Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dinner in Dubai ? The Role of Creative Art Workshops in Examining the Nutrition Education of Emirati Students

This study sought to investigate the issues of nutrition education within four classrooms in four different public schools in Dubai. Research suggests that the changing lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates has manifested itself in many new ways including new eating habits as well as changes in individual’s daily physical activity. The growing trend in obesity and associated conditions such as diabetes and heart disease is one of international and national concern. In order to alleviate the possible future demands on the health service and as a means to empowering the individual at a civic level, numerous countries have implemented ‘healthy eating and lifestyle’ programs. Within the UAE no comprehensive study has been conducted to date that has sought to examine how the formal education system could be used to address this problem. While traditional research methods (questionnaires, diaries, interviews) have generated interesting findings there is growing evidence that these methods do not necessarily allow the individual to explain their own understanding of their social world in their own words. This study therefore used a creative visual research method. Art based workshops were conducted that allowed students to concretely represent and describe their beliefs, attitudes and nutrition behaviour (diet and exercise) using visual representations such as pictures from magazines and newspapers, their own drawings, and product wrappers. The results from the art based workshops revealed that students had a complex understanding of the issues involved in nutrition education which extended beyond identifying food and exercise as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Issues that dealt with economic and cultural reasons for food and exercise choices were made explicit. Furthermore notions concerning the locus of control in food and exercise decisions also highlighted the issues concerning the ‘idealized’ perception of their nutritional and physical activity selves and their understanding of their own ‘actual reality’.
Hybrid-Trefftz Elements for Biphasic Elastostatics

This paper reports on the formulation and implementation of the displacement and stress models of the hybrid-Trefftz finite elements for elastostatic problems defined on saturated porous media. The supporting mathematical model is the (u-w) formulation of the Biot theory of porous media. The hybrid-Trefftz models are derived from the corresponding (pure) hybrid models by selecting the domain trial functions from the free-field solutions of the governing Navier equation. The resulting elements are highly robust and convergent, as they embody the physical characteristics of the modelled problem. Moreover, all coefficients present in the solving system are defined by boundary integral expressions.
- 99-Decoupling Resources Use from Economic Growth Chances and Challenges of Recycling Electronic Communication Devices

Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) is a topic of high concern due to increasing amounts, possible hazardous effects, but also with view to significant amounts of potentially recoverable materials and especially of elements with limited natural resources such as precious metals. This is particularly the case for electronic communication devices, which represent an essential equipment of our modern professional and private lifestyles, while however being characterized by short lifetimes. WEEE – and again in particular waste electronic communication devices – represents a waste stream which is difficult to predict, and for which recycling is a challenge. However, WEEE holds high potential to make significant contributions towards decoupling waste generation and resource consumption from economic growth. Decoupling is seen as promising pathway towards increased sustainability along with future economic developments. Implementation of decoupling approaches needs to consider different situations in developed and developing countries, which includes data availability on material streams, state-of-the-art of waste management and recycling, and the individual status of regulatory frameworks. Keywordselectronic communication devices, recycling, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), precious metals, recovery, decoupling, dematerialization
QUALITY ASSURANCE IN RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN

This study examined the issue of quality in rural primary schools in Nigeria. Quality was linked to both individual and national development and thus necessary to consider an approach that supports the practice of quality assurance in a holistic rather than individualistic oriented method. Quality assurance system should be seen as a process of enhancing and promoting collaboration and participation for institutional development. This entails a shift to a more pragmatic approach that encourages the involvement of everybody in the drive towards ensuring quality in Nigerian rural primary schools. Therefore, governments and policy makers need to put in place strategies that will serve to improve the condition of teacher and teaching in order to improve student achievement across rural schools in Nigeria
ON THE ESTIMATION OF FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION LIVES UNDER VARIABLE AMPLITUDE LOADS USING STRAIN-LIFE DATA

Models are proposed to predict the fatigue crack growth (FCG) process using crack initiation properties and critical damage concepts. The crack is modelled as a sharp notch with a very small but finite tip radius to remove its singularity, using a strain concentration rule. In this way, the damage caused by each load cycle and the effects of residual stresses can be calculated at each element ahead of the crack tip using the hysteresis loops caused by the loading, without the need for adjustable parameters. A computational algorithm is introduced to calculate cycle-bycycle crack growth using the proposed methodology. A quite good agreement between the εN-based crack growth predictions and experiments is obtained both for constant and for variable amplitude load histories.
Rapid # :-9027084 CROSS

In this paper, I examine the pragmatics of FUCK in terms of age and gender in an Irish English context. The paper aims to explore sociolinguistic variation in the use of this taboo form by using quantitative and qualitative corpusbased tools and methodologies, which include relative frequency lists and concordances, as well as details of formulaic strings, including significant clusters. I show that FUCK is a high-frequency item in everyday talk. I illustrate that, in terms of age and gender, FUCK occurs most frequently among male speakers in their twenties. I also focus on fucking as an extremely emotionally charged form that is a high frequency item in the interactions of both the males in their twenties and the males in their forties. I note that the use of this form brings a certain dramatic intensity or dynamism to their discourse. I attribute this intensity to being a feature of how males interact. I conclude by discussing other variables at play in the data.
SAR antenna beam pattern optimisation

The SAR system design process can become a complex task, in particular if active phased array antennas are involved. The inherent flexibility due to amplitude and phase settings in the transmit/receive modules allows individual beam pattern pointing and shaping. For SAR, this flexibility is mainly used in the elevation direction, i.e. across track, over the total range of incidence angles. Usually, the criteria for the optimised antenna elevation beam pattern are the overall system performance requirements as, for example, the ambiguity ratio, the radiometric accuracy, and the noise equivalent sigma zero. The range ambiguity ratio can be controlled by appropriate antenna sidelobe suppression at defined positions in the elevation pattern. The gain slope in the beam main-lobe is linked to the radiometric accuracy via pointing errors. Finally the antenna peak gain should be maximised for best noise equivalent sigma zero performance. Optimisation of the beam pattern for best system performance becomes complex, since various sets of amplitude and phase settings might fulfil the requirements. In order to support this complex task, the SAR Performance Modelling Software Package 'NextPerf' has been enhanced by trading the above system performance requirements with respect to the antenna elevation beam pattern.
From Face-to-Face to e-Mentoring: Does the "e" Add Any Value for Mentors?

For many years, face-to-face peer mentoring has been a feature of learning support provided to firstyear undergraduate students at one university in the UK. Building on the success of these initiatives, a scheme has been developed at this institution in which first-year undergraduates are mentored by second- and third-year students through a variety of media, both face-to-face and electronic. A research study was undertaken to evaluate the implementation of scheme, part of which involved undertaking a series of interviews with the e-mentors who participated over the course of two years. In presenting the findings, this paper discusses the commonalities that emerged and between face-toface and e-mentoring; reflects on ways in which use of the electronic medium adds to the generic benefits of mentoring; shows that e-mentoring impacts differently on mentors and mentees; and highlights some of the particular challenges e-mentoring presents to mentors. The implications for the selection and training of mentors are discussed in the final section of the paper. In 2002, a two-year pilot project was started to extend the University’s Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PAL) in two of its schools to include an e-mentoring component using the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard - as the platform for the scheme, and the existing face-to-face schemes providing an initial template for the e-mentoring (Bidgood, 1994). An evaluation research project was undertaken by the university’s Widening Access and Success research team (WAS) which, in addition to providing support to staff and mentors, charted the schemes’ development and outcomes over the course of two years (2002-2004). The aim of this paper is to report on one of the outcomes of the scheme: the benefits of e-mentoring for mentors. The paper explores this for those involved in mentoring generally, and then specifically, the benefits gained from the electronic component of mentoring. A brief overview of the literature is presented, followed by a description of key features of the e-mentoring schemes piloted at the university. The research methodology is then detailed followed by a discussion of the principal findings and their implications for mentoring programs. In common with previous studies of e-mentoring, the researchers found that the electronic dimension (the “e” in “e-mentoring”) does offer benefits to mentors, but that using an electronic medium of communication has different implications for the mentor and mentee.
Assessing Third-Party Distribution Channels for Banking Deposits

This paper addresses the issue of cost-benefit analysis when considering the use of third-party distribution channels for saving accounts. Whilst static budgeting methods seem to be generally appropriate for conventional banking projects based on branching or internet, they provide grossly misleading estimates of commissioning expenses, which can lead to completely unrealistic project assessment and poorly designed commission schedules. Using a case study, the author applies a numerical statistical simulation model that can serve as a potent tool for strategic decision-making as well as business negotiation support, while providing a number of useful insights into the pertinent value drivers.
Características da carcaça e da carne de tourinhos terminados em confinamento, recebendo diferentes níveis de concentrado na dieta

The objetive in this experiment was to evaluate carcass and beef quantitative and qualitative characterstics from young bulls, slaughtered at 14-16 months of age and fed diets containing different concentrate levels. It was used sixteen Charolais- Nellore crossbreed non-castrated young bulls and fed diets containing 22; 40; 59 or 79% of concentrate. The animals were complete randomly distributed, with four replicates per diet. Initial age and body weight of the animals were 9.32 months and 192.44 kg, respectively. The animals were slaugthered at 400 kg of body weight in a packing plant, 54 km away from the feedlot. The diet offered was isoproteic and the roughage used was corn silage. The carcass physiological maturity decreased as the concentrate in diet increased. The hindquarter percentage, beef color, and texture increased linearly as the level of concentrate in diet increased. Increase in the concentrate levels in the diet does not affect the majority of carcass characterstics, although it improves meat visual aspect.
Ultrastructural evidence that hippocampal alpha estrogen receptors are located at extranuclear sites

Estrogen may mediate some of its effects on hippocampal function through the alpha isoform of the estrogen receptor (ERα). By light microscopy, ERα‐immunoreactivity (‐I) is found in the nuclei of scattered inhibitory γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons. However, several lines of evidence indicate that estrogen also may exert some of its effects through rapid nongenomic mechanisms, possibly by binding to plasma membranes. Thus, to determine whether ERα is found in extranuclear sites in the hippocampal formation (HF), four different antibodies to ERα were localized by immunoelectron microscopy in proestrous rats. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that in addition to interneuronal nuclei, ERα‐I was affiliated with the cytoplasmic plasmalemma of select interneurons and with endosomes of a subset of principal (pyramidal and granule) cells. Moreover, ERα labeling was found in profiles dispersed throughout the HF, but slightly more numerous in CA1 stratum radiatum. Approximately 50% of the ERα‐labeled profiles were unmyelinated axons and axon terminals that contained numerous small, synaptic vesicles. ERα‐labeled terminals formed both asymmetric and symmetric synapses on dendritic shafts and spines, suggesting that ERαs arise from sources in addition to inhibitory interneurons. About 25% of the ERα‐I was found in dendritic spines, many originating from principal cells. Within spines, ERα‐I often was associated with spine apparati and/or polyribosomes, suggesting that estrogen might act locally through the ERα to influence calcium availability, protein translation, or synaptic growth. The remaining 25% of ERα‐labeled profiles were astrocytes, often located near the spines of principal cells. Collectively, these results suggest that ERα may serve as both a genomic and nongenomic transducer of estrogen action in the HF. J. Comp. Neurol. 429:355–371, 2001. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cancer gene therapy with HSV‐tk/GCV system depends on t‐cell‐mediated immune responses and causes apoptotic death of tumor cells In vivo

To examine the immunological mechanisms involved in cancer gene therapy using the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV‐tk) gene and ganciclovir (GCV), murine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, BNL1ME A.7R. 1, were transduced retrovirally with the HSV‐tk gene. HSV‐tk‐transduced cells exhibited a more than 2,000‐fold higher sensitivity to GCV compared with untransduced parental cells. When HSV‐tk‐transduced HCC cells were mixed with parental cells at a 50% ratio and implanted subcutaneously into immunocompetent syngeneic mice, complete inhibition of tumor formation was achieved by GCV treatment. Conversely, no significant inhibitory effects on tumor formation were observed in athymic nude mice. When established solid tumors in immunocompetent mice containing HSV‐tk‐transduced cells at an only 5% ratio were treated with GCV, marked infiltration by lymphocytes including CD4+ and CD8+ ones, and apoptotic death of tumor cells were induced, and significant reduction or even complete regression of tumors was achieved. Furthermore, such cured mice rejected rechallenge with parental HCC cells into the contraflank regions. Our results indicate that cancer gene therapy with the HSV‐tk/GCV system can indeed induce efficient antitumor effects and protective immunity in immunocompetent mice but not in nude mice, indicating that T‐cell‐mediated immune responses may be a critical factor for achieving successful gene therapy against cancer using the HSV‐tk/GCV system. Int. J. Cancer 83:374–380, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
NUCLEAR LOCALIZATION OF ACTIVE MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-2 IN CIGARETTE SMOKE-EXPOSED APOPTOTIC ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced activation of proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contributes to lung alveolar destruction due to cell death. The aim of this study was to determine whether MMPs are produced in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) and whether CS activation of MMPs is associated with apoptosis. Cultured PAECs were exposed to CS and subjected to assessments of apoptosis and MMPs. Western blotting and in situ zymography were performed to localize gelatinolytic activity and to identify enzymes. CS-induced apoptosis, i.e., enhanced annexin V binding and cleaved poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP), correlated with increased degradation of gelatin, a substrate of MMPs. The levels of pro-MMP-2 and active MMP-2 were increased in cytosolic and nuclear fractions isolated from CS-exposed cells. MMP-2 protein colocalized with gelatinolytic activity in the nucleus of CS-exposed cells undergoing apoptosis. These observations support the notion that MMP-2 contributes to CS-induced gelatinase activity, which localizes in the nuclear region primarily and correlates with annexin V binding and PARP cleavage. This suggests a novel function of MMP-2 in the degradation of the nuclear matrix in CS-induced endothelial apoptosis.
SERVICE-ORIENTED WORKFLOW: CONCEPTS, ARCHITECTURE AND KEY TECHNOLOGIES

The advent of Grid and SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) technologies has brought new opportunities and challenges into the area of workflow. Service-Oriented Workflow (SOWF), which integrates web service and workflow technology, has become a mainstream for flexible integration among heterogeneous systems. In this paper, firstly the definition of the service is proposed with a three-dimensional model and based on a detailed analysis of the characteristics of SOWF, the architecture of SOWF including the user interface layer, the operation logic layer, and the persistent storage layer is presented. As key technologies, process modeling, process execution, workflow implementation technologies, transaction management and performance evaluation are discussed respectively. Finally, an application demonstration of SOWF is given to prove the advantages of applying service-oriented technology in the field of workflow.
Acquisition of state transitions in neural network

In the artificial intelligence, the breadth-first search is optimal with uniform cost. But it takes long time to obtain the solution. Neural networks process states transitions in parallel with learning ability. We developed a search procedure of states transition doing the the breadth-first, in the neural network. First, the input pattern states are self-organized in the neural network, which consists of the Kohonen layer followed by the state planning layer. The state planning layer makes lateral connections between cells of transitions. Then, the initial and the target states are given as a problem. The network shows an optimal state transition pathway in the neuron firings. Next, the state transition procedure is developed for the formation of the concept of action planning. Here, as the action planning, an integration between the symbols and the action pattern is carried out in the extended neural network.
Griseofulvin potentiates antitumorigenesis effects of nocodazole through induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in human colorectal cancer cells

In this study, we demonstrate that apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest were easily induced by treatment with the oral‐antifungal agent, griseofulvin (GF). The mechanisms of GF‐induced G2/M arrest were characterized as (a) induction of abnormal mitotic spindle formation, (b) elevation of cyclin B1/cdc2 kinase activity and (c) down‐regulation of myt‐1 protein expression. On the other hand, caspase 3 activation, Bcl‐2 hyperphosphorylation and inhibition of the normal function of Bcl‐2 associated with Bax were demonstrated to be the mechanisms of GF‐induced apoptosis. DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that combined treatment of GF with the cancer chemotherapeutic agent, nocodazole (ND), strongly potentiates the apoptotic effect and arrest of the G2/M cell cycle in 5 types of human cancer cells, but not in normal human keratinocytes (#76 KhGH). The combined treatment of GF and ND triggered the polymerization of purified tubulin in HT 29 but not in #76 KhGH cells. To further confirm these observations, the therapeutic efficacy was further examined in vivo by treating athymic mice bearing COLO 205 tumor xenografts, with GF (50 mg/kg), ND (5 mg/kg) or GF + ND. Combined treatment of GF and ND significantly enhanced the effect of ND, and led to cessation of tumor growth. These results suggest that chemotherapeutic agents (such as ND) administered in the presence of GF might provide a novel therapy for colorectal cancer. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Universal Encryption Algorithm using Logical Operations and Bits Shuffling for Unicode

Cryptography is the process of converting any information using some specific encryption algorithm to a secured form. Such secured form of information can be interpreted only by the intended recipient who possess equivalent decrypting algorithm. In this paper we have devised a new cryptographic primitive that concentrates on encryption and decryption of plain text string of any Unicode supported language. The ciphered text would be a combination of characters from several other languages. The algorithm defined here is an enhancement of one-time pad cipher and stream cipher using pseudo random numbers as public key and bits shuffling of the data.
Quantifying plasticity in vessel grouping – added value from the image analysis tool ROXAS

The functional role of the connectivity of the xylem network, especially the arrangement of solitary and grouped vessels in a cross section, has often been discussed in the literature. Vessel grouping may improve hydraulic integration and increase resilience to cavitation through redundancy of hydraulic pathways. Alternatively, a high degree of hydraulic integration may facilitate the spread of cavitations among neighboring vessels. Here we show how automated image analysis tools such as ROXAS (see www.wsl.ch/roxas) may greatly enhance the capacity for studying vessel grouping while avoiding some methodological limitations of previous approaches. We tested the new analysis techniques by comparing the xylem network of two populations of the herbaceous species Verbascum thapsus collected at a dry and moist site on Big Island (Hawaii, USA). ROXAS accurately, objectively and reproducibly detected grouped and solitary vessels in high-resolution images of entire root cross sections, and calculated different and partly novel vessel grouping parameters, e.g. the percentage of grouped (vs. solitary) vessels among different vessel size classes. Individuals at the dry site showed a higher degree of vessel grouping, less solitary vessels, greater maximum vessel sizes and an increase of the percentage of grouped vessels with increasing vessel size. The potential, but also some limitations of automated image analysis and the proposed novel parameters are discussed.