Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fostering pre-service teachers’ views about nature of science: evaluation of a new STEM curriculum

Background: An elaborated understanding of Nature of Science (NOS) is seen as an important part of scientific literacy. In order to enable teachers to adequately discuss NOS in their lessons, various approaches have recently been employed to improve teachers’ understanding of NOS. Purpose: This study investigated the effect of participating in a newly developed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum at the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany) on pre-service teachers’ NOS views. Program description: In the new STEM curriculum, two versions of explicitly teaching NOS, which are discussed in the literature, have been adopted: the pre-service teachers explicitly reflect upon nature and history of science (version one) as well as conduct own scientific investigations (version two). Sample: N = 76 pre-service teachers from different semester levels (cross-sectional study) who participated in the new STEM curriculum took part in this study (intervention group). As control groups, students who did not partake in the new curriculum participated (pre-service primary (N = 134), science (N = 198), and no-science (N = 161) teachers). Design and methods: In order to allow an economic assessment, a testing instrument with closed-item formats was developed to assess the respondents’ views about six NOS aspects. Results: The intervention group shows significantly more elaborated NOS views than a relevant control group (p < .01, g = .48). Additionally, a one-way ANOVA reveals a positive effect of semester level on NOS views for the intervention group (p < .01; η² = .16) but not for the control groups. Conclusion: The findings support evidence suggesting that explicit approaches are effective when fostering an informed understanding of NOS. More specifically, a sequence of both versions of explicitly teaching NOS discussed in the literature seems to be a way to successfully promote pre-service teachers’ NOS understanding.
Aspects of Connected Speech Processes in Nigerian English

Nigerian English (NigE), like other new Englishes, possesses its unique features at various domains of phonology. This article examined aspects of connected speech processes (CSPs), the phenomena that account for sound modifications and simplifications in speech, with a view to establishing features that characterize Standard NigE connected speech. Natural phonology (NP), which provides explanations for substitutions, alternations, and variations in the speech of second language speakers, was adopted as theoretical framework. The subjects of the study were 360 educated NigE speakers, accidentally sampled from different language groups in Nigeria. The CSPs found in their semi-spontaneous speeches were transcribed perceptually and analyzed statistically, by allotting marks to instances of occurrence and converting such to percentages. Three categories of CSPs were identified in the data: dominant, minor, and idiosyncratic processes. The study affirms that only the dominant CSPs, typical of NigE speakers, are acceptable as Standard Nigerian spoken English.
Performance Measure Congruity and the Balanced Scorecard

This paper studies the incentive effects of a balanced scorecard within a multitask agency framework under both formal and relational contracts. First, the main characteristics of the balanced scorecard are analyzed with respect to performance measure congruity. It is shown that under complete verifiability, a properly designed balanced scorecard is capable of perfectly aligning the interests of owners and employees by means of an explicit contract. I then investigate whether subjective performance evaluation is beneficial when not all the scorecard measures are contractible. It emerges that congruity of the contractible scorecard measures constrains a purely implicit incentive contract, but the first-best solution may still be obtained through a combination of formal and relational contracts. Furthermore, a purely explicit contract in most cases can be improved by incorporating subjective rewards.
Development and Quantitative Performance Evaluation of a Noninvasive EMG Computer Interface

This paper describes a noninvasive electromyography (EMG) signal-based computer interface and a performance evaluation method based on Fittspsila law. The EMG signals induced by volitional wrist movements were acquired from four sites in the lower arm to extract userspsila intentions, and six classes of wrist movements were distinguished using an artificial neural network. Using the developed interface, a user can move the cursor, click buttons, and type text on a computer. The test setup was built to evaluate the developed interface, and the mouse was tested by five volunteers with intact limbs. The performance of the developed computer interface and the mouse was tested at 1.299 and 7.733 b/s, respectively, and these results were compared with the performance of a commercial noninvasive brain signal interface (0.386 b/s). The results show that the developed interface performed better than the commercial interface, but less satisfactorily than a computer mouse. Although some issues remain to be resolved, the developed EMG interface has the potential to help people with motor disabilities to access computers and Internet environments in a natural and intuitive manner.
A phase 1/2 study combining gemcitabine, Pegintron and p53 SLP vaccine in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

Purpose Preclinical tumor models show that chemotherapy has immune modulatory properties which can be exploited in the context of immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and immunogenicity of combinations of such an immunomodulatory chemotherapeutic agent with immunotherapy, p53 synthetic long peptide (SLP) vaccine and Pegintron (IFN-α) in patients with platinum-resistant p53-positive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Experimental design This is a phase 1/2 trial in which patients sequential 6 cycles of gemcitabine (1000 mg/kg2 iv; n = 3), gemcitabine with Pegintron before and after the first gemcitabine cycle (Pegintron 1 μg/kg sc; n = 6), and gemcitabine and Pegintron combined with p53 SLP vaccine (0.3 mg/peptide, 9 peptides; n = 6). At baseline, 22 days after the 2nd and 6th cycle, blood was collected for immunomonitoring. Toxicity, CA-125, and radiologic response were evaluated after 3 and 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Results None of the patients enrolled experienced dose-limiting toxicity. Predominant grade 3/4 toxicities were nausea/vomiting and dyspnea. Grade 1/2 toxicities consisted of fatigue (78%) and Pegintron-related flu-like symptoms (72%). Gemcitabine reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (p = 0.0005) and increased immune-supportive M1 macrophages (p = 0.04). Combination of gemcitabine and Pegintron stimulated higher frequencies of circulating proliferating CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells but not regulatory T-cells. All vaccinated patients showed strong vaccine-induced p53-specific T-cell responses. Conclusion Combination of gemcitabine, the immune modulator Pegintron and therapeutic peptide vaccination is a viable approach in the development of combined chemo-immunotherapeutic regimens to treat cancer.
Discovery in Cognitive Psychology: New Tools Inspire New Theories

The Argument Scientific tools—measurement and calculation instruments, techniques of inference—straddle the line between the context of discovery and the context of justification. In discovery, new scientific tools suggest new theoretical metaphors and concepts; and in justification, these tool-derived theoretical metaphors and concepts are morelikely to be accepted by the scientific community if the tools are already entrenched in scientific practice. Techniques of statistical inference and hypothesis testing entered American psychology first as tools in the 1940s and 1950s and then as cognitive theories in the 1960s and 1970s. Not only did psychologists resists statistical metaphors of mind prior to the institutionalization of inference techniques in their own practice; the cognitive theories they ultimately developed about “the mind as intuitive statistician” still bear the telltale marks of the practical laboratory context in which the tool was used.
ReFacto® 1 and Advate® 2 : a single‐dose, randomized, two‐period crossover pharmacokinetics study in subjects with haemophilia A

Summary. ReFacto is a recombinant B‐domain‐deleted, monoclonal antibody‐purified, solvent‐detergent‐treated factor VIII (BDDrFVIII) with no albumin added to the final formulation. Although ReFacto has been shown to be bioequivalent to a plasma‐derived FVIII product (Hemophil‐M) in a randomized, crossover pharmacokinetic (PK) study, the comparability of ReFacto with the full‐length (complete sequence) recombinant FVIII (FLrFVIII, Advate) product has not been previously examined in this manner. The primary objective of this study was to compare the PKs of ReFacto with those of Advate in patients with severe haemophilia A. This was a third‐party unblinded, randomized, multicentre, two‐period crossover PKs study of ReFacto and Advate in subjects with severe haemophilia A (FVIII:C ≤1%). Blood samples were collected over a 48‐h period after i.v. administration of each of the FVIII products. FVIII:C was determined using the chromogenic substrate assay (CSA) in a central laboratory. The plasma FVIII:C PK parameters of ReFacto and Advate were determined using non‐compartmental analysis. Bioequivalence was assessed on maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration vs. time curves (AUCs) using an anova. The two products were judged to be equivalent if the 90% confidence limits of the ratio of the geometric mean values of Cmax and AUCs fell within the interval of 80–125%. Results from this PKs comparison of two different rFVIII products, using chromogenic substrate assay to measure FVIII:C, showed that ReFacto and Advate are bioequivalent to each other.
The Effect of a Systemic Angiotensin Receptor Blocker on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Vitreous of Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract Purpose: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is reportedly associated with the vitreous level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). This study was conducted to investigate the effect of systemic angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on vitreous VEGF in PDR. Method: Patients who underwent a vitrectomy due to PDR were divided into two groups: patients who were taking ARB to control hypertension (Group A) and normotensive patients (Group B). Patients having epiretinal membrane or macular hole without diabetes or hypertension were included in the control group (Group C). We assessed the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and VEGF levels of the vitreous fluid and the serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Nineteen eyes were in Group A, 27 eyes in Group B, and 30 eyes in Group C. The mean levels of vitreous VEGF were 487.5 pg/ml in Group A and 553.0 pg/ml in Group B. In Group C, the vitreous VEGF was below the detection limit in 29 of the 30 eyes. The mean serum VEGF levels were 384.8 pg/ml, 384.6 pg/ml, and 388.1 pg/ml, respectively. The ratio of vitreous VEGF to serum was 4.0 in Group A and 2.97 in Group B. There were no differences in vitreous and serum VEGF levels between two groups. The median BCVA of Groups A and B significantly improved from 1.55 and 1.10 at baseline to 0.55 and 0.30 respectively at 6 months (logarithm of minimal angle resolution, p < 0.005). No differences were found in visual acuity. Conclusion: Systemic ARB did not show beneficial effects with respect to the vitreous level of VEGF or functional outcomes after vitrectomy in patients with PDR.
Classical and Alternative Activation and Metalloproteinase Expression Occurs in Foam Cell Macrophages in Male and Female ApoE Null Mice in the Absence of T and B Lymphocytes

Background: Rupture of advanced atherosclerotic plaques accounts for most life-threatening myocardial infarctions. Classical (M1) and alternative (M2) macrophage activation could promote atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture by increasing production of proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Lymphocyte-derived cytokines may be essential for generating M1 and M2 phenotypes in plaques, although this has not been rigorously tested until now. Methods and results: We validated the expression of M1 markers (iNOS and COX-2) and M2 markers (arginase-1, Ym-1, and CD206) and then measured MMP mRNA levels in mouse macrophages during classical and alternative activation in vitro. We then compared mRNA expression of these genes ex vivo in foam cells from subcutaneous granulomas in fat-fed immune-competent ApoE knockout (KO) and immune-compromised ApoE/Rag-1 double-KO mice, which lack all T and B cells. Furthermore, we performed immunohistochemistry in subcutaneous granulomas and in aortic root and brachiocephalic artery atherosclerotic plaques to measure the extent of M1/M2 marker and MMP protein expression in vivo. Classical activation of mouse macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide in vitro increased MMPs-13, -14, and -25 but decreased MMP-19 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions. Alternative activation with IL-4 increased MMP-19 expression. Foam cells in subcutaneous granulomas expressed all M1/M2 markers and MMPs at ex vivo mRNA and in vivo protein levels, irrespective of Rag-1 genotype. There were also similar percentages of foam cell macrophages (FCMs) carrying M1/M2 markers and MMPs in atherosclerotic plaques from ApoE KO and ApoE/Rag-1 double-KO mice. Conclusion: Classical and alternative activation leads to distinct MMP expression patterns in mouse macrophages in vitro. M1 and M2 polarization in vivo occurs in the absence of T and B lymphocytes in either granuloma or plaque FCMs.
Efficacy of dual PI-3K and mTOR inhibitors in vitro and in vivo in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The major regulators of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell growth and survival mediate their effects through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. We have shown that the mTOR inhibitor everolimus extended survival in a non-obese diabetic/severe combined immune-deficient (NOD/SCID) mouse xenograft model of human ALL. Since PI-3K has mTOR dependent and independent functions we examined the effect of the dual PI-3K/mTOR inhibitors BEZ235 and BGT226. These agents inhibited the proliferation of ALL cell lines with a three log greater potency than everolimus. However, the induction of cell death differed, with BGT226 being cytotoxic in the low micromolar range while a two log higher concentration of BEZ235 was required to produce the same effect. While all three agents extended the survival of NOD/SCID mice engrafted with human ALL, the responses of individual xenografts varied. Although differential phosphorylation of AKT on Ser473 and Thr308 in response to everolimus exposure was observed, this did not entirely explain the different in vivo responses to the drugs. Our data suggests that while dual PI-3K/mTOR inhibitors may improve therapeutic outcomes for a subset of ALL patients, patient selection will be important, with some patients likely to respond better to single mTOR inhibition.
Reporting of conflicts of interest in meta-analyses of trials of pharmacological treatments.

CONTEXT Disclosure of conflicts of interest (COIs) from pharmaceutical industry study funding and author-industry financial relationships is sometimes recommended for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in biomedical journals. Authors of meta-analyses, however, are not required to report COIs disclosed in original reports of included RCTs. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether meta-analyses of pharmacological treatments published in high-impact biomedical journals report COIs disclosed in included RCTs. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION We selected the 3 most recent meta-analyses of patented pharmacological treatments published January 2009 through October 2009 in each general medicine journal with an impact factor of at least 10; in high-impact journals in each of the 5 specialty medicine areas with the greatest 2008 global therapeutic sales (oncology, cardiology, respiratory medicine, endocrinology, and gastroenterology); and in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DATA EXTRACTION Two investigators independently extracted data on disclosed study funding, author-industry financial ties, and author employment from each meta-analysis, from RCTs included in each meta-analysis, and on whether meta-analyses reported disclosed COIs of included RCTs. RESULTS Of 29 meta-analyses reviewed, which included 509 RCTs, only 2 meta-analyses (7%) reported RCT funding sources; and 0 reported RCT author-industry ties or employment by the pharmaceutical industry. Of 318 meta-analyzed RCTs that reported funding sources, 219 (69%) were industry funded; and 91 of 132 (69%) that reported author financial disclosures had 1 or more authors with pharmaceutical industry financial ties. In 7 of the 29 meta-analyses reviewed, 100% of included RCTs had at least 1 form of disclosed COI (pharmaceutical industry funding, author-industry financial ties, or employment), yet only 1 of these 7 meta-analyses reported RCT funding sources, and 0 reported RCT author-industry ties or employment. CONCLUSION Among a group of meta-analyses of pharmacological treatments published in high-impact biomedical journals, information concerning primary study funding and author COIs for the included RCTs were only rarely reported.
Customer involvement in new service development : how does customer involvement enhance new service success?

i Resume This master thesis investigates how customer involvement enhances new service development and investigates what role the service characteristics play for this development. An exploratory and quantitative empirical research was conducted among small and medium sized firms in selected business categories. Before the empirical work could be conducted a thorough literature study on innovation research, service research and customer involvement was completed. Literature from new product development was also included. The literature study showed that services have been treated as something different from tangible products, but no distinction between services with different service characteristics have been done. All services have been treated alike, despite having very different service characteristics. Customer involvement in the development process is also described. Some authors argue for the use of lead users, whereas others for lay users. The literature shows no link between service characteristics and customer involvement. The type of success a customer contributes to is also not described. Specific firms in service categories were selected to contrast firms offering services were the characteristics of these services were assumed to be different. This strategic selection of participants was done to investigate the effects of the different variables, such as intangibility, inseparability etc. The results of this research reveal that different service characteristics contribute different to the innovation process and to the form of innovation. Perishability and heterogeneity significantly promotes customer involvement in the development process. Inseparability and perishability is found to be the two characteristics contributing the most to customer involvement in development of service innovations, whereas inseparability and information intensity contributes to the development of process innovations. The results also reveal how the different users contribute to innovation success. Service innovations contribute most to increasing customer value, whereas process innovations increase process quality the most. Lay users contribute mainly to increased customer value and market performance, whereas lead user also contributes to process quality. This master thesis concludes that the findings in this research support the view on treating services after their service characteristics and not as a whole. ii Preface This master thesis was written as a part of the master education in valuable guidance and consulting. I would also like to thank the three people who took their time to let me interview them; Camilla Tepfers, Bård Reian and Leif Arne Dalane. Last but not least, I'd like to thank all the firms that participated in the survey and made …
The culture of the sharp pencil : can a literacy intervention lever school change?

This article reports on a reading intervention project undertaken in a high poverty primary school in Gauteng where reading levels in both the home language, Northern Sotho, and in English were very low. Some of the factors associated with school effectiveness (SE) are first examined and thereafter the nature of the reading intervention programme is described.The project outcomes are presented and discussed against established SE factors and the high poverty ecological system within which the school operates. Although some of these outcomes are presented quantitatively, the article also considers some of the qualitative aspects of the intervention and its outcomes. Despite obstacles which lessen impact, it is concluded that a reading intervention in high poverty schools can simultaneously improve learner performance and the functioning of an ineffective school, but that such an intervention needs to adopt a multi-level ecological approach.
Japanese BBS Websites as Online Communities: (Impoliteness Perspectives

This article combines two approaches to analysing linguistic features in online communities that are argued to complement one another: computer‑mediated discourse analysis (Herring 2004 and wakimae or discernment (Ide 1989. A structural analysis was conducted of four threads on two open‑access Japanese bulletin board system (BBS websites in terms of politeness or honorifics and possible determinants of particular linguistic characteristics were explored. The study finds that discussion topics are relevant to choices of politeness levels and that overall linguistic styles are linked to the norms of each community. On one of the BBS linguistic features reveal widespread impoliteness yet participants seem to share a strong sense of community. Watts' (2003 concept of contextually appropriate "politic" behaviour is invoked to reconcile the puzzling coexistence of impoliteness and sense of community.
THE ROLE OF COGNITION AND FEELING IN RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

Inquiry into religious experience is informed by conceptualizations of emotion. Although a long history of theoretical and empirical work has provided considerable insight into the philosophical, psychological, and (more recently) neurobiological structure of emotion, the role of cognition and feeling in religious emotional states remains poorly conceived, and, hence, so does the concept of religious experience. The lack of a clear understanding of the role of emotion in religious experience is a consequence of a lack of an adequate interdisciplinary account of emotions. Our primary aim here is to examine the consequences of a properly interdisciplinary understanding of emotions for the analysis of religious experience. To this end, we note points of convergence between psychological, philosophical, and neuroscientific accounts of emotion and between such accounts and reports on the neurobiology of religious experience, in particular two recent human brain imaging studies. We conclude that emotions are richer phenomena than either pure feeling or pure thought and that, rightly understood, emotion affords religious experience its distinctive content and quality. Accordingly, we argue that religious experience cannot be reduced to pure feeling or pure thought. Rather, on our analysis, religious experience emerges as "thinking that feels like something. "