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Approximately a third of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) items in the core domains (math, reading, and science) are constructed-response items and require human coding (scoring). This process is time-consuming, expensive, and prone to error as often (a) humans code inconsistently, and (b) coding reliability in international large-scale assessments varies across items and countries. The shift in PISA 2015 from paper- to computer-based assessment digitized all responses and associated coding, thus providing opportunities to introduce technology and analytical methods to improve data processing and analyses in future cycles. In this computer-based setting, this research explains the framework and approach for improving the accuracy and efficiency of the coding process in constructed-response items for future PISA cycles. In the pilot study associated with this research, we demonstrate how the proposed machine-supported coding system can be utilized using sample reading items from the PISA 2015 cycle.

This paper provides an overview of plant system studies to establish a common technical view for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) concept (the common SFR concept) between France and Japan based on ASTRID 600 and the new concept with downsized output (ASTRID150). One of important issues on a reactor structure design is to enhance seismic resistance to be tolerable against strong earthquake such that postulated in Japan. A concept of High Frequency Design (HFD) is shared, in which the natural frequency of the reactor structure should be higher than that of peak acceleration of vertical floor seismic response with a horizontal seismic isolation system. The design options related to HFD have been examined and design recommendations are established. ASTRID 600 adopted a gas power conversion system to strictly eliminate the chemical reaction risks due to the proximity of sodium and water in the steam generator units. On the other hand, a steam generator (SG) is thought to be a concept with high technical readiness level and is a reference option in Japan and a backup option in France. Then, design comparison of the SG with single-walled helical coil tubes was mainly conducted in this study from the viewpoint of safety and so on. A common concept of a decay heat removal system is discussed to achieve practical elimination of loss of decay heat removal function. A fuel handling system studies are performed to eliminate and ex-vessel storage of spent fuels in sodium to reduce a construction cost. An adequate confinement system is investigated to achieve practical mitigation of large radiological release to the environment even under the condition of core destructive accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The telephone-pole beetle family Micromalthidae has attracted the attention of entomologists and biologists because of its enigmatic morphology, systematic position, and complex life cycle. With only a single extant and four extinct species, the micromalthid beetles are a small but important lineage within the primitive suborder Archostemata. Fossil micromathids, known mainly from different amber deposits, are not commonly found. Here, I report the first Mesozoic fossil of the sole extant micromalthid genus Micromalthus in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar. Due to its rather poor preservation, this provisional new species remains unnamed, tentatively identified as Micromalthus sp. The newly found specimen is about 46 Ma older than an Eocene Micromalthus fossil from the Oise amber of France. My study greatly expands our knowledge of the origin and early evolution of Micromalthus beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil records of piestine rove beetles are very limited, with only two definite species from Mesozoic Chinese compressions, a single taxon from mid-Eocene Baltic amber and a doubtful Oligocene compression fossil from France. Here, a remarkable new genus and species, Propiestus archaicus gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved individual in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber from northern Myanmar (Cenomanian, c. 99 Ma). It represents the first piestine fossil found in Mesozoic amber. The fine morphological characters preserved as an amber inclusion enable a confident systematic placement within the subfamily based on both our detailed observations and phylogenetic analyses. The resulting trees revealed a strongly supported sister-group relationship with the extant genus Piestus, comprising all currently known piestine species from the Neotropical region and one from the Nearctic. Our new discovery is congruent with a hypothesis of the Gondwanan affinity of insects found from Burmese amber. Considering the geological data as well as several previous studies, the current distribution of Piestus could possibly be explained by either a relictual Gondwanan distribution or the widespread presence of the clade Propiestus + Piestus on Pangea, rather than subsequent dispersal events during the Cenozoic. Nonetheless, more evidence is needed to corroborate the true biogeographical origin and past distribution of this clade. In agreement with strong external similarities with living Piestinae, Propiestus probably exhibits a specialized body plan, including a flattened body, long, slender antennae and short legs, suggesting that it inhabited microhabitats under the bark of rotting wood as do its modern congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the difficulties faced by children of recent migrants from mainland China to France in Paris schools, and explains the underlying factors. It is based on fieldwork in Paris schools from 2005 to 2013. Other long-established Chinese communities in France consist mainly of Indo-Chinese refugees of Chinese descent. Their children were born in France and have adjusted to French schools; in contrast, some children of new Chinese immigrants (mainly from Wenzhou) do not attend school regularly and often drop out. My findings show that formation of the folk theory of success that values school education - which explains school success among Indo-Chinese refugee children - is hampered by institutional constraints resulting from parents' status as illegal immigrants, and unstable parent-child relationships due to the family's immigration arrangements. This paper reveals the limitations of conventional explanations for Chinese immigrants' school success and failure based on cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates trends in the travel behaviour of young adults in Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, Norway, and the USA over the past few decades with a focus on car availability and car travel. The trend analysis relies on micro-data from over 20 National Travel Surveys from the study countries dating back to the mid-1970s. The analysis of the survey data is supplemented by official statistics on licence holding. On this basis, this paper compiles a body of evidence for changes in mobility patterns among young adults in industrialized countries over the past few decades. The findings indicate that since the turn of the millennium, access to cars, measured in terms of drivers' licences and household car ownership, has decreased in most study countries—especially for men. Moreover, average daily car travel distance has decreased in most study countries, again especially for men. In France, Japan, and most significantly in the USA, the decrease in car travel has led to a reduction in total everyday travel by young travellers. In Great Britain, the decline in car travel was partly, and in Germany fully, compensated by an increased use of alternative modes of transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To report early experience with treatment of intrauterine cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection using maternal oral administration of valaciclovir (VACV). Design Observational study of fetuses infected with CMV with or without treatment with valaciclovir. Population Pregnancies with confirmed fetal CMV infection were treated with oral VACV (8 g/day). Main outcome measures Fetal viral load and drug concentration were monitored in amniotic fluid and in fetal blood. Data on the course and outcome of a group of untreated symptomatic fetuses infected with CMV are also reported. Results Therapeutic concentrations were achieved in maternal and fetal bloods. The viral load in the fetal blood (VLFB) decreased significantly after 1–12 weeks of treatment (Wilcoxon paired test P= 0.02). Twenty pregnancies including 21 fetuses were treated at 28 weeks (median, range: 22–34) for 7 weeks (median, range: 1–12). Ten infants were developing normally at between 1 and 5 years of age. Two infants (both aged 2 years) had severe isolated unilateral deafness. One neonate presented with microcephaly and severe deafness but was also diagnosed with incontinentia pigmenti. Six out of seven cases that eventually required termination of pregnancy (TOP) had evidence of in utero progression of the disease with worsening cerebral lesions. One fetus died in utero. The outcome of 14/24 (58.3%) untreated symptomatic infected fetuses was poor with either TOP, intrauterine fetal demise or severe congenital infection disease of the neonate; the remaining ten infants were healthy at follow up. Conclusion Maternal oral administration of VACV leads to therapeutic concentrations in the maternal and fetal compartments, with a decrease in VLFB. Our results suggest that in cases where TOP is declined, a randomised controlled trial to study this treatment option further is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a presentation by Teruko Takano-Yamamoto at the 6th International Orthodontic Congress held in Paris, France, about the diagnosis and treatment of patients with facial asymmetry. The presentation described the cases of two patients with facial asymmetry. The first case involved the treatment of a patient with Class III malocclusion with severe facial asymmetry, unilateral posterior crossbite and TMD. The second case involved a patient who had anterior open bite, increased anterior lower facial height, TMD and mandibular asymmetry.

Launched in 2014, Japan-France collaboration on the ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration) project is active both in reactor design and in R&D fields. CEA, Framatome, JAEA, MHI and MFBR are in charge of this collaboration. In the design field, Japan-France evaluates core assemblies with interferences on seismic events. The objectives of this collaboration are to determine the core assembly lattice displacements under seismic load in order to demonstrate the safe behavior of the core regarding control rod insertion, structural integrity, and reactivity variation, etc. From this point of view, the object of this study is to verify the seismic evaluation method on core assemblies between Japan and France by comparing the results. Using their evaluation method applied to common the ASTRID core input data, Japan and France will calculate a collision load, a horizontal displacement, and a vertical displacement for core assemblies. As the first step of this work, the comparison of each evaluation (modelling and calculation results) is carried out considering the horizontal seismic excitation and without including the vertical component. The analysis of this benchmark calculation shows a satisfactory agreement between the Japanese and French tools and the figures show a good behavior of the core in horizontal direction under French seismic condition. This paper describes the summary of horizontal seismic analysis comparison and the future analysis plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inherited ichthyoses belong to a large, clinically and etiologically heterogeneous group of mendelian disorders of cornification, typically involving the entire integument. Over the recent years, much progress has been made defining their molecular causes. However, there is no internationally accepted classification and terminology., Objective: We sought to establish a consensus for the nomenclature and classification of inherited ichthyoses., Methods: The classification project started at the First World Conference on Ichthyosis in 2007. A large international network of expert clinicians, skin pathologists, and geneticists entertained an interactive dialogue over 2 years, eventually leading to the First Ichthyosis Consensus Conference held in Sorèze, France, on January 23 and 24, 2009, where subcommittees on different issues proposed terminology that was debated until consensus was reached., Results: It was agreed that currently the nosology should remain clinically based. "Syndromic" versus "nonsyndromic" forms provide a useful major subdivision. Several clinical terms and controversial disease names have been redefined: eg, the group caused by keratin mutations is referred to by the umbrella term, "keratinopathic ichthyosis"-under which are included epidermolytic ichthyosis, superficial epidermolytic ichthyosis, and ichthyosis Curth-Macklin. "Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis" is proposed as an umbrella term for the harlequin ichthyosis, lamellar ichthyosis, and the congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma group., Limitations: As more becomes known about these diseases in the future, modifications will be needed., Conclusion: We have achieved an international consensus for the classification of inherited ichthyosis that should be useful for all clinicians and can serve as reference point for future research., (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. All rights reserved.)

From January 1996 to January 1997, 321 patients with an average age of 46 +/- 16 years and chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) were prospectively enrolled in a study designed to determine the prevalence of extrahepatic manifestations associated with HCV infection in a large cohort of HCV patients, to identify associations between clinical and biologic manifestations, and to compare the results obtained in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive versus HIV-negative subsets. In a cross-sectional study, clinical extrahepatic manifestations, viral coinfections with HIV and/or hepatitis B virus, connective tissue diseases, and a wide panel of autoantibodies were assessed. Thirty-eight percent (122/321) of patients presented at least 1 clinical extrahepatic manifestation including arthralgia (60/321, 19%), skin manifestations (55/321, 17%), xerostomia (40/321, 12%), xerophthalmia (32/321, 10%), and sensory neuropathy (28/321, 9%). Main biologic abnormalities were mixed cryoglobulins (110/196, 56%), thrombocytopenia (50/291, 17%), and the presence of the following autoantibodies: antinuclear (123/302, 41%), rheumatoid factor (107/280, 38%), anticardiolipin (79/298, 27%), antithyroglobulin (36/287, 13%) and antismooth muscle cell (27/288, 9%). At least 1 autoantibody was present in 210/302 (70%) of sera. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, 4 parameters were significantly associated with cryoglobulin positivity: systemic vasculitis (p = 0.01, odds ratio OR[ = 17.3), HIV positivity (p = 0.0006, OR = 10.2), rheumatoid factor positivity (p = 0.01, OR = 2.8), and sicca syndrome (p = 0.03, OR = 0.27). A definite connective tissue disease was noted in 44 patients (14%), mainly symptomatic mixed cryoglobulinemia and systemic vasculitis, HIV coinfection (23%) was associated with 3 parameters: anticardiolipin (p = 0.003, OR = 4.18), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01, OR = 3.56), and arthralgia or myalgia (p = 0.017, OR = 0.23). HIV-positive patients presented more severe histologic lesions (p = 0.0004). Extrahepatic clinical manifestations in HCV patients involve primarily the skin and joints. The most frequent immunologic abnormalities include mixed cryoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear, anticardiolipin, and antithyroglobulin antibodies. Cryoglobulin positivity is associated with systemic vasculitis and rheumatoid factor and HIV positivity. HIV coinfection is associated with arthralgia or myalgia, anticardiolipin antibodies, and thrombocytopenia.