Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Task Repetition on Fluency And Accuracy of EFL Saudi Female Learners' Oral Performance

This study aimed to examine the effect of task repetition on foreign language output. Twenty eight Saudi female students in the Preparatory Year (PY) at King Saud university, were randomly selected to conduct an oral information-gap task. The participants were asked to perform the task two times with two-week interval between the two performances. The oral performances were transcribed and analyzed to measure fluency and accuracy of language output. The collected data were coded for the two dimensions of oral production (fluency and accuracy), based on the established criteria. A within group dependent t-test for paired samples was computed to find out whether there were significant differences between the mean scores of the first and the second performances. The findings revealed that task repetition resulted in significant differences in the subjects’ oral discourse in terms of fluency and accuracy. The findings of the current study recommend that researchers and teachers might find it very beneficial to devote some of their time to design effective task repetition to help language learners improve their oral production.
Using Focus Groups to Revise an Educational Booklet for People Living With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

The incidence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has grown in epidemic proportions; in many individuals, MRSA causes recurrent infections. MRSA infections can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact or contact with contaminated objects. Once confined to hospitalized individuals, MRSA is now seen in otherwise healthy individuals and congregate community settings. There is a demand for educational materials to guide MRSA patients in self-care, preventing recurrences, and reducing transmission. In 2004, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in Washington State led the effort to create an educational booklet for people with MRSA. Due to resource constraints, it was created without audience testing. In 2005, the revision of Living With MRSA involved audience testing using two focus groups comprising people living with MRSA and their families. This report describes the work of an interdisciplinary professional work group using focus groups to revise an educational booklet for people living with MRSA as patients, family members, and caregivers.
Temporal stability of music perception and appraisal scores of adult cochlear implant recipients.

BACKGROUND An extensive body of literature indicates that cochlear implants (CIs) are effective in supporting speech perception of persons with severe to profound hearing losses who do not benefit to any great extent from conventional hearing aids. Adult CI recipients tend to show significant improvement in speech perception within 3 mo following implantation as a result of mere experience. Furthermore, CI recipients continue to show modest improvement as long as 5yr postimplantation. In contrast, data taken from single testing protocols of music perception and appraisal indicate that CIs are less than ideal in transmitting important structural features of music, such as pitch, melody, and timbre. However, there is presently little information documenting changes in music perception or appraisal over extended time as a result of mere experience. PURPOSE This study examined two basic questions: (1) Do adult CI recipients show significant improvement in perceptual acuity or appraisal of specific music listening tasks when tested in two consecutive years? (2) If there are tasks for which CI recipients show significant improvement with time, are there particular demographic variables that predict those CI recipients most likely to show improvement with extended CI use? RESEARCH DESIGN A longitudinal cohort study. Implant recipients return annually for visits to the clinic. STUDY SAMPLE The study included 209 adult cochlear implant recipients with at least 9 mo implant experience before their first year measurement. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Outcomes were measured on the patient's annual visit in two consecutive years. Paired t-tests were used to test for significant improvement from one year to the next. Those variables demonstrating significant improvement were subjected to regression analyses performed to detect the demographic variables useful in predicting said improvement. RESULTS There were no significant differences in music perception outcomes as a function of type of device or processing strategy used. Only familiar melody recognition (FMR) and recognition of melody excerpts with lyrics (MERT-L) showed significant improvement from one year to the next. After controlling for the baseline value, hearing aid use, months of use, music listening habits after implantation, and formal musical training in elementary school were significant predictors of FMR improvement. Bilateral CI use, formal musical training in high school and beyond, and a measure of sequential cognitive processing were significant predictors of MERT-L improvement. CONCLUSION These adult CI recipients as a result of mere experience demonstrated fairly consistent music perception and appraisal on measures gathered in two consecutive years. Gains made tend to be modest, and can be associated with characteristics such as use of hearing aids, listening experiences, or bilateral use (in the case of lyrics). These results have implications for counseling of CI recipients with regard to realistic expectations and strategies for enhancing music perception and enjoyment.
Immunohistochemical profiling of Ameloblastomas using cytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, CD34 and S100

Background: Ameloblastoma is characterized as a slow growing, non-metastatic and a locally invasive tumor with a high risk of recurrence. Immunohistochemical evaluation of ameloblastomas using epithelial and connective tissue specific markers help in studying the histogenesis and assessing the biological behavior. The aim of the study was to study the expression patterns of cytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), S100 and CD34 in ameloblastomas. Materials and Methods: The material for the study consisted of 24 cases of ameloblastomas. The excised specimens were grossed and bits were taken from different areas of the specimen. Based on the histopathology, the cases were classified into different types and stained for immunohistochemistry. Results: The cases showed strong positivity to cytokeratin, vimentin, moderate positivity for SMA and S100. Five cases were also moderately positive for CD34 in blood vessels. Conclusion: The results and hypothesis achieved from the study, proved to be consistent, not only augmenting the already existing hypothesis but also imparting new concepts of hypothesis.
Comparison of Ultrasound and MRI for the Diagnosis of Glenohumeral Dysplasia in Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

Background: In this study, we investigated the agreement between measurements made on ultrasound and those made on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of glenohumeral dysplasia resulting from brachial plexus birth palsy. Methods: Thirty-nine patients (14 male and 25 female) with brachial plexus birth palsy were evaluated at 2 tertiary care centers. All patients underwent ultrasonography and MRI for suspected glenohumeral dysplasia. Studies were obtained at an average of 2 months apart (range, 0 to 6 months). The average patient age at the time of the initial imaging study was 20 months (range, 4 to 54 months). Four blinded independent evaluators measured the alpha angle, the posterior humeral head displacement (PHHD), and glenoid version on both the ultrasound and MRI study for each patient. The percentage of the humeral head anterior to the scapular axis (PHHA) was determined on MRI only. Measurements were obtained on OsiriX software (Pixmeo). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess the intrarater and interrater reliability, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare MRI and ultrasound measurement agreement. Results: We found excellent interrater reliability for measurements of the alpha angle on MRI, glenoid version on MRI, and the alpha angle on ultrasound (ICC: 0.83, 0.75, and 0.78, respectively). The interrater reliability for the PHHD on both MRI and ultrasound was good (ICC: 0.70 and 0.68, respectively), and the interrater reliability for the PHHA on MRI was fair (ICC: 0.57). However, the interrater reliability for glenoid version on ultrasound was poor (ICC: 0.30). Relative to MRI measurements, ultrasound measurements were found to underestimate the alpha angle and glenoid version by an average of 13° ± 23° and 6° ± 17°, respectively, and overestimate the PHHD by an average of 4% ± 20%. Increasing patient age corresponded with a significant increase in the MRI-ultrasound measurement difference for the alpha angle (p < 0.01) and a marginally significant increase in the difference for the PHHD (p < 0.06). Conclusions: Measurements on MRI and ultrasound were reliable, with measured bias. The poor agreement between measurements on MRI and ultrasound calls into question the validity of using ultrasonography as a stand-alone modality in the evaluation of glenohumeral dysplasia. MRI remains the gold standard for fully evaluating the glenohumeral joint. The clinical role of ultrasonography may be that of a screening tool or a way of evaluating joint reduction in real time. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Mediates Sodium Induced Changes in Cardiovascular and Renal Function in Conscious Sheep

The contribution of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in mediating cardiovascular, renal, hormonal and sympathetic nerve responses to increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [Na] was investigated in conscious sheep. ICV hypertonic NaCl (0.5 mol/L, 20 μL/min for 60 min) increased arterial blood pressure (+13.4 mmHg SD 2.0, P<0.001, AP) and central venous pressure (+2.8 mmHg SD 1.3, P<0.001, CVP), but did not significantly change heart rate or cardiac output (n=6). Elevated CSF-[Na] also lowered plasma angiotensin II levels (-3.3 SD 1.6 pmol/L, P=0.004, Ang II), and increased creatinine clearance (+31.5 SD 32.7 ml/min, P=0.03) and renal sodium excretion (+9.2 SD 9.2 mmol/h, P=0.003). Lidocaine injection (1μL, 2%) into the PVN prior to the ICV infusion had no apparent effect, but it abolished the AP, CVP, creatinine clearance and Ang II responses to hypertonic NaCl, as well as reducing the increase in renal sodium excretion (n=6). Subsequent studies were performed in conscious sheep with chronically implanted electrodes for measurement of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). The effects of ICV hypertonic NaCl on AP and RSNA were measured before and after PVN-injection of glycine (250 nmol in 500 nL aCSF). ICV NaCl increased AP and decreased RSNA (P<0.001). These effects were significantly reduced by glycine (P=0.02-0.001, n=5). Saline injected in the PVN (n=5) or lidocaine injected outside the PVN (n=6) had no effect on the response to ICV hypertonic NaCl. These results indicate that the PVN is an important mediator of cerebrally induced homeostatic responses to elevated sodium concentration/hyperosmolality.
The Structure of a Causal Relationship among People's Actual Feelings on "Physical Fitness" of Children

Physical fi tness (PF) of chi ldren has been actively discussed in recent years. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has been developing measures focusing on improvement of PF of children since 2003 in response to an inquiry by the Central Council for Education on "Comprehensive Measures to Improve the Physical Fitness of Children" (September, 2002) (Hibino, 2004). Meanwhile, since its revision in early 1970’s, the Government Guideline for Teaching in Japan has been consistently using the expression "improvement o f P F " b o t h i n t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f P h y s i c a l Education/Health and Physical Education and in a newly added Section 3: Physical Education of Chapter 1: General Rules. This means that we have been trying to improve PF of children for more than thirty years through total activities of Japanese school education. Part of the achievements in practice of "PF promotion" can be verifi ed from results of the PF & motor ability (MA) test, which has been annually carried out and controlled by MEXT since 1964. Data of the PF/MA test have received international recogni t ion . The da ta permi t ted ex tens ive examination of the change in Japanese children’s PF and MA (Nishijima, et al., 2001, 2003; Noi and Masaki, 2002). The fi ndings from the total scores of the PF/MA test in reports have demonstrated: 1) general PF/MA of Japanese children tended to improve from the start of the survey to around early 1970’s; 2) it showed marginal changes from the early 1970’s to around 1985 to 1990; 3) after that, it was shifting down until 1997 when the survey items were changed; 4) from 1998 to the present, as observed The Structure of a Causal Relationship among People’s Actual Feelings on “Physical Fitness” of Children
The validity of employment interviews: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analytic review presents the findings of a project investigating the validity of the employment interview. Analyses are based on 245 coefficients derived from 86,311 individuals. Results show that interview validity depends on the content of the interview (situational, job related, or psychological), how the interview is conducted (structured vs. unstructured; board vs. individual), and the nature of the criterion (job performance, training performance, and tenure; research or administrative ratings). Situational interviews had higher validity than did job-related interviews, which, in turn, had higher validity than did psychologically based interviews. Structured interviews were found to have higher validity than unstructured interviews. Interviews showed similar validity for job performance and training performance criteria, but validity for the tenure criteria was lower. The interview is a selection procedure designed to predict future job performance on the basis of applicants' oral responses to oral inquiries. Interviews are one of the most frequently used selection procedures, perhaps because of their intuitive appeal for hiring authorities. Ulrich and Trumbo (1965) surveyed 852 organizations and found that 99% of them used interviews as a selection tool. Managers and personnel officials, especially those who are interviewers, tend to believe that the interview is valid for predicting future job performance. In this article, we quantitatively cumulate and summarize research on the criterion-related validity of the employment interview. Our purpose in this article is threefold. First, we summarize past narrative and quantitative reviews of criterion-related validity studies of the employment interview. Second, we report research that extends knowledge of the criterion-related validity of interviews through meta-analyses conducted on a more comprehensive database than has been available to earlier investigators. Third, we examine the criterion-related validity of different categories of interviews that vary in type and in structure.
Cultural geographies of migration: mobility, transnationality and diaspora

As part of my last report on cultural geographies of home I addressed recent research on transnational geographies of home and family life for domestic and other migrant workers. Building on this my current report concentrates on recent cultural geographical research on migration in relation to broader debates about mobility transnationality and diaspora. I begin by tracing some of the connections between cultural geographies of migration and what has been termed the new mobilities paradigm and the mobility turn. To do so I trace some of the creative interfaces between work on mobilities and migrations before turning to cultural geographies of migration in relation to transnational citizenship urbanism and networks and to cultural politics and practices in diaspora. (excerpt)
Consumer's Reactions to Natural, Atypically Colored Foods: An Investigation Using Blue Potatoes

This study's aim was to investigate a consumer's reactions to foods that are naturally atypically colored. Blue potatoes were used, and we characterized consumers who chose either familiar, yellow potatoes, or unfamiliar, blue potatoes. Volunteers (n = 235) were asked to rate their perceptions after tasting blue or yellow potato salad by using an 8-point Likert scale. Second, they were asked to choose between yellow and blue potatoes and argue their choice. Subgroups were classified into “yellow potato choosers” (64.7% of participants) and “blue potato choosers” (28.1% of participants) and each evaluated yellow potato salad quite equally, but “yellow potato choosers” rated blue potato salad lower than “blue potato choosers. ” “Blue potato choosers” tended to be more neophilic and middle-aged compared to “yellow potato choosers. ” “Yellow potato choosers” were traditional consumers who chose yellow potatoes because of their taste and familiarity. “Blue potato choosers” tended to be more hedonistic and variety-seeking as their willingness to try new things and appearance of food seemed to be important factors behind their choice of atypically colored blue potatoes. Practical Applications This study demonstrated that an atypical color of an ordinary food product (potatoes) affected participants’ perceptions and choice in consumer research. Although most consumers preferred typically colored yellow potatoes, over a quarter of the participants were willing to choose blue potatoes. Quite differently behaving consumer groups were found by segmentation of the volunteers according to their choice between yellow and blue potatoes. For instance, naturalness is generally considered as one of the key attributes behind food choice, but among “blue potato choosers” in our study it was not an important factor behind their potato choice. Our findings can assist food scientists and product developers in understanding the impact of an atypical color – and more widely nonfamiliar characteristics present in foods – on the perception of food and food choice.
Time of day influences the environmental effects on muscle force and contractility.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of environmental temperature and the diurnal increase in body temperature on muscle contractile processes, 11 male subjects performed maximal and submaximal isometric contractions of the knee extensors with recording of the electromyographic activity in four different conditions (morning/neutral, morning/moderately warm and humid, afternoon/neutral, and afternoon/moderately warm and humid). METHODS The morning experiments were conducted between 0700 and 1900 h, and the afternoon experiments were conducted between 0500 and 0700 h. The mean laboratory temperatures and humidity were 20.5 (+/-1) degrees C + 67 (+/-4)% and 29.5 (+/-0.8) degrees C + 74 (+/-10)% for the neutral and moderately warm and humid conditions, respectively. RESULTS Results showed a significant diurnal increase in both rectal and skin temperatures whatever the environmental conditions, and an increase in the skin temperature after a 60-min moderately warm exposure. The major finding of this study was an interaction effect of time of day and environmental conditions on the force/electromyographic activity ratio. That suggests that skeletal muscle contractility was differently increased by the passive warm-up effect of a moderately warm exposure, depending on the diurnal variation in body temperature. This conclusion is supported by an increase in force in the morning only after a 60-min warm exposure (+19%) and in a neutral environment only with the diurnal increase in body temperature (+12%). CONCLUSION In summary, our data showed that both the warm exposure and the diurnal increase in body temperature influence muscle contractility and consequently muscle strength. However, the improvement in muscle contractility after these two passive warm-ups cannot be combined in order to improve force to a greater level.
The Headache Self‐Efficacy Scale: Adaptation to Recurrent Headaches

SYNOPSISThis paper describes the development, construct and discriminant validity, and incremental utility of a headache self‐efficacy scale. The Headache Self‐Efficacy Scale is a 51 item scale designed specifically for recurrent headache sufferers. It assesses individuals' belief that they are able to do the things necessary to prevent a moderately painful headache when confronted with personally relevant headache precipitants. High self‐efficacy was associated with less depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms, and less use of passive coping strategies (P<.01), even when headache frequency, intensity and chronicity were controlled statistically. Self‐efficacy also explained unique variance in psychological and somatic symptoms beyond that explained by locus of control and general self‐efficacy. These findings suggest that adaptation to headaches is influenced by self‐efficacy beliefs, and that the assessment of self‐efficacy may provide useful information in the evaluation of recurrent headache sufferers.
The Roles of the Family and the Welfare State

Swedish family policies are integrated within a general welfare policy where the state has acquired a significant responsibility for the welfare of individuals, independent of family membership. A common assumption is that the state has contributed to weakening the sense of personal and family responsibility in Swedish families. In this article, the interrelationship between public and private financial support is investigated as are some dimensions of practical help. Drawing on results of a survey carried out in 2001 in Sweden comprising 2666 individuals, this article explores financial support and practical help between family members of different generations. The article presents results regarding the prevalence of private financial support, attitudes to giving support and motives for giving and receiving financial support. The sample, aged from 18 to over 65 years old, was drawn from a public database providing longitudinal data (1993—2001) on public transfers. The respondents supplied information about private transfers given and received over a period of five years. The survey data and the register information from the database make up the full data set.
Spatial patterns of internal migration: Evidence for ethnic groups in Britain

Internal migration is responsible for the changing geography of Britain's ethnic group populations. Although this changing geography is at the centre of heated debates of social policy, relatively little is known about the internal migration behaviour of different ethnic groups. This paper reviews existing evidence and analyses 1991 and 2001 Census data to provide an overview of patterns and trends in the geographies of migration for each ethnic group. It finds that counter-urbanisation is common to all ethnic groups except Chinese. Both White and minority groups have on balance moved from the most non-White areas in similar proportions, with some exceptions including White movement into the most concentrated Black areas, and Chinese movement towards its own urban concentrations. ‘White flight’ is not an appropriate term to describe White movement, nor to explain the growth of ethnically diverse urban areas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.