Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transnationalism in Question1

This article seeks to critically engage the new literature on immigrant transnationalism. Connectivity between source and destination points is an inherent aspect of migrations, but migration networks generate a multiplicity of “imagined communities,” organized along different, often conflicting principles. Consequently, what immigration scholars describe as transnationalism is usually its opposite: highly particularistic attachments antithetical to those by‐products of globalization denoted by the concept of “transnational civil society. ” Moreover, migrants do not make their communities alone: states and state politics shape the options for migrant and ethnic trans‐state social action. International migrants and their descendants do repeatedly engage in concerted action across state boundaries, but the use, form, and mobilization of the connections linking “here” and “there” are contingent outcomes subject to multiple political constraints.
Computer Game Sharpens Aging Minds

SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE MEETINGPreliminary results presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting by company researchers suggest that a gamelike training program it has developed can improve memory and attention in elderly people. [(Read more.)][1] [1]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/310/5752/1261a
Energy-Efficient Scheduling for Real-Time Systems on Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) Platforms

Energy-efficient designs have played import roles for hardware and software implementations for a decade. With the advanced technology of VLSI circuit designs, energy-efficiency can be achieved by adopting the dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) technique. In this paper, we survey the studies for energy-efficient scheduling in real-time systems on DVS platforms to cover both theoretical and practical issues.
Academic Dishonesty in the Canadian Classroom: Behaviours of a Sample of University Students

ABSTRACT Academic dishonesty is a persistent problem in institutions of higher education, with numerous short- and long-term implications. This study examines undergraduate students’ self-reported engagement in acts of academic dishonesty using data from a sample of 321 participants attending a public university in a western Canadian city during the fall of 2007. Various factors were assessed for their influence on students’ extent of academic dishonesty. More than one-half of respondents engaged in at least one of three types of dishonest behaviours surveyed during their tenure in university. Faculty of enrolment, strategies for learning, perceptions of peers’ cheating and their requests for help, and perceptions and evaluations of academic dishonesty made unique contributions to the prediction of academic dishonesty. High self-efficacy acted as a protective factor that interacted with instrumental motives to study to reduce students’ propensity to engage in dishonest academic behaviours. Implications of these findings for institutional interventions are briefly discussed. RESUME Le comportement academique malhonnete persiste dans les institutions d’enseignement superieur, et ses implications a court et a long terme sont nombreuses. La presente etude examine l’adoption d’un comportement academique malhonnete par des etudiants de premier cycle, grâce aux donnees d’un echantillon de 321 participants qui frequentaient une universite publique dans une ville de l’ouest canadien a l’automne 2007. Differents facteurs ont ete evalues en fonction de leur influence sur l’etendue du comportement academique malhonnete des etudiants. Plus de la moitie des etudiants echantillonnes ont adopte au moins l’un des trois types de comportements malhonnetes au cours de leur passage a l’universite. La faculte a s’inscrire, les strategies d’apprentissage, la perception quant au comportement tricheur des pairs et quant a leurs demandes d’aide, et les perceptions et evaluations de la malhonnetete academique constituent des indices uniques pour ce qui est de predire le comportement academique malhonnete. Un degre eleve d’auto-efficacite, de meme que certains motifs essentiels, avaient un effet protecteur dans la reduction de la propension des etudiants a s’engager dans des comportements academiques malhonnetes. L’article aborde brievement les consequences de ces resultats au cours d’interventions en institution d’enseignement.
Neural Evidence of Statistical Learning: Efficient Detection of Visual Regularities Without Awareness

Our environment contains regularities distributed in space and time that can be detected by way of statistical learning. This unsupervised learning occurs without intent or awareness, but little is known about how it relates to other types of learning, how it affects perceptual processing, and how quickly it can occur. Here we use fMRI during statistical learning to explore these questions. Participants viewed statistically structured versus unstructured sequences of shapes while performing a task unrelated to the structure. Robust neural responses to statistical structure were observed, and these responses were notable in four ways: First, responses to structure were observed in the striatum and medial temporal lobe, suggesting that statistical learning may be related to other forms of associative learning and relational memory. Second, statistical regularities yielded greater activation in category-specific visual regions (object-selective lateral occipital cortex and word-selective ventral occipito-temporal cortex), demonstrating that these regions are sensitive to information distributed in time. Third, evidence of learning emerged early during familiarization, showing that statistical learning can operate very quickly and with little exposure. Finally, neural signatures of learning were dissociable from subsequent explicit familiarity, suggesting that learning can occur in the absence of awareness. Overall, our findings help elucidate the underlying nature of statistical learning.
Using tablet computers in preschool: How does the design of applications influence participation, interaction and dialogues?

The results in this article explore whether and how the design of applications used on tablet computers influences the interaction and dialogues that occur between children and pedagogues, the participation of children in the activities and the mathematics that can be learned. While mathematics offered a lens to explore the use of tablet devices, child–teacher interactions is the focus of this article. Twelve pedagogues were observed as they used different applications with 25 preschool children. These applications were categorised based on their classification (boundaries of the application) and framing (form of the application). It was shown that the same pedagogue interacted differently with the children based on the application they were using. Further, the children's participation as well as the structure and content of the dialogues between pedagogues and children differed based on classification and the framing of the application used. The results indicate that the design of the applications influences the pedagogues and the educational context in which children are invited to participate.
Clinical and Biomechanical Evaluations of Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients with Two Different Implant Designs

Background: Various implants of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are used in clinical practice and each presents specific design characteristics. No implant managed this day to reproduce perfectly the biomechanics of the natural knee during gait. Objectives: We therefore asked whether (1) differences in tridimensional (3D) kinematic data during gait could be observed in two different designs of TKA on the same patients, (2) if those gait kinematic data are comparable with those of asymptomatic knees and (3) if difference in clinical subjective scores can be observed between the two TKA designs on the same patient. Methods: We performed knee kinematic analysis on 15 patients (30 TKAs) with two different TKA implant designs (Nexgen, Zimmer and Triathlon, Stryker) on each knee and on 25 asymptomatic subjects (35 knees). Clinical evaluation included range of motion, weight bearing radiographs, questionnaire of joint perception, KOOS, WOMAC and SF-12. Results: Comparison between TKAs and asymptomatic knees revealed that asymptomatic knees had significantly less knee flexion at initial contact (p < 0.04) and more flexion for most of the swing phase (p between 0.004 and 0.04). Asymptomatic knees also had less varus at loading response, during stance phase and during most of the swing phase (p between 0.001 - 0.05). Transverse plane analysis showed a tendency for asymptomatic knees to be more in internal rotation during stance phase (p 0.02 - 0.04). Comparing both TKA designs, NexgenTM implant had significantly more flexion at the end of swing phase (p = 0.04) compared to knees with the TriathlonTM implant. In frontal plane, from initial contact to maximum mid stance angle and between the mean mid stance angle and initial contact NexgenTM TKA had significantly more adduction (varus, p =0.02 – 0.03). Clinical scores of both TKAs did not have significant difference. Conclusions: TKA with the tested implants did not reproduce natural knee kinematics during gait. In our cohort of patients, TKA implant design translated in limited kinematics differences during gait and on clinical results.
Iron-Overload Cardiomyopathy: Evidence for a Free Radical– Mediated Mechanism of Injury and Dysfunction in a Murine Model

Iron-overload cardiomyopathy is a restrictive cardiomyopathy that manifests itself as systolic or diastolic dysfunction secondary to increased deposition of iron in the heart and occurs with common genetic disorders such as primary hemochromatosis and betathalassemia major. Although the exact mechanism of iron-induced heart failure remains to be elucidated, the toxicity of iron in biological systems is believed to be attributed to its ability to catalyze the generation of oxygen-free radicals. In the current investigation, the dose-dependent effects of chronic iron-loading on heart tissue concentrations of iron, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, free-radical production, and cardiac dysfunction were investigated in a murine model of iron-overload cardiomyopathy. It was shown that chronic iron-overload results in dose-dependent (a) increases in myocardial iron burden, (b) decreases in the protective antioxidant enzyme GPx activity, (c) increased free-radical production, and (d) increased mortality. These findings show that the mechanism of iron-induced heart dysfunction involves in part free radical–mediated processes.
Relationship Between Markers of Type II Collagen Metabolism and Tibiofemoral Joint Space Width Changes After ACL Injury and Reconstruction

Background: Those who suffer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) disruptions are at increased risk of experiencing posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA); however, by the time they become symptomatic, irreversible damage has likely occurred. Little is known regarding the physiological changes in articular cartilage that occur after an ACL injury and the onset of OA. Purpose: To assess whether patient, functional, and clinical outcomes and type II collagen metabolism are associated with abnormal tibiofemoral joint space width (JSW) 4 years after injury and reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 35 ACL-injured patients who underwent ACL reconstruction were enrolled soon after injury, as were 32 matched controls. At baseline and 1- and 4-year follow-ups, patient-oriented subjective and objective outcomes and markers of type II collagen metabolism (considered as the ratio of cleavage to synthesis of type II collagen) were evaluated, as were radiographic measurements of JSW changes about the medial and lateral compartments of the knee. ACL-injured patients were divided into normal and abnormal JSW groups. Results: Both ACL-injured groups (normal and abnormal JSW) had an increased ratio of collagen type I and II cleavage product (uC1,2C) to serum procollagen II C-propeptide (sCPII) compared with controls at 1- and 4-year follow-ups. Patients in the ACL group with an abnormal JSW difference had significantly increased cleavage-to-synthesis ratios of type II collagen (assessed as C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type II collagen [uCTX-II]/sCPII ratio) compared with controls at 4-year follow-up. ACL-injured patients with an abnormal JSW difference had significantly increased pain and decreased quality of life (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS]) scores than did ACL-injured patients with a normal JSW difference. Conclusion: ACL-injured patients with an abnormal tibiofemoral JSW had diminished quality of life, increased pain, and increased type II collagen uCTX-II/sCPII ratios compared with healthy controls. These changes occurred over an interval shortly after injury in patients who were fully functional and who had normal clinical examination findings, no pivoting/giving-way episodes, and no decrease in activity level.
The Gustatory Signaling Pathway and Bitter Taste Receptors Affect the Development of Obesity and Adipocyte Metabolism in Mice

Intestinal chemosensory signaling pathways involving the gustatory G-protein, gustducin, and bitter taste receptors (TAS2R) have been implicated in gut hormone release. Alterations in gut hormone profiles may contribute to the success of bariatric surgery. This study investigated the involvement of the gustatory signaling pathway in the development of diet-induced obesity and the therapeutic potential of targeting TAS2Rs to induce body weight loss. α-gustducin-deficient (α-gust-/-) mice became less obese than wild type (WT) mice when fed a high-fat diet (HFD). White adipose tissue (WAT) mass was lower in α-gust-/- mice due to increased heat production as a result of increases in brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity, involving increased protein expression of uncoupling protein 1. Intra-gastric treatment of obese WT and α-gust-/- mice with the bitter agonists denatonium benzoate (DB) or quinine (Q) during 4 weeks resulted in an α-gustducin-dependent decrease in body weight gain associated with a decrease in food intake (DB), but not involving major changes in gut peptide release. Both WAT and 3T3-F442A pre-adipocytes express TAS2Rs. Treatment of pre-adipocytes with DB or Q decreased differentiation into mature adipocytes. In conclusion, interfering with the gustatory signaling pathway protects against the development of HFD-induced obesity presumably through promoting BAT activity. Intra-gastric bitter treatment inhibits weight gain, possibly by directly affecting adipocyte metabolism.
Comparison of mechanical properties of a new fiber reinforced composite and bulk filling composites

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of a newly developed fiber reinforced dental composite. Materials and Methods Fiber reinforced composite EverX Posterior (EXP, GC EUROPE), and other commercially available bulk fill composites, including Filtek Bulk Fill (FB, 3M ESPE), SonicFill (SF, Kerr Corp.), SureFil (SDR, Dentsply), Venus Bulk Fill (VB, HerausKultzer), Tetric evoceram bulk fill (TECB, Ivoclar Vivadent), and Xtra Base (XB, Voco) were characterized. Composite samples light-cured with a LED device were evaluated in terms of flexural strength, flexural modulus (ISO 4049, n = 6), fracture toughness (n = 6), and Vickers hardness (0, 2, and 4 mm in depth at 24 hr, n = 5). The EXP samples and the fracture surface were observed under a scanning electron microscopy. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test. Results EXP, FB, and VB had significantly higher fracture toughness value compared to all the other bulk composite types. SF, EXP, and XB were not statistically different, and had significantly higher flexural strength values compared to other tested composite materials. EXP had the highest flexural modulus, VB had the lowest values. Vickers hardness values revealed SF, EXP, TECB, and XB were not statistically different, and had significantly higher values compared to other tested composite materials. SEM observations show well dispersed fibers working as a reinforcing phase. Conclusions The addition of fibers to methacrylate-based matrix results in composites with either comparable or superior mechanical properties compared to the other bulk fill materials tested.
Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Portuguese Foeniculum vulgare Fruits

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from fruits of six fennel accessions collected from wild populations occurring in the centre and south of Portugal. Composition of essential oils was established by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The obtained yields of the essential oils were found to vary greatly in the range of 1.1 to 2.9% (v/w) and the chemical composition varied with the region of collection. A total of 16 compounds were identified. The main compounds were fenchone (16.9 – 34.7%), estragole (2.5 – 66.0%) and trans-anethole (7.9 – 77.7%). The percentages of these three main compounds were used to determine the relationship between the different oil samples and to group them into four different chemotypes: anethole/fenchone; anethole; estragole and anethole/estragole. Antifungal activity of essential oils was evaluated against six food spoilage fungi: Aspergillus niger, A. japonicus, A. oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizophus oryzae and R. stolonifer. Antibacterial activity was assessed against three Gram-positive strains: Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 and S. aureus ATCC 28213; and against six Gram-negative strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922; Morganella morganii LFG 08; Proteus mirabilis LFG 04; Salmonella enteritidis LFG 05; S. entiritidis serovar typhimurium LFG 06 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 by the disc diffusion agar method; the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth macro-dilution method. The MIC values varied from 62.5 (E. coli ATCC 25922) to 2000 μg/mL (P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853).
Are positive psychology exercises helpful for people with depressive personality styles?

Two exercises involving gratitude and uplifting music were tested for their ability to improve well-being in self-critical and needy individuals. In this study, 772 adults completed measures of depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, happiness, and self-esteem and then practiced the gratitude, music, or control exercise (recalling early childhood memories) for 1 week. Follow-up measures were administered after the intervention period, and 1, 3, and 6 months later. Participants in both the gratitude and the music condition reported greater increases in happiness over time than participants in the control condition. Self-critics were particularly responsive to the gratitude intervention, whereas needy individuals found the exercises ineffective and even detrimental to their self-esteem. These results highlight the importance of identifying individual differences in response to positive psychology exercises.
No Taxation Without Information: Deterrence and Self-Enforcement in the Value Added Tax

Tax evasion generates billions of dollars of losses in government revenue and creates large distortions, especially in developing countries. Claims that the VAT facilitates tax enforcement by generating paper trails on transactions between firms have contributed to widespread VAT adoption worldwide, but there is little empirical evidence about this mechanism. This paper analyzes the role of third party information for VAT enforcement through two randomized experiments among over 400,000 Chilean firms. Announcing additional monitoring has less impact on transactions that are subject to a paper trail, indicating the paper trail's preventive deterrence effect. Tax enforcement leads to strong spillovers up the VAT chain, increasing compliance by firms' suppliers. These findings confirm that when evasion is taken into account, significant differences emerge between otherwise equivalent forms of taxation.
State and trait anxiety, depression and coping styles

Abstract Considerable interest has recently been directed at the relationship between coping styles and depression. However, a systematic understanding of this relationship has been impeded because of the use of coping measures with problematic psychometric qualities. The present study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and coping styles in a college sample, using the recently developed Multidimensional Coping Inventory (MCI) to assess coping styles. The relationships between depression and both state and trait anxiety were also examined, since there is accumulating evidence that the constructs of depression and anxiety are difficult to distinguish in a college population. The study found gender differences in coping behaviour, with females reporting more emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping behaviours than males. Males and females scoring high on depressive symptoms were found to use more emotion-oriented coping than those scoring low. A strong relationship was found between .
Probabilistic FIFO Ordering in Publish/Subscribe Networks

In a best-effort publish/subscribe network, publications may be delivered out of order (e.g., violating FIFO order). We contend that the primary cause of such ordering violations is the parallel matching and forwarding process employed by brokers to achieve high throughput. In this paper, we present an end-to-end method to improve event ordering. The method involves the receiver and minimally the sender, but otherwise uses the broker network as a black box. The idea is to analyze the dynamics of the network, and in particular to measure the delivery delay and its variation, which is directly related to out-of-order delivery. With these measures, receivers can determine a near-optimal latch time to defer message delivery upon the detection of a hole in the message sequence number. We evaluate the performance of this ordering scheme empirically in terms of the reduction in out-of-order deliveries, the delay imposed by the latch time, and its automatic adaptability to variable network conditions and input loads.
Exposure to Farm Animals and Risk of Lung Cancer in the AGRICAN Cohort

Epidemiologic studies have found lower risks of lung cancer in farmers. However, little is known about the types of agricultural activities concerned. In the Agriculture and Cancer cohort, we assessed the relationship between animal farming and lung cancer by investigating the types of animals, tasks, and timing of exposure. Analyses included 170,834 participants from the Agriculture and Cancer (AGRICAN) cohort in France. Incident lung cancers were identified through linkage with cancer registries from enrollment (2005-2007) to 2011. A Cox model, adjusting for pack-years of cigarette smoking, was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Lung cancer risk was inversely related to duration of exposure to cattle (≥40 years: hazard ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.41, 0.89; P for trend < 0.01) and to horse farming (≥20 years: hazard ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.35, 1.17; P for trend = 0.09), especially for adenocarcinomas, but not with poultry or pig farming. More pronounced decreased risks were reported among individuals who had cared for animals, undertaken milking, and who had been exposed to cattle in infancy. Our study provides strong evidence of an inverse association between lung cancer and cattle and horse farming. Further research is warranted to identify the etiologic protective agents and biological mechanisms.