43,431 research outputs found
A Multi-Language Comparison of Influences on Author Verification using Character N-Grams
No full textWe create a new multi-language corpus for author verification based on Wikipedia talkpages, and evaluate the influence that differences in topic and time have on character n-gram author profiles. Topic alignment between two texts is found to increase author verification precision, and an authors writing style is found to change over time, but not more significantly after 3 years than after 1 year.Information ArchitectureWISElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Treatment for IgG and IgA paraproteinaemic neuropathy
No full textParaproteinaemic neuropathy refers to those neuropathies associatedwith amonoclonal gammopathy or paraprotein. Themost common of these present with a chronic, predominantly sensory, symmetrical neuropathy, similar to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) but with relatively more sensory involvement, both clinically and neurophysiologically. The optimal treatment for neuropathies associated with IgG and IgA monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance is not known. This is an update of a review first published in 2007.
Objectives
To assess the effects of any treatment for IgG or IgA paraproteinaemic peripheral neuropathy.
Search methods
On 18 January 2014 we searched the Cochrane NeuromuscularDisease Group Trials Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE. We also checked bibliographies for controlled trials of treatments for IgG or IgA paraproteinaemic peripheral neuropathy. We checked clinical trials registries for ongoing studies in November 2014.
Selection criteria
We considered for inclusion randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs using any treatment for IgG or IgA paraproteinaemic peripheral neuropathy. We excluded people with IgM paraproteins. We excluded people where the monoclonal gammopathy was considered secondary to an underlying disorder. We included participants of any age with a diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance with a paraprotein of the IgG or IgA class and a neuropathy. Included participants were not required to fulfil specific electrophysiological diagnostic criteria.
Data collection and analysis
We used standard Cochrane methodology to select studies, extract data and analyse results. One trial author provided additional data and clarification.
Main results
We identified one RCT, with 18 participants, that fulfilled the predetermined inclusion criteria. The trial compared plasma exchange to sham plasma exchange in participants with IgG or IgA paraproteinaemic neuropathy over a three-week follow-up period. We identified four other studies but these were not RCTs or quasi-RCTs. The included RCT did not report our predefined primary outcome measure, change in disability six months after randomisation. The trial revealed a modest benefit of plasma exchange in the weakness component of the Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS, now the Neuropathy Impairment Score); the mean improvement with plasma exchange was 17 points (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.2 to 28.8 points) versus 1 point (95% CI -7.7 to 9.7 points) in the sham exchange group at three weeks' follow-up (mean difference (MD) 16.00; 95% CI 1.37 to 30.63, low quality evidence). There was no statistically significant difference in the overall NDS (MD 18.00; 95% CI -2.03 to 38.03, low quality evidence), vibration thresholds or neurophysiological indices. Adverse events were not reported. The trial was at low risk of bias overall, although limitations of trial size and duration reduce the quality of the evidence in support of its conclusions.
Authors' conclusions
The evidence fromRCTs for the treatment of IgGor IgA paraproteinaemic neuropathy is currently inadequate. More RCTs of treatments are required. These should have adequate follow-up periods and contain larger numbers of participants, perhaps through multicentre collaboration, considering the relative infrequency of this condition. Observational or open trial data provide limited support for the use of treatments such as plasma exchange, cyclophosphamide combined with prednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and corticosteroids. These interventions show potential therapeutic promise but the potential benefits must be weighed against adverse effects. Their optimal use and the long-term benefits need to be considered and validated with well-designed RCTs
Fast implementation of iterative adaptive approach for wideband unambiguous radar detection
No full textAccepted author manuscriptMicrowave Sensing, Signals & System
The importance of chain conformational mobility during 5-exo-cyclizations of C-, N- and O-centred radicals
No full textThe author thanks the EPSRC (grant EP/I003479/1) and EaStCHEM for funding.The reaction coordinates of an archetypical set of 5-exo cyclizations of C-, N- and O-centred radicals were investigated by computational methods. G4 theory, and DFT with the um062x functional, were able to rationalise counterintuitive factors such as the 'normal' order of rate constants being: N-centredPeer reviewe
Dissipative Range Scaling of Higher Order Structure Functions for Velocity and Passive Scalars
No full textDifferently to Kolmogorov's second similarity hypothesis, we find that the 2n-th order velocity and scalar structure functions scale with n-th order moment of the energy dissipation and the scalar dissipation, respectively. The origins of this scaling are analyzed by the transport equations of the fourth order velocity and scalar increment moments and by direct numerical simulations
The vanishing author in computer-generated works: a critical analysis of recent Australian case law
No full textAbstract
The use of software is ubiquitous in the creation of many copyright works, yet the requirement in copyright law that every work have a human author who engages in independent intellectual effort means that its use may prevent copyright subsistence. Several recent Australian cases have refocused attention on authorship as an essential criterion of copyright subsistence, and these cases suggest that much computer-produced output may be authorless and thus lack copyright protection. This article, the first in a two-part series, analyses how each case deals with the question of authorship of computer-produced works and why the use of software diminishes copyright protection for a significant number of computer-generated works. The article critiques the application of conventional notions of human authorship developed in the pre-computer age to modern productions and suggests alternative approaches to authorship that satisfy both the major objectives of copyright policy and the need to adapt to the computer age. The article argues that, without a broader judicial approach to authorship of computer-generated works, Parliament must remedy the lacuna in protection for these ‘authorless’ works. Possible solutions for reform are suggested. In a forthcoming article, the author comprehensively examines those reform proposals
Ratio of n-6/n-3 in the diets of beef cattle
No full textEffects of feeding heat-treated canola (C), soybean (S) and flax (F) or mixtures on growth and slaughter characteristics, taste and fatty acid (FA) composition of beef tissue were investigated using 128 crossbred steers to determine the potential of improving the nutritional quality of beef for humans. For Trial 1 (48 steers), dietary treatments were: roasted C, extruded C, roasted S, extruded S, roasted F and extruded F. For Trial 2 (80 steers), the dietary treatments were: S:F (1:1), S:C (1:1), C:F (1:1) and S:F:C (1:1:1), and the oilseeds were processed either by roasting or extruding before mixing. Soybean meal and soybean oil were used to give equivalent lipid and protein contents to each experimental diet. The basal diet consisted of grass silage, barley grain, vitamins and minerals. Steers were fed for a minimum of 100d then slaughtered at a uniform degree of finish. Growth and slaughter characteristics of the steers were only slightly affected by dietary treatment in that the soybean-fed steers consumed more feed and had a higher average daily gain than the canola or flax-fed animals in Trial 1. There was no difference in taste panel parameters for any of the treatments. Inclusion of flax in the diet increased the total n-3 content of meat. Similar results were found for canola and C18:1n-9 although this was not the case for soybean and the n-6 FA. For the n-6 FA in the PL and neutral lipid fractions of the meat samples, levels were correlated with high dietary levels of n-6 or n-9 with low levels of n-3 while for the n-3 FA, levels were correlated with high dietary n-3 levels and low n-6 levels. Oilseed processing method did not have an effect on any fatty acid levels. It is possible to modify the FA composition of beef meat toward a healthier profile by including heat-treated oilseeds in the diet to influence the degree of lipid metabolism in the rumen.ID: S0377840111004007; M3: Article; Accession Number: S0377840111004007; Author: M.A. McNiven (a, ⁎); Author: J.L. Duynisveld (b); Author: T. Turner (a); Author: A.W. Mitchell (a); Affiliation: Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of PEI, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3; Affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nappan, NS, Canada B0L 1C0; Keyword: Oilseeds; Keyword: Roasted; Keyword: Extruded; Keyword: Fatty acids; Keyword: Healthy fat; Number of Pages: 11; Language: English
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Fostering Sustainable Citizenship: A University-Wide Sustainability Competencies Framework for T-Shaped Professionals through Inter- and Transdisciplinary Education
No full textContext
Hasselt University wants to shape its students into critical citizens with a sustainable mindset who are prepared to take on complex societal challenges. An emphasis on inter- and transdisciplinary education is crucial for preparing students to navigate the interconnected nature of these societal challenges. We envision our students to be T-shaped professionals, who possess in-depth disciplinary expertise on the one hand and transversal competencies on the other hand. T-shaped professionals are able to look across different perspectives and disciplines to find new solutions (Bierema, 2019).
Approach and methodology
In order to prepare our students for the wicked problems of society and to become T-shaped professionals, we developed an university-wide competencies framework focussed on sustainability. The goal is that every student acquires these sustainability competencies, so this sustainability competencies framework must be implemented in all curricula at our university by 2029. This sustainability competencies framework is inspired by literature such as Ploum et al. (2018) and Wiek et al. (2015), as well as the GreenComp Framework (Bianchi et al., 2022). The framework consists of 4 interrelated competencies, namely:
Inclusive collaboration
Systems thinking
Ethical and sustainable reflection
Sustainable action
This framework has been established by a reciprocal exchange of perspectives and expectations with the study programmes, as well as the input of an expertise panel.
Inter- and transdisciplinary education is essential if we want our students to acquire these sustainability competencies. We aim to broaden students' perspectives so that they can take on their societal role and reflect on the impact of their role and actions.
Imlementation
To achieve this, we know that the role of teachers is crucial. Therefore, we aim to professionalize our teachers on the themes of sustainability and inter- and transdisciplinary education. During the poster presentation, we will give an overview of our implementation process as well as the various initiatives we undertake for teachers. For the sustainability competencies framework, we provide an online toolbox with content related to education for sustainable development and specific tools for the implementation of the competencies framework in curricula and courses. Moreover, thematic professionalisation sessions are offered. For the theme of inter- and transdisciplinary education, we developed a framework with a clarification of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary education as well as a roadmap for teachers in order to implement this into their educational practice.
Follow-up
The integration of the sustainability competencies framework is monitored yearly by meetings with every program, followed by feedforward. These meetings can also be used to discuss the implementation of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary education in each programs, as well as specific needs programs and teachers may have concerning this theme.
In addition, we are in search of a way of monitoring the student side, more specifically:
How can we assess if the students have acquired these competencies?
Which criteria are relevant for this assessment?
Which tools can we use for this assessment?
How can we involve the workings field and the broader society in the assessment of our students?
These questions will guide the discussion during our poster presentation
THE GEOMETRY OF H-C-C-N
No full textAuthor Institution: Department of Chemistry, Michigan State UniversityThe geometry of HCCN in its lowest triplet state has been studied with the restricted open shell SCF technique followed by a modest configuration interaction. The SCF results predict minima corresponding to a linear nitrene and a bent carbene with the allylic structure being the transition state. In contrast, the CI results predict that the allylic structure is the only minimum on the surface
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