Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring ESL immigrant students' perceptions of their academic and social integration success

This study introduces a different kind of collaborative research whereby two researchers co-design and co-conduct the research and draw their own conclusions from the shared data. The data, gathered using qualitative tools such as surveys, questionnaires, and interviews, was further enriched as a result of having two individuals from different backgrounds interpreting the data. The data collected from 14 university students who were once identified as ESL students in British Columbia, Canada, were r transcribed then analyzed using NUD*IST qualitative computer software. The focus was on their perceptions of ESL programs, immigration process, and socio-cultural factors that contributed to their academic and social integration success. Participants' own words centered mostly on their relationships with families, friends, and ESL teachers as major factors contributing to their success. ESL programs served as their safety nets as the majority suggested that their journey into social and academic mainstreams had undesirable effects on their experiences. Three major factors were identified as having both helped and hindered their adaptation and integration into Canadian school and society: family influence, bicultural identities, and segregation. Results from this study suggest a number of theoretical and practical implications. First, this study need to be replicated in different contexts using a longitudinal approach to document how immigrant ESL students construct their experiences within and outside of school overtime. Secondly, research need to aim at understanding the tension between students' home and school cultures and encourage involvement and collaboration between ESL students, parents, and teachers. In addition, examining how ESL students
DNA replication and chromatin structure of simian virus 40 insertion mutants

Insertion of DNA segments into the nuclease-sensitive region of simian virus 40 alters both replication efficiency and chromatin structure. Mutants containing large insertions between the simian virus 40 origin of replication (ori site) and the 21-base-pair repeated sequences replicated poorly when assayed by transfection into COS-1 cells. Replication of mutants with shorter insertions was moderately reduced. This effect was cis-acting and independent of the nucleotide sequence of the insert. The nuclease-sensitive chromatin structure was retained in these mutants, but the pattern of cleavage sites was displaced in the late direction from the ori site. New cleavage sites appeared within the inserted sequences, suggesting that information specifying the nuclease-sensitive chromatin structure is located on the late side of the inserts. Accessibility to BglI (which cleaves within the ori site) was reduced in the larger insertion mutants. These results support the conclusion that efficient function of the viral origin of replication is correlated with its proximity to an altered chromatin structure.
Fluctuations of Source Locations of EEG Activity during Transition from Alertness to Sleep in Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD) differs from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in larger fluctuations of cognitive impairment, hypothetically because of deteriorated vigilance control. Vigilance levels are reflected by locations of EEG sources. Transition from alertness to sleep might be particularly sensitive to degradations of vigilance control. Twelve AD and 12 VaD patients (medication free, mean age 75.6 and 77.6 years, respectively, difference = n.s.), and 12 healthy elderly subjects (mean age 70.6 years), who served as controls, were studied (each group comprised 2 males and 10 females). A twenty-one-channel EEG was recorded from full alertness to the onset of sleep stage 2. Dipole source modeling, based on Fast Fourier Transform dipole approximation, yielded 3D source localizations in 7 EEG frequency bands. For each brain axis, means of source location differences between successive 20-second periods were calculated (fluctuation magnitude). EEG band-wise MANCOVAs (3 brain axes, 3 subject groups, covariate: age) showed differences in fluctuation magnitude between groups in the 10.5- to 12-Hz α2 frequency band (p = 0.0066). Post hoc ANCOVAs for the axes (3 subject groups, covariate: age) were significant on the superior-inferior axis: VaD patients had higher fluctuations than AD patients and controls, without significant difference between the latter two. Thus, larger source fluctuations in VaD might reflect the patients’ decreased vigilance control, accounting for their increased fluctuations of cognitive impairment.
A multiword based high speed ECC scheme for low-voltage embedded SRAMS

This paper presents a multiword based error correction code (MECC) scheme to mitigate SEUs in low-voltage SRAMs. MECC combines four 32 bit data words to form a composite 128 bit ECC word and uses optimized transmission-gate XOR logic, thus significantly reducing check-bit overhead and error correction time, respectively. Use of composite word warrants a unique write operation where MECC updates checkbits by simultaneously writing one data word and reading the other three data words. Two composite words are interleaved in a row to tackle multi-bit SEU. In addition, the supply voltage of the SRAM is reduced to save leakage and active power. A 64kb SRAM with MECC implemented in 90nm CMOS technology consumes 154 muW leakage power and 375 muW active power at 0.6 V and 100 MHz, showing improved area and speed-power efficiency than conventional single-word ECC and existing multiword ECC schemes.
600V single chip inverter IC with new SOI technology

A 600V three-phase single chip inverter IC has been developed using a new SOI technology instead of conventional 500V Dielectric Isolation (DI) technology. In this new technology, 600V high voltage devices were materialized with a newly introduced poly-Si field plate and a multi diffusion region in order to reduce the electric field. A new IGBT accomplishes high current density with an on-resistance of 1. 8Ωmm2 by using a multi emitter structure and an n-type well layer that reduces JFET resistance between emitter channels. Moreover, a thin Si layer and universal contact structure for fast extraction of excess carriers contribute to low switching losses. The turn-off energy loss of the IGBT is 54% of that of a conventional one at 135°C. The developed inverter IC has a maximum output voltage of 600V and a maximum output current 1A. Compared to the conventional 500V IC, the operational power consumption is reduced from 2.6W to 2.3W.
2D/3D reconstruction of a scaled lumbar vertebral model from a single fluoroscopic image

Accurate three-dimensional (3D) models of lumbar vertebrae can enable image-based 3D kinematic analysis. The common approach to derive 3D models is by direct segmentation of CT or MRI datasets. However, these have the disadvantages that they are expensive, time-consuming and/or induce high-radiation doses to the patient. In this paper, we present a technique to reconstruct a scaled 3D lumbar vertebral model from a single two-dimensional (2D) lateral fluoroscopic image and a statistical shape model of the lumbar vertebrae. Four cadaveric lumbar spine segments (totally twelve lumbar vertebrae) were used to validate the technique. To evaluate the reconstruction accuracy, the surface models reconstructed from the lateral fluoroscopic images were compared to the associated ground truth data derived from a 3D CT-scan reconstruction technique. For each case, a surface-based matching was first used to recover the scale and the rigid transformation between the reconstructed surface models and the ground truth model before the distances between the two discrete surface models were computed. An average error of 1.0 mm was found when the present technique was used to reconstruct the surface models of all twelve lumbar vertebrae.
Socioeconomic and Need Determinants of Ambulatory Care Use: Path Analysis of the 1970 Health Interview Survey Data

Path analysis is applied to a subsample of the 1970 National Health Interview Survey data to identify the direct and indirect effects of major socioeconomic determinants of ambulatory core utilization. The recursive model of ten equations is predicated on the notion that the dominant determinant is need, measured as activity limitation caused by chronic conditions and restricted activity days. Age, sex, income, education, and other variables are seen both as direct determinants and as acting through their effects on morbidity. The results demonstrate a complex set of relationships among the variables not identifiable in less complex analyses. Both income and education are shown to have pervasive effects. The measure of chronic disability is shown not only to affect utilization directly but to have an even larger indirect effect through its association with increased incidence of acute conditions.
Voluntary pulmonary function screening with GOLD standard: an effective and simple approach to detect lung obstruction.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of lung obstruction is probably underestimated. Early detection and screening may alter the course and prognosis associated with lung disease. We investigated the effectiveness of voluntary lung function screening program and the agreement between the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the lower limit of normal (LLN) standard for public screening in Xi'an China. METHODS Pulmonary function testing was conducted on volunteers recruited from eight community centers in Xi'an, China between July and August 2012. Participants underwent three forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuvers. The maneuver with the best FEV1 was retained. Participants filled out a medical history survey before undergoing pulmonary function testing. Patients that self-reported lung disease on the health survey were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS A total of 803 volunteers participated in this study. And 722 participants (93.8%) did not self-report chronic lung disease and were analyzed. Of these participants, 143 subjects (19.8%) were diagnosed by GOLD standard and 134 subjects (18.6%) had obstruction with LLN definition. GOLD definition can identify more asymptomatic subjects (19.1%) with respect to LLN. GOLD definition can detect more lung obstruction in elder subjects compared with young people, the difference is significant (P=0.0007). The overall agreement between the 2 methods was good: the kappa estimate was 0.822. The agreement in subjects aged 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 years was good: the kappa estimate was 0.82, 0.936 and 0.907 respectively and the agreement in subjects aged 18-29 was inferior: the kappa estimate was only 0.555. CONCLUSIONS Voluntary lung function screening program with GOLD standard may be a simple and effective approach to ensuring high yield detection of lung obstruction in subjects aged 40-69.
Environmental heme-based sensor proteins: implications for understanding bacterial pathogenesis.

SIGNIFICANCE Heme is an important prosthetic group required in a wide array of functions, including respiration, photosynthesis, metabolism, O(2) transport, xenobiotic detoxification, and peroxide production and destruction, and is an essential cofactor in proteins such as catalases, peroxidases, and members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily. Importantly, bacterial heme-based sensor proteins exploit the redox chemistry of heme to sense environmental gases and the intracellular redox state of the cell. RECENT ADVANCES The bacterial proteins FixL (Rhizobium ssp.), CooA (Rhodospirillum rubrum), EcDos (Escherichia. coli), RcoM (Burkholderia xenovorans), and particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DosS and DosT have emerged as model paradigms of environmental heme-based sensors capable of detecting multiple gases including NO, CO, and O(2). CRITICAL ISSUES How the diatomic gases NO, CO, or O(2) bind to heme iron to generate Fe-NO, Fe-CO, and Fe-O(2) bonds, respectively, and how the oxidation of heme iron by O(2) serves as a sensing mechanism that controls the activity of key proteins is complex and largely unclear. This is particularly important as many bacterial pathogens, including Mtb, encounters three overlapping host gases (NO, CO, and O(2)) during human infection. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Heme is an important prosthetic group that monitors the microbe's internal and external surroundings to alter signal transduction or enzymatic activation. Modern expression, metabolomic and biochemical technologies combined with in vivo pathogenesis studies should provide fresh insights into the mechanism of action of heme-based redox sensors.
The acoustic attenuation of an IEC agar-based tissue-mimicking material measured at 12 – 47 MHz

High frequency ultrasound (>;15 MHz) is used in the fields of pre-clinical, intravascular, ophthalmology and superficial tissue imaging. Tissue-equivalent phantoms have previously been developed to enable relevant quality assurance measurements for frequencies lower than 15MHz but to date limited data is available on the acoustic properties of tissue equivalent material at frequencies higher than 15MHz. In this study, the acoustic attenuation of an International Electromechanical Commission (IEC) agar based tissue mimicking material (TMM) was measured over the frequency range of 12 - 47 MHz at 21 °C ± 1 °C using a broadband substitution technique. By applying a polynomial curve fitting function to the measured data the attenuation (dB·cm-1) was found to vary with frequency f(MHz) in the form of 0.39 f + 0.0069 f2. This result is comparable to the published result at lower frequencies.
Desensitization of Ras Activation by a Feedback Disassociation of the SOS-Grb2 Complex (*)

Activation of Ras by the exchange of bound GDP for GTP is predominantly catalyzed by the guanylnucleotide exchange factor SOS. Receptor tyrosine kinases increase Ras-GTP loading by targeting SOS to the plasma membrane location of Ras through the small adaptor protein Grb2. However, despite the continuous stimulation of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, Ras activation is transient and, in the case of insulin, begins returning to the GDP-bound state within 5 min. We report here that the cascade of serine kinases activated directly by Ras results in a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-dependent phosphorylation of SOS and subsequent disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex, thereby interrupting the ability of SOS to catalyze nucleotide exchange on Ras. These data demonstrate a molecular feedback mechanism accounting for the desensitization of Ras-GTP loading following insulin stimulation.
Sex Determination of Fetus Prenatal from Maternal Plasma in Goats Using

This work was carried out the Genetic Engineering Lab, College of Agriculture, Basrah University, Iraq. This study included determines the sex of the fetus prenatal by analyzing free fetal DNA cells in maternal plasma by using duplex PCR. blood were collected from 5 pregnant females prepared the plasma and extract the DNA by using heatbased direct method for plasma and then investigate the sequences GAPDH and DYS14 through the use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique and the results were 2 (40%) males show a double bands one at 97 bp representing GAPDH and the second at 198 bp representing DYS14 and 3 (60%) females show a single band at 97 bp representing GAPDH.
Human complete androgen insensitivity with normal dihydrotestosterone receptor binding capacity in cultured genital skin fibroblasts: evidence for a qualitative abnormality of the receptor.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), or so-called testicular feminization, results from the lack of androgen action on target organs. Within this syndrome, two major variants have been described. In the first variant, the specific intracellular androgen receptors are undetectable (CAIS, AR-), whereas normal levels of androgen receptors are measured in the second variant (CAIS, AR+). From studies with cultured labial skin fibroblasts of three CAIS, AR+ patients from the same family, we have demonstrated that their androgen receptors present qualitative differences when compared to normal receptors: 1) the apparent affinity constant (Kd) of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone for the receptor is higher than normal; 2) the in vitro dissociation rate of the receptor-steroid complex is faster than normal: 3) the cellular androgen receptor is more thermolabile than normal when cells are exposed to superphysiological temperatures; and 4) the relative binding affinity of the androgen receptor for progesterone is greater than normal. These findings suggest the presence of a structural abnormality of the androgen receptor in patients with CAIS, AR+. However, these changes (e.g. slightly decreased affinity of the receptor for 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone) probably do not explain the total lack of androgen action in these patients. Finally, the present data from this family along with those from the literature suggest the presence of heterogeneity as to the cause of the defect in CAIS, AR+.
Approach for identifying glaucomatous optic nerve progression by scanning laser tomography.

PURPOSE To describe and test an analytical approach for identifying glaucomatous optic nerve change by scanning laser tomography. METHODS The approach (1). analyzed 30 degrees sectors of rim area by (2). a novel and reproducible experimental reference plane, (3). estimated and accounted for measurement variability in each sector, and (4). required that any change exceeding variability in a single (positive) test should be confirmed as repeatable by a criterion requiring two of three consecutive tests to be positive. The sensitivity and false-positive rate of a single positive test and the two-of-three criterion were assessed in image series of one eye each of 20 ocular hypertension patients who converted to glaucoma (referred to as converters) who had unambiguous disease progression, and in one eye each of 20 normal control subjects. RESULTS Eighteen of 20 (90% sensitivity) converters and 7 of 20 (35% false-positive responses) control subjects had single positive test results, but with confirmation by the two-of-three criterion, the false-positive rate improved to 5% (1/20) whereas sensitivity was relatively preserved at 85% (17/20). CONCLUSIONS Estimates of rim area variability in each sector of each nerve allowed change consistent with disease progression to be distinguished from measurement variability. Confirming that change is repeatable by the criterion used in the study resulted in considerably fewer false-positive responses than did testing without confirmation, but with sensitivity not significantly compromised in the former. By this approach, eyes with progressive glaucoma could be distinguished from unchanging normal control eyes.
Rurality and Competitiveness. Some Observations on the Local Area

The article presents the results of a study on the classification of municipalities in the Region of Sardinia (Italy) based on the relationship between existing levels of rurality/urbanity and competitiveness in order to evaluate similarities and differences. The study was carried out via multivariate analysis of two sets of indicators, defining the two issues and a subsequent comparison of the results. Not only a clear link, but also signs of inconsistency arose from the study between urbanity and competitiveness. If, generally speaking, the municipalities close to conditions of urbanity are characterized by conditions of greater competitiveness and well-being, from the point of view of population dynamics, their performance is somewhat disappointing. An increase in the level of rurality does not always correspond to a higher degree of discomfort, although this tendency still represents the normal condition. Identifying and analyzing these situations might constitute an important step towards building more specific rural development strategies. Recommendations are therefore made regarding the need for further research on these issues in order to improve the quality and relevance of information used by public policymakers.
Lexical and Relational Influences on the Processing of Novel Compounds

To interpret a novel compound (e.g., chocolate twig), one must access the concepts denoted by the words and select a relation that links them together. To examine the role of lexical and relation information on conceptual combination, target combinations were preceded by one of three prime combinations. In Experiment 1, the prime used a semantically similar head noun and either the same or different relation. The third prime was semantically unrelated to the target. Experiment 2 was identical, except the modifier was the semantically related constituent. Although semantic priming was observed in both experiments, relation priming was obtained only when the modifier was similar.
Robust Regional Warming Amplifications Directly Following the Anthropogenic Emission

Amplified regional warming suggests that some regions suffer more from global warming. However, present knowledge is still not enough to understand this paramount aspect of global warming. By using climate model simulations, we first highlight that regional warming amplifications directly following anthropogenic emission would torment many undeveloped countries. Then, we find that cloud has the largest contribution to polar amplification, rather than the frequently blamed sea ice decline. The summertime sea ice decline plays the second role in generating strong wintertime polar amplification via lagged energy release. Our findings also propose that heat uptake by the deeper ocean greatly favors the terrestrial amplification. Additionally, the cloud also shows its importance in helping dryland amplification. Our findings suggest that these robust regional warming amplifications are very likely inevitable under anthropogenic emission, therefore strictest global mitigation is required to prevent unacceptable warming over the high risk regions.
An initialization strategy for blind adaptive decision feedback equalizers for dual-mode CAP-QAM reception

This paper introduces a blind start-up technique for decision feedback equalizers (DFE) employed in passband domain based on a multichannel whitening approach. A Hilbert transformer (HT) is applied during acquisition, in order to feed the employed whitening filter by a complex-valued signal. After convergence, the tap weights of the feedback filter are rotated in case of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) transmission and the structure is switched to the classical DFE architecture. As the obtained coefficient set may not be optimum, the feedback filter (FBF) is favorably fed by soft decisions in order to minimize the probability of ill-convergence.
Identification and characterization of a protein kinase-interacting protein encoded by the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

We have used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify a baculoviral gene encoding a protein kinase-interacting protein (PKIP). The pkip gene is located at 15.8-16.2 m.u (map units) and represents ORF 24 in the sequence of Ayres et al. (1994) of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. PKIP is a 19.2-kDa protein and appears to stimulate the activity of the viral protein kinase-1 in vitro. Northern blotting analysis revealed that pkip is a late gene. Attempts to plaque purify a pkip- virus were unsuccessful.