Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing sediment contamination in estuaries

Historic and ongoing sediment contamination adversely affects estuaries, among the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. However, all estuaries are not the same, and estuarine sediments cannot be treated as either fresh or marine sediments or properly assessed without understanding both seasonal and spatial estuarine variability and processes, which are reviewed. Estuaries are physicochemically unique, primarily because of their variable salinity but also because of their strong gradients in other parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, redox potential, and amount and composition of particles. Salinity (overlying and interstitial) varies spatially (laterally, vertically) and temporally and is the controlling factor for partitioning of contaminants between sediments and overlying or interstitial water. Salinity also controls the distribution and types of estuarine biota. Benthic infauna are affected by interstitial salinities that can be very different than overlying salinities, resulting in large‐scale seasonal species shifts in salt wedge estuaries. There are fewer estuarine species than fresh or marine species (the paradox of brackish water). Chemical, toxicological, and community‐level assessment techniques for estuarine sediment are reviewed and assessed, including chemistry (grain size effects, background enrichment, bioavailability, sediment quality values, interstitial water chemistry), biological surveys, and whole sediment toxicity testing (single‐species tests, potential confounding factors, community level tests, laboratory‐to‐field comparisons). Based on this review, there is a clear need to tailor such assessment techniques specifically for estuarine environments. For instance, bioavailability models including equilibrium partitioning may have little applicability to estuarine sediments, appropriate reference comparisons are difficult in biological surveys, and there are too few full‐gradient estuarine sediment toxicity tests available. Specific recommendations are made to address these and other issues.
Patient decision aids for cancer treatment

Although patient decision aids (pDAs) are effective, widespread use of pDAs for cancer treatment has not been achieved. The objectives of this study were to perform a systematic review to identify alternate types of decision support interventions (DSIs) for cancer treatment and a meta‐analysis to compare the effectiveness of these DSIs to pDAs.
Hudson Pictorial Depth Perception Test: cultural content and question with a Western sample.

Summary Since the Hudson Pictorial Depth Perception Test currently provides the main source of evidence about cross-cultural pictorial depth perception, an investigation was designed to study the effects of culturally relevant subject matter, identification of pictorial content, and specific questioning employed in the test with a Western reared S group (N = 160 elementary and college students). Two forms of the Hudson Test were used: The African form is composed of the six hunting scenes used by Hudson. An American version of the test was designed to duplicate the pictorial information in the African version. Half the Ss were asked Hudson's question containing the word “nearer,” and half were asked the question with “aiming” (or “throwing”). Both the familiarity of the cultural content and the specific terms used in questioning strongly influenced performance. There is evidence of a gradual developmental change in sensitivity to depth cues when portrayed in Hudson's test, but not when those cues appear i.
Depression followed by suicide: a comparison of depressed suicides with living depressives

Synopsis The characteristics of 64 suicides with a retrospective diagnosis of depression and 128 depressives referred for psychiatric treatment were compared. The following items differentiated the suicide group: male sex, older age in females, single status, living alone, the symptoms of insomnia, impaired memory and self neglect, and a history of suicide attempts. The value of these items in assessing suicide risk in depressive illness is discussed.
DABKS: Dynamic attribute-based keyword search in cloud computing

Due to its fast deployment and scalability, cloud computing has become a significant technology trend. Organizations with limited budgets can achieve great flexibility at a low price by outsourcing their data and query services to the cloud. Since the cloud is outside the organization's trusted domain, existing research suggests encrypting data before outsourcing to preserve user privacy. Two main problems that the cloud user faces while searching over encrypted data are how to achieve a fine-grained search authorization and how to efficiently update the search permission. The existing attribute-based keyword search (ABKS) scheme addresses the first problem, which allows a data owner to control the search of the outsourced encrypted data according to an access policy. This paper proposes a dynamic attribute-based keyword search (DABKS) scheme that incorporates proxy re-encryption (PRE) and a secret sharing scheme (SSS) into ABKS. The DABKS scheme, which allows the data owner to delegate policy updating operations to the cloud, takes full advantage of cloud resources. We conduct experiments on real data sets to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed scheme.
Attachment theory as a predictor of female aggression

Attachment Theory as a Predictor of Female Aggression. (August 2005) Helen Minette Beckner, B.A., Texas AM M.S., Texas AM however, studies tend to report a different dynamic at work in aggressive women versus aggressive men. It appears that overall, female aggression more than male aggression, has a stronger relational component. It is the case that females can be aggressive and place substantial importance on the relationships in their lives. Attachment theory addresses the salient issue of relationships and is such a broad and complete theory that it incorporates aggressive behaviors as well. Therefore, this study seeks to expand the research related to attachment styles and associated behaviors, in particular as they pertain to the influences upon female aggressive behavior. A study of the relationship between the independent variables of gender, psychopathology/personality, and attachment style and the dependent variable of aggression was conducted. It was hypothesized that
Appropriate pedagogy for critical reading in English in the Japanese secondary school context : an action research investigation

This study investigates the development of an appropriate pedagogy for critical reading in the Japanese secondary school context, adopting an action research approach as a methodology. It was conducted in a national college of technology in Japan, which offers five-year education for students over the age of 15. The target students were between 15 and 18, who were equivalent to upper secondary students. This study consisted of three phases, lasting from 2008 to 2014 overall. Data were collected by means of several methods: journal writing, interviewing, observing, video- and audio-recording, questionnaires, and documents. Written and oral data were analyzed using thematic analysis. During the process of this action research investigation, teachers in an English language teaching (ELT) study group were engaged as advisors for my teaching as well as informants. The opinions of these teachers as well as students’ opinions were incorporated into this study. This study contributes to ELT in the Japanese context. First, it shows that locally produced, government-approved textbooks could be used as materials for critical reading. Second, it shows that critical reading is a type of instruction which aims to develop students’ reading skills. Third, it shows that developing students’ thinking skills can be used as a rationale for critical reading. Fourth, it developed a framework for critical reading. This framework of critical reading can be used for developing intercultural understanding in other ELT contexts. Another contribution of this study to wider ELT contexts is that it reveals some teachers’ resistance to the political orientation of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and critical pedagogy (CP). There are also methodological contributions. One is that this study reveals the paradoxical nature of action research outcomes affected by social or policy changes. The other is that this action research with other teachers’ participation raises an issue of power relationships in a context where age matters in social interactions and decision-making.
Intent-Aware Video Search Result Optimization

Video search engines are relatively successful at returning search results that users find to be on topic. These results do not, however, completely satisfy the user's information need unless they also fulfill the user's intent, i.e., the immediate goal a user seeks to accomplish with video search. Satisfying a user's information need to its full extent poses a particular challenge to video search engines because user intent is often not explicitly reflected in the query. In this paper, we propose a multimodal approach that addresses this challenge by refining the results lists returned by a mainstream video search engine in order to optimally capture user intent. Our approach is based on the insight that the results lists returned by video search engines do contain videos that satisfy user's intent, but that videos with the highest potential for satisfaction are often buried within or scattered over the results list. The proposed approach consists of three steps. In the first step, it analyzes the initial results list to determine the intent distribution pattern. On the basis of this pattern, in the second step, it refines the video search results list such that the top of the list better reveals intent. The third step further improves this refinement by visual reranking, exploiting intent-sensitive lightweight visual features extracted from thumbnails. Extensive evaluation of the approach includes a user study carried out on a crowdsourcing platform and a system-oriented evaluation. Evaluation results demonstrate that our approach leads to a substantial improvement of the information need satisfaction at users.
Predictors of long-term mortality after bariatric surgery performed in Veterans Affairs medical centers.

HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to examine patient factors associated with mortality among veterans who undergo bariatric surgery. DESIGN Prospective study that uses data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. SETTING Group Health Center for Health Studies, the VA North Texas Health Care System, the Denver VA Medical Center, and the Durham VA Medical Center. PATIENTS We identified 856 veterans who had undergone bariatric surgery in 1 of 12 VA bariatric centers from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The risk of death was estimated via Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS The 856 veterans had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 48.7, a mean age of 54 years, and a mean DCG score of 0.76; 73.0% were men, 83.9% were white, and 7.0% had an ASA class equal to 4. Fifty-four veterans (6.3%) had died by the end of 2006. In our Cox models, patients with a BMI greater than 50 (superobesity; hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; P = .04) or a DCG score greater than or equal to 2 (HR, 3.4; P < .001) had an increased risk of death. CONCLUSION Superobese veterans and those with a greater burden of chronic disease had a greater risk of death after bariatric surgery from 2000 through 2006.
Genera of diaporthalean coelomycetes associated with leaf spots of tree hosts

Four different genera of diaporthalean coelomycetous fungi associated with leaf spots of tree hosts are morphologically treated and phylogenetically compared based on the DNA sequence data of the large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA gene (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon. These include two new Australian genera, namely Auratiopycnidiella, proposed for a leaf spotting fungus occurring on Tristaniopsis laurina in New South Wales, and Disculoides, proposed for two species occurring on leaf spots of Eucalyptus leaves in Victoria. Two new species are described in Aurantiosacculus, a hitherto monotypic genus associated with leaf spots of Eucalyptus in Australia, namely A. acutatus on E. viminalis, and A. eucalyptorum on E. globulus, both occurring in Tasmania. Lastly, an epitype specimen is designated for Erythrogloeum hymenaeae, the type species of the genus Erythrogloeum, and causal agent of a prominent leaf spot disease on Hymenaea courbaril in South America. All four genera are shown to be allied to Diaporthales, although only Aurantiosacculus (Cryphonectriaceae) could be resolved to family level, the rest being incertae sedis.
Exposure to natural cold and heat: hypothermia and hyperthermia Medicare claims, United States, 2004-2005.

OBJECTIVES We measured the burden of hypothermia- and hyperthermia-related health care visits, identified risk factors, and determined the health care costs associated with environmental heat or cold exposure among Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS We obtained Medicare fee-for-service claims data of inpatient and outpatient health care visits for hypothermia and hyperthermia from 2004 to 2005. We examined the distribution and differences of visits by age, sex, race, geographic regions, and direct costs. We estimated rate ratios to determine risk factors. RESULTS Hyperthermia-related visits (n = 10,007) were more frequent than hypothermia-related visits (n = 8761) for both years. However, hypothermia-related visits resulted in more deaths (359 vs 42), higher mortality rates (0.50 per 100,000 vs 0.06 per 100,000), higher inpatient rates (5.29 per 100,000 vs 1.76 per 100,000), longer hospital stays (median days = 4 vs 2), and higher total health care costs ($98 million vs $36 million). CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted the magnitude of these preventable conditions among older adults and disabled persons and the burden on the Medicare system. These results can help target public education and preparedness activities for extreme weather events.
Relevance ranking is not relevance ranking or, when the user is not the user, the search results are not search results

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of the differences between the actual technical principles determining relevance ranking, and how relevance ranking is understood, described and evaluated by the developers of relevance ranking algorithms and librarians.Design/methodology/approach – The discussion uses descriptions by PLWeb Turbo and C2 of their relevance ranking products and a librarian's description on her blog with the responses which it drew, contrasting these with relevancy as it is indicated in studies of the ISI citation record reported by White.Findings – The study finds that product descriptions and librarians consistently use the term “relevance ranking” to mean both the artificial relevance ranking by statistical methods using various surrogates assumed to reliably indicate relevance and the real relevance as determined by the searcher. The paper indicates the misunderstandings arising from this terminological confusion and its consequences in the context of the.
Stereotypes of Individuals With Learning Disabilities: Views of College Students With and Without Learning Disabilities

To explore possible reasons for low self-identification rates among undergraduates with learning disabilities (LD), we asked students (38 with LD, 100 without LD) attending two large, public, research-intensive universities to respond to a questionnaire designed to assess stereotypes about individuals with LD and conceptions of ability. Responses were coded into six categories of stereotypes about LD (low intelligence, compensation possible, process deficit, nonspecific insurmountable condition, working the system, and other), and into three categories of conceptions of intelligence (entity, incremental, neither). Consistent with past findings, the most frequent metastereotype reported by individuals in both groups related to generally low ability. In addition, students with LD were more likely to espouse views of intelligence as a fixed trait. As a whole, the study’s findings have implications for our understanding of factors that influence self-identification and self-advocacy at the postsecondary level.
Relationships between Hippocampal Sharp Waves, Ripples, and Fast Gamma Oscillation: Influence of Dentate and Entorhinal Cortical Activity

Hippocampal sharp waves (SPWs) and associated fast (“ripple”) oscillations (SPW-Rs) in the CA1 region are among the most synchronous physiological patterns in the mammalian brain. Using two-dimensional arrays of electrodes for recording local field potentials and unit discharges in freely moving rats, we studied the emergence of ripple oscillations (140–220 Hz) and compared their origin and cellular–synaptic mechanisms with fast gamma oscillations (90–140 Hz). We show that (1) hippocampal SPW-Rs and fast gamma oscillations are quantitatively distinct patterns but involve the same networks and share similar mechanisms; (2) both the frequency and magnitude of fast oscillations are positively correlated with the magnitude of SPWs; (3) during both ripples and fast gamma oscillations the frequency of network oscillation is higher in CA1 than in CA3; and (4) the emergence of CA3 population bursts, a prerequisite for SPW-Rs, is biased by activity patterns in the dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex, with the highest probability of ripples associated with an “optimum” level of dentate gamma power. We hypothesize that each hippocampal subnetwork possesses distinct resonant properties, tuned by the magnitude of the excitatory drive.
Impact of the National Practitioner Data Bank on Resolution of Malpractice Claims

Policymakers and commentators are concerned that the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) has influenced malpractice litigation dynamics. This study examines whether the introduction of the NPDB changed the outcomes, process, and equity of malpractice litigation. Using pre- and post-NPDB analyses, we examine rates of unpaid claims, trials, resolution time, physician defense costs, and payments on claims with a low/high probability of negligence. We find that physicians and their insurers have been less likely to settle claims since introduction of the NPDB, especially for payments less than $50,000. Because this disruption appears to have decreased the proportion of questionable claims receiving compensation, the NPDB actually may have increased overall tort system specificity.
IT Industry Success in Small Developed Countries

While much research has focused on the reasons for information systems success, little research has focused on reasons for the success of U industries. This study investigates IT industry success in three small developed countries: Israel, New Zeahid and Singapore. All three countries have seen the rapid development of their IT industries in recent years. This is despite the fact that they are considerably different in many geographic, cultural, and political aspects and are widely dispersed around the globe. Neuinann has suggested that it is the highly developed but small countries that cm realize the payoff from using IT for globalization. These countries, with no inherent advantages in raw materials and only small domestic markets, have the IT infrastructure and the human skills needed. They are nimble and flexible, and can Fad niche markets in which to specialize (Neumarin 1992). In this paper we take Neumann’s work further and hypothesize that there are factors specific to small developed countries which facilitate not only the employment of IT globally but also the development of indigenous IT industries. Not all small developed countries have developed IT industries to the same extent; in this paper we attempt to explain why this is the case. Preliminary findings suggest that factors such as geographical location, availability of raw materials, national culture, local IT use and firm strategies do not seem to explain differential developments ir, IT industries. me dominant factor which does seem to provide some explanation is govemment policy in promoting 1T industries directly, supporting IT industry K&D, and in education policies to provide appropriately trained labor poois. This is consistent with the macro-economic theory of Grossman and IIelpman (1991) on the relationship between technoiogy development, trade, and growth as applied to small open economies.
Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara to English Dictionary; Pintupi/Luritja Dictionary [Book Review]

Review(s) of: Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara to English Dictionary, by C. Goddard (compiler), Institute for Aboriginal Development, Alice Springs, second edition, 1992, pp xii + 260, map; Pintupi/Luritja Dictionary, by K.C. Hansen and L.E. Hansen (compilers), Institute for Aboriginal Development, Alice Springs, third edition, 1992, pp vi + 267, map.
A comparative study of insight scales and their relationship to psychopathological and clinical variables

Background. Research on the subject of insight has been hampered by difficulties in definition and reliable measurement. Methods. We compared several rating scales to measure insight on a group of 33 psychotic patients as well as assessing patients' psychopathology, clinical characteristics and cognitive functioning. Results. Most currently used scales showed a high degree of inter-correlation. Measures of insight related strongly to the presence of delusions; grandiosity (inversely), and depression (positively). Higher insight scores correlated with indices of treatment compliance and inversely with substance abuse. Measures of pre-morbid IQ and impaired executive functioning, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were not associated with poor insight. Conclusions. The study highlights aspects of psychopathology and clinical variables particularly related to insight and supports the continued use of standardized scales in further research in this area.
The boundary volume of a lattice polytope

For a d-dimensional convex lattice polytope P, a formula for the boundary volume vol(δP) is derived in terms of the number of boundary lattice points on the first [d/2] dilations of P. As an application we give a necessary and sufficient condition for a polytope to be reflexive, and derive formulae for the f-vector of a smooth polytope in dimensions 3, 4, and 5. We also give applications to reflexive order polytopes, and to the Birkhoff polytope.