Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negotiation for meaning in CMC environments Following the application of computer-mediated classroom discussion in foreign language classrooms

Research in second language acquisition (SLA) in computer-mediated interaction using an interactionist framework finds negotiation for meaning (NfM) to occur in native speaker (NS) and non-native speaker (NNS) and in NNS-NNS synchronous electronic exchange (chat). Research in foreign language learning (FLL) in telecollaborative environments using socio-cognitive frameworks finds development of communicative and intercultural competence to occur in chat as well. To the end of exploring the complementarities of the two approaches, after reviews of relevant literature, this chapter conducts analyses on the same data produced by two dyads in Telekorp, the Telecollaborative Corpus of German and English. First, NfM sequences found in two chats are analyzed using an expanded NfM taxonomy. In the very few NfM sequences found to occur, self-noticing and use of task-appropriate responses are observed, implicating the affordances provided by the computer-mediated environment. The data are then re-analyzed using a socio-cognitive framework, which allows for the consideration of negotiation of face and solidarity, that is, interpersonal meaningfulness from the participant’s perspective. In this way, socio-cognitive interpretation is shown to enhance, rather than contradict, an NfM analysis, a stance supported by an ecological heuristic.
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping In Gastric Cancer Surgery: Current Status

Abstract Lymphonodular metastases remain an important predictive and prognostic factor in gastric cancer development. The precise determination of the lymphonodular invasion stage can be made only by extended intraoperative lymphadenectomy and histopathological examination. But the main controversy is the usefulness of extended lymph dissection in early gastric cancer. This increases the duration of the surgery and the complications rate, and it is unnecessary without lymphonodular invasion. The identification of the sentinel lymph nodes has been successfully applied for some time in the precise detection of lymph nodes status in breast cancer, malignant melanoma and the use for gastric cancer patients has been a controversial issue. The good prognosis in early gastric cancer had been a surgery challenge, which led to the establishment of minimally invasive individualized treatment and acceptance of sentinel lymph node mapping. The dual-tracer method, submucosally administered endoscopically is also recommended in sentinel lymph node biopsy by laparoscopic approach. There are new sophisticated technologies for detecting sentinel lymph node such as: infrared ray endoscopy, florescence imaging and near-infrared technology, carbon nanoparticles, which will open new perspectives in sentinel lymph nodes mapping.
Anorexia Nervosa in Males: A Report of 12 Cases

The demographic and clinical features of 12 male patients with anorexia nervosa were investigated by means of a retrospective analysis of their medical records. The clinical characteristics of the male patients were found to be remarkably similar to those reported for female patients and our findings concur with previously published literature. There appears however to be a greater tendency to exercise excessively. The importance of recognising anorexia nervosa in males is emphasized.
What Causes Waste Flows? An Interregional Analysis of Welsh Waste Shipments

Much of the waste flow literature focuses on international waste trade and oftentimes solely on trade in hazardous wastes. However, data is often available for waste flows within national borders and these flows could yield just as much information on the relationships that exist between origins and destinations. In a world where waste creation, transport, and disposal is becoming a global problem, understanding and modeling these flows is becoming increasingly important. This paper uses a gravity model approach and data on commercial waste shipments between local authorities within Wales to examine the characteristics that are responsible for origin-destination waste flow relationships. We focus on economic characteristics, as well as socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that may play a role in interregional Welsh waste trade.
High performance CUDA AES implementation: A quantitative performance analysis approach

The importance of cryptography on ensuring security or integrity of the electronic data transaction had become higher during the past few years. Multiple security protocols are currently using various block ciphers. One of the most widely used block ciphers is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) which is chosen as a standard for its higher efficiency and stronger security than its competitors. Unfortunately, the encryption and decryption processes of AES takes a considerable amount of time for large data size. The GPU is an attractive platform for accelerating block ciphers and other cryptography algorithms due to its massively parallel processing power. In this work, an implementation of the AES-128 ECB Encryption on three different GPU architectures (Kepler, Maxwell and Pascal) has been presented. The results show that encryption speeds with 207 Gbps on the NVIDIA GTX TITAN X (Maxwell) and 280 Gbps on the NVIDIA GTX 1080 (Pascal) have been achieved by performing new optimization techniques using 32bytes/thread granularity.
The effect of changes in cardiac output on middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity at rest and during exercise

We examined the relationship between changes in cardiac output and middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity (MCA Vmean) in seven healthy volunteer men at rest and during 50% maximal oxygen uptake steady‐state submaximal cycling exercise. Reductions in were accomplished using lower body negative pressure (LBNP), while increases in were accomplished using infusions of 25% human serum albumin. Heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure and MCA Vmean were continuously recorded. At each stage of LBNP and albumin infusion was measured using an acetylene rebreathing technique. Arterial blood samples were analysed for partial pressure of carbon dioxide tension (P a,CO 2. During exercise HR and were increased above rest (P < 0.001), while neither MCA Vmean nor P a,CO 2 was altered (P > 0.05). The MCA Vmean and were linearly related at rest (P < 0.001) and during exercise (P= 0.035). The slope of the regression relationship between MCA Vmean and at rest was greater (P= 0.035) than during exercise. In addition, the phase and gain between MCA Vmean and mean arterial pressure in the low frequency range were not altered from rest to exercise indicating that the cerebral autoregulation was maintained. These data suggest that the associated with the changes in central blood volume influence the MCA Vmean at rest and during exercise and its regulation is independent of cerebral autoregulation. It appears that the exercise induced sympathoexcitation and the change in the distribution of between the cerebral and the systemic circulation modifies the relationship between MCA Vmean and .
Implant-prosthetic treatment in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy: report of cases.

PURPOSE Since 1997, the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved systemic health and life expectancy of patients who test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in industrialized countries. Therefore, although implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation has been restricted to immunocompetent individuals, it may be considered for these patients. CASE REPORTS The treatment course of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation in 3 patients is reported. Patient 1 (male, age 64 years) was under 4-drug therapy; patient 2 (male, age 38 years) and patient 3 (female, age 49 years) were under 3-drug therapy. Two patients had suffered from AIDS-defining diseases prior to HAART. Oral manifestations of HIV infection were not diagnosed throughout the observation period. Patients had CD4+ cell counts between 250 and 800/mL, and viral load was below 50/mL. Perioperative antibiotic treatment was not applied. Two patients presented with edentulous mandibles. In the third patient, single-tooth replacement of both mandibular first molars was performed. A total of 10 Frialit-2 implants were placed without augmentation procedures. RESULTS One implant failed after 3 months and was successfully replaced. Two patients received magnet-retained overdentures in the mandible, and 1 patient was treated with single crowns. All implants and restorations are successfully in function. Neither radiographic nor clinical signs of inflammation were detected during the observation period (range, 7 to 32 months). CONCLUSIONS The outcomes of the 3 patients suggest that immunologically stable HIV-positive patients on HAART may be considered for implant-prosthetic rehabilitation.
The Effect of Water Accessible Paramagnetic Ions on Subcellular Structures Formed in Developing Wheat Photosynthetic Membranes as Observed by NMR and by Sorption Isotherm

The rehydration from the gaseous phase of the developing native or EDTA-washed from unbound and loosely bound paramagnetic ions wheat thylakoid membrane lyophilizate was investigated using hydration kinetics, sorption isotherm, and high power proton relaxometry. Hydration time courses are single exponential for all target humidities. The sorption isotherm is well fitted by the Dent model, with the mass of water saturating primary binding sites equal to ∆M/m0 = 0.024 and 0.017 for native and EDTA-washed membranes, respectively. Proton free induction decays distinguish: (i) a Gaussian component, S0, coming from protons of solid matrix of lyophilizate; (ii) a Gaussian component, S1, from water bound to the primary water binding sites in proximity of water accessible paramagnetic ions; (iii) an exponentially decaying contribution, L1, from water tightly bound to lyophilizate surface; and (iv) exponentially decaying loosely bound water pool, L2. Sorption isotherm fitted to NMR data shows a significant contribution of water “sealed” in membrane structures (∆Ms/m0 = 0.052 for native and 0.061 for EDTA-washed developing membranes, respectively).
Neural Network Observer for Nonlinear Systems Application to Induction Motors 1

In this paper, we investigate the problem of Neural Network (NN) observer for nonlinear systems. Therefore, it can be applied to systems with higher degree of nonlinearity with any a priory knowledge about system dynamics. The proposed neuro-observer is a three-layer feedforward neural network, which is trained extensively with the error backpropagation learning algorithm including a correction term to guarantee good tracking as well as bounded NN weights. Furthermore, the Lyapunov’s direct method is used in order to ensuring the stability of the proposed non-conventional observer and of the NN weight errors. The effectiveness of the proposed state observer scheme is demonstrated through numerical simulation to reconstruct the unavailable state variables of an induction motor (IM) and especially the rotor flux despite the effect of the arisen parameters such as the load torque which is also reconstructed using the NN observer.
Predominance of activated, clonally expanded T helper type 17 cells within the CD4+ T cell population in psoriatic lesions

Recent evidence points to the T helper type 17 (Th17) subset as key in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, but cells of this type in lesions remain to be fully characterized. Here we isolated, enumerated, functionally tested and clonotyped the CD4+ Th cell population ex vivo from lesional biopsies and paired peripheral blood samples from psoriasis patients. Th17 cells were over‐represented dramatically in lesions from all patients, representing 49–93% of CD4+ Th cells compared with 3–18% in blood. Most lesional Th17 cells produced interleukin (IL)‐17A ex vivo without further stimulation and expressed the CD45RO+ phenotype characteristic of activated or memory cells. There was no increase in ‘natural’ [CD25hiforkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+)] regulatory T cells in lesions versus peripheral blood, but there was enrichment of ‘induced’ IL‐10+ regulatory T cell numbers in biopsies from some patients. The lesional Th17 cells exhibited a bias in T cell receptor Vβ chain usage, suggestive of specific expansion by antigen. The therapeutic challenge is to overcome the dominance of overwhelming numbers of such antigen‐specific Th17 cells in psoriatic lesions.
The Effect of Physical Fitness Training on Reaction Time in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to assess whether reaction time in persons with intellectual disabilities can be improved with an exercise program. 50 children and adolescents (M age = 14.7 yr., SD = 1.4, range = 11–18) with mild intellectual disability without Downs syndrome were randomly divided into control (20 boys, 5 girls) and experimental (19 boys, 6 girls) groups. The experimental group participated in a structured physical fitness program for 12 weeks. Reaction time was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Significant improvements in reaction time were observed in the exercise group but not for the control group. Results indicated that reaction time can be improved with an exercise program in youth with intellectual disability.
Multiple Roles for Two Efflux Pumps in the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Degrading Pseudomonas putida Strain B6-2 (DSM 28064)

ABSTRACT Microbial bioremediation is a promising approach for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants. Many degraders of PAHs possess efflux pump genes in their genomes; however, their specific roles in the degradation of PAHs have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, two efflux pumps, TtgABC and SrpABC, were systematically investigated to determine their functions in a PAH-degrading Pseudomonas putida strain B6-2 (DSM 28064). The disruption of genes ttgABC or srpABC resulted in a defect in organic solvent tolerance. TtgABC was found to contribute to antibiotic resistance; SrpABC only contributed to antibiotic resistance under an artificial overproduced condition. Moreover, a mutant strain without srpABC did not maintain its activity in long-term biphenyl (BP) degradation, which correlated with the loss of cell viability. The expression of SrpABC was significantly upregulated in the course of BP degradation. BP, 2-hydroxybiphenyl, 3-hydroxybiphenyl, and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (2,3-DHBP) were revealed to be the inducers of srpABC. 2,3-DHBP was verified to be a substrate of pump SrpABC; SrpABC can enhance the tolerance to 2,3-DHBP by pumping it out. The mutant strain B6-2ΔsrpS prolonged BP degradation with the increase of srpABC expression. These results suggest that the pump SrpABC of strain B6-2 plays a positive role in BP biodegradation by pumping out metabolized toxic substances such as 2,3-DHBP. This study provides insights into the versatile physiological functions of the widely distributed efflux pumps in the biodegradation of PAHs. IMPORTANCE Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are notorious for their recalcitrance to degradation in the environment. A high frequency of the occurrence of the efflux pump genes was observed in the genomes of effective PAH degraders; however, their specific roles in the degradation of PAHs are still obscure. The significance of our study is in the identification of the function and mechanism of the efflux pump SrpABC of Pseudomonas putida strain B6-2 (DSM 28064) in the biphenyl degradation process. SrpABC is crucial for releasing the toxicity caused by intermediates that are unavoidably produced in PAH degradation, which enables an understanding of how cells maintain the intracellular balance of materials. The findings from this study provide a new perspective on PAH recalcitrance and shed light on enhancing PAH degradation by genetic engineering.
Reliability and Validity of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3 (SCAT3) in High School and Collegiate Athletes

Background: The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3 (SCAT3) facilitates sideline clinical assessments of concussed athletes. Yet, there is little published research on clinically relevant metrics for the SCAT3 as a whole. Purpose: We documented the psychometric properties of the major SCAT3 components (symptoms, cognition, balance) and derived clinical decision criteria (ie, reliable change score cutoffs and normative conversation tables) for clinicians to apply to cases with and without available preinjury baseline data. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: High school and collegiate athletes (N = 2018) completed preseason baseline evaluations including the SCAT3. Re-evaluations of 166 injured athletes and 164 noninjured controls were performed within 24 hours of injury and at 8, 15, and 45 days after injury. Analyses focused on predictors of baseline performance, test-retest reliability, and sensitivity and specificity of the SCAT3 using either single postinjury cutoffs or reliable change index (RCI) criteria derived from this sample. Results: Athlete sex, level of competition, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disability (LD), and estimated verbal intellectual ability (but not concussion history) were associated with baseline scores on ≥1 SCAT3 components (small to moderate effect sizes). Female sex, high school level of competition (vs college), and ADHD were associated with higher baseline symptom ratings (d = 0.25-0.32). Male sex, ADHD, and LD were associated with lower baseline Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) scores (d = 0.28-0.68). Male sex, high school level of competition, ADHD, and LD were associated with poorer baseline Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) performance (d = 0.14-0.26). After injury, the symptom checklist manifested the largest effect size at the 24-hour assessment (d = 1.52), with group differences diminished but statistically significant at day 8 (d = 0.39) and nonsignificant at day 15. Effect sizes for the SAC and BESS were small to moderate at 24 hours (SAC: d = −0.36; modified BESS: d = 0.46; full BESS: d = 0.51) and became nonsignificant at day 8 (SAC) and day 15 (BESS). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses demonstrated a stronger discrimination for symptoms (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.86) than cognitive and balance measures (AUCs = 0.58 and 0.62, respectively), with comparable discrimination of each SCAT3 component using postinjury scores alone versus baseline-adjusted scores (P = .71-.90). Normative conversion tables and RCI criteria were created to facilitate the use of the SCAT3 both with and without baseline test results. Conclusion: Individual predictors should be taken into account when interpreting the SCAT3. The normative conversion tables and RCIs presented can be used to help interpret concussed athletes’ performance both with and without baseline data, given the comparability of the 2 interpretative approaches.
Study on Clinical Bovine Dermatophilosis and its Potential Risk Factors in North Western Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study of dermatophilosis was undertaken from October 2008 to March 2009 on 3456 cattle (3181 indigenous zebu and 275 Holestien-zebu cross) with the aim of determining prevalence and associated risk factors in urban and periurban areas of Bahir Dar, north western Ethiopia. Cul turing of Dermatiphilus congolensis and Giemsa staining were the techniques used. Thirty six of 3456 examined animals (1.04%) had clin ical dermatophilosis. Prevalence was higher in cross bred (5.5%) than in indigenous zebu (0.7%) cattle, in male cattle (1.7%) than in female (0.8%), in adults (1.2%) than in young (0.8%) age groups, in wet (1.6%) than in dry season (0. 5%), and in cat tle in fested with tick (2 .7%) than cattle with no tick infestation (0.4%). Statistically significant difference (p≤ 0.05) was observed in the prevalence between breeds of cattle, be tween age groups, between wet and dry seasons, and between cattle wit h and without tick infestation. Amblyoma variegatum was identified. The study indicated dermatophilosis is a potent ial determinant factor for the dairy development strategy started through cross breeding in the study area. Tick control especially on crossbred cattle is suggested to reduce the risk of dermatophilosis.
Novel PPAR&ggr; Modulator GED-0507-34 Levo Ameliorates Inflammation-driven Intestinal Fibrosis

Background:Intestinal fibrosis is mainly associated with Crohn's disease and is defined as a progressive and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components. No specific antifibrotic therapies are available. In this study, we evaluate the antifibrotic effect of a novel 5-ASA analog able to activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &ggr;, named GED-0507-34 Levo. Methods:Colonic fibrosis was induced in 110 C57BL/6 mice by 3 cycles of 2.5% (wt/vol) dextran sulfate sodium administration for 6 weeks. The preventive effects of oral daily GED (30 mg·kg−1·d−1) administration were evaluated using a macroscopic and histological score and also through biological endpoints. Expression of main markers of myofibroblasts activation was determined in transforming growth factor (TGF-&bgr;)–stimulated intestinal fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Results:GED improved macroscopic and microscopic intestinal lesions in dextran sulfate sodium-treated animals and reduced the profibrotic gene expression of Acta2, COL1a1, and Fn1 by 1.48-folds (P < 0.05), 1.93-folds (P < 0.005), and 1.03-fold (P < 0.05), respectively. It reduced protein levels of main markers of fibrosis (&agr;-SMA and Collagen I-II) and the main TGF-&bgr;/Smad pathway components. GED also decreased the interleukin-13 and connective tissue growth factor expression by 1.89-folds (P < 0.05) and 2.2-folds (P < 0.005), respectively. GED inhibited TGF-&bgr;–induced activation of both fibroblast and intestinal epithelial cell lines, by regulating mRNA expression of &agr;-SMA and fibronectin, and restoring the TGF-&bgr;–induced loss of intestinal epithelial cell markers. GED treatment also reduced the TGF-&bgr; and ACTA1 expression in primary human intestinal fibroblasts from ulcerative colitis patients. Conclusions:GED ameliorates intestinal fibrosis in dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic colitis in mice and regulates major profibrotic cellular and molecular mechanisms.
DIE NEUTRALIS and LATE BLOOMER 1 Contribute to Regulation of the Pea Circadian Clock[W]

The DIE NEUTRALIS (DNE) locus in garden pea (Pisum sativum) was previously shown to inhibit flowering under noninductive short-day conditions and to affect a graft-transmissible flowering signal. In this study, we establish that DNE has a role in diurnal and/or circadian regulation of several clock genes, including the pea GIGANTEA (GI) ortholog LATE BLOOMER 1 (LATE1) and orthologs of the Arabidopsis thaliana genes LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL and TIMING OF CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN EXPRESSION 1. We also confirm that LATE1 participates in the clock and provide evidence that DNE is the ortholog of Arabidopsis EARLY FLOWERING4 (ELF4). Circadian rhythms of clock gene expression in wild-type plants under constant light were weaker in pea than in Arabidopsis, and a number of differences were also seen in the effects of both DNE/ELF4 and LATE1/GI on clock gene expression. Grafting studies suggest that DNE controls flowering at least in part through a LATE1-dependent mobile stimulus, and dne mutants show elevated expression of a FLOWERING LOCUS T homolog under short-day conditions. However, the early flowering of the dne mutant is not associated with altered expression of a previously described CONSTANS-like gene. Collectively, our results characterize the clock system and reveal its importance for photoperiod responsiveness in a model legume.