Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the contextual factors influencing student learning achievement in Pakistan

i Declaration v Acknowledgements vii Dedication xi Table of contents xii List of tables xix List of figures xxiv List of abbreviations and symbols xxv Map of Pakistan xxviii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Research problem 3 1.3 Significance of the study 5 1.4 Structure of the study 6 Chapter 2: Curriculum initiatives and textbook reforms in Pakistan 9 2.1 Curriculum reforms in Pakistan 9 2.2 Curriculum development/revision processes in Pakistan 11 2.2.1 Step 1: Development of the national scheme of studies 12 2.2.2 Step 2: Development of the national curriculum framework 12 2.2.3 Step 3: Development of the national curriculum 13 2.3 Textbook development 13 2.3. 1 Process of textbook review 14 2.3. 2 Textbook approval 15 2.4 Organisational setup of the federal Curriculum Wing 15 2.5 The provincial Bureaux of Curriculum and Education Extension Centre setup 15 2.6 Summary 16
Testosterone treatment and risk of venous thromboembolism: population based case-control study

Objective To determine the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with use of testosterone treatment in men, focusing particularly on the timing of the risk. Design Population based case-control study Setting 370 general practices in UK primary care with linked hospital discharge diagnoses and in-hospital procedures and information on all cause mortality. Participants 19 215 patients with confirmed venous thromboembolism (comprising deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and 909 530 age matched controls from source population including more than 2.22 million men between January 2001 and May 2013. Exposure of interest Three mutually exclusive testosterone exposure groups were identified: current treatment, recent (but not current) treatment, and no treatment in the previous two years. Current treatment was subdivided into duration of more or less than six months. Main outcome measure Rate ratios of venous thromboembolism in association with current testosterone treatment compared with no treatment were estimated using conditional logistic regression and adjusted for comorbidities and all matching factors. Results The adjusted rate ratio of venous thromboembolism was 1.25 (95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.66) for current versus no testosterone treatment. In the first six months of testosterone treatment, the rate ratio of venous thromboembolism was 1.63 (1.12 to 2.37), corresponding to 10.0 (1.9 to 21.6) additional venous thromboembolisms above the base rate of 15.8 per 10 000 person years. The rate ratio after more than six months’ treatment was 1.00 (0.68 to 1.47), and after treatment cessation it was 0.68 (0.43 to 1.07). Increased rate ratios within the first six months of treatment were observed in all strata: the rate ratio was 1.52 (0.94 to 2.46) for patients with pathological hypogonadism and 1.88 (1.02 to 3.45) for those without it, and 1.41 (0.82 to 2.41) for those with a known risk factor for venous thromboembolism and 1.91 (1.13 to 3.23) for those without one. Conclusions Starting testosterone treatment was associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, which peaked within six months and declined thereafter.
Deeper integration and productivity: The Swedish food and beverage sector

Abstract This paper investigates productivity developments in the Swedish food and beverage sector during a period characterized by deeper integration with the EU. Detailed firm level data is used to estimate firm-level TFP, which is aggregated to a sector level and thereafter decomposed into two components. One measures the unweighted productivity average while the other reveals the effect of different developments of heterogeneous firms on aggregated TFP. The expected productivity growth does not reveal itself on a sector level. However, a finer division of the food and beverage sector reveals productivity growth in five out of ten sub-industries, and an improved resource allocation among firms within sub-industries explains most of the productivity growth. Growing industries are relatively successful on the international market, while sub-industries lacking growth are characterized by weak capital utilization.
GABAergic projections from the hippocampus to the retrosplenial cortex in the rat

The retrosplenial cortex (RS) in rats has been implicated in a wide range of behaviors, including spatial navigation and memory. Relevant to this, the RS is closely interconnected with the hippocampus by multiple direct and indirect routes. Here, by injecting the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B conjugated with Alexa488 (CTB‐Alexa488) in the granular retrosplenial cortex (GRS), we demonstrate a moderately dense non‐pyramidal projection from CA1. Neurons are in several layers, but mainly (about 65%) at the border of the stratum radiatum (SR) and stratum lacunosum moleculare (SLM). In particular, by double‐labeling with GAD67 or γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), we establish that these neurons are GABAergic. Further immunocytochemical screening for calcium‐binding proteins, somatostatin (SS) or cholecystokinin (CCK) failed to identify additional neurochemical subgroups; but a small subset (about 14%) is positive for the m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2R). Terminations target layer 1 of the GRS, as shown by biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) injections into CA1 and confirmed by a very superficial injection of CTB‐Alexa488 in GRS. The superficial injection shows that there is a sparse GABAergic projection from the subiculum to layer 1 of the GRS, in addition to the dense excitatory connections to layer 3. The role of these dual inhibitory–excitatory pathways − within the subiculum, and in parallel from CA1 and the subiculum − remains to be determined, but may be related to synchronized oscillatory activity in the hippocampal complex and GRS, or to the generation of rhythmic activity within the GRS.
Linking HRM and knowledge transfer via individual‐level mechanisms

In response to recent calls for more research on micro-foundations, we seek to link human resource management (HRM) and knowledge transfer through individual-level mechanisms, arguing that individual-level conditions of action influence the extent to which employees engage in knowledge exchange. We examine four such conditions empirically using data from 811 employees in three Danish multinational corporations (MNCs). Our findings suggest that individual-level perceptions of organizational commitment to knowledge sharing, and extrinsic motivation, directly influence the extent to which employees engage in firm-internal knowledge exchange. We also find that intrinsic motivation and engagement in social interaction significantly mediate the relationship between perceived organizational commitment and knowledge exchange. Given that HRM can influence such conditions through an overall signaling effect and various practices, an understanding of these micro-foundations will shed light on how organizations can effectively enhance knowledge transfer through HRM. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gluttony and Sloth: Symptoms of Trouble or Signs of Bliss? A Theory of Choice in the Presence of Behavioral Adjustment Costs

Abstract We present a model in which agents value food, leisure and health, and take into account how their food consumption and leisure affect their health. Drawing insights from behavioral psychology and medical practice, agents face adjustment costs in choosing consumption and leisure. We find that recent increases in obesity rates are not cause for concern from either the standpoint of individually assessed well-being, nor necessarily of the medical practitioner. However, the fact that agents who hope to adjust their lifestyles face adjustment costs indicates that there is potential for policy in increasing individual welfare: first, by taking measures that may decrease the incidence of supra-optimal consumption and leisure and, second, by taking measures that may facilitate behavioral change. However, it must be recognized, especially in the latter case, public policy may be limited by diverse circumstances faced by individuals that will not be amenable to general "one-size-fits-all" types of policies.
The Combination of the Selective Cyclooxygenase‐2 Inhibitor Celecoxib with Weekly Paclitaxel Is a Safe and Active Second‐Line Therapy for Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase II Study with Biological Correlates

PURPOSEThe selection of effective schedules of treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer still remains a challenge for the oncologist. The present multicentric phase II study was designed in order to investigate the activity and safety of the combination of weekly paclitaxel and celecoxib as second-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. As a secondary endpoint, the possible correlation of biomarkers with objective response was investigated in a subset of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients with platinum-refractory non-small cell lung cancer and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–2 entered the present phase II study. Paclitaxel was administered at the dose of 80 mg/m2 i.v. weekly for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest, and celecoxib, 400 mg p.o. b.i. d. administered continuously. A cycle consisted of 8 weeks of treatment. Determination of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin 6 was performed at baseline and every two cycles. RESULTSFifty-eight patients were enrolled: median age, 60 years (range, 30–77 years); male/female ratio = 44/14; performance status, 0, 31 patients; 1, 25 patients; and 2, two patients. Predominant histotype was adenocarcinoma (34 cases), and most patients had at least two sites of disease. According to the intent-to-treat analysis, 14/58 objective responses (24.1%) and 24/58 (41.3%) stabilizations of disease were observed, with a median duration of 4 months (range, 2–22+ months) and 5 months (range, 1–13 months), respectively. Median time to progression and median overall survival were 5 and 11 months, respectively. One-year survival was 42.5%. The main toxicity was neuropathy (4% of grade 3). Preliminary results suggest that decrease in serum vascular endothelial growth factor level is significantly associated with clinical response. DISCUSSIONCombination of celecoxib and weekly paclitaxel is a safe and active new regimen in pretreated non-small cell lung cancer. Toxicity appears not to be worsened by the addition of celecoxib. According to preliminary results, serum vascular endothelial growth factor level seems to be predictive of response, suggesting that it should be further investigated as a surrogate marker of response.
Financial Advice and Individual Investor Portfolio Performance

This paper investigates whether financial advisers add value to individual investors’ portfolio decisions by comparing portfolios of advised and self-directed (execution-only) Dutch individual investors. The results indicate significant differences in characteristics and portfolios between these investor groups, but no evidence of differences in risk-adjusted performance. The findings indicate that portfolios of advised investors are better diversified and carry significantly less idiosyncratic risk. In addition, evidence from an analysis of investors who switch to advice taking indicates that these findings (at least in part) reflect the effect of advisory intervention.
AMP-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Activation by Resveratrol Modulates Amyloid-β Peptide Metabolism*

Alzheimer disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide deposition into cerebral amyloid plaques. The natural polyphenol resveratrol promotes anti-aging pathways via the activation of several metabolic sensors, including the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Resveratrol also lowers Aβ levels in cell lines; however, the underlying mechanism responsible for this effect is largely unknown. Moreover, the bioavailability of resveratrol in the brain remains uncertain. Here we show that AMPK signaling controls Aβ metabolism and mediates the anti-amyloidogenic effect of resveratrol in non-neuronal and neuronal cells, including in mouse primary neurons. Resveratrol increased cytosolic calcium levels and promoted AMPK activation by the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β. Direct pharmacological and genetic activation of AMPK lowered extracellular Aβ accumulation, whereas AMPK inhibition reduced the effect of resveratrol on Aβ levels. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited the AMPK target mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) to trigger autophagy and lysosomal degradation of Aβ. Finally, orally administered resveratrol in mice was detected in the brain where it activated AMPK and reduced cerebral Aβ levels and deposition in the cortex. These data suggest that resveratrol and pharmacological activation of AMPK have therapeutic potential against Alzheimer disease.
The management and social science literatures: An interdisciplinary cross-citation analysis

A method is proposed for measuring interdisciplinary relations in scientific literature based on cross citation among core journals empirically selected on the basis of use and importance. The method is used to test hypotheses derived from a bibliometric definition of interdisciplinarity among the management and social science literatures. The results reveal that the management literature is dependent on the social sciences, that it is more dependent on them than vice versa, and that it is more dependent on them than they are on each other.
Vitamin Deficiency After Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Review

More than 60% of the adult US population now meets the criteria for being overweight or obese. Gastric bypass surgery has become a popular and effective way to combat this medical problem. Despite the success of these procedures, they are associated with many complications, including malnutrition, neurological compromise, and vitamin deficiency. Research has determined that even with multivitamin supplementation for life, a large percentage of bypass patients develop vitamin deficiencies. We present a case of beriberi after Roux-en-Y bypass that illustrates the importance of close follow up. A thorough review of vitamin deficiencies in this unique patient population is explored. Vitamin supplementation and treatment recommendations are compiled from the most up-to-date sources. Even patients on regular supplements should be closely monitored for vitamin deficiencies. Patient education regarding vitamin supplementation is vital; it should begin prior to surgery and continue throughout the postoperative period and beyond.
The Influence of Improvements in Accounting Standards on Earnings Management: The Case of IFRS

type="main"> This article examines the effect of improvements in the quality of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the level of earnings management. In order to achieve this aim, we study the accounting quality of German listed companies through discretionary accruals yielded from 1998 to 2006. We assess the effectiveness of efforts by the International Accounting Standards Board to improve IFRS by using two indices that consider the revision process of the standards, and their mandatory application. Our results indicate that the improvement of accounting standards quality significantly reduces the level of reported negative discretionary accruals of the German listed firms during the period of analysis, once incentive variables are controlled. Further, companies gradually assume the quality of the new standards from the moment they can be voluntarily applied.
Birth weight of infants with cleft lip and palate. A preliminary report.

Comparison of the birth weights of 1088 children with cleft lip and palate with those of an unselected material of the same population from the same period showed that in the anomalous group the birth weights were definitely sub-average and the relative number of prematures (≤ 2500 g) distinctly higher. The differences were statistically highly significant. Birth weight seemed to be correlated with the severity of the anomaly, possibly also with its mechanism of production.
Construction of Individual Morphological Brain Networks with Multiple Morphometric Features

In recent years, researchers have increased attentions to the morphological brain network, which is generally constructed by measuring the mathematical correlation across regions using a certain morphometric feature, such as regional cortical thickness and voxel intensity. However, cerebral structure can be characterized by various factors, such as regional volume, surface area, and curvature. Moreover, most of the morphological brain networks are population-based, which has limitations in the investigations of individual difference and clinical applications. Hence, we have extended previous studies by proposing a novel method for realizing the construction of an individual-based morphological brain network through a combination of multiple morphometric features. In particular, interregional connections are estimated using our newly introduced feature vectors, namely, the Pearson correlation coefficient of the concatenation of seven morphometric features. Experiments were performed on a healthy cohort of 55 subjects (24 males aged from 20 to 29 and 31 females aged from 20 to 28) each scanned twice, and reproducibility was evaluated through test–retest reliability. The robustness of morphometric features was measured firstly to select the more reproducible features to form the connectomes. Then the topological properties were analyzed and compared with previous reports of different modalities. Small-worldness was observed in all the subjects at the range of the entire network sparsity (20–40%), and configurations were comparable with previous findings at the sparsity of 23%. The spatial distributions of the hub were found to be significantly influenced by the individual variances, and the hubs obtained by averaging across subjects and sparsities showed correspondence with previous reports. The intraclass coefficient of graphic properties (clustering coefficient = 0.83, characteristic path length = 0.81, betweenness centrality = 0.78) indicates the robustness of the present method. Results demonstrate that the multiple morphometric features can be applied to form a rational reproducible individual-based morphological brain network.
Lithium Attenuates IFN-β Production and Antiviral Response via Inhibition of TANK-Binding Kinase 1 Kinase Activity

Lithium salt is a widely used glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitor and effective drug for the treatment of psychiatric diseases. However, the effects of lithium in innate immune responses, especially in cellular antiviral responses, are unknown. In this study, we show that lithium chloride attenuates LPS-, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid–, and Sendai virus–induced IFN-β production and IFN regulatory factor 3 activation in macrophages in a glycogen synthase kinase-3β–independent manner. The ability of the lithium to inhibit IFN-β production was confirmed in vivo, as mice treated with lithium chloride exhibited decreased levels of IFN-β upon Sendai virus infection. In vitro kinase assay demonstrates that lithium suppresses TANK-binding kinase 1 kinase activity. Consistently, lithium significantly enhanced the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus in vitro and in vivo. Severe infiltration of monocytes and tissue damage were observed in the lungs of control mice, compared with lithium-treated mice after virus infection. Our findings suggest lithium as an inhibitor of TANK-binding kinase 1 and potential target for the intervention of diseases with uncontrolled IFN-β production. Furthermore, lithium attenuates host defense to virus infection and may cause severely adverse effects in clinical applications.
A theory of debt and equity: diversity of securities and manager-shareholder congruence

This paper shows how the optimal financial structure of a firm complements incentive schemes to discipline managers, and how the securities’ return streams determine the claim-holders’ incentives to intervene in management. The theory rationalizes (1) the multipUcity of securities, (2) the observed correlation between return streams and control rights of securities, and (3) the partial congruence between managerial and equity-holder preferences over policy choices and monetary rewards as well as the low level of interference of equity in management. The theory also offers new prospects for a reappraisal of the earlier corporate finance literature.
Roads to Prosperity?: Assessing the Link Between Public Capital and Productivity

At a macroeconomic level, infrastructure and productivity are positively correlated in the United States and other countries. However, it remains unclear whether this correlation reflects causation, and if so, whether causation runs from infrastructure to productivity, or the reverse. This paper focuses on roads, and finds that vehicle-intensive industries benefit disproportionately from road-building: when road growth changes, productivity growth changes more in industries that are more vehicle intensive. These results suggest that causation runs from infrastructure to productivity. However, there is no evidence that at the margin, roads offer an above-average return; road-building in essence offered a one-time boost to the level of productivity in the 1950s and 1960s. Finally, it appears that congestion significantly affects road-services at the margin, although congestion does not appear important before 1973.
R U There? Ostracism by Cell Phone Text Messages.

Ostracism has a powerful negative effect on individuals. Face-to-face (i.e., social) ostracism is not necessary for these effects to emerge; they occur also in Internet ball toss games and within chat rooms. In previous research, ostracized individuals observed the interaction between other members of a group. In this experiment, the authors tested whether imagined ostracism is sufficient to inflict psychological pain. They used a triadic cell phone text-messaging method such that after initial inclusion in a conversation, participants either continued to be included or received no further messages from the others (and saw no messages between the others). Ostracized participants reported worse mood; reported lower state levels of belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence; and wrote more provoking messages.
Competition and Participation, but No Democracy: The Politics of Elections in Africa ́s Feckless Regimes

Competition and Participation, but No Democracy. The Politics of Elections in Africa s Feckless Regimes The majority of African regimes combine autocratic practices with formal democratic contestation and the electoral cycle – from the setting of the electoral rules through campaigns and actual voting – has become part of the mechanics by which political leaders remain in power. In this article the focus is placed on “feckless pluralist regimes”, in which power is contested, yet the political systems cannot be characterized as democracies. Questioning approaches that equate electoral victories with democratization and the belief that repeated elections over time will lead to democratization, the paper argues that, in feckless pluralist regimes, competitive elections and power alternation have not induced political leaders to carry out programs for development and change. The concept of feckless pluralism is illustrated by a case study of electoral politics in Malawi where, in a never-ending process, the next electoral cycle begins as the votes are counted in the previous one.