Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of Classroom Assessment Literacy Scales: English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Instructors in a Cambodian Higher Education Setting

This study employed a mixed methods approach aimed at developing and validating a set of scales to measure the classroom assessment literacy development of instructors. Four scales were developed (i.e. Classroom Assessment Knowledge, Innovative Methods, Grading Bias and Quality Procedure). The first scale was a multiple-choice test designed to measure the assessment knowledge base of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) tertiary instructors in Cambodia, whereas the latter three scales were constructed to examine their assessment-related personal beliefs (using a series of rating scale items). One hundred and eight instructors completed the classroom assessment knowledge test and the beliefs survey. Both classical and item response theory analyses indicated that each of these four scales had satisfactory measurement properties. To explore the relationship among the four measures of classroom assessment literacy, a one-factor congeneric model was tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The results of the CFA indicated that a one-factor congeneric model served well as a measure of the single latent Classroom Assessment Literacy construct. In addition to the survey, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with six of the survey participants. The departments‟ assessment-related policies and their learning goals documents were also analysed. The qualitative phase of the study was used to further explore the assessment related knowledge of the instructors (in terms of knowledge and understanding of the concepts of validity and reliability) as well as their notions of an ideal assessment, their perceived assessment competence, and how this related to classroom assessment literacy. Overall, the results in both phases of the study highlighted that the instructors demonstrated limited classroom assessment literacy, which had a negative impact on their actual assessment implementation. Instructors‟ background characteristics were found to have an impact on their classroom assessment literacy. The findings had direct implications for assessment policy development in tertiary education settings as well as curriculum development for pre- and in-service teacher education programmes within developing countries.
Toward a Biology of Personality and Emotion

Abstract: For most of this past century, scholarship on the topics of personality and emotion has emerged from the humanities and social sciences. In the past decade, a remarkable change has occurred in the influence of neuroscience on the conceptualization and study of these phenomena. This article argues that the categories that have emerged from psychiatric nosology and descriptive personality theory may be inadequate, and that new categories and dimensions derived from neuroscience research may produce a more tractable parsing of this complex domain. The article concludes by noting that the discovery of these biological differences among individuals does not imply that the origins of these differences lie in heritable influences. Experiential shaping of the brain circuitry underlying emotion is powerful. The neural architecture provides the final common pathway through which culture, social factors, and genetics all operate together.
On fuzzy clustering and content based access to networked video databases

Video databases and video on demand represent an important application of the evolving global information infrastructure. However, video querying involves a lot of user interaction and feedback based query refinement, which can generate large traffic volumes on the network if full video segments are sent. To aid in efficient video browsing, search and retrieval across the network, we need to find good compact representations for long video sequences. Representative frames (Rframes) provide such a representation. Extant algorithms use scene change detection to segment video into shots and pick Rframes. However, scene change detection techniques fail badly in presence of gradual scene changes which are quite prevalent in most videos. We present another way of finding Rframes using fuzzy clustering without dealing with any scene change detection algorithms. Fuzzy clusters provide a more natural approach to this problem since membership of a frame in some particular scene is not binary. This allows us to handle gradual scene changes. We report on our approach, present preliminary experimental results, and discuss ongoing work.
Broad geographic analyses reveal varying patterns of genetic diversity and host specificity among echinostome trematodes in New Zealand snails

SUMMARY Host specificity is a fundamental component of a parasite's life history. However, accurate assessments of host specificity, and the factors influencing it, can be obscured by parasite cryptic species complexes. We surveyed two congeneric species of intertidal snail intermediate hosts, Zeacumantus subcarinatus and Zeacumantus lutulentus, throughout New Zealand to identify the number of genetically distinct echinostome trematodes infecting them and determine the levels of snail host specificity among echinostomes. Two major echinostome clades were identified: a clade consisting of an unidentified species of the subfamily Himasthlinae and a clade consisting of five species of the genus Acanthoparyphium. All five Acanthoparyphium species were only found in a single snail species, four in Z. subcarinatus and one in Z. lutulentus. In contrast, the Himasthlinae gen. sp. was found in both hosts, but was more prevalent in Z. lutulentus (97 infections) than Z. subcarinatus (10 infections). At least two of the Acanthoparyphium spp. and the Himasthlinae gen. sp. are widespread throughout New Zealand, and can therefore encounter both snail species. Our results suggest that host specificity is determined by host–parasite incompatibilities, not geographic separation, and that it can evolve in different ways in closely related parasite lineages.
The radiative forcing potential of different climate geoengineering options

Abstract. Climate geoengineering proposals seek to rectify the Earth's current and potential future radiative imbalance, either by reducing the absorption of incoming solar (shortwave) radiation, or by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and transferring it to long-lived reservoirs, thus increasing outgoing longwave radiation. A fundamental criterion for evaluating geoengineering options is their climate cooling effectiveness, which we quantify here in terms of radiative forcing potential. We use a simple analytical approach, based on energy balance considerations and pulse response functions for the decay of CO2 perturbations. This aids transparency compared to calculations with complex numerical models, but is not intended to be definitive. It allows us to compare the relative effectiveness of a range of proposals. We consider geoengineering options as additional to large reductions in CO2 emissions. By 2050, some land carbon cycle geoengineering options could be of comparable magnitude to mitigation "wedges", but only stratospheric aerosol injections, albedo enhancement of marine stratocumulus clouds, or sunshades in space have the potential to cool the climate back toward its pre-industrial state. Strong mitigation, combined with global-scale air capture and storage, afforestation, and bio-char production, i.e. enhanced CO2 sinks, might be able to bring CO2 back to its pre-industrial level by 2100, thus removing the need for other geoengineering. Alternatively, strong mitigation stabilising CO2 at 500 ppm, combined with geoengineered increases in the albedo of marine stratiform clouds, grasslands, croplands and human settlements might achieve a patchy cancellation of radiative forcing. Ocean fertilisation options are only worthwhile if sustained on a millennial timescale and phosphorus addition may have greater long-term potential than iron or nitrogen fertilisation. Enhancing ocean upwelling or downwelling have trivial effects on any meaningful timescale. Our approach provides a common framework for the evaluation of climate geoengineering proposals, and our results should help inform the prioritisation of further research into them.
ESL Students’ Perspectives on Language Anxiety

The purpose of this study was to investigate the language anxiety experiences of students studying English as a second language (ESL) at Universiti Utara Malaysia. This study adopted a qualitative case study approach. The sampling of participants was done through purposive sampling in order to select information-rich cases. The sampling strategy employed was maximum variation sampling to find common patterns among three levels of English language courses and related samples of student participants. Data collection was done through interviewing ESL students and lecturers and also analyzing documents. Nineteen students were interviewed to get their perspectives on the language anxiety phenomenon. In order to understand language anxiety, four components were investigated: the sources of language anxiety, anxiety reactions, coping strategies and effects of language anxiety. Three major themes, three minor themes and two unexpected themes emerged from this study in relation to the sources of language anxiety. It was discovered that the language anxiety experienced by the participants stemmed from the learners themselves, lecturers’ instructional practice, social and cultural influence. In terms of language anxiety reactions, seven themes emerged from this study. This study also found eight strategies used by the participants to cope with language anxiety. Explanation on the effects of language anxiety focused more on the subtle effects based on the experiences shared by the participants in this study. The study concluded that language anxiety is a prevalent phenomenon among the participants. All the participants expressed experiencing anxiety but at various degrees such as low, moderate or high. Speaking and writing were the two language skills most associated with sources of language anxiety. Debilitating anxiety was a common experience among the participants with one exception. Some implications for the learners, lecturers, peers, and course developers are stated briefly. Some recommendations are also suggested for further study.
Effects of intradialytic resistance training on physical activity in daily life, muscle strength, physical capacity and quality of life in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Purpose: We evaluated the effects of supervised intradialytic resistance training on physical activity in daily life (PADL), muscle strength, physical capacity and quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Twenty-four hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to either a 12-weeks moderate-intensity resistance training or a control period. An accelerometer evaluated PADL for seven consecutive days, measuring the time spent in different activities and positions of daily routine and the number of steps taken. Muscle strength, physical capacity and QoL were evaluated. Results: After 12 weeks of training, we did not find significant difference (post-pre values) in walking time (−1.2 ± 18.3 vs. −9.2 ± 13.1 min/day); standing time (−10.2 ± 28.6 vs. 3.2 ± 20.1 min/day); sitting time (20.8 ± 58.9 vs. −30.0 ± 53.0 min/day); lying down time (−9.3 ± 57.9 vs. 34.6 ± 54.0 min/day); number of steps taken [−147 (1834) vs. −454 (2066)] and muscle strength in training and control group, respectively. There was a significant increase in the six-minute walking test distance (48.8 ± 35.9 vs. 6.9 ± 45.9 m, p < 0.05) and some domains of QoL in the training compared to the control group. Conclusions: PADL was not modified after 12 weeks of intradialytic resistance training in hemodialysis patients. However, the exercise program was able to increase the physical capacity and some domains of QoL. Implications for rehabilitation Physical activity in daily life was not modified after 12 weeks of intradialytic resistance training in hemodialysis patients. The exercise program was able to increase the physical capacity, efficacy of dialysis and some domains of quality of life in hemodialysis patients. The protocol used in this study was safe since no complications were observed during and after resistance training. These results should be interpreted with caution because we applied a moderate resistance training in both lower limbs and in the contralateral arteriovenous fistula upper limb, using perceived exertion by Borg scale to exercise prescription. Moreover, the safety protocol evaluation was not conducted.
Effects of stretching the tibial nerve of the rabbit. A preliminary study of the intraneural circulation and the barrier function of the perineurium.

1. Stretching of the tibial nerve cut 2 centimetres above the ankle has been the subject of an experimental study in rabbits. 2. The effects on intraneural microcirculation, on vascular permeability, and on the barrier function of the perineurium have been analysed with the aim of determining the extent to which a divided nerve can be stretched without interfering with the process of repair. 3. The results obtained may prove valuable for understanding basic mechanisms and for establishing certain important limitations when end-to-end suture of a nerve trunk is performed under some degree of tension in man.
Chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin D on cholangiocarcinoma in a Chemical-Induced animal model

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive cancer. Vitamin D supplementation is getting popular due to its anti-tumor functions after conversion to its active form, 1α,25(OH)2D. Here, we show that dietary supplementation with 6 IU/g of vitamin D greatly suppressed ICC initiation and progression without apparent toxicity in a chemically induced rat model. Microarray analysis of rat ICC tissues showed vitamin D supplementation modulated the expressions of several unique genes, including lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), confirmed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Further, 53 of 80 human ICC specimens (66%) exhibited high LCN2 expression and LCN2 knockdown in SNU308 cells decreased cell growth and migration, suggesting LCN2 be an oncogene in human ICC. As human ICC SNU1079 cells were treated by 1α,25(OH)2D3, LCN2 expression and cell proliferation were attenuated. The downregulation of LCN2 expression was blunted when vitamin D receptor (VDR) was knocked down, implicating that the in vivo Lcn2 downregulation is a direct consequence of vitamin D supplementation Our results support the prevailing concept that vitamin D status is negatively associated with cancer incidence and mortality and suggest LCN2 may be a potential target against ICC. Further studies of application of vitamin D or its analogs against ICC are warranted.
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 1167 Rule-based Models of Transcriptional Regulation and Complex Diseases Applications and Development

Bornelöv, S. 2014. Rule-based Models of Transcriptional Regulation and Complex Diseases. Applications and Development. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 1167. 69 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-554-9005-8. As we gain increased understanding of genetic disorders and gene regulation more focus has turned towards complex interactions. Combinations of genes or gene and environmental factors have been suggested to explain the missing heritability behind complex diseases. Furthermore, gene activation and splicing seem to be governed by a complex machinery of histone modification (HM), transcription factor (TF), and DNA sequence signals. This thesis aimed to apply and develop multivariate machine learning methods for use on such biological problems. Monte Carlo feature selection was combined with rule-based classification to identify interactions between HMs and to study the interplay of factors with importance for asthma and allergy. Firstly, publicly available ChIP-seq data (Paper I) for 38 HMs was studied. We trained a classifier for predicting exon inclusion levels based on the HMs signals. We identified HMs important for splicing and illustrated that splicing could be predicted from the HM patterns. Next, we applied a similar methodology on data from two large birth cohorts describing asthma and allergy in children (Paper II). We identified genetic and environmental factors with importance for allergic diseases which confirmed earlier results and found candidate gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. In order to interpret and present the classifiers we developed Ciruvis, a web-based tool for network visualization of classification rules (Paper III). We applied Ciruvis on classifiers trained on both simulated and real data and compared our tool to another methodology for interaction detection using classification. Finally, we continued the earlier study on epigenetics by analyzing HM and TF signals in genes with or without evidence of bidirectional transcription (Paper IV). We identified several HMs and TFs with different signals between unidirectional and bidirectional genes. Among these, the CTCF TF was shown to have a well-positioned peak 60-80 bp upstream of the transcription start site in unidirectional genes.
Friendship and Fairness: Ideological Tensions in an American High School

Why should one see one's society from without? In these days of "the participants know best," how can anthropology defend what many have considered to be its mission—objectivity through detachment? Many of the cultures and groups traditionally studied by anthropologists are rebelling against the "irrelevance" of the purported "findings," asserting that they, as natives, know it all, more fully and directly.
University Ofhawaìi at Mānoa Department of Economics Working Paper Series Common Correlated Effects and International Risk Sharing by Common Correlated Effects and International Risk Sharing

Existing studies of risk pooling among groups of countries are predicated upon the highly restrictive assumption that all countries have symmetric responses to aggregate shocks. We show that the conventional risk sharing test fails to isolate idiosyncratic fluctuations within countries and produces spurious results. To avoid these problems, we propose an alternative form of the risk sharing test that is robust to heterogeneous country characteristics. In our empirical example, we provide estimates using the proposed approach for various groupings of 158 countries.
Comparison of the 17α-Hydroxylase/C17,20-Lyase Activities of Porcine, Guinea Pig and Bovine P450c17 Using Purified Recombinant Fusion Proteins Containing P450c17 Linked to NADPH-P450 Reductase

The cDNAs for cytochrome P450c17 (P450c17) of three species, pig, guinea pig, and cow, representing three families of mammals (suidae, procaviidae, and bovidae, respectively) were each engineered into an expression plasmid (pCWori+). The P450c17 domain of the coding sequence was connected to a truncated form of rat NADPH-P450 reductase by a linker sequence encoding two amino acids (SerThr). These fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli and purified for use in enzymatic assays to determine similarities and differences in 17α-hydroxylase and lyase activities. The fusion proteins were found to catalyze both the 17α-hydroxylation of progesterone (P4) and pregnenolone (P5) to 17α-hydroxylated P4 and P5 (17α-OH P4 and 17α-OH P5) followed by the C17,20-lyase reaction for the conversion of these C21-17α-hydroxylated steroids to C19-steroids (the C17,20-lyase reaction). These in vitro studies show that (a) porcine P450c17 possesses cytochrome b5 (b5)-stimulated C17,20-lyase activity that converts 17αOH-P4 to androstenedione (AD) but also converts 17α-OHP5 to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); (b) guinea pig P450c17 possesses a b5-stimulated C17,20-lyase activity that converts 17α-OH P4 to AD but does not convert 17α-OH P5 to DHEA. , and (c) bovine P450c17 possesses a b5-stimulated C17,20-lyase activity that converts 17α-OH P5 to DHEA but does not convert 17α-OH P4 to AD. Thus, the P450c17 of each species differs in its ability to catalyze in vitro the conversion of C21-steroids to C19-steroids. In addition, each P450c17 is capable of catalyzing additional hydroxylation reactions leading to low levels of 2α-, 6β-, 16- and 21-hydroxy-metabolites. Porcine P450c17 also catalyzes the b5-dependent synthesis of andien-β (androsta-5,16-dien-3β-ol) from P5. When the amino acid sequences of the three P450c17s were aligned there was an approximate 50% variation in the alignment identity (227 differences in the sequences of 509 amino acids). Alignment did not permit the assignment of specific amino acids or domains to the observed differences in enzymatic activities.
Y chromosome haplogroups may confer susceptibility to partial AZFc deletions and deletion effect on spermatogenesis impairment.

BACKGROUND Partial AZFc deletions related to testis-specific gene families are common mutations of the Y chromosome, but their contribution to spermatogenic impairment is still unresolved, and the risk factors for the formation of the deletions remain unknown. With this in mind, we investigated the possible association between Y chromosome haplogroups and predisposition to partial AZFc deletions and their effect on spermatogenesis in a Chinese population. METHODS The haplogrouping was carried out using 12 polymorphic loci on the Y chromosome in 269 non-AZFc-deleted controls with an unknown spermatogenic status and 214 men with a partial AZFc deletion defined by the absence of the sequence-tagged site and sequence family variant loss of the DAZ and CDY1 genes. In the latter group, 57 men had normozoospermia and 157 men had azoo/oligozoospermia. Among these, 122 had a de novo partial AZFc deletion. RESULTS Y haplogroup distribution differed significantly between men with a de novo partial AZFc deletion and the control group, and between men with a specific subtype of the partial AZFc deletions and the control group. Further, partial AZFc deletions gave rise to spermatogenesis impairment in some Y haplogroups. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that some monophyletic Y chromosomes may be associated with predisposition to specific subtypes of partial AZFc deletion and adverse effect on spermatogenesis. Although these deletions were not confirmed with gene dosage analysis, the results suggest that Y chromosome background is an important factor that affects partial AZFc deletion formation and its contribution to spermatogenic failure.