Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reading Attitude as a Mediator between Contextual Factors and Reading Behavior

Background Among the factors known to influence reading development and performance, attitude toward reading is shown to be particularly critical for developing learners. Reading attitude enhances independent reading, levels of engagement in classroom reading activities, and the amount and variety of topics in reading, which in turn influence reading skills and strategies. Reading attitude is an important element in students’ active engagement and achievement in reading. Purpose The first purpose of this study was to test whether Korean students’ home literacy resources, parental support and parents’ reading attitude, and teachers’ use of instructional strategies in relation to reading could predict Korean students’ reading attitude. The second purpose was to test a model linking family- and school-related factors, reading attitude, and reading behaviors and learning strategy use as outcomes. Specifically, we hypothesized that positive and negative attitudes toward reading would mediate the relationships between home, parent, and teacher variables and reading outcomes. Design Using a nationally representative sample from the PISA 2009 database, we tested two structural equation models. Because there were two categories of outcomes examined in this study, we fitted the model separately for each outcome category. The first model (Reading Behavior Model) included reading activities such as reading for enjoyment, reading diversity, and online reading as outcome variables. The second model (Learning Strategy Model) shared the same model structure with the first one except that the outcome variables were use of learning strategies such as memorization, elaboration, and control. In both models, reading attitudes were hypothesized to mediate the relationship between contextual factors (i.e. gender, home resources, parental and teacher influences) and the reading/learning outcomes. Conclusions Gender, books and other types of literacy resources in the home, and parents’ attitudes toward reading functioned as consistent predictors of Korean students’ positive and negative attitudes toward reading. Among the contextual factors, parents’ reading attitude and parental support for reading directly as well as indirectly predicted students’ reading behaviors via students’ reading attitude. Parental support for reading and teachers’ instruction and assignment strategies in reading directly predicted students’ use of learning strategies as well. Positive attitudes toward reading also predicted students’ use of memorization, elaboration, and control strategies. Thus, reading attitude was an important mediator between parent- and teacher-related contextual factors and reading/learning engagement of Korean adolescents.
Method-Based Higher Education in Sustainability: The Potential of the Scenario Method

Both sustainability and education are challenging process-oriented objectives. When the aim is to combine both notions, as in Higher Education in Sustainability (HES), it is indispensable to first establish a common ground between them. In this paper, we characterise this common ground in terms of four aspects: future orientation, normativity, global perspective, and theory engaged in practice. Based on an analysis of the common ground, one method that is well-established in a wide range of sustainability sciences shows high potential for use in HES because it covers all four aspects in detail: the scenario method. We argue that a didactical reconstruction of the scenario method is necessary to utilise its potential and develop adequate forms of teaching in higher education. The scenario method is used to construct and analyse a set of alternative future developments to support decisions that have to be made in the present. Didactical reconstruction reveals a spectrum of objectives for which the scenario method can be employed: (1) projection; (2) teleological planning and (3) an explorative search for possibilities not yet considered. By studying and experimenting with this spectrum of objectives, students in HES can develop fundamental reflexive competencies in addressing the future in different ways that are relevant for both sustainability and education.
Substrate Integrated Waveguide Quasi-Elliptic Filters With Controllable Electric and Magnetic Mixed Coupling

This paper proposes a type of quasi-elliptic filter with controllable electric and magnetic mixed coupling based on substrate integrated waveguide cavity resonators using two-layer printed circuit board process. For the second-order mixed coupling filter, an embedded short-ended strip line is combined with a conventional inductive window between two cavities to create the mixed coupling, in which the electric and magnetic coupling can be separately controlled by adjusting the width of the strip line and the inductive window, and a controllable transmission zero can be produced below or above the passband. For local multipoint distribution service application, three directly coupled quasi-elliptic filters and two cross-coupled quasi-elliptic filters are designed, simulated, and fabricated using the mixed electric and magnetic coupling second-order filtering units at the Ka-band. For the N-order filter, a maximum of N-1 finite transmission zeros can be realized. The proposed filters show the advantages of good selectivity with controlled transmission zeros, wide upper stopband, and easy integration with other planar circuits. Good agreements have been observed between the measured results and the simulated ones.
Tutorial and Review on the Synchronization of Chaotic Dynamical Systems

1990s researchers have realized that cha otic systems can be synchronized. The phenomenon ch aotic synchronization is immediately interesting because of its high potential for applications. Our purpose in this paper is to collect results from various areas in a review arti cle format with a tutorial emphasis. Chaotic dynami cal systems having features, sensitive dependence on initial condition s and topological mixing along with periodic orbit must be dense. In order to optimize the result of synchronization is also a motivating factor for the study of this phenomenon, there is possibility of chaos control. In this review paper we considered t he synchronization of chaotic dynamical systems, bo th in continuous and discrete time along with preliminary notions on nonlinear dynamics.
Measuring Similarity between Semantic Business Process Models

A business process may be modeled in different ways by different modelers even when utilizing the same modeling language. An appropriate method for solving ambiguity issues in process models caused by the use of synonyms, homonyms or different abstraction levels for process element names is the use of ontology-based descriptions of process models. So-called semantic business process models promise to support business process interoperability and interconnectivity. But, for (semi-) automatic process interoperability and interconnectivity two problems need to be solved. How can similar terms for process element names be automatically discovered and how can semantic business process composition be facilitated. In this paper we will present solutions for these problems based upon an OWL DL-based description of Petri nets.
A biologically-inspired anthropocentric shoulder joint rehabilitator: workspace analysis & optimization

This paper presents the design of a biologically-inspired anthropocentric 7-DOF wearable robotic arm for the purpose of stroke rehabilitation. The proposed arm rehabilitator utilizes the human arm structure to combine with underdeterministic cable driven parallel mechanisms so as to form completely deterministic structures. It adopts an anthropocentric design concept, thereby offering the advantages of being lightweight, having high dexterity and conforming to the human anatomical structure. This paper mainly focuses on the workspace analysis of the 3-DOF shoulder module, with respect to the shoulder joint motion range. Workspace parameterization is based on a modified Z-Y-Z Euler angles approach and utilizing cylindrical coordinates to determine the workspace volume, while workspace evaluation is carried out based on the shoulder joint motion limits and the cable tension analysis. An effective cable tension analysis method is also proposed based on the duality between force closed multifingered grasping and cable driven mechanisms. Finally, the workspace of the mechanism is optimized to match with that of the human shoulder and to obtain a set of dimensions for the shoulder module prototype development.
A unifying biology of sex steroid-induced apoptosis in prostate and breast cancers

Prostate and breast cancer are the two cancers with the highest incidence in men and women, respectively. Here, we focus on the known biology of acquired resistance to antihormone therapy of prostate and breast cancer and compare laboratory and clinical similarities in the evolution of the disease. Laboratory studies and clinical observations in prostate and breast cancer demonstrate that cell selection pathways occur during acquired resistance to antihormonal therapy. Following sex steroid deprivation, both prostate and breast cancer models show an initial increased acquired sensitivity to the growth potential of sex steroids. Subsequently, prostate and breast cancer cells either become dependent upon the antihormone treatment or grow spontaneously in the absence of hormones. Paradoxically, the physiologic sex steroids now kill a proportion of selected, but vulnerable, resistant tumor cells. The sex steroid receptor complex triggers apoptosis. We draw parallels between acquired resistance in prostate and breast cancer to sex steroid deprivation. Clinical observations and patient trials confirm the veracity of the laboratory studies. We consider therapeutic strategies to increase response rates in clinical trials of metastatic disease that can subsequently be applied as a preemptive salvage adjuvant therapy. The goal of future advances is to enhance response rates and deploy a safe strategy earlier in the treatment plan to save lives. The introduction of a simple evidence-based enhanced adjuvant therapy as a global healthcare strategy has the potential to control recurrence, reduce hospitalization, reduce healthcare costs and maintain a healthier population that contributes to society.
Computational and experimental characterization of physically clustered simple sequence repeats in plants.

The type and frequency of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in plant genomes was investigated using the expanding quantity of DNA sequence data deposited in public databases. In Arabidopsis, 306 genomic DNA sequences longer than 10 kb and 36,199 EST sequences were searched for all possible mono- to pentanucleotide repeats. The average frequency of SSRs was one every 6.04 kb in genomic DNA, decreasing to one every 14 kb in ESTs. SSR frequency and type differed between coding, intronic, and intergenic DNA. Similar frequencies were found in other plant species. On the basis of these findings, an approach is proposed and demonstrated for the targeted isolation of single or multiple, physically clustered SSRs linked to any gene that has been mapped using low-copy DNA-based markers. The approach involves sample sequencing a small number of subclones of selected randomly sheared large insert DNA clones (e.g., BACs). It is shown to be both feasible and practicable, given the probability of fortuitously sequencing through an SSR. The approach is demonstrated in barley where sample sequencing 34 subclones of a single BAC selected by hybridization to the Big1 gene revealed three SSRs. These allowed Big1 to be located at the top of barley linkage group 6HS.
Decitabine-Vorinostat combination treatment in acute myeloid leukemia activates pathways with potential for novel triple therapy

Despite advancements in cancer therapeutics, acute myeloid leukemia patients over 60 years old have a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. In an attempt to improve this, epigenetic modifying agents have been combined as therapies in clinical studies. In particular combinations with Decitabine and Vorinostat have had varying degrees of efficacy. This study therefore aimed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of these agents to identify potential rational epi-sensitized combinations. Combined Decitabine-Vorinostat treatment synergistically decreased cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, enhanced acetylation of histones and further decreased DNMT1 protein with HL-60 cells showing a greater sensitivity to the combined treatment than OCI-AML3. Combination therapy led to reprogramming of unique target genes including AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase associated with cell survival and a poor prognosis in AML, which was significantly upregulated following treatment. Therefore targeting AXL following epi-sensitization with Decitabine and Vorinostat may be a suitable triple combination. To test this, cells were treated with a novel triple combination therapy including BGB324, an AXL specific inhibitor. Triple combination increased the sensitivity of OCI-AML3 cells to Decitabine and Vorinostat as shown through viability assays and significantly extended the survival of mice transplanted with pretreated OCI-AML3 cells, while bioluminescence imaging showed the decrease in disease burden following triple combination treatment. Further investigation is required to optimize this triple combination, however, these results suggest that AXL is a potential marker of response to Decitabine-Vorinostat combination treatment and offers a new avenue of epigenetic combination therapies for acute myeloid leukemia.
Nonlinear optical macroscopic assessment of 3-D corneal collagen organization and axial biomechanics.

PURPOSE To characterize and quantify the collagen fiber (lamellar) organization of human corneas in three dimensions by using nonlinear optical high-resolution macroscopy (NLO-HRMac) and to correlate these findings with mechanical data obtained by indentation testing of corneal flaps. METHODS Twelve corneas from 10 donors were studied. Vibratome sections, 200 μm thick, from five donor eyes were cut along the vertical meridian from limbus to limbus (arc length, 12 mm). Backscattered second harmonic-generated (SHG) NLO signals from these sections were collected as a series of overlapping 3-D images, which were concatenated to form a single 3-D mosaic (pixel resolution: 0.44 μm lateral, 2 μm axial). Collagen fiber intertwining was quantified by determining branching point density as a function of stromal depth. Mechanical testing was performed on corneal flaps from seven additional eyes. Corneas were cut into three layers (anterior, middle, and posterior) using a femtosecond surgical laser system and underwent indentation testing to determine the elastic modulus for each layer. RESULTS The 3-D reconstructions revealed complex collagen fiber branching patterns in the anterior cornea, with fibers extending from the anterior limiting lamina (ALL, Bowman's layer), intertwining with deeper fibers and reinserting back to the ALL, forming bow spring-like structures. Measured branching-point density was four times higher in the anterior third of the cornea than in the posterior third and decreased logarithmically with increasing distance from the ALL. Indentation testing showed an eightfold increase in elastic modulus in the anterior stroma. CONCLUSIONS The axial gradient in lamellar intertwining appears to be associated with an axial gradient in the effective elastic modulus of the cornea, suggesting that collagen fiber intertwining and formation of bow spring-like structures provide structural support similar to cross-beams in bridges and large-scale structures. Future studies are necessary to determine the role of radial and axial structural-mechanical heterogeneity in controlling corneal shape and in the development of keratoconus, astigmatism, and other refractive errors.
C‐fos mRNA is Spontaneously Induced in the Rat Brain During the Activity Period of the Circadian Cycle

The basal expression of the proto‐oncogene c‐fos was studied by Northern blot analysis in different regions of the rat brain during 24 h. A striking spontaneous oscillation of c‐fos mRNA expression was detected in animals kept in basal conditions with a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle. In these animals c‐fos mRNA was just detectable during the rest hours (morning through afternoon), and was high during the activity hours (night). The periodicity of this oscillation persisted and became free‐running when the animals were exposed for 6 consecutive days to constant light or darkness. It was thus demonstrated that the fluctuation of c‐fos expression is circadian and is not created by the light‐dark cycle, but the latter exerts a synchronizing effect. The oscillation of c‐fos mRNA was modified by manipulations of the rest‐activity cycle. In particular, the fluctuation observed in basal conditions was inverted, keeping the animals awake during the rest hours (diurnal) and allowing them to sleep in the activity period (nocturnal). These data indicated a close relationship between the oscillation of c‐fos expression and the rest‐activity cycle. Finally, electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring was performed under behavioural control for 3 h before the animals were killed. These experiments confirmed that, irrespective of the time of day, the EEG pattern typical of a state of sleep (including both slow waves and paradoxical sleep) was associated with low or undetectable c‐fos levels, whereas the protracted EEG desynchronization corresponding to wakefulness was associated with high c‐fos expression. Altogether these results indicate that c‐fos mRNA undergoes during the circadian cycle spontaneous oscillations related to the activation of genomic expression subserving the behavioural and electrical correlates of wakefulness. On the other hand, the behavioural and electrical correlates of sleep are associated with low c‐fos expression.
A Comparative analysis of line stability indices for dynamic voltage stability

Modern power system networks are often subjected to high stress due to meet the growing energy demand and operated close to their maximum stability limits. As a result, these networks are becoming less secure and always expecting the risk of voltage instability. Therefore, it has become inevitable to incorporate dynamic voltage stability analysis during planning of modern power system networks. As it provides the most accurate response of the actual dynamics of voltage stability when appropriate modelling is included. The best method to do dynamic voltage stability analysis is by utilizing the voltage stability indices (VSI). Hence in this paper, four system variable based VSI namely Lmn index, LQP index, fast voltage stability index (FVSI) and voltage collapse point indicators (VCPI) have been considered to identify the most vulnerable or weakest regions in power system network. During the index calculation load increment are conducted dynamically in two ways: only Q load and PQ load together. Based on the sensitivity of the indices towards the voltage collapse point, a comparative study among the indices has also been conducted. The test case under investigation is IEEE-14 bus system which has been designed and simulated in PSCAD environment.
Public uptake of science: a case for institutional reflexivity

This paper attempts to advance the notion of reflexivity as a key element of improving current understanding of the public understanding of science problem, and for improving the relations between science and its public more generally. By reflexivity here I mean more systematic processes of exploration of the prior commitments framing knowledge, in the way it has been introduced in sociological debates on modernity, rather than the more methodological-epistemological principle of consistency as it has been developed in sociology of science. The dominant framing of the public understanding of science issue corresponds with wider assumptions about the relationship between science and laypeople. Laypeople are assumed to be essentially defensive, risk- and uncertainty-averse, and unreflexive. Science on the other hand is assumed to be the epitome of reflexive self-criticism. This paper draws upon research in PUS to show that laypeople display considerable reflexive negotiation of their identity in relationships to science and scientific institutions. The latter, on the other hand, show considerable deep resistance to recognizing and reconsidering the unstated models of the public which structure their scientific discourses. This only makes the public understanding problem worse. Reflexive institutions would be needed to place science-public interactions on a more constructive footing.
Chemically Induced Photoswitching of Fluorescent Probes—A General Concept for Super-Resolution Microscopy

We review fluorescent probes that can be photoswitched or photoactivated and are suited for single-molecule localization based super-resolution microscopy. We exploit the underlying photochemical mechanisms that allow photoswitching of many synthetic organic fluorophores in the presence of reducing agents, and study the impact of these on the photoswitching properties of various photoactivatable or photoconvertible fluorescent proteins. We have identified mEos2 as a fluorescent protein that exhibits reversible photoswitching under various imaging buffer conditions and present strategies to characterize reversible photoswitching. Finally, we discuss opportunities to combine fluorescent proteins with organic fluorophores for dual-color photoswitching microscopy.
An efficient and message-optimal multicast routing protocol in mobile ad-hoc networks

This paper presents a novel protocol for multicasting in mobile ad-hoc networks named Spanning Tree for Multicasting (STM), which establishes and maintains the spanning tree for each multicast group using optimal control packets, without requiring any underlying unicast routing protocol or any pre-configured state of group. Based on the original idea of optimal maintenance of a spanning tree (OMST), we improve this algorithm considerably and propose our multicast protocol, as well as implement it as an extension of simulator NS-2. We compare STM with MAODV and PUMA using NS-2 through various scenarios, the results show that STM attains top packet delivery ratio, while keeping less overhead than others. As far as we know, our implementation is the very first implementation inspired by OMST in practice.
Image classification by combining multiple SVMS

In this paper, a novel framework is proposed for classifying images, which integrates several sets of support vector machines(SVM) on multiple low level image features. In the proposed framework several global image features are extracted from the input images, and SVM using linear kernel with probability outputs are constructed on each feature. The outputs of the SVM classifiers are then combined by glambda-fuzzy integral. The density value of the fuzzy integral for each classifier is trained by using grid searching algorithm. Compared with some current systems, our proposed framework demonstrates a promising performance for an image database of general-purpose images from Corel image library.