Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conceptions of learning held by upper primary children in government schools in Brunei Darussalam

The current study examined the conceptions of learning held by upper primary children in government schools in Brunei. Previous studies have shown that the conceptions of learning held by students influence the ways in which they approach learning tasks and, in turn, impact on their learning outcomes. However, the majority of these studies were carried out with university and secondary school students, with little research involving primary school children. A phenomenographic research approach was used to describe the qualitatively different ways in which a group of sixteen upper primary children experienced learning in two government schools in Brunei. Data were gathered using scenariobased semi]structured interviews. Iterative cycles of analysis revealed three categories of description depicting three qualitatively different ways in which the children experienced the phenomenon. The three categories of description were: learning as acquiring information (Category 1), learning as remembering information (Category 2) and learning as doing hands]on activities (Category 3). These categories indicate a variation in the ways in which upper primary children experience learning in government schools in Brunei. The conceptions of learning held by the children provide a platform from which educators and policy]makers can consider possibilities for meaningful learning in government schools in Brunei.
Multiple layers of regulation influence cell integrity control by the PKC ortholog Pck2 in fission yeast

ABSTRACT The fission yeast protein kinase C (PKC) ortholog Pck2 controls cell wall synthesis and is a major upstream activator of the cell integrity pathway (CIP) and its core component, the MAP kinase Pmk1 (also known as Spm1), in response to environmental stimuli. We show that in vivo phosphorylation of Pck2 at the conserved T842 activation loop during growth and in response to different stresses is mediated by the phosphoinositide-dependent kinase (PDK) ortholog Ksg1 and an autophosphorylation mechanism. However, T842 phosphorylation is not essential for Pmk1 activation, and putative phosphorylation at T846 might play an additional role in Pck2 catalytic activation and downstream signaling. These events, together with turn motif autophosphorylation at T984 and binding to small GTPases Rho1 and/or Rho2, stabilize Pck2 and render it competent to exert its biological functions. Remarkably, the target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2) does not participate in the catalytic activation of Pck2, but instead contributes to de novo Pck2 synthesis, which is essential to activate the CIP in response to cell wall damage or glucose exhaustion. These results unveil a novel mechanism whereby TOR regulates PKC function at a translational level, and they add a new regulatory layer to MAPK signaling cascades.
Evaluation of the Behavioural Outcomes of Anxiety ( BOA ) questionnaire to assess anxiety after stroke in aphasic patients

Hypothesis 3a: The stroke survivor and carer BOA will be internally c onsistent (calculated using Cronbach’s alpha). Hypothesis 3b: All stroke survivor and carer BOA items will show a significant correlation with the corrected item total i.e. all items will be related closely to the total score of the BOA (Corrected item total correlations ). Hypothesis 3c: Each carer BOA item will correlate significantly wit h he corresponding stroke survivor BOA item (Kendal’s Tau b).
Eecient Algorithms for Cyclic Scheduling

This work addresses the problem of non-preemptively scheduling a cyclic set of interdependent operations, representing for instance a program loop, when p identical processors are available. For p = 1 we give a simple, eecient, polynomial time algorithm producing optimum results. When p < 1 the problem becomes NP-hard and a slight modiication of our algorithm generates provably close to optimum results.
STABILITY OF STOCHASTIC DISTRIBUTED PARAMETER LARGE-SCALE CONTROL SYSTEMS UNDER RANDOM STRUCTURAL PERTURBATIONS

By employing feedback control laws, the robust stochastic stability of distributed parameter large-scale control systems under random structural perturbations is investigated. The results are obtained by using vector Lyapunov-like functionals in the context of the block-comparison theorem, the theory of systems of differential inequalities, and decomposition-aggregation method. The complexity versus stability and stochastic versus stability issues are also studied. Examples are given to illustrate the usefulness of the results. The byproduct of this research has generated an open mathematical problem, namely, the boundary value problem for first order nonlinear partial matrix differential inequalities/equations. AMS (MOS) subject classification: 60H10, 34D20, 93A15, 93E15 and 93E03
Sequential Circuit Test Generation in a Genetic Algorithm Framework

Test generation using deterministic fault-oriented algorithms is highly complex and time-consuming. New approaches are needed to augment the existing techniques, both to reduce execution time and to improve fault coverage. In this work, we describe a genetic algorithm (GA) framework for sequential circuit test generation. The GA evolves candidate test vectors and sequences, using a fault simulator to compute the fitness of each candidate test. Various GA parameters are studied, including alphabet size, fitness function, generation gap, population size, and mutation rate, as well as selection and crossover schemes. High fault coverages were obtained for most of the ISCAS89 sequential benchmark circuits, and execution times were significantly lower than in a deterministic test generator in most cases.
Methodology for Coping with Heterogeneity of Modern Accelerators on a Massive Supercomputing Scale

Heterogeneous supercomputers with combined general-purpose and accelerated CPUs promise to be the future major architecture due to their wide-ranging generality and superior performance / power ratio. However, developing applications that achieve effective scalability is still very difficult, and in fact unproven on large-scale machines in such combined setting. We show that an effective method for such heterogeneous systems so that the porting from applications written with homogeneous assumptions could be achieved. For this goal, we divide porting of applications into several steps, analyze performance of the kernel computation, create processes that virtualize the underlying processors, tune parameters with preferences to accelerators, and balance the load between heterogeneous nodes. We apply our method to the parallel Linpack benchmark on the TSUBAME heterogeneous supercomputer. We efficiently utilize both 10,000 general purpose CPU cores and 648 SIMD accelerators in a combined fashion—the resulting 56.43 TFlops utilized the entire machine, and not only ranked significantly on the Top500 supercomputer list, but also it is the highest Linpack performance on heterogeneous systems in the world.
Registration based respiratory motion models for use in lung radiotherapy.

Respiratory motion is a major factor contributing to errors and uncertainties in Radiotherapy (RT) treatment of lung tumours. Knowledge of this motion may improve the planning and delivery of RT treatment for lung cancer patients. This thesis develops and evaluates methods of building patient specific respiratory motion models. These relate the internal motion to respiratory parameters derived from an external surrogate signal that can be measured during data acquisition and treatment delivery. The models offer a number of advantages over current methods of imaging and analysing respiratory motion, in particular their ability to account for variations in the respiratory motion. Computer Tomography (CT) data is acquired over several respiratory cycles to sample some of the variation in the respiratory motion. B-spline registrations are used to recover the motion and deformation from the CT data. The models are then constructed by fitting functions that relate the registration results to the respiratory parameters. This thesis describes the CT data and respiratory parameters that have been used to construct the motion models. It details the registrations protocols used and evaluates their results. The initial models presented in the thesis relate the registration results to a single parameter, the phase of the respiratory cycle, and average out any variation in the respiratory motion. The later models relate the registration results to two respiratory parameters, with the intention of modelling some of the variation. A number of different functions are assessed for both the single and two parameter models. The results show that the models can predict the respiratory motion in the CT data very accurately (mean error < 1.4 mm). This thesis also discusses some of the uses of the motion models in RT and, in particular, explores the use of the motion models for 'tracking' respiratory motion while delivering intensity modulated RT.
Antibacterial Activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem) Leaf Extract against Bacterial Pathogens in Sudan

Background: Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a multipurpose tree with multiple health benefits. Different parts of the tree were shown to exhibit antimicrobial effects against a wide variety of microorganisms. Screening of this medicinal plant for bioactive compounds may lead to development of less expensive new antimicrobial agents with improved safety and efficacy. Objective: To assess the antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf extractagainst human pathogenic bacterial pathogens;andto compare that with the antimicrobial activity of synthetic antibiotics. Material and methods: 100 bacterial test strains: Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecaliswere enrolled in the study.Ethanolic extracts of Azadirachta indicaleaves were prepared at varying concentrations and soaked on Whatmann filter paper discs, which were applied on inoculated plates of Muller Hinton agar.Standardized discs ofthe synthetic antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, norfloxacin, co-trimoxazole, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin were also applied on inoculated plates of Muller Hinton agar. The disc diffusion method was used to screen the antibacterial activity of both Azadirachta indica leaf extractand synthetic antibiotics. Results: Azadirachta indica leaf extract showed strong antimicrobial activity against all bacterial species studied at all the concentrations tested. It showed maximum inhibition against Proteusmirabilis at 6.25mg/ml concentration, when compared with erythromycin (p = 0.007). Against Enterococcus faecalis, there was a significant difference in the antibacterial activity of the leaf extract at a concentration of 12.5mg/mland those of ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, and gentamycin (p = 0.004, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.008respectively). Conclusion:Leaf extract of A. indica (Neem)had exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against various strains of bacterial pathogens.
The Effect of Psychosocial Syndemic Production on 4-Year HIV Incidence and Risk Behavior in a Large Cohort of Sexually Active Men Who Have Sex With Men

Background:Cross-sectional studies have suggested that co-occurring epidemics or “syndemics” of psychosocial health problems may accelerate HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. We aimed to assess how 5 syndemic conditions (depressive symptoms, heavy alcohol use, stimulant use, polydrug use, and childhood sexual abuse) affected HIV incidence and sexual risk behavior over time. Methods:Eligible men in a large prospective cohort of sexually active HIV-uninfected MSM completed HIV testing and behavioral surveys at baseline and every 6 months for 48 months. We examined interrelationships between psychosocial problems and whether these interactions increased the odds of HIV risk behaviors and risk of seroconversion over study follow-up. Results:Among 4295 men, prevalence of psychosocial conditions was substantial at baseline and was positively associated with each other. We identified a statistically significant positive dose–response relationship between numbers of syndemic conditions and HIV seroconversion for all comparisons (with the greatest hazard among those with 4–5 conditions, adjusted hazard ratio = 8.69; 95% confidence interval: 4.78 to 15.44). The number of syndemic conditions also predicted increased HIV-related risk behaviors over time, which mediated the syndemic–HIV seroconversion association. Conclusions:The accumulation of syndemic psychosocial problems predicted HIV-related sexual risk behaviors and seroconversion in a large sample of US MSM. Given the high prevalence of syndemic conditions among MSM and the moderate effect sizes attained by traditional brief behavioral interventions to date, the HIV prevention agenda requires a shift toward improved assessment of psychosocial comorbidities and stronger integration with mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
A Hybrid Method for Computing Apparent Ridges

We propose a hybrid method for computing apparent ridges, expressive lines recently introduced by Judd et al. Unlike their original method, which works entirely over the mesh in object space, our method combines object-space and image-space computations and runs partially on the GPU, taking advantage of modern graphic cards processing power and producing faster results in real time.
Gangliosides Inhibit Flagellin Signaling in the Absence of an Effect on Flagellin Binding to Toll-like Receptor 5*

A recent study (Ogushi, K., Wada, A., Niidome, T., Okuda, T., Llanes, R., Nakayama, M., Nishi, Y., Kurazono, H., Smith, K. D., Aderem, A., Moss, J., and Hirayama, T. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 12213–12219) concluded that gangliosides serve as co-receptors for flagellin signaling via toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). In view of several findings in this study that were inconsistent with a role for gangliosides as co-receptors, we re-examined this important issue. Using TLR5-negative RAW 264.7 cells and a TLR5-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein chimera, we established an assay for specific binding of flagellin to cells. Inhibition of clatherin-mediated internalization of flagellin·TLR5-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein complexes did not impair flagellin activation of IRAK-1. Thus flagellin signal occurs at the cell surface and not intracellularly. Exogenous addition of mixed gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, and GT1b) as well as GD1a itself inhibited flagellin-induced interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase activation as well as tumor necrosis factor α production in HeNC2, THP-1, and RAW 264.7 cells. Gangliosides inhibited flagellin signaling in the absence of an effect on flagellin binding to TLR5. Depletion of gangliosides in RAW 264.7 cells did not alter the concentration dependence or magnitude of flagellin signaling as measured by interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase activation or tumor necrosis factor α production. Our findings are consistent with the conclusions that gangliosides are not essential co-receptors for flagellin and that the inhibitory effect of gangliosides is mediated by at least one mechanism that is distinct from any effect on the binding of flagellin to TLR5.
Regulated gene insertion by steroid-induced ΦC31 integrase

Nonviral integration systems are widely used genetic tools in transgenesis and play increasingly important roles in strategies for therapeutic gene transfer. Methods to efficiently regulate the activity of transposases and site-specific recombinases have important implications for their spatiotemporal regulation in live transgenic animals as well as for studies of their applicability as safe vectors for genetic therapy. In this report, strategies for posttranslational induction of a variety of gene-inserting proteins are investigated. An engineered hormone-binding domain, derived from the human progesterone receptor, hPR891, and specifically recognized by the synthetic steroid mifepristone, is fused to the Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, piggyBac and Tol2 transposases as well as to the Flp and ΦC31 recombinases. By analyzing mifepristone-directed inducibility of gene insertion in cultured human cells, efficient posttranslational regulation of the Flp recombinase and the ΦC31 integrase is documented. In addition, fusion of the ΦC31 integrase with the ERT2 modified estrogen receptor hormone-binding domain results in a protein, which is inducible by a factor of 22-fold and retains 75% of the activity of the wild-type protein. These inducible ΦC31 integrase systems are important new tools in transgenesis and in safety studies of the ΦC31 integrase for gene therapy applications.
Oops: an audio synthesis library in c for embedded (and other) applications

This paper introduces an audio synthesis library written in C with “object oriented” programming principles in mind. We call it OOPS: Object-Oriented Programming for Sound, or, “Oops, it’s not quite Object-Oriented Programming in C. ” The library consists of several UGens (audio components) and a framework to manage these components. The design emphases of the library are efficiency and organizational simplicity, with particular attention to the needs of embedded systems audio development.
Using drama to improve person-centred dementia care.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES We implemented a 12-week drama-based educational intervention to introduce to dementia practitioners person-centred care that emphasizes the notion of embodied selfhood (defined as non-verbal self-expression). BACKGROUND Person-centred dementia care guidelines emphasize the assessment of individual needs, and where appropriate, the use of non-pharmacological interventions before resorting to pharmacological management. However, dementia care is not consistent with these guidelines suggesting conceptual limitations and reliance on passive knowledge translation strategies. DESIGN AND METHODS Focus groups and semi-structured interviews with practitioners (n = 24) in two nursing homes in central Canada were undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the drama-based components of the intervention. RESULTS Our findings suggest that drama was effective as an educational modality, and helped implement the person-centred approach into practice. Significant practice outcomes included: new awareness that residents' body movements and dispositions can convey meaning; seeking biographical information from families; increased time efficiency; and supporting residents' independence. CONCLUSIONS Our findings make an important contribution to person-centred dementia care by broadening the notion of personhood, and by facilitating implementation using drama. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE As an enhancement of person-centred care, the support of embodied selfhood may significantly improve residents' quality of life, quality of care, and practitioners' care-giving experience.
Zebrafish as a model for vertebrate reproduction: characterization of the first functional zebrafish (Danio rerio) gonadotropin receptor.

Vertebrate reproduction is tightly regulated by conserved glycoprotein hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in tetrapods and gonadotropic hormone I (GTH-I) in fishes are orthologous glycoprotein hormones that control the timing of egg production and the number of eggs produced. Zebrafish, a well-established genetic model for developmental biology, also offers potential advantages for studies of reproductive toxicology, especially for modeling the impact of pollutants on fish reproductive processes. To facilitate these studies we have identified, expressed, and characterized the zebrafish GTH-I receptor. This receptor (zfGTHR-I)exhibits strong sequence similarity to the tetrapod FSH receptors and to GTHR-I from salmon and catfish. Human 293 cells transfected with zfGTHR-I exhibit increased cAMP levels after treatment with carp pituitary extracts or human FSH, but not when treated with a ligand to a related receptor (human chorionic gonadotropin). Northern blotting and RT-PCR analyses indicate that zfGTHR is expressed in ovaries from sexually mature fish, but not in immature fish. Several alternative splice variants of the receptor affecting putative exons 2-4 that encode dramatically shortened receptor fragments lacking the transmembrane domain as well as regions previously implicated in ligand binding were identified by RT-PCR. The zfGTHR-I sequence opens the way to study effects of genetic mutations or chemicals on ovarian zfGTHR-I expression and function in zebrafish.
Depression and anxiety in alcohol dependent inpatients who smoke.

BACKGROUND Research supports the observation that "smokers drink and drinkers smoke. " In this study, we aim to evaluate the relationship between nicotine dependence and the severity of anxiety and depression among alcohol dependent inpatients. METHOD The study comprised 125 inpatients diagnosed as having alcohol dependence. They were given the SCID-I, AUDIT, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence,Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. RESULTS Our findings showed that the mean scores of the severity of anxiety and depression were high in alcohol dependent inpatients with nicotine dependence, but there was no significant difference between the nicotine dependent and nondependent groups in the severity of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION Comparative studies between alcohol dependent patients who smoke and different smoking or nonsmoking groups with anxiety or depression may provide valuable information. Further studies are needed to examine the correlations between these groups.
Formalism, rationality, and evidence: the case of behavioural economics

Mark Blaug played a central role in the development of the field of the methodology of economics, alongside his theoretical work and contributions to the history of economic thought. The purpose, in this article, is to focus on his contributions to the topic of 'formalism in economics', in relation to his methodological commentaries on the Popperian and Lakatosian approaches to the philosophy of science. In Blaugian spirit, the discussion is related to economic theory and draws on the history of economic thought. The argument focuses on the troublesome interface between theoretical and applied economics in mainstream economics. The article includes, as a case study, an assessment of new behavioural economics in Popperian and Lakatosian terms. The conclusion is that such an appraisal exercise—i.e., whether the research programme is progressive or degenerative—is clouded by the interface between the form of empiricism promoted by Popper and Lakatos and the methodological framework of mainstream economics. No conclusion is feasible independent of methodological approach.
Nucleosome positioning prediction in C. elegans based on increment of diversity combined with quadratic discriminant analysis

Based on increment of diversity combined with quadratic discriminant analysis (IDQD), a novel model was developed to distinguish core DNA and linker DNA sequence in C. elegans genome using only k-mer frequency information of sequences in this work. The model achieved a good performance with a high average accuracy and correlation coefficient of 74.85% and 0.498, and the area under the Receiver Operator Characteristics curve (auROC) of our classifier was about 0.829 for C. elegans.