Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality Improvement through Quality Audit

Organisations exist for a purpose, sometimes set out in a Mission or Objectives; then they plan and act in ways intended to achieve these objectives. An organisation is exhibiting quality if it is doing what is necessary to achieve its goals, and a quality audit checks an organisation's effectiveness in achieving its goals. A number of structured approaches to quality have been proposed, and a long-standing one is the ADRI sequence (approach, deployment, results, improvement). The first three step correspond to the three stages of a quality audit, and the explicit inclusion of the last steps shows how quality audit can lead to quality improvement. This paper defines various roles of external quality agencies in higher education and then describes improvements recorded as a result of the activities of the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit, and the approach being taken by the Australian Universities Quality Agency in order to render its actions most useful to the institutions it audits. These examples show how external quality audit can augment an institution's ability to improve.
Role of transverse bands in maintaining paranodal structure and axolemmal domain organization in myelinated nerve fibers: Effect on longevity in dysmyelinated mutant mice

The consequences of dysmyelination are poorly understood and vary widely in severity. The shaking mouse, a quaking allele, is characterized by severe central nervous system (CNS) dysmyelination and demyelination, a conspicuous action tremor, and seizures in ∼25% of animals, but with normal muscle strength and a normal lifespan. In this study we compare this mutant with other dysmyelinated mutants including the ceramide sulfotransferase deficient (CST−/−) mouse, which are more severely affected behaviorally, to determine what might underlie the differences between them with respect to behavior and longevity. Examination of the paranodal junctional region of CNS myelinated fibers shows that “transverse bands,” a component of the junction, are present in nearly all shaking paranodes but in only a minority of CST−/− paranodes. The number of terminal loops that have transverse bands within a paranode and the number of transverse bands per unit length are only moderately reduced in the shaking mutant, compared with controls, but markedly reduced in CST−/− mice. Immunofluorescence studies also show that although the nodes of the shaking mutant are somewhat longer than normal, Na+ and K+ channels remain separated, distinguishing this mutant from CST−/− mice and others that lack transverse bands. We conclude that the essential difference between the shaking mutant and others more severely affected is the presence of transverse bands, which serve to stabilize paranodal structure over time as well as the organization of the axolemmal domains, and that differences in the prevalence of transverse bands underlie the marked differences in progressive neurological impairment and longevity among dysmyelinated mouse mutants. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2841–2853, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self-esteem, appraisal and coping: a comparison of unemployed and re-employed people

The negative effects of unemployment on psychological health are well documented, yet Kasl's (1982) reverse causation hypothesis is that positive psychological health, and in particular self-esteem, facilitates re-employment. The aim of this study was to investigate this proposal by assessing levels of self-esteem, cognitive appraisals and coping efforts among unemployed persons and relating these factors to their employment status six months later. Two hundred and one unemployed (49 per cent female, 51 per cent male; mean age = 32.41 ± 10.18 years) and 128 employed respondents (59 per cent female, 41 per cent male; mean age = 35.0 ± 11.73 years) participated in the study. Participants completed the Adult Self-Perception Profile, Access to Categories of Experience, Locus of Control, Deakin Coping Scale, and the Meaningful Leisure Activities Questionnaire at baseline and at six-month follow-up using a mail-out survey. Comparison of baseline appraisals revealed that future re-employed participants rated their latent deprivation lower and their internal locus of control higher than those continuously unemployed, and they also derived more internal meaning from leisure activities. Overall, the results provide support for Kasl's reverse causation hypothesis extended to these other domains of psychological health. Intervention strategies designed to incorporate the promotion of these factors are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparison of Static and Dynamic Assessment of Sexual Offender Risk and Need in a Treatment Context

The authors investigated the efficacy of static versus dynamic approaches to risk assessment and the validity of the Risk Principle through comparing treatment changes made by high- versus lower-risk offenders. The investigations were carried out using a sample of 321 treated sex offenders followed up for an average 10 years postrelease. Risk was assessed using the Static 99, and treatment change was assessed using the Violence Risk Scale—Sexual Offender version. Actuarially high-risk/ low-change offenders had significantly higher rates of sexual recidivism than similarly high-risk offenders who had demonstrated greater treatment changes. The Static 99 predicted sexual recidivism well among sex offenders with smaller treatment change but demonstrated weaker prediction among offenders with greater treatment change, likely owing, in part, to the static nature of the risk predictors. Implications regarding the dynamic nature of risk and potential utility of incorporating treatment change—related information into sex offender risk assessments are discussed.
Pharmacological inhibition of IK 1 by PA‐6 in isolated rat hearts affects ventricular repolarization and refractoriness

The inwardly rectifying potassium current (IK1) conducted through Kir2.X channels contribute to repolarization of the cardiac action potential and to stabilization of the resting membrane potential in cardiomyocytes. Our aim was to investigate the effect of the recently discovered IK1 inhibitor PA‐6 on action potential repolarization and refractoriness in isolated rat hearts. Transiently transfected HEK‐293 cells expressing IK1 were voltage‐clamped with ramp protocols. Langendorff‐perfused heart experiments were performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats, effective refractory period, Wenckebach cycle length, and ventricular effective refractory period were determined following 200 nmol/L PA‐6 perfusion. 200 nmol/L PA‐6 resulted in a significant time‐latency in drug effect on the IK1 current expressed in HEK‐293 cells, giving rise to a maximal effect at 20 min. In the Langendorff‐perfused heart experiments, PA‐6 prolonged the ventricular action potential duration at 90% repolarization (from 41.8 ± 6.5 msec to 72.6 ± 21.1 msec, 74% compared to baseline, P < 0.01, n = 6). In parallel, PA‐6 significantly prolonged the ventricular effective refractory period compared to baseline (from 34.8 ± 4.6 msec to 58.1 ± 14.7 msec, 67%, P < 0.01, n = 6). PA‐6 increased the short‐term beat‐to‐beat variability and ventricular fibrillation was observed in two of six hearts. Neither atrial ERP nor duration of atrial fibrillation was altered following PA‐6 application. The results show that pharmacological inhibition of cardiac IK1 affects ventricular action potential repolarization and refractoriness and increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia in isolated rat hearts.
Men who teach and leave: An investigation into factors that push men out of the classroom

Feminization of the Trinidad and Tobago teaching profession has been well known for decades with male teachers accounting for approximately one quarter of the teaching service. Several studies have highlighted the value of male teachers as role models for boys. Yet, men continue to exit the teaching service in quest of alternative forms of employment. This study investigated factors that push men out of the classroom in search of alternative forms of employment. Four hundred and fifty-three (453) participants were randomly selected from the northern and southern parts of Trinidad where they once taught. Findings of the study revealed that while approximately 20% of the sample left the teaching service as a result of compulsory retirement, the majority left because of individual and contextual factors ranging from low salary and the desire to explore opportunities for upward mobility, to lack of parental and administrative support. Results of this study have implications for a more robust education policy formation aimed at attracting, recruiting, and retaining male teachers in the Trinidad and Tobago government primary and secondary school system.
Irrelevant tones produce an irrelevant speech effect : Implications for phonological coding in working memory

A series of studies addresses the possibility that tones disrupt serial recall of visually presented material in the same way as speech. A stream of changing tones is as disruptive of visual serial recall as 4 syllables (Experiments 1 and 2). Similar effects were also shown with a repeated syllable that changed only in pitch (Experiment 3). Just as for speech, the effect of tones is not at encoding but during storage of the serial lists (Experiments 4 and 5). The results suggest that speech and tones are equipotent in their capacity to disrupt short-term memory. A «blackboard» model of working memory to account for the effects is outlined
Gene–gene interactions in folate and adenosine biosynthesis pathways affect methotrexate efficacy and tolerability in rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveAs no single nucleotide polymorphism has emerged as pivotal to predict the lack of efficacy and dose-limiting toxicities to methotrexate (MTX), we evaluated the contribution of gene–gene interactions to the effects of this prodrug in rheumatoid arthritis. MethodsA total of 255 patients treated with MTX for at least 3 months were evaluated with efficacy assessed using the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria or a physician's assessment of patient's response to MTX visual analog scale. Gastrointestinal and neurological idiosyncrasies were recorded in 158 patients. Fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms in folate and adenosine biosynthesis pathways were measured and detection of gene–gene interactions was performed using multifactor-dimensionality reduction, a method that reduces high-dimensional genetic data into a single dimension of predisposing or risk–genotype combinations. ResultsEfficacy to MTX (53% responders) was associated with high-order epistasis among variants in inosine-triphosphate pyrophosphatase, aminoimidazole-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase, and reduced folate carrier genes. In the absence of predisposing genotype combinations, a 3.8-fold lower likelihood of efficacy was observed (vs. in their presence, 95% confidence interval: 2.2–6.4; P<0.001). Increasing MTX polyglutamate concentrations tended to partially overcome this selective disadvantage. Idiosyncrasies occurred in 29% of patients. In the presence of risk–genotype combinations among variants in methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, &ggr;-glutamyl-hydrolase, thymidylate synthase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, and inosine-triphosphate pyrophosphatase genes, an 8.9-fold higher likelihood to exhibit toxicities was observed (vs. in their absence, 95% confidence interval: 3.6–21.9; P<0.001). False-positive report probabilities were below 0.2, thereby indicating that true signals were likely detected in this cohort. ConclusionThese data indicate that gene–gene interactions impact MTX efficacy and tolerability in rheumatoid arthritis.
SOLAR CYCLES BY SUNSPOT NUMBERS I I I I I I I I I I 11 I I I I I I I I I I I

Daily average solar proton flux data for the years 1963-1984 (two solar cycles) have been used in a proton energy degradation scheme to derive ion pair production rates and, subsequently, HOx (H, OH, HO2) and NOx (N, NO, NO2) production rates. These HOx and NOx production rates are computed in a form suitable for inclusion in an atmospheric two-dimensional time-dependent photochemical model. The HOx increases, although large for certain solar proton events (SPEs), are relatively short-lived because the HOx species have lifetimes of only hours in the middle atmosphere. For longer-lived NOx species, increases are important for 2-4 months past the more intense SPEs but are generally negligible 6 months after the SPE. The only exception to this scenario was the gigantic August 1972 SPE, whose stratospheric effects lasted about a year past the event. Comparisons of model results with the ozone data from the Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) instrument indicate relatively good agreement in the time dependence and magnitude of the ozone depletion for the middle stratosphere between the model and measurements for the August 1972 SPE and for 2 months past the event. The model predictions for the August 1972 SPE indicate at most a 1% decrease in total ozone at the highest latitudes with a significant interhemispheric difference. The model predicts a larger middle latitude stratospheric ozone change in the southern than the northern hemisphere caused by the difference in seasons between the two hemispheres. The computed ozone decreases associated with the HOx and NOx increases are substantial in the upper stratosphere at high latitudes for only a few SPEs in the 22 years studied. A mechanism ispresented for transport of NOy from the stratosphere to the ground, which may be involved in the enhancements in nitrate fluxes noticed in Antarctic deposition data. Our computations, however, indicate that the SPE contributions to these nitrate fluxes (even for the August 1972 SPE) are probably small.
Faking von Persönlichkeitseigenschaften bei Zulassungsverfahren für Lehramtsstudien

Zusammenfassung. Werden selbstbeschreibende Verfahren in Zulassungsverfahren verwendet, stellt sich die Frage, wie sehr Faking diese verzerrt, d. h. , wie sehr Personen sich vorteilhafter darstellen, als sie es tatsachlich sind. Bis dato wurde dies fur angehende Lehrkrafte nicht untersucht. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde Faking in einem Zulassungsverfahren an einem Personlichkeitsinventar zum Verhalten und Erleben in sozial-kommunikativen Situationen, Leistungs- und Erholungssituationen untersucht. 116 Lehramtsstudierende bearbeiteten ein halbes Jahr nach ihrer Zulassung dasselbe Personlichkeitsinventar nochmals. Bei dieser Nacherhebung gab es eine experimentelle Manipulation mit drei Bedingungen, um 1) das tatsachliche Ausmas an Faking, 2) die Reproduzierbarkeit von Faking und 3) das mogliche Ausmas an Faking zu bestimmen (= Faking-good). Beim Zulassungsverfahren trat in 16 von 18 Subskalen Faking auf, wobei dieses Ausmas nur in 11 der 18 Subskalen reproduziert werden konnte. Bei Aufforderung zu faken, .
Causes and correlates of adolescent drug abuse and implications for treatment

On the basis of the literature, the following risk factors for drug abuse by adolescents were identified: biological predisposition to drug abuse; personality traits that reflect a lack of social bonding; a history of low quality and consistency of family management, family communication, family relationships and parental role-modelling, a history of being abused or neglected; low socioeconomic status; emotional or psychiatric problems; significant stressors and/or inadequate coping skills and social supports; inadequate social skills; history of associating with drug-using peers, rejection by prosocial peers due to poor social skills; a history of low commitment to education, failure at school; a history of anti-social behaviour and delinquency and early initiation to drug use. Models for conceptualizing the aetiology of drug abuse are discussed, namely Jessor's problem behaviour syndrome and Rhodes & Jason's Social Stress Model. It is clear that the path to drug abuse is complex, so simple solutions to .
In vitro and in vivo activities of formycin B against Trypanosoma cruzi

The inosine analog formycin B was examined for in vitro and in vivo activities against Trypanosoma cruzi. concentration of formycin B as low as 0.1 microgram/ml markedly inhibited intracellular multiplication of T. cruzi strains both in macrophages and in L929 cells. Mice infected with 10(5) blood form trypomastigotes of the highly virulent strain Y of T. cruzi were completely protected against death by treatment with 11.8 or 5.9 mg of formycin B per kg administered intraperitoneally each day for 19 days. Four different strains of T. cruzi were used, and each was susceptible to formycin B administered either intraperitoneally or orally. Parasitological cure, however, was not achieved with any of the treatments used, including prolonged treatment for up to 10 weeks. Formycin B has a remarkable capacity for inhibiting the in vitro intracellular replication of T. cruzi and protecting mice against death due to the acute infection with the organism. It does not appear, however, to be able to completely eliminate T. cruzi from infected mice.
Republicans Prefer Republican-Looking Leaders

Previous research suggests that voting in elections is influenced by appearance-based personality inferences (e.g., whether a political candidate has a competent-looking face). However, since voters cannot objectively evaluate politicians’ personality traits, it remains to be seen whether appearance-based inferences about a characteristic continue to influence voting when clear information about that characteristic is available. The authors examine the impact of appearance-based inferences for a characteristic that is well known about candidates: their political affiliation. Across two studies, the authors show that U.S. candidates facing conservative electorates benefit from looking more stereotypically Republican than their rivals (controlling for gender, ethnicity, and age). In contrast, no relationship between political facial stereotypes and voting is found for liberal electorates (using identical controls). The authors further show that this contrast between liberal and conservative electorates has more to do with individual-level differences between liberal and conservative voters than with macro-level differences between liberal and conservative states.
Task-free presurgical mapping using functional magnetic resonance imaging intrinsic activity.

OBJECT Low-frequency components of the spontaneous functional MR imaging signal provide information about the intrinsic functional and anatomical organization of the brain. The ability to use such methods in individual patients may provide a powerful tool for presurgical planning. The authors explore the feasibility of presurgical motor function mapping in which a task-free paradigm is used. METHODS Six surgical candidates with tumors or epileptic foci near the motor cortex participated in this study. The investigators directly compared task-elicited activation of the motor system to activation obtained from intrinsic activity correlations. The motor network within the unhealthy hemisphere was identified based on intrinsic activity correlations, allowing distortions of functional anatomy caused by the tumor and epilepsy to be directly visualized. The precision of the motor function mapping was further explored in 1 participant by using direct cortical stimulation. RESULTS The motor regions localized based on the spontaneous activity correlations were quite similar to the regions defined by actual movement tasks and cortical stimulation. Using intrinsic activity correlations, it was possible to map the motor cortex in presurgical patients. CONCLUSIONS This task-free paradigm may provide a powerful approach to map functional anatomy in patients without task compliance and allow multiple brain systems to be determined in a single scanning session.
R-Ras Regulates Murine T Cell Migration and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Binding

The trafficking of T-lymphocytes to peripheral draining lymph nodes is crucial for mounting an adaptive immune response. The role of chemokines in the activation of integrins via Ras-related small GTPases has been well established. R-Ras is a member of the Ras-subfamily of small guanosine-5’-triphosphate-binding proteins and its role in T cell trafficking has been investigated in R-Ras null mice (Rras −/−). An examination of the lymphoid organs of Rras −/− mice revealed a 40% reduction in the cellularity of the peripheral lymph nodes. Morphologically, the high endothelial venules of Rras −/− mice were more disorganized and less mature than those of wild-type mice. Furthermore, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from Rras −/− mice had approximately 42% lower surface expression of L-selectin/CD62L. These aberrant peripheral lymph node phenotypes were associated with proliferative and trafficking defects in Rras −/− T cells. Furthermore, R-Ras could be activated by the chemokine, CCL21. Indeed, Rras −/− T cells had approximately 14.5% attenuation in binding to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 upon CCL21 stimulation. Finally, in a graft-versus host disease model, recipient mice that were transfused with Rras −/− T cells showed a significant reduction in disease severity when compared with mice transplanted with wild-type T cells. These findings implicate a role for R-Ras in T cell trafficking in the high endothelial venules during an effective immune response.
Version and vergence control of a stereo camera head by fitting the movement into the Hering's law

An active vision system has to enable the implementation of reactive visual processes in real time. Given a stereoscopic vision system, the vergence angle, together with version and tilt angles, describes uniquely the fixation point in space. We interpret vision and motor control, and in particular we focus on developing and testing of a control strategy that fits the Hering's law, by studying the cooperation of vergence and version movements. The analysis of the simulation results confirmed the advantages of the Hering's law to achieve fast system reactions. We show that real-time active vergence and depth estimation become possible when the estimated disparity is reliable and fast. In this framework, the advantage of a simple and fast phase-based technique for depth estimation that allows real-time stereo processing with sub-pixel resolution is also discussed.
Competition In Mediation Services: Modeling the Role of Expertise, Satisfaction, and Switching Costs

This article analyzes competition among mediation service providers that match clients and vendors in a horizontally differentiated market. This is an issue that is important for decision support of mediators in determining pricing and service strategies. We present a simulation model to simultaneously represent search as well as the behaviors of clients, vendors, and multiple competing mediators. Among our findings: intermediaries find it optimal to offer registration fee incentives and derive revenues from transaction fees from successful matches; as switching costs increase, incumbent utilities increase and entrant utilities decrease; expertise, modeled as the ability of mediators to assess vendor attributes accurately, is a powerful competitive weapon for entrants to erode the incumbent intermediary's first mover advantage. On the other hand, client satisfaction is an instrument for an incumbent intermediary to deter entrance by competitors.