Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motivating Pre-Service Teachers in Technology Integration of Web 2.0 for Teaching Internships.

The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of pre-service teachers’ use of Web 2.0 tools during a teaching internship, after a course that emphasized the use of the tools for instructional activities. Results revealed that integrating Web 2.0 tools during their teaching internship was strongly predicted by participants’ perceived enjoyment in using the tools in the communication technology course. The results of this study indicate the importance of active engagement and enjoyment in the integration and implementation of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching environments by pre-service teachers. As the comfort level and enjoyment increases by virtue of the employment of Web 2.0 tools by the pre-service teachers, teacher educators can expect from their students increased motivation, effectiveness, and competence in integrating technology into their curriculum.
Serological survey of Leptospira interrogans, Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi in free roaming domestic dogs and cats from a marginated rural area of Yucatan Mexico

Abstract To evaluate the serological status for Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii and Leptospira interrogans antibodies in free roaming dogs and cats from a marginated rural community in Yucatan Mexico, 100 households were visited and animals sampled. From the 106 samples, 93 were from dogs and 13 were from cats. Frequency of positive results for T. gondii, T. cruzi and Leptospira spp was 97.8%, 9.7% and 45.2% for dogs and 92.3%, 0.0% and 15.2% for cats, respectively. No associations with age, sex and body condition was found for T. gondii and Leptospira spp neither for the place where pets sleep, fumigation or presence of triatomes in the household in the case of T. cruzi. For leptospirosis the most common serovars found were Canicola, Autralis and Bratislava in dogs and cats with titres of 100 or 200 with exception of one dog with a titre of 400. The high frequency of seropositive dogs suggests a high circulation of the agents in the population of free roaming owned dogs and cats probably due to the lack of control of the reservoirs and vectors involved. Domestic animals in those rural communities can be sentinels to assess the risk of human exposure in the rural communities.
A question of quality: The effect of source quality on information seeking by women in IT professions

This paper presents preliminary results from a study of how women in information technology (IT) professions use a range of information sources in their day-to-day work activities. Through a questionnaire survey, the study investigates the effects of Perceived Source Accessibility and Perceived Source Quality on the selection and use of information sources. Thirteen information sources, including the World Wide Web and Web-based computer-mediated communication, were identified. Sixty-seven participants completed the survey. The most frequently used information source is the World Wide Web, followed by mass media, colleagues in the same department, computer-mediated communication, business professionals and associates, and colleagues in a different group/department. The least used information sources are the internal library, and competitors. For many of the sources, there was a strong relationship between perceived source quality and source usage. This finding runs counter to early, well-known studies that concluded that scientists and engineers selected sources based only on their accessibility. Surprisingly, the present study did not find a significant relationship between source accessibility and source usage. The implications for research are discussed.
The specific DNA binding activity of the dioxin receptor is modulated by the 90 kd heat shock protein.

The dioxin receptor is a gene regulatory protein which exhibits many structural and functional similarities to steroid hormone receptors. In this study we compare the subunit composition of two forms of the dioxin receptor, sedimenting at approximately 9S and approximately 6S respectively, which are present in nuclear extract from wild‐type Hepa 1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cells following treatment in vivo with dioxin. The nuclear approximately 9S receptor form contained the 90 kd heat shock protein, hsp90. As assessed by a gel mobility shift assay, this receptor form did not bind to the xenobiotic response element (XRE) of the target gene cytochrome P‐450 IA1. In contrast, the smaller approximately 6S receptor form did not contain any immunochemically detectable hsp90. Moreover, this receptor form specifically bound to the XRE recognition sequence. Thus, the specific DNA binding activity of the dioxin receptor was inhibited by association with hsp90, and the approximately 9S dioxin receptor species could be regarded as a nonactive receptor form. Neither the approximately 9S nor the approximately 6S receptor forms were detected in nuclear extract from a dioxin treated mutant clone of Hepa 1 that expresses a nuclear translocation deficient receptor phenotype. We conclude that activation of the dioxin receptor is, at least, a two step process involving binding of the ligand and dissociation of hsp90 from the ligand‐binding receptor protein. Inhibition of the DNA binding activity of transcription factors by protein‐‐protein interaction has also been described for several steroid hormone receptors and for the NF kappa B factor. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A new view of performance analysis of transmit diversity schemes in correlated Rayleigh fading

This article provides a new formulation for the pairwise error probability for any coherently demodulated system in arbitrarily correlated Rayleigh fading. The novelty of the result is that the error probability expression can be described as a function of the eigenvalues of a "signal"-only matrix. We also provide the relationship between the pole location of the characteristic function and the resulting error probability. This result allows us to approximate and bound the desired probability. A new simple bound on the pairwise error probability is derived that is better than the standard Chernoff bound and asymptotically tight with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to the true probability.
The Cumulative Influence of Depth and Flatness Information on the Perception of Size in Pictorial Representations

It long has been recognized that depth and flatness information influence the perception of size in pictures. However, never has their combined influence been factorially examined and quantified. Using the Ponzo illusion as a model, three experiments, using young adult observers, explored this combined influence. Results showed that the salience of depth information and the salience of flatness information had a cumulative impact on size perception such that, for example, the combined effects of higher depth salience and lower flatness salience produced responses more closely approaching size constancy than did other combinations of depth and flatness salience. Furthermore, females' size perception more closely approached size constancy than did that of males, although this difference disappeared in conditions where depth salience was particularly low. The three experiments are discussed in terms of the interaction between depth and flatness and its implications for perceiving size in pictures, and possible implications of this interaction with gender, including the possibility that females may process depth information in a manner different from males.
An Examination of Paternal Influence on High-Achieving Gifted Males

The challenges facing contemporary boys are complex, highlighting the importance of positive paternal influence for young men to achieve success. This study examines the father-son relationships of 10 prominent gifted men of achievement to identify factors influencing talent development. Through biographical analysis, 6 significant themes were identified: unconditional belief in son, strong work ethic, encouragement and guidance, maintaining high expectations and fostering determination, pride in son's accomplishments, and mutual admiration and respect. Implications for parents and educators of high-achieving gifted males are discussed.
Predicting changes in delusional ideation: the role of mindfulness and negative schemas.

OBJECTIVES Understanding factors that contribute to delusional ideation has important clinical implications. This study looked at the impact of mindfulness and negative schemas on changes in delusional ideation over time. DESIGN A sample of University students was selected to investigate processes related to delusional ideation in a non-clinical sample. METHOD A web-based survey was completed by 700 University students, 204 of whom completed a second identical survey after 6 months, to comprise the longitudinal sample. RESULTS Results from the study demonstrated that negative schemas and mindfulness were related to changes in delusional ideation over time and support was found for a mediated model, whereby mindfulness mediated the impact of schemas on the outcome. CONCLUSIONS The findings point to the importance of mindfulness as an intervention for preventing non-clinical delusional ideation transitioning into clinical delusions.
American Economic Power Hasn't Declined—It Globalized! Summoning the Data and Taking Globalization Seriously

This paper argues that a fundamental failing in the debate on the decline of American economic power is not taking globalization seriously. With the rise of transnational corporations (TNCs), transnational modular production networks, and the globalization of corporate ownership, we can no longer give the same relevance to national accounts such as balance of trade and GDP in the twenty-first century as we did in the mid-twentieth. Rather, we must summon data on the TNCs themselves to encompass their transnational operations. This will reveal, for example, that despite the declining global share of United States GDP from 40% in 1960 to below a quarter from 2008 onward, American corporations continue to dominate sector after sector. In fact, in certain advanced sectors such as aerospace and software—even in financial services—American dominance has increased since 2008. There are no serious contenders, including China. By looking at the wrong data, many have failed to see that American economic power has not declined—it has globalized.
Film Review Aggregators and Their Effect on Sustained Box Office Performance

This thesis will discuss the emerging influence of film review aggregators and their effect on the changing landscape for reviews in the film industry. Specifically, this study will look at the top 150 domestic grossing films of 2010 to empirically study the effects of two specific review aggregators. A time-delayed approach to regression analysis is used to measure the influencing effects of these aggregators in the long run. Subsequently, other factors crucial to predicting film success are also analyzed in the context of sustained earnings.
Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Retreatment Tuberculosis Patients in Benin

Objective. To determine among retreatment tuberculosis patients in Benin baseline characteristics, culture, and drug sensitivity testing (DST) results and treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods. A retrospective national cohort study of all retreatment tuberculosis patients in Benin in 2013 using registers and treatment cards. Results. Of 3957 patients with tuberculosis, 241 (6%) were retreatment cases. Compared to new pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (NPBCT) patients, there were significantly higher numbers of males (P = 0.04), patients from “Atlantique-Littoral” (P = 0.006), patients aged 45–64 years (P = 0.007), and HIV-positive patients (P = 0.04) among those retreated. Overall, 171 (71%) patients submitted sputum for DST, of whom (163) 95% were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Xpert MTB/RIF and/or culture and 17 (10%) were rifampicin resistant (9 with MDR-TB and 8 monoresistant to rifampicin). For those without MDR-TB (n = 224), treatment success was 93%. Worse outcomes occurred in those with unknown HIV status (RR: 0.27; 0.05–1.45; P < 0.01) while better outcomes occurred in those who relapsed (RR: 1.06, 95 CI: 1.02–1.10, P = 0.04). Conclusion. In 2013, a high proportion of retreatment patients received DST. Treatment success was good although more needs to be done to systematically increase the final follow-up smear examination. Reasons of high losses to follow-up from “Oueme-Plateau” should be investigated.
Preschoolers at play: Co-socialisers of emotional and social competence

Emotional competence is a contributor to young children’s social success. This study focused on these contributions from a relational perspective. The emotional expressions, and reactions to others’ emotional expressions, of 145 predominately Caucasian/middle income 3- and 4-year-olds were observed in their classrooms during unstructured play. Participants’ and playmates’ emotions and emotional responsiveness were classified into positive and negative playgroup types. Participants’ social competence was measured using peers, teachers, and parents as informants. Results indicate that preschoolers in playgroups characterised by anger and negative emotional responsiveness are evaluated as lacking in social competence up to a year later. Additionally, security of attachment and externalising temperament predicted membership in such playgroups. These effects held true more often for boys.
Using critical incidents in teaching to promote reflective practice

Literature in teacher education stresses the importance of preparing thoughtful reflective practitioners. This study examined the use of critical incidents as a tool for reflection employed by teacher candidates during their clinical teaching semester. All participants were required to write weekly reflections using either a traditional journaling format (N=10) or an on-line weblogging format (N=10). Two independent readers analyzed the narratives and collaborated to reach censuses using open and axial coding to determine key phrases and words and to assign themes. The quantitative method used to analyze reflection entries was a Two-way ANOVA design. The results indicated a significant difference between the reflections of those who weblogged and the reflections of those who wrote in traditional journals. Participants who wrote in journals wrote complex investigative reflections of classroom events. Participants who wrote using weblogs wrote less complex descriptions of classroom events. In addition, participants who wrote using the weblogs generated questions about how to solve instructional issues more so than those who participated in the traditional journaling format. Analysis of the participants’ reflective writing indicated that participants from both groups moved in-and-out of five phases of reflection; however, the language used in all reflective writing provided insight into each phase and featured language that was representative of each particular phase.
Ventilatory and central neurochemical reorganisation of O2 chemoreflex after carotid sinus nerve transection in rat

The first step of this study was to determine the early time course and pattern of hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) recovery following irreversible bilateral carotid sinus nerve transection (CSNT). The second step was to find out if HVR recovery was associated with changes in the neurochemical activity of the medullary catecholaminergic cell groups involved in the O2 chemoreflex pathway. The breathing response to acute hypoxia (10% O2) was measured in awake rats 2, 6, 10, 45 and 90 days after CSNT. In a control group of sham‐operated rats, the ventilatory response to hypoxia was principally due to increased respiratory frequency. There was a large reduction in HVR in the CSNT compared to the sham‐operated rats (−65%, 2 days after surgery). Within the weeks following denervation, the CSNT rats progressively recovered a HVR level similar to the sham‐operated rats (‐37% at 6 days, −27% at 10 days, and no difference at 45 or 90 days). After recovery, the CSNT rats exhibited a higher tidal volume (+38%) than the sham‐operated rats in response to hypoxia, but not a complete recovery of respiratory frequency. Fifteen days after CSNT, in vivo tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity had decreased in caudal A2C2 (−35%) and A6 cells (−35%). After 90 days, the CSNT rats displayed higher TH activity than the sham‐operated animals in caudal A1C1 (+51%), caudal A2C2 (+129%), A5 (+216%) and A6 cells (+79%). It is concluded that HVR following CSNT is associated with a profound functional reorganisation of the central O2 chemoreflex pathway, including changes in ventilatory pattern and medullary catecholaminergic activity.
Comparative analysis of Hsp10 and Hsp90 expression in healthy mucosa and adenocarcinoma of the large bowel.

BACKGROUND Heat shock proteins (Hsps) assist other proteins in their folding and drive the degradation of defective proteins. During evolution, these proteins have also acquired other roles. Hsp10 is involved in immunomodulation and tumor progression. Hsp90 stabilizes a range of "client" proteins involved in cell signaling. The present study evaluated the expression levels of Hsp10 and Hsp90 in normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma samples of human large bowel. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples of normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma were collected and Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR, western blotting (WB) analyses, as well as immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression levels of Hsp10 and Hsp90. RESULTS RT-PCR showed a higher gene expression of Hsp10 and Hsp90 in adenocarcinoma samples compared to healthy mucosa. WB results confirmed these findings. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher levels of Hsp10 in adenocarcinoma in both the epithelium and the lamina propria, while Hsp90 expression was higher in the adenocarcinoma samples only in the lamina propria. CONCLUSION Hsp10 and Hsp90 may be involved in large bowel carcinogenesis.
In Vivo Three-Dimensional Kinematics of the Cervical Spine During Head Rotation in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis

Study Design. Kinematics of the cervical spine during head rotation was investigated using 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cervical spondylosis (CS). Objective. To demonstrate in vivo 3D kinematics of the spondylotic cervical spine during head rotation. Summary of Background Data. Several in vivo studies have identified kinematic differences between normal and spondylotic subjects, but only two-dimensional flexion/extension motion has been investigated. Differences of in vivo 3D cervical motion during head rotation between normal and spondylotic subjects have yet to be clarified. Methods. Ten healthy volunteers (control group) and 15 patients with CS (CS group) underwent 3D MRI of the cervical spine with the head rotated to 5 positions (neutral, ±45° and ±maximal head rotation). Relative motions of the cervical spine were calculated by automatically superimposing a segmented 3D MRI of the vertebra in the neutral position over images for each position using volume registration. The 3D motions of adjacent vertebra were represented with 6 degrees of freedom by Euler angles and translations on the coordinate system. Results. Compared with the control group, the CS group showed significantly decreased mean axial rotation and mean coupled lateral bending at C5–C6 and C6–C7 and significantly increased mean coupled lateral bending at C2–C3 and C3–C4, although both the groups showed the same pattern of coupled motions. Conclusion. The in vivo 3D kinematics of the spondylotic cervical spine during head rotation was accurately depicted and compared with those of healthy cervical spines for the first time.
Compact Modeling of Surface Potential, Charge, and Current in Nanoscale Transistors Under Quasi-Ballistic Regime

In this paper, we have proposed a new analytical model for FETs working in the quasi-ballistic regime. The model is based on a calculation of the charge density along the channel which is then used to solve Poisson's equation to get the variation of the channel potential. This is then used to calculate the ballistic and drift-diffusive components of the current. The model is capable of accurately predicting the terminal I-V characteristics for all drain and gate biases and includes short-channel effects. It takes length scaling into account and can be used for the full range of devices starting from complete drift diffusive to completely ballistic. The model has been verified with data for high electron mobility transistors (degenerate) and common multigate and nanowire FETs (nondegenerate) proving its ability to take different geometries into consideration. It can be easily implemented as a compact model and used for SPICE circuit simulations.
Engine Performance and Exhaust Emissions of Peanut Oil Biodiesel

The engine performance and exhaust emissions of biodiesel produced from peanut oil must be evaluated to assess its potential as an alternative diesel fuel. In this study, two diesel engines rated at 14.2 kW (small) and 60 kW (large) were operated on pure peanut oil biodiesel (PME) and its blends with a reference diesel (REFDIESEL). Results showed that comparable power and torque were delivered by both the small and large engines when ran on pure PME than on REFDIESEL while brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was found to be higher in pure PME. Higher exhaust concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2) and total hydrocarbons (THC) and lower carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were observed in the small engine when using pure PME. Lower CO2, CO and THC emissions were obtained when running the large engine with pure PME. Blends with low PME percentage showed insignificant changes in both engine performance and exhaust emissions as compared with the reference diesel. Comparison with soybean biodiesel indicates similar engine performance. Thus, blends of PME with diesel may be used as a supplemental fuel for steady-state non-road diesel engines to take advantage of the lubricity of biodiesel as well as contributing to the goal of lowering the dependence to petroleum diesel.
Significance of Mutations in embB Codon 306 for Prediction of Ethambutol Resistance in Clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates

ABSTRACT We analyzed 159 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates (101 ethambutol [EMB]-resistant strains, 33 multidrug-resistant but not EMB-resistant strains, and 25 fully susceptible strains) for the presence of mutations in embB codon 306 (embB306). Mutations were detected only in EMB-resistant strains (n = 69; 68%), thus confirming the significance of embB306 mutations for the prediction of resistance to EMB.
Individual differences in the leader categorization to openness to influence relationship

Contemporary so called follower-centric leadership theories often argue that “good leadership is in the eye of the beholder”. Leader categorization theory, for instance, suggests that subordinates use their cognitive representation of an ideal leader (ideal leader prototype) as an implicit “benchmark” to determine their openness towards the target’s leadership, i.e., influence. With the present study, we extend this rationale by hypothesizing that such benchmarking processes are subject to follower individual differences. In particular, we argue that the process of leader categorization plays a bigger role for subordinates who perceive themselves as ideal (potential) leaders. Moreover, this two-way moderation is proposed to be further qualified by subordinates’ disposition to engage in social comparison orientation. Results of two field samples with employees (N = 140; N = 287) confirm our hypotheses. In integrating the leader categorization perspective with an individual difference perspective, we not only expand the scope of follower-centric theorizing on social influence, but also support its validity.