Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning, Unlearning, and the Teaching of Writing: Educational Turns in Postcoloniality

Seeking renewed articulation of praxis in cross-linguistic on texts, I turn to postcolonality, social theory, and feminism to illuminate and critique common practices with language—learning, teaching, and writing. Additionally drawing on my experience teaching immigrant youth and adults in the US, I reiterate and attempt to answer Gayatri Spivak's questions: What is it to learn, to unlearn, and can the subaltern speak? Contrary to poststructuralist and critical discourses that can turn misanthropic, praxis grounded in response to the lives of students can develop humility and respect. A teacher's fundamental commitment is also the place from which to critique humanism and other self-legitimating intellectual policies and practices. Beyond self-critiques that reinforce dichotomies, alternative dynamics are offered by de Certeau, Spivak, Baudrillard, Blanchot, and Djebar. Often drawing from non-dual wisdom traditions, their theories can be applied to the teaching of writing. They suggest ways that allow for the necessary witnessing of students' lives and for teachers learning again.
Implementation of a Smart Traffic Prediction and Flow Control Mechanism for Video Streaming

Recently, all-IP intelligent video surveillance/door system is one of the attractive and important applications in the world. However, because the current Internet architecture cannot provide sufficient QoS for such kind of real-time applications, the performances of them are often poor under congested or interfered Internet environment. When Internet traffics are congested or interfered, the frame loss and delay jitter of video streaming are severe. In this paper, we design and implement a smart traffic prediction and flow control mechanism on an industrial video streaming product to improve the above problems. Here, we adopt the principle of Kalman filter to design the mechanism. From the practical tests and evaluations, the proposed mechanism can indeed improve the transmission performance of video streaming and make the streaming playing more smoothly on receivers.
Optical spectra near the band edge of ZrS3 and ZrSe3.

Reflection spectra have been measured on the as-grown and fresh surfaces of strain-free single crystals of ${\mathrm{ZrS}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{ZrSe}}_{3}$ at room temperature and at 2 K. Absorption spectra are obtained by a Kramers-Kronig transformation. Sharp exciton absorption bands due to direct allowed transition are observed at 2.573 eV for ${\mathrm{ZrS}}_{3}$ and at 1.818 eV for ${\mathrm{ZrSe}}_{3}$ at 2 K only for the E\ensuremath{\parallel}b (chain) polarization. For the E\ensuremath{\parallel}b polarization, a small absorption band is observed at 2.441 eV for ${\mathrm{ZrS}}_{3}$ but a band edge is not clearly seen for ${\mathrm{ZrSe}}_{3}$. Some spectra are interpreted in terms of paired anion models and in comparison with calculated band structures.
Disruption of M-T5, a novel myxoma virus gene member of poxvirus host range superfamily, results in dramatic attenuation of myxomatosis in infected European rabbits

Myxoma virus is a pathogenic poxvirus that induces a lethal myxomatosis disease profile in European rabbits, which is characterized by fulminating lesions at the primary site of inoculation, rapid dissemination to secondary internal organs and peripheral external sites, and supervening gram-negative bacterial infection. Here we describe the role of a novel myxoma virus protein encoded by the M-T5 open reading frame during pathogenesis. The myxoma virus M-T5 protein possesses no significant sequence homology to nonviral proteins but is a member of a larger poxviral superfamily designated host range proteins. An M-T5- mutant virus was constructed by disruption of both copies of the M-T5 gene followed by insertion of the selectable marker p7.5Ecogpt. Although the M-T5- deletion mutant replicated with wild-type kinetics in rabbit fibroblasts, infection of a rabbit CD4+ T-cell line (RL5) with the myxoma virus M-T5- mutant virus resulted in the rapid and complete cessation of both host and viral protein synthesis, accompanied by the manifestation of all the classical features of programmed cell death. Infection of primary rabbit peripheral mononuclear cells with the myxoma virus M-T5-mutant virus resulted in the apoptotic death of nonadherent lymphocytes but not adherent monocytes. Within the European rabbit, disruption of the M-T5 open reading frame caused a dramatic attenuation of the rapidly lethal myxomatosis infection, and none of the infected rabbits displayed any of the characteristic features of myxomatosis. The two most significant histological observations in rabbits infected with the M-T5-mutant virus were (i) the lack of progression of the infection past the primary site of inoculation, coupled with the establishment of a rapid and effective inflammatory reaction, and (ii) the inability of the virus to initiate a cellular reaction within secondary immune organs. We conclude that M-T5 functions as a critical virulence factor by allowing productive infection of immune cells such as peripheral lymphocytes, thus facilitating virus dissemination to secondary tissue sites via the lymphatic channels.
Cellular Energetic Status Supervises the Synthesis of Bis-Diphosphoinositol Tetrakisphosphate Independently of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

Cells aggressively defend adenosine nucleotide homeostasis; intracellular biosensors detect variations in energetic status and communicate with other cellular networks to initiate adaptive responses. Here, we demonstrate some new elements of this communication process, and we show that this networking is compromised by off-target, bioenergetic effects of some popular pharmacological tools. Treatment of cells with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR), so as to simulate elevated AMP levels, reduced the synthesis of bis-diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate ([PP]2-InsP4), an intracellular signal that phosphorylates proteins in a kinase-independent reaction. This was a selective effect; levels of other inositol phosphates were unaffected by AICAR. By genetically manipulating cellular AMP-activated protein kinase activity, we showed that it did not mediate these effects of AICAR. Instead, we conclude that the simulation of deteriorating adenosine nucleotide balance itself inhibited [PP]2-InsP4 synthesis. This conclusion is consistent with our demonstrating that oligomycin elevated cellular [AMP] and selectively inhibited [PP]2-InsP4 synthesis without affecting other inositol phosphates. In addition, we report that the shortterm increases in [PP]2-InsP4 levels normally seen during hyperosmotic stress were attenuated by 2-(2-chloro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluoro-benzamide (PD184352). The latter is typically considered an exquisitely specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, but small interfering RNA against MEK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase revealed that this mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was not involved. Instead, we demonstrate that [PP]2-InsP4 synthesis was inhibited by PD184352 through its nonspecific effects on cellular energy balance. Two other MEK inhibitors, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(methylthio)butadiene (U0126) and 2′-amino-3′-methoxyflavone (PD98059), had similar off-target effects. We conclude that the levels and hence the signaling strength of [PP]2-InsP4 is supervised by cellular adenosine nucleotide balance, signifying a new link between signaling and bioenergetic networks.
The Epidemiology of Diabetes in Pregnant Native Canadians: A risk profile

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] and NIDDM) and to identify risk factors in the development of GDM in a native population in northwestern Ontario, Canada. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of 1,305 singleton deliveries among Ojibwa-Cree women from northwestern Ontario, Canada, was conducted from 1990 to 1993 inclusive. GDM was diagnosed using a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and defined according to standard guidelines. RESULTS The overall prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy (NIDDM and GDM) was 11.6% (152 of 1,305) with a GDM prevalence of 8.4% (110 of 1,305). Among 741 women with complete data, prevalence rates increased with age, peaking at 46.9% in the age-group ≥ 35 years. Significant risk factors for GDM included older maternal age, multiparity, prepregnancy obesity, a family history of diabetes, and a history of GDM in previous pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes in pregnancy among Ojibwa-Cree reported here represent the highest rates reported to date in a Canadian population. The high rates of maternal obesity and relative young age of this population further highlight the urgent need for diabetes screening and prevention in this population.
Leaving the Ivory Tower: The Causes and Consequences of Departure from Doctoral Study

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 The Invisible Problem Chapter 4 Explaining the High and Persistent Rate of Attrition Chapter 5 Explaining Departure Chapter 6 The Lack of Information Chapter 7 The Absence of Community Chapter 8 Disappointment with the Learning Experience Chapter 9 The Quality of the Advisor/Advisee Relationship Chapter 10 The Decision to Leave Chapter 11 Personal Consequences of Departure Chapter 12 Labor Market Consequences of Departure Chapter 13 Conclusions and Recommendations Chapter 14 Appendix Chapter 15 Bibliography Chapter 16 Index
Exploring the Anti-bullying Role of a Befriending Peer Support Programme: A Case Study within the Primary School Setting in Northern Ireland

Bullying remains a significant issue in the lives of many primary school children in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. Children are now experiencing direct and indirect bullying as well as cyberbullying, all of which can have significant negative consequences for health and well-being that may persist in the long term into adulthood. Many children do not tell of their bullying experience or seek help and support. While bullying has achieved a higher profile on the policy and practice agenda over the past few years, prevalence and incidence rates have improved little. Peer support programmes have increasingly been identified as an important element of whole school approaches to tackling and preventing bullying. It has been suggested that these programmes contribute by building resilience, promoting friendship and challenging negative peer group roles in bullying behaviour. This paper presents a case study that describes the process by which a befriending peer support intervention was developed in a primary school setting in Northern Ireland. The factors contributing to its role in promoting friendship and countering bullying at the school are presented.
The relationship between depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores and activation of Ca2+ current by muscarinic receptors in neuroblastoma cells

The relationship between the depletion of IP3-releasable intracellular Ca2+ stores and the activation of Ca(2+)-selective membrane current was determined during the stimulation of M1 muscarinic receptors in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. External Ca2+ is required for refilling Ca2+ stores and the voltage-independent, receptor-regulated Ca2+ current represents a significant Ca2+ source for refilling. The time course of Ca2+ store depletion was measured with fura-2 fluorescence imaging, and it was compared with the time course of Ca2+ current activation measured with nystatin patch voltage clamp. At the time of maximum current density (0.18 + .03 pA/pF; n = 48), the Ca2+ content of the IP3- releasable Ca2+ pool is reduced to 39 + 3% (n = 10) of its resting value. Calcium stores deplete rapidly, reaching a minimum Ca2+ content in 15-30 s. The activation of Ca2+ current is delayed by 10-15 s after the beginning of Ca2+ release and continues to gradually increase for nearly 60 s, long after Ca2+ release has peaked and subsided. The delay in the appearance of the current is consistent with the idea that the production and accumulation of a second messenger is the rate-limiting step in current activation. The time course of Ca2+ store depletion was also measured after adding thapsigargin to block intracellular Ca2+ ATPase. After 15 min in thapsigargin, IP3-releasable Ca2+ stores are depleted by > 90% and the Ca2+ current is maximal (0.19 + 0.05 pA/pF; n = 6). Intracellular loading with the Ca2+ buffer EGTA/AM (10 microM; 30 min) depletes IP3-releasable Ca2+ stores by between 25 and 50%, and it activates a voltage-independent inward current with properties similar to the current activated by agonist or thapsigargin. The current density after EGTA/AM loading (0.61 + 0.32 pA/pF; n = 4) is three times greater than the current density in response to agonist or thapsigargin. This could result from partial removal of Ca(2+)- dependent inactivation.
Instrumentos eletrónicos para avaliar atividade física em crianças: Uma revisão sistemática

Physical activity is a multifactorial construct that can be evaluated by objective and subjective methods. The aim of this study was to identify studies that selected electronic instruments to assess physical activity in children and verify the validity and reliability of these instruments. We conducted a systematic literature review (January 2000 to July 2011) in the following databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Medline, Scielo and Lilacs, using descriptors of the terms "online questionnaire, web questionnaire, physical activity, motor activity, children, child" and its correlates in Portuguese. We analyzed 11 studies. Six studies aimed to validate the measures of physical activity obtained with electronic questionnaires versus the measurements obtained with accelerometers or pedometers. The correlations ranged from weak to moderate and the intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from . 75 to . 98. We identified few studies that used electronic questionnaire to assess physical activity in children, none in Brazil. The electronic questionnaires were valid and reliable, offering advantages over the printed instruments, since takes less time to fill-in and are more attractive.
Synthesis and localization of ciliary neurotrophic factor in the sciatic nerve of the adult rat after lesion and during regeneration

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is expressed in high quantities in Schwann cells of peripheral nerves during postnatal development of the rat. The absence of a hydrophobic leader sequence and the immunohistochemical localization of CNTF within the cytoplasm of these cells indicate that the factor might not be available to responsive neurons under physiological conditions. However, CNTF supports the survival of a variety of embryonic neurons, including spinal motoneurons in culture. Moreover we have recently demonstrated that the exogenous application of CNTF protein to the lesioned facial nerve of the newborn rat rescued these motoneurons from cell death. These results indicate that CNTF might indeed play a major role in assisting the survival of lesioned neurons in the adult peripheral nervous system. Here we demonstrate that the CNTF mRNA and protein levels and the manner in which they are regulated are compatible with such a function in lesioned peripheral neurons. In particular, immunohistochemical analysis showed significant quantities of CNTF at extracellular sites after sciatic nerve lesion. Western blots and determination of CNTF biological activity of the same nerve segments indicate that extracellular CNTF seems to be biologically active. After nerve lesion CNTF mRNA levels were reduced to less than 5% in distal regions of the sciatic nerve whereas CNTF bioactivity decreased to only one third of the original before-lesion levels. A gradual reincrease in Schwann cells occurred concomitant with regeneration.
Temporal DataWarehouses: Logical Models and Querying

Data warehouses (DWs) integrate data from multiple and heterogeneous data sources. Most of the DW design methods assume that the contents of the dimensions in a DW will not change, but this is not the case in reality. Therefore, DWs must reflect these changes in the real-world in order to enable users to ask various types of temporal queries. Since temporal queries are complex and costly, it is necessary to know which modeling approach is better for such queries. In this paper, we discuss two possible approaches to implement a DW capable of maintaining the history of the changes in dimension members. We also present a classification of temporal queries that can be used to evaluate the two approaches.
Recombinant Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Increases Myocardial Glucose Uptake and Improves Left Ventricular Performance in Conscious Dogs With Pacing-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background—The failing heart demonstrates a preference for glucose as its metabolic substrate. Whether enhancing myocardial glucose uptake favorably influences left ventricular (LV) contractile performance in heart failure remains uncertain. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a naturally occurring incretin with potent insulinotropic effects the action of which is attenuated when glucose levels fall below 4 mmol. We examined the impact of recombinant GLP-1 (rGLP-1) on LV and systemic hemodynamics and myocardial substrate uptake in conscious dogs with advanced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as a mechanism for overcoming myocardial insulin resistance and enhancing myocardial glucose uptake. Methods and Results—Thirty-five dogs were instrumented and studied in the fully conscious state. Advanced DCM was induced by 28 days of rapid pacing. Sixteen dogs with advanced DCM received a 48-hour infusion of rGLP-1 (1.5 pmol · kg−1 · min−1). Eight dogs with DCM served as controls and received 48 hours of a saline infusion (3 mL/d). Infusion of rGLP-1 was associated with significant (P<0.02) increases in LV dP/dt (98%), stroke volume (102%), and cardiac output (57%) and significant decreases in LV end-diastolic pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance. rGLP-1 increased myocardial insulin sensitivity and myocardial glucose uptake. There were no significant changes in the saline control group. Conclusions—rGLP-1 dramatically improved LV and systemic hemodynamics in conscious dogs with advanced DCM induced by rapid pacing. rGLP-1 has insulinomimetic and glucagonostatic properties, with resultant increases in myocardial glucose uptake. rGLP-1 may be a useful metabolic adjuvant in decompensated heart failure.
Synchronization in software radios. Carrier and timing recovery using FPGAs

Software defined radios (SDR) are highly configurable hardware platforms that provide the technology for realizing the rapidly expanding third (and future) generation digital wireless communication infrastructure. Many sophisticated signal processing tasks are performed in a SDR, including advanced compression algorithms, power control, channel estimation, equalization, forward error control and protocol management. While there is a plethora of silicon alternatives available for implementing the various functions in a SDR, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are an attractive option for many of these tasks for reasons of performance, power consumption and configurability. Amongst the more complex tasks performed in a high data rate wireless system is synchronization. This paper is about carrier and timing synchronization in SDRs using FPGA based signal processors. We describe and examine a QPSK Costas loop for performing coherent demodulation, and report on the implications of an FPGA mechanization. Symbol timing recovery is addressed using a differential matched filter control system. A tutorial style approach is adopted to describe the operation of the timing recovery loop and considerations for FPGA implementation are outlined.
Environmental Concern

This paper reports the results of several independent investigations of the reliability and validity of the Environmental Concern Scale, a 16-item Likert scale assessing respondents' concerns about conservation and pollution issues. The scale exhibited both satisfactory internal consistency on samples drawn from a Western city and a New England town (Cronbach's alpha? .85, Scott's Homogeneity Ratio >.26) and satisfactory stability over a six-week test-retest interval (r = .83, p <.001). Validity data was collected in two separate studies. A known-groups comparison indicated that Sierra Club members exhibited greater concern (p < .001) and were more homogeneous (p <.02) in their environmental attitudes than a random sample of adults. The second study involved an elaborate behavioral follow-up of 44 subjects who had previously completed the attitude measure. Scores reflecting the degree of participation in a variety of ecologically relevant projects over an eight-month period were combined to form a reasonably comprehensive environmental behavior index. The correlation between scores on this index and scores on the attitude scale was quite strong (r = .62, p <.001). The potential utility of the Environmental Concern Scale for future research is discussed.
What's Driving Mexico-U.S. Migration? A Theoretical, Empirical, and Policy Analysis

Using data gathered in 25 Mexican communities, the authors link individual acts of migration to 41 theoretically defined individual-, household-, community-, and macroeconomic-level predictors. The indicators vary through time to yield a discrete-time event-history analysis. Over the past 25 years, probabilities of first, repeat, and return migration have been linked more to the forces identified by social capital theory and the new economics of migration than to the cost-benefit calculations assumed by the neoclassical model. The authors find that Mexico-U.S. migration stems from three mutually reinforcing processes: social capital formation, human capital formation, and market consolidation.
Object identification by tactile sensors with improved sensor resolution

In the case that tactile sensor matrices are placed at the fingers of a robotic gripper, it is possible to identify objects during grasping. This feature may be useful e.g. for sorting workpieces. In this article we present an approach for object identification using tactile information. For verification a test scenario is developed where the robot should sort workpieces which are based on Lego bricks. In comparison to images of camera systems commonly used in robotics, the resolution of force images provided by tactile sensors is much lower. For that reason it may be in some case useful to increase the resolution of tactile measurement to perform some tasks of object identification successfully. It can be achieved by grasping the object on different positions and merge the measured values of the tactile sensor cells (taxeis). This article additionally includes an algorithm to improve the resolution of tactile sensors. For the verification of the proposed approach a test scenario is worked out, where the orientation of a Lego brick should be detected. For this purpose a method for identification of the different sides is developed. AII algorithms are implemented with a real robot system and experimental results are presented.
Service Learning: A Process To Connect Learning and Living

Service learning is a way to help our young people grow individually and as members of society. It is about helping our young people grow up to understand the connection between living and learning, what it means to be a adult, what it means to live as a citizen in a free and "civil" society, and what it means to live as a truly compassionate and caring human being.