Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Construct and Predictive Validity of a Self-Assessment Scale

Guided by the theory of interpretive validity argument, this study investigated the plausibility and accuracy of five sets of warrants which were deemed crucial to the validity of a self-assessment (SA) scale designed and used in a local EFL context. Methodologically, this study utilized both the Rasch measurement theory and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the five warrants and their respective rebuttals. Results from Rasch analysis indicated that the scale could reliably distinguish students at different proficiency levels. Among the 26 can-do statements in the SA scale, only one statement failed to fit the expectations of the Rasch model. Furthermore, each category was found to function as intended, though the first category was somewhat underused. Confirmatory factor analysis of the SA data supported the tenability of the Higher-Order Factor model which is consistent with the current view of L2 ability. Structural regression analysis revealed that the association between students’ self-assessments and their scores on a standardized proficiency test was moderately strong. The multiple strands of evidence generated by various quantitative analyses of the SA data generally supported the validity of the SA scale. Future research, however, is warranted to examine other inferences in the validity argument structure, particularly in relation to the utility of the SA scale in English teaching and learning.
Improving Student Peer Feedback

Abstract Instructors use peer feedback to afford students multiple assessments of their work and to help them acquire important lifelong skills. However, research finds that this type of feedback has questionable validity, reliability, and accuracy, and instructors consider much of it too uncritical, superficial, vague, and content-focused, among other things. This article posits that the typical judgment-based feedback questions give students emotionally charged tasks that they are cognitively ill equipped to perform well and that permit laxness. It then introduces an alternative that encourages neutral, informative, and thorough responses that add genuine value to the peer feedback process.
Gemcitabine and liposomal doxorubicin in biliary and hepatic carcinoma (HCC) chemotherapy: preliminary results and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Advanced biliary tract cancers have a poor prognosis. Gemcitabine (G) as a single agent or in combination represents an active treatment option. Systemic chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma represents a palliative treatment. Gemcitabine in combination with Liposomal Doxorubicin (LD) may represent an active treatment option. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical trials for biliary and hepatic carcinoma have been reviewed. RESULTS We obtained RC (1 pt), RP (4 pts), SD (8 pts) and seven pts had PD (RR 25% and SD 40%). Our chemotherapy regimen was Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) d 1 and 8, Liposomal Doxorubicin 30 mg d 1, q 28. Patients were 21 (17 M), aged 44 to 78 (median 63 yrs). Only in 8 pts we observed G 3-4 haematological toxicity, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia (7 G3, 1 G4).
Critical Access Hospitals: Rural Nursing Issues

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are a recent federal initiative to address the fiscal concerns of small rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare for rural residents. A national effort exists to examine the outcomes of this federal initiative, but there is a paucity of information about nursing in CAHs. This pilot study, using survey techniques, examined rural nurses' perceptions of CAH conversion. The authors discuss the authorizing legislation, Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (MRHFP), and highlight survey findings on nurses' perceptions about hospitals that converted to CAH status. The information can be used by nursing administrators and educators to prepare nurses to work in CAHs that are located in more remote areas of the United States.
Effect of antipyretic drugs on circadian rhythm in body temperature of rats.

In many species, including the laboratory rat, body temperature varies on a circadian (24 h) basis. There is considerable evidence that the circadian rise in body temperature is attributable to an elevation in thermoregulatory set point. We hypothesized that this rise in set point may be mediated by prostaglandins. If this hypothesis is correct, then it should be possible to block or reduce the nighttime rise in body temperature by the administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. Rats were injected with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors sodium salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, and indomethacin at 5:00 P.M. and at 9:00 A.M. Administration of these drugs had little effect on body temperature during the day but caused a significant fall in body temperature at night when temperature is normally in the rising or plateau phase of the cycle. We conclude that prostaglandin synthesis is an important component of the circadian rise in body temperature in the rat. In addition, evidence is presented that there exists a cryogenic factor that opposes the nighttime prostaglandin-mediated rise in body temperature.
Assessment of total energy expenditure in a Chinese population by a physical activity questionnaire: examination of validity

A physical activity questionnaire from which total daily energy expenditure (TEE) could be estimated was developed for adult Hong Kong Chinese subjects, and its reliability and validity examined. The questionnaire was based on questionnaires used in Caucasians, and adapted for local lifestyle after focus group meetings involving subjects of all age groups. The questionnaire was administered to 94 subjects, consisting of healthy adults, the elderly, and two patient groups (those with renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and those with cancer). Seventy-one subjects were reinterviewed within 14 days to test reliability. Validity was examined in 31 normal subjects by measuring the basal metabolic rate (BMR) by indirect calorimetry and multiplying by the physical activity level (PAL) obtained from published studies using the doubly labelled water method and also from FAO/WHO/UNU to obtain the TEE. The intraclass correlation coefficient of reliability ranges from 0.7 to 0.8 for all subject groups. The mean estimated TEE from the questionnaire was not significantly different from the mean value derived from measured BMR × PAL. The mean bias ranged from an underestimation of 27 kcal to overestimation of 215 kcal. However, the limits of variability were wide. Age was inversely related to the energy expended for occupational activities, but was positively associated with energy expended in leisure activities. Women spent less energy on occupational and exercise activities, and more on caretaking activities. Those with disease were also less likely to participate in caretaking activities. We conclude that this questionnaire may be a useful tool for future studies where energy expenditure needs to be estimated in various settings in the Hong Kong Chinese population.
Affine conjugate adaptive Newton methods for nonlinear elastomechanics

The paper extends affine conjugate Newton methods from convex to nonconvex minimization, with particular emphasis on PDE problems originating from compressible hyperelasticity. On the basis of well-known schemes from finite dimensional nonlinear optimization, three different algorithmic variants are worked out in a function space setting, which permits an adaptive multilevel finite element implementation. These algorithms are tested on two well-known 3D test problems and a real-life example from surgical operation planning.
Expressões anunciadoras de paráfrase como característica de gêneros textuais : do manual didático de química à legislação ambiental brasileira

This paper deals with the presence and the use of EAP (Expressoes Anunciadoras de Parafrase, paraphrase introducing expressions) in Chemistry academic texts. The aim is to provide support to identify factors that contribute to comprehension difficulties of this kind of text. First, this research describes the frequency and distribution of EAP in a corpus formed by two General Chemistry academic manuals translated into Portuguese. Afterwards, the translation of EAP is discussed by comparing the original text in English to the translated text in Portuguese. This research also compares Chemistry manuals to other textual genres by analyzing the presence of EAP aiming to evaluate how much the presence of EAP characterizes a textual genre. The aim is to provide a means of gaining a better understanding of reading comprehension difficulties of a didactical material largely used by academic students of Chemistry (sponsored by CNPq).
Fluctuations from edge defects in superconducting resonators

Superconducting resonators, used in astronomy and quantum computation, couple strongly to microscopic two-level defects. We monitor the microwave response of superconducting resonators and observe fluctuations in dissipation and resonance frequency. We present a unified model where the observed dissipative and dispersive effects can be explained as originating from a bath of fluctuating two-level systems. From these measurements, we quantify the number and distribution of the defects.
Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy - still a public health issue.

The objectives of this study were to quantify the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in pregnancy, explore associated risk factors and discuss the public health implications. The study used retrospective analysis of randomly selected data. This is the first report on serum vitamin D levels in an unselected multi-ethnic population of pregnant women collected between April 2008 and March 2009. Women with sufficient stored serum were randomly selected from among all women who delivered between April 2008 and March 2009. Serum vitamin D levels were determined using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Vitamin D levels were analysed with respect to ethnicity (marking skin tone), calendar quartile, body mass index (BMI), trimester and parity. Deficiency was defined as <25 nmol L(-1) , insufficiency 25-75 nmol L(-1) and adequacy >75 nmol L(-1) . Three hundred and forty-six women were included and represented the total population regarding skin tone, quartile, BMI, gestation and parity. Overall, 18% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15-23%] of sample women had adequate vitamin D levels; 36% were deficient, 45% insufficient. Among women with dark skin, only 8% (95% CI: 5-12%) had adequate levels compared with 43% (95% CI: 33-53%) of those with light skin. Obese women were found have significantly lower vitamin D levels than non-obese women. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent year-round among pregnant women in North West London, especially those with darker skin. Existing supplementation guidelines should be supported; however, other measures are required to improve status among all women.
Robust Longevity Risk Management

We consider longevity risk hedging problems, where survivor swaps are available as hedging instruments. As objective functions we consider the mean-variance and the mean-conditional-value-at-risk of the hedged liabilities, evaluated using an estimated probability law governing the mortality dynamics. To be robust against estimation inaccuracy, we optimize the worst-case value of the objective function, where the worst-case is with respect to a statistical confidence set around the estimated probability law. We derive reformulations of the worst-case optimization problems that can be solved easily. In the empirical analysis, we compare the performance of the worst case (robust) optimizations with the (non-robust) optimizations that ignore the estimation inaccuracy. We find that the robust optimizations perform better when the actual and estimated probability laws deviate, which is likely to happen in the presence of estimation inaccuracy.
<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$M$</tex> </formula>-Channel Oversampled Graph Filter Banks

This paper proposes M-channel oversampled filter banks for graph signals. The filter set satisfies the perfect reconstruction condition. A method of designing oversampled graph filter banks is presented that allows us to design filters with arbitrary parameters, unlike the conventional critically sampled graph filter banks. The oversampled graph Laplacian matrix is also introduced with a discussion of the entire redundancy of the oversampled graph signal processing system. The practical performance of the proposed filter banks is validated through graph signal denoising experiments.
Killer double-stranded ribonucleic acid synthesis in cell division cycle mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The synthesis of killer double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined in seven different cell division cycle mutants (cdc) that are defective in nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid replication and contain the "killer character. " In cdc28, cdc4, and cdc7, which are defective in the initiation of nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, and in cdc23 or in cdc14, defective in medial or late nuclear division, an overproduction of dsRNA at the restrictive temperature was observed. In contrast to the above mutants, the synthesis of killer dsRNA is not enhanced at the restrictive temperature in either cdc8 or cdc21, which are defective in deoxyribonucleic acid chain elongation. Examination of killer sensitive strains (cdc7 K- and cdc4 K-) has shown that the complete killer dsRNA genome is essential for the overproduction of dsRNA at the restrictive temperature.
Lormetazepam in depressive insomnia: new evidence of phase-response effects of benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines can shift the phase of circadian rhythms in mammalian species, but few data are available on their phase–response effects in humans, and on possible links between timing of administration and hypnotic efficacy. Using a placebo-controlled, cross-over design, we evaluated the hypnotic effect of lormetazepam 0.03 mg/kg and placebo in 38 inpatients who were affected by a major depressive episode. Patients were divided into three groups, receiving treatment at 18.00 h, 20.00 h or 22.00 h, respectively. Sleep and psychiatric symptoms were evaluated with self-administered scales and a sleep diary. The results demonstrate that active treatment significantly improved insomnia independent of the severity of depression, which remained unchanged. Timing of treatment influenced changes in timing of sleep observed with active treatment. Although sleep duration was equally improved in all treatment groups, patients who received treatment at 20.00 h showed an acute advance of sleep onset, with no changes in morning awakening. Patients who received treatment at 22.00 h showed an acute delay in morning awakening, with no changes of sleep onset. Finally, patients who received treatment at 18.00 h showed a non-significant trend in the same direction. These effects reverted with cross-over return to placebo. The perceived degree of improvement of insomnia was proportional to the advance in timing of sleep onset obtained with treatment. Our results suggest that the effects of lormetazepam on the subjective sleep of patients affected by a major depressive episode depend upon the timing of administration, and that improvement in subjective sleep is related to advance of sleep onset, and not to delay of morning awakening.
Birth spacing and fertility limitation: a behavioral analysis of a nineteenth century frontier population

Our analysis of changing birth interval distributions over the course of a fertility transition from natural to controlled fertility has examined three closely related propositions. First, within both natural fertility populations (identified at the aggregate level) and cohorts following the onset of fertility limitation, we hypothesized that substantial groups of women with long birth intervals across the individually specified childbearing careers could be identified. That is, even during periods when fertility behavior at the aggregate level is consistent with a natural fertility regime, birth intervals at all parities are inversely related to completed family size. Our tabular analysis enables us to conclude that birth spacing patterns are parity dependent; there is stability in CEB-parity specific mean and birth interval variance over the entire transition. Our evidence does not suggest that the early group of women limiting and spacing births was marked by infecundity. Secondly, the transition appears to be associated with an increasingly larger proportion of women shifting to the same spacing schedules associated with smaller families in earlier cohorts. Thirdly, variations in birth spacing by age of marriage indicate that changes in birth intervals over time are at least indirectly associated with age of marriage, indicating an additional compositional effect. The evidence we have presented on spacing behavior does not negate the argument that parity-dependent stopping behavior was a powerful factor in the fertility transition. Our data also provide evidence of attempts to truncate childbearing. Specifically, the smaller the completed family size, the longer the ultimate birth interval; and ultimate birth intervals increase across cohorts controlling CEB and parity. But spacing appears to represent an additional strategy of fertility limitation. Thus, it may be necessary to distinguish spacing and stopping behavior if one wishes to clarify behavioral patterns within a population (Edlefsen, 1981; Friedlander et al., 1980; Rodriguez and Hobcraft, 1980). Because fertility transition theories imply increased attempts to limit family sizes, it is important to examine differential behavior within subgroups achieving different family sizes. It is this level of analysis which we have attempted to achieve in utilizing parity-specific birth intervals controlled by children ever born. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Japanese B encephalitis in Vietnam

Fifty-seven U.S. troops developed Japanese B encephalitis during an epidemic in Vietnam in the summer of 1969. Thirty-six patients required medical evacuation from Vietnam because of persisting mental status abnormalities. One patient died. Severe disturbances in sensorium were present in 15 of the evacuated patients. Japanese B encephalitis virus was recovered from the patient who died. The typical patient presented with a symptom complex consisting of severe headache, fever, chills, vomiting, malaise, myalgia, photophobia and nuchal rigidity. Confusion and combativeness dominated the febrile period. There was no relationship between the number or type of cells or protein in the spinal fluid and the clinical severity of the disease. It is estimated that subclinical infection probably occurred in at least 10,000 troops during this epidemic. The magnitude of the epidemic and subclinical infection suggests that serious consideration be given to continued interest in the development of protective immunization
Identity Challenges of Women Leaders: Antecedents and Consequences of Identity Interference

We explore the antecedents and consequences of women leaders’ identity interference related to the perceived conflict between their roles as both women and leaders. Drawing on identity development and organizational demography research, we propose that leadership experience reduces women leaders’ identity interference, whereas women’s numerical underrepresentation in organizations exacerbates it. Moreover, we hypothesize that identity processes related to collective self-esteem—personal regard for one’s collective identity and the perception of others’ views of it—mediate these effects. A sample of 722 women leaders representing a diverse range of countries and industries supported our hypotheses. We also demonstrate that identity interference reduces the psychological well-being of women leaders and undermines their affective motivation to lead. In contrast, perceived conflict between leader and female identities enhances women’s sense of duty to assume leadership roles. Importantly, women leaders’ personal regard for their female identity buffers the detrimental effect of identity interference on life satisfaction. We discuss the implications of our results for women’s advancement in organizations and the development of their identity as leaders.
Preparing Special Educators to use Mobile Technology: A Review of the Literature

Since mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, their use in the modern public classrooms is an ever increasing occurrence. In order to meet the demands of the rising technology needs, teachers must be well versed in the pedagogical and curriculum uses of mobile devices. However, general and special education pre-service teacher education programs rarely provide the knowledge, skills and practice that are necessary to integrate mobile technology in ways that will affect positive changes in student learning. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to determine the prevalance of and current trends in mobile technology training in teacher preparation programs, especially as it applies to pre-service special education teachers. Results of the review revelaed a paucity of research on the topic in both special and general education.
Assessment of loaded squat jump height with a free-weight barbell and Smith machine: comparison of the take-off velocity and flight time procedures.

The aims of this study were to compare the reliability and magnitude of jump height between the two standard procedures of analysing force platform data to estimate jump height (take-off velocity [TOV] and flight time [FT]) in the loaded squat jump (SJ) exercise performed with a free-weight barbell and in a Smith machine. Twenty-three collegiate men (age 23.1 ± 3.2 years, body mass 74.7 ± 7.3 kg, height 177.1 ± 7.0 cm) were tested twice for each SJ type (free-weight barbell and Smith machine) with 17, 30, 45, 60, and 75 kg loads. No substantial differences in reliability were observed between the TOV (Coefficient of variation [CV]: 9.88%; Intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.82) and FT (CV: 8.68%; ICC: 0.88) procedures (CV ratio: 1.14), while the Smith SJ (CV: 7.74%; ICC: 0.87) revealed a higher reliability than the free-weight SJ (CV: 9.88%; ICC: 0.81) (CV ratio: 1.28). The TOV procedure provided higher magnitudes of jump height than the FT procedure for the loaded Smith machine SJ (systematic bias: 2.64 cm; P<0.05), while no significant differences between the TOV and FT procedures were observed in the free-weight SJ exercise (systematic bias: 0.26 cm; P>0.05). Heteroscedasticity of the errors was observed for the Smith machine SJ (r: 0.177) with increasing differences in favour of the TOV procedure for the trials with lower jump height (i.e. higher external loads). Based on these results the use of a Smith machine in conjunction with the FT more accurately determine jump height during the loaded SJ.
Expression pattern of FCRL (FREB, FcRX) in normal and neoplastic human B cells

FCRL (also known as FREB and FcRX) is a recently described member of the family of Fc receptors for immunoglobulin G (IgG). In the present study we analysed its expression in normal and neoplastic lymphoid tissue using immunohistochemical techniques. FCRL was preferentially expressed in a proportion of germinal centre cells and, more weakly, in mantle zone B cells. In addition, strong labelling was observed in marginal zone B cells in the spleen, representing one of the few markers for this cell type. The majority of cases of small B‐cell lymphoma, diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease were positive for FCRL. However, the number of positive cells varied widely, and in consequence we could not define a cut‐off that distinguished subsets of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. Our results also showed that FCRL tended to be negative in T‐cell‐rich B‐cell lymphoma and in classical Hodgkin's disease. FCRL may therefore represent a novel marker for normal B cells (e.g. splenic marginal zone cells) and may also be useful as a potential marker of B‐cell neoplasms.