Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Different Adjuvants on Immune Parameters and Protection following Vaccination of Sheep with a Larval-Specific Antigen of the Gastrointestinal Nematode, Haemonchus contortus

It has recently been recognised that vaccine adjuvants play a critical role in directing the nature of a vaccine induced effector response. In the present study, several adjuvants were evaluated for their ability to protect sheep after field vaccination with the larval-specific Haemonchus contortus antigen, HcsL3. Using a suboptimal antigen dose, aluminium adjuvant was shown to reduce the cumulative faecal egg counts (cFEC) and worm burden by 23% and 25% respectively, in agreement with a previous study. The addition of Quil A to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine brought cFEC back to control levels. Vaccination with the adjuvant DEAE-dextran almost doubled the protection compared to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine resulting in 40% and 41% reduction in cFEC and worm counts compared to controls. Examination of skin responses following i.d. injection of exsheathed L3, revealed that cFEC was negatively correlated with wheal size and tissue eosinophils for the DEAE-dextran and aluminium-adjuvanted groups respectively. These studies have for the first time shown the potential of DEAE-dextran adjuvant for helminth vaccines, and discovered significant cellular correlates of vaccine-induced protection.
Learning and Teaching: A cross-cultural perspective

In this article research on teaching and learning is reviewed from a cross-cultural perspective. A meta-analysis indicates that across a number of very different cultures higher quality learning strategies, at both school and university level, are associated with higher student self-esteem and an internal locus of control. Such strategies tend to be encouraged in classrooms where students feel involved, the teachers are supportive, the workload is fair, and the assessment system reflects broader notions of learning beyond examination marks. In-depth research on Chinese students questions the validity of a number of basic Western notions of educational psychology regarding the nature of motivation and the role of memorisation. Other research suggests that the Western teacher education emphasis on getting students on task and coping with behavioural problems may not be as relevant in the Chinese context. Chinese educators tend to see both creativity and understanding as slow processes requiring much effort, repetition, and attention rather than relatively rapid, insightful processes. Such views are grounded in hundreds of years of Chinese philosophical thought. Any attempts to reform education by importing ideas from one culture to another must consider the overall contexts of the societies involved.
The Comedian's World: Some Tentative Mappings

To recover the properties serving to define the imaginary worlds evoked by contemporary comedians, word associations—more correctly, comedian associations—were gathered in response to the names of 37 currently recognizable comedians. From these data associative overlap scores were computed between all possible pairs of comedians and a factor analysis done. Eight major groupings of comedians emerged and suggested that comedians could be described in terms of surface (comedian's sex or color, etc.), and style factors (verbal fluency and use of hostility). These latter two factors were seen as consistent with eclectic analysis of what it is that makes someone or some situation a source of fun or humor.
The neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder: dysfunction in the prefrontal-amygdala circuit?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop following exposure to a traumatic event, including terrifying or life-threatening situations such as sexual assault or natural disasters. The disorder is characterized by a reaction of intense fear, helplessness, or horror when the individual experiences, testifies about, or is faced with one or more events that involve death, severe wounds, or a threat to one's own or another's physical integrity. One of the most important symptoms of PTSD is the revival of the traumatic event, which has been interpreted as an inability to downregulate negative emotions. Neuroimaging studies that probed the ability to regulate emotions in healthy volunteers have found a pattern characterized by activation of the prefrontal cortex associated with a reduction in amygdala activity. This suggests an inhibitory prefrontal cortex-amygdala circuit that underlies emotional regulation. The hypothesis that increased amygdala activation associated with PTSD results from dysfunction in the inhibitory mechanism exerted by the prefrontal cortex has been the topic of debate. The present review investigates the validity of dysfunction in the prefrontal-amygdala pathway in PTSD. The studies provide evidence that the amygdala and prefrontal cortex exhibit distinct activation patterns in PTSD, thus supporting the model of a dysfunctional circuit. Inconsistencies in the literature may be attributable to distinct PTSD subgroups, different experimental approaches, different contrasts employed in neuroimaging studies, and small sample sizes.
HRD Climate, Occupational Self-Efficacy and Work Engagement: A Study from India

While a good deal of the research on engagement has been conducted in the United States and Europe, less is known and written about engagement in developing countries. Addressing this, in light of gaps identified from literature review, a model was proposed and tested with occupational self-efficacy as the intervening variable between human resource development climate and work engagement. The sample for the study consisted of 214 business executives from both public and private sector manufacturing and service organizations with 81.7 % of them being males. Hypotheses were tested using a cross sectional design with the help of hierarchical regression analysis. The series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-efficacy partially mediates the climate-engagement relationship. In addition, results of moderated regression analysis provided support for moderating effects of self-efficacy, with the relationship between climate and engagement being stronger for low self-efficacious individuals as .
Joint relation of experience and ability with job performance: Test of three hypotheses.

Data from four different jobs (TV = 1,474) were used to evaluate three hypotheses of the joint relation of job experience and general mental ability to job performance as measured by (a) work sample measures, (b) job knowledge measures, and (c) supervisory ratings of job performance. The divergence hypothesis predicts an increasing difference and the convergence hypothesis predicts a decreasing difference in the job performance of highand low-mental-ability employees as employees gain increasing experience on the job. The noninteractive hypothesis, by contrast, predicts that the performance difference will be constant over time. For all three measures of job performance, results supported the noninteractive hypothesis. Also, consistent with the noninteractive hypothesis, correlational analyses showed essentially constant validities for general mental ability (measured earlier) out to 5 years of experience on the job. In addition to their theoretical implications, these findings have an important practical implication: They indicate that the concerns that employment test validities may decrease over time, complicating estimates of selection utility, are probably unwarranted.
On the Role of NBTI and PBTI Induced Mobility Degradation for Compact Modeling in Metal-Gate/High-k FETs

In thousands of papers, the impact of NBTI and PBTI on the threshold voltage degradation has been discussed. And while it is a known fact that BTI does not only impact the threshold voltage but also the mobility and the transconductance, most publications focus on Vth measurement, which means that degradation is evaluated only for a single operating point. However, especially for applications in analog circuits, knowledge of the degradation in the entire MOSFET operating area is critical and a reliable model needs to capture current degradation for all operating points. As a consequence, degradation needs to be characterized at least for a couple of operating points, which is of course due to the well known fact that readouts are influenced by recovery, making this a very challenging task. We have devised a custom measurement setup, which allows to measure degradation at multiple operating points with minimum impact of recovery. Our measurements indicate that NBTI can not be sufficiently described solely by ∆Vth, but also a degradation of the transconductance needs to be accounted for. We propose a simple model, which describes current degradation in the entire operating area. Furthermore, we validate our model using SPICE aging simulations.
Facial asymmetry in emotional expression: A meta-analysis of research

A meta-analysis of 65 hypothesis tests in 14 published studies of asymmetry in the facial expression of emotion is reported. The analysis examines which side of the face has been found more strongly to express emotion as well as the effects of three moderator variables: (i) the type of expression; (ii) the method of eliciting the expression (posed or spontaneous); and (iii) dimensions of emotional experience. The analysis reveals a highly significant but small effect for the left side of the face to be judged more expressive than the right. Additionally it reveals that asymmetry is (a) stronger for emotional than neutral expressions, (b) stronger for posed emotional expressions compared with spontaneous emotional expressions and (c) predicted by some dimensions of emotional experience, notably pleasantness. The results highlight theoretical and methodological issues in asymmetry of facial emotional expression.
Optimal and Efficient Path Planning for Unknown and Dynamic Environments

Abstract : The task of planning trajectories for a mobile robot has received considerable attention in the research literature. Algorithms exist for handling a variety of robot shapes, configurations, motion constraints, and environments. Most of the work assumes the robot has a complete and accurate model of its environment before it begins to move; less attention has been paid to the problem of unknown or partially-known environments. This situation occurs for an exploratory robot or one that must move to a goal location without the benefit of a floorplan (indoor) or terrain map (outdoor). Existing approaches plan an initial global path or route based on known information and then modify the plan locally as the robot discovers obstacles with its sensors. While this strategy works well in environments with small, sparse obstacles, it can lead to grossly suboptimal and incomplete results in cluttered spaces. An alternative approach is to replan the global path from scratch each time a new obstacle is discovered.
Creating Usable Innovations in Systemic Reform: Scaling Up Technology-Embedded Project-Based Science in Urban Schools

This article describes work by a research group bringing a middle-school inquiry and technology science innovation to scale in a systemic urban school reform setting. We distinguish between scaling and scaling within systemic reform. We pose a framework for use by developers of instructional interventions to gauge their "fit" with existing school capabilities, policy and management structures, and organizational culture, and illustrate how the framework exemplifies our experiences. We present challenges for researchers to consider as they attempt to create usable innovations and facilitate their adoption, enactment, and maintenance by school systems. Finally, we call for new approaches to the study of these problems outlining how systemic innovation challenges traditional evaluation and experimental methods.
Influence of personality on ecological consumer behaviour

We have recently seen the appearance of many studies which attempt to discover the behaviour patterns of ecological consumers. For that reason, it seems necessary to analyse the variables that shape this consumer profile. In this study, we have focused on psychographic variables and, in particular, on personality features. Following a survey with a random sample of 573 individuals, we designed a theoretical model which included the Big-Five Factor Structure scale and the environmental attitude dimension referred to as “actual commitment” to measure personality and ecological behaviour, respectively. We carried out several principal factor analyses in order to validate these scales and afterwards, we performed a structural equation analysis and a logit analysis. Findings support our hypotheses since they reveal that personality is a multifaceted concept, which is positively related to ecological behaviour. Firms should focus on those people who are characterised by personality features such as extroversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness in order to persuade them to demand their products. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diverse Approaches to the Diversity of Learning Styles in Teacher Education

The goal of this paper is to present the findings of a new research project on teacher candidates' learning style preferences and the implications thereof for their teaching styles. The researchers utilized two different learning‐style assessment instruments based on Dunn and Dunn's learning style model—one paper and pencil and one online learning style assessment instrument to identify course participants' learning styles. Within the same institution of higher education, the learning style concept was introduced and operationalized in two different ways. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, teacher candidates' individual and group learning style profiles and their reflections on their own learning and teaching styles are discussed.
Turning Boys off? Listening to What Five-Year-Olds Say about Reading.

This paper reports the first part of a 2-year longitudinal study, which examined the impact of age of entry to school on the reading development of 60 summer-born boys during Key Stage One. The sample was drawn from 18 schools in six Local Education Authorities operating different admissions policies. Thirty-one had attended nursery part-time, while 29 had experienced full-time reception class before their fifth birthday and before statutory age of entry to school. The data offer an original portrayal of learning to read through the voices of a group of 5-year-old boys as they reflected on home and school literacy events relating to reading. Reading acquisition was examined within a theoretical model which incorporates attitudinal factors as intrinsic and defining components of reading literacy. The data draw attention to the centrality of these factors in the complex structure which supports the process of reading acquisition, acknowledging the need to investigate this process from the perspective of the child. This paper discusses the findings in the context of the boys' early years experience and the implications in the light of the widespread debate about age of entry to school and appropriate early years practice. The data suggest the current wide-spread skills-based approach to reading often ignores the crucial motivational elements that make a real reader and that the formality associated with this approach may be damaging reading attitudes in the youngest children of our reception classes.
The relationship between parenting dimensions and adult achievement: evidence from the whitehall ii study

This article examines the association between three dimensions of perceived parenting—warmth, strictness, and expectation—and adult cognitive and socioeco-nomic achievement outcomes. Structural equation models (N = 7,035) were used to examine simultaneously the influence of parenting on adult achievement while controlling for the influence of parental socioeconomic circumstances. Very low and very high level of parental warmth was associated with poor adult achievement. Strictness had a negative and parental expectation a positive relationship with adult achievement. These associations were independent of parental socioeconomic circumstances. Own education was found to mediate 27-56% of the relationship between parenting dimensions and adult achievement. Parental expectation was most strongly related to adult achievement. We conclude that parenting plays a significant role in the development of adult achievement: both cognitive ability and socioeconomic achievement. Moderate levels of warmth, low levels of strictness, and high parental expectation are associated with high adult achievement.
The Sex Ratio as a Predictor of Cross-National Variation in Violent Crime

Because low-sex-ratio societies are likely to have increased family conflict, and because family conflict increases aggression, it was predicted that these societies would have higher rates of violent crimes such as homicide, rape, and assaults. These predictions were supported in regression analyses of Interpol data for 70 countries that used a variety of controls for level of economic development, ecology (mean temperature, population density, population movement), marriage system, and geographical region. The results indicate that family variables can account for a substantial amount of the crossnational variance in violent crime.
Improving Stability of Decision Trees

Decision-tree algorithms are known to be unstable: small variations in the training set can result in different trees and different predictions for the same validation examples. Both accuracy and stability can be improved by learning multiple models from bootstrap samples of training data, but the "meta-learner" approach makes the extracted knowledge hardly interpretable. In the following paper, we present the Info-Fuzzy Network (IFN), a novel information-theoretic method for building stable and comprehensible decision-tree models. The stability of the IFN algorithm is ensured by restricting the tree structure to using the same feature for all nodes of the same tree level and by the built-in statistical significance tests. The IFN method is shown empirically to produce more compact and stable models than the "meta-learner" techniques, while preserving a reasonable level of predictive accuracy.
Long-Term Function, Pain and Medication Use Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation for Lumbar Facet Syndrome

Objective Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branch nerves for facet-mediated low back pain demonstrates clinical benefit for 6–12 months and possibly up to 2 years. This study investigated function, pain, and medication use outcomes of RFA for lumbar facet syndrome in a cohort with long-term follow-up. Methods Individuals evaluated in a tertiary academic pain practice between January, 2007–December, 2013, 18–60 years of age, with a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of lumbar facet syndrome, who underwent ≥1set of diagnostic medial branch blocks with resultant >75% pain relief and subsequent RFA were included. Outcomes measured were the proportion of individuals who reported ≥50% improvement in function, ≥50% improvement in pain; change in median NRS pain score, daily morphine equivalent consumption (DME), Medication Quantification Scale III (MSQ III) score and procedure complications. Results Sixty-two consecutive individuals with a median age and 25%–75% interquartile range (IQR) of 34 years (35, 52) met inclusion criteria. Seven individuals were lost to follow-up. Duration of pain was <2 years in 42%, 2–5 years in 40%, >5 years in 18% of individuals. Median duration of follow-up was 39 months (16, 60). Function and pain improved by ≥50% in 58% (CI 45%, 71%) and 53% (CI 40%, 66%) of individuals, respectively. The median reduction in MQS III score was 3.4 points (0, 8.8). No complications occurred in this cohort. Conclusions This study demonstrates a durable treatment effect of RFA for lumbar facet syndrome at long-term follow-up, as measured by improvement in function, pain, and analgesic use.
A model for information literacy course development : a liberal arts university perspective

Purpose – To report a new model for information literacy course development, one derived from a liberal arts university perspective; and to describe the experience of delivering the course.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews recent studies in Information Literacy and incorporates these research findings into the model, which is then applied in practice.Findings – That each university needs to align course development with its individual mission and unique environment – thus, to a greater or lesser extent, a specific model is required for course design in each context.Research limitations/implications – There is an underlying research principle in this paper which implies that information literacy is not a generic subject and that particular aspects of the local context can be too easily ignored, for example, in the attempt to standardise and codify national (or even international) approaches to information literacy.Practical implications – The findings of this paper offer new ways for delivering IL inst.
Beyond Town and Gown: Universities, Territoriality and the Mobilization of New Urban Structures in Canada

Abstract Cities and universities have been active participants in the creation of new economic structures, but the sociospatial relationships between ‘town’ and ‘gown’, and the potential impact of deepening and diversifying the relationship on either side, are neither fully understood nor simple. In this paper, we focus on universities in Canada to provide an integrative review of the changing sociospatial relations of cities and universities in an era of increasing neoliberal and globalized development agendas. We treat these relationships in spatial and institutional terms, recognizing that actors and decision-makers in government and academic bodies understand their links as a combination of both. Our analysis destabilizes established normative understandings regarding the sociospatial structure and governance of the university and the interrelations between universities and urban space. Numerous spatial strategies demonstrate that universities' relations are multi-layered, multi-scaled and multiply topological. Yet while they may be well positioned to adopt a proactive role in shaping economic development and civic agendas, universities have no privileged position in their communities. Despite acting as deliberate place-making agents in rapidly changing metropolitan environments, universities remain located in, yet apart from, their urban and regional context.