Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Putting feedback‐seeking into “context”: job characteristics and feedback‐seeking behaviour

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of job characteristics on feedback‐seeking behaviour. In particular, this study focuses on the job dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM). Design/methodology/approach – A survey was completed by 113 full‐time employees from various industries.Findings – Three of the seven job dimensions significantly impacted feedback‐seeking behaviour and explained 11.3 percent of the variance. Feedback‐seeking behaviour was increased by feedback from agents, decreased by task identity and autonomy, and unaffected by skill variety, task significance, feedback from the job, and feedback from others.Practical implications – The way jobs are designed may impact how frequently people seek feedback about their performance. Organizations should consider these relationships in promoting feedback‐seeking behaviour in the workplace and in carrying out job redesign efforts.Originality/value – By considering job characteristics, this study increases the knowledge.
GOING CASHLESS: ADOPTION OF MOBILE BANKING IN NIGERIA

The Central Bank of Nigeria recently introduced the cashless policy to reduce the volume of cash used for business transactions and thereby reduce cash handling costs by banks amongst other objectives. The success of this policy is dependent on the development and adoption of alternative payment options by bank customers, one of which is mobile banking. However, in spite of the potentials of the use of M-banking in Nigeria, its usage is still low; This study investigates the determinants of the adoption of mobile banking in Nigeria using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory in addition to age and educational background as framework. A total of two hundred copies of a questionnaire were distributed to bank customers in Lagos to elicit data on and determine the effect of relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, observability, trialability, age and educational background on adoption of mobile banking. Using simple frequency count, Cronbach’s alpha and multiple regression analysis, it was discovered that each of these dependent variables influence the adoption of mobile banking. It was therefore recommended that relevant stakeholders should pay adequate attention to the relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability and observability of the use of mbanking so as to increase its usage.
Thinking together: What makes Communities of Practice work?

In this article, we develop the founding elements of the concept of Communities of Practice by elaborating on the learning processes happening at the heart of such communities. In particular, we provide a consistent perspective on the notions of knowledge, knowing and knowledge sharing that is compatible with the essence of this concept – that learning entails an investment of identity and a social formation of a person. We do so by drawing richly from the work of Michael Polanyi and his conception of personal knowledge, and thereby we clarify the scope of Communities of Practice and offer a number of new insights into how to make such social structures perform well in professional settings. The conceptual discussion is substantiated by findings of a qualitative empirical study in the UK National Health Service. As a result, the process of ‘thinking together’ is conceptualized as a key part of meaningful Communities of Practice where people mutually guide each other through their understandings of the same problems in their area of mutual interest, and this way indirectly share tacit knowledge. The collaborative learning process of ‘thinking together’, we argue, is what essentially brings Communities of Practice to life and not the other way round.
Teacher Education, Community Service Learning and Student Efficacy for Community Engagement

The diversity of student backgrounds and the increasing number of school students from low socio-economic areas requires teachers to have an understanding of students' worlds and to be committed to social justice both within school structures and curriculum as well as in the life of the wider community. In this context, community service learning for teacher education students is becoming increasingly important. Social engagement with marginalised people, however, such as that experienced during community service learning, can be confronting for students as it is usually outside their previous life experience. This article examines the role of community service learning within teacher education nationally and internationally. First, the article focuses on national and international perspectives regarding community engagement, teacher education and service learning. Next, the article describes three Australian case studies of community service learning as purposeful workplace learning. Finally, the article reports findings relating to student teachers' efficacy for community engagement from one of these case study sites. The article proposes that the role of community service learning must be at the centre of debates about how teacher education should be reformed. Further, the article argues that community engagement of staff and students is also an expression of the corporate citizenship of the university.
Perceived value of social networking sites (SNS) in students' expressive participation in social movements

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine the beliefs that influence university students to use social networking sites (SNS) for expressive participation in social movements. Design/methodology/approach – The original technology acceptance model (TAM), a quantitative methodological approach, and a survey were used to collect responses from 214 university students in Spain. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed relationships. Findings – Results confirm that the perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of SNS significantly affect a student's intention to use SNS for expressive social participation in social movements, with use intention significantly affecting actual participation. There was no significant moderating effect of students' gender on these relationships. Originality/value – Although there is much discussion in the popular press about how people use SNS, there is no published empirical research on the determinants that contribute to a person's in.
IL-10 Regulates Movement of Intestinally Derived CD4+ T Cells to the Liver1

Diseases that affect the intestine may have hepatic manifestations, but the mechanisms involved in establishing hepatic disease secondarily remain poorly understood. We previously reported that IL-10 knockout (KO) mice developed severe necrotizing hepatitis following oral infection with Trichinella spiralis. In this study, we used this model of intestinal inflammation to further examine the role of IL-10 in regulating hepatic injury. Hepatic damage was induced by migrating newborn larvae. By delivering the parasite directly into the portal vein, we demonstrated that an ongoing intestinal immune response was necessary for the development of hepatitis. Intestinally derived CD4+ cells increased in the livers of IL-10 KO mice, and Ab-mediated blockade of MAdCAM-1 inhibited the accumulation of CD4+α4β7+ cells in the liver. Moreover, adoptive transfer of intestinally primed CD4+ T cells from IL-10 KO mice caused hepatitis in infected immunodeficient animals. Conversely, transfer of wild-type donor cells reduced the severity of hepatic inflammation in IL-10 KO recipients, demonstrating regulatory activity. Our results revealed that IL-10 prevented migration of intestinal T cells to the liver and inhibited the development of hepatitis.
Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) Cognitive Processes as a Model for Intelligence

This paper proposes an alternative theory of cognitive processing to serve as a model for reconceptualizing intelligence and facilitate evolution in this important area. The Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) model, based on the work of A. R. Luria, is suggested as a broad conceptualization and framework for cognitive processing. Luria's view of these processes is presented in detail, as are experimental tasks developed by Das and Naglieri to measure these processes. An analysis of the WISC-R and K-ABC from the PASS model is provided to gain some understanding of what current tests measure. Factor analytic, criterion related and discriminant validation of the PASS model is presented, as are the current experimental tasks used in the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System. Finally, responses to some of the conference reviewers' comments are provided.
Dense and Overlapping Innervation of Pyramidal Neurons by Chandelier Cells

Chandelier (or axo-axonic) cells are a distinct group of GABAergic interneurons that innervate the axon initial segments of pyramidal cells and thus could have an important role controlling the activity of cortical circuits. To understand their connectivity, we labeled upper layers chandelier cells (ChCs) from mouse neocortex with a genetic strategy and studied how their axons contact local populations of pyramidal neurons, using immunohistochemical detection of axon initial segments. We studied ChCs located in the border of layers 1 and 2 from primary somatosensory cortex and found that practically all ChC axon terminals contact axon initial segments, with an average of three to five boutons per cartridge. By measuring the number of putative GABAergic synapses in initial segments, we estimate that each pyramidal neuron is innervated, on average, by four ChCs. Additionally, each individual ChC contacts 35–50% of pyramidal neurons within the areas traversed by its axonal arbor, with pockets of very high innervation density. Finally, ChCs have similar innervation patterns at different postnatal ages (P18–P90), with only relatively small lateral expansions of their arbor and increases in the total number of their cartridges during the developmental period analyzed. We conclude that ChCs innervate neighboring pyramidal neurons in a dense and overlapping manner, a connectivity pattern that could enable ChCs to exert a widespread influence on their local circuits.
Effects of Excessive Long-Term Exercise on Cardiac Function and Myocyte Remodeling in Hypertensive Heart Failure Rats

The long-term effects of exercise on cardiac function and myocyte remodeling in hypertension/progression of heart failure are poorly understood. We investigated whether exercise can attenuate pathological remodeling under hypertensive conditions. Fifteen female Spontaneously Hypertensive Heart Failure rats and 10 control rats were housed with running wheels beginning at 6 months of age. At 22 months of age, heart function of the trained rats was compared with heart function of age-matched sedentary hypertensive and control rats. Heart function was measured using echocardiography and left ventricular catheterization. Cardiac myocytes were isolated to measure cellular dimensions. Fetal gene expression was determined using Western blots. Exercise did not significantly impact myocyte remodeling or ventricular function in control animals. Sedentary hypertensive rats had significant chamber dilatation and cardiac hypertrophy. In exercised hypertensive rats, however, exercise time was excessive and resulted in a 21% increase in left ventricular diastolic dimension (P<0.001), a 24% increase in heart to body weight ratio (P<0.05), a 27% increase in left ventricular myocyte volume (P<0.01), a 13% reduction in ejection fraction (P<0.001), and a 22% reduction in fractional shortening (P<0.01) compared with sedentary hypertensive rats. Exercise resulted in greater fibrosis and did not prevent activation of the fetal gene program in hypertensive rats. We conclude that excessive exercise, in the untreated hypertensive state can have deleterious effects on cardiac remodeling and may actually accelerate the progression to heart failure.
Sexual Functioning, Beliefs About Sexual Functioning and Quality of Life of Women with Infertility Problems

Background: The study was conducted in the background of paucity of studies examining the sexual and psychosocial functioning of women with infertility. Aims: The study explored sexual functioning in women with infertility problems, their beliefs about sexuality and their quality of life. Settings and Design: A single group exploratory design with non-probability purposive sampling was used. A total of 30 participants diagnosed with primary infertility were included in the study. Materials and Methods: The data were obtained by individual administration of the following tools: Semi-structured interview schedule, Female Sexual Functioning Inventory, Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale − BREF Version and General Health Questionnaire-12. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Results: About half of the participants had sexual dysfunction. Pain-related problems were most commonly reported (50%). Factors contributing to dysfunction included inadequate knowledge about sex, sexual stimulation and sexual communication. Along with inadequate self-image, negative childhood experiences, financial difficulties and marital discord in parents influenced the perception of self. Majority of the women had dysfunctional beliefs about sexuality (56%), and greater beliefs were found to be in the domain of sexual conservatism. The overall quality of life was poor, and 56% of women experienced psychological distress. There was significant positive correlation between sexual conservatism and experience of pain and overall sexual functioning. Conclusion: Women with infertility bear dysfunctional beliefs and suffer from problems in sexual functioning, have low quality of life and high psychological distress.
Muslim Indonesia's Secular Democracy

After a decade of democracy, secular political parties dominate Muslim-majority Indonesia. Explanations include a historical pattern of religious pluralism, policies of President Suharto9s New Order, creative Muslim responses to those policies, a large majority of moderate Muslim voters, and ineffective voter mobilization by Islamist parties today.
Simple and Rapid Method To Determine Antimycobacterial Potency of Compounds by Using Autoluminescent Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT A major obstacle in the process of discovery of drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is its extremely slow growth rate and long generation time (∼20 to 24 h). Consequently, determination of MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of potential drug candidates using current methods requires 7 days (resazurin-based MIC assay [REMA]) and 1 month (CFU enumeration), respectively. We employed a synthetic luciferase operon optimized for expression in high-GC-content bacteria and adapted it for use in mycobacteria. Using luminescence-based readouts, we were able to determine the MICs and bactericidal activities of approved tuberculosis (TB) drugs, which correlated well with currently used methods. Although luminescence-based readouts have been used previously to determine the MICs and bactericidal activities of approved TB drugs, in this study we adapted this assay to carry out a pilot screen using a library of 1,114 compounds belonging to diverse chemical scaffolds. We found that MICs derived from a 3-day luminescence assay matched well with REMA-based MIC values. To determine the bactericidal potencies of compounds, a 1:10 dilution of the cultures from the MIC plate was carried out on day 7, and the bactericidal concentrations determined based on time to positivity in 2 weeks were found to be comparable with MBC values determined by the conventional CFU approach. Thus, the luminescent mycobacterium-based approach not only is very simple and inexpensive but also allowed us to generate the information in half the time required by conventional methods.
Do the attitudes and beliefs of young teenagers towards general practice influence actual consultation behaviour?

BACKGROUND Teenagers are believed to have health concerns that are not adequately addressed in primary care because of perceived barriers that inhibit them from consulting a general practitioner (GP). We report the results of a study examining links between potential attitudinal barriers and actual help-seeking behaviour. AIM To determine whether the attitudes of teenagers towards general practice are associated with differences in consultation patterns. METHOD Results of a postal questionnaire survey of attitudes to general practice, performed among teenage patients aged 13 to 15 years registered with five general practices in the East Midlands, were analysed in relation to consultation data from retrospective casenote analysis for the preceding 12 months. RESULTS Matched questionnaire and consultation data were available for 678 teenagers. We found few significant differences in overall consultation rates between teenagers expressing differing attitudes about aspects of general practice. Differences did exist in relation to perceived difficulty in getting an appointment, feeling able to confide in a GP, and perception of adequate time being given in the consultation. Fear of embarrassment was associated with lower consultation rates for gynaecological problems and contraception. CONCLUSIONS Negative perceptions of general practice by teenagers may have less of an influence on actual consultation behaviour than previously believed. However, there are some aspects of care that merit further attention if teenagers are to feel able to consult their GP more easily.
Occupational Engagement and Adaptation in Adults with Dementia: A Preliminary Investigation

This qualitative study examined the occupations of individuals with dementia, the motives they have for this engagement, and the occupational adaptation they make in response to their memory difficulties. Eight individuals with memory difficulties and their caregivers participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The types of activities that individuals with memory difficulties do and stopped doing were described, as well as their motives for doing or stopping. The findings show that caregivers initiated most of the activities. Several participants exhibited defensiveness around various occupations. In addition, participants and caregivers indicated that they perform many occupations together. The results indicate individuals with memory difficulties do find purpose in occupational engagement and find ways to adapt occupations. Occupational therapists ought to facilitate meaningful occupations when working with individuals with memory difficulties.
The influence of societal level factors on men's and women's alcohol consumption and alcohol problems.

AIMS To identify the pattern of gender differences in drinking across societies, and to its association with other societal characteristics. METHODS The aggregated results of GENACIS project surveys in 29 countries were examined and were compared with other characteristics of these societies. RESULTS In all the participating societies men's drinking was more prevalent and heavier than women's drinking. Differences between countries in the gender gap in drinking were strongly associated with women's position in society, as well as with modernization. Similar results were obtained for indicators of alcohol's adverse consequences. CONCLUSIONS Gender differences should be studied not only as individual behaviours, but also as societal traits, associated with other characteristics of the social system.
Entrance test accommodations, admission and enrollment of students with learning disabilities in teacher training colleges in Israel

The ‘Saf’ (threshold) exam is the entry exam taken by approximately 40% of the students enrolled in teacher training colleges in Israel. Students with learning disabilities may apply and be granted testing accommodations on this exam. This study examines the percentage of students with testing accommodations among the testees and those who began their studies in 2003. Their test and subtest scores were compared to those of students without accommodations as were grades on high school matriculation exams. Characteristics such as gender, age, difficulties as reported in assessments and assessment history were examined. Enrollment patterns in the various colleges departments were noted. Satisfaction with the testing accommodations process was looked at as well. Ramifications and recommendations are discussed vis a vis future research needed and policies regarding the admission of students with learning disabilities to institutions of higher learning.
Secondary School Students' Enjoyment of Outdoor Adventure Experiences

Adventure programs have been conducted for a wide range of groups in divergent settings (e.g., with delinquent youth: Wi l l i amson , 1984 ; with under­ achieves : Richards & Richards, 1981; with corporate executives: Garvey, 1989). Indeed, many studies have confirmed that adventure education programming can provide posi t ive exper i ences which contribute to personal and social growth (e.g., self-esteem: Bertolami, 1 9 8 1 ; soc ia l and moral development : Conrad & Hedin, 1982). However, as Ewert ( 1 9 8 7 , p. 5) comments, "while outcomes are often the sine qua non of experiential education, this type of research often does not provide an unders tand ing as to why it hap­ pened. " In his call for a more sophisticated approach to the study of adventure experiences, Ewert states that "not addressing the impact and effect of direct experi­ ence on an individual.ultimately [does],. a disservice to the profession" (1987, p. 5). Indeed, few quantitative studies report partici­ pants ' reactions to their par t ic ipat ion in outdoor adventure activities, and in particular, their reactions to the activities themselves. There is a distinct need to focus upon the process variables of the adventure experience. It is the examination of process factors which can illuminate the reasons why a particular out­ come was achieved, allowing for explanation and even prediction. The particular focus of this study was on sec­ ondary students ' enjoyment of outdoor adventure act ivi t ies , and the factors wh ich inf luenced their enjoyment. Enjoyment is closely linked to other vari­ ables which are important in outdoor adventure educa­ tion, namely learning and satisfaction. In addition, enjoyment is related to anxiety (see Drebing, Willis & Genet, 1987; & Ewert, 1989) through the close ties both
Family Emotions: Do Young Adolescents and Their Parents Experience the Same States?

This article tests the hypothesis, suggested by family theory, that adolescents' emotions are interrelated with their parents' emotions. A sample of 55 young adolescents, their mothers, and their fathers provided self-reports on a scale of affect over a week, following the procedures of the Experience Sampling Method. Analyses showed modest associations between adolescents and parents both in (a) their global emotional patterns (adolescents' and parents' means and variances in affect were correlated); and (b) their immediate emotions (when together, their momentary affect was correlated). These associations varied by the age and gender of the adolescent and the gender of the parent. Time sequence analyses suggested that the similarity in affect between parents and adolescents was partly attributable to transmission of emotions, particularly from daughters to parents and from fathers to sons.