Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating Peer Tutoring.

This article gives an overview of a piece of qualitative research conducted at a women’s university in the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the study was to evaluate the English language peer tutoring programme in order to highlight benefits and challenges, and to make informed improvements. The study drew particularly on participant perceptions and observations of the programme. It identified various benefits for tutors such as learning through teaching and becoming more responsible while doing something worthwhile to help others. Benefits for tutees included improved levels of self-confidence and English language aptitude. The study also highlighted several challenges associated with the high dependence and low metacognitive awareness demonstrated by the tutees. In addition, tutors were not always able to offer appropriate assistance. Improvements to the programme could include increasing faculty involvement, improving tutee awareness of the aims of the programme, and providing additional assistance to tutors.
Couple relationship quality, coparenting, and fathering in Taiwan

This study examined connections among couple relationship quality, coparenting, and mother and father involvement in 100 families from urban Central Taiwan. Fathers and mothers with at least one school-age child completed questionnaires regarding their couple satisfaction and consensus, coparenting techniques and consistency, and involvement in caregiving, socialisation, physical play and exploration, outdoor games and sports, leisure, and positive communication activities with their children. Findings revealed associations among levels of father involvement in various activities, and between mother and father involvement, particularly, in similar activities. Findings also revealed connections between mother and father perceptions of the couple and coparenting relationship and father involvement in a variety of activities. Father perceptions of coparenting techniques and coparenting consistency, and mother report of her involvement practices emerged as the most consistent predictors of father involvement across the six activity types. These findings highlight the importance of interconnectedness, cooperation, and shared roles amongst coparenting partners, and are reflective of collectivist cultural norms in Asian societies which stress concern for and cooperation with others in social relationships.
Easing access for lifelong learners: a comparison of European models for university lifelong learning

Easing access to higher education (HE) for those engaging in lifelong learning has been a common policy objective across the European Union since the late 1990s. To reach this goal, the transition between vocational and academic routes must be simplified, but European countries are at different developmental stages. This article maps the development in Denmark, Finland, Germany and England using a case study approach deploying data triangulation from a national and institutional perspective. It explores the extent/commonality of structural factors for easing access for students engaging in lifelong learning. The cases are at widely different stages, but the following factors were considered essential in all countries for opening universities: the establishment of transition paths from secondary education and working life into HE and links between HE, businesses and adult education from a national perspective and the recognition of all forms of learning, the flexibilization of study formats and the design of a curriculum that suits all from an institutional perspective.
Dynamic Sleep Time Control in Event-Driven Wireless Sensor Networks

One of the main sources of energy waste in wireless sensor networks (WSN) is idle listening, i.e., nodes consuming energy listening to an idle channel. In this paper, we present a dynamic sleep time control method exploiting known traffic statistics to sample the channel more frequently when it is likely to have traffic and less frequently when it is not. When such information is not a priori available, we present an iterative algorithm to learn the statistics and adapt the sleep time control policy as time evolves. Simulation results are included to compare fixed sleep times to a dynamic control policy
Differences Among Low-, Average-, and High-achieving College Students on Learning and Study Strategies.

Abstract The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the differences between low‐, average‐ and high‐achieving college students on the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory scales. A total of 168 undergraduate students at the United Arab Emirates University participated as subjects. Subjects were classified into three achieving groups based on their grade point average (GPA) scores. Analysis of variance procedures indicated that low‐achieving students scored significantly lower than the average‐ and high‐achieving students on all of the scales. However, no significant differences were observed between the average‐ and high‐achieving groups on any of the scales. Furthermore, a stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that Motivation was the most powerful discriminating factor that separated low‐achieving students from their high‐achieving peers.
EXPRESSION OF THE MT1 MELATONIN RECEPTOR SUBTYPE IN HUMAN CORONARY ARTERIES

Previous experimental data suggest a possible influence of melatonin on the circulatory system of animals after binding to G-protein coupled melatonin receptors. The present study sought to investigate whether the melatonin receptor, mt1, is expressed in human coronary arteries derived from healthy heart donors (n = 8). Expression of the mt1-receptor was studied in sections of isolated coronary arteries by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western immunoblot technique. The analyses of the results from both methods indicated the presence of the mt1-receptor in all of the subjects. Referring to these data we assume that melatonin regulates physiological processes in human coronary arteries after receptor binding.
Comparison of heat and mass transfer of different microwave‐assisted extraction methods of essential oil from Citrus limon (Lisbon variety) peel

Abstract Dried and fresh peels of Citrus limon were subjected to microwave‐assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and solvent‐free microwave extraction (SFME), respectively. A comparison was made between MAHD and SFME with the conventional hydrodistillation (HD) method in terms of extraction kinetic, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity. Higher yield results from higher extraction rates by microwaves and could be due to a synergy of two transfer phenomena: mass and heat acting in the same way. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis did not indicate any noticeable differences between the constituents of essential oils obtained by MAHD and SFME, in comparison with HD. Antioxidant analysis of the extracted essential oils indicated that microwave irradiation did not have adverse effects on the radical scavenging activity of the extracted essential oils. The results of this study suggest that MAHD and SFME can be termed as green technologies because of their less energy requirements per ml of essential oil extraction.
The Influence of Interpersonal Competence on Personal Vulnerability of Persons With Mental Retardation

Four factors in Sparks's model of victim proneness were tested among 31 persons with mental retardation who were victims of a personal offense and 32 nonvictims with mental retardation. Factors were operationalized in terms of measures of anger, antisocial tendencies, eccentricities and odd mannerisms, interpersonal competence, recreational outings, and communication skills. Forty participants also responded to hypothetical scenarios depicting everyday situations commonly encountered. Results showed that victims were significantly more likely than nonvictims to report a hostile outlook and that they would display overt anger and aggression in a wide range of situations. Victims' responses to hypothetical scenarios were more likely to be confrontative or abusive to an initial approach by the perpetrator, whereas nonvictims were more likely to withdraw quietly. These indices of poorer interpersonal competence were independent from IQ and adaptive behavior.
Massive access in the Random Access Channel of LTE for M2M communications: An energy perspective

The capacity limits of the Random Access Channel (RACH) of Long Term Evolution (LTE) for highly dense Machine-to-Machine communications are studied in this paper. We consider the case study when a high number of devices attempt to transmit information to the same base station in a very short period of time. Simulations have been performed considering several parameter configurations related to the random access procedure of LTE. The energy consumption is used as a primordial metric to compare any improvement regarding the random access procedure in future releases, in order to evaluate the impact on the battery lifetime of autonomous devices.
Commercial Sexual Behaviors Among Male Rural-to-Urban Migrants in Western China: Implications for HIV Prevention

Rural-to-urban migrants are at high risk of HIV infection. The goal of this survey was to explore the commercial sexual behavior and condom use among male rural-to-urban migrants in western China. A cross-sectional survey on male rural-to-urban migrants in western China was conducted. Among all the subjects surveyed, 140 (7.4%) had commercial sexual behavior, which is associated with being aged older than 24 years, being of Han or other ethnic minorities, being divorced, separated, or widowed, having experienced drug abuse, having had heterosexual behavior, having had casual sexual partners, having had sex with a homosexual, and being from Xinjiang. A total of 31.4% of them never use condoms when buying sex. Not using condoms is associated with being from Chongqing, having a high school or above education, and having commercial sex monthly. Commercial sexual behavior and not using condoms are common among male rural-to-urban migrants in western China. Strategies and appropriate education should be developed to prevent HIV transmission due to high-risk sexual behaviors.
Practices of Male Labor Migration from the Hills of Nepal to India in Development Discourses: Which Pathology?

Abstract This article provides a critique of authoritative development discourses on the migration of men from Nepal to India. Drawing on my ethnographic fi eldwork at multiple sites, I illustrate how migration is not perceived as a problem by migrants themselves but as an integral practice in people’s livelihoods. Many see migration to work in India as an escape from a diffi cult socio-economic, cultural and familial situation and an opportunity for young men to experience a distant place, experiment with the pleasures and possibilities of consumption and earn and remit money home to fulfi l their obligations as responsible men with the hope for upward socio-economic mobility of their families. The authoritative discourse is criticized for failing to comprehend the socio-cultural meanings associated with this form of human movement and for viewing ‘migration’ and ‘migrants’ as aberrant. The presence of a disjuncture between the authoritative discourses and the complex ethnographic reality raises important questions about the politics of migration in international development.
Short course induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin for renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to demonstrate that 3-days of induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin was as effective and safe as a 7-day course and reduced initial hospitalization after transplantation. METHODS This was a prospective, nonrandomized trial of 40 consecutive patients receiving thymoglobulin induction for 3 days and followed for 1 year. An historical group of 48 patients that received 7 days of thymoglobulin served as controls. RESULTS At 1 year, acute rejection (5 vs. 4%), graft survival (95 vs. 98%) and patient survival were similar; a composite end point of freedom from death, rejection, or graft loss, the event-free graft survival, was similar as was the safety profile. In the 3-day group, lymphocyte depletion was more sustained and initial hospitalization was significantly shorter (6 vs. 8 days). CONCLUSION Three-day induction with thymoglobulin is as effective and safe as seven days, decreases initial hospitalization and causes more sustained lymphocyte depletion.
Avaliação da qualidade de vida e percepção de mudança em pacientes com esquizofrenia

OBJETIVO: Investigar os fatores associados a qualidade de vida (QV) em pacientes com esquizofrenia, em particular a percepcao de mudancas pelo proprio paciente, em funcao do tratamento recebido em servicos de saude mental. METODO: O estudo foi conduzido em Divinopolis (MG), com pacientes atendidos no Servico de Referencia em Saude Mental. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais estruturadas com a aplicacao da Escala de Qualidade de Vida (QLS-BR), Escala de Mudanca Percebida (EMP) e questionario sociodemografico e clinico. Foram conduzidas tres analises de regressao linear multipla, para determinar a importância relativa dos fatores preditores da QV. RESULTADOS: Participaram deste estudo 72 pacientes, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (59,7%), com diagnostico de esquizofrenia paranoide (87,5%). A QV dos pacientes enquadrou-se na categoria de consideravel prejuizo, com um escore medio global de 3,64. A media global das mudancas percebidas pelos pacientes foi de 2,46. Os principais preditores de melhor QV foram: em primeiro lugar, o escore global de mudanca percebida e os escores das subescalas "Aspectos psicologicos e sono" e "Ocupacao e saude fisica". Outros tres preditores foram: estar trabalhando, tomar a medicacao sozinho e fazer uso de medicacao apenas do tipo oral. CONCLUSAO: A percepcao de mudancas pelo proprio paciente, em funcao do tratamento, e um fator preditivo importante da QV.
Role of the Supplementary Motor Area and the Right Premotor Cortex in the Coordination of Bimanual Finger Movements

To obtain a better understanding of the cortical representation of bimanual coordination, we measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with 15O-labeled water and positron emission tomography (PET). To detect areas with changes of rCBF during bimanual finger movements of different characteristics, we studied 12 right-handed normal volunteers. A complete session consisted of three rest scans and six scans with acoustically paced (1 Hz) bimanual, mirror, or parallel sequential finger movements. Activation of the right dorsal premotor area (PMd) extending to the posterior supplementary motor area (SMA) was significantly stronger during the parallel movements than during the mirror sequential movements (p < 0.05, at cluster level with correction for multiple comparisons). To determine whether these cortical areas truly represented bimanual coordination, a different group of nine normal volunteers was studied with a different task. Subjects performed acoustically paced (2 Hz) abduction–adduction movements of the index finger, making right only, left only, and bimanual mirror and parallel movements. Activation of the posterior SMA and right PMd was significantly greater during the parallel movements than during the bimanual mirror movements or the unimanual movements of either hand (p < 0.01, with anatomical constraint). Thus, the posterior SMA and right PMd appear to be related to the bimanual coordination of finger movements.
Real-Time Eye, Gaze, and Face Pose Tracking for Monitoring Driver Vigilance

This paper describes a real-time prototype computer vision system for monitoring driver vigilance. The main components of the system consists of a remotely located video CCD camera, a specially designed hardware system for real-time image acquisition and for controlling the illuminator and the alarm system, and various computer vision algorithms for simultaneously, real-time and non-intrusively monitoring various visual bio-behaviors that typically characterize a driver's level of vigilance. The visual behaviors include eyelid movement, face orientation, and gaze movement (pupil movement). The system was tested in a simulating environment with subjects of different ethnic backgrounds, different genders, ages, with/without glasses, and under different illumination conditions, and it was found very robust, reliable and accurate.
Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Hausa People in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Kano Metropolis, Northern Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus known as ‘sugar disorder’ had become a euphemism among the urban Hausa tribal populace of Kano metropolis, Northern Nigeria as no one has ever been reported to have fully recovered from it. Because of the existing economic melt-down in the area, people resorted back to the use of medicinal drugs that are cheaper. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted with the aim of identifying the types of plants used in the management of diabetes in Kano. Self-structured questionnaires were administered among herbalists and individuals representing the consumer population. The results obtained revealed that 34 plant species from 23 families representing 29 genera of plants were used in the management of diabetes in Kano. Out of these, 21 species including Acacia nilotica, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Guiera senegalensis, Manihot esculenta, Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica, Syzygium guinensis, Ficus thonningii were found to be Original Research Article Negbenebor et al.; EJMP, 18(2): 1-10, 2017; Article no.EJMP. 28562 2 consistent with the numerous published work on medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes in various traditional systems elsewhere in the world. More so, 69% of the consumer population believed in the efficacy of traditional medicine over the conventional scientific ones while 61% of them viewed the high cost of the conventional drugs as the major reason why they resort back to the use of traditional medication. There is therefore the need for incorporating the traditional herbalists in the management of diabetes by orienting them through seminars and workshops on how to formulate standard doses for the treatment strategies so as to delay the complicated secondary signs of hypertension, hyper-and-hypoglycemia in the patients using the traditional drugs.
Low-Income Parents' Beliefs about Their Role in Children's Academic Learning

In individual telephone interviews, 234 low-income African-American, Caucasian, and Latino parents rated the importance of helping their second- and third-grade children in reading, math, and homework and of knowing what their children are learning. Parents reported whether they had taught their child in math and reading and read with their child in the past week. They also answered open-ended questions about the type of help they deemed appropriate. On questionnaires, teachers rated each student's reading and math skills and noted whether they had given a child's parent suggestions for helping with either subject. Findings showed that parents rated the importance of helping their child with academic work very high. Parents of second graders tended to rate the importance of helping higher than did parents of third graders. Similar to past research, ratings varied systematically as a function of parents' perceptions of children's academic performance and as a function of whether teachers had offered suggestions; however, parents perceived helping with reading as more important than helping with math. Findings implied that teachers who desire more parent involvement might need to use different strategies for the two subjects. In addition to specific approaches for helping with math, reading, and homework, parents noted other activities they believed would help their children succeed.
An Evaluation of Construct Validity: What Is This Thing Called Emotional Intelligence?

This article presents a meta-analytic review of the Emotional Intellpigence (EI) construct. The first portion of the study examines the relation between EI measures based on two differing models of the construct (i.e., mixed and ability). This study then examines the relation of each of the models separately with cognitive ability and the Big Five personality factors. Results indicate that measures based on the mixed model of EI overlap extensively (i.e., correlate .71 among themselves; k = 12, N = 3,259), whereas mixed measures and ability measures are relatively distinct (.14; k = 13, N = 2,442). Mixed model measures of EI exhibited greater overlap with personality- than ability-based EI measures. Conversely, ability-based EI measures demonstrated a higher correlation with cognitive ability than mixed measures (.34 vs. .13). Implications and suggestions for the measurement of EI are provided.
Perpetrating disaffection: schooling as an international problem

This paper argues that, despite evidence of widespread disaffection, school is often regarded as the default position for educational provision, a given good. If there is disaffection with, and resistance to, schooling, then it is pupils and parents that are the problem, not school itself. Yet there is considerable evidence that schooling does not necessarily or automatically benefit either society as a whole or the individuals who attend and that, as a result, it creates disaffection with itself. Rejection of schooling is therefore very far from being an irrational or ill‐considered act. The paper reviews evidence supporting this argument including both the failure of schools to protect young people from danger and violence and also their direct role in actively perpetrating violence and threatening the safety of those they are there to protect. The paper ends by arguing that disaffection with schooling stems from its fundamental nature and purposes which have been shaped by its historical origins. While schooling remains as it is, disaffection and resistance will continue to be an inbuilt and often logical response.
Automated Measurement of Red Blood Cell Microcytosis and Hypochromia in Iron Deficiency and Beta Thalassemia Trait

Aims: To diagnose two most common causes of microcytosis in children by red cell indices which are easy to obtain, low cost parameters and an early detection of anaemia of childhood. Material and methods: 300 Infants and children aged (6 month to 18 years) of both sexes who presented with anaemia and their peripheral blood film revealed microcytic and hypochromic red cell picture were included in the study. Study duration was 12 months,from May 2005 to May 2006. A detailed clinical history was taken regarding the onset and duration of pallor symptoms and history of intake of haematinics was documented. Basic hematological parameters were performed using an automated analyzer. Mentzer index (MCV/red blood cell count) was used to differentiate thalassemia trait from iron deficiency. Serum iron was determined by autoanalyzer. Detailed picture of hemoglobin was obtained by Ion Exchange Liquid High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Results: It was observed that 31 patients were found to be with β thalassemia while 269 patients were with iron deficiency anaemia. Mean Hb concentration, RBC count and serum iron level were significantly higher in traits than the iron deficient subjects (P<0.001). However the mean MCV was slightly lower in traits than the iron deficient subjects. Mentzer count ratio confirms the patients with iron deficiency or thalassemia trait. 31 cases with higher mean Hb concentration, higher mean red blood cell count and low mean red cell indices were selected and run chromatographically. All the cases showed a high HbA2 with a mean value 5.4%. On the other hand the range and mean values of HbF and of HbA was in normal limit. Conclusion: Percentage of children with beta thalassemia trait was less as compared to iron deficient children. However thalassemia centers sustain thousands of affected children with monthly blood transfusions. It is important to screen for beta thalassemia minor in the large number of population to stop the propagation of the gene.