Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paulo Freire's pedagogy of hope: An autoethnography in a social justice classroom

PAULO FREIRE’S PEDAGOGY OF HOPE: AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHY IN A SOCIAL JUSTICE CLASSROOM Molly A. Swick, Ed.D. Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education Northern Illinois University, 2013 Jorge Jeria, Director This autoethnographic study provides a critical analysis of the implementation of ideas and theories derived from Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1970) and Pedagogy of Hope: Reliving Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1994) in a social justice oriented classroom; in particular, themes of critical thinking, transformation, and social action are investigated through the voices of student participants. Through reflective narrative, I explore how Freire’s humanist philosophy has influenced my educational practices as an instructor of higher education students. This inquiry utilizes qualitative data from undergraduate students, formal teaching observations, and interviews and on-going dialogue with a self-identified Freireian educator to help uncover how my students react to and reflect on my pedagogy. Student resistance to my implementation of Freire’s ideas is closely examined to help me develop a more inclusive pedagogy. Furthermore, addressing injustices pedagogically requires a shift in our educational language as well as an emphasis on critical thinking and liberatory education. Educators can resist traditional constraints placed upon them by embracing a new language and vocabulary that discloses injustice and facilitates inclusive classroom dialogue that encourages students to take social action against perceived injustices. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DEKALB, ILLINOIS
Alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking prevalence and predictors among national samples of American eighth- and tenth-grade students.

OBJECTIVE Given the public health impact of adolescent alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking, we sought to identify the prevalence of types of alcohol use among national samples of 8th- and 10th grade American students. In addition, a range of known risk factors was used to predict the most problematic type: heavy episodic use. METHOD Monitoring the Future data on lifetime, past-year, and past-30-day alcohol use and on past-2-week heavy episodic drinking were available for 505,668 students from 1991 to 2007 (weighted N = 505,853; 51.5% girls; 65.3% White, 12.3% Black, 11.1% Hispanic). Logistic regression was then used in a representative subsample of 110,130 students to predict heavy episodic drinking in the previous 2 weeks. RESULTS In the most recent cohorts, about 1 in 10 8th graders and 1 in 5 10th graders had engaged in heavy episodic drinking in the past 2 weeks. Explanatory variables in logistic regression were largely invariant across cohort, grade level, gender, and race/ethnicity, accounting for 48% of the variance in heavy episodic drinking. CONCLUSIONS Heavy episodic drinking continues to be a prevalent behavior among the nation's youth, with consistent risk factors over time, highlighting the continued necessity of effective screening and prevention efforts.
Oxidative modification of protein structures under the action of myeloperoxidase and the hydrogen peroxide and chloride system.

Myeloperoxidase of neutrophilic leukocytes (MPO) at pH 4.0 to 6.5 mediated oxidation of Cl- ions, yielding hypochloride (OCl-) which then reacted with amino acids and polypeptides. Thiol and thioether groups may be oxidized to disulfide or to sulphoxides and sulphonic acids respectively. Tryptophanyl residues yielded 2-oxoindole. Epsilon amino groups of lysine produced chloramine which, however, decomposed, yielding aldehyde residues. Bovine serum albumin treated with MPO-Cl-H2O2 system yielded derivatives with a decreased affinity to antialbumin antibodies and increased electrophoretic mobility. Albumin aldehyde derivatives were also obtained. At H2O2 molar ratio with albumin 20:1, a precipitation of albumin occurred, due to the formation of new polymeric albumin derivatives. The lysozyme (LZM) lost its enzyme activity when 1.4 to 1.8 mol of H2O2 per 1 mol of LZM was used. Addition of H2O2 above molar ratio 5:1 produced LZM polymerization to di-, tri-, tetra and pentameric derivatives. IgA exposed to the MPO-Cl-H2O2-Cl- system split into light chains (molecular weight: 25.8 kDa), heavy chains (molecular weight: 81.8 kDa) and a third polypeptide which size was half the light chain size (molecular weight: 13.9 kDa). The IgA exceeding the HOCl ratio 1:350 (mg/mumol) produced both precipitation and degradation of the IgA polypeptide structure. The treatment of IgG with HOCl released a fragment corresponding to half the light chain size, the light chain, and the heavy chain, whereas HOCl treatment of IgM released only a fragment which size was smaller than the heavy chain and another fragment which size was the same as the light chain. The MPO-Cl-H2O2 system produced many specific changes in protein structures. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Case Report of a Novel Mutation of the EYA1 Gene in a Patient with Branchio-oto-renal Syndrome

Abstract Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the coexistence of branchial cysts or fistulae, external ear malformation with pre-auricular pits or tags, hearing impairment and renal malformations. However, the presence of the main features varies in affected families. Here, we present a 16-year-old boy admitted to the Department of Nephrology at the Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Pristina, Republic of Kosovo because of severe renal insufficiency diagnosed 6 years ago, which progressed to end-stage renal failure. Clinical examination on readmission showed a pale, lethargic and edematous child, with auricular deformity, pre-auricular tags and pits as well as bilateral branchial fistulae. Laboratory tests revealed high blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 15.96 mmol/L and serum creatinine 633.0 µmol/L; low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 12 mL/min./ 1.73 m2 and massive proteinuria 4+. Abdominal ultrasound showed bilateral kidney hypoplasia. A novel mutation of the EYA1 gene was confirmed. Daily hemodialysis is continuing until renal transplantation is done. This case is presented to increase awareness among general practitioners to consider BOR syndrome or other renal abnormalities in patients with branchial fistula and/ or external ear anomalies or similar findings in other family members.
Mass Casualty Triage: An Evaluation of the Data and Development of a Proposed National Guideline

ABSTRACT Mass casualty triage is a critical skill. Although many systems exist to guide providers in making triage decisions, there is little scientific evidence available to demonstrate that any of the available systems have been validated. Furthermore, in the United States there is little consistency from one jurisdiction to the next in the application of mass casualty triage methodology. There are no nationally agreed upon categories or color designations. This review reports on a consensus committee process used to evaluate and compare commonly used triage systems, and to develop a proposed national mass casualty triage guideline. The proposed guideline, entitled SALT (sort, assess, life-saving interventions, treatment and/or transport) triage, was developed based on the best available science and consensus opinion. It incorporates aspects from all of the existing triage systems to create a single overarching guide for unifying the mass casualty triage process across the United States. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2(Suppl 1):S25–S34)
Physiological abnormalities in early warning scores are related to mortality in adult inpatients.

BACKGROUND Early warning scores using physiological measurements may help identify ward patients who are, or who may become, critically ill. We studied the value of abnormal physiology scores to identify high-risk hospital patients. METHODS On a single day we recorded the following data from 433 adult non-obstetric inpatients: respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness, urine output for catheterized patients, age and inspired oxygen. We also noted the care required and given. RESULTS Twenty-six patients (6%) died within 30 days. They were significantly older than survivors (P<0.001). Their median hospital stay was 26 days (interquartile range 16-39). Mortality increased with the number of physiological abnormalities (P<0.001), being 0.7% with no abnormalities, 4.4% with one, 9.2% with two and 21.3% with three or more. Patients receiving a lower level of care than desirable also had an increased mortality (P<0.01). Logistic regression modelling identified level of consciousness, heart rate, age, systolic pressure and respiratory rate as important variables in predicting outcome. CONCLUSIONS Simple physiological observations identify high-risk hospital inpatients. Those who die are often inpatients for days or weeks before death, allowing time for clinicians to intervene and potentially change outcome. Access to critical care beds could decrease mortality.
Influence of Human Leukocyte Antigen in the Pathogenesis of Me´nie`re's Disease in the South Korean Population

In order to study the associations of Ménière's disease (MD) with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in the South Korean population, we examined the distribution of HLA class I and II alleles in 39 MD patients and 199 healthy controls. The frequencies of HLA-Cw*0303 (relative risk (RR) = 2.5; p < 0.02) and -Cw*0602 (RR = 3.7; p < 0.03) were significantly increased in patients with MD compared to controls. However, HLA-B44 (RR = 0.2, p < 0.004) and -Cw*0102 (RR = 0.3; p < 0.03) were significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. When the association between hearing level and the presence of HLA alleles was evaluated, the frequencies of HLA-B13 (RR = 7.4; p < 0.004), -B39 (RR = 45.7; p < 0.003), -Cw*0303 (RR = 4.5; p < 0.02) and -Cw*0602 (RR = 6.5; p < 0.02) were significantly increased and those of -B44 (RR = 0.1; p < 0.02) and -Cw*0102 (RR = 0.1; p < 0.03) were significantly decreased in MD patients with hearing losses (stages II-IV) compared to controls. The frequency of HLA-B13 was significantly higher in MD patients with hearing loss (stages II-IV) than in those with normal hearing (stage I). In terms of HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 allele frequencies, a significantly higher frequency of DRB1*15 was seen in the patients (RR = 2.4; p < 0.03). These results suggest that some HLA alleles may be a useful genetic marker for predicting prognosis in South Korean patients with MD.
The Effect of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Community-Based Walking in Cerebral Palsy: A Clinical Pilot Study

Purpose: To examine the effect of ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) on walking activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: We used a randomized cross-over design with 11 children with bilateral CP, mean age 4.3 years. Subjects were randomized to current AFO-ON or AFO-OFF for 2 weeks and then crossed over. Walking activity (average total steps/day), intensity, and stride rate curves were collected via an ankle accelerometer. Group effects were examined with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and within-subject effects examined for more than 1 standard deviation change. Results: No significant group difference was found in average total daily step count between treatment conditions (P = .48). For the AFO-ON condition, 2 subjects (18%) increased total steps/day; 4 (36%) increased walking time; 2 (18%) had more strides at a rate of more than 30 strides/min; and 2 (18%) reached higher peak intensity. Conclusions: Clinically prescribed AFO/footwear did not consistently enhance walking activity levels or intensity. Larger studies are warranted.
The Glozz platform: a corpus annotation and mining tool

Corpus linguistics and Natural Language Processing make it necessary to produce and share reference annotations to which linguistic and computational models can be compared. Creating such resources requires a formal framework supporting description of heterogeneous linguistic objects and structures, appropriate representation formats, and adequate manual annotation tools, making it possible to locate, identify and describe linguistic phenomena in textual documents. The Glozz platform addresses all these needs, and provides a highly versatile corpus annotation tool with advanced visualization, querying and evaluation possibilities.
Forgetting and Heuristic Inference 1 How Forgetting Aids Heuristic Inference

A few theorists, ranging from William James to contemporary psychologists, have argued that forgetting should not be seen as a nuisance but as key for the proper working of human memory. In this paper, we propose the thesis that forgetting may in addition prove beneficial for inference heuristics that exploit mnemonic information such as recognition and retrieval fluency. To explore the mechanisms that link loss of information and heuristic performance, we bring together two research programs that take an ecological approach to studying cognition: fast and frugal heuristics (Gigerenzer, Todd, & the ABC Research Group, 1999) and ACT-R (Anderson & Lebiere, 1998). Using computer simulations, we show that forgetting boosts the accuracy of the recognition heuristic, which relies on systematic failures of recognition to infer which of two objects scores higher on a criterion value. Similarly, our simulations of the fluency heuristic, which arrives at the same inference on the basis of the speed with which objects are recognized, indicate that forgetting maintains the discriminability of recognition speeds. We conclude that the benefits of forgetting are not limited to generic advantages such as uncluttering memory from out-of-date information. Paradoxically, loss of mnemonic information allows these memory based heuristics to work more efficiently. Forgetting and Heuristic Inference 2
A Symbol-Rate Timing Synchronization Method for Low Power Wireless OFDM Systems

This work addresses power reduction and performance improvement for wireless orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems using a dynamic sample-timing controller (DSTC) and phase-tunable clock generator (PTCG). The receiver, applying the proposed DSTC algorithm, searches for the optimal sampling phase at the symbol rate, instead of the Nyquist rate (or higher), to reduce the extra power consumed in high-rate operations. The proposed PTCG circuits provide the desired clock phase for optimum sampling to improve system performance. Both the DSTC and the PTCG are evaluated in a multiband OFDM (MB-OFDM) ultra-wide-band system. Simulation results indicate that the overall system performance is improved by 1.7-dB signal-to-noise ratio at a packet error rate of 8% and the total baseband power is reduced by 40%.
Mechanotransduction and chemosensitivity of two major classes of bladder afferents with endings in the vicinity to the urothelium

The guinea pig bladder is innervated by at least five distinct major classes of extrinsic sensory neurons. In this study, we have examined the mechanisms of mechanotransduction and chemosensitivity of two classes of bladder afferents that have their endings in the vicinity of the urothelium: stretch‐sensitive muscle‐mucosal mechanoreceptors and stretch‐insensitive, mucosal high‐responding afferents. The non‐selective P2 purinoreceptor antagonist pyridoxal phosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid did not affect stretch‐ or stroking‐induced firing of these afferents but significantly reduced the excitatory action of α,β‐methylene ATP. Blocking synaptic transmission in Ca2+‐free solution did not affect stretch‐evoked firing but slightly reduced stretch‐induced tension responses. Stroking‐induced firing of both classes of afferents was also not affected in Ca2+‐free solution. Of blockers of mechano‐gated channels, benzamil (100 μm), but not amiloride (100 μm), Gd3+ (100 μm) or SKF 96365 (50 μm), inhibited stretch‐ and stroking‐induced firing. Serotonin (100 μm) applied directly onto receptive fields predominantly activated muscle‐mucosal afferents. Muscarine (100 μm) and substance P (100 μm) in 24% and 36% cases activated only mucosal high‐responding units. Bradykinin (10 μm), but not prostaglandin E2 (10 μm), excites predominantly mucosal units. High (80 mm) K+ solution activated both afferent classes, but responses of mucosal units were 4 times greater. In contrast to muscle‐mucosal units, most mucosal high‐responding units were activated by hot Krebs solution (45–46°C), low pH (pH 4) and capsaicin (3 μm). TRPV1 antagonist, capsazepine (10 μm) was without effect on mechanotransduction by mucosal high‐responding afferents. The results show that mechanotransduction of these two types of afferents are not dependant upon Ca2+‐dependent exocytotic release of mediators, or ATP, and it is likely that benzamil‐sensitive stretch‐activated ion channels on their endings are involved in direct mechanotransduction. The chemosensitivity to agonists and noxious stimuli differs significantly between these two major classes of bladder afferents that reflects their different physiological and pathophysiological roles in the bladder.
X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 common polymorphism is not associated with cervical cancer risk

Recently, some reports investigated the association between X-ray Repair Cross-Complementing group 3 (XRCC3) and cervical cancer risk. However, the results were inconclusive. The meta-analysis, thus, assessed whether XRCC3 T241M polymorphism was associated with cervical cancer risk. Odds Ratios (ORs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated. Five case-control studies with a total of 806 cervical cancer cases and 850 controls were included. No association between XRCC3 T241M polymorphism and cervical cancer risk was found. In subgroup analysis, Asians with this polymorphism seemed to be associated with cervical cancer risk. Publication bias was not performed. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that XRCC3 T241M polymorphism was not associated with cervical cancer risk.
Development of a quantitative PCR assay for monitoring HCV viraemia levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Summary. The need to improve the efficacy of anti‐viral agents directed against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has prompted the development of quantitative tests to monitor viraemia levels in relation to therapy. In this respect, we have produced a non‐competitive, quantitative PCR assay (Amplicor HCV Monitor1M) which is based on the single, combined, reverse transcription and amplification of the 5′ non‐coding region of HCV RNA as well as of an internal standard which serves to assess the overall efficiency of the system. The dynamic range of the assay and its precision allows for an accurate quantification between 1000 and 1000 000 copies of the viral genome per ml. The results of the first clinical evaluation of the test indicated that determination of viraemia may have predictive value when assessed prior to treatment, as patients with less than 50 000 HCV RNA copies per ml tend to show a longterm response to interferon‐α (IFN‐α) treatment. Moreover, a decrease of more than 1.5‐2 logarithms occurring at 1 month post‐initiation of therapy predicts response in a more timely and accurate fashion than ALT measurement. This may help in a better selection of patients to treat, therapy approaches and schedules and in the optimization of the cost‐benefit balance.
Volumetric Model Repair for Virtual Reality Applications

AbstractRepairing Virtual Reality (VR) models is a challenge for productive applications. This paper describes a fastimplementation of Nooruddin and Turk’s ray-stabbing method 14 based on standard graphics hardware. Ray-stabbing is used to convert a polygonal model into a volume model (also called voxelization). The volume modelis back-converted into a polygonal model using the marchingcubes (MC) algorithm 12 and the QSlim algorithm 7 for reducing the extracted polygon model. The overall process yields a properly closed polygonal model with novisual unimportant features like nested or overlapping geometries or unwanted cracks.The voxelization process is the key part of the reparation process. We discuss implementation details and essentialproblems of ray-stabbing not addressed by Nooruddin and Turk 14 . We focus on the generation of the volume modelutilizing OpenGL hardware support.The current implementation is a snapshot of an ongoing work at EADS Airbus, Europes leading commercialaircraft company. The ﬁnal goal is a fast model repair and red uction workﬂow for generating VR-models andvarious levels of detail. Problems erase from the fact, that the polygonalization of the volume model using theMC-algorithm generates a far too ﬁne tessellated model which then has to be reduced again. We also discusspossible approaches to overcome this drawback.1. IntroductionThis paper focuses on implementation and optimization as-pects of model repair for Virtual Reality (VR) applications.Repairing VR-models is an essential step of generating VR-models from CAD-models.One VR-focus of EADS-Airbus(Europe’s leading aircraftmanufacturing company) is rapid prototyping for customiz-ing commercial aircrafts. A typical high-end VR systemis used to present customized aircrafts using a three-sidedCAVE, coupled with different interaction devices and drivenby a SGI ONYX2 with three graphics pipelines.Being able to present the latest aircraft technology, EADSfocuses on the optimization of the generation process of theVR-model from the CAD-model. This process starts witha polygon model exported from the CAD-system (usuallyCADDS 5 or CATIA). These exported model shows severaltroublesome properties, especially holes and nested geome-tries. Additionally, the model is far too ﬁne tessellated. I n thepast the model optimization process at EADS incorporatedtremendous manual effort to construct the ﬁnal VR-model.To reduce the model, the holes and nested or overlappinggeometries have to be removed ﬁrst. Especially CAD modelscontain potentially a large amount of this visually unimpor-tant geometry. Furthermore, holes in the initial model causesevere problems for polygon reduction and also for furtherinteractive processing, e.g. for collision detection. It is thetask of the model repair step to remove all these problems.Therefore a robust model repair technique is most essentialto the whole optimization process.Nooruddin and Turk
Association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and atherosclerosis

Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is thought to play a key role in the inflammatory response in the arterial vesse l wall. This study aimed to investigate the associati on between oxidized low density lipoprotein cholest erol and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate mea sure of atherosclerosis. Four groups of subjects we re included in the study: a control group that included 12 normocholesterolemic healthy subjects (68% males , 32% females), 32 subjects with clinical signs of corona ry rtery disease (71% males, 29% females), 12 pati ents with arterial hypertension (60% males, 40% females), and 12 dyslipidemic patients (68% males, 32% females). Lipid profiles of the patients were measured by enzymatic methods. Ox-LDL was measured by a commercially ava ilable sandwich ELISA (Mercodia AB, Uppsala, Sweden) and carotid IMT by high-resolution B-mode ultrasoun d. Serum ox-LDL levels were higher in coronary artery disease patients (92.8 ± 8.12 U/L) and dyslipidemic patients (70 ± 16.24 U/L) compared with hypertensive (55.8 ± 10.84 U/L) and control subjects (53.7 ± 7.11 U/L). A positive, moderate correlation between ox-LDL and caroti d IMT was found only in coronary artery disease gro up (R = 0.58, p<0.001). We did not found significant corr elation between ox-LDL and carotid IMT hypertensive , dyslipidemic and control groups. These results indicat e that ox-LDL can be considered a marker of carotid a herosclerosis, and suggest that measurement of ox-LDL-C gives useful information in the risk assessment fo r atherosclerotic disease.