Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Os constrangimentos dos professores do ensino superior presencial em relação à adoção do ensino online

Portuguese higher education institutions need to diversify their educational offer in order to adapt it to new audiences for which the forms of teaching and learning, including online education, are increasingly attractive. However, there are few studies related to how teachers perceive the adoption of forms of teaching and learning that include online teaching. In this study, which used questionnaires in 11 Portuguese private higher education institutions, we sought to identify the constraints of higher education teachers regarding adoption of online learning. The results show that increasing the time they have to devote to teaching activities is the main constraint reported by teachers in relation to the adoption of online learning. Exploratory factor analysis identified six dimensions related to the constraints of teachers: increased academic work; institutional support; social recognition of online learning; staff availability and peer support; online interaction; and problems related to copyright. Teachers experience little receptivity and a high prejudice towards online education, and mostly have reservations about the impact that it can have on their professional development. The creation of motivational strategies for the improvement of the technological and pedagogical skills can help teachers engage in forms of distribution that include online teaching.
New Strategies to Extract β and γ from

The decays B d → π + π − and B s → K + K − are related to each other by interchanging all down and strange quarks, i.e. through the U-spin flavour symmetry of strong interactions. A completely general parametrization of the CP-violating observables of these modes is presented within the framework of the Standard Model, allowing the determination of the angles β and γ of the unitarity triangle. This strategy is affected neither by penguin contributions nor by any final-state-interaction effects , and its theoretical accuracy is only limited by U-spin-breaking corrections. If the B 0 d –B 0 d mixing phase 2β is determined separately, for example with the help of B d → J/ψ K S , γ can be extracted with a reduced U-spin flavour symmetry input. A variant of this strategy to determine γ, which uses B d → π ∓ K ± instead of B s → K + K − and relies – in addition to the SU (3) flavour symmetry – on a certain dynamical assumption, is also briefly discussed.
Effective action of (2+1)-dimensional QED: The effect of a finite fermion density

The effective action of (2+1)-dimensional QED with a finite fermion density is calculated in a uniform electromagnetic field. It is shown that the integer quantum Hall effect and de Haas{endash}van Alphen-like phenomenon in condensed matter physics are derived directly from the effective action. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Design and Evaluation of Communication Middleware in a Distributed Humanoid Robot Architecture

distributed system architectures, we performed a variety of tests on these subsystems under different network conditions, operating systems and computational loads. The results indicate that delays due to our middleware is negligible compared to computational costs associated with actual processing within the modules, provided a network with high enough bandwidth. The Cognitive Map appears to be scalable to an increasing number of connected modules with negligible degradation of package delays.
Research of optimal placement of active reference tags based on LANDMARC algorithm

LANDMARC algorithm achieves satisfactory location accuracy with less reader by introducing active reference tags, usually placed in the form of regular grid and served as neighbors for the tracking tags. However, the uniform arrangement of the reference tags is not applicable in the case that the probability occurrence of each area differs greatly, or obstacles like wall and partition exist. The paper firstly establishes the objective function according to an event-based occurrence probability model, and then proposes a PSO-based optimizing mechanism. Comparing with an earlier solution and the uniform arrangement, we come to the conclusion that the proposed algorithm provides a better design with higher accuracy and stability.
Methylxanthines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: meta-analysis of randomised trials

Abstract Objective To evaluate the addition of methylxanthines to standard treatments in patients presenting with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Data source The Cochrane airways review group's COPD register. Two reviewers independently selected articles for inclusion, assessed methodological quality, and extracted data. Selection of studies Four trials met the inclusion criteria, with 169 patients. Main outcome measures Mean change in spirometry, clinical end points, symptom scores, and adverse events. Results Mean change in forced expiratory volume at one second at two hours was similar in methylxanthine and placebo groups but transiently increased with methylxanthines at three days. Non-significant reductions in admissions to hospital and length of stay were offset by a non-significant increase in relapses at one week. Changes in symptom scores did not reach significance. Methylxanthines caused more nausea and vomiting than placebo (odds ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 12.6), and non-significant increases in tremor, palpitations, and arrhythmias were also observed. Conclusions The available data do not support the use of methylxanthines for the treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Potential benefits of methylxanthines for lung function and symptoms were generally not confirmed at standard levels of significance, whereas the potentially important adverse events of nausea and vomiting were significantly increased in patients receiving methylxanthines.
Dendritic cells and natural killer cells interact via multiple TNF family molecules

Dendritic cells (DC) and natural killer (NK) cells are essential components of the innate immune system, which rapidly sense and eliminate invading pathogens and transformed cells, mediate inflammation, and initiate adaptive immune responses. During the early immune events, DC and NK cells interact and regulate each other. The cellular “cross talk” and its molecular mediators are believed to be critical to the quality and magnitude of innate and adaptive immune responses. The goal of the present manuscript is to identify and initially assess major molecular mediators of DC‐NK cell interaction. We have previously shown that DC and NK cells constitutively express several tumor necrosis factor family ligands (TNFfLs) and corresponding TNF family receptors (TNFfRs). Therefore, DC and NK cells might be able to interact via cognate interplays of TNFfLs and TNFfRs. Here, we provide initial experimental evidence supporting this possibility. We found that combined but not individual ligation of several TNFfRs induced substantial increases in secretion of interleukin‐12 and inteferon‐γ by DC and NK cells, respectively. In contrast, specific, individual disruptions of the engagements of the corresponding TNfL‐TNFfR pairs greatly impaired DC and NK cell abilities to reciprocally mediate the increases in cytokine secretion. These findings indicate that multiple TNFfLs mediate DC‐NK cell interaction.
Dissecting Dynamic Genetic Variation That Controls Temporal Gene Response in Yeast

Inter-individual variation in regulatory circuits controlling gene expression is a powerful source of functional information. The study of associations among genetic variants and gene expression provides important insights about cell circuitry but cannot specify whether and when potential variants dynamically alter their genetic effect during the course of response. Here we develop a computational procedure that captures temporal changes in genetic effects, and apply it to analyze transcription during inhibition of the TOR signaling pathway in segregating yeast cells. We found a high-order coordination of gene modules: sets of genes co-associated with the same genetic variant and sharing a common temporal genetic effect pattern. The temporal genetic effects of some modules represented a single state-transitioning pattern; for example, at 10–30 minutes following stimulation, genetic effects in the phosphate utilization module attained a characteristic transition to a new steady state. In contrast, another module showed an impulse pattern of genetic effects; for example, in the poor nitrogen sources utilization module, a spike up of a genetic effect at 10–20 minutes following stimulation reflected inter-individual variation in the timing (rather than magnitude) of response. Our analysis suggests that the same mechanism typically leads to both inter-individual variation and the temporal genetic effect pattern in a module. Our methodology provides a quantitative genetic approach to studying the molecular mechanisms that shape dynamic changes in transcriptional responses.
Statins for primary prevention in older people do not cut mortality or CHD events, study finds

Treating older people who have moderate hyperlipidaemia and hypertension with statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease does not reduce mortality or coronary heart disease events, results from a post-hoc analysis of a large randomised trial have shown.1 Many older patients take statins for primary cardiovascular disease prevention. Although some evidence shows benefits from statins for secondary prevention in older people with cardiovascular diseases, limited data are available on the risks and benefits for primary prevention in this age group. Researchers carried out a post-hoc analysis of data …
An efficient algorithm for checking hyper-regularity of matrices

Hyper-regularity [7] is a property of matrices over skew polynomials. In this contribution we consider the skew polynomial ring K[d/dt], with K the field of meromorphic functions and with the multiplication rule d/dt · f = f · d/dt + df/dt for all f ∈ K—see e. g. [3, Chpt. 0.10]. A matrix M ∈ K[d/dt]n×m is hyper-regular if it can be transformed into a constant matrix of maximal rank in reduced echelon form, i. e. , if there are unimodular matrices U ∈ K[d/dt]n×n and V ∈ K[d/dt]m×m such that
Neonaticide

ABSTRACT This study explored the phenomenon of neonaticide, as related to the researcher by nine women incarcerated for this act. The objective of the present study was to develop grounded theory on the subject of neonaticide, implementing data obtained from primary sources. Utilizing two rounds of semi-structured interviews, conducted privately in prisons throughout the United States, individual, familial, and societal factors were investigated in an effort to understand the personal experience of neonaticide, the interpretation of the experience, and integration of the experience into the life of each individual participant. A constellation of behavioral and psychological responses common to each of the nine participants' experience of neonaticide emerged, beginning with the discovery of an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy. This was followed by fear, concealment of the pregnancy, emotional isolation, denial, dissociation, panic, and, finally, the act of neonaticide. Within the context of the present study, the consistency of the behavioral and psychological responses identified as foundational to an act of neonaticide supports an assessment of neonaticide as an impulsive response reflecting the mental status of a woman whose energy has been directed for months at concealing her pregnancy from the world, rather than a premeditated act of rage or aggression toward a newborn. The present study indicates that women of widely varying ages and life circumstances with no criminal history are capable of an act of neonaticide in response to a conflicted pregnancy, emotional isolation, and ineffectual coping strategies.
Large-scale horizontal flows in the solar photosphere. V. Possible evidence for the disconnection of

In a recent paper (Svanda et al., 2008, A&A 477, 285) we pointed out that, based on the tracking of Doppler features in the full-disc MDI Dopplergrams, the active regions display two dynamically different regimes. We speculated that this could be a manifestation of the sudden change in the active regions dynamics, caused by the dynamic disconnection of sunspots from their magnetic roots as proposed by Schuessler & Rempel (2005, A&A 441, 337). Here we investigate the dynamic behaviour of the active regions recorded in the high-cadence MDI data over the last solar cycle in order to confirm the predictions in the Schuessler's & Rempel's paper. We find that, after drastic reduction of the sample, which is done to avoid disturbing effects, a large fraction of active regions displays a sudden decrease in the rotation speed, which is compatible with the mechanism of the dynamic disconnection of sunspots from their parental magnetic structures.
Dynamics of a Phaeocystis-Dominated Spring Bloom in Belgian Coastal Waters: II. Bacterioplankton Dynamics

Measurements of dissolved organic matter, bacterial biomass, exoproteolytic activity, uptake of direct substrates, bacterial production and mortality were carried out in the Belgian coastal zone dunng the wax and wane of the 1984 spring phytoplankton bloom. These data offer an accurate description of bacterioplankton dynamics in response to phytoplankton development. A model, t ahng into account the basic processes involved in bacterial utilization of organic matter (HSB model), provides a good simulation of the observed variations of bacterial biornass and activity.
ASPIRATIONS AND WELL-BEING: EXTRINSIC VS. INTRINSIC LIFE GOALS

The present study explored whether participants can be classified into groups according to their intrinsic and extrinsic life goals and how these groups differ in satisfaction of basic psychological needs and well-being. Four questionnaires were administered to 835 college students: Aspiration Index (Kasser and Ryan, 1996), The Basic Psychological Needs Scale (Gagnè, 2003), Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan and Frederick, 1997) and The Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener at al., 1985). K-Means cluster analysis was used to classify individuals on the basis of their life aspirations: importance, present attainment and likelihood of future attainment. The same four-cluster solution was obtained for all three measures. The first cluster included individuals high on extrinsic and low on intrinsic life goals. The second contained students high on intrinsic and low on extrinsic aspirations. The third group included students with high scores on both intrinsic and extrinsic goals, and the fourth those with low scores on both kinds of goals. The group with high scores on both intrinsic and extrinsic goals had the highest scores on measures of well-being, followed by the group with high intrinsic and low extrinsic aspirations. These two groups had also higher values for all basic psychological needs compared to groups with low scores on intrinsic values. These findings suggest that both intrinsic and extrinsic goals can contribute to well-being.
UCP3 Expression in Liver Modulates Gene Expression and Oxidative Metabolism in Response to Fatty Acids, and Sensitizes Mitochondria to Permeability Transition

Background/Aims: Uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) is expressed in liver only under conditions of high fatty acid catabolism. However, the specific role of UCP3 in liver mitochondria and overall hepatic function is still poorly known. Methods: A model of “in vivo” induction of UCP3 expression in mouse liver mitochondria via a tail-vein injection of a recombinant adenoviral vector was developed. The effects on liver mitochondrial bioenergetics and permeability transition, liver gene expression, and systemic metabolism were then determined. Results: UCP3 expression in liver did not cause basal, non-specific, uncoupling but led to a stimulation of palmitate-induced state 4 respiration. UCP3 expression in liver also caused an increase in the expression of certain genes involved in lipid catabolism and metabolic response to starvation (e.g. medium chain acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α). UCP3 also conferred to liver mitochondria an enhanced sensitivity to classical inducers of permeability transition, such as calcium and carboxyatractylate. Conclusion: UCP3 expression in liver exerts direct actions on mitochondrial activity, favoring fatty acid-induced uncoupling and sensitizing mitochondria to permeability transition, as well as causing retrograde signaling to nuclear gene expression consistent with favoring lipid catabolism and oxidative metabolism.
Identification of Total Quality Management Enablers and Information Technology Resources for ICT Industry: A Pareto Analysis Approach

Pareto analysis was used to sort and arrange the total quality management (TQM) enablers and information technology (IT) resources according to their order of frequency of occurrences, vital few factors were taken in this study. The objective of the present study was formulated to identify 'vital few' factors of TQM enablers and IT resources for the benefits of researchers and practitioners. The major findings of this study is distinguished the most usable enabler 'top management commitment and support (TMCS)' and resource 'electronic data interchange (EDI)' by using Pareto analysis approach. The result of this study will help quality experts and managers in TQM implementation in more effective and fruitful way in information communication and technology (ICT) industry. The future scope of this study is TMCS and EDI can be widely used to the extent of TQM implementation. The managerial implication of this study investigates enabler 'TMCS' and resource 'EDI' are most crucial for smoother implementation of TQM in ICT industry.
Gravitational approach to supervised clustering for bi-class datasets

There have been many researches about supervised clustering. The problem of common supervised clustering is to train a clustering algorithm by avoiding overfitting. To solve this problem, we develop a new algorithm based on gravitational cluster centers. The novel method avoids overfitting by taking account of the gradient between the misclassification error and the number of gravity centers. Also, it detects the number of gravity centers and their locations from the dataset. Two dimensional synthetic dataset are used in order to provide several viewpoints into this new method. Also, it is tested by using a benchmark datasets.
An actin-filament-binding interface on the Arp2/3 complex is critical for nucleation and branch stability

The Arp2/3 complex polymerizes new actin filaments from the sides of existing filaments, forming Y-branched networks that are critical for actin-mediated force generation. Binding of the Arp2/3 complex to the sides of actin filaments is therefore central to its actin-nucleating and branching activities. Although a model of the Arp2/3 complex in filament branches has been proposed based on electron microscopy, this model has not been validated using independent approaches, and the functional importance of predicted actin-binding residues has not been extensively tested. Using a combination of molecular dynamics and protein-protein docking simulations, we derived an independent structural model of the interaction between two subunits of the Arp2/3 complex that are key to actin binding, ARPC2 and ARPC4, and the side of an actin filament. This model agreed remarkably well with the previous results from electron microscopy. Complementary mutagenesis experiments revealed numerous residues in ARPC2 and ARPC4 that were required for the biochemical activity of the entire complex. Functionally critical residues clustered together and defined a surface that was predicted by protein-protein docking to be buried in the interaction with actin. Moreover, key residues at this interface were crucial for actin nucleation and Y-branching, high-affinity F-actin binding, and Y-branch stability, demonstrating that the affinity of Arp2/3 complex for F actin independently modulates branch formation and stability. Our results highlight the utility of combining computational and experimental approaches to study protein-protein interactions and provide a basis for further elucidating the role of F-actin binding in Arp2/3 complex activation and function.
ADAPTATION OF OBJECT MODELS FOR ROAD EXTRACTION IN IMAGES OF DIFFERENT RESOLUTION

: Depending on the spatial resolution, the appearance of roads differs in images. In high resolution aerial images a road might be distinguishable as an area with visible road markings, while in a satellite image of low resolution, roads appear as lines and their network character becomes important. The design of the object model for the extraction of roads therefore has to be influenced by the resolution of the available imagery. In this paper we present results of a concept to automatically adapt road models for high resolution images to models suitable for any other lower resolution images with the same spectral characteristics. The road model is formulated as a semantic net, which ensures an explicit representation of objects. Starting from the manually created semantic net for high resolution images and the given target scale, the road model is first automatically decomposed into object parts with similar scale behaviour. The representation of the object parts in the coarser scale is then automatically predicted by scale change models, which are generated by deploying analytical as well as simulation procedures. After scale adaptation of the decomposed object parts, they are fused back to a complete object model in form of a semantic net, which is suitable for road extraction in images of the lower target resolution. The automatically created semantic nets for different scales are used for automatic object extraction. Using an object model for road extraction in urban areas, the developed methods were successfully tested. The presented methodology facilitates the creation of new object models for automatic object extraction in lower resolution images by adaptation, and therefore avoids redundant work.