 were evaluated. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 200 subjects were included in the study designed in four groups. In cut-off value of ≥24 U/l for ADA in smear positive patients defined the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value 12%, 98% and 86% respectively. In smear negative patients defined the 6%, 98% and 75%, and in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis patients defined the sensitivity 14%, 98% and 88% respectively. Conclusion This study indicated that measurement of serum ADA level do not have enough sensitivity to assist in the diagnoses of tuberculosis patients from other respiratory diseases and not evaluated perform well enough to replace sputum smear microscopy. Thus, this tests have little role in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Large-scale near-duplicate web video search: Challenge and opportunity

The massive amount of near-duplicate and duplicate web videos has presented both challenge and opportunity to multimedia computing. On one hand, browsing videos on Internet becomes highly inefficient for the need to repeatedly fast-forward videos of similar content. On the other hand, the tremendous amount of somewhat duplicate content also makes some traditionally difficult vision tasks become simple and easy. For example, annotating pictures can be as simple as recycling the tags of Internet images retrieved from image search engines. Such tasks, of either to eliminate or to recycle near-duplicates, can usually be achieved by the nearest neighbor search of videos from Internet. The fundamental problem lies on the scalability of a search technique, in face of the intractable volume of videos which keep rolling on the web. In this paper, we investigate scalability of several well-known features including color signature and visual keywords for web-based retrieval. Indexing these features based on embedding technique for scalable retrieval is also presented. On an Internet video dataset of more than 700 hours collected during years 2006 to 2008, we show some preliminary insights to the challenge of scalable retrieval.
MSDU-based ARQ scheme for IP-level performance maximization

Automatic repeat request (ARQ) is one of the effective techniques against the transmission error at the medium access control (MAC) layer. An erroneous MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) can be typically retransmitted within a given limit. In order to improve the IP-level performance, which directly affects the user-perceived quality-of-service (QoS), we propose a different ARQ strategy, called 'MSDU-based' scheme, with simple and minor modification from the existing ARQ concept. We evaluate the analytical IP-level performance of both the conventional and proposed scheme
Design and Performance Testing of a DNA Extraction Assay for Sensitive and Reliable Quantification of Acetic Acid Bacteria Directly in Red Wine Using Real Time PCR

Although strategies exist to prevent AAB contamination, the increased interest for wines with low sulfite addition leads to greater AAB spoilage. Hence, there is a real need for a rapid, specific, sensitive, and reliable method for detecting these spoilage bacteria. All these requirements are met by real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (or quantitative PCR; qPCR). Here, we compare existing methods of isolating DNA and their adaptation to a red wine matrix. Two different protocols for isolating DNA and three PCR mix compositions were tested to select the best method. The addition of insoluble polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) at 1% (v/v) during DNA extraction using a protocol succeeded in eliminating PCR inhibitors from red wine. We developed a bacterial internal control which was efficient in avoiding false negative results due to decreases in the efficiency of DNA isolation and/or amplification. The specificity, linearity, repeatability, and reproducibility of the method were evaluated. A standard curve was established for the enumeration of AAB inoculated into red wines. The limit of quantification in red wine was 3.7 log AAB/mL and about 2.8 log AAB/mL when the volume of the samples was increased from 1 to 10 mL. Thus, the DNA extraction method developed in this paper allows sensitive and reliable AAB quantification without underestimation thanks to the presence of an internal control. Moreover, monitoring of both the AAB population and the amount of acetic acid in ethanol medium and red wine highlighted that a minimum about 6.0 log cells/mL of AAB is needed to significantly increase the production of acetic acid leading to spoilage.
IGR J18483–0311: a new intermediate supergiant fast X-ray transient

Context. IGR J18483−0311 is a high-mass X-ray binary recently discovered by INTEGRAL. Its periodic fast X-ray transient activity and its position in the Corbet diagram – although uncertain – led to the conclusion that the source was probably a Be/X-ray binary (BeXB), even if a supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) nature could not be excluded. Aims. We aimed at identifying the companion star of IGR J18483−0311 and discriminate between a BeXB and a SFXT nature for this source. Methods. Optical and near-infrared photometry, as well as near-infrared spectroscopy of the companion star were performed to identify its spectral type. We also assembled and fitted its broad-band spectral energy distribution to derive its physical parameters. Results. We show that the companion star of IGR J18483−0311 is an early-B supergiant, probably a B0.5a, and that its distance is about 3−4 kpc. Conclusions. The early-B supergiant nature of its companion star, as well as its fast X-ray transient activity indicate that IGR J18483−0311 has an SFXT nature. Nevertheless, the long duration and the periodicity of its outbursts, as well as its high level of quiescence, are consistent with IGR J18483−0311 being an intermediate SFXT, in-between classical supergiant X-ray binaries (SGXBs) characterised by small and circular orbits, and classical SFXTs with large and eccentric orbits.
Innovations in the Field of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: A Review of the Literature.

ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank all of the experts I interviewed during the process of writing this paper. Their deep understanding of the history and visions for the future of child maltreatment prevention provided a strong foundation for this work and guided the direction and structure of the project overall. I am grateful for how generous they were with their time and wisdom. The names and affiliations of all the professionals that participated in an interview are listed in Appendix A. Additionally, I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. Deborah Daro. She is a creative and sophisticated thinker, an eloquent and articulate writer, and a passionate and inspiring leader moving child abuse and neglect prevention efforts forward. Lastly, I would like to thank Anne Clary and Matthew Brenner for lending their editing expertise, and the greater Chapin Hall community for their support. Trend #2: Social context and culture can protect the developing child and strengthen parental capacity in important ways that can buffer against individual and contextual risk factors. Trend #6: Implementation science offers program managers effective research frameworks to monitor and strengthen the service delivery process and to improve the odds of replicating model programs with fidelity and quality. Trend #7: Maximizing population-level change requires new understanding of how to construct and sustain effective state systems, local community collaboration, and robust community-based Trend #8: New technologies offer important, cost-effective opportunities for advancing our reach into new populations and supporting direct service providers. 1 Introduction Child maltreatment prevention policy and practice have been driven by a continuous stream of innovation generated by researchers, advocates, and practitioners working across disciplines to improve child safety and well-being. Settlement homes were established in the late 19 th century, social work was professionalized in the early 20 th century, child abuse injuries were identified and findings published by pediatric radiologist John Caffey and pediatrician Henry Kempe in the 1960s, and the federal government passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1972. Progress in the field has always been determined by the diligence of thought leaders in a multitude of professions and the collaboration of diverse and unlikely partners (Myers, 2011, p. 1166). Today, the nation faces an excruciating economic climate, and many parents find it hard to meet their children's most basic needs. Simultaneously, political pressure is mounting to cut social services and reduce government spending, and, as a …
Induction of monocyte procoagulant activity by murine hepatitis virus type 3 parallels disease susceptibility in mice

The in vitro induction of procoagulant activity (PCA) in murine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) by murine hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV-3) correlates with the disease susceptibility in three strains of mice. PBM from BALB/c mice, a strain in which MHV-3 infection results in fatal acute fulminant hepatitis, responds to the virus with a robust PCA response, whereas PBM from C3H/St mice, a strain which develops mild acute hepatitis followed by chronic hepatitis, only exhibit a modest PCA response. In contrast, PBM from A/J mice, a strain fully resistant to MHV-3, generate no increase in PCA above control levels. The induction phase of MHV-3 PCA is rapid, with an increase within 1-1.5 h, with maximum activity at 18h, and it precedes MHV-3 replication in either 17 CL1 cells, a fully permissive cell line, or in monocytes from these strains of mice. The PCA response of BALB/c PBM exceeds the response to any other known stimulus. No induction occurs upon direct stimulation of monocytes by MHV-3, but in the presence of lymphocyte collaboration, the PCA response is observed first at a lymphocyte:monocyte ratio of 2:1 and reaches a maximum as the lymphocyte:monocyte ratio approaches 4:1. This response appears to provide a functional marker for susceptibility to MHV-3 infection in inbred strains of mice and could be important in the pathogenesis of MHV-3-induced disease.
Concern for Information Privacy and Intention to Transact Online

There are several factors restricting the development of online-shopping in China, the imperfect privacy protection law and consumers' distrust are the main barriers. By using a sample of 759 Chinese students, our study examined the IUIPC instrument and analyzed the relationship between Internet users' information privacy concerns and their intention to transact online. Consistent with prior findings, the results suggest that IUIPC as a second-order factor structure instrument shows acceptable reliability and validity. The results also indicate that Internet users' trust in online companies' information practices fully moderate the relationship between their information privacy concerns and intentions to transact online. Our findings implicate that the key ways to improve the Chinese B-C commerce development are to reduce the Internet users' information privacy concern and promote their trust in Internet-management through privacy notices.
Moral Hazard in Home Equity Conversion

Home equity conversion as presently constituted or proposed usually does not deal well with the potential problem of moral hazard. Once home-owners know that the risk of poor market performance of their homes is borne by investors, they have an incentive to neglect to take steps to maintain the homes' values. They may thus create serious future losses for the investors. A calibrated model for assessing this moral hazard risk is presented that is suitable for a number of home equity conversion forms: 1) reverse mortgages, 2) home equity insurance, 3) shared appreciation mortgages, 4) housing partnerships, 5) shared equity mortgages and 6) sale of remainder interest. Modifications of these forms involving real estate price indices are proposed that might deal better with the problem of moral hazard.
Practical reconciliation and continuing disadvantage in Indigenous education

If 'practical reconciliation' is a reality, there should be convergence in the economic and educational status of Indigenous and other Australians. However, while there have been absolute improvements in Indigenous educational attainment from 1986 to 2001, gains are less evident when measured relative to non-Indigenous attainment. By any measure, Boyd Hunter and Jerry Schwab show, Indigenous Australians remain severely disadvantaged, and poor educational attainment is the key barrier to sustainable improvements in their socioeconomic status.
A Socio-pragmatic analysis of compliment responses among students at the University of Botswana

This paper interrogates the image of Africa presented by Paul Theroux in his travel novel, The Lower River . In the analysis of the novel, I argue that Theroux’s narrative is a reconstruction of the Western colonizing discourse in contemporary literature. His narrative seeks to construct an image of Africa for the consumption of Western audiences who already exist in an ideological space that has distorted perspectives of Africa as a primitive space. By presenting Africa as a trap for white people and as a place of death, suffering, and superstition, The Lower River reinvents the stereotypical image of Africa as the Dark Continent, typical of early colonial travel narratives as well as fiction. Arguing from a theoretical base of Orientalism, the paper asserts that the distorted information relayed through the narrative serves the Occident in its endeavour to construct and dominate Orientals in the process of knowing them. The knowledge that the white protagonist, Ellis Hock, gathers about Africa, in general, and Malawi in particular, becomes crucial in justifying the authority and control that the West enjoys over Africa. The paper questions the persistence of such presentations of Africa and the West in contemporary literature and treats Theroux’s narrative as an endeavour in perpetuating Western dominance over Africa in a neo-colonial fashion. Keywords: Travel writing, otherness, Orientalism, Dark Continent, imperialism
Emulation and Mimicry for Social Interaction: A Theoretical Approach to Imitation in Autism

The “broken-mirror” theory of autism argues that dysfunction of the “mirror neuron system” is a root cause of social disability in autism. The present paper aims to scrutinize this theory and, when it breaks down, to provide an alternative. Current evidence suggests that children with autism are able to understand and emulate goal-directed actions, but may have specific impairments in automatic mimicry of actions without goals. These data are not compatible with the broken-mirror theory, but can be accounted for by a new model called EP-M. The EP-M model segments the mirror neuron system into an indirect, parietal route for goal emulation and planning (EP) and a direct occipital-frontal route for mimicry (M). This fractionation is consistent with neuroimaging and behavioural studies of the mirror neuron system in typical children and adults. I suggest that top-down modulation of the direct M route may be dysfunctional in individuals with autism, leading to abnormal behaviours on mimicry tasks as well as other social disabilities.
Expression of CYLD and NF-κB in Human Cholesteatoma Epithelium

The tumor suppressor CYLD is a deubiquitinating enzyme that inhibits activation of the NF-κB, which has key roles in inflammation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that CYLD may regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway in cholesteatoma. We conducted immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of CYLD and NF-κB in 16 cases of cholesteatoma and paired cases of retroauricular (RA) skin. In cholesteatoma epithelium, activated NF-κ B expression was significantly higher than in RA skin, whereas CYLD expression was significantly lower in cholesteatoma epithelium than in RA skin (P < .05). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was detected between CYLD and activated NF-κB expression in cholesteatoma epithelium (r = −0.630). We found that CYLD reduced and activated increased NF-κB in cholesteatoma epithelium in comparison to RA skin. The inverse correlation between CYLD and activated NF-κB in cholesteatoma may be involved in cholesteatoma epithelial hyperplasia.
Understanding pointing problems in real world computing environments

Understanding how pointing performance varies in real world computer use and over time can provide valuable insight about how systems should accommodate changes in pointing behavior. Unfortunately, pointing data from individuals with pointing problems is rarely studied during real world use. Instead, it is most frequently evaluated in a laboratory where it is easier to collect and evaluate data. We developed a technique to collect and analyze real world pointing performance which we used to investigate the variance in performance of six individuals with a range of pointing abilities. Features of pointing performance we analyzed include metrics such as movement trajectories, clicking, and double clicking. These individuals exhibited high variance during both supervised and unsupervised (or real world) computer use across multiple login sessions. The high variance found within each participant highlights the potential inaccuracy of judging performance based on a single laboratory session.
I know the rule, but I'll just go with my gut: is there a rational use of intuition?

ABSTRACT Research has established that human thinking is often biased by intuitive judgement. The base-rate neglect effect provides such an example, so named because people often support their decisions in stereotypical individuating information, neglecting base-rates. Here, we test the hypothesis that reasoners acknowledge information provided by base-rates and may use individuating information in support of a “rational” decision process. Results from four experiments show that “base-rate neglecting” occurs when participants acknowledge sample distributions; participants who prefer individuating over base-rate information perceive base-rates as less diagnostic and are more confident in their individuating-based responses; and that posterior probabilities (assigned after all relevant information is considered) predict more individuating-based responses for individuating-preference participants (suggesting a rational process). However, data also show a deeper form of base-rate neglect: even when some participants report to prefer base-rate information, define individuating information as non-diagnostic, and their posterior probabilities suggest otherwise, they still provide individuating-based responses.