Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Summary Writing of ESL Learners via a Theory-Based Online Tool: System Development and Evaluation

The purpose of this study was to design and develop a theory-based summary writing online tool, named Summary Writing-Pal (SW-PAL), to assist English as a second language students in improving their summary writing. It also evaluates the effectiveness of SW-PAL in enhancing the students' summary writing performance and examines their perceptions about it. This mixed-method empirical study involved 53 English as a second language students majoring in computer science at a local university. Two intact groups were randomly chosen as the control and experimental groups with 26 and 27 students, respectively. The control group was taught using the conventional method, while the experimental group was taught using SW-PAL. Both groups were given a pre- and post-summary writing test. A Split-Plot Analysis of Covariance test was used to examine the effectiveness of the SW-PAL tool. A focus group interview was conducted to gather qualitative data on perceptions about the SW-PAL tool. Quantitative findings revealed that students' summary writing performance improved significantly due to the SW-PAL with a large effect size of . 42. Qualitativewise, the users perceived SW-PAL to be useful as a motivating, challenging, and self-learning tool. Recommendations for practice for language instructors who wish to incorporate such a tool into their language instruction and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia: coverage and treatment adequacy of current guidelines

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) guideline for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) released in 1996 and the Trouillet classification published in 1998 supply different rational foundations for the classification of patients with HAP and for the selection of initial antibiotic therapy. The aims of this study were to assess the level of bacterial coverage and to assess and validate the adequacy of antibiotic strategy of each of these classifications. Intensive care unit-admitted patients (n=71) with suspicion of HAP were evaluated. The ATS and Trouillet classifications demonstrated an accuracy to predict the causative microorganism of 91% and 83%, respectively. The ATS and Trouillet antibiotic treatment recommendations were adequate in 79% and 80% of the patients, respectively. The microorganisms implicated in the treatment inadequacy of the ATS guideline were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=3), Acinetobacter baumanii (n=1), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n=1) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n=1). P. aeruginosa was implicated with Trouillet treatment inadequacy. The current recommendations for empirical antibiotic treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (American Thoracic Society and Trouillet) showed a good ability to predict the involved pathogen. However, considering the resistance pattern of the isolated pathogens, both classifications demonstrated a rather lower treatment adequacy; the main reason was the failure to treat highly resistant strains.
The cell cycle biomarkers: promising research, but do not oversell them

This review focuses on the most recent scientific and clinical information on the development and clinical applicability of the cell cycle biomarkers TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7 in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients at risk for and suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI). A number of evaluation studies have demonstrated that compared with existing biomarkers, urinary excretion of the product of both biomarkers, [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP-7], improved diagnostic performance in assessing the risk for AKI, predicting the need for renal replacement therapy, AKI-related complications and short- and long-term prognoses. The reference intervals for these biomarkers, measured by the recently approved NephroCheck test, have been determined in apparently healthy adults and those with stable chronic morbid conditions without AKI. This review recognizes that the combination of these two cell cycle arrest markers for the early detection of AKI is promising but concludes that its clinical impact is still unproved. Clinicians should understand the utility and limitations of this test before deciding whether to make it available at their institution.
Finite-size effects on the closest packing of hard spheres

We study closely packed crystalline structures formed by slow lateral compression of a colloidal suspension of hard spheres in a thin wedge. In addition to the known sequence of structural transitions, a buckling mechanism was recently proposed to maximize the packing fraction F between one and two layers. We here confirm this prediction experimentally and present the first evidence that for more than two layers, buckling, in this case of prism shaped arrays of particles, also takes place. This efficient mechanism may enhance F by up to 4% and dominates in major regions of the phase diagram. [S0031-9007(97)04068-4]
Using Peer Mentoring-Buddy System as an Intervention Strategy to Enhance Science Research Skills

Students have difficulties in conducting science research. In an attempt to enhance students' interests and skills in conducting science investigatory projects, this study designed and used the peer mentoring-buddy system as an intervention strategy to address the identified needs of students concerning their research skills. This paper also determined the effectiveness of the system and examined if there is a significant difference in the perceptions of both genders. This study also determined the percentage of project completion among students provided with the peer-mentoring. A total of 45 High School students consisting of 28 females and 17 males were the respondents. Utilizing the descriptive action research design and purposive sampling, the researcher distributed to the respondents the validated Studentsâ€™ Needs Assessment Survey instrument. The researcher developed and implemented the system from June to February 2013-2014 to address the identified research needs. The evaluation of the system was in the month of March using the validated Peer Mentoring Survey Questionnaire. The weighted mean, percentage and t-test were the statistical tools used. Results of the study revealed that using the system was very effective in addressing the high level of needs of the students regarding their research skills. The females have better perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the system than males (p<0.05). Despite the differences in the perceptions of both genders, the system was very effective since all proponents finished their studies and some projects won in the science fair competitions at regional and national level. Â Keywords : competitions, effectiveness, perceptions, projects, studies
Exploring the relationship between students’ learning styles and learning outcome in engineering laboratory education

Abstract It is a commonly accepted notion that people take different approaches in learning. Although attention has been given to learning styles as one of the determinants of learning performance, there is are limitations to the inferential approach to understanding the impact of learning styles on learning outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of learning preference on student learning outcome in engineering labs. The findings of this paper contribute to the existing literature in two ways. This study describes the typology of participants’ learning styles, confirming some results from similar research. Additionally, it examines the impact of learning styles, using the Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic (VARK) inventory as indicators of students’ learning outcomes, and how the findings confirm or contradict prior research results in important ways. Further, this study includes demographic information to investigate the influence on learning outcome. Discussions of the results from both analyses will contribute to an academic understanding of the critical success factors of the learning process and their practical application in laboratory learning.
Characterization of CADASIL among the Han Chinese in Taiwan: Distinct Genotypic and Phenotypic Profiles

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is originally featured with a strong clustering of mutations in NOTCH3 exons 3–6 and leukoencephalopathy with frequent anterior temporal pole involvement. The present study aims at characterizing the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of CADASIL in Taiwan. One hundred and twelve patients with CADASIL from 95 families of Chinese descents in Taiwan were identified by Sanger sequencing of exons 2 to 24 of NOTCH3. Twenty different mutations in NOTCH3 were uncovered, including 3 novel ones, and R544C in exon 11 was the most common mutation, accounting for 70.5% of the pedigrees. Haplotype analyses were conducted in 14 families harboring NOTCH3 R544C mutation and demonstrated a common haplotype linked to NOTCH3 R544C at loci D19S929 and D19S411. Comparing with CADASIL in most Caucasian populations, CADASIL in Taiwan has several distinct features, including less frequent anterior temporal involvement, older age at symptom onset, higher incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage, and rarer occurrence of migraine. Subgroup analyses revealed that the R544C mutation is associated with lower frequency of anterior temporal involvement, later age at onset and higher frequency of cognitive dysfunction. In conclusion, the present study broadens the spectrum of NOTCH3 mutations and provides additional insights for the clinical and molecular characteristics of CADASIL patients of Han-Chinese descents.
Gel Electrophoresis of Gold-DNA Nanoconjugates

Gold-DNA conjugates were investigated in detail by a comprehensive gel electrophoresis study based on 1200 gels. A controlled number of single-stranded DNA of different length was attached specifically via thiol-Au bonds to phosphine-stabilized colloidal gold nanoparticles. Alternatively, the surface of the gold particles was saturated with single stranded DNA of different length either specifically via thiol-Au bonds or by nonspecific adsorption. From the experimentally determined electrophoretic mobilities, estimates for the effective diameters of the gold-DNA conjugates were derived by applying two different data treatment approaches. The first method is based on making a calibration curve for the relation between effective diameters and mobilities with gold nanoparticles of known diameter. The second method is based on Ferguson analysis which uses gold nanoparticles of known diameter as reference database. Our study shows that effective diameters derived from gel electrophoresis measurements are affected with a high error bar as the determined values strongly depend on the method of evaluation, though relative changes in size upon binding of molecules can be detected with high precision. Furthermore, in this study, the specific attachment of DNA via gold-thiol bonds to Au nanoparticles is compared to nonspecific adsorption of DNA. Also, the maximum number of DNA molecules that can be bound per particle was determined.
Learning beans: design, implementation & evaluation

This paper describes the use of statechart notation to design the pattern of behavior that a user will have when interacting with a learning bean. The larger context of a learning bean and the stakeholders that are involved in its deployment and use are also introduced, two beans are briefly described and the results of a user trial presented.
Radio as a Screen Medium in BBC Arts Broadcasting

Today more than half of all radio listening in the UK is occurring through digital platforms. Within this context the BBC’s current arts proposition provides a valuable insight into how public service broadcasters are adapting and responding to this burgeoning digital audience. In particular, attention is drawn to the ways in which digital platforms are used to supplement and enhance the auditory listening experience. In doing so, the present article argues that radio continues to occupy a significant position in furthering public engagement with the arts due to, rather than despite of, advances in digital technology.
Helminth Parasites in Slipper-Shaped Oyster, Crassostrea Iredalei (Faustino 1932) (Bivalvia: Ostreoida)

Disease caused by viruses, bacteria and parasitic worms is one of the causes in the decline of Crassostrea eridalei. Since previous studies mostly focused on microscopic parasites, this study aimed to identify the helminthic parasites of C. eridalei. Randomly collected samples from Cambuilao, Bais City Negros Oriental were categorized according to size, depurated, dissected and examined for the presence of parasites. Collected parasites were then counted and identified to lowest possible taxon under the light microscope. Results of this study showed that out of 90 samples examined, a total of 53 Crassostrea iredalei were found to be infected with parasites. Fifty of which were infected with annelids with a prevalence of 45% in shell length 1-3cm, 37% in shell length 4-6cm, and 69.5% in shell length 7-10cm. Two were infected with Platyhelminthes with a prevalence of 5% and 4.16 in shell lengths 1-3cm and 4-6cm, respectively; only one individual was infected with Nemertea with a prevalence of 4.16%. A total of 80 annelid parasites were collected from the infected C. iredalei individuals with a mean infection intensity ranging from 0.69-2. The annelid parasites observed in this study were under Class Polychaeta, Families Neridae, Opheliidae, Hesionidae, Spionidae, Syllidae, Capitellidae, Phyllodocidae, and Polynoidae.
Aerobic Exercise for Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background Although some trials assessed the effectiveness of aerobic exercise for Parkinson's disease (PD), the role of aerobic exercise in the management of PD remained controversial. Objective The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the evidence about whether aerobic exercise is effective for PD. Methods Seven electronic databases, up to December 2013, were searched to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality based on PEDro scale. Standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of random-effects model were calculated. And heterogeneity was assessed based on the I2 statistic. Results 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 901 patients were eligible. The aggregated results suggested that aerobic exercise should show superior effects in improving motor actions (SMD, −0.57; 95% CI −0.94 to −0.19; p = 0.003), balance (SMD, 2.02; 95% CI 0.45 to 3.59; p = 0.01), and gait (SMD, 0.33; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.49; p<0.0001) in patients with PD, but not in quality of life (SMD, 0.11; 95% CI −0.23 to 0.46; p = 0.52). And there was no valid evidence on follow-up effects of aerobic exercise for PD. Conclusion Aerobic exercise showed immediate beneficial effects in improving motor action, balance, and gait in patients with PD. However, given no evidence on follow-up effects, large-scale RCTs with long follow-up are warrant to confirm the current findings.
Nitsche's method for general boundary conditions

We introduce a method for treating general boundary conditions in the finite element method generalizing an approach, due to Nitsche (1971), for approximating Dirichlet boundary conditions. We use Poisson's equations as a model problem and prove a priori and a posteriori error estimates. The method is also compared with the traditional Galerkin method. The theoretical results are verified numerically.
The Effect of Smart mobile devices usage on Sleep Quality and academic performance – A Narrative Review

More than two-thirds of United States high school students report lacking sleep on an average school night which is associated with a variety of health-risk behaviours. Insufficient or poor sleep quality has a substantial risk influence on academic performance. Good sleep quality is essential for recovery. Information used in this review paper was mainly obtained from scientific electronic academic journal databases. Studies have revealed that medical students who performed worse in their medical board exams mostly sleep poorly. Most of these students who performed worse in their exams seem to suffer stress as a result of poor sleep quality. University students, especially, medical students are most vulnerable to poor sleep quality. This review explores the major effects of sleep quality in relation to academic performance of students, especially, adolescents and young adults from primary to tertiary education levels as discussed by different authors. The extant literature seems to suggest that sleep quality affect academic performances or achievements but they failed to link the mediating roles that socio-economic factors could play in the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance. In view of this, this piece suggests a further new area that future researchers could explore: the effect or impact of sleep quality on academic performance or achievements and the mediating roles that socio-economic factors play in this regard. Sleep is an essential need of every human being especially, the young and the elderly. Therefore, special attention should be given to this area of research.
Coverage planning of Wireless Sensors for mobile target detection

We consider surveillance applications through wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with fully accessible areas to be monitored. In this context, the WSN topology can be planned a priori to maximize application efficiency. We propose an optimization framework for selecting the positions of wireless sensors to detect mobile targets traversing a given area. By leveraging the concept of exposure as a measure of coverage quality, we propose two problem versions: the minimization of the sensors installation cost while guaranteeing a minimum exposure, and the maximization of the exposure of the least exposed path subject to a budget on the sensors installation cost. We present compact mixed integer-linear programming formulations for these problems that can be solved to optimality for reasonable-sized network instances. Moreover, we develop a heuristic that is able to provide near-optimal solutions of the same instances in short computing time and also to tackle large size instances.
Separation of subcellular compartments containing distinct functional forms of MHC class II

Antigen processing in B lymphocytes entails initial binding of antigen to the surface Ig and internalization of the antigen into acidic compartments where the antigen is degraded, releasing peptides for binding to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. Using subcellular fractionation techniques we show that functional, processed antigen-class II complexes capable of activating antigen-specific T cells in vitro are first formed in dense vesicles cosedimenting with lysosomes which are distinct from early endosomes and the bulk of late endosomes. With time, processed antigen-class II complexes appear in vesicles sedimenting with early endosomes and finally cofractionate with plasma membrane. A separate compartment is identified which contains major histocompatibility complex class II receptive to peptide binding but which does not have access to processed antigen in the B cell. These class II molecules are in the so-called "floppy" form in contrast to the class II molecules in the very dense vesicles which are in the "compact" form. These results demonstrate a correlation between the floppy and compact forms of class II molecules and their association with processed antigen and show that floppy and compact forms of class II reside in distinct and physically separable subcellular compartments.
Automatic car steering control bridges over the driver reaction time

Abstract: A car driver needs at least five hundred milliseconds before he can react to unexpected yaw motions. During this time the uncontrolled car may produce a dangerous yaw rate and sideslip angle. Automatic steering control for disturbance rejection is designed such that it bridges over the driver reaction time, but returns the full steering authority to the driver thereafter. The solution is robust with respect to uncertainties in the road-tire contact and in the mass and velocity of the vehicle. The model representation is scaled by methods of similarity mechanics.
Summary...................................................................................... 503

Picocyanobacteria of the genera Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus numerically dominate vast tracts of the world’s oceans and contribute a signi fi cant proportion of primary production, particularly in oligotrophic regions. The ecological success of these two genera suggests they possess sophisticated strategies to respond to variations in their environment. Indeed, it appears that it is the in situ community structure of these organisms which underlies this success, with the existence of speci fi c ecotypes or lineages occupying different niches to populate the world’s oceans. For Prochlorococcus there is now excellent physiological and genomic data for de fi ning the basis of this niche partitioning particularly with respect to its vertical distribution down a water column. The situation for Synechococcus is more complex probably due to the larger spatial distribution of marine Synechococcus in oceanic ecosystems. This has led to extensive phylogenetic and physiological variation within the Synechococcus genus but the genomic basis for this phenotypic variation, and hence niche adaptation is less well understood. This chapter seeks to give an overview of the knowledge gained on these organisms over the last three decades focusing on aspects of ecology, physiology and molecular biology that are pertinent to this niche adaptation process.
Correlation of PSA Density to Prostate Cancer Based on Prostate Volume by 3.0 T MRI

Purpose: Prostate specific antigen levels can be normalized by the prostate volume to give a prostate specific antigen density (PSAd). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can more accurately determine prostate zonal anatomy and prostate volumes compared to transrectal ultrasound, and hence may lead to more accurate PSAd measurements. Methods: Imaging and pathology of men undergoing prostate MRI from April 2007 to May 2009 were reviewed in this retrospective study. 73 patients were included for analysis, of which 45 had prostate cancer and 28 did not have cancer. Total, transitional zone, and peripheral zone values were determined by ultrasound prolate ellipse, MRI prolate ellipse, and MRI segmentation methods. Results: The study population showed an average PSA of 6.3 ng/mL, with the control mean PSA (8.8 ng/mL) being greater than the cancer group (5.3 ng/mL). Transrectal ultrasound underestimated the prostate volume (mean 27.7 mL versus MRI volume of 38.3 mL, p ≤ 0.001). No difference was seen between cancer and control populations using PSAd. PSAd correctly categorized low (Gleason < 7) and high-grade cancers (Gleason ≥ 7) in patients with malignancy. Conclusion: Transrectal ultrasound underestimates prostate volumes and hence is inaccurate in calculating PSAd. MRI more accurately depicts PSAd, however PSAd is unable to differentiate between patients with cancer and benign disease such as BPH or prostatitis.