Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Science and Technology Education for Citizenship: The Potential Role of the Press.

This paper aims to explore the potential suitability of the press as a teaching resource for raising scientific literacy for citizenship within science education. Our methodology is based on a content analysis of a sample of 1867 articles about science and technology from four Greek newspapers. The analysis showed that the press is potentially a useful tool for teaching certain aspects of science and technology for citizenship since it (a) provides a constant flow of relevant articles on a regular basis, (b) gives prominence to techno-scientific issues that prevail in the public arena (digital technologies, advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering, environmental degradation), (c) identifies the various social actors and forces (mainly coming from the world of politics and the business world) that impinge on the collective decision-making procedures about these issues, (d) portrays the kind of the social impacts of science and technology in an optimistic way, albeit tempered by considerable levels of concern, and (e) presents all the relevant news in context, thereby adding relevance and meaningfulness to the techno-scientific concepts under discussion. In addition to strong points, the press has also weak points as a teaching resource in science classes. These weaknesses are mostly related to the underpresentation of techno-scientific subject matter and the internal mechanisms that lead to the production of the corresponding knowledge. Consequently, press material can be used in the science classes in a complementary way to the conventional material already used so as to illuminate crucial aspects of science and technology in the public that seem to be missing from the official pedagogic discourse of science education. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed87:241–256, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.10054
Psychopathology, temperament and unintentional injury: cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships.

BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates a link between unintentional injury and both disruptive and emotional psychopathology. We present further evidence of these associations and address the underlying mechanisms. We also examine the genetic contribution to unintentional injury. METHODS The Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development provides genetically informative multi-wave and multi-informant data regarding common psychopathology using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment interview. The EASI temperament scales and child injury involvement were measured in parent-report questionnaires. RESULTS Unintentional injury showed significant genetic effects in girls and significant shared environmental effects in boys and girls. Symptoms of over-anxious disorder (OAD), and the EASI temperament scales were independently associated with injury. Longitudinal modeling showed impulsivity and OAD symptoms were related prospectively to injury involvement. Injuries did not increase risk for later impulsivity or OAD symptoms but were related prospectively to separation anxiety disorder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Impulsivity and OAD symptoms increased risk of later injury. We discuss the processes that may be involved in these relationships.
Precision of dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry: Development of quality control rules and their application in longitudinal studies

In research settings, longitudinal measurements of bone mineral density have become an integral part of the assessment of patients with metabolic skeletal disorders. To adequately utilize longitudinal measures, confidence in the long‐term precision of the measurement technique must be very high. Dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) has become commonly utilized in this context, and to better understand its long‐term precision and to develop quality assurance protocols for its use, we examined the performance of eight DXA machines over a 3 year period. Anthropomorphic spine phantoms were measured frequently on each machine during the period of observation, and precision was estimated from the consistency of these determinations. Overall precision was excellent (mean longitudinal coefficient of variation, 0.4%). Nevertheless, by using a series of objective quality control criteria, small alterations in the performance of each machine were identified (mean number of changes, 4.6 in 3 years; mean magnitude, 0.0039 g/cm2, or 0.4%). The cumulative effects of those changes were sufficient to cause a significant (albeit minor) change in the regression slopes (phantom mineral density versus time) of most machines. The same quality control rules were also used to quantitate the magnitude of change and to adjust retrospectively machine performance during the period of observation, such that alterations were minimal and regression slopes were not significantly different from zero. Although the precision of DXA is excellent, alterations in machine function must be anticipated during longitudinal use. The development of quality control protocols provides the means to detect change objectively and to adjust for alterations in performance during the course of longitudinal evaluations.
New antenna topology coupled to a new waveguide structure for THz radiation and propagation

In this manuscript, we present a new antenna topology applied to the so called THz gap, based on using a dielectric rod antenna avoiding the use of the classical lens for collimating the emitted/received power. The scope and future perspective of the manuscript is beyond this idea: we develop this topology with the perspective of being the optimum antenna system to be coupled in a THz waveguide easy manufactured and with extremely low propagation losses, as we present here.
Evaluation of serum enzyme activities and protein fractions in Brucella-infected cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential changes in serum enzyme activities and protein fractions in Brucella-infected cows. A total of 1100 serum samples of dairy cows were screened for Brucella infection using the Rose Bengal test (RBT). Serum samples reacting positively to the RBT were subjected to indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for confirmation. Thirty serum samples from serologically positive cows and 30 from negative (healthy) cows were analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities and total protein (TP) concentrations and serum protein electrophoresis. Serum ALT, AST, CK, and LDH activities were increased in serologically positive cows and significantly higher than those measured in healthy cows. However, there were no significant differences in ALP and GGT activities. TP and $\gamma$-globulin concentrations were increased in serologically positive cows and significantly higher than those of healthy cows, but there were no significant differences in albumin or $\alpha$1-, $\alpha$2-, and A-globulin concentrations. Hence, Brucella infection has a detrimental effect on dairy cows' health and is accompanied with elevated serum ALT, AST, CK, and LDH activities and increased TP concentrations due to the increase in $\gamma$-globulin concentrations only.
Categorizing variations of student-implemented sorting algorithms

In this study, we examined freshmen students' sorting algorithm implementations in data structures and algorithms' course in two phases: at the beginning of the course before the students received any instruction on sorting algorithms, and after taking a lecture on sorting algorithms. The analysis revealed that many students have insufficient understanding of implementing sorting algorithms. For example, they include unnecessary swaps in their Insertion or Selection sort implementations resulting in more complicated and inefficient code. Based on the data, we present a categorization of these types of variations and discuss the implications of the results. In addition, we introduce an instrument to recognize these algorithms automatically. This is done in terms of white-box testing. Our aim is to develop an automatic assessment system to help teachers in the burden of marking students' assignments and give feedback to the students on their algorithmic solutions. We outline how the presented results can be used to develop the instrument further.
Tele-health services for the elderly: A novel southern Italy family needs-oriented model

Introduction The world population is aging. By 2050, the global population aged over 65 years will have doubled, leading to big societal challenges for ensuring healthy, independent, and productive lives for older people. Thus, innovative local and national initiatives for e-health services are growing in an attempt to overcome such problems. Methods We examined the effects of a telehealth system, i.e. tele-monitoring of vital parameters and neurological/psychological tele-counseling, within a family-centred service provided by a local day centre. We evaluated the clinical and neurobehavioral symptoms of 18 elderly patients (aged 65 years and over) and the care burden of their 20 caregivers, besides the usability of the tool. Results The one-way repeated analysis revealed a significant worsening in daily living activities (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Independent IADL (IADL)) versus a significant improvement of the patients' psychiatric condition (p < 0.001), besides a significant gradual reduction of the caregivers burden (p < 0.001). Health status perception increased through time (from an average score of 5.67 ± 1.08 at baseline to 7.72 ± 1.32 at the end of the study). Discussion It appears that a telehealth system integrated in a local health care service may significantly improve elderly persons’ behaviour, and also reduce the caregivers’ burden.
Deposited in DRO : 09 November 2015 Version of attached

Let G be a simple undirected graph on n vertices with maximum degree ∆. Brooks’ Theorem states that G has a ∆-colouring unless G is a complete graph, or a cycle with an odd number of vertices. To recolour G is to obtain a new proper colouring by changing the colour of one vertex. We show an analogue of Brooks’ Theorem by proving that from any k-colouring, k > ∆, a ∆-colouring of G can be obtained by a sequence of O(n) recolourings using only the original k colours unless – G is a complete graph or a cycle with an odd number of vertices, or – k = ∆ + 1, G is ∆-regular and, for each vertex v in G, no two neighbours of v are coloured alike. We use this result to study the reconfiguration graph Rk(G) of the kcolourings of G. The vertex set of Rk(G) is the set of all possible kcolourings of G and two colourings are adjacent if they differ on exactly one vertex. We prove that for ∆ ≥ 3, R∆+1(G) consists of isolated vertices and at most one further component which has diameter O(n). This result enables us to complete both a structural classification and an algorithmic classification for reconfigurations of colourings of graphs of bounded maximum degree.
A hierarchical video coder with cache motion information

This paper presents a new video coder that operates below 16 kbps and other rates below 64 kbps. The coder uses a quadtree-based hierarchical structure and a distortion measure that controls which levels of the hierarchy are selected. This paper also introduces a cache motion predictor that is based on the principles of designing cache memory. The motion cache can significantly reduce the bit-rate in coding motion vectors while also reducing the computational complexity when compared to the full-search block matching algorithm. The 10 frame/sec QCIF color Miss America sequence was coded with an average Y-PSNR of 35.52 dB at 16 kbps.
Correlation of the long-term neurological outcomes with completeness of surgical evacuation in spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION The treatment of primary spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) by evacuation is not supported by randomised controlled trials. We investigate the effectiveness of the completeness of surgical evacuation of spontaneous supratentorial ICH with respect to the functional neurological outcome and mortality. METHODS A retrospective review of patients who underwent supratentorial ICH evacuations in the Neurosurgical Unit of the National University Hospital, Singapore, between January 2002 and December 2005 was conducted. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography images were compared, and the patients or their family members completed follow-up questionnaires two years post surgery, in order to assess the neurological outcome. RESULTS The patients were subdivided into two groups based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale and haematoma volume. Patients with small pre-evacuation haematoma had a median percentage change in volume and a midline shift of 97.63 percent and 63 percent, respectively. Patients with a large haematoma volume had a median percentage change in volume and midline shift of 99.54 percent and 100 percent, respectively (the p-values for percentage change in volume and midline shift are 0.764 and 0.742, respectively). The median percentage change in volume for the poor outcome subgroup was 97.63 percent, compared to 100 percent for the good outcome subgroup (p-value is 0.288). The median change in midline shift in the poor and good outcome subgroups was 63 percent and 100 percent, respectively (p-value is 0.576). CONCLUSION Although not statistically significant with regard to the completeness of haematoma evacuation, a trend toward better outcome with more complete evacuation is observed with ICH.
Time-Dependent Variability Related to BTI Effects in MOSFETs: Impact on CMOS Differential Amplifiers

With the continuous transistor scaling, device mismatch related to intrinsic process variability increases and becomes one of the most important problems to be faced during circuit design. In addition, gate oxide wear-out strongly affects the device reliability and adds a time dependence to device mismatch. In this paper, the impact on circuit functionality of both process variability and gate oxide degradation is studied. First, the effect of the gate oxide damage on the NMOS and PMOS transistor characteristics and their variability has been analyzed. Second, a methodology based on combined SPICE and Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the time-dependent variability at device and circuit levels is presented, which has allowed to reproduce the experimental data. Finally, using the proposed methodology, the influence of the process variability and gate oxide wear-out on the functionality of different configurations of an amplifier circuit was investigated. The results show that both aspects can be decisive in the circuit reliability.
Ice‐atmosphere interactions during sea‐ice advance and retreat in the western Antarctic Peninsula region

[1] The seasonal evolution of sea-ice extent, concentration, and drift in the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region, along with regional atmospheric synoptic variability, are described for a winter period (1992) when sea-ice advance and retreat were both anomalously early. Daily time series of winds, opening and closing of the sea-ice cover, and volume fluxes in and out of the WAP region indicate that synoptic variability in meridional winds determines whether the ice-edge advances or retreats on daily to weekly timescales. The importance of this finding is that the dynamics, as opposed to the thermodynamics, initiate, and thereby dominate, in the production of ice-edge anomalies. Further, the abrupt mid-winter shift from persistently positive to negative ice-edge anomalies indicates that there was a distinct change in the regional atmospheric circulation. The ice-atmosphere interactions in the winter of 1992 are then compared to those in the winter of 1990, when sea-ice advance and retreat were both late instead of early, but again the mid-winter shift was abrupt. The comparison highlights possible circumpolar and tropical-polar atmospheric linkages in the South Pacific that involve changes in the amplitude/phase of the semi-annual oscillation (SAO), which in turn appear
Variability of breath-by-breath tidal volume and its characteristics in normal and diseased subjects. Ventilatory monitoring with electrical impedance pneumography.

To assess clinical significance of breath-by-breath variation of tidal volume and its distribution pattern displayed as a histogram, continuous measurement of tidal volume was made with electrical impedance pneumography for about 60 minutes. Subjects were composed of 26 normal male and 46 patients including 17 patients with restrictive lung disease and 29 patients with obstructive lung disease. To evaluate variation of tidal volume quantitatively, coefficient of variance (C.V.) was used. In comparison to the normal pattern of distribution (C.V. = 26.0 +/- 7.5%, mean +/- S.D.), patients with restrictive lung disease showed extremely narrow pattern of the distribution and significantly smaller C.V. (17.5 +/- 4.6% in old pulmonary tuberculosis, P less than 0.005 and 18.9 +/- 9.3% in pneumonitis, P less than 0.025). Whereas, patients with obstructive lung disease showed widespread pattern of the distribution and significantly greater C.V. (43.2 +/- 13.0% in pulmonary emphysema with hypercapnia, 33.0 +/- 7.5% in normocapnia and 35.8 +/- 9.4% in asthmatic attack, P less than 0.005). In all the patients with bronchial asthma after the treatment, the extremely widespread pattern of histogram was returned toward the normal one and the C.V. was decreased (22.4 +/- 6.4%). It was suggested that the distribution pattern of tidal volume was affected by the change of clinical condition, and was well correlated to the pathophysiological process related to restrictive or obstructive lung disease. We conclude that analysis of tidal volume distribution by the histogram is one of the useful approach to manage patients with respiratory diseases.
Longitudinal pathways linking child maltreatment, emotion regulation, peer relations, and psychopathology.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal relations among child maltreatment, emotion regulation, peer acceptance and rejection, and psychopathology. METHODS Data were collected on 215 maltreated and 206 nonmaltreated children (ages 6-12 years) from low-income families. Children were evaluated by camp counselors on emotion regulation and internalizing and externalizing symptomatology and were nominated by peers for peer acceptance and rejection. RESULTS Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that experiencing neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse, multiple maltreatment subtypes, and earlier onset of maltreatment were related to emotion dysregulation. Lower emotion regulation (Time 1) was associated with higher externalizing symptomatology (Time 1) that contributed to later peer rejection (Time 2), which in turn was related to higher externalizing symptomatology (Time 2). Conversely, higher emotion regulation was predictive of higher peer acceptance over time, which was related to lower internalizing symptomatology controlling for initial levels of symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS The findings emphasize the important role of emotion regulation as a risk or a protective mechanism in the link between earlier child maltreatment and later psychopathology through its influences on peer relations.
Investigation of the biological mechanisms of particulate matter ( PM ) effects in relation to PM physical and chemical characteristics

Period Covered by the Report: June 1, 2003 – May 31, 2004 Date of Report: June 30, 2004 EPA Agreement Number: R82735201 Title: Southern California Particle Center and Supersite (SCPCS) Investigators: John R. Froines (jfroines@ucla.edu); Arthur Cho, Jon Fukuto, William Hinds, Antonio Miguel, Andre Nel, Beate Ritz, Richard Turco, Arthur Winer, RC Yu; Henry Gong, William Linn; Jack Harkema; Fred Lurmann; Michael Kleinman, Robert Phalen; Janet Arey, Roger Atkinson; Edward Avol, Kiros Berhane, William Gauderman, Nino Kunzli, Rob McConnell, John M. Peters, Constantinos Sioutas, Sheldon Friedlander, Dan Stram ; Yoshito Kumagai. Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles – Lead Institution; Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center; Michigan State University; Sonoma Technology; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Riverside; University of Southern California; University of Tsukuba, Japan Research Category and Sorting Code: EPA/STAR Particulate Matter Research Centers (2003STAR-66500) Project Period: 06/01/1999 to 05/31/2005
Software Publishing and the Economic Impact of Copying

Unauthorized duplication of microcomputer software is apparently commonplace. Recent decisions by major software publishers to drop "copy protection" may well result in even more unauthorized duplication. This paper addresses the impact of unauthorized software duplication on software publishers' profits. Software "clubs" of the type suggested by Buchanan (1965) are posited as providing a mechanism whereby software publishers can indirectly appropriate revenue for unauthorized software copies. It is shown that, under certain conditions, software publishers' profits may actually increase when users can make unauthorized copies. Recent growth in microcomputer sales has brought Since unauthorized copying of software is perceived with it growth in the demand for microcomputer as a problem, there are also articles listing avenues software. Coincident with this growth has been an of legal "protection" available to software publishers increased incidence of unauthorized duplication of (Price and Jones 1986) and articles discussing "copy microcomputer software. Software publishers protection" mechanisms which can be incorporated responded to unauthorized duplication of their into the original software product (Small 1985). products with various forms of "copy protection. " Even with "copy protection devices," the claim has Microcomputer software is often thought of as a been made that on the order of 50 percent of all creative work worthy of protection under copyright microcomputer software currently in use is pirated laws. But surprisingly, there has been little specific (DiNacci 1986, p