Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the role of weblogs in supporting learning communities: An integrative approach

This study explores into the role of weblogs in supporting preservice teachers during their teaching practice and the key factors determining their engagement with weblogs. Underlying our study is an integrative approach that puts weblogs alongside with other popular media in use. An online community was intentionally built with weblogs to facilitate reflection and social interaction among dispersed preservice teachers. In parallel, multiple channels of communication were employed for peer interaction. Weblogs were perceived as valuable in relieving isolation, documenting their experience, and expressing their personal feelings. Instant Messenger and phone were rated as the most frequently used media. This study sustains our conviction that the integrative approach is vital to have a comprehensive picture of interaction among a community. Our study deepens the insights into the distinct benefit of weblogs as educational media and informs the future development of an online community with weblogs.
The packeted release of transmitter from the sympathetic nerves of the guinea‐pig vas deferens: an electrophysiological study.

1. Excitatory junction potentials (e.j.p.s) were recorded intracellularly in the guinea‐pig vas deferens following stimulation of the hypogastric nerve. Differentiation of the rising phase of the e.j.p. showed them to be made up of transient peaks in the rate of depolarisation, the ‘discrete events'. 2. In any one cell discrete events occurred at one or several latencies, intermittently, the frequency of occurrence varying between 1 in 1.8 to 1 in 45 stimuli. 3. Intermittence was not an artifact due to the use of submaximal stimulation nor the result of a ganglionic relay between the hypogastric and vas deferens nerve. 4. Discrete events occurring with a single latency had amplitudes that were multimodally distributed. In some cells the preferred values of amplitude were simple whole number multiples of the smallest preferred value. 5. The time course of discrete events varied from cell to cell and at different latencies. The discrete event had a time to peak of 5.3 +/‐ 1.9 msec, n = 220 (mean +/‐ S.D.) and a time to half decay of 8.3 +/‐ 3.6 msec, n = 220. 6. Discrete events in a cell could be matched for amplitude and time course by spontaneous excitatory junction potentials in the same cell and both probably represent the release of a single packet of transmitter. 7. The e.j.p. is made up of (1) discrete events which represent the release of transmitter from a single varicosity, (2) a non intermittent slow component which represents the electronic spread of activity from smooth muscle excited from distant release sites. 8. It is concluded that transmitter release from individual varicosities is packeted and the number of packets liberated per stimulus from a single varicosity is small, varying between zero and 10.
Modeling the Variance of Network Populations with Mixed Kronecker Product Graph Models

Several works are focused in the analysis of just one network, trying to replicate, match and understanding the most possible characteristics of it, however, in these days it becomes more important to match the distribution of the networks rather than just one graph. In this work we will theoretically demonstrate that the Kronecker product graph models (KPGMs) [1] is unable to model the natural variability in graph properties observed across multiple networks. Moreover after different approaches to improve this deficiency, we show a generalization of KPGM that uses tied parameters to increase the variance of the model, while preserving the expectation. We then show experimentally, that our new model can adequately capture the natural variability across a population of networks.
Constacyclic codes over F_q + u F_q + v F_q + u v F_q.

Let q be a prime power and F_q be a finite field. In this paper, we study constacyclic codes over the ring F_q+ u F_q +v F_q+ u v F_q, where u^2=u, v^2=v and uv=vu. We characterized the generator polynomials of constacyclic codes and their duals using some decomposition of this ring. We also define a gray map and characterize the Gray images of self-dual cyclic codes over F_q+uF_q+vF_q+uvF_q.
The Effects of Vasectomy on Epididymal Morphology and Sperm Parameters in Adult Male Balb/c mice

La vasectomia es un procedimiento anticonceptivo comun en los hombres. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar el impacto de la vasectomia sobre la morfologia del epididimo y los parametros espermaticos en ratones macho adultos Balb/c. Fueron utilizados en el estudio 20 ratones adultos (8 semanas de edad), con un peso ponderado de 20-30 g. Se dividieron en 2 grupos (vasectomia y Sham). Las cirugias se realizaron bajo anestesia con pentobarbital sodico (40 mg/kg de peso corporal, IP), con acceso a traves de una incision medio- abdominal inferior. La cabeza del epididimo izquierdo fue fijada para estudios histologicos y la cabeza del epididimo derecho se utilizo para el conteo de espermatozoides y evaluar su motilidad. La motilidad progresiva rapida y lenta de los espermatozoides se redujo significativamente en el grupo de ratones vasectomizados en comparacion con el grupo Sham (p<0,05), y el numero de espermatozoides inmoviles en el grupo sometido a la vasectomia aumento. Granuloma espermatico se observo en el 60% de los epididimos despues de la vasectomia. Tambien, el estudio histologico mostro un aumento del diametro del lumen tubular, espacio intersticial e infiltracion de celulas inmunitarias en el tejido intersticial en el grupo sometido a la vasectomia . La vasectomia aumenta los cambios histopatologicos en el epididimo y disminuye la motilidad de los espermatozoides, generando una reduccion en las tasas de fertilidad.
Microinjection of mitotic cells with the 3F3/2 anti-phosphoepitope antibody delays the onset of anaphase

The transition from metaphase to anaphase is regulated by a checkpoint system that prevents chromosome segregation in anaphase until all the chromosomes have aligned at the metaphase plate. We provide evidence indicating that a kinetochore phosphoepitope plays a role in this checkpoint pathway. The 3F3/2 monoclonal antibody recognizes a kinetochore phosphoepitope in mammalian cells that is expressed on chromosomes before their congression to the metaphase plate. Once chromosomes are aligned, expression is lost and cells enter anaphase shortly thereafter. When microinjected into prophase cells, the 3F3/2 antibody caused a concentration-dependent delay in the onset of anaphase. Injected antibody inhibited the normal dephosphorylation of the 3F3/2 phosphoepitope at kinetochores. Microinjection of the antibody eliminated the asymmetric expression of the phosphoepitope normally seen on sister kinetochores of chromosomes during their movement to the metaphase plate. Chromosome movement to the metaphase plate appeared unaffected in cells injected with the antibody suggesting that asymmetric expression of the phosphoepitope on sister kinetochores is not required for chromosome congression to the metaphase plate. In antibody-injected cells, the epitope remained expressed at kinetochores throughout the prolonged metaphase, but had disappeared by the onset of anaphase. When normal cells in metaphase, lacking the epitope at kinetochores, were treated with agents that perturb microtubules, the 3F3/2 phosphoepitope quickly reappeared at kinetochores. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the 3F3/2 epitope is concentrated in the middle electronlucent layer of the trilaminar kinetochore structure. We propose that the 3F3/2 kinetochore phosphoepitope is involved in detecting stable kinetochore-microtubule attachment or is a signaling component of the checkpoint pathway regulating the metaphase to anaphase transition.
PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANTS ON THE EXPERIMENTAL LIVER AND KIDNEY TOXICITY IN MICE

Aim: Liver and kidney are exposed to a lot of oxidant substances that are both from exogen and endogen sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of C vitamine, Melatonine (MLT) and N-acetylcystein (NAC) in carbon tetrachlorur (CCl4) induced oxidative stress in mouse. Methods: The study involved 6 groups; control group (Group 1), CCl4 group (Group 2), CCl4 + C vitamine group (Group 3), CCl4 + MLT group (Group 4), CCl4 + NAC group (Group 5) and combined (CCl4 + C vitamine + MLT + NAC) group (Group 6) with each group containing 10 mice. Starting from the 4th day of the study 0,4 ml/kg CCl4 were given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to all groups except the control group. In Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6; 150 mg/kg/day C vitamine, 10 mg/kg/day MLT, 150 mg/kg/day NAC and C vitamine + MLT + NAC combination, respectively, were given for 7 days. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutatyon peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were measured in the tissues of liver and kidney of the mice. Results: The MDA and MPO levels in the tissues of liver and kidney of the toxicity group (Group 2) were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.01), but the GSH-Px and CAT activities were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.01). Compared with the toxicity group; in groups 3, 5 and 6 liver MDA and MPO levels showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) while GSH-Px and SOD activities in group 4 and GSH-Px activity in group 5 showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In kidney, MDA levels in groups 3 and 5 and MPO levels in groups 4 and 6 showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). SOD in group 3; GSH-Px and CAT in group 4; GSH-Px, SOD and CAT in group 5 and SOD activities in group 6 showed a significant increase. Conclusion: The results showed that C vitamine therapy and the combined therapy were effective in preventing oxidative stress in both liver and kidney while MLT increased antioxidant enzyme activities more effectively. Furthermore, NAC was more effective in preventing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities.
The Effects of Applicant Impression Management Tactics on Interviewer Judgments

Applicants in employment interviews use a variety of impression management techniques such as emphasizing positive traits, conforming to the opinions of the interviewer, and claiming responsibility for positive events. A field experiment was conducted on 62 employment interviewers who viewed videotaped interview segments in which either high or low levels of impression management techniques were depicted. Applicant credentials were also manipulated. Results indicated that interviewers were influenced by impression management techniques regardless of applicant credentials. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to theory, research and practice of the employment interview.
Blind navigation with a wearable range camera and vibrotactile helmet

We present a way finding system that uses a range camera and an array of vibrotactile elements which we built into a helmet. The range camera is a Kinect 3D sensor from Microsoft that is meant to be kept stationary, and used to watch the user (i.e., to detect the person's gestures). Rather than using the camera to look at the user, we reverse the situation, by putting the Kinect range camera on a helmet for being worn by the user. In our case, the Kinect is in motion rather than stationary. Whereas stationary cameras have previously been used for gesture recognition, which the Kinect does very well, in our new modality, we take advantage of the Kinect's resilience against rapidly changing background scenery, where the background in our case is now in motion (i.e., a conventional wearable camera would be presented with a constantly changing background that is difficult to manage by mere background subtraction). The goal of our project is collision avoidance for blind or visually impaired individuals, and for workers in harsh environments such as industrial environments with significant 3-dimensional obstacles, as well as for use in low-light environments.
Brain–Machine Interfaces: Basis and Advances

During the past 20 years, scientists have focused their efforts in the quest of real solutions in which the neural signals produced inside the human brain could be connected with computers or artificial prostheses that in a near future could be used to restore the mobility and communication abilities of patients with some damage in the central nervous system. In this paper, the procedure to control an artificial device with the thought is explained; the techniques used to extract the neural activity from the brain are classified and compared to establish their advantages, drawbacks, and future development. In addition, the main breakthroughs so far in brain-machine interfaces are described.
The phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K)‐Akt pathway suppresses neurite branch formation in NGF‐treated PC12 cells

Background: Previous studies have shown that phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K) plays an important role in NGF (nerve growth factor)‐induced neurite elongation. However, the roles of the PI3K pathway in neurite branch formation were not fully understood. Also, it was not clear where the PI3K pathway is activated during branch formation.
Expression of B-Cell Markers in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Tissue Microarray Analysis of 330 Cases

Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma arise from B-lymphocytes. However, classical markers of the B-cell phenotype, such as CD20, are present only in about 25% of the cases. The aim of the present study was to assess expression of the B-cell–related antigens CD20, CD79a, and CD138 in classical Hodgkin lymphoma using a tissue microarray consisting of 330 classical Hodgkin lymphoma cases. Expression of CD15, CD20, CD30, CD79a, CD138, and latent membrane protein 1 of Epstein-Barr virus was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the methodology was validated by direct comparison of CD20 expression on the tissue microarray cores with corresponding large sections. The influence of the number of arrayed sample cores on the obtained expression levels of CD20 was analyzed by comparing the results from single, duplicate, and triplicate cores. Two-hundred fifty-three (77%) of the 330 cases were morphologically representative. CD20 was expressed in 84 cases (33%), CD79a in 26 (10%), and CD138 in 2 (1%), respectively. CD20 and CD79a were co-expressed in 16 cases (P < .005), and expression of CD20 correlated inversely with CD15 (P < .01). Comparing the tissue microarray results with those from conventional sections for expression of CD20 yielded a concordance of 94% (63/67). Examining one, two, and three cores from individual cases revealed positivity for CD20 at 24% (61/253), 32% (82/253), and 33% (84/253), respectively. We conclude that B-cell markers are expressed in 38% of classical Hodgkin lymphoma in the following rank order: CD20>CD79a≫CD138. The use of two cores per tissue sample renders the tissue microarray technology effectively representative and thus very useful for high-throughput evaluation of heterogeneously expressed markers in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
"Metaphylaxis" in post-partum conditions in dairy cows with butaphosphone: a trial under South African conditions.

Current literature on the prevention of the "parturition syndrome" in dairy cows using butaphosphone is summarised. A South African trial is recorded in which 2 pre-partum injections of the drug caused a significant reduction in the number of cases of parturition syndrome, as well as a marked reduction in intercalving period in the treated portion of the herd. No difference in lactation yield or culling rate was seen. The financial implication of the reduction in intercalving period is discussed.
mHealth 2.0: Experiences, Possibilities, and Perspectives

With more than 1 billion users having access to mobile broadband Internet and a rapidly growing mobile app market, all stakeholders involved have high hopes that this technology may improve health care. Expectations range from overcoming structural barriers to access in low-income countries to more effective, interactive treatment of chronic conditions. Before medical health practice supported by mobile devices ("mHealth") can scale up, a number of challenges need to be adequately addressed. From a psychological perspective, high attrition rates, digital divide of society, and intellectual capabilities of the users are key issues when implementing such technologies. Furthermore, apps addressing behavior change often lack a comprehensive concept, which is essential for an ongoing impact. From a clinical point of view, there is insufficient evidence to allow scaling up of mHealth interventions. In addition, new concepts are required to assess the efficacy and efficiency of interventions. Regarding technology interoperability, open standards and low-energy wireless protocols appear to be vital for successful implementation. There is an ongoing discussion in how far health care-related apps require a conformity assessment and how to best communicate quality standards to consumers. "Apps Peer-Review" and standard reporting via an "App synopsis" appear to be promising approaches to increase transparency for end users. With respect to development, more emphasis must be placed on context analysis to identify what generic functions of mobile information technology best meet the needs of stakeholders involved. Hence, interdisciplinary alliances and collaborative strategies are vital to achieve sustainable growth for "mHealth 2.0," the next generation mobile technology to support patient care.
Improvement of the MapReduce Model Based on Message Middleware Oriented Data Intensive Computing

MapReduce is an abstract model of processing big data with the parallel computing framework. However it is heavy that the model for the data intensive computing, DIC, depends on the data transmission between the cluster's nodes which causes the overload on the master node handling the messages used to communicate with the nodes in the cluster. Therefore, this paper proposes an improved model of MapReduce based on message middleware, to improve the performance of DIC. This paper describes the principles and mechanism of the improved model in detail.
Social Disadvantage, Severe Child Abuse, and Biological Profiles in Adulthood

Guided by the stress process model and the life course perspective, we hypothesize: (1) that childhood abuse is concentrated, in terms of type and intensity, among socially disadvantaged individuals, and (2) that experiencing serious abuse contributes to poor biological profiles in multiple body systems in adulthood. Data came from the Biomarker subsample of Midlife in the United States (2004–2006). We used latent class analysis to identify distinct profiles of childhood abuse, each reflecting a combination of type and severity. Results indicate that disadvantaged groups, women, and those from disadvantaged families are at greater risk of experiencing more severe and multiple types of abuse. Those with more severe and multifaceted childhood abuse show greater physiological dysregulation. Childhood abuse experiences partially accounted for the social status differences in physiological profiles. Our findings underscore that differential exposure to serious childhood stressors plays a significant role in gender and class inequalities in adult health.
Periostin Is Expressed in Pericryptal Fibroblasts and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts in the Colon

Periostin is a unique extracellular matrix protein, deposition of which is enhanced by mechanical stress and the tissue repair process. Its significance in normal and neoplastic colon has not been fully clarified yet. Using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy with a highly specific monoclonal antibody, periostin deposition was observed in close proximity to pericryptal fibroblasts of colonic crypts. The pericryptal pattern of periostin deposition was decreased in adenoma and adenocarcinoma, preceding the decrease of the number of pericryptal fibroblasts. Periostin immunoreactivity appeared again at the invasive front of the carcinoma and increased along the appearance of cancer-associated fibroblasts. ISH showed periostin signals in cancer-associated fibroblasts but not in cancer cells. Ki-67–positive epithelial cells were significantly decreased in the colonic crypts of periostin−/- mice (∼0.6-fold) compared with periostin+/+ mice. In three-dimensional co-culture within type I collagen gel, both colony size and number of human colon cancer cell line HCT116 cells were significantly larger (∼1.5-fold) when cultured with fibroblasts derived from periostin+/+ mice or periostin-transfected NIH3T3 cells than with those from periostin−/- mice or periostin–non-producing NIH3T3 cells, respectively. Periostin is secreted by pericryptal and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the colon, both of which support the growth of epithelial components.
Algebraic and Combinatorial Methods for Reducing the Number of Variables of Partially Defined Discrete Functions

Applications of pattern recognition, design of faulttolerant systems and communications have key problems that arenaturally described by partially defined (incompletely defined)discrete functions. Such partially defined functions arising frompractical demands usually have a large number of variables andso their direct implementations require complex systems. Thusit is important to have at hand an efficient method to reducethe number of their variables. Here we review recent results tolinearly decompose a discrete function using a transform thatcan be efficiently implemented as a Galois field deconvolution. We also study the question: What are the general bounds for thedimension of the range space for an arbitrary linear transformto reduce a partially defined discrete function? We derive abound for the dimension of the range for arbitrary lineartransformation. We also estimate how good linear decompositioncan be obtained by the use of random transformations and showthat with a randomly generated transform we can reach theabove discussed bound.
Involvement of p300 in constitutive and HIV‐1 Tat‐activated expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes

HIV‐1 Tat protein is an important pathogenic factor in HIV‐1‐associated neurological diseases. One hallmark of HIV‐1 infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is astrocytosis, which is characterized by elevated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in astrocytes. We have shown that Tat activates GFAP expression in astrocytes [Zhou et al., ( 2004 ) Mol Cell Neurosci 27:296–305] and that GFAP is an important regulator of Tat neurotoxicity [Zou et al., ( 2007 ) Am J Pathol 171:1293–1935]. However, the underlying mechanisms for Tat‐mediated GFAP up‐regulation are not understood. In this study, we reported concurrent up‐regulation of adenovirus E1a‐associated 300 kDa protein p300 and GFAP in Tat‐expressing human astroytoma cells and primary astrocytes. We showed that p300 was indeed induced by Tat expression and HIV‐1 infection and that the induction occurred at the transcriptional level through the cis‐acting elements of early growth response 1 (egr‐1) within its promoter. Using siRNA, we further showed that p300 regulated both constitutive and Tat‐mediated GFAP expression. Moreover, we showed that ectopic expression of p300 potentiated Tat transactivation activity and increased proliferation of HIV‐1‐infected astrocytes, but had little effect on HIV‐1 replication in these cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that Tat is a positive regulator of p300 expression, which in turn regulates GFAP expression, and suggest that the Tat‐Egr‐1‐p300‐GFAP axis likely contributes to Tat neurotoxicity and predisposes astrocytes to be an HIV‐1 sanctuary in the CNS. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.