Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Professional development programs and english language instructors: a critical-postmodern study

In this completed qualitative dissertation research, the nature of the relationship between professional development programs (in-service training programs) and English language instructors was studied with a critical postmodern lense focusing on the narratives of nine English language instructors on their experiences in their professional development programs. The results revealed that the instructors conceptualize these programs as domains in which they develop themselves professionally amidst many hardships that have the power of hindering their development. It is noted that such conceptualization has effects on their professional development as well as their own classroom teaching. Data collection method was in-depth interviewing and it was found that the instructors' narratives included themes of power struggles affecting their conceptualizations of teacher trainers, classroom observations, the delivering of these programs and the administrative units all of which signal the need for a shift towards more OZET: Mesleki geliflim programlar› ve ‹ngilizce okutmanlar› iliflkisini anlamland›rmaya yonelik bu tamamlanm›fl nitelik araflt›rma- s›na dayal› doktora tezinde okutmanlar›n kat›ld›¤› hizmet ici eitim programlar›ndaki uygulamalar kat›l›mc›lar›n deneyimleri yard›- m›yla incelenmektedir. Cal›flma 9 kat›l›mc›yla ve onlar›n ad› gecen programlardaki deneyimlerini elde etmeyi amaclayan bir anlat› araflt›rmas› deseniyle tamamlanm›fl ve bu surece elefltirel-postmodern bir bak›fl ac›s› rehberlik etmifltir. Cal›flman›n sonuclar› bize okutmanlar›n bu programlardaki o¤renme deneyimlerinin onlar›n bu programlara bak›fllar›n› flekillendirirken onlar›n mesleki geliflim- lerinde ve ‹ngilizce o¤retimlerinde de etkili olduunu gostermifltir. Cal›flmada derinlemesine ve yuzyuze yap›lan goruflmeler ve yo- rumlama basama¤›nda da elefltirel teori ve postmodern yaklafl›mlardan yararlan›lm›flt›r. Bulgular, bu programlarda gorulen erk kav- galar›n› da ortaya c›karm›fl ve bu gercein de okutmanlar›n ozellikle o¤retmen yetifltiricilerini, gozlemlerini, program› ve yonetimi anlama ve kavramada etkilediini gostermektedir. Sonuc olarak okutmanlar›n mesleki geliflmelerinin ad› gecen programlar›n d›fl›nda da surduruldu¤u gorulmekte ve programlar›n guncel paradigmalar› temel alacak flekilde yeniden yap›land›r›lmalar› gereklilii de or- taya c›kmaktad›r.
The development of knowledge embeddedness in CASE technologies within organizations

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) has become an important part of the information technology landscape and software development activities. While researchers have examined the productivity gains associated with CASE, relatively little attention has been accorded to one of the critical elements of CASE: the repository. The CASE repository is considered to be the cornerstone of CASE technology platforms. Therefore, any plan for CASE tool implementation must include a plan for building and managing the repository. Yet, significant challenges are encountered in efforts to fashion the CASE repository as an active source of relevant systems development knowledge in organizations. This study investigates the influence of factors that are believed to facilitate knowledge embeddedness within the CASE repository. Knowledge embeddedness refers to the extent to which relevant systems development knowledge in an organization has been codified and stored within the CASE repository. Data drawn from 176 firms employing CASE environments are used to investigate the relative influence of these factors. The results indicate that management support, methodology influence, time since adoption, and external knowledge links enable success in knowledge embeddedness.
Teacher leadership: gendered responses and interpretations

abstract Teacher leadership, which refers to leadership which is more than headship or formal position, is a relatively new concept in South Africa. Within the education management framework of distributive leadership and a collaborative school culture, teacher leadership refers to teachers taking up informal and formal leader roles in the classroom and beyond into areas of whole school development and community involvement. Teacher leadership is fundamentally about change, guided by a collective vision. This article reports on an exploratory study of the relation between gender and teacher leadership through an intimate look at the views of a group of KwaZulu-Natal educators. Using Bourdieu's (1977) concepts of field and habitus, this small-scale study highlights the situatedness of leadership and the importance of context in the take-up of teacher leadership. It points to the social and cultural embeddedness of leadership and the difficulties associated with shifting the taken-for-granted assumption that leadership is a male domain. The article urges women teachers to challenge the existing status quo and take up their rightful roles, both formal and informal, in a move to a more distributed, shared and collective form of leadership.
Does the subdominant part of the energy spectrum due to downscale energy cascade remain hidden in quasi-geostrophic turbulence ?

In systems governing two-dimensional turbulence, surface quasi-geostrophic turbulence, (more generally αturbulence), two-layer quasi-geostrophic turbulence, etc., there often exist two conservative quadratic quantities, one “energy”-like and one “enstrophy”-like. In a finite inertial range there are in general two spectral fluxes, one associated with each conserved quantity. The energy spectrum in general has a contribution from each of the fluxes, and our previous work showed that these two contributions to the energy spectrum can be linearly superimposed despite the highly nonlinear nature of the problem. Often, one of the fluxes is dominant and the energy spectrum then has the visual shape of the case with a single flux; the contribution from the subdominant flux is effectively hidden. The relative magnitudes of the spectral fluxes depend on the dissipative sinks in the system, and varies according to the physical/mathematical system under consideration. We derive an important inequality involving the “energy” and enstrophy” fluxes for each representative system. This result then allows us to determine the effective energy spectral shape in the general case of double cascades.
Interviewing Ghanaian Educational Elites: Strategies for Access, Commitment, and Engagement

A review of the research methodology literature suggests that owing to the difficulty of gaining access to and obtaining commitments from elites, social scientists less frequently use them as research respondents, opting instead to investigate those over whom power is exercised. This article provides insights into some intricacies of elite interviewing. It recounts the experience of a novice researcher in his quest to gain access to and interview elite individuals within the Ghanaian educational system for his PhD thesis. In the process, the article sheds light on strategies and techniques (related to interviewee identification, scheduling, and researcher preparation for the interview, as well as rapport establishment with potential interviewees) that are helpful as toolkits in ensuring that elite interview processes are not unduly derailed. The article argues that the strategies discussed are useful for circumventing formalised and “public relations” responses, which elites tend to communicate with the press and public.
A Low-Cost Fault-Tolerant Real, Reactive, and Apparent Power Measurement Technique Using Microprocessor

Errors may creep in when measuring power by conventional methods due to the inductance and capacitance of the coils and the induced eddy current in the metal parts of the instruments through the alternating magnetic field of the current coil. Apart from these, if a fault occurs in any of the potential transformer secondary circuits or the potential coil of the measuring equipment, a conventional meter cannot detect it, which results in underregistration. In this paper, a microprocessor-based threephase real, reactive, and apparent power measurement system is developed, which displays the power being fed to a load under both normal and faulty conditions. The microprocessor provides a simple, accurate, reliable, and economical solution to these problems. A framework of the hardware circuitry and the assembly language program for the evaluation of power values is given, and the problems to which attention should be paid to execute the proposed algorithm using the microprocessor are discussed. Illustrative laboratory test results confirm the validity and accurate performance of the proposed method in real-time.
LGBTQ-inclusive curricula: why supportive curricula matter

There is growing attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) issues in schools, including efforts to address such issues through the curriculum. This study examines whether students’ perceptions of personal safety and school climate safety are stronger when curricula that include LGBTQ people are present and supportive. LGBTQ and straight middle and high school students from California (1232 students from 154 schools) participated in the 2008 Preventing School Harassment survey. They reported their experience of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, its level of supportiveness and perceptions of safety. Multilevel methods allowed for an examination of differences between individuals in the same school while controlling for differences between schools. LGBTQ-inclusive curricula were associated with higher reports of safety at the individual and school levels, and lower levels of bullying at the school level. The amount of support also mattered: supportive curricula were related to feeling safer and awareness of bullying at the individual and school levels. The implications of school- versus student-level results for educational policy and practices are discussed.
Parallel implementation of R-trees on the GPU

R-tree is an important spatial data structure used in EDA as well as other fields. Although there has been a huge literature of parallel R-tree query, as far as we know, our work is the first successful one to parallelize R-tree query on the GPU. We also propose the first R-tree construction method on the GPU. Unlike the other parallel construction methods, our method does not depend on a partition algorithm and guarantees the same quality as the sequential construction. Experiments show that more than 30× speedup on R-tree query and more than 20× speedup on R-tree construction are achieved.
Lessons from using iPads to understand young children’s creativity

This article explores the use of iPads as part of a child-centred data collection approach to understand young children’s creativity. Evidence is presented from a small study of three- to five-year-old children’s creative play. Analysis of the children’s engagement with iPad video diaries and free-to-use tablet applications was logged across two early educational settings over a three-month period. The findings suggest that iPads offer a mechanism to allow children to articulate their creative play and to encourage involvement in the research process. However, bespoke research software to use with early years children is required to improve this process.
Student Dropout at the Hellenic Open University: Evaluation of the Graduate Program, "Studies in Education"

This study traces the root causes of dropout rates in one post-graduate course “Studies in Education,” offered by the Hellenic Open University (HOU). From our research findings, it was found that the main cause of dropping out stem from a combination of adult learners’ obligations, specifically balancing their academic workload with their employment commitments and family obligations (mainly for female students). The second reason for dropout rates among adult distance education learners include students’ miscalculation of the available time for studying and their underestimation of the extra effort required for effective learning. These reasons can be compared to the educational material, which, in general, was not considered overly difficult and did not appear to compel students to abandon their studies. Key terms: dropout, distance education, adults education
Social Support Networks for LGBT Young Adults: Low Cost Strategies for Positive Adjustment

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth and young adults are known to have compromised physical and mental health, and family rejection has been found to be an important risk factor. Yet few studies have examined the positive role that support from parents, friends, and the community have for LGBT young adults. In a cross-sectional study of 245 LGBT non-Latino White and Latino young adults (ages 21–25) in the United States, sexuality-related social support was examined in association with measures of adjustment in young adulthood. Family, friend, and community support were strong predictors of positive outcomes, including life situation, self-esteem, and LGBT esteem. However, family acceptance had the strongest overall influence when other forms of support were considered. Implications for the unique and concurrent forms of social support for LGBT youth and young adult adjustment are discussed.
Highly Successful Therapeutic Vaccinations Combining Dendritic Cells and Tumor Cells Secreting Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor

In an attempt to induce potent immune antitumor activities, we investigated, within the rat 9L gliosarcoma model, distal therapeutic vaccinations associating three therapies: dendritic cell vaccination, intratumoral granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene transfer, and tumor apoptosis induction. Vaccines of dendritic cells coinjected with processed GM-CSF secreting 9L cells induced systemic responses, resulting in the complete regression of distant preimplanted 9L tumor masses in, with the best strategy, 94% of male rats. All of the cured rats developed a long-term resistance to a rechallenge with parental cells. The curative responses were correlated with the detection of elevated specific cytotoxic activities and a CD4+, CD8+ T cell-, and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated IFN-γ production. The survival rate of the rat seemed more directly linked to the amount of GM-CSF secreted by the transduced tumor cells, which in turn depended on the toxicity of the apoptosis-inducing treatment, than to the level of apoptosis induced. Unexpectedly, alive GM-CSF secreting 9L cells became apoptotic when injected in vivo. Thus we documented the positive role of apoptosis in the induction of therapeutic antitumor responses by comparing, at equal GM-CSF exogenous supply, the effects of dendritic cells coinjected with apoptotic or necrotic 9L cells. The data showed the superior therapeutic efficiency of combined vaccines containing apoptotic tumor cells. In conclusion, vaccinations with dendritic cells associated with apoptotic tumor cells secreting GM-CSF show a very high therapeutic potency that should show promise for the treatment of human cancer.
Exploring the labyrinth of the brain neurobiological parameters in Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder, a subtype of the Pervasive Developmental Disorder-not otherwise specified

The research reported in this thesis provides some evidence for subjects with MCDD being a biologically different subtype compared to patients with an autistic disorder or an autistic spectrum disorder without MCDD characteristics. There is also evidence for MCDD patients being biological different from typical controls. The here presented studies supported from this neurobiological point of view the earlier studies on the validation of the concept MCDD, and thereby the differentiation within the autism spectrum group. Second, some of the neurobiological parameters are indeed similar to the known (abnormal) neurobiological parameters in schizophrenia (related) disorders. However, no conclusive remarks can be made on the biology of MCDD patients.
Cognitive‐experiential self theory and conflict‐handling styles: Rational and constructive experiential systems are related to the integrating and compromising conflict‐handling styles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how the rational and experiential systems according to the cognitive‐experiential self theory (CEST) are related to conflict‐handling styles.Design/methodology/approach – Using a correlational design, data were collected using an on‐line survey system examining CEST information‐processing systems and five conflict‐handling styles. A total of 426 undergraduate students, with paid jobs, complete the on‐line survey.Findings – Results showed that the rational system, experiential system and constructive thinking had significant positive relationships with both the integrating and compromising conflict‐handling styles. Additionally, the rational system had a positive relationship with the dominating conflict‐handling style and the experiential system and constructive thinking had a positive relationship with the obliging conflict‐handling style. The rational system and constructive thinking had a negative relationship with the avoiding conflict‐handling style.R.
The Study of Relationship between Neuroticism, Stressor and Stress Response

Stress is everywhere in modern life. Increasingly more problems are emerging because of stress, which cause lots of economic losses. Based on the theoretical analysis, with first-hand data collection and using multiple regression models, this study explored the relationship between neuroticism, stressor and stress response and figured out interactive effect of neuroticism and stressor on stress response. We draw on the following conclusions: (1) The interaction term of stressor (work) and neuroticism as well as three stressors (health, family and social) are predictors of physiological stress response; (2) The interaction term of stressor (work) and neuroticism, two stressors (health and social) are predictors of physiological stress response; (3) The interaction term of stressor (health) and neuroticism as well as two stressors (social and family) are predictors of behavioral stress response; (4) The interaction term of stressor (health) and neuroticism, as well as three stressors (social, family and work) are predictors of total stress response.
Methodological Issues in Conducting Community-Based Health and Social Services Research Among Urban Black and African American LGBT Populations

Abstract Health and social service utilization experiences of disenfranchised groups have recently gained renewed public attention. Reducing and eliminating racial disparities in health care has become a major national agenda. While a fairly substantial literature on Black and African American health outcomes and social service utilization does exist, and may help to influence interventions to reduce disparities, there is no comparable literature for Black and African American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons. In this article the author examines factors affecting research with urban Black and African American LGBT populations. A brief case study is included that demonstrates the viability of the recommended research methods and discusses the possible negative consequences of deviating from these methodological suggestions.
Online Ideology: A Comparison of Website Communication and Media Use

This study examined and compared the websites of ideological groups from a communications and media use perspective. Thirty-six websites with message boards categorized as either violent ideological, nonviolent ideological, or nonviolent nonideological were content coded for several distinguishing characteristics. The results indicated that group type was predicted by the type of information presented, the difficulty of becoming a member, and the amount of freedom members had on discussion boards. These findings suggest that characteristics of violent ideological group websites can be used to distinguish them from websites of both nonviolent ideological and nonideological groups. This study also provides a demonstration of a research methodology that can be used to naturally observe ideological groups via an online setting.
Cannabinoids attenuate hippocampal gamma oscillations by suppressing excitatory synaptic input onto CA3 pyramidal neurons and fast spiking basket cells

Non‐Technical Summary Administration of cannabinoids can impair several cognitive functions, including memory by altering synchronous activities in cortical networks. We show that the gamma frequency (40 Hz) oscillations in hippocampal slices, that are prominent oscillations in electroencephalogram during awake states in vivo, are reduced by cannabinoids. This effect can be explained by the suppression of the excitatory synaptic transmission onto fast spiking basket cells, GABAergic cells that are key players in oscillogenesis. The reduced excitatory drive onto these interneurons leads to a reduction in neuronal firing frequency and precision, and thus to smaller field potentials. Our data further our understanding of the synaptic mechanisms of how cannabinoids alter neuronal operation.
11R. An Assessment of eProcurement Adoption Experiences in Canadian Purchasing Organizations

Electronic procurement technologies and practices have matured significantly in the past decade. However, the existing literature might suggest the adoption of eProcurement is still very limited. However, our recent survey of 334 purchasing management professionals in Canada found that over 75% of the organizations have used eProcurement technologies for at least one year and over half have used eProcurement for at least three years. While only 24% of respondents were satisfied with their organizations’ current eProcurement implementation, 72% of respondents felt that their organization would benefit from more usage of eProcurement. This paper contrasts the results of a survey on eProcurement adoption, success factors, and challenges conducted in 2009, with findings from prior studies. The preliminary findings suggest that many of the barriers to success identified in earlier studies (such as lack of management support) have largely been overcome, yet the technical challenges of integrating information systems and processes remain. This paper concludes with a call for more intensive field studies to further explore these findings.