Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Kids on the Block: Novice Teachers and Teacher Leadership

Abstract There is widespread belief that the quality of leadership at a school makes a significant difference to school effectiveness. When this leadership is stretched across the school to include teachers in the practice of leadership, more favourable learner outcomes result. Given this, the present research attempts to examine and investigate the experiences of novice teachers with regard to teacher leadership. Two key questions inform this research namely, how teacher leadership is enacted by novice teachers and what support do novice teachers receive from the formally appointed leaders in enacting their roles as teacher leaders. Theoretically, distributed leadership and Grant’s framework on teacher leadership underpin this research. Located within the interpretive research paradigm, the present research, reports on a qualitative case study of one high school. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis were methods used to produce data. The school principal, five novice teachers and two senior teachers were purposively selected as participants for the study. The data generated was analysed using Grant’s framework. The results suggest that the enactment of leadership by novice teachers is more predominant in the zone of the classroom. As we move away from the classroom teacher leadership is less prevalent. It is therefore recommended that empowerment programs be put in place to capacitate school management teams on issues around novice teachers and teacher leadership.
Spatial texture analysis: a comparative study

In this paper we compare some of the traditional, and some fairly new, techniques of texture analysis on the MeasTex and VisTex benchmarks to illustrate their relative abilities. The methods considered include autocorrelation (ACF), co-occurrence matrices (CM), edge frequency (EF), Law's masks (LM), run length (RL), binary stack method (BSM), texture operators (TO), and texture spectrum (TS). In addition, we illustrate the advantage of using feature selection on a combined set that improves the overall recognition performance.
Rapidly-Deployable Mesh Network Testbed

This paper describes a wireless mesh network testbed for research in rapid deployment and auto-configuration of mesh nodes. Motivated by the needs of first responders and military personnel arriving to an incident area, we developed and tested an automated deployment algorithm that indicates when a mesh node needs to be deployed as the coverage area grows. Conventional radios can experience severe coverage limitations inside structures such as hi-rise buildings, subterranean buildings, caves, and underground mines. The approach examined here is to deploy wireless relays that extend coverage through multihop communication using a deployment algorithm that employs physical layer measurements. A flexible platform based on IEEE 802.11 radios has been implemented and tested in a subterranean laboratory complex where conventional public safety radios have no coverage. Applications tested include two-way voice, data, and location information. This paper describes the testbed, presents experimental results, and recommends areas for further study and development in rapidly-deployable multihop networks.
Psychological Consequences of Infertility among Infertile Women Seeking Treatment

Infertility is a major life event that brings about social and psychological problems. It is one of the health problems that may be faced married couple. In Saudi Arabia, infertility traditionally has been viewed as a female problem. Psychosocial factors in ‘functional’ infertility, the extent to which depression, anxiety and expressed emotional patterns correlate to infertility is not yet clear. No study has been published in Hafer Albatin to look at psychosocial impact of infertility on the infertile couples. The aims of the present study were to explore psychosocial impact of infertility on female partner in couples with infertility problem. A descriptive design was used for the conduction of this study. The sample consisted of 1000 infertile women in infertility units, selected purposively from outpatient clinics at Maternity and Children Hospital, Hafer Albatin City, Saudi Arabia . A structured interview questionnaire sheet was the instrument used to collect the data. Finding from this study revealed that most women had satisfactory awareness about modern treatment options for infertility. They were also highly motivated to find treatment and accessed both traditional and modern health care. Furthermore, treatment barriers within modern health care were identified. Conclusion and recommendation: this study revealed the importance of health education and counseling for the infertile women and both need to be integrated into infertility management, particularly in urban areas. The introduction of clinical guidelines is recommended in order to overcome barriers and improve the utilization of psychosocial support services. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 06-08-2018 Date of acceptance: 20-08-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metabolic characteristics of multiparous Angus and Brahman cows grazing in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Understanding metabolic differences between breeds of cattle is important when selecting for production in semiarid environments. Spring-calving multiparous Angus and Brahman cows (n = 8/breed) grazing in the Chihuahuan Desert were used to evaluate metabolic hormone status in February (i.e., 3rd trimester of pregnancy), May (i.e., early lactation), and September (i.e., late lactation) 2000. Crude protein in ruminal digesta collected from grazing companion ruminally cannulated cows during these months was 5.6, 6.0, and 10.3%, respectively. Angus cows were heavier (P < 0.01) than Brahman cows across months. Body condition scores among breed groups were 4.4, 3.6, and 4.6 in February, May, and September with Brahman cows tending (P < 0.10) to have greater body condition than Angus cows in May. Brahman cows tended to have greater fecal output per 100 kg BW than Angus cows in February (0.9 > 0.7 +/- 0.1, P < 0.10). Brahman cows had greater serum concentrations of leptin than Angus cows in September (1.8 > 0.70 +/- 0.1 ng/mL; P < 0.05), and serum concentrations of insulin were greater (P < 0.01) in Brahman than Angus cows throughout the study. Brahman cows also had greater (P < 0.01) serum concentrations of glucose during February and May than Angus cows. Serum concentrations of triiodothyronine were greatest (P < 0.01) during September and lowest during February and May in both breed groups and were greater (P < 0.01) in Brahman than in Angus cows in February, May, and September. Pregnancy rate and 205-d adjusted weaning weights were similar (P > or = 0.46) among breed groups. Results suggest that Brahman and Angus cows are sensitive to the seasonal dynamics of forage quality in the Chihuahuan Desert. Brahman cattle appear to have greater concentrations of metabolic hormones and metabolites than Angus cows in this environment, but Angus cows experience greater fluctuations in BW.
Are Stock-Financed Takeovers Opportunistic?

The more the target knows about the bidder, the more difficult it is to pay with overpriced shares. Thus, under bidder opportunism, the fraction of stock in the deal payment is lower with better-informed targets. We test this simple prediction using information proxies reflecting industry relatedness and geographic location specific to the merging firms. We find instead that public bidders systematically use more stock in the payment when the target knows more about the bidder. While inconsistent with opportunism, this is as predicted when bidders are primarily concerned with adverse selection on the target side of the deal. Moreover, tests based on exogenous variation in bidder market-to-book ratios, identified using aggregate mutual fund outflows, also fail to support bidder opportunism. Finally, "cash-only" targets and potential competition from private bidders appear to place significant external pressure on public bidders to pay in cash.
The Examination of Inhibition in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive, anxiety-provoking obsessions and irresistible compulsions that are performed to relieve anxiety. It is theorized that a deficit in inhibition may play a role in obsessive-compulsive symptomology. Areas of cognitive functioning that are affected by inhibition deficits may lead to obsessions and intrusive thoughts, while behavioral inhibition deficits may lead to compulsions. In the current paper, inhibition is examined in individuals with OCD, how such a deficit affects attention, recall, and response control, and how this relates to the disorder’s symptoms. A better understanding of these relationships would help conceptualize core deficits in affected individuals and an understanding for treatments that target inhibitory deficits.
Moments in Time: Metacognition, Trust, and Outcomes in Dyadic Negotiations

This research tested the relationships between turning points, cognitive and affective trust, and negotiation outcomes. After completing a simulated negotiation, participants identified turning points from videotape. Turning points were then classified as substantive (interest, offer), characterization (positive, negative), or procedural (positive, negative). Prenegotiation affective trust predicted subsequent turning points, whereas prenegotiation cognitive trust did not, suggesting that different cues influence the two types of trust. Postnegotiation cognitive trust was increased by the occurrence of interest, positive characterization, and positive procedural turning points and decreased by negative characterization turning points. Affective trust was increased by positive procedural turning points. Finally, interest turning points resulted in higher joint outcomes, whereas negative characterization turning points resulted in lower joint outcomes. We conclude that there are two paths to building trust and increasing joint gain, one through insight and one through signaling good faith intentions.
An investigation into early acquired dyslexia

There are several group and case studies that investigate developmental dyslexia in children, and acquired and developmental reading disabilities in adults. To date however, there are few detailed investigations on cases of early acquired dyslexia. The purpose of this study was to examine such a case (participant referred to as SP). The goals of this investigation were to compare SP's reading impairments to the major subtypes of dyslexia, establish SP's specific reading deficits, and consider the neuropsychological variables that may impact on SP's reading disability.
Measurement Error in Dependent Variables : An Illustration within the Accounting Literature

This paper illustrates how measurement error (“ME”) in dependent variables can bias inferences. Specifically, we show that ME in dependent variables does not only reduce power but, under common conditions in accounting studies, can lead to statistical biases and erroneous inferences even when the ME is uncorrelated with the explanatory variables. These confounds exists because ME in accounting measures is typically nonadditive, which violates the simple assumptions discussed in most econometrics texts. Using simulation analyses of commonly-used accounting variables as well as a case-study analysis of Google ticker searches as a measure of investor attention, our analyses find that nonadditive ME drives nontrivial biases and premature conclusions in accounting research. Our findings indicate that researchers should carefully consider the extent and form of ME in dependent variables, and how such ME may bias inferences.
On the Frequency and Remnants of Hypernovae

Under the hypothesis that some fraction of massive stellar core collapses give rise to unusually energetic events termed hypernovae, I examine the required rates assuming that some fraction of such events yield gamma-ray bursts. I then discuss evidence from studies of pulsars and r-process nucleosynthesis that independently suggests the existence of a class of unusually energetic events. Finally, I describe a scenario that links these different lines of evidence as support for the hypernova hypothesis.
The Fading Link? A New Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between Financial Development and Economic Growth

This paper contributes to the literature on the finance-growth link by presenting new findings based on a new, larger dataset that improves over earlier studies in its greater coverage in terms of time periods and countries, as well as the incorporation of additional control variables like institutional quality and the size of the economy. Our results demonstrate that financial development does not have a statistically significant effect on economic growth. We also find that the economy's size is a statistically significant determinant of growth.
A Meta-Modeling of User and the Development of Human and Intellectual Capital

The concept of user of organizational information system (OIS), contrary to the general thinking among both practitioners and researchers, is problematic. This work therefore seeks to set this concept by referring to literature in OIS. The authors have proposed a theoretical framework that models the different dimensions to consider when determining the different user profiles in an introduction of an IS/IT. The finding of this work is, in particular, a metamodel of the user operating in an environment where the information system is considered as a set of social actors that store and process information-representations through technological artefacts of information. Each type of user has a specific role or involvement in an IS / IT project. Exchanges and interactions, during the project, allow each type of user to contribute to the development of the stock of intellectual resources (knowledge, skills, competence, etc.) which increases the level of human capital and intellectual capital.
Detection and Quantification of Differentially Culturable Tubercle Bacteria in Sputum from Patients with Tuberculosis.

RATIONALE Recent studies suggest that baseline tuberculous sputum comprises a mixture of routinely culturable and differentially culturable tubercle bacteria (DCTB). The latter seems to be drug tolerant and dependent on resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs). OBJECTIVES To further explore this, we assessed sputum from patients with tuberculosis for DCTB and studied the impact of exogenous culture filtrate (CF) supplementation ex vivo. METHODS Sputum samples from adults with tuberculosis and HIV-1 and adults with no HIV-1 were used for most probable number (MPN) assays supplemented with CF and Rpf-deficient CF, to detect CF-dependent and Rpf-independent DCTB, respectively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In 110 individuals, 19.1% harbored CF-dependent DCTB and no Rpf-independent DCTB. Furthermore, 11.8% yielded Rpf-independent DCTB with no CF-dependent DCTB. In addition, 53.6% displayed both CF-dependent and Rpf-independent DCTB, 1.8% carried CF-independent DCTB, and 13.6% had no DCTB. Sputum from individuals without HIV-1 yielded higher CF-supplemented MPN counts compared with counterparts with HIV-1. Furthermore, individuals with HIV-1 with CD4 counts greater than 200 cells/mm3 displayed higher CF-supplemented MPN counts compared with participants with HIV-1 with CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3. CF supplementation allowed for detection of mycobacteria in 34 patients with no culturable bacteria on solid media. Additionally, the use of CF enhanced detection of sputum smear-negative individuals. CONCLUSIONS These observations demonstrate a novel Rpf-independent DCTB population in sputum and reveal that reduced host immunity is associated with lower prevalence of CF-responsive bacteria. Quantification of DCTB in standard TB diagnosis would be beneficial because these organisms provide a putative biomarker to monitor treatment response and risk of disease recurrence.
[Genetic polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor in pre-eclampsia].

PURPOSE To identify genetic polymorphisms of endothelial growth factor (VEGF), positions +936C/T and -2578C/A, in women with pre-eclampsia. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 80 women divided into two groups: pre-eclampsia and control. The sample was characterized using a pre-structured interview and data transcribed from the medical records. DNA extraction, amplification of sequences by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with specific primers and polymorphism analysis of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) were performed to identify polymorphisms. The statistical analysis was performed in a descriptive manner and using the x² test. The multiple logistic regression model was used to determine the effect of polymorphisms on pre-eclampsia. RESULTS A higher frequency of the T allele of the VEGF +936C/T polymorphism was observed in patients with pre-eclampsia, but with no significant difference. The presence of allele A of the VEGF -2578C/A was significantly higher in the control group. CONCLUSIONS No significant association was observed between VEGF +936C/T polymorphism and pre-eclampsia. For the VEGF -2578C/A polymorphism a significant difference was observed between the control and pre-eclampsia group, with allele A being the most frequent in the control, suggesting the possibility that carriers of allele A have lower susceptibility to the development of pre-eclampsia.
Quantitative air‐trapping analysis in children with mild cystic fibrosis lung disease

The purpose of this study was to compare quantitative computed tomography air trapping (AT) and pulmonary function measurements between subjects with mild cystic fibrosis lung disease (MCF; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) > 70% predicted) and normal age‐matched controls. Quantitative AT measurements at different levels of expiration were evaluated. Ten subjects from the MCF group and 10 normal subjects underwent inspiratory and expiratory spirometer‐triggered chest high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests. Six matched CT images were obtained at full inflation and at a lung volume near residual volume (nRV). Quantitative measurements of AT were determined by evaluating expiratory CT lung density and by the percent of segmented lung which demonstrated AT on expiratory scans. Percent AT was evaluated for all lung slices combined (global AT), and also by regional assessment. Additional comparisons of lung density and percent air trapping were made in 10 CF subjects with three matched axial HRCT images at lung volumes corresponding to full inflation, near functional residual capacity (nFRC), and nRV. All measurements of expiratory lung density in CF subjects were significantly lower and % AT significantly higher than normal controls. Significant correlations for all subjects were observed between % global AT and RV/TLC as well as forced expiratory flow between 25–75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25–75) % predicted. Pulmonary density measurements and % AT better discriminated differences between groups than PFTs. Measurements made on expiratory scans near FRC showed significantly higher values for AT than those made near RV. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Water and nitrogen conditions affect the relationships of Δ13C and Δ18O to gas exchange and growth in durum wheat

Whereas the effects of water and nitrogen (N) on plant Δ13C have been reported previously, these factors have scarcely been studied for Δ18O. Here the combined effect of different water and N regimes on Δ13C, Δ18O, gas exchange, water-use efficiency (WUE), and growth of four genotypes of durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn. ] cultured in pots was studied. Water and N supply significantly increased plant growth. However, a reduction in water supply did not lead to a significant decrease in gas exchange parameters, and consequently Δ13C was only slightly modified by water input. Conversely, N fertilizer significantly decreased Δ13C. On the other hand, water supply decreased Δ18O values, whereas N did not affect this parameter. Δ18O variation was mainly determined by the amount of transpired water throughout plant growth (Tcum), whereas Δ13C variation was explained in part by a combination of leaf N and stomatal conductance (gs). Even though the four genotypes showed significant differences in cumulative transpiration rates and biomass, this was not translated into significant differences in Δ18Os. However, genotypic differences in Δ13C were observed. Moreover, ∼80% of the variation in biomass across growing conditions and genotypes was explained by a combination of both isotopes, with Δ18O alone accounting for ∼50%. This illustrates the usefulness of combining Δ18O and Δ13C in order to assess differences in plant growth and total transpiration, and also to provide a time-integrated record of the photosynthetic and evaporative performance of the plant during the course of crop growth.
Psychosocial factors at work and sickness absence: results from the French national SUMER survey.

OBJECTIVE This study aims at exploring the associations between psychosocial work factors and sickness absence. METHODS The sample from the French National Survey SUMER 2010 included 46,962 employees. Sickness absence spells and days within the last year were studied as two outcomes. Psychosocial work factors included psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, reward, working time, and workplace violence variables. Covariates were age, occupation, economic activity, and other occupational exposures. RESULTS For both genders, low latitude, low reward, shift work, bullying, and verbal abuse were risk factors of absence spells while long working hours were a protective factor. High demands, low support, and physical violence were risk factors for women. Low support and bullying for both genders, high demands for women, and low reward, long working hours, and physical violence for men increased absence duration. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of psychosocial work factors as risk factors of sickness absence.
Cloning and Characterization of a Family B DNA Polymerase from the Hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeon Pyrobaculum islandicum

ABSTRACT In order to extend the limited knowledge about crenarchaeal DNA polymerases, we cloned a gene encoding a family B DNA polymerase from the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Pyrobaculum islandicum. The enzyme shared highest sequence identities with a group of phylogenetically related DNA polymerases, designated B3 DNA polymerases, from members of the kingdom Crenarchaeota,Pyrodictium occultum and Aeropyrum pernix, and several members of the kingdom Euryarchaeota. Six highly conserved regions as well as a DNA-binding motif, indicative of family B DNA polymerases, were identified within the sequence. Furthermore, three highly conserved 3′-5′ exonuclease motifs were also found. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the DNA polymerase was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment and affinity chromatography. Activity staining after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed an active polypeptide of approximately 90 kDa. For the recombinant DNA polymerase from P. islandicum, activated calf thymus DNA was used as a substrate rather than primed single-stranded DNA. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by monovalent cations andN-ethylmaleimide; it is moderately sensitive to aphidicolin and dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The half-life of the enzyme at 100 and 90°C was 35 min and >5 h, respectively. Interestingly, the pH of the assay buffer had a significant influence on the 3′-5′ exonuclease activity of the recombinant enzyme. Under suitable assay conditions for PCR, the enzyme was able to amplify λ DNA fragments of up to 1,500 bp.