Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment, Autonomy, and Elementary Social Studies Time

Background/Context In an era of accountability and standardization, elementary social studies is consistently losing its curricular foothold to English/language arts, math, and science instruction. Purpose This article examines the relationship between elementary teachers’ perceptions of instructional autonomy, teaching context, state testing policy, and reported social studies instructional time. Research Design Employing secondary data from the National Center for Education Statistics 2007/2008 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), we analyzed the association between elementary (Grades 1–5) teachers’ perceived autonomy, classroom/school contexts, and state testing policies on reported time spent on social studies. We also analyzed the moderating effect of state-level testing policy on teachers’ sense of autonomy in relation to reported social studies instructional time. Data Collection and Analysis We conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) and hierarchical liner modeling (HLM) to examine the association among multiple levels of teacher, classroom, school, and state policy levels as a function of reported social studies instructional time. Findings/Results Results indicate that elementary teachers’ working in states that require elementary social studies testing spend more time on social studies instruction. Moreover, teachers’ who report greater instructional autonomy and teach intermediate grades (4–5) spend more time on social studies. Finally, elementary teachers working in states with a required social studies test report less instructional autonomy than teachers without a test. Recommendations Findings suggest recommendations for practitioners, school leaders, and educational policy. Social studies teacher educators and practitioners should continue to support ambitious teaching. School leaders who value social studies instruction should foster environments that offer less curricular restrictions, particularly in the later grades. From an organizational perspective, mandatory statewide testing improves the quantity of social studies at the elementary grades. However, policy makers and education advocates should weigh the costs and benefits of increased testing mandates and their possible impact on the quality of social studies teaching and learning.
Moral Conflict in the Minimally Conscious State

After severe traumatic or anoxic brain injury, some patients enter into the minimally conscious state (MCS). MCS patients evince awareness of self and environment by way of inconsistent but discernibly purposeful behaviors—for example, visual fixation and pursuit, command following, and intelligible verbalization (Giacino et al., 2002). According to most, these behaviors are indicative of at least minimal conscious mental life: MCS patients are thought to possess consciousness. Further, by virtue of possessing consciousness, MCS patients are thought to possess a type of moral significance not attributed to patients who lack consciousness (e.g., patients in the vegetative state). How ought this inform decision making regarding MCS patients?
A Survey of Automated Layout Techniques for Information Presentations

Layout refers to the process of determining the sizes and positions of the visual objects that are part of an information presentation. Automated layout refers to the use of a computer program to automate either all or part of the layout process. This field of research lies at the crossroads between artificial intelligence and human computer interaction. Automated layout of presentations is becoming increasingly important as the amount of data that we need to present rapidly overtakes our ability to present it manually. We survey and analyze the techniques used by research systems that have automated layout components and suggest possible areas of future work.
Probabilistic Multilevel Constitutive Model of the compressive strength of hardened cement paste reinforced with MWCNTs

Constitutive models available in the literature typically describe the compressive strength of ordinary Portland cement paste (OPC) in a deterministic fashion, in some cases as a function of variables such as W/C, porosity, and the clinker chemical composition. The significant effect of the proportion of W/C on the final strength, porosity and density have been reported in several works in material science. Some studies have shown that the addition of MWCNTs can also modify the microstructure of cement significantly, and improve compressive strength and other mechanical and physical properties. In principle, W/C, MWCNTs addition, porosity, density, and compressive strength are related in different mechanical and physical degrees, which indicates that a compound multilevel model could include all these variables to predict multiple properties simultaneously. The development of mathematical models for properties such as the compressive strength has been intensively discussed in the literature. The construction of simple compressive strength models allowed for practical engineering applications. However, the deterministic models constructed to predict the compressive strength of the cement paste; as a function of the physical properties, mixing process and chemical composition of the cement paste, are not able to express uncertainty in the predicted values. In these cases, the measurement and modeling errors are ignored in the predictions. In this work, we proposed a Probabilistic Multilevel Constitutive Model (PMCM) using the variables mentioned. In multilevel modeling, nested sources of variability are considered in each level of the model, improving the precision of the different level
Robust Design of Internal Models by Nonlinear Regression

Abstract This paper focuses on the design of robust internal model-based regulators for a class of nonlinear systems and exosystems such that the desired steady state control law fulfills a nonlinear regression formula affine in possible uncertainties. The design methodology builds upon the ideas presented in [9] in the context of linear adaptive output regulation. The design methodology relies upon an assumption of left invertibility of a matrix. Through numerical analysis we show how the design methodology succeeds in relevant cases, such as the cases in which the desired steady state is generated by uncertain Van der Pol, Duffing, and Lorentz oscillators.
Blocking Dopamine D2 Receptors by Haloperidol Curtails the Beneficial Impact of Calorie Restriction on the Metabolic Phenotype of High‐Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice

Calorie restriction is the most effective way of expanding life‐span and decreasing morbidity. It improves insulin sensitivity and delays the age‐related loss of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) expression in the brain. Conversely, high‐fat feeding is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and a reduced number of DRD2 binding sites. We hypothesised that the metabolic benefit of calorie restriction involves the preservation of appropriate DRD2 transmission. The food intake of wild‐type C57Bl6 male mice was restricted to 60% of ad lib. intake while they were treated with the DRD2 antagonist haloperidol or vehicle using s.c. implanted pellets. Mice with ad lib. access to food receiving vehicle treatment served as controls. All mice received high‐fat food throughout the experiment. After 10 weeks, an i.p. glucose tolerance test was performed and, after 12 weeks, a hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Hypothalamic DRD2 binding was also determined after 12 weeks of treatment. Calorie‐restricted (CR) vehicle mice were glucose tolerant and insulin sensitive compared to ad lib. (AL) fed vehicle mice. CR mice treated with haloperidol were slightly heavier than vehicle treated CR mice. Haloperidol completely abolished the beneficial impact of calorie restriction on glucose tolerance and partly reduced the insulin sensitivity observed in CR vehicle mice. The metabolic differences between AL and CR vehicle mice were not accompanied by alterations in hypothalamic DRD2 binding. In conclusion, blocking DRD2 curtails the metabolic effects of calorie restriction. Although this suggests that the dopaminergic system could be involved in the metabolic benefits of calorie restriction, restricting access to high‐fat food does not increase (hypothalamic) DRD2 binding capacity, which argues against this inference.
How do treadmill speed and terrain visibility influence neuromuscular control of guinea fowl locomotion?

ABSTRACT Locomotor control mechanisms must flexibly adapt to both anticipated and unexpected terrain changes to maintain movement and avoid a fall. Recent studies revealed that ground birds alter movement in advance of overground obstacles, but not treadmill obstacles, suggesting context-dependent shifts in the use of anticipatory control. We hypothesized that differences between overground and treadmill obstacle negotiation relate to differences in visual sensory information, which influence the ability to execute anticipatory manoeuvres. We explored two possible explanations: (1) previous treadmill obstacles may have been visually imperceptible, as they were low contrast to the tread, and (2) treadmill obstacles are visible for a shorter time compared with runway obstacles, limiting time available for visuomotor adjustments. To investigate these factors, we measured electromyographic activity in eight hindlimb muscles of the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris, N=6) during treadmill locomotion at two speeds (0.7 and 1.3 m s−1) and three terrain conditions at each speed: (i) level, (ii) repeated 5 cm low-contrast obstacles (<10% contrast, black/black), and (iii) repeated 5 cm high-contrast obstacles (>90% contrast, black/white). We hypothesized that anticipatory changes in muscle activity would be higher for (1) high-contrast obstacles and (2) the slower treadmill speed, when obstacle viewing time is longer. We found that treadmill speed significantly influenced obstacle negotiation strategy, but obstacle contrast did not. At the slower speed, we observed earlier and larger anticipatory increases in muscle activity and shifts in kinematic timing. We discuss possible visuomotor explanations for the observed context-dependent use of anticipatory strategies. Summary: Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) show speed-dependent shifts in neuromuscular control during obstacle negotiation, characterized by a greater reliance on anticipatory modulation and stride-to-stride neural adjustments at slow speed, shifting towards feedforward activation and intrinsic mechanical stability at high speed.
Internal electron-electron interactions in one-dimensional systems detected by Raman spectroscopy.

We have investigated experimentally and theoretically electronic Raman excitations in GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs quantum wires in magnetic fields. In both the experiments and the calculations we find strong anticrossings of the observed confined magnetoplasmon modes in the vicinity of 2ωc, where ωc is the cyclotron-resonance frequency. The observed splittings and anticrossings arise from internal Coulomb interaction in the one-dimensional electron systems and is found to depend sensitively not only on the wave vector but also on the shape of the confining potential and the mode index of the confined plasmon mode.
Modulation of myogenic responsiveness by CO2 in rat diaphragmatic arterioles: role of the endothelium.

The effect of hypercapnia on the myogenic response was determined in arterioles (80- to 100-microm internal diameter) isolated from the diaphragms of rats killed by decapitation. All arterioles were exposed to step changes in intraluminal pressure over a range of 10-200 mmHg and had no flow through their lumen. In five separate groups of vessels (n = 7 per group), PCO2 of the superfusing buffer was adjusted to 40, 60, 80, 90, or 100 mmHg. In three further groups of vessels (n = 7 per group), the endothelium was removed by low-pressure air perfusion (2 ml at 20 mmHg) and PCO2 of the superfusing buffer was adjusted to 40, 80, or 100 mmHg. In endothelium-intact vessels, increasing PCO2 to 80 mmHg enhanced the myogenic response, as reflected by a negative slope of the pressure-diameter relationship (slope = -0.164 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.004 +/- 0.02 for vessels at PCO2 = 40 mmHg, P < 0.05). With a PCO2 of 100 mmHg, dilation accompanied increasing intraluminal pressure and the slope of the pressure-diameter curve was positive (0.154 +/- 0.03, P < 0.05 for difference from vessels at PCO2 = 40 mmHg). In deendothelialized vessels, the curve was shifted upward in a parallel manner during exposure to increased PCO2 levels. Moderate hypercapnia (PCO2 < 80 mmHg) elicits endothelium-dependent enhancement of myogenic tone. Severe hypercapnia (PCO2 > 80 mmHg) inhibits myogenic tone through a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle and through endothelium-dependent inhibitory mechanisms.
Malleable Machines in Transcription Regulation: The Mediator Complex

The Mediator complex provides an interface between gene-specific regulatory proteins and the general transcription machinery including RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). The complex has a modular architecture (Head, Middle, and Tail) and cryoelectron microscopy analysis suggested that it undergoes dramatic conformational changes upon interactions with activators and RNAP II. These rearrangements have been proposed to play a role in the assembly of the preinitiation complex and also to contribute to the regulatory mechanism of Mediator. In analogy to many regulatory and transcriptional proteins, we reasoned that Mediator might also utilize intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) to facilitate structural transitions and transmit transcriptional signals. Indeed, a high prevalence of IDRs was found in various subunits of Mediator from both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens, especially in the Tail and the Middle modules. The level of disorder increases from yeast to man, although in both organisms it significantly exceeds that of multiprotein complexes of a similar size. IDRs can contribute to Mediator's function in three different ways: they can individually serve as target sites for multiple partners having distinctive structures; they can act as malleable linkers connecting globular domains that impart modular functionality on the complex; and they can also facilitate assembly and disassembly of complexes in response to regulatory signals. Short segments of IDRs, termed molecular recognition features (MoRFs) distinguished by a high protein–protein interaction propensity, were identified in 16 and 19 subunits of the yeast and human Mediator, respectively. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the functional roles of 11 MoRFs have been experimentally verified, and those in the Med8/Med18/Med20 and Med7/Med21 complexes were structurally confirmed. Although the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens Mediator sequences are only weakly conserved, the arrangements of the disordered regions and their embedded interaction sites are quite similar in the two organisms. All of these data suggest an integral role for intrinsic disorder in Mediator's function.
Comparison of Nonquantum Methods for Calibration of the Digital Source of Very-Low-Frequency AC Voltage

This paper presents methods of calibration of digital sources of ac voltage of very low frequency (0.001–100 Hz) and of effective value from 0.5 to 5 V. This work deals primarily with the calibration methods of the digital source of the sinusoidal signal [digitally synthesized source (DSS)] which is approximated with the staircase waveform. The construction of the DSS and the calibration system is presented. The calibration methods are divided into dynamic and static. Of the dynamic methods, the thermal method and integrating sampling method are briefly presented. Of the static methods, the step and the peak-to-peak methods of calibration are briefly presented. The potential applications, basic features, and accuracy of all four methods are discussed. This paper also presents a comparison of results obtained using the methods of calibration described in this paper.
Mobile robot navigation in unknown environments based on supervisory control of partially-observed Fuzzy Discrete Event Systems

In this paper a Fuzzy Discrete Event Systems (FDES) based approach is proposed to behavior coordination of a mobile robot moving in unknown environments. Fuzzy controllable and uncontrollable events are newly defined to activate deliberative and reactive behaviors of the robot respectively. A fuzzy supervisor is defined to control the FDES by partially activating fuzzy controllable events with fuzzy uncontrollable events simultaneously, to achieve the planned objectives. In order to incorporate uncertainties of the associated sensory system, fuzzy observability is introduced into each fuzzy event, and the existence of a fuzzy partially observation supervisor is discussed. The control theoretic properties of the system such as fuzzy state based controllability and observability measures are also introduced. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated with both simulation and real time implementation.
The initial results in muscle-invading bladder cancer of RTOG 95-06: phase I/II trial of transurethral surgery plus radiation therapy with concurrent cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by selective bladder preservation or cystectomy depending on the initial response.

PURPOSE To assess the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of transurethral surgery plus concomitant cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and radiation therapy in conjunction with selective bladder preservation in patients with muscle-invading bladder cancer. Patients and Methods. Thirty-four eligible patients with clinical stage T2-T4a, Nx M0 bladder cancer without hydronephrosis were entered into a protocol aimed at selective bladder preservation. Treatment began with as complete a transurethral resection as possible followed by induction chemoradiation. This consisted of cisplatin 15 mg/m(2) i.v. and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m(2) i.v. in the mornings on d 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, and 17. On d 1, 3, 15, and 17, radiation was given immediately following the chemotherapy using twice-a-day 3 Gy per fraction cores to the pelvis for a total radiation dose of 24 Gy. Response was evaluated by cystoscopy, cytology, and rebiopsy four weeks later. Patients with a complete response received consolidation therapy with the same drugs and doses on d 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, and 17 combined with twice-daily radiation therapy to the bladder and bladder tumor volume of 2.5 Gy per fraction for a total consolidation dose of 20 Gy and a total induction plus consolidation dose to the bladder and bladder tumor of 44 Gy. Patients who did not achieve a complete response were advised to undergo prompt cystectomy, as were those with a subsequent invasive recurrence. The median follow up is 29 months. RESULTS Of the 34 eligible patients, 26 had a visibly complete transurethral resection. One patient did not complete induction treatment due to acute hematologic toxicity. After induction treatment, 22 (67%) of the 33 patients had no tumor detectable on urine cytology or rebiopsy. Of the 11 patients who still had detectable tumor, six underwent radical cystectomy and five underwent consolidation chemoradiation (one because of refusal to have the recommended cystectomy and four because the treating institutions erroneously assigned them to receive consolidation chemoradiation rather than cystectomy). No patient has required a cystectomy for radiation toxicity. Six patients have died of bladder cancer. The actuarial overall survival at three years is 83%. The probability of surviving with an intact bladder is 66% at three years. A total of seven patients (21%) developed grade 3 or grade 4 hematologic toxicity in conjunction with this treatment. CONCLUSION This aggressive protocol comprising local surgery plus concurrent 5-FU, cisplatin, and high-dose hypofractionated radiation has been associated with moderately severe hematologic toxicity. Longer follow-up will be necessary to assess efficacy. Both the 67% complete response rate to induction therapy and the 66% three-year survival with an intact bladder are encouraging.
Storage capacity in Graphene and blends of Graphene EDLC

Solid State EDLC’s, Electrochemical Double Layer Capaci power leaks packag carbon pore si charge to carb appreci perflur EDLC therma excelle many p ions an one-, t Some micro distribution, low electrical conductivity, can be circumvented by using Graphene and blends of Graphe with carbon of the right pore dimension. Graphene various groups with n used to Blends electrolyte like Nafion show exceptional performance. The cyclic scan ra increas in term charact excelle
Ketoconazole and Rifampin Significantly Affect the Pharmacokinetics, But Not the Safety or QTc Interval, of Casopitant, a Neurokinin‐1 Receptor Antagonist

Casopitant, an antiemetic, is a neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist metabolized primarily by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Three phase 1 studies with 131 healthy subjects examined the impact of a strong CYP3A inhibitor (ketoconazole) and inducer (rifampin) on the pharmacokinetics and safety of casopitant. Oral casopitant was administered alone (study 1, 100‐mg single dose; study 2, 150 mg on day 1, 50 mg on days 2 and 3; study 3, 150‐mg single dose) with either 400 mg daily of oral ketoconazole or 600 mg daily of oral rifampin. Ketoconazole increased the maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration time curve to the last sampling time, t (AUC0‐t) of single‐dose casopitant 2.7‐fold and 12‐fold and increased the Cmax of 3‐day casopitant 2.5‐fold on day 1 and 2.9‐fold on day 3, whereas AUC(0‐ẗ) increased 4.3‐fold on day 1 and 5.8‐fold on day 3. Neither safety signals nor prolongation of Fredericia‐corrected QT was observed at these increased exposures in study 2. Repeat‐dose rifampin reduced the Cmax and AUC(0‐t) of casopitant 96% and 90%, respectively. These clinical studies confirmed the role of CYP3A in the metabolism and disposition of casopitant. Coadministration of casopitant with strong inhibitors of CYP3A is likely to increase plasma exposure of casopitant, whereas coadministration with strong inducers of CYP3A is likely to decrease casopitant exposure and compromise efficacy.
Dapagliflozin reduces albuminuria in patients with diabetes and hypertension receiving renin‐angiotensin blockers

To characterize the effect of dapagliflozin on albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and to determine whether effects on albuminuria were mediated through changes in glycated haemoblogin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight or eGFR.
Use of Data Mining in Various Field: A Survey Paper

Data mining is extracts the knowledge/ information from a large amount of data which stores in multiple heterogeneous data base. Knowledge /information are conveying the message through direct or indirect. This paper provides a survey of various data mining techniques. These techniques include association, correlation, clustering and neural network. This research paper also conducts a formal review of the application of data mining such as the education sector, marketing, fraud detection, manufacturing and telecommunication. This paper discusses the topic based on past research paper and also studies the data mining techniques. Keywords: Association, Clustering, Data mining, data mining application, knowledge discovery database,