Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beliefs underlying intentions to participate in group parenting education

Abstract The present study examined the underlying behavioural, normative and control beliefs related to intention to participate in group parenting education amongst 176 parents, using Ajzen and Madden’s (1986) theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical framework. Participants completed a questionnaire to assess their behavioural, normative and control beliefs in regards to participation. To examine beliefs, a series of multivariate analyses of variance were conducted which revealed that behavioural, normative and control beliefs distinguished between parents intending to participate in group parenting education and those who did not intend to participate. Specifically, intenders and non-intenders differed in terms of beliefs regarding: the costs (e.g., restricted approach) and benefits (e.g., improving the relationship with their children); the perceptions of important referents (e.g., family) and factors inhibiting (e.g., cost) control over participation. Results of a multiple regression analysis revealed the most important predictors of intentions were behavioural beliefs. These findings provide important applied information that can be utilised to inform future strategies to increase participation rates.
Constructing Teacher Culture

Abstract In this paper, the argument is made that forms of consciousness, knowledge, sentiments and values that teachers use as part of their cultural repertoires in schools are the result of social constitution. The ‘social’ is composed of a number of overlapping discourses that are characteristic of schools everywhere. ‘Teacher culture’ is a signifier for the production and consumption of these discourses. Recent trends to emphasise the plurality of teacher culture(s) are countered by a review of work that suggests more uniformity in teacher culture.
Further emergent evidence for the vitamin D endocrine system involvement in autoimmune rheumatic disease risk and prognosis

Recently, vitamin D has received increased worldwide attention for its involvement in reducing risk for several chronic diseases including many cancers, infectious diseases, type 1 diabetes and notably autoimmune rheumatic diseases.1 The final active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25(OH)D3) is considered a steroid hormone for its origin from cholesterol (D-hormone), and like glucocorticoids exerts immunomodulatory activities (figure 1). 2 ,3 Figure 1 Newly identified target genes for calcitriol (D hormone) reveal multiple molecular pathways of anti-inflammatory actions for 1,25(OH)D3 in several cell types. These include: inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and biological actions; inhibition of p38 stress kinase activation and production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 (via induction of MAP kinase phosphatase 5 (MKP5 expression); inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signalling which results in the attenuation of the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) (via up-regulation of the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3); inhibition of angiogenesis due to suppressive effects on the expression of proangiogenic factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor; increase in the expression of E-cadherin, leading to the inhibition of invasion and metastasis. Solid lines indicate direct actions of calcitriol, and dotted lines indicate downstream effects of calcitriol. Pathophysiological investigations confirm that severe hypovitaminosis D, in genetically predisposed subjects, can impair self tolerance and immune responses by compromising the regulation of dendritic cells, regulatory T-lymphocytes (Tregs), Th1 cells and B cell function.3 Cross-sectional studies have shown that deficient serum levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) (<20 ng/ml) are present in a significant percentage, not only in patients with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but also in healthy subjects.4 ,5 In addition, the presence of severe 25(OH)D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) …
Educational Persistence: Self-Efficacy and Topics in a College Orientation Course

This study examines whether a college orientation course for online programs leads to increased self-efficacy and, if so, which course topics are related to changes in students' self-efficacy. The culminating research question explores whether self-efficacy is related to enrollment persistence. Students' self-efficacy scores improved significantly after taking the orientation course, as measured with a general self-efficacy instrument. In particular, three course topics—characteristics of leadership, personal learning styles, and applying reading comprehension techniques—explained the variance in post-self-efficacy scores at statistically significant levels. For predicting persistence, a model encompassing three topics (characteristics of leadership, personal learning styles, and applying reading comprehension techniques), plus pre- and post — self-efficacy scores, explained 50% of the variance.
The struggle to understand: exploring medical students' experiences of learning and understanding during a basic science course

The aim of the research reported in this paper was to explore students' ‘journey’ towards conceptual understanding during an undergraduate course. The task that medical students face – to learn a substantial quantity of detailed knowledge and integrate into a coherent whole in a limited time frame – is demanding. Seven students were interviewed in a group, and 17 students gave their reflections in writing. Data was gathered from both groups on five separate occasions. The findings suggest that students seek different kinds of understandings as they get to grips with their studies. The forms of understanding were: understanding as ‘knowing the language’, ‘knowing the map’, ‘knowing the catalogue’ and ‘experiencing an integrated whole’. Students first appeared to focus on the first two forms, and later in the course, as they learned more, they focused on the ‘catalogue’ or the ‘integrated whole’. The findings point to potential pathways students might take towards gaining deeper understanding.
Teaching students to think critically

Chet Meyers shows instructors in all disciplines how to help students develop the skills for applying serious critical thinking to their subjects. He also shows how to inspire in students the intellectual curiosity and desire to understand that motivates rigorous critical thought. Arguing that critical thinking is an integral component of all academic disciplines, he demonstrates why it should be a part of every course and outlines course strategies, ways to conduct classroom discussions, and written assignments that actively promote critical thinking.
Sexist and Nonsexist Materials: What Impact Do They Have?

Sexism in elementary-school books? Yes, it is there, researchers report (1-4). Publishers have issued guidelines that call for the elimination of sexism in their materials (5, 6), but books published since these guidelines show little evidence of change (7, 8, 9). Why is change slow in coming? For one thing, it is costly and time-consuming to bring out new editions of textbooks. In addition, publishers may well be unsure of the reception that nonsexist textbooks would receive from school personnel and students.
Evaluation of crude Antigens for Serological Diagnosis of Hydatidosis in Man and Camel in Sudan

Evaluation of crude Antigens for Serological Diagnosis of Hydatidosis in Man and Camel in Sudan. Adam Alfaki Mohammad Albadawi*, Mohammad Eltayeb Ahmed, Nawal Tagelsir M. Osman Mohammad Elowani, Teaser Elameen,Asim Abdelrahman Daffalla, Mohammad Baha Eldin Saad. Parasitology Department, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Republic of Sudan. Parasitology Department, National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Republic of Sudan. Molecular Biology Department, National Health Laboratory, Republic of Sudan. Parasitology Department, Faculty of medical laboratory Science & Technology, Sudan University of Science & Technology, Republic of Sudan. Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medical Veterinary, Sudan University of Science & Technology, Republic of Sudan. Research Department, Faculty of Science, Abaha University Kingdom Saudi Arabia. Parasitology Department, Faculty of medical laboratory Science, Omdurman Ahlia University, Republic of Sudan.
The Relationship between DTCA, Drug Requests and Prescriptions: Uncovering Variation in Specialty and Space

Patients increasingly request their physicians to prescribe specific brands of pharmaceutical drugs. A popular belief is that requests are triggered by direct-to-consumer advertising DTCA. We examine the relationship between DTCA, patient requests, and prescriptions for statins. We find that although the effect of requests on prescriptions is significantly positive, the mean effect of DTCA on patient requests is negative, yet very small. More interestingly, both effects show substantial heterogeneity across physicians, which we uncover using a hierarchical Bayes estimation procedure. We find that specialists receive more requests than primary care physicians but translate them less into prescriptions. In addition, we find that the sociodemographic profile of the area a physician practices in moderates the effects of DTCA on requests and of requests on prescriptions. For instance, physicians from areas with a higher proportion of minorities i.e., blacks and Hispanics receive more requests that are less triggered by DTCA and are accomodated less frequently than physicians from areas with a lower proportion of minorities. Our results challenge managers to revisit the role of DTCA in stimulating patient requests. At the same time, they may trigger public policy concerns regarding physicians' accommodation of patient requests and the inequalities they may induce.
Metallic Single Electron Transistors: Impact of Parasitic Capacitances on Small Circuits

A method of simulating metallic-island single electron transistors (SETs) and small circuits which speeds up the design-fabrication-characterization cycle is proposed. The method combines finite-elements method to extract device capacitance matrix and standard master equations solved by Monte Carlo to simulate device transport characteristics based on the fabrication geometry and materials. It allows simulation of SET circuits. The simulation method is detailed using two capacitively coupled SETs acting either as an electron box or a sensor. The method is also compared with isolated SETs fabricated using the nanodamascene process and characterized at low temperatures. Experimental devices show clear Coulomb blockade diamonds at 1.5 K and charging energies up to 3 meV. The simulation platform predicts the electrical behavior accurately with minimal fitting parameters. This method allows rapid and accurate design iterations before costly fabrication.
Simultaneous monitoring of maternal and fetal heart rate variability during labor in relation with fetal gender

Male gender is considered a risk factor for several adverse perinatal outcomes. Fetal gender effect on fetal heart rate (FHR) has been subject of several studies with contradictory results. The importance of maternal heart rate (MHR) monitoring during labor has also been investigated, but less is known about the effect of fetal gender on MHR. The aim of this study is to simultaneously assess maternal and FHR variability during labor in relation with fetal gender. Simultaneous MHR and FHR recordings were obtained from 44 singleton term pregnancies during the last 2 hr of labor (H1, H2 ). Heart rate tracings were analyzed using linear (time- and frequency-domain) and nonlinear indices. Both linear and nonlinear components were considered in assessing FHR and MHR interaction, including cross-sample entropy (cross-SampEn). Mothers carrying male fetuses (n = 22) had significantly higher values for linear indices related with MHR average and variability and sympatho-vagal balance, while the opposite occurred in the high-frequency component and most nonlinear indices. Significant differences in FHR were only observed in H1 with higher entropy values in female fetuses. Assessing the differences between FHR and MHR, statistically significant differences were obtained in most nonlinear indices between genders. A significantly higher cross-SampEn was observed in mothers carrying female fetuses (n = 22), denoting lower synchrony or similarity between MHR and FHR. The variability of MHR and the synchrony/similarity between MHR and FHR vary with respect to fetal gender during labor. These findings suggest that fetal gender needs to be taken into account when simultaneously monitoring MHR and FHR.
The Gordian Knot of Agency—Structure in International Relations:

The agent-structure debate has proceeded in International Relations for some time now. Within an initial `first wave' of debate, this revolved around proposing various `solutions' to the problem of how to appreciate the mutually constitutive relationship between agency and structure. The ensuing debate was then characterized by an apparent intellectual cul-de-sac. There were always `two stories to tell' about agency and structure — one an explanatory account, the other an interpretative account. More recently, a `second wave' of agent-structure debate is under way in which the stakes have been raised. Yet throughout the various waves of debate it seems that the contributions of an historicist neo-Gramscian perspective developed by Robert Cox have been overlooked. This article explores some of the issues raised by such an approach. Attention is drawn to the many issues developed by neo-Gramscian perspectives that combine accounts of agency-structure as well as modes of explanation and understanding. We remain sceptical about whether the dualism of agency-structure can be successfully transcended by combining accounts that both explain and understand the social world. As such, the problem of agency-structure may well be a Gordian knot that cannot be unravelled or solved. Yet, by starting to take seriously the approaches to agency-structure within various neo-Gramscian perspectives, we aim to propel discussion into further avenues within the second wave of the agent-structure debate.
The Neural and Neurocognitive Determinants of ADHD

Individuals diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) present with a wide array of cognitive and behavioral deficiencies. Over the past few decades, researchers have proposed a variety of theoretical models to account for and to better characterize this highly heterogeneous disorder. This paper reviews the recent literature on the neural and neurocognitive determinants of ADHD and emphasizes the importance of conceptualizing the disorder within a developmental framework. Implications for treatment are discussed.
Avaliação da aplicabilidade do technology readiness index (tri) para a adoção de produtos e serviços baseados em tecnologia

Technology-readiness refers to people's propensity to adopt technological products and services. The construct can be viewed as an overall state of mind resulting from mental drivers and inhibitors related to the optimism, innovativeness, discomfort and insecurity. Technology Readiness Index (TRI) is the scale developed by Parasuraman (2000) and Parasuraman and Colby (2001) for measurement of the consumers' technology-readiness. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of TRI in the brazilian context through the replication of the scale to a sample of 731 consumers. The quality of TRI was proven by confirmatory-factor analysis through confirmatory modeling strategy. Such evaluation was complemented with the exam of the association between respondents' TRI scores and their answers to a number of questions pertaining to ownership and use of technology-based products and services. This study offers some evidences of TRI's ability to discriminate well between users and nonusers of these products and to predict adoption behaviors, but suggest there is a need for new studies about the factor structure of the technology readiness construct.
Debate on nanotechnology in the Swedish daily press 2004–2009

This work presents the results of an on-going project that explores the media debate on nanotechnology in the Swedish daily press. Based on the analysis of articles published between 2004 and 2009 in two national and two regional Swedish daily broadsheets, it examines frames and themes used, the general tone of the articles as well as the actors active in the debate. Results of the analysis show that a positive tone dominates the Swedish coverage, which is mostly focused on future applications of nanotechnology. However, in the final stage of the studied period, the Swedish press started focus more on potential risks of nanotechnology as well as regulatory questions.
INTERSECTINg Pathways in Cell Biology

The intersectin family of scaffolding proteins link signaling and endocytic pathways. A challenge faced by multicellular organisms is cellular communication, which is critical for the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, development, and apoptosis. Cells must communicate with one another to respond to changes in the environment. In one cellular communication strategy, binding of extracellular ligands to transmembrane receptors activates a cascade of signaling events in cells, leading to rearrangement of the cytoskeleton, changes in enzyme activity, or generation of second messengers. Inactivation of these signaling events is also necessary to prevent chronic stimulation or activation of cells, such as that seen in cancer. One mechanism for decreasing receptor signaling is the removal of activated receptors from the plasma membrane through endocytosis, a regulated process of membrane internalization. However, endocytosis is also involved in the positive flow of signals in cells, and endocytic vesicles have emerged as platforms that enable compartmentalized signaling to provide temporal and spatial control of signal transduction. Thus, a key area of research in biology lies in defining the molecular links between cellular signaling pathways and the endocytic pathway. The intersectin family of scaffold proteins can interact with components of signaling pathways as well as those in the endocytic pathway and, thus, may link these two sets of pathways. This review, which includes three figures and 95 references, discusses the role of intersectins in regulating endocytosis and their link to various signal transduction pathways, describes the involvement of intersectins in human diseases, and highlights future directions of investigation. The endocytic pathway is involved in activation and inhibition of cellular signaling. Thus, defining the regulatory mechanisms that link endocytosis and cellular signaling is of interest. An emerging link between these processes is a family of proteins called intersectins (ITSNs). These multidomain proteins serve as scaffolds in the assembly of endocytic vesicles and also regulate components of various signaling pathways, including kinases, guanosine triphosphatases, and ubiquitin ligases. This review summarizes research on the role of ITSNs in regulating both endocytic and signal transduction pathways, discusses the link between ITSNs and human disease, and highlights future directions in the study of ITSNs.
Antimicrobial activity of essential oil and methanol extracts of Achillea sintenisii Hub. Mor. (Asteraceae)

The essential oil, obtained by Clevenger distillation, and water‐soluble and water‐insoluble parts of the methanol extracts of Achillea sintenisii Hub. Mor. were individually assayed for their antimicrobial activities against 12 bacteria and two yeasts, Candida albicans and C. krusei. No activity was exhibited by the water‐soluble subfraction, whereas both the water‐insoluble subfraction of the methanol extracts and the essential oil were found to be active against some test microorganisms studied. Since the essential oil possessed stronger activity than the other extracts tested, it was further fractionated and the fractions were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, followed by GC‐MS analysis, resulting in the identiﬁcation of 32 compounds which constituted 90.2% of the total oil. The GC‐MS analysis of the oil and its fractions revealed that the main components of the oil, e.g. camphor and eucalyptol, possessed appreciable activity against C. albicans and Clostridium perfringens. The ﬁndings presented here also suggest that the other constituents of the oil, e.g. borneol and piperitone can also be taken into account for the activity observed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase 2 study of intrathecal, long‐acting liposomal cytarabine in the prophylaxis of lymphomatous meningitis in human immunodeficiency virus‐related non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

Patients with aggressive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) develop central nervous system (CNS) progression or recurrence during the course of their disease. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐NHL often develop CNS progression despite the use of prophylaxis. Liposomal cytarabine (DepoCyte) has shown activity in lymphomatous meningitis, but there are limited data for prophylaxis.
Sparseness Analysis in the Pretraining of Deep Neural Networks

A major progress in deep multilayer neural networks (DNNs) is the invention of various unsupervised pretraining methods to initialize network parameters which lead to good prediction accuracy. This paper presents the sparseness analysis on the hidden unit in the pretraining process. In particular, we use the $L_{1}$ -norm to measure sparseness and provide some sufficient conditions for that pretraining leads to sparseness with respect to the popular pretraining models—such as denoising autoencoders (DAEs) and restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs). Our experimental results demonstrate that when the sufficient conditions are satisfied, the pretraining models lead to sparseness. Our experiments also reveal that when using the sigmoid activation functions, pretraining plays an important sparseness role in DNNs with sigmoid (Dsigm), and when using the rectifier linear unit (ReLU) activation functions, pretraining becomes less effective for DNNs with ReLU (Drelu). Luckily, Drelu can reach a higher recognition accuracy than DNNs with pretraining (DAEs and RBMs), as it can capture the main benefit (such as sparseness-encouraging) of pretraining in Dsigm. However, ReLU is not adapted to the different firing rates in biological neurons, because the firing rate actually changes along with the varying membrane resistances. To address this problem, we further propose a family of rectifier piecewise linear units (RePLUs) to fit the different firing rates. The experimental results show that the performance of RePLU is better than ReLU, and is comparable with those with some pretraining techniques, such as RBMs and DAEs.