Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Case Study of the Sociopolitical Dilemmas of Gullah-speaking Students: Educational Policies and Practices

Most of the languages spoken along the West African coastline are different from European languages but similar to Black English. Gullah, a West African and English Creole language, still spoken today on the sea islands of South Carolina and Georgia, is the predecessor of American Black English which is most similar to the languages of West Africa. Early research in reading comprehension and science language development has supported the belief that divergent language usage, such as Gullah, has a negative impact on the visible demonstration of academic reading achievement (Goodman, 1965; Hunt, 1975). Unfortunately, the educational system has been insensitive and ineffective in addressing the issue of the language differences between Black English and White English. Qualitative case study (Bogdan & Biklen, 1998) was chosen because we needed students with extreme examples of non-traditional English to illustrate easily the patterns that emerged. For all the students, description through language was a very complex issue. Often they omitted words or did not know the specific content words to complete a description. While their indigenous language patterns created holistic pictures, they did not use the exact or precise word to communicate the appropriate meaning to those unfamiliar with their language.
Measuring learner's performance in e-learning recommender systems

A recommender system is a piece of software that helps users to identify the most interesting and relevant learning items from a large number of items. Recommender systems may be based on collaborative filtering (by user ratings), content-based filtering (by keywords), and hybrid filtering (by both collaborative and content-based filtering). Recommender systems have been a useful tool to recommend items in many online systems, including e-learning. However, not much research has been done to measure the learning outcomes of the learners when they use e-learning with a recommender system. Instead, most of the researchers were focusing on the accuracy of the recommender system in predicting the recommendation rather than the knowledge gain by the learners. This research aims to compare the learning outcomes of the learners when they use several types of e-learning recommender systems. Based on the comparison made, we propose a new e-learning recommender system framework that uses content-based filtering and good learners' ratings to recommend learning materials, and in turn is able to increase the student's performance. The results show that students who used the proposed e-learning recommender system produced a significantly better result in the post-test. The results also show that the proposed e-learning recommender system has the highest percentage of score gain from pre-test to post-test.
Non-auditory cognitive capabilities in computational modeling of early language acquisition

Computational models of early language acquisition (LA) play an important role in understanding the acquisition and processing of spoken language. Since language is an extremely complex phenomenon, computational studies typically address only a specific aspect of the LA at a time. This calls for a huge number of assumptions regarding the other cognitive processes of the learning system, and these assumptions can have significant consequences to the ecological plausibility of the simulations. In this paper, we review the developmental status of a number of cognitive processes during the first year of infant’s life that are typically involved in the computational simulations of LA. How these findings are related to the plausibility of different simplifications and assumptions in computational models are also discussed.
Side-to-side differences in bone strength in master jumpers and sprinters.

INTRODUCTION This study evaluated side-to-side difference in tibial bone structure, calf muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and hopping force in master athletes as a result of training for sports with different magnitudes of inter-leg loading difference. METHODS Tibial bone parameters (at 4%, 14%, 38% and 66% tibial length proximal to distal end), muscle CSA (at 66% tibial length) and hopping forces of both legs of 51 master athletes (conditioned jumpers, conditioned triple jumpers, unconditioned jumpers, hurdlers and sprinters) were examined using pQCT. In epiphyseal 4% slice bone CSA (Ar.tot), total BMC (vBMC.tot), trabecular BMC (vBMC.tb) cortical BMC (vBMC.ct), and trabecular BMD (vBMD.tb) were measured. In diaphyseal slices, Ar.tot, vBMC.ct, cortical density (vBMD.ct), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) and calf muscle CSA (MuscA) were examined. RESULTS In conditioned jumpers, side-to-side differences in favour of take-off leg were found in 4% slice in vBMC.tb (+4.1%) (P<0.05). A side-to-side difference was found in 66% slice vBMC.ct and CSMI (both P<0.05), with conditioned jumper (+2.8% and 6.6%) and triple jumper (+2.7% and 7.2%) values higher than other groups. CONCLUSION The results suggest that regular training in high-impact sports with uneven lower limb loading results in side-to-side differences in skeletal adaptation independent of age and gender, suggesting that high-impact exercise is effective in maintaining bone strength throughout human lifespan.
Deep Cooperative Sensing: Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Based on Convolutional Neural Networks

In this paper, we investigate cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) in a cognitive radio network (CRN) where multiple secondary users (SUs) cooperate in order to detect a primary user, which possibly occupies multiple bands simultaneously. Deep cooperative sensing (DCS), which constitutes the first CSS framework based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), is proposed. In DCS, instead of the explicit mathematical modeling of CSS, the strategy for combining the individual sensing results of the SUs is learned autonomously with a CNN using training sensing samples regardless of whether the individual sensing results are quantized or not. Moreover, both spectral and spatial correlation of individual sensing outcomes are taken into account such that an environment-specific CSS is enabled in DCS. Through simulations, we show that the performance of CSS can be greatly improved by the proposed DCS.
Les troubles du langage inauguraux et démence : étude des troubles lexicaux auprès de 28 patients au stade débutant de la maladie d'Alzheimer

Les troubles du langage font partie, avec les troubles de la memoire, des premiers signes cliniques cognitifs de la maladie d’Alzheimer. Au debut de la maladie, ces troubles essentiellement expressifs touchent surtout le lexique, les autres aspects du langage (phonologie, syntaxe) restant preserves plus longtemps. Afin de mieux caracteriser ces troubles du langage inauguraux, nous avons evalue ces troubles aupres de 28 sujets (12 hommes et 16 femmes), âges de 52 a 90 ans (moyenne d’âge : 73 ans), presentant une maladie d’Alzheimer au stade debutant (MMS > ou = a 20, moyenne = 23,79). Aucun de ces sujets ne presentait de troubles auditifs ou visuels non corriges ni de troubles gnosiques visuels. L’examen des troubles lexicaux a consiste en la passation de 3 epreuves (denomination, designation et appariement d’images) permettant d’evaluer conjointement pour les memes 54 items (controles en termes de frequence, longueur et categorie semantique) la production et la comprehension lexicale ainsi que le traitement semantique non verbal. Les resultats a ces epreuves ont ete analyses en fonction des scores et temps seuils etablis aupres d’une population controle de 369 sujets. Les resultats montrent que 62% des sujets examines presente des troubles de la production lexicale caracterises par la presence de paraphasies lexicales semantiques et visuo-semantiques, de circonlocutions et de denominations vides et des delais dans les reponses, dans l’epreuve de denomination d’images. Ces troubles expressifs s’accompagnent de troubles semantiques dans la mesure 72% des sujets presentent des scores pathologiques a l’epreuve d’appariement semantique et dans une moindre proportion, sont associes a des troubles de la comprehension lexicale (44% de scores pathologiques en designation). Ces chiffres, plus eleves que ceux de la litterature, confortent l’hypothese de troubles lexico-semantiques propres a la maladie d’Alzheimer qui peuvent etre identifies precocement si l’on dispose d’outils d’evaluation adaptes a cette population.
Study on the Kinetics and Removal Formula of Methanethiol by Ethanol Absorption

Biological filtration is widely used for deodorising in wastewater treatment plants. This technique can efficiently remove soluble odour-causing substances, but minimally affects hydrophobic odorants, such as methanethiol (MT) and dimethyl sulfide. Ethanol absorption capacity for MT (as a representative hydrophobic odorant) was studied, and the MT removal rate formula was deduced based on the principle of physical absorption. Results indicated that the MT removal rate reached 80% when the volume ratio of ethanol/water was 1:5. The phase equilibrium constant was 0.024, and the overall mass transfer coefficient was 2.55 kmol/m2·h in the deodorisation tower that functioned as the physical absorption device. Examination results showed that the formula exhibited adaptability under changing working conditions. These findings provide a reference for engineering design and operation of a process for the removal of MT by ethanol absorption.
The Mechanical Stability of the Titin Z 1 Z 2 / Telethonin Complex revealed by Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The giant muscle protein titin, which provides a passive restoring force upon extension, is essential for maintaining the integrity of the muscular sarcomere. In order for titin to reversibly stretch and contract, the ends of this protein must be constrained, or anchored, at its terminal domains at the sarcomeric Z-disc and M-line. Here we investigate the role that telethonin, a protein which joins the ends of two titin molecules together at the Z-disc, plays in anchoring titin to one end of the sarcomere. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have explored the mechanical properties of the recently solved titin Z1Z2-telethonin complex, namely, its ability to bear strong forces such as those titin may encounter during passive muscle stretch. Our results show that not only does this complex resist high levels of mechanical force, suggesting that telethonin is the N-terminal titin anchor, but also that telethonin acts to distribute these forces between its two joined titin Z2 domains to protect the proximal Z1 domain from unfolding under stress. Our study sheds light on a key architectural function of biological cells, the formation of strong mechanical links between separate proteins through molecular glues that naturally need to be carefully controlled to avoid pathological aggregation.
Inter-School Links, Liaison and Networking: Collaboration or Competition ?

Pamela Lomax is Professor of Educational Research and Janet Darley a lecturer in the School of Economics, Kingston University. In this paper they report on research which examines how primary schools have collaborated and what effects (if any) the changes associated with LMS have had on their relationship with each other. The competition for pupils is singled out as the main cause of breakdown of good relationships and the decline of the role of the LEA is identified as forcing heads to develop 'new' inter- school links.
Student self-assessment: processes and consequences

Empirical research signals that self-assessment is an important factor supporting and engaging students with learning. Despite this, there has been no explicit comparison or evaluation of recent models used across educational sectors or within them. To the uninitiated, self-assessment often appears as an amorphous, unique process. This paper evaluates four basic models used in higher education to permit tutors to compare the different processes, timing and the degree of involvement of learners and tutors (weak and strong models) and discusses how each model could develop expertise in different contexts. It also summarises the main issues which have fuelled debate over half a century. This evaluation will benefit the educational community by providing a concise overview of self-assessment processes thus providing an expedient means of making an informed choice and encourage the take-up by practitioners.
Principles of Drug Metabolism

The focus of this chapter is essentially on drug metabolism reactions and their enzymes. Connected information of significance to medicinal chemists is also given attention. Introductory principles of drug metabolism are presented in the introduction. Oxidoreductases are discussed in the next section together with a systematic and extensive treatment of the chemical groups they target and the functionalization reactions they catalyze. Attention is paid to the cytochromes P450, their multiplicity, specificities and relative importance. Hydrolases are also treated. The next section is dedicated to the transferases and the conjugation reactions they catalyze, for example, glucuronidation and glutathione conjugation. The last section, which is particularly close to the interests of medicinal chemists, discusses pharmacological and toxicological consequences of metabolism, structure-metabolism relationships and the prediction of metabolism, and briefly outlines the biological factors that influence biotransformation. Keywords: biotransformation; conjugation reactions; cytochromes P450; enzymes; functionalization reactions; hydrolases; interindividual factors; intraindividual factors; oxidoreductases; pharmacological consequences; prediction of metabolism; toxicological consequences; toxophoric groups; transferases; structure–metabolism relationships
Effect of Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame) on the development of cerebrovascular diseases in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. We showed that a nutritional factor was able to attenuate the development of hypertension and its related diseases in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). In the present study, the effect of Wakame, an edible brown seaweed, on the development of stroke was examined in SHRSP.
VEGFR1–mediated pericyte ablation links VEGF and PlGF to cancer-associated retinopathy

VEGF coordinates complex regulation of cellular regeneration and interactions between endothelial and perivascular cells; dysfunction of the VEGF signaling system leads to retinopathy. Here, we show that systemic delivery of VEGF and placental growth factor (PlGF) by protein implantation, tumors, and adenoviral vectors ablates pericytes from the mature retinal vasculature through the VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1)-mediated signaling pathway, leading to increased vascular leakage. In contrast, we demonstrate VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is primarily expressed in nonvascular photoreceptors and ganglion cells. Moreover, blockade of VEGFR1 but not VEGFR2 significantly restores pericyte saturation in mature retinal vessels. Our findings link VEGF and PlGF to cancer-associated retinopathy, reveal the molecular mechanisms of VEGFR1 ligand-mediated retinopathy, and define VEGFR1 as an important target of antiangiogenic therapy for treatment of retinopathy.
Universal Dependency Analysis

Most data is multi-dimensional. Discovering whether any subset of dimensions, or subspaces, of such data is significantly correlated is a core task in data mining. To do so, we require a measure that quantifies how correlated a subspace is. For practical use, such a measure should be universal in the sense that it captures correlation in subspaces of any dimensionality and allows to meaningfully compare correlation scores across different subspaces, regardless how many dimensions they have and what specific statistical properties their dimensions possess. Further, it would be nice if the measure can non-parametrically and efficiently capture both linear and non-linear correlations. In this paper, we propose UDS, a multivariate correlation measure that fulfills all of these desiderata. In short, we define \uds based on cumulative entropy and propose a principled normalization scheme to bring its scores across different subspaces to the same domain, enabling universal correlation assessment. UDS is purely non-parametric as we make no assumption on data distributions nor types of correlation. To compute it on empirical data, we introduce an efficient and non-parametric method. Extensive experiments show that UDS outperforms state of the art.
Le traitement des voyelles nasalisées et des groupes consonantiques par l'apprenti-lecteur francophone

Cette etude porte sur le traitement des syllabes complexes par l'apprenti-lecteur francophone. On s'interesse au traitement de structures phonologiques CV avec voyelle nasale (CAN) (experience 1) et au traitement des groupes consonantiques (CRA) (experience 2) placees a l'initiale d'un item. On propose a des enfants bons et faibles lecteurs de premiere et deuxieme annee d'apprentissage une tâche de jugement d'identite entre un item-cible presente en modalite auditive et un item-test presente en modalite visuelle. Les resultats montrent la tendance des jeunes lecteurs a simplifier les mots polysyllabiques qu'ils ont a lire en les transformant en suite de syllabes ouvertes elementaires de type CV. Ces resultats confirment l'hypothese selon laquelle les caracteristiques linguistiques specifiques a une langue influencent le mode de traitement des mots ecrits et donc leur acquisition. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of phonological structure on the performance of French beginning readers. Bec.
Expression of Psychrophilic Genes in Mesophilic Hosts: Assessment of the Folding State of a Recombinant α-Amylase

ABSTRACT α-Amylase from the antarctic psychrophile Alteromonas haloplanktis is synthesized at 0 ± 2°C by the wild strain. This heat-labile α-amylase folds correctly when overexpressed in Escherichia coli, providing the culture temperature is sufficiently low to avoid irreversible denaturation. In the described expression system, a compromise between enzyme stability and E. coli growth rate is reached at 18°C.
Adolescent Precursors of Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood

In a six-year longitudinal study, the early contributors to romantic relationships in young adults were analyzed. Seventy-two adolescents participated annually in a survey assessing their relationships with parents and close friends at the ages of 14, 15, and 17 years. In addition, developmental progression in establishing a separate identity and developing a mature body concept was assessed. At the age of 20, the sample was again investigated with a focus on its current quality of romantic relations, assessed by the Love Experience Questionnaire (LEQ). Factor analysis of the LEQ revealed three distinctive components of romantic love in young adults: connectedness, attraction, and painful love. A series of multiple regression analyses explored the different contributions of predictors from the adolescent years for explaining variance in romantic relations at young adulthood. Results showed age-specific predictors for two different components of romantic relations, connectedness and attraction, including marital status of the parents, the quality of relationships with parents, and a sense of body competence at different stages of adolescence. Regarding painful love, only body competence at age 14 contributed significantly to this component of romantic love at age 20. The pressure to establish a separate identity was only predictive of the attraction component of romantic love, whereas the quality of relationships with friends did not contribute to connectedness or to attraction or painful love in romantic relations.
Effects of a Six-Week Hip Thrust vs. Front Squat Resistance Training Program on Performance in Adolescent Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Contreras, B, Vigotsky, AD, Schoenfeld, BJ, Beardsley, C, McMaster, DT, Reyneke, JHT, and Cronin, JB. Effects of a six-week hip thrust vs. front squat resistance training program on performance in adolescent males: A randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 999–1008, 2017—The barbell hip thrust may be an effective exercise for increasing horizontal force production and may thereby enhance performance in athletic movements requiring a horizontal force vector, such as horizontal jumping and sprint running. The ergogenic ability of the squat is well known. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 6-week front squat and hip thrust programs in adolescent male athletes. Vertical jump height, horizontal jump distance, 10- and 20-m sprint times, and isometric midthigh pull peak force were among the measured performance variables, in addition to front squat and hip thrust 3 repetition maximum (3RM) strength. Magnitude-based effect sizes revealed potentially beneficial effects for the front squat in both front squat 3RM strength and vertical jump height when compared with the hip thrust. No clear benefit for one intervention was observed for horizontal jump performance. Potentially beneficial effects were observed for the hip thrust compared with the front squat in 10- and 20-m sprint times. The hip thrust was likely superior for improving normalized isometric midthigh pull strength and very likely superior for improving hip thrust 3RM and isometric midthigh pull strength. These results support the force vector theory.
When Hierarchy Wins

Past research on pay dispersion has found that hierarchy hurts commitment, cooperation, and performance. In contrast, functional theories of social hierarchy propose that hierarchy can facilitate coordination and performance. We investigated the effects of hierarchical differentiation using a sample of professional basketball teams from the National Basketball Association (NBA). Analyses of archival data revealed that hierarchical differentiation in pay and participation enhanced team performance by facilitating intragroup coordination and cooperation. The data provide the basis for a theoretical analysis which suggests that hierarchy is particularly beneficial for procedurally interdependent tasks (e.g., basketball) but can harm team performance for procedurally independent tasks (e.g., baseball; Bloom, 1999). Overall, the current data indicate that team structure (hierarchy) affects team outcomes (performance) through team processes (cooperation and coordination). Thus, under certain conditions, hierarchical differentiation helps lead groups to victory.
When Do We Lie?

The paper reports from an experiment studying how the aversion to lying is affected by non-economic dimensions of the choice situation. Specifically, we study whether people are more or less likely to lie when the content of the lie is personal, when they base decisions on intuition, and when they are in a market context. We also study how aversion to lying depends on personal characteristics, including age, gender, cognitive ability, personality and social preferences. Our main finding is that non-economic aspects of the choice situation are crucial in understanding aversion to lying. In particular, we find that people are less likely to lie when the content of the message is personal. We also find large effects from priming the participants to rely on intuition, but, interestingly, in this case the effect only applies to males. Finally, we find that people who are highly motivated by social preferences are more averse to lying, but there is no significant relationship between lying behavior and other personal characteristics.