Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Young Classroom Practice ? Challenges to Conceptualizing and Actualizing Culturally Relevant Pedagogy : How Viable Is the Theory in

Although culturally relevant pedagogy is widely espoused and applied in educational research and practice, it is often not commonly understood as a conceptual framework that advocates the elements of academic success, cultural competence, and sociopolitical consciousness. This study was a grassroots attempt to work collaboratively with a group of administrators and teachers at one urban school to define, implement, and assess culturally relevant pedagogy as a viable pedagogical tool. A qualitative approach that used the combined methods of action research and critical case study was employed for this study. Findings revealed deep structural issues related to teachers’ cultural bias, the nature of racism in school settings, and the lack of support to adequately implement theories into practice. The study also recommends further inquiry-based dialogue among scholars and practitioners to more consistently utilize the theory in academic research and in classroom instruction.
Management of Stage 4S Composite Neuroblastoma With a MYCN-amplified Nodule

MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Very few cases of heterogenous MYCN amplification have been previously reported, and the clinical significance of heterogeneity is unclear. We report a neonate with an adrenal stage 4S neuroblastoma with a small focus of MYCN-amplified cells within a nonamplified background. After adrenalectomy, the patient has been observed without use of chemotherapy and has no evidence of disease progression.
Presence or Absence of Lipopolysaccharide O Antigens Affects Type III Secretion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the major causative agents of mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients due to a multiplicity of virulence factors associated with both chronic and acute infections. Acute P. aeruginosa infection is primarily mediated by planktonic bacteria expressing the type III secretion system (TTSS), a surface-attached needle-like complex that injects cytotoxins directly into eukaryotic cells, causing cellular damage. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the principal surface-associated virulence factor of P. aeruginosa. This molecule is known to undergo structural modification (primarily alterations in the A- and B-band O antigen) in response to changes in the mode of life (e.g., from biofilm to planktonic). Given that LPS exhibits structural plasticity, we hypothesized that the presence of LPS lacking O antigen would facilitate eukaryotic intoxication and that a correlation between the LPS O-antigen serotype and TTSS-mediated cytotoxicity would exist. Therefore, strain PAO1 (A+ B+ O-antigen serotype) and isogenic mutants with specific O-antigen defects (A+ B−, A− B+, and A− B−) were examined for TTSS expression and cytotoxicity. A strong association existed in vitro between the absence of the large, structured B-band O antigen and increased cytotoxicity of these strains. In vivo, all three LPS mutant strains demonstrated significantly increased lung injury compared to PAO1. Clinical strains lacking the B-band O antigen also demonstrated increased TTSS secretion. These results suggest the existence of a cooperative association between LPS O-antigen structure and the TTSS in both laboratory and clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa.
AUDIO STYLE TRANSFER WITH RHYTHMIC CONSTRAINTS

In this transformation we present a rhythmically constrained audio style transfer technique for automatic mixing and mashing of two audio inputs. In this transformation the rhythmic and timbral features of both input signals are combined together through the use of an audio style transfer process that transforms the files so that they adhere to a larger metrical structure of the chosen input. This is accomplished by finding beat boundaries of both inputs and performing the transformation on beat-length audio segments. In order for the system to perform a mashup between two signals, we reformulate the previously used audio style transfer loss terms into three loss functions and enable them to be independent of the input. We measure and compare rhythmic similarities of the transformed and input audio signals using their rhythmic envelopes to investigate the influence of the tested transformation objectives.
Geometry in Signal Processing and Machine Learning ( Report on a Workshop Sponsored by the National Science Foundation )

The purpose of the Estes Park Workshop was to assemble mathematicians, statisticians, and engineers to explore problems in signal processing and machine learning, within the purview of CISE, that would be illuminated by a geometric view and be solved by methods of Riemannian, differential, symplectic, and algebraic geometry. The workshop was the latest in a sequence of workshops convened by Dr. John Cozzens of NSF:
Insertional inactivation of staphylococcal methicillin resistance by Tn551

Transposon Tn551 was translocated into the chromosome of a methicillin-resistant (mec) strain of Staphylococcus aureus by heat inactivation of a thermo-sensitive plasmid carrying Tn551 and selection for erythromycin-resistant (Emr) survivors. Two independent chromosomal insertions of Tn551 were obtained which reduced the level of the methicillin resistance by a factor of 50 to 100, making the strains phenotypically methicillin sensitive (Mecs). Each of the Tn551 insertions was on the largest fragment produced by EcoRI digestion of the chromosomal DNA of these strains. The integration sites lie about 1 kilobase apart. These Mecs strains reverted to Mecr at frequencies of 2.4 X 10(-8) and 3.6 X 10(-5), respectively. The majority of Mecr revertants still were Emr; only a few lost the Emr phenotype concomitantly with reversion to the Mecr phenotype. Hybridization data with labeled Tn551 showed complex rearrangements and deletions in the region of the insertion. These two Tn551 insertions do not lie on the same linkage group, II, as the mec determinant. The phenotypic expression of methicillin resistance, therefore, is also dependent upon a chromosomal genetic marker not physically linked to the mec determinant.
ENRICHMENT AND CULTIVATION OF BEGGIATOA ALBA

The nutritional requirements of organisms in the genus Beggiatoa are poorly understood; the meager available evidence is contradictory. Even though Winogradsky did not work with pure cultures when he studied these organisms from 1875 to 1888, he considered Beggiatoa to be autotrophic and to require H2S (Winogradsky, 1949). Keil (1912) supported this concept and reported the isolation of pure cultures using sulfur spring water which he exposed to an atmosphere containing H2S. However, Cataldi (1940) was unable to obtain evidence for the autotrophic existence of Beggiatoa alba, but succeeded in cultivating the organism in dilute beef extract or hay infusions. Johnson and Baker (1947) used clarified sewage for crude enrichments of Beggiatoa, but were not able to obtain more prolific growth by the addition of Na2S or H2S. Recently Bahr and Schwartz (1956) have examined species of Beggiatoa in natural conditions as well as in crude cultures, and have found the presence of H2S and a reducing potential between 250 and 400 millivolts to be important. The present report is an extension of the work of Cataldi (1940) and concerns a study of isolation procedures, nutritional and physiological characteristics as well as stock culture techniques for strains of B. alba which have been maintained in the laboratory for several years.
A gaming platform for enhanced physical and cognitive activity training in older adults

The number of adults in the U.S. over the age of 85 is expected to triple by 2050. Maintaining function and mobility in this population will be of important consideration with significant economic implications. Regular physical activity, such as walking, is an important factor helping improve cardiovascular function, muscle strength, and balance in older adults. However, the benefits can differ depending on the level of function of the person. Recently, it has been found that simple walking routines combined with more complex movement requiring focused attention and decision making can lead to improved outcomes among older adults with poor lower extremity function compared to walking alone. In this thesis, we combine methods of gaming, computer vision, and novel camera technology to explore the role of computer-based virtual environment gaming for delivering complex physical and cognitive training among older adults. We investigate and evaluate current health game design principles based on feedback received by a small set of participants. In addition, we propose and evaluate two methods for detection of marching motion from a time sequence belonging to a fifteen point skeletonization of the human body.
Signal processing for future MIMO-OFDM wireless communication systems

The combination of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is likely to provide the air-interface solution for future broadband wireless systems. A major challenge for MIMO-OFDM systems is the problem of multi-access interference (MAI) induced by the presence of multiple users transmitting over the same bandwidth. Novel signal processing techniques are therefore required to mitigate MAI and thereby increase link performance. A background review of space-time block codes (STBCs) to lever age diversity gain in MIMO systems is provided together with an introduction to OFDM. The link performance of an OFDM system is also shown to be sensitive to time-variation of the channel. Iterative minimum mean square error (MMSE) receivers are therefore proposed to overcome such time-variation. In the context of synchronous uplink transmission, a new two-step hard-decision interference cancellation receiver for STBC MIMO-OFDM is shown to have robust performance and relatively low complexity. Further improvement is obtained through employing error control coding methods and iterative algorithms. A soft output multiuser detector based on MMSE interference suppression and error correction coding at the first stage is shown by frame error rate simulations to provide significant performance improvement over the classical linear scheme. Finally, building on the "turbo principle", a low-complexity iterative interference cancellation and detection scheme is designed to provide a good compromise between the exponential computational complexity of the soft interference cancellation linear MMSE algorithm and the near-capacity performance of a scheme which uses iterative turbo processing for soft interference suppression in combination with multiuser detection.
Firm Size, Political Connections, and the Value Relevance of Environmental Enforcement in China

Curbing environmental pollution is a key priority in China as reflected in the adoption of policies such as “New Normal” and the takeover of environmental enforcement by the top leadership of the central government in 2015. In this paper, we use a dataset of publicly-traded firms in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges and the event study methodology to gauge the reaction of the investor class to the new environmental enforcement regime. Our results indicate that, together, the announcement and implementation of the new enforcement regime spurred a significant decline of over $29 billion in shareholder value of polluting companies, suggesting that capital market participants expect increased regulatory costs for targeted companies. We also find that neither political connections nor firm size mitigated the severity of the market losses. Instead, larger firms and state-owned enterprises with excess capacity experienced bigger declines in market value.
Linking folding with aggregation in Alzheimer's β-amyloid peptides

Growing evidence suggests that the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides of Alzheimer's disease are generated in early endosomes and that small oligomers are the principal toxic species. We sought to understand whether and how the solution pH, which is more acidic in endosomes than the extracellular environment, affects the conformational processes of Aβ. Using constant pH molecular dynamics simulations of two model peptides, Aβ(1–28) and Aβ(10–42), we found that the folding landscape of Aβ is strongly modulated by pH and is most favorable for hydrophobically driven aggregation at pH 6. Thus, our theoretical findings substantiate the possibility that Aβ oligomers develop intracellularly before secretion into the extracellular milieu, where they may disrupt synaptic activity or act as seeds for plaque formation.
Lie Theory for Complete Curved $A_\infty$-algebras.

In this paper we develop the $A_\infty$-analog of the Maurer-Cartan simplicial set associated to an $L_\infty$-algebra and show how we can use this to study the deformation theory of $\infty$-morphisms of algebras over non-symmetric operads. More precisely, we define a functor from the category of (curved) $A_\infty$-algebras to simplicial sets which sends an $A_\infty$-algebra to the associated simplicial set of Maurer-Cartan elements. This functor has the property that it gives a Kan complex. We also show that this functor can be used to study deformation problems over a field of characteristic greater or equal than $0$. As a specific example of such a deformation problem we study the deformation theory of $\infty$-morphisms over non-symmetric operads.
Cost-Sensitive Learning from Imbalanced Datasets for Retail Credit Risk Assessment

In the present study we propose a new classification technique based on genetic algorithm and neural network, optimized for the cost-sensitive measure and applied to retail credit risk assessment. The relative cost of misclassification, which properly accounts for different misclassification costs of minority and majority classes, is used as the primary evaluation measure. The test of the new algorithm is performed on Croatian and German retail credit datasets for seven different cost ratios. An empirical comparison with others in the literature presented models demonstrates the potential of the new technique in terms of misclassification costs.
Crowd abnormal detection using artificial bacteria colony and Kohonen's neural network

This paper presents a new method for detecting abnormalities in crowded scenes using Artificial Bacteria Colony. The proposed method uses a metaheuristic inspired by the behavior of colony formation of bacteria. Artificial Bacteria Colony are used to optimize the search for moving areas on image. The detection method using the algorithm of Artificial Bacteria Colony is robust exhibiting an ability to adapt quickly to any scenario and the overall result is not impacted by the noise from videos. The bacteria population, the food stock and the centroid of the colonies are used as data for training a Kohonen's neural network. After training, the network is able to detect specific events by the similarity of data. The experiments were performed using the public dataset UMN. The results show that the proposed scheme is similar to state-of-the-art algorithms for detecting abnormalities nn the behavior pattern of people in crowds.
Impact of 5 S on quality , productivity and organizational climate-Two Analysis Cases

This article shows the impact of the 5S on the study factors: quality, productivity and organizational climate in two manufacturing SME located in Usaquen (Bogotá). The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the 5s methodology could be considered as an effective tool to improve manufacturing processes at SMEs. A visual diagnosis is chosen to identify the areas that present the largest amount of clutter and dirt. Once the location is identified, surveys and performance measurements are conducted focusing on particular study factors so as to understand the initial situation of the area. Subsequently, implementation of 5s is carried out and then three measurements are taken to monitor the performance of the study factors in order to find out if there is a trend during the measuring period. The study proves the lack of knowledge on the part of some Colombian SMEs on the methodology of 5S, despite of the low cost of implementation and the benefits offer to organizations. The results shows the existence of a positive relationship between the study factors and the implementation of the 5s methodology, since there is evidence of an increase in productivity (83% 68%) and quality (36% 67%) based on performance measurements as well as improvement of the organizational climate (18% 33%)
Exploring sources of knowledge utilized in practice among Jordanian registered nurses.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Understanding sources of knowledge used in everyday practice is very helpful in improving the quality of health care services. There is a consensus in the literature that nurses mostly relied in their practice on experiential knowledge gained through their interactions with other members of health care professionals and patients. The general aim of this study is to explore the sources of knowledge Jordanian registered nurses use during their practice. METHOD A descriptive correlational design was used to collect data from 539 Jordanian registered nurses from 10 hospitals using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS The mean year of experience of the sample was 7.08 years. Of the 615 questionnaires distributed, 555 were returned. This yields a response rate of 87.6%. Results revealed that the top five ranked sources used by Jordanian registered nurses include: the information that nurses learned during nursing education, personal experience in nursing over time, what was learned through providing care to patients, information gained through discussion between physicians and nurses about patients, and information from policy and procedure manuals. CONCLUSION Jordanian registered nurses recognize the value of research and that research utilization (RU) is an important issue and must not be ignored. The study has many implications for practice, education and research. Health care managers and decision makers need to play a more visible and instrumental role in encouraging RU to improve patients' quality of life.
Synaptic vesicle cycling at type‐identified diaphragm neuromuscular junctions

Differences in neuromuscular transmission and neuromuscular junction morphology exist across muscle fiber types. We hypothesized that these fiber‐type differences are reflected in the size of the cycling synaptic vesicle pool. Synaptic vesicle cycling at type‐identified rat diaphragm neuromuscular junctions was examined by fluorescently labeling presynaptic vesicles with FM4‐64. We found that FM4‐64 fluorescence uptake was higher at presynaptic terminals of type I/IIa fibers than type IIx/IIb fibers. However, no fiber‐type differences in the rate of FM4‐64 destaining were found with repetitive nerve stimulation. Synaptic vesicle density at active zones was examined by transmission electron microscopy. In accordance with FM4‐64 uptake, synaptic vesicle density was greater at type I/IIa than IIx/IIb fibers. These results demonstrate differences in synaptic vesicle cycling across diaphragm muscle fiber types, which may underlie previously observed differences in neuromuscular transmission across diaphragm muscle fiber types. In the diaphragm, motor units comprising type I and type IIa fibers are most frequently recruited with a duty cycle of ∼40%. Motor units comprising IIx/IIb fibers are infrequently recruited and only for short durations. The capacity for synaptic vesicle release and cycling at different muscle fiber types matches the functional requirements of these motor units. If the demand for recruitment of motor units comprising IIx/IIb fibers increases, for example, with mechanical loading, there is an increased risk for neuromuscular transmission failure that my relate to the capacity for synaptic vesicle release and cycling. Muscle fiber type–specific adaptations should be considered when examining neuromuscular disorders. Muscle Nerve, 2004
Reevaluation of Historical Exposures to Ethylene Oxide Among U.S. Sterilization Workers in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Study Cohort

The 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment for ethylene oxide (EO) estimated a 10−6 increased inhalation cancer risk of 0.1 parts per trillion, based on National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) epidemiology studies of sterilization facility workers exposed to EO between 1938 and 1986. The worker exposure estimates were based on a NIOSH statistical regression (NSR) model “validated” with EO levels measured after 1978. Between 1938 and 1978, when EO data was unavailable, the NSR model predicts exposures lowest in 1938 increasing to peak levels in 1978. That increasing EO concentration trend arose, in part, because engineering/industrial-hygiene (E/IH) factors associated with evolving EO-sterilization equipment and operations before 1978 were not properly considered in the NSR model. To test the NSR model trend prediction, a new E/IH-based model was developed using historical data on EO kill concentrations, EO residue levels in sterilized materials, post-wash EO concentrations in a sterilization chamber, and information on facility characteristics and sterilizer operator practices from operators familiar with pre-1978 industry conditions. The E/IH 90th percentile of 8 h time-weighted average EO exposures (C90) for highly exposed sterilizer operators was calibrated to match 1978 C90 values from the NSR model. E/IH model C90 exposures were estimated to decrease over time from levels 16 and were four-fold greater than NSR-estimated exposures for workers during 1938–1954 and 1955–1964. This E/IH modeled trend is opposite to that of NSR model predictions of exposures before 1978, suggesting that EPA’s exclusive reliance on the NIOSH cohort to estimate EO cancer risk should be re-examined.