Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting Fecundity of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) Exposed to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Using a MATLAB®-Based Model of Oocyte Growth Dynamics

Fish spawning is often used as an integrated measure of reproductive toxicity, and an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health in the context of forecasting potential population-level effects considered important for ecological risk assessment. Consequently, there is a need for flexible, widely-applicable, biologically-based models that can predict changes in fecundity in response to chemical exposures, based on readily measured biochemical endpoints, such as plasma vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations, as input parameters. Herein we describe a MATLAB® version of an oocyte growth dynamics model for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) with a graphical user interface based upon a previously published model developed with MCSim software and evaluated with data from fathead minnows exposed to an androgenic chemical, 17β-trenbolone. We extended the evaluation of our new model to include six chemicals that inhibit enzymes involved in steroid biosynthesis: fadrozole, ketoconazole, propiconazole, prochloraz, fenarimol, and trilostane. In addition, for unexposed fathead minnows from group spawning design studies, and those exposed to the six chemicals, we evaluated whether the model is capable of predicting the average number of eggs per spawn and the average number of spawns per female, which was not evaluated previously. The new model is significantly improved in terms of ease of use, platform independence, and utility for providing output in a format that can be used as input into a population dynamics model. Model-predicted minimum and maximum cumulative fecundity over time encompassed the observed data for fadrozole and most propiconazole, prochloraz, fenarimol and trilostane treatments, but did not consistently replicate results from ketoconazole treatments. For average fecundity (eggs•female-1•day-1), eggs per spawn, and the number of spawns per female, the range of model-predicted values generally encompassed the experimentally observed values. Overall, we found that the model predicts reproduction metrics robustly and its predictions capture the variability in the experimentally observed data.
On-line Grading of Student Essays: PEG goes on the World Wide Web

This study examined the feasibility of employing Project Essay Grade (PEG) software to evaluate web-based student essays that serve as placement tests at a large Mid-Western university. The results of two experiments are reported. In the first experiment, the essays of 1293 high school and college students were used to create a statistical model for the PEG software. PEG identified 30 proxes (observed variables) that could be incorporated into an evaluation of the written work. In the second experiment, the ratings from a separate sample of 617 essays were used to compare the ratings of six human judges against those generated by the computer. The inter-judge correlation of the human raters was r = 0.62 and was r = 0.71 for the computer. Finally, the PEG software was an efficient means for grading the essays with a capacity for approximately three documents graded every second. Cycle time from the websubmission of the document to producing a report score was about 2 minutes. Although PEG would appear to be a cost-effective means of grading written work of this type, several cautionary notes are included.
Why Groups are less Effective than their Members: On Productivity Losses in Idea-generating Groups

There is pervasive evidence that people produce more ideas and more good ideas when working alone rather than in groups. This chapter will first review the evidence for the productivity loss in brainstorming groups and then evaluate the various theoretical explanations which have been offered to account for these findings in the light of empirical research. This evidence suggests that the productivity loss in idea-generating groups is caused mainly by mutual production blocking due to the constraint on groups that members can talk only in turn. We then discuss various strategies that have been developed to overcome the disruptive effects of production blocking. However, since so far even the most successful strategies have raised the productivity of group members only to the level they would have achieved if they had worked individually, our final section discusses an ‘illusion of group effectivity’ as a reason for the persistence of the belief that group discussions are an effective means of generating i.
Granular differentiated queueing services for QoS: structure and cost model

One weakness of DiffServ is the lack of granularity for QoS guaranteed services, which makes it difficult to cost-effectively support end-to-end (e2e) QoS according to the e2e situation (e.g., path lengths) of applications. With the conventional packet-level QoS mechanisms for the regulated traffic, i.e., buffer admission control plus output schedulers in general, increasing service granularity may inevitably complicate implementation and/or impact scalability since sophisticated output schedulers seem necessary in this case. In this paper, a new structure, Differentiated Queueing Services (DQS), is discussed to handle the above issue. DQS tries to provide granular and scalable QoS guaranteed services to be selected by users according to their QoS requirements and e2e situation. Its basic idea is to convert packet delay guarantee into packet loss ratio guarantee with either dropping or marking the packets whose e2e delays are perceived unable to be guaranteed. Packets are queued according to their e2e delay requirements so that various delay bounds can be guaranteed without using sophisticated output schedulers while different packet loss ratios are mainly controlled by call admission control (CAC). To this end, the e2e QoS requirement is carried by each packet to avoid storing such information in network units for scalability. On the other hand, differentiated services should also be accomplished with a differentiated cost model for pricing, not only for the profits of both the service provider and the user, but also to prevent good services from being abused. So, a cost model for differentiated QoS services provided by DQS is also discussed with a possible CAC based on the exponentially bounded burstiness traffic.
Excitation threshold of the motor cortex estimated with transcranial magnetic stimulation electroencephalography

The excitation threshold of the human motor cortex was estimated on the basis of electroencephalographic responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation. The hand area of the primary motor cortex was stimulated at 10 intensities, for seven healthy individuals. The four dominant peaks of the overall brain response could be reliably determined when stimulation was intense enough to induce a cortical electric field of approximately 33–44 mV/mm. This may be estimated as the threshold for evoking measurable brain activity by motor-cortex transcranial magnetic stimulation. The remarkably low threshold reflects the excellent sensitivity of the combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography for the study of neuronal function of the cortex.
Detection of Salmonella spp. survival and virulence in poultry feed by targeting the hilA gene

Aims: The objectives of this work were to evaluate immunomagnetic beads and a reverse transcriptase (RT)‐PCR method for the detection of Salmonella inoculated into feed. In addition, a reverse transcriptase (RT)‐PCR method was evaluated for quantifying virulence gene hilA expression of Salmonella ssp. in poultry feed matrices and utilized to determine the influence of poultry feed environmental factors on Salmonella hilA expression.
Renal Tumors Associated With Germline SDHB Mutation Show Distinctive Morphology

Germline succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) mutation causes pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndrome type 4 (PGL4). PGL4 is characterized by pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, type 2 (SDHB negative) gastrointestinal stromal tumors and renal tumors, which are usually classified as carcinoma. We report 4 kindreds with 5 PGL4-associated renal tumors. Four of the tumors occurred before the age of 30 years, 4 were in the left kidney, 3 were in female patients, and 4 demonstrated consistent but previously unrecognized morphology. The tumors were composed of cuboidal cells with bubbly eosinophilic cytoplasm and indistinct cell borders. Many of the cells displayed distinctive cytoplasmic inclusions, which were vacuolated or contained eosinophilic fluid-like material. The cells were arranged in solid nests or in tubules surrounding central spaces. The tumors were well circumscribed or lobulated and frequently showed cystic change. Benign tubules or glomeruli were often entrapped at the edges of the tumors. The fifth tumor lacked these features but displayed sarcomatoid dedifferentiation. Immunohistochemistry for SDHB was completely negative in all 4 available tumors. Death from metastatic disease occurred in the patient with dedifferentiated tumor 1 year after diagnosis, whereas the other 4 tumors were cured by local excision alone (mean follow-up, 11 y; range, 2 to 30 y). We conclude that morphology supported by negative immunohistochemistry for SDHB can be used to identify kindreds with germline SDHB mutations (PGL4 syndrome) presenting with this unique type of renal tumor. These renal tumors appear to have a good prognosis after complete excision unless there is sarcomatoid dedifferentiation.
Design of an ESD-Protected Ultra-Wideband LNA in Nanoscale CMOS for Full-Band Mobile TV Tuners

This paper presents an electrostatic discharge (ESD)-protected ultra-wideband (UWB) low-noise amplifier (LNA) for full-band (170-to-1700 MHz) mobile TV tuners. It features a PMOS-based open-source input structure to optimize the I/O swings under a mixed-voltage ESD protection while offering an inductorless broadband input impedance match. The amplification core exploiting double current reuse and single-stage thermal-noise cancellation enhances the gain and noise performances with high power efficiency. Optimized in a 90-nm 1.2/2.5-V CMOS process with practical issues taken into account, the LNA using a constant-gm bias circuit achieves competitive and robust performances over process, voltage and temperature variation. The simulated voltage gain is 20.6 dB, noise figure is 2.4 to 2.7 dB, and IIP3 is +10.8 dBm . The power consumption is 9.6 mW at 1.2 V. |S11| < -10 dB is achieved up to 1.9 GHz without needing any external resonant network. Human Body Model ESD zapping tests of plusmn4 kV at the input pins cause no failure of any device.
Measuring Population Sodium Intake: A Review of Methods

Reduction of population sodium intake has been identified as a key initiative for reduction of Non-Communicable Disease. Monitoring of population sodium intake must accompany public health initiatives aimed at sodium reduction. A number of different methods for estimating dietary sodium intake are currently in use. Dietary assessment is time consuming and often under-estimates intake due to under-reporting and difficulties quantifying sodium concentration in recipes, and discretionary salt. Twenty-four hour urinary collection (widely considered to be the most accurate method) is also burdensome and is limited by under-collection and lack of suitable methodology to accurately identify incomplete samples. Spot urine sampling has recently been identified as a convenient and affordable alternative, but remains highly controversial as a means of monitoring population intake. Studies suggest that while spot urinary sodium is a poor predictor of 24-h excretion in individuals, it may provide population estimates adequate for monitoring. Further research is needed into the accuracy and suitability of spot urine collection in different populations as a means of monitoring sodium intake.
ICT Use and Achievement in Three European Countries: What Does PISA Tell Us?

During the last decade, in many European countries large investments were made to foster the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education with the expectation that ICT would make teaching and learning more effective. This would, for example, become evident in scores obtained by students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA studies show, however, that PISA achievements do not increase with ICT use. The question for research is why high-frequency ICT use tends to be related to lower PISA achievements. To answer this question, the author has looked at PISA results published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as well as at the results of his own analyses of PISA data. While it seems that ICT use as well as PISA achievements are related to cultural capital, the findings are not clear-cut and vary among the three European countries chosen for investigation.
Embodiment effects in memory for facial identity and facial expression

Research suggests that states of the body, such as postures, facial expressions, and arm movements, play central roles in social information processing. This study investigated the effects of approach/avoidance movements on memory for facial information. Faces displaying a happy or a sad expression were presented and participants were induced to perform either an approach (arm flexion) or an avoidance (arm extension) movement. States of awareness associated with memory for facial identity and memory for facial expression were then assessed with the Remember/Know/Guess paradigm. The results showed that performing avoidance movements increased Know responses for the identity, and Know/Guess responses for the expression, of valence-compatible stimuli (i.e., sad faces as compared to happy faces), whereas this was not the case for approach movements. Based on these findings, it is suggested that approach/avoidance motor actions influence memory encoding by increasing the ease of processing for valence-compatible information.
Outer‐sphere residues influence the catalytic activity of a chalcone synthase from Polygonum cuspidatum

We have previously cloned a chalcone synthase (PcCHS1) from Polygonum cuspidatum and biochemically identified its enzymatic dynamic properties. Here, we found that the outer sphere residues, Q82 and R105, could affect the catalytic activity and product profile of PcCHS1. Both Q82P and R105Q mutations of PcCHS1 could also change the pH dependence activity as well as the product profile of PcCHS1. Moreover, the Q82P/C198F double mutant could rescue the complete loss of enzyme activity caused by the C198F single mutation. Our study demonstrated that these outer‐sphere residues of PcCHS1 play important roles both in structural maintenance and enzyme activity.
Epilepsia do lobo temporal mesial associada à esclerose hipocampal

INTRODUCTION: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most frequent form of partial epilepsy and has been considered a major medical and social problem as a result of its pharmacoresistence to conventional antiepileptic therapy. Hippocampal sclerosis is the leading cause of MTLE in surgical series and represents 50-70% of the cases. OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical aspects, histological findings, and the pathogenesis of the MTLE associated with the hippocampal sclerosis. RESULTS: The relation between hippocampal sclerosis and MTLE is well established in the literature, although the accurate mechanism through which hippocampal sclerosis is implicated in the genesis of the epileptic seizures is still not completely understood. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective studies emphasize the association between hippocampal sclerosis and history of initial precipitating injury, such as epileptic seizures, occurring in early phase of the cerebral development. Recent evidences indicate that genetic factors may play a role in the genesis of hippocampal sclerosis.
Do Maximizers Predict Better than Satisficers?

We examined the relationship between maximizing (i.e. seeking the best) versus satisficing (i.e.seeking the good enough) tendencies and forecasting ability in a real-world prediction task: forecasting the outcomes of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In Studies 1 and 2, participants gave probabilistic forecasts for the outcomes of the tournament, and also completed a measure of maximizing tendencies. We found that although maximizers expected themselves to outperform others much more than satisficers, they actually forecasted more poorly. Hence, on net, they were more overconfident. The differences in forecasting abilities seem to be driven by the maximizers’ tendency to give more variable probability estimates. In Study 3, participants played a betting task where they could select between safe and uncertain gambles linked to World Cup outcomes. Again, maximizers did more poorly and earned less, because of a higher variance in their responses. This research contributes to the growing literature on maximizing tendencies by expanding the range of objective outcomes over which maximizing has an influence, and further showing that there may be substantial upside to being a satisficer.
Can we prioritise which databases to search? A case study using a systematic review of frozen shoulder management.

BACKGROUND Systematic reviews risk producing biased conclusions if a comprehensive search to identify eligible studies is not undertaken, but little evidence exists to guide prioritisation of databases to search when resources are limited. OBJECTIVES A systematic review examining interventions for managing frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) was used to investigate the performance of bibliographic databases in identifying the included studies, the smallest combination of databases required to retrieve all included studies, and the performance of the searches themselves. METHODS We calculated the yield of included studies from each of 15 databases, and the recall and precision of each search strategy. We investigated differences between the presence of a record in a database and its retrieval. RESULTS Thirty of 31 studies were present in at least one database. Yields of individual databases ranged from 0% to 90% (median 23%). Two combinations of databases identified all 30 studies: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Science Citation Index (SCI); or CENTRAL, MEDLINE and PreMEDLINE. CONCLUSIONS In a systematic review of a range of interventions used to manage frozen shoulder, at least two databases and reference checking were required to retrieve all included studies, but searching for future reviews should not be restricted.
Investigating the Effect of Illumination and Viewpoint on Image Recognisability

View point and illumination are two main factors that make difficult for machines to compare the two instances of the same object. Therefore investigating the effect of illumination and viewpoint on images recognisability is crucial. How ever the goal of our final project is to build a system which can achieve understanding from images. Thus this paper is focusing on investigating how an artificial system can separate the images based on view point and illumination. The technique we used in this experiment is image clustering. The growing self organizing map was used as the clustering tool as it has many advantages over many other clustering tools as well as the ability to generate hierarchical clustering. The experiments were carried out using a well known face image database called 'Yale face database B'. The results of this experiment showed the potential of using growing self organizing map to separate objects with different effects into different groups.
Interactions through L-selectin between leukocytes and adherent leukocytes nucleate rolling adhesions on selectins and VCAM-1 in shear flow

We demonstrate an additional step and a positive feedback loop in leukocyte accumulation on inflamed endothelium. Leukocytes in shear flow bind to adherent leukocytes through L-selectin/ligand interactions and subsequently bind downstream and roll on inflamed endothelium, purified E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, VCAM-1, or peripheral node addressin. Thus adherent leukocytes nucleate formation of strings of rolling cells and synergistically enhance leukocyte accumulation. Neutrophils, monocytes, and activated T cell lines, but not peripheral blood T lymphocytes, tether to each other through L-selectin. L- selectin is not involved in direct binding to either E- or P-selectin and is not a major counterreceptor of endothelial selectins. Leukocyte- leukocyte tethers are more tolerant to high shear than direct tethers to endothelial selectins and, like other L-selectin-mediated interactions, require a shear threshold. Synergism between leukocyte- leukocyte and leukocyte-endothelial interactions introduces novel regulatory mechanisms in recruitment of leukocytes in inflammation.
Augmented Reality with Back‐Projection Systems using Transflective Surfaces

In this paper, we introduce the concept of Extended VR (extending viewing space and interaction space of back‐projection VR systems), by describing the use of a hand‐held semi‐transparent mirror to support augmented reality tasks with back‐projection systems. This setup overcomes the problem of occlusion of virtual objects by real ones linked with such display systems. The presented approach allows an intuitive and effective application of immersive or semi‐immersive virtual reality tasks and interaction techniques to an augmented surrounding space. Thereby, we use the tracked mirror as an interactive image‐plane that merges the reflected graphics, which are displayed on the projection plane, with the transmitted image of the real environment. In our implementation, we also address traditional augmented reality problems, such as real‐object registration and virtual‐object occlusion. The presentation is complemented by a hypothesis of conceivable further setups that apply transflective surfaces to support an Extended VR environment.
Restorative justice as a disciplinary tool: Aperspective from Singapore

This thesis focuses on the use of Restorative Practices (RP) in two Singapore Secondary Schools. Relying mainly on the use of in-depths interviews with 149 students and 30 teachers, this study examines how the two schools’ contexts and cultural demands affect the definitions, adaptations and practices of RP. The research shows that RP is predominantly used as a disciplinary tool in order to uphold existing social norms. Many teachers could articulate the non-negotiables that must be secured in all circumstances such as those of ‘non-domination’ and ‘respectful listening’. Teachers spoke of RP as primarily about building relationships and it is about doing things with (and not to) students. However we see instances of teachers’ domination over students when teachers dictated the type of answers students were to write down on their RP forms. The relationship between corporal punishment and RP is also examined. While many teachers believed that ‘pure RP’ should not co-exist with caning, they still preferred the status quo and argued that RP should be taken as a complementary framework alongside existing corrective practices and punishment, rather than as a replacement to the existing disciplinary framework. Through an analysis of a case conference, we see how caning is retained in part because it is taken to be the utmost symbol of hard treatment that is required to express condemnation in cases of major offences. Finally, the specific context of the school is important in analysing participants’ ability to engage in RP processes such as class conferences or circles. The class is not a homogenous community that is resolving issues collectively but consists of a group of individuals who belong to a class that is attempting to resolve things but the very coming together as a class to resolve and discuss issues creates difficulty for things to get done because of the group dynamics involved.