Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intercultural dimensions in the (new) curriculum of Cyprus: the way forward

In 2010, the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in Cyprus introduced a ‘new’ national curriculum for all public schools of the Cypriot republic. The overarching purpose of this study is to examine how the ongoing educational reform in Cyprus could set a different ideological framework, within which intercultural education may be developed and implemented. To this end, it provides a number of important insights into the intercultural dimension of the ‘new’ national curriculum by exploring the formal and the ideological levels of the curriculum. More specifically, it indicates the ways in which the ideological curriculum has been formed by the complex and often counteractive discourses of monoculturalism, multiculturalism and interculturalism due to the socio-historical context of Cyprus. The conclusions of this study assert that further research should be conducted to examine the implications pertaining to teachers’ practice and student learning with regard to intercultural education.
Thyroid Carcinoma in Children and Adolescents—Systematic Review of the Literature

Thyroid cancer in children and adolescents is usually a major concern for physicians, patients, and parents. Controversies regarding the aggressiveness of the clinical presentation and the ideal therapeutic approach remain among the scientific community. The current recommendations and staging systems are based on data generated by studies in adults, and this might lead to overtreating in some cases as well as undertreating in others. Understanding the differences in the biology, clinical course, and outcomes in this population is crucial for therapeutic decisions. This paper evaluates the biology, clinical presentation, recurrences, and overall survival as well as the staging systems in children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid cancer.
Evaluating sensorineural hearing loss with an auditory nerve model using a mean structural similarity measure

Hearing loss research has traditionally been based on perceptual criteria, speech intelligibility and threshold levels. The development of computational models of the auditory-periphery has allowed experimentation via simulation to provide quantitative, repeatable results at a more granular level than would be practical with clinical research on human subjects. This work seeks to create an objective measure to automate this inspection process and ranks hearing losses based on auditory-nerve discharge patterns. A systematic way of assessing phonemic degradation using the outputs of an auditory nerve model for a range of sensorineural hearing losses would aid in rapid prototyping development of speech-processing algorithms for digital hearing aids. The effect of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on phonemic structure was evaluated in this study using two types of neurograms: temporal fine structure (TFS) and average discharge rate or temporal envelope. The mean structural similarity index (MSSIM) is an objective measure originally developed to assess perceptual image quality. The measure is adapted here for use in measuring the phonemic degradation in neurograms derived from impaired auditory nerve outputs. A full evaluation of the choice of parameters for the metric is presented using a large amount of natural human speech. The metric's boundedness and the results for TFS neurograms indicate it is a superior metric to standard point to point metrics of relative mean absolute error and relative mean squared error.
Agency and reflexivity in boomtown transitions: young people deciding on a school and work direction

In recent decades, young people’s transitions from school to work have undergone substantial changes. As young people make their way from compulsory schooling to employment, they find themselves having to navigate an increasingly complex, technologically innovative and globalised world. These social changes have prompted youth researchers to reexamine young people’s transitions within the life course while paying particular attention to different contexts and risks young people encounter. As part of this reexamination, this article develops a conceptual framework that attempts to capture some of the complexity inherent in young people’s decision-making regarding school and work within the context of a boomtown – Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The rapid growth of the oil industry in Fort McMurray has produced an environment where young people must make decisions about school and work within the context of a rapidly growing city with an overabundance of jobs. Drawing on interviews with young people from across the school-to-work transition, this article demonstrates the range of complex factors that young people consider in their school and work decision-making. In particular, this article emphasises the importance of considering the different degrees that young people demonstrate agency and reflexivity.
Molecular adaptability of nucleoside diphosphate kinase b from trypanosomatid parasites: stability, oligomerization and structural determinants of nucleotide binding.

Nucleoside diphosphate kinases play a crucial role in the purine-salvage pathway of trypanosomatid protozoa and have been found in the secretome of Leishmania sp. , suggesting a function related to host-cell integrity for the benefit of the parasite. Due to their importance for housekeeping functions in the parasite and by prolonging the life of host cells in infection, they become an attractive target for drug discovery and design. In this work, we describe the first structural characterization of nucleoside diphosphate kinases b from trypanosomatid parasites (tNDKbs) providing insights into their oligomerization, stability and structural determinants for nucleotide binding. Crystallographic studies of LmNDKb when complexed with phosphate, AMP and ADP showed that the crucial hydrogen-bonding residues involved in the nucleotide interaction are fully conserved in tNDKbs. Depending on the nature of the ligand, the nucleotide-binding pocket undergoes conformational changes, which leads to different cavity volumes. SAXS experiments showed that tNDKbs, like other eukaryotic NDKs, form a hexamer in solution and their oligomeric state does not rely on the presence of nucleotides or mimetics. Fluorescence-based thermal-shift assays demonstrated slightly higher stability of tNDKbs compared to human NDKb (HsNDKb), which is in agreement with the fact that tNDKbs are secreted and subjected to variations of temperature in the host cells during infection and disease development. Moreover, tNDKbs were stabilized upon nucleotide binding, whereas HsNDKb was not influenced. Contrasts on the surface electrostatic potential around the nucleotide-binding pocket might be a determinant for nucleotide affinity and protein stability differentiation. All these together demonstrated the molecular adaptation of parasite NDKbs in order to exert their biological functions intra-parasite and when secreted by regulating ATP levels of host cells.
Sex-Role Self-Concept and Direct Sales Success in Minority Saleswomen

Relationships between sex-role self-concept and sales performance were investigated in a sample of majority Black female saleswomen. Although neither masculinity, Femininity, nor Androgyny were associated with higer sales performance, data revealed strong evidence for selection factors in these saleswomen. Sixty-four percent of these salespersons recorded an Androgynous sex-role self-concept, compared to 29% expected from norms. Further, 75% of the saleswomen recorded high levels of Masculinity, compared to 45% expected from norms.
The Effects of Comparative Status on Social Stereotypes: How the Perceived Success of Some Persons Affects the Stereotypes of Others

Abstract Prior research has shown that the perceived roles and positions of a group affect stereotypes of that group (e.g., Eagly & Steffen, 1984). Studies were performed to examine how the perceived roles and positions of groups and individuals affect the stereotyping of other groups. Experiment 1 investigated the impact of stories of individual success on stereotypes of African Americans. Experiment 2 examined the effect of information about Asian American success on the stereotyping of Mexican Americans. In both studies, observations of the attainments of select groups and individuals contributed to the negative stereotyping of disadvantaged groups. The studies also examined the processes through which comparative status information affects stereotypes. As expected, information about the success of some persons contributed to the stereotyping of others by altering beliefs about opportunity in society, which, in turn, influenced the attributions that were made for the positions and roles of the target g.
It's not that important: demoting personal information of low subjective importance using GrayArea

Users find it hard to delete unimportant personal information which often results in cluttered workspaces. We present a full design cycle for GrayArea, a novel interface that allows users to demote unimportant files by dragging them to a gray area at the bottom of their file folders. Demotion is an intermediate option between keeping and deleting. It combines the advantages of deletion (unimportant files don't compete for attention) and keeping (files are retrieved in their folder context). We developed the GrayArea working prototype using thorough iterative design. We evaluated it by asking 96 participants to 'clean' two folders with, and without, GrayArea. Using GrayArea reduced folder clutter by 13%. Further, 81% of participants found it easier to demote than delete files, and most indicated they would use GrayArea if provided in their operating systems. The results provide strong evidence for the demotion principle suggested by the user-subjective approach.
Dynamics of Word Comprehension in Infancy: Developments in Timing, Accuracy, and Resistance to Acoustic Degradation

Online comprehension of naturally spoken and perceptually degraded words was assessed in 95 children ages 12 to 31 months. The time course of word recognition was measured by monitoring eye movements as children looked at pictures while listening to familiar target words presented in unaltered, time-compressed, and low-pass-filtered forms. Success in word recognition varied with age and level of vocabulary development, and with the perceptual integrity of the word. Recognition was best overall for unaltered words, lower for time-compressed words, and significantly lower in low-pass-filtered words. Reaction times were fastest in compressed, followed by unaltered and filtered words. Results showed that children were able to recognize familiar words in challenging conditions and that productive vocabulary size was more sensitive than chronological age as a predictor of children's accuracy and speed in word recognition.
Unruly strangers? The 2001 urban riots in Britain

This article examines issues of place and citizenship raised by the riots in summer 2001 in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley, when Asian youths took to the street to protest against the long-term marginalization and discrimination of working-class Asians. The article summarizes the forces that triggered the riots, ranging from the activities of the far right and the police to the role of community leaders and the absence of economic opportunity. The thrust of the argument, though, is to argue that the riots should be read in terms of the mature claim of a section of British society for recognition as fully-fledged citizens of a multi-ethnic and multicultural society, rather than as claims of ethnic recognition alone. Copyright Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2003.
Task Contingencies in the Curvilinear Relationships Between Intergroup Networks and Initiative Performance

This paper examines relationships between three dimensions of network relations on the inter-group level and the performance of strategic initiatives. Findings suggest inverted U-shaped relationships between performance and relational and structural dimensions of networks, and a linear, positive relationship for the cognitive dimension. In addition, exploration moderates relationships between performance and all three dimensions of inter-group networks. Compared to exploitation initiatives, negative consequences of strong ties and centrality are more pronounced in exploratory initiatives. Although exploratory groups appear to benefit less from increases in shared vision, shared vision is a positive influence on performance for both types of initiatives.
Placental 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine patterns associate with size at birth

Altered placental function as a consequence of aberrant imprinted gene expression may be one mechanism mediating the association between low birth weight and increased cardiometabolic disease risk. Imprinted gene expression is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation (5mC) at differentially methylated regions (DMRs). While 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is also present at DMRs, many techniques do not distinguish between 5mC and 5hmC. Using human placental samples, we show that the expression of the imprinted gene CDKN1C associates with birth weight. Using specific techniques to map 5mC and 5hmC at DMRs controlling the expression of CDKN1C and the imprinted gene IGF2, we show that 5mC enrichment at KvDMR and DMR0, and 5hmC enrichment within the H19 gene body, associate positively with birth weight. Importantly, the presence of 5hmC at imprinted DMRs may complicate the interpretation of DNA methylation studies in placenta; future studies should consider using techniques that distinguish between, and permit quantification of, both modifications.
Differential topical susceptibility to TGFβ in intact and injured regions of the epithelium: key role in myofibroblast transition

Intact and cell contact–deprived regions of an epithelial monolayer are differentially sensitive to the transforming effect of TGFβ. This topical susceptibility is mediated by the interplay between TGFβ- and cell contact–dependent transcription factors and might play a key role in the cell biology of wound healing and fibrosis.
The Exact Solution of Systems of Linear Equations with Polynomial Coefficients

An algorithm for computing exactly a general solution to a system of linear equations with coefficients that are polynomials over the integers is presented. The algorithm applies mod-p mappings and then evaluation mappings, eventually solving linear systems of equations with coefficients in GF(p) by a special Gaussian elimination algorithm. Then by applying interpolation and the Chinese Remainder Theorem a general solution is obtained. For a consistent system, the evaluation-interpolation part of the algorithm con~putes the deter~ainantal RRE form of the mod-p reduced augmented system matrices. The Chinese Remainder Theorem then uses these to construct an RRE matrix with polynomial entries over the integers, from which a general solution is constructed. For an inconsistent system, only one mod-p mapping is needed. The average computing time for the algorithm is obtained and compared to that for the exact division method. The new method is found to be far superior. Also, a mod-p/evaluation mapping algorithm for computing matrix products is discussed briefly. Section
The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL): A Five-Item Measure for Use in Epidemological Studies

There is need for a brief measure of religiosity that can be included in epidemiological surveys to examine relationships between religion and health outcomes. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) is a five-item measure of religious involvement, and was developed for use in large cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies. The instrument assesses the three major dimensions of religiosity that were identified during a consensus meeting sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. Those three dimensions are organizational religious activity, non-organizational religious activity, and intrinsic religiosity (or subjective religiosity). The DUREL measures each of these dimensions by a separate “subscale”, and correlations with health outcomes should be analyzed by subscale in separate models. The overall scale has high test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation = 0.91), high internal consistence (Cronbach’s alpha’s = 0.78–0.91), high convergent validity with other measures of religiosity (r’s = 0.71–0.86), and the factor structure of the DUREL has now been demonstrated and confirmed in separate samples by other independent investigative teams. The DUREL has been used in over 100 published studies conducted throughout the world and is available in 10 languages.
The use of couple data to determine the reliability of self‐reported sexual behavior

Unreliable self‐reporting of sexual behavior has been suggested as a major cause of variance in survey research. In addition, differing gender‐related biases are thought to account for discrepancies in reports of oral and anal sex. Insufficient attention, however, has been given to assessing the reliability of the sexual partner's reports. Data obtained from 70 couples concerning 68 sexual behaviors was reviewed. Four different reliability indices yielded moderate to substantial agreement. These included a simple percentage criterion of 87%, a Kappa of . 67, and conditional probabilities of . 77 and.91. Previously reported discrepancies in the reporting of oral and anal sex were not found. Kappa was found to be superior to simple percentage agreement, but produced overly conservative reliability estimates when derived from behaviors that occur at either high or low base‐rates. The two conditional probability indices are proposed for use in conjunction with Kappa to evaluate the reliability of partner data.
Fe b 20 06 Cannon-Thurston Maps for Pared Manifolds of Bounded Geometry Mahan

Let N ∈ H(M,P ) be a hyperbolic structure of bounded geometry on a pared manifold such that each component of ∂0M = ∂M − P is incompressible. We show that the limit set of N is locally connected by constructing a natural Cannon-Thurston map. This provides a unified treatment, an alternate proof and a generalisation of results due to Cannon and Thurston, Minsky, Bowditch, Klarreich and the author. AMS Subject Classification: 57M50
Evaluation of Electronic Discussion Forums in Social Work Diversity Education: A Comparison of Anonymous and Identified Participation

ABSTRACT Two Web-based forums for discussing diversity issues were evaluated as part of graduate social work education. Data included surveys from 91 students as well as aggregate Web use information. Outcomes included perceived learning benefits related to cultural competency, improved relationships and benefits of anonymous vs. identified participation in the forums. We found that (1) 75% of the students reported benefits related to learning cultural competency; (2) just over 60% experienced positive impacts on relationships with classmates; (3) 54% believed anonymity improved honesty during forum dialogues; however, students who participated in the author-identified forums perceived significantly more perceived learning benefits related to cultural competency than those who participated in the anonymous forums; and (4) over one-third of students improved their perceived technological competence as a result of participating in the forums. We conclude that online forums can serve as a useful adjunct to achieving cultural competency among social work students.
Objects of Desire: Power and Passion in Collaborative Activity

This article uses activity theory to analyze the conduct of collaborative scientific research, showing how the conceptualization of object is critical to understanding key aspects of scientific collaboration. I argue that the passions and desires behind objects of scientific research are missing in most accounts. I suggest refinements to the concept of object to make it more useful for understanding collaboration. The empirical grounding for the work is a study of a biotechnology research department in a large pharmaceutical company. Theory and empirical findings interact in the analysis; activity theory illumines important aspects of scientific practice, at the same time, empirical findings suggest adjustments to the concept of object to deal more directly with issues of collaboration not emphasized in classical activity theory.
FDG-PET hyperactivity in basal ganglia correlating with clinical course in anti–NDMA-R antibodies encephalitis

A form of encephalitis associated with anti– N -methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti–NMDA-R) antibodies has recently been described.1 Reported patients are mainly young women, presenting with severe encephalitis and additional distinctive neurological features. Around 60% have an ovarian teratoma.1 The severe course of the disease does not rule out favourable prognosis. Immunotherapy is advocated1–3 and appears to be associated with improved outcome. We present a patient with anti–NMDA-R encephalitis and serial [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) examinations showing markedly increased activity in the basal ganglia as compared with that in the cortex when extrapyramidal features were prominent, which normalised after improvement of this movement disorder. A 25-year old woman developed language difficulties, followed by repeated complex-partial seizures with rare secondary generalisations. On admission 3 weeks later (day 0), the patient had developed fluctuating obtundation, mutism and episodic laughter with dysautonomia (bilateral mydriasis, tachycardia and facial flush), catatonia and progressive limb rigidity with plantar flexor response. The findings of an extended etiological workup (blood cell counts; routine serum chemical analysis and cerebrospinal fluid analysis of infectious, inflammatory, metabolic and paraneoplastic parameters) and a body computed tomographic …
Transfer of growth inhibition between normal and virus-transformed cells: autoradiographic studies using marked cells.

[ 3 H]Thymidine and [ 3 H]hypoxanthine incorporation were investigated by autoradiography in mixed cultures of polyoma-transformed BHK21 cells and freshly isolated mouse fibroblasts, with ingested carbon or carmine granules as markers to distinguish the cells. An assessment of the marking technique showed that there was some exchange of granules in the mixed cultures which prevented certain identification of individual cells, but suitable criteria were chosen for distinguishing the cells on a statistical basis. Thymidine incorporation was inhibited in one third to two thirds of the transformed cells when they were in contact with stationary layers of normal cells, which themselves showed a low proportion with thymidine incorporation. Transformed cells in the same dish which were not touching the normal cells showed no inhibition of thymidine incorporation. This is in agreement with the earlier observation that growth of transformed BHK21 cells is inhibited by contact with stationary normal fibroblasts. Experiments were also carried out on hypoxanthine incorporation with the TG1 variant of polyoma-transformed cells. TG1 cells are deficient in inosinic pyrophosphorylase and autoradiography shows a failure to incorporate hypoxanthine. When TG1 cells were cultured in contact with normal mouse embryo cells, however, it was found that hypoxanthine was present in the TG1 cells as well as in the normal cells. Increased incorporation did not occur in TG1 cells in the same dish which were not in contact with normal cells. This confirms earlier observations and shows that certain substances can pass directly from normal to transformed cells. It suggests the possibility that molecules concerned in growth regulation might also be transferred directly between contiguous cells.