Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer-Adaptive Surveys (CAS) as a Means of Answering Questions of Why

© PACIS 2017. Traditional surveys are excellent instruments for establishing the correlational relationship between two constructs. However, they are unable to identify reasons why such correlations exist. Computer-Adaptive Surveys (CAS) are multi-dimensional instruments where questions asked of respondents depend on the previous questions asked. Their principal advantage is they allow the survey developer to input a large number of potential causes. Respondents then roll down through the causes to identify the one or few significant causes impacting a correlation. This study compared a cafe satisfaction CAS to a traditional survey of the same item bank to test whether CAS performs its intended task better than a traditional survey. Our study demonstrates that when one is trying to find root cause, CAS achieves a higher response rate, requires fewer items for respondents to answer, has better item discrimination, and has a higher agreement among respondents for each item.
On the Distribution of Opportunity Time for the Secondary Usage of Spectrum

In the future, secondary radio (SR) may exploit the use of spectrum holes (SHs) that are available over a given spectrum band for transmission, provided that the performance of the primary radio (PR) using the same spectrum band is not significantly degraded. However, random or quasi-random PR activities result in SHs that will sporadically be available. Hence, to study their impact on SR transmission, it is first required to statistically characterize the duration of SHs. We define the duration in which an SH is first available to the instance when it just becomes unavailable as the opportunity time (OT) for SR transmission. Our model partitions the spectrum band under consideration into N frequency bins (FBs). Between any two FBs, the PR activities are assumed to be independent, and the PR activities in each FB follow an exponential on/off process. We derive the theoretical probability density function (pdf) of the OT using a lumped Markov chain model. Our analysis shows that the pdf follows a hyperexponential distribution, and when the PR activity factors are pair-wise distinct for all the N FBs, the pdf is given by the weighted sum of (2N - 1) exponential terms. In particular, if the N FBs have identical PR activity factors, the pdf will only consist of N exponential terms. The statistics of the OT could provide insightful information for the secondary usage of the spectrum.
L‐fucose influences chemotaxis and biofilm formation in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are zoonotic pathogens once considered asaccharolytic, but are now known to encode pathways for glucose and fucose uptake/metabolism. For C. jejuni, strains with the fuc locus possess a competitive advantage in animal colonization models. We demonstrate that this locus is present in > 50% of genome‐sequenced strains and is prevalent in livestock‐associated isolates of both species. To better understand how these campylobacters sense nutrient availability, we examined biofilm formation and chemotaxis to fucose. C. jejuni NCTC11168 forms less biofilms in the presence of fucose, although its fucose permease mutant (fucP) shows no change. In a newly developed chemotaxis assay, both wild‐type and the fucP mutant are chemotactic towards fucose. C. jejuni 81‐176 naturally lacks the fuc locus and is unable to swim towards fucose. Transfer of the NCTC11168 locus into 81‐176 activated fucose uptake and chemotaxis. Fucose chemotaxis also correlated with possession of the pathway for C. jejuni RM1221 (fuc+) and 81116 (fuc‐). Systematic mutation of the NCTC11168 locus revealed that Cj0485 is necessary for fucose metabolism and chemotaxis. This study suggests that components for fucose chemotaxis are encoded within the fuc locus, but downstream signals only in fuc + strains, are involved in coordinating fucose availability with biofilm development.
Locating case discussion segments in recorded medical team meetings

Although there has been great interest in the issue of indexing and providing access to multimedia records of meetings, with substantial efforts directed towards collection and analysis of meeting corpora, most research in this area is based on data collected at research labs, under somewhat artificial conditions. In contrast, this paper focuses on data recorded in a real-world setting where a number of health professionals participate in weekly meetings held as part of the work routines in a major hospital. These meetings have been observed to be highly structured, a fact that is due undoubtedly to the time pressures, as well as communication and dependability constraints characteristic of the context in which the meetings happen. The hypothesis investigated in this paper is that the conversational structure of these meetings enable their segmentation into meaningful sub-units, namely individual patient case discussions, based only on data on the roles of the participants and the duration and sequence of vocalisations. We describe the task of segmenting audio-visual records of multidisciplinary medical team meetings as a topic segmentation task, present a method for automatic segmentation based on a "content-free" representation of conversational structure, and report the results of a series of patient case segmentation experiments. The approach presented here achieves levels of segmentation accuracy (measured in terms of the standard Pk and WD metrics) comparable to those attained by state of the art topic segmentation algorithms based on richer and combined knowledge sources.
The Effect of Portfolio Assessment Technique on Writing Performance of EFL Learners

Nowadays, writing has received a great degree of attention not only because it plays a significant role in transforming knowledge and learning but also in fostering creativity and when acquiring of a special language skill is seen as important, its assessment becomes important as well and writing is no exception. This study intended to investigate the effect of portfolio assessment technique as a teaching, learning and assessment tool on writing performance of EFL learners. Writing sub-skills has also been taken into account. To this end, forty Iranian EFL learners who were all English teaching majors were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n=20) and control (n=20). The experimental group received the treatment i.e. portfolio assessment while the control group underwent the traditional approach of writing assessment. The result of statistical analysis indicated that the students in experimental group outperformed the students in control group in their writing performance and its sub-skills of focus, elaboration, organization, conventions and vocabulary. The findings suggest that portfolio assessment technique improves writing ability of the students. The results have also some implications for assessment, teaching and learning of L2 writing.
Case study of the comparison of data from conference abstracts and full-text articles in health technology assessment of rapidly evolving technologies: Does it make a difference?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine (i) the consistency of reporting research findings presented in conference abstracts and presentations and subsequent full publications, (ii) the ability to judge methodological quality of trials from conference abstracts and presentations, and (iii) the effect of inclusion or exclusion of data from these sources on the pooled effect estimates in a meta-analysis. Methods: This report is a case study of a selected health technology assessment review (TAR) of a rapidly evolving technology that had identified and included a meta-analysis of trial data from conference abstracts and presentations. Results: The overall quality of reporting in abstracts and presentations was poor, especially in abstracts. There was incomplete or inconsistent reporting of data in the abstract/presentations. Most often inconsistencies were between conference slide presentations and data reported in published full-text articles. Sensitivity analyses indicated that using data only from published papers would not have altered the direction of any of the results when compared with those using published and abstract data. However, the statistical significance of three of ten results would have changed. If conference abstracts and presentations were excluded from the early analysis, the direction of effect and statistical significance would have changed in one result. The overall conclusions of the original analysis would not have been altered. Conclusions: There are inconsistencies in data presented as conference abstracts/presentations and those reported in subsequent published reports. These inconsistencies could impact the final assessment results. Data discrepancies identified across sources included in TARs should be highlighted and their impact assessed and discussed. Sensitivity analyses should be carried out with and without abstract/presentation data included in the analysis. Incomplete reporting in conference abstracts and presentations limits the ability of reviewers to assess confidently the methodological quality of trials.
Male Psychology Doctoral Students: Thc Influence of GRC on Training

Male Psychology Doctoral Students: The Influence of Gender Role Conflict on Training The percentage of men entering and completing doctoral training programs in psychology has steadily decreased over the past several decades (Pion et al., 1996). Despite this significant numerical decline, and its obvious effect of the number of male psychologists entering the workforce, scholarship on this subgroup of men is scarce. In this study, 302 male psychology doctoral students completed measures that assessed the psychological effects of their gender role and related those effects to aspects of their training experience. The major aims of this study were to compare the gender role conflict (GRC) of male psychology doctoral trainees to that of a normative male sample and establish associations between GRC and (a) the advisory working alliance, (b) multicultural awareness, and (c) psychological distress. Results indicated that male trainees largely report less GRC than other men yet, have greater gender related conflict between their work and family relations. Among these men, patterns of GRC were found to be predictive of psychological distress and multicultural awareness, but had no association with the advisory working alliance. Implications for training and directions for future research are provided.
The Youth Version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule: A Psychometric Validation

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the revised Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C; Joiner, Catanzaro & Laurent, 1996) in 228 nonclinical children and adolescents aged between 8 and 15 years. The results revealed that the PANAS-C possesses high internal consistency and encouraging convergent validity, as demonstrated by correlations with the theoretically related constructs of Neuroticism and Extraversion. Construct validity was supported through confirmatory factor analysis, which revealed a two dimensional structure comprising Negative and Positive Affect. Divergent validity was confirmed by the nonsignificant correlation between positive and negative affect. Thus, the PANAS-C was demonstrated to have good reliability and validity, subject to minor changes in item content.
Zeeman tomography of magnetic white dwarfs. III. The 70-80 Megagauss magnetic field of PG 1015+014

Aims. We analyse the magnetic field geometry of the magnetic DA white dwarf PG 1015+014 with our Zeeman tomography method. Methods. This study is based on rotation-phase resolved optical flux and circular polarization spectra of PG 1015+014 obtained with FORS1 at the ESO VLT. Our tomographic code makes use of an extensive database of pre-computed Zeeman spectra. The general approach has been described in Papers I and II of this series. Results. The surface field strength distributions for all rotational phases of PG 1015+014 are characterised by a strong peak at 70 MG. A separate peak at 80 MG is seen for about one third of the rotation cycle. Significant contributions to the Zeeman features arise from regions with field strengths between 50 and 90 MG. We obtain equally good simultaneous fits to the observations, collected in five phase bins, for two diﬀerent field parametrizations: (i) a superposition of individually tilted and oﬀ-centred zonal multipole components; and (ii) a truncated multipole expansion up to degree l = 4 including all zonal and tesseral components. The magnetic fields generated by both parametrizations exhibit a similar global structure of the absolute surface field values, but diﬀer considerably in the topology of the field lines. An eﬀective photospheric temperature of T eﬀ = 10 000 ± 1000 K was found. Conclusions. Remaining discrepancies between the observations and our best-fit models suggest that additional small-scale structure of the magnetic field exists which our field models are unable to cover due to the restricted number of free parameters.
Towards a model of resilience for transnational families of Filipina domestic workers

Many Filipinos experience poverty and poor employment opportunities. In order to alleviate poverty and provide sufficient resources for their families, numerous mothers leave the Philippines to become domestic workers. The present study aimed to build a model of family resilience for transnational families. A total of 33 participants consisting of Filipino transnational families, domestic workers, and key informants participated in a series of focus group discussions and interviews. A new model of resilience among transnational families of Filipina domestic helpers was created using a constructivist grounded theory approach. The model highlighted how temporal and spatial elements are embedded in collective migration experiences. Family narratives begin with the sacrifice of separation, where mothers leave their families for a chance to solve economic problems. To successfully adapt to their separation, the families undergo five relational processes. First, families communicate across space using technology to bridge relational distance. Second, families restructure across space through role sharing and the validation of each other’s efforts in their family roles. Third, families rebuild ties through temporary family reunification that bridge physical and relational distance. Fourth, families have the collective goal of permanent family reunification by ending migration to become complete again. Fifth, they strive to commit to their families by prioritizing them instead of succumbing to difficulties. Family resilience for transnational migrants is a collectivistic process, negotiated by each family member.
The effects of personality, social support and religiosity on posttraumatic growth

The aim of the present research was to explore the ways in which personality traits, social support, and religiosity contribute to posttraumatic growth (PTG). Associations between the Big Five personality dimensions and PTG, mediated via measures of religiosity and social support were identified in the current sample (n = 104). The results revealed that extraversion predicted PTG scores, while openness to experience and agreeableness predicted PTG via religiosity. While conscientiousness predicted greater satisfaction with social support, this did not predict PTG. The results of the study suggest that the relationships between these variables and the role of social support may be more complex than previously thought.
Punishment: The Supposed Justifications Revisited

Introduction 1 Problem 2 Backward-Looking Theories 3 Grievance-Satisfaction 4 Utilitarian Prevention Theory, Etc. 5. Reform, Rehabilitation, Treatment 6. Determinism 7 Compromise Theories of Punishment 8 Non-Problem, Other Conclusions Acknowledgements Notes Index
A receiver model for optical fiber communication systems with arbitrarily polarized noise

The authors have derived a receiver model that provides an explicit relationship between the Q factor and the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) in optical fiber communication systems for arbitrary pulse shapes, realistic receiver filters, and arbitrarily polarized noise. It is shown how the system performance depends on both the degree of polarization of the noise and the angle between the Stokes' vectors of the signal and the noise. The results demonstrate that the relationship between the OSNR and the Q factor is not unique when the noise is partially polarized. This paper defines the enhancement factor and three other parameters that explicitly quantify the relative performance of different modulation formats in a receiver. The theoretical and experimental results show that the performance of the return-to-zero format is less sensitive to variations in the receiver characteristics than is the performance of the nonreturn-to-zero format. Finally, a validation of the formula is presented for computing the Q factor from the OSNR and the Stokes vectors of the signal and the noise by comparison with both experiments and Monte Carlo simulations.
Topography, exhumation pathway, age uncertainties, and the interpretation of thermochronometer data

The relationship between thermochronometer age and structural elevation is commonly used to infer long‐term exhumation histories. Previous studies suggest that inferred exhumation rates from the conventional (one‐dimensional, 1‐D) age‐elevation approach are sensitive to topography and variations in exhumation rate and pathway. Here we evaluate the magnitude of these effects by (1) using a 3‐D thermal‐kinematic model of the central Nepalese Himalaya to predict age‐elevation profiles for multiple thermochronometers as a function of exhumation rate and pathway (vertical, oblique, or thrust fault), and (2) calculating the probability that the true exhumation rate will be recovered from an age‐elevation profile for sample uncertainties of different magnitudes. Results suggest that profiles oriented orthogonal to long‐wavelength topography and the direction of lateral transport are relatively insensitive to their influence. For profiles oriented parallel to the transport direction, horizontal transport during exhumation partly counteracts topographic effects. The difference between model imposed and 1‐D exhumation rates from the slope of a best fit line through an age‐elevation plot is greatest when rocks are exhumed vertically and low‐temperature thermochronometers are used. The magnitude of error in 1‐D exhumation rate estimates varies dramatically as a function of sample uncertainty, particularly when exhumation is rapid. The nature of this variation can be used to design sampling strategies for which 1‐D interpretations of age‐elevation gradients are likely to be within error of the true exhumation rate. Alternatively, if sample uncertainties can be reduced, studies that combine thermal modeling with age‐elevation data can potentially provide important constraints on thermal and kinematic fields at depth.
A History of Surgery

Harold Ellis ! [][1] Greenwich Medical Media, £29.50, pp 264 ISBN 1 84110 023 4 Rating: ! [Graphic][2] ! [Graphic][3] ! [Graphic][4] ! [Graphic][5] Modern medicine is largely a 20th century development, but surgery has been around for hundreds of years in one form or another. In fact, the word “emergency” usually brings to mind a surgical rather than a medical emergency. The leap that surgery took from barber surgeons to proper surgeons and from a field that caused pain, sepsis, and death to the aseptic, pain free, and curative surgery of today is perhaps incomparable … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif
Phonological Encoding and Monitoring in Normal and Pathological Speech

R. Hartsuiker, R. Bastiaanse, A. Postma, F. Wijnen, Phonological Encoding and Monitoring in Normal and Pathological Speech. Section 1: Theories and Models of Phonological Encoding. G. Dell, A. Kim, Speech Errors and Word Form Encoding. A. Roelofs, Spoken Word Planning, Comprehending, and Self-monitoring: Evaluation of WEAVER++. Section 2: Pathologies of Phonological Encoding. N. Martin, An Interactive Activation Account of Aphasic Speech Errors: Converging Influences of Locus, Type and Severity of Processing Impairment. D.B. den Ouden, R. Bastiaanse, Phonological Encoding and Conduction Aphasia. K. Melnick, E. Conture, R. Ohde, Phonological Encoding in Young Children who Stutter. C. Code, Syllables in the Brain: Evidence from Brain Damage. L. Nijland, B. Maassen, Syllable Planning and Motor Programming Deficits in Developmental Apraxia of Speech. Section 3: Theories and Models of Self-monitoring. A. Postma, C. Oomen, Critical Issues in Speech Monitoring. S. Nooteboom, Listening to Oneself: Monitoring Speech Production. R. Hartsuiker, H. Kolk, H. Martensen, The Division of Labor between Internal and External Speech Monitoring. Section 4: Self-monitoring in Pathological Speech. C. Oomen, A. Postma, H. Kolk, Speech Monitoring in Aphasia: Error Detection and Repair Behavior in a Patient with Broca's Aphasia. N. Vasic, F. Wijnen, Stuttering as a Monitoring Deficit. M. Russell, M. Corley, R. Lickley, Magnitude Estimation of Disfluency by Stutterers and Non-stutterers. R. Hartsuiker, H. Kolk, R. Lickley, Stuttering on Function Words and Content Words: A Computational Test of the Covert Repair Hypothesis. Section 5: Conclusions and Prospects. F. Wijnen, H. Kolk, Phonological Encoding, Monitoring, and Language Pathology: Conclusions and Prospects.
Expression of Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Decreases Liver Metastasis and Correlates with Favorable Prognosis for Patients with Ductal Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is expressed in several normal organs and identified as an inhibitor of neovascularization. In the present study, we screened the expression of PEDF immunohistochemically and investigated its correlation with clinicopathological features in patients who underwent surgery for ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Of the 80 patients, 22 cases (27.5%) were positive for PEDF. A significant association was found between the PEDF expression and low microvessel density (P = 0.0003). No correlation was found between PEDF expression and age, gender, depth of invasion, tumor diameter, lymphatic invasion, venous, invasion or histopathological grading. The patients in pathological stage II had a significantly higher incidence of PEDF-positive expression than those in pathological stage III or IVA (P = 0.0418). PEDF immunoreactivity was inversely associated with liver metastasis (P = 0.0422). The survival of patients that were PEDF positive was significantly longer than that of those with negative expression (P = 0.0026). Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model indicated that PEDF-positive expression was an independent favorable prognostic factor (risk ratio, 0.394; P = 0.0016). We conclude that PEDF expression suggests a more favorable prognosis than in patients whose carcinomas lack PEDF expression.