Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Faculty‐specific factors of degree of HE internationalization: An evaluation of four faculties of a post‐1992 university in the United Kingdom

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the difference in the process of higher education (HE) internationalization across faculties in a post‐1992 university and to identify faculty‐specific factors through evaluating the four faculties in the case study.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research is conducted in a post‐1992 UK university. Four faculties are involved and a total of 20 interviewees from three key departments participate in this project. Content analysis, critical discourse analysis and categorization of meaning are adopted as data analysis strategies.Findings – This study explains the reasons why the level of internationalization across faculties is different.Research limitations/implications – This research helps gain rich understanding of faculty‐specific factors in terms of the degree of internationalization. Further research in this area is encouraged to test these faculty‐specific factors through quantitative population studies in other institutions.Practical i.
Exploiting eye tracking in advanced e-learning systems

This paper has a twofold purpose. First, it proposes a short review of e-learning systems directly or indirectly connected with eye tracking technology. Secondly, it describes the research we are currently carrying out at the University of Pavia whose main goal is the development of an e-learning platform in which eye data are exploited to obtain information about the student's "emotional" and "cognitive" states. The outcome of the preliminary tests presented in this work will be the starting point for further, more thorough experiments.
Studying the use of developer IRC meetings in open source projects

Open source developers communicate with each other via various online outlets. Thus far, mailing lists have been the main coordination mechanism. However, our previous study shows that the use of developer IRC meetings is increasing in recent years. In this paper, we perform a study on the IRC meetings of two large open source projects: the GTK+ and Evolution projects. We explore three dimensions: who participates in the meetings, what do they discuss and how do they run the meetings. We find 1) that a small and stable number of the participants contribute the majority of messages in meetings, 2) that there are commonly discussed topics as well as project specific topics 3) that meeting styles vary across different projects.
Effects of the angiotensin II antagonist valsartan on blood pressure, proteinuria, and renal hemodynamics in patients with chronic renal failure and hypertension.

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have become clinically available for the treatment of arterial hypertension. Presently, there is little information about their effects on BP, proteinuria, and renal function in patients with moderate or advanced renal failure. This study examines the effects of the angiotensin II antagonist Valsartan (80 mg/d) on proteinuria and glomerular permselectivity in patients with chronic renal failure during a 6-mo treatment, using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (treatment group [V-group]: n = 5, age 57 +/- 7 yr, serum creatinine 365 +/- 122 micromol/L; placebo group [P-group]: n = 4, age 62 +/- 11 yr, serum creatinine 346 +/- 61 micromol/L). Study parameters included BP, 24-h proteinuria, GFR, and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) as determined by inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance. Changes in glomerular permselectivity were assessed by measuring the fractional clearances of neutral dextrans by HPLC gel-permeation chromatography. Valsartan lowered the mean arterial pressure on average by 13 +/- 7 mmHg during the 6-mo treatment (P < 0.05). GFR and ERPF remained almost unchanged. However, after 6 mo of Valsartan treatment, proteinuria was reduced by 396 +/- 323 mg/24 h (26 +/- 18%) and albuminuria by 531 +/- 499 mg/24 h (41 +/- 21%) with regard to baseline values (P < 0.05). In the P-group, both proteinuria and albuminuria increased slightly with time (by 30 +/- 43% and 30 +/- 54%, respectively, NS). The fractional clearances of high molecular weight dextrans >66 A were significantly reduced after 6 mo of Valsartan treatment (P < 0.05), indicating a reduction of the glomerular shunt volume by 54 +/- 20% (P < 0.05) according to the model of Deen et al. (Am J Physiol 249: 347-389, 1985). The mean pore size radius of the glomerular membrane remained unchanged. This effect was independent of glomerular hemodynamic changes. Valsartan persistently lowered proteinuria in patients with chronic renal failure. Although GFR and ERPF remained nearly stable, this effect could be attributed to an improvement in glomerular permselectivity.
Tethering and tickling

Several receptors are implicated in apoptotic cell (AC) uptake by phagocytic cells; however, their relative dominance in mammalian systems remains to be established. New studies shed light on the role of the phosphatidyl serine (PS) receptor (PSR). Ligation of PSR by PS on AC surfaces is considered essential for signaling uptake of ACs that are tethered to phagocytes via other receptors.
Effects of Form-Focused Instruction and Corrective Feedback on L2 Pronunciation Development of /ɹ/ by Japanese Learners of English

Sixty-five Japanese learners of English participated in the current study, which investigated the acquisitional value of form-focused instruction (FFI) with and without corrective feedback (CF) on learners’ pronunciation development. All students received a 4-hr FFI treatment designed to encourage them to notice and practice the target feature of English /ɹ/ in meaningful discourse, except those in the control group (n= 11), who received comparable instruction but without FFI on English /ɹ/. During FFI, the instructors provided CF only to students in the FFI + CF group (n= 29) by recasting their mispronunciation or unclear pronunciation of /ɹ/, whereas no CF was provided to those in the FFI-only group (n= 25). Acoustic analyses were conducted on frequency values of the third formant (F3) of English /ɹ/ tokens elicited via pretest and posttest measures targeting familiar items and a generalizability test targeting unfamiliar items. The results showed that: (a) F3 values of the FFI + CF group significantly declined after the intervention, not only at a controlled-speech level but also a spontaneous-speech level, regardless of following vowel contexts; (b) change in F3 values of the FFI-only group and the control group was not statistically significant; and (c) the generalizability of FFI to novel tokens remained unclear.
Source Enhancement and Suppression with Binaural Head Related Impulse Response Functions

Within the field of wireless communications, it has been known for a while that "echoes" in the channels can be used constructively to improve communication success factors, and not only as a destructive feature as in the case of inter-symbol interference. This is particularly true for so called MIMO (multiple input multiple output) systems. In this paper, we propose to use echoes constructively for the purpose of improving audio source separation and suppression of signals from unwanted directions. Whereas this problem has long been addressed within acoustic (spatial) array technology, this paper shows that the temporal dimension plays an important role. The different signal echoes arising from different direction-dependent paths that the signals may travel can be used to enhance the spatial array effects
Efficiency measurement of Australian public sector organisations: The case of state secondary schools in Victoria

The growth in importance of performance assessment in education over recent years has been linked with a concern to ensure that the service represents “value for money”. Increasing concern over funding of schools by government and the limitation on the resources available to the education sector has given rise to demands for greater efficiency and public accountability. These concerns reflect the need for comprehensive techniques to assess the degree to which school management practices and the education industry structure promote efficiency in education. An additional problem has been that, whilst there are many different desirable outcomes which are appropriate for education authorities to pursue, conventional models handle these one at a time.
Thermal instability in two-finger bipolar transistors

A novel analytical formulation for the biasing condition leading to thermal instability in a two-finger bipolar transistor is derived. The temperature dependence of the current gain as well as the mutual thermal coupling is accounted for. Different technologies are compared by varying the model parameters. It is demonstrated that SiGe devices are more thermally stable than comparable Si devices. Finally, the influence of the substrate modification on thermal instability is investigated. It is shown that thermally conducting substrates are needed to electro-thermally stabilize bipolar transistors.
Evaluation of practice patterns in the treatment of atrial fibrillation among the commercially insured

Abstract Objective: The management of atrial fibrillation (AF) involves two choices: (1) rate control versus rhythm control, and (2) anticoagulation treatment based upon risk of stroke. The objective of the study was to describe practice patterns in both of these treatment areas in patients with newly diagnosed AF among a commercially insured population. Methods: This retrospective administrative claims analysis included patients with ≥2 AF claims between 1 January 2008 and 30 September 2010. Patients with AF claims within a year prior to the index date (i.e., the first AF diagnosis date) were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients treated with rate control (i.e., beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin) versus rhythm control (i.e., electrical cardioversion, left atrial catheter ablation [LACA], and/or surgical ablation) and the use of anticoagulants stratified by risk of stroke based on CHADS2 score. Results: Of 48,814 patients with a diagnosis of AF, 38,502 (78.9%) received treatment. Of those treated, the majority received only pharmacologic treatment (73.4%), of which beta blockers were predominantly used in the initial regimen (66.7%). Antiarrhythmic drugs were used in 23.9% of patients, but within the initial regimen in only 11.7% of patients. Direct current cardioversion occurred in 18.2% of patients, with the majority being either first-line (8.5%) or second-line (9.1%) therapy. LACA was used in only 5.2% of patients and was typically reserved for use after pharmacologic treatment or direct current cardioversion. Of 1924 patients who received LACA, 14.6% received a repeat procedure and 53.4% of the repeat procedures occurred within 6 months of the initial one. A little more than half of all patients (57.0%) received anticoagulant therapy (predominantly warfarin); of those at high risk for stroke, 63.8% with a CHADS2 score ≥2 received anticoagulants. Key limitations: It is a retrospective analysis using administrative claims data from a commercially insured population only. Identification of the first episode of AF may be inaccurate, and we cannot differentiate between paroxysmal and persistent AF. Conclusions: Debate continues regarding whether the preferred management of most patients with AF is through rate control or restoration of normal sinus rhythm. Our retrospective study found that treatments to restore normal heart rhythm, including LACA, which could be considered aggressive initial treatment, were typically reserved as second- or third-line alternatives. Initial standard of care for the majority patients was beta blockers. Though use of anticoagulation may be higher than other observational studies, opportunities exist to increase treatment in high risk patients.
Reliability Analysis of Wireless Sensor Networks with Distributed Code Attestation

In this paper we analyze the reliability of a homogeneous wireless sensor network executing a distributed code attestation protocol with neighbor sensor nodes serving as code verifiers. By considering the tradeoff between energy exhaustion vs. security vulnerability for causing sensor node failures, we identify how often distributed code attestation should be performed as well as how many neighbor sensors should serve as code verifiers per attestation event to maximize the system lifetime without compromising performance. Sensitivity analysis of the results with respect to critical model parameters is presented with physical interpretations given.
Violent video game legislation as pseudo-agenda

The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Connecticut brought renewed attention to school violence and school shooters in particular. Politicians, the media, and public interest groups blamed violent video games for such unthinkable violence. This paper focuses on the way politicians describe the perceived violent video game problem and subsequent regulation policies. Seeing violent video game legislation as pseudo-agenda, a dramaturgical narrative analysis is conducted to interpret the post-Newtown narrative of the violent video game problem (and regulation prescriptions). This proposed legislative narrative (federal and state) is compared to the legislative narrative told prior to the US Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association. This Supreme Court decision established precedent on violent video game regulation efforts and related free speech concerns and found violent video games do not cause minors to be aggressive, nor can violent video games be regulated. As such, agenda items raised post-Newtown that mirror those ruled upon in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association constitute pseudo-agenda. Using Goffman’s dramaturgical analysis, the violent video game pseudo-agenda is seen as frontstage, while governmental economic interest in video game software companies is seen as backstage.
Psychometric evaluation of a new questionnaire measuring treatment satisfaction in hypothyroidism: the ThyTSQ.

OBJECTIVES There is a clinical impression of dissatisfaction with treatment for hypothyroidism among some patients. Psychometric properties of the new ThyTSQ questionnaire are evaluated. The questionnaire, measuring patients' satisfaction with their treatment for hypothyroidism, has two parts: the seven-item ThyTSQ-Present and four-item ThyTSQ-Past, measuring satisfaction with present and past treatment, respectively, on scales from 6 (very satisfied) to 0 (very dissatisfied). METHODS The questionnaire was completed once by 103 adults with hypothyroidism, age (mean [SD]) 55.2 [14.4], range 23-84 years (all treated with thyroxine). RESULTS Completion rates were very high. Internal consistency reliability was excellent for both ThyTSQ-Present and ThyTSQ-Past (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91 and 0.90, respectively [N = 102 and 103]). Principal components analyses indicated that the seven items of the ThyTSQ-Present and the four items of the ThyTSQ-Past could be summed into separate Present Satisfaction and Past Satisfaction total scores. Mean Present Satisfaction was 32.5 (7.8), maximum range 0-42, and mean Past Satisfaction was 17.5 (6.1), maximum range 0-24, indicating considerable room for improvement. Patients were least satisfied with their present understanding of their condition, mean 4.2 (1.7) (maximum range 0-6), and with information provided about hypothyroidism around the time of diagnosis, mean 3.9 (1.8) (maximum range 0-6). CONCLUSIONS The ThyTSQ is highly acceptable to patients with hypothyroidism (excellent completion rates), and has established internal consistency reliability. It will assist health professionals in considering psychological outcomes when treating people with hypothyroidism, and is suitable for clinical trials and routine clinical monitoring.
FlyAbout: spatially indexed panoramic video

We describe a system called FlyAbout which uses spatially indexed panoramic video for virtual reality applications. Panoramic video is captured by moving a 360@deg camera along continuous paths. Users can interactively replay the video with the ability to view any interesting object or choose a particular direction. Spatially indexed video gives the ability to travel along paths or roads with a map-like interface. At junctions, or intersection points, users can chose which path to follow as well as which direction to look, allowing interaction not available with conventional video. Combining the spatial index with a spatial databsdde of maps or objects allows users to navigate to specific locations or interactively inspect particular objects.
Voluntary Action: Brains, Minds, and Sociality

Voluntary action: brains, minds, and sociality SECTION I: BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND CONTROL: PSYCHOLOGICAL ACCOUNTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION 1. How do we know about our own actions? 2. Acquisition and control of voluntary action 3. Voluntary action and cognitive control from a cognitive neuroscience perspective 4. Voluntary action from the perspective of social-personality psychology SECTION II: BETWEEN CORTEX AND THE BASAL GANGLIA: NEUROSCIENTIFIC ACCOUNTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION 5. The interaction of cortex and basal ganglia in the control of voluntary actions 6. How do we control action? 7. Self-generated actions SECTION III: BETWEEN EPIPHENOMENALISM AND RATIONALITY: PHILOSOPHICAL ACCOUNTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION 8. Mental causation: the supervenience argument and the proportionality constraint 9. The explanatory role of consciousness in action 10. How voluntary are minimal actions 11. Rational and irrational intentions: an argument for externalism SECTION IV: BETWEEN THE NORMATIVE AND THE SYMBOLIC: JURIDICIAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL ACCOUNTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION 12. First-person understanding of action in criminal law 13. Voluntary action and criminal responsibility 14. Culture and human development in a theory of action beliefs SECTION V: QUESTIONING THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD 15. A polytheistic conception of the sciences and the virtues of deep variety 16. A view from elsewhere: the emergence of consciousness in multidisciplinary discourse
Arg3.1/Arc mRNA Induction by Ca2+ and cAMP Requires Protein Kinase A and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Regulated Kinase Activation

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a cellular model for persistent synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain. Like several forms of memory, long-lasting LTP requires cAMP-mediated activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and is dependent on gene transcription. Consequently, activity-dependent genes such as c-fosthat contain cAMP response elements (CREs) in their 5′ regulatory region have been studied intensely. More recently, arg3.1/arc became of interest, because after synaptic stimulation, arg3.1/arc mRNA is rapidly induced and distributed to dendritic processes and may be locally translated there to facilitate synapse-specific modifications. However, to date nothing is known about the signaling mechanisms involved in the induction of this gene. Here we report that arg3.1/arc is robustly induced with LTP stimulation even at intensities that are not sufficient to activate c-fosexpression. Unlike c-fos, the 5′ regulatory region of arg3.1/arc does not contain a CRE consensus sequence and arg3.1/arc is unresponsive to cAMP in NIH3T3 and Neuro2a cells. However, in PC12 cells and primary cultures of hippocampal neurons, arg3.1/arc can be induced by cAMP and calcium. This induction requires the activity of PKA and mitogen-activated protein kinase, suggesting a neuron-specific pathway for the activation of arg3.1/arc expression.
4-1BB Promotes the Survival of CD8+ T Lymphocytes by Increasing Expression of Bcl-xL and Bfl-11

4-1BB, a T cell costimulatory receptor, prolongs CD8+ T cell survival. In these studies, 4-1BB stimulation was shown to increase expression of the antiapoptotic genes bcl-xL and bfl-1 via 4-1BB-mediated NF-κB activation. This signaling pathway was specifically inhibited by PDTC and was different from the pathways that enhanced CD8+ T cell proliferation. The results suggest a role for the antiapoptotic activities of Bcl-xL and Bfl-1 proteins in 4-1BB-mediated CD8+ T cell survival in vivo.
Update on reslizumab for eosinophilic asthma

Introduction: Patients with severe eosinophilic asthma have an unmet need for novel and efficacious treatments. Reslizumab is one of the three monoclonal antibodies targeting the IL-5 pathway and has been found in Phase IIIb clinical trials to reduce asthma exacerbations, control asthma-related symptoms and improve pulmonary function in patients with eosinophilic asthma. Areas covered: In this article, we discuss the results of asthma clinical trials using reslizumab, beginning with a discussion of the relationship between eosinophils, IL-5 and asthma. We conducted PubMed searches using the terms ‘reslizumab’, ‘anti-IL-5’, ‘eosinophilic asthma’, ‘IL-5 asthma’. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov for ‘reslizumab’, ‘reslizumab asthma’, ‘SCH 55700’, ‘SCH 55700 asthma’, ‘Cinquil’ and ‘Cinquil asthma’. Expert opinion: Reslizumab and other anti-IL-5 therapies have seen success in recent trials through more stringent study participant selection targeting eosinophilic inflammation. This selection can now be based on simple blood counts. These drugs have shown a very good safety profile, but long-term safety data are not yet available. Approval for these drugs is eagerly awaited by clinicians and patients alike.
Urban Planning Theory Since 1945

PART ONE: EARLY POST-WAR PLANNING THEORY Town Planning as Physical Planning and Design The Values of Post-War Planning Theory Early Critiques of Post-War Planning Theory PART TWO: PLANNING THEORY IN THE 1960S The Systems and Rational Process Views of Planning Planning as a Political Process PART THREE: PLANNING THEORY FROM THE 1970S TO THE 1990S Theory about the Effects of Planning Rational Planning and Implementation Planning Theory after the New Right PART FOUR: CONCLUSIONS Paradigm Shifts, Modernism, and Postmodernism
Fast and robust object segmentation with the Integral Linear Classifier

We propose an efficient method, built on the popular Bag of Features approach, that obtains robust multiclass pixellevel object segmentation of an image in less than 500ms, with results comparable or better than most state of the art methods. We introduce the Integral Linear Classifier (ILC), that can readily obtain the classification score for any image sub-window with only 6 additions and 1 product by fusing the accumulation and classification steps in a single operation. In order to design a method as efficient as possible, our building blocks are carefully selected from the quickest in the state of the art. More precisely, we evaluate the performance of three popular local descriptors, that can be very efficiently computed using integral images, and two fast quantization methods: the Hierarchical K-Means, and the Extremely Randomized Forest. Finally, we explore the utility of adding spatial bins to the Bag of Features histograms and that of cascade classifiers to improve the obtained segmentation. Our method is compared to the state of the art in the difficult Graz-02 and PASCAL 2007 Segmentation Challenge datasets.