Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reporting, Mapping, Trusting: Making Geographical Knowledge in the Late Seventeenth Century

The essay examines a range of geographical practices used in understanding the geography of Scotland in the late seventeenth century in the work of Sir Robert Sibbald, John Adair, Robert Wodrow, and Martin Martin. Attention is paid to the ways in which geographical knowledge in this period was based not simply upon mapping, reporting, and direct personal encounter but upon establishing trust and credibility and in negotiating social boundaries. The issues of trust and reliance on the word of others, as on the accuracy of one's instruments, are used to raise different questions about the nature of geographical knowledge as a practical science and about the local and situated place of geography in the development of early modern science.
Providing Feedback on Adherence Increases Use of Preventive Medication by Asthmatic Children

This study investigates the impact of measuring adherence and providing feedback on medication usage by children with unstable asthma. Adherence was measured using an electronic monitoring device. Subjects were randomized to either being told of their adherence during review consultations or for their adherence to remain undisclosed to their parents and treating physician. Subjects were reviewed monthly for 4 months. Twenty-six children aged between 6 and 14 years were recruited. Adherence was significantly higher in the intervention group (79% versus 58%, p <.01). There were significant improvements in clinical measures of disease control compared with baseline in both groups. The change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (% predicted) was greater in those subjects receiving feedback (13.8% versus 9.8%). However, lung function values were lower in the intervention group at baseline and the relative improvement failed to reach statistical significance. Measuring adherence and providing feedback increases the use of preventive medication. A larger study is required to explore implications for disease control.
A nonlinear approach to the control of a disc-shaped aircraft

This paper describes a new control approach for scale-model airplanes. The proposed control solution is primarily geared towards drones whose lift surfaces can be approximated by a disc-shaped wing. Designed and analysed on the basis of a specific model of aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft, it departs from other solutions in its capacity to handle important and rapidly changing attack angles within a large flight envelope. Simulation results illustrate its robust performance.
Neutralization of a single arginine residue gates open a two-pore domain, alkali-activated K+ channel

Potassium channels share a common selectivity filter that determines the conduction characteristics of the pore. Diversity in K+ channels is given by how they are gated open. TASK-2, TALK-1, and TALK-2 are two-pore region (2P) KCNK K+ channels gated open by extracellular alkalinization. We have explored the mechanism for this alkalinization-dependent gating using molecular simulation and site-directed mutagenesis followed by functional assay. We show that the side chain of a single arginine residue (R224) near the pore senses pH in TASK-2 with an unusual pKa of 8.0, a shift likely due to its hydrophobic environment. R224 would block the channel through an electrostatic effect on the pore, a situation relieved by its deprotonation by alkalinization. A lysine residue in TALK-2 fulfills the same role but with a largely unchanged pKa, which correlates with an environment that stabilizes its positive charge. In addition to suggesting unified alkaline pH-gating mechanisms within the TALK subfamily of channels, our results illustrate in a physiological context the principle that hydrophobic environment can drastically modulate the pKa of charged amino acids within a protein.
Historical ecology meets conservation and evolutionary genetics: a secondary contact zone between Carabus violaceus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations inhabiting ancient and recent woodlands in north-western Germany

Abstract Only very few cases have documented that an increase in connectivity after a period of fragmentation in ecological time has had an effect on the distribution, genetic structure and morphology of stenotopic species. In this study we present an example of clinal variability in a woodland ground beetle as a result of changes in the connectivity of a landscape during the last two centuries. The study area hosts both the nominate form Carabus violaceus s. str. and the subspecies Carabus violaceus purpurascens, which is ranked as a distinct species by some authors. We studied 12 Carabus violaceus populations from a 30 km transect of ancient and recent forests in north-western Germany. We analyzed three polymorphic enzyme loci, classified the elytron sculpture and measured the shape of the aedeagus tip of the specimens. Carabus violaceus showed secondary gradients both in allozyme markers and morphometric characters in our study area. A genetic differentiation of 16% between the populations is high but lies within the range of intraspecific variability in habitat specialists of the genus Carabus. Populations had no significant deficit of heterozygotes. We found many hybrid populations in terms of morphological properties. This study highlights the conservation value of ancient woodland and the consequences of landscape connectivity and defragmentation on the genetic setting of a ground beetle. Moreover, it shows that differences in the external shape of male genitalia do not prevent gene flow within the genus Carabus. Thus, the establishment of species status should not exclusively be based on this property.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Feeding Difficulty Index (Ch-FDI) for People with Dementia

Aims To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese Feeding Difficulty Index (Ch-FDI) which assesses feeding difficulties in people with dementia (PwD). Research Design and Method Scale items were developed using literature review based on Model of Feeding Difficulty. Content validity was evaluated and items were modified by expert panel. Following translation and back-translation, the Ch-FDI was piloted on residents with dementia. The reliability was tested by inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. Internal reliability was established by calculating Cronbach's α coefficient. The concurrent validity was evaluated by correlating with similar scale, the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia (EdFED). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation and parallel analysis (PA) was performed to test construct validity. Method Participants were recruited from long-term care facilities in Taiwan. A total of 213 residents with dementia participated in this study during May, 2010 to February, 2011. Results Content validation, translation and psychometric testing were completed on the 19 items of the Ch-FDI. The translated scale was piloted on 213 residents with dementia of feeding difficulty who were recruited from eight long-term care facilities in Taiwan. The reliability was supported by the internal consistency of Cronbach's α of 0.68 and a test-retest coefficient of 0.85. The content validity, face validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity were used. Conclusions The Ch-FDI is a newly developed scale with fair psychometric properties aimed to measure feeding difficulties among residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Using this reliable and valid tool can help healthcare providers to assess feeding problems of PwD and provide feeding assistance in order to promote quality of care during mealtime in long-term care facilities.
Open Access Research Article Development and Validation of Self-reported Line Drawings for Assessment of Knee Malalignment and Foot Rotation: a Cross-sectional Comparative Study

Background: For large scale epidemiological studies clinical assessments and radiographs can be impractical and expensive to apply to more than just a sample of the population examined. The study objectives were to develop and validate two novel instruments for self-reported knee malalignment and foot rotation suitable for use in questionnaire studies of knee pain and osteoarthritis. Methods: Two sets of line drawings were developed using similar methodology. Each instrument consisted of an explanatory question followed by a set of drawings showing straight alignment, then two each at 7.5° angulation and 15° angulation in the varus/valgus (knee) and inward/outward (foot) directions. Forty one participants undertaking a community study completed the instruments on two occasions. Participants were assessed once by a blinded expert clinical observer with demonstrated excellent reproducibility. Validity was assessed by sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio (LR) using the observer as the reference standard. Reliability was assessed using weighted kappa (κ). Knee malalignment was measured on 400 knee radiographs. General linear model was used to assess for the presence of a linear increase in knee alignment angle (measured medially) from self-reported severe varus to mild varus, straight, mild valgus and severe valgus deformity. Results: Observer reproducibility (κ) was 0.89 and 0.81 for the knee malalignment and foot rotation instruments respectively. Self-reported participant reproducibility was also good for the knee (κ 0.73) and foot (κ 0.87) instruments. Validity was excellent for the knee malalignment instrument, with a sensitivity of 0.74 (95%CI 0.54, 0.93) and specificity of 0.97 (95%CI 0.94, 1.00). Similarly the foot rotation instrument was also found to have high sensitivity (0.92, 95%CI 0.83, 1.01) and specificity (0.96, 95%CI 0.93, 1.00). The knee alignment angle increased progressively from self reported severe varus to mild varus, straight, mild valgus and severe valgus knee malalignment (p trend <0.001). Conclusions: The two novel instruments appear to provide a valid and reliable assessment of self-reported knee malalignment and foot rotation, and may have a practical use in epidemiological studies. Background It is now recognised that biomechanical factors are important in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) [1,2]. Angulations of the knees or feet can significantly influence the distribution of stress forces through the lower limb joints. Varus malalignment increases mechan
Bakhtin in the Classroom: What Constitutes a Dialogic Text? Some Lessons from Small Group Interaction

At a time when powerful agencies in the UK are advocating whole class teaching as an element of successful classroom practice (particularly directed at primary classrooms in relation to the teaching of numeracy and literacy), I seek in this paper to examine the potential of Small Group Interaction (SGI) to provide significant linguistic opportunities which, I argue, whole class teaching is less well placed to deliver. To do this, I shall compare data of two groups of children from the same classroom engaged on the same small group activity. Drawing on the work of Bakhtin (and Wertsch's interpretations of Bakhtin) I shall seek to identify both monologic and dialogic features in the children's discourse, tracing the origins of monologic discourse in the practices of Whole Class Interaction (WCI) - the dominant genre of the classroom. Following Bakhtin's account of addressivity and speech genre, I shall claim a role for dialogic talk in any classroom based on sociocultural principles of learning.
Rubella: a method for rapid diagnosis of a recent infection by demonstration of the IgM antibodies.

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Reducing surgical nurses' aseptic practice-related stress.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This paper aims to explore aseptic practice-related stress in surgery. The objectives are to define stress-related factors and the means to reduce the stress. BACKGROUND Occupational stress is related to personal characteristics: job satisfaction and physiological and psychological well-being. The stress symptoms are often classified as part of a negative mood. Nurses have expressed stress when deadening their conscience to external demands with co-workers or internal working role-related demands. Surgery nurses expect fair division of work and compliance with rules. The hospital management, technology and the medical profession, instead of the needs of the patient, are recognised as a danger in the development of surgery nurses' role. DESIGN A qualitative stimulated recall interview was performed in the surgery of the university hospital. METHODS Thirty-one operations were videotaped, and 31 nurses interviewed during videotape stimulation. The 1306 text pages were transcripted and analysed by a qualitative membership categorisation device analysis. RESULTS The analysis revealed aseptic practice-related stress which constructed a sixteen level category. The membership categorisation identified connections between qualitatively attributed personnel and seven stress factors: working experience; time; equipment; person; patient; working morals and power. Final analysis revealed nurses reducing aseptic practice-related stress by safe, peaceful, competent and relative means. CONCLUSIONS The aseptic practice-related stress varied from positive motivating feelings to exhaustion. The stress was experienced by medical and nursing co-workers and reduced by means which varied according to expertise and co-workers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study showed needs for both the shared multiprofessional documentation of aseptic practice and better adherence to recommendations. Constructive means are useful when solving conflicts and replacing person-related aseptic practice with evidence-based. They may support nurses' professional growth, reduce their stress and increase the surgical patient's safety.
Comparison of quantification methods to measure fire‐derived (black/elemental) carbon in soils and sediments using reference materials from soil, water, sediment and the atmosphere

Black carbon (BC), the product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass (called elemental carbon (EC) in atmospheric sciences), was quantified in 12 different materials by 17 laboratories from different disciplines, using seven different methods. The materials were divided into three classes: (1) potentially interfering materials, (2) laboratory‐produced BC‐rich materials, and (3) BC‐containing environmental matrices (from soil, water, sediment, and atmosphere). This is the first comprehensive intercomparison of this type (multimethod, multilab, and multisample), focusing mainly on methods used for soil and sediment BC studies. Results for the potentially interfering materials (which by definition contained no fire‐derived organic carbon) highlighted situations where individual methods may overestimate BC concentrations. Results for the BC‐rich materials (one soot and two chars) showed that some of the methods identified most of the carbon in all three materials as BC, whereas other methods identified only soot carbon as BC. The different methods also gave widely different BC contents for the environmental matrices. However, these variations could be understood in the light of the findings for the other two groups of materials, i.e., that some methods incorrectly identify non‐BC carbon as BC, and that the detection efficiency of each technique varies across the BC continuum. We found that atmospheric BC quantification methods are not ideal for soil and sediment studies as in their methodology these incorporate the definition of BC as light‐absorbing material irrespective of its origin, leading to biases when applied to terrestrial and sedimentary materials. This study shows that any attempt to merge data generated via different methods must consider the different, operationally defined analytical windows of the BC continuum detected by each technique, as well as the limitations and potential biases of each technique. A major goal of this ring trial was to provide a basis on which to choose between the different BC quantification methods in soil and sediment studies. In this paper we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each method. In future studies, we strongly recommend the evaluation of all methods analyzing for BC in soils and sediments against the set of BC reference materials analyzed here.
Strong keys and functional dependencies in partial database relations

We study keys and functional dependencies in the context of partial relations that permit null values with the interpretation no information. Based on Codd’s principle of entity integrity we propose the class of strong keys over partial database relations. These keys enforce both uniqueness and totality of tuples. We study the interaction of strong keys with Lien, Atzeni and Morfuni’s classes of functional dependencies and null-free subschemata. For various subclasses we establish axiomatisations, linear-time algorithms to decide implication, and characterisations and computations of Armstrong relations. Interestingly, the class of general functional dependencies does not enjoy Armstrong relations over partial relations, but even the combined class of strong keys and standard functional dependencies does. We also settle various questions related to the maximal size of a family of non-redundant strong keys over partial relations.
The development and application of sensor based on Android

This article presents the 3D maze game of gravity which employs the OpenGL ES rendering engine to make it possible. It introduces the development and application of the built-in sensor of mobile phone on Android platform, the whole process of developing Android applications with Eclipse. The purpose of this research is to show the availability of the built-in sensors of the mobile phone based on Android.
Measuring Implementation of Evidence-Based Programs Targeting Young Children at Risk for Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Young children with and at risk for emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) present challenges for early childhood teachers. Evidence-based programs designed to address these young children’s behavior problems exist, but there are a number of barriers to implementing these programs in early childhood settings. Advancing the science of treatment integrity measurement can assist researchers and consumers interested in implementing evidence-based programs in early childhood classrooms. To provide guidance for researchers interested in assessing the integrity of implementation efforts, we describe a conceptual model of implementation of evidence-based programs designed to prevent EBD when applied in early childhood settings. Next, we describe steps that can be used to develop treatment integrity measures. Last, we discuss factors to consider when developing treatment integrity measures with specific emphasis on psychometrically strong measures that have maximum utility for implementation research in early childhood classrooms.
Background suppressing Gabor energy filtering ✩

In the field of facial emotion recognition, early research advanced with the use of Gabor filters. However, these filters lack generalization and result in undesirably large feature vector size. In recent work, more attention has been given to other local appearance features. Two desired characteristics in a facial appearance feature are generalization capability, and the compactness of representation. In this paper, we propose a novel texture feature inspired by Gabor energy filters, called background suppressing Gabor energy filtering. The feature has a generalization component that removes background texture. It has a reduced feature vector size due to maximal representation and soft orientation histograms, and it is a white box representation. We demonstrate improved performance on the non-trivial Audio/Visual Emotion Challenge 2012 grand-challenge dataset by a factor of 7.17 over the Gabor filter on the development set. We also demonstrate applicability of our approach beyond facial emotion recognition which yields improved classification rate over the Gabor filter for four bioimaging datasets by an average of 8.22%. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PHASES, TRANSITIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS: MODELING PROCESSES IN MULTI‐PARTY NEGOTIATIONS

This research proposes and evaluates hypotheses about patterns of communication in a multi‐party, multi‐issue negotiation. Data were from 36 four‐person groups. We found that the majority of groups initiated negotiations with a distributive phase and ended with an integrative phase—strong support for Morley and Stephenson's (1979) rational model of negotiation. We identified transitions between both strategic orientations (integration, distribution) and strategic functions (action, information), but found that the first transition was more likely to result in a change of orientation than of function and that negotiators were more likely to change either orientation or function (single transition) than to change both aspects of the negotiation simultaneously (double transition). Finally, we determined that negotiators used process and closure strategies to interrupt distributive phases and redirect negotiations to an integrative phase.
Generating Markov-Chain Transitions Quickly: I

A predecessor to this paper gives a way to generate transitions in continuous-time Markov chains. It is fast when a “similarity” condition holds. Exploiting a balanced binary search tree, we reduce the computational complexity of that method. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.
Wireless Sensors Network Design for Real-time Abrupt Geological Hazards Monitoring

In China, abrupt geological hazards are very serious problem. Wireless sensors networks have been recognized as one of the most important technologies for this century. This research focuses on a system design of wireless sensors network for abrupt geological hazards monitoring. The purpose of our research is to construct the system architecture, hardware and software framework and evaluate reliability and network lifetime. Also, we provide a solution to design a real-time abrupt geological hazards monitoring system based on wireless sensors network and meet the goal of real-time work, satisfactory reliability and relatively long network.