Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Individualism Vs. Collectivism on Learner's Recall, Transfer and Attitudes Toward Collaboration and Individualized Learning

This study examined the differences in achievement between groups exhibiting different cultural dimensions in a particular online instructional environment. Variables were measured concerning the relationship between instructional environments, cultural dimensions and online learner preference. The subjects of this study were a representative sample of groups of graduate students from different cultures. The instrument was composed of a treatment that was represented across two instructional environments. A web-based tool measured participant’s cultural dimension, recall, transfer of knowledge and learning preference. A 2 x 2 x 2 ANOVA analysis method was used to examine the effects of individualism and collectivism on learner preference and achievement (recall, transfer). Significance in transfer measures was found. This indicated deep understanding of materials for collectivist participants. Correlational analysis revealed significance between cultural dimension and learner preference for instructional methods. Findings were consistent with the body of literature on crosscultural psychology. Forrest E. McFeeters Doctorate Candidate Dr. Glen A. Holmes May 23, 2003
Students' Evaluation of Teaching, Approaches to Learning, and Academic Achievement

Students' evaluation and perception of the learning environment are considered to be important predictors of students' approaches to learning. These variables may also account for variance in academic outcome, such as in examination grades, but previous research has rarely included a comparison between all of these variables. This article investigates the factor structure of an inventory measuring evaluation‐perception of the learning environment. These factors were compared with scores on the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students, and with the examination grades of 248 undergraduate psychology students. Exploratory factor analysis produced a measurement model comprising five evaluation‐perception factors (workload, presentation, perspective‐integration, lecturer, and effect). Structural equation modelling gave moderate supported to a model in which evaluation‐perception predicted students' approaches to learning, which subsequently predicted examination grades. Hence, evaluation‐perception affected examination grades indirectly, via “approaches to learning”. Additionally, the factor “workload‐demands” contributed independently, as a predictor of examination grades, together with “surface” and “strategic” approaches to learning. These results, finally, gave a basis for recommendations for curriculum design and lecturing.
Paternal radiation exposure and leukaemia in offspring: the Ontario case-control study.

OBJECTIVES--To test the hypothesis that there is an association between childhood leukaemia and the occupational exposure of fathers to ionising radiation before a child's conception. DESIGN--Case-control study with eight matched controls per case. SETTING--Regions of Ontario, Canada, with an operating nuclear facility. SUBJECTS--Cases were children (age 0-14) who died from or were diagnosed as having leukaemia from 1950 to 1988 and were born to mothers living in the vicinity of an operating nuclear facility. Controls were identified from birth certificates, matched by date of birth and residence at birth. There were 112 cases and 890 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Paternal radiation exposure was determined by a record linkage to the Canadian National Dose Registry. RESULTS--Six fathers of cases and 53 fathers of controls had had a total whole body dose > 0.0 mSv before the child's conception, resulting in an odds ratio of 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.32 to 2.34). There was no evidence of an increased leukaemia risk in relation to any exposure period (lifetime or six months or three months before conception) or exposure type (total whole body dose, external whole body dose, or tritium dose), except for radon exposure to uranium miners, which had a large odds ratio that was not significantly different from the null value. CONCLUSIONS--The findings of this study in Ontario did not support the hypothesis that childhood leukaemia is associated with the occupational exposure of fathers to ionising radiation before the child's conception.
Temi di discussione del Servizio Studi Non-response behaviour in the Bank of Italy ’ s Survey of Household Income and Wealth

This paper aims to describe non-respondents in the Bank of Italy’s Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) and to measure the underestimation of income and wealth attributable to non-response. The evidence confirms that non-response is not random, since it is more frequent among wealthier households. Therefore exclusive use of poststratification procedures based on demographic characteristics only, which are commonly employed, cannot properly adjust for the selection process observed in the SHIW. As to the estimates of average aggregates, the bias seems to be greater for financial assets (the adjusted estimates are from 15 to 31 per cent higher than the unadjusted) than for income (for which the adjustments vary from 5 to 14 per cent, probably owing to a greater asymmetry in the distribution of wealth. JEL classification: C42, C81, C93, D31.
Seeking quantitative morphological characters for species identification in soldiers of Puerto Rican Heterotermes (Dictyoptera, Blattaria, Termitoidae, Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract Subterranean termites in the genus Heterotermes Froggatt (Rhinotermitidae: Heterotermitinae) are pantropical wood feeders capable of causing significant structural damage. The aim of this study was to investigate soldier morphological attributes in three Puerto Rican species of Heterotermes previously identified by sequencing of two mitochondrial genes and attributed to Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen), H. convexinotatus (Snyder) and H. cardini (Snyder). Soldiers (n = 156) were imaged and measured using the Auto-Montage image-stacking program. We demonstrated that Puerto Rican Heterotermes soldiers could not be identified to species level based upon seven morphometric indices or any combination thereof. Nor could differences in soldier head pilosity be used to discriminate species, in contrast to previous findings. However, previously described characters of the soldier tergal setae were reported to be useful in discriminating H. tenuis from both of its Puerto Rican congeners.
Combination of Resting State fMRI, DTI, and sMRI Data to Discriminate Schizophrenia by N-way MCCA + jICA

Multimodal brain imaging data have shown increasing utility in answering both scientifically interesting and clinically relevant questions. Each brain imaging technique provides a different view of brain function or structure, while multimodal fusion capitalizes on the strength of each and may uncover hidden relationships that can merge findings from separate neuroimaging studies. However, most current approaches have focused on pair-wise fusion and there is still relatively little work on N-way data fusion and examination of the relationships among multiple data types. We recently developed an approach called “mCCA + jICA” as a novel multi-way fusion method which is able to investigate the disease risk factors that are either shared or distinct across multiple modalities as well as the full correspondence across modalities. In this paper, we applied this model to combine resting state fMRI (amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, ALFF), gray matter (GM) density, and DTI (fractional anisotropy, FA) data, in order to elucidate the abnormalities underlying schizophrenia patients (SZs, n = 35) relative to healthy controls (HCs, n = 28). Both modality-common and modality-unique abnormal regions were identified in SZs, which were then used for successful classification for seven modality-combinations, showing the potential for a broad applicability of the mCCA + jICA model and its results. In addition, a pair of GM-DTI components showed significant correlation with the positive symptom subscale of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), suggesting that GM density changes in default model network along with white-matter disruption in anterior thalamic radiation are associated with increased positive PANSS. Findings suggest the DTI anisotropy changes in frontal lobe may relate to the corresponding functional/structural changes in prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus that are thought to play a role in the clinical expression of SZ.
Genome-wide in silico identification and comparison of Growth Regulating Factor (GRF) genes in Cucurbitaceae family.

Growth-regulating factor (GRF) genes play a regulatory role for plant growth and development. The recently available cucumber, melon and watermelon genomes provide an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive overview of the GRF gene family. In the present study, identification and analysis of the GRF gene family was conducted using bioinformatics methods. Totally, 24 potential GRF genes were identified in cucumber, melon and watermelon. Cucumber and watermelon GRF gene members were physically mapped to their corresponding chromosomes. All GRF genes contain an intron whose number ranging from 2 to 3. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the cucurbit GRF proteins into 2 distinct classes. GRF proteins of cucurbits and Arabidopsis were clustered together in a joined tree and grouped into the same cluster with high bootstrap values. WRC and QLQ motifs, specific for GRF proteins, were found in all predicted GRF proteins. Gene Ontology analysis showed that majority of the GRFs was predicted to function in response to biological regulation and binding activity. In addition, predicted GRF proteins were localized in the nucleus. These results provide information about the relationship between evolution and functional divergence in the GRF family. We assume that systematic characterization of these GRF genes will enable researcher to open new insights for further exploration into the functions of this significant gene family in Cucurbitaceae family members.
The Retirement Housing Setting

The paper describes and analyzes selected environmental aspects of six widely varying retirement housing facilities, in particular, the ecological variable of site boundaries. The analysis tests a model predicting thar perceived community support in crises will be a joint function of site permeability and service availability. Data collected from interviews with 600 residents fit the model and showed that in settings with good service availability (five sires), the lower the site permeability, the greater the perceived community support; the one site with poor service availability, as well as lowest permeability, evidenced the lowest perceived community support in crises.
Simultaneous detection of hepatitis C virus and interferon stimulated gene expression in infected human liver

Approximately 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have ongoing expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in the liver. It is unclear why this endogenous antiviral response is inefficient in eradicating the infection. Several viral escape strategies have been identified in vitro, including inhibition of interferon (IFN) induction and ISG messenger RNA (mRNA) translation. The in vivo relevance of these mechanisms is unknown, because reliable methods to identify hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected cells in human liver are lacking. We developed a highly sensitive in situ hybridization (ISH) system capable of HCV RNA and ISG mRNA detection in human liver biopsies and applied it to study the interaction of HCV with the endogenous IFN system. We simultaneously monitored HCV RNA and ISG mRNA using HCV isolate‐ and ISG mRNA‐specific probes in liver biopsy sections from 18 CHC patients. The signals were quantified at the single‐cell resolution in a series of random high‐power fields. The proportion of infected hepatocytes ranged from 1%‐54% and correlated with viral load, but not with HCV genotype or ISG expression. Infected cells occurred in clusters, pointing to cell‐to‐cell spread as the predominant mode of HCV transmission. ISG mRNAs were readily detected in HCV‐infected cells, challenging previously proposed mechanisms of viral interference with the immune system. Conversely, infected cells and neighboring cells showed increased ISG mRNA levels, demonstrating that the stimulus driving ISG expression originates from HCV‐infected hepatocytes. Conclusion: HCV infection in human hepatocytes during CHC does not efficiently interfere with IFN induction, IFN signaling, or transcription of ISG mRNA. (Hepatology 2014;59:2121–2130)
ANOTHER VIEW OF MONEY DEMAND AND BLACK MARKET PREMIUM RELATIONSHIP: WHAT CAN THEY SAY ABOUT CREDIBILITY?

This paper examines the long-run demand for money under the assumption that exchange rates provide a measure of the cost of holding money. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and bound testing approach to cointegration on quarterly data for 8 emerging economies, this paper investigates the behaviour of money demand in the wake of short-run fluctuations in the foreign exchange black market premium. In this respect, it proposes a new method to test the credibility of economic policies designed and implemented by authorities in the countries of interest. The test consists in introducing the black market premium, rather than the exchange rate directly, into the money demand function, and estimating its error correction form.
Navigating the stigmatised identities of poverty in austere times: Resisting and responding to narratives of personal failure

Behavioural explanations of poverty and disadvantage have figured heavily in political rhetoric in the era of austerity, as a means to understand trajectories into poverty and subsequent relationships between benefit claimants and the state. These discourses are not restricted to political debate, as previous studies demonstrate they impact upon public consciousness and structure the ways that the general public think about poverty, as well as shaping the ways in which people living on low incomes are treated. Drawing upon the testimonies of 62 people in England and Scotland experiencing poverty, this article seeks to understand our participants’ responses to these discourses, in particular: how these behavioural explanations impact upon their understanding of their own situations, as well as their self perceptions; how these discourses shape their relationships with others, in terms of their experience of disrespect; and how participants seek to dissociate themselves from their stigmatising implications.
Pain Coping but Not Readiness to Change Is Associated With Pretreatment Pain-related Functioning

Objective:The purpose of the present study was to determine if readiness to use adaptive and avoid maladaptive pain-coping skills before initiation of psychosocial treatment for chronic pain was related to reports of present coping, and whether those variables, together or separately, explained variance in pain, pain interference, and symptoms of depression. Methods:A total of 132 patients with chronic low back pain completed measures of readiness, coping, and pain-related functioning before participation in a clinical trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain. Results:Pearson correlations indicated that the content-matched subscales of readiness and coping were moderately correlated (rs between 0.30 and 0.60), and “mismatched” subscales were generally more weakly related or unrelated. None of the readiness subscales were significantly associated with variance in any of the functioning variables. However, several aspects of coping were significantly associated with functioning. Task persistence was associated with lower pain interference and symptoms of depression; asking for assistance was associated with higher pain interference; and pain-contingent rest was associated with higher pain interference. Discussion:Overall, the results indicate that adaptive coping is associated with better pain-related functioning and maladaptive coping is associated with poorer functioning, whereas readiness appears to not play a significant role in patient functioning before psychosocial pain treatment. The findings support the discriminant validity of the coping and readiness measures and inform treatment conceptualization.
Level of radiographic damage and radiographic progression are determinants of physical function: a longitudinal analysis of the TEMPO trial

Background: Many studies have examined the relationship between long-term radiographic damage and physical function. However, it is not known if short-term radiographic progression is also associated with physical function. Aim: To investigate the longitudinal relationship between physical function and both the level of radiographic damage and the radiographic progression rate in patients with early or advanced active rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The database for the 2-year Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) was used for this study. Physical function was measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score at baseline, 6 months and 1 and 2 years. Radiographs of the hands and feet, taken at the same time points, were scored by the van der Heijde-modified Total Sharp Score (TSS). The HAQ score was modelled using generalised mixed linear modelling by TSS or progression in TSS (interval 0–1 year and 1–2 years) adjusted for age, sex, treatment and disease activity. Results: After adjustment for age, sex and disease activity, both TSS and the change in TSS (progression rate) were significant determinants of the HAQ score. When radiographic progression was divided into four categories (negative, zero, minor and greater progression), results showed that HAQ scores tended to be higher with a higher rate of progression. Patients with negative progression scores had lower HAQ scores than patients with positive progression scores. Conclusions: Patients with greater radiographic damage, and those with recent radiographic progression, have a higher degree of disability.
First words in normal and Down syndrome children: a comparison of content and word-form categories

Data are reported for content and word-form categories in the first 50 words produced by four Down syndrome children. These data are compared with that available from studies of normal children. From the broad similarities observed it is argued that such data from normal children can reasonably be used to establish a remedial lexicon for mentally handicapped children.
Hippocampal dysgenesis and variable neuropsychiatric phenotypes in patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome underline complex CNS impact of primary cilia

Bennouna‐Greene V, Kremer S, Stoetzel C, Christmann D, Schuster C, Durand M, Verloes A, Sigaudy S, Holder‐Espinasse M, Godet J, Brandt C, Marion V, Danion A, Dietemann J‐L, Dollfus H. Hippocampal dysgenesis and variable neuropsychiatric phenotypes in patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome underline complex CNS impact of primary cilia.
Inhibitors of CLK Protein Kinases Suppress Cell Growth and Induce Apoptosis by Modulating Pre-mRNA Splicing

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the importance of alternative splicing in various physiological processes, including the development of different diseases. CDC-like kinases (CLKs) and serine-arginine protein kinases (SRPKs) are components of the splicing machinery that are crucial for exon selection. The discovery of small molecule inhibitors against these kinases is of significant value, not only to delineate the molecular mechanisms of splicing, but also to identify potential therapeutic opportunities. Here we describe a series of small molecules that inhibit CLKs and SRPKs and thereby modulate pre-mRNA splicing. Treatment with these small molecules (Cpd-1, Cpd-2, or Cpd-3) significantly reduced the levels of endogenous phosphorylated SR proteins and caused enlargement of nuclear speckles in MDA-MB-468 cells. Additionally, the compounds resulted in splicing alterations of RPS6KB1 (S6K), and subsequent depletion of S6K protein. Interestingly, the activity of compounds selective for CLKs was well correlated with the activity for modulating S6K splicing as well as growth inhibition of cancer cells. A comprehensive mRNA sequencing approach revealed that the inhibitors induced splicing alterations and protein depletion for multiple genes, including those involved in growth and survival pathways such as S6K, EGFR, EIF3D, and PARP. Fluorescence pulse-chase labeling analyses demonstrated that isoforms with premature termination codons generated after treatment with the CLK inhibitors were degraded much faster than canonical mRNAs. Taken together, these results suggest that CLK inhibitors exhibit growth suppression and apoptosis induction through splicing alterations in genes involved in growth and survival. These small molecule inhibitors may be valuable tools for elucidating the molecular machinery of splicing and for the potential development of a novel class of antitumor agents.
Perfect layered arrangement of ion-paired chromophores in a crystalline non-linear optical organic salt : 2-amino-3-nitropyridinium chloride

2-Amino-3-nitropyridinium chloride is reported as a new crystalline non-linear optical organic salt, built around a two-dimensional hyperpolarisable cationic chromophore. Its crystal structure (space groupP2 1 ) reveals a quasi-perfect layered arrangement of the cations and the anions. Within each layer the chromophores are arranged in a herringbone structure and strong hydrogen bonds are present. The first hyperpolarisabilities of ion-paired chromophores calculated for 2-amino-3-nitropyridinium chloride as well as 2-amino-5-nitropyridinium chloride emphasize the favourable contribution of the inorganic anionic sublattice to the enhancement of the molecular β ijk and macroscopic χ (2) susceptibilities.
Crucial Roles for Olfactory Ensheathing Cells and Olfactory Mucosal Cells in the Repair of Damaged Neural Tracts

Olfactory ensheathing cells, the glial cells of the olfactory nervous system, exhibit unique growth‐promoting and migratory properties that make them interesting candidates for cell therapies targeting neuronal injuries such as spinal cord injury. Transplantation of olfactory cells is feasible and safe in humans; however, functional outcomes are highly variable with some studies showing dramatic improvements and some no improvements at all. We propose that the reason for this is that the identity and purity of the cells is different in each individual study. We have shown that olfactory ensheathing cells are not a uniform cell population and that individual subpopulations of OECs are present in different regions of the olfactory nervous system, with strikingly different behaviors. Furthermore, the presence of fibroblasts and other cell types in the transplant can dramatically alter the behavior of the transplanted glial cells. Thus, a thorough characterization of the differences between olfactory ensheathing cell subpopulations and how the behavior of these cells is affected by the presence of other cell types is highly warranted. Anat Rec, 297:121–128, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.