Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Narrative of Difference: The Effects of Social Class on Belonging at Liberal Arts Colleges

Low-income students have historically struggled in applying to colleges, especially liberal arts colleges. However, presently low-income students have had significantly more access to university due to changes in admission policies; the largest challenges now facing low-income students are during their time at university, where they struggle to maintain similar retention rates and comparable social and academic integration when compared to wealthier peers. In this research, I examined Grinnell College as a case study of liberal arts colleges as it is an interesting example due to no significant differences in average GPA or retention rates between social classes. I used an explanatory, sequential mixed-methods design to explore the experiences of low-incomes students at liberal arts colleges, focusing on belonging. I found that low-income students, despite claiming to belong at similar rates to wealthier peers, express narratives of difference where they have distinctly different experiences from wealthier peers. Differences included but are not limited to distinctive interpersonal relationships with faculty, staff, and peers, and low-income students’ lower participation levels in social events. However, despite these differences, lowincome students often “work the system” to equalize their differences. Based on my findings, I propose a 7-point plan for improving the experiences of low-income students at liberal arts colleges.
Variations of the boundary geometry of $3$-dimensional hyperbolic convex cores

A fundamental object in a hyperbolic 3-manifold M is its convex core C(M), defined as the smallest closed non-empty convex subset of M. We investigate the way the geometry of the boundary S of C(M) varies as we vary the hyperbolic metric of M. Thurston observed that the intrinsic metric of S is hyperbolic, and that its bending is described by a measured geodesic lamination. We show that, as the hyperbolic metric of the 3--manifold M varies differentiably, the hyperbolic metric of the surface S varies in a C^1, but usually not C^2, manner. Differentiability properties for the bending measured lamination are conceptually less simple, because the space ML(S) of measured geodesic laminations on S has no natural differentiable structure. However, ML(S) is a piecewise linear manifold, and we also show that the bending measured geodesic lamination varies differentiably in a piecewise linear sense. The two results are proved simultaneously, mixing the differentiable and piecewise linear contexts. In particular, the 'corners' of the piecewise linear structure of ML(S) account for the fact that the metric of S is not a C^2 function of the metric of M. A by-product of the proof is a similar differentiablity property for Thurston's parametrization of complex projective structures on a surface by hyperbolic metrics and measured laminations.
A quantitative framework for integrated software quality measurement in multi-versions systems

Code measurements through software metrics provide a basis for quantifying quality attributes of higher abstraction levels. Along with this core constituent, bugs/vulnerability databases and change-logs are certain dynamic repositories, which can supplement the information provided by quality parameters derived, in more productive ways. This paper proposes a quantitative framework for integrated software quality measurement which is especially useful in Multi-versions systems to ascertain their relative progression with each successive release. The idea is to annotate the information mapped from bugs/vulnerability reports with quality attributes obtained from code metrics. Finally, some instances have also been given demonstrating the approach to determine the relation between the two practically. Additionally, this approach can be used to validate the trend analyses of metrics drawn from dynamic realms with each individual quality attribute derived statically.
In the Mind and Across Minds: A Relevance-Theoretic Perspective on Communication and Translation

The present volume demonstrates the multifaceted potential of Relevance Theory, which, for more than two decades now, has been inspiring studies of the relationship between human communication and cognition. In the Mind and across Minds reflects the main strands of relevance-theoretic research, by expanding, evaluating and revising the researchers' ideas in a collection of papers by an international array of scholars. The papers explore various aspects of communication including such issues as non-literal meaning with the focus on irony and metaphor, the construction of ad hoc concepts, the conceptual-procedural meaning distinction, metarepresentation, context and politeness as well as test the applicability of Relevance Theory to the domain of translation. A set of readings on varied linguistic and sociocultural phenomena, this book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students investigating meaning in natural language and an insightful reference for those interested in relevance-theoretic pragmatics, or pragmatics in general, semantics, sociolinguistics and Translation Studies. Ewa Walaszewska, Marta Kisielewska-Krysiuk and Agnieszka Piskorska work at the Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw as Assistant Professors. They pursue their individual research connected with Relevance Theory and jointly organise a biennial conference Interpreting for Relevance: Discourse and Translation.
Practical Strategic Reasoning with Applications in Market Games

Strategic reasoning is part of our everyday lives: we negotiate prices, bid in auctions, write contracts, and play games. We choose actions in these scenarios based on our preferences, and our beliefs about preferences of the other participants. Game theory provides a rich mathematical framework through which we can reason about the influence of these preferences. Clever abstractions allow us to predict the outcome of complex agent interactions, however, as the scenarios we model increase in complexity, the abstractions we use to enable classical game-theoretic analysis lose fidelity. In empirical game-theoretic analysis, we construct game models using empirical sources of knowledge—such as high-fidelity simulation. However, utilizing empirical knowledge introduces a host of different computational and statistical problems. I investigate five main research problems that focus on efficient selection, estimation, and analysis of empirical game models. I introduce a flexible modeling approach, where we may construct multiple game-theoretic models from the same set of observations. I propose a principled methodology for comparing empirical game models and a family of algorithms that select a model from a set of candidates. I develop algorithms for normal-form games that efficiently identify formations—sets of strategies that are closed under a (correlated) best-response correspondence. This aids in problems, such as finding Nash equilibria, that are key to analysis but hard to solve. I investigate policies for sequentially determining profiles to simulate, when constrained by a budget for simulation. Efficient policies allow modelers to analyze complex scenarios by evaluating a subset of the profiles. The policies I introduce outperform the existing policies in experiments. I establish a principled methodology for evaluating strategies given an empirical game model. I employ this methodology in two case studies of market scenarios: first, a case study in supply chain management from the perspective of a strategy designer; then, a case study in Internet ad auctions from the perspective of a mechanism designer. As part of the latter analysis, I develop an ad-auctions scenario that captures several key strategic issues in this domain for the first time.
Children ’ s comprehension of syntactically-encoded evidentiality *

This paper examines children’s acquisition of English copy-raising constructions (henceforth CRCs). These constructions are of particular interest because they encode evidentiality (Asudeh & Toivonen 2012, Rett et al. 2013), which is the implicit citing of the speaker’s source of evidence for an at-issue proposition. A classic example of evidentiality is found in Cuzco Quechua and exemplified below in (1)-(3):
Relationships and sexual expression in later life: a biopsychosocial perspective

The literature on sexual activity and ageing has grown substantially in the past 20 years. Until recently, a medicalized perspective dominated. In the past decade research based on a social-relational perspective has emerged. We summarize recent work from both perspectives. In addition to the effects of disease on sexual functioning of men and women over the age of 50, this review emphasizes sexual expression among older couples, newly emerging topics such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the older adult, and older lesbian and gay sexuality. Sexual functioning in both males and females continues in later life, while sexual satisfaction within their relationships is dependent upon individual responses to age-related changes. As the life course continues, some older married couples begin to desire emotional intimacy, stability, and continuity in addition to or instead of penetrative sex. This also appears to be characteristic of relationships involving two (older) women. As the world's population over 50 continues to grow there is an increasing interest in older adult's sexuality. This signals progress toward understanding healthy sexual relationships.
Formulation of a mmaA4 Gene Deletion Mutant of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in Cationic Liposomes Significantly Enhances Protection against Tuberculosis

A new vaccination strategy is urgently needed for improved control of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. Using a mouse aerosol Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge model, we investigated the protective efficacy of a mmaA4 gene deletion mutant of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (ΔmmaA4BCG) formulated in dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA) – D(+) trehalose 6,6 dibenenate (TDB) (DDA/TDB) adjuvant. In previous studies, deletion of the mmaA4 gene was shown to reduce the suppression of IL-12 production often seen after mycobacterial infections. While the non-adjuvanted ΔmmaA4BCG strain did not protect mice substantially better than conventional BCG against a tuberculous challenge in four protection experiments, the protective responses induced by the ΔmmaA4BCG vaccine formulated in DDA/TDB adjuvant was consistently increased relative to nonadjuvanted BCG controls. Furthermore, the ΔmmaA4BCG-DDA/TDB vaccine induced significantly higher frequencies of multifunctional (MFT) CD4 T cells expressing both IFNγ and TNFα (double positive) or IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 (triple positive) than CD4 T cells derived from mice vaccinated with BCG. These MFT cells were characterized by having higher IFNγ and TNFα median fluorescence intensity (MFI) values than monofunctional CD4 T cells. Interestingly, both BCG/adjuvant and ΔmmaA4BCG/adjuvant formulations induced significantly higher frequencies of CD4 T cells expressing TNFα and IL-2 than nonadjuvanted BCG or ΔmmaA4BCG vaccines indicating that BCG/adjuvant mixtures may be more effective at inducing central memory T cells. Importantly, when either conventional BCG or the mutant were formulated in adjuvant and administered to SCID mice or immunocompromised mice depleted of IFNγ, significantly lower vaccine-derived mycobacterial CFU were detected relative to immunodeficient mice injected with non-adjuvanted BCG. Overall, these data suggest that immunization with the ΔmmaA4BCG/adjuvant formulation may be an effective, safe, and relatively inexpensive alternative to vaccination with conventional BCG.
Refined Criteria for Gradual Typing

Siek and Taha [2006] coined the term gradual typing to describe a theory for integrating static and dynamic typing within a single language that 1) puts the programmer in control of which regions of code are statically or dynamically typed and 2) enables the gradual evolution of code between the two typing disciplines. Since 2006, the term gradual typing has become quite popular but its meaning has become diluted to encompass anything related to the integration of static and dynamic typing. This dilution is partly the fault of the original paper, which provided an incomplete formal characterization of what it means to be gradually typed. In this paper we draw a crisp line in the sand that includes a new formal property, named the gradual guarantee, that relates the behavior of programs that differ only with respect to their type annotations. We argue that the gradual guarantee provides important guidance for designers of gradually typed languages. We survey the gradual typing literature, critiquing designs in light of the gradual guarantee. We also report on a mechanized proof that the gradual guarantee holds for the Gradually Typed Lambda Calculus.
Smart Recommendation for an Evolving E-Learning System: Architecture and Experiment

In this article, we proposed an evolving e-learning system which can adapt itself both to the learners and to the open Web, and we pointed out the differences of making recommendations in e-learning and other domains. We propose two pedagogy features in recommendation: learner interest and background knowledge. A description of a paper's value, similarity, and ordering are presented using formal definitions. We also study two pedagogy-oriented recommendation techniques: content-based and hybrid recommendations. We argue that while it is feasible to apply both of these techniques in our domain, a hybrid collaborative filtering technique is more efficient to make "just-in-time" recommendations. In order to assess and compare these two techniques, we carried out an experiment using artificial learners. Experiment results are encouraging, showing that hybrid collaborative filtering, which can lower the computational costs, will not compromise the overall performance of the recommendation system. In addition, as more and more learners participate in the learning process, both learner and paper models can better be enhanced and updated, which is especially desirable for webbased learning systems. We have tested the recommendation mechanisms with real learners, and the results are very encouraging.
Patient perspectives on factors associated with enrollment and retention in chronic disease self-management programs: a systematic review

Background: Challenges exist when enrolling and retaining chronic disease patients in self-management programs. Exploring patient perspectives on participating in self-management programs may enhance study enrollment and retention and thereby improve health outcomes. Limited review research has synthesized patient perspectives on intrapersonal and sociocontextual factors influencing participation in chronic disease self-management programs. Objective: To synthesize empirical qualitative research exploring intrapersonal (ie, predisposing) and sociocontextual (ie, predisposing, enabling, need) factors influencing patient enrollment and retention in chronic disease self-management programs. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using Garrard’s Matrix Method to retrieve articles published between 1997 and 2015 from electronic databases (PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE). Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used to synthesize data according to intrapersonal and sociocontextual factors impacting participation in self-management programs. Results: Thirteen (N = 13) qualitative studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies focused on cardiovascular (n = 4; 30.76%) and chronic lower respiratory (n = 3; 23.07%) diseases. Predis-posing factors such as limited disease-specific knowledge, negative outcome expectations of self-management, and confusion about comorbidity self-care negatively influenced the decision to participate. Enabling factors, including opportunities for social support, positively influenced the decision to participate in self-management programs. Scheduling conflicts negatively influenced patient participation. Beliefs that current health care was sufficient deterred patients from participating in self-management programs. Discussion: Making perceived benefits of participating in chronic disease self-management programs more salient to patients and their health care providers has the potential to enhance patient enrollment and retention. Researchers and clinicians may begin to improve patient participation in chronic disease self-management programs by implementing patient-centered education to increase disease-specific knowledge and an understanding of the recruitment, enrollment, and retention process in research. Future research should explore the intrapersonal and sociocontextual factors influencing patient participation in self-management programs that offer enhanced accessibility and social support from peers and caregivers.
Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Vibrio harveyi: a new family of genes responsible for autoinducer production.

In bacteria, the regulation of gene expression in response to changes in cell density is called quorum sensing. Quorum-sensing bacteria produce, release, and respond to hormone-like molecules (autoinducers) that accumulate in the external environment as the cell population grows. In the marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi two parallel quorum-sensing systems exist, and each is composed of a sensor-autoinducer pair. V. harveyi reporter strains capable of detecting only autoinducer 1 (AI-1) or autoinducer 2 (AI-2) have been constructed and used to show that many species of bacteria, including Escherichia coli MG1655, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium 14028, and S. typhimurium LT2 produce autoinducers similar or identical to the V. harveyi system 2 autoinducer AI-2. However, the domesticated laboratory strain E. coli DH5alpha does not produce this signal molecule. Here we report the identification and analysis of the gene responsible for AI-2 production in V. harveyi, S. typhimurium, and E. coli. The genes, which we have named luxSV.h. , luxSS.t. , and luxSE.c. respectively, are highly homologous to one another but not to any other identified gene. E. coli DH5alpha can be complemented to AI-2 production by the introduction of the luxS gene from V. harveyi or E. coli O157:H7. Analysis of the E. coli DH5alpha luxSE.c. gene shows that it contains a frameshift mutation resulting in premature truncation of the LuxSE.c. protein. Our results indicate that the luxS genes define a new family of autoinducer-production genes.
How load bearing can influence cognitive performance : investigated using mobile electroencephalography (EEG) recordings in real-life settings

Physical load carriage is an essential duty for military personnel. Physical load carriage induces psychological and physiological effects, but the influence of load carriage on brain activity and subsequent cognitive performance is largely unknown. This due to difficulties in disentangling the subtle behavioural effects under load carriage in complex occupational settings. To investigate how load carriage influences cognition directly, continuous measures of brain activity must be obtained in realistic settings. Mobile EEG is ideally suited to this task. Across four studies, mobile EEG recordings were used to assess to what extent load carriage influences attention. Four objectives were defined. 1. To evaluate mobile EEG as a viable tool in real-life settings (studies 1-4). 2. Investigate the influence of walking on attentional processes (study 1, selective attention; study 2, change detection). 3. Establish the impact of load carriage on brain activity during walking (study 3). 4. Assess the interaction of load carriage on attentional processes during walking (study 4). Interpretations of resulting data were conceptualised in the proposed dynamic resource allocation model of cognitive performance. Successful application of Mobile EEG was evident and found signal quality comparable to EEG recorded in a laboratory. Moreover, walking influenced attentional processes in an indirect way, moderated by the environment and concurrent perceptual load. While a steady state neural index of walking was recorded in a natural setting, this was invulnerable to load carriage effects. Further, and most pressing for this thesis, load carriage had little influence on neural indices of attention. Despite this, there is some indication from the data that fatigue plays a prominent role in the interaction of load carriage and cognitive function, and further exploring the neural underpinnings of motivation may prove fruitful in future studies of load carriage and cognitive function.
Antibacterial and Phytotoxic Profile of Selected Pakistani Medicinal Plants

5 Abstract: In the present research work three Pakistani medicinal plants were scrutinized for their antibacterial and phytotoxic potentials. The antibacterial and phytotoxic effects were determined for the crude methanolic extract and its subsequent solvent fractions. In case of antibacterial effect the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of all tested plants showed moderate antibacterial potential. All the tested plants were proved good phytotoxic at concentrations of 1000, 100 and 10 ppm. The phytotoxic effect of the tested plants was higher than antibacterial effect. In conclusion these plants can be used as good source of antibacterial and phytotoxic actions.
Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and the cardiac-sparing effect of liposomal formulation

The anthracyclines are a group of antibiotics that are among the most potent chemotherapeutic agents. They are highly effective against a broad spectrum of malignancies, including lymphoma, gastric cancer, small cell lung cancer, sarcoma, and breast cancer. Unfortunately, these agents also exhibit a well-recognized cumulative-dose related cardiotoxic profile that limits the extent to which they can be used safely. In clinical practice, most clinicians limit the cumulative dose of doxorubicin (the most widely used agent in this group) to 400–450 mg/m2, but considerable cardiac damage is now known to occur at cumulative dosages considerably below this level. Regimens using newer combinations of agents, the most widely studied of which is the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, are known to augment the cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines. The application of nanotechnology to medicine involves the use of devices that will interact with the body at the molecular level. These methods can lead to target and tissue specific clinical application, often with minimal or reduced side effects. Liposomal preparations incorporate such technology, thereby altering some important characteristics of the parent compound and facilitating concentration at the tumor site. In the case of liposomal doxorubicin, cardiotoxicity is reduced significantly. This review summarizes the important information on the liposomal preparation of anthracyclines.