Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of Undergraduate Writing Styles in the Context of Gender and Achievement

Despite the increased use of blind-marking in undergraduate examinations, gendered patterns persist in the figures on achievement at undergraduate level in British universities. It has been suggested that in the humanities, such differences in achievement might be explained by differences in writing style according to gender. This article examines data drawn from an analysis of undergraduate students' writing in order to investigate the extent to which gender appears to impact upon their writing styles. It is argued that male and female students' academic writing styles shared more similarities than they did differences. There was no evidence to suggest that there was less use of tentative phrases in male writing, although there was some evidence to suggest that a bold style was adopted slightly more frequently by men. It is argued that the adoption of an academic style which overrides some traditionally gendered traits in writing may be particularly highly rewarded by examiners.
An Affine Control Method for Optimal Dynamic Asset Allocation with Transaction Costs

In this paper, we present a novel and computationally efficient approach to constrained discrete-time dynamic asset allocation over multiple periods. This technique is able to control portfolio expectation and variance at both final and intermediate stages of the decision horizon and may account for proportional transaction costs and intertemporal dependence of the return process. A key feature of the proposed method is the use of a linearly parameterized class of feedback control policies, which permits us to obtain explicit analytic expressions for the portfolio statistics over time. These expressions are proved to be convex in the decision parameters, and hence, under these control laws, the multistage problem is formulated and solved by means of efficient tools for quadratic or second-order-cone convex programming.
Mounting and application of bubble display system: bubble cosmos

In this paper, we propose the soap bubble display method that the image can be projected to the real soap bubbles that white smoke entered. The position and the size of soap bubbles tossed in the air are detected with the camera. By projecting the image only to the position with the projector, the soap bubble display is realized. And the image and the sound can be interactively added when the explosion of soap bubbles are judged. We mount the soap bubble display, and evaluate usefulness as entertainment that player can enjoy.
Participation in network learning community programmes and standards of pupil achievement: does it make a difference?

This paper analyses national assessment and examination data sets in England to test the claim that networked learning activity contributes to raising standards of attainment. Results for primary and secondary schools involved in the large and innovative network learning community (NLC) programme in England funded by the National College for School Leadership are compared with the national patterns for all schools across 2003 to 2005. The results indicate that there has been considerable variation in the extent of improvement in attainment results over the three years. Improvement patterns for NLC schools are generally in line with the rising national trend. There is no convincing evidence that NLC primary schools as a whole have improved more rapidly or narrowed the attainment gap in relation to national results between 2003 and 2005. For secondary schools there are some indications for Key Stage 3 that the change in English results shows greater improvement than the national pattern for a majority of schools, but this is not the case for maths or science. The paper also examines the results of a survey of NLC participants’ perceptions. These show that most have a generally positive view of the professional learning promoted, the improvement of practice in their schools and the impact on pupil engagement and motivation, but that perceptions of the influence on pupil attainment and behaviour are somewhat less favourable, Again there is considerable variation amongst respondents suggesting that both involvement in and the influence of NLC activity varies within and between schools and individual networks. Heads and deputies generally have more favourable views than other respondents. It is concluded that the main benefit of networked learning has been to enhance professional practice but that caution should be exercised in making claims concerning the potential role of networked activity in raising attainment. While some schools and networks have shown marked improvement across a range of outcomes, the findings indicate that there is no overall NLC effect on attainment outcomes; rather, there is considerable variation at the school level within and between networks.
Lagrangian-Eulerian Advection of Noise and Dye Textures for Unsteady Flow Visualization

A new hybrid scheme, called Lagrangian-Eulerian advection (LEA), that combines the advantages of the Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks is applied to the visualization of dense representations of time-dependent vector fields. The algorithm encodes the particles into a texture that is then advected. By treating every particle equally, we can handle texture advection and dye advection within a single framework. High temporal and spatial correlation is achieved through the blending of successive frames. A combination of particle and dye advection enables the simultaneous visualization of streamlines, particle paths and streak-lines. We demonstrate various experimental techniques on several physical flow fields. The simplicity of both the resulting data structures and the implementation suggest that LEA could become a useful component of any scientific visualization toolkit concerned with the display of unsteady flows.
Orthogonality and Transformations in Variance Components Models

Orthogonality and transformations in variance components models P.J. Solomon 1 and J.M. G. Taylor 2 Department of Statistics 1 , University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia psolomon @ maths.adelaide. edu.au Department of Biostatistics 2 , UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA jeremy @ sunlab.ph. ucla.edu December 17, 1997 Abstract In this paper we consider variance components and other models for re- peated measures in which a general transformation is applied to the response variable. Using Cox and Reid's concept of parameter orthogonality 1987, JRSS B 49 , 1-18 and some approximations to the information matrix we show that the intraclass correlation coe cient in the one-way model is ro- bust to the choice of transformation. This robustness result generalises to a vector of parameters determining the correlation structure, to more complex variance components models, to multivariate normal models, to some longi- tudinal models and models involving linear regression functions. The results suggest a natural way to parametrise the covariance structure in repeated measures models is in terms of the variance and the correlation determined by separate sets of parameters. Key Words : intraclass correlation, longitudinal data, parameter orthogonality, power transformations, repeated measures, variance components. 1 Introduction Components of variance models are important in many elds of application. The simplest variance component model for repeated measures is the normal theory Author listing is alphabetical.
Developing a Process-Oriented Notation for Modeling Operational Risks - A Conceptual Metamodel Approach to Operational Risk Management in Knowledge Intensive Business Processes within the Financial Industry

According to the Basel II committee operational risks are the least understood and manageable risks in banks. Operational risks in banks are closely linked to the underlying business process landscape. Recently, researchers have suggested to model this process landscape in banks with new semantic business process modeling approaches. These enable banks not only to model their business processes more efficiently, but also analyze them in a (semi-)automatic way for multiple purposes (e.g. process weakness identification, IT investment decisions etc.). In this paper we extend such a semantic business process modeling language (SBPML) for banks by a risk view for modeling and analyzing operational risks in business process models from a conceptual modeling perspective. As a result of a case study at a bank, seeking to combine business process management and risk management in an integrated approach, we present an enhanced metamodel of the SBPML, which enables banks to model and analyze their processes and operational risks in a holistic way.
Duration of untreated psychosis: impact on 2-year outcome

Background. The duration of untreated psychosis has been postulated to be a predictor of clinical outcome in schizophrenia. Although several prospective studies support the relationship, some studies do not. These differences may be due to a number of methodological issues. The objectives of this study are: (i) to address many of the methodological limitations of earlier studies such as variations in sample size and selection, type of treatment provided, differences in measurement of DUP and outcome, and length of follow-up; and (ii) to examine the relationship between DUP and outcome in a prospective longitudinal study. Method. The DUP of 200 consecutive admissions to a first-episode programme was determined. The sample was followed over 2 years and pre-morbid functioning, symptoms, social and cognitive functioning and substance use were assessed longitudinally. Results. Two years after admission to the programme, longer DUP was significantly associated with high levels of positive symptoms and poor social functioning. Independently of other variables, DUP predicted positive symptoms and social functioning at 1 and 2 years. Conclusions. There is evidence that long DUP continues to have an influence on outcome up to 2 years. These results support ongoing efforts for early detection and intervention.
Consensus of linear multi-agent systems with communication delays under dynamic networks

In this paper, the consensus problem for linear multi-agent systems subject to non-uniform time-varying communication delays and jointly connected switching networks is investigated. Both distributed dynamic state feedback control law and distributed dynamic output feedback control law are proposed. By establishing some technical lemmas, it is shown that the proposed distributed control laws can solve the consensus problem.
Examining the human cost of multiple role expectations

ABSTRACT: We examine the potential human cost of multiple role expectations. Based on a survey of middle‐level managers, and drawing on role theory to develop testable hypotheses, we show that expecting innovation and empowerment alongside budget‐goal attainment may increase levels of role conflict, leading to a decrease in performance. Through field research we explore the coping strategies that may be invoked to deal with such psychological role conflict. We find that coping may be assisted by having responsibility for discretionary budgets, which allows managers to make trade‐offs involving the budget in response to multiple role expectations. In addition, we show that high‐performing managers are better able to cope with simultaneous expectations of innovation, empowerment, and budget‐goal attainment than low‐performing managers. Overall, our analysis suggests that positive outcomes may result from establishing forces for “creative innovation” alongside “predictable goal attainment” (Simons 1995), but.
Nematicidal properties of some algal aqueous extracts against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in vitro

The effectiveness of aqueous extracts derived from nine algal species at different concentrations on egg hatching and mortality of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood juveniles after various exposure times were determined in vitro. Results indicated that Enteromorpha flexuosa at the concentration of 80% was the best treatment for suppressing the egg hatching with value of 2 % after 5 days of exposure, followed by Dilsea carnosa extract (3%) and Codium fragile (4%) at the same concentration and exposure time. Likewise, application of C. fragile, D. carnosa , E. flexuosa and Cystoseira myrica extracts at the concentrations of 80 and 60% were highly toxic to the nematodes, killing more than 90 % of nematode larva after 72 hours of exposure while the others gave quite low mortalities. The characteristic appearances in shape of the nematodes killed by C. fragile, D. carnosa , C. myrica, E. flexuosa and Sargassum muticum was sigmoid (∑-shape) with some curved shape; whereas, the nematodes killed by other algal species mostly followed straight or bent shapes. The present study proved that four species of algae C. fragile, D. carnosa, C. myrica and E. flexuosa could be used for the bio-control of root-knot nematodes.
Viewpoint Quality: Measures and Applications

Several methods that use the notion of viewpoint quality have been recently introduced in different areas of computer graphics, such as scene understanding, exploration of virtual worlds, radiosity and global illumination, image-based rendering and modelling. In this paper, we analyze the behavior of three different viewpoint quality measures. The first one is a heuristic measure, the second one is the viewpoint entropy, and the third one is a new measure based on the Kullback-Leibler distance between the projected and actual distributions of the areas of the polygons in the scene. In addition, this paper reviews different applications and introduces a new algorithm using the Kullback-Leibler distance for the selection of a representative set of n views. Our method is based in selecting the view that minimizes the Kullback-Leibler distance between the mixture of the distributions of all selected views and the actual area distribution.
The Practical Organization of Moral Transactions

The fusion of gift giving and market exchange elements in economic transactions creates practical difficulties. How can the parties involved agree about the meaning of their engagement and the value of the exchanged objects? This article tackles the topic—an important one in economic sociology—by looking at moral transactions (i.e., transactions that combine pecuniary and ethical considerations). Through an empirical study of the issuance of Irish and Israeli diaspora bonds during the 1920s and 1950s, respectively, I identify practices that help actors overcome the difficulties inherent in moral transactions. Clarification practices allow actors to treat the exchange as either gift giving or market exchange. Blurring practices allow actors to complete a transaction without agreeing on its meaning. Blurring practices require creating a zone of indeterminacy, that is, a context in which the parties can cooperate without agreeing on their relationships. The broader implications of these practices are then discussed.
Contracting and Information Sharing Under Supply Chain Competition

We investigate contracting and information sharing in two competing supply chains, each consisting of one manufacturer and one retailer. The two supply chains are identical, except they may have different investment costs for information sharing. The problem is studied using a two-stage game. In the first stage, the manufacturers decide whether to invest in information sharing. In the second stage, given the information structure created in the first stage, the manufacturers offer contracts to their retailers and the retailers engage in Cournot competition. We analyze the game for two different contract types. For the case of contract menus, a supply chain that does not have information sharing will lower its selling quantities because of the negative quantity distortions in the contract menus, thus creating a strategic disadvantage in Cournot competition. The value of information sharing to a supply chain is positive, and the dominant strategy of each supply chain is to invest in information sharing when the investment costs are low. We fully characterize the equilibrium information sharing decisions under different investment costs. For the case of linear price contracts, the value of information sharing to a supply chain becomes negative, and the dominant strategy of each supply chain is not to invest in information sharing regardless of investment costs. Our results highlight the importance of contract type as a driver of the value of information sharing and the role of information sharing capability as a source of competitive advantage under supply chain competition.
Association between a chloride-liberal vs chloride-restrictive intravenous fluid administration strategy and kidney injury in critically ill adults.

CONTEXT Administration of traditional chloride-liberal intravenous fluids may precipitate acute kidney injury (AKI). OBJECTIVE To assess the association of a chloride-restrictive (vs chloride-liberal) intravenous fluid strategy with AKI in critically ill patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Prospective, open-label, sequential period pilot study of 760 patients admitted consecutively to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the control period (February 18 to August 17, 2008) compared with 773 patients admitted consecutively during the intervention period (February 18 to August 17, 2009) at a university-affiliated hospital in Melbourne, Australia. INTERVENTIONS During the control period, patients received standard intravenous fluids. After a 6-month phase-out period (August 18, 2008, to February 17, 2009), any use of chloride-rich intravenous fluids (0.9% saline, 4% succinylated gelatin solution, or 4% albumin solution) was restricted to attending specialist approval only during the intervention period; patients instead received a lactated solution (Hartmann solution), a balanced solution (Plasma-Lyte 148), and chloride-poor 20% albumin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes included increase from baseline to peak creatinine level in the ICU and incidence of AKI according to the risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage (RIFLE) classification. Secondary post hoc analysis outcomes included the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), length of stay in ICU and hospital, and survival. RESULTS Chloride administration decreased by 144 504 mmol (from 694 to 496 mmol/patient) from the control period to the intervention period. Comparing the control period with the intervention period, the mean serum creatinine level increase while in the ICU was 22.6 μmol/L (95% CI, 17.5-27.7 μmol/L) vs 14.8 μmol/L (95% CI, 9.8-19.9 μmol/L) (P = .03), the incidence of injury and failure class of RIFLE-defined AKI was 14% (95% CI, 11%-16%; n = 105) vs 8.4% (95% CI, 6.4%-10%; n = 65) (P <.001), and the use of RRT was 10% (95% CI, 8.1%-12%; n = 78) vs 6.3% (95% CI, 4.6%-8.1%; n = 49) (P = .005). After adjustment for covariates, this association remained for incidence of injury and failure class of RIFLE-defined AKI (odds ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.37-0.75]; P <.001) and use of RRT (odds ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.33-0.81]; P = .004). There were no differences in hospital mortality, hospital or ICU length of stay, or need for RRT after hospital discharge. CONCLUSION The implementation of a chloride-restrictive strategy in a tertiary ICU was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of AKI and use of RRT. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00885404.
Low ionic strength reduces cytosine photoreactivity in UVC-irradiated isolated DNA

Exposure of DNA to far-UV radiation leads to the formation of several types of dimeric lesions, including cyclobutane dimers and (6–4) photoproducts. In order to gain insights into the main parameters driving DNA photochemistry, the effect of ionic strength on the yield of formation of these photoproducts was investigated in UVC-irradiated samples of isolated genomic DNA. The main consequence of lowering the ionic strength was a decrease in the UVC-induced formation of thymine-cytosine and cytosine-cytosine photoproducts. The reactivity of thymine-thymine and cytosine-thymine doublets was hardly affected. Evidence was obtained against a major role played by duplex denaturation in these observations. A more likely explanation is a change in the DNA structure as the result of a larger extent of protonation at low counter-ions concentration.
Taken by Storm: Business Financing and Survival in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

We use Hurricane Katrina's damage to the Mississippi coast in 2005 as a natural experiment to study business survival in the aftermath of a cost shock. We find that damaged establishments that returned to operation were more resilient than those that had never been damaged. This effect is particularly strong for establishments belonging to younger and smaller rms. The effect of damage on establishments in older and larger chains was more limited, and they were subsequently less resilient having survived the damage. These selection effects persist up to five years after the initial shock. We interpret these findings as evidence that the effect of the shock is tied to the presence of financial and other constraints.
Viral Entry of Hepatitis B and D Viruses and Bile Salts Transportation Share Common Molecular Determinants on Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide

ABSTRACT The liver bile acids transporter sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is responsible for the majority of sodium-dependent bile salts uptake by hepatocytes. NTCP also functions as a cellular receptor for viral entry of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) through a specific interaction between NTCP and the pre-S1 domain of HBV large envelope protein. However, it remains unknown if these two functions of NTCP are independent or if they interfere with each other. Here we show that binding of the pre-S1 domain to human NTCP blocks taurocholate uptake by the receptor; conversely, some bile acid substrates of NTCP inhibit HBV and HDV entry. Mutations of NTCP residues critical for bile salts binding severely impair viral infection by HDV and HBV; to a lesser extent, the residues important for sodium binding also inhibit viral infection. The mutation S267F, corresponding to a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) found in about 9% of the East Asian population, renders NTCP without either taurocholate transporting activity or the ability to support HBV or HDV infection in cell culture. These results demonstrate that molecular determinants critical for HBV and HDV entry overlap with that for bile salts uptake by NTCP, indicating that viral infection may interfere with the normal function of NTCP, and bile acids and their derivatives hold the potential for further development into antiviral drugs. IMPORTANCE Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its satellite virus, hepatitis D virus (HDV), are important human pathogens. Available therapeutics against HBV are limited, and there is no drug that is clinically available for HDV infection. A liver bile acids transporter (sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide [NTCP]) critical for maintaining homeostasis of bile acids serves as a functional receptor for HBV and HDV. We report here that the NTCP-binding lipopeptide that originates from the first 47 amino acids of the pre-S1 domain of the HBV L protein blocks taurocholate transport. Some bile salts dose dependently inhibit HBV and HDV infection mediated by NTCP; molecular determinants of NTCP critical for HBV and HDV entry overlap with that for bile acids transport. This work advances our understanding of NTCP-mediated HBV and HDV infection in relation to NTCP's physiological function. Our results also suggest that bile acids or their derivatives hold potential for development into novel drugs against HBV and HDV infection.