Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of test-taker feedback in the test development process: test-takers' reactions to a tape-mediated test of proficiency in spoken Japanese

This study explores how test-taker reactions in a specific purpose testing context may vary according to characteristics of the test-taker. Such reactions are of interest both theoretically to the researcher and practically to the test developer, who is concerned to ensure that the test is fair and appropriate for all candidates and acceptable to the range of test-takers. The reactions may also be of use in the improvement of test items (as a supplement to item analysis) and test rubrics. The article reports on the use of test-taker feedback in the development of the occupational foreign language test (Japanese), a tape-mediated test of spoken Japanese for the tourism and hospitality industry. Some 53 trial subjects completed a post-test questionnaire, providing reactions to the test as a whole, to task types, and to individual test items. Relationships are investigated between responses and a number of test-taker characteristics, including gender, type of course undertaken (general or specific purpose), amount of study of the language, time spent in Japan and relevant occupa tional experience. Responses are also considered for items and person shown by Rasch IRT analysis as indicating significant misfit. Aspects of the content, construct and face validity of the test are considered in the light of the analysis. The role of feedback in the revision of test items, in the writing of test rubrics and in the development of the test-user handbook is also discussed.
Roles of University Support for International Students in the United States

Unlike previous research on international students’ social support, this current study applied the concept of organizational support to university contexts, examining the effects of university support. Mainly based on the social identity/self-categorization stress model, this study developed and tested a path model composed of four key variables—university identification, university support, school-life satisfaction, and psychological stress. Results from structural equation modeling (SEM) supported most paths among those four variables, particularly presenting the critical roles of university support for international students’ psychological well-being.
Sexuality education: findings and recommendations from an analysis of 10 United States programmes

In this study, we identified 10 sexuality education programmes from different locations in the USA that aim to give young people knowledge and skills to develop healthy relationships, as well as avoid pregnancy and disease. We conducted in-depth interviews with programme administrators to develop a series of case studies and provide concrete recommendations for education and public health professionals to implement similar approaches in their communities. Many programme administrators succeeded in developing partnerships, adapting existing curricula to suit their environments, engaging external evaluators and garnering support from teachers and parents. However, few programme developers conducted formal needs assessments before developing programmes and many struggled to implement curricula with fidelity and to employ rigorous evaluation designs. Nearly all participants identified concerns over funding as a threat to sustainability. We conclude that schools and organisations need technical assistance to build capacity for rigorous programme planning, implementation and evaluation, as well as additional funding streams to support emerging programmes.
Theta-gamma phase-phase coupling during working memory maintenance in the human hippocampus

The theta-gamma neural coding theory suggests that multiple items are represented in working memory (WM) by a superposition of gamma cycles on theta oscillations. To enable a stable, non-interfering representation of multiple items, such a theta-gamma neural code may be reflected by phase-phase coupling, i.e., a precise locking of gamma subcycles to specific theta phases. Recent data have indicated that the hippocampus critically contributes to multi-item working memory. Therefore, we investigated phase-phase coupling patterns in the hippocampus based on intracranial EEG recordings in presurgical epilepsy patients performing a variant of the serial Sternberg WM task. In accordance with predictions of the theta-gamma coding theory, we observed increased phase-phase coupling between theta and beta/gamma activity during working memory maintenance compared to inter-trial intervals. These phase-phase coupling patterns were apparent during maintenance of two and four items, but not during maintenance of a single item, where prominent lower coupling ratios occurred. Furthermore, we observed that load-dependent changes of coupling factors correlated with individual WM capacities. Our data demonstrate that multi-item WM is associated with changes in hippocampal phase-phase coupling between theta and beta/gamma activity.
The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale: Evidence of a Stable Factor Structure and Validity

In this study, 110 mothers and 110 fathers of 5- to 12-yearold boys and girls completed the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale and measures of child behaviour, parenting style, and marital satisfaction. We replicated the factor structure of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale produced by Johnston and Mash (1989), and provided evidence that the Satisfaction and Efficacy scales from this measure assess distinct aspects of parenting selfesteem. Interestingly, parents of girls reported higher Efficacy scores than parents of boys. To address the validity of the PSOC scale, we calculated partial correlations between Efficacy and Satisfaction PSOC scores and other measures of family functioning, controlling for the shared variance between the two scales. Significant small-tomoderate size correlations were found between parents' reports of both internalizing and externalizing child problems and Satisfaction scores, but correlations with Efficacy scores were generally small and nonsignificant, particularly for mothers. We also found that mothers and fathers who reported a more easy-going, low-conflict parenting style were more satisfied in parenting; for mothers, a similar relationship was found for parenting efficacy. In addition, Satisfaction scores shared a small but significant amount of variance with mother-father agreements in parenting style, as well as marital satisfaction. Implications of the findings for the use of the Parenting Sense of Competence scale are discussed. Resume
Astrocyte‐secreted factors modulate the developmental distribution of inhibitory synapses in nucleus laminaris of the avian auditory brainstem

Nucleus laminaris (NL) neurons in the avian auditory brainstem are coincidence detectors necessary for the computation of interaural time differences used in sound localization. In addition to their excitatory inputs from nucleus magnocellularis, NL neurons receive inhibitory inputs from the superior olivary nucleus (SON) that greatly improve coincidence detection in mature animals. The mechanisms that establish mature distributions of inhibitory inputs to NL are not known. We used the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) as a marker for inhibitory presynaptic terminals to study the development of inhibitory inputs to NL between embryonic day 9 (E9) and E17. VGAT immunofluorescent puncta were first seen sparsely in NL at E9. The density of VGAT puncta increased with development, first within the ventral NL neuropil region and subsequently throughout both the ventral and dorsal dendritic neuropil, with significantly fewer terminals in the cell body region. A large increase in density occurred between E13–15 and E16–17, at a developmental stage when astrocytes that express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) become mature. We cultured E13 brainstem slices together with astrocyte‐conditioned medium (ACM) obtained from E16 brainstems and found that ACM, but not control medium, increased the density of VGAT puncta. This increase was similar to that observed during normal development. Astrocyte‐secreted factors interact with the terminal ends of SON axons to increase the number of GABAergic terminals. These data suggest that factors secreted from GFAP‐positive astrocytes promote maturation of inhibitory pathways in the auditory brainstem. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:1262–1277, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Home cage locomotor changes in non-human primates after prolonged welding-fume exposure

Abstract To define the relationship between the brain concentration of manganese and neurological signs, such as locomotion, after prolonged welding-fume exposure, cynomolgus monkeys were acclimated for 1 month and then divided into three concentration groups: unexposed, low concentration (31 mg/m3 total suspended particulate (TSP), 0.9 mg/m3 of Mn), and high concentration (62 mg/m3 TSP, 1.95 mg/m3 of Mn) of TSP. The monkeys were exposed to manual metal-arc stainless steel (MMA-SS) welding fumes for 2 h per day over 8 months in an inhalation chamber system equipped with an automatic fume generator. The home cage locomotor activity and patterns were determined using a camera system over 2–4 consecutive days. After 25 and 32 weeks of exposure, the home cage locomotor activity of the high-concentration primates was found to be 5–6 times higher than that of the unexposed primates, and this increased locomotor activity was maintained for 7 weeks after ceasing the welding-fume exposure, eventually subsiding to three times higher after 13 weeks of recovery. Therefore, the present results, along with our previous observations of a high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1 signal in the globus pallidus and increased blood Mn concentration, indicate that prolonged welding-fume exposure can cause neurobehavioral changes in cynomolgus monkeys.
First-order asymptotics for the eigenfrequencies of the earth and application to the retrieval of large-scale lateral variations of structure

Summary. We present a variety of examples, showing systematic fluctuations as a function of angular order of measured eigenfrequencies for given normal modes of the Earth. The data are single station measurements from the GEOSCOPE network. Such fluctuations are attributed to departures from the lowest order asymptotic expression of the geometrical optics approximation. We derive first-order asymptotic expressions for the location parameter for all three components of the Earth's motion, by a method based on the stationary phase approximation and geometric relations on the unit sphere. We illustrate the sensitivity of the fluctuations to the different parameters involved (source parameters, epicentral distance, laterally heterogeneous earth model) with synthetic examples corresponding to GEOSCOPE observations. Finally, we show the results of first attempts at inversion, which indicate that, when the fluctuations are taken into account, more accurate estimates of the great circle average eigenfrequencies can be obtained, and additional constraints put on the structure in the neighbourhood of the great circle.
A Novel Overlap-Based Logic Cell: An Efficient Implementation of Flip–Flops With Embedded Logic

This paper presents several efficient architectures of dynamic/static edge-triggered flip-flops with a compact embedded logic. The proposed structure, which benefits from the overlap period, fixes most of the drawbacks of the dynamic logic family. The design issues of setting the appropriate overlap period for this architecture are explained. The proposed overlap-based approach is compared with several state-of-the-art dynamic/static logic styles in implementing a 4-bit shift register and an odd-even sort coprocessor using different CMOS technologies. The simulation results showed that the overlap-based logic cells become much more efficient when the complexity of their embedded logic function increases. Moreover, this approach improves static power consumption, which makes it even more efficient in below 0.18 ¿m CMOS technologies.
A Study of Incivility in the Iranian Nursing Training System Based on Educators and Students’ Experiences: A Quantitative Content Analysis

Background: It is absolutely essential to know the negative impacts incivility in students and educators may have on the creation of a suitable teaching-learning environment. Better education of to-be nurses would improve their service to patients and society in the future. There has been no research in Iran so far on this particular case. This study examines the experiences of uncivil or disrespectful behavior from the standpoint of educators and students. Methodology & Methods: A quantitative content analysis was carried out to study manuscripts presented in the form of open questionnaires. To this end, data produced from detailed answers from 640 students and educators were inputted into the computer and line-by-line and sentence-by-sentence coding was done. After that, implied codes were added, the categories were revealed, and finally counting frequency of code in categories was carried out. Results: The most important categories that students considered uncivil behavior were waste of class time, distraction, incompetence in managing the class, discrimination, bad assessment, insult and threat on behalf of the educators. In contrast to their view, what the educators thought of as disrespectful included class disorder, humiliation of other students, irregular attendance of classes, bad sitting postures, non-observance of Islamic standards, and coming unprepared to the class by students. Conclusion: From the viewpoint of students and educators, incivility is present towards one another in the academic environment. This study determines the most important forms of the same from their stand point. Since disrespectful and threatening behavior has a significant impact on learning environment, we highly recommend a thorough examination to be carried out in future studies on the origin and the managing strategies of such behaviors.
Family-School Partnership: Practices of Immigrant Parents in Quebec, Canada.

The immigrant population is increasing steadily every year in Canada and in Quebec, in particular. The immigrant population is made up largely of families, most of whom have school-age children. However, we have little information on the practices these parents adopt when they become involved in their children’s schooling. In this study, 28 parents from three groups (Latin American, Maghrebi/Northwest African, and Central African) took part in semistructured interviews designed to uncover their perspectives of family–school collaboration. The practices identified were analysed using Epstein’s (2001) framework of six types of involvement. The results showed that the parent involvement practices were interdependent and that the intentions underlying the practices could vary from one parent to another. We were also able to identify individual and environmental factors that influenced these practices.
Acute physiological responses to different circuit training protocols.

AIM The purpose of present study was to compare the acute physiological responses to a circuit weight training with the responses to a combined circuit training (weight training and treadmill run). METHODS The sample consisted of 25 individuals at an average state of training, 10 men and 15 female, between 18 and 35 year old. There were selected 60 second sets of resistance exercises to the circuit weight training (CWT). Whereas in the combined circuit training (CCT), the subjects spent 30 seconds on the same resistance exercises and 30 seconds running on the treadmill. The rest intervals between the sets lasted 15 seconds. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 5% significance level was utilized to the statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS Comparing circuit training protocols, it was noted that CCT elicits a higher relative and absolute VO2 and energy expenditure values than CWT for both genders (P<0.05). Regarding inter-gender comparison, males showed higher absolute and relative VO2 and absolute energy expenditure values for both CWT and CCT than females (P<0.05). Females showed a significant greater %VO2max value for both CWT and CCT. Due to the experimental conditions used to state both circuit training bouts (CWT and CCT), the VO2 rate found was higher than the values reported by previous studies which used heavier weight lift. CONCLUSION CCT seems adequate to produce cardiovascular improvements and greater energy expenditure for both men and women, while CWT group classes are sufficient only for unfit women.
Field study on the efficacy of an oral 2% ivermectin formulation in horses.

Twenty horses naturally infected with nematodes were included in a blind, controlled field study on efficacy and safety of an oral 2% ivermectin formulation at a dose of 0.2 mg.kg(-1). Horses were divided into treated and non-treated (control) groups with ten animals each based on preliminary counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPG). Stool samples were collected after treatment for identification of nematode species. Clinical evaluations and EPG counts were performed on days 0, +5, +14 and +19. Nineteen nematode species were identified: Coronocyclus ulambajari, Craterostomum acuticaudatum, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cyathostomum pateratum, Cylicocyclus brevicapsulatus, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicocyclus leptostomum, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicocyclus ultrajectinus, Cylicocyclus spp. , Cylicostephanus calicatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicostephanus poculatus, Habronema muscae, Habronema spp. , Parascaris equorum, Poteriostomum imparidentatum, Oxyuris equi and Triodontophorus spp. The mean EPG counts of treated and non-treated (control) groups on Days �15, 0, +5, +14 and +19 were 1925, 1340, 0, 12.5, 0, 1470, 790, 875, 1605 and 1240 respectively. The efficacy of treatment on Days +5, +14 and +19 was 100, 99.2 and 100% respectively, with a significant difference compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The product was considered to be safe with no findings of clinical significant changes during the study.
Chronic exposure to violent video games is not associated with alterations of emotional memory

Although acute effects of violent video game (VVG) exposure on affect and behaviour have been studied extensively, less is known about VVG effects on cognition. The present study examined whether chronic exposure to VVGs was associated with alterations in emotional long-term memory. Participants completed an old-new recognition task with 300 pictures of scenes ranging in emotion (negative, neutral and positive). We analysed accuracy and reaction time data using diffusion modelling to test a desensitization hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, VVG players would show reduced memory or a less liberal response bias for negative stimuli, compared with nonplayers. Contrary to the desensitization hypothesis, VVG exposure was not associated with differences in memory or response bias. This result suggests that, unlike other cognitive domains, long-term memory may be robust to deleterious influences of chronic VVG exposure. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Using Focus Groups to Elicit Views Across Disciplines and National Experiences with Intellectual Disabilities

This article reports upon the usefulness of a focus group strategy to develop a consensus on key health and aging research recommendations for persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). This strategy was employed at an opportunistic situation, a consen- sus meeting (the Tampa Scientific Conference on Intellectual Disability, Aging and Health) which involved 75 diverse background participants from the United States and other countries who came together to evolve recommendations for aging health policy. The meeting's participants included basic and applied researchers with a range of professional interests (physicians, psychologists, sociologists, social workers, and nurses), public policy workers and administrators, and family members and persons with ID. A working group process, a focus group strategy, was used successfully to develop recommendations in the areas of medical and epidemiological issues, syndrome-specific concerns, and the promotion of healthy aging. The approach used was found to be particularly helpful in reconciling diverse researcher and consumer perspectives, considering both basic and applied research issues, and yielding both national-specific and internationally relevant recommendations.
The professional career on the right track: A study on the interaction between career self-management and organizational career management in explaining employee outcomes

This article explores the relationship between organizational career management and career self-management and addresses the impact on employee outcomes. Within six large organizations, a sample of 491 employees reported on their career self-management initiatives, on their expectations towards organizational career support, and on their commitment and career success. This was complemented by information from their supervisors on career management support offered by HR and line management to these employees. Results show that individuals who take more initiatives to manage their career expect more career support from their employer. Career self-management positively impacts affective commitment and perceived career success, while organizational career management is positively related with affective commitment and career progress. Career self-management moderates the relationship of organizational career management with affective commitment and subjective career success.
Characterization of a partial cDNA clone for the NILE glycoprotein and identification of the encoded polypeptide domain

A partial cDNA clone [2.4 kilobase (kb)] for the nerve growth factor- inducible large external (NILE) glycoprotein was selected from a lambda gt 11 expression library constructed using mRNA from PC 12 cells. A 0.2 kb subclone (pNILE-1B) was used for Northern blot analysis of NILE message present in 2 NILE-positive neuronal cell lines and 2 NILE- negative glial cell lines. pNILE-1B hybridizes with components of 6.8 and 2.0 kb in the 2 neuronal cell lines but fails to show hybridization with any components in the 2 glial cell lines. Only the 6.8 kb species would be large enough to code for the NILE polypeptide. A rabbit antiserum was prepared against the NILE-beta-galactosidase fusion protein produced by the NILE clone. This antiserum (anti-NILE-beta-gal) immunoprecipitates NILE glycoprotein from neuronal cell lines, further confirming the authenticity of the NILE cDNA clone. The epitope recognized by anti-NILE-beta-gal is contained in an 85 kDa tryptic fragment from the phosphorylated carboxy terminus of NILE. The 160 kDa tryptic fragment containing the amino terminus is not recognized by anti-NILE-beta-gal. Both immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments indicate that the anti-NILE-beta-gal epitope is not exposed on the cell surface but is accessible only after cells are treated with detergent. The cytoplasmic nature of the determinant is also indicated by its absence on a truncated, soluble form of NILE released from cells (possibly by a proteolytic mechanism) into the medium. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Infrastructures as Ontological Experiments

Ontology has recently gained renewed attention in science and technology studies and anthropology (e.g. Gad, Jensen and Winthereik 2015; Holbraad, Pedersen and Viveiros de Castro 2014; Woolgar and Lezaun 2013). Yet, it has a considerably longer pedigree than these recent debates might lead one to think. Experiments , of course, have long held the attention of sociologists, historians, and philosophers of science (Collins 1985; Gooding 1990; Shapin and Schaffer 1985). And infrastructures have been the focus of sustained inquiry in the sociology and history of technology (Bowker 1994; Hughes 1983). Once these terms are put into conjunction, however, each gets a somewhat different inflection. The following note briefly explores the conceptual purchase of considering infrastructures as ontological experiments.